Now that she’s back, Han has emerged as an exciting piece to the Liberty’s success this season as they look to make a run in the playoffs. The team made a major statement on Wednesday with a Game 1 win against the Chicago Sky. 

For Han, who is averaging 8.5 points and 3.6 rebounds in 16.8 minutes per game this season, playing with the National Team during those two years allowed her to become dedicated to working hard through every opportunity—she competed in both the Olympics in 2021 and won a silver medal with China that same year at the 2021 FIBA Asian Cup. 

“When I was at home during the pandemic, I experienced the Olympics and Asia Cup and gained a lot of experience from those tournaments,” Han says via a translator. “I just kept working hard because my goal is to just prepare myself for the WNBA.”

Now, she’s suiting up in the 2022 WNBA playoffs and already being dubbed the WNBA’s next Yao Ming, not only because of her size and height, but because of the excitement she’s building around the game, and inspiring young girls in China. According to AP News, her highlights have millions of views on platforms in China. Back in July, Han put on a 24-point performance in a win against the Las Vegas Aces, one of the best teams in the League. 

Han, who grew up idolizing Ming, has even had the chance to talk to the all-time great—he gave her a piece of wisdom, too, regarding how important it is to work hard. “Yao told me, ‘Over here in America, you’re on your own and you have got to earn everything,’” Han says. “I got to compete for playing time. So, basically, I just have to work hard and earn everything I want.”

It’s been a journey for her to get to this point. Born in Shijiazhuang, Han has been working to get to this point since she was young. Han was first introduced to the game early on, as both of her parents played professionally in China for a brief moment in their careers. 

“My parents were both professional basketball players and they were brought here,” she says. “My mom brought me to her practices and [I] watched the women’s team practice. And also, we watched a lot of basketball games at home.”

She soon started to realize that she, too, could play at the highest level—and it wasn’t long before she started making waves. At the NBA Academy in China, which began its women’s program in 2018, Han emerged as one of the most impressive international young players coming out of the Basketball Without Borders Camp. Originally, Han contemplated going to school, but at that point, she was already advancing in her development. 

“In China, you can either go the professional route or you can go the school route. So for the professional route, there’s pro youth teams for younger players that are maybe 15 years old, 16 years old,” Han explains. “If they choose to go to school, they can also go to high school to become a student athlete and then graduate. Then they can go play in college.”

For Han, who was also a member of the U17 FIBA roster for Team China, the experience made it all the more clear to her that going the pro route was her chosen path. “At the time, I wanted to go the pro route because I had the edge at the age of 18. I had already been invited to the Chinese national team. Since I got that invite, I wanted to become a pro,” she adds.

Han became the first player to graduate from the NBA Women’s Academy program in China, as well as the first from the academy to go on to play professionally in the WNBA. “NBA Academy is a great program for our youth players. I feel honored to be the first player, male or female, to be drafted in the WNBA.”

Still, she’s had to adjust to not only a new environment and team, but to the American style of hoops. “The focus [in China] is more on teamwork, playing together and also having a great discipline for Chinese basketball. But out here, the players are definitely more confident. Sometimes it can be less teamwork but more star power here.”

As she’s been finding her rhythm, Han has been guided by mentors along the way, including Stefanie Dolson, who has played overseas in China. 

“I’ve been looking up to [Stefanie] when I was younger because she played for a CBA team, [the] Jiangsu (Dragons). She plays the game with a very high IQ and she also has a great body frame,” Han says. “She’s been teaching [me] a lot of things. I really appreciate her.”

When we caught up with Dolson earlier this season, she only reciprocated the sentiments about Han. “First of all, the sweetest person alive. She’s just so young and is so willing to learn and listen,” Dolson said. “She’s been an amazing part of this team. I think everyone loves her, adores her, and I’m really excited to see how much better she can get because she’s so young.”

As she continues to find her footing on the Liberty, Han hopes her journey inspires others to change the culture of basketball in China for the better.

“In the future, I just hope my story can inspire the next generation to believe that as long as you work hard, you can achieve anything in life—anything you want in life.” 

Photos via Getty Images.

The post Han Xu’s Unparalleled Journey from China to the New York Liberty appeared first on SLAM.

The visit to Mexico is the first time the NBA has played the Mexico City games since December 2019.

San Antonio will showcase their newest rookie Tari Eason, recently re-signed Keldon Johnson, and of course, Coach Gregg Popovich. Meanwhile, Miami returns a team that just went to the Eastern Conference Finals led by Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.

San Antonio made their debut in Mexico in 1994, and the Heat will play in Mexico for the first time since 2017.

The 2022-23 game also be the 30th season of the Mexico Games, which began in 1992 between the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets.

The post Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs Set to Play Mexico City Game in 2022 appeared first on SLAM.

Many hurdles remain, but talks resurfaced with training camp about six weeks away. The teams tried to get a deal done during July but no dice from either side.

The Knicks will have to send at least $24.2 million in salary to make the trade go through, according to Ian Begley of SNY, on top of the high asking price that Utah wants for Mitchell.

The Jazz has also clarified that they will be content with holding onto Mitchell if no deal is reached.

If they land Mitchell, the Knicks could have a potential starting lineup of Jalen Brunson, who they signed during free agency, Mitchell, RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, and Mitchell Robinson for the upcoming season.

The blockbuster trade could help the Knicks could turn around their disappointing 2021-2022 season into one where they find themselves back in the NBA playoffs.

The post REPORT: Donovan Mitchell Trade Talks Re-engaged Between the Jazz and Knicks appeared first on SLAM.

I know most people will believe unnamed sources over me but if it’s anyone out there that’ll listen, I don’t plan on retiring anytime soon. Shit is comical at this point.

— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) August 15, 2022

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, an anonymous NBA executive believes Kevin Durant is more likely to retire than play for the Brooklyn Nets again.

The Nets and Durant’s future is in doubt after Durant made a trade request and reportedly wants to head to a championship contender like the 76ers or the Heat. Multiple reports came out last week that Durant let the Nets know he was adamant about leaving and gave team owner Joe Tsai an ultimatum, either keep him or keep GM Sean Marks and Coach Steve Nash.

Durant has played sparingly with the Nets since he arrived while recovering from his torn Achilles injury. The team has cycled through players around Durant and Kyrie Irving but has not found any significant playoff success given the high expectations. According to Stein, there is a “growing expectation” that Durant might cause a stir to get out of Brooklyn.

Additionally, Stein said he was given this information by a “well-connected” executive and reported this information about Durant “based on what he was hearing” while covering the 2022 Summer League.

James Harden forced his way out of the team halfway through last season, Irving’s status is also up in the air, but the Nets have not ruled out moving him either. Nets majority owner Joe Tsai has come out onto Twitter and stated which side of the aisle he stands on with this situation.

With training camp six weeks away, the Nets and their makeup for the 2022-2023 season hang in the balance.

The post REPORT: Anonymous Executive Believes Kevin Durant Could Retire Before Playing For Nets Again appeared first on SLAM.

Since 1995, Izzo and the Spartans have made the NCAA tournament in all but two seasons as head coach. Izzo has coached in eight Final Fours, won the 1999-2000 National Championship, coached seven consensus All-Americans, won three Big 10 Coach of the Year awards, was the 1997-98 AP Coach of the Year and has won 666 games in his career.

The contract extension also comes after Izzo signed one of his best-recruiting classes in recent memory, signing four top 100 players in the class of 2023, which ranks No. 3 overall in the nation. Izzo also signed two incoming freshmen who were top 100 prospects, Jaxon Kohler and Tre Holloman, that will suit up for Michigan State.

Izzo is the winningest coach in Big 10 history, passing Bob Knight’s 659 wins at Indiana. Based on his recent recruiting work, Izzo is gearing up for one more NCAA Championship run before he decides to step away from the sidelines.

The post Michigan State’s Tom Izzo Signs an Extension at Michigan State appeared first on SLAM.

The honor comes following Russell passing away on July 31st, with Magic Johnson being one of the first few people to advocate for Russell’s universal jersey retirement.

Russell now joins Jackie Robinson and Wayne Gretzky to have their jersey numbers retired by their respective League. When Jackie Robinson Day hits, the day Robinson made his MLB debut, every player in the majors wears his iconic No. 42 to honor Robinson’s legacy.

All NBA players who wear No. 6 will have to give it up to honor Bill Russell, most notably LeBron James of the Lakers. However, the NBA has granted a godfather rule for players currently wearing the No. 6 to continue to wear the number.

Russell passed away as the player most synonymous with winning after leading the Celtics to 11 titles. He also earned five MVP awards, 12 All-Star selections, 11 All-NBA selections, and led the League in rebounding four times. Not to men

The post Bill Russell’s No. 6 to Be Retired Across the NBA appeared first on SLAM.

James had emphasized the importance of unity and cohesion for the team this year, citing that last year the team didn’t have that element which led to more losses than expected.

According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, the meeting also had a crucial component that James and Ham mutually agreed on: running the offense through Anthony Davis. The team seems pleased with Davis’ offseason work and hopes he can take on the lead role.

The team will also expect a bump in three-point accuracy from Russell Westbrook, who shot 29.8 percent from three last year. Remember that the triple-double king hit corner triples at a 43.8 clip last season.

Haynes also added the meeting was deemed “productive and informative.” General Manager Rob Pelinka also attended the hour-long session and expressed his desire to have James retire as a Laker.

The post REPORT: Lakers Meet with LeBron James; Agree to Run Offense Through Anthony Davis appeared first on SLAM.

Their featured superstar, Jayson Tatum, has let the six-game series loss to the Warriors inspire him to want to reach greater heights for the upcoming regular-season campaigns. Although his Finals debut didn’t end the way he expected, Tatum has used the loss and his time off to reflect on what he had learned from the process.

“(I learned) that I’m 24 and one of the best players in the world and that I will compete against whoever and take on that challenge,” Tatum said via The Athletic. “In that same breath, I feel like there’s so much I could be better at, and I think that’s the exciting part. That I’m at where I’m at, where there’s so much more I can be, so much more I can learn, and so many more experiences to go through.”

Strong words from the budding superstar who has reached top 10 status in the NBA but sees himself (and the team) getting better over time.

“It’s not a ‘for sure’ thing, you know. You have to put in the work. You have to take the right steps,” Tatum said. “But I’m positive that we got the right group that will buy-in, and we can’t look past anything and just try to coast our way to the finals. We gotta start from training camp.”

Tatum and the Celtics are ready to go at training camp to make it back to the Finals, hopefully holding the Larry O’Brien trophy in their clutches.

The post Jayson Tatum Opens Up About Lessons He Learned from the NBA Finals appeared first on SLAM.

With an assist to Crystal Dangerfield in the first quarter against the Mercury, Ionescu accomplished the feat at the 9:31 mark. She finished the matchup with 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists in the 76-62 loss to the Mercury

The Liberty, who are currently 13-19 for fifth in the East, have won three of their last four games.

“I definitely see the future in the organization that we’re building. Super excited for what’s to come,” she told SLAM back in March of 2021. “It definitely takes a village, it’s not gonna happen overnight, it’s not something that comes easy. The vision of seeing the organization get there and then all of the hard work that it’s gonna take to get there is really what’s exciting. That grind is why a lot of people play; it’s why I play. That’s really the fun part.”

The SLAM 231 cover star has garnered the crown of the triple-double queen since she stepped foot into the W as statistical marvel when she dropped 33 points, along with seven rebounds and seven assists in her second pro game. Then again, Ionescu has always been a bucket since her days at Oregon, where not only became the first NCAA player (male or female) to register 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 1,000 assists, but is also the all-time NCAA record leader in career triple-doubles.

WNBA legend Candace Parker even acknowledged that we’re in a new era and spoke on the type of player Ionescu is:

“I think it’s the new age of players, but I also think it’s the way the game is played now,” Parker said, “It’s more fast-paced now. Now, you’re seeing 90s and 100 scores. They’re setting the record for 3-point shots. So it’s more like made shots. When we were coming to into the League, I don’t know what the average was for points, but I’m sure it was way less than it is now. So you have more shooters, so you’re going to have more assists, and your playmaking is better. So I think it’s just a combination of, yes, the skill set of the players like Sabrina, but also, I think it’s the skill set of those that are around her that are able to knock down shots.”

The Liberty are set to play the Wings on Monday at 8pm.

The post Sabrina Ionescu Makes WNBA History with 500 Points, 200 Boards, 200 Dimes in a Season appeared first on SLAM.

On Thursday, Phoenix Mercury teammate Skylar Diggins-Smith gave an emotional response when she was asked about the WNBA proceeding to play following the news.

“Nobody wanted to even play today,” Diggins-Smith told reporters. “How are you supposed to approach the game with a clear mind when the whole group is crying before the game?

From Griner’s agent and both WNBA teammates and competitors, as well as players across the NBA, many have continued to shared their thoughts and sentiments via social media.

Skylar Diggins-Smith:

Lindsay Kagawa Colas:

Phoenix Mercury:

Connecticut Sun:

Stefanie Dolson:

Breanna Stewart:

Elena Delle Donne:

Jaren Jackson Jr:

Diamond DeShields:

Amanda Zahui B:

Arike Ogunbowale:

Kia Nurse:

Tyasha Harris:

Dawn Staley:

AD:

Layshia Clarendon:

WNBPA:

The post WNBA and NBA Reacts to Brittney Griner’s Sentencing appeared first on SLAM.

Over the years, Siakam has been questioned if he can be a true first option. He’s improved in every aspect of his game, winning the 2019 Most Improved Player Award.

Siakam has been putting in work at the gym this offseason, and Coach Nick Nurse has taken notice of Siakam’s summer work.

“(Siakam) looks absolutely spectacular,” Nurse said at his charity golf event. “You sit there, and you watch him work out; his athleticism is electric, his focus, his shot is smooth and soft. He looks great.” added Nurse.

Siakam will look to take the step to superstar status next season to prove he can lead a team to the NBA Finals. With the positive reinforcement from Nurse and the supporting cast to go with it, Siakam and Toronto could have all the tools to succeed.

The post Nick Nurse Impressed with Pascal Siakam’s Summer Workouts appeared first on SLAM.

TSA reportedly stopped Shumpert at a checkpoint around 2:40 p.m., and authorities were then asked to investigate a potential drug violation. After police had searched his belongings, they found a ‘green leafy substance’ which was later confirmed to be marijuana after tests, and Shumpert himself admitted it was marijuana.

Shumpert surrendered to authorities without incident. Shumpert was allegedly carrying 6.12 ounces of marijuana. The former Dancing With the Stars winner faces up to two years in jail and $10,000 in fines if he is found on “state jail felony” charges.

Shumpert, a 2016 NBA Champion with the Cleveland Cavaliers, also had stints with the Knicks, Nets, Kings, and Rockets. Shumpert made the all-rookie team in 2012 with the Knicks, holding career averages of 7.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.1 steals in 10 NBA seasons.

The post REPORT: Iman Shumpert Arrested on Charges of Possession of Cannabis appeared first on SLAM.

But Lowry doesn’t make much of his injuries and feels he doesn’t have to answer much about them. Despite the criticism he received last year, Lowry doesn’t take to them heavily, if at all. Lowry spoke about his injury woes and more before hitting the links at Raptor Coach Nick Nurse’s celebrity golf event in Toronto.

“If you know me, you know what I do. I don’t talk about it; I just go out there and operate,” said Lowry.

In the 10 games that he played in the playoffs, Lowry averaged 7.8 points and 4.7 rebounds in 29.5 minutes per game. Lowry posted 18 points and 10 dimes in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Look out for Lowry and the Heat to bounce back while reaching for greater heights of NBA glory in this coming year.

The post Kyle Lowry Dismisses Injury Issues: ‘If You Know Me, You Know What I Do’ appeared first on SLAM.

Count Lakers legend Magic Johnson amongst the many calling for Bill Russell’s number to be retired across all of the NBA.

Russell would join Jackie Robinson in a select class of retired numbers in North American sports; Robinson had his number 42 retired all over Major League Baseball.

Magic Johnson wants the 11-time champs number retired to honor everything Russell did beyond the lines of play. Russell’s work as a champion and life activist has certainly earned him the right, and Johnson believes that legacy furthers his case for a League-wide jersey retirement.

Some NBA players do still wear the No. 6, most notably LeBron James, who switched from 23 to 6 after his first three years in Laker land.

“It’s always been a part of me, to be honest,” James said in 2021. “Six has a lot of meaning to me, from my family and numbers and things of that nature to what I believe in and things of that sort, but my mentality doesn’t change.”

No comment has been made yet by James or NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, but Johnson’s pitch on Twitter is a great suggestion.

The post Magic Johnson Calls For the NBA to Retire Bill Russell’s Number appeared first on SLAM.

It’s 2:30 p.m. Pacific time and Stefanie Dolson just left practice in preparation for the Liberty’s next game against the L.A. Sparks. There are an endless number of things she could do with her free time, going to the beach or shopping on Rodeo Drive, for starters. But the game against the Sparks, a third in the Western Conference as we went to press, is her top priority and requires all of her attention.

“I could easily go out, be in the sun for five, six hours, but I have a game tomorrow and I just feel like that comes with maturity and making mature decisions,” says Dolson.

That’s Dolson right there in a nutshell—a mature leader who is still trying to be herself at the same time. When it’s grind time, Dolson is as sharp as ever, but she also understands the concept of fun.

“I just try to bring some type of personality, some type of fun, because at the end of the day, we’re playing basketball, which is still a game, and I think a lot of people forget that. And, so, for me, I just try to bring that fun no matter where it is.”

When she left the Chicago Sky after their 2021 WNBA title campaign, she had narrowed her choices down to the New York Liberty and Seattle Storm. A native of Slate Hill (NY), Dolson ultimately chose to come home to New York to a team trending upward.

“When I looked at the roster, it was just a really good young roster. And with Sabrina [Ionescu], Michaela [Onyenwere], DiDi [Richards], and then with Tash [Natasha Howard] being one of the vets, I just felt like it was a really great place for me to come and bring my veteran leadership,” Dolson adds. “And I guess my experience from winning the championship would help as well.”

As Dolson embraces the challenge while now in her ninth season in the W, saying that her presence alone helps would be an understatement. Despite her slow start in May, Dolson and the Liberty went 7-3 in the month of June, with wins over Washington and Connecticut. She’s currently averaging 7.9 points, 4.7 boards and 1 block per game, while shooting 51 percent from the field as a regular starter.

But her impact goes far beyond the actual on-court production. Dolson came out to the public in 2016 as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, telling ESPN she felt “called to lead an open life.”

At one point, she had purple hair and would always mess around with her makeup. As she put it: “If they’re going to stare, they might as well stare at something fun.” That has brought Dolson tons of joy, in being who she is, which has made basketball an anomaly in some ways. She’s made All-Star Games, won a title, proved everything she can on the floor, but her next challenge now comes in being a positive example to her peers and to those who admire her.

“I’ve taken a lot of joy from being a part of the LGBTQ+ community…I really feel like when I was at the Pride Parade, there was so much joy,” Dolson says. “And that’s just something I try to bring from my life and from that community onto the court with the game.”

You can stare, comment, complain all you want, but Stefanie doesn’t care. She’s here to do a job but also have fun in her own way.

“I hope that any team that I leave, people when asked, they say that I was a really great teammate. That’s something that I really hold special to my heart.”

Photos Courtesy of Getty Images

The post How Liberty’s Stefanie Dolson Found Joy as an LGBTQ+ Athlete—and is Channeling that into Her Game appeared first on SLAM.

“This is my fifth offseason with trade rumors going on,” Turner said per Hoops Wire. “‘He’s going to land here; he’s going to do this. He going to do that.’ I am finally numb to it, in a sense. So that’s another thing that I was proud of myself for as well. I was able to immerse myself in the experience of Africa as opposed to my own personal life or my own selfish reasons.”

Turner had been previously linked to the Hornets and Cavaliers, and he was also caught up in a debate about whether the team should keep him or Domantas Sabonis.

“The way I’m perceiving everything now, my outlook is I’m in great shape right now,” he said, “I’ve worked my way back for my injuries. And just carry myself as a professional as I always have. Whether that’s in [Pacers] training camp or whether that’s a training camp somewhere else, I’m going to go and be myself.”

Turner’s focus remains on the court, regardless of who he suits up for this year. He played in only 42 games this year, averaging 12.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.8 rejections before a foot injury stopped all that.

The post Pacers Center Myles Turner Has Become ‘Numb’ to Persistent Trade Rumors appeared first on SLAM.

Freedom recently spoke to Israeli news outlet Walla on his free agency process and was critical of why he believes he remains unsigned at the beginning of August.

“Free agency is open for one month. Normally, I should have already received offers. This summer, I did not receive one single offer,” Freedom said per Legion Hoops. “The reason is that I spoke out against what is happening in China in recent months. The Chinese market is a big part of the NBA business. So, they will allow talking freely about anything you want until it hurts them financially. As soon as you do that, they will cut you. It is very sad and unacceptable.”

Freedom spent this past year on the Boston Celtics, where he appeared in 35 games for the Eastern Conference Champions. Freedom averaged 3.7 points and 4.6 assists per game on 52.6 percent shooting from the field during his time with the Celtics.

Kanter has spent time with the Jazz, Thunder, Knicks, and the Trail Blazers and had a previous stint in Boston. Freedom has averaged 11.2 points and 7.8 rebounds across 13 seasons of NBA service.

“I am 30 years old. I can play another five or six years. I don’t intend to retire.”

The post Enes Kanter Freedom Doesn’t ‘Intend to Retire’ Despite Slow Offseason appeared first on SLAM.

Suns forward Cam Johnson was spending time at UNC Chapel Hill with his brother, Puff when he saw all the news about Kevin Durant.

“It’s Puff’s teammates, my teammates (in the locker room at UNC). I’m like, “Nah, man, don’t put me in this.”” Johnson said via AZ Central. “And next thing you know, whoever it was, Windy (ESPN’s Brian Windhorst) or somebody on the TV was like naming the potential trade targets. Naming DA (Deandre Ayton), me, Mikal (Bridges). And I was like, “come on, man,” but it’s the business.”

Johnson averaged 12.5 points this year on 46.0 percent shooting from the field and 42.6 percent shooting from beyond the arc for the Suns this year, and has been using the offseason to reflect on the loss and using the summer to improve on his weaknesses.

The playoffs were a different story, however, as the Suns lost in seven games to the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference semifinals. Johnson would love to run things back with the Suns after he saw Deandre Ayton sign an extension.

“This is the time you explore (your) game and work on things that you see from previous seasons where you can be better. Where you can impact winning more. It’s been a lot of fun working on those things. Just enjoying life.”

Johnson is eligible for an extension as he enters the final season of his rookie deal.

The post Cam Johnson Speaks On His Future With the Suns and Their Game 7 Loss appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Banchero joins a Jordan Brand family that includes Chris Paul, Bradley Beal, Luka Doncic, Carmelo Anthony, Bam Adebayo, Jayson Tatum, Russell Westbrook, and of course, Michael Jordan.

Banchero was grinding in the Summer League with the Zion 2s and Air Jordan 36s this year.

Banchero played two Summer League games before Orlando decided to shut him down. In those two contests, Banchero showed why he was the top overall pick coming out of Duke as he averaged 20 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game.

Banchero won ACC Rookie of the Year and was a consensus first-team All-American after scoring 17.2 points a game during his lone season at Duke.

The post REPORT: Paolo Banchero Finalizing Endorsement Deal With Jordan Brand appeared first on SLAM.

Harden was traded to the Sixers last year after he found the situation in Brooklyn not as ideal as he would have liked it to be. The transition to Philly has started well despite the team’s early exit into the playoffs. A full year as a 1-2 punch with Joel Embiid will be an interesting test to see how far the Harden-Embiid combo can take the 76ers.

“This is where I want to be. This is where I want to win, and I think we have the pieces to accomplish that goal,” said Harden via team statement. “From my first day with the 76ers organization, the team and the fans have helped me feel at home here in Philadelphia. I’m excited to build off of last season, and I can’t wait to get out on the court with the guys and start this journey.”

Following his trade from Brooklyn, James Harden spent the final 21 games of the 2021-22 season in Philadelphia, where he averaged 21.0 points and 10.5 assists on 40.2 percent shooting from the field. The Sixers would go 13-8 in the 21 games that Harden played with the team last year and went down in six games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals to the Miami Heat.

The organization has mutual feelings with bringing Harden back, especially Sixers head coach Doc Rivers.

“I couldn’t be happier with James’ decision to commit to our organization,” Coach Doc Rivers said of Harden’s new deal via CBS. “Over the last two years, we have taken significant steps toward our ultimate goal of becoming champions.

The Sixers believe that Harden is the missing piece that can get them past the second round of the playoffs, something the team hasn’t done in 20 seasons. The Harden-Embiid pairing will now get an entire season together, and the Sixers hope that those two can one day deliver a championship to the organization.

The post James Harden On Re-Signing With the 76ers: ‘This Is Where I Want to Win’ appeared first on SLAM.

The Associated Press reports that “Russia has for years expressed interest in the release” of Viktor Bout, an arms dealer who was sentenced to 25 years prison time in 2012 on charges of scheming to illegally sell weapons for millions of dollars in profit. Griner could be facing up to 10 years if she is convicted.

The US is also reportedly trying to bring home former Marine Paul Whalen, who was arrested in Russia in December 2018.

Blinken has not offered any details about the proposal, but has “requested a call” with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. US officials state that the “desire for an answer on the prisoner offer was the primary, but not only, reason that the U.S. on Wednesday requested the call with Lavrov,” writes the AP.

Griner recently testified for the first time in her trial and has revealed that an interpreter translated only a portion of what was said while she was detained in Moscow and that she had to use a translation app on her cell phone to communicate with a customs officer. She also says that officials told her to sign documents, but that “no one explained any of it to me,” and that she received no explanation of her rights or access to a lawyer during the initial hours of her detention.

The U.S. government and Biden administration have faced mounting pressure from the players around the WNBA and NBA to bring BG home.

“My career is my whole life,” Griner said in her trial. “I dedicated everything — time, my body, time away from my family. I spent six months out of the year away from everybody, and with a huge time difference.”

It’s time to bring BG home.

The post REPORT: United States Offers a Deal with Russia for the Release of Brittney Griner appeared first on SLAM.

“I played with [Durant] during the Olympics,” Tatum said Tuesday night prior to the premiere, per ESPN. “Obviously, he’s a great player, but that’s not my decision. I love our team. I love the guys that we got.”

Tatum also goes onto say that he doesn’t wear the hat of the general manager, and doesn’t “make anything” of the reports of Boston entering the race for KD.

“We got two new pieces [in Malcolm Brogdon and Danilo Gallinari],” Tatum said. “I love our team. I just go out there and play with my teammates. I don’t put that [general manager] hat on to make decisions.”

The Celtics reportedly offered Jaylen Brown up as the centerpiece for the acquisition of Kevin Durant, but the rumor was “rejected.” Many are speculating that Brown’s latest tweet was in reaction to the rumors.

Durant’s agent Rich Kleiman did not comment on the trade rumors after he and Durant made an appearance at the premier of “Point Gods.” Durant also did not answer any questions.

The post Jayson Tatum Responds to Kevin Durant Rumors appeared first on SLAM.

“Kyrie Irving opted in with the full intent of playing out next season as a Brooklyn Net. In his mind, he’s playing next year in Brooklyn with or without Kevin Durant.”

Durant’s status is still up in the air with his potentially new landing spot, the Boston Celtics, emerging as a new horse in the race with their trade proposal that was reportedly centered around Jaylen Brown.

The Nets picked up Irving’s $36.5 million player option and did look to move on from him, but Irving has since changed course, according to Shams.

The Nets front office is still looking for ways to retool following a first-round sweep at the hands of the Celtics in these past playoffs.

The post REPORT: Kyrie Irving Playing in Brooklyn ‘With or Without Kevin Durant’ appeared first on SLAM.

Lacob had gone onto Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner’s “Point Forward Podcast” when the episode had turned to the NBA’s luxury tax system. Golden State had a total payroll of $346 million last year while paying up $170 million in luxury taxes, an NBA record.

“The hardest thing of all is navigating this luxury tax, unfortunately,” Lacob said. “I went back to New York this week for labor meetings. I’m on the committee. And you know, obviously, the league wants everyone to have a chance, and right now, there’s a certain element out there that believes we “checkbook win,” we won because we have the most salaries on our team.”

“The truth is, we’re only $40 million more than the luxury tax. Now, that’s not small, but it’s not a massive number. We’re $200 million over in total because most of that is this incredible penal luxury tax. And what I consider to be unfair, and I’m going to say it on this podcast, and I hope it gets back to whoever is listening — and obviously, it’s self-serving for me to say this, but I think it’s a very unfair system because our team is built by — all top eight players are all drafted by this team.”

The NBA forbids criticism from team owners and officials regarding League’s collective bargaining agreement with the NBAPA.

The post Warriors Owner Joe Lacob Fined $500,000 For Calling the Luxury Tax ‘Unfair’ appeared first on SLAM.

Celtics forward Grant Williams used this to his advantage in Boston’s Game 7 win over the Milwaukee Bucks to advance to the ECF. Williams scored 27 points and hit seven threes to help Boston eliminate the then-defending champs.

Williams, per The Long Shot podcast, said his Game 7 performance against the Bucks because he watched Kelly Olynk’s Game 7 outing against the Wizards.

“Channel Kelly,” William said.

Williams also cited how Jaylen Brown shifted the energy in the Celtics locker room with the following saying: “Everything Easter.”

“We used to say Everything Easter. I don’t know where he came up with Everything Easter,” Williams said. “I don’t know what it means — next thing you know, we just kinda rode the wave — maybe (JB) went to a fortune teller, and they told him that.

From January ’22 to the end of the regular season, the Boston Celtics were the best team in the NBA, posting a 34-12 record since the year flipped to 2022, and were the best defensive team in the NBA. Boston would reach the NBA Finals, where they ultimately fell to the Golden State Warriors in six games. Williams would defiantly say that he still feels like Boston was a better team than Golden State.

“When I’ve reflected and looked back to those games,” Williams said per Chris Forsberg. “I still would say confidently — confidently — to this day; they weren’t the better team. I would say they were the more disciplined team. I would say that without a doubt.”

The Celtics will certainly look to return to the NBA Finals this coming season, especially with the additions of Malcolm Brogdon and Danilo Gallinari in this offseason period. Look for the C’s to run the table again and dominate the Eastern Conference.

The post Grant Williams Opens Up About the Celtics’ Journey to the Finals appeared first on SLAM.

The Lakers’ side of things is where they would be willing to take on Randle if they cannot move Westbrook for Kyrie Irving. Randle would be a player the Lakers would value as a complementary piece next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Randle’s salary for 2022-23 is set to be $23.76 million, $23.3 million less than what Westbrook will make this upcoming year.

Randle is two years removed from his lone year as an All-Star, All-NBA Second Team selection, and a Most Improved Player of the Year award.

The Lakers have been linked to Irving in recent weeks and may need the help of other teams to move Westbrook to take on Irving. Irving has also been involved in trade rumors following Kevin Durant’s trade request away from the Brooklyn Nets.

This hinders the development of the Knicks and Jazz’s talks to scoop Mitchell. The Lakers have also been searching for a third team if they were to deal away Westbrook. San Antonio was rumored to be the third team at one point, and now the Knicks have been identified as the other potential third suitor.

The post REPORT: Knicks to Explore Trading Julius Randle if They Land Donovan Mitchell appeared first on SLAM.

But the winning hasn’t mattered to Charles, as she values the personnel she plays with higher than winning.

“I love playing basketball. So regardless of (the schemes), it’s just more so — the individuals that I’m alongside of. How each of them approach every single practice, caring about every single possession, defensive possession. Just seeing how the coaching staff prepares for the game and makes sure everyone is readily prepared,” Charles said via SB Nation. “I think that’s the beauty of it; I think that’s what the main difference is. You know, what attracted me to Seattle were the players on this team and just their approach and just what’s known about Seattle.”

In the seven games she’s played with Seattle, Charles has averaged 10.3 points and 5.9 rebounds on 50.0 percent shooting in those games. While playing alongside standouts like Breanna Stewart and Jewell Loyd, Charles has remained effective in her new role.

“Tina obviously brings a lot, everyone knows, she’s an amazing player, she’s one of the best players in our league, and the way she can really affect and change a game,” Stewart said. “But, if I’m being completely honest, the thing that she’s brought has just been confidence.”

Charles, a 2012 MVP and eight-time All-Star, has been consistently great even in the later years of her career. She’s embarked on a new challenge of being a role player rather than a headliner. She has only aided the cause for the 17-8 Seattle Storm on their quest for a WNBA title in the final year of Sue Bird’s storied career, and Charles will only help that goal become more realistic.

The post Tina Charles’ Move to Seattle is Everything She Expects from a Winning Culture appeared first on SLAM.

“Paolo Banchero, I think, is one of them ones. And the reason I think Paolo is one of them guys is because of the things that he did on the basketball court that were not scoring. … Yes, he did all the things with the basketball. Yes, he made the plays, but the plays that he made that did not involve him having the basketball is why I think Paolo is going to be one of them guys.”

Paolo continued to impress during his few Summer League matchups. The SLAM 235 cover star was pretty solid in first game and dropped 17 points, along with six dimes, and four boards.

Very solid opening night for Paolo.

17 pts, 6 reb, 4 last. (via @OrlandoMagic) pic.twitter.com/QQlxw6iHLH

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) July 8, 2022

He then followed that up with a 23-point masterpiece, while scoring the game-winning assist before Coach Jamahl Mosley made the executive decision to shut P5 down for the remainder of Summer League.

rook was hooping @Pp_doesit

23 PTS | 6 REB | 6 AST pic.twitter.com/nlklro39t5

— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) July 9, 2022

The two games he played were enough for the Magic to know what type of player they were getting.

“I hope that organization is ready for that player because that player is a winner, that player, he cares. I mean, he was out there playing in Summer League games like he was playing in the NBA Finals, with that type of intensity,” Green continued. “That is a winner right before your eyes, and I hope that that organization is ready for that player.”

Paolo Banchero is set to make his regular season debut in October.

The post Draymond Green: Paolo Banchero is a ‘Winner Right Before Your Eyes’ appeared first on SLAM.

Former Cleveland teammate Jordan McRae recalled the story of when he, Irving, and Iman Shumpert would play 1s after every practice and even sometimes before games.

At one point, they were playing ones four hours before games and every day after practices. In response to these long-winded battles, McRae said that the Cleveland front office had to tell them to stop playing.

“Me, (Kyrie), and Shump played 1s after practice every single day. People in the front office came to us like, ‘Y’all just stay away from Ky. You know if Ky see y’all, he gon’ play.”

The constant games of individual battles testify to their love of basketball and are a creative way of entertainment and fun amongst teammates. We can only imagine how many wins Irving took during those epic battles. But it was a way of forming a bond with his teammates and a fun way for iron to sharpen iron.

The post Jordan McRae Recalls Playing ‘1s After Every Practice’ With Kyrie Irving appeared first on SLAM.

Wiseman missed all of 2021-22 as he recovered from knee surgery that cut his rookie season short. The Warriors had remained optimistic that Wiseman would be able to get onto the floor for Summer League 2022, which has happened and paid dividends in this game against the Spurs.

Wiseman looked like the player Golden State has been looking for since he was drafted back in 2020, finishing with 11 points, two rebounds, and two blocks in 20 minutes. He played four-minute spurts to start each quarter but will look to ramp up his time as the summer league progresses.

“It felt good,” Wiseman said via ESPN. “There are a lot of things for me to work on; I mean, my timing was pretty off. But this was my first game. I had fun out there.”

Wiseman’s feel for the game has not left him, but considering the amount of time he has missed, being out on the floor and playing the way he did was a massive success for both him and the Warriors.

“It was physical. That’s a huge adjustment,” Wiseman said. “I’ve been out, so I’ve been doing a lot of individual workouts. So for me to just get that pushing, that physical contact, I’m proud to be out there.”

Johnathan Kumninga led the way for the Warriors with 28 points, while Mac McClung added 22 points in their 86-85 win over the Spurs in their second Summer League game.

Golden State’s next game will be against the Boston Celtics, with tipoff slated for 8:30 p.m. EST.

The post James Wiseman ‘Felt Good’ After Summer League Debut appeared first on SLAM.

According to a team statement, Sharpe went down in last night’s summer league game against the Pistons with a shoulder injury.

Sharpe was able to play most of the first quarter, in which he attempted two three-pointers and hit a mid-range jumper before his night was over.

Trailblazers Summer League coach Steve Hetzel said that there was no sign of injury when he subbed out Sharpe.

I didn’t see the injury exactly; I think he hit it on the floor,” Hetzel told Yahoo Sports. “Walking off the court at halftime, he said he felt good, but we want to be cautious with all our players, so we’re going to do our due diligence and figure it out.”

Hetzel also noted that he has been most impressive in practices as a player and a teammate.

“He’s been impressive in practice,” Hetzel said. “He has a ton of talent and an easy, smooth way about him. He defends, he listens, he’s coachable, and he tries to apply the coaching we’ve given him, so I’ve been impressed.” (via Yahoosports)

The mystery continues as fans and executives alike try to evaluate what Sharpe could be as an NBA player. The next game for Portland will be July 9 against the New Orleans Pelicans.

The post REPORT: Portland’s Shaedon Sharpe Leaves Summer League Game with Injury appeared first on SLAM.

Irving has been linked to a Lakers move involving Russell Westbrook, but it seems unlikely that the Nets would want to take on Westbrook in a direct swap with Irving. Leading to the Lakers wanting to include the Spurs in any trade they negotiate with the Nets.

San Antonio traded away All-Star guard Dejounte Murray in exchange for multiple future picks; they also dealt away Derrick White to the Celtics in exchange for Josh Richardson. Jakob Poetl and Doug McDermott are also reportedly available for a trade as the Spurs look to move in a younger direction.

They also possess a plethora of draft picks, assets that the Nets would want in a deal like this.

Per Pincus, “League sources stressed that Brooklyn views resolving Kevin Durant’s trade request as a significantly higher priority than clearing Irving’s final $36.9 million of the Nets’ books.”

After trading Murray away to the Hawks, the Spurs seem to be headed towards a rebuild and are reportedly looking to offload some of their veterans to focus on developing their young players. Furthermore, the Spurs are likely eying 2023 NBA Draft prospect and potential No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama.

The team also recently signed former Thunder forward Isaiah Roby.

The Nets are looking to resolve the Durant situation before moving Irving, and the Lakers are looking to do the same for Westbrook, but neither team will swap straight up. San Antonio holds the key to all of this.

The post REPORT: Lakers Trying to Involve Spurs in Three-Team Deal for Kyrie Irving appeared first on SLAM.

The dispatch of Rudy Gobert to Minnesota has led to speculation around the future of All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell, according to Tim Daniels of Bleacher Report.

However, Utah has come out expressing its unwillingness to trade Mitchell following the Gobert deal. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst has also confirmed that Mitchell will not force anything.

“On Mitchell’s side, he’s going to stand pat,” Windhorst said. “He’s not going to force any action right now.”

Since 2016-17, the Utah Jazz has not been able to progress in the playoffs past the second round. They have already hired a new coach in Will Hardy and sent Gobert away in a pivotal deal bringing back four first-rounders (three that have no protections at all) and four new players.

The team wants to hold onto Mitchell and retool around the multi-time All-Star.

The post REPORT: Utah’s Donovan Mitchell to ‘Stand Pat’ Despite Trade Rumors appeared first on SLAM.

Bledsoe is guaranteed $3.9 million of his potential $19.37 million for 2022-23 by July 10; the salary this year is partially guaranteed. Waiving Bledsoe before July 10 saves Portland $15.47 million in cap space.

Bledsoe signed this contract with the Milwaukee Bucks at the start of the 2019-20 year, and since then has made stops in New Orleans, a reunion with the Clippers, and the Blazers, where he would ultimately sit the rest of the year due to Achilles pain.

He was a former 18th overall draft pick of the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2010 but was traded to the Clippers for a 2012 first-round pick that turned into Fab Melo. Bledsoe played his lone college season at Kentucky, where he averaged 11.3 points apart of a team that would produce eight future NBA players.

Bledsoe averaged a career of 13.7 points,3.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game, shooting 45.2 percent from the field, 78.4 percent from the free-throw line, and 33.6 percent from three.

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It’s that effort, beyond just scoring, that Hood is trying to emphasize to his own players as a coach at this year’s NBPA Top 100 Camp. “Everybody can’t score 30 points every single game, you know, it’s just not like that,” Hood explains over the phone. “So you have to find little ways to get noticed in camps like this. And I related to them. And then, you know, you see them go out on the court and they’re trying, these kids are hungry. They want to get better.”

The 2022 NBPA Top 100 Camp features some of the best high school players in the country, with standouts including Vyctorius Miller, Kwame Evans and LeBron James Jr. This exclusive, invite-only event is focused entirely on player development, rather than self-promotion or self-branding, and for Hood, he noticed his players getting better throughout the week.

“A lot of guys on the team are really excelling and everybody’s playing well right now. We’re gonna keep going and they’re going to keep impressing,” Hood says. 

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After his standout performance at the NBPA Top 100 Camp back in the day, Hood went on to attend Mississippi State. He then made his name at Duke, where he earned All-ACC honors and averaged 16.1 points before embarking on a career in the NBA. 

SLAM recently caught up with Hood, who was still coaching at the camp when we spoke with him on the phone, to learn more about his experience there, what he was trying to teach this year’s group, and what he’s learning about himself when it comes to a potential future career in coaching.

SLAM: What’s been the best part about returning to the NBPA Top 100 Camp this year?

RH: The biggest thing is just being around the kids. They’re just hungry for information, they want to know how to get to the NBA level and what to expect. And teach what I know, it’s just about paying it back [and] trying to be somewhat of a mentor to them for this week. And that’s the best part about it. I think the challenge with the camp is just trying to get guys who are so talented to play together. My group has been special to coach, they’re a lot of fun. Hopefully one of these days I get a chance to play against them one day.

SLAM: You mentioned getting them to play a certain way. As a first-time coach at this level, what were you emphasizing to your group?

RH: Just for them to play hard. I mean, at all levels, regardless of how good you want to be, whether it’s college or NBA, you gotta play hard. The best players in the world play hard, and then just play together. Everybody is from where they at, they get all the shots and they’re the best player. But when you’re playing with better players, which they will, in college and in the NBA, you have to learn how to play without the ball and just make the right play. They’re getting better as the game goes along. So that’s all you can ask for.

SLAM: What was your favorite moment from the Top 100 Camp when you played?

RH: I can’t remember any funny moments ’cause I’m kind of old, but I just remember the camaraderie, guys that I see in the NBA [now] that I played with, whether it was Anthony Davis being there, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and Bradley Beal—all those guys was in the same class. And we talked about it. When we see each other every now and then, we talk about Top 100 Camp [or] when we played AAU ball. It’s the best time. They’ll remember this for long years to come.

SLAM: You played at Duke and you improved quite a bit when you transferred from Mississippi State to play for Coach K. As a coach, what have you learned from this experience so far and have you talked to any other coaches for advice?

RH: I’ve reached out to a few coaches; Quin Snyder, Johnnie Bryant—those guys really helped me out throughout my career. I told them ‘thank you’ because I didn’t know how much they put up with as coaches. It’s been fun, though, you know, just learning. It’s a great learning experience for me, seeing if I’m a coach in the future. I think I’ve learned a lot from this camp.

SLAM: You’ve mentioned doing the little things, like taking charges and diving for loose balls. What have you been working on with your group and what have they excelled at?

RH: All of it. I think we grew, especially on the rebounding end. Everybody would leak out to get buckets, which I understand, but, just them helping people, when your teammate falls, help them up. Get back on defense, talk on defense, run the court. Somebody gives you a good pass, tell them ‘good pass.’ Those things go a long way. College looks for that. So they’ll just continue to get better at that. It’s been good.

SLAM: Being a good teammate sometimes gets overlooked by a lot of young players at the high school level. How have you tried to show them this week that it’s just as important as their skill set?

RH: It’s very important, that’s what winning teams do. On every level, when you come out of high school, college, and definitely in the pros, the teams are the most together. They help each other up. They make the right pass and encourage each other. Those are the teams that have the most success, those are the things that you have to do. These are not things that you do [only] when you want to. You have to do these things in order to be successful as a team and as a player. I think they’re getting the hang of it. It’s new to them [and] how young they are, just because of their talent, but they’re picking up on it.

The post Rodney Hood on Coaching the Next Generation of Elite Hoopers at the NBPA Top 100 Camp appeared first on SLAM.

Westbrook, who has spent the past three years on three different teams, will spend one more season in Los Angeles alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Last season the Lakers went through an injury-riddled 33-49 season that was punctuated by a mediocre defense and failure to meet title expectations despite adding future Hall-of-Famers like Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwight Howard.

Westbrook averaged 18.5 points (his lowest total since 2009-10), 7.4 rebounds, and 7.1 assists on 44.4 percent shooting from the field.

The Lakers didn’t have much wiggle room going into the offseason despite multiple trade rumors coming surrounding the franchise, but continuity and internal growth will benefit the team for next season.

Of course, the Lakers are the oldest team in the NBA at an average 30-years-old. Westbrook will be 34 by the time the season starts and will be playing his 15th in the League. After a rough first year in the City of Angels, he will look to rebound next year.

The post REPORT: Russell Westbrook to Stay in Los Angeles 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.

PJ Tucker does have an expiring contract this coming free agency period and was one of the critical role players for Miami. His contract has expired, and Tucker is set to be an unrestricted free agency on Thursday at 6 p.m.

According to Marc Stein, rival teams are ‘convinced’ that Tucker will sign with the Philadelphia 76ers.

The deal would reportedly be worth up to three years, $30 million earning $10 million per season with the team. Tucker made seven million this past year with the Miami Heat and has a $7.3 million player option after signing a two-year, $14 million contract with Miami last summer.

The Heat faced the 76ers in the second round and eliminated Philly in six games. Tucker averaged 8.1 points and 5.1 rebounds, on 52.5 percent from the field and 43.7 percent shooting from three.

The post REPORT: Rival Teams ‘Convinced’ PJ Tucker will Sign with Philadelphia appeared first on SLAM.

During a Thursday morning appearance on ESPN, Brian Windhorst had this to say about the developing situation between Irving and Brooklyn’s front office.

“Most of the League is reading this as a leverage play. Kyrie is trying to leverage the Nets into giving him something that he wants on a new contract,” Windhorst said on ESPN.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported the same developments Thursday morning.

In 2019, Irving joined the Nets as part of a package deal with Kevin Durant. If Irving signs his player option for the 2022-23 season, he will be owed $36.5 million with the chance to enter unrestricted free agency next summer. If he is to opt-out, he will still be eligible for a max contract, and the Nets could set up a sign and trade to move him out of Brooklyn.

If Irving is to leave, there is a chance Durant may request a trade away from the Nets, according to SB Nation.

The Knicks, Lakers, and Clippers are seen as the teams that could pry Irving away from Brooklyn if he chooses to depart despite NBA insiders suggesting otherwise.

The post REPORT: Kyrie Irving ‘Expected’ to Remain in Brooklyn appeared first on SLAM.

Grant is set to make $20.95 million this coming season in the final year of his three-year, $60 million contract that he signed with Detroit in 2020 free agency. In his two seasons in the Motor City, Grant averaged 20.9 points and 4.4 rebounds on 42.8 percent shooting from the field.

With Grant now on the move, Detroit sends his money into a trade exception and gives the team around $43 million in cap space to use in free agency. The pick, initially owned by Milwaukee that Portland traded away is top-four protected, according to Adrian Wojnarowski.

The 2025 first-round pick via Milwaukee is protected Nos. 1-4, sources said. Detroit sends Grant into a $21M trade exception, and Pistons now have $43 million in salary cap space for free agency.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2022

With the acquisition of Grant, the Trailblazers now give Lillard a pick-and-roll partner plus an inside presence that the team has been lacking for some time. If Portland is to hit on their draft pick tomorrow night or trade the pick away for another All-Star, Rip City could reasonably be expected to be back in the Western Conference playoff mix sooner rather than later.

The post REPORT: Pistons Trade Jerami Grant to Portland appeared first on SLAM.

However, Beal’s reaction on Twitter painted a picture of confusion towards the report. It should be noted that last weekend, the two-time All-Star told reporters that he has already made a decision but won’t reveal what that is until a later date yet to be determined.

The possibility of Beal leaving the Wizards has been a critical storyline for some time now, even after he signed his two-year extension in 2019.

Beal has spent his entire 10-year career with Washington, holding career averages of 22.1 points, and spent two of the last three seasons averaging at least 30 points per game. He’s played most of his career with John Wall at point guard, then transitioned to Russell Westbrook before the team traded for Kristaps Porzingis at the deadline next to Beal as his new co-star.

If Beal elects to leave the nation’s capital, the Wizards are more than likely to set up a sign-and-trade so that they retain some value for Beal leaving.

The post Bradley Beal Refutes Report He Will Decline Player Option appeared first on SLAM.

Rather than getting back on the grind immediately, Stevens told Celtics star Jayson Tatum to take some time off from basketball.

“I just told him, ‘Go on vacation. Go get some rest.’ This guy gave us everything he had.”

Brad Stevens on his message to Jayson Tatum: “I just told him, ‘Go on vacation. Go get some rest.’ This guy gave us everything he had.”

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) June 21, 2022

Following a six-game slugfest with the eventual champion Warriors, it seems appropriate for the players to take some time off to reset. Tatum played 100 games this year which became apparent in the NBA Finals.

In six NBA Finals games, Tatum averaged 21.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 7.0 assists on 36.7 percent shooting from the field, 45.5 percent from three, and 65.6 percent from the free-throw line. Tatum also had historic turnover issues in the playoffs; the Duke alum coughed the ball up 100 times, the most ever in a single postseason run.

“This guy gave us everything he had,” Stevens said per CBS. “When you look at the minutes, the games played; I said it several times that he’s a superstar that doesn’t want to sit,” Stevens said of Tatum’s postseason output. “He wants to play all the time.”

Tatum and the Celtics will look to rebound next fall, and considering the youthful nature of this Boston team, expect them to be around for a good while longer.

The post Brad Stevens to Jayson Tatum: ‘Go On Vacation. Go Get Some Rest’ appeared first on SLAM.

The newest inductee to the team is Juan Toscano-Anderson, who became the first NBA player of Mexican descent to win an NBA title.

Toscano-Anderson, who played his college basketball at Marquette, contributed to two seasons of the Marquette Golden Eagles going to the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight in consecutive seasons. Toscano-Anderson wasn’t the best player on his team, so he made his most significant contributions on the defensive end.

After going undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft, Toscano-Anderson played in Mexico, Venezuela, spent some time with the Warriors G-League team, and then made Golden State’s roster in February 2020, signing a three-year contract.

Toscano-Anderson went from averaging 8.3 points as a senior in college to NBA champion and Slam Dunk participant, making him the first player of Mexican descent to do so.

The post Juan Toscano-Anderson Becomes First Player of Mexican Descent to Win NBA Title appeared first on SLAM.

Bird, a 12-time all-star, spent her entire WNBA career with the Seattle Storm, in which she accumulated just about every accolade possible. In 19 years, Bird has won four WNBA titles, earned eight all-WNBA selections, and is the all-time WNBA assist leader. She holds career averages of 11.9 points and 5.6 assists and is a career 85 percent free-throw shooter while shooting 43 percent from the field across her WNBA career.

Bird played here college hoops at the University of Connecticut under Geno Auriemma. Following a torn ACL just eight games into her college career, Bird came back and became one of the most accomplished women’s college basketball players ever; winning the Naismith College Player of the Year award, the Wade Trophy, the AP College Player of the Year, and the Big East Player of the Year award, and AP College Player of the Year on top of winning her second national title in 2002 as a senior.

She also won the Nancy Lieberman Trophy three years in a row.

Bird also had a stellar international career. She is a five-time EuroLeague champion, a two-time Europe Supercup winner, a five-time Russian league champion, and a five-time Olympic gold medalist with Team USA.

With that list of accolades, Bird will retire as arguably one of the greatest WNBA players of all time and has opened up a new path for aspiring WNBA talents who looked up to Bird.

The post Sue Bird to Retire Following 2022 WNBA Season appeared first on SLAM.

But Draymond Green apparently doesn’t see the 2022 Finals against Boston as fierce as previous challenges, such as defeating LeBron James in the NBA Finals. Green opened about the mental hurdles it takes to defeat James per the Athletic:

“It doesn’t compare to mentally playing against LeBron James, who I think is arguably the smartest guy to ever play this game,” Green said. “Not one of; he is arguably the smartest guy to set foot on a basketball court. To say that it compares to that, it’s disrespectful to LeBron, and it’s a lie to you.”

Green, a three-time champion with the Warriors, had to defeat the four-time Finals MVP in three of his five NBA Finals appearances to secure his rings. Green’s first Finals loss came from the infamous 2016 Finals, where Golden State blew a 3-1 lead, and the second loss came against Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors in the 2019 NBA Finals.

The Warriors and the James-led Lakers have also met in the 2021 play-in tournament for the seventh seed in the Western Conference playoffs. James ultimately led the Lakers to a win after hitting a clutch fadeaway three to secure the Lakers’ date with the Suns in the first-round of the playoffs.

Green did acknowledge that Boston is challenging in their own way, per Yahoo Sports:

“Now, in saying that, they do have a guy over there in Marcus Smart who is extremely smart, who it’s like a chess match going up against him. He is kind of the brain of that team. I think every team you kind of have that guy,” That’s the brain of that team, and they have that in Marcus Smart, a guy who I have a tremendous amount of respect for and his basketball IQ. So it’s a challenge for sure. Ime [Udoka, Celtics coach] is extremely smart. We know his pedigree.”

Green and the Warriors will look to wrap things up in Thursday’s Game Six in Beantown. If Boston wins Game 6, the series will shift to San Francisco for a win-or-go-home Game 7 in Chase Center.

The post Draymond Green Speaks On Facing LeBron James Versus Closing Boston appeared first on SLAM.

Incoming Villanova freshman Cam Whitmore led the United States to victory in a wild game. Whitmore is ranked as the top small forward in the 2022 class, third in the state of Maryland, and finished the year in the top 15, according to 247sports.com.

Going into the halftime break, Whitmore had 23 points on his own while the entire Brazilian team had 22. He would finish with a game-high 30 points overall to lead the USA to a dominant win, claiming the gold medal as the Yanks went 6-0 in the tournament while allowing no more than 65 points throughout the tournament.

Whitmore himself had an excellent tournament, averaging 18.7 points on 63 percent shooting from the field. Whitmore also took him tournament MVP honors as a result.

His 30-point effort was the most ever scored by a USA player in a gold medal game. Whitmore punctuated the tournament with a monstrous baseline dunk. The incoming freshman also posted a ridiculous put-back slam, impressing everyone in attendance and watching online as he jumped to the heavens to grab the ball.

Whitmore will be attending Villanova this fall alongside Mark Armstrong, his teammate on Team USA and fellow future Wildcat. Coach Kyle Neptune, who spent the previous season at Fordham, will look to make good use of his star freshman, given the performance he just had. He’ll only make Neptune’s adjustment to the Big East easier and keep Villanova in contention for the Big East crown.

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According to Shams Charania, Wiseman could be ready to go for NBA Summer League as he nears clearance for full-contact basketball activities.

Wiseman hasn’t been on an NBA floor since April 4, 2021, when he played six minutes in a win over Houston, but hasn’t appeared since due to knee troubles. Wiseman flew to London to receive plasmic injection treatments with Warriors GM Bob Meyers and has been progressing ever since, per the Athletic:

“Wiseman underwent an orthobiologic injection during a multiday trip to London with Warriors general manager Bob Myers in April, multiple sources told The Athletic, as both sides worked to find a way to promote healing in the knee. The plasma-rich injection in Wiseman’s arm was a therapeutic treatment used to increase healing throughout the body.

A torn meniscus cut Wiseman’s rookie season short, and he had surgery to repair it in April 2021 under the belief he would return in the middle of the 2021-22 season. But persistent swelling led to multiple setbacks and a December knee scope, eventually persuading the Warriors to shut down Wiseman and his decision to go the orthobiologic route.”

Having played in 39 NBA games, Wiseman holds career averages of 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds on 51.9 percent shooting from the field (31.6 percent from distance). Wiseman is included in a young core of Jordan Poole, Jonathan Kuminga, and Moses Moody behind the leading group of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green to maintain Golden State’s stranglehold on the Western Conference.

Wiseman’s upcoming summer will be critical for his career. Golden State will be hosting the California Classic on July 2 and 3, giving Wiseman his first big opportunity to return to play before heading out to Las Vegas.

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Take Flight @ZionWilliamson | #Pelicans pic.twitter.com/SSPhYaj9AG

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) June 13, 2022

Talking to New Orleans media on Saturday, Williamson spoke with reporters about his current situation.

“I do want to be here. That’s no secret. I feel like I’ve stood on that when I spoke,” Williamson said via ESPN. “Currently, this does not really have anything to do with that. This is just me wanting to be a pillar in my community.”

Williamson is eligible to sign a five-year, $186 million rookie extension with the Pelicans this coming offseason. He said he would sign the extension as quickly as possible to remain with the team.

Zion on the Pelicans playoff run pic.twitter.com/90EtyX0vJV

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) June 11, 2022

Given the current state of the roster, New Orleans is on an upward trajectory following the success of the last playoffs. They pushed the top-seeded Phoenix Suns to six games under first-year Coach Willie Green. With a core of CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy, and Brandon Ingram, New Orleans has a roster that can go to the next level if Williamson re-signs.

“It sucked watching from the sideline, but I got to see our potential,” he said via CBS. “We’ve got a lot of great pieces, and I’m excited to get on the court with those guys — You saw it on the court. We have a special group. I truly believe that — I’m one of those people that believes the more your team wins, the more individual awards will come. So, with a special group, a coach like Willie [Green], I think a lot of great things will happen.”

The post Zion Williamson on Signing Extension: ‘I Want to Be Here’ appeared first on SLAM.

These are words from the legendary Wilt Chamberlain as he described what the iconic the Harlem Globetrotters truly meant to not only him, but people of color around the world as one of the first all-Black professional teams in America since the 1920s.

Now, almost a century later, the Harlem Globetrotters’ legacy is being immortalized through an exclusive capsule collection by modern streetwear company UNDRCRWN. The line captures the Globetrotters’ heritage and importance throughout basketball history and is inspired by the classic Globetrotter designs from the late ‘70s and early ‘80s.

Creative director Kari Cruz is the visionary behind UNDRCRWN’s latest unisex/neutral collection. For Cruz, it’s critical to not only celebrate the accomplishments of women and trailblazers in sports, but to build upon that legacy.

Intertwining Cruz’s background in streetwear with her love for the game, the collection features the “Lynette” fleece sweatsuit dedicated to Lynette Woodard, who joined the squad in 1985 and became the first female to play on a men’s professional team. Woodard was a four time all-American at the University of Kansas and went on to win a gold medal at the 1984 Olympic games with Team USA.

“I am truly honored to represent women in sports and design with this collection,” Cruz says. “The Globetrotters have always innovated. It’s an iconic team who set out to break racial and gender barriers. And I’m grateful to build upon the legacy of the brand and tell women’s stories, like Lynette’s, in the process.”

The collection also features “World Famous” and “Globetrotter” tees that pay homage to some of the team’s original vintage posters and game programs.

The collection is available exclusively on UNDRCRWN.com. Shop here.

The post UNDRCRWN x Globetrotters Capsule Collection Honors the Legacy of the Harlem Globetrotters appeared first on SLAM.

The list of assistants includes current Knicks associate head coach Johnnie Bryant, Bucks assistant Charles Lee, Celtics assistants Will Hardy & Joe Mazzulla, and in-house candidates Alex Jensen & Lamar Skeeter, who were assistants under Snyder.

Former Portland coach Terry Stotts is expected to be in the mix. Stotts spent time with the Jazz later in the year as a personal guest of Snyder’s, according to ESPN. Stotts spent nine seasons in Portland, where he won 402 games and coached players such as Damien Lillard, CJ McCollum, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Wesley Matthews. He took the Trailblazers to the 2019 Western Conference Finals and made the playoffs in eight of his nine seasons.

Former Lakers coach Frank Vogel is also expected to be in the mix; he spent the last three seasons in Los Angeles and managed a 127-98 overall record with an NBA championship in 2020.

Bryant spent the past two years as an assistant under Tom Thibodeau’s staff with the Knicks and was a six-year assistant with Snyder in Utah before departing for the Knicks. Bryant also has a very close relationship with Jazz All-Star Donovan Mitchell.

In a press conference this past Monday, Jazz owner Ryan Smith had said that the list of candidates could expand during their coaching search. CEO of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge echoed this message while also saying there is no urgency to hire a new coach before the draft.

“We’ve got to get this choice right,” said Ainge. “We’ve got big shoes to fill.”

The post REPORT: Utah Jazz Begin Search to Replace Quin Snyder appeared first on SLAM.

According to NPR, her pre-trial detainment was extended by a month in March.

Griner has since received an outpouring of support from A-list athletes, including the biggest name in basketball, LeBron James. The four-time MVP spoke up for the release of Griner from Russian detainment via Twitter on Monday night.

“For over 100 days, B.G. has faced inhumane conditions in a Russian prison and has been denied communications with her family and loved ones. As a decorated Olympian and member of an elite global sport community, B.G.’s detention must be resolved out of respect for the sanctity of all sport and for all Americans traveling internationally. It is imperative that the U.S. Government immediately address this human rights issue and do whatever is necessary to return Brittney home.”

There are steps on the statement that include ways to help Griner and a Q.R. code that helps spread awareness.

Griner is a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist with Team USA and a seven-time WNBA All-Star with the Phoenix Mercury.

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Hornets GM Mitch Kupchak relieved former coach James Borrego after he compiled a 138-163 record in four seasons. Despite a dip in wins from his first to the second year, the team improved in his final two seasons and were in a position to make a playoff runs the following season had he stayed. Instead, Charlotte brass elected to look elsewhere.

Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson is one of the two finalists.

He spent four seasons as an assistant coach with the Knicks and another three with Atlanta before taking the Brooklyn job in 2016. In three and a half seasons as head coach for the Nets, Atkinson took over what could be considered the most challenging rebuild job in the NBA, but each year improved the overall record before the Nets returned to the playoffs in 2019.

He compiled a 118-190 overall record as Nets head coach before resigning midway through the 2019-2020 season. Atkinson has spent the following two years as an assistant under Coach Ty Lue with the Clippers and Coach Steve Kerr with the Warriors.

D’Antoni is the second finalist for the spot as the more experienced coach. From 2003-2008, D’Antoni ran the “Seven Seconds or Less” Phoenix Suns. In that run, D’Antoni compiled a 253-136 record, won 2004-05 NBA Coach of the Year, helped Steve Nash win back-to-back Most Valuable Player awards, and took the Suns to two consecutive Western Conference Finals in 2005 and 2006.

He would then spend four seasons with the Knicks, two with the Lakers, and the Houston Rockets from 2016-2020. In that run, he turned James Harden into the 2018 Most Valuable Player, took the Rockets to the Western Conference Finals in 2018, narrowly defeating the Warriors, and won NBA coach of the year in 2016-17. He compiled a total record of 217-101 in his Houston tenure.

Hornets owner Michael Jordan is expected to meet with Atkinson on Tuesday, with D’Antoni set for later this week.

The post REPORT: Kenny Atkinson and Mike D’Antoni Set to Meet With Michael Jordan For Charlotte Job appeared first on SLAM.

Wallace spent the previous year as an assistant coach under Penny Hardaway at the University of Memphis. Before that, he was the head coach at Charles E. Jordan High School in North Carolina from 2019-21. He also had a stop as an assistant coach with the Detroit Pistons from 2013-14.

Wallace played 16 seasons in the NBA, where he was a four-time All-Star and a member of the Detroit Pistons championship squad that defeated the Shaq and Kobe Lakers in the 2004 NBA Finals.

Hardaway told The Commercial Appeal that he knew Wallace would leave if Ham had gotten a head coaching position in the NBA.

“I think Rasheed might be going to LA with Darvin Ham. That was the deal from the beginning. If Darvin had gotten a job last year, Rasheed had already promised him that he was going to go with him. So, I’m thinking this year, with him getting the Lakers job, [Wallace] might still be going along with that process,” said Hardaway.

Wallace is the first known name to join Ham’s staff in LA. Ham and Wallace were teammates on the 2004 Detroit Pistons championship team.

The post REPORT: Rasheed Wallace to Join Darvin Ham’s Lakers Coaching Staff appeared first on SLAM.

He first tore his ACL in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals; then, before coming back for the 2021 season, he tore his Achilles which forced him to sit out 132 games before hitting the floor again.

Thompson, playing in only 32 regular-season games, was able to score 20.4 points per game on and 38.5 percent shooting from beyond the arc. The 2022 playoffs saw Thompson average 19.8 points, knocking down 39.9 percent of three-point attempts, 45.7 percent shooting from the field, and 80.0 percent from the free-throw line.

None of the numbers have ever mattered for Thompson. All he wants to do is play basketball. His quote from Finals media day has echoed all over in recent hours and epitomized his character as both player and person.

“I’m going to enjoy every second of this, play as hard as I can, and walk away with no regrets,” Thompson told reporters on Monday.

He admitted that he never thought he would get to as many NBA Finals as he has. Thompson’s perseverance has gotten him back to familiar ground, and he will look to play a major role in the Warriors’ quest for a fourth ring with this iteration of the Golden State dynasty.

Golden State hosts Thursday’s Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics.

The post Klay Thompson Plans to ‘Enjoy Every Second’ of Sixth Finals Appearance appeared first on SLAM.

Al Horford was one of the many new faces on the team this year who remained confident in the group even at the lowest point of the season. His first rodeo with Boston started in 2016 and ended in 2019 when the team went to the Eastern Conference Finals under then-coach Brad Stevens in his first two seasons.

Horford played with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, and Robert Williams in that first stint. When the five-time All-Star returned last summer, he could feel the team’s potential before the season even began.

“I texted Jayson (Tatum) and told him that I was looking forward to being in the position this coming season,” said Horford. “And I really believed that. When I shared that with him, I looked at our group, I saw the potential there. I already played with these guys, I know what they’re about, and I just knew that if we got it together that we were gonna have an opportunity, we were gonna have a chance.”

It took them a bit longer than other teams, but Boston found their stride and peaked at the absolute best time. Adding Horford helped improve Boston in some areas they struggled with last season, like rebounding and overall defense. In 2021, Boston ranked 15th overall in the NBA in total team rebounds, 22nd in defensive rebounds, and 14th in defensive rating.

Bringing back Horford changed the dynamic for 2022 when Boston ranked second in defensive rating, improved to being the fourth-best rebounding team in the NBA, and elevated back to one of the best offenses in the NBA.

Horford also brought strong leadership to a team that doesn’t have any other players north of 29-years-old, something they lacked last year. With Horford back on the team, the team’s maturity has shined throughout their playoff run.

Horford has been critical for Boston averaging 11.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in the 2022 playoffs. Though his box score numbers do not indicate his impact and value to this Boston team, advanced numbers suggest Horford has the most win shares in these playoffs while simultaneously being +4 in defensive box score plus/minus, both tops on the Celtics.

The NBA Finals begin on Thursday, with the Warriors hosting the Celtics for Game 1.

The post Al Horford Reveals He Texted Jayson Tatum That Celtics Would Get to the Finals appeared first on SLAM.

Boston’s defensive focus will mainly be on Stephen Curry, perhaps the best perimeter-oriented player in the League.

He gets to see the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year, Boston’s Marcus Smart, who will likely be stalking Curry the entire series. For opposing guards in the League, the assignment doesn’t get much more complex than Curry, let alone stopping him in the NBA Finals.

In an interview with Chris Haynes of YahooSports, Smart had said that guarding Curry on this stage is “special,” considering that this is also his first Finals appearance. The most important detail, as Smart noted, was getting his rest. 

“Getting sleep in this series is huge, man,” Smart told Haynes. “You know they are going to make you run. You have to put on your track shoes, and you have to be ready. So for me, it’s about being able to get my rest and a good night’s sleep. My conditioning is there to keep up with these guys, but you have to be fresh for them.”

Perhaps Boston is the best-equipped team to deal with Golden State than previous teams, given their physical nature and how tall their lineups are. Players such as Smart and Jaylen Brown will be able to match up with Curry and Klay Thompson, given their similarities with physical tools. 

The battle within the war also has some extra incentives to it as well because of the two times that Boston and Golden State met in the regular season, specifically during a Warriors-Celtics game on March 16 when Smart rolled Curry’s ankle while diving for a loose ball.

Smart is also seen as a target by players and fans because of his playstyle: a rigid, blue-collar attitude that reflects in Smart and how others perceive him. He plays as hard as anyone in the League, diving for everything on the floor, and plays perhaps the most exhilarating defense with a proud personality. Sometimes he can rub people the wrong way, but that doesn’t mean he will change to please people.

“I know I’m not the League’s favorite, I know I’m not the fan-favorite all the time, and I know I’m not a lot of people’s favorite player,” Smart suggested per Haynes. “My whole life has been like that. I’ve always been the underdog.”

This year’s Finals will be a matchup of polar opposite forces who are similar in many different ways. The Warriors are seen as the standard of the NBA, while Boston is more of an underdog team with hard-working players who fight for everything. And if Boston’s seven-game slugfest with Miami indicates anything, Golden State is in for a bumpy ride in these NBA Finals.

The post Marcus Smart Embracing Challenge of Guarding Stephen Curry Ahead of Finals appeared first on SLAM.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski and Tim MacMahon, owner Ryan Smith and CEO of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge have contacted Snyder about his future with Utah. Discussions have been in “good faith” with Snyder despite the uncertainty of the outlook for Utah. 

Snyder, who’s been with the team since the 2014-2015 season, has made the playoffs in six of his eight seasons but never made it past the second round. His teams never fell outside of the top 15 in defensive rating since he first took over, and he has never won less than 35 games in his eight seasons as head coach.

Snyder is under contract until the 2023-2024 season, with that final year being a coach option. 

Reports also say that the team is fine with Snyder coming back on his current contract, but nothing concrete on his long-term or immediate future. The team has also shown that they are preparing for potential earth-shattering roster changes that could change the team’s outlook, depending on the moves made by Utah’s front office that could determine if Snyder is to remain in Salt Lake City or seek a job elsewhere.

If Snyder were to leave, there would be only one head coaching vacancy left in the League to fill, with Charlotte Hornets. Snyder was linked previously to the Lakers’ job, but they opted to hire Bucks assistant coach Darvin Ham instead. 

The Jazz is in flux; the Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert situation remain unclear. Ownership has changed hands, and the front office leadership has changed in the last two years. This year, the team is set to be very deep in the luxury tax. Moving forward, the Utah Jazz will have a lot of choices to make, and they might be served to focus on improving the confidence Mitchell has in the team.

The post REPORT: Utah Jazz Coach Quin Snyder’s Future in Doubt appeared first on SLAM.