The only thing is, Atlanta has a STEEP asking price for Atlanta. An Eastern Conference executive reportedly told Heavy Sports that the Hawks want a “big-time return for Collins” and “something in that neighborhood” of what the Utah Jazz received when they traded their All-Star cornerstones, Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, over the summer.

Gobert was traded to Minnesota for four first-round picks and one pick swap, while Mitchell was traded to Cleveland for three first-round picks and two pick swaps, Collin Sexton and All-Star candidate Lauri Markkanen.

Collins is averaging 13.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game during the 2022-23 campaign. His lower numbers can be attributed to a new role and adjusting to De’Andre Hunter and Dejounte Murray taking up more shots and opportunities to score. However, Collins was a major contributor to Atlanta making an Eastern Conference Finals run in 2021 and certainly has All-Star talent.

It’ll be interesting to see if any team will take a significant step forward and essentially give the farm away for Collins by the time the trade deadline ticks down. The Brooklyn Nets are reportedly the main team showing interest. The Nets reportedly expressed interest in acquiring Collins during the 2022 NBA Draft and are looking to add a star or “power-forward-like player” heading into the season’s stretch run.

Atlanta will look to build a consecutive win streak when they take on the Bucks on Wednesday.

The post REPORT: Atlanta Wants John Collins Trade Package Similar to What Utah Got for Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell appeared first on SLAM.

B/R Sources: Rival executives are of belief Hawks guard Trae Young could be next star player to request trade if team doesn’t make inroads come playoff time. More news and nuggets for @BleacherReport: https://t.co/7u9PY3fpjJ

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) December 22, 2022

Young is under contract until 2026-27 and can opt out after the 2025-26 season if the Hawks don’t meet playoff expectations. The two-time All-Star and the Hawks have been trying to find the rhythm and consistency that helped them make a run to the Eastern Conference Finals two years ago. The ninth-place Hawks (16-16) are a playoff contender despite the offseason trade acquisition of SLAM 241 cover co-star Dejounte Murray.

What you really know about the Dirty South?

Dejounte Murray and Trae Young cover SLAM 241. https://t.co/JA8oG1KC8Z pic.twitter.com/2X95SX5UNj

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 13, 2022

Atlanta is under new leadership in the front office after they hired Landry Fields as their general manager. Young and Fields reportedly meet often and have developed a close bond. Fields has the green light to improve the team however he sees best but executing those ambitions has been difficult so far. Atlanta has made it clear they’re willing to part ways with John Collins, but a partner hasn’t been found yet.

Young is averaging 27.6 points and 9.8 assists per game on 41.1 percent shooting from the field and 30.7 percent from beyond the arc. Atlanta will play the Detroit Pistons on Thursday.

The post REPORT: Trae Young Could Request a Trade Out of Atlanta appeared first on SLAM.

ICYMI: 

Most of the fireworks on Friday night happened in Houston in an absolute shoot-out between the Rockets and Atlanta Hawks. Trae Young and Dejounte Murray combined for 83 points, but it wasn’t enough. After leading by as much as 16 points in the third quarter, Atlanta squandered the lead, and the Rockets surged late to capture their fourth win of the season, 128-122.

Despite Murray scoring a career-high 39 points and making a career-high eight threes, the Hawks couldn’t get the job done. A big reason for this was their performance on the boards in the absence of Clint Capela, who was out due to dental pain. Houston outrebounded Atlanta 59-28. This included a 22-6 drubbing on the offensive boards and a 37-22 advantage on the defensive boards.

Most of the headlines after the game were about the aftermath of a third-quarter scrum between each team’s respective backcourt. Young and Murray did plenty of showboating on the way to scoring a combined 83 points, and you get the sense that Green and Kevin Porter Jr. didn’t like it one bit. Green and Porter took to Instagram to mock Young following the game. Green waved goodbye to the Hawks after their 18-point fourth quarter. 

Ja Morant messed around and dropped a triple-double in Madison Square Garden, dropping 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 14 dimes. He’s been highly productive during Desmond Bane, who suffered a sprained big toe injury on Nov. 15 and won’t be back for at least another week.

Postgame, Morant credited New York Knicks point guard and Chicago/Memphis legend Derrick Rose for paving the way for hyper-athletic guards by saying; 

“He really made it to where people believe in guys like me,” Morant told the Commercial Appeal. “Coming in, athletic guards, I felt like he was pretty much the one who kind of made it more famous. With how acrobatic his finish is, his touch around the rim, and how explosive he was. Coming in, he was my comparison. It’s crazy to be out there on the floor sharing a court with him.”

Klay Thompson was off to a rough start on the offensive side of the ball to begin the season, but he’s beginning to get on track. He shot 61.5 percent from the field in Sunday’s win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Golden State scored 47 points in the first quarter and never really looked back. They had crisp offensive execution the entire game. 

The Boston Celtics continued their winning ways. They have won 12 of their last 13 games. They are a League-best 16-4 on the season. Jaylen Brown had 36 points in their most recent win sans Jayson Tatum against the Washington Wizards. The Celtics are poised for a return to the NBA Finals if they keep playing the way they’re playing. 

Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and the Brooklyn Nets are now only a single game under .500 following their 111-97 win against the Trail Blazers on Sunday night. Seth Curry was a big factor in the win against his former squad, with 29 points on 11-15 shooting. 

Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox has been playing out of his mind and is turning some heads. Fox has been shooting a career-high 53 percent from the field, helping him average 25.1 points per game, 4.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game.

Fox has the Kings sitting in sixth place in a jammed Western Conference with a record of 10-8. Fox’s play has been so good that this past weekend, he inked a deal with one of the biggest and most well-known sports agencies in basketball Klutch Sports. For Sacramento, Fox’s recent play and lead role in the Kings’ resurgence could be just what the team needs to end their 16-year playoff drought.

The Kings have the talent and youth to be very disruptive if given a postseason opportunity. The team’s additions of Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk (in addition to Fox’s play) have been a great fit. Hopefully, Fox and the team can continue this momentum.

Over the weekend, the Lakers played the San Antonio Spurs for the third time in their last four games. During the third quarter of Saturday’s game, Russell Westbrook was going up for a layup after previously grabbing a rebound and was fouled on the way up by Spurs center Zach Collins. When Westbrook rose up from the ground heated from the foul, you could see that he had a cut and was visibly bleeding from his forehead.

The two teams got together for what seemed like a couple of seconds after the foul, but everyone was calmly escorted to their respective benches. Westbrook, who was fuming for a good reason, was taken away by LeBron James, who quickly compressed Westbrook’s head wound with a towel and walked him over to the bench to be further examined by the Lakers team doctors.

Once the situation calmed down, a Flagrant 2 foul was given the Collins, and a tech was given to Westbrook. Postgame, James commented on the altercation, saying;

“I saw where the cut was immediately. It was just common sense to put pressure on the cut right away. Don’t let it continue to go. Before we became teammates, we’ve always been like brothers and cool and things of that nature. His health is more important than the game of basketball. We were just trying to stop that and let the training staff do their job after we got him over to the bench.”

Miami center Bam Adebayo has had a quiet yet phenomenal stretch over the Heat’s last six games averaging 25.5 points per game and 10.2 rebounds on 52 percent shooting from the field. However, in Adebayo’s last two games, he has scored over 30 points and has been a key contributor toward the end of games on both the defensive and offensive sides.

The Heat are currently on a three-game win streak led by Adebayo’s diverse and consistent play, and the team looks to carry that momentum into their Wednesday matchup with the 2022 Eastern Conference Champion Celtics. 

QUOTE OF THE WEEKEND:

Ja Morant’s father asked for his son’s jersey for the first time in Morant’s career. Morant stated that it was “special” for him to get a triple-double in the Garden and that it was a place that he always had a special feeling for.

Morant admitted after Sunday’s game that MSG was special for him to have a triple-double since it was a place he watched in so many games on television as a kid — which was why his father made the unusual request for his jersey.

“It’s just the bright lights, man,” Morant told ESPN post-game. “Having a triple-double in the Garden is crazy. Growing up actually watching teams come here and play, watching the Knicks play — everybody loves the Garden. We really called it the bright lights. Everybody is watching. So for me to be able to go out and play like I played tonight was big-time for me.”

The post ICYMI: We Got You Covered With Thanksgiving Weekend News appeared first on SLAM.

The Hawks have been actively looking to shop Collins since the midway point of last season but were unsuccessful in finding any partners. Rumors indicate that the Hawks were looking for another superstar in return, but this time around, they’re reportedly willing to settle for a two-way role player like Phoenix Suns‘ Jae Crowder.

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The 19th pick of the 2017 NBA Draft has had a solid run with the Hawks, especially in his second year, where he blossomed into averaging 19.5 points per game. Not to mention the 9.8 rebounds he averaged that same 2018-2019 season, and with the pairing of him and Trae Young, it was inevitable for this team to make a deep run one day.

Sure enough, the Hawks made an improbable run as the 5th-seed in the 2021 playoffs, with the team pulling a gentleman’s sweep on the tough-minded New York Knicks. The fans of the latter were letting Young have it all series long. The vibes were similar once they went on the road to play the one-seeded Philadelphia 76ers, where they ultimately stole a Game 7 victory.

The team’s resilience showed because of the maturity Collins and Young displayed. However, it wasn’t enough that year to stop the eventual champion, Milwaukee Bucks.

Fast forward to the first 15 games of this season, and Collins hasn’t been able to prove his value as one of the elite power forwards in today’s game. This season, Collins is averaging 12.6 points per game and has struggled mightily to shoot while averaging 22.7 percent from downtown.

The team brought in Dejounte Murray this offseason in hopes of becoming serious title contenders, and so far, they’ve proven it.

The Hawks currently ride in 3rd place in the Eastern Conference, and one of their notable victories was breaking the undefeated Bucks season. Though the team has taken its strides, they oddly enough feel Collins won’t be the piece to the puzzle to the franchise’s first championship.

The post REPORT: Atlanta Exploring Trade Options For John Collins appeared first on SLAM.

Together, they’re expected to be a fearsome backcourt and a force to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference. They didn’t disappoint in their Wednesday night regular season debut against the Houston Rockets. 

The Atlanta Hawks backcourt combined for 43 points and 24(!!) assists. Murray added five steals, while Young went 8/8 from the free-throw line. The Hawks won 117-107, and despite their excellent play, they have plenty of room to improve. Murray and Young shot a combined 2-14 from three and committed eight turnovers.

Still, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about where this team could go. 

Postgame, Murray said that although he and Young are the main attractions, their main goal as the starting backcourt is to “set the tone,” while reiterating that they’re focused on making the Hawks a better team moving forward.

“The Atlanta Hawks are not me and Trae, but we set the tone,” Murray said, per ESPN. “We’re gonna get better.”

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The effects of their playmaking could be seen as four Hawks players put up 20 or more points. John Collins finished with a game-high 24 points, and De’Andre Hunter kicked in another 22. But Murray also felt the rebuilding Rockets should not have been able to stick around as long as they did. 

“I feel like the game was too close,” Murray said before he rated his performance, “6 out of 10.” 

If what they were able to do Wednesday is any indication of where they’re going to take their games this season, a return to the Eastern Conference Finals and maybe beyond could be in the cards. Not many teams can boast two guards who can make plays and score at the level of Young and Murray. 

The post Dejounte Murray and Trae Young ‘Set the Tone’ During Atlanta’s Season-Opening Win Over Houston appeared first on SLAM.

Eastern Conference contender emerges as interested suitor for Suns’ Jae Crowder: pic.twitter.com/oxw12tvnUt

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 10, 2022

The former second-round draft pick has solidified himself as a premier defender that could stretch the floor offensively. Crowder is the type of modern-day 3-and-D player any team finds value in. It’s no wonder the Hawks aren’t the only team interested in the 32-year-old.

Trade rumors surrounding Crowder came after multiple reports revealed Phoenix was shopping the veteran during the offseason; Crowder went to Twitter to express how he felt.

ONE MUST SEEK WORK WHERE HE IS WANTED.. WHERE HE IS NEEDED.! I AM THANKFUL FOR WHAT THESE PAST 2 YRS HAVE TAUGHT ME.! NOW I MUST TAKE ON ANOTHER CHALLENGE WITH CONTINUED HARDWORK & DEDICATION.! FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO CLOSED THE DOOR ON ME…. THANK YOU! 99 BACK SOON.!

— JAE CROWDER (@CJC9BOSS) September 25, 2022

He made it known that not only would he not be at training camp, but Crowder would also like to play for a team where he is wanted. Since tweeting this out, Crowder has not been seen at training camp or preseason. The organization is on the same page as the veteran as they try and find a resolution for his future.

Cam Johnson is set to replace Crowder in the Suns’ starting lineup going into the new campaign. If the trade goes through, it will be interesting to see how the veteran will fare, teaming up with the latest Big Three of Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, and John Collins.

The post REPORT: Hawks Emerge as Potential Suitor for Jae Crowder appeared first on SLAM.

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Culver was drafted sixth overall by Minnesota in the 2019 NBA draft. As a rookie, his talents looked promising as he averaged 9.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game on 40.4 percent shooting from the field. However, Culver ended up falling out of favor after his rookie season, and Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns would be the future of Minnesota.

Minnesota ended up trading Culver to the Memphis Grizzlies for Juancho Hernangomez and Patrick Beverley. The trade ended up helping the TImberwolves make a playoff appearance, while Culver averaged 3.5 points and 1.3 rebounds per game while shooting 37.8 percent from the field.

Although he wasn’t scoring at a high rate, Culver proved himself to be enough of a defensive asset, ranking 25th in the League in defensive rating last season. Atlanta traded for Dejounte Murray to form a dangerous two-way backcourt with Trae Young with the hope of building a young core built around their walking-bucket backcourt and athletic, lengthy wings like Culver.

The post Atlanta Hawks Sign Former Top 10 Pick Jarrett Culver to Two-Way Deal appeared first on SLAM.

Atlanta is trading Kevin Huerter to Sacramento for Justin Holiday, Mo Harkless and a future first round pick, sources tell EPSN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

That pick can reportedly become a top-12 protected in 2025 or a top-10 protected in 2026, according to Woj.

The Kings are sending a 2024 lottery-protected first-round pick to the Hawks for Huerter, sources tell ESPN. Pick becomes Top 12 protected in 2025, and top 10 protected in 2026.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

The Hawks’ offseason has gone objectively well after acquiring All-Star guard Dejounte Murray for Danilo Gallinari on Wednesday. The Kings have significantly upgraded their wing depth and talent after trading for Huerter, signing Malik Monk, and drafting Keegan Murray fourth overall in the 2022 NBA Draft.

Huerter averaged 12.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game on 45.4 percent shooting from the field and 38.9 percent from deep.

The post REPORT: Atlanta Ships Kevin Huerter to Sacramento appeared first on SLAM.

The Hawks are sending three first-round picks and a future pick swap to the Spurs to pair Murray with All-NBA guard Trae Young, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/rxHtyr63jl

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2022

The Hawks agreed to send Danilo Gallinari and draft capital to the Spurs for Murray. Atlanta is sending a 2023 first-round pick they got from Charlotte, and their 2025 and 2027 first-round picks to the Spurs. San Antonio will also receive a pick swap in 2026.

The Hawks are sending a 2023 first-round pick via Charlotte, and their own 2025 and 2027 first-round picks to the Spurs in the deal, sources tell ESPN. Spurs will also get a pick swap in 2026.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2022

Murray will be expected to come in and provide a good deal of two-way support to backcourt mate Trae Young. The trade fulfills reports from last week that the Hawks actively sought to acquire Murray. The former Washington Husky averaged 21.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 9.2 assists, and 2.0 steals per game on 46.2 percent shooting from the field and 32.7 percent shooting from deep.

The post REPORT: Hawks and Spurs Agree to Trade Built Around Dejounte Murray appeared first on SLAM.

Klein notes that the package to obtain Murray would be Danilo Gallinari and multiple first-round picks, but John Collins will not be a part of the transaction despite being in trade rumors for a few seasons.

After sitting out all of the 2018-19 season, Murray has blossomed into one of the better point guards in the League. This past year he earned his first All-Star bid after averaging 21.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 9.2 assists, and a League-leading 2.0 steals per game.

Murray is halfway through a four-year rookie extension he signed in 2019 with the Spurs. The final two years of his contract have him making just north of $16 million and $17 million, respectively.

The Hawks are looking to pair Murray up with Trae Young, becoming a formidable backcourt within the Eastern Conference.

Klein also reports San Antonio is preparing for the future and the 2023 NBA Draft.

The post REPORT: Hawks ‘On the Verge’ of Obtaining Dejounte Murray appeared first on SLAM.

The Hawks are the most aggressive team in trade talks around the league right now with the goal of finding a co-star to pair alongside Trae Young, per @wojespn.

John Collins is expected to be involved in any deal Atlanta makes this week. pic.twitter.com/PPiGerZGSD

— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 21, 2022

In order to pair another star with All-Star point guard Trae Young, the Hawks are reportedly willing to move John Collins. The forward out of Wake Forest is expected to be involved in any deal Atlanta pursues despite coming off inking a five-year deal last summer.

This past season, the Hawks could not recapture the magic that helped them make a run to the Eastern Conference Championship before falling to the eventual champion Milwaukee Bucks in six games. Young earned another All-Star bid, but the Hawks finished the regular season with a 43-39 record and beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in the play-in tournament for the eighth seed.

The No. 1 seeded Miami Heat ended Atlanta’s season with a first-round sweep.

The post REPORT: Hawks Will Be Aggressive in Finding Trae Young a Co-Star appeared first on SLAM.

Clippers F Nic Batum will decline his $3.3M player option and become a free agent, sources tell ESPN. There’s expected to be mutual interest with Clippers and Batum on reaching a new deal in July.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 21, 2022

Batum and the Clippers are reportedly mutually interested in reaching a new deal once free agency begins in July.

Batum averaged 8.3 points. 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game in his 14th season in the League.

The post REPORT: Nic Batum to Decline His Player Option appeared first on SLAM.

Blazers out on Deandre Ayton, with sights set on other deals, including OG Anunoby. Pacers now may be in mix with Suns. https://t.co/822t9d9Ji1

— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) June 16, 2022

The Portland Trail Blazers are reportedly out on Ayton and will instead be in the mix to acquire OG Anunoby. So with the subtraction of the Blazers comes the addition of the Pacers into the mix to talk with the Pacers.

Deandre Ayton addresses contract talks, saying he's "disappointed" a deal hasn't gotten done and he wants to be respected like his peers as ESPN reported last week contract talks were stalled over getting rookie max extension. #Suns pic.twitter.com/XVtj06fojN

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) October 12, 2021

The “most realistic landing spots” to land Ayton’s services outside Phoenix are Atlanta, Detroit, and Toronto. The three Eastern Conference franchise opportunities can propose enticing sign-and-trade to the Suns front office. According to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, Indiana could offer a sign-and-trade of Ayton for Myles Turner. The two big men share the same representation.

Ayton finished the season averaging 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game on 59.9 percent shooting from the field.

The post REPORT: Hawks, Pistons, and Raptors Emerge As Biggest Threats to Land Deandre Ayton appeared first on SLAM.

Hawks say Bogdan Bogdanovic underwent surgery following the season on his right patella tendon to address knee inflammation. He will rehabilitate over the offseason and is expected to make a full recovery in advance of the regular season.

— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) June 14, 2022

The surgery addressed some knee inflammation that Bogdanovic dealt with during Atlanta’s playoff run. He ended up missing the Hawks’ season-ending Game 5 loss due to the lingering knee issues.

Bogdanovic is expected to recover fully before the 2022-23 season begins. He averaged 15.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game on 43.1 percent shooting from the field and 36.8 percent from beyond the arc in 63 appearances.

The post Hawks Announce Bogdan Bogdanovic Underwent Knee Surgery appeared first on SLAM.

However, it’s still unknown what teams around the League are willing to give up to trade for Grant. Pistons GM Troy Weaver wasn’t entirely enthusiastic about offers he received in January or February. Grant has one more season left on his current deal, and Weaver has the option to extend that contract or, as aforementioned, build a trade package around Grant.

One team that’s been consistent with their desire to pick Grant up is the Trail Blazers. Portland fell to the No. 7 pick in the NBA 2022 Draft and reportedly doesn’t want to embark on a complete rebuild, opting to instead “retool” around Damian Lillard.

Another option for a trade partner is the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks could not follow up on their Eastern Conference Finals run, fizzling out in five games to the Miami Heat in the first-round. Atlanta was reportedly interested in Grant during the regular-season, and according to The Athletic, there still could be some intrigue around acquiring Grant this summer.

Per Hawks beat reporter Chris Kirschner, the Hawks front office would ideally like to add a two-way ball-handler, and Grant fulfills both those roles. Kirschner believes Grant is the best choice because the forward is the most gettable player on the trade market over stars like Zach LaVine or Deandre Ayton, who can only be acquired through sign and trade deals.

Should the Pistons pursue a Grant deal, they could trade Bogdan Bogdanovic, Danilo Gallinari, and the No. 16 pick in this year’s draft. Although Bogdanovic is the younger player, he’s recently been battling a knee issue that lingered all season but will reportedly be addressing the case over the summer. Meanwhile, Gallinari has a guaranteed $5 million expiring contract that could be waived so that Detroit can create more cap space.

Per Hawks reporter James L. Edwards III, Grant is the type of player both franchises need as a long, two-way wing that can score off the dribble and help them while they’re in win-now mode. He believes that Weaver will move Grant if he gets a “wow” offer like Portland agreeing to move their top-10 pick, believing the Pistons are willing to wait and see if such an offer materializes.

Regardless, it seems like Weaver and Grant will have some exciting options to ponder during the summer. Both Portland and Atlanta could be an ideal fit for a wing that seems ready to contribute to a playoff-contending team.

The post REPORT: Hawks and Trail Blazers Main Leaders to Trade for Jerami Grant 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.

Young took on the legendary Madison Square Garden and the iconic Knicks fans inside during his playoff debut and became the most hated opposing point guard in modern Knicks history. Young became the first player since Derrick Rose to post 25 points and 10 assists in his first playoff game. The youngest MVP in League history accomplished the feat at 20-years-old. Young was 22 at the time.

Young capped off the historic night with a game-winning floater to give Atlanta a Game 1 win, with the Hawks winning the series in five games. Atlanta ultimately upset the Philadelphia 76ers in seven games before falling to the eventual champion Milwaukee Bucks in six games.

“That was so fun,” a beaming Young said as he rewatched the iconic moment. “The whole game was so fun; the play actually broke down after John (Collins) shoe fell off, and I just kinda had to make a move, and it was just a fun game.”

Trae Young looks back at his memorable Game 1 game-winner vs. NYK from on this date last year! #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/ShTXkSrp5H

— NBA History (@NBAHistory) May 23, 2022

The post Trae Young Reflects On His Game 1 Game-Winner Against Knicks One Year Ago Today appeared first on SLAM.

The exhibition has been billed as The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2022.

Abu Dhabi get ready the NBA is about to take over with two preseason games at Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, Oct. 6 and Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022 #NBAAfrica #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/zEsxqKTp3r

— NBA Africa (@NBA_Africa) May 10, 2022

The Abu Dhabi games are months in the making. Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum and the NBA announced last November that it signed a deal with the Department of Culture and Tourism that guaranteed the League would play two preseason games to mark the Association’s first trip to the Arabian Gulf.

Another part of the deal is launching a youth basketball league, the Jr. NBA Abu Dhani League, for up to 450 boys and girls from schools in Abu Dhabi.

“Abu Dhabi is a vibrant multicultural hub with a demonstrated track record of hosting world-class sporting events,” NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum said at the time.

The NBA has confirmed plans for the Warriors and Wizards to play games in Saitama, Japan, for preseason games on Sept. 30 and Oct. 2. The slate of games will be the first games for the NBA outside of North America since Jan. 24, 2020, when Milwaukee and Charlotte met in Paris for a regular-season game about six weeks before the global pandemic started.

The NBA also held events in India, Japan, and China and another regular-season contest in Mexico City. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NBA Global Games had been paused temporarily. The series gave fans in international markets a chance to see what goes on in the League on a nightly basis.

The last time the NBA traveled overseas for preseason contests was October 2019, when Sacramento and Indiana played twice in Mumbai, Houston and Toronto played twice in Saitama, and the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn played a pair of games in China.

Teams going overseas for preseason games are typically allowed to open training camp a few days before the rest of the League, with most teams expecting to start camp on Sept. 26. That means opening night should be on Oct. 18, assuming the League’s calendar stays as per usual.

The post NBA Announced Bucks-Hawks Set to Play 2 Games in Abu Dhabi Next Season appeared first on SLAM.

Through it all, Oladipo has worked hard to regain his All-Star form and provide some production to the No. 1 seeded Miami Heat. In their 97-94 Game 5 win, the resilience of Oladipo paid dividends after the two-time All-Star finished the elimination game with a team-high 23 points, three assists, and three steals.

Victor is hooooping rn.

(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/IoeooP25ks

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) April 26, 2022

His big-time performance helped lift a Heat team that was missing Kyle Lowry and Jimmy Butler due to hamstring and knee injuries, respectively.

“There’s nothing I can’t handle,” Oladipo told NBATV. “At the end of the day, I feel like I can come back and get through anything. So when they told me I needed to start tonight, I just stepped up to the plate and did everything I could to help my team win.

“I credit my coaching staff and my teammates for believing in me, my family, my God in heaven for getting me through. It’s only the beginning.”

“There’s nothing I can’t handle.”@VicOladipo talked to @RebeccaHaarlow after the Heat close out the Hawks in Game 5. pic.twitter.com/l6fuHbQlCy

— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 27, 2022

The Heat also relied on their fourth-ranked defense to bottle up Trae Young (11 points, eight rebounds, six assists on 2-12 shooting from the field, 0-5 from the three-point line) and secure the series-concluding win on Tuesday. Miami was down for most of the first half before the Heat went on a 17-0 run late in the second quarter, never surrounding their lead.

However, the Hawks still put their head down and kept making pushes to make a comeback, going on 8-0 and 10-0 runs. Atlanta closed a deficit as large as 15 to within 95-93 before Oladipo closed the door on the comeback after diming Bam Adebayo for a clutch dunk with 59 seconds remaining on the clock.

Vic Oladipo dimes it to Bam to push the lead back to 4!#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel on NBA TV
https://t.co/rTTQ9EtLON pic.twitter.com/afYL5sVV39

— NBA (@NBA) April 27, 2022

The Heat advanced to the second round and will play the winner of the 76ers-Raptors series.

I’m just trying to ball and live. How can I lose when we the who’s who’s? pic.twitter.com/XlaJD69cBp

— Victor Oladipo (@VicOladipo) April 27, 2022

The post Victor Oladipo Leads Miami to Series Closing Win Over Atlanta appeared first on SLAM.

Playoff Jimmy always brings that energy.

(: @_theeyeg) pic.twitter.com/QRAEh79qO0

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) April 20, 2022

Last season, the Heat could not recreate that magic from their Orlando Bubble and fell to the eventual champion Miluwake Bucks in a first-round sweep. The playoff failure led to the Miami office bringing in Kyle Lowry to relieve Butler of playmaking duties. That change led to the Heat earning the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference after going 53-29 in the regular season.

Since he doesn’t have to be as ball-dominant as he was during the bubble, Butler has been able to focus more on getting buckets, which led to Butler being able to score 45 points in a 115-105 win over the Atlanta Hawks to grab a 2-0 lead as the first-round series shifts to Atlanta. A personal 7-0 run punctuated the primetime performance in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter to increase Miami’s lead from three to 10 to cement the Heat’s win.

“I am a different player now than I was then,” Butler said per ESPN. “I just always want to play basketball the right way and do whatever it takes to help this team, this organization, win. That’s why they brought me here.”

JIMMY BUTLER.

45 PTS
5 REB
5 AST
2 STL

(via @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/914leJRDH9

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) April 20, 2022

Butler’s big-time outing arrived on the strength of some hot shooting. Butler finished the game shooting 15-25 from the field, 11-12 from the free-throw line, and hit 4-7 three-pointers as well. During the regular season, Butler shot 23.3 percent on triples; Jimmy G. Buckets is a career 32.1 percent shooter from beyond the arc.

Erik Spoelstra, head coach of Miami, said that Butler’s shooting from outside reminded him of the exploits of franchise legends Dwyane Wade. Wade, James, and Butler are the only Heat players to finish a playoff game with 40-points three times.

“It actually is a good comparison because if you get in those pressure moments and the moments of truth, if you’re on the other side, would you ever want to just give Dwyane Wade an open 3? You would not,” Spoelstra said. “Because he’s a killer. He’s going to seize that moment. And Jimmy has a lot of those same qualities. You can say whatever the percentage is — throw those all out when it becomes about winning. He’ll find a way to kill you.”

The Heat-Hawks first-round series resumes on Friday in Atlanta.

The post ‘Different’ Jimmy Butler Drops 45 to Lead Miami to 115-105 Win appeared first on SLAM.

The Hawks initially believed Capela would be out for at least a week before getting his knee examined again, which would happen when the series shifts to Atlanta in Games 3 and 4. However, the Hawks received the excellent news that Capela’s MRI was clean and showed no further damage to his knee.

Here's a look at Clint Capela doing some physical therapy.

Nate McMillan says he doesn't have a specific timeline for how long Capela will be out, but he will definitely be out for Game 2. pic.twitter.com/OkV1RsRAd4

— Sarah K. Spencer (@sarah_k_spence) April 18, 2022

The good news kept rolling after Travis Schlenk, general manager of the Hawks, revealed that Capela “restarted strength exercises and will be re-evaluated on Friday” when he appeared on 92.9 FM The Game.

Capela’s return could swing the pendulum towards Atlanta with his ability to patrol the paint on both ends of the court. The Swiss center finished the regular season, averaging 11.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game.

The post Hawks Say Clint Capela Will Be Re-Evaluated On Friday appeared first on SLAM.

As great as limiting Young to that low of output is, the Heat are also aware that Young and the Hawks coaching staff led by Nate McMillan will find a way to unlock their star point guards offensive talent. Young sat out the final 14 minutes of the game to gather his thoughts on what went wrong and the adjustments he could make for Game 2.

According to ESPN Stats and Information, Ice Trae’s 8.3 percent shooting from the field was the worst single-game shooting performance of his career spanning the regular and post-season. Despite bottling Young up like they did, the Heat are aware that a shifty guard that can shoot the three-ball like Young will never be bottled entirely up for at least four losses.

“Miami played at another level,” McMillan said per ESPN. “We have to get to another level. There is another level of intensity where you are locked in on winning every possession. We have to execute and value every possession in these games.”

The Heat finished the regular season fourth in defensive rating. The game plan from Coach Erik Spoelstra was to switch longer, rangier defenders onto Young whenever the Hawks ran pick-and-roll. According to Second Spectrum, the scheme resulted in the Heat switching 21 times against Young in Game 1, allowing 0.8 points per direct pick.

The Oklahoma product scored 0.96 points per direct pick against all opposing defenses that switched against him during the regular season.

“Keep him in front,” explained Jimmy Butler. “He is constantly breaking down defenses and causing you to help, and if you don’t help it’s a layup, [or] it’s a floater. And if you do help, he’s hitting the right guy every single time [with a pass]. I think we did a great job of not fouling and just moving our feet and staying in front of him.”

Young acknowledged that fatigue set in after a short turnaround from playing in the play-in tournament.

“You definitely feel the heavy legs, but you have to give them credit,” Young said. “They came out aggressive; they came out with a lot of energy.”

Game 2 of this first-round series will take place on Tuesday in Miami.

The post Miami Heat Limit Trae Young But Know He’s Capable of Big Game appeared first on SLAM.

After a slow start, much like his previous game against the Charlotte Hornets, he put together another epic performance in the second half, scoring 32 of his 38 points in a 107-101 Atlanta win. Young spearheaded the Hawks in the scoring column erasing a Cleveland halftime double-digit lead by the end of the third quarter.

Trae Young and the Hawks come storming back in the third quarter.

This season, the Cavaliers lost 17 games after leading by 10+ points, most in the NBA pic.twitter.com/0viGPDRyFr

— ESPN (@espn) April 16, 2022

Ice Trae highlighted this by knocking down a pair of three-pointers on his way to scoring Atlanta’s final 12 points. Young sparked a 17-8 Hawks run over the final 3:48 to go into the 4th quarter with an 84-all tie.

Young scored or assisted on 43 points in the second half, personally outpacing the Cavs for the final 24 minutes (40 points). The Oklahoma products performance not only punched Atlanta’s ticket to the playoffs, but he also made a little history along the way.

After dropping 32 in the second half, Trae Young became the 1st Hawks player in the last 25 seasons with 30+ points in a half of a playoff/play-in game, per @ESPNStatsInfo. https://t.co/94YIJNBhsD

— SLAM Newswire (@SLAMnewswire) April 16, 2022

“Trae has a great deal of confidence in his game, his ability, and he continued to believe,” Hawks Coach Nate McMillan said about his superstar guard, per ESPN. “I didn’t see any panic in his play. He came out in the second half, remained aggressive. Those shots started to fall, the same shots that he was taking the first half; they started to fall in the second half.”

Young talked about his mindset going into the second half after the game.

“I felt like I was letting my team down in the first half.”

Trae Young scored 32 points in the second half to send the Hawks to the playoffs pic.twitter.com/ybFpsjJRfs

— ESPN (@espn) April 16, 2022

Trae Young and the Hawks get to test their luck starting on Sunday when they take on the Heat in the first round of the playoffs.

The post Trae Young Bails out Atlanta Hawks With Huge Second Half Scoring Binge appeared first on SLAM.

The Hawks big man had to be helped off the floor after fouling Evan Mobley and forcing him to the floor. When Capela grabbed Mobley by the shoulders, the momentum caused a collision by the sidelines.

Clint Capela went to the locker room with an apparent leg injury after this foul on Evan Mobley. pic.twitter.com/hGv3O9KvSd

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 16, 2022

According to the Hawks, Capela would not return to the game after suffering what was diagnosed as a hyperextended right knee. ESPN’s NBA insider, Adrian Wojnarowski, reported that Capela would undergo an MRI on Saturday to determine the extent of the damage. The timetable of his return is unknown.

There’s initial optimism that Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela hasn’t suffered significant right knee damage, but an MRI on Saturday will determine extent of possible injury, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 16, 2022

Before the injury, Clint Capela had seven points and eight rebounds in 13 minutes of action. 

The injury is a significant loss for the Atlanta Hawks. Capelaposted a strong performance in the first play-in game against Charlotte with 15 points, 17 rebounds, three blocks, and two steals. Without Capela, Coach Nate McMillan and his staff have to find other production options to replace the Swizz product, who averages a double-double with 11.1 points and 11.9 rebounds in the regular season.

SLAM will follow this injury situation as it develops.

The post Clint Capela Suffers Knee Injury in Atlanta Hawks Victory Over the Cavs appeared first on SLAM.

The Hawks were in control for the entire game, but a 42-point third-quarter explosion basically put the game away to the point that questions were raised on why the starters were in the game so late in the final quarter.

The Hawks DOMINATE the Hornets, 132-103, to move on to a 2nd play-in game pic.twitter.com/Z6vn0T1q8W

— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 14, 2022

Hawks Coach Nate McMillan answered that question jokingly after the game via ESPN.

“The coaches were yelling and screaming at me, ‘Get the guys out so that we could get them a rest in!'” McMillan said via ESPN. “But it’s time to play. It’s game time. We should be ready when we go to Cleveland.”

Trae Young is definitely ready for the Cleveland matchup. Even with a 3-13 shooting performance in the first half, the attention of the Hornets’ defense opened up opportunities for his teammates, particularly Clint Capela. Capela exposed Charlotte’s need for a center, putting a stat line of 15 points, 17 rebounds, three blocks, and two steals.

The no-look alley pic.twitter.com/XTudyKwcio

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) April 13, 2022

After knocking down a second-quarter buzzer-beater just before the half, Ice Trae took advantage of Charlotte’s adjustments to his playmaking by knocking down open shots in the second half and finished with 24 points and 11 assists.

After stating that the Hawks needed to find motivation in the regular season to play like it was the playoffs, Young has again raised his level of play in big games. As the Knicks, Bucks, and Sixers saw last year, when he connects with his patented floaters and logo threes, it opens up lanes for his teammates that deflates defenses.

Trae draws four (4) defenders then drops a no-look dime pic.twitter.com/lt9P8MePsz

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) April 14, 2022

The winner of the Hawks and Cavaliers collision course on Friday night will face the Eastern Conference’s top seed in the Miami Heat.

The post Atlanta Hawks Stamp Their Ticket To Play Cavs By Blowing Out Charlotte appeared first on SLAM.

After Atlanta outscored the Hornets 42-24 in the third quarter, the game was never in doubt. But unlike Charlotte’s play-in tournament blowout last year to the Indiana Pacers, some actions from Hornets forward Miles Bridges have the attention of the League office.

The Michigan State product was ejected in the fourth quarter after receiving double technical fouls for arguing a non-call at one end of the floor and then charging toward an official after a personal foul and goaltending call on the other.

Miles Bridges was ejected after arguing this goaltend call. pic.twitter.com/ijvc7SxlNF

— ESPN (@espn) April 14, 2022

After the ejection and being restrained by teammates, Bridges was seen throwing his mouthpiece into the stands at a heckling Hawks fan waving goodbye. Instead of hitting that fan, it hit a 16-year-old girl in the face.

Miles Bridges appears to throw his mouthpiece at a fan after getting ejected pic.twitter.com/IBznSPtxWR

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 14, 2022

To Bridges’ credit, he took immediate responsibility for his outburst after the game, even tweeting a video of the incident with the caption, “Somebody get me in contact with the young lady. That’s unacceptable.”

Somebody get me in contact with the young lady. That’s unacceptable. https://t.co/MlLZjMgcBF

— Miles Bridges (@MilesBridges) April 14, 2022

Bridges tried to explain his actions after the game via CBSSports.com.

“I let my temper get the best of me. That was definitely the wrong thing to do by throwing my mouthpiece,” Bridges said after the game. “I was aiming for the guy that was screaming at me, and it hit the little girl, so that’s definitely unacceptable on my part, and I take full responsibility, and I’m ready for any consequences that the NBA may give me.

“That’s on me. That’s out of character for me. … I was definitely wrong, a lot of emotions. Hopefully, I can get in contact with the little girl and sincerely apologize to her and do something nice for her.”

Bridges will likely face disciplinary action from the NBA, which puts a damper on a breakout season that made him a top candidate for Most Improved Player this season. He finished the game with 12 points, four rebounds, and four assists.

The post Miles Bridges Apologizes To Fan For Throwing Mouthpiece After Ejection appeared first on SLAM.

The Hawks took down the Knicks 117-111, led by a 45 point-performance by Young to go along with eight assists. He knocked down 13 of his 25 shots and went 7-for-15 from deep, all with a chorus of boos coming from the crowd throughout the night.

Young’s performance was memorable not only in the box score, but with absurd plays such as this fourth-quarter crossover against Taj Gibson.

Young has become something of a New York City “villain” since his playoff series against the Knicks last season, but, as he told SLAMKicks last September in his KICKS 24 cover story, he’s always embraced the negativity.

“You ain’t got no choice but to hear it when a whole arena is chanting ‘F you.’ That’s just fun. Me, I’m a competitive person in whatever I’m doing. Anytime somebody’s talking trash, whether it’s my little brother, my dad, or a random person playing pick-up ball with me, I’m going to be the same way. That’s just my mindset. I’ve had this approach with everything I’ve done up until now. And I ain’t gonna change anytime soon, for sure.”

After the Hawks win on Tuesday night, Young took to Twitter to celebrate.

Following the game, he talked to reporters, including the AP’s Brian Mahoney, about how his and the rest of the team’s mindset gave them an edge to win.

“I think the swag and what we were able to do on the court tonight and the energy we had in the huddle, I knew it was just us versus everybody tonight,” Young said. “And I think if we have that type of mindset each and every game, we’re going to give ourselves a chance to win.”

Last night’s win pushed the Hawks’ record to an even 36-36, 10th best in the Eastern Conference. The loss for the Knicks leaves them at 30-42, 12th in the conference.

The post ‘Hold That L’: Trae Young Drops 45 Points in Electric Return to MSG appeared first on SLAM.

Hawks forward John Collins has a plantar fascia tear in his right foot as well as damage to his right ring finger, sources tell me and @ChrisKirschner. Collins has been playing through pain for past several weeks, but will now be sidelined indefinitely.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 18, 2022

The Hawks (34-35) have 13 games remaining left to attempt to catch the Hornets (35-35) and the Nets (36-34) before the regular season concludes. The 2021-2022 season hasn’t gone the way Atlanta expected, coming off their Eastern Conference Finals appearance against the Bucks last year. The struggles the Hawks have experienced could be attributed to inconsistent play and injuries to Collins, De’Andre Hunter, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Kevin Huerter.

The Hawks will look to add to the win column when they face the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night.

The post REPORT: John Collins Out Indefinitely With Foot and Finger Injuries appeared first on SLAM.

Ball’s stat line of 22 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds, coupled with 13 points from P.J. Washington in the fourth quarter, powered the Hornets’ small-ball lineup that started in an 85-85 tie.

But what was underrated in Ball’s performance is his contributions with team defense holding Trae Young to only nine points on 3-12 shooting.

“We used our length, size, and physicality, and we made it tough on Trae.” Hornets Coach James Borrego said about the gameplan to defend Young per ESPN. “He is a heck of a player, and getting him out of the pick and roll, we went through probably three or four iterations tonight to make him think on the fly.”

But in the end, it was Ball’s execution of the offense when the Hornets went small playing “pick and pop” with Washington that was the difference in the game. Something that Hawks coach Nate McMillan discussed after the game.

“We didn’t get out quick enough, and we didn’t get out to the shooters, and they basically just ran a pick-and-pop game, and he was able to knock down some shots.”

Then finally, at the end of the game, Melo finished things off in style.

That feeling after your third win in a row…@MELOD1P | #AllFly pic.twitter.com/QncluWzBfR

— Bally Sports: Hornets (@HornetsOnBally) March 17, 2022

Melo and the Hornets have a few days off before taking on the Dallas Mavericks at home on Saturday night.

The post Charlotte Hornets Overtake the Hawks in Playoffs Seeding Behind LaMelo Ball appeared first on SLAM.

The season’s low point was when the Celtics blew a 25-point-lead to the New York Knicks that had head coach Ime Udoka calling out his team for lack of mental toughness.

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Now thanks to a 108-105 victory over the Atlanta Hawks, the Celtics are not only riding an eight-game winning streak, but they have leapfrogged into the sixth seed, making them playoff eligible. The difference in this game was chemistry and poise. While Boston continued to execute down the stretch, Hawks Coach Nate McMillan pointed to the third quarter that cost Atlanta.

“I thought in the third quarter; we got distracted by the officiating. They got into the penalty early, and they had a 42-point quarter,” Atlanta coach Nate McMillan said via ESPN. “I thought that was the difference in the game. We just were not able to recover from that.”

The Celtics chemistry issues were apparent enough that team president Brad Stevens felt he had to address it amid his teams’ struggles. Now, those issues seem to be a thing of the past, according to Jaylen Brown.

“We definitely lost some games we felt like we shouldn’t have lost early in the season. Now we get the chance to play some of these teams again, and we’re looking to pull out some wins,” Brown said. “We had a lot of guys making plays right now, and that’s what we need to do in the fourth quarter. We’ve been finding ways to win — defensively, timely baskets, and we’ve been sealing out games.”

The Celtics take on the new-look Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night.

The post Boston Celtics Improved Chemistry Shown In 8th Straight Win Over Hawks appeared first on SLAM.

Okongwu finished with 16 points, five rebounds, and one steal.

ARE YOU SERIOUS pic.twitter.com/Of17M37SMh

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 30, 2022

Okongwu recently stated in an interview with Hoopshype that he believes he should be invited to the Rising Stars Challenge on All-Star Weekend in Cleveland.

“Everybody can see what I do out there on the court. I think my play really speaks for itself, especially defensively with what I’ve been able to do, guarding on the ball and helping. Offensively, I’ve got my confidence back. I’ve doubled my points scoring to almost 10. At the end of the day, we’re on a six-game winning streak playing good basketball, and I’m part of the mix, which is always a blessing. I’m thankful to be able to be on the Hawks, and we’re playing good basketball. I think, all things considered, I should get a Rising Stars nod”.

The Hawks’ backup center has been a major contributor to the team’s success this season, as his skill and athleticism work well alongside Trae Young and John Collins in their small-ball lineups.

Okongwu is one of only three players (Rudy Gobert and Robert Williams the others) to average nine or more points (9.7) six or more rebounds (6.0) while shooting over 70 percent from the field (74.4 percent).

The post Onyeka Okongwu On Playing in All-Star Weekend: ‘I Should Get A Rising Stars Nod’ appeared first on SLAM.

The list of players the Sixers currently are monitoring is just as long as the rumors in the news cycle of potential players that included Damian Lillard, De’Aaron Fox, and Draymond Green going back to last summer.

Morey and the team recently discussed a potential Simmons package with the Atlanta Hawks for John Collins. But as soon as Tobias Harris was added to the deal, the Hawks quickly said no, according to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.

“The 76ers and Hawks briefly kicked around a trade of Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris for John Collins, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Danilo Gallinari, League sources told HoopsHype. However, those talks stalled quickly, with Atlanta uninterested in Harris and unlikely to be able to flip him to a third team.”

This year, the Sixers have been looking for specific pieces to put around Embiid for a championship run. Collins’ athleticism and his ability to defend inspired Philadelphia to put an offer together. According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Sam Amick, the asking price for the Sixers hasn’t changed.

“In return for Simmons, the 76ers have wanted a top-level All-Star or a package featuring a bevy of first-round draft picks for Simmons.”

It is understood that this Simmons deal may be pushed back to the offseason, especially with rumors of James Harden being unhappy in Brooklyn.

The post REPORT: Philadelphia 76ers Made A Ben Simmons Offer For John Collins appeared first on SLAM.

Before the game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Cam shared his thoughts on the trade and his excitement to start the next phase of his NBA career via the New York Post.

“To be honest, I didn’t know what was going to happen with the whole trade situation,” Reddish said. “I literally woke up to it all and ended up in New York. So, I’m just excited, man, to just get started. I can’t really control everything, minutes, and stuff like that. But I can control my attitude and my effort. I’m going to do my best to give all that up.”

Even though Reddish only played five minutes and scored two points off a layup and grabbed two rebounds, Knicks Coach Tom Thibodeau is focusing on how his new small forward can fit in the Knicks roster.

Cam Reddish gets his first bucket as a Knick pic.twitter.com/eGZ4Q4DQpH

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 23, 2022

“It’s a good question. See, I do love Cam’s size,” Thibodeau said. “Right now, we’re focused more on the wing position at the two and the three. But eventually, I do want to get a look at that to see where that goes. But I don’t think you could have enough wings, and that’s why we did the deal.”

The former 10th overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft averaged 11.9 points, 2.5 boards, and 1.1 assists in 23.4 minutes per game as a Hawk this season.

The post Cam Reddish Opens Up On His Trade Before His New York Knicks Debut appeared first on SLAM.

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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.

Atlanta sits 12th in the Eastern Conference at the moment with a record of 17-23 and three games back of the 10th and final play-in seed.

The Hawks’ lack of success on the court has led to rumors of a shake-up coming. Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report reported that the Hawks could trade anyone on the roster, with the only exceptions being Clint Capela and all-star Trae Young.

“Everyone but Trae Young and Clint Capela are available,” one assistant general manager told B/R earlier this week before the Reddish trade,” Fischer reports. “

Fischer explicitly named third-year forward De’Andre Hunter as a player that opposing teams believe could be on the move, with the Hawks’ reportedly looking to acquire a “significant veteran contributor.”

What Atlanta needs is help on the defensive end. The Hawks currently have the fifth-best offense in the League, with an offensive rating of 112.1 offset by the third-worst defensive rating in the NBA, clocking in at 113.1, ahead of only the Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets. If Atlanta can correct course defensively, the pieces are already in place to get this team back to its winning ways.

According to Fischer, one player who could potentially turn the tide for the Hawks on defense is the 76ers’ disgruntled star, Ben Simmons. Fischer reports that the Hawks have “entered the field of teams interested in Simmons,” but a deal with John Collins as the center-piece in a two-team deal was considered a “wonky fit.” However, the Spurs and Mavericks have reportedly expressed interest in Collins before.

The NBA trade deadline is just under a month away on Thursday, Feb. 10.

The post REPORT: ‘Everyone’ but Clint Capela, Trae Young Available in Atlanta appeared first on SLAM.

ESPN Sources: The Atlanta Hawks are trading forward Cam Reddish to the New York Knicks for a deal that includes a protected 2022 first-round pick via Charlotte. Knicks also acquire Solomon Hill and a 2025 second-round pick via Brooklyn in trade.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 13, 2022

According to further reporting from Woj, the trade to the Knicks fulfills Reddish’s desire to play for a team that can give him an increased role and an extension this coming offseason. It seems as though Reddish saw the writing on the wall after Atlanta signed John Collins, Kevin Huerter, and De’Andre Hunter to multi-year extensions after the Hawks shocked the NBA during their run to the Conference Finals.

The 10th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft has one more guaranteed season left on his four-year rookie contract. If he doesn’t sign an extension, he can become a restricted free agent during the 2023 offseason. The 22-year-old forward is averaging 11.9 points and 2.5 rebounds on 40.9 percent shooting from the field and 37.9 percent shooting from downtown this season.

The trade reunited Reddish with former Duke teammate RJ Barrett, who scored 32 points in the Knicks’ Wednesday night win over the Mavericks. The Knicks (21-21) return to action on Saturday against the Hawks (17-23).

The post REPORT: Hawks Trading Cam Reddish to Knicks appeared first on SLAM.

So far, the Blazers point guard is having a breakout season, posting career-high numbers nearly across the board. Simons is shooting 39.0 percent from the three-point line while averaging a career-high 12.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. Simmons is coming along as an x-factor for the Blazers, displaying dynamic offensive skills and flashes of an iso-threat with the ball.

“I really can’t take credit for how well I played tonight,” an emotional Simons said per CBS Sports. “I was just going out there and playing my game. I got a couple of shots to go in. Like I said, I really can’t take it today. Sadly, my grandpa died yesterday of cancer. It’s all him, honestly. I give credit to him. I dedicated this whole game to him. Like I said, I can’t take credit tonight. It was all him.”

With the win against Atlanta, Portland has snapped their four-game losing streak, advancing them to 14-22 this season. The Blazers are currently ranked 12th in the Western Conference and are still out of the final play-in spot by only one game. The Hawks are in a similar position at 16-20, ranked at 12th in the East and are on the outside looking in for Eastern Conference play-in spots.

The post Anfernee Simmons Dedicates Career-High Night to Late Grandfather appeared first on SLAM.

On Tuesday, Marc Stein reported that Lance Stephenson had signed a 10-day hardship contract with the Atlanta Hawks.

Stephenson is getting the chance with the Hawks as part of the NBA’s new hardship contract program, allowing teams struggling with COVID-19 outbreaks to sign short-term replacement players to continue playing games.

It’s been over two years since Stephenson last suited up for an NBA team, playing 68 games with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2018-19 season and averaging 7.2 points per game in the process.

However, Stephenson is an NBA vet, having played 508 career games with seven different NBA teams. Most will remember Stephenson for his six seasons spent with the Indiana Pacers, where he averaged 9.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game.

If Stephenson suites up for the Hawks during his 10-day contract, that will make Atlanta the eighth different franchise he’s played for in his career.

The Hawks have been hurt hard by the league’s health and safety protocols, with Trae Young, Clint Capela, and Danilo Gallinari all currently unavailable.

The post REPORT: Lance Stephenson Signs 10-Day Contract With Hawks 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.

Hill suffered the injury when slipped and did a split during Sunday’s matchup against the Charlotte Hornets. Hill underwent an MRI on Monday that revealed a torn right hamstring. The Hawks subsequently announced Wednesday that the veteran forward would need season-ending surgery.

An @emoryhealthcare injury update:

Solomon Hill, who left Sunday’s game with a right hamstring injury, underwent an MRI on Monday. The MRI revealed a right hamstring tendon tear.

He will undergo surgery and is expected to miss the remainder of the 2021-22 season. pic.twitter.com/9kXcZ0lDfy

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) December 8, 2021

The Hawks, who are currently 13 -12, are shorthanded on the wing with key rotational such as Cam Reddish, De’Andre Hunter, and Bogdan Bogdonavic out with various injuries; Hill has been able to provide quality minutes in their absence.

Hawks head coach Nate McMillian opened up about losing Hill.

“It’s tough,” coach Nate McMillan said. “Any time you lose a player for the season, it’s tough because he was not only a player that has filled roles for us, starting back last season, he’s that emotional leader for us. He’s been a big-time voice for us in the locker room, both on and off the floor. It’s a real big loss for us.

The post Atlanta Hawks Forward Solomon Hill to Miss The Rest of The Season appeared first on SLAM.

According to League insider Shams Charania, Ball and Terry Rozier are expected to be out 10 days unless they test negatively for COVID-19 within 24 hours. News on Mason Plumlee and Jalen McDaniels has yet to be released.

UPDATE: @hornets have placed the following players in the NBA's Health and Safety Protocols: LaMelo Ball, Jalen McDaniels, Mason Plumlee and Terry Rozier

— Charlotte Hornets PR (@HornetsPR) December 4, 2021

ESPN League insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the team sent players and staff home due to internal concerns of more positive COVID-19 tests coming. In further response to the potential outbreak and to add more emergency depth, the Hornets recalled James Bouknight, Vernon Carey Jr., and Kai Jones from the Greensboro Swarm, their G-League affiliate. 

OFFICIAL: We have recalled James Bouknight, Vernon Carey Jr. and Kai Jones from the @greensboroswarm. #AllFly pic.twitter.com/7nPeLCz41i

— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) December 4, 2021

The transactions will help the Hornets have the necessary eight players when they return to the court Sunday against the Hawks. Charlotte also has games this upcoming week against the Philadelphia 76ers (Monday and Wednesday) and the Sacramento Kings (Friday).

The NBA mandates that any player who has a confirmed positive test for COVID-19 must isolate away from his team for at least 10 days. Following that 10-day window, a player must undergo a cardiac screening and reconditioning in order to return to the team and court. A player can also clear protocols by recording two negative tests within 24 hours.

According to ESPN, since the season started, more than 20 players have been placed in the League’s health and safety protocols, including LeBron James. Last season nearly 30 games were postponed, but none were canceled due to COVID-19 reasons. The NBA hasn’t had to postpone a game thus far this season.

The Hornets (13-11) are currently seventh in the Eastern Conference standings.

The post LaMelo Ball Amongst Four Hornets Placed Into Health and Safety Protocols appeared first on SLAM.

However, this depth has continued to be diminished as the 2021-22 season goes on due to injuries. 

Atlanta entered the weekend already down a core player in De’Andre Hunter, but finished the weekend down two more players. In a loss to the New York Knicks, both Cam Reddish and Bogdan Bogdanovic got hurt. 

Reddish left the game early with a lingering wrist injury that proved to get worse in Saturday’s matchup, while Bogdanovic sprained his right ankle and left the contest early as well. 

While both of these injuries are minor, every game in the NBA counts. Especially with the fairly slow start the Hawks have had to the season, they need a fully healthy roster to achieve the goals they’ve set out. 

In the absence of three key players on the wing in the near future, Atlanta will need rotational pieces to step up and fill the void left behind. 

Bogdanovic will be re-evaluated in two weeks and Reddish is day-to-day moving forward. 

The post Hawks Continue to Face Injury Issues appeared first on SLAM.

Congrats to @ATLHawks head coach Nate McMillan for moving up to 19th on the all-time COACHING WINS list! #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/cnyySLrbUR

— NBA (@NBA) November 23, 2021

McMillan talked about the accomplishment briefly via NBA.com.

“I really didn’t even think about it,” he said. “I was more concerned with getting the sweep here at home.

“It’s just been a blessing for me to have the opportunity to even coach in this league. It’s something I never really thought about until the end of my career, and (former Seattle coach) George Karl asked me to be on his staff. To be able to have all the opportunities that I’ve had is really a blessing.”

He is now 10 wins shy of tying the late John MacLeod, who has 707 wins.

Coach McMillan has changed Atlanta’s fortunes after a surprising 4-9 start. Their current five-game winning streak has pulled them into a tie for 10th place in the Eastern Conference with the Cleveland Cavaliers. On Wednesday, the Hawks play the San Antonio Spurs to extend their winning streak to six games to get above .500.

The post Hawks Coach Nate McMillan Passes Red Holzman in All-Time Coaching Wins appeared first on SLAM.

Hawks‘ De’Andre Hunter will undergo surgery on a tendon injury in his right wrist and miss approximately two months.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 15, 2021

Hunter gave it a go, however, on Friday against the Denver Nuggets (9-4), clocking in a little over 21 minutes before being ruled out with right wrist soreness. The Hawks report Hunter had an MRI taken Saturday to confirm the injury and will miss approximately eight weeks. Hunter will be undergoing surgery today in Los Angeles.

In his third season, Hunter is averaging 10.8 points and 2.7 boards while shooting a career-high 39.5 percent from three. With his continued absence through mid-January, the floor has opened up for Cam Reddish, Delon Wright, and Lou Williams to see more impactful minutes with Kevin Huerter being inserted into the starting lineup.

Monday, Atlanta’s next test without Hunter will be against the 3-10 Magic at 7:30 p.m. EST.

The post REPORT: De’Andre Hunter to Undergo Right Wrist Surgery, Expected to Miss Eight Weeks appeared first on SLAM.

“I think guys are learning that,” Young said, “We’re no longer the hunters. It’s regular season. I’m not going to lie, it’s a lot more boring than the playoffs. You got to find that motivation to play like the playoffs.”

Young had a stat line of 21 points, 4 rebounds and 7 assists against the Utah Jazz, but the remainder of the roster struggled. 

The Hawks have now lost four of their last five games after a fast 3-1 start. Hawks head coach Nate McMillan says that the team “needs a spark”:

Nate McMillan said he has to evaluate the last two nights, at all positions:

“We need a spark. We need some energy to lift us, and we need some guys that’ll go out there and defend… We need two-way players, and not all of your energy focused on one end of the floor.”

— Sarah K. Spencer (@sarah_k_spence) November 5, 2021

Young is averaging 22.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 9.2 assists this season. The Hawks play the Suns on Saturday.

The post Trae Young: ‘You Got to Find That Motivation to Play like the Playoffs’ appeared first on SLAM.

Clarkson finished with a season-high 30 points in a 116-98 victory on the road while shooting 52.6 percent from the field. After the game, Clarkson said his teammates had been encouraging him to keep shooting the basketball and he made sure to express his appreciation for them, as well as the Jazz coaching staff and franchise for their support.

“Everybody just coming up to me and saying, ‘J.C., keep shooting, keep shooting. It’s gonna happen,'” Clarkson said per Yahoo! News. “That’s why I love this team. I love my teammates, I love the coaching staff, I love this organization. They believe in me and believe in what I can do. It’s beautiful.”

| “The biggest thing for me, I love my teammates, bro. This is, like, the best group of guys I’ve ever been around hooping and it makes me love coming to work.”#WalkoffInterview | @lhmauto pic.twitter.com/l0W7xfmj4K

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) November 5, 2021

Despite Clarkson shooting around, or under, 33.3 percent from three-point range throughout his first seven games, he’s made an impact in other ways by playing stronger defense and competing on both ends of the floor. He’s currently averaging 16.4 points per game this season.

The post Jordan Clarkson Credits Jazz Teammates After Victory Over the Hawks appeared first on SLAM.

In the fourth quarter, Collins caught an alley-oop from teammate Kevin Huerter and dunked right over Pistons’ Kelly Olynyk.

“I don’t even see the (defender) if I was to be genuinely honest with you,” Collins told The Athletic. “I don’t see most anybody because I’m so focused on the rim. My eyes are locked in on the rim. I’m more feel than see.”

When asked about how he manages to make these nasty dunks look easy, his answer was pretty simple:

“Dunking on folks, I’ve been doing this my whole life,” Collins told The Athletic. “It’s almost like a normality for me.”

Collins, who closed the night with 22 points, seven boards, and two assists, revealed that a key part to his dunking mayhem includes working on his hands in the weight room. And, after delivering a monster dunk like he did against Detroit, or the one he did three weeks ago against the Cavaliers, Collins says he feeds off of the energy:

“I’m feeling like the Hulk,” Collins said. “I hear the crowd. I see my teammates jumping up and giving me the strong man (look). I’m just energized because I know I just turned the building on. I turned the energy on. That gives everybody energy, including myself. I just try to feed off of that.”

The post ‘I’m Feeling Like the Hulk’: Hawks John Collins On the Feeling Behind His Monster Dunks appeared first on SLAM.

With much success in 2020-21, Hawks general manager Travis Schlenk has put an emphasis on the team’s effort level, reminding them to show up each game:

“…Last year, our goal was to get into the playoffs and we were able to do that, and then obviously have the success in the playoffs,” he said, per CBS Sports’ Bill Reiter.

“And so now, it’s for a group of young guys to understand that, as you said, when we go play on a Tuesday night in the middle of February, you’re going to get the other team’s best effort, so you’ve got to show up every night, because you’re on the radar now. Teams aren’t going to overlook you anymore.” 

Following the conversation of effort, it was only fitting that star guard Trae Young’s name was mentioned.

Young, who averaged 25.3 points, 9.4 assists, and 3.9 rebounds last season, was the engine leading the Hawks to the Conference Finals.

“First and foremost, one of the big positives about Trae is he always continues to work.” Schlenk added.

“He puts in a lot of work during the summertime. He wants that mantle to be: consistent All-Star, in the upper echelons of the league.

So he’s going to continue to work even once he gets there, and he might be there now, like you alluded to, but he’s going to continue to stay there and to keep getting better and that’s … that’s ultimately when we start drafting players—those are the kinds of personalities you’re looking for. Guys with that hunger. You know he’s always had that chip on his shoulder since Day 1 and I don’t think he’s going to lose that.”

When asked about Ice Trae’s “ceiling,” Schlenk’s response was: “I think if you’d ask him, the first thing he’s going to say is probably a championship before the individual awards, but I think that’s certainly what he’s going to shoot for.”

After defeating the Dallas Mavericks, 113-87, in the season opener on Thursday night, the Hawks will continue to look to up the momentum from last season.

The post Hawks GM Travis Schlenk on Trae Young’s ‘Ceiling,’ How Team Can Improve appeared first on SLAM.

Huerter, now 23-years-old, was the 19th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.

Since coming into the league, Huerter has displayed his playmaking chops in secondary and tertiary roles while earning a respectable reputation on the defensive end. However, with a career 3-point percentage of 37.6 (with a career average of 11.2 points per game), Huerter’s most consistent and prized ability is his outside shooting.

On a team led by a dominant playmaker like Trae Young, Huerter’s skillset compliments what the team needs whether he’s in a starting role or in the second unit. To that point, Huerter has remained professional throughout frequent role changes, and has endeared himself to the Hawks fan base with his passionate play.

Preparing to enter his third season, Huerter’s original contract was set to expire in 2022.

The post REPORT: Hawks, Kevin Huerter Agree to Four-Year, $65 Million Extension appeared first on SLAM.

McMillan relayed to reporters that Young was held out of practice on Tuesday due to swelling.

Although the Hawks now have enough talent to survive brief periods without their superstar-in-the-making, any length of time without the playmaking savant on the court handicaps a team that’s now being taken seriously in the public eye after Nate McMillan’s takeover as head coach.

That being said, McMillan plans to be cautious with Young’s rehabilitation, and understandably so.

Spencer also reports that Atlanta is considering sitting Young for the Hawks’ preseason game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, after Young sustained a right knee contusion while playing against the Miami Heat in their 2021-22 preseason opener.

With the unprecedented number of injuries in the 2020-21 season seeming to be a byproduct of a short offseason turnaround, it’ll be worth monitoring the notoriously hard-working Young’s quad pain persists. Particularly with the high usage role that he has for an Atlanta team looking to return to the playoffs in a tougher Eastern Conference.

The post REPORT: Hawks Star Trae Young Suffers Quad Contusion appeared first on SLAM.

The third overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, Okafor played for the Pistons last season after signing with the team in December, averaging 5.4 points and 2.4 boards in the 27 games he played in. Prior to his stint with Detroit, the former Blue Devil played for the Nets, Philadelphia 76ers and New Orleans Pelicans, averaging 11.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in just 20.4 minutes per game.

As Atlanta enters training camp ahead of the 2021-22 season, Okafor will battle for spot on the 15-man roster with former Nets forward Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, who has also signed a non-guaranteed contract with the Hawks.

The 6-10 big man, who came into the league praised for his interior scoring, is coming off of his first-ever Olympic appearance for the Nigerian men’s national basketball team (D’Tigers). Although D’Tigers failed to advance from Pool B, Okafor averaged 9.0 points and 4.7 rebounds in 15.0 minutes per game (3 contests) while shooting 85.7 percent from the field.

With Atlanta already being stacked at the pivot, between starter Clint Capela, second-year center Onyeka Okongwu and the recently signed Gorgui Dieng, Okafor’s chances of sticking with the Hawks aren’t ideal. However, with Okongwu recovering from a shoulder surgery that will sideline him through December and Dieng’s ability to play power forward (he’s shot 37.8 percent from 3-point range over the past two seasons), Okafor could find himself not just on the roster, but on the floor for Atlanta.

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Quavo, a member of the popular rap group the Migos, got the chance to speak up about his relationship with both Atlanta Hawks to point guard Trae Young and Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James.

LeBron—long known to run with the biggest stars in hip-hop—is one of the few people who get early access to new Migos music Quavo states.

“I feel like it’s organic, and then if we just feeling the vibes, I know he needs music,” Quavo told Rooks.

He went on to also explain if James offers creative feedback on their music.

“Most definitely,” he said. “I think so. For sure…He knows the objective. He gets the point, and I feel like, with music and sports, I feel like we need that fuel.”

A Georgia native who was raised in Atlanta, Quavo also discusses his relationship with Young, the face of the Hawks’ franchise. Quavo coined Trae with the nickname “Ice Trae” back in 2018, a nickname that the young star has since embraced. The two begin to foster a relationship overtime as the Hawks grow as a contender under Trae Young.

“He good man, just coolin’. He really just be chillin. He don’t like to do too much. He just be coolin’, trying to work,” Quavo stated. “He in the ‘A’ to stay and we proud of him. It’s just a good feeling when I see him out there, you know what I’m saying.”

“Words can’t even explain it. That’s just my dawg. So whenever he hoop, I be feeling like I’m hoopin.'”

The post Hip-Hop Star, Quavo, Breaks Down Relationship with NBA Stars LeBron James and Trae Young appeared first on SLAM.

The Hawks have signed Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot to a one-year, non-guaranteed deal, sources told @TheAthleticNBA. Luwawu-Cabarrot spent the past two seasons with the Brooklyn Nets.

— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) September 9, 2021

Luwawu-Cabarrot has a known reputation as a solid defender within the League. His most recent team was the Brooklyn Nets where he was playing alongside Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden, all ball-dominant players. His role with the Nets was to defend the best guard or wing player while spacing the floor on offense. During his two seasons with the Nets, Luwawu-Cabarrot averaged 7.1 points and 2.5 rebounds in 105 regular season games.

For the Atlanta Hawks, this deal is proactive using a very low risk, but high reward type of execution.

With some NBA teams monitoring the future of Cam Reddish, the team is probably safeguarding against the possibility of losing him in free agency or being able to use him in a trade to upgrade the roster. If Reddish stays, then Luwawu-Cabarrot will be a solid training camp player that will work hard in scrimmages to help the Hawks chemistry wise on offense and defense.

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Capela, who only had two years remaining on his previous contract, came up big last season for the Hawks, leading the league rebounding at 14.2 per game while anchoring the defense for a team that surprised and shocked everyone on the way to the Eastern Conference Finals. 

In the postseason itself, of which he was no stranger of as a former member of the James Harden-led Houston Rockets, Capela continued to shine. Averaging 10.1 and 11.2 points per game throughout the 2021 NBA Playoffs, Capela’s toughness and experience only served to magnify his contributions.

As a result, he’s been handsomely rewarded.

Per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Sarah K. Spencer, Hawks general manager Travis Schlenk views Capela as a vocal leader and long-term piece for their team:

“Clint is one of the premier defensive and rebounding big men in the league,” Hawks GM Travis Schlenk said. “His presence in the paint and voice on defense had a tremendous impact on our success last season. He is a great teammate who leads by example and we are excited to have him as a part of our team long-term.”

The post Clint Capela Agrees to Two-Year, $46 Million Contract Extension with Hawks appeared first on SLAM.

The 20-year-old Newark, NJ native can flat out ball. But we already knew that. Last night’s game however, proved Cooper slid way too far on draft night.

Cooper dropped 21 points and dished out nine assists while shooting 8-for-14 from the field and cashing in on five 3-pointer in the Atlanta Hawks 84-83 win over the Indiana Pacers.

The Auburn prospect has a sensational feel for the game, which kicked in with three seconds left on the clock as he melted out to the corner three after seeing an offensive rebound out of the corner of his eye.

.@SharifeCooper called GAME!!! pic.twitter.com/X62hvUDBcI

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) August 10, 2021

Cooper is averaging 16 points and 7.5 assists per game while shooting 52 percent from the field thus far in summer league. Cooper and the Hawks have two remaining games left in MGM Resorts NBA Summer League, with matchups against the 76ers and heat on Thursday and Saturday.

The post Sharife Cooper Calls Game in Hawks 84-83 Win Over the Pacers appeared first on SLAM.

Upon entering free agency this summer, he was an attractive veteran target, with everyone around the League knowing how great of a scorer he is. However, as reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic, Williams will be re-signing with Atlanta on a one-year, $5 million deal.

After having a successful draft and productive offseason thus far, the Hawks are well-positioned to make noise in the 2021-22 season as well. With Williams back, their bench will once again have quite a bit of firepower. 

The post Lou Williams Returning To Hawks On One-Year Deal appeared first on SLAM.

A restricted free agent, Collins has long since expressed a desire to remain with the Hawks when his rookie contract expired but reportedly believed his play was deserving of a maximum salary contract, which he was holding out for (h/t The Athletic and Stadium’s Shams Charania).

Collins’ athleticism, shooting range and hustle had made him all but a franchise cornerstone in Atlanta but now he has the contract to confirm his status.

A player who produced consistently every season, Collins’ 2020-21 campaign was an extension of his near All-Star-worthy 2019-20 season, as he finished the year with averages of 17.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game (with a true shooting percentage of 64.5) despite sharing the frontcourt with Clint Capela (14.3 rebounds per game) and Danilo Gallinari (13.3 points per game).

After the first playoff run of his career, John The Baptist only increased the likelihood he would be resigned, not only crashing the glass and doing the dirty work but taking it to his opponent’s without fear.

With Collins locked in for the foreseeable future, the Hawks will look continue to developing internally, banking on the combination of their young core—led by superstar Trae Young—and veteran additions to lift them to the top of the Eastern Conference.

The post REPORT: John Collins Agrees to Five-Year, $125 Million Contract with Hawks appeared first on SLAM.

Young has not only been responsible for revitalizing the Hawks franchise with his exceptional displays of talent, craftiness, showmanship but he’s embraced the culture and city of Atlanta like few before him have been able to do. Indeed, at this juncture, Young all but encapsulates what the Hawks hope to convey when they step on the floor.

Hard work and humility balanced by unflappable confidence.

After averaging 25.3 points and 9.4 assists per game on a true shooting percentage of 58.9 in the 2020-21 regular season, Young led the Hawks on a surprising run through the Eastern Conference Playoffs that saw them fall just two wins short of making a NBA Finals appearance.

Though Atlanta’s young core was perfectly supplemented by veterans on the roster and coaching staff by the time the postseason began, it was still Young’s heroics that allowed them to repeatedly exceed expectations.

Averaging 28.8 points, 9.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game in the postseason, Young left the court to many a standing ovation, with eight games of at least 30 points (including dropping 48 points against the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals).

Suffice it to say, Young is a preeminent talent for the Hawks; his max rookie extension was less a question of “if he would receive it” and more of “how soon could he sign his name on the dotted line?”

The post Trae Young Agrees to Five-Year, $207 Million Max Rookie Extension with Hawks appeared first on SLAM.

It’s a move that looks like it will benefit all parties as Atlanta receives a solid backup guard in Wright who averages 10.2 points, 4.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game last season while shooting .372 percent from 3-point range.

Although the Hawks selected talented point guard Sharife Cooper in the 2021 NBA Draft, having Wright onboard not only prevents Atlanta to work the rookie point guard in a rotation before he’s ready and being over-reliant on the elite Trae Young because they lack enough production from their backup point guard.

In return, the Hawks only had to surrender Dunn, who missed all but four games last season due to injury. At 27-years-old, the former fifth overall pick has not lived up to his billing out of Providence but a return to the New England area and playing for a competitive team that prides itself of defense (Dunn’s specialty) may see him providing valuable minutes for the re-tooling Celtics.

If nothing else, Dunn is great value as depth. The same could be said for Fernando, a skilled big man whose role was frequently diminished in Atlanta due to the arrivals of Clint Capela and the sixth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Onyeka Okongwu.

As for the Kings, having a blue-collar worker on the court like Thompson will fit the mold of their offseason thus far after they selected Davion Mitchell and Neemias Queta in Thursday’s draft.

While it lessens the likelihood that shot-blocking big man Richaun Holmes is re-signed, another benefit of adding Thompson is the latter’s prowess at creating screen assists, which will be quite beneficial to Sacramento’s projected three-guard starting lineup.

Thompson, who would likely prefer playing on a bonafide playoff contender, could also eventually be re-routed by the Kings. Though it appeared that the big man had found a home in Boston, the Celtics at least appear to be all-in on Robert “Time Lord” Williams III, as well as recently acquired bigs Al Horford and Moses Brown.

The post Hawks, Kings, Celtics Reportedly Agree to Three-Team Trade appeared first on SLAM.

On Thursday, the Hawks made their first key move of the offseason, extending a qualifying offer to Collins and making the four-year pro a restricted free agent, according to The Atheltic’s Shams Charania.

Collins’ qualifying offer is reported to be around $7.7 million for one year, which is unlikely to be enough to keep the big man on board with rumors continue that he could get a contact offer at near-max value. Adding fuel to that speculation is the report that Collins turned down a $90 million extension from the Hawks earlier this season, making his opinion of his market value clear.

As a restricted free agent, Atlanta will have the opportunity to match any deal offered to Collins by another NBA franchise, which creates a safety net for the Hawks should they have trouble negotiating a new contract with him prior to next season. It also opens up sign-and-trade opportunities, with Atlanta able to receive some level of compensation for the loss of a dependable starter.

Continuing to build upon a strong 2019-20 campaign, Collins is coming off a monster season for the Hawks, helping to lead them to the Eastern Conference Finals. Collins ended the year with averages of 17.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game on 55.6 shooting from the field and 39.9 percent from three.

The Hawks finished the season fifth in the Eastern Conference standings and came just two wins shy of a trip to the NBA Finals, thanks in large part to the hustle and inside-out ability of John the Baptist.

The post Hawks Extend Qualifying Offer to John Collins appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

King KD, basketball savant (and renowned tweeter).

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

King Giannis the Humble, of Greece and Nigeria.

King Kawhi, the second cyborg on this list.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

At the time, Stevens was the head coach of the Boston Celtics and Ainge was the General Manager.

They both told me he was special before the draft. I thought he was too small and that is why they are the best and I’m just the white mamba

— Brian Scalabrine (@Scalabrine) July 10, 2021

Former Celtics big man and current NBA analyst, Brian Scalabrine commented on the post stating that both Ainge and Stevens had praised Trae Young highly heading to the 2018 NBA Draft. Even though Scalabrine admitted that he believed Trae’s size was an issue, he’s thankful that he was proven wrong in the end.

Before this postseason, Trae was often overlooked due to the exploits of Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic, the player that the Atlanta Hawks traded on draft night for Young’s rights. But after Trae’s first playoff performance against the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers, leading to the Hawks’ appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals, those days are over. His record-setting scoring performance against Milwaukee cemented his status as an NBA star.

Trae’s father and Scalabrine shared an exchange in the comments section under the post.

Even though I thought he was small. I did think he was a top 5 passer I’ve ever seen and that was his rookie year. And to be honest he might be even better then that. Thanks for the kind words

— Brian Scalabrine (@Scalabrine) July 10, 2021

Trae Young’s play made a strong statement this past season and the Hawks fanbase can’t wait to see what’s next. As he continues to get better, there will probably be more posts with stories like these in the future from his father. 

The post Ray Young Posts Throwback Photo of a young Trae with Brad Stevens, Danny Ainge appeared first on SLAM.

McMillan had been Atlanta’s interim head coach since March 1, when the Hawks decided to part ways with current Indiana Pacers assistant coach Lloyd Pierce after two-plus seasons with the team.

A head coach for the Pacers prior to joining Atlanta’s staff last November, McMillan’s extensive experience both as a player and coach allowed him to right a sinking ship in the Southeast.

Under McMillan, the Hawks went 27-11 in the regular season (after a 14-20 start), winning 71.1 percent of their contests after he took the reigns.

While the Hawks’ Cinderella run was the first time McMillan had reached the Conference Finals as a coach, McMillan’s structured approach was undoubtedly a catalyst for one of the East’s deepest teams achieving their success.

Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, McMillan’s deal with Atlanta is for four years, with the franchise agreeing to promote the former NBA guard after the Hawks reached the Eastern Conference Finals.

The success that the Phoenix Suns are currently having may not be all too far away for the Hawks, let alone far-fetched. That’s why, with a long-term contract for one of the game’s best head coaches, Atlanta has already gotten the jump on being one of the NBA’s teams to beat.

With the Hawks rolling but still having plenty of room to improve, the sky is the limit for an emerging league power.

The post Hawks, HC Nate McMillan Agree to Four-Year Deal appeared first on SLAM.

The Hawks got their star back in Trae Young in this game while the Bucks held out Giannis again. It didn’t matter as the Bucks did just enough to win the series to face the Phoenix Suns for the NBA title next week.

No. 3 Bucks 118, No. 5 Hawks 107

Bucks win series 4-2. They will return to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1974.

This game was won for the Milwaukee Bucks in the third quarter. The Bucks put up 44 points led by a scoring explosion by Khris Middleton. Middleton dropped 23 (including 16 straight Bucks points) of his game high 32 points coming out of halftime.

Khash money. (via @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/ZGcfYptVwo

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) July 4, 2021

Then when the Hawks mounted a 21-7 run in the fourth quarter, it was Jrue Holiday making big play after big play to make sure Milwaukee would advance. He finished with 27 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists and 4 steals.

Smooth. (via @Bucks) pic.twitter.com/ffeKZUaZW5

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) July 4, 2021

Trae Young really tried to give it a go, but his ankle made it hard for him to penetrate to run the pick and roll, which is basically the Hawks half court offense. He finished with only 14 points (4-17 shooting) and 9 assists. Cam Reddish had a coming out party leading the Hawks in scoring with 21 points. Bogdan Bogdanovic had 20.

Ultimately it was the inability for the Hawks to get timely rebounds late and their turnovers did them in. Milwaukee scored 25 points off of 16 Atlanta turnovers.

Game 1 of the NBA Finals is on Tuesday.

The post Post Up: Milwaukee Bucks Beat Atlanta to Advance to the NBA Finals appeared first on SLAM.

After exiting Game 4 loss to the Atlanta Hawks with a left knee injury, Antetokounmpo is scheduled for a MRI on Wednesday (according to ESPN’s Malika Andrews).

The Bucks called the injury an hyperextension after the game on Tuesday.

Giannis hurt his knee trying to block an alley-oop dunk by Hawks center Clint Capela at the seven minutes mark in the third quarter. The two-time MVP buckled his knee and was on the floor for a while before being helped off the floor.

Giannis appears to have injured his leg.

Prayers up pic.twitter.com/cHZXCIsBEd

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 30, 2021

Bucks head coach, Mike Budenholzer, weighed in on what he observed after the game.

“It just looked like their legs got tangled up. They both landed awkwardly. That’s what I saw live. I haven’t seen anything else.”

After Antetokounmpo’s injury, Milwaukee fell apart; following a made basket from Jrue Holiday, the Bucks offense went scoreless for three and a half minutes. Atlanta would use that drought to go on a 15-0 run of their own to effectively put the game away.

Ultimately, Milwaukee was defeated 110-88 by a Hawks team without Trae Young and the series is now tied at 2-2.

Now that the series shifts back to the Bucks home court, the results of Giannis’ MRI looms large determining his status for Game 5 and beyond. Bucks forward, Khris Middleton, believes the team will be okay to hold down the fort if the two-time MVP does not return.

“We’ll see what happens with Giannis,” Middleton said. “It would be great if he plays, but if not, we still have a capable team of going out there and winning.”

Game 5 between the Bucks and Hawks is slated for July 1 on TNT.

[Update: ESPN’s Adrian Wojanrowski and Zach Lowe report that there’s no structural damage to Antetokounmpo’s left knee.]

The post Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo Scheduled for MRI on Injured Left Knee appeared first on SLAM.

We broke down Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals here. 

No. 3 Bucks 88, No. 5 Hawks 110

Series Tied 2-2

In a game where the Hawks were heavy underdogs without an injured Trae Young, Atlanta came out hot, getting even with the Bucks as they tied the series. What’s worse for the Bucks is that Giannis Antetokounmpo left the game early with a left knee hyper-extension and would not return. With his status for the rest of the series up in the air, momentum shifted heavily in Game 4.

Lou Williams led the Hawks in scoring, stepping in as a starter with 21 points on just nine shots. Bogdan Bogdanovic converted on six threes, finishing with 20 points of his own. Milwaukee struggled tremendously on offense, with nobody eclipsing the 20-point mark on Tuesday night. Jrue Holiday tried carrying the offense with 19 points and nine assists but didn’t get much help from the remainder of the team, especially with Antetokounmpo going down after playing just 24 minutes.

The post Post Up: Hawks Soar Without Trae Young appeared first on SLAM.

We broke down this matchup here.

No. 3 Bucks 113, No. 5 Hawks 102

MIL Leads Series 2-1

In a pivotal Game 3 matchup, the Milwaukee Bucks took the series lead over the Atlanta Hawks. It was a night in which Khris Middleton took control late, outscoring the Hawks by himself in the fourth quarter. He finished with 38 points and 11 rebounds, as the momentum has fully shifted in the Bucks’ favor.

Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 33 point of his own while Bobby Portis contributed 15 points off the bench. Trae Young went down with an ankle injury in the second half, but still finished with 35 points. Danillo Gallinari provided a bench spark for the Hawks with 18 points, but it wasn’t enough in the Game 3 loss.

The post Post Up: Bucks Take Control of East appeared first on SLAM.

No. 3 Milwaukee Bucks 125, No. 5 Atlanta Hawks 91

Series tied 1-1

After the Bucks lost to the Hawks in Game 1, the story was all about stopping Trae Young after his 48 points and 11 assists masterpiece. Even Inside the NBA’s Shaquille O’Neal was fired up when debating about it with Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith.

“HE GOT CROSSED UP!” @SHAQ got heated talking with @TheJetOnTNT and Chuck about this Trae Young play. pic.twitter.com/jfPMHO5tH0

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 24, 2021

The Bucks rolled out a defensive scheme full of adjustments to slow Ice Trae to the point the Hawks’ offense was seemingly frozen. Trae Young came back to Earth with 15 points (6-16 shooting) and 9 turnovers as the Bucks put together a 43 point second quarter to put the game away.

The combination of the big men moving their defensive support in the pick and roll from the paint to the 3 point line forced numerous turnovers that got the fast break rolling for Milwaukee.

Length of the court in 3 dribbles… FREAKY. (via @Bucks) pic.twitter.com/KuyuZ7O1Ou

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) June 26, 2021

Giannis Antetokounmpo put on a post-move clinic scoring 25 points while Jrue Holiday had 22 points with much-improved defense to spearhead a better overall performance for the Bucks.

Game 3 is set to take place on Sunday in Atlanta.

The post Post Up: Bucks Dominate the Hawks In Game 2 and Even the Series appeared first on SLAM.

(#3) Milwaukee Bucks 113, (#5) Atlanta Hawks 116

ATL leads 1-0

Trae Young has had an outstanding playoffs but Wednesday night, the up-and-coming suprstar may have been his best game to date.

Young, facing a long and lean Bucks squad led by two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, went for 48 points, 11 assists and six rebounds in the Hawks’ nail-biter victory. He was so dominant, in fact, that he scored or assisted on 80 of the 108 points scored by Atlanta when he was on the floor.

Hawks forward John Collins continued to play strongly, hustling his way to 23 points and 15 rebounds, while the steady Clint Capela finished with 12 points and 19 rebounds.

Despite the loss, Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday both played stellar games.

The Greek Freak had a team-high 34 points with Holiday not far behind, chipping in 33 points of his own. It was another night to forget for Khris Middelton, however.

Middleton ended the night on 15 points, shooting a woeful 6-for-23 from the field and 0-for-9 from three.

However, despite a substandard game from Middleton, Milwaukee held a 111-110 lead with less than two minutes to go and were in the game all the way until the final horn sounded.

The Bucks will have the chance to even the series on Friday night in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, looking to avoid another slow start in a series against a formidable team.

The post Post Up: Hawks Make a Statment in Game One appeared first on SLAM.

SLAM breaks down two anticipated playoff thrillers that may lead to conference finals this weekend:

No.1 Philadelphia 76ers 104, No.5 Atlanta Hawks 99

Series tied 3-3. Game 7 is Sunday on TNT.

If the 76ers had handled business the way they should have, this series would be over by now. Doc Rivers’ quotes went from virtually guaranteeing a Game 7 to this:

‘Win the game, be aggressive, play. … I think our guys are ready, but you never know.’

Hawks have come back from 18 and 26 points in Games 4 and 5 respectively

What will happen tonight? pic.twitter.com/b374bakl8p

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 18, 2021

What the Sixers gave their coach and frustrated fanbase was heart, grit and determination. They needed all three to survive Trae Young’s performance.

Young continued his historic run, quite literally shooting the lights out in the arena and finishing with 34 points and 12 assists. He’s had 20+ points and 7+ assists in 11 straight games, which has tied for the longest streak in NBA postseason history.

Trae literally shut the lights out in Atlanta. pic.twitter.com/nOI6p5umWA

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 19, 2021

Still, despite his performance, it was not enough as the 76ers forced a Game 7 on Sunday.

How did Philadelphia win? Dominating the offensive rebounds (14) and hitting free throws down the stretch. That and a whole lot of Tyrese Maxey.

No.4 Los Angeles Clippers 131, No.1 Utah Jazz 119

Clippers win series 4-2. Game 1 vs. Phoenix Suns will be on ESPN on Sunday.

The questions leading into this matchup centered around the backcourt of both teams.

Number one: Would Michael Conley Jr. return to the lineup?

Number two: Would Donovan Mitchell be able to play?

While Conley Jr. has been dealing with a hamstring injury, Michell came out playing very well. He scored 16 points in the first quarter alone. Instead of standing out at the 3 point line, the “Spida” Man attacked the basket and gashed the interior defense.

Spida smooth with it (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/jk6BS4Fp2l

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) June 19, 2021

After struggling in Game 5, Mitchell finished with 39 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists. This report sadly does not illustrate how hard he played.

Number three: Would Paul George continue his dominant play after three straight 30 point games?

Not until the second half. The Utah Jazz put together a game plan making sure that there was no sight of “Playoff P”. Then he got unleashed and finished with 28 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists.

But they sure didn’t stop Terance “Mama, there goes that” Mann. This video summed up the Mann/Gobert matchup.

TERANCE IS A VERY BAD MANN. (via @LAClippers) pic.twitter.com/6x8S3xQnUv

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) June 19, 2021

The Jazz decided to allow Gobert to match up with Mann to disastrous results. Terance helped the Clippers get back the game sparking a 17-0 run to help them take the lead in the fourth quarter. He finished with 39 points.

Before Mann’s explosion, the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year winner Jordan Clarkson was shooting lights out in the first half. He scored 17 straight points in the second quarter to get Utah a 20 point lead at halftime.

Automatic. (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/Z3KY67LBup

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) June 19, 2021

So, how did the Clippers come back from 25 points down in the second half to win? They got into a zone from the 3 point line in the left corner exposing the newly crowned defensive player of the year, Rudy Gobert, and Reggie Jackson joined Terance Mann in destroying any Jazz player in front of him. He finished with 27 points, 10 assists, and 3 steals.

The Clippers outscored Utah 81-47 in the second half.

The post Post Up: Two Number One Seeds Battle to Continue Seasons On the Road appeared first on SLAM.

No. 1 Philadelphia 76ers 106, No. 5 Atlanta Hawks 109

Atl leads 3-2

It looked like the 76ers had this game wrapped up early, taking a 26 point lead in the first half. But in the fourth quarter, the Hawks came roaring back to take a three-point win. Trae Young again led the Hawks in scoring, dropping 39 points, seven assists and three steals. The Hawks got good minutes from their bench, with Danilo Gallinari scoring 16 points and Lou Williams going for 15. John Collins had a 19 point, 11 rebound double-double, his second game in a row with a double-double.

The 76ers got monster games from Joel Embiid and Seth Curry. Embiid finished with 37 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists, and Curry had 36 points, seven rebounds, and two steals. Unfortunately, Embiid and Curry were the only ones who made their presence known on offense. The duo were the only two 76ers players to score a field goal in the second half. No other player broke double-digit scoring; Ben Simmons and Furkan Korkmaz both got to eight points.

Now headed back to Atlanta, the 76ers will need to win this crucial Game 6 on Friday night to force a Game 7.

No. 1 Utah Jazz 111, No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers 119

LAC leads series 3-2

After news broke, concerns were plenty among Clippers fans that Kawhi Leonard would not be playing Wednesday night due to a knee injury. But Paul George would steal the highlights, sending the Clippers to a road game victory. George had a crazy night, going for a game-high 37 points and 16 rebounds while chipping in five assists and two blocks. Reggie Jackson and Marcus Morris Sr. had strong evenings, with Morris going for 25 points and Jackson 22. As a team, the Clippers couldn’t miss, shooting 51.2 percent from the field and 40 percent from three.

The Jazz had a tough night defensively, struggling to contain George, but Donovan Mitchell had a night to forget. While his 21 points don’t jump out at you, his 6-for19 shooting splits are an eyesore. Bojan Bogdanovic had a lights-out shooting night to keep the Jazz in the game, scoring a team-high 32 points on 9-for-17 shooting from three-point range. The Jazz really missed Mike Conley, Mitchell, and Jordan Clarkson split point guard duties with limited success to replicate Conley’s impact.

Utah will have the chance to even the series on the road in LA in Game 6 on Friday night.

The post Post Up: Underdogs Take the Lead appeared first on SLAM.

The competition committee and the League’s GMs are going to meet next week to iron out specific examples to bring to the Governors for a vote. 

Sources: NBA’s Competition Committee met Monday to further explore rules changes to restrict unnatural motions on jump shots players use to draw fouls. NBA wants to limit players – including stars like Trae Young, James Harden – from leaning backwards and sideways to draw fouls.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 14, 2021

This potential rule change is a direct response to a number of specific players who have abused the current set of rules to unnaturally initiate contact with their defender, and subsequently go to the foul line.

Brooklyn Nets superstar James Harden and Atlanta Hawks All-Star Trae Young are the prime examples of players who abuse this loophole (Young has become so well-known for it that New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio called him out for it in a now-viral video).

Subsequently, Young and Harden consistently rank near the top of the league in free-throw attempts. In fact, this season, Young ranked third this season and Harden had been the league’s leader in free-throw attempts for the previous six seasons.

A new rule could significantly hinder their attempts, and, subsequently, decrease their scoring output.

According to Woj, the league has compiled a compilation of video examples and have shared them with all 30 teams.

The competition committee and the League’s GMs are going to meet next week to iron out specific examples to bring to the Governors for a vote. 

There’s a plan for the competition committee to introduce a set of recommendations to the NBA Board of Governors at some point this summer and for those rules to be set prior to when the 2021-22 Summer League begins in August.

The post NBA to Explore Rule Changes that Limit Unnatural Shooting Motions appeared first on SLAM.

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

Series tied 2-2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Series tied 2-2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Just days ago, the Los Angeles Lakers—the 2020-21 NBA champions—were sent home in the first round, along with their opponent in the 2021 NBA Finals (the Miami Heat).

With the likes of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Damian Lillard, Luka Dončić and Jayson Tatum—many of the league’s preeminent stars— are already on vacation, the NBA is seeing yet another year of statistical anomalies.

For first time since 2016, an Eastern Conference team could walk away with the Larry O’Brien Trophy and, amidst all of the potential outcomes, one stands above the rest; the NBA naming it’s first first-time champion since the Toronto Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors in the 2019 NBA Finals.

There’s a 62 percent chance the league crowns a brand new league champ in June.

None of the eight teams still alive in the NBA playoffs have won a title since the playoffs expanded to 16 teams in 1984. pic.twitter.com/1XN3vYRcw3

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 7, 2021

As none of the remaining teams have won the title since the League expanded to 16 postseason teams in 1984, they combine for 384 seasons without a title.

Five of the eight remaining teams haven’t won a title in their franchise’s history; the Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz all have the opportunity to chase their first franchise championship.

The Jazz, perhaps the closest of the group to winning an NBA championship, were handed back-to-back NBA Finals losses in 1997 and 1998. The Suns have lost both of their appearances as well, one in 1976 and the other in 1993.

Meanwhile, the Atlanta Hawks haven’t brought back the trophy since 1958, the Milwaukee Bucks since 1971 and the Philadelphia Sixers since 1983.

The post The NBA Could Crown a First-Time Champion Come July appeared first on SLAM.

Throughout this intense series of games, Young became somewhat of a villain in New York, interacting with the crowd frequently. At one point, a fan even spit on Young in a string of fan incidents in the first round of the playoffs. 

Young would have a spectacular start to his playoff career, averaging 29.2 points and 9.8 assists per game. 

In Game 1, he became the first player to have 25 points and 10 assists in his playoff debut since Derrick Rose did it in 2009. Young capped this night off with a game-winning floater. 

In the series, Young became the third player in NBA history to lead their team in points and assists (including ties) in each of his first 5+ career NBA playoff games.

He ended the series with a dagger from beyond the arc, followed by a bow to the crowd of fans in Madison Square Garden. 

After the game, he made sure to speak on what the bow meant in an interview with ESPN’s Andrew Lopez and the rest of the media. 

“I know where we are. I know there’s a bunch of shows around this city. And I know what they do when the show is over.”

In the second round, Young and the Hawks will take on the Philadelphia 76ers, as Joel Embiid’s health is in question. 

The post Trae Young Ends Playoff Series Debut With A Bow appeared first on SLAM.

In what have been two of the most discussed first-round matchups, Dallas Mavericks floor general Luka Doncic stole the spotlight in the final game of the evening thanks to his 42-point, 14-assist outing.

But was it enough to get past a Los Angeles Clippers team that had won two straight to even the series?

No. 1 Philadelphia 76ers 129, No. 8 Washington Wizards 112

PHI wins series 4-1

The first of three teams to be bounced from the playoffs tonight, the Washington Wizards couldn’t hang with the Philadelphia 76ers even without Joel Embiid playing.

Sharpshooter Seth Curry exploded for a team-high 30 points and Defensive Player of the Year finalist Ben Simmons silenced his critics with 19 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds, one steal and two blocks. Meanwhile, veteran forward Tobias Harris rounded off a nice first-round series with 28 points and six assists of his own.

Washington showed some promise at points over the five-game series but, ultimately, Philly had too much talent for the D.C.-based squad.

The Wizards got another good game from youngster Rui Hachimura, who had 21 points on 8-for-13 from the field. All-Star Bradley Beal capped off another spectacular season with a game-high 32 points, while Russell Westbrook chipped in 24 points, 10 assists and 8 rebounds.

Nonetheless, Washington’s lack of depth proved to be costly down the stretch. The Wizards trailed by just two at halftime, but as the game got deeper, Washington’s starters began to lose steam, and Philadelphia pulled away.

No. 4 New York Knicks 89, No. 5 Atlanta Hawks 103

ATL wins series 4-1

The New York Knicks disappointed a packed Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night when they were the second team pf the day to be eliminated from the playoffs.

In what was a tough series for the big man, Knicks star forward Julius Randle had another disappointing outing for New York, putting up 21 points on 8-for-21 shooting, while also turning the ball over eight times.

Randle finished the playoffs averaging 18 points, 4.0 assists and 4.6 turnovers per game while shooting 29.8 percent from the field—a stark contrast from the 45.6 percent he shot from the floor in the regular season.

Reggie Bullock, who averaged 8.0 points on 37.9 percent shooting from the field and 28.6 percent from 3-point range, started the game off well. Bullock went for 12 points in the first quarter after nailing four shots from beyond the arc; but he was held scoreless for the rest of the game.

The star of the show, 22-year-old point guard Trae Young, put together another masterpiece with a game-high 36 points. Wednesday was the third time in the series where Young scored at least 30 points in the series, as the Knicks defense continued to be confounded by his craftiness.

Atlanta also received double-digit contributions from De’Andre Hunter (15), Clint Capela (14) and John Collins (13) in the points column, while holding the Knicks to 37.8 percent shooting from the field.

The Hawks will be moving to the second round of the NBA Playoffs, where they’ll take on the 76ers.

No. 1 Utah Jazz 126, No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies 110

UTA wins series 4-1

The third and final team to get booted from the playoffs was the Memphis Grizzlies.

Still, just as young guns Ja Morant and Dillon Brooks shined for the Grizzlies throughout the series, the duo was excellent yet again on Wednesday, with both scoring 27 points.

Brooks’ scoring output through the series was impressive, putting up 25.8 points per game on 51.5 percent shooting, and Morant paired that with his 30.5 points per game on 48.7 percent shooting. While Memphis’ season may be over, their young core is only just getting started.

Despite feeling ill coming into the game, Utah Jazz centerpiece Donovan Mitchell handled the Grizzlies with ease, dropping 30 points and dishing out 10 assists.

Defensive weapon Rudy Gobert may have had even more impact than Mitchell though, as the Steiffel Tower notched a 23-point, 15-rebound double-double while blocking three shots.

Despite moving on to the second round, the Jazz didn’t leave the court entirely happy, as starting guard Mike Conley left the game early due to injury. The All-Star’s status moving forward is unclear, but Utah will need him when they take on one of the Dallas Mavericks or Los Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference semifinals.

No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers 100, No. 5 Dallas Mavericks 105

DAL leads series 3-1

Playmaking extraordinaire Luka Doncic rewrote history books at the end of Wednesday night’s slate of games.

Doncic put up a blistering 42 points and 14 assists, scoring or assisting on 31 of the Mavericks 37 made field goals. The only other player to finish with double-digit scoring for Dallas was Tim Hardaway Jr., who had 20 points.

Fifth-year pro Dorian Finney-Smith was hugely impactful for Dallas on the defensive end, helping keep Kawhi Leonard (who shot 7-19 from the field) contained, while snatching the opponent five times and recording a block.

The Los Angeles Clippers, who had even the series at 2-2 following Game 4, kept the game within reach all night. They even cut the Mavs’ lead to one point with under one minute left.

But, in the end, they couldn’t stop Doncic enough to come out on top. Clippers forward Paul George finished with a team-high 23 points, while Leonard and Reggie Jackson (6-12 from 3-point range) each had 20 points.

LA just couldn’t get the buckets to fall on Wednesday night, shooting just 41.3 percent from the field as a team.

Game 6, which will be in Dallas, takes place on Friday, June 4.

The post Post Up: Three Teams Sent Packing appeared first on SLAM.

Following the Hawks’ Sunday night win over the Knicks, Capela told the media he didn’t appreciate the Knicks’ physical play but that it soon wouldn’t matter.

“We can push guys around too and we can talk s**t as well and get a win with it, so what are you going to do about it,” Capela said. “We’ll send you on vacation.”

Thus far, the Hawks have shown to be the better team, with Trae Young proving why he’s one of the best young players in the league. Young is averaging 27.5 points and 10 assists per game through four playoff games and has given Atlanta a 3-1 series lead.

The Hawks will have a chance to close the series in Game 5 at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night.

The post Clint Capela Says the Hawks are About to Send the Knicks on ‘Vacation’ appeared first on SLAM.

We’ve broken down each of Sunday’s matchups below.

No. 5 Hawks 113, No. 4 Knicks 96

ATL Leads series 3-1

Trae Young’s early playoff legacy along with his infamous “I’ll see you in the A” boast continues to be one of the major storylines of the postseason as he wore the Knicks out with 27 points and 9 assists.

Count that! Trae’s cooking (via @ESPNNBA) pic.twitter.com/NP9NtDoWex

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 30, 2021

The story of the game was the difference in 3 point shooting. The Hawks shot 15-39 from beyond the arc while the Knicks shot a woeful 9-29.

Cash that. (via @ATLHawks) pic.twitter.com/CbulEhumGb

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 30, 2021

Ever since the series went down to the dirty south, so has the fortunes of Julius Randle. Chants of “overrated” rained down on him from the fans in the State Farm Arena.

No. 2 Phoenix Suns 100, No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers 92

Series tied 2-2

If there ever was a series that illustrated the importance of avoiding injuries, this one is it. After struggling mightily for two games in back-to-back Phoenix losses because of his shoulder injury in Game 1, screams of “I’m back!” came from CP3 as he hurt the Lakers with his patented mid-range shot in Game 4.

Point God activities. (via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/n8ji0rKa0n

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 30, 2021

The Los Angeles Lakers lost Anthony Davis in the first half due to a groin strain. He did not return to the game.

Anthony Davis will not return for the Lakers in Game 4. The Suns are -280 live up 12 in the third quarter. #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/vnxAZFb78L

— TSN EDGE (@TSN_Edge) May 30, 2021

With Chris Paul rounding into form and the Lakers already struggling to stop Deandre Ayton while Davis is even on the floor, the reigning champs are in trouble.

No. 2 Brooklyn Nets 141, No. 7 Boston Celtics 126

Nets lead series 3-1

Game 4 was almost a carbon copy of Game 3. This series has featured the best offensive skillsets of the playoffs being spearheaded by superstars. However, there were two differences.

Jayson Tatum will probably go down as one of the most gifted scorers in Boston Celtics history. While he didn’t score 50 points, that doesn’t take away from the fact he is destroying every Brooklyn player in front of him. Despite the loss, Tatum did finish with 40 points.

The Nets were led by Kevin Durant, who scored 42 points, and Kyrie Irving, who put in work by dropping 23 of his 39 points before halftime.

Along with the efforts of James Harden, who had 23 points, the Nets’ Big Three combined for a franchise playoff-best of 104 points, per NBA.com.

Kyrie is handling business. Already up to 23 in the first half. (via @BrooklynNets) pic.twitter.com/FbxgGPnyuX

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 31, 2021

Still, the story that has dominated headlines well into this morning is the NBA releasing a statement about fan conduct vowing to enforce it’s guidelines after a fan was arrested and banned from the TD Garden for life for throwing a bottle at Kyrie Irving.

Irving talked about it after last night’s game:

“It’s unfortunate that sports has come to a lot of this kind of crossroads. … Just underlying racism and just treating people like they’re in a human zoo.”

Kyrie Irving speaks out after a fan threw a water bottle at him in Boston. pic.twitter.com/IXfE8I0EE8

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 31, 2021

No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers 106, No. 5 Dallas Mavericks 81

Series tied 2-2

The Los Angeles Clippers have woken up on the defensive end. Despite Luka Doncic doing the best he can while playing with a neck strain, he’s not getting the help Kawhi Leonard is getting from Paul George and company.

Leonard finished with 29 points, while George contributed 20.

The ball movement is pretty. (via @LAClippers) pic.twitter.com/kJYo0YzQFC

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 31, 2021

After shooting lights out from behind the 3 point line, Dallas has gone ice-cold shooting 5-30.

The post Post Up: Randle Gets “Overrated” Chants, Lakers Lose Davis, Nets are Hot, Clippers Win appeared first on SLAM.

Smith’s reputation of “dedicated journalism, building relationships and mentoring young journalists,” motivated the Hawks to honor his legacy in three ways.

According to NBA.com, starting with the 2021-22 NBA season, the press room at the Hawks’ State Farm Arena will be renamed the Sekou Smith Press Room. The space will also be redesigned to honor Smith’s memory.

The Sekou Smith Award will be given out at the end of every season, which will honor the Hawks player who “best represents themselves and the franchise with professionalism and integrity in their interactions with the media.” The name of each winner will be added to a plaque, which will be displayed in the soon-to-be renamed press room, and the award will be presented on the court with members of Smith’s family present. The first Sekou Smith Award will be given out at the end of the 2020-21 season.

Last week, John Collins was announced as the winner of the Inaugural Sekou Smith Award.

Tonight, John Collins was awarded the inaugural Sekou Smith Award. This award honors JC’s professionalism and integrity during interactions with media.

Congrats, @jcollins20_ pic.twitter.com/d8CNFFElN3

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) May 28, 2021

The Hawks are also establishing an annual summer league internship in Smith’s name. A journalism or multimedia student from a Southwestern Athletic Conference school will be chosen to become the Hawks’ beat writer for the NBA Summer League, and their work will appear on the team’s website. The Hawks will cover all associated travel costs and provide a stipend to the chosen student. Smith’s alma mater, Jackson State University, is part of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, as are numerous other historically Black colleges and universities.

Sekou was the Hawks beat writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution from 2005-09 prior to joining NBATV as a multimedia reporter and analyst. He also covered the Indiana Pacers as a beat writer for the Indianapolis Star.

Sekou Smith passed away on January 26 at the age of 48 due to complications from COVID-19.

The post Atlanta Hawks Honor Sekou Smith’s Memory With Three Tributes appeared first on SLAM.

SLAM has the breakdowns on each of the matchups below.

No. 5 Hawks 105 , No. 4 Knicks 94

ATL Leads series 2-1

Trae Young left Madison Square Garden boasting “I’ll see you in the A!”. Ice Trae sure backed up his boast he made in New York.

The Hawks went on a huge 22-5 run before halftime behind Young’s offensive brilliance.

Trae’s really all about creating on offense. 14pts and 10ast in the first half. (via @ATLHawks) pic.twitter.com/e8r52l4uZz

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 29, 2021

Atlanta never looked back. What Trae got started in the first half, Bogdan Bogdanovic continued in the second half.

Lefty wraparound pass >>> (via @ATLHawks) pic.twitter.com/EFsWilKSE6

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 29, 2021

Despite an impressive 30-point performance from Knicks’ Derrick Rose, the Hawks went on the defeat the Knicks, 105-94. Young finished with 21 points, while Bogdanović had 15.

No. 7 Celtics 125, No. 2 Nets 119

Nets lead series 2-1

The Brooklyn Nets showed how dangerous an offensive team they are in the first three minutes of this game. The Nets ran off to a 19-4 lead before Boston answered back—thanks to a performance by Jayson Tatum, who went on one of his patented offensive explosions in the first half, scoring 21 points to give Boston an improbable halftime lead.

Too good, JT. (via @celtics) pic.twitter.com/EIAwht3NyT

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 29, 2021

The Nets really missed Jeff Green as Tatum got the switches he wanted and outlasted Kevin Durant and James Harden with a playoff career-high 50 points.

No. 4 Clippers 118, No. 5 Mavs 108

Mavs lead series 2-1

The Los Angeles Clippers cannot stop Luka Doncic, who just keeps exposing them with defensive switches.

Every shot Luka takes like this feels like it’s going in. (via @dallasmavs) pic.twitter.com/XxxqJb1g80

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 29, 2021

The Dallas Mavericks started the game 8-0. Then they extended the lead to 30-11 and the route was on. When Luka sat down, the Clippers answered with a 14-4 run. From then on, it was a dogfight.

Luka Doncic finished with 44 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists. Kawhi Leonard matched him with 36 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists.

What was the difference in the game? Leonard got support from Paul George. Kristaps Porzingis on the other hand disappeared.

The one thing that everyone will remember from this game is the introduction of the term “physical taunt”.

Terrence Mann ran at Willie Cauley-Stein after he appeared to get shoved.

A tech was called on the Mavs for a “physical taunt.” pic.twitter.com/F2qNLlRhZp

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 29, 2021

The post Post Up: Trae Sees the Knicks, Tatum Scores 50 and Kawhi Outduels Luka appeared first on SLAM.

Atlanta defeated the Dallas Wings, 101-95, on Thursday night after stalling a last ditch comeback by the Wings in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter.

Last night marked the first win for the Dream in their new home, the Gateway Center.

TIFFANY HAYES, WOW pic.twitter.com/EyPQsEcyWJ

— espnW (@espnW) May 28, 2021

Hayes went 11-16 from the floor, shooting a ridiculous 68.8 percent from the field. The 2012 2nd-round pick is averaging a career-best 17.8 points and 2.0 steals per game this season, while being a lights-out shooter from deep — hitting 58.3% of her shots from beyond the arc in her ninth season with the Dream.

Following last night’s win, Hayes holds the second-most career 20-point games in franchise history, recording her 46th 20-point game in last nights win.

The post Tiffany Hayes Heats Up for 26 as Dream Win 3rd Straight appeared first on SLAM.

After a tough loss against the New York Knicks on Wednesday night, Atlanta Hawks star point guard Trae Young made it a promise that he and his squad would make it a very tough night for the Knicks in Game 3.

Dropping 30 points just wasn’t enough to silence the critics sitting in the stands of Madison Square Garden, who made it their priority to shake the room and make things very difficult for the Hawks.

“IT’S QUIET AS **** IN HERE!”

Those spoken words are what finally woke up the beast residing in the heart and soul of New York City.

Fans roared in the stands, passionately chanting phrases intended to pierce the soul of Young while supporting the Knicks; helping make the atmosphere thick and tense enough to run away with their first playoff win since 2013.

And Young, in the first postseason appearance of his career, brought nothing but more energy and vengeance to the Garden. Something that hasn’t been truly felt since 2013.

In the words of basketball icon Michael Jordan, I guess you can say that New York “took that personal”.

The post ‘I’ll See You In The A!’ — Knicks Silence Trae Young, Hawks in Game 2 appeared first on SLAM.

The evening started with the Washington Wizards looking to even the series against the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks attempting to do the same against the Atalanta Hawks. The evening game was another one vs. eight seed game, with the Utah Jazz taking on the Memphis Grizzlies.

No 1. Philadelphia 76ers 120, No. 8 Washington Wizards 95

The Wizards looked out of their depth Wednesday night, with the D.C. squad trailing by double-digits almost the entire game. Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons each finished with 22 points, and Tobias Harris added another 19 points.

Embiid getting wild after the and-one (via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/j6Dgb8cBEa

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 27, 2021

No Wizards player finished with more than 11 points except Bradley Beal, who had a game-high 33 points.

Smooth. (via @WashWizards) pic.twitter.com/zdxamYksgL

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 27, 2021

While the Wizards being down 2-0 in the series is bad enough, the injury to Russell Westbrook could be cause for more concern. Westbrook left the game in the third quarter with an ankle injury, and if he’s unavailable for the next two games, that might be a wrap for the WIzards. An altercation between Westbrook and a fan stole headlines when Westbrook confronted a fan who dumped popcorn on him.

Lakers’ LeBron James weighed in as well:

By the way WE AS THE PLAYERS wanna see who threw that popcorn on Russ while he was leaving the game tonight with a injury!! There’s cameras all over arenas so there’s no excuse! Cause if the was on the other . #ProtectOurPlayers

— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 27, 2021

No 4. New York Knicks 101, No. 5 Atlanta Hawks 92

The most exciting game of the evening belonged to the Eastern Conference’s four vs. five seed matchup. The Knicks struggled in the first half containing Trae Young and entered halftime down trailing 57-44. But the Knicks’ offense came alive in the second half, and the defense held the Hawks to under 20 points in both quarters, which eventually gave them the late third quarter.

It was a big night for Derrick Rose off the bench, scoring a team-high 26 points to go along with four rebounds and four assists. Four other Knicks also went double-digit in the scoring column, including Julius Randle, R.J. Barrett, Reggie Bullock and Alec Burks.

I love playoff basketball. (via @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/P6kJpNtGfh

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 27, 2021

Still, Trae Young had another big night for Atlanta, dropping 30 points and seven assists.

That's NASTY, Trae. (via @ATLHawks) pic.twitter.com/Mo9qBFcXru

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 27, 2021

No. 1 Utah Jazz 141, No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies 129

Offense was easy to come by in the final game of Wednesday night, with a reinvigorated Jazz team dropping 141 points to defeat Memphis. Three players put up more than 20 points for Utah, including Donovan Mitchell (25), Mike Conley (20) and Rudy Gobert (21). Bojan Bogdanovic chipped in an additional 18 points, and Mr. Sixth Man of the Year, Jordan Clarkson, added 16.

Sensation Ja Morant kept the Grizzlies in the game nearly single-handily at points, finishing with 47 points, seven assists, and four rebounds. Dillon Brooks and Jonas Valanciunas both had solid scoring nights, finishing with 23 and 18 points, respectively. Bench scoring was an issue for the Grizzlies, as only 14 points came from their bench all night, and seven of them came from De’Anthony Melton alone.

SHOWTIME JA. (via @memgrizz) pic.twitter.com/geI6einfoE

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 27, 2021

The post Post Up: Underdogs Fall Flat in Game Two appeared first on SLAM.

With Young as the team’s primary playmaker, the Hawks looked great. In fact, he made history with his outstanding performance. 

According to Kirk Goldsberry of ESPN, Young became the first player to have 25 points and 10 assists in his playoff debut since Derrick Rose did it in 2009. 

Rose would accomplish this as a rookie at age 20, then would go on to win MVP less than two years later. Young is currently 22 years old as he navigates his first ever playoff series. 

To cap things off on this historic night, Young even hit a game-winning floater to give Atlanta the win. 

While Trae Young has always produced jaw-dropping stats in the regular season, he rose to the occasion over the weekend in his playoff debut. 

The post Hawks’ Trae Young Makes NBA History in Playoff Debut appeared first on SLAM.

It got real quiet in there, he repeated. I don’t care. Next one.

Last night, the Hawks defeated the New York Knicks, 107-105, to take a 1-0 series lead. Atlanta’s young star stunned the city with a 32/10/7 performance to help seal the win, silencing New York fans—who were relentless in their first playoff game back in MSG and persistently chanted “F—Trae Young”—by dropping the game-winning bucket with a signature floater over Julius Randle.

Young’s ice-cold moment topped off his superb night from the paint, going 7-for-9 on drives. He took over the fourth quarter, scoring or assisting on 21 fourth-quarter points (36).

Even amidst all of the chants, Young didn’t sweat the noise from the crowd. Instead, it seems like he’s fueled by it, positioning himself as the next great villain of the Garden in just his first playoff appearance. 

“For me, I wanted to hear those ‘F—you’ chants again,” Young said. 

“Everybody’s chanting F-U … It got real quiet at the end, and I wanted to hear those F-U chants again.”

–Trae Young after winning Game 1 in MSG pic.twitter.com/W2zHCrWNeh

— ESPN (@espn) May 24, 2021

The Hawks star point guard also joins LeBron James, Derrick Rose and Chris Paul as the only players in NBA history with 30 points and 10 assists in their playoff debut, per Elias. 

While Ice Trae won the battle, MSG and Knicks fans are prepared for the war. Last night marked a multitude of reminiscent moments from years past, proving once again that basketball is better when the Knicks are ballin’ and the Garden is rocking once again.

The Knicks will get another crack at Young and the Hawks on Wednesday for Game 2.

The post Trae Young Silences Madison Square Garden in Game 1 Playoff Win Over Knicks appeared first on SLAM.

Now that the playoffs are finally here, and the bracket completely set, it’s time to preview the Eastern Conference side of the playoffs.

1 Philadelphia 76ers (49-23)

8 Washington Wizards (34-38)

#WizPacers W in a tweet

– CLINCHED 8 in the East
– BB3 25p
– Russ 18p-8r-15a
– DG 15p-13r-5b pic.twitter.com/GhfjflXlrY

— x – Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) May 21, 2021

On the surface, this is just another one-seed that should dominate this eight-seed Wizards team that went 34-38 in the regular season, but the Wizards have more fight than that. The Wizards have two All-Star level guards in Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal and are coming into the playoffs hot, having won 14 of their last 20 games. The Wizards will look to win games by pushing the pace, as their 104.1 pace rating is far and away the highest mark in the NBA.  

With that being said, the 76ers should expect nothing less than an easy four or five-game series. Philadelphia has the best record in the Eastern Conference, going 49-23, paired with an elite defense, ending the season with a defensive rating of 107.0, second-best in the NBA. If the 76ers championship ambitions are to be taken seriously, they need to dispose of the Wizards with minimal problems to open their playoff push.

2 Brooklyn Nets (48-24)

7 Boston Celtics (36-36)

Get ready for Game 1 with a look back at some of our top moments vs Brooklyn pic.twitter.com/DFt2vLztHl

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 22, 2021

The Nets have the most dynamic offense in the League, featuring a lethal trio of future Hall of Famers Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden. But all eyes will be not on the Nets’ offense, but rather their defense, which ranked eighth-worst in the NBA in defensive rating. The Celtics will serve as an excellent test to see if the Nets’ potent offense has enough firepower to overcome their defensive lapses.

The Celtics torched the Wizards to earn the seven-seed thanks to Jayson Tatum’s 50 point outing, but the Nets will prove to be a different foe. The Celtics have struggled this season and enter the playoffs having lost six of their last eight games to end the regular season, and All-Star forward Jaylen Brown due to a wrist injury. Boston will need even more Tatum heroics to get them out of this series. Otherwise, it will be difficult for the Celtics to keep pace with the high-powered Nets’ offense.

3 Milwaukee Bucks (46-26)

6 Miami Heat (40-32)

Khris is locked in. pic.twitter.com/SseanrLZ7K

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) May 22, 2021

This Bucks vs. Heat matchup serves as a repeat of last year’s Eastern Conference Sem-Finals, where the Heat dispatched the Bucks in just five games. However, this is a different Bucks team. The addition of point guard Jrue Holiday to pair with two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo makes the Bucks defense more formidable than last year with Eric Bledsoe. But head coach Mike Budenholzer will have to show a willingness to adapt on the fly, as that has been his Achilles heel in the past two playoffs.

The Heat have had a rollercoaster season, with many key players missing serious time, eventually landing them the six-seed in the Eastern Conference. Jimmy Butler had another fantastic season in Miami, and him paired with defensive menace Bam Adebayo will undoubtedly give them a strong shot at taking down Milwaukee. They’ll have to do it without Victor Oladipo though; he will miss the entire playoffs due to a quad injury.

4 New York Knicks (41-31)

5 Atlanta Hawks (41-31)

Playoff basketball is back where it belongs.

WE HERE. pic.twitter.com/4W7HVAuo2b

— x – NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 19, 2021

The Knicks vs. Hawks series is a battle between two teams that had very different paths to get here. The Knicks earned their way into the playoffs with their elite defense, finishing the season with the fourth-best defensive rating in the League of 107.8. The Hawks, on the other hand, got to the playoffs with their offense, finishing with the ninth-highest offensive rating with 114.3. One commonality between the two teams can be seen with their coaches. Both Tom Thibodeau and Nate McMillan have come to these franchises after disappointing at their previous stops to help turn their new franchise around

The Hawks will have to find a way to hide Trae Young’s defensive woes, as they need him on the floor to run their offense. Clint Capela had a monster defensive season and will prove a worthy matchup to All-Star Julius Randle. The Knicks will need R.J. Barrett, Derrick Rose and Alec Burks to continue their strong regular seasons into the playoffs to score enough points to beat the Hawks.

The post 2021 NBA Playoff Matchups: Eastern Conference appeared first on SLAM.

The franchise has sold out 15,000 of their reduced-capacity tickets for Games 1 and 2 of their series against the Atlanta Hawks. The amount is higher than what was previously announced with a plan to increase fan capacity from 1,980 in the regular season to 13,000.

Knicks President Leon Rose took to Twitter to thank the fans for doing their part in getting vaccinated and welcoming them back to the arena for the playoffs.

“We can’t thank our fans enough for stepping up, getting vaccinated, and being with us all the way – we look forward to the team giving all of New York something to cheer about.” — Knicks President Leon Rose https://t.co/4tGkfvUEwT

— x – NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 20, 2021

The Knicks sent out a news release stating that this event will be the largest indoor gathering in New York since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. With projections of nearly 90 percent in attendance fully vaccinated against COVID-19, Dolan talked about the message being sent, via ESPN.

“I hope everyone in sports and entertainment is listening because the public has spoken — they are fine with getting vaccinated and want to get back to the experiences they love,” James Dolan, executive chairman of MSG Sports, said in a statement. “This overwhelming response by Knicks fans — almost 90% of whom are vaccinated — should silence any doubters. It’s time to start booking events and filling up our schedules, so stay tuned.”

The Knicks started allowing fans on Feb. 23rd to finish out the regular season.

Other teams are allowing more fans as well. Philadelphia is allowing 10,000 fans while Utah is welcoming 13,000. It is reported that Dallas and Milwaukee are bringing in roughly 9,000.

The Knicks and Hawks series starts on Sunday with Game 2 scheduled for Wednesday. This is the first postseason appearance for New York since the 2012-13 season.

The post New York Knicks Sell Out MSG For Playoff Games 1 and 2 vs. Hawks appeared first on SLAM.

McMillan spoke about the Hawks’ upcoming series with the New York Knicks, and he said that the Hawks have an uphill battle facing off against such a major market team.

“Absolutely, I’ve talked about that to the team a lot. Basically, I’ve gone as far as saying the league wants this,” McMillan said. “They need this, New York, this is a big market for the league, and New York has been out of the playoffs for a number of years.

“The league wants to see it, everybody wants to see this. Even to the fact that our [opening] game was moved to Sunday, they want to see this,” McMillan said. “There’s going to be a lot of calls that probably won’t go our way.”

League officials in the NBA didn’t take kindly to McMillan’s comments, dropping the hammer with a $25,000 fine.

The Hawks and Knicks will square off for the first game of their first-round matchup on Sunday at 7 p.m. EST in Madison Square Garden.

The post Hawks Coach Nate McMillan Fined $25,000 for Comments About Upcoming Series appeared first on SLAM.

In a game against the New York Knicks on Wednesday night, Young took a scary fall, coming down holding his ankle. The 22-year-old was helped off the court in a lot of pain while the Hawks front office and fan base held their breath, not knowing the severity of the injury. 

Thursday afternoon, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski  reported positive news, saying that Young’s MRI revealed a Grade 2 lateral sprain on his left ankle. This means he’s expected to be able to return to play once swelling and discomfort are gone. 

This is as good of news as anyone could have hoped for with just 13 games left in Atlanta’s season. Through 54 games this season, Young has been explosive on offense, averaging 25.3 points and 9.6 assists per game on .357 from deep. 

While the Hawks await his return to the court, they can breathe easy knowing Trae Young’s injury wasn’t too serious. 

The post Trae Young To Get Back On Court Soon Following Ankle Injury appeared first on SLAM.

“I still feel like I can play at a high level. I feel like I can help this team do some things. I don’t want to look back and say I retired prematurely, be asking myself what could have been or what I could’ve done. This is an opportunity to finish out the season with this team and go from there.”

But after reconsideration, Lou Williams decided to play a second stint with his hometown team for the first time in about a decade. The Atlanta native achieved superstardom at South Gwinnett High School that catapulted him into being a second-round pick of the Philadelphia 76ers back in 2005.

Atlanta will be looking for Williams to provide a scoring surge off the bench, something that the three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year winner has done throughout his career. Lou averaged 12.1 points a game in 42 appearances with the Clippers this season.

Lou Williams is joining a Hawks team much different from his first tenure. Lloyd Pierce was recently fired and replaced by Nate McMillan as interim coach. Leadership changes along with a new group featuring Trae Young and John Collins, Williams will be observing his new teammates on the bench on the current road trip before his first scheduled chance to play in front of the home crowd Sunday against the Golden State Warriors.

The post Lou Williams Considered Retirement After Getting Traded to Hawks appeared first on SLAM.

Williams, a three-time Sixth Man of the Year, has averaged 12.1 points and 3.4 assists per game this season, shooting .378 percent from 3-point range. With the Hawks’ trouble generating consistent offense from the perimeter without Young, Williams helps alleviate responsibilities while improving the productivity of the second unit offense.

The Clippers are also sure to be thrilled with their addition, as the Rondo is a two-time champion praised for his leadership, intelligence, experience and toughness. Rondo has averaged career-lows of 3.9 points and 3.5 assists per game this season, shooting .400 percent from the field and .378 percent from 3-point range.

The post Hawks Swap Rajon Rondo for Lou Williams in Trade with Clippers appeared first on SLAM.

Since then, things have turned around and the Hawks are one of the hottest teams in the NBA. Veteran head coach Nate McMillan, who was hired by the Hawks in November, stepped in to take over Pierce’s former position in an interim role and still hasn’t lost since taking on that role.

After a win on Saturday over the Lakers, McMillan moved to 8-0 as the interim coach, bringing the Hawks to 22-20 (4th in the East).

In effort to push for the full-time job after this season, things are off to a good start for McMillan. He’s done a great job in maximizing the production of the entire team as the Hawks push for the playoffs this season. 

With the trade deadline approaching this week, what the Hawks do will be interesting.

Whether they make moves or keep the roster as is, McMillan has the team looking like one of the best in the Eastern Conference at the moment. 

The post Nate McMillan Guides Hawks to Eight-Game Win Streak as Head Coach appeared first on SLAM.

The U.S. Team will be headlined by LaMelo Ball (Charlotte Hornets), Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans), Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies) and Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves) — four potential superstars with flair to match their talent. The quartet will be joined by James Wiseman (Golden State Warriors), Michael Porter Jr. (Denver Nuggets), Tyler Herro (Miami Heat), Tyrese Haliburton (Sacramento Kings), De’Andre Hunter (Atlanta Hawks) and Keldon Johnson (San Antonio Spurs).

The World Team will be comprised of R.J. Barrett (New York Knicks), Rui Hachimura (Washington Wizards), Facundo Campazzo (Denver Nuggets), Luguentz Dort (Oklahoma City Thunder), Brandon Clarke (Memphis Grizzlies), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (New Orleans Pelicans), Deni Avdija (Washington Wizards), Theo Maledon (Oklahoma City Thunder), Precious Achiuwa (Miami Heat) and Mychal Mulder (Golden State Warriors).

As with the 2020-21 NBA All-Star rosters, there has been rapid response and passionate debates about whether any players were left off that should have been in. Darius Garland of the Cleveland Cavaliers, whose game is easy on the eyes and has been productive for an improved Cavs team, is one such player.

However, while those players may not have received the recognition they (or their fans) desired, those that were awarded the honor of being on the Rising Star were undoubtedly deserving of their spots.

Traditionally, the Rising Stars Game would be played during All-Star Weekend but this year, there won’t be a physical game. The 2020-21 All-Star Game, Skills Challenge, Slam Dunk Contest and 3-Point Contest will all take place on Mar. 7 and aired on TNT.

The post 2020-21 Rising Stars Roster Unveiled by NBA Top Shot appeared first on SLAM.

Hawks general manager Travis Schlenk would release an official statement regarding Lloyd’s dismissal (per ESPN):

“We would like to thank Lloyd for his work and commitment to not only the Hawks organization but the city of Atlanta. He and his wife, Melissa, are tremendous people who have made a positive impact throughout the city.”

Addressing to his concerns with how the Hawks season has gone, with Atlanta losing 11 of their last 15 contests, Schlenk was forthright about the reasons the Hawks are making such a drastic midseason change.

We have high expectations for our team on the court and we believe by making this change now that we can have a strong second half of the season.”

As previously alluded to, Atlanta was predicted to have a strong showing this season after signing veteran shooters like Danilo Gallinari and Bogdan Bogdanovic to complement their young and promising core. However, Pierce’s inability to maximize the pieces on his roster and the growing pains as an inexperienced head coach have ultimately held the Hawks back, in their estimation.

It’s not as if Pierce was caught unawares though, telling The Athletic’s Jeff Schultz just last week that “Travis is going to fire me one day.”

Nate McMillan, whom the Hawks brought on as an assistant coach in November, will take over as interim head coach.

McMillan has amassed 16 seasons worth of head coaching experience over the last 20 years, leading the Seattle SuperSonics, Portland Trail Blazers and Indiana Pacers to the playoffs.

The Hawks, once a fixture in the Eastern Conference Playoffs, haven’t made a postseason appearance since 2017.

The post Hawks Fire HC Lloyd Pierce After Uninspiring Start to 2020-21 Season appeared first on SLAM.

The event will be held in one single night, starting with the skills challenge and 3-point contest at 6:30 p.m. EST. The All-Star game will tip-off at 8 p.m., with a slam dunk contest happening at halftime.

The NBA and National Basketball Players Association also announced that they will also be donating more than $2.5 Million to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and providing “support and awareness around equity and access to COVID-19 relief vaccines.”

They have also partnered with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), UNCF (United Negro College Fund), National Association for Equal Opportunity (NAFEO) and Direct Relief’s Fund for Health Equity to feature performances by HBCU musical groups and content by alumni and students during the All-Star event.

According to ESPN, captains—which are determined by the highest amount of votes in each conference—will be select their teams out of the 22 All-Stars. Captains and starters will be announced tonight at 7 p.m. on TNT.

NBA All-Star 2021 to feature the Game and Skills competitions on one night for the first time on March 7. The NBA and NBPA are committing more than $2.5M toward HBCUs and provide support and awareness around equity and access to COVID-19 relief and vaccines.

A THREAD pic.twitter.com/doU1zWuuJq

— NBA (@NBA) February 18, 2021

The game’s format is the same as last year:

NBA All-Star Game Format:

The game will follow the same format as last year, with the teams competing to win each quarter and playing to a Final Target Score during the untimed fourth quarter. pic.twitter.com/jk8pxZqyZI

— NBA (@NBA) February 18, 2021

While the League has received backlash, including from players, who echoed that hosting a game amidst the COVID-19 pandemic was “putting money over health,” the NBA has precautions set in place. Fans will not be allowed to attend.

As for precautions for the players, the All-Stars selected will have to self-quarantine at home from Feb.27 to March 6 before heading to Atlanta. They will then be required to stay at the designated All-Star hotel, and their guests will receive PCR testing throughout their stay inside the “mini-bubble” the League is trying to simulate.

“There were obviously those who thought we shouldn’t play without fans, thought we shouldn’t play in the bubble, thought we shouldn’t be playing in a very serious way because of the social justice issues roiling this country,” says Silver, per ESPN. “So I certainly hear the other side of this issue here. And I’ll lastly say it seems like no decisions during this pandemic come without uncertainty and come without risk. This is yet another one of them and, yet, it’s my job to balance all those interests, and ultimately it feels like the right thing to do to go forward.”

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Their offseason was so praiseworthy, in fact, that the decision of fourth-year power forward John Collins to decline a reported $90 million contract extension was all but swept under the rug. However, as the 2020-21 season has trudged along, Collins’ situation in Atlanta is in the spotlight once again.

According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, the Hawks are willing to listen to offers for Collins, who is seeking a max deal and will become a restricted free agent next offseason.

Collins, the 19th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft out of Wake Forest, has defied pre-draft evaluations that questioned both his ability to stretch the floor and to be an impact defender in the L.

Playing a relatively simple role in Atlanta that allows him to thrive alongside star point guard Trae Young, the 23-year-old has averaged 16.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 block per game over the past four seasons. He’s shot .567 from the field and .378 from 3-point range over that time, showing himself to be efficient and effective as either a lob threat or a catch-and-shoot option.

Should the Hawks trade Collins, they’ll be sure to get high value and exchange. Had Collins not been suspended for 25 games last November for a failed PED test, he may have been an All-Star at just 23-years-old.

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The team expects an update on Hunter’s status in the next two weeks.

An @emoryhealthcare injury update:

D. Hunter will undergo a lateral meniscus arthroscopic debridement procedure on Monday. The surgery will be performed by Dr. Kyle Hammond, the Hawks’ team orthopaedist. An update on his recovery plan will be provided in approximately two weeks. pic.twitter.com/2rFBKKZ1CA

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) February 7, 2021

The Hawk’s third-leading scorer has missed the last four games after leaving the game against the Wizards in January due to what was described as “right knee discomfort.” He had a nonsurgical procedure done on January 30, per ESPN.

According to Sarah Spencer of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Hawks head coach Lloyd Pierce is optimistic that Hunter will return this season.

It doesn’t sound like a season-ending injury… all signs is that he will be back, we just don’t know when

The No.4 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Virginia has shown plenty of improvements in his second season as his numbers and playing time have increased.

Fortunately for the Hawks, they still have depth at the forward position as Cam Reddish, Kevin Huerter, and Danilo Gallinari will look to fill in for Hunter’s absence.

The Hawks who have been 1-3 since Hunter’s injury, will head to Dallas to play the Mavericks on Wednesday.

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The previous record-holder was Damian Lillard, who made 400 threes in 163 games, followed by Donovan Mitchell (170), Klay Thompson (171) and Robert Covington (178). 

Young is one of the most dynamic shooters in the NBA and is still only 22 years old. The No. 5 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft is currently averaging 27.0 points, 8.6 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game while shooting a career-best .368 from beyond the arc. 

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Capela is averaging 14.2 points, 14.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game while shooting 56.9 percent from the floor for the Hawks this season. On Friday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves, he became the first Hawks player with a triple-double including 10 blocks since Dikembe Mutombo in 2000. 

The Hawks are 8-8 to this point in the season and positioned at No. 7 in the Eastern Conference. With a great mixture of young talent and experienced veterans, they should certainly be a team competing for a playoff spot down the stretch. With big nights like this from Capela, Atlanta will be tough to beat.

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That same evening, NBA players opted to compete, but members of the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, and the Detroit Pistons took a knee in protest to the recent events.

Coaches and players across the league have also spoken up about what happened, including the vast difference between how Capitol law enforcement responded to the peaceful Black Lives Matter protests outside of the White House in June compared to how they handled the riots at the Capitol building.

According to The Guardian, Washington police, US Park police, over 5,000 national guard troops (in full body armor), and federal agencies like the Bureau of Prisons were present in June. The Black Lives Matter Movement tweeted that Black protesters were met by law enforcement carrying assault rifles, tear gas, and battle helmets.

Meanwhile, only 340 guardsmen were sent in advance to handle the rioters on Wednesday. 115 of them were on duty and mainly directed traffic, while the DC and Virginia national guard were sent only after the Capitol had been breached. Officers were even spotted taking selfies with rioters.

Here are reactions from the NBA:

Jaylen Brown: “There is two split different America’s. In one America you get killed by sleeping in your car, selling cigarettes or playing in your backyard. In another America, you get to storm the Capitol. No tear gas, no massive arrests.”

Brad Stevens: “My own personal takeaway is the same as many of you: That we have a long way to go. My personal belief is two weeks from now we’ll be in a better spot, but we still have a long way to go,” said Stevens .”We have to continue to prioritize it. Not only ask about and talk about, but do something about it.”

Boston Celtics and Miami Heat:

Steve Kerr: “The truth matters in our country and anywhere in any circumstance because of the repercussions if we allow lies to spread and if we enable people in power to lie…All of a sudden you have millions of people who are doubting an election that was certified in every state. We had seven to eight more million people vote for [Joe] Biden than for Trump. Every state has certified those results. Every court appeal has been turned down. A legitimate election is suddenly questioned by millions of people, including many of the people are leading our government because we’ve decided to over the last few years allow lies to be told. This is who we are. You reap what you sow.”

Stan Van Gundy: “If you are an American and aren’t embarrassed by the domestic terrorism taking place at the Capitol there is something wrong with you. This is a shameful day for our country.”

Doc Rivers: “It’s pretty disturbing, obviously. Sad. But what it’s not is, I keep hearing, this attack on democracy. It’s not. Democracy will prevail. It always does. It shows you a lot, though. When you saw the protests in the summer and you saw the riots and the police and the National Guard and the army, and you see this and you saw nothing. It basically proves a point about a privileged life in a lot of ways. I’ll say it because I don’t think a lot of people want to: Could you imagine today if those were all Black people storming the Capitol, and what would’ve happened?

“So that, to me, is a picture that is worth a thousand words for all of us to see, and probably something for us to reckon with, again. No police dogs turning on people, no billy clubs hitting people — people being peacefully escorted out of the Capitol. So it shows you that can disperse a crowd peacefully, I guess, would be the one thing. But it’s a sad day in a lot of ways; not good for our country and more across the borders, that people see this. It’s part of what we are, and so we have to solve it.”

John Wall: “The most important thing we can do is still stand up for what we stand for and believe in that and stand behind that. We can’t really control what people want to have outbursts and things like that.”

Draymond Green: “…It’s shameful to keep calling them protestors. They’re not f***ing protestors. They’re f***ing terrorists.”

“It’s baffling with the reaction that the law enforcement had and whoever else was involved from a authoritarian standpoint to see the National Guard standing on those same steps when there was a peaceful protest and now to see a terrorist attack and there was no National Guard. It just goes to show you where this country is and where this country has always been and probably where it’s going to stay, to be quite honest. Nothing’s changed. I think through social media and all of these different things we have at our fingertips today, we’re more aware of things. But nothing has changed. This is the same America that it’s been. It’s no different.”

Andrew Wiggins: “Let there be some black people running in there, they all would’ve been shot before they even got to the building.”

Lloyd Pierce: “It’ll never change unless there’s acknowledgement in the past with regards to how African Americans have always been treated in the history of that and going back to slavery and going back to Reconstruction and going back to civil rights,” Pierce said. “You can’t say that things are going to change if you don’t acknowledge that it’s a problem. What you’re seeing today is a reminder there’s a huge difference. There’s a reason why there [aren’t] shooting and brutality and looting and things of that nature, and people are just walking around the Capitol building as if it’s nothing; and people sitting in [Speaker of the House of Representatives] Nancy Pelosi’s office as if it’s nothing.”

Kevin Love: “An absolute disgrace what’s happening at the US Capitol right now. And a blatant example of inequity in how law enforcement chooses to deal with those involved.”

Jamal Crawford: “You do things like this when you know there is a certain privilege where nothing is gonna happen to you.”

Garrett Temple: “I scan my timeline and keep seeing the word “embarrassing.” I’m not embarrassed, I’m not surprised, or shocked even. Embarrassed would mean that I feel a sense of shame by what is going on. I have no such feeling. These people do not come close to being a representation of me”

Scott Brooks: “We should be better than this. What I see in the videos, it’s disgusting. This is a special place. You just hope that everybody from there, our fans; everybody’s safe. This should not be allowed. It’s unacceptable. This is America’s Capitol. You should not be able to do what I saw on video. It’s disgusting, it’s embarrassing, and it should never happen. We have to [play]. This is our job. This is what we have to do. It’s a couple hours out of the day. We all feel the same. It’s just disgusting, but we have to be better. Democracy is there for a reason. It’s all everybody has fought for.”

Jordan Clarkson: “People see the difference; they saw what people did today and how there were no consequences for them. On the other side, it would have…ended in multiple arrests and deaths.”

 J.B. Bickerstaff: “I mean, it’s saddening. It’s disgusting, to be honest with you,” Bickerstaff said. “Our democracy has been a beacon for hundreds of years of what the world ideologically should be. People have looked up to us all over the world and what’s happening there is a disgrace. We have a democracy. Every vote should matter. Every state should have the right to certify their votes and their results. And when that happens, we move forward.

“It’s a stain on our democracy. It’s entitled, spoiled, throwing temper tantrums instead of accepting and moving forward to make our country better, which is the most important thing. It’s not about us as individuals, it’s about what’s best for the country and how we heal our country. And this doesn’t help. This makes it worse.”

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