Walker averaged 8.0 points and 2.1 assists per game during his nine-game stint with the Mavericks after he signed a veterans minimum to play in Dallas in November.

Sources: Mavs are waiving Kemba Walker, whose salary would have become guaranteed Saturday. Two-way G McKinley Wright IV has earned minutes and Mavs also want to leave path for rookie Jaden Hardy to get playing time. Walker had 32-point game for Mavs and was ultimate pro.

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) January 6, 2023

Cardiac Kemba’s best performance as Mav came after dropping 32 points in a 100-99 loss to Cleveland on Dec. 17 in an effort to carry the load when Luka Doncic and Spencer Dinwiddie sat out.

McKinley Wright’s development and increased workload as a defensive-minded guard helped Dallas decide. Dallas is reportedly looking to create more playing time for rookie guard Jaden Hardy who has averaged 28.8 points per game when playing in the G League. Hardy scored 15 points in 15 minutes against the Celtics on Thursday.

Dallas will also consider signing players to 10-day deals before they officially close that open roster spot Walker’s release created.

The post The Dallas Mavericks Have Waived Veteran Guard Kemba Walker appeared first on SLAM.

The three-time All-Star was simply dominant on Tuesday, calmly dropping a franchise-record 60-point triple-double against the New York Knicks. Doncic officially posted 60 points (team record 21-31 shooting), 21 rebounds, and 10 assists, breaking Hall-of-Famer Dirk Nowitzki’s (53 points) team record as a Maverick. Luka Legend also set a career-high for points and boards during his epic Tuesday night outing.

Doncic has matched James Harden for the highest-scoring triple-double in NBA history, who accomplished the historic feat on Jan. 30, 2018, against the Orlando Magic. NBA legends Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor are the only other hoopers to grab at least 20 boards while posting a 50-point triple-double.

“I’m tired as hell,” a smiling Doncic said during his postgame TV interview. “I need a recovery beer.”

“I need a recovery beer.”

60 pts, 21 reb, 10 ast tonight. Well earned, Luka. : @Sean_Daniel01 pic.twitter.com/G2HjuLNPMV

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 28, 2022

According to Callie Caplan of the Dallas Morning News, Luka Legend celebrated his legendary 60-burger with some water, a protein shake, and a beer while watching some NBA TV highlights, and of course, he scrolled through his phone.

“To do something that’s never been done before, that’s hard to do,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said per ESPN. “There’s been some great players before him. Elgin Baylor and Wilt, he was in that class, and then he separated himself and made his own class.”

Happy to hoop. : @Sean_Daniel01 pic.twitter.com/rCHl0qgtyt

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 28, 2022

Now for the nitty gritty. Dallas is now the first team in at least two decades to win after trailing by at least nine points in the final 35 seconds. According to ESPN, teams in that situation were 0-13,884 in the last 20 years. The reason behind that feat? Doncic scored 38 points in the second-half and helped Dallas claw back from a 12-point deficit.

Doncic forced overtime after purposefully bricking a free throw, corralling the loose ball, and putting up a double-clutch fade away. From there, Doncic scored Dallas’ only field goal in overtime, but he knocked down five of his six free throw opportunities to help the Mavericks escape with an exhausting win.

“I promise I was trying for sure,” Knicks guard Quentin Grimes said, the primary defender on Doncic. “I mean, I’m trying to get over every pick-and-roll. He’s in almost every action. It was a lot on me trying to get over every pick-and-roll with him. He’s crafty with the ball, without the ball. Have to know where he is at all times on the court. He’s one of the top three players in the league for a reason. I have to tip my hat.”

Another for YOU pic.twitter.com/EWkH4RLsqP

— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) December 28, 2022

Dallas can build on this win when they host the Rockets on Thursday.

The post Luka Doncic is ‘Tired as Hell’ After Historic 60-Point Triple-Double Performance appeared first on SLAM.

The Mavericks will host the Los Angeles Lakers for a holiday. As the face of the franchise’s cherished history since 1998, Nowitzki will never be forgotten for leading Dallas to an NBA Championship in 2011. The championship victory came in six games against the star-studded Miami Heatles led by LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh.

The 2011 Finals MVP was pleased to hear he will be getting a statue built after him on the global holiday.

“That’s going to be there forever,” Nowitzki said per NBA.com. “I think that’s what’s so unbelievable, that this statue will stand there, and my kids will grow up with it. That’s what’s really mindboggling and so amazing about it –  That this piece is for really for eternity and will be there long, long after I’m gone.”

During his time with the Mavericks, Nowitzki solidified himself as an NBA legend and a building bridge between the inspiration the Dream Team created during their Gold Medal campaign in the 1992 Olympics. Nowitzki saw what Team USA did, and his success paved the way for more international players to cross the world and become NBA stars, like former teammate Luka Doncic or Giannis Antetokounmpo.

When talking about his impact on the game in this aspect, the former superstar admitted it is a humbling feeling.

“Along the way, if I inspired somebody to pick up a basketball or if I motivated a guy to work harder or dream of the NBA, of course, that’s humbling to me,” said Nowitzki. “Super humbling. That makes me proud, for sure.”

The post Dallas Mavericks Set to Unveil Dirk Nowitzki Statue on Christmas appeared first on SLAM.

Mavericks forward Maxi Kleber will miss six-to-eight weeks due to a sprain in his right knee, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 15, 2022

But that isn’t the least of the tough news. The Mavericks also released a report stating that Kleber has a tear in his right hamstring from Tuesday’s practice and that there is no current timetable for his return.

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that forward Maxi Kleber suffered a tear of his right hamstring at practice on Tuesday, December 13.

At this time, there is no timetable for Kleber’s return and updates will be given when appropriate. pic.twitter.com/5OLPf1dEw2

— Mavs PR (@MavsPR) December 15, 2022

Kleber, who signed a four-year contract extension with the Mavericks back in 2019, has been very effective and efficient this season. Before the injuries, Kleber has been having a career year in terms of his shooting percentage making 49 percent of his field goal attempts.

The Mavericks will surely miss the interior defense Kleber brings off the bench moving forward. With the trade deadline approaching, it will be interesting to see what Dallas does in the coming weeks.

The post Maxi Kleber Set to Miss Six-Eight Weeks Due to Knee and Hamstring Injuries appeared first on SLAM.

The last time these two powerhouse squads went at it, the Bucks defended home court and got the 124-115 win over Dallas. Antetokounmpo had himself a night, scoring 30 points on 11-19 shooting and also grabbing 11 rebounds.

Bucks shooting guard Grayson Allen also had a huge game to help seal the victory. Allen finished the game with 25 points on 8-10 after having a scorching hot first half where he shot 7-7 from the field.

Milwaukee (18-6) comes into Friday’s matchup as the second-best team in the Eastern Conference and looks to put their stamp on this regular-season matchup with another wire-to-wire dub.

On the flip side, we have Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks, who are looking to bounce back from the loss they took last time out. Doncic was in his bag in their previous matchup, putting up 27 points on 10-20 shooting to go along with 12 assists.

Doncic and the Mavs have been a tear as of late, winning their last three matchups versus the Knicks, Suns, and Nuggets. Mavericks forwards Tim Hardaway Jr and Dorian Finney-Smith put up big-time offensive outbursts during this stretch of games.

Finney-Smith scored 19 points, shooting 7-13 from the field against the second-place Nuggets. Hardaway Jr also had a great game, dropping 29 points while shooting 7-12 from the field.

With the Western Conference standings so tight, every win matters. The Mavericks picked the right time to get hot, but will it be enough to even the season series tonight? All questions will be answered tonight on ESPN at 10 pm.

The post Preview: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic Lead Bucks and Mavs Into Final Encounter appeared first on SLAM.

While Brunson is averaging 21.3 points and 6.5 assists at a career-best rate for NY, the Mavericks have fallen short of expectations in the first quarter of the season. Other than Luka Magic – the Slovenian is averaging 33.6 points (1st in the League), 8.7 assists (4th in the League), and 8.7 rebounds a contest – the Mavs offense has struggled, resulting in an unsettling record under .500.

A Western Conference Finals team last season, Dallas fans and critics alike have searched for critical shortcomings in the team’s current makeup and performance. General manager Nico Harrison spoke with Dallas News and broke down his perspective on the Mavs’ slow start. 

Mav’s shooters aren’t shooting well:

Harrison believes a core component of their losses is their failure to knock down shots. The shooting struggles have led to Dallas dropping games to Detroit (6-18 record), Orlando (5-17), Houston (5-16), and OKC (9-13). They’ve failed to execute on the road; their drive-and-kick offense is struggling to produce. Doncic is the offense’s engine as both the primary drive-and-kicker and scorer, and Harrison wants to see shooters ease Doncic’s workload by doing a better job of finishing plays. 

Although “not resigning Jalen (Brunson) wasn’t [their] choice,” the GM has no regrets:

The front office received heavy criticism for a) not resigning Brunson and b) not pursuing other point guards in free agency after losing Brunson. The Mavs undoubtedly feel his loss. However, Harrison has no regrets. 

“I have faith in the guys that we have here. Again, guys haven’t made shots, but we’ve seen them do it, and I have faith in them. I think if guys make shots just at the rate or slightly below what they normally do, we’re not even having this conversation. I think that erases a lot of the doubt or the feeling that we’re not quite achieving what the expectations would’ve been. The law of averages, they eventually equal out, and guys will make shots.”

Josh Green and Kemba Walker are two bright spots:

In his third season in the League, Josh Green is stepping up as a solid role player for Dallas. VP of Basketball Operations Michael Finley called Green the “MVP of the summer.” Harrison added, “he was in the gym working hard, and you can see. You see the production that he’s had. Not surprised. Happy for him. Happy for us, too, but more for him.”

Additionally, the Mavs signed Kemba Walker earlier this week. Harrison has no expectations for Kemba and simply hopes his body holds up and he brings a veteran presence to the team. The GM called Kemba an “amazing person.”

“I think that’s the point. He’s an amazing person. He’s been through everything in the League. He obviously can handle the ball, and everybody knows he’s an ex-All-Star. I won’t even say ex-All-Star. He’s an All-Star. He’s a scorer. Adding that veteran presence for if and when we need it ready will be helpful.”

The turn-around point is coming:

Harrison urged Dallas fans to be patient and reminded them that last year the Mavs opened the season 9-14 and finished as Western Conference runners-up. A spark can come at any point, and the GM believes “it’s just a matter of us turning the corner, and it’s going to happen sooner than later.”

“I don’t think it’s an external thing. Our team — they’re connected, they’re together. Like, they’re still even though it’s a different team than last year, there’s still a lot of remnants from last year. They’re still very connected.”

The post GM Nico Harrison Hopeful Despite Mavs’ 10-11 Start to Season appeared first on SLAM.

Doncic was in his bag last night, scorching the visiting Golden State Warriors with his hot hand and impressive playmaking abilities. Doncic sealed the 116-113 victory with 41 points shooting 14-27 (51.9 percent) from the field, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists.

Unreal performance from Luka.

41 PTS, 12 REB, 12 AST, 4 STL.

(via @nba) pic.twitter.com/2YBzHUSDVB

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 30, 2022

This is Doncic’s third 40+ point triple-double this season, and every other player in the League currently has zero. Performances like what we witnessed last night on national television are why many would agree that Doncic is a front-runner for MVP this year. I mean, with the way he has been playing at such a high level, how could you argue against him right now?

“It’s getting boring,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd jokingly told ESPN postgame. “I mean, let’s see something different. Maybe do it with his left hand. I’m just joking. Look, he’s one of the best in the world, and that’s what he does. Some of us can take him for granted. The man is special.”

Warriors Superstar Stephen Curry also chimed in postgame with some high praise for Doncic as well;

“His size and his ball-handling skills keep you on edge the entire game, that plus him being a three-level scorer, you’ve got to worry about everything,” Curry said. “Then obviously, his court vision is unreal. It’s an offensive package of being a playmaker and scorer, and when he’s knocking down shots like he did tonight, it’s tough. You want to take something away from him, but he can make play after play.”

Tuesday’s game just continues to add to what has been a spectacular season for Doncic, whose performance yesterday also landed him in the history books. Doncic is now the sixth player in NBA history to record five or more 40-point triple-doubles. The five other big names he joins on that list are Oscar Robertson, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Wilt Chamberlain, and LeBron James.

In addition to his new piece of NBA history, Doncic made franchise history after tying Dirk Nowitzki’s franchise record for most 40-point games as a Maverick.

There just doesn’t seem to be anything anyone in the League can do to stop Doncic. With the All-Star break quietly approaching, we will just have to wait to see if Doncic and the Mavericks can continue to sustain their current level of play.

The post Jason Kidd On Taking Luka Doncic ‘for Granted’ After His 40-Point Triple-Double appeared first on SLAM.

The Dallas Mavericks plan to sign Kemba Walker and waive Facundo Campazzo, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 28, 2022

Walker walks into Dallas midseason after he waited for his next opportunity to play following his rough exit from New York after the Knicks traded him to Detroit on Draft day. Walker’s tenure with the Knicks ended due to some trouble getting on the court and being unable to fit head coach Tom Thibodeau’s vision for the team on the court.

Walker has averaged 19.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game on 41.8 percent shooting from the field and 36.0 percent from beyond the arc over his 12-year career.

The post REPORT: Free Agent Kemba Walker Headed to Dallas appeared first on SLAM.

As impressive as his resume may be, fans, as well as Doncic himself, realize the importance of what a championship will do to the Slovenian’s legacy. While he came up short last season when he faced the Golden State Warriors dynasty in the Western Conference Finals, the roster improvement the front office made over the summer has Doncic hopeful of remaining in Big D for a long stretch of his career.

“I don’t think they’re worried about it right now,” Doncic tells WFAA on the state of his contract to Mavs’ fans. “I got what, five years left here, so I don’t think they should be worried about it.”

pic.twitter.com/mCKB00HCTD

— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) November 21, 2022

Doncic recently signed a $207 million contract extension with the Mavs to keep him until 2027. Being a 10-year veteran by that time will undoubtedly put pressure on Dallas in the next five years to place the missing pieces for a title. Though Doncic tells fans not to worry about exiting, a player of his caliber may change his position depending on how the front office builds the team around him.

Similar to LeBron James‘ first exit in Cleveland or Kevin Durant‘s departure from Oklahoma City, the talent centered around the superstar can truly shift his commitment towards the organization’s plan.

He can't be stopped pic.twitter.com/b60Lk1U87x

— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) November 21, 2022

Recent rumors indicate that the Mavericks are looking to make a splash on the trade center, specifically for Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons. The two-way presence of Simmons can help alleviate the pressure off of Doncic and allow him to be hidden on the weakest offensive presence on any given opponent’s lineup.

No one can tell what’s to come, but for a generational player like Doncic, a championship roster has to be built from the mud up to make the talent’s story all the more impressive and, of course, avoid a heartbreaking exit. While Doncic is complaining yet about roster construction, the onus will remain on Dallas’ front office to build a championship-caliber roster around their MVP candidate.

His legacy, and the franchises, will be tied around it.

“Basketball is my peace place,” Doncic said. “I always want to go there. I forget about everything that’s going on off the court.”

The post Luka Doncic On Worries About Him Leaving Dallas: ‘I Got Five Years Left Here’ appeared first on SLAM.

The injury happened in Charlotte and started a wild string of injuries for the Nets.

Before Dinwiddie was injured, numerous trade rumors were swirling around involving Dinwiddie and eventual-now-former Net James Harden. If Dinwiddie had not gotten hurt, then there is a huge chance he might have been involved in a trade deal for Harden. Had Dinwiddie stayed in Brooklyn, he would have played a significant role as the primary point guard because of the vaccination rules situation with Kyrie Irving.

Due to the injury, Dinwiddie was traded as part of a 5-team sign-and-trade that dealt him to the Washington Wizards.

Let it fly pic.twitter.com/W3U2W50lL6

— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) October 26, 2022

Dinwiddie was always a media favorite during his time as a Net. After the Maverick’s win against the Nets Thursday night, Dinwiddie was asked if he ever thought about how his career would look if his time in Brooklyn never ended on an ACL tear.

“I don’t know if the trade still happens or not or if I’m in it,” Dinwiddie said per The Athletic. “Regardless of whether it happens or not, I believe the Nets are a championship team. Just because if you look how close that team was, we were steamrolling people before I got hurt. Even if they make the trade and I’m in it, that means they probably get to keep one of Caris (LeVert) or Jarrett (Allen), which obviously really would have been needed. Or I’m not in it; it means I’m still here, and I’m with Harden. So either way you slice it, all three of those scenarios, the team probably wins the championship.”

The Nets would definitely benefit from an energetic rim protector like Jarrett Allen right now, who has emerged as an All-Star center since signing a five-year deal worth $100 million with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Though Nets coach Steve Nash said a while ago, he wasn’t sure the team would have been able to offer Allen the five-year, $100 million contract he got from the Cavs. Ironically since all this, Allen and Caris LeVert have reunited and are once again on this year’s Cavs squad.

One thing is for sure; both guys are currently making huge differences for their respective teams. It is still early in the season, so there is still a ton of optimism for Net’s fans that the team will be able to turn things around. The team, without question, has enough talent to make a deep playoff run with a lineup headlined by Irving, Kevin Durant, Patty Mills, and Ben Simmons.

Just need to give them some time and let the chemistry develop because they still have a long season ahead.

The post Spencer Dinwiddie Opens Up About Getting Traded After His Knee Injury appeared first on SLAM.

Doncic’s final stat line for the night was 41 points on 50 percent shooting (14/28) to go along with 11 rebounds, 14 assists, and three steals to help the Dallas Mavericks secure a 129-125 win.

“We’re just trying to do the best we can to make his job a lot easier out there on the floor when he gives the ball up, and the only way you can do that is knock down shots and take them with confidence and make a play,” said Tim Hardaway Jr. postgame, per ESPN.

Mavericks Maxi Kleber also went on to add to what Hardaway said, stating,

“Obviously, Luka is probably the best guy to make tough shots and make shots when they count, but he also knows when to make the right basketball plays,” Kleber said. “And especially when we came into overtime, they were like really aggressive with him, and he made the right play, I don’t know, three or four times in a row. We just got hot and made all those shots.”

Doncic’s 40-point triple-double performance was also one for the history books, as he now becomes the 10th player in NBA History with three or more 40-point triple-doubles.

The list includes many impressive names, such as NBA Legends Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Oscar Robertson, and The King LeBron James. This recent outing adds to what has been such a stellar start to the 2022-2023 season for Doncic, as he has put up over thirty points in each one of the four Mavericks games so far.

The Mavericks’ record currently sits at 2-2, placing them as the 10th seed in the Western Conference.

Although it is still very early into the new NBA season, we would not put it past Doncic to definitely continue to play at such a high level. Only time will tell if Doncic can sustain this level of play and carry it on to the playoffs later down the road; for now, let’s just appreciate the nightly magic we witness.

The post Luka Doncic Becomes The 10th Player In NBA History With Three or More 40-Point Triple Doubles appeared first on SLAM.

Dallas big man Christian Wood blamed his poor free-throw shooting in the season opener for costing the Mavs the game. He went 3-of-10 from the stripe. However, this didn’t reflect on his shooting efficiency; Wood took 15 shots and only missed six, finishing the night shooting 60 percent from the field.

When addressing his free-throw struggles after the game, the 27-year-old admitted that he just wants to be better and admits that what happened was “inexcusable.”

“It’s just getting the jitters out,” said Wood. “Just attack it. Try to be better next time. You’ve got to take it day by day.”

Mavericks star Luka Doncic, who finished the contest with 35 points and nine rebounds, did not seem concerned about the issue.

“I went through it a lot,” Doncic told Wood. “And probably will go again – hopefully not.”

Cleverly, Doncic knocked on Wood’s head to not jinx himself.

Dallas will play their next game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday in the home opener. 

The post Luka Doncic Gives Christian Wood Some Advice on Free-Throw Shooting After Suns Loss appeared first on SLAM.

The Sun-Mavs season opener nearly brought up still-fresh and painful memories from Game 7 for Phoenix as they fell behind by 22-points in the first half. However, the Suns fought back in the second half and rallied for a monumental win to start the season on a high note.

“If you get your asses kicked, you want to get your get-back,” Devin Booker told ESPN’s Jorge Sedano while reminiscing about losing his first Game 7. “That’s just life.

“We still have 81 games to go. I said that before the game. It’s a good start. I think it’s a good start to show our team if we’re down early that, we can come back in games.”

2⃣2⃣-PT COMEBACK.

Tonight marked our largest comeback since 2017. pic.twitter.com/2oqt671FK9

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 20, 2022

Phoenix’s ability to rally and win a closeout of a tight game late in the fourth should come as no surprise when you remember why they became the overall last season. The Suns went 33-9 in clutch games, defined by the score being within five points in the final minutes.

The comeback effort can also serve as a rallying point after a dramatic offseason full of front-office chaos due to team owner Robert Sarver’s season-long suspension and decision to put the Suns and Mercury up for sale. Not to mention the tense negotiations and apparent cold feelings Deandre Ayton has towards Coach Monty Williams. The starting lineup also had some turnover after Jae Crowder decided not to play out the final season of his contract while the front office seeks a trade partner.

Powering through. pic.twitter.com/t1C1MPyFO9

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 20, 2022

All the offseason theatrics were a backdrop to the fact that NBA scheduled Phoenix and Dallas for their season-openers after the Mavericks not only embarrassed but ended the Suns’ season with a debilitating Game 7 loss for the ages.

“I think any time you win in the NBA, it’s cool,” Williams said. “But to beat the team that knocked you out, it doesn’t erase that feeling, that hurt, but it does help you grow.”

The Suns’ comeback bid began with Booker (28 points and nine assists) checking back into the game with his team down 15 points. The two-time All-Star scored seven points and handed out six dimes during the fourth quarter. However, the true hero of the game was Damion Lee, who scored 11 of his points in the final frame, including his game-winning fadeaway with 9.7 seconds left in the game.

Damion Lee!!! Tuff shot. pic.twitter.com/tUST6cKmQn

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 20, 2022

Lee, a championship veteran, was a casualty of the Warriors’ decision to invest in their future this summer. He signed a veterans minimum deal during the League’s free agency period and has immediately made an impact as a reserve guard. The 29-year-old guard more than made up for giving up a game-tying and-1 layup to Doncic by hitting his game-winner.

Lee was also given a boost of confidence by Williams during Phoenix’s ensuing timeout.

“Coach just looks at me, and he said: ‘Hey, go make a play. Go make a play,”‘ said Lee, who is now 2-of-9 on tying or go-ahead field goals in the final minute during his career, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. “That’s what you want — a coach that’s always going to instill that confidence in you, no matter what happens.”

The post Damion Lee’s Game-Winner Gives Phoenix Some ‘Get-Back’ Over Dallas appeared first on SLAM.

Every time Doncic fell hard during a game or got bumped, Dorian Finney-Smith had a completely relatable thought process, yelling at Doncic through the tv to “get up” or “get him out of there” during physical moments. The Mavericks coaching staff felt the same way as they watched the 23-year-old MVP candidate play in the international tournament.

”We’re going to start a little light,” Coach Jason Kidd said per the Dallas Morning News. “But as we all know, in this room, Luka loves to play basketball, so he’s ready to go, and he’ll probably tell you that today. But we want just to start slow.

“This is a marathon. He just got done playing [for Slovenia]. But anytime he sees the game plan for practice, and he sees scrimmage, he’s ready to play.”

Doncic first reported to the Slovenian national team in mid-June, two weeks after the Mavericks dropped the Western Conference to the eventual champion Golden State Warriors. After he prepared and played in two FIBA World Cup games in early July, he took a month off before playing in the Eurobasket tournament.

Luka Legend averaged 26 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per EuroBasket game — the only player to rank in the top-10 for each category in the tournament — and played 233 of a possible 280 minutes through Slovenia’s outings. Doncic played more minutes per game during Eurobasket (35.6 minutes per game) than when he played with the Mavericks (35.4 minutes per game). International games are 40 minutes long vs. 48 in the NBA.

Between Eurobasket and flying back to Dallas for Media Day and training camp, Doncic had eight full days of rest. When Kidd and Doncic met up at Dallas legend DirNowitzki’s celebrity charity tennis tournament, Kidd told Doncic that he won’t participate fully in training camp, and would take a ramp-up approach as camp took place. This is the plan of action because Dallas doesn’t want to fatigue Doncic too much to start the season.

“Luka’s in a great place,” Kidd said. “You can see his spirit is high. He’s smiling. He feels great. He looks great; he’s ready to play — We ask a lot of him, and we have to — as a staff and teammates — try to find a way to make it easier for him; that’s going to be a great challenge that everyone’s up for.”

Doncic also revealed that his injured wrist had healed as well as the stitches in his head after he got elbowed by a French big man during Slovenia’s game against France. He told reporters with a smile that he’s “good now” and has the same season individual goals as always.

“Always the goal is the same for me, for the team we’re trying to win the championship,” Doncic said. “That’s the only goal we have, and that’s what we’re going to work for.”

The post Mavericks Plan to Start Luka Doncic ‘a Little Light’ to Start the Season appeared first on SLAM.

Unfortunately for Doncic, the Slovenian national team was eliminated from Eurobasket by Poland in the quarterfinals. Luka Legend finished the game with 15 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists against seven turnovers on 33 percent shooting before fouling out with 3:04 left in the fourth quarter. Doncic was coming off three consecutive 30-point games before the loss.

“Today, I played terribly,” Doncic said. “I let my team down. I let the whole country who was supporting us down. And that’s on me. I got to look back at this game and be better.”

Despite his fantastic play throughout group play and in the knockout stages, Doncic has been dealing with injuries throughout the tournament, specifically in his back during the match with Poland. He does not consider that to be a viable excuse, though.

“I don’t know, probably not 100% (health-wise),” Doncic said. “I received [an] injection in the third quarter. I was dealing with a lot of this EuroBasket. But that’s not the reason, you know.” 

Slovenia was down by 21 points by halftime against Poland, but they rallied in the third quarter to cut the deficit to one point before losing 90-87. Doncic fouled out with three minutes remaining in the game, with Slovenia only down four points. Vlatko Cancar of the Denver Nuggets and Bulls guard Goran Dragic each helped Doncic pick up the slack with 21 and 17 points, respectively, but it wasn’t enough to lift Slovenia over Poland. 

Media Day for the Dallas Mavericks is only 11 days away (Sept. 26), and training camp begins the following day. The Mavericks begin the season against the Sun on Oct. 19.

The post Luka Doncic: ‘I Let My Team Down’ After Slovenia Falls Short to Poland in Eurobasket Quarterfinals appeared first on SLAM.

To achieve their vision – the Larry O’Brien trophy in Salt Lake – a rebuild was necessary. After moving Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves and Donovan Mitchell to the Cleveland Cavaliers, veterans Bojan Bogdanovic, Mike Conley, Rudy Gay, and Jordan Clarkson remain on Utah’s roster.

According to Tony Jones of The Athletic, the Jazz and Lakers are currently in ongoing trade talks for the sharp-shooting Bogdanovic.

“Those conversations continue to evolve, we’ve continued to be in touch with them directly and their representation,” Zanik said, per Andy Larsen of the Salt Lake Tribune. “Obviously, there’s been a lot of change this summer, so it’s natural for us to have those conversations.”

The 6’7″ forward averaged 18.1 points, 4.3 assists, 1.7 rebounds, and shot 38.7 percent from beyond the arc. In addition to the Lakers, the Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, and New York Knicks have expressed interest in Bogdanovic. If Bogdanovic is moved to the Lakers, it will be the second trade of the season between LA and Salt Lake. Earlier this summer, Utah gave up Patrick Beverley for Talen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson. 

As the Jazz continue to prioritize and acquire young talent, it is no surprise that they have made Bogdanovic and their remaining vets available.

“We wanted to give the organization every opportunity to build the greatest base of flexibility, young players, and assets going forward to make really good decisions so that we could reach the ceiling that we want to get to,” Zanik said.

The new-look Jazz begins their 2022-23 season on Oct. 19 against the Denver Nuggets.

The post REPORT: Lakers and Jazz in Trade Talks to Acquire Bojan Bogdanovic appeared first on SLAM.

As the starting point guard on Coach Jason Kidds WCF-finalist team, Brunson averaged 21.6 points, 4.6 rebounds. and 3.7 assists per game on 46.6 percent shooting from the field and 34.7 percent from beyond the arc. When Brunson and his representatives negotiated his $104 million deal, Kidd said he was happy the Villanova product got the deal.

“The biggest thing is I’m happy he got paid,’’ Kidd said on the “All the Smoke’’ podcast. “He helped us. I know [Mavericks owner Mark] Cuban doesn’t like this, but I love when I can get a player get paid.’’

This last season, Brunson emerged as Dallas’ second-best player behind Luka Doncic, forming a dynamic tandem that will leave Dallas fans asking “what-if?”The memories of Dallas’ first WCF-run since winning the 2011 title will last a lifetime for some fans.

“I tell a player on the first day of camp, ‘Tell me what you want,’ ” Kidd said. “Everyone wants shots. Everyone wants minutes. But that’s not the truth. They want to get paid and want to play.”

“Cool. I can help you do that. The other part of that is I’m going to ask for a couple of things. Trust, communicate and play hard. If you ask Brunson, he will tell you he listened [to me], and good things happened. I just want to put people in position to be successful.’’

With the departure of Brunson to New York, Dallas will look to replace Brunson with Spencer Dinwiddie at the floor general position.

The Knicks are being investigated for allegedly tampering with Brunson before free agency began. The Knicks are reportedly likely to be punished by forfeiting a draft pick. Brunson reportedly had no interest in hearing Dalass’ counteroffer while he was on vacation in Jamaica with his family, fully intent on signing in Dallas.

“There’s 30 companies in the NBA,’’ Kidd said. “We all can’t stay in the same company. For him to go to New York to get paid and an opportunity to run his own team. I’m happy for him.’’

The post Jason Kidd on Jalen Brunson Leaving for New York: ‘I Love When I Can Get a Player Get Paid’ appeared first on SLAM.

Despite his personal and team success in South Beach, Hardaway decided not to ask former Coach Pat Riley or Alonzo Mourning to be his presenters at this Saturday’s Hall of Fame ceremony. That honor will instead go to the figures that fostered his love for the game from before his time in Miami teaming up with Mourning and Riley.

Tim Hardaway explains bypassing Pat Riley, Alonzo Mourning as Hall of Fame presenters. https://t.co/mBJsfMaNHQ No, not a Miami Heat snub, but rather a tribute to those who were there for him at the beginning.

— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) September 8, 2022

Hardaway’s presenters will be Isiah Thomas (Class of 2000), his Run-TMC teammates Mitch Richmond (’14) and Chris Mullins(’11), longtime friend Yolanda Griffith (’21), and former college coach Nate Archibald (’91).

“There’s one thing I do know I want to tell you; it takes a village to raise a kid; Chicago South Side raised a kid. This is Chicago South Side. This is for them,” Hardaway said of his decision, per Ira Winderman.

“Isiah Thomas, I grew up watching him play, my basketball idol, no question, from the city of Chicago,” Hardaway explained. “Nate Archibald, my college assistant coach, came back to his alma mater and coached me [at Texas-El Paso] and helped me understand. Yolanda Griffith, we went to high school together. We graduated in the same class. And I wanted to acknowledge her as being the first before me and wanted people to understand that. She was a Hall of Famer before me, and she needs to be recognized.”

The choice to bypass Riley, Mourning, and former Coach Don Nelson was difficult. Hardaway knows it and even admitted that he “can’t even mention a lot of people that I want to mention.” As a result, Hardaway’s speech will likely not “mention a lot of people” that he wants to mention.

Instead, the UTEP two-step creator will make a point to mention critical figures during his time in Miami during his HOF media session that’ll be aired on NBA TV.

“I’m sorry, everybody can’t be there,” he said of those standing alongside on stage. “And I’ll tell you this, in my speech, I can’t even mention a lot of people that I want to mention because it’s a lot of us going up this year. So I can’t mention a lot of people I want to mention.”

Hardaway’s Hall of Fame induction class includes four-time NBA champion Manu Ginobli, two-time college Coach of the Year Bob Huggins, sixth-winningest NBA coach George Karl, and veteran NBA ref Hugh Evans. Five-time All-Star Lindsay Whalen, four-time All-Star Swin Cash, and NCAA national champion and former WNBA Coach of the Year Marianna Stanley will be inducted on the woman’s side.

Mourning will attend the HOF ceremony, as well as Coach Erik Spoelstra, GM Any Ellisburg, assistant GM Adam Simon, scouting director and former teammate Keith Askins, and multiple other Heat front office members. Rily will not be able to attend due to a scheduling conflict but heaped heavy praise on Hardaway when he was interviewed for the HOF’s event program that’ll be passed around at the ceremony.

“I had just come from New York, and we had a team that was noted for defense and things of that nature, you know, rough and tumble. I needed to get a point guard, and Tim was available,” Riley said of acquiring Hardaway for the Heat from the Warriors in 1996.

“He was not the explosive, up-and-down-the-court kind of a player. He could keep a team really organized. He was tough as nails, and we were fortunate to have him.”

Hardway’s Hall of Fame induction will begin this Saturday evening.

The post Tim Hardaway Explains Why He Didn’t Pick Pat Riley and Alonzo Mourning as Hall of Fame Presenters appeared first on SLAM.

Dončić has joined the call for FIBA to modify its group stage schedule from four games in five days due to the increased risk for potential injury. After practice on Monday, Doncic cited that players having less time between games is a risk for the player and would make the clubs players play for unhappy if the players they’ve signed an injury during international play.

“We’re going to play four games in five days,” Doncic said after Slovenia’s practice Monday per Eurohoops. “Yesterday, basically, we had two games in 24 hours. Yes, this should change for everybody. Everybody is doing the same. Everybody has less rest. It’s a problem because of injuries, you know. More injuries can happen. Especially the clubs wouldn’t be very glad.”

Luka Doncic on Eurobasket schedule: Four games in five days? Something that should change https://t.co/wNIbInVWKb

— Sportando (@Sportando) September 6, 2022

Doncic and Evan Fournier have been the most vocal critics of the Eurobasket schedule, with both making a similar request that teams need more time to rest and recover between contests. Fournier said he’s aware that since Eurobasket has less games, the urgency to win is “more important.” However, with the intensity and physicality of the international game, playing games at such a condensed pace creates “a real big challenge” for players.

“It’s the EuroBasket, and we have back-to-backs. Back-to-backs are very hard. And back-to-backs in the NBA and back-to-back in the EuroBasket is two different things,” Fournier told Eurohoops. “There’s less games here, so it’s more intense. When you play at 20:30, you usually sleep around 3:00. It’s a real big challenge. To be fair, it’s the same thing for everyone. It would be great if FIBA changed that to allow us to have more rest in between games.”

The Doncic-led Slovenian national team is 2-1 after losing to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Despite the upset loss, Slovenia has already advanced from the brutal Group B (Bosnia and Herzegovina, France, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, and Slovenia) play.

“This Group is insane, you know,” Doncic said. “All six teams are very competitive. You could lose to any team. All the games are really great to watch. Great for fans. But it’s a really tough Group because anybody can beat you.”

Slovenia is set to play France on Wednesday.

The post Luka Doncic Speaks Out About Tough Eurobasket 2022 Schedule appeared first on SLAM.

The tournament will be another chance for the Slovenian countryman to team up and for Dragic to take a backseat to one of the most dominant basketball forces in the world in Luka Legend, who just led the Dallas Mavericks to the Western Conference Finals last year. Dragic admitted in a recent interview that he knows Dragic will take up most of the sunlight on the team.

At 36-years-old, Dragic is seemingly okay with that matter after leading Slovenia to the Eurobasket title and winning MVP honors.

“In my opinion, I will play a little less minutes, it will not be at that level,” Dragic told Eurohoops.net. “I don’t know how much I played, 36 minutes per game? Everything will depend on how I feel. The role will definitely be different. I was Batman, but now I’ll be Robin.”

Dragic will be playing for the Bulls next year after playing for the Nets last season. The Dragon has starred as a starter and backup throughout his 17 seasons.

Doncic has emerged as a star since his first day in the League. He averaged 28.4 points, 9.1 rebounds. and 8.7 assists per game and led to Mavs to their first conference finals appearance since 2011. Dallas ultimately lost to the eventual champion Golden State Warriors in five games.

The post Goran Dragic Calls EuroBasket Teammate Luka Doncic the ‘Batman’ to His ‘Robin’ appeared first on SLAM.

Chris Haynes of YahooSports has reported that the NBA will open up an investigation on the Knicks for potential tampering. The belief is that the Knicks had contacted Brunson before the official start of the free agency period.

Brunson, who signed a four-year $104 million deal, was linked to the Knicks even before the playoffs had ended. Brunson had a breakout year, averaging a career-high 16.3 points and 4.8 assists on 50.2 percent shooting from the field. Brunson also averaged 21.6 points in the 18 playoff games he appeared in for Dallas.

Tim MacMahon had reported it was “widely anticipated” that the Knicks would offer Brunson a $100 million contract on June 28, two days before the NBA free agency had opened up.

The Knicks hired Jalen’s father, Rick Brunson, as an assistant coach under Tom Thibodeau’s staff this coming season. The League is also looking into the Sixers’ signing of P.J. Tucker and the re-signing of James Harden after he took a pay cut to remain with the team.

The post REPORT: NBA Investigating Knicks For Tampering of Jalen Brunson Signing appeared first on SLAM.

Brunson received the “blessing” from his former Dallas teammate, Frank Ntilikina, who spent his first four seasons in the NBA with the Knicks. The two were teammates this past season in Dallas. Brunson signed a four-year deal with the Knicks shortly after free agency began.

Ntilikina and Brunson were teammates this past season in Dallas. Brunson averaged 21.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game on 46.6 percent shooting from the field in the playoffs helping Luka Doncic carry the Mavs to the Western Conference Finals.

Ntilikina signed with the Mavs on a two-year deal in September of 2021 and will look to fill out the role following Brunson’s departure.

The post Frank Ntilikina Gave Jalen Brunson ‘His Blessing’ to Take Old Jersey Number appeared first on SLAM.

In a recent interview with Callie Caplan of The Dallas Morning News, Green discussed his offseason regimen, focusing on his body and the improvements he wants to see in his game.

Green told Caplan that he and his trainer met with Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison to put an offseason plan in place for the 21-year-old Australian. The two sides agreed that Green would have to work on his body and change his diet to play a more significant role next season.

“I changed my body a little bit,” Green said. “Really looking at what I’m eating. Just a lot of specific things going into one thing, but making sure that I’m able to have a great year next year. It’s been a lot of stuff. It’s been a long two months, but it’s fun.”

The former University of Arizona standout says he feels a difference in his athleticism and basketball-based skills. After training for two months in Las Vegas, Green will return home to Australia to keep working on his game.

“I feel more explosive and jumping a lot better, moving a lot better,” Green said. “Obviously, my ball handling is going to be a big focus for me this offseason. Literally just attacking everything. Each day means a lot. I’ve been playing a lot, making sure I’m getting up and down [the court] against a lot of overseas and NBA players. It’s been good. We’ve come up with a great plan, and it’s been everything.”

Green struggled with his shot, particularly his three-pointer and free throw when he came into the League. He shot 16 percent from long range and 56.5 percent from the charity stripe in 39 games as a rookie. But last year, Green’s numbers from three and the free throw line both improved. He shot the three-ball at a 35.9 percent clip last season, and his free throw percentage jumped to 68.9 percent in 67 games.

Green played 7.6 minutes per game during Dallas’ run to the Western Conference Finals. The third-year forward is confident that making strides with his jump shot will result in more playing time next season.

“Shooting has been a big focus for me this offseason, trying not to do the ‘stanky leg’ no more on my right side. That’s just been building up my core strength, and just yeah. Building up core strength and changing my shot a little bit, and I’ve seen it be a little more consistent, but really I’m just going in ready to go. I wish training camp started tomorrow. I’m ready to play.”

He averaged 4.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game while playing 15.5 minutes per game last season.

The post Josh Green Plans on ‘Attacking Everything’ and Focusing on Ball Handling During Offseason appeared first on SLAM.

.@jalenbrunson1 opens up about leaving Dallas, an organization he thought he’d be with for a long time.

Watch the full episode with @jj_redick and @talter: https://t.co/9QtY3JCPjL pic.twitter.com/dj6pAx3NkH

— TheOldMan&TheThree (@OldManAndThree) July 22, 2022

However, Brunson decided he didn’t want to run it back with the Mavs for the 2022-23 season and ended up signing with New York Knicks in June. Many within the Knicks organization and around the NBA expect Brunson to play a significant role in helping the Knicks return to the playoffs after finishing last season with a 37-45 finish.

When Brunson was asked about his free agency process, he told JJ Redick that he didn’t expect to be leaving Dallas “for a long time.” Although the former Villanova Wildcat didn’t imagine departing for New York “at all,” he recalled that being able to “basically double.” the money Dallas offered was “crazy.”

“I loved my time in Dallas,” Bruson said on the Old Man and The Three podcast when asked about his free agency process, “Wanted to be in Dallas; I thought I was going to be In Dallas for a long time. Like you said, I started having a monster season, and I went to them before they officially offered it to me, and by the end, it was already too late.”

“It was like the business came knocking at the door. So it was time to kind of just at least look. I had to do my due diligence and, at least, look and see what was out there. But yeah, honestly, people may not believe, but I talk about my dad, since like Year 1 or 2, so yeah, ‘we’re gonna be here for the rest of my career,’ and that’s what I thought.” Brunson added about leaving Dallas.

The story validates reports of Brunson betting on himself after having a career-best year across the board as he averaged 16.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.8 rebounds as the Mavericks (52-30) finished the regular season with the fourth-best record in the Western Conference, advancing to the WCF where they ultamatle lost to the eventual champion Warriors in five games.

The post Jalen Brunson on Leaving Dallas: ‘Business Came Knocking At the Door’ appeared first on SLAM.

However, Dragic declined to sign the offer because Dallas offered him a limited role. Per Dragic, the Mavs couldn’t provide him sufficient playing time, and he still believes he can be helpful to a team on and off the floor.

“We were in talks with Dallas. They made an offer, but I decided not to take it. They wanted me to play one game and then sit for the next five. I know I can still easily play 20 minutes per game. I’m not ready to retire and just sit on the bench in a cheerleading role.” Dragic said, according to a Slovenian translation.”

“At the end of the day, they could not guarantee that I will play. They told me that I would rather be on the bench; however that does not interest me,” Dragic added. “That’s why my signing there was not an option.”

When Dragic was asked about his time in Brooklyn, particularly about playing with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant this past season, he was pretty blunt about his thoughts.

The Nets went 44-38, but the regular-season was filled with injuries (Durant’s foot injury) and drama surrounding Irving’s vaccination status that led to James Harden demanding a trade that led to him getting traded to Philadelphia for Ben Simmons.

“It was quite hard because it wasn’t about the team, but more about individual performances.”

Goran Dragic on playing with KD and Kyrie:

“It was quite hard, because it wasn’t about the team, but more about individual performances.”

(via @SiolSPORTAL) pic.twitter.com/a0kfbPxIXn

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) July 13, 2022

Dragic averaged 7.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game on 37.7 percent shooting from the field in 21 total appearances between the Raptors and Nets.

The post Goran Dragic Doesn’t Want ‘Cheerleading Role’ That Dallas Offered appeared first on SLAM.

Free agent guard Jalen Brunson has agreed to a four-year, $104 million deal with the New York Knicks, his agents Aaron Mintz and Sam Rose of @CAA_Basketball tell ESPN. The deal includes a player option on the final season.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

Jalen Brunson reportedly intends on signing a four-year deal with the Knicks once free agency starts on Thursday, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Free agent Jalen Brunson intends to sign a four-year, near $110M deal with the New York Knicks in free agency, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. The Mavericks never received chance to make offer, sources said.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

The Knicks have long been infatuated with bringing Brunson as the lead guard of the franchise. GM Leon Rose made multiple trades to free up $30 million in cap space to sign the Villanova product to a “near-max deal.” Those aspirations are likely to come true after Brunson canceled a meeting with Dallas and reportedly decided to sign with New York. NBA reporter Marc Stein was the first to break that the meeting was canceled.

Brunson averaged 16.3 points and 4.8 assists per game during a breakout season that saw Brunson establish himself as the clear-cut No. 2 option behind Luka Doncic. He helped lead the Mavericks to their first Western Conference Finals appearance since their 2011 title run against the Miami Heat. During that run, Brunson averaged 21.6 points per game, exploding for 41 points and 31 points during the first round against the Utah Jazz.

“It’s a great fit [in Dallas], but at the end of the day, my son is no different than the next man,” Rick Brunson told ESPN during that first-round series. “You try to raise them the right way in terms of understanding the game, but everyone wants what Luka has. I don’t care who you are. Everyone wants that feeling of, ‘Hey, I can do this too.’ I don’t always think the grass is greener on the other side, but we’ll sit down this summer and go through all the pros and cons of staying here or going somewhere else.”

Brunson became an unrestricted free agent after declining to sign a four-year extension after the trade deadline. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and GM Nico Harrison were willing to offer Brunson a five-year contract this summer. Brunson informed the Mavs that he was ready to sign an extension in January if they offered but the Mavs decided to hold on to those negotiations instead and offered Brunson the aforemnetion deal at the trade deadline.

The post REPORT: Jalen Brunson Signing Four-Year Deal With Knicks appeared first on SLAM.

According to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the Knicks are also returning Detroits 2023 second-round pick, 20224 second-round via Miami, and $6 million.

The Knicks are trading center Nerlens Noel and guard Alec Burks to the Pistons, sources tell ESPN. The Knicks will unload $19M more in salary, clearing the way for cap space to try and sign free agent guard Jalen Brunson.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2022

The move has freed up 30M in salary cap space to offer a max contract to restricted free agent Jalen Brunson. According to Woj, the Knicks’ moves show that New York is confident that they can sign Brunson once free agency begins on Thursday.

The Knicks have cleared $30M in salary cap space to offer Dallas’ Jalen Brunson in the neighborhood of a max contract. The unloading of assets and contracts clearly shows the Knicks’ confidence that they can secure Brunson once free agency opens on Thursday.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2022

Brunson averaged a career-high 16.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game on 50.2 percent shooting from the field and 37.3 hooting from distance. Brunson emerged as a significant threat in the playoffs, playing a major role in the Mavericks beating the Jazz in six games, scoring a career-high 41 points in Game 2.

Brunson averaged 21.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game during Dallas’ run to the Western Conference Finals. They ultimately lost to the eventual-champion Golden State Warriors in five games.

The post Knicks Free $30M After Trading Nerlens Noel and Alec Burks appeared first on SLAM.

After a practice ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Croatia on Thursday, reporters at a media call asked Doncic and Dragic if they were interested in playing together. Doncic and Dragic both declined to go into specific and gave reporters a politically correct answer to avoid a tampering fine.

“I would like to answer that,” Doncic said. “But I think it’s a $100,000 penalty if I did. You should ask the GM about that.”

“We can’t talk about it till July 1.” Dragic followed up.

Luka and Goran were asked about the possibility of them playing together in Dallas next season.

Luka: “I would like to answer that, but I think it’s a 100.000 penalty if I did. You should ask the GM about that.”

Goran: “We can’t talk about it till july 1st.” pic.twitter.com/8phIKfHvsy

— Matej Sportinfo (@MatejSportinfo) June 28, 2022

The last time a Doncic-Dragic union made the rumor mill was the previous offseason. Dragic was heavily tied to the Mavericks last summer before the Raptors bought his contract out following his trade from the Heat. The plan to add Dragic fell through after the Mavs traded for Spencer Dinwiddie shortly before the trade deadline. According to Marc Stein, Dallas is once again expected to make a run at Dragic once free agency begins on Thursday.

As the leaguewide focus rapidly shifts to next week’s draft and the June 30 start of free agency, sources say Dallas — while prioritizing its need for more wing help — does intend to explore the possibility of signing Goran Dragic this summer.

More NBA: https://t.co/LGN9cVpeGP

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 17, 2022

Free Agency begins on Thursday, and the Mavericks’ front office will have a big decision to make in re-signing Jalen Brunson to an extension. The New York Knicks are hot on their trails for Brunson’s services.

The post Goran Dragic On Teaming Up With Luka Doncic: ‘We Can’t Talk About it Until July 1’ appeared first on SLAM.

Source confirms Mavs will trade the No. 26 pick, Boban Marjanovic, Trey Burke, Sterling Brown and Marquese Chriss to the Rockets for center Christian Wood.

Trade will officially convey on draft night.

Nico Harrison works hard and works fast. What a swap.

— Callie Caplan (@CallieCaplan) June 16, 2022

The move will help clear playing time for whoever the Rockets pick at No. 3 overall and Alperen Sengün, per Tim McMahon of ESPN.

Rockets were looking to move Christian Wood to clear playing time for Alperen Sengun and likely the No. 3 overall pick, whether that’s Paolo Banchero or Chet Holmgren. They pounced on chance to acquire a first-round pick (and no long-term salary) in the process.

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) June 16, 2022

Wood arrived in Houston last year via a sign-and-trade deal from Detroit. In his lone season with the Rockets, Wood averaged 17.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game on 50.1 percent shooting from the field and 39.0 percent from beyond the arc.

The post REPORT: Mavs Trade No. 26 Pick, Boban Marjanovic for Christian Wood appeared first on SLAM.

Wow. The Golden State Warriors are back in the NBA Finals for the sixth time in eight years after their 120-110 series-clinching win over the Dallas Mavericks.

Warriors!

A look from inside the arena as the @warriors accept the Oscar Robertson Trophy! #DubNation pic.twitter.com/KuOKSHPmUL

— NBA (@NBA) May 27, 2022

The win is sweeter when you remember where the Warriors were after their 2019 NBA Finals loss to the Toronto Raptors.

A lottery finish in 2020 and a play-in tournament flameout in 2021 wasn’t enough to stop the Warriors’ core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green from dreaming of coming back to the FInals again. The Dubs (53-29) finished the regular-season with the third-seed in the Western Conference playoffs. The 2021-22 campaign was highlighted by Curry becoming the all-time king in long-range shooting and Thompson’s long-awaited return.

To get to this point, the Warriors beat the Nuggets in a gentlemen sweep, outlasted the Grizzlies in six games, and beat the Mavericks in five games.

“This is a blessing,” Curry said. “Obviously, this is a team effort with what Draymond said, for us to be out the mix the last two years. To be where we belong back in the Finals — this is special.”

“Everything about it is special. . We know this isn’t the ultimate goal, but we have to celebrate this cause of all we went through these last three years.”

THEY’RE BACK!!! (via @SportsCenter) pic.twitter.com/2VkJClrPLg

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 27, 2022

Game 6 Thompson (32 points on eight made threes) made an early appearance to help the Warriors close out the Mavericks on Thursday’s Game. The five-time All-Star scored 19 points on five triples, giving Golden State a 17-point lead on this dagger-three that Thompson celebrated with a Curry-like shimmy.

Klay hitting the shimmy got me LITTTTT (via @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/KSCf8NuMX0

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 27, 2022

In the second-half, Golden State grew their lead to as many as 25 points after Curry (15 points, nine assists) knocked down a floater. Luka Doncic (28 points, nine rebounds, six dimes) then woke up from his sleepy start and scored 15 points in the third frame, helping to engineer a 15-4 run that cut the deficit to eight points powered by back-to-back triples from Luka Magic.

Luka with 15 points in the 3Q pic.twitter.com/NJVAPVSzm3

— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) May 27, 2022

However, that’s as close as Dallas would get. The Warriors scored five straight points to bring the lead back to 15, and the Golden State Big 3 of Curry, Green (17 points, six rebounds, nine assists, including seven in the fourth), and Thompson scored 15 points to close Game 6 out, with Curry and Thompson knocking down consecutive three-pointe to build a 16-point lead with 2:02 left in the game.

“You’re going to make me emotional, man,” Thompson said, smiling from corner to corner. “It’s hard to put in words — I dreamt of this day. There were some dog days, and to be here, I’m so thankful for our squad they started the season so incredibly well, allowed us to finish out strong, and we are four wins away from a championship.”

With the WCF series wrapped up, Curry became the first-ever Magic Johnson Trophy winner. The Warriors await the winner of the Heat-Celtics series, the Celtics lead the series 3-2. Golden State will host Game 1 of the FInals when they begin on June 2.

The post Golden State Advances to Sixth NBA Finals in Eight Years appeared first on SLAM.

Since signing with the Mavs as an undrafted agent in 2016, Finney-Smith has grown to be a strong 3-and-D specialist, with the corner three being his signature shot. The former Florida Gator has former teammate Wesley Matthews to thank for his jumper becoming a lethal strength.

“I was already playing into the corner my rookie year, and once I realized how many corner threes I was going to get, I just worked on it,” Finney-Smith told BasketballNews.com. “Wesley Matthews was a good vet for me. He was always telling me that I needed to get that (corner three) shot down pat if I wanted to be on the court,”

“And I did!”

Finney-Smith’s accuracy as a shooter has gone up every season thanks to his dogged work ethic. As a rookie, he shot 29.3 percent from beyond the arc. Now, Finney-Smith is knocking triples down at a career-high 39.5 percent clip. He’s also hit 46.1 percent of his corner three-pointer attempts, a vast improvement from the 26.3 percent clip he shot as a rookie.

Finney-Smith is smoking the nylon during the Mavs run to the Western Conference Finals, shooting 52.5 percent from the corner.

“I had the confidence that I could shoot. I shot the ball well in college; it just ain’t translated the first couple of years in the NBA,” Finney-Smith said.

He credits his development into a plus shooter to not only Matthews, but teammates like Maxi Kleber, Dwight Powell, and Luka Doncic, who Finney-Smith says watched him put the work in often enough to trust him when it matters late in the game.

“Repetition builds confidence,” Finney-Smith explained. “Also, I think my teammates seeing how hard I worked, it also built confidence in them. The ones who have been here with me throughout this journey — like Maxi [Kleber], Dwight [Powell], Luka [Doncic] — I think they see the work I put in, and that also gives them confidence to give the ball to me in late-game situations.

“Guys see the work you put in; they can tell if you’ve been in the gym or if you been BSing, and I built confidence with those guys, especially Luka, to pass me the ball in those clutch situations. They have trust in me, even when I miss it.”

Along the way, Finney-Smith earned the trust of the Mavericks front office, who awarded the former undrafted wing with a four-year contract, reportedly with $55 million for all his hard work and being pivotal in numerous regular-season and playoff wins.

During the 2021-22 campaign, Finney-Smith averaged a career-best 11.0 points on 3.2 attempted threes per game, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game on 47.1 percent shooting from the field. Finney-Smith joined Kleber and Jason Terry as the only players in Mavs history to make at least eight three-pointers in a game.

The Mavericks’ season is still alive after they blew the Warriors out in Game 4, extending their season for at least one more game while attempting to become the first team in NBA playoff history to come back from a 3-0 deficit. Golden State hosts Thursday’s Game 5 of the WCF series.

Should the Warriors win, Golden State will be making their sixth NBA Finals trip since 2015.

The post Dorian Finney-Smith Speaks on His Journey to Becoming the Mavs’ 3-and-D Specialist appeared first on SLAM.

2021-22 All-NBA teams:

First: Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, Devin Booker, Jayson Tatum

Second: Joel Embiid, Ja Morant, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, DeMar DeRozan

Third: Karl-Anthony Towns, LeBron James, Chris Paul, Trae Young, Pascal Siakam

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 25, 2022

Although Jokic is the reigning MVP, he wasn’t the leading vote-getter for All-NBA First Team, Antetokounmpo was. The Greek Freak received all 100 votes for one of the forward spots on the First-Team. Jokic and Joel Embiid, who finished as runner-up for the ’21 and ’22 MVP, split votes as the First-Team center. Embiid ended up being named as the center for the Second-Team.

Antekounmpo was not only the lone unanimous All-NBA selection this season, but he also became the first player over the last 50 years to be a unanimous selection to the All-NBA First Time in four consecutive seasons, according to ESPN Stats and Information research.

Doncic became the fourth player in NBA history to earn his third First-Team selection before turning 24-years-old, joining Kevin Durant, Tim Duncan, and Max Zazlofsky. Jokic, Antetokounmpo and Doncic were joined by Jayson Tatum and Devin Booker. According to the NBA, this is the first time since 1954-55 that the First-Team comprises players at least 27-years-old or younger.

Booker and Tatum earned the First-Team nod for the first time in their career. This is the first overall All-NBA selection for Booker and Tatum’s second nod. Tatum is the first Celtic to make All-NBA First-Team since Kevin Garnett did it in 2008. He’s also the youngest Celtic to earn an All-NBA First-Team selection since Larry Bird in 1980.

The Second-Team is rounded out by Stephen Curry, Ja Morant, DeMar DeRozan, and Durant. Chris Paul, Trae Young, LeBron James, Pascal Siakam, and Karl-Anthony Towns filled out the Third-Team. James picked up his record 18th All-NBA nod, placing him ahead of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, and Tim Duncan for most All-NBA picks, and became the first player in League history to make the All-NBA in his 19th+ season.

Paul is the first guard since Bryant to make an All-NBA team in his 17th+ season.

The post Nikola Jokic Headlines 2021-2022 All-NBA Teams appeared first on SLAM.

Luka Doncic and the Mavs will get to play at least one more game after beating the Golden State Warriors, 119-109. Doncic finished the elimination game with 30 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists. Dorian Finney-Smith followed up with 23 points and six rebounds, Reggie Bullock contributed 18 points, and Jalen Brunson put up 15 points, five rebounds, and five assists.

“Our defense,” Doncic said when asked what made Game 4 different than the previous three. “I think our defense was amazing today outside of the fourth quarter. That’s how we gotta play; we play good defense; we share the ball; we’re a dangerous team.”

Luka and the Mavs force Game 5.

30 PTS
14 REB
9 AST

(via @NBATV)
pic.twitter.com/F48nOPm0d1

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 25, 2022

Tuesday’s Game 4 ended up being precisely what Dallas needed as it looks to become the first team to come back from a 3-0 deficit. Facing elimination for the third time this postseason, the Mavs put together their most complete performance, hitting 41-82 fields on 30 total assists. Dallas also knocked down 20-43 three-pointers and outrebounded Golden State Warriors 45-42.

The last time Golden State led was after Moses Moody (10 points) scored on a jumper, giving the Warriors a 31-29. The Mavs subsequently took control of Game 4 from there, with a Davis Bertans (five points, five rebounds) three-pointer giving Dallas a lead it wouldn’t surrender.

The Mavs then went on a 25-6 run over a seven-minute span to firmly take control of Game 4. During that game-altering sequence, the Warriors missed nine of their 10 shot attempts and committed two turnovers.

“We weren’t alert tonight defensively,” Coach Steve Kerr said. “We weren’t sharp, and I thought we let them kinda get into a groove. Once a team like that gets into a three-point groove, it’s tough to get them out of it.”

Beautiful basketball.

(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/q2fjICRE5o

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 25, 2022

By the time halftime rolled along, the Mavs had held a 62-47 lead. The Mavs ultimately held a 29-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, but the Warriors showed that you could never count them out. The Warriors outscored the Mavs 39-20, cutting the Mavs lead to eight of a Jonathon Kuminga three-pointer. However, that was as close as the Warriors would get even with Stephen Curry (20 points, five rebounds, eight assists) back on the floor.

After Coach Jason Kidd called a timeout, he inserted his starters back on the court to close the game out. Doncic responded immediately, throwing down a dunk in the halfcourt, followed by Bullock hitting his sixth three-pointer of the night.

According to Brunson, the Mavs are looking to take the WCF one game at a time; the next time they will adopt that mentality will be for Thursday’s Game 5 at Chase Center.

“The biggest thing that we took from this was we gotta take it one game at a time,” Brunson said. “Think of it like four Game 7s, win or go home. We gotta give our all every game; we were able to do that for the first three quarters and nine minutes.”

The post Luka Doncic Forces Game 5 With 30-Point Performance appeared first on SLAM.

Luka Magic dimes.

(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/rxAoQ8Uvpg

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 23, 2022

The mutual respect and trust between Luka Magic and Kidd are just getting started through Year 1 of Kidd’s coaching tenure in Dallas has been fruitful. The Mavs (52-30) finished the regular season with the fourth-best record in the West. Doncic earned his third All-Star nod and is likely headed to another All-NBA selection. , Doncic finished with 28.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game through 65 appearances this past season.

What helped facilitate the Doncic-Kidd bond was assistant coach Igor Kokoskov. He coached Doncic on the Slovenian national team in 2017 and won a EuroLeague championship together when both were with Real Madrid, capped off by Doncic winning EuroLeague MVP and EuroLeague Final Four MVP in 2018.

Kokoskov was added to Kidd’s staff last summer, where he has been tasked with the significant tasks of lead offensive strategist and the go-to confidant for Doncic.

“Jason was one of the best point guards to ever play the game,” Mavericks assistant Igor Kokoskov said per the Dallas Morning News. “Luka respects his career and what he did in this league. A lot of things Jason did 20, 25 years ago, Luka is wanting to achieve right now. He understands that and is very open, willing to listen, willing to get better, willing to be coached.”

Luka pulled out the shimmy after this buzzer beater over Curry .

(via @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/4fSXlnSya9

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 23, 2022

According to Kokoskov, Doncic and Kidd “have a great, great relationship” because Kidd has been able to get through to Doncic because Kidd doesn’t fuss and carry on like the coaches who groomed Doncic have been. Instead of shouting and getting in players’ faces, Kidd typically asks Doncic about his preferences and views, discussing basketball in a conversational matte.

Kidd also gives Doncic plenty of rope, and when situations aren’t going well, he will help Doncic make in-game adjustments to help turn things around.

Although Kidd may be a players-coach, he’s not afraid to push Doncic in the right direction. In particular, Kidd has criticized Doncic for his conditioning and Luka Legends’ habit of complaining to refs when calls don’t go his way. Kidd’s comments led to Doncic getting into game shape while Doncic only picked up three technical fouls since March.

“That’s where you, even more, trust him,” Doncic said before joking: “He don’t get mad at me a lot. Maybe he’s got to do that some more.”

Game 4 of the WCF is scheduled for Tuesday, with Dallas looking to extend the series to five games with a win over the Golden State Warriors. No team in League playoff history has come back from a 3-0 series hole.

The post Luka Doncic Embraces Jason Kidd’s ‘Tough Love’ Coaching appeared first on SLAM.

Now that they’re staring down a 3-0 series deficit after losing Sunday’s Game 3 to the Warriors, 109-100, Coach Jason Kidd elected to keep the Mavs’ unexpected ascension to the Western Conference Finals in perspective during his postgame presser.

“This is just the beginning of this journey,” Kidd told reporters postgame. “I know you guys have us winning the championship before the season started. And that’s a joke if you didn’t get it. This is a lot bigger than just this one game or this series. This is huge for our franchise because none of you guys had us here.”

Luka pulled out the shimmy after this buzzer beater over Curry .

(via @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/4fSXlnSya9

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 23, 2022

He also credited their loss to getting outrebounded and not being able to hit enough of their three-point attempts. For the night, Golden State rebounded Dallas 47-33, with Kevon Looney leading the Warriors with 12 boars, followed by 11 from Andrew Wiggins (27 points). Doncic (40 points) led the Mavericks with 11 rebounds, but no other Maverick corralled more than five boards.

Heading into a do-or-die Game 4, the Mavs will have to kick up their physicality inside in order to win the rebounding battle. They will also need their snipers like  Reggie Bullock and Maxi Kleber not to go 0-12 from the three-point line. The decision to attack the boards and create second-chance buckets will be pivotal when they’re not hitting shots, and the Mavs will need all the extra possession they can get to extend the series.

“I’ve said we’re going to live and die by the three, but we’re also dying by not getting rebounds,” Kidd said, per Callie Caplan of the Dallas Morning News.

Luka Magic dimes.

(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/rxAoQ8Uvpg

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 23, 2022

Game 4 of the WCF will be on Tuesday, with the Mavs hoping to avoid the sweep. No team in NBA history has come back from a 3-0 deficit.

The post Jason Kidd On 3-0 Series Deficit: ‘None of You Guys Had Us Here’ appeared first on SLAM.

31 PTS | 5 REB | 11 AST@StephenCurry30 pic.twitter.com/GBOXfHWNaD

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) May 23, 2022

Andrew Wiggins followed Curry up with 27 points and 11 rebounds on 11-20 shooting from the field, including this insane poster dunk on Luka Doncic that gave the Warriors a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter. The Wiggins slam was initially called an offensive foul but was counted as a bucket after Coach Steve Kerr successfully protested otherwise.

“He hasn’t had the opportunity to be on the stage before,” Curry said. “With the confidence that we have as a team and the ability to come out here and prove who he is as a player in games that matter and I always say ‘just find ways to impact winning,’ he’s figured that out.

Wiggins with the poster on Luka .

(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/RgHjDk8a61

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 23, 2022

The Warriors’ other starters were in rhythm and flowed throughout Game 3. Klay Thompson finished with 19 points and seven rebounds, Kevon Looney contributed nine points, 12 rebounds, and four assists, and Draymond Green posted 10 points, five rebounds, and five dimes. Not to mention the 10 points and five rebounds effort from Jordan Poole.

The Mavs’ apparent game plan to stretch the floor and match the Warrior’s firepower with a barrage of three-pointers fell flat on its face. Dallas made just 13-45 triples on Sunday, with Luka Magic’s first-quarter buzzer-beating three bringing the Dallas fans to their feet. The Mavericks’ two long-range snipers, Reggie Bullock and Maxi Kleber, struggled on Sunday, missing all 12 of their combined long-range attempts.

The first half of Sunday’s Game 3 was a roller coaster ride for the WCF foes. The Warriors led by as many as 12 in the first quarter, while the Mavs led by as many as nine. The Warriors took over and sustained that effort over the long haul after ending the half on a 15-5 run.

With a look-away three-pointer, Curry put a bow on the Warriors’ first-half effort. Curry’s bucket irritated Doncic, who promptly exchanged words with Poole and Juan Toscano-Anderson. After officials stepped in to claim the situation down, a confused Curry asked Doncic what happened. The two superstars cleared the air, with Green eventually playing peacemaker when the conversation ran its course.

His movement off the ball is god-tier. Curry with the iconic look-away three.

(via @warriors) pic.twitter.com/QApyPsgQCJ

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 23, 2022

The Warriors controlled the tempo and continued to keep Dallas at bay. It wasn’t until the fourth quarter, at the 1:15 mark, in fact, that the Mavs made the game close with a Spencer Dinwiddie (26 points) triple to cut the Warriors’ lead to five points. Poole promptly slammed the door shut on any comeback bid with a triple from the left wing to cement the Warriors’ nine-point win.

POOLE PARTY pic.twitter.com/gLIZCIf1tu

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) May 23, 2022

The last time the Warriors swept a WCF series was in 2019 against the Portland Trail Blazers. They lost the 2019 NBA Finals to the Raptors in six games. No team in NBA history has come back from a 3-0 deficit.

“When you’re up 2-0, and you come on the road, to stranglehold control of the series, that’s huge. It’s a good feeling to know that we came in and gotta win, and then we can play with house money on Tuesday and try to get a dub,” Curry said.

The post Stephen Curry Scores 31 to Lead Warriors to 109-100 Win and 3-0 Series Over Mavs appeared first on SLAM.

Mavericks star Luka Doncic finished the game with 20 points shooting 6-18 from the floor and 3-10 from deep. In the second half, Doncic scored just two points and added six more turnovers to end the game.

In the post-game press conference, Coach Jason Kidd told reporters that Luka Magic will be better in Game Two and that Doncic understands how the Warriors will guard him.

“He’s only 23, and we really don’t talk about his age that much, but he understands what they’re trying to do, and he’ll be better. We believe that in the locker room, and there’s not much to say, we knew what was going to come, and we didn’t make shots. He got in the paint and created some looks for guys who normally make them, and they just didn’t go down this evening.”

The Mavericks shot 36 percent from the floor as a team and 22.9 percent from downtown.

Dallas looks to regroup and tie the series Friday for Game Two of the Western Conference Finals in Chase Center.

The post Jason Kidd On the Mavericks’ Inefficient Game 1 Against Warriors appeared first on SLAM.

The win was partly due to Andrew Wiggins doing a solid job of defending and ultimately slowing Luka Doncic down. Wiggins thrived on guarding Doncic the full 94 feet at times while also using a box-and-one and mixing up zone looks to hold the three-time All-Star to 20 points on 6-18 shooting from the field, including shooting 3-10 from deep. Wiggins also forced Doncic to turn the ball over three times.

Wiggins’ efforts to shadow Doncic all 94 feet up the court did the job of wearing Doncic down and frustrating him.

“It’s a tactic obviously in terms of just making guys work,” Stephen Curry said per ESPN. “It’s just one more thing to think about. I wouldn’t say it bothers you, but something you can’t try to overcome. Wiggs is going to keep doing it, but it’s just one more thing to think about, and that’s good playoff basketball.”

For many players, guarding a superstar like Doncic with max effort would take away from their offensive production. Not Wiggins, who told reporters that the matchup didn’t make him tired after the final buzzer.

“I feel like I’m still young. I don’t really get too tired,” Wiggins said. “I’m locked in. I’m motivated, and when you see it work or I feel like it’s helping us play better, it just motivates me to do it more. I’m not tired or nothing. You know, it’s adrenaline. I just feel good.”

Holding Luka Legend below his average of 31.5 points in the playoffs is a confidence boost for the former No. 1 overall draft pick. Since arriving in Golden State, Maple Jordan had transformed into the two-way monster so many were expecting to see when Minnesota first drafted him, earning his first All-Star nod after averaging 17.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game on 46.6 percent shooting from the field.

”I thought Wiggs was fantastic,” Coach Steve Kerr said. ”Doncic is as difficult a cover as there is in this League. — It’s important to make him work. He’s so good. Any great player in the League, you’re trying to limit the damage that they do.”

Wiggins scored 15 of his 19 points in the second half and finished Game 1 with five rebounds and three dimes. All five Warriors starters scored in double-digits, including Jordan Poole (19 points) and Otto Porter Jr. (10 points, six rebounds).

The Dubs were able to outscore the Mavs, 58-42, in the second half. For the game, the Warriors held the Mavericks to 36.0 percent shooting from the field, 22.9 from distance. Golden State also scored 18 points off of 13 turnovers.

With Friday’s Game 2 looming, expect Dallas to make the necessary adjustments to tie the WCF at 1-1. Stealing home-court advantage as the series shifts to Dallas will be pivotal for a Mavericks team essentially playing with house money this deep into the playoffs.

The post Andrew Wiggins Thrives in Game 1 Matchup Against Luka Doncic appeared first on SLAM.

In the first half, the Splash Bros couldn’t throw a penny in the ocean, combining to hit 1-9 three-pointers in the first half. Klay Thompson himself didn’t score until early in the second half. Only Curry could get something going, scoring 10 points in the first, including the Splash Bro’s one made triple through the first 24 minutes of Game 1.

“A little ugly in the first quarter, but our defense, our focus, our multiple efforts made it tough on them. We got momentum, and our offense clicked. We got a lot of separation, so we did what we’re supposed to do.” Curry said during his on-tv interview after the final buzzer.

A whole mood: (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/5EE7VqXZDb

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 19, 2022

From there, Curry and Thompson turned in vintage performances during the second half. After Luka Doncic (20 points, seven rebounds, four assists) hit back-to-back triples late in the first half to cut Golden State’s lead to 54-45 at the break, Curry then responded, sparking a 10-2 run with two quick three-pointers to begin the third quarter while Thompson scored all 15 of his points in the second half.

Five of the Warriors scored in double digits on the more glamorous side, including Jordan Poole (19 points) and Otto Porter Jr. (10 points, six rebounds).

The Warriors will look to get a 2-0 lead in the WCF when they face Dallas on Thursday in San Francisco.

The post Steph Curry on Taking Game 1 of the WCF: ‘We Did What We Were Supposed to Do’ appeared first on SLAM.

Luka Magic had led the Mavs to their first Western Conference Finals appearance since 2011, when Dallas won their first NBA title. Following their first conference finals practice on Tuesday, Doncic and the Mavs have loved life and enjoyed getting to work the greatest job in the world, playing basketball. When Dallas faces off against the Golden State Warriors, they’ll be playing with house money and less pressure than the Dubs.

“I’m living my best life – a dream,” Doncic said. “Before Game 7, I said this might be my last game of the NBA season, but I was ready. I wanted to play basketball.

“Tomorrow is another basketball game that I’ll enjoy. I get to play at least four (more games). You never know, so I’m just happy to be playing basketball. It’s incredible.”

Doncic has been deep in his bag through the Mavericks playoff run, as un-guardable as he’s ever been. Honestly, Doncic getting a bucket is as inevitable as Thanos is. In their seven-game series win against Phoenix Suns, Luka Legend averaged 32.6 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game, scoring 30+ three times, starting the series off with some fireworks after dropping 45 points in 44 minutes.

When the Mavs take on the Dubs, Doncic will have to figure out to solve a defense headlined by Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, and Andrew Wiggins. The Mavs will surely attempt to force a Doncic-Stephen Curry matchup off a switch to counteract those potentially tough matchups. When the Mavs and Warriors played on March 3, Doncic finished the 122-113 win with 41 points, 10 rebounds, and nine dimes.

Will double-teams work in slowing down Doncic? Luka Magic won’t tell.

“Then, everybody would play that defense,” he said. “For me, I’ll probably see a couple more double team this series, and that’s fine. We faced double teams the whole season. I think we play the best when they double team – four-on-three basketball in the NBA. We have a lot of great players.”

When Doncic finally faces the playoff defense of the Warriors, Coach Jason Kidd is confident the three-time All-Star will find a way to figure out the different looks Coach Steve Kerr will throw at Doncic to slow down the superstar point guard. Because Doncic has faced so many different coverages since playing in Europe and the NBA, he’s not worried about what Luka Legend will do because “The bigger it gets, the better he plays. So hopefully, that’s what happens for us.”

Doncic is most looking forward to being defended by Green, who has a DPOY in his name and has embraced the challenge of slowing down superstars like Doncic throughout this career. It will be interesting to see how Green, Thompson, and Wiggins counteract Luka Legends’ isolation prowess, Doncic being great at playing at his own speed, and his ability to throw passes out of the post to his snipers around the perimeter.

“I have so much respect for Draymond,” Doncic said. “Obviously, Klay and Steph are incredible, but I think the key to the Warriors’ team is Draymond.

“He’s just unbelievable, and I really respect him. He impacts the game in every other category.”

Game 1 of the WCF between the Mavs and Warriors will undoubtedly be primetime viewing on Tuesday night. Especially with Dallas being able to lose and freely fresh off their Game 7 blowout over the Suns. All the pressure will be on the Warriors, who are likely the favorite to win the series and advance to their fifth NBA Finals since 2015.

The post Luka Doncic Thinks Draymond Green is the ‘Key’ to the Warriors appeared first on SLAM.

In the first two series of the playoffs, Wiggins has averaged 14.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game on 40.0 percent from beyond the arc. Wiggins posted 17.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game during the regular-season on 39.3 percent shooting from deep.

When asked about the task of guarding Luka Doncic in the Western Conference Finals, Wiggins admitted the three-time All-Star would be a handful. Doncic had carried the Mavericks to their first conference finals since 2011, when they won their first NBA title. To this point, Luka Legend has averaged 31.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game over 10 games.

“It’s gonna be a tough matchup, for sure,” Wiggins said about guarding Doncic. “You’ve seen what he’s been doing these whole playoffs. It’s gonna be a team effort. All of us, the whole team, will have to do it collectively.

Dallas beat Golden State in three out of its four games during the regular-season. During those four matchups, Doncic averaged 31.5 points, 9.0 boards, and 5.5 dimes per game while shooting 47.6 percent from the field and 38.2 percent on three-pointers.

Game 1 of the WCF between the Warriors and Mavericks begins on Wednesday.

The post Andrew Wiggins On ‘Tough Matchup’ Coming Against Luka Doncic appeared first on SLAM.

According to Paul, he will return to play at least next season. The 37-year-old veteran point guard still has two years remaining on his contract. The next time Paul will test the market will be Summer 2025 when he’s 39-years old.

“We’ll be right back here next year,” Paul said, putting any retirement notion to bed. “I’m not retiring.”

Paul will be entering his 18th season in the NBA next season. CP3 has build a Hall-of-Fame career since getting drafted fourth overall in the 2005 NBA Draft by the then-New Orleans Hornets. The only thing the former Wake Forest Demon Deacon hasn’t accomplished in illustrious career is win a title. He seems to still be game to win that elusive title after struggling against Dallas in the final five games of the series.

In Game 1 and 2, Paul averaged 23.5 points per game. In the final five, the 12-time All-Stat put up just 9.4 points per game. Paul will have a long offseason to rejuvenate his battery so he can help keep Phoenix at the top of the Western Conference hierarchy moving forward. The first order of business for the Suns’ front office will be signing restricted free agent Deandre Ayton to a long-term extension this summer.

The two sides were unable to come to terms on a deal last summer.

The post Chris Paul Won’t Retire After This Season: ‘We’ll Be Right Back Here’ appeared first on SLAM.

Mavericks came out to freaking play tonight to advance to the WCF.

Luka: 35 PTS 10 RBS 4 AST
Spencer Dinwiddie: 30 PTS
Jalen Brunson: 24 PTS

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 16, 2022

Luka Legend hit his first three shots, including two three-pointers, to give the Mavericks an early lead they would never surrender. Over the next two hours, the Mavericks blitzed the Suns, leading by as many as 46 before the final buzzer sounded.

Doncic (35 points and 10 rebounds) and Spencer Dinwiddie (30 points and three rebounds) became the first teammates to at least score 20 points in a half in a Game 7 setting since Patrick Ewing and Allan Houston did it for the Knicks in 1997 according to ESPN Stats and Info.

“I don’t know what to say,” Doncic said. “But this was amazing to win. Everybody was locked in to win. Everybody played as hard as they can, no rest; we didn’t take one play off. So this is an incredible feeling.”

Mavericks came out to freaking play tonight to advance to the WCF.

Luka: 35 PTS 10 RBS 4 AST
Spencer Dinwiddie: 30 PTS
Jalen Brunson: 24 PTS

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 16, 2022

Up to this point, the host team won the first six games of the series, but the Mavs dominated in Phoenix from start to finish, ending the season for a Suns team that won a franchise-record 64 games, looking like a serious contender to make back-to-back NBA Finals appearances throughout the regular-season.

Any drama fans were expecting was quickly erased by the Mavs, who built a 27-17 cushion in the first quarter. That Dallas lead eventually turned into a 57-27 Suns deficit at halftime. Doncic and Dinwiddie outscored the Suns by themselves, combining to score 48 points. Luka Legend himself matched the Suns’ team total after scoring 27 points by himself. Doncic shot 12-19 from the field, including 6-11 from distance.

The Dallas-Golden State Western Conference Finals series will begin on Wednesday, with Game 1 taking place in San Francisco.

“They’re a championship team. It’s going to be really tough again. I’m going to enjoy this win tonight, and then tomorrow we’re going to think about Golden State.”

The post Luka Doncic On Advancing to the Western Conference Finals: ‘Everybody Was Locked In’ appeared first on SLAM.

The win was primarily due to the Mavs’ stifling defense holding the Suns to a season-low in scoring, regular or postseason, for the second time in the Western Conference semifinal series. The Suns also shot 39.7 percent from the field and coughed the ball up a season-high 22 times. The Mavs also outscored the Suns in transition 21-8.

“I don’t have enough time to talk about everything that’s eating at me,” Coach Monty Williams said per ESPN. “I didn’t think we understood the desperation they were going to play with. Couple that with the turnovers that we had tonight; it’s a recipe for what we just got.”

.@DevinBook gettin’ himself going. pic.twitter.com/Z2nSLuWB8o

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) May 13, 2022

Sunday’s potentially season-altering Game 7 will be Chris Paul’s eighth ever, owning a 3-4 record in such games, while Devin Booker will be playing in his first-ever Game 7.

“Greatest two words in sports,” Booker said. “I’m excited to feel the energy. I’m excited to be a part of it. It’s a great opportunity.”

It has begun. pic.twitter.com/oWCVtwX7JG

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) May 13, 2022

If Phoenix can take any solace, it’s that their 64-18 regular-season record ensures Game 7 will be on their homecourt. So far, the home team of this series has won all six games, none with a margin closer than seven points.

The post Devin Booker On Playing His First Career Game 7: ‘Greatest Two Words in Sports’ appeared first on SLAM.

The blowout win was Luka Legends’ first career elimination game win in three tries, the first two chances coming in losses to the Clippers the last two seasons. The Mavericks have now answered a loss of at least 20 points with a victory of their own 10 straight times this year, 13 if you count last season, including a playoff win against the Clippers.

“I don’t know if he was playing as if he was trying to do something different,” Kidd said per ESPN. “I think he enjoys the moment. You guys have seen a little bit longer than I have up close. He’s not afraid of the stage. I think you guys call it the first time winning an elimination game. He’ll be in this situation a long, long time.”

Luka talking trash gets me hyped (via @espn) pic.twitter.com/99gqXehkpu

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 13, 2022

The Mavs’ blowout win can be attributed to their stifling defense. Dallas held Phoenix to a season-low in scoring, regular or postseason, for the second time in the Western Conference semifinal series. The Suns were also held to a playoff low 39.7 percent shooting from the field and turned the ball over a season-high 22 times.

Luka hyped up the crowd and had words for Devin Booker after this offensive foul. pic.twitter.com/9IDmWJeXd8

— ESPN (@espn) May 13, 2022

Dallas was also aided by the contributions of Reggie Bullock (19 points), Jalen Brunson (18 points), and Spencer Dinwiddie (15 points on 5-7 shooting from beyond the arc).

“I think we won this game on the defensive end,” Doncic said. “We’ve got another game. That’s fun. It’s playoffs, and we’re going to give our energy.”

The Mavericks blew the gates open with a 19-6 run to finish the first half, turning a two-point lead into a 60-45 lead going into halftime. The Suns attempted to make some second-half pushes, but the Mavs were clicked on all cylinders and grew their lead to as many as 27 points, ensuring long before the final whistle that there would be a winner-take-all Game 7 on Sunday.

The post Jason Kidd on Luka Doncic’s Playoff Heroics: ‘I Think He Enjoys the Moment’ appeared first on SLAM.

David McMenamin of ESPN recently dove into the Suns hyped up pregame festivities. There’s times they clown around with each other, while some, like Mikal Bridges, pretends he’s suiting up in Iron Man armor. There’others acting like they’re in the middle of a football play and dancing/meme-inspired gestures that the Suns find and shop around, hoping a teammate will execute it in the tunnel.

Then comes the team’s 15 players dapping up their teammates in 14 unique ways. Each handshake displays just as much muscle memory as the dazzling euro steps, fadeaway, and stepback jumpers they execute shortly afterward.

“It loosens it up a little bit,” JaVale McGee says. “Everybody doesn’t have to be 100 percent serious when they go into the game, but focused. Focused and serious are two different things.”

“We’re the circus, and we pack up and move every day,” Cam Payne added. “because it’s the greatest show on Earth.”

Once all the fun is over, the Suns gather around their veteran leader, Chris Paul, who galvanized the troops with a speech or message to the team to help them set the tone for the evening. The entertaining display of teamwork has become a welcome release for the Suns; a self-described circus show that McGee originated.

As a three-time champion, McGee knows the importance of culture, and setting a tone is just as crucial as the mundane task of setting a screen or making the proper defensive rotation. McGee reminds the Suns that they are “dogs” and the “best team in the motherf…ing world’ played a huge part in the Suns finishing the regular season with the best record in the NBA.

The Suns also finished the year as the only team with top-five rankings in offensive and defensive efficiency. Coach Monty Williams was recently named Coach of the Year, Mikal Bridges finished second for Defensive Player of the Year, and Devin Booker recieved MVP buzz. According to McMenamin, the pregame ritual is the backbone of the Suns performing so well as a team and individually.

Per Deandre Ayton, the Suns have a culture that doesn’t come around too often in a professional setting.

“It feels like a college team sometimes,” Ayton says, “but we get so much money for this.”

Adds Paul: “I’ve been in this league so long that I done seen teams that don’t do anything [pregame]. If you’re on another team and you see that, you’re like, ‘Damn, we ain’t got that.’

“That right there has sort of been our little sacred space.”

When the Suns take the Mavericks o for Game 6 on the road, the culture they’ve built will help them will gather up the energy to close out this semifinal series and win Thursday’s pivotal Game 6.

The post ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’: How the Suns Pregame Tunnel Routine Hypes Them Up appeared first on SLAM.

Through 21 career playoff games,  Dončić has scored 32.5 points per game and is second only to Michael Jordan. The men tasked with guarding Dončić are Bridges, Chris Paul, Jae Crowder, and Deandre Ayton, who have combined to take a 3-2 series lead while being slightly effective in slowing down Dončić. Bridges have guarded Luka Legend for 20 gametime minutes longer than any other Maverick this series.

“To play against unbelievable talent, it challenges me personally,” Bridges said after Game 1, per Sports Illustrated. “It makes me better as a player. I embrace the challenge for sure.”

In a perfect Phoenix defensive possession, Bridges would fight through a screen-and-roll, catch up with Dončić before he gets deep in the paint, giving Ayton, JaVale McGee, or Bismack Biyombo enough time to recover to whoever sets a screen to free Dončić up to score. However, Dončić is an elite scorer for a reason. Dončić is proven to be adept at scoring in the midrange and is capable of hitting stepback triples.

The preferred Phoenix has for their Dončić coverage has had to be changed from drop coverage to Phoenix deciding to switch because Dončić is so lethal with the ball in his hands. Not only is Dončić scoring at will, but Dallas has been able to space the court due to Luka Legend being able to help Dallas average 11.5 corner three-pointers per game, up from 10.1 during the regular-season.

Dallas has shot nearly 41 triples a game through four games, including 44 in their Game 4 win. This is primarily due to Dončić exploiting Phoenix’s defense to open up Dallas’ shooters around the perimeter.

“I think you put all those things into one,” Crowder said about trying to stop Dončić and his sharp-shooting teammates. “Once you get in the game, you gotta read and react. You have to truly know the rotations; you have to know what your teammates are doing. Obviously, knowing your opponent is probably the No. 1 thing, and knowing what the Mavericks are trying to do on the offensive end.

“Dončić does a great job of reading the game and knowing where all his teammates are on the court. We’re playing chess right now.”

The Phoenix-Dallas series shifts back to Dallas for Thursday’s Game 6, with Phoenix looking to close the series out. The Sun’s best chance in doing so might be to allow Dončić to play one-one while blanketing the Mavericks’ shooters and phasing their other scorers out to test Dončić’s stamina.

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Booker dropped 28 points, seven rebounds, and two assists on 11-20 shooting from the field. The big-time performance from D-Book was needed after Phoenix lost its two outings while looking completely out of sorts, losing its identity it’s worked all year to build.

“He’s just getting to his spots,” Coach Monty Williams said of Booker, per ArizonaSports. “There were a few times in pick-and-roll where he would get to his spot and raise up. Book has shotmaking ability that’s unique to very few people and in those moments when we need him to settle us down, sometimes it’s scoring that can settle you down.”

Booker scored 12 points and provided constant pressure in the first quarter, making sure Phoenix stayed in the game while the Suns fought through their persistent defensive issues rearing their head. Going into the second quarter, a passionate speech from Williams inspired the Suns to ratchet up their energy levels for the pivotal Game 5, allowing for a relentless effort that helped the Suns relearn why they were great again.

The three-time All-Star continued his onslaught of the Mavericks’ defense while his teammates played inspired basketball, finishing the second quarter with a +/- of + 11. That constant energy from the first 24 minutes of play manifested itself in the third quarter where the Suns outscored the Mavericks 33-14, including a 17-0 run to give Phoenic a 22-point lead going into the fourth quarter.

Booker added another 12 points in the third quarter, finishing with a +30 rating through the second and third frame. Phoenix was able finally able to mesh their lockdown defense and hit Dallas with a devastating landslide of offensive pressure to take the Mavericks out of the game..

“We study film. Coach is coming in with the adjustments, and we make ’em, and we follow ’em,” Booker said. “We pride ourselves on the defensive end all year. I think that’s when we’re at our best. When we’re not taking the ball out of the hoop and playing a slower-paced game. We like getting stops, getting out in transition because we have a lot of athletes, a lot of people that can make plays for each other.”

Booker has now scored 840 points in 30 career playoff games after Game 5. The three-time All-Star is one of 18 players in NBA history with at least 800 points in his first 30 playoff games. Booker joins LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Donovan Mitchell among active players to accomplish the feat.

Phoenix will look to close out their second-round series with Dallas on Thursday.

The post Monty Williams on Devin Booker’s 28 Point Performance in Game 5: ‘He’s Just Getting to His Spots’ appeared first on SLAM.

Booker scored 28 points and secured seven rebounds, including 12 points in the third quarter, and Ayton added 20 and nine rebounds for the Suns. Booker has now scored 840 points in 30 career playoff games. The three-time All-Star is one of 18 players in NBA history with at least 800 points in his first 30 playoff games. Booker joins LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Donovan Mitchell among active players to accomplish the feat.

In his Book bag tonight.

(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/Pl0XXw4r8B

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 11, 2022

The Suns Game 5 victory was powered by a solid third-quarter performance, outscoring the Mavs, 33-14. Phoenix opened up the second half with an 11-4, punctuated by a pair of Booker three-pointers to help the Suns take a 61-50 lead. A Dallas timeout did little to stop the bleeding, with the Suns rolling to an 82-60 lead going into the final quarter.

On the other side, the Mavericks were unable to do much well after turning the ball over in the third quarter. When they cough the ball up, the Dallas offense regressed to a heliocentric offense revolved around Luka Doncic working his magic. But Luka Legend couldn’t do much to save the Mava despite finishing Game 5 with 28 points and 11 rebounds. The Mavs overall shot just 38 percent from the field. Jalen Brunson posted 21 points and seven boards.

Cooking up early

(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/4pYb88tqMm

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 11, 2022

“I think we relaxed. That wasn’t us.” Doncic said about the Mavs’ dismal third-quarter performance. “That wasn’t ourselves. We’ve got to be way better than that.”

Luka Doncic on the Mavs' 3rd quarter spiral: "I think we relaxed. That wasn't us. That wasn’t ourselves. We’ve got to be way better than that.”

— Callie Caplan (@CallieCaplan) May 11, 2022

Phoenix will look to close out their second series with Dallas on Thursday.

The post Luka Doncic on the Mavericks’ Third Quarter Meltdown: ‘That Wasn’t Us’ appeared first on SLAM.

Well, it seems as though this Mavs team took those challenges to heart, beating the Suns 103-94, holding Phoenix to their worse offensive efficiency of the playoffs, notably making sure that the targeting roles were reversed after forcing Chris Paul into 12 points, seven rebounds, and four assists on seven turnovers. Phoenix coughed the ball up 17 times overall on Friday.

As far as Kidds challenge for someone other than Doncic to score the ball, five players scored in double-figures in response to Kidd’s gauntlet, led by Jalen Brunson. The two-time NCAA champion finished Game 3 with a game-high 28 points, four rebounds, and five dimes on 47.6 (10-21) percent shooting from the field. Luka Legend posted 26 points, 13 rebounds, and nine dimes.

”I found a way to bounce back tonight,” Brunson said per NBA.com. ”I just can’t be satisfied with this. Sunday’s going to be another brutal game. I have to bring the same energy, the same intensity, the same everything.”

“It was a great team win. JB, Spencer, Maxi, Doe, Reggie, everybody joined the party,” Kidd added per YahooSports.

Game 4 of the Suns-Mavericks series will resume on Sunday afternoon.

The post Jalen Brunson Gets His ‘Bounce Back’ in Game 3 Win: ‘I Just Can’t Be Satisfied With This’ appeared first on SLAM.

However, it’s not Luka Legends’ record-breaking sixth 40-point game at 23-years-old that’s receiving attention at the moment. Instead, the Suns and Chris Paul are relentlessly hunting for a CP3-Dončić matchup out of the pick-and-roll, creating an offensive attack that’s overshadowing the offensive exploits of Dončić.

During Game 2 of the Suns-Mavs series, Paul ran Dončić through 19 ball screens in the second half, scoring 1.81 points per chance on those possessions, per ESPN and Second Spectrum. The back-and-forth between the two All-Stars all but erased the 35-point effort Dončić put up in the Mavs’ 129-109 loss as CP3 torched the suns to the tune of 28 points, six rebounds, and eight assists.

“It’s no secret, they’re going to put him in every pick-and-roll,” Kidd said about the Suns seeking out Luka Doncic, “[Opponents] did the same thing with Dirk [Nowitzki] until he participated and stuck up for himself.”

Jason Kidd on the Suns’ hunting Luka Doncic: “It’s no secret, they’re going to put him in every pick-and-roll. [Opponents] did the same thing with Dirk [Nowitzki] until he participated and stuck up for himself”

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) May 6, 2022

Heading into Game 3 down 2-0, Kidd and Doncic will have to find a way to get vital scorers like Jalen Brunson and Spencer Dinwiddie going and a way to get stops when it matters the most so that Dončić can bring them home during crunch time.

Some of that may depend on Kidd developing a game plan that will lessen the load Dončić carries; as of Game 2, he holds a League-high 38.8 percent usage rate in the playoffs. It was 45 percent in the first half of Game 2.

Defensively, the Mavs could look to do the same to CP3, effectively wearing him as the game goes on so that he loses some offensive potency late in the fourth quarter. Another solution would be to pre-switch, allowing a teammate to switch with Dončić’s matchup before a pick-and-roll action can be run.

Time is of the essence for Dallas to reclaim some momentum as the Suns-Mavs series shifts to Dallas for Game 3 on Friday.

The post Jason Kidd on the Suns Seeking Luka Doncic Matchup: ‘They’re Going to Put Him in Every Pick-and-Roll’ appeared first on SLAM.

Luka Doncic now has the most 40-point playoff games by a player 23 or younger after dropping his 6th postseason 40-piece tonight.

— SLAM Newswire (@SLAMnewswire) May 3, 2022

Doncic has eclipsed Larry Bird, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, Kyrie Irving, Tracy McGrady, Chris Paul, and Devin Booker for most 40-point games in just 17 career playoff games. Luka Magic is tied with Stephen Curry and George Gervin. To top off this accomplishment, Doncic’s playoff career average of 33.5 points per game matches that of the GOAT himself, Michael Jordan.

The only thing that Doncic and the Mavs could’ve asked for was a win to go along with his primetime performance. Phoenix went into Game 1 of their second-round series with Dallas focused on preventing the Mavs’ other playmakers from getting into a rhythm. The rest of Dallas’ starters combined for just 39 points; the second time in Doncic’s playoff career, he scored more points than his teammates in the starting lineup.

“He got whatever he wanted, when you look at the shots in the paint, behind the arc, midrange, and then also I thought he got his teammates some great looks that we normally had made,” Coach Jason Kidd said per ESPN. “I thought he played great.

“We’ve just got to get someone to join the party.”

The Suns also made to sure blanket Dwight Powell during pick-and-roll situations and prioritized switching on screens set by Maxi Kleber, who scored 19 points on 6-9 shooting. The breakout star of the first round, Jalen Brunson, had a tough night shooting, scoring 16 points on 6-16 shooting, and Spencer Dinwiddie finished with eight points on 3-8 shooting.

Game 2 of the Phoenix-Dallas series will take place on Wednesday.

The post Luka Doncic Posts Sixth 40 Point Game; Most Ever By a 23-Year-Old appeared first on SLAM.

In the first round against the Pelicans, Ayton averaged 20.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game on 70.0 percent shooting from the field. A good jump from his regular season when he posted 17.2 points and 10.2 boards per game.

As the Mavericks-Suns series rolls, Mavericks Coach Jason Kidd’s use of small-ball lineups might not be as valuable against Ayton, who is athletic enough to keep up with shooters like Maxi Kleber when Kidd deploys him as small-ball 5. The Suns also have lengthy and versatile defenders like Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder, and Cam Johnson, who can chase the Mavericks’ marksman

“We have to adapt,” Kidd said per Sports Illustrated. “Our game plan against Utah is not going to work against the Suns. We’ve already changed that mindset because we’re not playing the Jazz.

Ayton will be tasked with taking advantage of the Mavs whenever he’s in a pick-and-roll situation with CP3, rim-running in transition, and bullying his matchup when he’s given the rock in the low post. Ayton is also a threat to score from deep, sinking 50 percent of his four three-point attempts so far in the playoffs.

“We understand their strength is midrange, but they hurt you with the 3 in transition, and they can hurt you in the paint with JaVale and Ayton. This isn’t Gobert or Whiteside. These guys can put the ball in the basket. So, our bigs are going to be tested.”

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The moment seemed to hang in the air, but Bogey’s shot was short, Donovan Mitchell nearly fell to his knees in disbelief as Luka Doncic, and the Mavs celebrated getting to round two.

“Oh, man, I thought, ‘He don’t miss a lot of those,'” Doncic said, per ESPN. “My heart stopped.”

For the first time since 2011, the Mavericks have won a playoff series. The 98-96 closeout win also represented Doncic’s first playoff series win and will be the first time he’s moved past the first round in his bright career.

All love.

Great series, @utahjazz. pic.twitter.com/k3iwgdWhO3

— x – Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) April 29, 2022

Doncic finished Game 6 with 24 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists in 42 minutes, playing the entire second half as the Mavs rallied from a 12-point halftime deficit. The triumphant comeback came after the Mavs torched Utah’s defense with 14 second-half triples, the most in one half in Dallas playoff history.

“Happiness, man,” Doncic said. “I think we worked really hard to get here. I think we deserve to get past the first round. Everybody fought their ass off today. We didn’t play good today, but everybody was staying together. Keeping everybody together was the key to win this game.”

MAGIC pic.twitter.com/w2eU4CA4sl

— x – Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) April 29, 2022

The third quarter proved vital as the Mavs outscored the Jazz 36-19 and knocked down 8-12 three-pointers. Ten out of the Mavs’ 13 bucks were assisted, primarily thanks to the decisive decision-making of Doncic out of traps and double-teams. Doncic had one dime but scored 10 points, including two step-back threes in the monumental third frame.

“I like sharing the ball,” Doncic said. “If they’re going to [double-team], somebody is going to be open. We’ve been playing against blitzes or hits the whole season, and I think we did great. Then it’s just basketball, four-on-three.”

Game 1 of the Suns-Mavs second-round series will start on Monday.

The post Luka Doncic On Winning His First Playoff Series: ‘I Think We Deserve to Get Past the First Round’ appeared first on SLAM.

During the 2021-22 regular season, Mitchell finished top 10 in scoring with 25.9 points per game. He shot 35.5 percent from deep in 9.8 attempts per contest. With 20.5 field goal attempts per game, he shot 44.8 percent from the floor overall. 

In the playoffs, he’s been an even more elite scorer. Mitchell has the third-most total points of any player in the playoffs—he’s produced 121 points through four games, good for 30.3 per game. 

Interestingly, he’s only shooting 39.6 percent from the floor and 23.5 percent from distance, meaning there’s still room for improvement. He’s been great in this opening series against the Dallas Mavericks, and while he’s ultimately scored 30 or more points in three out of four games thus far, it’s taken him a bit to get going. Mitchell has gotten off to a slow start in most of the matchups in this opening series, and he’s averaging 11.0 points in the first half (21st in NBA) and 19.3 points in the second half (first in NBA).

With that in mind, he’s been outstanding coming out of the half, averaging 10.8 points in the third quarter, which is tied for the second-most in the League this postseason. If Mitchell can start producing in both halves, he’ll be on a whole new level. 

After the Game 3 win, Mitchell spoke about how he can be better and the support and trust he has from everyone around him. 

“My teammates and my coaches trust me. The ball’s going to be in my hands, and I’ve got to make the right play.”

Putting up points in the playoffs isn’t new for Mitchell. He always hits a new level when the postseason comes around. Over the past three seasons, he’s been one of the League’s most prolific scorers in the postseason. 

• 2020: 36.3 PPG
• 2021: 32.3 PPG
• 2022: 30.3 PPG

The series is tied at 2-2, but one team will take the lead on Monday night. In December, the SLAM 235 cover star spoke about the Jazz’s playoff pursuits and how they need to “perform” when it counts.

“We’re a pretty good team, [but] we’ve got to perform when it’s time,” Mitchell told SLAM. “That’s no secret; that’s the biggest thing. We’re a good regular season team, and we’ve had success in the playoffs, but we haven’t had the ultimate success.”

Game 5 is set to take place in Dallas and will be just the second game of the series in which Luka Doncic suits up. At the rate Mitchell is going, the battle between him and Doncic will be spectacular the rest of the way. 

The post Built For The Postseason: Donovan Mitchell Continues Elevate in the Postseason appeared first on SLAM.

The Mavs pulled out to an early lead, but the Jazz chipped away in the third quarter. However, the Dallas defense showed out in the fourth quarter to secure the 126-118 victory. 

“We made timely shots and we made timely stops,” said Mavs coach Jason Kidd following the win.

In the absence of Doncic, Jalen Brunson continued to play like a star. After his 31-point performance in Game 3, he’s now averaging 32.0 points per contest in the series. 

Utah is in a tough situation after losing its first matchup of the series at home. Even without Doncic taking the floor yet again, the Mavericks have taken control of the series with a 2-1 lead. 

The Mavs were once again on fire from beyond the arc on Thursday night, converting on 18 of their 42 triples as a team. This was again sparked by forward Maxi Kleber, who is now 12-16 through his past two games. 

“When you’re a hot player, you’re a hot player,” said Kleber following Game 3. 

For the Jazz, the offense still hasn’t clicked in this series. The slump towards the end of the regular season has continued into the postseason to this point. While they scored 118 points tonight, it wasn’t enough as the scoring was stagnant in the first and fourth quarter. 

Overall, Utah looked solid offensively shooting 56.5% from the floor. It just wasn’t consistent enough to get the job done. 

After scoring zero points in Game 3, Mike Conley produced 21 points on 14 shots Thursday night. Bojan Bogdanovic scored 24 points while Donovan Mitchell produced 32 of his own. 

With that in mind, Mitchell still believes everything starts with defense for this Jazz team. 

“It starts defensively, and everything else falls into place,” he said postgame. 

For the first time this series, the rebounding battle was balanced. Both teams pulled down 32 boards on the night.  

This series is far from over, even if Doncic does return at some point. The Jazz have the talent to make things interesting down the stretch, and the Mavericks know that. 

“I’m proud of this team,” Brunson said postgame. “I’m proud of the fight that we have. They’re a team that’s not going to quit. They’re a good team.”

Game 4 will take place on Saturday in Utah. 

The post Mavericks Continue To Roll, Sealing Game 3 Road Victory Against Jazz appeared first on SLAM.

Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic is out for Game 3 vs. Utah tonight, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/PhQ3KWWHPj

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 21, 2022

The Dallas faithful might have something to look forward to watching Thursday, and it’s not just Game 3 against the Utah Jazz. Mavericks Coach Jason Kidd said star Luka Dončić might be a game time decision, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon.

However, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that there’s ‘pessimism’ surrounding the possibility that Dončić ends up playing tonight. He was officially listed as ‘Questionable’ on the offical injury report after the Mavs said he was ‘Doubtful’ for the first two games due to a left calf strain. Dončić sustained this left calf strain against the San Antonio Spurs in the season finale.

Dallas will be playing in Vivint Arena in Utah for the first time in this series, an arena they went winless in the regular season, going 0-2. The Mavericks will hope that Luka will be able to suit up to try and win their first game in Vivint Arena this season, putting them up 2-1 on the Jazz. Tip-off is set for 9 PM EST.

The post REPORT: Luka Doncic Ruled OUT For Game 3 Against Utah appeared first on SLAM.

Luka Doncic is listed as questionable for the first time this series. He was listed as doubtful when he sat out the first two games. https://t.co/SGqEtMItxZ

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) April 20, 2022

Dončić missed the first two games of the series due to a calf injury he suffered during the Mavericks’ regular-season finale against the San Antonio Spurs. Although the Mavericks lost Game 1, 99-93, Jalen Brunson exploded for a career-high 41 points, and the Mavs knocked down a franchise-record 22 triples to take Game 2, 130-120, and in the process tied the series up 1-1.

With the series shifting to Utah for the next two games, the series’ momentum will go to whoever takes home-court advantage during Game 3. The news of Dončić possibly playing Game 3 on Wednesday bodes well for the Mavericks.

Dončić averaged 28.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game this season. Dončić finished his last playoff run putting up 35.7 points, 7.9 boards, and 10.3 dimes.

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The differentiator in Game 2 was on the perimeter. Dallas was hot from beyond the arc all night, finishing 22-of-47 (46.8%) from that distance. Those 22 made 3-pointers set a new franchise-best for the postseason.

This was fueled by Maxi Kleber, who knocked down eight of his 11 attempts from deep. This was one make away from tying Jason Terry for the all-time postseason record for triples made in a game. 

Dallas made 17 uncontested 3-pointers in this contest, which is the most by any team in last ten postseasons. However, that’s not something the Mavericks are going to depend upon moving forward in this series. 

“It’s not live or die by the three. We’re not Golden State,” Spencer Dinwiddie said postgame. 

Furthermore, Jalen Brunson continued to shine in the absence of Doncic, finishing the night with a career-high 41 points. He also posted eight rebounds and five assists. From the moment the game tipped off, Brunson was in control of the offense. He became became the fifth member in the history of the Mavericks to score at least 40 points in a playoff game.

“He’s gonna make a lot of money,” said Mavs coach Jason Kidd of Brunson who is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. “I don’t know if he needs an agent. It’s not just what he did tonight. He’s shown he deserves to be paid.”

What was perhaps most impressive about Brunson’s night was that he kept the offense in rhythm, which helped Dallas take care of the ball. Brunson became the first player in Mavericks history with 40 points and zero turnovers in a playoff game. 

As a team, Dallas committed just three turnovers, which is a franchise record since that statistic began being tracked in 1982. 

Again, it took a historic night for the Mavs to pull off the much needed win. Now, they’ll head to Utah for the next two games of the series. Although the Jazz would have preferred to win both games without Doncic in the lineup this far, they’re still confident moving forward. 

“Two wins is great, but one win is good. We have to make adjustments,” said Rudy Gobert postgame. “It’s a marathon.” 

Jazz coach Quin Snyder has a similar mindset entering Game 3, realizing there’s still a ton of basketball left to be played. 

“This is the playoffs,” said Snyder after the loss. “It’s 1-1, we’re going back home. It’s a seven-game series.”

Utah struggled to defend the perimeter, which ultimately led to Dallas getting whatever it wanted offensively all over the court. 

“This is something we can fix,” said Donovan Mitchell postgame. 

A true x-factor in this series, veteran Mike Conley was held to zero points in Game 2, missing all seven of his shot attempts. Especially if Doncic comes back into the fold later in the series, Conley will need to contribute more offensively.  

Nonetheless, it’s a tied series with the Jazz hosting the next two games. Regardless of the personnel they’re up against, it’s a clean slate with five games remaining. 

“We are not going to overreact,” said Mitchell after Game 2. “We just have to go home and try and take care of business. They are going to try and get a split like we got a split here.”

Utah continues to dominate the boards with its size, but that proved to not be enough with the Dallas bigs knocking down triples at a high rate in Game 2. 

Moving forward, the status of Doncic will be a huge swing in how this series ends.  

The post Mavericks Ride Historic Night To Game 2 Victory Over Jazz appeared first on SLAM.

As Doncic continues to work towards a return, he’s now spent the last two days doing light workouts in Dallas. On Sunday afternoon, he appeared to look better but was still nowhere near full strength.

“We’ll see how he feels tomorrow,” said Mavs coach Jason Kidd after practice on Sunday. Kidd wouldn’t commit to whether or not Doncic would suit up in tomorrow’s game.

Shortly after practice on Sunday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Doncic is “unlikely” to play in Game 2 on Monday barring a dramatic improvement leading up to the contest.

This would be a huge blow for the Mavericks, who need Doncic to get anywhere close to their ceiling as a team. One of the best players in the entire NBA, his health will dictate the success of Dallas in the postseason. The Mavericks have also listed Doncic as doubtful to play in Game 2.

If the Mavs aren’t able to pull off a win on Monday, they’ll head to Utah for Game 3 and Game 4 on the road in an 0-2 hole. Even if Doncic were able to return at that point, it would be an uphill battle to win the series.

The post REPORT: Mavericks Star Luka Doncic ‘Unlikely’ To Play In Game 2 Against Jazz appeared first on SLAM.

Entering the game, the Mavs knew they’d be without their best player in Luka Doncic. However, even without their star they nearly beat the Jazz. 

 “Hopefully he gets healthy,” said Jazz coach Quin Snyder. “You always want a great player to get the opportunity to play, whether he’s on your team or the other.”

Utah ultimately won Game 1 by a final score of 99-93. It was a contest in which scoring wasn’t plentiful, but also didn’t lack excitement. In a game of runs, it truly came down to the final minutes to determine a winner. 

When it came down to it, the size difference between the two rosters was the primary factor. The Mavericks lack a dominant 7-footer, as Dwight Powell and Maxi Kleber (both 6-foot-10) filled out the center rotation on Saturday afternoon. 

That’s simply not enough size to match up against the Utah centers in Rudy Gobert and Hassan Whiteside, who are both 7-foot-1. Additionally they’re both traditional bigs that are great on the glass. This proved to be a key differentiator, as Dallas was outrebounded 53 to 34. 

“We’ve just gotta rebound the ball, especially playing small. It’s just something we’ve gotta get better at,” said Mavs coach Jason Kidd postgame. 

Regardless of when Doncic comes back, the battle on the boards is going to continue to be important. This series could ultimately come down to the style of play. If the Jazz continue to outmatch the Mavs with their size, they’ll have a huge advantage. On the flip side, if Dallas can have success with its small ball lineups and play Gobert and Whiteside off the floor, things could swing in the favor of the Mavericks. 

Both teams failed to score 100 points in Game 1, so every bucket really mattered throughout the contest. It was a tale of two halves for the Jazz, as Bojan Bogdanovic carried the offense in the first half while Donovan Mitchell shouldered the load in the second. 

Of the 45 points Utah scored in the first half, Bogdanovic account for nearly half with 20. In the second half, Mitchell produced 30 of his 32 points on the afternoon. 

While the Jazz didn’t have a consistent primary scorer across the entire game, they got the points they needed in bunches from two of their best offensive players. Gobert finished with just five points on one field goal attempt, but made his impact on the glass and on defense. 

“We had a chance, held them under 100 points. That was tough,” said Spencer Dinwiddie after the loss. 

Although Utah came out on top in Game 1, Dallas should feel extremely optimistic. Without their best player, the Mavericks legitimately had a shot to win. You could argue that when Doncic comes back, the Mavs should be favorites the rest of the way.  

The guard duo of Dinwiddie and Jalen Brunson combined for 46 points, but will need to be more efficient moving forward. Those two took a total of 39 shots to produce those points. 

The Mavs started hot from beyond the arc, but cooled off as the game went on. They finished 9-of-32 (28.1%) from deep on the afternoon. If just a couple more of those shots would have gone down, the outcome of this game could have easily been different. 

The Jazz got the win, but it wasn’t necessarily convincing against a shorthanded Mavericks team. This series could still go either way. 

“We’ve got to do a better job of making the easy shots,” said Brunson looking ahead to the next matchup. “We missed a lot of easy shots. Gotta follow our game plan and stick together.”

Game 2 will take place in Dallas once again on Monday evening. 

The post Jazz Win Game 1 With Size, Mavericks Feel Optimistic Moving Forward appeared first on SLAM.

In the Western Conference, one of the most anticipated matchups is between the Dallas Mavericks (No. 4) and Utah Jazz (No. 5) which is a series that will begin on Saturday night. The Mavericks finished the regular season with a record of 52-30, which gave them the slight edge on the Jazz (49-33) for home court advantage. As such, Dallas will host the first two games of the series and also Game 7 if it’s needed. This could become a huge advantage to get the series off on the right foot and potentially close it out at home.

Any advantage will be key for the Mavs, as their superstar in Luka Doncic is expected to miss Game 1 and potentially Game 2 with a calf strain.

The Mavericks had a fairly slow start to the season, but ultimately got better as it went on. Gradual growth and improvement is a good sign for Dallas, as the team could be peaking at the right time. Early in the season, Jalen Brunson began to emerge as a legitimate piece of the roster. He’ll be a primary scorer for the Mavs during the postseason. Alongside him in the backcourt will be Spencer Dinwiddie, who was the cornerstone piece of the Kristaps Porzingis trade with the Washington Wizards at the deadline.

While defense was something that’s held the Mavericks back during the past few seasons, it’s been a strength in the 2021-22 campaign. They finished the regular season as the seventh-best team on that end of the floor with a defensive rating of 101.9. Additionally, Dallas was well-disciplined and took great care of the ball. The Mavs’ 1025 turnovers on the season were the third-fewest of any team.

Lacking a dominant center could detrimental for the Mavs in this series, as they’ll go up against a a deep frontcourt team. Utah was a top-three rebounding team this season, while the Mavericks finished 24th in the league. On the flip side, if Dallas is able to have success using their unique floor-spacing bigs and small ball lineups, Utah could have to play out of character to match up.

Dallas hasn’t won a playoff series since its championship run back in 2011. As such, the Mavs are on one of the longest active droughts in the NBA when it comes to winning a postseason series. Could this be the first time in over a decade that they advance past the first round?

If the Mavericks are going to have success without Doncic, it will likely come down to Dinwiddie and Brunson. Both have been extremely effective this season whether their superstar teammate is on the floor or not. If they struggle while Doncic is out, the Jazz could jump out to an early series lead before heading back to Utah.

Utah had a strong start to the season, but has really struggled of late. In fact, the Jazz went just 7-8 over their final 15 games of the season. While Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell have been great once again, the production from the role players around them has been fairly inconsistent. There’s no question Utah has the pieces to make a championship push, but will they all come together and play at the top of their games when it matters most? Scoring shouldn’t be a problem, as Bojan Bogdanovic, Jordan Clarkson and Mike Conley are able to score 20 points each on any given night.

During the regular season, the Jazz took second-most shots from deep (40.3 per game) and knocked down 36.0% of them. They also did a great job at getting to the rim and drawing fouls, finishing fourth in the league in free throw attempts this season with 23.4 per game. These are just some of the things that led Utah to the top offensive rating (11.2) in the NBA this season. What’s most interesting about the Jazz offense is that it’s heavily in isolation, as they were bottom five in both assists per game and assist percentage.

However, the playoffs are all about superstars and who can get a bucket when it’s needed, so perhaps that style of play will work in Utah’s favor. The Jazz also don’t take a ton of shots, playing with a slower pace and attempting the sixth-fewest shots in the league this season. This isn’t dissimilar from the Mavericks, who were in the bottom five in terms of field goal attempts in the regular season.

One of the best defenders in the entire NBA, Gobert will be a major factor on that end of the floor against the Mavs. Since the All-Star break, he’s limited opponents to 39.1% when he’s the closest defender.

The duo of Mitchell and Gobert has certainly had its flaws in the past. If the Jazz aren’t able to get out of the first round this season, could it be time for a major roster shakeup? It seems this series could directly impact what the Utah roster looks like moving forward.

In four games during the 2021-22 campaign, the Jazz and Mavericks have split the regular season series. Utah won the first two matchups of the season, while Dallas won the two more recently. That’s indicative of the seasons these two teams have had, as the Jazz looked better to start but the Mavs have been better down the stretch.

Outside of the primary stars in this series, there are several players for both teams that could really impact the outcomes. For Utah, Conley and Rudy Gay are veterans that have the experience to shine in the big moments. However, if they struggle the Jazz could have a rough series. For Dallas, Davis Bertans and Reggie Bullock will be important offensively, as they have the firepower to fill it up from beyond the arc. If they aren’t converting from deep and producing points, the Mavericks’ offense could stall.

The post NBA Playoff Preview: Dallas Mavericks Take On Utah Jazz appeared first on SLAM.

Luka Doncic (calf strain) will be out for Game 1 vs. Utah on Saturday, per @wojespn. pic.twitter.com/khsbHSRcbV

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) April 15, 2022

Luka Dončić will miss at least Game 1 against the Jazz due to a strained calf, according to Shams Charania.

Mavericks star Luka Doncic is expected to miss Game 1 vs. Jazz on Saturday night due to strained calf, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

The latest regarding Doncic: https://t.co/bEFYKs2gmk

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 14, 2022

Dončić suffered the injury last Sunday in the third quarter of the Mavericks’ season finale against the Spurs. Dončić playing at all in the third frame came with some derision, although the Mavs had an incentive to play their starters. Had the Mavs won, and the Warriors lost against the Pelicans, Dallas would’ve entered the playoffs as the third seed. However, that scenario didn’t play out because the Warriors blew the Pelicans out 128-107.

Coach Jason Kidd said seeding didn’t affect his decision to play Dončić and his starters. Kidd also said he intended to always play his starters through the third due to a long layoff between their last regular-season game and playoffs starting.

Dončić averaged 28.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game on 45.7 percent shooting from the field and 35.5 percent shooting three-point territory.

The post REPORT: Luka Dončić Will Miss Game 1 Against Utah Due to Calf Injury appeared first on SLAM.

The Pistons have real interest in Jalen Brunson, sources tell @JLEdwardsIII.

The 25-year-old is an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

More: https://t.co/BkqIhniINH pic.twitter.com/2cAKwkwFKI

— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) April 7, 2022

The former NCAA Champion and Naismith Player of the Year has blossomed in his fourth year in the League, averaging a career-high 16.3 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game while shooting 50.3 percent from the field and 37.3 percent from downtown.

As an upcoming unrestricted free agent, Brunson’s ascension this season has many teams vying for his offensive capabilities and floor general mentality, with the Knicks reportedly in the mix back in late January. An effective secondary ball-handler who can consistently knock down catch-and-shoot treys, the fit of Brunson next to the 6’6 Cunningham could be lethal over the next few years.

Brunson and the Mavericks (50-30) have been clicking on all cylinders as they finish out the regular season, sitting at fourth in the West, facing off against the Trail Blazers on Friday and the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.

The post REPORT: Pistons Eyeing Jalen Brunson For Free Agency appeared first on SLAM.

Over the past week or so, playoff positioning has gotten even tighter as the Mavericks fluctuate between the third and fourth seed in the Western Conference. Entering the most important part of the regular season, Dallas star Luka Doncic has been playing at a whole new level. 

In a huge win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, he produced 32 points, 15 assists and eight rebounds. Against the best teams in the league, Doncic always shines. 

It was his fifth-straight game with at least 30 points. Although he doesn’t have a true co-star on this roster, Doncic has the talent to single-handedly win regular season games for Dallas. 

The young superstar is quietly playing as well as anyone in the entire NBA of late. 

The post Luka Doncic Continues To Carry Mavericks Up Standings appeared first on SLAM.

San Antonio Spurs icon Manu Ginobili will be a first-ballot induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame @Hoophall Class of 2022, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 31, 2022

WNBA legend Swin Cash – a four-time All-Star and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist – will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame @Hoophall Class of 2022, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Cash is currently part of the New Orleans Pelicans front office.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 31, 2022

On the NBA and WNBA side, Spurs legend Manu Ginóbili will be inducted into HOF for his first time on the ballot. Heat and Warriors legend Tim Hardaway will also be inducted. Swin Cash, a four-time All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist who is currently working in the front office of the Pelicans, will be inducted too.

Two longtime coaches in the NCAA and NBA will be enshrined as well. Bob Huggins, head coach of the West Virginia men’s basketball program and two-time Coach of the Year winner, and George Karl, the sixth-winningest head coach in League history, will be entering the HOF.

Finalists must receive 18-24 votes from the HOF committee to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. The class of 2022 will be announced on Saturday during the men’s Final Four in New Orleans, with the ceremony taking place on Sept. 10.

The post REPORT: Manu Ginobli, Swin Cash Elected to 2022 Hall of Fame Class appeared first on SLAM.

With the win, Minnesota is now tied in the win column, with the Denver Nuggets moving just a half-game out of the sixth spot to avoid the play-in tournament. The Timberwolves play the Nuggets next week in a game with significant playoff implications.

With the loss, the Mavericks missed a chance to pass the Utah Jazz for the fourth seed after the Jazz lost to the Charlotte Hornets on Friday. Dallas and Utah have a showdown on Sunday for potential home-court advantage in the first round.

“You’ve got to be able to respond to adversity quick,” Karl-Anthony Towns said via ESPN about the importance of staying the course especially through Minnesota’s two-game losing streak, “Especially if we’re going to be in the playoffs and we’re talking about winning a championship.”

KAT posted 20 points nine rebounds on the night, leading a balanced offensive effort that featured seven Wolves players that scored in double figures.

full squad effort.

KAT – 20 pts. / 9 reb. / 1 ast. / 1 stl.
JMac – 16 pts. / 5 reb. / 3 ast.
DLo – 15 pts. / 5 reb. / 8 ast.
TP – 14 pts. / 5 reb.
Ant – 12 pts. / 6 reb. / 4 ast. / 1 stl.
Vando – 12 pts. / 6 reb. / 1 stl.
PatBev – 10 pts. / 1 reb. / 2 ast. / 1 stl. / 1 blk. pic.twitter.com/rZnvU67TAT

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) March 26, 2022

Despite Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic almost collecting another triple-double after finishing the night with 24 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for the Mavericks, and the highlight of the night after nutmegging a defender with a dime to Maxi Kleber for a dunk.

Luka sneaks in a bounce pass!

Watch Now on NBA League Pass: https://t.co/oz9UCQxdQa pic.twitter.com/PrL4MmbWJc

— NBA (@NBA) March 26, 2022

Minnesota made him work for everything he got, loading up defenders such as Patrick Beverley, Anthony Edwards, and Taurean Prince.

The Timberwolves start a critical four-game road trip Sunday in Boston.

The post Minnesota Timberwolves Get Closer to Playoff Position With Win Over Mavs appeared first on SLAM.

Since that deal was made, Dallas has gone 9-2 and looks as good as it has all season. 

A huge part of the Mavericks’ recent success has been Dinwiddie, who’s playing the best basketball of his 2021-22 season. Since coming to Dallas, he’s averaged 17.5 points and 4.5 assists per contest while shooting 44.2% from deep. 

Splitting time between the bench and as a starter, Dinwiddie has proven to be effective in any role. Whether it’s playing alongside Luka Doncic or facilitating with the second unit, he’s been stellar. 

In fact, on Sunday afternoon against the Boston Celtics, he hit a game-winning triple. 

It’s still unclear whether the Mavs will have the star power to make a splash in the playoffs, but they’ve been solid over the past couple of weeks with their new-look roster. If Dinwiddie can continue playing at this level, Dallas will only continue winning games and climb the Western Conference standings.

The post Mavericks Guard Spencer Dinwiddie Continues to Thrive in Dallas appeared first on SLAM.

According to NBC Sports Philadelphia’s John Clark, the 76ers intend to sign center Willie Cauley-Stein to a 10-day contract in the coming days.

Cauley-Stein is in his seventh NBA season after getting drafted sixth overall by the Sacramento Kings in 2015. The 28-year-old center played in Sacramento for four seasons before being traded to the Golden State Warriors for half a season and signing with the Dallas Mavericks the following offseason.

Dallas is where Cauley-Stein remained before getting cut by the team on Jan. 15, as he was struggling to find playing time for the Mavericks.

This season Cauley-Stein has only played 18 games and averaged 1.9 points and 2.1 rebounds per game over a total of 177 minutes thus far. This is a departure from Cauley-Stein’s usual production, as, over his career, he has maintained a respectable average of 8.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.

Following the blockbuster trade that sent James Harden to Philly and Ben Simmons to Brooklyn, the 76ers are in need of a backup center for Joel Embiid. Andre Drummond, who previously served as the team’s backup, was shipped to the Nets and Seth Curry as part of the Harden trade.

The 76ers are currently in the midst of a fight for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, currently third in the conference with a record of 35-23, just 2.5 games back of the first-place Miami Heat.

The post REPORT: 76ers to Sign Willie Cauley-Stein to 10-Day Contract appeared first on SLAM.

Recording his third outing scoring 40+ in the past four games, Luka Dončić is leading the new-look Dallas Mavericks into an era without Kristaps Porziņģis. Dončić now has 30 double-doubles, trailing Chris Paul by only one game for the most double-doubles by a guard this season. The Mavericks are 21-9 in such games. How does he do it? He says a good ol’ cup of Joe.

After shipping off Porziņģis to the Washington Wizards at the trade deadline, the Mavericks have gone 2-0 with the newly acquired Spencer Dinwiddie and Dāvis Bertāns. While their performances aren’t eye-popping, it’s their play styles that are making a difference.

Dinwiddie gives Dallas an added ball-handler with a proven ability to score, though his efficiency is down this season. Bertāns provides the Mavericks with a volume catch-and-shoot big that could go back to his old self with his new team, potentially thanks to Doncic.

This performance by Doncic ties him with Mark Aguirre for the most 45+ points game in Mavericks history with four. He’s also the fourth player in NBA history (Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, Walt Bellamy) with multiple 45 points, 15 rebounds, five-assist games in a calendar month, with Wilt Chamberlain in January 1966 being the last to do it.

The Dallas Mavericks head into the All-Star break with a 35-24 record with the fifth seed in the Western Conference.

The post Luka Dončić Leads New Look Mavericks Past Pelicans With Near 50 Point Triple-Double appeared first on SLAM.

On Thursday, a couple of hours past the trade deadline, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that Mavericks forward Dorian Finney-Smith signed a four-year extension worth $52 million.

Finney-Smith has been with Dallas since going undrafted out of the University of Florida in 2016. The 28-year-old forward has more than proven his worth over the past six seasons.

In 368 games played for the Mavericks, Finney-Smith has averaged 7.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game while accumulating 256 career starts. His production has seen a real uptick this season, averaging a career-high 10.1 points and 1.9 assists per game while starting in all 54 games he has played in this season.

Following news of his extension hitting being announced, Finney-Smith was asked by ESPN’s Tim MacMahon about the extension. Finney-Smith said that he wanted to use the money to allow his mom to “kick up her feet and chill.”

The Mavericks were quite busy on Thursday. Before the Finney-Smith extension, Dallas also made one of the biggest trades of the trade deadline, sending Kristaps Porzingis to the Washington Wizards for Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans.

Finney-Smith’s contract will kick in at the end of the season when his initial three-year $12 million contract was going to expire and make him a free agent.

The post REPORT: Mavericks Give Four-Year Extension to Dorian Finney-Smith appeared first on SLAM.

According to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer and SNY’s Ian Begley, the New York Knicks have been in constant rumors to be interested in Jalen Brunson of the Dallas Mavericks on their live audio room on the Halftime app.

With Brunson to become an unrestricted free agent this summer bringing the possibility that Dallas may have to pay the luxury tax to keep him, it might open the door for a possible trade scenario for the Knicks. Begley mentioned that New York “has touched base” with the Mavs.

“Jalen Brunson, for many different reasons, has been on the Knick radar for a while now. He’s got plenty of connections to the Knicks. So I know the Knicks, at the very least, have touched based with Dallas on Brunson, and I can’t tell you what it would take to pry Brunson from Dallas from a Knick perspective. I’m not sure on that.

But I do know he’s a highly sought-after player, and if he does hit unrestricted free agency, I can say pretty confidently there’s at least one other team prepared to give him an offer north of $20 million per year. “

Begley also laid out a scenario where the Mavs front office is forced to trade Brunson and get something back or see him walk in free agency and lose him for nothing.

“I don’t know about Dallas’ willingness to get off of Brunson at the moment. But if I’m hearing there will be significant suitors for Brunson in free agency, I’m sure they know that too. So you have to weigh the idea of potentially losing him for nothing versus dealing him at the deadline and at least getting an asset back.”

With the Mavericks averaging 15.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game on 50.1 percent shooting from the field, Brunson is having a solid season.

The post REPORT: New York Knicks Have Interest In Dallas Guard Jalen Brunson appeared first on SLAM.

Tim Hardaway Jr. suffered a fracture of the fifth metatarsal on his left foot in tonight’s game at Golden State. Updates will be given when available.

— Mavs PR (@MavsPR) January 26, 2022

Hardaway went down just five minutes into the second quarter when he went down awkwardly on a drive. Although he was in pain, THJ knocked down his free throws before going back to the locker room to get examined but didn’t return. The injury ended up being a break in the fifth metatarsal bone in his left foot, specifically after he went down awkwardly on a drive.

According to teammate and close friend Kristaps Porzingis, Hardaway is okay after the two spoke after the game.

“He was down at first…But I talked to him now, and he seemed to be in better spirits already.” Porzingis said per Callie Caplan of the Dallas Morning News.

Kristaps Porzingis on close friend Tim Hardaway Jr.: “He was down at first…But I talked to him now, and he seemed to be in better spirits already.”

Said THJ was already quizzing Theo Pinson, who’s had a similar foot injury, about rehab and getting back. https://t.co/jQEsgxYtMM

— Callie Caplan (@CallieCaplan) January 26, 2022

Hardaway Jr. is putting up 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists this season.

The post Mavericks Announce Tim Hardaway Suffers Foot Fracture appeared first on SLAM.

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A post shared by ChandlerParsons (@chandlerparsons)

Parsons confirmed The Athletic’s Shams Charania’s report that he was retiring after settling a lawsuit from career-ending injuries caused by a January 2020 car accident, per his Instagram. 

Nine-year NBA veteran Chandler Parsons has retired from basketball and his lawsuit from career-ending injuries via car accident in January 2020 has been settled for a substantial amount.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 18, 2022

Parsons was reportedly on his way from practice mid-afternoon on Jan. 15 when he was hit by a drunk driver, causing a three-car crash that eventful day. According to his lawyers, Parsons suffered a concussion, disc herniation, and a torn labrum, permanent injuries from the car accident that forced his career to come to an abrupt end on Tuesday.

Parsons averaged 12.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in his nine-year career. He averaged a career-high 16.6 points per game in 2013-14 during his third season with the Rockets. His accolades include being named to the All-Rookie second team in 2012, being selected as the SEC Player of the Year, honorable mention All-American, and First-Team All-SEC selection in 2011 out of the University of Florida.

The post Chandler Parsons Announces Retirement From NBA appeared first on SLAM.

According to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, the Pacers’ Caris LeVert has drawn the eye of two NBA teams, but the asking price may be too high.

“Caris LeVert has known suitors in Cleveland and New York, but so far Indiana has requested multiple first-round picks for the 27-year-old guard as well, sources said.”

LeVert is in his seventh season in the NBA and his second with the Pacers, joining via trade from the Brooklyn Nets last season.

Over his career, LeVert has averaged 14.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game, but those numbers have taken a jump since joining Indiana. LeVert has posted 19.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game through 64 games since becoming a Pacers.

While LeVert could be on the move, Fischer reports that center Myles Turner still looks to be the most likely candidate to find himself traded before the deadline, with a laundry list of teams interested including “Dallas, Minnesota, New York, Sacramento, Charlotte, and Portland.”

Fischer reports in the same article that Indiana has put in calls for several players themselves. The Pacers seem to be looking for help on the wing, with Fischer reporting interest in acquiring Torrey Craig, Justin Holiday, or Jeremy Lamb.

The NBA trade deadline is now less than a month away, taking place on Thursday, Feb. 10.

The post REPORT: Pacers Caris LeVert ‘Has Known Suitors’ Ahead of Trade Deadline appeared first on SLAM.

He will join players such as 80’s icons Brad Davis (10), Rolando Blackman (22), and Derek Harper (12). The franchise honored Kobe Bryant after his tragic accident in 2020 by retiring his No. 24 jersey.

One of the best to ever lace ’em up.

The Mavericks will raise Dirk Nowitzki’s jersey to the rafters tonight pic.twitter.com/xGMRYMz3zO

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 5, 2022

Nowitzki led Dallas to two NBA Finals appearances against the Miami Heat in 2006 and 2011, with the Mavs taking home the championship the second time around. Dirk’s most significant contribution to the game was changing the narrative around big men from playing exclusively in the paint to play utilizing their jump-shot and guard-skills they developed over the years.

Nowitski built his legacy around his evolutionary one-legged fadeaway and floor-spacing jump shot. His crowning achievements were winning the MVP in 2005 and delivering a championship for a franchise in 2011.

NBA.com and Nowitzki had some fun reminiscing about some of his highlights throughout his storied career. His reactions, at times, were better than the highlights themselves.

“You guys got me going down memory lane!”

Dirk Nowitzki reacts to his highlights from an incredible NBA career!

Watch his Jersey Retirement Ceremony TONIGHT on NBA TV, https://t.co/Pqxh2EPubW or the NBA App after the @dallasmavs game. #41Forever:

: https://t.co/E0TqX69c2f pic.twitter.com/SxAaQAy6OW

— NBA (@NBA) January 5, 2022

Nowitzki retired in 2019 as the franchise leader in points, games, starts, minutes, rebounds, 3-pointers, free throws, and blocks. He owns the NBA record for playing 21 years with the same team. He is the highest-scoring foreign-born player in NBA history and stands sixth on the all-time scoring list with 31,560 points. He is widely considered the greatest European-born player to ever play in the NBA.

The post Dallas Mavericks to Retire Dirk Nowitzki’s Jersey in Special Ceremony appeared first on SLAM.

Doncic will remain in Dallas while he receives treatment for persistent left ankle soreness that has sidelined him to miss the past three games per Marc Stein. Doncic has been in and out of the Dallas lineup with an ankle and knee sprain, which he first suffered on November 15. The Mavs will be in Minnesota to play the Timberwolves on Sunday. Doncic also missed a December 4 game

Doncic has been hobbled since spraining his left ankle on Nov. 15 that forced hom to miss the next three games before making his return. However, the soreness persisted and even forced him out of the Mavs contest against the Grizzlies in early December to rest his ankle.

Doncic leads the team with 25.6 points, 8.0 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game this season, and no other Mavericks player averages more than 20 points. Dallas is 2-4 in the games he has missed. While Doncic is out, Jalen Brunson will presumably take over starting point guard duties. Brunson is averaging a career-high 14.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game on 49.7 percent shooting from the field.

The post Luka Doncic Out Until At Least Next Week With Ankle Injury appeared first on SLAM.

Carlisle will miss multiple games as former Atlanta Hawks head coach Lloyd Pierce will step in as interim coach in his absence.

Pierce was named an assistant coach with the Pacers this summer after serving as the head coach of the Atlanta Hawks, leading them through the rebuilding process for two and a half seasons. Before coming to Atlanta, Pierce spent five years with the Philadelphia 76ers as an assistant.

Most recently, Pierce assisted Gregg Popovich en route to the USA’s gold medal run in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. His first test at the helm of the Pacers will be tonight when Indiana faces off against the Dallas Mavericks (12-12).

The post Lloyd Pierce to Serve as Interim Head Coach After Rick Carlisle Tests Positive for COVID-19 appeared first on SLAM.

Rick Carlisle had positive result on rapid test after last night’s win over Knicks, sources told ESPN. He took a PCR test today to confirm, but that result is not expected until Friday.

Pacers host Mavs on Friday, the first time Carlisle was scheduled to coach vs. his old team. https://t.co/Ibb31hMOS4

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) December 9, 2021

McMahon further reported that Carlisle took a PCR test Thursday but results aren’t expected until Friday. Indiana faces the Mavericks on Friday, it could be Carlisle’s first game against his former team. If the PCR test comes back positive, League insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported that assistant coach Lloyd Piece will fill in against Dallas.

On Thursday morning, the Pacers and Raptors announced that they had canceled their scheduled practice due to health and safety protocols, citing “an abundance of caution.” The Raptors have no player or staff member in protocols as of yet. They both played and won against the Wizards earlier this week, the Raptors doing so on Sunday, and the Pacers on Monday.

The post REPORT: Pacers Coach Rick Carlisle Enters Health and Safety Protocol appeared first on SLAM.

The two-time All-Star recently opened up about his weight and conditioning.

“I had a long summer,” said Doncic. “I had the Olympics, took three weeks off, and I relaxed a little bit. Maybe too much. I’ve just got to get back on track.”

Doncic’s weight was a frequent subject during the Mavs’ primetime matchup against the Brooklyn Nets (17-7). NBA on TNT analyst Reggie Miller criticized Doncic for his weight, saying he was “plodding up and down the court” and “has got to trim down.

Luka Doncic addressed the ongoing talk about his weight and conditioning with reporters after the Mavs loss to the Nets saying:

“I had a long summer. I had the Olympics, took three weeks off, relaxed a little bit. Maybe too much. I’ve just got to get back on track.” #MFFL pic.twitter.com/1K9BsYvL3e

— Kevin Gray Jr. (@KevinGraySports) December 8, 2021

Furthermore, according to Tim McMahon of ESPN, Doncic came into Mavericks training camp 30 pounds overweight at 260, more than his listed weight of 230 pounds on NBA.com. 

Doncic’s efforts to improve his conditioning have recently been interrupted by multiple injuries, including a sprained left knee and ankle, which caused him to miss three games. The Mavericks are currently 0-4 without Doncic.

Though Doncic weight has been a problem, Doncic is still performing at a high level averaging 25.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 8.5 assists for the 11-12 Mavs. 

The post Luka Doncic on His Conditioning: ‘I Gotta Be Better’ appeared first on SLAM.

After a solid start to the season, Dallas has experienced major injury issues. Whether it be Luka Doncic, Kristaps Porzingis or another one of their core pieces, the Mavericks have rarely been fully healthy this season. 

This has resulted in them losing seven of their last nine games, bringing them to .500 on the season at 11-11. 

A loss to the Memphis Grizzlies over the weekend marked the fourth consecutive loss at home for the struggling Mavericks. After that loss, Mavs coach Jason Kidd said the team needs to keep pushing forward and not get discouraged during this rough stretch. 

“I think when you look at it you can get discouraged, especially when you aren’t playing well at home on this stretch,” said Kidd. “But even with injuries and everything there is no excuse – it is next guy up. I think they are in a good place. This group has been together and been through a lot since the beginning of the season.”

As Dallas lost this game to the Grizzlies, Doncic and Porzingis were both sidelined with injury. When fully healthy, the Mavericks have looked great this season, but they haven’t had that luxury often. 

It’s a long season, with nearly three quarters of  it remaining, but the Mavericks are starting to slide down the standings. 

The post Mavericks Struggle As Key Players Miss Time appeared first on SLAM.

Many throughout the NBA world have been critical of the Mavericks’ play thus far, including team owner Mark Cuban. In an interview with Sky Sports, Cuban opened up about the Mavericks’ performance so far this season.

“We got a long way to go. But we’re getting better. I like that J-Kidd is working to develop us into the best team that we can be. Sometimes that means you’re not always playing for the short term, which is what we agreed on and what he wants to do.”

“At the end of the day, the goal moving forward is the playoffs. There are things that might not on the surface seem okay. Or you might ask, ‘Why did you do this in this game at that point,’ and there’s a longer-term meaning for it. He’s invested in his team to make it as good as we can be.”

The Dallas Mavericks are currently 9-7 on the season, which is good for the fifth seed in the West. They are currently in the midst of a three-game losing streak, having lost back-to-back contests against the Suns and the Clippers.

“We haven’t played our best basketball yet, and we will at some point. It’s too early on the standings. Other than Golden State and Phoenix, everybody else is battling it out. But it’s still early. A lot of things can change. We’ll get Maxi Kleber and hopefully Luka [Doncic] back. We’ll get our guys back, but I really, really like the fact that each game is part of the development.”

The team will look to bounce back Tuesday against the Clippers yet again.

The post Mark Cuban Gets Candid on the Mavericks’ Slow Start to the Season: ‘We Got a Long Way to Go’ appeared first on SLAM.

Per NBA.com, Porzingis says he feels great about his health, is excited about playing for new head coach Jason Kidd, and is confident he can play well with Doncic.

 “I just work my ass off,” Porzingis said. “I work really, really hard. Whenever you start to feel good on a court and start to feel healthy, it brings out the joy in you again. You enjoy the game much more.”

The first thing to address is the trade rumors that persisted after consecutive first-round playoff exits. Because of the 7’3 big man’s persistent injury struggles and mixed play, his name was reportedly in trade talks, and it looked like the Mavericks were shopping him around.

However, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban says that Porzingis “is the unicorn and he’s doing more and more unicorn things” while denying that trade talks ever happened and suggesting that Porzingis is “playing at an All-Star level.”

Secondly, Porzingis and Cuban were candid about the former All-Star’s health, something Porzingis is aware he must maintain to live up to his four-year max extension.

He missed the entire 2018-2019 season recovering knee surgery for a torn ACL, missed 18 games for various injuries, mostly in his knees during the 2019-2020 season, and he missed nine games recovering from surgery on his right knee and then 17 more dealing with injuries on that knee as well as on his back, ankle, and wrist during the 2020-2021 season.

As a result, Porzingiz says he devoted this past offseason to “a lot of physical work” to help regain his balance, shooting touch, and ability to attack the rim at his height and size. Although he was not specific about what that consisted of, Porzingis says since missing five games with a back injury, Porzingis claims he feels fully healthy with no limitations. In the last eight games, he has averaged 23.1 points on 50.4% shooting, along with 9.1 rebounds.

“I feel like my body has matured,” Porzingis said per NBA.com. “I feel strong on the court. It’s translating into my game.”

Third, Porzingis admitted to NBA.com that he didn’t feel comfortable with his role under former head coach Rick Carlisle, who declined to use Porzingis in post-ups and instead wanted to use his deep shooting to space the floor. Now, Porzingis says he feels more comfortable around Kidd, who relates better to players and has been more collaborative and willing to communicate with players.

“My teammates have been trusting me,” Porzingis said. “The coaching staff is trusting me and putting me in my most comfortable situations.”

Finally, regarding his relationship with Doncic, Porzingis says the two have made a significant step toward building chemistry and are communicating more to develop their relationship. Porzingis says he enjoys playing Doncic, who “makes the game easier for everybody” and “he does take a lot of the attention off everybody.”

“You just have to do it. Somebody has to take the first step,” Porzingis told NBA.com. “It’s all in the communication. It’s as simple as that. Problems arise when you don’t communicate about things and you don’t talk about it. So, we’re learning those things.”

Doncic is questionable Tuesday for the Mavs (9-7) game against the Clippers (10-7).

The post Kristaps Porzingis on His Comfortability with the Mavericks: ‘You Enjoy the Game Much More’ appeared first on SLAM.

Sources: Clippers‘ Nicolas Batum is expected to miss at least 10 days due to health and safety protocols. Batum entered protocols and missed a win over Dallas today, which moved the Clippers to 10-7 on the season.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 21, 2021

With that, head coach Tye Lue said that he was unsure of how long Batum would remain out.

“I’m not sure the days, but I expect him to be out for [a while],” Lue said via ESPN. “I’m not sure the timetable, though.”

“Everyone is getting tested and a lot of guys got tested before the game,” he added. “So just gotta see what the results are, but it’s gonna happen. Last year, we did a good job of staying away from that, but it’s been something that’s gonna hit everyone at some point in time. Just gotta be smart about it and make sure everyone’s safe.”

Batum has averaged 9.8 points and 5.5 boards per game for the Clippers in his second season with the team. Sunday’s 97-91 win over the Mavericks snapped a two-game losing streak, as the team now holds a 10-7 record.

With Batum out for the foreseeable future, the Clippers will look to the play of Serge Ibaka and Justise Winslow off the bench to fill his minutes as LA gets set for a rematch with Dallas on Tuesday night.

The post Nicolas Batum Enters Health and Safety Protocols, Will Miss 10 Days appeared first on SLAM.

There is good news, though, Mavs fans! According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, the Mavericks believe the ankle injury is “not too serious.”

MacMahon also reported that Doncic will miss some time, but the Mavs hope it’s “not an extended stretch.”

Doncic will miss at least one game, as he’s already been ruled out by the Mavericks for their Wednesday night game against the Phoenix Suns (10-3).

Dallas will undoubtedly miss Doncic’s contributions, as he’s been one of the best players in the NBA since his rookie season in 2018-19. Through four seasons, Doncic has averaged 25.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game.

Doncic has also already been named to two All-Star teams and two All-NBA teams, and with his numbers early on this season, he could easily up those numbers to three. Doncic is averaging 24.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game so far this season.

The Mavs have had a strong start to the season under new head coach Jason Kidd, and are currently third in the Western Conference with a record of 9-4.

The post REPORT: Mavericks Not Concerned About Luka Doncic’s Ankle Injury appeared first on SLAM.

However, the young center has played in just three games before being shut down for back stiffness. Now after missing four games including the most recent loss to the Miami Heat, Jason Kidd announced the team’s plan to bring him back on Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs.

Kristaps Porzingis is “progressing” and will “hopefully” play tomorrow night vs. Spurs, Jason Kidd said. Porzingis is out for fourth straight game due to lower back stiffness.

Maxi Kleber will be out at least 7-10 days due to an oblique strain.

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) November 2, 2021

Porzingis can make an immediate impact by helping the team’s rebounding totals. Since he’s been injured, the Mavericks are amongst the worse, 28th, in the League in rebounding percentage.

In the three games, Porzingis did play; he has struggled, averaging just 12.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game with a shooting percentage of only 30.2 percent. A noticeable dip from his career averages of 18.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game on 44.0 percent shooting from the field.

For the Mavericks to take the anticipated next step towards championship contention, they’ll need Porzingis to get healthy and play well this season.

The post Mavericks Head Coach Jason Kidd Says Kristaps Porzingis is “Progressing and Could Return Against Spurs appeared first on SLAM.

The 7-footer came into the 2021-22 season fully healthy, but had a slow start. Through the first three games of the season, Porzingis averaged just 12.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game while shooting 30.2% from the floor. 

To make things worse, he left that third game of the season early due to lower back soreness. Since then, he’s missed three consecutive contests with this lingering back issue. 

Luckily for Dallas, the team has looked solid in the absence of Porzingis. In the three full games Porzingis has missed, the Mavs have gone 2-1. 

“We just wanted to play a lot better to start the game no matter whoever is on the floor,” said Tim Hardaway Jr. following Sunday’s win over the Sacramento Kings. 

The wins haven’t necessarily been pretty, but they’re victories nonetheless. The big loss this week was on the road against the Denver Nuggets, when the Mavericks lost by 31 points and really missed Porzingis’ presence. 

It’s unclear whether he will be available for Dallas’ next game on Tuesday against the Miami Heat, but there’s at least some optimism that his back is getting better. 

“He’s doing better, so that’s a good thing,” said Mavs coach Jason Kidd on Friday.

The Mavericks went 26-17 with Porzingis in the lineup last season. His health this season will make a direct impact on the success of Dallas. 

They’re currently 4-2 on the season overall with a perfect 3-0 record at home. 

The post Kristaps Porzingis Misses Third-Straight Game, Mavs Still Look Solid appeared first on SLAM.

On Monday, Kidd told media members that he anticipates Porzingis to start at power forward and not center this season.

Kidd said the transition is to help Porzingis “be a basketball player” and not just a spot-up shooter from three. He also hopes for Porzingis to expand his offensive role in 2021-22 by putting the ball on the floor more and taking more midrange jump shots.

This will be a change for Porzingis, who has primarily operated as a center throughout his NBA career. Nonetheless, a swap to the forward position may bring back the performance he seemingly lacked last year (primarily due to injury).

Popularly dubbed “The Unicorn” for his unique combination of size and skill, Porzingis has played in five seasons in the NBA after being drafted fourth overall by the New York Knicks in 2015.

In 286 career games, Porzingis has averaged 18.7 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game.

The Mavericks will need an improved performance from Porzingis to take the next step forward as a franchise, as last year’s team couldn’t get out of the first round of the NBA Playoffs, losing in six games to the Los Angeles Clippers.

The post Jason Kidd Aiming for Kristaps Porzingis to Play Power Forward this Season appeared first on SLAM.

“I never could have imagined if I would play basketball for this long,” says Redick.

“Going into last season, I wanted it to be my last year, but I wasn’t sure how it would play out. I would like to describe last season as a seven mont exercise in coming face to face with my own athletic mortality.”

Redick, who last suited up for the Dallas Mavericks back in May, was selected 11th overall by the Orlando Magic in 2006 after a stellar collegiate career at Duke (he’s the school’s all-time leading scorer with 2,769 points made).

He would then go on to play on six different NBA teams throughout his career, including stops with the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers during his prime.

Redick has averaged 12.8 points per game throughout his career, but he was more revered for his 3-point shooting, landing in the top-15 of career 3-pointers (1,950) and just outside the top-15 in career 3-point percent (41.5).

Arguably his best season came in 2015-16 as a member of the Clippers, as he averaged 16.3 points per game while shooting 48.0 percent from the field and 47.5 percent on 3-pointers while starting every game that season.

The post J.J. Redick Announces Retirement from NBA appeared first on SLAM.

Perlongtime NBA insider Marc Stein, the Dallas Mavericks have emerged as the “likely destination” for Ntilikina.

Ntilikina has shown flashes of potential during his career, particularly on the defensive end, but has yet to piece it together. He has also found playing time hard to come by in New York over the past four seasons.

The Frenchman holds career averages of 5.5 points and 2.7 assists per game. However, Derrick Rose’s continued renaissance in New York and the rise of young guard Immanuel Quickley significantly cut into the young guard’s playing time, as he only averaged 9.8 minutes per game in 33 contests last season (both career-lows).

With an impact that goes beyond the stat sheet, the Mavs could be fitting destination for Ntilikina, as Dallas ranked 21st in defensive rating last season (112.3) and could use an additional guard that picks up defensive responsibilities alongside playmaking prodigy Luka Doncic.

The Mavericks are coming off a strong season, finishing fourth in the Western Conference with a record of 47-25. However, the season ended in disappointment when Dallas couldn’t escape the first round of the playoffs, falling to the fifth-seed Los Angeles Clippers.

The post REPORT: Mavericks Have Emerged as ‘Likely Destination’ for Frank Ntilikina appeared first on SLAM.

A new hypothetical has hit the horizon as former Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce reveals that he was nearly traded to the the Dallas Mavericks in 2007.

In an article in Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix, Pierce discusses the events leading to the near-trade, one that would have allowed him to team up with All-Stars Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd.

“I’m in my Prime and I’m watching all these other guys in the playoffs,” Pierce told Mannix. “It was depressing I thought was out of there. I thought it was over.”

Pierce goes on to recount meeting Mavericks owner Mark Cuban in Las Vegas and telling the gregarious billionaire, “I’m your missing piece.”

Chiming in on Twitter, Cuban recalls that there was indeed a three-team trade orchestrated to bring Pierce to Dallas but that the deal fell through because one of the team’s was unwilling to send a first-round draft pick to the Celtics.

It gets better. We had a deal done. We had a 3 way trade done. All teams agreed to their part of the deal. When we get on the trade call, the 3rd team killed the deal because they didnt know that a first was going to the Celtics. They chose not to do the deal at all.

— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) September 7, 2021

In the 2006-07 season, Boston went 24-58, the second-worst record in the NBA prior to Pierce’s trade request.

However, the Celtics would go on to acquire star guard Ray Allen in the 2007 offseason in a draft day trade involving Jeff Green, Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West before trading for former Minnesota Timberwolves cornerstone Kevin Garnett a month later.

While Boston would go on to win the 2008 NBA Championship after defeating Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers in one of the most memorable NBA Finals matchups of all-time, the Mavericks would take down the newly-formed Miami Heat “Big Three” in 2011, in what was another unforgettable moment in hardwood history.

All’s well that ends well, as they say.

The post Paul Pierce, Mark Cuban Recount Near Blockbuster Trade Between Celtics and Mavericks appeared first on SLAM.

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Mavs hosted a workout for Isaiah Thomas, Monta Ellis and Lance Stephenson on Thursday afternoon.

Furthermore, Charania also reports that Thomas “appeared to be in great shape.”

Thomas has only played in 87 games with five different teams since 2017-18, most recently playing three games with the New Orleans Pelicans last season, scoring 23 points and adding five assists in 48 minutes.

At one point though, with the Boston Celtics, Thomas was a serious MVP candidate, making the 2016-17 All-NBA team (when he also finished fifth in MVP voting) and two All-Star teams.

Ellis hasn’t played in the NBA in four seasons, last suiting up for the Indiana Pacers in 2017. Nicknamed the Mississippi Bullet for his breakneck scoring pace and burst on the hardwood, Ellis has played 12 seasons in the NBA with career averages of 17.8 points, 4.6 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game.

Stephenson’s most recent NBA experience came in 2018-19 with the Los Angeles Lakers, playing in 68 games and averaging 7.8 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. One of the league’s most colorful characters in recent seasons, Stephenson has played nine total seasons in the NBA with seven different teams, but most of his career was spent with the Indiana Pacers.

It remains to be seen if any of the three players will be signed by the Mavs for the upcoming season but, as of now, all three remain free agents.

The post REPORT: Mavs Host Workout for Isaiah Thomas, Lance Stephenson, Monta Ellis appeared first on SLAM.

Dudley will be a front of the bench assistant under Mavs head coach Jason Kidd, who was hired earlier in the summer due to the departure of Rick Carlisle (now the head coach of the Indiana Pacers).

Last week, the Mavericks hired former WNBA star Kristi Tolliver as an assistant coach, where she and former Phoenix Suns head coach Igor Kokoskov (said to have a strong relationship with Mavs star Luka Doncic) will headline the bench.

Strategist Greg St. Jean, a former assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers (where Dudley played for the past two seasons) and Sean Sweeney (who served under Kidd at two stops previously) are also newcomers to Dallas’ coaching staff.

With Tolliver, Kokoskov, St. Jean and Sweeney each bringing a wealth of coaching experience, albeit in various roles, Dudley could hardly ask for a better constructed staff to surround him at the beginning of his new journey.

The post Jared Dudley Agrees to Assistant Coach Role with Mavs After 14 NBA Seasons appeared first on SLAM.

In October of 2018, she became a full-time assistant coach for the Washington Wizards while also playing for the Washington Mystics and more recently the Los Angeles Sparks.

The third overall pick in the 2009 WNBA Draft, Toliver quickly became a well-respected coach around the NBA.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Dallas Mavericks are now hiring Toliver as an assistant coach. A two-time WNBA champion, she’s still under contract with the Sparks through the 2022 season, but this signing with the Mavericks will not affect her WNBA playing career.

The former University of Maryland star will be key in the success of the Mavericks in the upcoming season as a voice on their bench and in the locker room.

A proven winner, Toliver helped lead the Sparks to the 2016 WNBA title as well as the Mystics’ title run in 2019. She is averaging 9.5 points per contest for Los Angeles this season.

The post WNBA Star Kristi Toliver Set To Join Mavericks Staff as Assistant appeared first on SLAM.

Shortly after signing this new deal, the Mavericks held a press conference in Slovenia, which included Doncic, Mark Cuban, Jason Kidd, Nico Harrison, among others. 

One thing that stuck out was Doncic wanting to improve team chemistry. After taking Slovenia all the way to the bronze medal game in the Tokyo Olympics, he saw what real team chemistry looks like. 

As such, Doncic talked about wanting to carry that over into his play with the Mavericks going forward. 

“I think one of the most important things to winning is the chemistry on the court. I think that’s what we need in Dallas,” said Doncic on Tuesday. 

He attributed a lot of the success his home team had in the Olympics to being on the same page and having each other’s backs. 

While the Mavericks did add a few small pieces to the roster in free agency, it appears the next step towards becoming a championship team is building chemistry. 

The post Luka Doncic Hopes For Better Team Chemistry In Upcoming Season appeared first on SLAM.

Those were among Luka Doncic’s first words after signing a five-year contract extension with the Dallas Mavericks worth 207 million.

“It’s a really special moment here. Thank you to Dallas for offering me this,” Doncic said. “I still kind of don’t know what to say because I never imagined this happening. I was only dreaming to only play in the NBA, but now I can sign an extension with the Dallas Mavericks for five more years, which I never had a doubt about. 

Doncic, who is only 22, has become one of the premier players in the NBA, with his scintillating passes, jaw-dropping 3-pointers, and bevy of clutch time performances making him one of the most popular players in the league.

His contract is just as unique as he is; this deal is the largest rookie extension in history, as Doncic was already able to get a designated max since he has been nominated twice to the All-NBA first team.

Most recently, Doncic excelled in the Olympics, leading his home country of Slovenia to the bronze medal match against Australia. Doncic and Slovenia had gone on a historic tear with him at the helm, winning their first 17 games.

In a thirty-minute press conference after the signing, Doncic answered questions from the media about his contract. One member asked him what he planned to spend it on. 

“Yeah, it’s a great sum, but I’m not still not thinking about this,” he said. “I haven’t bought myself anything worthwhile yet from this. But I need to process it more before I start spending.”

The post Luka Doncic Agrees to Five-Year, $207 Million Contract Extension appeared first on SLAM.

On Monday, the Dallas Mavericks paid top dollar to retain a veteran wing who fits that exact mold: Tim Hardaway Jr.

According to The Athletic and Stadium’s Shams Charania, Hardaway agreed to a four-year, $72 million contract with Dallas. Hardaway was just coming off of a four-year, $71 million deal that he signed with the New York Knicks in 2017.

He’s averaged 16.9 points per game while shooting 36.4 percent from 3-point range in that time. Perhaps most impressive for Hardaway is him improving his 3-point stroke exponentially; from 2017-18 to 2018-19, Hardaway shot just 32.9 percent from long distance, compared to 39.4 percent from 2019-20 to last season.

Currently 29-years-old, Hardaway is still young enough to play at his highest level throughout the length of his new deal.

The post Tim Hardaway Jr. Agrees to Four-Year, $72 Million Contract to Stay with Mavs appeared first on SLAM.

First it was supplanting former president of basketball operations Danny Ainge with Brad Stevens after the former stepped down in June. Stevens would then hire 43-year-old former NBA forward Ime Udoka to succeed him as head coach.

Soon thereafter, the decision was made to trade All-Star point guard Kemba Walker and the 16th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for big men Al Horford and Moses Brown.

After an uneventful draft night that saw them make only one selection (45th overall pick Juhann Begarin), Boston’s efforts to right the ship continued on Friday as they shipped out veteran center Tristan Thompson in a three-team trade that resulted in their acquisitions of point guard Kris Dunn and forward-center Bruno Fernando (in addition to a 2023 second-round pick and $9.2 million trade exception).

Following the move, the Celtics acquired shooting guard Josh Richardson from the Dallas Mavericks, per ESPN’s Tim Bontemps.

Richardson, 28-years-old, was once regarded as one of the league’s better 3-and-D wings but has been off of his game during his stints with the Mavs and Philadelphia 76ers.

That said, Richardson still is a consistent tertiary scorer who put up 12.1 points per game last season while playing high-level defense thanks to his combination of athleticism, versatility, gritty play and instincts.

His addition to the Celtics underscores the team’s desire to improve defensively over the offseason after falling out of the top-10 in both defensive rating and opponent’s points per game for the first time since 2016-17, a primary reason why Boston recorded the second-fewest wins (36) of Stevens’ coaching tenure in the 2020-21 season.

[Editor update: The Celtics have traded center Moses Brown to the Mavericks to complete the deal for Richardson, per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.]

The post Celtics Reportedly Acquire Josh Richardson from Mavericks appeared first on SLAM.

One of their core pieces, veteran guard Mike Conley, is set to hit free agency this summer, but according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the expectation around the League is that Conley will stay in Utah.

“League executives believe Conley is most likely to stay in Utah,” Windhorst wrote. “With the Jazz investigating the possibility of reducing payroll to make room next to Donovan Mitchell’s new max contract coming onto the books.”

This should ease the nerves of many Jazz fans as Conley had been reported to have many teams interested and pursuing him this summer. In the same article, Windhorst reports that the Dallas Mavericks also have a high-interest level in Conley as well as Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry and Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul.

Conley will be 34-years-old next season, so some question how long he can remain effective in the NBA. Despite his age, Conley is coming off a strong 2020-21 season for the Jazz averaging 16.2 points and 6.0 assists per game while shooting a career-high 41.2 percent from three.

NBA free agency begins next week on Monday, Aug. 2, following the NBA Draft this Thursday.

The post Utah Jazz Looking to Bring Back Mike Conley appeared first on SLAM.

Good morning from Tokyo. Mad good Olympic debut for 77. pic.twitter.com/tr4ztOAce5

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) July 26, 2021

“The Don” quickly asserted his dominance and interstellar range, scoring 15 points before five minutes had even ticked off the clock, and Argentina was forced to watch as stepback three after stepback three were launched from well beyond the international 3-point line.

Doncic erupted for 48 points—31 of them poured in by the half—11 rebounds and three blocks in just 31 minutes of action. Slovenia’s first-ever Olympic games saw their superstar shoot an efficient 18-for-29 from the field and 6-for-14 from three.

“We tried everything that we would have tried against a normal player,” Hernandez said, “but he’s not a normal player,” Argentina’s head coach Sergio Hernandez said.

First one #miSlovenci #Olympics pic.twitter.com/npwKb6YqAv

— Luka Doncic (@luka7doncic) July 26, 2021

The face of the Dallas Mavericks, Doncic flirted with the 55-point record of Brazilian Hall of Fame wing Oscar Schmidt (set in 1988) but was pulled with a few minutes remaining.

“I don’t care about records,” Doncic said. “We got a win and that’s what we came here for.”

The post Luka Doncic Erupts for 48 in Olympic Debut appeared first on SLAM.