For the next 30 days—Monday through Friday— we’ll be unveiling the full list here. We’ve also got an exclusive retro collegiate collection, out now, that pays homage to each squad’s threads. Shop here.

Headed into the 2011 season, UConn was unranked on every preseason poll and picked to finish 10th in the Big East. They had just come off a mediocre season in which they failed to make the NCAA tournament for the second time in four years. So people had already written them off as a threat in the Big East, let alone as a national title contender. 

In other words, a whole lot of fuel was being added to the fire already brewing in these Huskies—a Huskies squad led by a 6-foot, 172-pound star point guard from the Bronx.

All eyes pointed to Kemba Walker, who returned for the 2011 season, a junior with lofty expectations. He’d already become a fan-favorite proven to score in bunches, always in a fresh pair of retro Js, but could he impact winning at a high level? Could you count on him to lead UConn back to glory? 

Don’t get it twisted, though; Kemba had a well-composed squad around him. Among them were two star-studded freshmen–point guard Shabazz Napier and swingman Jeremy Lamb–who would each become first-round NBA Draft selections themselves. But was it enough? Would their lack of experience be a hindrance? UConn was very talented, but how consistent could they be?

A lot of questions, but UConn had the cheat sheet.

They made it through their non-conference schedule undefeated, winning ten straight before getting into Big East play, including wins over No. 2 Michigan State and No. 8 Kentucky. During that stint, UConn ranked as high as No. 4 on the AP poll and seemed primed to make a run at the Big East crown.

Anyone who knows anything about college hoops of the 2000s and 2010s knows every Big East matchup was a dogfight. On any given night, UConn could convincingly beat a top-10 team like Georgetown or lose by 15 to an unranked St. Johns. It was that type of up-and-down conference slate for them. They finished a disappointing ninth in the Big East and headed into the Big East Tournament, losing four of its last five games. 

Well, the way March Madness is set up, the Huskies were in perfect position to take the country by storm. 

They breezed through their first two games of the Big East Tournament, earning a spot in the quarterfinals–a rematch against Pittsburgh (the Big East regular season champs who blew them out back in December). This time around, in March, the stakes were different.

The game was tied at 74. Seven seconds left on the clock. UConn’s ball. 

Everyone in their right mind knew who was taking the last shot. It didn’t matter. With a mismatch at the top of the key Kemba hit a smooth right-to-left hesi, took a hard attack-dribble left, stopped on a dime, stepped back and raised up for his picture-perfect jumper as the helpless defender stumbled to the ground. The ball splashed through the net, Madison Square Garden erupted and a college basketball legend was born.

“It was a special moment in UConn history; I turned to my assistants as we were walking off the court and said, ‘We got something special going on,’” Jim Calhoun, UConn’s retired hall-of-fame head coach, recalled in a 2016 interview. 

Coach Calhoun couldn’t have been more right. Kemba and the Huskies sealed the deal two days later and won the Big East Tournament. That’s five days, five games and five wins. A truly unprecedented run. But next up was the NCAA Tournament. They’d have to win six more games in a row to be the last team cutting the nets. Surely, they couldn’t continue playing with the same level of intensity after having just survived that Big East gauntlet, right? 

Uh-uh, wrong.

Kemba played like a man possessed; the team went as he went. He averaged 23.5 points, 6 rebounds and 5.6 assists in the NCAA Tournament en route to leading the program to their third national championship in a win over Butler–defeating future hall of famers like Kawhi Leonard and bluebloods like Kentucky (for a second time) along the way.

The 2011 UConn team epitomizes everything we love about college basketball–the swagger, the culture, the underdog story, the journey. From unranked to on top of the ladder, the 2011 UConn Huskies are forever immortalized in basketball history.

Photos via Getty Images.

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The question is a rhetorical one. Many people—the media, casual basketball fans, diehard Pacers/Thunder/Clippers fans—know of him as just an NBA superstar.

He’s an eight-time All-Star, won Most Improved in 2013 and has made All-NBA, All-Defensive and All-Rookie Teams throughout his 13 years in the League so far. Long before that, he was known for being the highest draft pick in Fresno State history when he was selected in the first round back in 2010. Then, in 2014, he decided to switch things up by changing his jersey number from No. 24 to No. 13, which also inspired a new nickname: PG-13. He bought all his old jerseys and donated them to his high school. 

“The whole thing behind PG-13 is just coming into my own,” he told Vigilant Sports back then. “I feel like I’m at that stage where I’m ready to embrace everything that comes with being one of the young stars in this League. Everyone knows PG-13 is related to television, so the whole thing is being able to enjoy the show and being fun to watch.”

In Indiana, PG turned heads. By his third season, he’d emerged as the Pacers’ go-to option, and helped lead them to the Eastern Conference Finals in back-to-back seasons from 2012-14. After seven years in Indy and multiple occasions where he battled through injury—including a compound fracture in his leg, which he suffered during the offseason in 2014 that caused him to miss a majority of the upcoming regular season—he was traded to the OKC Thunder in 2017. He tried to redefine himself again, this time as “Playoff P,” a nickname which he gave himself that season, right before the Thunder played the Jazz in the first round. When asked about guarding then-rookie Donovan Mitchell, he clarified to ESPN that “Playoff P” is “a fun guy to watch. It’s an out-of-body person where I just lock in and put myself in a different zone.” 

Then, in 2020, Game 7 against the Nuggets happened. Playoff P only scored 10 points on 25 percent shooting and went scoreless in the fourth. The internet ruthlessly decided “Pandemic P” was a more fitting title for the star’s performance at the time. Since then, George has missed extensive time due to injury, including the end of the 2022-23 regular season because of a knee injury.

But that was then, and this is now. At 33 years old, George has seen the highs and the lows of being a professional athlete—the injuries, the losses and the wins. While the opinions of others can help shift and shape narratives, what matters most is how athletes view themselves. And that’s what we went out to California in late-August to find out: Who exactly is Paul George? 

“I think I’m a pretty funny person, but I’m also a very introverted person,” George tells us. “I kind of keep to myself and I think that’s why people don’t, or haven’t learned much about me through my time through the NBA. But I’m actually a pretty fun, outgoing person. Love to laugh, love to joke. And, I mean, I’m not sure if that will surprise many people but for the people that don’t really know me, it can be surprising. At least that’s what it seems when we read comments [saying], He’s actually funny. He’s actually a good dude. So, I think the more I just show [my] personality and show who I am, [the] more people have just gravitated toward it.”

Paul George Covers SLAM 246. Get your copy now.

The man himself is sitting in a well-lit lounge at the Proactive Sports Performance, wearing his L.A. Clippers uniform. He was just training and working out in the weight room moments prior—the lounge that we’re in right now is on the second floor and looks out onto the training facility and court. Down below, we’ve got an entire photo shoot set up, which is where we’ll shoot George for his third SLAM cover. 

But first, interview time. Initially, PG’s demeanor is more low-key as the cameras start rolling. He’s not overly energetic or giving monotone answers, with “honestly” being one of the first words he uses when asked how his summer has been going. It’s a good sign that, hopefully, he’ll keep it real for the rest of the conversation. After all, he’s done countless interviews and magazine covers, including with us, before, and has been asked plenty of questions about his career, getting to that championship-level, playing alongside Kawhi Leonard…

If you listen—really, actually listen—to what he has to say, you’ll start to understand that there’s a lot more to Paul George. He’s introverted, yes, but he has also been discovering another side of himself. He’s creative, and pretty introspective and honest: while the next generation of standouts—Brandon Miller, Kiyan Anthony—consider him their GOAT, his own measurement of success comes down to one tangible thing: winning a championship.

When he mentioned on his Twitch livestream recently that he fully intends to be on his “bully shit” this upcoming season, that wasn’t a threat. It was a promise.

Here, Paul George elaborates more on what we can expect from him this season, his approach to his offseason training and how he’s discovered his voice—and himself—on the court, in the podcast studio and everywhere in between.

SLAM: How are you doing? How has the summer been and what have you been up to aside from training?

PAUL GEORGE: Good. Honestly, [it’s] summertime, being a father, it’s mostly family time. When the season’s done, kids are out of school. [It’s a] great opportunity to kind of just be at home with the family, be with my wife, my kids. But that’s about it. Apart from that I’m training and, you know, I’m taking my usual summer trips to Europe and vacation. But outside of that, [I’m] putting one foot forward and getting ready for the next season.

SLAM: Where in Europe did you visit?

PG: I was out in Serbia, where my wife is from. I was in Montenegro and Greece.

SLAM: What’s it like to be home and able to fully focus on the fam? Can you describe how you go about transitioning from the season into summer?

PG: It’s great having the kids home full-time, keeping them active [and] being able to take them to their camps, take them to their practices, their hobbies. It’s just great to be a little bit more hands-on and you really find what their interests are once you’re with them for longer periods. 

So it’s been fun—it’s been fun since the season has been done to rekindle that. You get so riled up and caught up with how the season is going that you tend to lose out on stuff, just being on the road and traveling so much. So that’s really the great part about having those summers.

SLAM: You’ve mentioned they’re pretty creative—were you the same way as a kid  growing up?

PG: Yeah, I was. I think that’s why the bond between my oldest and myself is so strong, because I was the same way. My imagination was very strong. I can draw, create, color—you name it. If I can think of it, I could draw it. So I was pretty good. I wasn’t the greatest at drawing, not a portraits person, but I could draw pretty good as a kid. I see a lot of me [in] her.

SLAM: That’s fire. In terms of your offseason workouts and training, did you start getting into it immediately after the season ended? 

PG: I took, like, two weeks off just because I was rehabbing. When the season ended, [I had] a nasty leg injury. And when the season was over, there was no point obviously for me to be in the best shape possible. So I took two weeks off to kind of get away from basketball, get away from the facility, get away from training. I thought that just helped me approach when I went back to training a lot better. It helped my mental, it helped my focus and that’s about the norm for me at this point in my career—take about two weeks away, go travel, just get out, get away and then I’ll come back and go hit it hard again.

SLAM: Has that been your approach in the past? To take time away? 

PG: Yeah, I would say probably the last couple years. Before then I used to, when the season was done, I [would] be right back in the gym the next day. But now as I’ve gotten older, I kind of enjoy splitting the two—being in season-mode and then being in offseason-mode. The younger me didn’t have a family or kids, so the older me kind of knows to separate that, enjoy family time and get after it when I’m ready.

SLAM: Looking back, how would you describe your younger self, especially when you first came into the League.

PG: My younger self was just hungry. He was passionate, he had just the warrior mentality. And fearless. I still have some of those qualities, but it’s definitely stronger as a youngin’ coming into the League. Now I would say my older self is a little bit more focused, knowing what I want and how to approach it, how to get there. Now it’s just [about] trying to stay healthy. That’s the biggest key. 

But yeah, that’s the separation between myself—where I’m at now and the younger me. I just had that passion to want to be the best and destroy any and everything in front of me.

SLAM: What have you been focusing on specifically this offseason in your training? What are your goals going into next season?

PG: Just focusing on the mentality. For me, it’s just the mentality. I work extremely hard on improving and getting better, but for me, it’s just the mentality—going back to having that 22, 23-year-old mentality at 33 of, every time I’m on the floor, I’m there to dominate and just be the best player on the floor at all times. So that’s the mentality I’m going into it [with]. That’s how I’m approaching this summer. At the end of the day, I love where I’ll finish because if I have that mentality, I know I’m giving it everything I have, and I can live with those results.

SLAM: Is that what you meant when you said on that Twitch livestream that you’re going to be on your “bully shit” this season?

PG: One hundred percent. One hundred percent. That’s exactly what I meant. I gotta hold myself accountable to that… Every night I’m on the floor, I’m there to dominate. Whether it’s [being] more physical, or going right at whoever I gotta go at, you’re gonna feel me. I’m having that approach of every time I’m on the floor, I’m there to dominate and destroy you.

SLAM: When you said that on your livestream, what pushed you to that point? Did you feel like it was something that needed to be said? Was that something that was going through your head already?

PG: Yeah, I mean, it was just a lot of unnecessary talk going around the League of, you know, guys feeling themselves and directing comments toward me that haven’t done anything as well. You know, this is the last couple years of my career, so it’s all about legacy for me as well. And that’s just my approach—I got to finish strong and go back to loving the game and loving to dominate. And again, that’s just how I got to approach it. [If] I come up short, that’s on me. But that’s how I gotta approach it.

SLAM: You used the words “go back to loving the game and loving to dominate.” Was there a time when you didn’t necessarily feel that way?

PG: Just through injuries, you doubt yourself. At times, you doubt what you’re able to do. But at this point—I had a fluke injury to end the rest of my season last year—but up until that point, I was starting to get stronger, I was starting to feel better, problems that I was having midseason were starting to go away. And that was the best I was feeling. And so, I was coming into my stride, ready to get back into that. But for a stretch, I didn’t feel [like] myself just because injuries and stuff was aching and popping up. But I feel like I’ve been starting to address that every summer, little by little, to where I’m in a great place right now.

SLAM: What does Paul George being on his “bully shit” look like?

PG: Honestly [laughs]…I can’t tell you what that looks like. I’ve been a pretty consistent scorer, been a high-level player for many years. But for me, it’s just getting to a level of consistency. And, again, not backing down and destroying whatever I have to [to] get to where I need to get to. So I think it’ll be noticeable by the way I play this year.

SLAM: Do you feel like there was a time or I guess a defining moment during your career where you really felt like you were really on your “bully shit”? 

PG: I had that approach of guarding everyone tough, of trying to be the number one option and score on the best player every night while shutting the best player down every night. You know, I just had a mean mentality when I was younger. And that was just how I approached the game. I think I fell away a little bit from that mentality. And so again, all of it is just trying to be back, centered [and] to where I was when I came into this League.

SLAM: When you were referring to guys in the League, or in general, having things to say about you, what was running through your head? 

PG: I mean, everybody has their right to say what they want to say. Everyone at this point in time has an opinion. That doesn’t bother me, but the way you go about it, and the way you approach it, I’m gonna have to have something to say about the way things are handled at some point. And that’s just where it’s gotten, so, you know, it’s just about having—I don’t go off of what I’ve done, who I’ve been in the League. To me, I view it as: if I’ve won or if I haven’t won. And I haven’t won. People tell me all the time, Don’t doubt yourself, don’t this, don’t that. I don’t. I know what I’ve accomplished. I know what I’ve done in this League. I know whose ass I’ve busted in this League, who I’ve put what numbers on in this League. That don’t mean nothing if I haven’t won a championship. Yeah, it’d be a great résumé when it’s all said and done. That’s cool. But for me, I measure myself in the success I’ve had in the League—if I get a championship, that’s what it’s all about. So, yeah, the regular stats are cool and all, but I got a bigger goal of winning [and] establishing myself as a champion.  

SLAM: Have you always had that standard of success? 

PG: Yeah, I mean, coming into the League, early on, the first couple of years [it was about] establishing myself and just getting better and wanting to be an All-Star, wanting to be on that superstar level, wanting to carry a team and wanting to be the best defender on the floor. That was kind of [my] individual goals. But once you make it to that point, take it a step further, now that has to mean something. Being the best player, being the best defender, being on a good team—like that all has to start to equate to something. Now I’m at a point where every year I’m training, and that’s the goal—to get a championship. And so if I come up short, like, nothing else matters that year. At this point, I failed the year, I failed the season, if I didn’t win a championship. 

SLAM: Let’s get into your podcast. To start, do you feel like this is one of the first times you’ve really been outspoken in terms of sharing your own opinion, talking to other athletes and analysts? 

PG: Yeah, I think so. Because, you know, for the longest [time], as a young guy, you want to say the right stuff, you want to protect the organization, you want to protect teammates, you want to protect yourself, image, brand, all of that good stuff, right? But you lose sight of like, Am I really answering this the way I want to answer it? Am I really getting off the thought or the idea that I really want to say? And sometimes after interviews, I’m like, you know, Fuck, I should have said what I really wanted to say. Or, I should have told them what really happened or how it really went. Or, how I really felt.  Now, with my podcast, I can do that. And I think that’s just the beauty in it. 

SLAM: On that note, what’s it like doing the interviewing after having been interviewed so many times? Do you feel like you have a different perspective of what goes into it? 

PG: Yeah, what I found doing it is [that it’s] very therapeutic, because a lot of stories that I’ve told, or a lot of stories that we’ve talked about, were things I held on to and haven’t really [gotten] that out. Whether it’s been good moments, bad moments, fun times, bad times, it’s just been therapeutic to express certain stories. For example, the conversation with DeMar [DeRozan] that we had about playing each other in high school, I have always felt how I felt leading up to that moment playing him in high school, but it was great to hear how he felt leading up to that moment playing me in high school. So conversations like that were great to kind of reflect back on and share that moment and share that story with somebody that I’m pretty good friends with, but we’ve never talked about that. And so it was just great to go back [down] memory lane and pick up on things that we’ve been through and experiences. Because otherwise, you hold on to certain stuff and [are] weirded out by how to share or reflect on some things.

SLAM: What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned about yourself, now that you’ve gotten into podcasting? 

PG: That I’m not just good at basketball. [laughs]. Nah, I mean, I knew whatever I put my time into I can be successful in. That’s what kind of person I am: if I lock in on something, I work extremely hard to be good at it. And being in the podcast space is another notch to reassure that. It’s just been fun. It’s honestly been fun. I never in a million years would have thought that I would be interviewing other players, talking about stories, being in front of a camera as much as I am, especially at this point in my career. So, you know, it’s just been a great roller coaster. And I’m just enjoying the ride at this point.

SLAM: Did you always feel that way—that you’re really only viewed as Paul George the basketball player?

PG: Not necessarily, but I do think people didn’t know much about me. I felt I was—everyone thought a certain way, based off of moments I’ve had in basketball, moments on the court, off the court. And that’s the only thing that they can pinpoint on me. But actually watching me in a podcast setting, getting to talk, getting to laugh, making jokes. I think people see me in a different light. And that’s what I appreciate, that they can separate [it, like], Oh he’s totally different. I thought he was way different. I had this perspective of him, [but] he’s actually a cool dude. He’s actually funny. He’s actually this, that. Which I am. I’m just as normal as anybody else. 

There’s definitely an appreciation there for fans for allowing [themselves] to re-introduce themselves to who Paul George is.

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Deyscha “Sway” Smith is an Associate Editor at SLAM. Follow her on Instagram/X, @deyschasmith and Tik Tok @deyscha.

Portraits by Atiba Jefferson. Action photos via Getty Images.

The post Paul George Unfiltered: Clippers Star Talks Training, Perception Around the NBA and Destroying the Competition appeared first on SLAM.

Wall is playing his first year with the Clippers after joining the team as a free agent. He’s currently out after suffering an abdominal injury, but when he’s healthy, the five-time All-Star is averaging 11.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game on 40.8 percent shooting from the field and 30.3 percent from beyond the arc.

The Clippers (23-22) have legitimate title aspirations, with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George leading the way. Wall was expected to come in and compete for the starting point guard role and has settled in as a strong sixth man who can start in spots. The Clippers have dealt with Leonard’s load management and are still building their chemistry as a team.

Adding frontcourt depth behind Ivica Zubac and Moses Brown could help the Clippers gain some ground in the Western Conference playoff standings. The trade deadline is Feb. 9, and it’ll be interesting to see what moves the Clippers will make their team better.

The Clippers are set to host the Philadelphia 76ers tonight.

The post REPORT: Clippers are Discussing a John Wall Trade for Frontcourt Depth appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

Kawhi did it all in the @LAClippers win

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

— NBA (@NBA) January 11, 2023

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

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

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

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

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

“I think it’s apparent [that] injuries are not declining,” says Jeff Stotts, ATC and owner of the popular injury-tracking website In Street Clothes. “The number of games lost to injury or illness in the NBA were at an all-time high last season.” When I spoke with Stotts earlier this week, he noted that total games lost to injury were even higher through the first portion of the 2022-23 season. Through November 29, two of the stars we were hoping to see this year after they missed most of last season—Kawhi Leonard and Damian Lillard—had played in only 24 percent and 55 percent of their teams’ games so far, respectively.

So what’s going wrong? “It’s impossible to identify one specific thing influencing the growing rates as it’s likely multiple factors,” says Stotts. “While the treatment and approach to sports medicine has evolved, and continues to evolve, the game has also changed in the process. Players are asked to do more and cover more ground as the game has expanded to the three-point line and beyond, resulting in more stress and load applied to each athlete.”

Over the past decade, general “pace of play” changes such as the 8-second rule and 14-second shot-clock reset have created a faster game, favoring more athletic players. Changes to defensive rules and position-less lineups have fostered an era of constant switching on defense, which has resulted in players moving laterally more often during game play. Players are running faster and covering more mileage in today’s game than ever before.

Looking at this question through a medical lens: are we, as a sports medicine community, doing an inadequate job with load management and biomechanical evaluations? Or is today’s game so different that our interventions have helped players adjust to a completely different game than what was being played 15 years ago? Are we nearing the biological limit of what players can do with their bodies?

To try and answer these questions, I spoke with Dr. Marcus Elliott, a sports scientist and founder of the Peak Performance Project (P3). P3 has been studying athlete biomechanics for over 15 years and has been working closely with NBA athletes throughout that time. Every athlete at the NBA rookie combine undergoes a biomechanical assessment by P3, and as of the start of the 2022-23 season, 64 percent of NBA opening day roster athletes have been evaluated by P3. Dr. Elliott sees P3 as “an academic research project embedded in professional sport.”

As I sat at my laptop on a typical frigid November day in Detroit, Dr. Elliott logged onto our Teams chat from his facility in Santa Barbara. At the time of our call, my hometown team’s star and SLAM 238 cover star Cade Cunningham was on his way to P3 to be evaluated. I was glad to see both the Pistons and Cade’s personal team were taking this step to protect his short-term and long-term health. He had missed a few games with shin pain, which may seem unalarming to the casual fan. But when I see an athlete experiencing shin pain in the office, one concern I must rule out is a stress fracture. This diagnosis was first mentioned by Shams Charania on November 19.

“Thankfully we have baseline data on Cade from when he entered the League and was healthy,” Dr. Elliott said. “How we move has significant implications around what happens to us in the future, both in terms of injury and performance advantages/disadvantages. We can assess his motion to find any imbalances or compensation patterns that have developed and may have led to this injury. Then, we can recommend exercises to correct these patterns and prevent continued strain on this area. The baseline testing allows us to create a very granular return-to-play (RTP) protocol.”

P3 started off using a variety of tools and medical tests to assess athletes, including EMG (electromyography to assess muscle and nerve function), EEG (electroencephalography to assess brain wave patterns), and accelerometers (to measure acceleration and deceleration of player movement). But it wasn’t long before they gave up all that fancy stuff. “We realized early on that the keys were in biomechanical assessment,” said Dr. Elliott. “We got huge amounts of useful input relative to the other tools.”

Sometimes, injuries occur and not much can be done to prevent them. Chet Holmgren was the No. 2 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft and fans everywhere were excited for his debut. However, this summer he suffered a Lisfranc injury in a pickup game, keeping him out for the entire 2022-23 season. “With Chet, he is an example of someone who was moving very well on his initial assessment, and then experienced an incredibly atypical injury for his sport,” said Dr. Elliott. “So we expect a full recovery for him, and we can use his baseline to create his RTP protocol resulting in a return to his usual movements. We do not expect to see an overuse or compensation-related injury based on his movements.”

“It’s a player-driven league, and it’s on us to make an athlete’s life better by preventing injuries and extending careers,” said Dr. Elliott. A study of 400 NBA athletes shows that, based on biomechanical assessment, P3 is able to predict a knee injury with 75 percent accuracy. This is groundbreaking work—the ability to assess and predict injury while an athlete is healthy! Talking with Dr. Elliott, my mind jumped immediately to the athletes—what if teams got hold of this data and used it to influence their draft decision-making or to leverage player contracts? Dr. Elliott nodded, understanding this concern.

“We hear this concern and are ultimately here for the athlete. We give the data directly to the players, who are welcome to share it with someone they trust. Nowadays it is more accepted to undergo this type of assessment. Not only are we building a means of helping players, but the players really seem to appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the health and longevity of those who come after them.”

Understanding that Dr. Elliott is clearly on the cutting edge of sports science, what does he think of the load management movement? What does the future hold?

“The systems of an athlete are overloaded, which leads to an overuse injury. But frequent rest results in ‘de-training.’ Despite the tools and technology currently available, load management is still distributed somewhat evenly across the 15-man roster. Load management is completely overcooked right now. The best load management requires objective assessments with a significant subjective component. Machine learning is also key for the future.

“These technologies that allow us to estimate loads, when not in the hands of a skilled operator, are actually taking teams further into the weeds versus serving them, leading to players becoming less robust and more vulnerable,” he added. “Load management is missing the other big piece of the equation, specifically how [each athlete is] vulnerable mechanically (and to a lesser extent metabolically). What is the [quality of their movement] and do they do things mechanically that are specifically increasing risk?”

Understanding this is key to measuring how much a player’s body can be loaded (playing time, practice time, workouts) based on the current state of the player’s individual biomechanics. Furthermore, loads can be increased when a player’s biomechanics are optimized.

He also sees a future where P3 will be utilized by the entire NBA in a similar way as SportsVU. SportsVU provides the arena-mounted camera systems and proprietary software that tracks player movement. Once a luxury for a select few teams, SportsVU is now standard in every arena and data is shared for the benefit of the entire league. Dr. Elliott’s hope (and mine as well) is that P3 will follow a similar path. The Spurs and Jazz franchises were the early adopters, and the plan is for P3 to provide assessment and recommendations to every single NBA athlete in the near future.

And for amateur 37-year-old athletes like myself?

“We hope to democratize this in the future. Right now, you do what you love until something hurts. You go to see an orthopedic doctor that tells you to stop doing the thing you love,” said Dr. Elliott. This is admittedly an accurate description of both my own experience and how I typically first meet patients. In the world Dr. Elliott envisions, I could have had an assessment and worked on correcting my running gait to prevent the smattering of issues I’ve dealt with. I would jump at the opportunity to provide that kind of tool for my patients. I’m sure it makes more economical sense for players who have $100 million contracts and jobs requiring them to maintain their athletic prowess—but I anxiously await the day when this technology is available to everyone.

For now, let’s hope that the NBA and all professional athletes will adopt these methods. They can play, we can watch, and your favorite players are able to log a few more games at full strength for fans to enjoy. Everybody wins.

Danny Seidman is a sports medicine physician, NBA fanatic, and lifelong Pistons fan. This is his first article for SLAM. He can be found on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post Is Load Management Worth It? This Sports Medicine Physician Shares His Take appeared first on SLAM.

The team has been shorthanded the last two games after Devin Booker suffered a hamstring during the front end of their back-to-back against the New Orleans Pelicans. However, their center DeAndre Ayton, believes Phoenix has no excuse for getting outplayed the way they have during this latest stretch of games.

“The teams we see on film aren’t the teams we play,” Ayton said per NBA Central. “They’re playing harder and with a chip on their shoulder against us.”

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Their two contests with the Pelicans have raised concerns amongst Phoenix fans that the momentum that helped the Suns rise to first place in the Western Conference has halted. Zion Williamson dropped 35 points on a combined 71.1 percent shooting from the field. In the second matchup, CJ McCollum’s posted 29 points and seven assists in 45 minutes to New Orleans get the overtime victory.

Although Ayton credits the efforts of their opponents, the Suns have to answer the reason their defense has gone downhill. They currently have the worst defensive rating (122.4) over five games and have been unable to secure the boards, averaging the lowest defensive rebounds (28.4) across the League during that same stretch.

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Opponents have dominated the painted area against the Suns too, and their next three matchups are against teams finding their form offensively. The Los Angeles Clippers with the return of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, Williamson and the Pelicans once more, and finally, the Los Angeles Lakers with Anthony Davis, who has averaged 33.8 points (third best) so far in December.

The Suns can’t afford to lose games in a stacked Western Conference. With the year coming to a close, Chris Paul and Ayton’s leadership must be on full display to regain momentum near the All-Star break.

The post DeAndre Ayton: Opponents Are ‘Playing Harder and With a Chip On Their Shoulders’ Against the Suns appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The last time we caught up with the man behind the 7, the same one who founded the AND1 mixtapes, he was quarantining in Mexico and designing impactful social justice-inspired t-shirts that were worn by players around the NBA from inside the Bubble in Orlando. At the time, The Compound was located in the Bronx, but since its relocation to Kings County, it’s obvious that Set Free’s initial vision for the space has reached a different magnitude. He’s created a space entirely for artistic expression and curation, and nearly every square inch of the studio is, in his own words, a “living, breathing creative gallery,”—once you walk past the KG jersey, there’s even a custom Star Wars-inspired wallpaper of Luke Skywalker that reads, Meanwhile back at The Compound, the battle continues, and with Yoda saying, “Do or Do Not. There is No Try!”

As we walk throughout the studio, and past a room still in construction that Set Free reveals is going to become a recording studio—the space feels like a sneak peek into his mind, passions and interests, from the work of art to the sports memorabilia and vintage antiques. Hanging up on one wall are stunning, black-and-white portraits of the late-DMX and The Lox—Jadakiss has also been featured in a recent episode of DraftKings’ new The Starting Five series, which is filmed live in The Compound. In another corner of the room is a sophisticated-looking lounge area with microphones set up for podcasting, and a set of turntables on top of an antique, wooden chest—a nod to Set Free’s DJing days. Not too far away is an antique barber chair that looks like it’s from the early 1900s, down to the red leather and wood paneling. Wherever you turn, there’s something to marvel at. 

“A lot of art galleries, you can’t touch anything, you don’t feel like you are part of it,” Set Free later says while sitting inside his office. “I wanted The Compound to be this living, wall of art that you can be a part of and it inspires you to create.” 

The Starting Five series is filmed, specifically, in the living room-type area with plush, brown leather couches that are perfect for not only kicking back, but debating the game, music and culture. It’s here where Set Free has powerful conversations about basketball lifestyle with exclusive guests Jadakiss, former NBA star Baron Davis and streetball legend “Skip to My Lou.” In a recent episode where the Yonkers music artist discusses one of his most special albums, you might notice that sitting on a coffee table are an assortment of memorabilia—from magazines (including a copy of the SLAM Presents Warriors special issue) to action figures. 

When we stopped by The Compound in November, it appeared that Set Free had switched it up with works of art one could only imagine to see in person—from Kevin Durant’s KD10 signature kicks, which he wore when he won his first NBA championship in 2017 (a gift to Set Free from KD), to the AND1 mixtapes in their original yellow, blue, brown and fire-engine red cassette boxes. 

It’s one thing, though, to see the mixtapes in person, but it’s another to later hear from Set Free about how he thinks the game has evolved and is moving to its own beat. 

“I just love seeing the game evolve with the new generation of young stars. [With the griddy dance], I don’t think there was ever an NBA player that did a dance [like Ja Morant], [Stephen] Curry with the shimmy with the shoulders. It’s exciting, it’s like seeing two generations of the game being played. On one hand you got Ja Morant, Trae Young, Luka [Doncic], [Jayson] Tatum and [Jaylen] Brown and then you still have [James] Harden, [LeBron] James and Kawhi [Leonard]. Seeing these two worlds is incredible, and then with seeing the worlds you’re also seeing the connection. One of the things I say is, [when we were growing up], everybody in the NBA wore high top sneakers. Now all the guys are wearing these low cuts, and they look incredible. LeBron even took his sons to the Nike meeting to design a sneaker with him. So, you know, you’re seeing a generational culture clash that’s really exciting. I’m seeing Ja dunking over veterans and I’m like, Oh my goodness. But then I’m seeing LeBron dunking on kids, and it’s incredible. So, for me, just to see the older generation and the younger generation, with the music, fashion, with the style of play—it’s been one of the most exciting years I’ve seen in a while.”

When asked to describe the tempo of the game today, in relation to music, Set Free pauses and marvels at the thought. “Wow,” he whispers, later adding: “Creatively, intensely fast. It’s like some of the things I’m seeing, [I think when] Ja Morant went up [for a dunk], caught some contact in the air and changed it to a finger roll. … LeBron is still dunking like he’s in his twenties, Tatum is going crazy, Zion, when he’s playing, it’s very intense, creative and it’s fast.” 

Set Free isn’t just an admirer of how the game is being played, but the culture of the game as a whole. When asked who stands out to him style-wise in the tunnel, he doesn’t hesitate to name LeagueFits MVP Jordan Clarkson. “He’s a star. … He puts it together right. I don’t think it’s about the brands, he wears high end [brands] and pieces nobody knows. You don’t have to go to Paris anymore, just watch the beginning of Sportscenter.”

Other fashionable players around the League that he mentions include Jayson Tatum and James Harden, but when asked what he thinks about players walking the runway at New York and Paris Fashion Week, like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Set Free explains: “What happened is, [there] was a transition, though, from players sitting front row in Paris, and shoutouts to Virgil [Abloh], he kind of brought a lot of NBA players to his shows. The NBA players were always the model type—they’re thin, slim, tall, the exact build of a model—so it was just a transition from them sitting in the front row to being on stage now. I always thought it was coming.”

Nearly every answer from Set Free, whether it’s about basketball, fashion, and hip-hop, is woven together through the lens of a passionate admirer of the culture. “For me, music is a beat that always never changes. No matter the artists, it always does something the same way. Basketball is the only thing with a genre of music connected. So, when you say basketball, you say hip-hop. If you say golf, you don’t see music. Tennis, there’s no music [there]. But it’s always been this way [with basketball]. At one point it was Public Enemy that drove that beat and then Nas and Mobb Deep, it’s still this same connection to me from Drake to Rick Ross at one point, Lil Wayne and Cash Money at [another] point. 

“I mean, for me with the AND1 mixtape, it started with Common and Mos Def and Busta Rhymes, but now it’s 2Chainz, Lil Baby, J Cole but it’s still the same feeling now and which I’m happy about. Super happy about all the collaborations, the [DJ Khaled] album, NBA Youngboy, Griselda is one of my favorites. Of course, the legends of the Jadakiss’s and Cam’rons, and all the “babys”—Lil Baby, DaBaby, I’m baby-ied out, in a good way…It’s an exciting time in music [and] I love how the players embrace it. You know, you’ve seen them [wearing] in ear [headphones], over-ears coming through the tunnel, pregame, shootaround. You see them [mentioned] in lyrics, and even with the griddy-thing…I don’t think music is going to leave the NBA, hip-hop is so connected [with it]. At one time it was movie stars like Jack Nicholson, Bill Murray, but now those [courtside] seats are filled by Jay-Z, Rick Ross and Lil Wayne.” 

Just as the game is changing, Set Free and The Compound are also constantly evolving, too. As a self-declared “artistic, cluttered minimalist,” Set Free admits that when he first arrived at the space and it was empty, he could look at every blank wall and know exactly how many frames would fit. 

“[When I walked in] and saw it empty, I literally [knew] every block where everything fits. I stood in the middle, and was like, five paintings fit there, three fit there, six on that wall. If you’ve noticed, every space is almost full. I’m going crazy because I’m waiting on tables for that space. For me, it’s just art and math. Like that gray wall, ten frames is going to fit perfectly on that.” 

Like every artist, Set Free is rarely ever satisfied with the way things look in The Compound, and he’s constantly been moving and changing the layout around. But like every visionary, he sees an opportunity to create something new and innovative. That’s the future of The Compound. 

“It’s always evolving. But I think that’s what keeps it fun. Like, usually [with] the last Compound [space No. 1], maybe twice a year, definitely maybe once, I would take all those 10 frames down, put them back in storage and go get new art and put it in that sport to keep [it] refreshing.”

With his blessing, Set Free wraps up the interview by encouraging us to wander freely around the space and take it all in. To get close enough to really see every intricate detail of the art, the jerseys, the mixtapes and the NBA championship kicks. After all, The Compound is meant to capture all of your wildest, most creative curiosities.  

The post Inside the Creative Mind of Set Free Richardson and the 3rd Version of his Famed Creative Space—The Compound appeared first on SLAM.

The 25-year-old center posted a historic stat line against the Indiana Pacers after recording 31 points off 14-17 shooting and 29 rebounds, a League-best result for attacking the board this season. The Croatian also had three blocks on Sunday, and his execution defensively with Paul George and Kawhi Leonard in and out of the starting lineup has inspired him to make his case as an elite defensive team candidate.

“Making the NBA All-Defensive team is something I’m really working towards,” Zubac said to AllClippers. “It’s one of my goals coming into the season, just being as best defensively as I can be— I want to show people that I’m capable of that, and for sure, that’s one of my goals.”

STATEMENT MADE pic.twitter.com/x7CxYlLkTu

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) November 28, 2022

As the last pick of the 2016 NBA draft, Zubac was doubted by scouts for what he contributes to the floor defensively. Now manning the middle for the Clippers, the team currently ranks second in defensive rating, while he ranks sixth in blocks and gives up the League-lowest field goal percentage when players try to challenge him at the rim.

Not bad for the Mr. Irrelevant of the 2016 draft. Zubac kept those notes, stating the previous doubters have opened up his motivation towards making the Clippers defense hold a fierce personality.

“Coming into the League, that was always one of the questions about me on the defensive end of the floor,” Zubac said. “Just proving people wrong and proving to myself that I can contribute to defense really means a lot to me. Helping my team be one of the best defenses in the league. It’s something we pride ourselves on here.”

.@ivicazubac came up clutch, scoring 14 of his 31 points in the first quarter.

@awscloud CourtVision Mascot Mode pic.twitter.com/cnqxNgja2T

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) November 28, 2022

Though this may just be a breakout week for Zubac, it’s pretty impressive to see the big man lead his team to the fifth-best record in the high-powered Western Conference, primarily through his defense and lack of two superstar wings. His specialty at that end may not be as enticing as a Rudy Gobert swat to the fifth stands or the vocal and scrappy difference-making of a Draymond Green, but Zubac has earned the ‘defensive anchor’ title in the Clippers locker room.

The post Ivica Zubac: ‘Making the NBA All-Defensive Team’ is His Season Goal appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

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

KAWHI. pic.twitter.com/5LOHxMNJIo

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) November 18, 2022

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

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

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

Every time pic.twitter.com/Rr55Patmfv

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) November 18, 2022

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 17, 2022

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

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

pic.twitter.com/TV2MFHiLhL

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) October 24, 2022

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SGA put out a historic statline on Tuesday, posting 33 points, five rebounds, and eight assists on 50 percent shooting from the field. He also knocked down two triples and all nine of his free-throw attempts. Gilgeous-Alexander was also a menace on the defensive end, contributing three steals and three blocks to complete his all-around performance.

The two-way dominance SGA produced made him the first player in League history to put up 30+ points, eight-plus assists, three-plus blocks and steals, and go perfect from beyond the arc and the free-throw line.

Only one player in NBA history has ever put up this stat line in the same game:

30+ points
8+ assists
3+ blocks
3+ steals
100% from 3
100% from the FT line

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tonight. https://t.co/Rxc48pTE8K pic.twitter.com/Q6Aj41OUcD

— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) October 26, 2022

SGA is averaging 31.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game on 49.3 percent shooting from the field and 38.5 percent from the three-point line. The former Kentucky Wildcat has scored at least 30 points in 12 of his past 16 games dating back to the 2021-22 season.

“I have to play both sides of the court to be the player I want to be. Getting stronger. My conditioning, I’ve worked on a lot,” SGA said, per ClutchPoints, after the Thunder’s first win.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander went OFF tonight in the OKC win.

33 PTS, 5 REB, 8 AST, 3 STL, 3 BLK

Tough statline #KiaTipOff22 pic.twitter.com/3zODD9E6kz

— NBA (@NBA) October 26, 2022

Postgame, Coach Mark Daigneault remarked that he doesn’t have to coach SGA much on anything “other than process-oriented stuff.” Daigneault especially enjoys the fact that he doesn’t have to tell Gilgeous-Alexander when to go into attack mode. He also said SGA and the Thunder are trying to “create — an extremely ruthless consistency” with how they play and trust that their work will lead to guys taking the next step in their development.

“I don’t tell him anything, to be honest with you, other than process-oriented stuff — With guys that have great instincts, you can overcoach them and really mess them up,” Coach Mark Daigneault said, per ESPN. “So I let him make those decisions.”

OKC is set to host the Clippers again on Thursday. It remains to be seen if the Clippers will trot out Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, who sat out Tuesday’s loss to the Thunder.

The post Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Puts Up Historic Performance Against Former Team appeared first on SLAM.

Instead of staying where he wasn’t wanted, Wall and the Rockets agreed to a buyout over the summer that allowed him to sign with the Clippers. When asked about the decision-making behind sitting out last year, Wall said he was “pissed as hell” and remarked that he was told that the Rockets were excited to have him in the fold.

“Pissed as hell. Pissed as hell. I wanted to play basketball. In my last meeting I had there, they were like, ‘Oh, you had a great year the year before. We can’t wait to have you back next year. Build on this, and try to keep helping young guys.'” Wall said, per The Athletic. “So I’m thinking I’ll play the same role I played the year before.”

Gotta love how John Wall played last night for LAC. This season is gonna be fun for him. (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/a6Ke6ROBCx

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 21, 2022

However, the writing was on the wall (no pun intended) when Coach Stephen Silas and GM Rafael Stone told him they were considering playing him “for like 10 minutes a game, and sometimes you won’t play at all.” They also told him, “you could just not play at all the whole year, and we’ll try to find a trade.”

Faced with those prospects, Wall said he “didn’t want to do that.”

“In August, I went back to check on my condo, and I was going back to Miami, where I’ll (stay) in the summer. So they were like,” Wall said. “‘Yo, the thing is, listen, we’ll bring you out for like 10 minutes a game, and sometimes you won’t play at all, or you can just not play at all the whole year, and we’ll try to find a trade.’ And I was like, ‘I’m not trying to play 10 minutes a game or not play some games.’ I didn’t want to do that.”

Since joining the Clippers, Wall has drawn rave reviews from The Fun Guy, and his joy at playing again has been noticed by SLAM 241 cover co-stars Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. He’s awarded their votes of confidence by averaging 16.0, 2.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game on 51.9 percent shooting from the field off the bench. The Clippers are 2-1 so far, with the team going 1-1 during Walls’ appearances.

John Wall doing the dougie. Good things are happening. (via @Farbod_E) pic.twitter.com/au7bUqoHLi

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 7, 2022

Wall directly credited PG-13 with luring him to the Clippers when he was asked about his decision to sign with the team. Wall said that the 2010 draft classmates “were talking about it the whole time.”

“Me and ‘P’ (Paul George) were talking about it the whole time,” Wall said. “We were trying to figure it out. I had two years left, and we were trying to wait until I had one year left and try to keep fighting.”

Adding another veteran All-Star with a lot left in the tank has helped raise the Clippers’ profile and their expectations for the 2022-23 season. The Clippers now have the kind of talent, leadership, and skill that puts them on the short list of championship contenders. Wall Star and the Clippers will take on the OKC Thunder (0-3) on Tuesday.

The post John Wall n Why He Signed with the Clippers Last Summer appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) October 20, 2022

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

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

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

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

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 17, 2022

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

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

Porter Jr. has had a tough stretch of NBA seasons so far, as yet another lower-back injury caused Porter to miss out on yet another season of action. After just signing a five-year $207 million extension with the Nuggets the previous year, many had begun to question if Porter could stay healthy.

Coach Michael Malone recently commented on Porter and said his main hope is that the Missouri product “stays healthy and gets through the season.

“The one priority for Michael is to hope that he stays healthy and gets through the season,” Malone said. “If he does that offensively, we know how gifted he is. The guy can score from all over the place. He is such a threat and weapon on the offensive end of the floor.”

In Porter’s recent preseason outing versus the Oklahoma City Thunder, Porter seemed to be clicking offensively, dropping 12 points on 5-7 shooting from the field in just 14 minutes of action. When MPJ was questioned about where he feels physically, he said he feels “really good right now.”

“I feel really good right now. I feel just as good as I have since I’ve been in the League. Still a lot of things I want to improve on, get better on, but I feel like, for now, it’s going to be steps up. Keep going up, keep going up until I keep reaching those goals, helping my team win, things like that. I kind of figured out the back thing, Lord willing. I think I kind of figured that out. So, now I can just keep growing and growing. I spent a lot of my offseason just getting back on the floor. So now, to be back where I’m on the court, I just feel like I can grow from here.”

MPJ was also asked if his confidence was back.

“It doesn’t leave me. My confidence in my game doesn’t leave me. But confidence in movement, I’m still working through all that. But I’m good. I feel really good. My balance is getting there. It’s coming along. That’s the last thing, the last pop, the last bit of explosiveness is kind of what you wait on the most. But it is getting there, for sure. Every week, every month, it’s getting better and better.”

Seeing Porter back on the basketball court after dealing with such severe and nagging injuries is genuinely remarkable. Heading into this new NBA season, Porter will also be joined by another sensational talent in Jamal Murray, who the Nuggets missed last season due to injury. With those two back, the Denver Nuggets have a huge opportunity to make a deep playoff run and possibly even win the championship.

With the Nugget’s season set to tip off tonight against the Utah Jazz, their journey begins to see if they can achieve those goals.

The post Michael Porter Jr. Opens Up About His Confidence Within His Body and Game appeared first on SLAM.

Jerami Grant is quick to admit that he has chameleon-like characteristics on and off the court. Long before the NBA, Grant knew how to fit in and gel with other players, especially the highly-touted prep stars he called teammates. At perennial powerhouse DeMatha Catholic (MD) HS, Grant, a four-star forward in the Class of 2012, played alongside Quinn Cook, Victor Oladipo, Josh Selby and his brother Jerian. “It’s helped me a lot,” Grant tells SLAM. “Pretty much my whole basketball career, I’ve been playing with guys of great caliber. We had five NBA players on a high school team.”

Playing alongside guys of said caliber helped Jerami learn how to be effective on the basketball court by doing more than scoring. It also helps when you come from a bloodline of hoopers. Jerami and brothers Jerian, Jerai and Jaelin—known as the J-Boys—are sons of former NBA player Harvey Grant, who spent 11 years in the Association and is the twin brother of four-time NBA champion Horace. 

“It was competitive,” Jerami reminisces on his childhood. “Always playing 1-on-1 with my brothers, working out and everybody wanted to be the best. The competitive edge is something I’ve been able to carry over from [the] younger days to now.”

Despite catching the tail end of his father’s career, Jerami remembers spending lots of time in NBA arenas and locker rooms, meeting some of his father’s and uncle’s teammates—Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal and Michael Jordan.

In high school, Grant held offers from Georgetown, Syracuse, Maryland, Marquette and Clemson before committing to play for the Orange. As a sophomore, Jerami averaged 12 ppg and 7 rpg while shooting close to 50 percent from the field before entering the draft, where he was selected 39th overall by Philadelphia in 2014. 

In Philly, he averaged 8.2 ppg and 3.9 rpg in 142 games before being traded to Oklahoma City. His numbers nearly stayed the same for the Thunder, but his percentages across the board—FG (50.3), 3FG (36.8), FT (67.5)—improved. Despite three seasons in OKC, Grant was traded to Denver in exchange for a 2020 first-round pick. 

In Denver, he put up 12.0 points a night and his numbers continued to rise. After the global pandemic put the game and world on pause during the second half of the 2019-20 season, competition resumed in the bubble in Orlando, FL, where Grant continued to showcase his ability to affect both sides of the floor. Tasked with guarding Kawhi Leonard, Grant used every inch of his 6-8, 210-pound frame to hold the reigning Finals MVP to 13 points on 4-17 shooting—Leonard’s lowest-scoring playoff game since 2016—and halt his postseason streak of scoring 15 or more points per game at 47. 

The Nuggets’ first two playoff matchups against the Jazz and Clippers would go to seven games before the team would lose to the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. When free agency hit, the Pistons offered one of the League’s most sought-after forwards a three-year, $60-million deal. The Nuggets ended up matching the offer sheet, but Jerami was looking for a more enhanced offensive role and there was no better place to do that than the Motor City. 

In his first season in Detroit, Grant put up a career-high 22.3 points per game to go along with 4.6 boards, shooting 43 percent from the field, 35 percent from the three-point line and 84 percent from the charity stripe. He suffered a UCL sprain in his thumb as well as a calf strain, which limited him to only 101 games in his last two seasons. 

“When the offseason came around this summer, he got the type of call he’s become familiar with throughout his career. While in Paris for Fashion Week, Grant’s agent would notify his client that he was being traded once again.”

The details: Grant was going to Portland for a 2025 first round pick (1-4 are protected) via Milwaukee, sending him into a $21M trade exception that gave Detroit $43 million in cap space.

“It was a bit abrupt,” he says of the trade. “A bunch of trade rumors and stuff like that. That one, obviously, had a ton of traction throughout the season. It wasn’t a huge surprise, but definitely all of a sudden.”

Now, entering his ninth season on his fifth team, Grant’s looking forward to starting a new chapter in Rip City. He joins a team with a reshaped roster and a franchise player who’s fully committed to building something special in Portland. 

“I was excited, man,” Damian Lillard tells SLAM of when he found out about the trade. “It was a big moment for me because I had been wanting to play with Jerami for a couple years now. Just seeing him being on a winning team in OKC, then on a winning team in Denver and then kind of taking that leap out there in Detroit to be that No. 1 option and see where he can stretch himself out to really show his game. I love what he did in Detroit, and it brought him to a new comfort level with having to handle the ball, make plays and stuff. 

“Everybody already knew he was the long, rangey athlete who can make threes, play above the rim, block shots [and be] versatile. Him having to go to Detroit and spread his wings and having that pressure on him every night is only going to make him even more valuable for us. Having a 4-man that plays 1 through 5, make threes, athletic; he’s big, he has good skills and he’s been in the right types of things to be coming into our team as our starting 4, and I think he’s going to help us.”

During the 2020 Olympics, Lillard and Grant played alongside each other to propel Team USA to a Gold medal. Lillard admits despite not being able to get the full Olympic experience due to the pandemic, it only made his relationship with his teammates, especially Jerami, that much stronger. 

“That made us spend a lot of time together in the lounge, throughout the hotel at dinners and stuff like that,” Lillard continues. “JG sat either in front of me or behind me on the bus every day to practice and to games. Every day on the bus, we’d be talking about our situations with our team, and we were on teams together during practice. After practice, we’d be sitting next to each other, and we’d just spend a lot of time in the Olympics talking about how we would both want to play with each other…I’m just glad it came to life. He’s going to be—talent-wise and just the experience in what he’s done—our best 4-man in a long time since [LaMarcus Aldridge].”

It’s a mid-summer day in August and Grant’s speaking to us from his home in Maryland. The offseason’s been an eventful one for the 28-year-old. Aside from basketball-related obligations, Jerami spent time in Paris, one of his favorite places to visit. 

“The history of it and everybody knows that’s the fashion capital of the world,” he says. “If you’re in to fashion and things like that, that’s where you want to experience it.”

The same way Jerami’s laser-focused on the intricacies of the game—learning opponents’ habits, making the right reads, being in the perfect spot on rotations to improve his shooting—he’s just as meticulous with the way he studies the runway. 

“Eventually I do want to design and be able to be in that space in a different way,” he says. “I want to learn the ropes and how things work. I’m observant and paying attention to the way they move and the pieces that they put out. I’m not just going to shows for pictures, but to study what they’re putting out and different lines and stuff like that.”

Grant’s passion for fashion became more evident this year. His versatility has shown, too, with different statement pieces from brands like Balenciaga to Rick Owens, getting him out of his comfort zone to try new looks. He’s also emerged as a top candidate to win LeagueFits’ Most Improved Award. 

“I think I’m a bit of a chameleon,” Grant says when asked to describe his style. “I don’t have a uniform yet; I feel I’m all over the place with whatever I like, whatever kind of fits me. To describe my fashion style, I think it’s definitely fashion forward and more of a Japanese style, especially right now. If I like it, I’m going to put it on.”

Jerami shares his two current favorite brands—Issey Miyake and Comme des Garcons—and adds Maison Margiela and Balenciaga to the list. In a world where fashion connoisseurs stay up to date with the latest campaigns and archive hunters scour the internet for specific pieces, Grant has a few products that sit atop his list: Cartier Crash watches and vintage Goyard and Hermes bags.

As we continue to chop it up, Jerami shares another favorite interest: philanthropy. His organization, Hour Generation Foundation, hosts about eight or nine events a year and gives back to inner city youth and single parents. Grant has also helped fund a homeless shelter in Detroit that’ll provide resources and a safe space to those in need. 

“The way my mom raised me was you gotta give back,” he says. “I grew up going to church and with a strong foundation of giving back through philanthropy. I’ve been blessed with so much [and] it’s like a no-brainer that if you receive, you have to give.”

As Grant gets ready to report to training camp, he says he looks to expand his philanthropic efforts throughout the Pacific Northwest and is excited for the new start. The journey to get here prepared him for this moment. 

“Playing with a ton of great players has helped me grow into the player that can mesh into any situation,” Grant says. “I don’t need the ball in my hands in order to be a good player. I don’t have to do what I did in Detroit. I did that because it was needed. Whatever my team needs…whatever Chauncey [Billups] needs, whatever Dame needs, I’m going to be able to do it.” 

Portraits by Marcus Stevens.

The post Jerami Grant is Ready to Take His Game, and His Style, to the Next Level appeared first on SLAM.

The energy has truly shifted around the Association since the Golden State Warriors put the haters to sleep and won another NBA championship. This offseason, there was a sudden coaching change in Boston, a reported trade request in Brooklyn by Kevin Durant (that didn’t actually happen), and some major moves during free agency, from Donovan Mitchell teaming up with Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley on the Cavaliers to Jalen Brunson becoming a New York Knick. Then there’s the highly-anticipated return of Zion Williamson, Ben Simmons and SLAM 240 co-cover star Kawhi Leonard, who is sure to be a scary sight alongside Paul George now that they’re both healthy.

While we’ve dished out some bold takes in the past, this year’s preview might feature our boldest takes yet. Here’s the official 2022-23 SLAM Staff NBA Preview:

Anthony Holt, Slam Goods Apparel Designer

The Cavaliers will emerge as a top three seed in the East. 

With the blockbuster trade for Donovan Mitchell, the Cavaliers will claim the No. 3 seed. The championship experience of Kevin Love and Luke Walton will evolve Mitchell into the leader the franchise needs to make a playoff run. The Cavs will reach the second round of the playoffs before being eliminated by the Celtics, who will face the Bucks in the ECF.

NBA Finals Matchup: Bucks vs Grizzlies

Deyscha “Sway” Smith, Associate Editor

Ben Simmons will make a case for winning Most Improved Player of the Year.

Before any of you mention me on Twitter or pop off in the comment section, hear this one out. We all know what happened last year, and by no means is Ben Simmons, a three-time NBA All-Star, any sort of “up and coming player.” But if this preseason showed us anything, it’s that Ben is actually back and playing basketball again. After averaging 15.9 points per game during his time in Philly, if he brings that same energy and presence (both literally and in terms of his defensive game) to the Nets this year, by technicality, it’s really only up from here in terms of his overall improvement.

Will he win MIP? Unlikely, but then again, just imagine if he actually did put himself in the running for the award.

PS: When I predicted the Celtics would make the ECF in our season preview last year, y’all called me real bold for that take back then. If Ben gets active and starts playing at that All-Star level again, just make sure your apology is as loud as the disrespect has been.

ECF Matchup: Celtics vs Nets

Joshua Tapia, Editorial Intern

Damian Lillard takes the Portland Trailblazers to a top 5 seed in the West while securing his first MVP. 

Damian Lillard will finish the season above 32 points a night with eight assists. If he disciplines himself defensively, Dame could become a reliable defender against the League’s best scorers.

Here’s my playoff prediction: Lillard will lead the Blazers past the No. 4 seed Mavericks in the first round, the Warriors in round 2, but get defeated in Game 6 against the Clippers.  

Adam Figman, Chief Content Officer

The Sixers are winning the championship.

Everything is coming together at the perfect time in Philly: James Harden is healthy and more motivated than ever, Joel Embiid has a better understanding of how to treat his body to make it last a full season plus playoffs, Tobias Harris is the perfect starter to play next to two stars, Tyrese Maxey is making a leap, and Daryl Morey is going to be aggressive adding role players throughout the season to put around this group in order to ensure the team has everything it needs come postseason time. The 76ers: 2023 Champs. 

Michael Harris, Editorial Intern

The Lakers will make the Western Conference Finals.

The Los Angeles Lakers will figure it out this season. Russell Westbrook will embrace his role off the bench, Anthony Davis will be healthy and be a top three candidate for MVP, while Patrick Beverley will bring the defense at the guard spot necessary to help the Lakers lock down shooters. The Lakers will also finish as the top three seed in the West and make it all the way to the WCF to face the Grizzlies.

NBA Finals Matchup: Heat vs Lakers

Ajayi Browne, Editorial Intern

The Dallas Mavericks will win the NBA Finals.

The Dallas Mavericks will reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2011 and Luka Doncic will average career-highs across the board while having his most efficient season on his way to winning MVP. The team’s new additions, Christian Wood and Javale McGee, will give this team what they were missing last year, while Tim Hardaway Jr’s return will be vital, too.

Theus McBee, Co-Host of No Pump Fakes

Anthony Edwards will make his first All-Star Game and the Minnesota Timberwolves will make it to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in nearly 20 years. 

The conversation of Ant Man “possibly” being a part of the top five under 25 group will come to an end and we will finally give him his rightful title of “Best Shooting Guard in the NBA.”

Check out the latest episode of No Pump Fakes below:

Najee AR Fareed, Editorial Intern 

Trae Young will make First Team All-NBA, lead the League in assists and take the Hawks all the way to winning a championship. 

The Hawks had a down year last season but their defense should be bolstered by a resurgent Clint Capela, Dejounte Murray’s arrival, and the rise of Onyeka Okongwu. The offense? Ice Trae might hold it down on the offensive end, but the Hawks have much more than just him. Deandre Hunter is taking big steps and John Collins’ lesser offensive load, with the addition of Murray, should free up his game for lobs and catch-and-shoot threes.

The Hawks will win one this season. For 3 Stacks and Lemon Pepper Wings and Zone 6 and Old Nat and everything else we love.

Colby Cusano, Brand Partnerships and Analytics Intern

Zion Williamson will bring the New Orleans Pelicans from an No. 8 seed to a No. 4 seed in the Western Conference and take home the Most Improved Player Award. 

After a decent season that saw them squeeze into the playoffs, the Pelicans are ready to make another run and with a healthy Zion Williamson. They now contain one of the most talented trios in the League.

NBA Finals Matchup: Mavs vs Celtics

Delon George, Marketing Manager SLAMgoods

The Brooklyn Nets will win the title.  

Though a lot of politics surround the Nets’ Big 3, I believe they have a lot to prove individually and together as a team this season. With Kyrie Irving will playing full-time from the start of the season and Kevin Durant avoiding injuries, the Nets are bound to have momentum this year. 

Brooke Brennan, WSLAM Intern

Lonzo Ball will return mid-season and take control of the Bulls’ offense, pushing them to be a top four seed team in the East.

While injury plagued his 2021-2022 season, Lonzo’s return mid-way through this year could give the Bulls the point guard anchor they need to take control on offense. After losing in the first round to the Bucks last year, the Bulls proved that they can be a playoff team, but have to make those adjustments. Returning key players, rising young talent, and added veteran depth will help to develop this team unit.

As for Zo, I project he’ll make an All-Star team in the near future. 

Andrew “Pitt” Pitagorsky, VP of Brand Partnerships

RJ Barrett will win Defensive Player of the Year. 

RJ Barrett will become an NBA All-Star and win Defensive Player of the Year. Going into Year 4 of his young career, RJ will take the next step in his growth and make the leap to the All-Star player we all know he could become. With the help of the coaching staff, and a pure point guard in the lineup, RJ can focus more on the defensive side of his game, and be an elite defender of the League.

Andres Puerta, Social Media SLAMFTW 

The Miami Heat will win the Eastern Conference Finals. 

The Miami Heat have a solid starting lineup. They are coming off a great season, with a solid performance in the playoffs from Jimmy Butler who showed what he can do in the playoffs. Tyler Herro showed out as the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year. They have a competitive group of guys and it doesn’t matter who is on the court. With the Heat being one of the top teams in the East last year, this will be the year they win the Eastern Conference Finals.

Arvind Pitchai, VP of Social Media

Luka Doncic will average a triple double and win MVP. 

Here’s another Luka Doncic prediction: when he averages a triple-double this season, he’ll definitely win MVP. We all know about Luka’s scoring prowess and ability to see the floor, but he also can clean the glass at a high clip. Will this lead the Mavs to the Finals? Who knows but it’s going to be a fun season watching Luka regardless.

Marcus Allen, Social Graphic Designer

The Knicks will make the Eastern Conference Finals.

A big season from the New York Knicks is upon us as they will make the ECF in 2023. Future star, RJ Barrett will have the best season of his career with his new backcourt partner Jalen Brunson and ultimately earn Most Improved Player and or Defensive Player of the Year. Let’s get it.

Dave Schnur, President

The T-Wolves and the Cavs will go on a playoff run and make the Conference Finals.

Karl-Anthony Towns moving to the 4 full time will be a matchup nightmare for opposing teams. He’ll hit a career high number of threes this season, Ant Edwards will make his first All-Star Team, Rudy Gobert is gonna Gobert and D-Lo will get his, too. The Cavs already have a great young core with Garland, Mobley and Allen. Adding a perennial All-Star SG like Spida that can stretch the floor and facilitate will bolster an already potent offense. Garland and Donovan may be the best backcourt in the East. 

Max Resetar, Editor 

Stephen Curry will break his own record of 402 threes in a season. 

The Dubs finally have everyone healthy. Every player on the roster has a clearly defined role and they each understand that their number one target on offense is No. 30, whether that means passing to him, screening for him, or getting the f— outta his way when the reign starts to rain. With a complete season of all the major hitters, their offense is gonna hum all the way to an easy 450 threes for the most recent Finals MVP. 

Celebrate the return of the NBA season, the 2022 WNBA champs and the future of the game with SLAM 240.

Photos via Getty Images.

The post SLAM’s 2022-23 NBA Preview: Crazy Bold Takes for this Season appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The similarities that they share with each other are abundant. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Solid enough. 

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

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

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

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

SLAM 240 is OUT NOW!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Portraits by Alex Woodhouse. Action photo via Getty Images.

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

The journey of an 82-game NBA season always has storylines and developing factors that can create a remarkable year. In Wall’s case, one of the highlights he expects from this upcoming season is his return to Washington, D.C.

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Wall was the first overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft for the Washington Wizards, and after nine years with the team, he is expecting a standing ovation when he crosses the country to play against his former squad.

“I never had the opportunity to be back to play in front of [Wizards] fans,” Wall said. “So, hopefully, I’ll get that big standing ovation that I think I deserve.”

Wall believes he’s a candidate for the ovation because of his five All-Star seasons with the Wizards and his leading the team to four consecutive playoff appearances from 2014-2018. Wizards fans saw Wall at his best during the 2017 playoffs when he averaged 27.2 points, 10.3 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. He hit a game-winner in Game 6 of the Wizards’ second-round series against the Celtics, but Washington’s season ended after losing Game 7.

The 32-year-old hopes to play a full season since his ruptured Achilles in 2019 had kept him away from the game for nearly two years. If he does stay healthy, Wall can fulfill his wishes of playing Washington as an opponent for the first time on Dec. 10, a game that will feature deep emotion and gratitude from both sides. At the end of the day, it’ll be great to relive some of his favorite career moments in the city that first adopted him.

“My ultimate goal was trying to bring a championship there,” said Wall. “everything I gave to that city, from playing through my injuries, giving back to the community, it felt like a second home to me.”

Houston will play in Washington on Dec. 10.

The post John Wall Hopeful For A ‘Big Standing Ovation’ From Wizards Fans appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

That dunk tho.

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

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) October 10, 2022

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

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

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

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

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

Kawhi slam!

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

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) October 10, 2022

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The gritty Memphis Grizzlies awaited them in the playoffs as their first-round opponent. It seemed like the two teams were evenly matched after the first four games; however, the Grizzlies came through when it mattered to close out the series.

In that same postseason, the Timberwolves struggled to close out games. Notably, in Game 3 in their series versus the Grizzlies, Minnesota scored only 12 points in the final period when entering the quarter with a 16-point lead. Memphis would go on to win by nine points to take a 2-1 lead in the series.

To add insult to injury, with the series tied 2-2, the Timberwolves went into the fourth quarter of Game 5 with an 11-point lead. This time though, they lost by two. The Grizzlies would take a commanding 3-2 lead in the series, and the momentum carried over to Game 6, where they would seal the deal and eliminate Minnesota. Anthony Edwards used the playoff loss as motivation.

“I took it personal with myself on just being better, being able to hit those shots in the clutch,” said Edwards.

In fact, according to The Athletic, Edwards also put on 11 pounds of muscle during the offseason.

“I feel like I’m in better shape, more than anything,” said the 21-year-old.” That’s going to take everything to the next level.”

Fortunately for Minnesota, reinforcements are on the way. Recently acquired two-way star Rudy Gobert has joined the party. The French big man is eager to start the season with his new team and made that known on Media Day.

“I got a few days before I came here just to settle down, relax,” Gobert said on Media Day. “I think the excitement just takes over, and I’m just really, really excited about this new season – I’m lucky to be surrounded by a group of guys that can really accomplish anything. It’s about building the right habits and just keep learning, keep getting better every day. I think the sky’s the limit for this group.”

The four-time All-Star will be joining three-time All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns in the frontcourt, forming what is quite possibly the most formidable frontcourt duo in the league. Gobert believes that because of this, he can now show off his passing ability.

“I’ve always loved to play with another dominant big,” said Gobert. “I’ve always thought that I could pass.”

As for the other reinforcements, Minnesota is loaded. They will be welcoming the versatile Kyle Anderson, veteran guard Austin Rivers, sharpshooter Bryn Forbes and Eric Paschall. Who, of course, has yet to reach his peak. The future is indeed bright for the Timberwolves.

Minnesota will begin the season with a matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Oct.19. 

The post Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert Looking to Take Minnesota ‘to the Next Level’ appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

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

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) September 27, 2022

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

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

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

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

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

— Law Murray (@LawMurrayTheNU) September 22, 2022

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

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

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

— Law Murray (@LawMurrayTheNU) September 22, 2022

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

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

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

Sources: NBA’s 2022-23 Opening Night, Oct. 18 on TNT:

– 76ers at Celtics
– And as previously reported: Lakers at Warriors

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 16, 2022

Shams Charania of The Athletic leaked the opening day and Christmas Day contests over the weekend. Some other key dates include the All-Star weekend that’ll be contested from February 17-19. The regular season will end on April 9, the Play-In tournament will take place from April 11-14, and the playoffs will start a day later on April 15.

The most noteworthy game will most likely be between the Grizzlies and the Warriors. The Warriors beat the Grizzlies on their way to winning their fourth championship since 2015. The two Western Conference foes have formed a fierce rivalry over the last two years after a pair of intense and physical playoff games and their recent second-round playoff series.

Sources: NBA’s 2022 Christmas Day schedule:

Bucks at Celtics
76ers at Knicks
Suns at Nuggets
Lakers at Mavericks
Grizzlies at Warriors

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 14, 2022

The 2022-23 season will see the Warriors attempt to defend an NBA title for the first time in eight years. With their foundational core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green returning and their future stars like Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole all returning, the Dubs will be loaded.

The Boston Celtics will look to run it back and return to the NBA Finals after losing to the Warriors in six games. There will be some exciting storylines coming out of Beantown as Boston looks to integrate Malcolm Brogdon into the lineup. It’ll also be interesting if the front office continues to pursue a Kevin Durant trade. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will also return as perhaps the top wing-duo in the League.

Don’t count out the Bucks, Heat, and 76ers either. The Heat are always a threat, the Bucks lost after suffering injuries at the most inopportune time, and the 76ers will have an entire season of James Harden x Joel Embiid to work with.

Another question that needs answers will be can the Phoenix Suns continue their dominant stretch and improve upon their 64-18 record from last year. Getting better after being the top seed in the playoffs is difficult, but Phoenix brings back their entire team and is still headlined by Devin Booker and Chris Paul.

It’ll be fun to see how Dallas Mavericks and Utah Jazz will fare after Jalen Brunson and Rudy Gobert left for New York and Utah, respectively. The Minnesota Timberwolves are throwing it back to yesteryear with a twin tower lineup featuring Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns. Not to mention how much better the Grizzlies will be after earning the second-best record in the NBA last season.

Last but not least, how will the LA teams play? The Lakers are coming off a tumultuous season but added a new head coach in Darvin Ham, who’s been trusted to improve a roster that still boasts LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, and Anthony Davis. The Clippers are perhaps a more significant title threat with the return of Kawhi Leonard and the addition of former All-Star point guard John Wall to the lineup.

Below are the team schedules for each team by division and conference. The Eastern Conference is first followed by the West.

Team Schedules

Eastern Conference

Atlantic

Boston Celtics

Brooklyn Nets

New York Knicks

Philadelphia 76ers

Toronto Raptors

Central

Chicago Bulls

Cleveland Cavaliers

Detroit Pistons

Indiana Pacers

Milwaukee Bucks

Southeast

Atlanta Hawks

Charlotte Hornets

Miami Heat

Orlando Magic

Washington Wizards

Western Conference

Southwest

Dallas Mavericks

Houston Rockets

Memphis Grizzlies

New Orleans Pelicans

San Antonio Spurs

Northwest

Denver Nuggets

Minnesota Timberwolves

Portland Trail Blazers

Oklahoma City Thunder

Utah Jazz

Pacific

Golden State Warriors

Los Angeles Clippers

Los Angeles Lakers

Phoenix Suns

Sacramento Kings

The post NBA Releases 2022-23 Regular-Season Schedule appeared first on SLAM.

Sources: NBA’s 2022-23 Opening Night, Oct. 18 on TNT:

– 76ers at Celtics
– And as previously reported: Lakers at Warriors

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 16, 2022

Per Charania, the upcoming season will begin on October 18, with the four inter-conference foes facing off against one another. The Celtics and 76ers will kick off the action on TNT, while the Warriors will host the Lakers on the same night they conduct their ring ceremony.

The Warriors and Lakers are facing off for the second year in a row after opening up the season against each other last season. The Warriors won three Out of the four times the Western Conference titans faced off last year. The Sixers and Celtics split their season series. The Heat eliminated the 76ers team finishing the season with an identical 51-31 record. The C’s advanced to the Finals but fell to the Warriors in six games.

The Warriors and Celtics will have their Finals rematch on December 10.

Golden State-Boston NBA Finals rematch dates for the 2022-23 season, per sources:

Dec. 10 in Golden State
Jan. 19 in Boston

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 16, 2022

The Christmas Day matchups will be highlighted by a second-round playoff rematch between the Grizzles and Warriors and a playoff rematch between the Bucks and Celtics. The Grizzlies and Warriors have been jaw-jacking since the Warriors won the Finals, and Draymond Green and Ja Morant made it clear on Twitter that they wanted this matchup on Christmas.

Sources: NBA’s 2022 Christmas Day schedule:

Bucks at Celtics
76ers at Knicks
Suns at Nuggets
Lakers at Mavericks
Grizzlies at Warriors

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 14, 2022

The 22-23 season should be fun with the healthy return of stars like Kawhi Leonard, the heightened expectations for the Lakers, and the title defense of the Warriors. Not to mention how the Bucks and Celtics will respond after tough losses in the playoffs.

The post REPORT: Opening Night Schedule for 2022-23 Season Leaked appeared first on SLAM.

At that point, Barnes had yet to fully embark on the entirety of a season that many are now calling perhaps the most impactful rookie season in Raptors’ history. But to have the chance to chop it up with a member of the inaugural Raptors team (Stoudamire won Rookie of the Year that season in Toronto, like Barnes) just seemed like fate. 

“He was just really telling me to try to get Rookie of the Year, keep doing what I got to do and really take over this League,” Barnes says while on set of his SLAM 239 cover shoot.  

That was Stoudamire’s first time meeting Scottie officially; he’d watched him play in high school and at different Nike EYBL and AAU events, but now he was actually seeing what Barnes was capable of doing in the League. Just a month prior to their meeting, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft had dropped a double-double on the Cs—in just the second game of his career. 

“He was a matchup nightmare,” Stoudamire, who’s now an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics, later tells us on the phone. “The good Lord doesn’t bless us with everything, but if [Scottie] figures out a way, and he doesn’t have to be a knockdown guy, but once he figures out his spots on the floor in terms of shooting the ball on a consistent basis, it could be dangerous. He would have cracked the code then because, I mean, everything else he has.” 

SLAM 239 featuring Scottie Barnes is OUT NOW!

Barnes wasn’t even born when the Raptors drafted Stoudamire as their first-ever pick in 1995, or when he graced the cover of SLAM 11 in the spring of ’96 (subscribe here to the SLAM Digital Archive). When he got to Toronto, Stoudamire explains, the team was just trying to grow the game of basketball throughout Canada. But what he didn’t realize back then was that he’d ultimately be able to impact an entire country. Many after him have been just as revered—from Vince Carter and DeMar DeRozan to Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Lowry. All-Stars. Champions. Icons. But in this new era of the game, Scottie Barnes isn’t a glimpse into the future of Toronto. He is the now, and even the legends who came before him see that already.

“He has [an] opportunity to lead Toronto, but then be the face of a country,” says Stoudamire.

Excitement has been buzzing all around T-Dot about their superstar-in-the-making. His SLAM 239 cover shoot feels like a momentous occasion, from the Drake tracks blaring over the speakers (Honestly, Nevermind had dropped just a few days before) to Scottie singing along in between takes while he rocks a black and gold Swingman uniform and an icy, blinged-out chain that has an even icier “SB” for the camera. It’s the crowning of a new star in the North. 

After all, it’s been three years since the Raptors won that historic, first-ever championship in 2019, and since then, the team has been well-equipped with an arsenal of All-Stars and bucket-getters who helped them make the playoffs every year except one. The arrival of Scottie has had the place boomin’ with hype around what’s to come, especially since the Raptors exceeded any and all expectations last season when they finished fifth in the East. 

“I feel like I have the defensive tools, I really just want to put on the offensive end,” Scottie says. “Make my game more all-around. I’m just working on being able to get to the basket, being unstoppable on the floor. Scoring, being in the midrange area and just being a consistent shooter. Being able to knock down shots consistently, being able to carry myself in that way as being one of those top people in the League.” 

He’d look at those goals every single day. Winning ROY was a major moment not only for him, but for his family. It’s one of the reasons why he surprised his mom, Kathalyn, with the news. He had watched her relentlessly sacrifice for him and his siblings growing up, working late nights to put food on the table and get them school clothes. “[She tried] to get a few pairs of shoes to go to school, try to have some swag going to school so we could carry ourselves with that confidence. She made a bunch of sacrifices for us. Even though we didn’t have that much, we were still some spoiled little kids, [wanting] everything, trying to flex.”

Winning ROY also meant something for Toronto, as Barnes became just the third Raptor ever to win the award, joining the company of Stoudamire and Vince Carter. “That award meant everything to me. Everything. All the hard work, effort I put in since I was a kid. It meant everything for the city of West Palm Beach, for the country of Canada, city of Toronto. Masai [Ujiri], Bobby [Webster]. They put their faith in me, and I put in the work. So, every single day, I try to carry that with me.”

Now, his Rookie of the Year trophy sits on a stand, right next to two Rookie of the Month awards, inside his game room at his house. Since the season wrapped up, he’s been mainly spending his offseason in his native Florida, while going back and forth to Toronto. It’s a place he’s now calling home, and he’s already found his go-to spots to eat at, too. “I got a couple. Harbour 60, Cactus Club. I just love the city. It’s beautiful.”

A few days before our shoot, Barnes was livestreaming when he raved about how hyped he was to be a Toronto Raptor. When we asked him about it, he didn’t hold back in letting us know how much he’s been embracing the city. 

“It’s a blessing for me to get drafted to Toronto. I felt like it was just the best thing for me and the program,” he says. “I felt like I found the right home, with them being able to draft me…I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. I feel like it was just a big thing that happened to me. It’s amazing. I feel like Toronto, they always support me, even the whole country of Canada supports me, shows me love. And it just feels like we’re all family.”

Scottie reveals he’s already on a text message/IG story-reply basis with Drake (“It’s really small talk, but we can tell that we’re brodies”). When he first arrived in Toronto after the draft, he even hung out with him at his mansion.

“His house is humongous. He got a lot of things that’s going on in there, it’s a dope house. He got the basketball court as soon as you walk inside, where he plays his league basketball. You know, he be killing ’em, but his house is fire. I think we put up like a couple of shots, but we were just getting to know each other. Just really chatting it up.”

According to Scottie, Drizzy let him know then that he had to put on for the city. “He just told [me] that the city’s gonna love [me], just really put on for the city. Do what we got to do.”  

In his rookie debut against the Wizards, Scottie showed glimpses of exactly what he could do, from a lefty sky hook for his first bucket to dishing out an elite bounce pass to Chris Boucher in the fourth. Nick Nurse called his performance “OK,” but also pointed out, “I think we see a really good player there.” 

For Barnes, the mindset early on was to do what it takes to win by making the right plays and putting in the effort, whether it’s rebounding, passing or guarding the best player on the court. When asked about what he expected for himself early on in the season, “winning” is the one word he mentions over and over again. “I felt like coming into the season, I really just tried to focus on winning, try and do whatever it takes to win…I really tried to focus on those little things, and then I knew everything else would carry on to the court with me.”

Scottie’s always been competitive. Growing up, he’d compete with his older brother in school and try to get better grades than him so he could show it to his mom, hoping she’d give him a few dollars. He wanted to play on his brother’s basketball and football teams, too, even though everyone was a few years older. He started playing organized basketball in third grade at the Salvation Army on a team that was mainly made up of fourth graders. Scottie then went on to become a five-star product in high school—he played at the University School alongside Vernon Carey Jr and then with Cade Cunningham at Montverde before suiting up at Florida State, where he earned ACC Freshman of the Year honors.

Now he’s channeling that same drive into everything he does, from video games (“[I’m] the best out of all my friends in [NBA] 2K, top three in [Call of Duty]”) to whatever challenges were thrown at him on the court this past season—from guarding all five positions against the Bulls, Celtics and Wizards in October, including superstars like Jayson Tatum and Bradley Beal. By November, he was logging 35 minutes a game, but as Nurse previously said, “one of the first things to instill” is playing the “full 48.” 

When asked about his early season performances, Scottie points out that for him, it was a matter of maintaining the energy. “I would say in the beginning, I showed a lot of energy, but you got to really try to find those ways of channeling it [differently] because sometimes you can express way too much energy and then that next possession, you get really tired…Being at Florida State, I played a good three, four minutes, and then I would get subbed if I was too tired. But now, it’s just like, you got to be able to maintain that energy throughout the whole entire game for however long you’re playing.”  

On a team full of different personalities—from “chill vibe types” like Fred VanVleet and Isaac [Bonga] to “funny guys” like himself, Justin Champagnie and Dalano Banton, according to Barnes—it also helped that the team fully embraced him and allowed him to be himself on the court, especially OG Anunoby. “He was really telling me to be me on the floor, each and every single time. That really [gave] me that confidence when I stepped on the floor to be who I am, keep being aggressive, attacking.”

In December, Barnes dropped a double-double against the Knicks, was a defensive ace with those five blocks against Sacramento a few nights later, and then followed that up with a 23/12/5 stat line against Brooklyn, while being matched up against Kevin Durant, making him the youngest Raptor ever since Tracy McGrady to put up at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and 5 dimes. By January, Bradley Beal was already calling him a “special” talent and saying he “looked like a star” after Barnes put up 27 against the Wizards. 

The Raptors went on an eight-game winning streak going into February, and after the All-Star break, Scottie was averaging just under 20 points per game. When he dropped a 31-piece on the Lakers in March, even the King let everyone know what was up. 

“I saw Scottie Barnes for the first time in seventh grade and I told one of my good friends that this kid is going to be special,” LeBron James said after the game. “It’s a beautiful thing to watch.” 

Looking back on the season, Barnes says he’s started processing the game quicker, too. “I felt like on the court I really know where I could get to my spots, can score the ball at [and] how I can just set my presence throughout the game, on both ends of the floor. I feel like I’ll be able to make more of an impact on the game because I really just found ways to really just attack the game. I got smarter throughout the year, and I just really realized how the NBA works with the calls and all the little things about the game.”

This same team that had missed the playoffs the year prior soon found themselves in a first-round matchup against Philly. Barnes nearly had a triple-double in his playoff debut—15 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists—and despite missing Games 2 and 3 with an ankle injury, another SLAM 11 cover star, Magic Johnson, saw that the promise was all there. “There’s definitely a lot of ‘Showtime’ in him,” Johnson told the Toronto Star.

While the Raptors lost that series, it’s clear that things are really looking up in the 6ix. Their 48-34 record was a vast improvement from the previous year, and Barnes is making it clear that his past season was really just the beginning. “This is just us getting our footing together, but I feel like we’re gonna take that next step to try to make a deep playoff run and be one of those top teams in the League.”

And as for his own goals, this offseason has been all about prepping his body for the demand of the 82-game regular season (Barnes started all 74 games he played in), while also sharpening the tools he’s well-equipped with. You might’ve already seen recent videos of his “revamped jumper” circling around the internet, too. Scottie’s already looking ahead at the type of player he wants to evolve into. Him adding to his already extensive bag? Dangerous. 

“Be who I am on the floor [and] be able to keep developing my playmaking [and] really just improve my scoring,” Barnes says of what will take him to the next level. “Keep [doing] what I do on defense, but just amping it up to another level where I can change the impact of a game throughout the court. Really taking over on the defensive end where I can get multiple stops, being able to be so active on the floor where I can just alter shots, change shots, just give teams different looks where I can have that presence. Talking, communicating and kind of just step up my role of being a leader on this team. I feel like that’s really what’s going to take me to that next level.” 

Deyscha Smith is an associated editor at SLAM. Follow her on Twitter and IG, @deyschasmith.

Portraits by Gabe Pineda/Victory Creative, follow them on Instagram @gabepineda/@victory. Styling by Ian Pierno, follow him on Instagram @ianpierno.

The post Scottie Barnes Has Everything it Takes to Become Toronto’s Next Star appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Since the turn of 2010s, future Hall-of-Famer LeBron James was able to leverage his status as the best player in the NBA and the threat of him leaving to make sure the Cavs and Lakers front office did all they could to build a title threat around him. From there, superstars like Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Anthony Davis were able to negotiate trades or sign with other teams so they could win a ring or be in a better position to do so from behind the scenes.

Well into the 2020s, Durant has used his status as another surefire HOFer to demand a trade out of Brooklyn just three seasons after first signing with the team in 2019.

The reasoning behind the trade demand comes after the Nets have failed to win a title with a core of Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden. Harden himself demanded a trade out of Brooklyn due to the uncertainty around Irving’s vaccination status and wanting to reunite with 76ers president Daryl Morey. Irving’s complex extension negotiations also played a part in Durant wanting out of playing with the Nets.

Durant reportedly wanted to play with the Suns or Heat, two teams with title aspirations that have fostered great team cultures within their locker room. Irving’s preferred destinations were the Clippers, Lakers, Heat, and Dallas, amongst others.

The concerns about the rise of trade demand may be overstated, but it’s nothing new for the most prominent names. Even guys who played for one franchise their whole career (i.e., Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan) threatened to leave via free agency or trade. Guys like Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal could be the next iteration of one-team players.

For the middle class of players like Draymond Green, he applauded players for treating themselves like “businesses” during a recent episode of his podcast. His voice has been joined by Alex Caruso, who is happy to see that “players are finally treating this like the teams and organizations have for so many years.”

“(The players) finally are realizing the business side of this,” Caruso said. “Like, ‘oh okay, I have leverage, I am an asset; let me make this work to the best of my ability because if the organization or the team has a chance to upgrade, they’re going to upgrade.'”

On tomorrow's episode of the show, @jj_redick and @ACFresh21 discuss the recent trends of trade requests by big time players like Kevin Durant with several years left on his contract with the Nets.

Watch the full conversation: https://t.co/Xd3GSeqJrM pic.twitter.com/ydZYxDXJIn

— TheOldMan&TheThree (@OldManAndThree) July 15, 2022

Caruso saying that probably stems from the fact that fans expect players to be loyal to teams but not necessarily the other way around. Think of the recent example of what happened between the Celtics and Isiah Thomas after IT4 suffered a career-altering hip surgery on top of losing his sister to a car accident while leading the C’s to a conference finals appearance.

Or the divorce between DeMar DeRozan and the Raptors. On the other end, though, teams have made sure to do what’s best for players after a long tenure with their first teams. Think Kevin Garnett to the Celtics, or what happened just a few weeks ago when the Spurs traded All-Star guard Dejounte Murray to the Hawks so that he could play on a playoff team instead of wilt away on the lottery-bound Spurs.

Like I said earlier, ‘you’re a victim of circumstance.'” Caruso added. “If you’re in the League and you have this type of wealth and income, it’s a different type of thing than if you’re sitting at home reading about this guy tryna get from $40 mil to $50 mil.

“I understand that that’s a real thing, but you have to sit back and look at it and just think, there’s so many years, you’ve heard horror stories of guys finding out on Twitter or finding out on TV that they got traded. I think it’s finally just to the point where players are just like, ‘well alright, well I’m gonna do the same thing.'”

The tensions between who has power between players and team owners will always be present. When you go through a decade of unprecedented growth that coincides with player empowerment, the players union and its constituents will be less likely to wanna give that up.

The CBA between the owners and players can be negotiated as soon as December. Negotiations will likely get contentious as players and team owners will battle about the player empowerment era, particularly around the issue of players demanding trades with multiple years left on their contract, skipping games, and a plethora of other labor issues.

The post Alex Caruso Speaks on Prominent Players Requesting Trade Despite Big Contracts 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.

Here’s our No. 21-11:

21. 2015-16 Golden State Warriors

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

Record: 73-9

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

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

20. 2015-16 Cleveland Cavaliers

Record: 57-25

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

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

19. 1991-92 Chicago Bulls

Coach: Phil Jackson

Record: 67-15

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

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

18. 2013-14 San Antonio Spurs

Coach: Gregg Popovich

Record: 62-20

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

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

17. 1997-98 Chicago Bulls

Coach: Phil Jackson

Record: 62-20

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

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

16. 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers

Coach: Alex Hannum

Record: 68-13

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

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

15. 1984-85 Los Angeles Lakers

Coach: Pat Riley

Record: 62-20

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

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

14. 1988-89 Detroit Pistons

Coach: Chuck Daly

Record: 63-19

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

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

13. 2017-18 Golden State Warriors

Coach: Steve Kerr

Record: 58-24

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

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

12. 1996-97 Chicago Bulls

Coach: Phil Jackson

Record: 69-13

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

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

11. 1964-65 Boston Celtics

Coach: Red Auerbach

Record: 62-18

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

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

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

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We know there will probably be some disgruntled fans out there, but we’ve come up with a list that we’re standing by. Here’s our top 66-75 best teams of all time:

75. 1997-98 Indiana Pacers

Coach: Larry Bird

Record: 58-24

Roster: Travis Best, Etdrick Bohannon, Austin Croshere, Antonio Davis, Dale Davis, Fred Hoiberg, Mark Jackson, Derrick McKey, Reggie Miller, Chris Mullin, Mark Pope, Jalen Rose, Rik Smits, Mark West

Yes, the ’97-98 Pacers lost a seven-game Eastern Conference Finals series to the Bulls, but this was an extremely strong team. Indy was the next-to-last partner in Chicago’s “Last Dance,” but the Pacers won 58 games—second best in the East—and boasted a deep lineup led by the trio of sharpshooter Reggie Miller, 7-4 tower Rik Smits and do-everything forward Chris Mullin. The loss was disappointing, but the Pacers had plenty to be proud of.

74. 1994-95 Orlando Magic

Coach: Brian Hill

Record: 57-25

Roster: Nick Anderson, Darrell Armstrong, Anthony Avent, Anthony Bowie, Horace Grant, Geert Hammink, Penny Hardaway, Shaquille O’Neal, Tree Rollins, Donald Royal, Dennis Scott, Brian Shaw, Brooks Thompson, Keith Tower, Jeff Turner

In just their sixth year of existence, the Magic reached the Finals, thanks to the dynamic pairing of Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway. Orlando posted the East’s best record and then outlasted the Pacers to win the conference. Shaq was unstoppable inside, and Hardaway dazzled all over. Add in Nick Anderson and Dennis Scott’s long-range shooting and Horace Grant’s steady interior game, and the Magic were quite strong, even if Houston did sweep them in the Finals.

73. 1986-87 Boston Celtics

Coach: KC Jones

Record: 59-23

Roster: Danny Ainge, Larry Bird, Rick Carlisle, Darren Daye, Conner Henry, Dennis Johnson, Greg Kite, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Fred Roberts, Jerry Sichting, David Thirdkill, Andre Turner, Sam Vincent, Bill Walton, Scott Wedman

A year after domination, the Celtics returned to the Finals once again, but lost to the Showtime Lakers in six. The usual cast was back for the conference title winners. Larry Bird was practically infallible, and Kevin McHale and Robert Parish plundered inside. Dennis Johnson ran the show, while Danny Ainge irritated everybody but Celtics fans. But Boston lacked a strong bench, and that’s why the ’86-87 edition was very good, but not a champion.

72. 2011-12 Oklahoma City Thunder

Coach: Scott Brooks

Record: 47-19

Roster: Cole Aldrich, Nick Collison, Daequan Cook, Kevin Durant, Derek Fisher, James Harden, Lazar Hayward, Serge Ibaka, Royal Ivey, Reggie Jackson, Eric Maynor, Nazr Mohammed, Kendrick Perkins, Ryan Reid, Thabo Sefolosha, Russell Westbrook

This was it. This was the last time the Thunder’s Big Three would be together, and Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden almost got it all done. The Thunder won the West and made it to the Finals. They even won the first game against Miami before dropping four straight. Durant, Westbrook and Harden combined for 70 ppg in the series but couldn’t finish the journey and hoist a trophy.

71. 1992-93 Phoenix Suns

Coach: Paul Westphal

Record: 62-20

Roster: Danny Ainge, Charles Barkley, Cedric Ceballos, Tom Chambers, Richard Dumas, Frank Johnson, Kevin Johnson, Tim Kempton, Negele Knight, Dan Majerle, Oliver Miller, Jerrod Mustaf, Kurt Rambis, Alex Stivrins, Mark West

The Suns had reached the Finals before, in 1976, but fell to Boston. This time would be different, even if they were facing the Bulls. Phoenix had the NBA’s best record, the League’s best offense and Charles Barkley, acquired from Philly in a blockbuster. The Suns were deep and fast and fun. But when they lost Game 4 of the Finals to Chicago to fall behind 3-1, you knew it was over. And it was.

70. 1988-89 Los Angeles Lakers

Coach: Pat Riley

Record: 57-25

Roster: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tony Campbell, Michael Cooper, AC Green, Magic Johnson, Jeff Lamp, Mark McNamara, David Rivers, Byron Scott, Mychal Thompson, Orlando Woolridge, James Worthy

There would be one more last gasp for Showtime, but this really felt like the end of an era. Sure, the Lakers won the Pacific, put up the most wins in the conference and reached the Finals after posting a perfect 11-0 playoff record. But the usual suspects—Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, Byron Scott, Michael Cooper, etc.—were beat up by the same Detroit Bad Boys they had defeated a year earlier.

69. 2018-19 Toronto Raptors

Coach Nick Nurse

Record: 58-24

Roster: OG Anunoby, Chris Boucher, Lorenzo Brown, Marc Gasol, Danny Green, Serge Ibaka, Kawhi Leonard, Jeremy Lin, Kyle Lowry, Jordan Loyd, Patrick McCaw, Jodie Meeks, CJ Miles, Malcolm Miller, Greg Monroe, Eric Moreland, Norman Powell, Malachi Richardson, Pascal Siakam, Jonas Valanciunas, Fred VanVleet, Delon Wright

In Canada for just one year, Kawhi Leonard proved his absolute greatness. The Raptors had been good, but they weren’t championship good. No way. Then Leonard averaged 26.6. He hit a quadruple-doink jumper to beat the Sixers in the Eastern Semis. And Kyle Lowry brought the toughness, while Serge Ibaka and Pascal Siakam bumped and banged inside. The Trophy had never been north of the border, but Leonard made sure it got there.

68. 1961-62 Boston Celtics

Coach: Red Auerbach

Record: 60-20

Roster: Carl Braun, Al Butler, Bob Cousy, Gene Guarilia, Tom Heinsohn, KC Jones, Sam Jones, Jim Loscutoff, Gary Phillips, Frank Ramsey, Bill Russell, Tom Sanders

Bill Russell didn’t lead the NBA in points, rebounds or assists, but he earned his third MVP award for leading the Celtics to a League-best 60 regular-season wins and his (and Boston’s) fifth title. It was arguably his best statistical season—a career-best 18.9 ppg, along with 23.6 rpg—and he upped those averages to 22.9 points and 27 boards in the Finals to lift Boston from a 3-2 deficit to a 4-3 victory over the Lakers.

67. 1980-81 Philadelphia 76ers

Coach: Billy Cunningham

Record: 62-20

Roster: Maurice Cheeks, Doug Collins, Earl Cureton, Monti Davis, Darryl Dawkins, Julius Erving, Lionel Hollins, Ollie Johnson, Bobby Jones, Caldwell Jones, Steve Mix, Clint Richardson, Andrew Toney

It’s easy to forget how close the early ’80s Sixers came to dynasty status. There were Finals losses to L.A. in ’80 and ’82, and of course, before their eventual revenge in ’83. But the ’80-81 squad, led by Dr. J in his only NBA MVP season, was right there: They matched Boston’s 62 regular-season wins and took a 3-1 lead on the Celtics in the ECF before an epic Larry Bird-led comeback carried the Cs to the Finals.

66. 1984-85 Boston Celtics

Coach: KC Jones

Record: 63-19

Roster: Danny Ainge, Larry Bird, Quinn Buckner, Rick Carlisle, ML Carr, Carlos Clark, Dennis Johnson, Greg Kite, Cedric Maxwell, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Scott Wedman, Ray Williams

The ninth Celtics-Lakers Finals matchup would be the first from which Boston did not emerge victorious. You could almost call it an upset. Larry Bird claimed his second straight MVP award, and the Cs won a League-best 63 games, then cruised through the Eastern Conference playoff bracket before stomping the Lakers by 34 in Game 1. Kevin McHale averaged 26 points and 10.7 rebounds for the series, but Boston couldn’t slow the Kareem-Magic-Worthy trio and fell 4-2 to L.A.

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As the League celebrates it’s 75th anniversary, there’s quite a few Top 75 lists out there already. In fact, we’ve got quite a few of our own, from SLAM’s Top 75 Players of All Time Special Issue to most recently our Top 75 NBA Teams of All Time (shop here). We could’ve easily left it at that, but after checking out Tracy McGrady’s new Ones Basketball 1-on-1 League, we started thinking about the best 1-on-1 NBA players of all time.

So, we decided to have some fun with it and put together a bold list, categorized based on height, of all of the names that should be included in that conversation.

6-3 AND BELOW

1. Allen Iverson
A one-man revolution where the cross was just the beginning. He’s the master mixer on
our list for a reason.

2. Kyrie Irving
Hang it in the Louvre. KAI’s game is entirely its own art form.

3. Stephen Curry
The greatest shooter of all time needs just a sliver of space to make you pay, all while
staring down the crowd as the ball drops through the net. Uncanny.

4. Derrick Rose
Athleticism that was unparalleled and the nonexistence of fear had D. Rose bullying the
League as the youngest MVP ever.

5. Chris Paul
A mid range savant. A floor general. A Point God.

6. Gilbert Arenas
Agent Zero was lethal, tactical and surgical in leaving defenders guessing what portion
of the bag was about to be unleashed.

7. Damian Lillard
You can pick him up, but what comes next is entirely on you.

8. Russell Westbrook
Shot out of a cannon, if No. 0 is barrelling down the court, you best clear the runway.

9. Isiah Thomas
Lower to the ground just meant more ways to attack as the handle powered the
creativity that No. 11 enacted on his way to snagging two.

10. Jerry West
The Logo was constantly carving up defenses to drop buckets and dimes left and right.

11. Ja Morant
The ascension has been recognized. Call 12, and he’s always gonna answer.

12.Baron Davis
A blend of everything. Baron gave birth to the uber athletic displays of guard play that
we’ve become enthralled with over the years.

13. Trae Young
There’s a new villain in town and he’ll take your heart and your team’s straight to the
offseason.

14. Tiny Archibald
Ain’t nothing tiny about this man’s game. Nothing.

15. Stephon Marbury
The inspiration behind one of the greatest hoops flicks of all time attacked the game entirely on his own terms.

16. Tim Hardaway Sr
Having a killer crossover named after you is a mic drop moment.

17. CJ McCollum
The slipperiest shooting guard in the L. Shaking and baking is his M.O

18. Deron Williams
D Will mastered his own pace to the game. Separation was key and once he created it, you might as well just head back down for O.

19. Donovan Mitchell
Picking up this man is like taking a trip throughout the Spida-Verse, sprawling, spinning and overstimulated with flashes of colorful creativity and blinding moves.

20. Jrue Holiday
Always reliable, always locked in, always ready to pull it in your eye. Second-guessing is the greatest compliment a hooper can recognize and Jrue sees it often.

21. Steve Francis
Constantly sending defenders stumbling, Steve Francis doesn’t often get his due as one of the shiftiest guards to ever step on the hardwood.

22. Tony Parker
Some speed is built, some is gifted. TP’s froze defenders in a picture frame as he weaved around the paint for dimes and buckets.

23. Kemba Walker
We know y’all remember THE step back. Nuff said.

24. Chauncey Billups
Decidedly different. Big guard, big body, big buckets.

25. John Wall
Revolutionary athleticism instilled John Wall as the next box-office point guard. Go do your Google searches and watch his mixtapes to see what we’re seeing.

26. Lou Williams
Lou Williams is too smooth with it: a certified bucket, 3x NBA Sixth Man Player of the Year and a derserver of the utmost respect. 

27. Monta Ellis
Those 360 layups were just a regular thing for Monta Ellis. That’s what type of time he was on. 

28. Nick Van Exel
Nick Van Exel was waaaaaay too quick with it, from the crossovers to the high-flying drives to the lane to those insane dishes and dimes.

29. Jamal Murray
We’ve already told you this before: there’s music in Jamal Murray’s game. Try not to get lost in the melody, though, because he will drop 50 on you. Again and again.

30. Brandon Jennings
Dropping 55 points as a rookie is quite the statement, but then again, Brandon Jennings was never one to shy away from any moment. His game was too electric.

6-4 TO 6-8 

1. Michael Jordan
   The greatest. Put MJ in any situation, matchup or moment and you already know the outcome. Nothing more needs to be said.

2. Kobe Bryant
   He was constantly ascending past the depths of what competing truly meant. He knew your next move before you’d even had a chance to formulate the thought.

3. Tracy McGrady
   Scoring 13 points in 33 seconds is wild, but that’s just what T-Mac was about. One of the most complete scorers in the history of the Association.

4. Carmelo Anthony
   The fadeaway. The jab step. The spot-up jump shot, and his signature “washing machine” spin move. Carmelo Anthony remains one of the game’s most unstoppable scorers of all time. 

5. Kawhi Leonard
   Best believe, any matchup against the Klaw will result in him getting the last laugh. Trying to defend him in a 1v1? Now that’s pure comedy. 

6. Dwyane Wade
   The nickname was fitting: the Flash was one of most elite and efficient shooting guards who attacked the basket with an explosiveness that couldn’t possibly be contained. 

7. James Harden
   Equipped with a signature-move so iconic, a few names on this list have tried it out, the Beard is truly lethal with the rock in his hands.

8. Julius Erving
   A wizard who truly transcended the game. Every move was a symphony of basketball played at its finest. 

9. Charles Barkley
   A relentlessly physical rebounder with an attitude to match, Sir Charles was a force to be reckoned with.

10. Devin Booker
    With the words “Be Legendary” tattooed on his forearm, D-Book has continued to transcend his game towards just that no matter if he’s pullin’ up from midrange or hitting clutch shots from deep. 

11. Scottie Pippen
    One of the game’s greats could really do it all, from dishing out dimes and orchestrating an offense to snagging boards and holding it down on the defensive end. Versatility at it’s finest.  

12. Paul George
    PG’s all-around game is just one of the many things that define his greatness. His explosiveness and ability to create his own shot is another.

13. Paul Pierce
    The Truth can be hard for many to accept, but his dominance was nothing but pure facts. Shaquille O’Neal had a thing for nicknames, and when Paul Pierce dropped 42 on the Lakers in ’01, Shaq went over to the Boston Herald’s Steve Bulpett and told him to write this down: “My name is Shaquille O’Neal and Paul Pierce is the truth. Quote me on that and don’t take nothing out.” Enough said.

14. DeMar DeRozan
    The King of the Fourth is a true revolutionary when it comes to the art of the midrange.

15. Jimmy Butler
    They call him Jimmy Buckets for a reason. That’s exactly what you’re gonna get.

16. Jayson Tatum
    JT moves different out there on the parquet floor, from the lethal step back and sidestep threes to the sheer dominance every time the rock touches his hands. That’s what happens when you’re mentored by none other than the Mamba.

17. Vince Carter
    Once Vince Carter got within eyesight of that line, it was over before it had even begun.

18. Zion Williamson
    You can’t be contained when the limits never existed. The same goes in the paint, or anywhere on the floor, when it comes to Zion Williamson. 

19. Penny Hardaway
    One of the greatest guards ever. That spin fake into a stepback, move? Pure magic.

20. Luka Doncic
    Luka plays at his own pace while completely dominating in the process. Different.

21. Dominique Wilkins
    With legs like propellers and arms that could absorb contact, Nique had underrated shot-making ability that went along with his otherworldly athleticism. 

22. Grant Hill 
    Versatility in a human being. Grant Hill was a threat to score from all three levels.

23. Elgin Baylor
    Surrender the skies to Elgin Baylor. Aerially gifted with merciless finishes at the rim.

24. George Gervin
    Smooth, refined, patient, disciplined and measured. Ice’s game was where fundamental met flash.

25. Alex English
    Nobody scored more points in the 1980s than Alex English. Nobody.

26. Joe Johnson
    His nickname is Iso Joe. Nothing more needs to be said.

27. Bradley Beal
    Bradley Beal technically has a perfect jumpshot. Pair that exquisite form with his handles and the result is a scoring machine.

28. Klay Thompson
    One of the best shooters ever is also a big body that precisely clamps players of all heights and weights.

29. Gary Payton
    Possibly the best perimeter defender to ever play, Gary Payton could also get to the tin whenever he wanted.

30. Jamal Crawford
    Jamal Crawford is creativity unleashed through instinct and intellect.

6-9 AND UP

1. Shaquille O’Neal
   The most physically dominant player ever. Realistically, there’s nobody stopping the Diesel.

2. Kevin Durant
   Size, skills, smarts. There have been very few other players that are more offensively complete than Kevin Durant.

3. LeBron James
   The case can be made that LeBron James is the best player ever. Full stop.

4. Giannis Antetokounmpo
   Try guarding Giannis Antetokounmpo without any help defense. Get the picture?

5. Kevin Garnett
   The only part of Kevin Garnett’s game that outshined his skills on both sides of the ball was his competitiveness, a trait that’s gone nearly unmatched throughout history.

6. Hakeem Olajuwon
   Possibly the best two-way center ever, who dominated with equal doses of agility and nimbleness, power and force.

7. David Robinson
   Dunks and jumpers with the left, blocks and steals with both of his hands and a compressed trampoline in his right leg, David Robinson’s basketball IQ was just as ridiculous as his athletic capabilities.

8. Karl Malone
   Brute strength. Left side of the post to the right side of the hoop every single time. Never could be stopped.

9. Wilt Chamberlain
   Scored 100 points in a game, averaged 50 points for a season and if blocks and steals were tallied when he played, Wilt Chamberlain’s mythic status would be even greater than it already is.

10. Joel Embiid
    Joel Embiid is a guard stuck inside a 7-2, 280-pound body.

11. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
    The author of the game’s most unstoppable shot, its leading scorer and a shot-blocking terror.

12. Larry Bird
    Larry Bird was so good at scoring that he would tell bigger, stronger and more athletic defenders exactly what he planned to do with the ball and they still couldn’t contain him.

13. Anthony Davis
    Middies, catch-and-shoot threes, barrels to the rim, pick-and-roll ball containment, weakside shot-blocking and passing lane invader properly describes Anthony Davis.  

14. Moses Malone
    Quite possibly the most underrated great in NBA history, Moses Malone was unstoppable from the block and even if he did miss, he’d consume offensive rebounds with such ferocity that the ensuing putbacks would be uncontested.

15. Dirk Nowitzki
    It’s real when a singular shot is credited to a player. Basketball now has the one-legged fadeaway thanks to Dirk Nowitzki.

Subscribe to the official podcast of the basketball bible, SLAM’s “No Pump Fakes.”

Follow host Theus McBee on Instagram @theuselijah and Ahmad Smith, @akisnba.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The all-time winningest coach in NBA history.

Congrats on No. 1336, Coach Pop! pic.twitter.com/RbuZxrkEWp

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) March 12, 2022

Coach Pop has now coached the Spurs to 1,336 wins and has won five NBA championships over 26 years as head coach.

“Pop doesn’t like praise,” Dejounte Murray said per ESPN. “He doesn’t like any of that. It’s kind of a good thing. But you also want to remind him of his success because it’s rare. Because he’s a guy that just wants to focus on winning and every day. He never brings up anything to praise himself.

“We don’t talk about [the record], but we damn sure going to enjoy it when we do get it for him because he’s a great man, and he deserves it. He pushes all his players, whether you’re the first guy, last guy, G-League player, 10-day contract, he embraces you from day one. He deserves everything.”

1,336 of ‘em. Congrats Pop. (via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/XCxCYVM3to

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) March 12, 2022

Pop is the longest-tenured active coach in the League, having been in San Antonio since 1996. Popovich has also coached the Spurs to a winning record in his first 22 seasons and has led the franchise to 18 straight seasons with at least 50 wins. He also has the most combined regular-season and playoff wins in NBA history.

“I think he’s adjusted; he’s adapted,” Hall of Fame center David Robinson said. “He’s won under different circumstances with different mixtures of teams. We were a dominant defensive team, to [the teams] with Kawhi [Leonard] and all those guys, they were dominant offensively. They had a nice mix [on both sides]. And even now, you see how he’s had to adjust to a very, very different team.

“I think that’s what’s made him great. How do you win 67% of your games or whatever it is for 25 years? It’s ridiculous. It’s pretty amazing.”

Aside from his NBA success, Coach Pop has also won a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as the head coach of the U.S. men’s national team.

The post Gregg Popovich Now All-Time Winningest Coach in NBA History appeared first on SLAM.

He’s only 11 years old, but Lil Noah James already has more Mitchell & Ness jerseys than most of us have probably ever owned. The young hip-hop artist, originally from Bridgeport, CT, and currently residing in Atlanta, has a really impressive collection. When we hopped on a Zoom call in December, he confidently said that he’s owned over 500 in total, many of which he’s since grown out of. As of our call, he says he’s got about 150 that he keeps inside his closet and stored in bins. 

“I started collecting jerseys around the age of 5. My favorite Mitchell & Ness jerseys are the Kobe Bryant [number] 8, I don’t even have that. The Lakers purple and gold one, I like. The black and red MJ one, that’s another one I don’t have. I like the green Kevin Garnett, I have that one. T-Wolves KG, Miami Heat Shaq. A lot of them. LeBron when he played in Cleveland his first year. I like the Scottie Pippen ones.”

Just from listening to Lil Noah, it’s clear that he’s already so passionate about the game—from basketball to his music career. Even though he’s only in elementary school, he can hold his own in an interview—and on a track. He’s already dropped a handful of singles, including  “2K21 (Mamba Time),” a tribute to the late Lakers legend that has garnered over 73,261 streams on Spotify. In the music video, which has 13,000 views on his YouTube channel, James, who idolizes Bryant, rocks a purple Lakers Hardwood Classics satin raglan full-snap jacket while he’s rapping in the booth about Bryant’s dominance. 

“I have a lot of Nike jerseys, but I really like rocking the old ones,” he says. “I look up to my idols like Kobe, LeBron and Jordan, and other people…I like baggy jerseys, so that’s what Mitchell & Ness really brings for me.” 

James wears a jersey pretty much every day and says it’s become a part of everyday life. He’s rocked a few of them at NBA games and events, too, including 2020 NBA All-Star Weekend, where he appeared on an NBA TV broadcast wearing a purple and gold Mitchell & Ness Magic Johnson Lakers jersey. He also wore a black Mitchell & Ness Lakers jacket in the many selfies he took with stars, including LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Devin Booker, Chris Paul, Ben Simmons, Anthony Davis, James Harden, Jayson Tatum and Diana Taurasi. 

James, who mostly listens to Lil Bow Wow, Drake, Lil Baby, Fetty Wap and Soulja Boy, started rapping when he was around 7 or 8 years old. While he often references basketball, he says he also wants to tell his own story through music. “I just write my raps off of how I’m feeling. I only write about my life, I don’t write about stuff that I haven’t done or am going to do. I just write about what’s in the present and about me.” 

On songs like “Thank You,” James opens up about being born prematurely at 25 weeks and 1.5 pounds, as well as about the loss of his twin sister, Nalah Jade. He gives her a shoutout on “Sometimes,” featuring Omar Wilson—“Rest in peace Nalah Jade, I’m always praying for sis”—and keeps it real about having to balance all the traveling he does with school and chores. 

James says that he’s been “working on stuff in the studio” and has about three or four songs that haven’t been released yet. All that hard work is starting to pay off, too, and a few people at his school, New Manchester Elementary, have even started coming up to him to compliment his music. “I was actually shocked that they knew who I was. Two people in school came up to me and asked for an autograph.” 

As he continues to build out his career, we bet Lil Noah James will continue building out his Mitchell & Ness collection. The question isn’t will he rock a throwback in a future video, but which one? 

Get your own Mitchell & Ness Youth NBA Jerseys here.

Portrait via Jamesy Codrington / Maziv Photography

The post Meet Lil Noah James: The 11-Year Old Hip-Hop Artist with the Craziest Mitchell & Ness Jersey Collection appeared first on SLAM.

The newest Clippers acquisition, Norman Powell, suffered a fractured medial sesamoid bone in his left foot, according to the team announcement on Sunday. Even though Powell’s injury won’t require surgery, there is no timetable for his return at this time.

ESPN’s Tim Bontemps reported the news.

The injury is a fractured medial sesamoid bone in his left foot, which the team says is non-surgical at the moment. The Clippers acquired Powell a week ago from the Portland Trail Blazers. https://t.co/suqIYAIRvM

— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) February 13, 2022

The injury couldn’t have happened at a worse time for the Clippers or Powell. After coming over from the Portland Trail Blazers in a deal that netted Robert Covington, Norman was on a hot streak averaging 21.0 points and 4.0 assists per game in three contests that included a 28-point explosion in his debut a week ago.

28 PTS | 56.3% FG | 50.0% 3FG @npowell2404 with the strong debut. pic.twitter.com/lgrIGtkMkH

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) February 7, 2022

Powell suffered his left foot injury on Thursday during the Clippers’ 112-105 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. He sat out Saturday’s rematch that the Clippers won 99-97 with what the team initially called turf toe.

Before being ruled out of the game, Powell stated that his foot was ‘feeling better’ per ESPN.

“It’s doing a lot better,” Powell said at the team’s morning shootaround. “Better than it was after the game. Better than it was yesterday. Feeling better, walking better. Felt a little pain in it. All from the last game. Just going to see how it feels and go from there.”

With Kawhi Leonard presumably gone for the season and Paul George’s status still in the air, Clippers Coach Tyronn Lue will have to find offense from somewhere on the roster to fill in Powell’s production.

The Clippers have 24 games left in the season with a record of 26-31, currently a game and a half ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers as the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference.

The post Los Angeles Clippers Lose Norman Powell ‘Indefinitely’ To A Broken Foot appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 7, 2022

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

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

The Clippers are trading Eric Bledsoe, Justise Winslow, Keon Johnson and future second-round pick to the Trail Blazers for Norman Powell and Robert Covington, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 4, 2022

Powell and Covington’s pure shooting prowess and defensive capabilities will aid Ty Lue’s undermanned Clippers roster with Paul George sidelined with a torn UCL and Kawhi Leonard’s rehab from a torn ACL. The 6’3 guard from UCLA is averaging a career second-best 18.7 points per game while shooting a scintillating 40.6 percent from beyond the arc.

At the same time, Covington’s three-and-D ability off the bench provides the eighth-seeded Clippers with another solid rotational player.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski later reported that the emergence of Anfernee Simons’ game in the absence of Damian Lillard had given the Blazers the confidence to move on from Powell’s long-term five-year $90 million deal, providing George and Leonard with a proven two-way bucket getter.

For Portland, the terms of the deal allow them to slip under the luxury tax bill and create a $6.5 million trade exception that is good for a whole year, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks. In comparison, Los Angeles’ tax bill increases by approximately $19 million.

Both players dealt by Portland were brought in over the past two seasons, trading Trevor Ariza and two first-rounders to the Rockets for the 6-foot-9 Covington at the start of the 2020-21 season. The Blazers acquired Powell from the Toronto Raptors during last season’s trade deadline for Gary Trent Jr.

Alongside Dame and CJ McCollum, Powell has started out of position at the three despite being one of the Blazers’ most consistent offensive threats.

The post REPORT: Clippers Send Eric Bledsoe, Justise Winslow to Blazers for Norman Powell, Robert Covington appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

On Tuesday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that George would be out longer than initially thought as he continues to recover from a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.

Wojnarowski reports that the Los Angeles Clippers will continue to evaluate George over the coming weeks, with no firm timetable available for his return.

George has been out since Dec. 22, nearly an entire month now, but suffered the injury a few weeks prior in a game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Dec. 6, according to ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk. The Clippers have missed his presence, going 5-8 since George’s injury, giving them a record of 22-23, ninth-best in the west.

Before the injury, George had played in 26 games this season and was averaging 24.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game.

The Clippers are now without both of their All-Stars, with Kawhi Leonard still recovering from a torn ACL suffered during the playoffs last year.

The post REPORT: Paul George to be Out Longer than Expected Due to Elbow Injury appeared first on SLAM.

When the Los Angeles Clippers initially announced the injury, the team hoped resting George for three to four weeks would help the 31-year-old guard recover.

“While the team’s initial announcement on Christmas Day stated George would be re-evaluated in 3-4 weeks, the Clippers are operating under the possibility that George may not return this season, sources told B/R.”

With the possibility that both Paul George and Kawhi Leonard may not return this season, the Clippers are shaping into a surprising seller at the NBA’s trade deadline. More at @BR_NBA: https://t.co/IGZhFoYSA7

— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) January 12, 2022

In 26 games this season, PG-13 was playing at a level that had some believing that he was in the MVP conversation averaging 24.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game. He had thrived as the Clippers’ number one option while Kawhi Leonard continued his rehab on his surgically repaired knee.

The Clippers had high hopes to start the season during their seven-game winning streak that had them at the top spot early in the Western Conference playoff picture. Since George’s injury, the Clippers have fallen into the play-in tournament section of the standings at 21-21 behind the Los Angeles Lakers. 

With the Clippers without their best two-way player, Reggie Jackson, Marcus Morris, and Terrence Mann will be counted on for the team to stay relevant in the Western Conference playoff race. The Clippers’ future plans depend on how well things go. If Los Angeles can move up in the standings, they can entertain options of bringing back Leonard and George in time for the postseason.

However, if the struggles continue, both stars could be shelved in plans for next season. The Clippers have Tuesday off before playing the Pelicans (15-26) on the road.

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

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 7, 2022

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

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

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

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

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

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

Afterward, Nets Coach Steve Nash criticized the team for not bringing enough energy and overlooking a depleted Clippers squad. On the other hand, Durant was much more colorful and abrasive with his language to get his point across.

“Like Coach said, we didn’t deserve to win this game. We came in here with a f–ked up attitude to start, thinking we were just gonna walk into a W,” Durant said. “Hopefully, a loss like this sit in your brain until tomorrow. … If you ain’t feeling like s–t after this game, you gotta look yourself in the mirror.”

“It’s natural when a team is missing so many players, they’ve been going through so much over there, and we relaxed,” Durant said. “You wouldn’t think you could lose an NBA game like this. Missing how many guys, playing guys up from the G-League. … They all made an impact, I felt, and we came in too chill.”

The Clippers were playing without Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Nicolas Batum, and six other players who were out with either injury or placed in health and safety protocols. Even Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue was in protocols. With the loss, Brooklyn is now on a two-game losing streak.

Durant finished with 28 points on 11-24 shooting, nine rebounds, and three assists. James Harden had a triple-double with 34 points, 12 rebounds, and 13 assists.

On Monday night, the Nets (23-11) look to bounce back at home against Memphis (23-14).

The post Kevin Durant After Nets’ Loss to Clippers: ‘We Came in too Chill’ appeared first on SLAM.

The Clippers have no clear timetable for George to return by, but the team hopes that resting the injury over the next month will help George recover. The injury initially occurred when PG13 sprained his elbow against the Trail Blazers in December. He missed five games over two weeks before returning against the Spurs on December 20.

George said that he wasn’t sure if the injury required maintenance, leading to missing games to manage the injury.

“It took some hits today, couple stingers,” he said per ESPN after the Clippers lost to the Spurs. “We’ll see how it feels tomorrow, not sure it will be sore or not.”

The team faces health issues with four players out to injury or virus protocols, including Kawhi Leonard. He hasn’t played this season while he continues to rehab from a knee injury. Isaiah Hartenstein is dealing with an ankle injury, and Marcus Morris and Reggie Jackson are in health and safety protocol.

The Clippers are 17-15 and holding on to the fifth seed in the Western Conference.

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“That was kind of my first goal, to do more, like, lifestyle types of pieces,” Andrews says over Zoom. “When I got to college, the only opportunity they had at the paper was in sports. I thought, I know the game. I can cover sports. So for me, there is this dual and equal love of basketball and journalism, and they both sort of played out in their separate ways. I always loved writing classes, I always loved the conversation pieces of class that sort of existed over here, and then over here. I liked watching basketball…I didn’t think they were going to come together the way that they did in college.”

Andrews has been making waves since her days at the University of Portland, where she wrote for the student newspaper, The Beacon. A few weeks into her sophomore year, she was covering a soccer game when her advisor pointed out that a player had been sent to the hospital. Andrews then went back and interviewed the school’s athletic trainer, who told her that they had suggested to the school “several times to pad the wall” that was around Merlo Field, but the university had failed to do so. After Andrews included this vital information in her piece, the school finally made the change two weeks later. 

“It’s not like a huge thing, but to see the work you do create change was something that was really awesome for me.”

It was then that Andrews’ passion for writing and reporting was born, and she went on to become editor-in-chief of The Beacon in 2016. “I like to say I majored in the weekend—I majored in the school paper, I was there all the time. Late nights, cutting up stories, reworking things on the floor. I love to write, I love to talk to people.”

She’s come a long way since. After working for the Chicago Tribune and covering the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls for ESPN, Andrews transitioned into becoming a sideline reporter. Understandably, she admits that she was nervous her first time being on camera. 

“I was in Milwaukee, on the baseline [for] six o’clock SportsCenter. Giannis had a concussion, Kawhi [Leonard] was out…That was my first time. I was wearing a jacket, like a blazer, and I looked afterwards to be like, Yo, did I just sweat through my entire [jacket]? But it was kind of cool, because today my colleague Jamal Collier did his first hit on [ESPN] NBA Today and I did think to myself, I wonder if he was feeling right now the way I was feeling then. I was fine, I wasn’t great, I wasn’t awful. But holy shit, I was so nervous.”

Still, with every opportunity, Andrews has seemingly seized the moment like a seasoned pro. She’s has continuously impressed with her live game coverage—especially during the 2020 NBA bubble in Orlando, where she became its youngest sideline reporter for a broadcast. 

“I think that writing and reporting prepares you for anything. I get asked now, Oh, what’s it like transitioning from a reporter to a host? I have the same backbone, I have the same make-up. I’m not transitioning into being an analyst or a spewer of opinions. I have wonderful colleagues, who by the way, do have those credentials that so many are looking for—where they played the game, they played the game at a high level and they’re going to break down the game. My credentials are in asking questions, in pushing people to explore themselves, to reflect, to examine something and potentially change or think about it differently. And that’s what I’m good at. That’s how I approach my job now.”

Last season, as the Bucks lifted the LOB trophy for the first time in franchise history, Andrews was there to cover the historic moment. She became the youngest broadcaster ever to host the NBA Finals trophy ceremony.

And now, at just 26 years old, she’s bringing that same energy to her latest role as the host of her very own show, “NBA Today” on ESPN, which debuted in October and has had LaMelo Ball and Draymond Green among its guests. Andrews admits that she hasn’t wavered from her love for writing, and in fact it’s all intertwined into what she does now. 

 “I write the scripts of the show, so I’m writing in that way….Writing for print is a very solitary activity, [whereas] writing for television is something where, yes, I’m writing but my producers are [like], Hey, why don’t we change this and tweak that? I always tell young people this when they ask me [and say], Oh, I want to be a broadcaster. I want to be on television. Being on television, that’s just the medium. Why do you want to do it? Do you want to do it for the storytelling [or] because you’re curious about people? As long as there is that, then it translates across mediums because writing is hard. It is a different type of hard. So for me, the transition from print to television, I was aided in the fact that it was just about reporting. It was just about gathering information and sharing it in a different way. Information is what’s important. It was about getting information and writing it or getting information and being able to say it on TV. And those are just two different parts of the same cloth that I think are important.” 

Even with all of the success, Andrews is committed to building her craft even further and spearheading a show that not only entertains, but also informs. Earlier this week, she had NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on to talk about how the League is addressing the omicron variant and the continuation of the season. 

“I just want to get better and help be a part of a show that is a part of the fabric of the NBA,” Andrews says. “I think that if we can get a little bit better every day; If we can tell some stories that we’re proud of, if we can maybe change something for the better, just a little bit—maybe make someone think a little bit differently about something that they hadn’t thought about in that way before, [or] push someone to question appropriately [and] think about someone in a more caring way—if we can achieve all of that, while celebrating the game, I think we’ll have done our job…I have a whole bunch of goals, but if at the end of the day we got better and we’re having fun and people have fun with us, watching us, listening to us, [and] they learn something, that’s all I can ask for.”

Andrews admits that she’s still working on finding a balance between her work schedule and doing the other things she enjoys, like reading and listening to the Dr. Death podcast. 

Still, Andrews’ presence is everywhere: turn on the TV and she’s there covering the League on NBA Today or the sidelines of an NBA arena. Hop on Twitter and you’ll definitely see her breaking news on your timeline, or even Adrian Wojnawoski retweeting her. 

She seems to be always tapped in. And therefore it makes sense why she would much rather not talk about what her screen time looks like. 

“Don’t ask me about it. It’s embarrassing. It’s gross. When [my] Peloton instructor—on a pre-recorded ride, by the way; I take the pre-recorded stuff because I don’t have time to figure out when I can take a live class now—[is like], Yes, you! You, put your phone down! I see you over there. How do you see me? How do you see me texting this person back or checking in with that agent or whatever. And you’re like, Oh, this half hour is carved out for the day. This half hour is for us. There is an US that exists within my phone. I get very excited when my screen time is down. It’s something that I’m like, Yes, this is exciting! But it’s not very often.”

Still, it’s clear that Andrews’ rise in the industry is a testament to her hard work. She says that it feels “gratifying” to be in the position that she’s in, where people not only watch and read her work, but will also come up to her in the line at the supermarket or while getting coffee just to talk to her about hoops. 

“It’s awesome that they want to take time out of their day to come and chat with me about a sport that we all really enjoy watching. The conversations we have on NBA Today, the conversations that I have with Ryan Ruocco and Doris Burke and Mark Jackson and Mark Jones and Jeff Van Gundy and Mike Breen, those are the conversations that everybody has in their car, yelling at the radio, with their friends at the barber shop. I just so happened to be privileged enough to get to have them where people want to watch and listen to what we have to say. I’ve said it before, [but] I have a get-to job, not a have-to job. And so many people in the world have a have-to job. My job is a reprieve from theirs. Sports is a reprieve from their have-to. What do I have to complain about or adjust to? This is awesome.” 

Photos via Getty Images and ESPN.

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Clippers beat writer Law Murray of The Athletic reports that Ibaka has had a close contact test positive, which prompted the Clippers to test him, which came back negative. which the result came back negative
Ibaka would have been able to sit with his teammates during the game. However, Ibaka remains away from the Clippers while his teammates are in Utah due to COVID-19 protocols.

A source tells @TheAthletic that Serge Ibaka was a close contact yesterday and had to test right at gametime.

That is why he did not enter the bench area last night until later in the first quarter. Ibaka tested negative but is out for start of trip due to protocols.

— Law Murray (@LawMurrayTheNU) December 15, 2021

Since returning to the Clippers, after spending time in G League working on his conditioning, Ibaka’s minutes have decreased, seeing him fall out of the rotation behind Isaiah Hartenstein and Ivan Zubac.

Ibaka has subsequently received multiple DNPs. Clippers Coach Tyrone Lue was shuffling lineups. He’s shared his frustration by liking a tweet about being traded.

The Clippers are currently dealing with injuries to a string of their star players, including Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Nicolas Batum.

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Anthony Davis said after the game that the Los Angeles Lakers need to play like they’re the “underdogs.”

“These guys already feel like they’re the underdogs when they’re coming in, especially when they’re without their star players,” Davis said via ESPN. “And we got to play like we’re the underdogs. Which, now, at this point of the season, the way we’re playing, a lot of games, we probably are.”

The narrative surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers for much of the season is problems with injuries hurting the consistency of the lineup. However, Davis goes on to point out that with teams currently missing their “star players,” the Lakers have to step it up.

The team lost to a Los Angeles Clippers team without Kawhi Leonard, a Sacramento Kings team without two starters and have blown two leads against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

“I think when their star players are out, we have to lock in even more because these guys have no conscience,” Davis continued. “They want to come in and beat the Lakers, beat LeBron, beat A.D., beat whoever, beat Melo. Like, they want to say, ‘I gave the Lakers 30, 25, whatever.'”

The Lakers take on the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night.

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Paul George is playing at an MVP level this season.

26.7 PPG
8.3 RPG (career-high)
5.4 APG (career-high)
2.5 SPG (career-high)
46/36/86%

The Clippers have won 5 in a row. pic.twitter.com/pGtrBL6J4J

— StatMuse (@statmuse) November 10, 2021

After George put up a stat line of 24 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, Portland head coach Chauncey Billups agrees, according to Melissa Rohlin of Fox Sports.

“He’s playing on an MVP level,” Billups said. “I think he knows the challenge he has ahead of him this year with no Kawhi for now. You just want a guy like that to put everybody on his back and say, ‘Let’s go, let’s give ourselves a chance.’ And he has done that every single night. He’s just a matchup nightmare, man. You can’t guard him with one guy. Now that his playmaking is better, he just puts you in some tough spots.”

Tough move. Tough finish.

@BallySportWest | @Yg_Trece pic.twitter.com/gkwVJoJgfg

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) November 10, 2021

George is riding high as he was recently named the Western Conference Player of the Week on Monday. He is ranked fifth in the NBA in scoring behind Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and DeMar DeRozan. He’s contributing defensively and ranks second in the NBA in steals per game with 2.5 while the Clippers rank third in the League in defensive rating at 101.7.

George averages 26.7 points on 45.8% shooting from the field, 8.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Free agent C/F Harry Giles is signing a non-guaranteed deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Giles was the No. 20 pick in 2017 Draft and played for Portland last season.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 7, 2021

Last season, Giles played with the Portland Trail Blazers on a one-year minimum deal. In 38 games he averaged 2.8 points and 3.5 rebounds in 9.2 minutes. Giles will try to make a Clippers squad hoping to stay in championship contention despite their superstar forward, Kawhi Leonard slated to miss a significant portion of the season with a partial ACL tear in his knee.

Giles will look for minutes behind veteran big men Ivica Zubac and Serge Ibaka at the center position if he can make the regular season roster. The team currently has 14 players on guaranteed contracts.

Giles joins fellow former Duke players Luke Kennard and recently signed Justise Winslow on the Clippers roster.

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The 32-year-old averaged 8.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists while shooting 46.4 percent from the field last season.

Free agent Nicolas Batum has agreed to a two-year deal to return to the Los Angeles Clippers, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 3, 2021

In the playoffs, Batum maintained similar averages in 29 minutes of action. That level of consistency led to the Clipper’s front office wanting him to return to their lineup.

“Nico is a terrific player, a selfless teammate and a consummate professional, who lifts us in a lot of different ways,” said Lawrence Frank, president of basketball operations, via NBA.com. “He fit in perfectly from the beginning, and we’re grateful he’s chosen to return.”

Batum recently finished up playing for the French National Team in the Tokyo Olympics, losing to the U.S. National Team in the Gold Medal game 87-82.

The post Nicolas Batum to Sign Two-Year Deal to Return to the Clippers appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

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

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

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Terms of the agreement were not released.

Winslow has a real opportunity to impact the lineup with Kawhi Leonard out to start the season. When healthy – which is he now — he’s shown great flashes in Miami and Memphis.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 6, 2021

On paper, the Winslow signing looks very promising for the Clippers. He’s a very athletic wing defender, equipped with good ball-handling skills when healthy. Plus, he can be counted on as a secondary shot creator when he attacks the paint.

Winslow, who averaged 6.8 points and 4.5 rebounds in 22 games for the Grizzlies last season, also provides some of the attributes that Los Angeles will need with Leonard out, and there are some opportunities behind Paul George and Terance Mann for minutes at the start of the season.

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Previously, Ujiri served strictly as the president of the organization.

ESPN Sources: Masai Ujiri – architect of the 2019 champions– has agreed to a significant new deal to become Vice Chairman!President of the Toronto Raptors. Ujiri continues as both Raptors top basketball/business executive and a global philanthropist through his Giants of Africa.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 5, 2021

After winning NBA Executive of the Year during the 2012-13 season with the Denver Nuggets, Ujiri became general manager and president of the Raptors and has since been one of the most effective and successful executives in the League.

Landing Kawhi in the 2018 offseason catapulted Ujiri as one of the most sought-after executives in all of professional sports.

Ujiri will continue on as the Raptors top basketball and business executive while also maintaining his global philanthropic reach through his Giants of Africa initiative, sources said.

“On the court, our goal is clear: Win. It’s simple: Win. Bring another championship to Toronto,” Ujiri said in a Twitter video released by the Raptors on Thursday.

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Now, Los Angeles Times reporter Brad Turner links the Lake Show to both Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan.

He reports:

“DeRozan, who starred at Compton High and USC, has interest in returning home to play for the Lakers, even if it is for less than the $27.7 million he earned last season in San Antonio, according to people not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

Though the Lakers didn’t acquire Lowry at the trade deadline, he remains interested in joining them, according to people with knowledge of his situation.

The Lakers made multiple runs at DeRozan in the past. In 2016, Los Angeles reportedly made a big offer only for DeMar to accept Toronto’s max deal. Lowry has been linked to the Lakers as far back as the trade deadline.

For the Lakers to get Lowry, it will have to come in a sign-and-trade with the Raptors centered around Schroder and others. The deal would eliminate flexibility from the team’s salary cap, leaving the only option of filling out the roster with minimum players.

The Lakers have six players under contract with LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Kuzma, Marc Gasol and Alfonzo McKinnie (non-guaranteed). Montrezl Harrell has a player option for next season at $9.7 million, and he has a July 31 deadline to inform the Lakers.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The NBA free agency period will begin August 2nd.

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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).]

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

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

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

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

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Following the game Wednesday night, George was honest, saying he never understood why he has always been criticized for his playoff performances.

“The narrative of me not being a postseason player or all that, I never understood it,” George said to media Wednesday night. “I’ve dealt with stuff as we all do. Makes me no different than the next man. But it is what it is. I came up short again.”

George had a great showing in the playoffs, even with co-star Kawhi Leonard missing a good portion of the playoffs. George averaged 26.9 points, 9.6 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game, including dropping a 41 point performance in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals.

George’s strong playoffs will be welcomed by Clippers fans, who will retain George through 2025 thanks to his four-year contract extension that kicks in next season. Leonard has a $36 million player option for next season that he has yet to accept or decline.

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

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

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

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

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

But Jackson’s great season was closer to not happening at all than some would think. In an extensive interview with ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, Jackson revealed he had seriously considered retirement prior to the season.

“I was ready to leave. I was ready to give up,” Jackson says. “I thought I was going to retire because I just couldn’t get healthy.

“It just started weighing on me,” Jackson says. “I just felt like maybe it wasn’t meant to be,”

And it’s a good thing Jackson choose to stick around because he’s been a huge asset for the Clippers this postseason. In 18 playoff games this year, Jackson is averaging 18.1 points and 3.2 assists per game while shooting 49.2 percent from the field and 41.5 percent from three.

Jackson’s strong play has kept the Clippers alive in their Western Conference Finals series against the Phoenix Suns, despite Kawhi Leonard’s absence.

Currently, the Clippers trail the Suns 3-2 in the series but will have a chance to tie the series in Game 6 on Wednesday night.

The post Reggie Jackson Says He Was ‘Ready’ to Retire Before Season appeared first on SLAM.

Phoenix Suns shooting guard Devin Booker and his team haven’t been having the best of luck the past two games against the Los Angeles Clippers. Although the Suns were able to get star point guard Chris Paul back before things got ugly, it still wasn’t enough to hold the Clippers down to a 3-1 lead.

Facing elimination and a hostile Phoenix crowd, the Clippers went on a 20-5 run to start Game 5, finishing the game with a 116-102 win over Booker and the Suns. This despite the continued absence of an injured Kawhi Leonard, who has averaged 30.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.1 steals per game for the Clippers this postseason.

“They came out, they punched us in the face to start the game.” Booker would say following the blowout loss.

Booker, after injuring his nose earlier in the series, put up 31 points in his best effort his last three games. CP3 added 22 points and 8 assists. Unfortunately for Phoenix, the team’s offensive support outside of their starting backcourt was lacking, with no other starter scoring more than 10 points.

An all-time performance from Paul George also tipped the scales in LA’s favor, with “Playoff P” putting up 41 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and three steals on 15-20 shooting from the field.

The Clippers host the Suns in Game 6 on Wednesday, 6:00 pm (MST).

The post Devin Booker: Clippers ‘Punched Them In The Face’ in Game 5 appeared first on SLAM.

In the history of the NBA conference finals, teams down 3-1 have only won the series seven percent of the time. While this doesn’t happen often, Clippers Head Coach Ty Lue has pulled off this feat before. 

In the 2016, the Cleveland Cavaliers were coached by Lue and became the first team in NBA Finals history to overcome a 3-1 series deficit. 

While it’s going to be difficult, Lue is still optimistic that the Clippers came come back and win the series to advance to the NBA Finals. 

“We beat Utah and won four games in a row. So it’s very doable,” said Lue after Game 4. 

Game 5 will take place Monday evening, where the Clippers will once again be without Kawhi Leonard. 

The post Ty Lue Calls 3-1 Comeback ‘Very Doable’ appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

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

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

We broke down Tuesday’s matchup here. 

No. 2 Suns 104, No. 4 Clippers 103

PHX leads Series 2-0

For the third-straight series, the Clippers are down 2-0 early on. While they were able to overcome this deficit twice already in the postseason, things will be much tougher against the Suns, especially without Kawhi Leonard. In a back-and-forth game, the Suns ultimately won on a wild inbounds tip-in with less than a second remaining.

In Game 2, Cameron Payne and DeAndre Ayton carried Phoenix to the victory. Payne finished with 29 points and nine assists filling in for Chris Paul and Ayton contributed 24 points and 14 boards. The Clippers struggled to get much offensive production out of anyone besides Paul George, who led the team with 26 points on 23 shots. Game 3 will take place in Los Angeles on Thursday.

The post Post Up: Suns Extend Series Lead Over Clippers 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.

Embiid—under contract through the 2022-23 season—received 28 first-team votes and 70 second-team votes. He joins Portland Trail Blazers superstar guard Damian Lillard, Phoenix Suns floor general Chris Paul, Most Improved Player Award winner Julius Randle, and Los Angeles Lakers leader LeBron James on the 2020-21 All-NBA Second Team.

ESPN’s salary cap expert, Bobby Marks, broke down the potential year-by-year salaries here:

Joel Embiid has earned All-NBA and is now super max eligible. The 76ers and Embiid are now allowed to negotiate an extension of four-years and a projected $191M. The extension would begin in 2023-24.

Breakdown:

2023/24- $42.5M
2024/25- $46.0M
2025/26- $49.4M
2026/27- $52.8M

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) June 16, 2021

In sum, the Sixers and Embiid can negotiate a projected four-year deal worth around $191 million that runs until the 2026-27 season.

Embiid is currently in the middle of a five-year, $148 million deal.

The post Joel Embiid Eligible to Sign Four-Year Super Max Extension with Sixers appeared first on SLAM.

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

All-NBA First Team

The 2020-21 All-NBA First Team:

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

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) June 16, 2021

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

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

All-NBA Second Team

The 2020-21 All-NBA Second Team:

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

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) June 16, 2021

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

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

All-NBA Third Team

The 2020-21 All-NBA Third Team:

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

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) June 16, 2021

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 15, 2021

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

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

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

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

Jazz star Donovan Mitchell’s face says it all.

Look at Donovan Mitchell’s face

: @LAClippers pic.twitter.com/svpOOKUzc7

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 15, 2021

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

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

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

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

Headlining the All-Defensive 1st team were the two players in the running for Defensive Player of the Year—Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert and Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons. Simmons and Gobert were the only two players in the league to be unanimously voted to the 1st team. 

The 2020-21 NBA All-Defensive First Team:

Giannis Antetokounmpo
Rudy Gobert
Draymond Green
Jrue Holiday
Ben Simmons pic.twitter.com/ZlflnyWlLR

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) June 14, 2021

This was Gobert’s fifth straight year on the All-NBA Defensive first team, and Simmon’s second.

Rounding out the top-five were Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (his fourth time on the first team), Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday (his second) and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (his third consecutive first team nomination).

The All-NBA Defensive teams are selected from a group of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters from across the League — a first-team vote notches a player two “points,” while a second-team vote notches them one. Each voter chooses two guards, two forwards, and one center.

The Lakers had the league’s best defensive rating this season.

They have 0 All-Defense players. pic.twitter.com/NZQUa31ewg

— StatMuse (@statmuse) June 14, 2021

The second team boasts Kawhi Leonard (his seventh overall selection), teammates Joel Embiid and Matisse Thybulle, and Heat duo Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. As is the case every year, there were some surprising omissions from the ten players selected. Perhaps most notably, there were no Lakers on either team, even as the Lakers finished with the best defensive team in the league (106.8). Specific players to just miss selection were Mikal Bridges (Bridges finished with 39 total points, 4 less than Leonard), Clint Capela, and Myles Turner.

The post NBA Announces Selections for All-NBA Defensive Teams 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.

We broke down both of Sunday’s games here.

No. 1 Sixers 124, No. 5 Hawks 128

ATL leads series 1-0

Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks came out hot in Game 1 against the Philadelphia 76ers, making a huge statement on Sunday afternoon. The Hawks were up by as many as 26 early in the game after going on a 17-0 run and held a 19-point lead with just over eight minutes remaining. From there, the Sixers would climb back in and nearly pull off a late comeback win, pulling within three points with a minute remaining. 

Young scored 25 of his 35 points in the first half, with Bogdan Boganovic carrying the team late, finishing with 21 points. John Collins produced 21 points of his own while Kevin Huerter led the reserve unit with 15 bench points. Joel Embiid returned to action from his knee injury, notching 39 points and nine rebounds. Ben Simmons finished with 17 points and ten assists while Tobias Harris and Seth Curry both scored 20+ points each. 

No. 4 Clippers 126, No. 5 Mavericks 111

LAC wins series 4-3

Luka Doncic came out with intention in Game 7, notching 19 first quarter points and 29 through the first half. After being down by five points early in the second half, the Clippers went on a 24-4 run to finish the third quarter to go up 15 points entering the final frame. After being down 15 or more nearly the entire fourth quarter, Dallas went on a 13-3 run late in the game to pull within seven points with two minutes left, but couldn’t get within striking distance.

Terance Mann played a huge role in the Clippers’ win, scoring 13 points off the bench in a game where all of his buckets felt like they came at the perfect time. Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Marcus Morris combined for 73 points, 21 assists and 21 rebounds in Game 7. Doncic finished with 46 points, 14 assists and seven boards. 

The post Post Up: Mavericks Fall While Hawks Soar appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

Series tied 3-3

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

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

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

He can score on the inside and dunk on you.

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

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) June 5, 2021

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

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

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) June 5, 2021

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

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

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) June 5, 2021

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Yet again, the fourth day of playoff games did not disappoint, as three teams made major statements. We’ve broken down each of the Tuesday’s matchups below.

No. 2 Nets 130, No. 7 Celtics 108

BKN leads series 2-0

After a fairly close matchup in Game 1 of the series, the Brooklyn Nets made a statement in Game 2 against the Boston Celtics. Breaking the game open early, including a 14-point lead after the first quarter, the Nets absolutely dominated in nearly every category. 

In what was ultimately a 22-point win, the Brooklyn starters took care of business as they scored 97 points. Boston generally struggled offensively, with Marcus Smart’s 19 points leading the team. In a 2-0 hole, the Celtics will have to make major changes if they’re going to make this series competitive. 

No. 2 Suns 102, No. 7 Lakers 109

Series tied 1-1

The biggest question coming into Tuesday’s game was around Chris Paul’s health. After suffering a shoulder injury in Game 1, it was unclear how restricted he would be in Game 2. While he did look limited at times on the court, uncomfortable doing certain things, he was still effective overall with his six points, five assists and three rebounds. However, he only played 22 minutes on the night, including less than three minutes in the fourth quarter as he was not able to close the game out. 

After a poor performance from LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the first matchup, they turned things around on Tuesday night. That superstar duo combined for 57 points, 16 assists and 14 rebounds. They truly lifted the Lakers over the Suns in a statement win that evened the series. 

No. 4 Clippers 121, No. 5 Mavericks 127

DAL leads series 2-0

Luka Doncic might have established himself as the best player in this series. The 22-year-old produced 39 points, seven rebounds and seven assists on the night in an emphatic performance. Kawhi Leonard scored 30 points in the first half to carry the Clippers, but finished with just 41 as he slowed down in the second half. Paul George and Reggie Jackson produced 28 and 15 points respectively, while the rest of the roster underperformed. 

The Clippers are in a deep hole, headed to Dallas now to take on the Mavericks twice on the road. With Kawhi Leonard having a player option this offseason with the ability to walk in free agency, this could be a franchise altering series for LA if they aren’t able to pull out wins and advance. It will come down to the role players outside of Leonard and George giving the Clippers production.

The post Post Up: Statements Were Made appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 20, 2021

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

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

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

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

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

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

LeBron, who finished with the highest vote count among fans, got the first pick in the draft and selected Milwaukee Bucks forward and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Team LeBron’s starting lineup for the game will consist of himself, Antetokounmpo, Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic; all five of whom are or have been considered MVP candidates this season.

Meanwhile, Team LeBron’s bench will feature Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons, Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul, Boston Celtics wing Jaylen Brown, Los Angeles Clippers wing Paul George, Indiana Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis and Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert.

Durant, opting for chemistry, selected Brooklyn Nets teammate Kyrie Irving with his first pick in the draft.

Team Durant’s starting lineup will feature Irving, Sixers center Joel Embiid, Clippers wing Kawhi Leonard, Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal.

However, Durant won’t be playing in this season’s All-Star Game, as he’s currently recovering from a left hamstring injury. This circumstance will only fuel the perception, even from the Greek Freak, that Team LeBron is the overwhelming favorite to win.

Durant got the first pick of the reserves in the draft, and with that, he took another Nets teammate in James Harden (LeBron’s first reserve selection was Lillard).

The remainder of Durant’s reserves will be composed of Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell, Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (who replaced injured Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis), New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson, Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine, New York Knicks forward Julius Randle and Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic.

The two members of the Jazz, Mitchell and Gobert, were the last two players taken in the draft (with Gobert being the final selection).

This became the source of some playful quips by LeBron.

Team Durant has the more inexperienced roster of the two teams, with Williamson, LaVine and Randle all playing in their first All-Star Games and Mitchell, Vucevic, Booker and Tatum playing in their second. with Durant unable to play, Harden is the player with the most All-Star Games under his belt, with this being his ninth appearance.

Team LeBron has only Brown playing in his first All-Star Game, and Sabonis, Gobert and Doncic are playing in their second. LeBron also has the most experienced non-captain in Paul, who is playing in his 11th All-Star Game.

In total, Team LeBron has a combined 66 All-Star appearances on their roster compared to Team Durant’s 39 total appearances.

The NBA All-Star Game will be played on Sunday, March 7, in Indianapolis, Indiana. The game will be broadcast on TNT, with tip-off scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.

The post LeBron James, Kevin Durant Select Their Squads For 2021 NBA All-Star Game appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Last season, Lawrence Frank of the LA Clippers won the NBA Executive of the Year Award for his ability to acquire both Paul George and Kawhi Leonard in one offseason. While he certainly will be considered to win it for a second straight season after making more impactful moves in the most recent offseason, he’s got plenty of competition. There were many big moves made this offseason and even early into the 2020-21 regular season.

At the quarter mark of the 2020-21 season, we broke down our top five Executive of the Year candidates.

James Jones (Phoenix Suns)

Killing two birds with one stone, James Jones made the Suns a playoff team by acquiring Chris Paul, which in turn kept Devin Booker happy. After Phoenix had a 8-0 record in the bubble, they’ve carried that momentum with their new look team into the 2020-21 season.

Not only did he acquire Paul, but Jones made several other key moves this offseason to add depth and role players to the roster. Signing players like Jae Crowder, Frank Kaminsky and Langston Galloway have rounded out what looks like one of the better roster in the Western Conference.

Sean Marks (Brooklyn Nets)

While acquiring Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving occured two offseasons ago, this is the first seaosn they’ve played together meanin that Sean Marks deserves credit. Furthermore, he made a secondary move to acquire James Harden recently, putting together a superstar trio.

This was a string of all-in moves by Marks, who has put together one of the best trios in NBA history. If he is able to build the team back out and add depth around these three, he will only deserve this award even more.

Sam Presti (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Sam Presti had yet another successful offseason making deals with multiple teams around the league to acquire young players and draft capital. When it comes to positing a team for the perfect rebuild, Presti continues to do so.

Just one season after getting paid to take on Chris Paul, he flipped him for additional assets. Presti also got the most possible value he could out of other guys this offseason like Dennis Schroder. The Thunder are still winning games this season and staying competitive with their young roster, showing just how good this team is setting up to be.

Rob Pelinka (Los Angeles Lakers)

After the Lakers won an NBA championship last season, Rob Pelinka found a way to make the team even better. Although they were already top-heavy with talent last season, they now have much improved depth after Pelinka was able to acquire Dennis Schroder, Montrezl Harrell, and Marc Gasol this offseason.

Additionally, he was able to re-sign key players like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. This was all accomplished without having to lose many of their key pieces.

Travis Schlenk (Atlanta Hawks)

After several years of rebuilding, Travis Schlenk made big moves this offseason to get Atlanta over the hump and competitive enough to be a playoff contender. He was able to acquire Danilo Gallinari, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Rajon Rondo, and Kris Dunn in a two-month span to support his young core.

These acquisitions were all made while the Hawks were able to retain the No. 6 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft to select Onyeka Okongwu. Trae Young is already a superstar in this league, and Schlenk is taking advantag of that now.

The post NBA Award Watch: 2021 Executive of the Year appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“There is a portion of Raptors personnel, league sources said, that believes the franchise should bid its beloved All-Star farewell and begin Toronto’s next chapter in earnest.” Per Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer.

The six-time All-star has been one of the most important components keeping the Raptors team together while also winning a championship alongside former teammate, Kawhi Leonard, back in 2019.

According to Sam Quinn of CBS Sports, the Raptors have formed a team consisting of younger players with Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet who are both 26, and OG Anunoby who is 23. The team could be looking to take advantage of their fresh talent by building around them.

It was only a year ago that Lowry agreed to a one-year extension with the Raptors. The guard could potentially have a few options, only if cap space does not pose as an issue considering most teams are maxed out.

Whether or not Lowry will be placed in the market remains unclear considering there haven’t been any serious notions regarding the guard and a possible trade.

The post Raptors Front Office in Talks of a Possible Kyle Lowry Trade appeared first on SLAM.

“We’ve gotta have some pride, man, some dog,” Beal said, per CBS Sports. “We’ve got no dog. We just kind of let teams just walk all over us and that s— is frustrating.

“It’s tough because we’re all adults. I can’t do it for guys. I can only do it for myself. All we can do is encourage the next man to be ready to go and accept the challenge. I can’t do that for someone else. I can’t do your guys’ job and you can’t do my job. You know what I’m saying?”

Beal has attempted to pull his weight on the Wizards roster this season leading the league in scoring with 33.2 points and dropping a game-high 31 points in Sunday’s contest, but it seems as if there is a missing piece to the puzzle considering the Wizards are ranked second-to-last in the Eastern Conference.

Although things have not been looking up for the Wizards the past few seasons – and despite the recent John Wall trade – Beal has made it clear that he does not plan on being traded anytime soon.

The post Bradley Beal: ‘We’ve Gotta Have Some Pride’ appeared first on SLAM.

Having just won an NBA championship in 2019 behind the stellar play of Kawhi Leonard, the Raptors removal from the upper echelon of the league’s top teams was expected once Leonard left for Los Angeles. However, the drop to a dungeon-dwelling team was not — especially with the on-court development of Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby.

Speaking to reporters on Jan. 6 hours before to losing to the Phoenix Suns (6-2), Raptors guard Norman Powell addressed the team’s early-season struggles and admitted that “everybody’s frustrated.”

Powell added that “a lot of the guys on the team are trying to find their way through it and get back to the level of play they know they can play at.“

Interestingly, while Toronto has three players averaging at least 19 points per game this season, the Raptors are currently ranked in the bottom-10 of both points per game (107.3) and offensive rating (105.0).

This is, in large part, due to the Raptors’ inefficiency. With a league-worst team field goal percentage of .422, getting the ball in the basket consistently is the first step in Toronto righting the ship.

The post Norman Powell: ‘We’re Not Down, We’re Just Frustrated’ appeared first on SLAM.

Those are the words that seemed to be displayed in neon green after Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry erupted for a career-high 62 points in a victory against the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday.

Sidelined for the majority of 2019-20 after breaking his non-shooting hand, Curry and the Warriors were set to start their revenge tour after a forgettable season. Yet, the Splash Brothers had to call a rain check before the 2020-21 season even started due to five-time All-Star Klay Thompson tearing his Achilles tendon during the 2020 offseason.

As a result, many fans began to doubt the Warriors or treat them as an afterthought. Even Curry, once pegged to be the future face of the NBA, has seen his star fade a bit as Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard dominate the conversation about the league’s most dominant players.

That problem only persisted with the Warriors getting off to a slow start in 2020-21, sitting at just 2-3 prior to defeating Portland.

With Curry shooting just .321 from 3-point range through Golden State’s first five games of the season, he wasn’t exactly immune to admonition either.

Speaking to reporters after Sunday’s win over the Trail Blazers, Curry alluded to the popular Michael Jordan meme, saying that he takes the early season criticism personally.

NBA players, like many other athletes, often use their detractors as motivation and clearly Curry is no different. If he continue to play at an elite level though, he’ll be the one to get the last laugh.

The post Stephen Curry Is Playing With A Chip On His Shoulder This Season appeared first on SLAM.

Perhaps their most underrated acquisition of the offseason is Nicolas Batum, who has given the Clippers extremely productive numbers when he take the floor. On the flip side, after extending Luke Kennard to a new deal, he’s failed to make much of a positive impact in Los Angeles.

For more information about the numbers behind our Heat Check series, hop over to our main Heat Check 2020-21 post.

Nicolas Batum	7.6p, 6.4r, 3.4a
Paul George	22.4p, 5.8r, 5.6a
Kawhi Leonard	25.0p, 3.3r, 5.7a	–
Terance Mann	2.0p, 2.2r, 1.0a	–
Serge Ibaka	14.0p, 6.6r, 2.0a	–
Amir Coffey	2.4p, 0.4r, 0.6a	–
Ivica Zubac	10.4p, 2.8r, 0.8a
Patrick Patterson	2.5p, 2.5r, 0.8a
Mfiondu Kabengele	1.0p, 0.8r, 0.4a
Reggie Jackson	7.0p, 2.0r, 2.0a
Patrick Beverley	8.0p, 3.4r, 0.8a
Lou Williams	10.8p, 3.0r, 2.8a
Luke Kennard	7.8p, 2.6r, 2.0a

Team-by-Team Breakdown

The post Heat Check 2020-21: Los Angeles Clippers appeared first on SLAM.

Instead, we decided to switch it up and hit you with some predictions that you haven’t thought about—or that you have but are afraid to admit.

From playoff predictions to thoughts on who will run the East and West, here is our official 2020-21 NBA preview:

Jayson Tatum and the Celtics Will Run the East

Deyscha Smith, Associate Editor

A 22-year-old destined to lead, having reigned supreme since he was only 19. Time Lord says he’s ready to move past his past performances. Fearless point guard is hurt, but his guards (in) waiting for minutes can now fill his place. Winter is, literally, coming.

This is SLAM, not HBO, but stay with me here. If the Celtics stick to the script and deliver a performance of their young careers, the team can rule the East this season. Brad Stevens has the right cast, but he’ll need Jayson Tatum to make an All-Star level sequel, Jaylen Brown to step up and lead, Jeff Teague to find chemistry amongst the youth, and the actual youth, Williams, Pritchard, Nesmith, Waters, to embrace the lights and be about that action.

The Midrange Jumpshot Will Come Storming Back

Max Resetar, SLAMKICKS

Analytics and space-and-pace philosophies have focused on guarding the three pointer with so much intensity that big men pretty much only play drop defense out of pick-and-roll.

As long as bigs continue to stay back in the paint on the PNR, a new crop of midrange shooters, along with mainstays like KD and Kawhi, will have the middie back in the League this season. Because, at the end of the day, a bucket is a bucket.

Donovan Mitchell: MVP Candidate

Adam Figman, Chief Content Officer

There are two types of MVP seasons: the “This guy ran the regular season by any statistical measure” seasons (every LeBron MVP, Giannis last season), and “This guy was fun as hell and built up an amazing narrative, so he gets it even though it’s kinda debatable” seasons (D-Rose in 2011, Russ in 2016). If Giannis’ stats improve, he could grab a third. But it says here that the media is bored of all that, opening the door for a fun superstar to make The Leap and ride a bunch of game-winners and insane scoring nights to an MVP trophy. That superstar? Donovan Mitchell.

The Hawks will make the Playoffs

Ryne Nelson, Senior Editor

Thanks to a busy offseason, this year’s Hawks will be a completely different team with a souped-up offense centered around Trae Young. They signed Bogdan Bogdanovic to provide scoring and playmaking, Danilo Gallinari to pick-and-pop, and Rajon Rondo to run the second unit. Even ATL’s sieve-like defense should improve with the additions of Clint Capela and Kris Dunn. Atlanta could still struggle on that side of the ball, but an electric offense should be enough to carry them into the playoffs.

The Nets Will Win 28+ Straight

Arvind Pitchai, VP, Social Media

KD. Kyrie. Spence. Caris. JA. Joe Harris. DJ. Taurean. Jeff Green.

We’ve been waiting on the KD/Kyrie duo, but the Nets’ depth hasn’t been talked about enough.

Unfortunately for the rest of the NBA, they are going to gel. The most studious player in the League, Kevin Durant, will allow that to happen. The last great win streak was 27 games from the 2012-2013 Miami Heat. The Brooklyn Nets will take that throne.

LaMelo will make the All-Star Game, the first rookie since Blake Griffin in 2011

Ian Pierno, Senior Producer

We’ve known that LaMelo Ball can put up numbers ever since his 92-point outing at Chino Hills, and he’s going to put up All-Star caliber numbers in Charlotte, too. The Hornets are unlikely to contend, but they’ve put pieces around Ball that can score in a variety of ways—Miles Bridges will finish the oops, Devonte Graham can snipe from deep and Gordon Hayward for everything in between. He’s going to run up his dime numbers, and his scoring history speaks for itself.

Lakers repeat/LeBron’s fifth title same week as Space Jam

Franklyn Calle, Senior Producer

Space Jam: A New Legacy has a July 16 release date, while the current NBA playoff dates are May 22-July 22. Meaning, LeBron James will win his fifth NBA championship and finally stand within one title from MJ’s career total in the same weekend that he debuts the sequel to a film Jordan once starred in 25 years earlier. In another stars aligned twist, the original Warner Bros. film hit theaters at the beginning of the same season that MJ won his fifth ring; LeBron will now be getting his fifth ring just hours after starring in the sequel.

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The Phoenix Suns will finish 3rd in the West.

Theus McBee, Associate Social Media Editor

There is not a single back court in the entire Western Conference that is better than the one in Phoenix. Additionally, Deandre Ayton, also known as the most underappreciated center in the National Basketball Association, will be playing in his first NBA All-Star Game months from now. With that being said, the Phoenix Suns will be a top 3 seed in the 2020 NBA Playoffs.

Avery Bradley will help the Miami Heat remain an Eastern Conference powerhouse

Aron Phillips, Chief Operating Officer

While the Lakers were able to take home the Larry OB after 95 days in the Bubble, they did so with Avery Bradley watching from home. But don’t worry—Bradley will have his chance to play in the Finals this season, only now as a member of the Heat. A cagey 10-year vet who started 44 of 49 games for the Lakers last season, Bradley is the perfect piece to round out Miami’s All-Star core and he’ll be ready to lockup his former teammates as he goes for back-to-back rings.

With Russ, Wizards are Legit Contender in the East

Mike Harris, eCommerce Specialist

It’s never easy when you get out of a 10-year relationship. But when Russell Westbrook—a nine-time All-Star/former MVP who averaged a triple-double three years in a row—comes to town, you begin to think the future is bright. Paired with a 27-year-old All-Star snub coming off his highest scoring avg to date named Bradley Beal, there is no reason this team should not be a top 4 team in the East that’ll make the ECF.

Karl-Anthony Towns is Going to Have a Monster Season

Christian Quezada, Senior Video Producer

Karl-Anthony Towns AKA The Most Unappreciated Talent in our League is everything you want offensively from a big man. He’s going to sneak the Wolves into the crowded Western Conference playoffs—and that, plus his incoming 30-and-10 averages, will be enough to make him First Team All-NBA. Bet that.

A Few More Bold Predictions…

Markelle Fultz will win Most Improved Player

Lonzo Ball will win Defensive Player of the Year

Vince Carter will be the best NBA studio analyst ever

Miles Bridges will have the highest body count in the League

James Harden will score 75 points in a game

Facundo Campazzo will get punched in the face

DeMarcus Cousins and/or John Wall will be on a SLAM cover before the end of 2021

Damian Lillard will make 15 threes in one game

Ja Morant will be in a Lil Baby video before October

Zach LaVine will average 30+ PPG

Kawhi Leonard will avenge last season’s disappointment with a playoff sweep

Kelly Oubre will be the second-best player on the Golden State Warriors

The post SLAM’s Official 2020-21 NBA Preview: Everything You’re Not Talking About appeared first on SLAM.

We broke down the Clippers’ depth chart for the 2020-21 season below. We’ve also previously published a summary of the Clippers’ offseason.

Biggest Questions

• Is Serge Ibaka the perfect fit? Last season, as great as Montrezl Harrell was, he wasn’t able to stretch the floor late in games. Ibaka has the ability to create space in the lane for drivers as well as anchor the backside of their defense.
• Can Luke Kennard stay healthy? Just a day before their season opener, the Clippers signed Kennard to a fairly large deal, even without ever playing a single regular season game in a Clippers uniform. He’s had a history of injuries but when healthy is worth every penny.

All NBA Team Offseason Summaries

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

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

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

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

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

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After a fairly significant roster shakeup this offseason, the new-look Clippers will look to take another shot at an NBA title in the 2020-21 season. Paul George and Kawhi Leonard will still lead the way, but their supporting cast will look a bit different.

Clippers Roster Additions

Biggest Acquisitions

• Serge Ibaka: Serge Ibaka is the floor-spacing, defensive-minded big that the Clippers desperately needed last season. As great as Montrezl Harrell was, Ibaka might be a better player from a fit standpoint. With extremely high expectations coming into the upcoming season, Ibaka will look to help the Clippers rise to the occasion and further elevate their impressive defense.
• Luke Kennard: The acquisition of Kennard was extremely underrated. While the Clippers did have to give up their young shooter in Landry Shamet, Kennard is a more proven, well-rounded offensive player. Finally healthy after facing injury issues last season, the Clippers will get another guy who has the ability to score 20 points on a given night.

Clippers Roster Subtractions

Biggest Losses

• Montrezl Harrell: While Ibaka arguably fits the Clippers’ schemes and style of play better, Harrell will still be missed. He was the best bench player in the NBA last season, averaging 18.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.
• Landry Shamet: Kennard is a more experienced, well-rounded scorer than Shamet, so the Clippers were comfortable pulling the trigger to swap these two in a trade over the offseason. When it came to pure three-point shooting ability, Shamet was a major asset last season.

All NBA Team Offseason Summaries

The post LA Clippers: Offseason Summary 2020 appeared first on SLAM.

Next season, the Raptors will need this trio to remain lethal if they’re to return to the top of the Eastern Conference standings, as their offseason was anything but ideal.

Raptors Offseason Additions

Biggest Acquisitions

• Aron Baynes: Aron Baynes is tough as nails and strong as (you guessed). Having developed his 3-point stroke over the last two seasons, Baynes is now a respectable stretch-big who can replace what Marc Gasol brought to the Toronto Raptors in a lot of ways.

• Alex Len: Alex Len, in contrast to Aron Baynes, is better on offense than defense. That’s going to be highly important as the Raptors try to find ways to make up for what they lost when Serge Ibaka departed for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Raptors Offseason Subtractions

Biggest Losses

• Serge Ibaka: Serge Ibaka looked reinvigorated last season, averaging 15.4 points and 8.2 rebounds per game while posting a true shooting percentage of .583. He’s going to be a hard loss for the Toronto Raptors to swallow and they failed to replace him at all this offseason.
• Marc Gasol: Marc Gasol may not have had his best season in 2019-20 but he remains a smart, savvy veteran center with above-average playmaking ability. Perhaps newcomer Aron Baynes can make it eaier for the Raptors to forget about Gasol.

All NBA Team Offseason Summaries

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