Leonard’s 33-point outing was his second 30-point game of the season, showing more and more that he’s getting his legs under him. According to ESPN, this was the third time in his career that he scored at least 30 points while shooting 75 percent from the field (9-12 shooting and 12-12 from the free-throw line).

“I’m gradually just getting my feet under me,” said Leonard, per ESPN. “I’m starting to play 35-plus minutes, able to get [out of] that minutes restriction where it cuts you in and out those games, playing five-minute segments, six-minute segments here and there. So, just a continuous thing. Just keep getting better, stay healthy and just see where we could go from here.”

Kawhi did it all in the @LAClippers win

33 PTS
9 REB
4 AST
4 STL
9/12 FGM
12/12 FTM pic.twitter.com/48FufDbVuU

— NBA (@NBA) January 11, 2023

Leonard logged 36 minutes, marking the ninth time he’s played 31 or more minutes in the last 10 games. The only time he didn’t was when he played 18 minutes during their 122-91 blowout loss to the Denver Nuggets. Leonard is still being held out of playing back-to-back games, indicating he’s frustrated with his minute restriction.

“If you’re basing it on minute restriction, it is frustrating,” Leonard said. “Because I’m not going in there jacking shots, so I’m trying to play team basketball. It was frustrating [with the restriction]. We were losing games. From a minute restriction, I’m not the only one either that was on it. Guys have been in and out the lineup all year, getting injured.

“So, just gotta stay the course and hope for the best. I’ve been in the league for a while, so just know if you keep just punching [and] punching, you eventually could knock down something.”

The Clippers will look to build a consecutive win streak when they play the Nuggets on Friday.

The post Kawhi Leonard on His Season-Best 33-Point Outing appeared first on SLAM.

Peaking at 29 minutes against Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, Leonard recorded 25 points off 10-12 shooting from the field, with nine rebounds and six assists. It was a stellar performance against the NBA’s best team, and the two-time Finals MVP admitted to wanting to give more playing time since the start of the new campaign.

“Sh-t, I’ve been trying to do it since the beginning of the year,” Leonard said. “It’s just about listening to the guys who study this.”

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Leonard refers to the injury that kept him sidelined for all of last season and 20 games this season. The partial tear of his right ACL, suffered against the Utah Jazz in the 2021 playoffs, has limited his form of being titled a top 5 player of the League, at least for now.

“It’s only my ninth game of the season, and that’s after a whole ACL year, just can’t rush it. I wish I could have played more.” Leonard said. “Twenty-eight minutes, 30 minutes is a lot of minutes still,” Leonard said. “Got to just do what I can and win these basketball games.”

The victories may stack just for Leonard’s presence on the floor, but last night was just his first 20-point night. The contribution of Paul George is what has blossomed the duo once more. He’s averaging 20 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and a three-point clip of 42.6 percent when Leonard is out on the floor with him.

George has had an MVP-caliber season thus far with or without Leonard in the lineup, and the seven-time All-Star admits that he sees improvement in Leonard’s game.

“Now he’s adjusted,” George said. “He’s found his rhythm, and you’ll see him more comfortable on the court.

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The pair showed a glimpse of what their dynamic scoring can do. While The Clippers look to keep their success, and Leonard’s game continues to evolve each game, even if it’s a limited time. The team can steadily find its confidence as a whole just in time for the second half of the season.

The post Kawhi Leonard Has Been Pushing to Play 30 Minutes ‘Since the Beginning of the Year’ appeared first on SLAM.

The Clippers originally listed Leonard as out for the Thursday night game, but his status was upgraded to questionable following their morning shootaround. Team doctors gave Leonard the green light to play for the first time since he first experienced knee stiffness on Oct. 25.

Leonard scored six points (2-8 shooting from the field), brought down five rebounds, and dished four assists in 25 minutes to help the Clippers outlast the Pistons 96-91. The two-time champ was also plus-26 on the floor. Leonard’s double-digit scoring streak ended at 177 straight regular-season games after he scored six points, the third-longest active streak behind LeBron James and Luka Doncic, per ESPN.

The last time the Klaw failed to break 10 points was Dec. 18, 2017, against the Clippers.

KAWHI. pic.twitter.com/5LOHxMNJIo

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) November 18, 2022

During his postgame remarks with reporters, Leonard didn’t detail the stiffness that kept him out of 12 straight games. However, the Klaw reiterated that his recovery from his torn ACL would be a “two-year process.”

“Like I said before, at the start of the season, it’s going to be a long journey,” Leonard said, per ESPN. “ACL recovery isn’t just one year. Everybody thinks that, but it’s a two-year process, so I know that, and I’m going to keep going and going through the process.”

When teammate Reggie Jackson (23 points, three rebounds, three assists) was asked about Leonard’s return, the veteran point guard said he tries to “remind him that he’s Kawhi Leonard” and that “he’s special. He’s one of the best ever to play his game.” Jackson also said that the Clippers have the “utmost confidence in” Leonard “no matter what the result was.”

Every time pic.twitter.com/Rr55Patmfv

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) November 18, 2022

Head coach Tyronn Lue said that his decision to start Leonard was due to not liking the process of bringing Leonard off the bench midway through the second quarter like the Clippers did his first two games. That initial game plan was designed to allow Leonard to close games out in the fourth quarter and to ensure he doesn’t sit too long between playing spurts.

“After I played those first two games, it was dead already,” Leonard said of his preference to start or come off the bench. “T-Lue wanted me to start the games and get us going in a flow. So, before I sat out [12 straight games], I knew I was gonna be starting.”

The Clippers will likely cautiously approach Leonard’s future availability after playing his first game in nearly a month. The next time they play will be when they host the Spurs on Saturday.

The post Kawhi Leonard Makes His Well-Awaited Return Against Pistons, Drops Six Points and Four Assists appeared first on SLAM.

The two sides have yet to come up with an agreement, but negotiations may have to pick up soon now that another team has entered the frame. The Lakers’ neighbors, the Los Angeles Clippers, have been rumored to be interested in acquiring Turner as well, according to Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus.

Clippers big man Moses Brown is the only pure big man after Ivica Zubac on the Clippers’ roster, but head coach Ty Lue has only gone to him for eight games this season. Instead, Marcus Morris has been the go-to backup center for Zubac so far.

With no depth at the center position and not having the services of Kawhi Leonard for most of the early campaign, Los Angeles has still managed to hold on to a record of 8-6, which is good enough for the seventh seed in the Western Conference. The team’s early woes are starting to show that losing Isaiah Hartenstein in the offseason was huge.

Adding Turner to the mix will work wonders for the Clippers. The Pacers’ big man is averaging 17.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks a game. The move would immediately make this Los Angeles team one of the best defenses in the league when healthy, with Turner playing alongside the likes of Leonard and Paul George. Only time will tell if they are willing to pull the trigger on the pursuit.

Los Angeles will be in action tonight as they take on the Dallas Mavericks at 8:30 P.M.

The post REPORT: Clippers Interested in Trading for Myles Turner appeared first on SLAM.

Coming to NBA arenas this fall, the return of the League’s most terrifying two-way players.

Kawhi and PG cover SLAM 240. https://t.co/aTFojIRsVL pic.twitter.com/NnTVfLdhve

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 17, 2022

Moving forward, Leonard is still set to miss his 10th consecutive game on Saturday versus the Brooklyn Nets, but he is undoubtedly making progress towards a return soon after participating in a 5-on-5 workout on Friday, according to LA Clippers head coach Ty Lue. 

“Not tomorrow,” Lue said of Leonard possibly returning on Saturday, per ESPN. “But it’s gonna take a few more (workout) opportunities to get that in. Then kind of reassess him to see how he’s feeling after we go to medical and just kind of see if we check all the boxes – He played 5-on-5 with some of our guys, some of the players, and some of the coaches. The first time he was able to get on the floor and play 5-on-5, and he looked pretty good. Still have a ways to go, but that was the first sign of positivity of him getting on the floor, playing 5-on-5.”

pic.twitter.com/TV2MFHiLhL

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) October 24, 2022

Without Leonard, Los Angeles is 6-4. Teammate Paul George has been leading the way for the team while averages of 25.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. With George holding it down, for now, fans are left wondering how lethal this squad can be when his co-star returns from injury. The Clippers currently sit as the sixth seed in the West.

The post Kawhi Leonard Progressing Towards Return After 5-on-5 Workout appeared first on SLAM.

Leonard has been participating in individual workouts, but there’s “really not a time frame” for the five-time All-Star to return to the lineup. Leonard played in two of the Clippers’ first three games this season and logged 21 minutes in each off the bench. Leonard felt stiffness in his surgically repaired right knee at a morning shootaround before the Clippers’ game against OKC on Oct. 25.

“He is progressing well,” Coach Ty Lue said, per ESPN. “We knew coming off an ACL; it wasn’t going to be a straight line. We talked about it before the season. The biggest thing is he’s progressing well. We are going to follow the lead of our medical staff, we got to be smart about the situation, but he is progressing — He is in a good place, he is progressing, and he is getting better, so that is the most important thing.”

Leonard tore his right ACL in Game 4 of the second round against Utah on June 14, 2021, and sat out last season to rehab the injury.

“There’s really not a time frame of when he is going to be back,” Lue said. “The biggest thing is just the testing that he has to go through with the medical and the slow progression of just getting better every single day. And so we’re just taking it day by day right now, not really a timetable.”

The post Kawhi Leonard ‘Progressing Well’ But Clippers Have No Timetable For Return appeared first on SLAM.

The SLAM 240 cover star opened up about why coming off the bench was the correct choice. In a post-game interview with Ohm Youngmisuk, Leonard said the following;

“You gotta gradually play minutes in order to get the ACL strong,” Leonard said. “Once you start playing 38 minutes first game, it could easily weaken up, but I’m listening to the doctor with that. It’s a long season. We wanna get in the playoffs and want me to play in the playoffs.”

We must also remember that Leonard missed the entirety of last season with an ACL injury, which is no small feat to return from. Returning from an injury like that is not easy, and some players never return the same. Leonard also mentioned that the idea came about from looking at data and running simulations in practice subbing in and out of games.

The NBA season is still young, and if Leonard and the Clippers want to maximize their chances come playoff time, they need their stars healthy.

When asked by another reporter what it was like to come into the game in the middle of the second quarter, Leonard said he didn’t “think 15 minutes would be long” after waiting “82 games last year.”

“I waited 82 games last year, so I didn’t think 15 minutes would be long. This is how I started my career. Act like I was in foul trouble, and once I check in the second quarter, it’s time to play basketball.”

In just 21 minutes off the bench, Leonard played well. The Klaw dropped 14 points and seven rebounds on 6-12 shooting in the Clippers’ 103-97 season-opening win against their hometown rivals.

No timetable was revealed for how long Leonard plans to come off the bench instead of starting. However, we all know the old saying, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” and if this is the strategy that guarantees a winning season plus a healthy Leonard come playoff time for the Clippers, plus the fact that it was a decision being considered by both team and player then why be in a rush to change it?

The post Kawhi Leonard Speaks On Decision to Come Off the Bench Versus Lakers appeared first on SLAM.

The two LA franchises have experienced a big bro-lil bro since the inception of the two rivals. The Lakers played the big brother role, winning nine titles since the Hallway Series began in 1983-84. However, the little brother Clippers have caught up in the last decade, becoming a perennial playoff contender while the Lakers floundered due to front-office shakiness and numerous coaching changes.

Since the 2013-14 season, the Clippers have dominated the series, 32-7, against their down-the-hall big bro. Beverley went 10-5 against the Lakers during his four-year tenure with the Lakers. When he was asked about what he remembered and cherished the most about the Hallway Series, Beverley said that he cherished “winning most of them.

When asked how those lessons can apply now that he’s a Laker, Beverley noted that the Lakers “have to stick with the gameplan.”

“The key is sticking to your gameplan, whatever that gameplan is,” Beverley said matter of factly. “Being on the other side is definitely gonna be fun tonight, for sure.”

Patrick Beverley reflects on being part of the LA battles with the Clippers: “Winning most of them.” pic.twitter.com/Ck26pgpsuB

— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) October 20, 2022

The Hallway Series resumes Thursday when the two Western Conference foes meet at Crypto.com Arena at 10 P.M. PT.

The post Patrick Beverley Reflects on the Hallway Series as a Clipper appeared first on SLAM.

Los Angeles Clippers have been considering the possibility of bringing Kawhi Leonard off the bench to start the season in order to manage his minutes, league sources tell @YahooSports.

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) October 20, 2022

The temporary experiment could start as soon as Thursday when the Clippers start the season against their hallway rival Lakers. Before training camp, Clippers president Lawrence Frank said that the Clippers planned on taking a cautious approach while Leonard returned from a torn ACL he suffered during the 2021 playoffs.

Leonard has gone through a load management program since he suffered a quadriceps injury that robbed him of most of the 2017-2018 season.

Coming to NBA arenas this fall, the return of the League’s most terrifying two-way players.

Kawhi and PG cover SLAM 240. https://t.co/aTFojIRsVL pic.twitter.com/NnTVfLdhve

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 17, 2022

The last time Kawhi Leonard came off the bench, he was 21-years-old playing his second season in the NBA. Leonard was playing his first game after missing nearly a month of action due to quadriceps tendinitis. Leonard completed a rehab assignment with the Austin Toros, San Antonio’s G League affiliate. The two-time DPOY ended up starting the other 57 games he appeared in that season.

The post REPORT: Clippers ‘Considering’ Bringing Kawhi Leonard Off the Bench to Start the Year appeared first on SLAM.

Today’s breakfast isn’t about taste. It’s about the other senses. It’s a gourmet meal of aromas and of sights and of sounds. Hoop heaven is in here, made by high level basketball artisans. That familiar smell of the hardwood bombards the nose. Memories of early childhood morning practices are both comforting and jarring at the same time, when touching the hardwood’s baseline on countless suicides was a necessity. But unlike those dusty gyms most of us had to play in, this is the premium hardwood. Manically maintained, painted in blue and red, it’s of the highest quality. 

Extra rims are stacked in a corner close to the entrance. They must go through rims quickly around here with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George punching dunks. A long-stretching dresser constructed for giants covers an entire wall, holding well-worn official NBA balls. Staccato dribbles randomly echo through the still relatively empty gym. They’re being bounced by staff members getting the rocks ready for Leonard, George, John Wall, Reggie Jackson, Nicolas Batum, Norm Powell, Marcus Morris, Robert Covington and Terance Mann. A big cubby system that houses the squad’s practice sneakers comes right after that dresser. A few PG6 boxes sit on the floor underneath pairs ranging from Kawhi’s signature New Balances to standard issue flagships from the Swoosh and the Stripes. The ensuing weights and advanced ellipticals have been left untouched by the Clips’ staff. They’ve transformed the rest of the main area into a circuit of photography and videography opportunities. Green screens, towering lighting rigs, microphones and an army of camera lenses can be found all over the place. 

But the valid NBA rims and backboard that Leonard and George have spent the previous three seasons shooting on can’t be hidden, not even by this arsenal of documentary equipment. Under the facility’s mighty ceiling, those hanging rims and backboards have gotten the chance to see more of Leonard and George than most of us have ever seen since the ridiculously talented duo first teamed up in the summer of 2019. Injuries and the pandemic have cut our viewing time and their playing time drastically short. 

It’s a big deal that both Leonard and George are finally healthy. In the 226 regular season games that the Clippers have played since the start of the 2019-20 season, George has played in 133 of them, while Leonard has only played in 109. In the 32 playoff games they’ve participated in, it’s been George who has played in all of them, while Leonard has only laced up for 24. And unfortunately, they’ve only been on the court together in 80 of those tilts. Predictably, they’ve won over 70 percent of those battles when they’ve both been available. 

Leonard, a two-time Finals MVP, missed all of last season, though. He went under the knife on July 13, 2021 to fix up a partially torn right ACL. George, a seven-time All-Star, only got to play 31 times in 2021-22 because of a torn UCL in his right elbow. 

So a few hours after we had the breakfast of aromas and of sights and of sounds, we feast on our lunch, a visual treat that has proven to be way more rare than expected: an opportunity to finally see Kawhi and PG back together again. 

SLAM 240 featuring Kawhi Leonard and Paul George is out now.

Everything goes down fast. Numero dos has been floating around the gym for a little bit. All of the players have to sign balls, hats, jerseys and photos that will get auctioned off for charity. Leonard has been taking his time with the signings. Reggie Jackson, who was selected nine picks after Leonard in 2011, loudly announces that he’s lapped numero dos in the signing line. It makes Leonard laugh. He actually does more laughing than anticipated, a welcomed sight that breaks the stale and corny reputation internet trolls assigned to him many years ago. 

Somehow, Leonard was never given a fair shot by the fairweather fans. The casuals saw him lead the Spurs to the 2014 championship as a much more reserved 22-year-old. His 23rd birthday was just two weeks after he raised his first Finals MVP trophy, but they’d already made up their minds. He was, to them, always going to be the quiet and robotic type. Why they couldn’t understand that the youngster was still maturing has always said more about them than about him. Though his game didn’t need much time to adjust to the glaring spotlight, he did. Today, the truth is closer to him being a mixture between calm, peaceful and confident that mostly doesn’t feel the need to always be the center of attention. Leonard has grown up. And though he’s not bombastic, he’s also not what people assume of him. 

That’s why PG’s young daughters greet him with hugs upon first sight. While Kawhi was finishing his way through the end of the autograph station, the ever-smooth 32-year-old was making his grand entrance as one of the final Clips to appear. His kids ran out ahead of him and found their way over to Uncle K.

George, now fittingly playing in L.A., has always thrived with the spotlight shining on him. From his dribble combos into stepbacks to his coolness in front of a mic, he always seems comfortable. He’s been a warrior who’s had to stare down some horrific injuries and some disgusting words from the court of public opinion. Most of the loudest members of the basketball viewing fandom are incapable of looking at his larger body of work, at the truth that he is damn close to being the ideal basketball player. They hold on and hold on and hold on to what they count as failure. But their definition of failure isn’t shared by George. Those moments they continue to bring up are just steps forward. 

Though they’ve each had their individual journeys, our cover stars have now hit yet another crossroads, arriving at the signs together. They could follow one of them back to safety, which would be a season of mediocrity and a first or second-round exit. Or they could tread the dangerous and long trail to basketball’s promised land. 

They’re not gonna turn around. They want to walk the path to the championship. 

The similarities that they share with each other are abundant. 

Defensively, they’re nearly identical as on-ball stoppers. They sit and they sit and they sit. They’re both about containment. They’re both able to force turnovers. Their defensive discipline comes from their preparation. They study and they retain who likes to pump fake, who likes to attack their chests and who won’t dare dribble against them. They each share a desire to lock people the fuck down. That’s an unteachable want. 

Their appetite for defensive destruction is part of why they’ve seen such great success in the 80 times they’ve played together. 

Another part of it is that their offensive efficiency is all but a guarantee whenever they lace up. They’re both able to and qualified enough to go out and shoot 25-30 times. But they don’t. George rains down threes, Leonard dials in from the midrange. Off the bounce, off the catch, stationary or on the move, their jumpshot forms should be taught to the youth. Leonard went to the Chip Engelland School of the Two-Handed Follow-Through and George sets his feet with great elegance and speed. Bigs at the rim have historically been in trouble when either one of them parades down the lane. They can each set up their other teammates at will, and they’re knockdown free-throw shooters. 

And lastly, the way they complement each other, illustrated in George’s willingness to step up to the media and in Leonard’s willingness to step up to the most difficult clutch moments, is the final piece of what could end in the ultimate success. 

After PG’s kids greet Kawhi, the duo pops over to flick it up. The entirety of the gym closes in on us. Now it’s really a big deal that they’re back together. Showtime. Other cameras go off while our photographer, Alex Woodhouse, details what we want to capture. 

Boom, boom. Snap, snap. Alex takes a few shots. 

Solid enough. 

Then the good stuff happens. Alex has Leonard and George pose back-to-back for just a split second. It’s enough time for us to get a glimpse at a joke that must stretch back several years. 

Kawhi, all of a sudden, stands up on his tippy-toes. He says that he’s taller than PG and then he repeats it. It doesn’t look to be true. Sorry, Kawhi. PG shakes his head with a laugh. Alex, who stands at 6-8, like PG, also seems to be taller than Kawhi. 

Alex gives the pair direction on the last flick we want to get, which is when he cracks a joke about Kawhi making up for that one inch difference by being way more brolic than either himself or PG. 

They both erupt with laughter. Alex captures the photo of them, joyously smiling, standing at the precipice of what could be a historic season for the Clippers. 

SLAM 240 is OUT NOW!

Though we hadn’t eaten anything all morning long, the moment is food for the soul. 

They’re off after that, responsible for taking even more photos and signing even more autographs. 

About 20 minutes later, Leonard sits in front of the media and says, of his time with George, with the deep bass in his voice, “It seems like it went by so fast. Obviously, the first year was the COVID year, which nobody knew was going to happen. Going into the next season, we made it to the semifinals, I think. Then I tore my ACL, and then last year I didn’t play. So, now it’s our fourth year. Me missing last year and then that COVID year probably made time go by quick. I felt like over the years, with us first being here, you see the gradual improvement of the team. Hopefully we can take another step.”

Another 20 or so minutes pass before PG takes the same stage and talks about his All-Star teammate. 

“I’m more excited, honestly, of him being healthy,” George says. “That’s first and foremost. I’ve seen his whole work, [from] the second he got injured to the work he put into this offseason going into this season. I’ve been in that position of being out and having to rehab a whole season. I got to watch, from the outside, to see how much work he put into this year. Really excited for him to get a chance to do what he loves to do and get back on the court. 

“Obviously, after that, it’s [the] excitement of getting to play with the best two-way player in the game. It’s 
just excitement, stepping back on the floor, being full strength, both of us healthy again.”

There’s a focus that George talks about. He wants his squad to “honor” their shot at winning a chip, to “embrace” the pressure that comes with walking that long, long, long road to the end of the path. 

“I think both of us, kinda internally, had a promise,” George says to the media about himself and Kawhi. “I know I did, for myself, to bring a championship here. When you look at how close we were two years back, the year Kawhi got hurt, how close we were, I didn’t want to leave anything on the table that I could’ve done more. I thought it was very important this summer to keep guys connected, stay together, get workouts together. It was more just off-the-court stuff. I didn’t really care about the on-court stuff. We’ll get to that when camp starts.” 

SLAM 240 is available now in this exclusive Gold Metal Edition and Cover Tee. Shop now.

Portraits by Alex Woodhouse. Action photo via Getty Images.

The post Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are Back and Healthy—A Scary Sight For The Rest of the NBA appeared first on SLAM.

Wall has had a rough go of it the past few years since he was traded from the Washington Wizards to the Houston Rockets back in 2020. However, Wall’s time with the Rockets was sadly cut short due to a Grade 2 hamstring strain. On top of that, Wall had also been dealing with off-court losses after his mom passed away in 2019.

Fast forward to 2022, and Wall seems completely rejuvenated and back to making his signature behind-the-back finishes at the rim.

“You see somebody’s that happy, you know? Enjoying the game,” said Wall’s teammate Paul George in a postgame interview after the Clipper’s preseason game versus the Minnesota Timberwolves. “When it’s taken away from you, and you don’t know where you’re going to go from there. You get an opportunity to come back to it, man; you appreciate it.”

On Sunday, Wall led the team in scoring with 20 points on 5-11 shooting from the field. Wall even dished out three assists and picked up one rebound in his 20 minutes of action. It’s been more than a year since we last saw the Wall Star, and it’s so great to see him back on an NBA court hooping with the best-of-the-best.

This seems like a great beginning to ana fantastic comeback story for Wall. By joining forces with NBA superstars George and Kawhi Leonard on the Clippers, we may also get a chance to see Wall in playoff games down the road too.

The regular-season is grueling, but so far, Wall “has been looking great.” according to Leonard. Only time will tell what is in store for these new-look Clippers; however, they are a team to pay close attention to.

The post Paul George on John Wall’s Joyful Return: ‘You See Somebody That’s Happy’ appeared first on SLAM.

The All-Star wing duo enter their fourth season together, and the championship expectations are higher than ever with The Klaw and PG-13 returning healthy after the Clippers acquired John Wall over the offseason. George was recently asked about any past wing tandem that he and Leonard could rely on as a potential blueprint.

“Yeah, look at the [Miami Heatle] wing-wing DWade [Dwyane Wade] and LeBron [James],” George said on Sunday, per ESPN. “I think it just comes down to — listen, Kawhi is the No. 1. And I am totally fine with that. I think I try to complement him with being able to take the load off of him.

“Everybody says, ‘Kawhi [and] you are 1 and 1, [or] 1A, 1B.’ I’ll publicly say, I’m the 2. Kawhi’s the 1; I’m the 2. So that part we nipped in the bud. Like there’s no ego when it comes to that.”

That dunk tho.

@KTLA | @Yg_Trece pic.twitter.com/0qYWeMyzfn

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) October 10, 2022

The 2022-23 campaign will be a pivotal season with the wing tandem looking to lead the Clippers to the franchise’s first Finals trip and fulfill their potential since they were acquired in 2019.

The Clippers will have their first chance to prove their championship contender status when they play the Lakers on Oct. 20. It’ll be George and Leonard’s first meaningful game together since Leonard tore the ACL in his right knee during Game 4 of the Clippers’ second-round playoff series against the Utah Jazz on June 14, 2021.

“I mean, I missed a whole year missing basketball,” Leonard said. “I went down in one of the worst ways, in a playoff run. Just don’t wanna take anything for granted and just trying to live in that moment and bring a sense of energy for the team.”

“I’m young still,” Leonard, 31, added. “So any chance you get that taken away from you, and you don’t feel like you’re done — You just miss it, you know what I mean?”

George led LA to their first Conference Finals and carried the load in the regular season until he suffered an elbow injury that kept him out of action for three months. George came back late but missed the Clippers’ season-ending play-in loss to the New Orleans Pelicans due to COVID-19 protocols.

Kawhi slam!

@KTLA | #ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/j8gUoueEC9

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) October 10, 2022

On Sunday, Leonard described how he and George had grown together as leaders and in their dynamic as a duo, pointing out that they have developed a “genuine relationship” over the last four years.

“We’re both unselfish,” Leonard said. “My 12th year, his 13th year — we’ve been through this before, so I feel like just having those years under our belt and, obviously, like I said, we have a genuine relationship, and it just carries over [into how we lead].”

This offseason and in training camp, George and the Clippers have seen Leonard show joy during his return after spending the year recovering and strengthening his right knee. Leonard and George have played 104 regular-season and playoff games since 2019. After becoming “the man” on the roster while Leonard missed all of the last season, PG-13 said that he is perfectly fine with Leonard becoming the featured option of the offense.

“I believe in my talent and what I can do,” George said. “And I believe on any night of what I am capable of. But I feel my job is to make everybody better. That is what I try to do when I am on the floor, just make the game easy for everybody, whether it is creating or just being aggressive — and making reads off of that.

“I think we will go a long ways if everybody just knows their role and what we bring to the table. Everything else is easy; we just roll the ball out, and we get after it.”

The CLippers start their season against the Lakers on Oct. 20.

The post Paul George Has No Ego About His Role: ‘Kawhi Leonard is ‘the 1, I’m the 2’ appeared first on SLAM.

Ben Simmons might’ve played for a different team, the Philadelphia Sixers, the last time he suited up in a game 470 days prior, but after a season-long trade request and subsequent back injury, Simmons is back for the Brooklyn Nets. He faced off against his former squad in the first preseason game, scoring six points, grabbed four boards, dishing out five dimes and a steal in 19 minutes. 

“I’m grateful just to be able to step on that floor,” Simmons said, per ESPN. “Step on an NBA floor again. I had a lot of fun out there.”

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Out on the west coast, Kawhi Leonard made his well-awaited return after suffering a torn ACL during the 2021 NBA playoffs against the Utah Jazz. The two-time Finals MVP picked up right where he left off, scoring 11 points and collecting four rebounds with two steals against the Portland Trailblazers in only 16 minutes.

“It was great,” Leonard said. “Just being able to put all that hard work that I did throughout the, 14, 16 months, just able to put it to test and playing against NBA talent, it was good.”

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And then there’s SLAM 230 cover star Jamal Murray, who has been missing from action since he tore his ACL during the 2021 regular season. He gave optimists a lot of reasons to feel vindicated for their faith that he would return better than ever in his first game back, finishing with 10 points on 4-7 from the field in only 15 minutes. 

We’ve said it before, but let it be known now that’s he back: it’s Jamal Murray’s time.

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With the NBA regular season right around the corner, these three superstars are joining (or re-joining) teams with championship aspirations and contention expectations. It’s been too many days too long and the game is better with them on the court. 

The post Ben Simmons, Jamal Murray and Kawhi Leonard Make Their NBA Return appeared first on SLAM.

The main question the Clippers will face, besides health, will be what happens with Wall. The four-time All-Star will be playing for the first time since getting shut down in April 2021 due to a grade 2 hamstring injury. When Leonard was asked about the Clippers’ offseason acquisitions on Media Day, he spoke well of Wall, letting the world know that Wall has “been looking great” this summer.

“John, all I can really go back (to) is the two years I seen him against us in Houston, ” Leonard said. He was playing well — that’s the last time I probably seen him in person in a live-game action other than the practices here, but he’s been looking great so let’s put it all on the floor and see what we could do. Like I said, we got a lot of talent here, and I think we can make something happen.”

We back, #ClipperNation! pic.twitter.com/OAVM0SV2tp

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) September 27, 2022

When Wall was interviewed, he gave assembled reporters and fans a resounding message as training camp and preseason loom over the basketball world.

“Just let the world know — you’re gonna see a dog; that’s what you got when you signed me.”

Wall will have plenty of opportunity to prove he’s got that dog in him in his first games since Houston unceremoniously moved on from him and asked him to stay at home so they could focus on developing their young core of talent.

The post Kawhi Leonard: John Wall Has ‘Been Looking Great’ Through Offseason appeared first on SLAM.

Lawrence Frank says that Kawhi Leonard is cleared for 5-on-5. Says that he wants to do "everything" but organization is stressing the long game and a methodical approach.

— Law Murray (@LawMurrayTheNU) September 22, 2022

Frank added that Leonard wants to do “everything” to get back on the court, but the Clippers are committed to “stressing a methodical approach.” When Frank was asked about his expectations for Leonard and the Clippers, he reminded reporters that the team “was playing at a high level” before Leonard went down with his knee injury.

“All we have to do is go back two years ago to Kawhi’s injury against Utah,” Frank said. “And you know, Kawhi was playing the best basketball player in the world — our team was playing at a high level, and unfortunately for Kawhi and for the group, he got injured. So I think with that it just reinforces the urgency you have to approach every single day that nothing’s guaranteed; this League changes quickly. People forget quickly.”

…Our team was playing at a high level and, you know, unfortunately for Kawhi and for the group he got injured. So I think with that it just reinforces the urgency you have to approach every single day that nothing's guaranteed this league, changes quickly. People forget quickly

— Law Murray (@LawMurrayTheNU) September 22, 2022

Although a Leonard return date is unknown, with the return of Paul George and the addition of John Wall, outside expectations are that the Clippers will be a significant threat to the Warriors repeating as champs for the first time since 2017-2018. Leonard was responsible for stopping the Heat Warriors from three-peating in 2014 and 2019, respectively.

When he was last healthy, Leonard averaged 30.4 points and 7.7 rebounds per game in 11 postseason appearances. Without Leonard and George for most of the season, the Clippers went 42-40 and finished eighth in the Western Conference playoff race. They were denied a playoff appearance after losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves during the play-in tournament.

The post Kawhi Leonard Wants to Do ‘Everything’ After Getting Cleared for 5-on-5 Action appeared first on SLAM.

One of the main leaders on that team, Tony Parker, one-third of the Spurs Big Three that helped deliver four championships to San Antonio, believes that with Coach Ime Udoka leading from the sidelines, the Boston Celtics can make up for their heartbreaking Finals loss to the Golden State Warriors. It all starts with allowing 2022 to serve as a motivator to the ultimate goal of not only making it back to the Finals but winning it all.

“For the Celtics,” Parker said per The Athletic, “that’s what they have to do.”

“He was with us in those years,” Parker said. “So he can definitely take some stuff from what we had to go through. I played with him as teammates and had him as a coach. He’s been through everything with us, so he knows better than anybody how to bounce back from a tough NBA Finals loss.”

There are some big differences between those Spurs and these Celtics. For one, the core of the Celtics are all under 30, with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown being 24 and 25-years-old respectively. The Spurs championship core were all well into their 30s execpt Kawhi Leonard, who won his first Finals MVP that season but was yet to become the lethal scorer he is today.

The main thing that the Celtics will have to do is continue to play like they did from the flip into 2022 until the end of the regular season, finishing the season fifth in assists per 100 posessions and forming the top-ranked defense in the Legue. Being able to lean into team play will allow the Celtics to not allow offensive lapses like they did during their run to the Finals and over the final four of the championship series against the Warriors.

Both Udoka and team president have stated that they want to see the Celtics play with “a little bit more movement,” on the court. Being able to replicate what the Spurs did during their 2014 title run will be difficult, espcially with two wings that are deadly in isolation, but in order Boston to hang their record 18th title, they might have to sacrifice those points in order to accomplish their ultimate goal.

“For me, the way we lost in 2013, it created what happened in 2014,” Parker said. “Maybe one of the best finals in NBA history. Maybe the best Spurs basketball that we played. In 2014, the way we played, the passing game, everything, we were maybe at the highest level of my whole career. It started with a tough loss in 2013.”

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Here’s our No. 21-11:

21. 2015-16 Golden State Warriors

Coach: Steve Kerr (Luke Walton, Interim Head Coach)

Record: 73-9

Roster: Leandro Barbosa, Harrison Barnes, Andrew Bogut, Ian Clark, Stephen Curry, Festus Ezeli, Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston, Kevon Looney, James Michael McAdoo, Brandon Rush, Marreese Speights, Jason Thompson, Klay Thompson, Anderson Varejao

Never before in NBA history had a team finished the regular season with a single digit in the loss column. When these Dubs did it, fresh off the first of what seemed sure to be three or five or 10 titles with the Curry-Thompson-Green core, a championship seemed like almost a formality—and even more so when they took a seemingly insurmountable 3-1 lead in the Finals. Only then it was Cleveland’s turn to make history.

20. 2015-16 Cleveland Cavaliers

Record: 57-25

Roster: Jared Cunningham, Matthew Dellavedova, Channing Frye, Joe Harris, Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, Richard Jefferson, Dahntay Jones, James Jones, Sasha Kaun, Kevin Love, Jordan McRae, Timofey Mozgov, Iman Shumpert, JR Smith, Tristan Thompson, Anderson Varejao, Mo Williams

There would be no shame in a second straight Finals loss to the mighty Warriors—no shame for LeBron, Kyrie and Kevin in falling short against the historically elite Dubs. There would be disappointment, sure, that the title LeBron came back to Cleveland to win, as part of arguably the most talented team in Cavs history, simply wasn’t meant to be. But this was Cleveland. They were used to disappointment. They weren’t used to making history. Until they did.

19. 1991-92 Chicago Bulls

Coach: Phil Jackson

Record: 67-15

Roster: BJ Armstrong, Bill Cartwright, Horace Grant, Bob Hansen, Craig Hodges, Dennis Hopson, Michael Jordan, Stacey King, Cliff Levingston, Chuck Nevitt, John Paxson, Will Perdue, Scottie Pippen, Mark Randall, Rory Sparrow, Scott Williams

One title, against an aging Lakers team, did not make a dynasty, and so the Bulls came into the ’91-92 season motivated for more. Those 67 regular-season wins were a statement, as was another MVP award for Michael Jordan (30.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 6.1 apg). But as ever, the playoffs were where it mattered, and Chicago needed to survive a seven-game series with the Knicks en route to the Finals. Once there, a hungry and talented Portland team promised to make the Bulls earn it. And so they did.

18. 2013-14 San Antonio Spurs

Coach: Gregg Popovich

Record: 62-20

Roster: Jeff Ayres, Aron Baynes, Marco Belinelli, Matt Bonner, Shannon Brown, Austin Daye, Nando De Colo, Boris Diaw, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Danny Green, Damion James, Othyus Jeffers, Cory Joseph, Kawhi Leonard, Patty Mills, Tony Parker, Tiago Splitter, Malcolm Thomas

The whole thing with the Spurs’ post-millennial dominance was that it was Duncan, Parker and Ginobili, and then whatever spare parts Coach Pop managed to perfectly align around them. It wasn’t supposed to be like this: A 22-year-old, third-year forward who averaged 12.8 ppg in the regular season emerging as the most impactful player in the entire postseason, including a Finals MVP performance in a five-game humbling of the Heat. This Kawhi Leonard guy might be pretty good.

17. 1997-98 Chicago Bulls

Coach: Phil Jackson

Record: 62-20

Roster: Keith Booth, Randy Brown, Jud Buechler, Scott Burrell, Jason Caffey, Ron Harper, Michael Jordan, Steve Kerr, Joe Kleine, Toni Kukoc, Rusty LaRue, Luc Longley, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Dickey Simpkins, David Vaughn, Bill Wennington

The Bulls kept the gang together for the “Last Dance,” and the result was a sixth title in eight years. There was plenty of tension and pressure. As usual, Michael Jordan was a hard-driving, big-scoring winner, while Scottie Pippen rode shotgun. Toni Kukoc did a bit of everything, and Dennis Rodman pounded the boards. Chicago survived a seven-game thriller with Indiana to reach the Finals, then dispatched Utah in six to end it all in style.

16. 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers

Coach: Alex Hannum

Record: 68-13

Roster: Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Costello, Billy Cunningham, Dave Gambee, Hal Greer, Matt Guokas, Luke Jackson, Wali Jones, Bill Melchionni, Chet Walker, Bob Weiss

After years of dominating the scorebook but not the winner’s circle, Wilt Chamberlain finally won a title. He did it by playing great defense, grabbing nearly every rebound and, amazingly, passing. He had plenty of targets. Hal Greer, Chet Walker, Billy Cunningham and Wali Jones were dangerous scorers, and few were tougher inside than Luke Jackson.
The Sixers whipped the Celtics in five to reach the Finals and then stopped the Warriors to give The Big Dipper a championship.

15. 1984-85 Los Angeles Lakers

Coach: Pat Riley

Record: 62-20

Roster: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Cooper, Magic Johnson, Earl Jones, Mitch Kupchak, Ronnie Lester, Bob McAdoo, Mike McGee, Chuck Nevitt, Kurt Rambis, Byron Scott, Larry Spriggs, Jamaal Wilkes, James Worthy

The Lakers had lost in two straight Finals but ’84-85 would be different. L.A. trampled all Western Conference competition and was led again by maestro Magic Johnson. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was still a force in the paint, while James Worthy, Byron Scott and Michael Cooper were a formidable supporting cast. After L.A. lost by 34 in the Finals opener, Abdul-Jabbar took over and was MVP of the Lakers’ first-ever championship win over Boston.

14. 1988-89 Detroit Pistons

Coach: Chuck Daly

Record: 63-19

Roster: Mark Aguirre, Adrian Dantley, Darryl Dawkins, Fennis Dembo, Joe Dumars, James Edwards, Steve Harris, Vinnie Johnson, Bill Laimbeer, John Long, Rick Mahorn, Pace Mannion, Dennis Rodman, Jim Rowinski, John Salley, Isiah Thomas, Micheal Williams

The Pistons won a title with a team as tough as their town. The Bad Boys were physical, to be sure, but they had plenty of talent. Isiah Thomas teamed with Joe Dumars in a lethal backcourt, with Vinnie Johnson providing heat off the bench. Rick Mahorn and Bill Laimbeer handled the rough stuff, and the mid-season trade for Mark Aguirre brought it all together. Detroit ended the Showtime era by sweeping the Lakers in the Finals.

13. 2017-18 Golden State Warriors

Coach: Steve Kerr

Record: 58-24

Roster: Jordan Bell, Chris Boucher, Omri Casspi, Quinn Cook, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala, Damian Jones, Shaun Livingston, Kevon Looney, Patrick McCaw, JaVale McGee, Zaza Pachulia, Klay Thompson, David West, Nick Young

For the Dubs, regular-season records had long since been rendered meaningless. This was about trophies, and the last of Golden State’s trio of titles ended up being its most conclusive. KD and Steph both missed chunks of the season but still functioned as the League’s most reliable cheat code when it mattered, and after a seven-game scare from Houston in the West Finals, the Warriors swept a depleted Cavs squad for the championship.

12. 1996-97 Chicago Bulls

Coach: Phil Jackson

Record: 69-13

Roster: Randy Brown, Jud Buechler, Jason Caffey, Bison Dele, Ron Harper, Michael Jordan, Steve Kerr, Toni Kukoc, Luc Longley, Robert Parish, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Dickey Simpkins, Matt Steigenga, Bill Wennington

By now, it was only a question of how long they could keep it going. A year after that 72-win campaign, the Bulls started the ’96-97 season with 12 straight victories and had five winning streaks of seven games or more. The machine just kept humming right up until the Finals, and then, there was a moment in Game 6 when it looked like the Jazz might force a Game 7. But they didn’t, because against these Bulls, nobody ever did.

11. 1964-65 Boston Celtics

Coach: Red Auerbach

Record: 62-18

Roster: Ron Bonham, Mel Counts, John Havlicek, Tom Heinsohn, KC Jones, Sam Jones, Willie Naulls, Bevo Nordmann, Bill Russell, Tom Sanders, Larry Siegfried, John Thompson, Gerry Ward

The best team of Boston’s ’60s dynasty? It’s at least in the conversation. Six Celtics averaged double figures, led by Sam Jones’ 25.9 ppg. It was the last of Bill Russell’s five MVP seasons, and the last of Tommy Heinsohn’s Hall of Fame career. The defining moment, thanks to a legendary call by Johnny Most, came against Philly in Game 7 of the East Finals: “Havlicek stole the ball!” A 4-1 dispatching of the Lakers in the Finals was almost anticlimactic.

Read here to find out who made it on the rest of the list, including No. 75-66, 65-55, 54-44, 43-33 and 32-22.

Get your copy of SLAM Presents TOP 75 NBA Teams Of All Time

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Leonard still appears to be a ways away from a return, but Clippers fans got some positive news about George on Thursday.

According to ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk, George practiced with the Clippers for the first time since December, before he was ruled out with injury.

Youngmisuk spoke with Clippers’ head coach Tyronn Lue about George’s progress, and he had positive things to say about his rehab thus far.

“He is doing good,” Lue said. “He hasn’t felt any pain, so that is a positive thing. Just working on his conditioning and just making sure he can continue to go through the minimal contact without having any issue. So as of right now, it hasn’t been a problem.”

Since December, George has been injured with a torn ligament in his right elbow, playing most recently in the Clippers’ Dec. 22 matchup against the Sacramento Kings. Before the injury, George had played in 26 games for the Clippers this season and averaged 24.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game.

While no specific timetable was given for George’s return, Lue told Youngmisuk that he hopes to get his injured players, including guard Norman Powell, who is out with a broken foot, back for at least one game before the playoffs.

George’s impact on the Clippers can’t be understated. Over his 12 seasons in the NBA, George has accumulated seven All-Star appearances, six All-NBA Team appearances, and four All-Defensive Team appearances.

The Clippers (36-38) have just eight games remaining this season and sit eighth in the Western Conference. The next game for Los Angeles will be a visit to Philadelphia on Friday to take on the 76ers (45-27).

The post REPORT: Paul George Practiced With Clippers for First Time Since December appeared first on SLAM.

Back in January, the Clippers had the second-largest comeback in NBA History when, after trailing by as much as 35 points, they managed to beat the Wizards by one. The win marked their third game this season that they’ve come back from being down 24 or more points.

After the game, according to ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk, Lue says that Kawhi Leonard called him to ask: “So you just going to keep getting down 25, come back and win, huh?”

Youngmisuk used his story to describe the Clippers’ resilience this season, led by Lue as a head coach, and their ability to come back from massive deficits.

“I just want to prove to people that I can coach,” Lue told Youngmisuk.

And he has. With Leonard out due to an ACL tear, and Paul George having battled with an elbow injury, the Clippers are currently sitting eighth in the Western Conference with a record of 36-38.

With only a handful of games remaining this season, the Clippers have some work to do to remain in the playoffs, especially with five of their last eight games of the season coming against the Philadelphia 76ers, Utah Jazz, Chicago Bulls, Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks.

The post Kawhi Leonard Called Tyronn Lue After Clippers’ Historic Comeback appeared first on SLAM.

“We know Kawhi’s probably not gonna come back,”

“I don’t know,” Lue said. “I’m not a doctor. But hope is stronger than fear. So I’m hoping that these two guys can come back. But you never know.”

Leonard has been held out all season to rehab a torn ACL suffered in Game 4 of the Clippers’ second-round series on June 14. Serge Ibaka shared what he observed with Leonard’s process to return to the floor.

“I saw him a couple times. He [is] doing good, he [is] working so hard,” Ibaka said. “Every day, he’s in the gym. I know Kawhi. He loves this game, and he’s going to try to do [the] best he can to be back strong.

“He [is] working so hard. Actually, it is impressive to see the way he has been working. He’s getting stronger. I know he wants to come back, but it’s just a question of time.”

Ty Lue’s quote might bring closure to the ongoing questions of Leonard’s return. First, it was hopeful that he would be back by the playoff due to reports of how well rehab was going. A report that Yahoo! Sports’ Chris B. Haynes touched on during a Clippers game on TNT a few weeks ago.

Sources: My @NBAonTNT report on Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard now ahead of schedule in rehab from a torn ACL with a strong possibility of a return this season. pic.twitter.com/geyUX5Rgkv

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 7, 2022

After opting out of his contract, Leonard signed a four-year max extension with the Clippers this offseason. He averaged 24.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game last season.

The post Clippers HC Ty Lue Announces Kawhi Leonard Is Likely to Miss Season appeared first on SLAM.

Despite not having the services of superstar Kawhi Leonard this season and losing Paul George in December to an elbow injury, they now stand at seventh place in the West with a 26-26 record. The team hasn’t closed the door on either player being shut down for the season and is looking for point guard help just in case.

According to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, the Clippers are in the market for a point guard in a trade with possibly six players being targets.

“If the Clippers dip below .500, it should come as no big surprise. But this isn’t a lost season without Leonard and George. Not at all. In fact, the Clippers found their identity on defense by examining their roster and trying to find out who will fit with their stars in the years to come.”

Despite all the good vibes on the court this season, no team is ever fully complete. Change is inevitable. And the next step for the Clippers is to find a new point guard.

While Reggie Jackson currently covers the position, the Clippers see him as more of a scorer. What they want by his side is a playmaker. Someone like Fred VanVleet or Kyle Lowry for Leonard in Toronto, or even George Hill was for a young PG-13 in Indiana. L.A. wants a point guard on that level, someone who can manage the game or provide a spark depending on the situation.

So, what kind of point guard can the Clippers reasonably obtain? Over the past few weeks, numerous reports have cited names like Jalen Brunson, Dennis Schröder, Kemba Walker, Goran Dragic, Spencer Dinwiddie, and John Wall as targets.”

The team plan’s on moving potential expiring contracts such as Serge Ibaka, Ivica Zubac (team option for 2022-23 season), or Nicolas Batum (player option for 2022-23)

The Los Angeles Clippers made team history by making Western Conference Finals last season before falling to the eventual conference champion, Phoenix Suns.

The post REPORT: The Clippers Make Multiple Players Available For Point Guard Help appeared first on SLAM.

Sources: My @NBAonTNT report on Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard now ahead of schedule in rehab from a torn ACL with a strong possibility of a return this season. pic.twitter.com/geyUX5Rgkv

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 7, 2022

The news couldn’t come at a better time for Los Angeles, who is already missing Paul George for a few weeks with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his shooting elbow diagnosed in December. The Clippers are currently the eighth seed in the Westen Conference with a 19-20 record.

Leonard injured his ACL during the Western Conference semifinals series against the Utah Jazz. The Clippers called the injury a knee sprain during the team’s final eight playoff games before announcing the injury was more severe than initially thought and needed surgery. 

Clippers executive Jerry West was on the TK Podcast with The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami, beaming about the two-time Finals MVP.

“I have to say, I’ve never seen a harder working person in my life. If you look at him now, he looks great. Doing things that I didn’t expect he could do. But I’m not a doctor, and certainly don’t know what the ongoing problems for not being in tip-top shape, ready to play a much quicker and agile game are, but just watching him, my goodness, if you watch him walk around, you would never know that he had that operation.”

The three-time Defensive Player of the Year averaged 24.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.6 steals last season.

The post REPORT: Kawhi Leonard is Ahead of Schedule With Rehab on Knee appeared first on SLAM.

Leonard had surgery in July to repair his torn ACL, which is typically an 8-9 month recovery for NBA athletes. This meant that there was a good chance he would miss the entire regular season. 

According to Farbod Esnaashari of Sports Illustrated, Leonard is ahead of schedule in his ACL rehab he hasn’t been completely ruled out coming back in the upcoming season. With that in mind, the Clippers aren’t in a rush to bring him back.

During the 2020-21 regular season, Leonard was one of the best players in the NBA, averaging 24.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game. 

The post Kawhi Leonard Continues to Stay Ahead of Rehab Schedule appeared first on SLAM.

According to ESPN, Frank restated the fact that Kawhi Leonard has to do “significant rehab” from his ACL injury and that “no one knows” the time frame when the Clippers franchise player will return or if he will play this season.

“I think at this point, it’s just no one knows when you’re dealing with a recovery from an ACL [injury], the time frame.”

“Even just to save you guys [from asking] throughout the year, is no one knows. You just attack it day by day. He has a very detailed plan with a great group, and we’ll just let his body and the doctors tell us when it’s the right time.”

Leonard had surgery to repair a partial tear in his right ACL on back in July and is “expected to be out for an extended period of time.” The injury occurred during the fourth quarter of Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Utah Jazz. He missed the final eight playoff games with what the team called a sprained right knee.

Head coach Ty Lue also weighed in on Leonard’s status, specifically when asked if he even “allows himself to think” that Leonard might return by the playoffs.

“I hope he comes back October 21st [for the opener],” he said, per ESPN. “But the reality is he’s not going to be ready then. We don’t want to force him or put any pressure on him. We want to make sure he’s rehabbing, doing everything he can to get back as soon as possible, and if that’s next season, that’s next season.”

“We don’t want to force him to come back too early. We want to make sure he’s 100% when he does come back.”

The Clippers’ offseason moves proves the patience being practiced with Leonard’s injury. In the offseason alone, they have signed frontcourt players like Isaiah Hartenstein, Harry Giles III, Nicolas Batum and Justise Winslow to potentially fill in the void left by Kawhi.

Leonard recently signed a four year max extension with the Clippers after opting out his contract to become a free agent. He averaged 24.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game last season.

The post Los Angeles Clippers Provides Clarity on Kawhi Leonard’s Return appeared first on SLAM.

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Leonard will sign a four-year, $176.3 million max contract with the Clippers.

The contract for Leonard includes three guaranteed years, with the fourth year serving as a player option, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.

Nonetheless, Leonard’s status for next season remains unclear, as he could miss the entire season due to a torn ACL injury he suffered in the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the Utah Jazz. The Clippers went on to win that series against the Jazz before being bounced from the playoffs by the Phoenix Suns, the eventual Western Conference Champion.

Prior the ACL injury, Leonard had a monster 2020-21 season, averaging 24.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game and continuing to demonstrate the dominance that’s made him a household name.

The post REPORT: Kawhi Leonard Signs Four-Year Deal with the Clippers appeared first on SLAM.

Even though Kawhi was injured, Paul George kept the team competed against the Phoenix Suns and blossomed as the number one scoring option. He had a playoff career-high 41 points in Game 5.

However, after the Clippers lost to the Suns in Game 6, George expressed that “if” Leonard had been healthy the outcome for them could have been different.

“This series would be a lot different. Talk about one of the best players in the League being out, yet we were inches away from getting to the next round,” he said, per ESPN. “So, definitely it’s a ‘what if’ on this. Fact of the matter is we didn’t do enough to win, and that’s the reason we’re going home.”

Leonard has a player option that pays $36 million for next season. If he declines, he’ll become an unrestricted free agent and could go elsewhere.

With other teams are already rumored to be interested, George spoke on the partnership possibly continuing after Leonard convinced George to play together in 2019.

“We’ve both grown, myself and Kawhi together. We really enjoy being teammates, and we see what we can be,” George said via NBA.com. “One of the commitments I made signing my contract was to show I’m here for the long run and I’m committed to this team. Hopefully that weighs on anybody’s decision.”

Leonard is not the only player whose status is up in the air. Serge Ibaka has a player option worth $9.7 million. A back injury ended his season prematurely.

The Clippers have a list of unrestricted free agents to decide on as well. Nicolas Batum, DeMarcus Cousins, and Patrick Patterson will all be unrestricted free agents. The biggest name on the list is Reggie Jackson.

Jackson exploded on the scene in the playoffs, averaging 17.8 points shooting 41 percent from three-point range. His performance might have set him up for a big contract next season.

The NBA free agency period will begin August 2nd.

The post Clippers Face Offseason With A Big Contract Decision From Kawhi Leonard appeared first on SLAM.

Up-and-coming players such as Luka Doncic, Trae Young, Devin Booker, and Nikola Jokic have continued to shine brightly, thriving in what have been perceived to be less glamorous NBA markets, while the parity amongst teams provided the thrillingly unpredictable season that fans have been clamoring for.

On top of all that, as the league’s collection of stars continues to grow, the pantheon of current all-time greats does as well. LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry have been joined by Giannis Antetokounmpo, Russell Westbrook, Kawhi Leonard and James Harden in recent years.

With that said, although today’s fans have a natural inclination to try to establish who the best player in the NBA is (perhaps due to what will be a never-ending ‘GOAT’ debate), what’s become clear is that the days when that was possible—if there even has been in the post-Michael Jordan era—is gone.

There’s no sole Wilt Chamberlain that’s performing athletic feats that lead to astronomical numbers that don’t look real on paper. There’s no, as previously mentioned, sole player reminiscent of a matured Jordan whose playmaking was as masterful as his aggressive play style was menacing.

These days are a lot like the ones is Jordan’s early years, where he, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Larry Bird could have been considered equal. Or like James’ early years, with he, Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan vying for the title of best player in the world.

There’s no longer one king of the court, and perhaps there may not need to be.

Instead of one face of the NBA, there are now several players deserving of the title:

King James, commander of the 10th Legion (pointed Julius Caesar reference).

King KD, basketball savant (and renowned tweeter).

King Curry of the Bay, master archer (and golfer).

King Giannis the Humble, of Greece and Nigeria.

King Kawhi, the second cyborg on this list.

The five players with a right to claim the title as best player in the league due to the combination of their abilities, impact and accomplishments.

This coregency is routinely noted by fans that would rather rank players by tiers but the idea hasn’t gained enough traction among mainstream analysts and media. If it had, the mystifying debates about the best player in the league would have given way to discourse about how this quintet has succeeded in very different ways and the different groups of people each represent.

One last thing: the Hardens, Jokics and Westbrooks also deserve praise as recent MVPs. Their crowning—their coronation as kings—occurred during their award ceremony.

Without multiple championships or MVP awards (either in the Finals or regular season), they won’t be seen in the same light as the aforementioned players.

Even still, in an empire, there are multiple kings.

[Editor’s note: In this metaphor, one may still wind up wondering who the emperor—the king of kings—is (if anybody, it would likely be LeBron, who’s also known as “the Little Emperor” in China).]

The post State of the NBA: There’s No Longer, and No Need For, One King appeared first on SLAM.

According to The Atheltic’s Shams Charania, Leonard had successful surgery on his partially torn right ACL.

Leonard suffered the injury in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals against the Utah Jazz. As a result of the injury, Leonard missed the rest of LA’s postseason run. The Clippers, led by a resurgent Paul George and a focused Reggie Jackson, would eventually lose the Western Conference Finals in six games to the Phoenix Suns.

In addition to questions about his health, The Klaw also has questions surrounding his contract status heading into next year with a $36 million player option with Clippers for the 2021-22 season. If Leonard chooses to decline his player option, he will become an unrestricted free agent.

In his 10th NBA season, Leonard had a great season for the Clippers, putting up 24.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and a career-high 5.2 assists per game.

The post Kawhi Leonard Reportedly Had Surgery on Partially Torn ACL appeared first on SLAM.

As first reported by The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor, the Mavericks, and Heat plan to hard push to acquire Leonard this summer with his potential impending free agency looming. 

O’Connor also reported that Dallas is considered by some executives to be the most serious threat to land Kawhi because of Luka Doncic’s presence and the front office’s ability to create maximum cap space or work out a sign-and-trade.

Leonard tried to recruit Jimmy Butler to the Clippers before George was acquired in 2019, so Miami could be an attractive destination for him if he desired a pairing with Butler still. 

As with nearly every superstar, the Knicks are also expected to have interest in Leonard if he does become available. The list of teams who would take a shot at Leonard should be extremely long, but for now the Mavericks and Heat seem to make sense early on. 

The post Heat, Mavericks To Make Run At Kawhi Leonard appeared first on SLAM.

On Sunday evening, the team announced that Leonard would officially miss Game 5 as the series heads back to Phoenix. He’s recovering from an ACL injury that has turned LA’s postseason outlook upside down. 

Already in an uphill battle, the Clippers will look to chip away at their deficit without their best player, looking to pull off the rare 3-1 comeback. 

Paul George will look to continue to carry the team in Leonard’s absence, as he’s averaged 27.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game in the Western Conference Finals. 

The post Kawhi Leonard To Miss Game 5 Of Western Conference Finals appeared first on SLAM.

In what’s become one of the most arduous processes, with so much talent at every position and only 15 spots to fill, debates have raged about players thought to have been snubbed. Nonetheless, most would be hard pressed not to agree with the honorees.

All-NBA First Team

The 2020-21 All-NBA First Team:

Giannis Antetokounmpo
Stephen Curry
Luka Dončić
Nikola Jokić
Kawhi Leonard pic.twitter.com/WYSz2le2Be

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) June 16, 2021

The recently crowned Kia NBA Most Valuable Player, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić (99 votes); Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (100 votes); and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (98 votes) dominated the 2020-21 All-NBA First Team voting.

Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic and Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard rounded out the top five players on the All-NBA First Team.

All-NBA Second Team

The 2020-21 All-NBA Second Team:

Joel Embiid
LeBron James
Damian Lillard
Chris Paul
Julius Randle pic.twitter.com/t5iZu1MahA

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) June 16, 2021

With his second team selection, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James added to his record for most All-NBA Team selections with 17, including: 13 First Team selections (also a record), three Second Team selections and one Third Team selection. Friend and Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul collected his 10th All-NBA Team selection, which ranks second among active players behind LeBron.

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid and New York Knicks power forward Julius Randle—the 2020-21 Most Improved Player—rounded out the Second Team.

All-NBA Third Team

The 2020-21 All-NBA Third Team:

Bradley Beal
Jimmy Butler
Paul George
Rudy Gobert
Kyrie Irving pic.twitter.com/s4aEK3ivcs

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) June 16, 2021

With his selection, Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal made his first All-NBA team after battling Curry for the NBA’s 2020-21 scoring title. Los Angeles Clippers wing Paul George made his All-NBA sixth team while three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert and Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler each notched their fourth selections.

Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving made his third All-NBA team.

The All-NBA teams were voted in by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Voters select two guards, two forwards and one center for each team.

The post All-NBA Teams Announced for 2020-21 Season appeared first on SLAM.

Despite only finishing with 17 points in the 103-100 loss (he averages 27.4 points per game in the 2021 NBA Playoffs), it appears that Embiid didn’t let a substandard performance bother him too much.

Especially after seeing his comedic reaction to Kawhi Leonard’s absolutely earth-scorching dunk in the Los Angeles Clippers’ blowout win over the Utah Jazz.

Joel Embiid reacted to Kawhi’s poster dunk in the middle of his post-game interview pic.twitter.com/SgdIBFRbHw

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 15, 2021

Embiid was originally asked a question about his knee injury, and was noting how even before Game 4 began, he felt off.

““From the beginning of the game, even before I went back to the locker room, I just felt like I didn’t have it tonight,” he said. 

Then, while continuing his answer, he peered up and saw Leonard’s dunk on a screen off-picture.

Kawhi received the ball at the top of the key, blown by Royce O’Neal, and viciously leaped up-and-into Derrick Favors, dunking it with authority.

Jazz star Donovan Mitchell’s face says it all.

Look at Donovan Mitchell’s face

: @LAClippers pic.twitter.com/svpOOKUzc7

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 15, 2021

“And of course you can kind of—Oh my god! See that dunk? See that Kawhi dunk? Man, wow. But you could see from the beginning of the game it was tough,” Embiid continued.

While Embiid’s reaction was a brief reprieve from what otherwise was one of the worst performances in his playoff career, the entire interview was a fascinating insight into how the big man evaluates his struggles.

You can be sure he’ll come ready for Game 5 with a similar energy to Leonard’s explosive dunk.

The post Joel Embiid Stops Press Conference While Reacting to Kawhi Leonard’s Poster appeared first on SLAM.

(#1) Philadelphia 76ers 100, (#5) Atlanta Hawks 103

Series tied 2-2

Things looked bleak for the Hawks early in Game 4, with star guard Trae Young struggling to score in the first half and their bench going 0-8 from the field, being outscored 20-10.

As a result, Atlanta found themselves in an 13-point hole.

Entering the second half 3-12 from the floor, Young eventually was able to flip the switch and erase the deficit, squeaking out a narrow three-point win in the end. Young finished his night with 25 points (on 8-26 shooting) and 18 assists, tied for the second-most in playoff history.

Continuing a strong semifinals series, Bogdan Bogdanovic tallied 22 points for the Hawks, who had double-double performances from both Clint Capela (12 points, 13 rebounds) and John Collins (14 points, 12 rebounds). It was a rough night of shooting for the entire Hawks team, with Atlanta shooting just 36.6 percent from the field and 30.0 percent from three but they willed themselves to a win nonetheless.

While losing a winnable playoff game is already bad enough for the Sixers, there are reasons to be even more upset for Philadelphia fans, as All-Star center Joel Embiid exited the game in the second quarter with a knee injury.

Embiid returned for the second half but struggled, going 0-for-12 from the field and ending the game with 17 points and 20 rebounds. However, the scoring of starters Seth Curry (17 points) and Tobias Harris (20 points) kept Philadelphia’s offense afloat.

The 76ers shot the ball much better than their opponents (43.5 percent from the field and 40.7 percent from 3-point range) but their 12 turnovers (compared to just four for the Hawks) may have been the difference.

Game 5 is set for Wednesday night, at 7:30 PM (EST) on TNT.

(#1) Utah Jazz 104, (#4) Los Angeles Clippers 118

Series tied 2-2

In the first two games of the series, the Clippers looked overwhelmed by the Jazz. Four games into their matchup against their series against Utah, the Big Two of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George seem to have found their groove during back-to-back blowout wins.

Los Angeles bolted to a 17-point lead in the first quarter and maintained that gap for nearly the rest of the game. By the end of the contest, both The Klaw and Young Trece dropped 31 points, while veteran forward Marcus tacked on an additional 24 points.

Unfortunately, injuries were a talking point following the contests, with Leonard suffering a knee injury late in the Clippers’ victory.

With Donovan Mitchell going 9-26 from the field while facing LA’s stifling perimeter defenders, the Jazz struggled to be competitive in Game 4 despite Spida getting to the line a game-high 15 times to score 37 points. Fellow guard Jordan Clarkson had a tough shooting night, scoring eight points in 30 minutes on 3-for-12 from the field and 2-8 from deep.

Sharpshooter Joe Ingles was massively efficient for the Jazz though, scoring 19 points on 7-for-9 from the field, while Bojan Bogdanovic chipped in 18 points.

The Jazz will have a chance to retake the series lead in Game 5, back home in Utah, on Wednesday night.

The post Post Up: We’re All Tied Up appeared first on SLAM.

SLAM breaks down a historic NBA playoff first-round series:

No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers 104, No. 5 Dallas Mavericks 97

Series tied 3-3

This is the first-round series that will not end. The Dallas Mavericks are the odds on favorite to win this series on Sunday. Why? The Mavs are the road team. With the Clippers coming back to tie the series and force a Game 7, this is the first time in NBA playoff history that the road team has won the first six games without a loss.

The Los Angeles Clippers didn’t stop Luka Doncic in this game, but they made him work just enough as he finished with 29 points and 11 assists.

The story of this game was Kawhi Leonard. The two-time champion showed why he will always be in the conversation as one of the top five players in the NBA. This report does not do him justice.

He can score on the inside and dunk on you.

Vicious. (via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/AY7SeY35bV

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) June 5, 2021

He can dance with anyone to set up the mid range.

Kawhi’s midrange game is lethal. (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/a6DVdrzr0M

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) June 5, 2021

Then he can send you home with a step back 3 pointer. He gave Luka a taste of what he had been doing to his teammates all series long.

KAWHI IS DIALED IN. (via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/otiYjgIe6G

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) June 5, 2021

Kawhi Leonard finished with 45 points (18-25 shooting!) spurred on by five shots from long distance. He had a personal 11-0 run in the third quarter to get the Clippers back in the game and found time to fill out the stat sheet with 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Easily one of the top five early performances of these playoffs.

Game 7 is on Sunday at 3:30 pm EST on ABC. Don’t miss it.

The post Post Up: Kawhi Leonard Puts On Clinic to Force Game 7 Sunday appeared first on SLAM.

Over 25 teams across all major pro sports rock with the brand’s natural energy pre and intra workout supplements and drinks, including Los Angeles Clipper Kawhi Leonard. The NBA All-Star and 2x champ, who has a strict all-natural diet regimen, says X2 enhances his training and game-time performance—giving him all the energy he needs to help lead the Clippers to a top ranking in the West this season.

 “I take pride in what I put in my body,” Kawhi says. “With X2 it’s natural, it tastes good and it gives me the energy to push through my workouts and my game.”

X2 Endurance, the brand’s Natural Energy Drink , contains natural ingredients rather than artificial sugars that typically cause headaches and crashes of energy. That includes 114mg of caffeine derived from green tea, which is just the right amount to give you sustained energy without the crash, as well as cane sugar, pure honey, and ribose—which is a key ingredient for ATP regeneration that transports nutrients to muscles and provides energy and endurance for physical activity and aiding in quicker recovery times. 

The product doesn’t have any carbonation, which can lead to bloating and a false sense of hydration, or artificial colors, flavors, preservatives or sweeteners. 

Even the Klaw has noticed the difference when drinking X2 Endurance versus other energy drinks, “Sometimes when you take those energy drinks there’s a crash to them, or you get a headache during the sugar rush or the energy rush. With X2, there is no rush and no crash after. You feel good about the workout and your body just feels awesome.”

Kawhi has even recently joined the X2 Board of Directors, and other high profile athletes like Super Bowl Champion Lavonte David of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have invested in this rapidly growing brand. David, who is known for his all-out style of play, says it’s just as important to him that he fuels his body with all-natural ingredients.

“I don’t really use artificial products and supplements,” he says. But when I heard about X2 Performance and saw that it was all-natural, I tried it and it worked! I really felt the difference in my training and my game performance.”

From the hardwood to the football field, the X2 Performance brand is a regular sight in locker rooms and sidelines. They have been “NSF Certified for Sport”—which is a 3^rd party program that verifies products contain no contaminants, prohibited substances or masking agents. What’s on the label is what is in the product, which is why so many pro athletes and teams prefer X2.  

Even ESPN NFL Front Office Insider/Former NFL GM, Mike Tannenbaum, remembers spotting X2 bottles in the locker room when he was General Manager for the New York Jets. 

 “I went through the locker room after a victory, and as I’m shaking everyone’s hand, I noticed there’s these empty X2 containers. So, I asked the strength and conditioning coaches, and they said a number of players wanted to use it because it helped them be at their best on training days and game days. Players seek out X2 because they’re using it to enhance their performance naturally and safely.”

Serial Sports Entrepreneur and current X2 Performance CEO, Mark French has previously launched products with elite pro athletes including: Dwyane Wade, Serena Williams, Derek Jeter, Carmelo Anthony and others. With his latest venture, Kawhi Leonard has teamed up with X2 Performance.  “Like with my previous ventures, having a true partner who actually uses the products you create and is active in the business is crucial.  Kawhi is the epitome of a clean athlete and is so disciplined about what he puts in his body.  His involvement in our product development road-map has been critical and it is what truly separates us from every brand in the space.”

Don’t get it twisted though—X2 Performance isn’t just an energy drink for pro athletes. No guarantees that you’ll dunk like Kawhi or win a Super Bowl alongside Tom Brady, but if you’re wondering how you can get your hands on the same natural energy and endurance that’s fueling them, you can find X2 Endurance Natural Energy Drinks and X2 Performance Powders and Shots at CVS, Subway, Amazon, GNC.com and X2Performance.com.

The post The Best Kept Secret: Why Kawhi Leonard and Other Elite Athletes are Choosing X2 Performance—The Natural Healthy Energy Drink appeared first on SLAM.

Clippers star Kawhi Leonard will be re-evaluated next week with right foot soreness.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 20, 2021

Leonard missed four straight games last week mostly due to his foot injury, only to return for Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Leonard finished with a near triple-double, filling the box score with 15 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists in only 23 minutes.

Clippers coach weighed on how the superstar will be handled through this situation leading to the postseason next month, via ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk.

“He wants to get out there,” Lue said. “But right now, it’s not the smartest thing to do with him feeling it and trying to manage it for the most part for a while now. We just got to be smart about it. Sometimes you got to protect the player from themselves, and right now that is what we are doing.”

With Leonard sidelined, the Clippers are missing three starters with various injuries. Point guard Patrick Beverley will be out indefinitely after breaking a fourth metacarpal bone in his left hand on April 8. Center Serge Ibaka has been out 20 games with back problems. Los Angeles filled those gaps by bringing in Rajon Rondo in a trade from Atlanta and signing DeMarcus Cousins on consecutive 10-day contracts.

Leonard has season averages of 25.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game this season, however, he has missed time because of various injuries and NBA’s health and safety protocols.

The post Kawhi Leonard To Be Re-Evaluated Next Week Due to Sore Foot appeared first on SLAM.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James and Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant, widely considered to be the two best players in the league, will be the two captains of the All-Star Game after receiving the most total fan votes.

James and Durant will draft their teams from the All-Star player pool on Mar. 4.

LeBron will be playing in his 17th All-Star Game, the most among all active players and only two shy of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s long-standing record of 19 All-Star selections.

Durant is the only other starter with at least 10 All-Star selections, with this year being his 11th appearance. Furthermore, the Nets are the only team with two players starting in the All-Star Game, with Durant being joined by Kyrie Irving. Irving, who’s having the best season of his career, is making his seventh appearance.

Receiving his seventh All-Star nod is Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, who’s averaging 30.2 points per game on .426 percent shooting from 3-point range from 3-point range in what’s been a comeback season for the two-time NBA MVP.

Meanwhile, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard both will be playing in their fifth All-Star Game, with at least one of the two present in the All-Star Game every season since 2015-16.

The NBA’s leading scorer with 32.7 points per game, Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal, will make his third All-Star appearance. Beal’s selection is particularly notable given that he was universally seen as an All-Star snub last season.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, averaging 29.8 points per game, will also start in the All-Star Game for his fourth appearance.

Embiid’s rival for the title of the best center in the NBA, Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic, will be making his third All-Star Game appearance and his first as a starter.

However, the starter with the least All-Star experience is fellow Euro sensation Luka Doncic, who’s making his second appearance (in just his third year in the NBA). Doncic will now have started both All-Star Games he has taken place in.

The post NBA Announces 2021 All-Star Game Starters appeared first on SLAM.

As fans across the world vote for the players they think deserve a spot on the respective rosters, players around the league have given their take on the situation. 

In an interview with Farbod Esnaashari of Sports Illustrated and other members of the media, Kawhi Leonard of the LA Clippers recently said that the game is only being played to generate revenue for the league and that health isn’t being taken seriously enough.

“It is what it is at this point. We all know why we’re playing it. There’s money on the line…Just putting money over health right now.”

Additionally, Giannis Antetokounmpo told Eric Woodyard of ESPN that if the game does happen, he at least hopes that fans can be there to enjoy it. 

“At the end of the day, if we have the All-Star game, I hope the fans can be there. And, we can give back to them, but at the end of the day if we have the All-Star game just to have an All-Star Game and don’t have no fans, I don’t see the point.”

Regardless of the reasons for the league making this decision, extreme precautions should be made so that the continued health and safety of players are continued. 

This season, NBA players and media will join fans in selecting the NBA All-Star starters. While fans will still account for the majority of the decision, with 50 percent of the vote, current players and a media panel account for 25 percent each. 

The post Kawhi Leonard and Giannis Antetokounmpo Give Their Take On NBA All-Star Game appeared first on SLAM.

According to Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN, Lue is planning on on utilizing Kawhi Leonard like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant this season by implementing a few triangle sets for the Clippers. This is especially interesting considering Jordan and Bryant are two of the guys that Leonard has studied and molded his mid-range game after over the years.

“We have put in two or three sets from the triangle and let Kawhi play in those spaces where Kobe and Jordan played in those spots as well. [Leonard] loves those two players. He really respects and looks up to those guys, so we’re just trying to put him in positions [to succeed]. I was able to play with both those guys, but I also played in the triangle, so just trying to teach him that as well as teaching our team as well.”

Leonard spent quite a bit of time earlier in his career training with Bryant in the offseason. Could this style of offense work for the Clippers with Leonard being the focal point? In the modern NBA the mid-range game has become less popular but that doesn’t seem to bother Lue as he thinks the mid-range game is a lost art.

“I think it’s a lost art. I’m a firm believer in, ‘why not work on what teams are giving up?’ Every team wants to give up the midrange shot, the midrange 2’s, and why not continue to work on the shots that teams are giving up. When you see, even in late-game situations in the fourth quarter, the mid-range shots are what wins the games. Those are the shots you’re gonna get in the playoffs as well, so it’s great having Lou [Williams], Kawhi, PG, and now Luke [Kennard], who can also make that midrange shot and if you shoot it at a high clip, it’s just as good as a 3 for me.”

The Clippers had a disappointing end to the 2019-20 NBA season. They will look to get the upcoming season started off on the right foot on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The post Clippers to Utilize Triangle Sets With Kawhi Leonard This Season appeared first on SLAM.

Golden State was “unstoppable” with Durant—who suffered a ruptured Achilles against the Raptors in Game 5 of the championship round—says Green, adding that he’s confident they will get back to the mountaintop.

Draymond believes KD could’ve pushed for him to get traded if he wanted to remain with the Dubs, and that things truly soured for the two-time NBA Finals MVP when he wasn’t universally recognized as the world’s best player after outdueling LeBron James for the 2017 title.

Per Bleacher Report and NBC Sports Bay Area:

“Once we got Kevin, we were f**king unstoppable,” Green said on the “All the Smoke” podcast. “Even losing last year, Kevin don’t get hurt—you seen the game he came back in Game 5, I looked up, it was like six minutes to go, we had like 40 points in the first quarter—and so they wouldn’t have stood a chance if Kevin didn’t get hurt.”

He then discussed the narrative that KD left the Warriors in free agency because of him:

“This is f**king Kevin Durant we’re talking about. Yeah, I’ve done great things here. But let me tell you this — if Kevin really wanted to be here, all he would have done is went to [GM] Bob [Myers] and said, ‘Yeah, I’ll stay. But Draymond gotta go.’ And guess what — Bob Myers would have called me and said, ‘Draymond, I love you — and I won’t trade you to a bad team — but where do you want to go?’

“So to try to point the finger and say, ‘Oh man, I left because of him.’ Get the f**k outta here. I still love K. His feelings about me may not be the same. But I’ll ride with him for the rest of my life. I got that type of love for that brother. But you ain’t leave because of me. You’re fking Kevin Durant. If you wanted to be here, I would have been out. I would have been long gone.

“And guess who would have understood that? (he points at himself). I understand the business of basketball … he ain’t f**king leave because of me. That’s just the real.”

Related Agent: Media Didn’t Drive Kevin Durant from Warriors

The post Draymond Green: Raptors ‘Wouldn’t Have Stood a Chance’ vs Healthy Kevin Durant appeared first on SLAM.

“It’s not easy,” Ujiri said of his fateful decisions to trade DeRozan and fire Dwane Casey after winning a Coach of the Year award.

Ultimately, Ujiri’s calls (none bigger than pulling the trigger on a one-season swap for Kawhi Leonard) helped lead Toronto to its first NBA championship in franchise history.

Per ESPN:

“It’s not easy,” Ujiri said of such decisions in an interview with TNT’s Ernie Johnson that aired on the NBA’s Twitter account. “If you have that human part of you, you feel it in your heart.

“With Casey, it has gotten so much better now with his family and him. With DeMar there is still plenty of work to be done. But, by the grace of God, it will all get better. We have to continue to make these decisions that are tough. But that’s the business of basketball, and the position that we are in.”

That combination of events led to a roller coaster of emotions — something Ujiri said is simply part of the job.

“I always say that the two hardest things in our world, in our business, is trading a player and then when a player leaves, if a player leaves in free agency,” Ujiri said. “And it’s hard on both sides. When a player is traded, it is hard on the player side, and when a player leaves, like us [with Leonard last summer], it is hard on that side. I’ve experienced all of it, from wonderful people.

“It sometimes puts a strain on relationships, as we saw with DeMar. People don’t know even with [when we traded] Rudy Gay, I was close to Rudy. Incredible kid. Incredible kid with DeMar, where you build and you’re trying to preach a culture of good, of trust, of being with people, and then you have to make this decision [to trade him]. With Kawhi, we just built a relationship where we trusted each other, and that friendship has evolved even bigger after he left, and I’m proud of that. I support him with everything he does as a human being, and his family, and you move on. You’ve got to move on to the next …”

Related Masai Ujiri: Raptors ‘Going to Die Trying’ to Defend Title

The post Masai Ujiri: ‘Plenty of Work to Be Done’ on DeMar DeRozan Relationship appeared first on SLAM.

Rivers says Leonard will benefit from the unexpected in-season break to train his body, something he couldn’t really do in the summertime while recovering from injuries and a title run with the Toronto Raptors.

Doc adds that his squad was, at last, “turning into the Clippers” before the coronavirus global pandemic brought everything to a grinding halt.

Per ESPN:

“I know Kawhi’s overworking. I can guarantee you that,” Rivers said with a laugh Wednesday on a video call with reporters. “And the difference is, during the summer, Kawhi couldn’t work, you know, so now he’s got this break and he’s able to train.

“The Kawhi we’ll see will be in phenomenal shape. PG [Paul George] is another guy that’s gonna be in phenomenal shape.”

When the season was suspended on March 11, after the Utah Jazz’s Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19, the Clippers (44-20) had won seven of their previous eight games.

“We’re really good,” Rivers said of what he knows about his team after studying the season. “What I know for real was the last 10 games, we were turning into the Clippers. You could literally feel it. … We started understanding each other. … We were playing seamlessly through Kawhi and PG. It wasn’t forced anymore. Guys weren’t trying to stay out of each other’s way. You could feel the rhythm. Even the Lakers loss [on March 8], where we, in my opinion, played horrendous in that game, and that was one of our step-back games … we still had a chance, and it was our D-game, you know?

“I really thought we were about to make a crazy run down the stretch. And unfortunately, bam, it stopped. … I love where we were at. And seeing the way we play and how we were coming together, this team’s good. I think we could beat anybody.”

Related Doc Rivers: Clippers Not a ‘Flip the Switch’ Team

The post Doc Rivers: Kawhi Leonard ‘Will Be in Phenomenal Shape’ appeared first on SLAM.

James led the Lakers on both ends of the floor in a 112-103 statement win over the Clippers.

Bron finished with 28 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists, suddenly making the MVP race a true contest down the stretch.

Per The LA Times:

As was the case when he locked down reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo on Friday night, it’s his defense that’s forcing the hand of MVP voters.

“People forget what he gets like after the All-Star break; he’s a different guy,” Lakers assistant coach Phil Handy said.

“He’s preparing himself for that — that’s what you saw today and Milwaukee, you see him saying ‘Let me get myself and help my team in the right frame of mind.’ So for him diving on the floor for loose balls and taking the challenge defensively, that’s what you see.

“Last night I texted LeBron and asked him who he wanted to guard and he texted back, ‘I’m guarding Kawhi [Leonard].’”

Related ‘He is the MVP’: Anthony Davis Lauds LeBron James

The post ‘I’m Guarding Kawhi’: LeBron Accepted Defensive Challenge vs Clippers appeared first on SLAM.

Jamal Murray hit a fading game-winner to break the tie in the closing seconds and earn Denver a victory. Murray finished with a team-high 18 points, one of seven Nuggets to hit double-digit scoring.

Clippers 120 (43-19), Rockets 105 (39-22)

L.A. dominated this matchup of top Western Conference teams, leading for almost the entire game. Kawhi Leonard dropped a cool 25 points in 28 minutes.

76ers 125 (38-25), Kings 108 (27-35)

Philadelphia received the scoring punch it needed to overcome the Kings from Tobias Harris (28 points) and Shake Milton (20 points). De’Aaron Fox put up 23 points in the loss.

Raptors 121 (44-18), Warriors 113 (14-49)

This game marked a special occasion for Golden State, as they welcomed back Stephen Curry to the lineup after he missed 58 games with a broken hand. Curry didn’t disappoint, scoring 23 points and providing several highlight moments.

Toronto came out victorious, however, as Pascal Siakam’s last bucket helped seal the game and clinch a playoff berth for the Raptors.

The post Post Up: Stephen Curry Scores 23 Points in Return vs. Raptors appeared first on SLAM.

Kristaps Porzingis posted a season-high 38 points in the W, his third straight game with 20 or more points. Seth Curry was Dallas’ second-leading scorer with 27 points. Luke Doncic missed Sunday’s action with a thumb sprain.

Bucks 93 (52-8), Hornets 85 (21-39)

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored the last nine points for the Bucks, finishing the day with 41 points to give Milwaukee its sixth straight win. The Greek Freak also grabbed 20 boards. Brook Lopez added 16 points.

Clippers 136 (41-19), Sixers 130 (27-24)

The Clippers had four players who finished with 20-plus points as Kawhi Leonard led all scorers with 30 points. Montrezl Harrell and Lou Williams, one of the L’s top 1-2 bench duos, finished with 24 apieces in L.A.

Nuggets 133 (41-19), Raptors 118 (42-18)

Nikola Jokic messed around and had a triple-double (23 points, 18 rebounds, 11 assists) on Sunday night. This was Jokic’s 43rd triple-double of the season. Jamal Murray finished with 22 points.

Kings 106 (26-34), Pistons 100 (20-42)

De’Aaron Fox sealed the game with a bucket down the stretch, scoring 11 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter. Sacramento overcame a 17-point deficit in front of their home crowd. Buddy Hield put up 19 points off the bench.

Lakers 122 (46-13), Pelicans 114 (26-34)

It was one of those nights from LeBron James, who posted 34 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds against the Pelicans in the Big Easy. With no Anthony Davis, Kyle Kuzma filled in the void, scoring 20 points in the win. Averly Bradley and Danny Green had 10 apiece.

Wizards 124 (21-37), Warriors 110 (13-47)

Bradley Beal scored 22 of his 34 points in the first half. His streak of 25-plus point games is now at 18 (franchise record). David Bertans went 8-of-10 from beyond the arc and put up 29 points in 30 minutes.

The post Post Up: LeBron Posts Triple-Double in Win Against Pelicans 👑 appeared first on SLAM.

Head coach Doc Rivers insisted they’re not a “flip the switch” team.

Kawhi Leonard led the way with a game-high 25 points, but cautioned that the Clips need to string together some consistency with only 25 regular season games remaining.

Per ESPN:

“Can I get an amen, at least?” Clippers coach Doc Rivers exclaimed after telling reporters that [Paul] George and [Patrick] Beverley would be available against the Memphis Grizzlies. “That’s how I feel.”

They have looked like a championship contender at times, such as when they’ve beaten the Los Angeles Lakers in both of their meetings, but they’re also capable of being blown out, as they were by Sacramento and Memphis at home earlier this season.

Rivers was adamant in saying that the Clippers are not a “flip the switch” team that is going through the motions in some games and can turn it on when it wants to.

“I would say anyone who says that doesn’t know what they’re talking about,” Rivers said of the Clippers. “Because flip the switch teams are teams that have been healthy all year and just have chosen not to play. But when you are out of sorts with different lineups, that’s different.”

Related Magic Johnson: Clippers Have ‘Better’ Depth Than Lakers

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The Battle of L.A. will be determined by the superstars on both sides, says Johnson.

The Purple and Gold “need that third scorer” to compliment LeBron James and fellow All-Star teammate Anthony Davis, adds Magic.

Per USA Today:

“If you look at man-for-man, (the Clippers are) probably better than (the Lakers) in terms of the bench,” Johnson said in Chicago at McDonald’s Black and Positivity Golden “Beyond the Court” panel.”

“But to Anthony Davis and LeBron James, to me they are going to be the key and they are going to have to dominate in that series. Then we’re going to need that third scorer.”

Still, Johnson contended the Lakers “are playing the best out of anybody.”

A season after James missed 27 games, mostly due to a groin injury, Johnson argued he is “having an MVP-type season” – partly by emulating the former Lakers guard with more increased point guard duties. That became possible because of Davis, whom the Lakers acquired last summer from New Orleans for Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart and three first-round picks.

“We have similar ways in terms of coming down and making our teammates together. We’ve won championships the same way,” said Johnson, who won five rings with the Showtime Lakers of the 1980s. “Our games are much alike, especially now that the ball is in his hands most of the time now as a real, true point guard. I’m just happy for him.”

Related Magic Johnson: ‘This Team Would Not Be in the Position It’s in Without Me’

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Boston announced Thursday that they intend to retire Garnett’s No. 5 jersey next season.

“I will always have immense respect and appreciation for ownership, Danny Ainge, Doc Rivers, my past teammates and Celtic Nation!” said KG in a statement.

The future Hall of Famer was drafted fifth overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1995 and won an NBA title with the C’s in 2008.

Per The Boston Globe and ESPN:

“I think [Garnett] was a great teammate,” said Clippers coach Doc Rivers, who coached Garnett in Boston. “I don’t think that gets enough play. He was a phenomenal teammate. He was all about winning. His IQ was incredible. It was off the charts.

“And I’ve often said about him, he’s the greatest superstar role player ever. Like, he was a superstar, but he played his role for the team anyway, somehow. I don’t know why he did that, but he did it. He changed the culture of this franchise. He really did. We needed a guy like that to come to the franchise. And he did that. And it’s still here. It hasn’t left since. So that was all Garnett.”

On Friday, Garnett, Tim Duncan and the late Kobe Bryant are locks to be named as finalists for the star-studded 2020 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class.

“Kawhi [Leonard] is nowhere near outward like Kevin but there’s a lot of Kevin in him as far as how serious he approaches the game and sees the game and prepares for the game,” Rivers said. “That is very similar. And then [Paul George], just watching him shoot and work reminds you of Ray [Allen] in some ways in that way.”

Related Doc Rivers: Kawhi Leonard is a ‘Quiet Version’ of Kevin Garnett

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Tatum finished with 39 points and nine rebounds in just under 48 minutes, leading Boston past the visiting LA Clippers in a 141-133 double-overtime win.

The 21-year-old NBA All-Star also held Kawhi Leonard to 3-for-11 shooting when matched up against the reigning Finals MVP.

Per ESPN:

“Thus far, yeah,” Walker said, when asked if this had been the best game Tatum had ever played. “He was incredible. He made every right play. He made every big shot. He was the best player on the court tonight.”

And, afterward, he admitted that getting the chance to play against players such as Leonard and Paul George (who left the game in the second quarter because of a strained left hamstring) helped boost his level of play.

“Any time you get a chance to play against guys you look up to, or arguably are the best guys in the league, it definitely kind of raises your level of play,” Tatum told ESPN. “I enjoy competing against the best players.”

Tatum was not only competing against the best players — he looked like one of them.

“It’s fun [to see],” Walker said of Tatum’s growth. “I’m glad I get to be a part of it. It’s just special. He’s been playing really well, but not only has he been scoring, he’s just been making the right play. I think that’s what’s most important. You’re driving and kicking, he’s seeing his reads, and he’s doing the right things.”

Related Gregg Popovich: Jayson Tatum ‘Could Be Like Kawhi and Paul George’

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Prior to the compliment, however, Pop playfully trashed Tatum’s poor defense in front of his USA Basketball teammates last summer.

The 21-year-old took those words to heart, working harder than ever to become a two-way force, and earned his first NBA All-Star selection.

Per ESPN:

“I wish I could be you!” boomed USA Basketball coach Gregg Popovich, striding toward the young Boston Celtics forward in a film room in China. “Then I could stand in the corner with my 7-foot-long arms down by my side and not move while players go past me!”

He motioned for Tatum to take a seat on a bench next to the elevator, slung his arm around the 21-year old, and explained why he singled him out.

“Do you know how special you can be?” Popovich asked. “There are very few two-way players in our game, and you have the opportunity to be one of them. You could be like Kawhi [Leonard] and Paul George.”

Tatum was so surprised he didn’t answer at first, prompting Popovich to hastily add, “I hope I haven’t offended you.”

“Offended me?” Tatum said. “That’s a compliment!”

Related ‘It’s a Big Deal’: Jayson Tatum Gunning to Become an All-Star

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Another day, another easy Bucks win.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had a yawn-inducing 30 points, 16 rebounds and 6 assists on 13-19 shooting. Not bad. As the Hornets slowly slip out of the playoff race, it’s time to search for silver linings, and third year guard Malik Monk had a fantastic game, scoring 31 points, grabbing 5 rebounds and dishing out 5 assists.

Celtics 109 (30-14), Magic 98 (21-25)

A very solid win for the Celtics, who were without star forwards Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. Kemba Walker popped off for 37 points, 6 assists and 4 steals, while Gordon Hayward followed up with 22 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists.

For the Magic, at least Evan Fournier had 30 points, but scoring has been difficult to come by for the past few years for this defensive minded team.

Grizzlies 125 (21-24), Pistons 112 (17-29)

Jaren Jackson Jr powered the Grizz in the first half with 24 points, and they never looked back. Ja Morant stayed steady, and while we were not treated to any spectacular highlights, he played a very solid all-around game with 16 points and 12 assists.

Derrick Rose had his 11th straight game with 20 or more points, but it wasn’t enough with virtually the entire Pistons starting lineup sidelined.

Raptors 118 (31-14), Knicks 112 (12-34)

Toronto won their sixth straight game thanks to sticking what they usually do: play team ball, go 100% on every play and commit on the defensive end. Pascal Siakam finished the Knicks off with this dagger, ending the night with 23 points and 7 rebounds.

Kings 98 (16-29), Bulls 81 (17-30)

Buddy Hield received a splash of cold water coming off the bench for the first time in a while, and he responded well, scoring 21 points and grabbing 7 boards.

Clippers 122 (32-14), Heat 117 (31-14)

Kawhi Leonard recorded his first career triple double, going to 33 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Landry Shamet was also cooking from deep, nailing 6 of his 12 attempts.

We were treated to the return of Dion Waiters, after many injuries, suspensions and weight issues. The eight-year veteran was excellent in his debut, scoring 14 points, blocking 2 shots, splashing 4 3-pointers and was a +8 in only 18 minutes of action.

Nuggets 113 (31-14), Pelicans 106 (17-29)

The Nuggets just keep on winning, despite missing star guard Jamal Murray and stalwart power forward Paul Millsap due to injuries. Nikola Jokic was fantastic, scoring 27 points, grabbing 12 boards, dishing 7 assists and swiping 4 steals. Michael Porter Jr continued to impress off the bench, nabbing 15 points and 10 rebounds in only half a game.

Even in defeat, Zion Williamson was good. He’s still on a minutes restriction, and he scored 15 points and grabbed 6 rebounds and was a +16 in only 21 minutes.

Thunder 140 (27-19), Hawks 111 (11-35)

Oklahoma City just completely outplayed the Hawks, who sport a less-than-ideal 5-19 road record. Everyone was balling for OKC. Danillo Gallinari had 25 points. Shai Gilgeous Alexander had 24. Chris Paul had 18, and Dennis Schroder came off the bench with 21. It was another win for a team that gets better by the day.

Rockets 131 (28-16), Timberwolves 124 (15-30)

While James Harden had his lowest scoring output in ages, Russell Westbrook went inferno, scoring a whopping 45 points and dishing 10 assists.

Karl Towns’ 30 points and 12 boards led the Wolves, who look poised for another move at the trade deadline.

Suns 103 (19-26), Spurs 99 (20-24)

This was a very solid win for a Suns team that has always had trouble against the Spurs. Devin Booker brought his A game, going off for 35 points and 10 assists. For the Spurs, DeMar DeRozan continued his consistent play as of late, notching 30 points and a monster jam in the loss.

Pacers 129 (30-16), Warriors 118 (10-37)

The Pacers may be the most slept on good team in basketball. They play team ball and have a staunch defense, plus Victor Oladipo is still waiting in the wings. TJ Warren popped off tonight with 33 points and 4 steals in the victory, while Doug McDermott scored 24 off the pine of a sizzling 6-7 from deep.

DLO’s 37 points on 9-13 from 3-point range was a sight to behold, but not enough for the win.

The post Post Up: Kawhi Leonard Gets First career Triple-Double in Win over Heat appeared first on SLAM.

Some of the frustration—within a group under growing pressure—is said to stem from the organization’s handling of Kawhi Leonard and fellow superstar teammate Paul George.

After a humiliating 26-point home loss to the Memphis Grizzlies earlier this month, head coach Doc Rivers loudly admonished forward Montrezl Harrell for telling reporters about the locker room tension.

Per The Athletic:

With his Clippers set to host the New York Knicks that afternoon in the second of a home back-to-back set, sources say Rivers lit into his team in the pregame meeting and directed his ire at Harrell multiple times in reference to the comments he had made.

The gist of the expletive-laden message had been sent loud and clear: Keep your frustrations internal. Don’t vent to the media and create distractions for this locker room.

But As more than a dozen sources shared in The Athletic’s reporting on the matter, the transition from the team’s overachieving past to its promising present has not been seamless. From the frustrations relating to Leonard’s injury management and his quiet ways, to the different views regarding regular-season competition, to the reality that their chosen style of play isn’t always conducive to collective joy, there are issues tugging at this talented team that will need to be resolved by the time the playoffs come around. Harrell, sources say, was hardly alone when it came to some of the sentiments he shared.

Related HUSSLE & MOTIVATE: Lou Will, Trezz and Pat Bev Cover SLAM 226

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Ujiri is especially proud of the way Toronto’s players have stepped in the wake of Kawhi Leonard‘s departure in free agency last summer.

Masai was non-committal about any possible moves ahead of next month’s trade deadline.

Per Sportsnet:

“We’re going to die trying, that’s for sure,” said Ujiri during media availability Tuesday after his keynote speech at the Toronto chapter of WISE — Women in Sports and Events.

“I know those guys and they’re going to die trying. You see them, you see the attitude. I know nobody, not one person here in this place, would tell me that they thought we’d be competing now to be second in the East, in the next couple of games if it works out for us, or where we are. There’s not one person that thought that with a championship player like Kawhi leaving. These guys have stepped up and we appreciate what they’ve done.”

With the Raptors’ return to full health, public attention has mostly shifted toward the upcoming trade deadline, but Ujiri was non-committal about his plans for Feb. 6.

“I don’t see our team and our players as pieces, honestly and assets,” he said. “When people mention pieces and assets, to me it doesn’t tally. I see our players as basketball players and human beings.

“If we do something, it’s out of the fact that we think this is giving us a chance, or a bigger chance, and right now I think we have that chance, if we continue to play ball and continue to figure it out. I’m proud of the guys, and I look at them as what we have. You never know what those days bring you, but I’m really proud of our guys.”

Related Raptors Co-Owner: Masai Ujiri ‘Here to Stay’

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In the lone game of the night, the Clippers held on late to pick up an impressive road win in Dallas. The Luka Doncic vs. Kawhi Leonard matchup lived up to the hype. Leonard led LA with 36 points and 11 rebounds, and Doncic finished with 36 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists in the loss. Landry Shamet dropped 18 points, including 5 threes, and Lou Will added 16 points off the bench.

The Clippers improved to 31-13 and sit at second in the West. Read the SLAM 226 cover story on LA’s heart and soul: Lou Williams, Montrezl Harrell, and Patrick Beverely.

https://www.slamonline.com/nba/lou-will-montrezl-harrell-pat-bev-cover-story/

The post Post Up: Kawhi Lifts Clippers to Win Over Mavericks appeared first on SLAM.

Another game without a star (this time Paul George), and yet another win for the Clippers. Reaching win number 30 on the season was no breeze though, with the feisty Pelicans leading for a good chunk of the game. But ultimately, Kawhi Leonard was too much to handle. He had himself a phenomenal game, with 39 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals. And who could forget Lou Will, who dropped a cool 32 points off the pine.

For the Pelicans, Lonzo Ball had a triple double, scoring 18 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing 11 assists. Derrick Favors was also excellent, scoring 22 points on a perfect 10-10 shooting along with 11 boards.

Bucks 117 (38-6), Nets 97 (18-23)

The Bucks just do not let up. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 29 points and 12 rebounds in only 25 minutes, Khris Middleton had 20 of his own, and Brook Lopez did a fantastic job protecting the rim, notching 5 blocks.

The Nets were helpless against the brutal efficiency of the Bucks, and it showed with no player scoring higher than 17 points.

Suns 123 (18-24), Celtics 123 (27-14)

Fantastic win for the Suns beating Boston at home. Devin Booker went inferno, with 39 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists. Deandre Ayton backed that up with a monster 26 points and 15 boards.

Despite the loss, Marcus Smart went bonkers, with a career-high 11 3-pointers made for 37 points, 8 assists and 4 steals.

Pistons 136 (16-27), Hawks 103 (10-33)

It must have been very cathartic for Detroit to finally blow somebody out. Derrick Rose, recently inserted into the starting lineup to fill the playmaking black hole, was excellent. D Rose scored 27 points along with 9 assists and a plus/minus of +24. Andre Drummond also cleaned up as usual, with 16 points, 17 rebounds and 5 swipes.

76ers 90 (28-16), Knicks 87 (11-32)

A surprisingly close game, but all Philly should care about is getting the victory. Ben Simmons was fully in control, ending the game with 21 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 steals.

Raptors 122 (28-14), Timberwolves 112 (15-27)

The Raptors have been butchered by injuries all year, and they finally had their core group together again, and the results were excellent. Fred VanVleet (29 points, 4 steals, 7-8 from deep) barely missed a beat from his weeks-long absence. Kyle Lowry was great too, scoring 28 points, grabbing 7 rebounds and splashing 5 3-pointers.

Bulls 118 (16-28), Cavaliers 116 (12-31)

What an impressive win from the Bulls! Coming into the 4th quarter down a sizable 15 points, none other than Zach LaVine went off. The star guard had 42 points, 6 rebounds and 5 steals for a wild performance.

Don’t blame the loss on Kevin Love though. He had a 29-5-6 line and the Cavs outscored the Bulls by 11 points when he was in.

Warriors 109 (10-34), Magic 95 (20-23)

Orlando may have a subpar record, but they’re long, athletic and make you beat them, making this a quality win for a youthful Dubs team. DLO had 26 points, 12 assists and 2 steals along with a beautiful 3 late in the game.

Also, let’s take a moment, even in defeat, to appreciate the comeback of Markelle Fultz. Dude has been a problem for defenses.

Lakers 124 (34-8), Rockets 115 (26-15)

No Anthony Davis and on the road against the Rockets…that’s a quality win right there, Lakers. LeBron was fantastic as usual. He put up 31 points, 12 assists and 5 rebounds. Kyle Kuzma, Danny Green and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope all showed out as well.

For the Rockets, Russell Westbrook scored 35 points and James Harden scored 34, but no one else really stepped up.

Jazz 123 (29-13), Kings 101 (15-27)

The Jazz are rolling. Other than a slight hiccup against the Pelicans a couple of nights ago, they’ve been creaming everyone in their path and tonight was no different. Bojan Bogdanovic had a clean 30 points, Rudy Gobert had a monster 28 points, 15 rebounds and 3 blocks, and Jordan Clarkson had another quality performance off the bench with 20 points.

Thunder 119 (24-19), Blazers 106 (18-26)

Chris Paul had 30 points and 7 assists on 11-15 shooting in just 28 minutes, while his protege and backcourt mate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 22 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists.

For the Blazers, it’s unfortunately becoming a common trend to see Dame go off (34 points, 6 assists), but lose the game.

The post Post Up: Kawhi Pops Off for 39 Points to Defeat Pelicans appeared first on SLAM.

The recently published and much recommended feature documenting Paul George’s return to Southern California details the All-Star swingman’s offseason trade from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Clippers but its the revelation that he met with Leonard at a house belonging to the Raptors’ global ambassador that jumps off the page for fans of the reigning champions.

Drake has been the global ambassador of the Raptors since 2013 and has been a mainstay courtside at the Scotiabank Place ever since. Just last May, NBA commissioner Adam Silver went so far as to speak with the celebrity employee after some of his on-court antics drew the ire of an opposing coach during the postseason.

To Drake’s credit, his connection with the NBA world has always stretched beyond the Raptors, so it’s not exactly surprising that the 33-year-old would be amenable to league superstars touching base at a property of his.

Still, the revelation that Leonard’s exit plan may have taken shape at Jimmy Brooks’ house could be a tough one for Raptors fans to reconcile as they weigh the benefits of Drake’s formal, if symbolic, employment with the franchise.

The post Report: Kawhi Leonard, Paul George Met At Drake’s House During Free Agency appeared first on SLAM.

“We just can’t be in a rush,” Leonard told reporters Tuesday night.

The reigning Finals MVP erupted for a season-high 43 points in just under 29 minutes, leading the Clips past the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers 128-103.

Per ESPN:

“We just can’t be in a rush,” Leonard said when asked about how important it is for the Clippers to have continuity at this stage of the season. “That’s what I’m [telling them]. Just be patient. It’s hard to win a championship. The pressure isn’t even on us now. Just enjoy the process and have fun.”

Leonard repeatedly talked about how the Clippers (28-13) need to slow down and not be in a hurry to get to where they hope to be.

“It takes a whole team to win games, win championships,” Leonard said of six Clippers scoring in double figures and opening things up for him on Tuesday. “It’s not won by one guy [or] two players — it’s the whole 15

“Those are the things that I tell them: Don’t be in a rush to win these games. Enjoy every moment of it. Enjoy the process and use it as a learning tool when you get down in the trenches.”

The post Kawhi Leonard: ‘The Pressure Isn’t Even on Us Now’ appeared first on SLAM.

The Jazz continued their impressive play, defeating the Nets on the road to win their 10th in a row. Joe Ingles led the way with 27 points on 10-14 shooting and 6-8 from three. Donovan Mitchell added 25 points, and Rudy Gobert finished with 22 points and 18 rebounds. For Brooklyn, Kyrie Irving dropped 32 points to go along with 11 assists in his second game back from injury.

Hawks 123 (9-32), Suns 110 (16-24)

Trae Young was cooking in Atlanta, finishing with 36 points and 10 assists in the Hawks win. Kevin Huerter stuffed the stat sheet with 23 points, 15 rebounds and 8 assists, and John Collins added 22 points on 10-16 shooting and 10 rebounds. For Phoenix, Devin Booker continued his red-hot scoring, finishing with a game-high 39 points in the loss. DeAndre Ayton added 20 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.

Grizzlies 121 (19-22), Rockets 110 (26-13)

Ja Morant put on an absolute show in Memphis, leading the Grizzlies to their 6th win in a row. Morant finished with 26 points and 8 assists on 10-11 shooting, including a handful of show-stopping highlight plays. The rookie is turning into a star right before our eyes.

For Houston, James Harden dropped 41 points to go along with 6 rebounds and 6 assists in the loss.

Bucks 128 (36-6), Knicks 102 (11-30)

The Greek Freak completely dominated the Knicks, scoring 37 points in just 21 minutes. Khris Middleton added 17 points in the Bucks blowout win. The Knicks were lead by Julius Randle, who had 25 points and 15 rebounds, and RJ Barrett, who dropped 22 points in the loss.

Clippers 128 (28-13), Cavaliers 103 (12-29)

Kawhi went off for 43 points on 14-22 shooting and 6-10 from three to lead the Clippers to the blowout win. Lou Will added 24 points off the bench. Cleveland was lead by Collin Sexton, who dropped 25 in the loss.

Mavericks 124 (25-15), Warriors 97 (9-32)

The Mavericks dominated the Warriors throughout to secure their 25th win of the season. Dallas was lead by Dwight Powell, who dropped 21 points on 9-9 shooting, and Luka Doncic, who added 20 points.

The post Post Up: Ja Morant Puts On a Show in Grizzlies Win over Rockets appeared first on SLAM.

Kuzma also spoke to his teammate about the social media incident, and told reporters he disagreed with the trainer’s opinion.

James said he “could care less” about the comments.

Per The LA Times:

Kyle Kuzma’s trainer, Clint Parks, posted messages on Instagram that were critical of James in comparison to Kawhi Leonard, whom Parks also trained. Social media buzzed with suggestions of a rift between the two Lakers. Kuzma approached James on Friday to distance himself from the comments.

“I just told him that I can’t control what another man says,” Kuzma said. “Obviously I don’t feel that way. Everybody knows that me and LeBron have a great relationship.”

James said of Parks: “I’ve never met the guy, I don’t know the guy, I could care less about the guy.”

Kuzma said multiple times Saturday morning that he didn’t care about all the chatter over the incident. On Saturday night, he produced a dominant first half, scoring 20 points, which he said had nothing to do with the social media kerfuffle.

Related Kyle Kuzma: ‘A Lot of People Are Probably Jealous of Us’

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The Raptors came out scorching hot, with Serge Ibaka and Kyle Lowry fueling a 10-0 run to start the game, but it was all green from there on out. The Celtics played a sound game, with all five starters scoring in double-digits and Enes Kanter coming in off the bench to put up 12 points and 11 rebounds in only 18 minutes. 

The matchup also served as a wonderful national exposure for Jaylen Brown, and how much he has improved this season. Brown scored 30 points on an efficient 10-13 shooting with 6 rebounds and 4 assists, displaying his smooth handles on this sweet step-back jumper.

Sixers 121 (23-10), Bucks 109 (27-5)

In Philly’s first Christmas Day game in 31 years, Joel Embiid put up a triple-double (31 points, 11 rebounds) in the W. The Sixers caught fire from deep, knocking down a franchise-record tying 21 3-pointers, to go 16-2 at home. Tobias Harris was Philly’s second-leading scorer with 22 points.

Rockets 104 (21-10), Warriors 116 (8-24)

Golden State earned its first win of the season against a team over .500 thanks to a dominant fourth quarter against the Rockets. The Warriors boasted three 20-point scorers in Damion Lee (22 points), D’Angelo Russell (20 points) and Draymond Green (20 points). Russell Westbrook and James Harden combined for 54 points, but fell short of the Christmas win.

Clippers 111 (23-10), Lakers 106 (24-7)

The second Battle for Los Angeles lived up to its name as the Clippers overcame a 12-point halftime deficit to down the Lakers — the largest comeback win on Christmas Day since 2003.

Patrick Beverley — who was a game-high +26 for the Clippers — blocked LeBron James’ potential game-tying 3-pointer with 3.6 seconds to go. Kawhi Leonard scored 35 points on 11-for-19 shooting to lead all players. Kyle Kuzma had a team-high 25 off the bench for the Lakers.

Pelicans 112 (8-23), Nuggets 100 (21-8)

Brandon Ingram had a career night in the Mile High City, hitting 7 3s en route to a 31-point performance, as the Pelicans snapped Denver’s seven-game winning streak. Jrue Holiday was the Pelicans’ second-leading scorer with 20 points, JJ Redick had 15 and Lonzo Ball finished with 10 points.

The post Post Up: Kawhi Leonard Drops 35 Points in Battle for LA on Christmas Day appeared first on SLAM.

Robertson is said to have asked teams pursuing Leonard⁠—in addition to the max deal he signed⁠—part ownership, a private plane, housing and endorsement dollars.

No evidence was found that the Clippers agreed to grant any of the lavish requests, which would have circumvented the League’s salary cap rules.

Per The Athletic:

“We did tell our teams (at the Board of Governors meeting in New York in late September) that we are looking into and continue to look into activities from this summer,” [commissioner Adam] Silver told The Athletic earlier this season when asked if the Clippers were under investigation. “I will also say that we (were) trying to draw a line at this board meeting, and focus everyone on the (free agency) rules going forward. I think that (I’ll) just leave it at that. We are looking at the behavior from the summer. We have and we continue to look at it, but first and foremost we want to change the way business is done going forward.”

The stories about Robertson’s wish list made their way to the league office soon after Leonard made his decision, with concerned parties reporting that Leonard’s uncle had asked pursuing teams for much, much more than a max contract (Kawhi ultimately signed a three-year, $103 million deal with the Clippers). Sources say the league was told that Robertson asked team officials for part ownership of the team, a private plane that would be available at all times, a house and  — last but certainly not least — a guaranteed amount of off-court endorsement money that they could expect if Leonard played for their team. All of those items, to be clear, would fall well outside the confines of the league’s collective bargaining agreement.

A source with knowledge of the Kawhi-Lakers talks said Robertson made those requests repeatedly to owner Jeanie Buss over the course of three phone calls that spanned several days, and that she made it clear that such perks were illegal and would not be considered. There was even a question raised by Robertson about why Lakers legend Magic Johnson had been given a small piece of Lakers ownership so many years ago, with Buss explaining that the two situations couldn’t have been more different – even beyond the fact that one was legal and the other was not.

Related Kawhi Leonard Showered With Love in Return to Toronto

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Utah battled back from a 12-point third quarter deficit to get their fifth straight win.

Rudy Gobert dropped 17 points (6-9 FG) with 19 boards and 3 blocks. Bojan Bogdanovic added a team-high 26 points.

Hawks 112 (6-24), Nets 122 (16-13)

Brooklyn turned it on after falling behind by 18 points in the third quarter, eventually winning by double-digits.

Spencer Dinwiddie dropped 16 of his team-high 39 points in the fourth and became the first Net in over 10 years to drop 30+ points in three straight games.

Atlanta has now lost 7 straight.

Wizards 108 (8-20), Sixers 125 (21-10)

After taking the lead 2:34 into the game, Philly would lead the rest of the the way. Joel Embiid dropped a team-high 21 points with 13 boards.

Isaiah Thomas was ejected in the fourth quarter for going into the stands to confront a heckler (who was later escorted out of the arena). Listen to what IT had to say about the incident:

Bulls 119 (12-19), Pistons 107 (11-19)

Chicago outscored the Pistons by 18 points in the second half to secure the dub.

Zach LaVine dropped a game-high 33 points with 5 dimes.

Bucks 123 (26-4), Knicks 102 (7-23)

Milwaukee led for the entire game, and by as much as 29 points during the third quarter.

Giannis Antetokounmpo needed just 22 minutes to record a triple-double, finishing with 22 points, 11 boards and 10 dimes. Khris Middleton added a game-high 23 points.

Kings 115 (12-17), Grizzlies 119 (11-19)

Memphis took the lead at the end of the first quarter and led for the rest of the game.

Jaren Jackson Jr dropped a team-high 18 points with 4 blocks and 3 steals.

Clippers 134 (22-9), Spurs 109 (11-17)

Kawhi Leonard captured his first win in San Antonio, dropping a game-high 26 points with 9 dimes, 7 boards and 4 steals in just 27 minutes.

The Clippers would outscore the Spurs by 16 points in the third quarter and go up by as much as 33 points during the fourth.

Rockets 139 (20-9), Suns 125 (11-18)

Houston outscored the Suns in every quarter, leading to a 20-point cushion during the fourth quarter.

James Harden went off for a game-high 47 points (15-27 FG) with 7 dimes. Russell Westbrook dropped 30 points with 10 dimes.

Phoenix has now lost 6 straight.

Wolves 106, Blazers 113 (-6)

Minnesota kept it close, but the Blazers pulled away in crunch time.

Hassan Whiteside dropped a historic line of 16 points, 22 boards and 7 blocks—the first Blazer to ever do so. Damian Lillard added a team-high 29 points with 7 dimes.

Minnesota has now lost an abysmal 10 straight games.

The post Post Up: Clippers Rout Spurs in Kawhi Leonard’s First Win in San Antonio appeared first on SLAM.

Donovan Mitchell put up a team-high 30 points in 36 minutes in the A. Rudy Gobert finished with a double-doule (20 points, 13 rebounds) as the Jazz won their fourth-straight game.

Bucks 111 (25-4), Lakers 104 (24-5)

Giannis Antetokounmpo hit a career-high 5 three-pointers en route to a 34-point performance to give Milwaukee its 25th win of the season. George Hill scored 21 points off the bench. The Bucks shot 41% from behind the arc.

Spurs 118 (11-16), Nets 105 (15-13)

Patty Mills (27 points) was one of two players to have 20 or more points. LaMarcus Aldridge finished with 20 and 10.

Rockets 122 (18-9), Clippers 117 (21-8)

Houston overcame a double-digit deficit as Russell Westbrook (40 points) and James Harden (28 points) combined for 68 points. Clint Capela had 16 points, and PJ Tucker and Danuel House finished with 10 apiece.

The post Post Up: Giannis Antetokounmpo Has Career Night Against Lakers 😤 appeared first on SLAM.

Leonard got his championship ring, and the city of Toronto showed him their appreciation for delivering the first NBA title in franchise history.

Kawhi said his magical one-season journey in Canada has “come full circle now.”

The reigning NBA Finals MVP finished with 23 points, 5 rebounds and six assists in the LA Clippers’ 112-92 victory.

Per The LA Times:

“It meant a lot. Again, some players just don’t let you in. But I can tell you that ovation, to him, was very heartfelt,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. “There’s no doubt about that. It meant a lot to him.”

Leonard called it “a great moment.” He walked on the court and embraced each of his old coaches and teammates before getting the diamond jewelry from [Kyle] Lowry. He thanked the crowd by raising both hands in the air, the same way he celebrated winning that title.

Right before the game began, Leonard was the first Clipper on the court, six separate video cameras following his every movement and breath.

“As far as winning a championship, it pretty much has come full circle now, being able to get the ring and see where the hard work came from,” Leonard said before going out to dinner with Lowry and his wife. “But it’s more than that. It’s just a journey.”

Related ‘Ride Was Fun’: Kawhi Leonard Makes First Return to Toronto

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The Warriors came back from a 22-point deficit as D’Angelo Russell (32 points, six assists) hit a game-tying 3 with seconds to go in regulation, but it wasn’t enough.

The Knicks, led by Marcus Morris Sr.’s 36 points, 10 rebounds and three steals, came back strong in overtime — keeping a red-hot Russell scoreless after the period’s first possession.

Clippers 112 (19-7), Raptors 92 (16-8)

Kawhi Leonard (23 points) received a standing ovation as he was introduced in Toronto for the first time since the 2019 NBA Finals.

His new squad owned the night; however, bouncing back from a five-point first quarter deficit to blow out the Raptors.

Pascal Siakam scored a game-high 24 points and also blocked three shots.

Grizzlies 115 (8-16), Suns 108 (11-13)

Ja Morant (13 points, six assists) caught a body I won’t forget for a long, long time.

Rockets 116 (16-8), Cavaliers 110 (5-19)

It’s going to be hard for naysayers to declare James Harden can only score because of how often he gets to the free throw line now: the Beard led Houston’s comeback charge in Cleveland, scoring 55 points on 20-for-34 shooting while taking just five free throws. He also tied a career-best with 10 3-point attempts made.

Kevin Porter Jr. scored a career-high 24 points in 29 minutes of work for Cleveland.

Lakers 96 (22-3), Magic 87 (11-13)

The Lakers held the Magic to a measly nine points in the first period and rode that momentum for the rest of the night.

LeBron James finished with 25 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

Hornets 113 (11-16), Nets 108 (13-11)

Devonte Graham is the real deal.

The Carolina-native scored a career-high 40 points and scored Charlotte’s go-ahead bucket to close out the night.

Celtics 117 (17-6), Pacers 122 (16-9)

Kemba Walker took over with 44 points, but five Pacers scoring at least 14 points was too much for Boston to overcome.

Malcolm Brodgon hit all 15 of his free throw attempts en route to a team-high 29 for Indiana.

Thunder 93 (11-13), Kings 94 (11-13)

Bogdan Bogdanovic is making a name for himself as one of the league’s premier crunch time shooters after adding another game-winning shot to his resume.

Pelicans 112 (6-19), Bucks 127 (22-3)

No Giannis? No problem.

The Bucks ran out to 24-point halftime lead despite a DNP from the reigning MVP due to injury.

Eric Bledsoe (29 points) and Khris Middleton (24) held it down in his absence as Milwaukee won its 16th straight. JJ Redick scored a game-high 31 for New Orleans.

Jazz 127 (14-11), Timberwolves 116 (10-14)

Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert and Joe Ingles combined for 73 points as the Jazz shot 56.6 percent from the field and 45.7 percent from deep as a unit.

The post Post Up: Kawhi Leonard Receives Warm Welcome, Picks Up W in Return to Toronto appeared first on SLAM.

Leonard, in his trademark understated fashion, told reporters that the Raptors’ unprecendented championship “ride was fun.”

Kawhi expects “more boos” than cheers from the Raps’ faithful.

Per ESPN:

“The ride was fun,” Leonard said at the LA Clippers’ morning shootaround before playing in Toronto for the first time since leaving as a free agent in July. “I had a great time last year with the coaching staff, front office and the players. It was a great experience.”

The All-Star forward said his decision to leave Toronto after one season wasn’t easy when he considered the Raptors, Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers.

“Gave it big consideration,” Leonard said of possibly re-signing with Toronto. “I took my time like I did; I didn’t hurry up and make a quick decision. I talked to front office in deep detail. It was a hard choice to make.”

Leonard does expects to hear some jeers, though.

“I mean there will be some cheers but definitely more boos because they want to win the game,” Leonard said. “They’re not going to be cheering for a player that’s on the opposing team. They’re still rooting for the Raptors.”

Related Nick Nurse: Kawhi Leonard Was ‘Cruising to His 30 Points a Night’

The post ‘Ride Was Fun’: Kawhi Leonard Makes First Return to Toronto appeared first on SLAM.

Evan Fournier put up 31 points in DC. Markelle Fultz had a career-high 20 points and D.J. Augustin had 24 bench points.

Pistons 127 (8-13), Cavaliers 94 (5-15)

Blake Griffin scored a point for each minute he played, finishing the night with 24 points, including six 3-pointers. Andre Drummond posted another double-double (17 points, 14 rebounds). All five of Detroit’s starters sat the fourth quarter in the rout.

Mavericks 118 (14-6), Pelicans 97 (6-15)

Luka Doncic, the NBA’s Western Conference Player of the Month, had a 33-point, 18-rebound performance in the Big Easy. Seth Curry contributed 19 off the bench, and Tim Hardaway and Max Kleber finished with 12 apiece.

Heat 121 (15-5), Raptors 110 (15-5)

Jimmy Butler scored eight consecutive points in less than a minute in overtime to finish with 22 points to go with his 13 rebounds and 12 assists. Bam Adebayo scored 18 and Justise Winslow had 17 as the Heat snapped the Raptors’ seven-game winning streak and gave them their first home loss this season.

Lakers 105 (18-3), Nuggets 96 (13-5)

The Lakers started 1-0 on their three-game road trip at the Pepsi Center as LeBron James (25 points) and Anthony Davis (25 points) combined for 50 points. Dwight Howard had 13 and 6 off the bench. The Lakers face Utah tomorrow night.

Spurs 135 (8-14), Rockets 133 (13-7)

With the game on the line in double OT, DeMar DeRozan sank two free throws to give San Antonio the W at the AT&T Center. Lonnie Walker IV had a career-high 28 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer to send it to overtime.

Clippers 117 (16-6), Trailblazers 97 (8-13)

Paul George scored a team-high 25 points, his 6th 25-point game this season as the Clippers have won 9 of their last 10 games. Kawhi Leonard and Patrick Beverly had 11 apiece.

The post Post Up: LeBron James & Anthony Davis Combine for 50 Points to Defeat Denver 🤫 appeared first on SLAM.

The LA Clippers star is happy with Portland “prolonging” Anthony’s Hall of Fame career.

Kawhi Leonard added that he was unhappy with how Melo was treated while being out of the League for over a year.

The 35-year-old was named Player of the Week, an honor he last won in March, 2014, while starring for the New York Knicks.

Per ESPN:

“I mean, it’s great,” George said of Anthony, who is averaging 17.7 points and 6.0 rebounds in six games since joining the Blazers after not playing since November 2018. “I just hate how [his] first game, Melo came back, the whole media was [focused on] his plus-minus was this and him being on the floor, Portland generated this, and now he’s playing well and the media is [pointing out how] three games straight where he did this.

“I just hate the narratives that’s created by him being back,” George added about critics focused on Anthony’s style of play. “Melo has been a great player, he’s going to be a great player, he’s playing terrific from start to finish, and shoutout to Portland for opening that door back up for Melo and prolonging his career.”

Leonard said he is happy to see Anthony back and that it was unfair the former All-Star forward was unsigned for so long.

“He is able to get an opportunity and get a chance to go out there and pretty much be himself,” Leonard said. “I’m just happy for him that he was able to get back in the NBA. It is well deserved. I don’t think he was treated the right way, how they left him out there being a future Hall of Famer.

“As you can see, he’s still running up and down the floor, so he’s still got a lot of basketball left in him. It’s going to be a fun matchup for us.”

Related ‘We’ve Got Another Mega Star’: Carmelo Anthony Shines in Blazers Home Debut”

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“That’s who are as a team,” Paul George told reporters after scoring 17 of his 26 points in the first quarter, en route to a 114-99 road win against the Dallas Mavericks.

Kawhi Leonard finished with a game-high 28 points, while Doncic was held to 22 points on 4-of-14 shooting.

Per The AP and ESPN:

“That’s who we are as a team,” said George, who had all four of his 3-pointers in the first quarter. “We pride ourselves on defense. Offensively, we’ve got guys that can score the ball, but we want to make it tough on a nightly basis on whoever we’re playing.

“We knew coming into this, we knew what the Clippers had already, and we knew what we could bring. That’s what we’re doing right now. We’re becoming one of the best defensive teams in the league.”

Doncic finished 22 points, eight rebounds and six assists, well below his season averages in each category. He was 4-of-14 from the floor and missed all eight of his 3-point attempts, scoring the majority of his points from the free throw line, where he was 14-of-16. Doncic committed seven of the Mavs’ 20 turnovers.

“We came out with a defensive mindset on the road,” Leonard said. “Wanted to do the best job we could on Luka. He’s been killing it lately, playing at a very, very high level. We just wanted to make it difficult for him tonight, get some deflections, and I think we were able to do that.”

Related Luka Doncic: ‘It’s a Long Season. It’s Only Been One Month’

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In a battle between two of the top teams in the West, the Clippers controlled the game from start to finish and secured their 6th straight win. Kawhi Leonard finished with a game-high 28 points to lead LA. Paul George added 26 points and 6 steals, and Lou Williams dropped 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists off the bench.

The Clippers defense did a solid job containing Luka Doncic, but the Slovenian guard still led the Mavericks with 22 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists in the loss.

Nuggets 117 (13-3), Wizards 104 (5-10)

The Nuggets had six players finish in double figures en route to a convincing win over Washington. Jerami Grant dropped a team-high 20 points off the bench, and Nikola Jokic grabbed 20 boards and dished out 5 dimes in the win. For the Wizards, Jordan McRae finished with 21 points in the loss.

The post Post Up: Kawhi, PG Lead Clippers to Win Over Mavs appeared first on SLAM.

Luka Doncic continues to fill up stat sheets, putting up 41 points against the Rockets in a Sunday matinee. Doncic also dished out 10 dimes, notching his fourth game with 30+ points and 10+ assists to give Dallas their fifth-straight win.

Kings 113 (7-8), Wizards 106 (5-9)

Harrison Barnes put up a team-high 26 points in the Nation’s Capital. Buddy Hield had 18 points and Bogdan Bogdanovic had 21 points off the bench.

Nets 103 (8-8), Knicks 101 (4-13)

Brooklyn won the Battle of New York behind Spencer Dinwiddie’s 30-point performance at The Garden. Taurean Prince finished with a double-double (14 points, 11 rebounds).

Nuggets 116 (12-3), Suns 104 (8-8)

Paul Millsap led all scorers with 23 points at the Pepsi Center. Jamal Murray and Will Barton had 22 apiece. Denver held Devin Booker to a season-low 12 points.

Clippers 134 (11-5), Pelicans 129 (6-10)

The Clippers cruised past New Orleans to go 2-0 on the weekend. Montrezl Harrell was the team’s leading scorer, tying his career high with 34 points. Kawhi Leonard finished with 26 points.

The post Post Up: Luka Doncic Drops 41 Points to Give Dallas Fifth-Straight Win 🥶 appeared first on SLAM.

Detroit shot a whopping 60 percent from the field and 50 percent from three en route to snapping a five-game losing streak.

Andre Drummond dropped 23 points with 15 boards. Blake Griffin added a game-high 24 points and had a +18 plus/minus.

Atlanta has now lost 5 straight.

Hornets 118 (6-10), Wizards 125 (5-8)

Washington rallied back from a 13-point fourth quarter deficit to pull out the win.

Bradley Beal dropped a team-high 30 points with 12 dimes.

Kings 97 (6-8), Nets 116 (7-8)

Playing without Kyrie Irving for the fourth straight game, Brooklyn came away with a much-needed win.

Spencer Dinwiddie dropped a game-high 23 points with 7 dimes.

Spurs 104 (5-11), Sixers 115 (10-5)

Philly took the lead after the first 3 minutes and wouldn’t trail for the rest of the game.

Tobias Harris dropped a team-high 26 points with 6 boards and had a +18 plus/minus.

San Antonio has now lost an abysmal 8 straight games.

Heat 116 (11-3), Bulls 108 (5-11)

Miami completely lit up the Bulls in the first half, jumping out to a 26-point lead. Chicago would rally in the fourth quarter, but it would be too little too late.

Jimmy Butler dropped a game-high 27 points with 7 dimes and 4 thefts and had a +16 plus/minus.

Miami has now won 5 straight.

Lakers 130 (13-2), Thunder 127 (5-10)

The Lakers managed to squander a 15-point third quarter lead, but were able to gut out the win late in the fourth.

Anthony Davis dropped a game-high 33 points with 11 boards and 7 dimes. LeBron James added 23 points and 14 dimes and had an insane, one-handed catch (see below).

The Lakers have now won 6 straight.

Cavs 101 (4-11), Mavs 143 (10-5)

Dallas completely housed the Cavs in the second and third quarters and shot an insane 20-37 from the three-point line.

Luka Doncic finished with his third straight game of 30+ points, becoming the first Mav to accomplish the feat since Dirk Nowitzki in 2010. Luka finished with a game-high 30 points, 14 dimes, 7 boards and had a +21 plus/minus.

Cleveland has now lost 6 straight.

Celtics 92 (11-4), Nuggets 96 (11-3)

Despite losing Kemba Walker to a head injury and trailing by 19 points in the third quarter, the Celtics battled back to nearly win the game.

Denver would narrowly hold on, behind Nikola Jokic’s 18/16/10 triple-double. Jamal Murray added a game-high 22 points.

Warriors 109 (3-14), Jazz 113 (10-5)

Golden State battled back from a 21-point fourth quarter deficit to come within 2 points with 22 seconds left. Utah would eventually hold on to the lead.

Donovan Mitchell dropped a game-high 30 points. Rudy Gobert had 8 points, 19 boards and 7 blocks.

Rockets 119 (11-5), Clippers 122 (11-5)

Paul George and Kawhi Leonard have played just two games as teammates, but both games were two of the best games all season.

Kawhi, James Harden, Lou Williams, PG and Russell Westbrook all traded clutch buckets during a crazy fourth quarter. But it would be Kawhi who would hit the deciding, go-ahead shot.

George finished with 19 points, 8 boards and 7 dimes. Leonard had 24 points, 6 boards and 3 steals. Williams added a team-high 26 points, all scored in the second half.

The post Post Up: Kawhi Leonard, Lou Williams Come Up Clutch in Clippers’ Win Over Rockets appeared first on SLAM.

It was “fun as hell” for Clipper Nation as the superstar duo helped engineer a thrilling 107-104 win against the visiting Boston Celtics.

PG admits, however, that the team is still going through some “growing pains.”

Per The AP:

“It’s still tough,” said Leonard, who missed the previous three games with a sore knee. “We’re both on kind of minute restrictions so it’s hard to get a flow.”

George said he and Leonard are trying to get in sync with their other teammates.

“We’re going to have growing pains,” he said. “The great thing about myself and Kawhi is it doesn’t matter, we’re going to play basketball. Try to make the right plays and play off each other and just keep the game flowing. I thought in that aspect we were good.”

It was a wild and sloppy game for both teams. The Clippers committed 23 turnovers (Williams had seven while Leonard and George had five each) to 17 for the Celtics.

“That was an ugly win, but it was beautiful,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said.

Related Paul George: ‘I Wanted to Be Traded to San Antonio’

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“We wanted to go to San Antonio first,” George recalls of his initial trade demand from the Indiana Pacers back in June 2017.

PG says he and Leonard—the LA Clippers’ new superstar duo will hit the floor together for the first time Wednesday night—were “destined” to join forces.

Per ESPN:

“I wanted to be traded to San Antonio,” George says. “We wanted to go to San Antonio first, and we didn’t make that happen.”

A league source confirmed that the Pacers and Spurs talked, but San Antonio lacked the assets to pair George with Leonard. The Lakers also wanted George, but then team-president Magic Johnson would not trade the 2017 second overall pick (which would become Lonzo Ball) and Brandon Ingram, believing the team could eventually sign George as a free agent.

“As far as the Lakers, I wanted to go to L.A.,” George says. “They didn’t make that happen. They didn’t put nothing together. So that’s in the back of my mind [when I became a free agent]. That was in the back of my mind.”

Sam Presti of the Oklahoma City Thunder would eventually swoop in and acquire the Pacers star, but the idea of teaming up with Leonard lingered.

“Just seems like it was destined,” George said when officially introduced to L.A. “We were supposed to play together.”

Related Russell Westbrook Not ‘Surprised at All’ By Paul George’s Trade Demand

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Kawhi Leonard missed his second consecutive game with a left knee contusion but Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers tells USA Today’s Mark Medina that the superstar forward was very close to playing on Monday.

The latest absences give Leonard five on the year through 14 regular season contests because Leonard had racked up three prior DNPs for standard load management reasons. That includes the Thursday night contest he missed prior to the ones he missed as a result of the contusion.

While it’s Leonard’s right leg that suffers from the quadriceps issue he’s dealt with since his time in San Antonio, his left knee has additionally suffered as a result of overcompensating in the past.

Clippers fans had braced for Leonard’s standard load management off days but the unrelated knee contusion adds a new element. Leonard saw action in just 60 games last season and only nine the season prior.

In the nine games that Leonard has played so far this season, the reigning Finals MVP has looked brilliant, averaging 26.8 points, 8.9 rebounds and 6.0 assists.

According to Medina, it’s very possible that Leonard does end up playing in the team’s Wednesday’ night tilt, but this will be worth monitoring as the season continues.

The post Knee Contusion Sidelines Kawhi Leonard appeared first on SLAM.

Blake Griffin’s return to the court was spoiled as the Pistons fell at home. The All-Star forward put up 19 points in 23 minutes. Andrew Wiggins continued a string of strong performances with a game-high 33 points in the win.

Mavericks 106 (6-4), Celtics 116 (8-1)

Kemba Walker and Luka Doncic went toe-to-toe, but it was Walker’s Celtics who walked away with the win. Kemba finished with 29 points and hit eight 3’s to lead Boston. Doncic poured in 34 points for Dallas.

Grizzlies 113 (3-7), Spurs 109 (5-5)

Jaren Jackson Jr. (24 points) and Dillon Brooks (21 points) stole the win in San Antonio.

After the game, the Spurs celebrated Tony Parker’s jersey retirement.

Rockets 122 (7-3), Pelicans 116 (2-8)

James Harden and Russell Westbrook combined for a blistering 65 points as Houston edged out New Orleans. JJ Redick connected on seven 3’s and contributed 24 points in the loss.

Jazz 122 (7-3), Warriors 108 (2-9)

The short-handed Warriors couldn’t keep up with the Jazz in this one. Utah enjoyed 20+ points from Rudy Gobert (25), Donovan Mitchell (23) and Mike Conley (22). D’Angelo Russell was hot all night, ending with 33 points to lead Golden State.

Raptors 88 (7-3), Clippers 98 (7-3)

A tight game down the stretch ended up in the Clippers’ favor. Los Angeles scored 25 points in the fourth quarter, compared to just 10 points for Toronto in the final frame. Kawhi Leonard almost notched a triple-double, registering 12 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists.

The post Post Up: Kemba Hits Eight 3’s as Celtics Win Eighth Straight appeared first on SLAM.

Nurse wondered if Leonard “was going to flip a switch” and received an emphatic answer during the NBA Playoffs, when the reigning Finals MVP led Toronto to their first-ever championship.

Kawhi is looking forward to a “fun” reunion Monday night with his now-former teammates as the LA Clippers play host to the Raps.

Per The Athletic:

Nick Nurse: “There were several times and team meetings that I thought (Leonard) kind of inserted himself into our team. I know you probably remember me talking a lot about his leadership, and that got to be a big story, people saying he’s not a leader and this and that. I wasn’t making that up. That was probably early on. I think we were probably 13-4 or something and we were having a little meeting about how the offence was running, and he kind of stepped up and said to the team, ‘This is how I see it.’ He couldn’t have said it better, for me. It was perfect.”

Fred VanVleet: “Obviously, he didn’t talk a lot. I think it took a long time for him to open up to us. I think for him to become open and trust us on the court — off the court, he was great — but on the court, I think we saw over the course of the year him open up and trust us, the entire team. I think him and Kyle had a good chemistry pretty early. And you could see it gradually happen for the entire team.”

Marc Gasol: “He speaks when needed. That, to me, is a great trait of a leader. When the team needs it, he has a voice, a voice that everyone listens to. He speaks the right stuff, cares about the right stuff. It was awesome. … I’ll keep it in the locker room. I have a lot of respect for the locker room stuff. But he’s always, always on point and never negative. Always balanced, always steady. You see him out there, and that’s the way he is. He’s not dramatic at all. He never has highs or lows. He’s always steady and on course.”

Nurse: “I’m not sure I ever said this publicly last year, but about February of last year, I was like: ‘He’s not playing to his full capabilities. He’s cruising to his 30 points a night.’ I figured it could go one of two ways. He was gonna cruise on out of here or he was going to flip a switch and try to win the whole damn thing. Obviously, we saw what happened.”

Related Nick Nurse: ‘Can’t Blame’ Kawhi Leonard for Joining the LA Clippers

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Leonard added that he fully backs head coach Doc Rivers after making comments that “were inconsistent” with Kawhi’s health led to a $50,000 team fine.

Leonard, who led the Clips’ 107-101 comeback win against the visiting Portland Trail Blazers with 27 points and 13 rebounds, says the League appears to be pressuring players to hoop “if they’re not ready.”

Per ESPN:

“I mean it was shocking, but it doesn’t matter to me,” Leonard said when asked what he thought about the NBA revealing details about his injury. “I’m not a guy that reads the media anyway. We’re going to manage it the best way we can to keep me healthy and that’s the most important thing, me being healthy moving forward.”

This is the second time the Clippers have been fined this year for comments involving Leonard.

“For me, I’m on his side, you know what I mean?” Leonard said when asked about the league fining the Clippers twice over Rivers’ remarks about him. “I’m a Clipper, he’s my coach. That’s just disappointing. It feels like they want players to play if they’re not ready.

“It is what it is. Like I said, I don’t read into it. I got to do what makes me healthy and is going to help the team be successful and that’s me being able to play basketball games for us.”

Related Clippers Fined $50K for Doc Rivers’ Comments on Kawhi Leonard Sitting Out

The post Kawhi Leonard: ‘It Was Shocking’ NBA Publicized Knee Injury Details appeared first on SLAM.

Rivers’ statement and others were “inconsistent with Leonard’s health status,” according to the NBA, which fined the organization $50,000.

The Bucks walked away with a 129-124 road win.

Per The LA Times:

“Kawhi is gonna sit out for games, it’s going to happen, man, so we can’t put that all on him,” [Montrezl] Harrell said. “He’s got to take care of his body just like every other athlete on this team, so, just because he’s sitting out of the game, that don’t mean we got the right to drop a game.”

The Clippers are now 0-2 in games Leonard has sat out and there will be more absences to come. The team’s medical staff has determined that Leonard is not yet healthy to play on consecutive nights, a determination the NBA’s medical staff agree with, a league spokesman said Wednesday in addressing the Clippers’ load management strategy.

“There’s no concern here, but we want to make sure,” Rivers said of Leonard’s health. “I think Kawhi made a statement that he’s never felt better. It’s our job to make sure he stays that way. That’s important. But he played a lot of minutes in the playoffs last year.

“So, it’s not a health thing, really. It is in some ways. We want him to just keep feeling better and getting better.”

Related NBA: Kawhi Leonard ‘Not Sufficiently Healthy to Play in Back-to-Back Games’

The post Clippers Fined $50K for Doc Rivers’ Comments on Kawhi Leonard Sitting Out appeared first on SLAM.

The NBA says the Finals MVP is “not sufficiently healthy to play in back-to-back games at this time.”

Kawhi has averaged 29.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.3 steals in 30.5 minutes through six games for the 5-2 LA Clippers.

Per The LA Times:

“Kawhi Leonard is not a healthy player under the league’s resting policy, and, as such, is listed as managing a knee injury in the L.A. Clippers injury report,” league spokesman Mike Bass said in a statement sent to the Los Angeles Times. “The league office, in consultation with the NBA’s director of sports medicine is comfortable with the team medical staff’s determination that Leonard is not sufficiently healthy to play in back-to-back games at this time.”

The team similarly received league approval for Leonard’s previous load management-related absence this season, Oct. 30 against Utah, which was also an ESPN broadcast. Asked before that matchup against the Jazz what he would tell fans missing a chance to see Leonard, Clippers coach Doc Rivers called it “a tough one.”

“All I can say, if you’re a Clipper fan, that’s easy to explain,” Rivers said. “That’s who we should be concerned with more, to be honest. Having said that, you should care about all of the fans because they pay. Hopefully, we have enough on the floor that we’ll show them a good game. Now, if you’re a Kawhi fan and you’re from Utah, then that’s just a tough one. But there’s really no way around today and anywhere that anyone’s doing it.”

Related Doc Rivers: ‘There’s No Body Type More Like Michael Jordan’s Than Kawhi’

The post NBA: Kawhi Leonard ‘Not Sufficiently Healthy to Play in Back-to-Back Games’ appeared first on SLAM.

LA Clippers head coach Doc Rivers told reporters that Leonard has a “body type” more like Jordan than anyone else in the NBA.

Kawhi says he grew up studying MJ’s game and incorporating bits of it into his own.

Per ESPN:

“I said there’s no body type more like Michael Jordan’s than Kawhi, and I actually said because of his hands and his length,” Rivers said before the game. “And I did say part of his game, his in-between game, and that took a whole life [of its own].”

Leonard said he heard Rivers’ comparison as he was leading the Raptors into June and their first NBA title.

“Just to be able to get recognized for my talents and where I came a long way to where I am now and just showing my hard work is paying off,” Leonard said of Rivers’ praise.

“Yeah, for sure, he’s a guy I studied,” Leonard said of Jordan. “… He’s obviously one of the guys that everyone looks up to just from a competitive standpoint, how he approached every game. You just try to nitpick what you can take from him and bring it into yourself.”

Related Doc Rivers: Kawhi Leonard the ‘Most Like Jordan That We’ve Seen’

The post Doc Rivers: ‘There’s No Body Type More Like Michael Jordan’s Than Kawhi’ appeared first on SLAM.

TJ Warren scored a game-high 26 points and Malcolm Brogdon was the Pacers’ second-leading scorer with 22 points. TJ Leaf scored 13 points off the bench.

Heat 129 (5-1), Rockets 100 (3-3)

Duncan Robinson (23 points) and Meyers Leonard (21 points) combined for 44 points at home; Jimmy Butler had 18 points. The Heat never trailed once in the contest and led 46-14 after the first quarter.

Kings 113 (2-5), Knicks 92 (1-6)

All five Kings players scored in double figures with De’Aaron Fox leading all scorers with 24 points.

Lakers 103 (5-1), Spurs (4-2) 96

After Friday’s overtime thriller against Dallas, the Lakers defeated the Spurs to go 2-0 on their three-game road trip. LeBron James finished with his second-consecutive triple-double: 21 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds.

Anthony Davis put up 25 points and grabbed 11 boards. Dwight Howard had 14 and 13 in 21 minutes off the bench. This is the Lakers’ best start since the 2010-11 season.

Mavericks 131 (3-2), Cavaliers 111 (2-3)

Luka Doncic dominated in The Land – 29 points, 15 dimes and 14 rebounds – on Sunday night. Doncic became the youngest player in NBA history with consecutive 25-point triple-doubles. Kristaps Porzingis had 18 points and 9 boards.

Clippers 105 (5-2), Jazz 94 (4-3)

After scoring five points in the first half, Kawhi Leonard scored 25 points to finish the night with 30. The Clippers bench outscored Utah’s, 50-19.

The post Post Up: LeBron James Puts Up Triple-Double to Lead Lakers Over Spurs 👑 appeared first on SLAM.

Trae Young could do no wrong. The sophomore guard led his team to the win with 38 points (6-10 from deep), nine assists and seven rebounds.

Vince Carter also became the first player in NBA history to play 22 seasons in the league.

Bucks 117 (1-0), Rockets 111 (0-1)

In a game that featured three NBA MVPs, it was Giannis Antetokounmpo that came out on top. Giannis dropped a triple-double of 30 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists.

New teammates Russell Westbrook and James Harden combined for 43 points.

Clippers 141 (2-0), Warriors 122 (0-1)

Golden State fell in their opener at the new Chase Center as Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers proved to be too much to handle. Leonard finished with 21 points in 21 minutes, adding nine assists and five rebounds.

D’Angelo Russell ended his Warriors debut with 20 points.

The post Post Up: Giannis’ Triple-Double Spoils Rockets Home Opener appeared first on SLAM.

James finished with 18 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, and says Round 1 of The Battle of L.A. wasn’t a big test for either team.

Kawhi Leonard led the Clips in their 112-102 victory with a game-high 30 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals.

Per Yahoo Sports:

“The moment they made the schedule, it was almost positioned as a prizefight,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said.

When Leonard addressed the crowd before the tip, he was met with a shower of boos, along with applause.

“I disagree on how big of a test it was. It’s the first game,” LeBron James said. “Obviously the NBA is back, and that’s what everyone is trying to [start], the narrative of a rivalry game and a huge test. Both teams are not who they want to be. … It’s not a rivalry. We’re trying to get better every single day on how we can be as great as we can be.”

During training camp, both teams did their part in publicly downplaying a city rivalry. But there’s no denying that this is anything but a budding rivalry.

“It’s one game,” [Anthony] Davis told Yahoo Sports. “We’ll get better.”

Related LeBron James: ‘I Thought We Had a Chance’ at Signing Kawhi Leonard

The post ‘It’s Not a Rivalry’: LeBron James Downplays Lakers vs Clippers Opener appeared first on SLAM.

It wasn’t meant to be, of course, as Leonard picked the Clippers instead, but James says “that was just as cool.”

AD, meanwhile, adds that he enjoyed the recruitment process was enjoyable even though the outcome was less-than-desirable.

Per ESPN:

James said he believed the Lakers would add Leonard to a team that already featured him and Anthony Davis “because I’m a positive guy,” admitting he envisioned what that Big Three would look like.

“You ask me was I getting excited about it? I don’t get too excited until things actually happen, but I thought we had a chance,” James said. “That’s all you can ask for. We put ourselves in position to have a chance to get [Leonard]. When he went to the Clippers, I thought that was just as cool. It was great for our league, and he had to do what was best for him. And we all respect that.”

Davis said he hasn’t communicated with Leonard since their summer dalliance. And like James, he has moved on from what could have been.

“It was fun just to go through it, for me, with a player like Kawhi, trying to recruit him to come here. It was fun,” Davis said. “We had one conversation, and I think he came out with a statement, or his uncle or something … somebody said he don’t really like all the recruitment and all that stuff, so I felt like I overstepped my boundaries.

“But it was a fun process. I would do it all over.”

Related Kobe Bryant: Kawhi Leonard Wanted Challenge of Winning Without LeBron James

The post LeBron James: ‘I Thought We Had a Chance’ at Signing Kawhi Leonard appeared first on SLAM.

Bryant says Leonard and new Clippers teammate Paul George both “relish the challenge of taking on something new.”

Kobe adds that James, Anthony Davis and the Lakers are obviously no slouches themselves, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling Staples Center rivalry.

Per The LA Times:

“I’ve known them both for a very long time, and they’re both tough, very inquisitive,” Bryant said. “I remember sitting with Kawhi during All-Star weekend when he was a rookie. We were at a Nike suite and he came by and sat next to me and starting peppering me with questions about the game and summer regimens. It was the same with P.G.

“They’re so competitive on both ends of the floor. It’s not a tit-for-tat thing where you score and I score. They don’t believe in that. It’s ‘You can’t stop me and I will shut you down.’ That’s a different mentality. Not a lot of players have that.”

George and Leonard grew up in Southern California, looking up to Bryant and watching the Lakers win championships.

“I’m sure Kawhi wants to take the challenge of winning independent of playing with LeBron,” Bryant said. “Maybe that was the same for P.G. I think they relish the challenge of taking on something new. I don’t think it was a slight at the Lakers. It was more about circumstances and what was already here in L.A. and on the Lakers, and they wanted to take the challenge of building something new.

“But the Lakers did OK. I saw a lot of Lakers fans were very disappointed, and rightfully so, that they didn’t get Kawhi. But you did get Anthony Davis. The Lakers have two freaks of nature. They’re going to be fine. It’s a hell of a time to be in L.A.”

Related Kawhi Leonard ‘Feeling Way Better Than I Was at the Start of Last Season’

The post Kobe Bryant: Kawhi Leonard Wanted Challenge of Winning Without LeBron James appeared first on SLAM.

Leonard, 28, reports that he feels “way better” heading into his first year with the LA Clippers.

New All-Star teammate Paul George is expected to be sidelined until November following offseason surgeries on both shoulders.

Per The LA Times:

All-Star teammate Kawhi Leonard took part in many offseason workouts, a second person with knowledge of the workouts said. As such, Leonard on Sunday reiterated a belief he first made public in July — that his workload will be “different” than last season in Toronto, when he played only 66 regular-season games and led the Raptors to their first NBA title.

“Last year I was going in with an injury that I was dealing with the year before; it still was lingering and we knew I had to be healthy going throughout the season and making it to the playoffs,” Leonard said. “This year I’m feeling good and feeling way better than I was at the start of last season.”

Coming off the second Finals MVP performance of his career, Leonard’s first priority is adding to his postseason accomplishments.

“Right now,” he said, “it’s getting the Clippers to the Finals.”

Related Doc Rivers: Kawhi Leonard is a ‘Quiet Version’ of Kevin Garnett

The post Kawhi Leonard ‘Feeling Way Better Than I Was at the Start of Last Season’ appeared first on SLAM.

Disgraced former team owner Donald Sterling had nixed a three-team deal to acquire JJ Redick in 2013, prompting Rivers to threaten leaving the organization.

Doc says the Clips had been “the worst organization in basketball for the last 20 years” when he joined them.

Per The LA Times:

“I was on the job for six days and I quit,” Rivers said. “The deal went through and everyone said it was a great deal. I flew back home to Orlando for a couple of days and I got a call from [former Clippers president] Andy Roeser saying Donald Sterling decided he didn’t want to do the deal. I said, ‘What do you mean? The deal is already done. JJ is a free agent. He backed out of a deal to sign with us. If we don’t do this deal we’ll never get another free agent. It’s our word.’”

Redick had been acquired from the Milwaukee Bucks in a sign-and-trade after agreeing to a four-year, $27-million deal with the Clippers. Redick turned down similar offers from teams that were no longer available. Rivers, who was also the vice president of basketball operations for the Clippers, thought he had ultimate authority over the roster.

“I got on the phone with Donald and he was telling me how great his word was,” Rivers said. … “I was in the airport parking lot screaming, ‘No, no, no, no! You’re not going to do this! This is my reputation!’ He just went on and on about his reputation and how great it was.

“Finally at the end of it I said, ‘If you don’t do the trade, I quit.’ He said, ‘You can’t quit, you signed a five-year deal, I’ll make sure you don’t coach anywhere!’ I said, ‘I’m fine with that. I’ll find a job. I’ll do something, but I’m not going to do this. I gave the guy my word. I shook his hand.”

The next morning, Roeser told Rivers the deal was done. “I still have no idea what happened,” Rivers said. “I guess Donald just changed his mind, but I had quit.”

Related Doc Rivers: Clippers Knew ‘Oklahoma City Wanted to Break Their Team Up’

The post Doc Rivers (Briefly) Quit as Clippers Coach After Just Six Days appeared first on SLAM.

Ujiri believes Toronto “learned how to win” last season and adds that Leonard, who bolted for the LA Clippers this summer, “taught” the Raps how to reach the mountaintop.

Masai also holds no ill will towards Kawhi for wanting to live and work back home in Cali.

Per CBC News and Yahoo Sports Canada:

Raptors president Masai Ujiri’s optimistic answer to that is simple: “100 per cent,” he said in an interview with Adrienne Arsenault, co-host of CBC’s The National.

“I look at what this team has done and what we can learn from it. We learned how to win. And Kawhi taught us that. He brought us into that space,” Ujiri said.

While he is obviously disappointed in the end result, Ujiri doesn’t harbour any resentment toward Leonard. He completely understands that the superstar wanted to return to his roots.

“If he wants to go home, he’s gone home,” Ujiri said. “If there was a team in Lagos, Nigeria or Zaria, Nigeria, if there was an NBA team there I don’t know if I would stay in Toronto. There are some callings in life and some things that pull people one way or the other and I completely understand that.”

Related Masai Ujiri: Raptors ‘Going to Be Just Fine’ Without Kawhi Leonard

The post ‘100 Percent’: Masai Ujiri Says Raptors Can Repeat Without Kawhi Leonard appeared first on SLAM.

Rivers says the Clips, armed with that intel, were hell-bent on acquiring Paul George from the Thunder to pair him with Kawhi Leonard in the ultimate free agent coup.

Rivers adds that Leonard added to the Clips’ sense of urgency by telling team owner Steve Ballmer that his squad “was not good enough” for him to seriously consider joining.

Per The LA Times:

“We had a meeting with Kawhi at my house in Malibu and we felt we had the inside position,” Rivers said. “The Lakers had a meeting with Kawhi and they built this whole thing up for him to come to their new practice facility and he said, ‘No, you can come to my hotel room.’ But with us he said, ‘Yes, I’ll come to your house.’ When we heard that it felt like he was telling us he wants to come here.”

That first meeting at Rivers’ home was their first conversation.

“He said, ‘I want to play for you,’ and he pointed at me. He said, ‘Mr. Ballmer, I love the things you do and what you stand for, but your team is not good enough and if you don’t change your team, I’m not coming.’ ”

Leonard wanted to be a Clipper but wouldn’t make the jump unless the team was able to get him a running mate to make them championship contenders.

“We actually had a list of guys, which was a mistake, but we got lucky,” Rivers said. “We shouldn’t have had a list, because then he got to choose who he wanted to play with and the assumption was that we could get them. We didn’t know if we could get anybody. We just showed him guys that we thought would match him and when he saw Paul George’s name he said, ‘I want to play with him.’

“We showed him everybody else and he didn’t want to hear it. He just stayed on Paul George, so after the meeting we sat down and I said, ‘We got to get Paul George. I don’t know how we are going to do it, but we have to do it.’ We did know that Oklahoma City wanted to break their team up, so that helped, but we didn’t know if we could get him.”

Related Doc Rivers: Kawhi Leonard the ‘Most Like Jordan That We’ve Seen’

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The Purple and Gold are strictly focused on winning an NBA championship, says Davis.

AD believes he and teammate LeBron James “have a very good chance of doing something special.”

Per Red Bull Hoops:

Thanks to the acquisition of Davis and other roster moves, the Lakers — who lost more games than they won last season and failed to make the playoffs — are suddenly one of the favorites to contend for an NBA title. Curiously, the odds-on favorite for the trophy plays in the same arena — the Los Angeles Clippers, who will pair All-Stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.

Davis is careful with his words when asked about the rivalry transfixing fans in L.A. “I’m not sure what the Clippers are thinking,” he says. “But I know what the Lakers are thinking — and that’s to play basketball. Obviously, they have a great team, but we know that for us it’s going to be bigger than a rivalry. You know, winning a rivalry game doesn’t win the championship. So for us the goal is to win a championship this year.”

Asked whether the team has explicitly discussed that goal — to win a title this year — Davis laughs out loud. “We haven’t talked about it yet, but I don’t think it needs to be said,” he says. “I think that any time that you’re on, your goal is always to win a championship. If it’s not, I don’t understand why you’re playing.”

Related LeBron James Told Lakers to Make Anthony Davis ‘Focal Point’ of the Offense

The post Anthony Davis: Lakers Looking Beyond Rivalry With Clippers appeared first on SLAM.

Rivers says the Boston Celtics followed KG because of his actions, and believes Leonard can provide the Clips with similar leadership.

Doc adds that having a target on their backs will be good for the Clippers.

Per The Boston Globe:

“From afar, he reminds me a lot of Kevin [Garnett],” Rivers said. “He reminds me of a quiet version of Kevin. Imagine a Kevin Garnett that didn’t talk — his actions are why we followed Kevin. As verbal as Kevin was and as expressive as he was, if he didn’t follow through with his actions, none of that verbal stuff would have worked. So to me, from afar, he reminds me a lot of Kevin that way in that he tends to want to show you by example. That’s the best leadership.”

Rivers said he has no master plan for coaching Leonard. He will go by experience and go by feel.

“It’s great [to have a target on the back] for this team. It’s exhausting for a championship team because it usually happens to a team that’s won already,” he said. “In 2008, it was really Detroit who we [the Celtics] had targeted and then the Lakers we had targeted. Last year, it was Golden State clearly that everybody was trying to be, and this year it’s kind of open because the team that won it in Toronto, their best player left.

“So it’s open. It’s us. It’s the Lakers. It’s Golden State. It’s Boston. It’s a bunch of teams. We clearly are one that teams will target. It reminds me of that Miami team that hadn’t won it yet [in 2010] with LeBron [James] and [Dwyane] Wade and [Chris] Bosh but they still were the target.

“In my opinion, in 2009, we had won it already. We knew teams were going to attack us and we were ready for it, but it was exhausting because we had just come off a title. We haven’t played since the middle of May, but teams are going to try to come after us. I think that’s a good thing. I think we need that. It will teach us hopefully every night you have to be ready. In the long run, if we can get through it, it will prepare us for the march. If we can’t get through it, we won’t get there anyway.”

Related LA Clippers: Kawhi Leonard Signing a ‘Historic Momemt for Our Organization’

The post Doc Rivers: Kawhi Leonard is a ‘Quiet Version’ of Kevin Garnett appeared first on SLAM.

Harrell, 25, has focused on improving his ball handling and perimeter shooting, including three-pointers.

The fiery big man is excited for what he expects to be an “amazing” year for the LA Clippers.

Per The Athletic:

“There’s going to be a lot more stuff you’re going to see this year,” Harrell says.

His bread-and-butter is rolling to the rim — statistically he’s one of the three or four best roll men in the league — and upholding arguably the game’s best pick-and-roll tandem with [Lou] Williams.

“I don’t get away from that because if a guy can’t stop it, he can’t stop it,” Harrell says. “But at the same time, I know I could be able to get like I’m going to go to my running hook and be able to pull up where I’m at and knock the shot down with confidence. I’m going to be able to get to my spots on the floor where I feel that I can work and do the most damage at and be able to score and get a bucket from there.”

The Clippers’ acquisitions of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, which overnight transformed them into championship favorites and put Harrell, the team’s seventh man and closing center, closer to the league’s spotlight and the Larry O’Brien Trophy than he’s ever been.

“It’s going to be amazing, man,” Harrell says. “It’s going to be fun. I’m ready to get out there and just get after it in training camp. Just be able to grow with the guys like we do every year. As you see, we took steps forward each year. Even with the run we had last year with the guys we had. Now you add two star pieces in Paul George and Kawhi Leonard and you also add a lot of role pieces that are going to help us all.”

Related Lou Williams: Rockets ‘Paid a Healthy Price for Chris Paul’

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With Kawhi Leonard no longer in the picture for the defending NBA champs, the pressure to deliver falls squarely on Siakam’s shoulders.

The 25-year-old forward is coming off a Most Improved Player campaign in 2018-19, and Nurse belives “the sky’s the limit” for him.

Per Yahoo Sports Canada:

“I just think his next step in progression is being ‘The Man,’” Nurse told Yahoo Sports Canada. “Instead of being a complementary guy next to ‘The Man,’ he’s gotta be ‘The Man’ — the primary scorer and the primary option and the late-game scorer.”

Having established himself as an interior scorer, Nurse says the next step in Siakam’s development will take place on the perimeter.

“He really can play anywhere,” Nurse said of Siakam. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we almost make him like a point forward, where he’ll handle the ball a lot up the floor.”

His ceiling won’t necessarily hit MVP levels, but Siakam does have a decent shot of challenging for an All-NBA team next year.

“There’s lots of little steps left to climb yet for him,” Nurse said of Siakam, “And I think the sky’s the limit.”

Related Report: Toronto, OKC Discussed a Trade for Russell Westbrook and Paul George

The post Nick Nurse: Pascal Siakam Has Got to Be ‘The Man’ for Toronto appeared first on SLAM.

Lowry says he is “genuinely happy” for his former teammate, who he believes sought happiness by moving back home to California and signing with the LA Clippers.

The 33-year-old five-time NBA All-Star adds that he “would love to do an extension” with the Raptors.

Per ESPN and Sports Illustrated:

“I’m happy for you,” Lowry said of his reaction to Leonard’s news. “… I am happy for the guys that … especially a guy that helped do something fantastic and something great. He’s an unbelievable friend of mine and is a good guy. He made a decision to go home and he is happy with that and I am happy for him. Truly. I am genuinely happy for him. It gives him a chance to be around his family and friends. You got to respect the guy and be happy for him.”

While Leonard’s departure was a massive blow for Toronto, it didn’t change the way Lowry felt about what the Raptors accomplished by bringing Canada its first NBA title.

“No, not at all,” Lowry said emphatically. “Not at all. We are champions. No matter what. [It will] never be taken away from us. Ever. Ever, ever. Ever, ever.”

Asked about Toronto entering next season without the Leonard, Lowry declared the road to a championship still ran through the Raptors.

“It is what it is,” Lowry said. “We’re still going to be able to run it back. We’re the champions and we’re trying to defend our title. I’m confident with our team.”

Related Masai Ujiri: Raptors ‘Going to Be Just Fine’ Without Kawhi Leonard

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SLAM 223 is the CHAMPS issue, featuring the 2019 Toronto Raptors and star forward Kawhi Leonard. There’s a game-by-game rundown of the NBA Finals and a Raps pull-out poster, along with big stories on three-time Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams, Aces’ stars A’ja Wilson and Liz Cambage, up-and-coming studs Coby White, Jarrett Culver, RJ Hampton and Greg Brown, the annual @LeagueFits awards, a look at Giannis’ first signature sneaker and plenty more.

Head to our online store to cop, peep the cover stories at the links below and stay posted for more dope content over the next few weeks!

THE UNDERGROUND GOAT: Lou Williams Is Your Favorite Player’s Favorite Player

BET THAT: The A’ja Wilson and Liz Cambage Show Is Taking Over Vegas

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The footwear and apparel giant alleges that Leonard “seeks to re-write history” by claiming he created the design.

Kawhi, who left Jordan Brand and signed with New Balance, addressed the legal battle ahead of Game 3 of the NBA Finals last month: “It happened over a long time ago,” Leonard said. “You guys are just finding out. Not a big worry of mine.”

Per ESPN:

“In this action, Kawhi Leonard seeks to re-write history by asserting that he created the ‘Claw Design’ logo, but it was not Leonard who created that logo,” Nike states in its countersuit, which was filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, where Leonard’s original suit was filed last month. “The ‘Claw Design’ was created by a talented team of NIKE designers, as Leonard, himself, has previously admitted.

“In his Complaint, Leonard alleges he provided a design to NIKE. That is true. What is false is that the design he provided was the Claw Design. Not once in his Complaint does Leonard display or attach either the design that he provided or the Claw Design. Instead, he conflates the two, making it appear as though those discrete works are one and the same. They are not.”

In its countersuit, Nike provides a pair of images — one of which it says is the image Leonard provided to the company, which has a “KL,” with the L also turning into a numeral 2, inside of a hand, and the other the design Nike ultimately created.

“Despite the Contract’s intellectual property ownership provision to which Leonard agreed, and despite his prior public acknowledgement that NIKE authored the Claw Design, Leonard has now decided that he, and not NIKE, is the rightful owner of the registered Claw Design, and has gone even further to accuse NIKE of committing fraud by registering its Claw Design with the Copyright Office,” the suit says.

Related Kawhi Leonard Sues Nike Over ‘Klaw’ Logo

The post Nike Files Countersuit Against Kawhi Leonard appeared first on SLAM.

Ennis, who re-signed on a two-year deal in Philadelphia, says the Eastern Conference is “wide open.”

The 29-year-old points out that Kawhi Leonard having gone West to join the LA Clippers makes the Sixers’ road to the championship round considerably easier.

Per Philly.com:

That’s part of the reason the reserve swingman turned down better offers to stay with the Sixers. Ennis will sign a two-year, $4.1 million contract to stay.

“Because it’s a good team, and a good chance of winning,” Ennis said Wednesday at the NBA Summer League. “The East is going to be wide open. We had a good chance last year. Kawhi is gone. He went to the West.

“So we are going to walk to the Finals in the East.”

Related Joel Embiid: ‘I’ll Be Back Even Better and Stronger’

The post James Ennis III: Sixers ‘Going to Walk to the Finals’ appeared first on SLAM.

LA also welcomed fellow All-Star forward Paul George into the fold, calling him “one of the greatest two-way players in our game,” with both players expected to be introduced next week.

Leonard, 28, reportedly inked a three-year deal worth $103 million, with a player option for the final season in 2021-22.

Per The LA Times:

The player option creates the possibility that not only could Leonard reenter free agency again after two seasons in a Clippers uniform, but the other half of the team’s superstar pairing could join him. George, a six-time all-star forward whose trade from Oklahoma City to the Clippers also became official Wednesday, also holds a player option for the 2021-22 season.

Leonard’s motivation for opting out in 2021 would be financial. By that time he will have finished his 10th NBA season, a threshold that allows players to sign contracts worth the maximum 35% of a team’s salary cap. By not signing a long-term contract now, there is some risk for Leonard to stay healthy. But one lesson of 2019 NBA free agency, as demonstrated by the cases of Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson, is that stars of the highest caliber can command maximum-salary, long-term contracts, even if injured.

In a statement, Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank hailed the signing as a “historic moment.” The franchise has never before landed a free agent with the credentials of the two-time most valuable player of the NBA Finals.

“Having him on our side is a tremendous privilege and a massive responsibility,” Frank said, “one we will take very seriously.”

Related Report: Kawhi Leonard Recruited Paul George Once Kevin Durant Turned Him Down

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Ujiri says “it’s on to the next” for the defending NBA champs.

Masai added that this was a “different kind of free agency,” which ultimately resulted in Kawhi joining the LA Clippers.

Per TSN:

“Honestly, it’s on to the next,” Ujiri said, speaking publicly for the first time since Leonard made his decision early Saturday morning. “This is the NBA and this is how it works. I always say there’s no time to go out and cry. You can’t hide under the table and cry. Honestly, I’ve lost no sleep. I’m not disappointed. It’s on to what’s next. I’m telling Raptors fans and everybody, don’t lose one day of sleep, one second of sleep. We’re going to be just fine. We’re going to be all right.”

Was anybody not [upfront with him and the Raptors throughout the process]?

“I know what we’re dealing with here and I appreciate what the process was,” Ujiri responded. “I know free agency, I know how it works. It’s not my first rodeo. You know things are going to go up and down. This was a different kind of free agency. It was high stakes and we understood that.”

The natural assumption is that Ujiri was making reference to Uncle Dennis. Robertson has a reputation for being hard to deal with and would have been hands on throughout the process. According to sources, Leonard and his camp – namely Uncle Dennis – asked for a lot from the Raptors in that meeting, things players don’t generally ask for in standard contract negotiations.

In some cases, they were asking for things that Ujiri – one of the most well compensated executives in the league – wouldn’t have even had at his disposal. Their requests were “unreasonable”, a source said, which made the Raptors wonder whether Leonard was seriously considering them at all.

Related Nick Nurse: ‘Can’t Blame’ Kawhi Leonard for Joining the LA Clippers

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