Gasol joins Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem O’NealJabbar, and Wilt Chamberlain as the most noteworthy big men to ever grace a Lakers uniform. The Lakers will honor Gasol when L.A. hosts the Memphis Grizzlies on March 7.

A six-time NBA All-Star, Gasol and the legendary Kobe Bryant played a crucial role in L.A.’s back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010. He averaged 18.6 points per game in each of those NBA Finals series and averaged 17.7 points, 9.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game on 52.2 percent shooting from the field over 429 games with the Lakers.

Gasol started his NBA career in Memphis but was traded to Los Angeles during the 2008 season, where he instantly made an impact. His career also featured stints in Chicago, San Antonio, and Milwaukee, but none more iconic than his seven seasons in the purple and gold. Gasol also had a prestigious international career with Spain, winning two silver medals and one bronze in three Summer Olympics appearances and a gold medal in the 2006 FIBA World Cup.

After multiple All-Star appearances and two championships over an illustrious career in Los Angeles, No. 16 will forever be honored in the Lakers’ rafters. 

PhotoLakers’etty Images.

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It was a close race between Stewart and Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson, as the two nearly split the 10-member media panel vote. Stewart just edged out Wilson, winning six votes to four. Wilson averaged 19.5 points and 9.4 rebounds per game on 50.1 percent shooting for the Aces, who finished the regular season tied with the Chicago Sky for the best record in the League.

Stewart posted 21.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game on 47.2 percent shooting from the field during the regular season to lead Seattle to the No. 4 seed in the WNBA Playoffs. It’s been a big year for Stewart, who, on top of her on-the-court accolades, became the first woman to have a signature sneaker in a decade with the reveal of the PUMA Stewie 1 in July.

“It’s an honor to be recognized as the best in the league,” Stewart told the AP. “Since I started in the WNBA in 2016, just trying to get better. Elevate myself and the team, the League as a whole. A big honor, but we’re motivated by more, and that’s trying to win a championship.”

However, Wilson didn’t leave empty-handed, as the four-time All-Star was awarded AP Defensive Player of the Year after averaging 1.9 blocks and 1.4 steals per game. Her Aces teammate Jackie Young received Most Improved Player while Atlanta Dream head coach Tanisha Wright became the first former WNBA player to win AP Coach of the Year.

Other award recipients included a pair of Connecticut Sun teammates, Brionna Jones and Alyssa Thomas. Jones, who averaged 13.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game, earned Sixth Woman of the Year honors. In comparison, Thomas won Comeback Player of the Year after averaging 13.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 6.1 assists following an Achilles injury.

Atlanta Dream forward Rhyne Howard rounded out the list of winners, as the former No. 1 overall pick racked up 16.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game last season.

The WNBA Playoffs begin on Wednesday, starting with the No. 2 seed Sky facing off against the No. 7 seed New York Liberty at 8 p.m. The No. 1 seed Aces will then face the No. 8 seed, Phoenix Mercury, at 10 p.m.

Photos via Getty Images.

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The coast-to-coast finish was a display of speed, power, and athleticism reminiscent of Bronny’s father, 18-time NBA All-Star LeBron James. Even the four-time MVP couldn’t hold back as players across the League, from Stephen Curry to Ja Morant, reacted to one of the nastiest jams we’ve seen in a while.

Bronny finished with a game-high 25 points, but it wasn’t enough to pull out the dub as the California Basketball club fell 97-85. The team will finish its European tour against an Italian squad on Thursday.

The 17-year-old James, who is entering his senior season, is reportedly being recruited by teams such as UCLA, USC, Michigan, Ohio State, and Oregon, among others, according to ESPN’s Paul Biancardi. The G-League Ignite and Australia’s National Basketball League are also viable options for James, according to The Athletic.

Bronny is set to play another season at Sierra Canyon High School in the fall, where he’ll play with a star-studded core, including his brother Bryce, Justin Pippen (the son of Scottie Pippen), and the recently transferred Ashton Hardaway (the son of Penny Hardaway). Isaiah Elohim, the No. 4 player of the 2024 class, per 247Sports.com, will also play with Sierra Canyon next season.

Expectations are high for James and Sierra Canyon, with a stacked roster and national attention heading into the season. If his recent EYBL and international performances are any indications, James will be just fine as he continues to grow in the national spotlight.

Photos via Getty Images.

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And yet, Williamson’s journey in the L hasn’t always been the easiest—he saw action in only 24 games during his rookie year after he tore his meniscus during the preseason. The following year, he played in 61 games and made his first All-Star appearance, only to miss the entire 2021-22 season after suffering a broken foot that required surgery.

Some critics pointed to his work ethic, while others pointed to his weight, but in a recent interview with GQ, he says everything was out of his control. The injury put Williamson in a dark place.

“It’s been a lot. I can sit here and explain it, but nobody will really be able to feel it the way I did. My foot was broken and I couldn’t magically heal it. It hurt, because I love the game of basketball. But because of it I was experiencing hate and pain from people I don’t know every day, and it started to wear on me.”

How did Williamson get himself through this tough time? Anime.

Zion has talked about his love for anime before, particularly the iconic Naruto series. He says that he’s always viewed life through the eyes of Naruto and that the show’s storyline is an accurate reflection of his life.

“For a while nobody took Naruto seriously,” he told GQ. “And then he went and trained with [Master Shinobi] Jiraiya for three years, right? And he came back at 16 years old, goated.

“Sure enough, I’m 16 years old and suddenly all of the attention starts coming. I remember thinking, Yo, that’s crazy. That’s exactly when it happened for Naruto, and it’s when it’s happening for me.”

When Williamson appeared on his first-ever SLAM cover back in high school, that’s when he says that things really started to hit him (you can check out all of Zion’s SLAM covers here).

“It really hit me when SLAM put me on the cover,” he said. “I remember realizing, Oh, this isn’t just a high school thing. They’re talking college. They’re talking the NBA.”

But with stardom comes criticism, and Williamson has learned that the hard way. After reportedly signing a five-year extension with the New Orleans Pelicans in July, Zion says he’s ready to stay true to himself and his game.

“I had to come to a realization,” he explains. “No matter what the world is saying, I have to remember that I am who I am and stay true to that. That’s what Naruto did, and that’s what I’m going to do.”

Believe the hype because when Zion Williamson makes his return, he’s surely going to shock the world (word to SLAM 222).

Photos via Getty Images.

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So, where will Nneka play next season?

The older Ogwumike sister took to the podium following the Sparks’ recent season-ending 116-88 loss to the Dallas Wings to speak on her future and remained optimistic regarding Los Angeles. 

“I would love to be back,” Nneka said, per the Los Angeles Times.

It was a hectic season in Los Angeles, as the team parted ways with head coach Derek Fisher and star center Liz Cambage throughout the year while the Sparks missed the playoffs for the second-straight season. But individually, Nneka received her seventh All-Star nod this after averaging 18.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.

Chiney’s proclamation of loyalty to her sister comes after a frustrating season with the Sparks in which the 30-year-old averaged seven points and 5.5 rebounds per game on 46.6 percent shooting from the field.

The Sparks finished the season at a disappointing 13-23, but Nneka claimed she’s excited about the future in Los Angeles. 

“I would describe this season as living in a house you didn’t build,” Nneka said. “So next year we can build our house. I know the floor plan next year.”

If Nneka’s recent sentiments are any indication, fans shouldn’t be surprised if the Ogwumike sisters share the court in Los Angeles again next season.

Photos via Getty Images.

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Fowles, who dropped 10 points and 12 rebounds, left the game to a standing ovation at Mohegan Sun Arena and was embraced by teammates and coaches. She has retired as the only player to lead two franchises (Chicago and Minnesota) in career rebounding and the only WNBA player to record 4,000 rebounds. 

Fowles also received a standing ovation during her final home game Friday night at the Target Center, where she and fellow WNBA legend Sue Bird (who Fowles won four Gold Medals as members of Team USA) shared a moment after the game.

The Lynx could not pick up the victory despite Fowles” 193rd career double-double and a combined 48 points from Lindsay Allen and Aerial Powers Sunday night, as Connecticut’s Jonquel Jones, Natisha Hiedeman, Courtney Williams, Alyssa Thomas, and Brionna Jones all finished in double-digits. But the moment of Fowles’ final game took center stage after Minnesota’s season-ending loss.

“In typical Syl fashion, she just thanked us for being her teammates and supporting her throughout the season and then the staff and the coaches and all of that,” Allen said, per ESPN. “She was just very grateful to be able to do it with us this season through the ups and downs and everything that the season entailed.”

An eight-time All-Star, two-time WNBA Champ, two-time Finals MVP, 2017 League MVP, and four-time Defensive Player of the Year, Fowles achieved it all during her illustrious 13-year career in the W. The 36-year-old, who is arguably the greatest center in WNBA history, took time after the game to reflect on her legendary career.

“I learned that this team is going to be different and a little more challenging, so I had to do things that were out of my comfort zone, which I’m gratefulI’mhappy that I stepped out of my comfort zone for this team,” Fowles said “But also just appreciating the love that I got from the fans this year. It put things into a different perspective for me. I never got that in my first 14 years of playing, and so to see that all come together in my last year, I’m very grateful.”

One of the greatest to ever play the game, the memories Fowles brought basketball fans will last a lifetime. From two championships to winning the League MVP to throwing down a one-handed slam at the most recent WNBA All-Star game, Fowles’ legacFowles’live on for years to come.

Photos via Getty Images

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According to SNY’s Ian Begley, the disgruntled Brooklyn Nets star sees both the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers as desired trade destinations. Begley went on to report that Durant would also want to play with reigning Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart if he were to land in Boston.

Despite Begley’s report, there is said to be no progress between Brooklyn and Boston on any sort of trade centered around Durant. Last week, Begley reported that there had been “pessimism” about a Durant trade being completed in the near future. As for Philly, no major reports have dropped, though Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris, and Matisse Thybulle are all logical trade pieces in a Durant trade.

As the Durant saga—particularly with Boston—continues to run its course through the NBA offseason, Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe reported that the Nets initially asked for Boston stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in Durant trade talks, but the Celtics quickly shot the proposition down.

And while there are no tangible signs of progress involving a Durant trade to any team, the four-time scoring champ reportedly informed Nets owner Joe Tsai that Brooklyn would have to choose between Durant or keeping general manager Sean Marks and Coach Steve Nash. Tsai responded to the report with a tweet throwing his support behind the Nets’ front office and coaching staff.

Durant sent shockwaves around the League when he requested a trade on June 30, but it’s been over a month, and the 12-time All-Star still has yet to be dealt. Initial rumors indicated the Miami Heat and Phoenix Suns were among Durant’s desired landing spots, and that list has reportedly since grown to include the Celtics and 76ers, according to Begley.

On paper, a fit with Boston makes sense, as Celtics coach Ime Udoka was an assistant under Steve Nash in Brooklyn during the 2020-21 season. Durant also played with Tatum on Team USA during the 2021 Olympics. Add in Durant’s desire to play with Smart, and KD seemingly has some chemistry building in Boston. But for now, it’s a matter of the Celtics offering enough to Brooklyn so a trade can go down.

Photos via Getty Images.

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The 111-100 road victory also saw Breanna Stewart (25 points, nine rebounds, four assists), Gabby Williams (21 points, seven assists, four rebounds), Jewell Loyd (18 points, four rebounds, three assists), and Tina Charles (14 points, seven rebounds, three assists) make significant contributions in an all-around team display.

“When you have a team sharing the basketball like that, it’s hard to beat,” Seattle acting coach Pokey Chatman, who is filling in for head coach Noelle Quinn because of health and safety protocols, said per ESPN. “That’s the first thing I said when we went in the locker room. I went around and shook their hands and reminded of them that because Chicago’s a really good offensive and defensive team.”

Seven Storm players, including all five starters, finished with at least three assists. 

While Chicago still stands atop the WNBA standings, Seattle is now within one win, or Washington Mystics loss, of clinching a top-four seed and home court advantage for the opening rounds of the playoffs, which begin Aug. 17. The Storm sit at second place in the Western Conference with just two regular-season games remaining.

“Every win is vital,” said Williams. “That’s all I was thinking about tonight. I was thinking about that home-court advantage. Of course, it always feels nice to have a game like this, but tonight was just about what it meant for us for this road trip, for our ranking, and I think for myself to see what I can do against these teams.”

Photos via Getty Images.

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Ashton Hardaway, son of NBA legend and Memphis Tigers Coach Penny Hardaway, has transferred to Sierra Canyon, a school spokesperson told the Los Angeles Times.

Hardaway, a four-star recruit and the No. 115 ranked player in the 2023 class according to Rivals.com, transferred from Duncanville High School in Texas. He averaged 10 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game and helped Duncanville finish with a 35-1 record and a third-straight 6A state championship last season.

The 6-7 senior holds scholarship offers from USC, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, and Boston College, among others. Sierra Canyon will now feature four sons of NBA legends, as Hardaway will join Bronny and Bryce James, and Justin Pippen to only build upon Sierra Canyon’s powerhouse of a roster. But the star power doesn’t end there, as Isaiah Elohim, the No. 4 player of the 2024 class per 247Sports.com, will make Sierra Canyon a national favorite in the Mission League this coming season.

Hardaway is expected to play on Sierra Canyon’s upcoming foreign tour next week. A club team consisting of mostly Sierra Cayon players will play exhibition games in London, Paris, and Rome that will be aired on the ESPN networks.

Photos via Getty Images.

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The memo states that players ineligible to play in Canada due to vaccination requirements must be listed as “Out – Health and Safety Protocols” and will not be paid for any games missed due to not being vaccinated.

This report comes two weeks after Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo! Sports reported that the NBA will not have a vaccine mandate but instead leave mandates up to the cities and states teams play in.

New York and San Francisco each had vaccine mandates last season, which forced unvaccinated players such as Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving to miss home games. In contrast, players like the Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins revealed that he regretted getting the vaccine altogether.

Irving and Matisse Thybulle of the Philadelphia 76ers missed road games against the Raptors because of a similar rule last season. Irving sat out one regular season game in Toronto, while Thybulle missed two regular season games and three playoff road games in The 6 because he never received a second COVID-19 shot.

The same rules will apply to playing a game in Canada and entering the United States, per the League memo. Anyone playing for the Raptors must be vaccinated to play in any game this season. The entire Raptors team was fully vaccinated last season.

Canada’s vaccine requirement won’t be a problem for the vast majority of the League, as 97 percent of the NBA is vaccinated, per CBS Sports.

Photos via Getty Images.

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However, Coach Doc Rivers insists the team committed no sort of infraction. Rivers spoke with Vince Carter on ESPN’s “The VC Show” and addressed how he’s handling the allegations.

“You handle it because it’s not true,” Rivers said. “Honestly, when James [Harden] did this and said this — first of all, we didn’t know what we were going to do with the money we were getting. And listen, James won, too, because James could’ve opted into a one-year deal. Instead, we gave him three years. And so both parties won in a lot of ways. Listen, it worked out for us; it worked out for James.”

The League began investigating the Sixers after Harden took a pay cut to seemingly create salary cap space for Tucker and House Jr. Harden opted out of his $47.4 million player option and re-signed with Philadelphia on a two-year $68.6 million deal.

By re-structuring Harden’s deal, Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey was able to bring in Tucker and House Jr., both of whom played with Harden when Morey held the same position with the small-ball Houston Rockets.

Rivers claims Morey did not know what Harden’s status was regarding a new contract and never engaged in illegal talks with the 10-time All-Star.

“I guarantee you Daryl Morey had no idea what James was going to do,” Rivers said. “I remember talking to him on the eve of when James could opt in or out, and he was like, ‘We’ve got five hours left.’ I mean, that was Daryl Morey, so that tells you he had no idea — I really believed that James was not going to opt-in, that he was going to try to do a longer-term deal. But I didn’t know; I can tell you that. That’s for sure.”  

The League seems to be cracking down on tampering, as it is also investigating the New York Knicks for the same violation in the signing of former Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson.

The NBA’s investigation of the 76ers will likely conclude in the coming weeks, so only time will tell if Philadelphia will be penalized or not.

Photos via Getty Images.

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Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels had 52 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists against Bachero and Holmgren at The Crawsover in Seattle. The Seattle native and University of Washington alum returned home to put it down for his city in an impressive performance.

In a recent appearance on ESPN’s NBA Today, Crawford was asked which player at the most recent Crawsover events (which also featured Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, and John Collins on Sunday) stood out to him the most. His response? Jaden McDaniels.

“The one I think is least talked about is Jaden McDaniels,” Crawford said. “His offense is so good, but right now, he’s in a role where he’s playing defense to stay on the court. But once his offense is unlocked, you’re looking at somebody who’s so fluid, 6’9, can handle the ball, make plays, very smooth when he plays, doesn’t disrupt the offense with how he plays.”

He’s someone who, I think, is the one that doesn’t get talked about enough,” Crawford said. “But he’s gonna be a great, great player for years to come.”

We’ve always known he’s had the hops, but McDaniels showed off an improved jump shot and handle at The Crawsover, making him a must-watch player heading into his third NBA season.

The 21-year-old averaged 9.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game on 46.0 percent shooting from the field last season. McDaniels only shot 31.7 percent from three-point range in the regular season but saw that number jump to 50.0 percent in Minnesota’s hard-fought playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies.

If McDaniels could find some consistency with his jump shot, he could be set for a breakout season with the Timberwolves. With a young core of Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards, along with the blockbuster acquisition of Rudy Gobert, McDaniels and the T-Wolves will have to prove last season’s playoff appearance was the first of many to come in Minnesota.

Photos via Getty Images.

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In December 2021, he became just the seventh player in NBA history to score 2,000 points in his first 100 games at age 20 or younger, joining LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Luka Dončić, and Zion Williamson. He’s also the youngest player in NBA history to hit 10 three-pointers in a game and joined James, Dončić, and Blake Griffin as the only active players with at least 2,000 points, 400 rebounds, and 300 assists in their first 100 games.

Whether on the court or starring in the movie Hustle alongside Juancho Hernangomez, Ant-Man has the confidence and ability to do it all. Edwards spoke with Complex to discuss his short-term goals and where he views himself among the NBA’s best, and his confidence is clearly through the roof.

Edwards gave himself a year when asked how much time he’ll need to be considered one of the League’s elite players.

“I need another year,” Edwards said. “After this year, I think I’ll be in the (best player) conversation.”

Edwards also said he expects to take the Timberwolves deep into the playoffs while becoming an All-Star starter with improved averages. He averaged 21.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game on 44.1 percent shooting last season. If those numbers all improve, Edwards’ confident prediction for himself could see reality.

The topic of the new “face” of the NBA came up in the conversation, and with stars like LeBron and KD getting older, Edwards feels he can become the League’s future cornerstone.

“Oh yeah, 100 percent. Sure,” Edwards said when asked if he could become the new face of the League. “I mean, it comes with time, and it comes with work and dedication. I feel like I got all three of those things, and I feel like it’s going to take me over the top.”

Edwards didn’t just keep it to basketball, though. It could be bowling, baseball, you name it; he went on to say that “I’m the most confident person in the world. I feel like I’m the best at every sport right now.”

Ant-Man is one of the game’s most exciting players after just two seasons in the League. His performance in the first round of the playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies (25.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game) only solidified him as one of the NBA’s future stars. His confidence has steered him in the right direction, which makes for an exciting and promising year three in Minnesota.

Photos via Getty Images.

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The eighth-year head coach identified Kevon Looney, Andrew Wiggins, Jordan Poole, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green as the Warriors’ “foundational six,” with the latter three serving as the team’s established core.

Kerr believes Golden State’s core is among the best in the League, especially after adding the younger trio of Looney, Wiggins, and Poole to the mix.

“We have probably more continuity than anybody in the League with our core group,” Kerr said. “Add Wiggs and Jordan and the institutional knowledge they’ve gained, and we have a really strong foundation. That’s the most important thing you can have in this League.

“We had it going into last year. But the difference was, a year ago, we didn’t know if we were really contenders. That’s why the 18-2 start was so big. It reinforced it. This year, being defending champs, it doesn’t guarantee anything, but you have a confident sense in who you are. We have our main six guys back, the foundational six that we know are going to be on the court for big minutes every night. That allows us to bring our young guys along.”

The Dubs’ roster also features future stars such as Moses Moody, Jonathan Kuminga, and James Wiseman, all of whom Kerr claims “have shown really good signs.” Moody and Kuminga saw action in the playoffs during the Warriors’ Finals run last season (and also impressed in the most recent NBA Summer League), while Wiseman was sidelined due to injury.

The Warriors will have a lot to prove as they focus on their win-and-develop mindset. Their future success will be predicated on their young core of Moody, Kuminga, Wiseman, Poole, and Wiggins being able to successfully takeover once Golden State’s “foundational six” leave the Warriors.

Next season will be a different journey after the Warriors’ lottery-bound seasons but coming off a championship brings a different level of confidence. Furthermore, being able to get substantial contributions from Moody, Kuminga, and Wiseman on top of his “foundational six” next season, the future could hold another championship for Golden State.

“I don’t know that it’s a bigger challenge because last year felt like a huge challenge going in,” Kerr said. “Last year felt more daunting because we’d had two lousy seasons in a row. This year feels different because we’re the defending champs. It feels like we’ve got our groove back. We’ll have Klay back for a full season. Our foundation in place. While we’re absolutely going to play a lot of young guys, we kind of have a core six, a foundational six players who are really the ones that make everything happen and will allow us to bring the young guys along.”

Photos via Getty Images.

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Russell was a five-time MVP, 12-time All-Star and four-time rebounding champ with the Celtics. On top of anchoring one of the NBA’s greatest dynasties and retiring as one of the greatest defensive players of all time, Russell was the first Black head coach in NBA history and an outspoken political activist. The NBA Hall of Famer, who received a Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2011, was at the march on Washington as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech and publicly supported the late-Muhammad Ali when the iconic boxer refused induction into the military draft in 1967.

Russell died “peacefully” with his wife, Jeannine, at his side, according to statement posted via Twitter.

“Bill’s wife, Jeannine, and his many friends and family thank you for keeping Bill in your prayers. Perhaps you’ll relive one or two of the golden moments he gave us, or recall his trademark laugh as he delighted in explaining the real story behind how those moments unfolded,” the family statement said. “And we hope each of us can find a new way to act or speak up with Bill’s uncompromising, dignified and always constructive commitment to principle. That would be one last, and lasting, win for our beloved #6.”

Two years ago, the NBA legend contributed a powerful essay in SLAM’s special issue devoted to social justice, where he detailed his fight against racism throughout his life. Read here.

The entire basketball community from legends such as Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, to current players including Stephen Curry, Jayson Tatum and more took to social media to pay their respects to the late and great Bill Russell.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver:

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar:

Stephen Curry:

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Boston Celtics:

Charlotte Hornets:

Shaquille O’Neal:

Charles Barkley:

Magic Johnson:

Paul Pierce:

Jayson Tatum:

Marcus Smart:

Dwyane Wade:

James Harden:

WNBA:

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DeRozan was most recently seen rocking a pair of Kobe 6s when he teamed up with LeBron James at Drew League two weeks ago. The five-time All-Star, who played in Kobes throughout high school and college, became the most active representative of the Kobe signature line after Bryant retired in 2016.

Nike and the Bryant estate could not come to terms on a new contract following Kobe’s passing but reached an agreement in March of this year, according to ESPN’s Nick DePaula. DeRozan has regularly debuted the latest Kobe models and consistently rocked older models from his collection since his rookie season.

“For me personally, he meant everything to me basketball-wise,” DeRozan told reporters when speaking about Bryant’s influence in January. “That’s well documented, a mentor of mine, a friend of mine, someone that taught me a big part of the game and motivated me to have the mentality that I have today.”

The 32-year-old earned a new deal with Nike after leading the Bulls to the playoffs for the first time in five years and averaging a career-high 27.9 points per game last season. While no specifics regarding DeRozan’s role with Nike have been announced, we can expect the Compton native to continue rocking Beans for the foreseeable future.

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“Wait till this year because every time I see him this summer on the court, it’s total focus, total intensity,” Nurse said. “I mean, something happened to him where he now understands what playing in the NBA is about, and he is on a mission.”

Nurse went on to say that Achiuwa “is really gonna take a step up” next season.

Over the summer, Achiuwa’s been seen training with his teammates in Las Vegas and hosting his own basketball camp in Nigeria (where he’s been throwing down some ridiculous slams). Nurse clearly loves what he’s seeing.

Achiuwa’s game took an impressive jump from year one to year two, as the Nigeria native averaged 9.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game last season, considerable improvements from his 5-point, 3.4-rebound, and .5-assist averages the year prior. He also showed off his shooting stroke (35.9 percent from deep last season) after never attempting a three-pointer during his rookie year.

Achiuwa hit three or more three-pointers eight times last season and is now an inside-out scoring threat for Toronto. The former five-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American has found his footing in The 6 after being traded from Miami in a sign-and-trade for Kyle Lowry last summer.

With Nurse’s recent comments and his ability to develop talent, don’t be surprised if Achiuwa’s numbers increase yet again this upcoming season.

The post Nick Nurse Expects Breakout Season From Precious Achiuwa: ‘He Is On A Mission’ appeared first on SLAM.

The Clippers All-Star hopped on a Twitch stream and announced he’ll play in the high-profile pro-am “one of these weekends.” George’s proclamation was later confirmed by Law Murray of The Athletic.

It would be PG13’s first Drew League appearance since 2014 and a great way to play competitive ball after only appearing in 31 games due to a UCL injury last season. The four-time All-Defensive Teamer is eager to get on the court after he was forced to miss the Clippers’ final Play-In game against the New Orleans Pelicans because of health and safety protocols.

When he did play, George averaged 24.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game on 42.1 percent shooting from the floor and 35.4 percent from three last season.

James and DeRozan kicked off the NBA x Drew League action when LBJ dropped 42 points to help the MMV Cheaters secure a 104-102 victory over Black Pearl Elite on July 16.

On July 23, Young (22 points, seven assists, and seven steals) and Collins (16 points and 12 rebounds) didn’t disappoint for Black Pearl Elite in a 103-100 loss to Citi Team Blazers.

Thanks to the NBA coming to a deal with the Drew League, fans can now stream select Drew League games until the championship on Aug. 21. While he didn’t confirm an exact date, expect YG Trece to play in the Drew sometime soon.

Photos via Getty Images.

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While there’s always pressure following the No. 1 overall pick, Banchero didn’t seem to feel any of it. But even considering Banchero’s brilliant Summer League performances, Coach Jamahl Mosely wanted to pump the breaks on any Superman talk concerning his potential franchise cornerstone.

The second-year coach says he wants to take as much pressure off Banchero’s shoulders as possible and will focus on a holistic, by-committee approach with the team, even if Banchero may already be geared to be the franchise’s next superstar.

“I really believe that we’re going to do it by committee, honestly,” Mosley told ESPN’s Nick Friedell. “Look at the Warriors. Look at Milwaukee; you look at Memphis. There’s something about the committee in which they do it. One person will speak at times, but there’s other guys holding each one accountable. There’s one guy that will speak up and do it a different way, work in a different way. 

And while Mosely is confident his players are buying into the system, Bachero’s teammates can’t help but marvel at the talent, and potential the 19-year-old possesses. In practicing with Banchero, point guard Cole Anthony understands the Seattle native can’t do everything for the team but knows he’ll play an integral part in Orlando’s future. 

“I’ve been in the gym with [Banchero] a little bit already, seeing him out here, just doing what he does,” Anthony said to ESPN. “He’s going to help us a lot. And now I feel like we can really start building something.”

“That kid is so talented,” Anthony went on to say. “He loves the game. He works hard, and I think — he’s going to be really good.”

With a young group of players including Banchero, Anthony, Mo Bamba, Wendell Carter Jr., Franz, Mo Wagner, and R.J. Hampton, the 2022 ACC Player of the Year will have to not only focus on his individual play but also on his fit on a young roster. And even though he was a consensus five-star recruit out of high school and attended arguably the most prominent basketball university in the country, Banchero admits he’s still adjusting to the spotlight of the NBA.

“A year and a half ago, I was a high schooler,” Banchero said. “I wasn’t used to that. Now it’s different.”

But he’s not shying away from the moment, and with Mosley’s approach and the support from his vets, Banchero says he’s ready for his time in the spotlight. He dominated at Duke, averaging 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game on 48 percent shooting from the field, and he looks to do the same in the League.

“It’s just added intensity, added pressure, when the whole crowd’s clapping and standing up when you have the ball,” Banchero said. “It’s just stuff you dream of, in the arena where the whole crowd’s eyes are on you. You just want that moment. That’s just what I live for.”

The post Excitement Building around Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic’s Young Core appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Charania also reported that Charlotte is interested in potentially re-signing Isaiah Thomas after the two-time All-Star averaged 8.3 points per game and emerged as a “positive locker room leader” with the Hornets last season.

Walker last played with Charlotte in 2019 before joining the Boston Celtics through a sign and trade that year. He played two seasons with the Celtics and eventually signed with the New York Knicks last offseason. Walker was most recently traded to the Detroit Pistons on draft night and later agreed to a buyout with the team, thus making him a free agent.

Former UConn standout averaged 19.8 points and 5.5 assists per game in eight seasons with the Hornets and is coming off a career-low 11.6 points per game after playing just 37 games with the Knicks last season. A four-time All-Star, Walker showed flashes of brilliance in New York but was halted by knee injuries which resulted in the Knicks shutting him down in February.

Thomas has been in and out of the League in recent years and has signed 10-day contracts with the Pelicans, Lakers, Mavericks and Hornets since 2021. Thomas earned a contract for the remainder of the season after signing two 10-day contracts with Charlotte last year. 

Charania reported Charlotte will likely add another reserve guard to its roster, with Walker and Thomas in mind, before the start of the season. He went on to report that the team is “expected to be patient” regarding roster moves this offseason.

The post REPORT: Hornets Showing Interest in Kemba Walker and Isaiah Thomas appeared first on SLAM.

Charles joined Tina Thompson, Tamika Catchings and Diana Taurasi as the only players to ever score 7,000 points.

“The milestone is something I’ll probably reflect back on when I’m retired,” Charles told reporters after the game. “Just trying to get these wins and knowing how important each and every single game is.”

The eight-time All-Star and 2012 WNBA MVP achieved the feat in just her second start with the Storm after agreeing to a buyout with the Phoenix Mercury in June. After never coming off the bench during her 12-year career, Charles came off the bench in her first eight games with Seattle before being inserted into the starting lineup this month.

Charles says she thought about the possibility of reaching 7,000 points while she was playing for the Mercury but was still surprised to learn she hit the legendary mark during Sunday’s game.

“I did during my time in Phoenix,” Charles said. “I’m not saying before this game but during my time in Phoenix and when I moved up, I knew it could happen during the course of this season. I just didn’t know what was going on.”

Charles, who is averaging 15.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game this season, is now the W’s all-time second-leading rebounder and fourth all-time in scoring.

The post Tina Charles Becomes Fourth Player in WNBA History to Reach 7,000 Career Points appeared first on SLAM.

LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Westbrook reportedly had a phone conversation during the first weekend of the NBA Summer League. During that phone call, the three superstars expressed “their commitment to one another” amid trade rumors and an underwhelming finish last season, per Chris Haynes of Yahoo! Sports.

Haynes reported that Westbrook has never requested a trade out of Los Angeles. The nine-time All-Star and 2017 League MVP is set to earn $47 million next season before he hits the open market as an unrestricted agent in 2023.

Westbrook has been linked to multiple teams, most notably the Brooklyn Nets, in a possible trade surrounding Kyrie Irving, but The Athletic’s Shams Charania and ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski shot down any substantial traction on an Irving to L.A. deal earlier this month. That news came three days after Haynes reported the Lakers and Nets were “actively engaged” in Westbrook-Irving trade talks at the time.

Newly hired Lakers Coach Darvin Ham, who was hired in early June, spoke with Marc J. Spears of Andscape earlier this month and said he has a “wholehearted plan” on how to use Westbrook next season. He said he thinks Westbrook will “flourish” with the Lakers.

Westbrook averaged 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game on 44.4 percent shooting from the field and 29.8 percent shooting from three-point range last season. The Lakers will look to bounce back this season after last year saw L.A. end with an underwhelming 33-49 record and fail to make the playoffs.

The post REPORT: LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook Held Phone Call to Confirm Commitment to Lakers appeared first on SLAM.

The 6-foot-8 swingman has been named the MVP of the 2022 NBA Summer League after averaging 23.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, two assists, and 1.3 steals per game in four games at the Las Vegas Summer League.

Murray was also an efficient shooter, making 50 percent of his field goal attempts and shooting 40 percent on 8.8 three-point attempts a game.

Last season at Iowa, Murray ranked fourth in the nation with 23.6 points per game, the highest among high-major players. The Iowa native also averaged 8.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting 55.4 percent from the field and 39.8 percent from three-point range in his final season with the Hawkeyes.

Murray was selected to the All-Summer League First Team along with Quentin Grimes of the New York Knicks, Cam Thomas of the Brooklyn Nets, Tari Eason of the Houston Rockets, and Sandro ​​Mamukelashvili of the Milwaukee Bucks.

The 2022 Consensus All-American will now focus on contributing to a Kings squad led by De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis after an impressive showing in Las Vegas. Murray, who has proved himself to be a versatile scorer and defender, will look to end Sacramento’s 16-year playoff drought this season.

The post Keegan Murray Named 2022 Summer League MVP appeared first on SLAM.

Bird, who now has 711 career steals, passed former Mystics and Sparks guard Alana Beard for the third spot.

The 2022 season has been a victory lap of sorts for Bird, who announced in June that this year will be her final WNBA season. Bird’s climb on the all-time steals list comes less than a month after the 41-year-old became the winningest player in WNBA history following a victory over the Las Vegas Aces in June.

Bird recently played in her final All-Star game and will finish her career with 13 All-Star game appearances. The four-time WNBA Champ and five-time Olympic Gold Medalist received a standing ovation from the All-Star crowd in Chicago.

Bird is looking for a final championship push with the Seattle Storm, who currently stands at 17-8 and are jostling with the Las Vegas Aces for the No. 1 spot in the Western Conference.

Bird is averaging 7.8 points, 6.0 assists, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game in 20 games this season.

The post Sue Bird Moves Up to Third On WNBA All-Time Steals List appeared first on SLAM.

The fifth-year guard is posting career-highs in points (20.3 per game), assists (5.5 per game), and steals (1.1 per game) while shooting 44.3 percent from the field and a scorching 41.5 percent from three-point range this season. Plum ranks second in the League in points per game behind only Breanna Stewart and her 21 points per game average.

Plum earned her first All-Star Game selection in 2022 and scored 30 points for Team Wilson en route to being named the game’s MVP. She broke Pete Maravich’s NCAA Division-I scoring record while playing for Washington.

Plum averaged just 8.9 points per game in her first three WNBA seasons but caught fire when she adjusted to coming off the bench in 2021, scoring 14.8 points per game that season. After a rocky start to her career and overcoming a torn Achilles tendon in 2020, the 2017 No. 1 overall pick has been awarded a two-year deal to remain in Las Vegas.

“I’m thrilled to remain with the Aces and continue playing with my teammates and for our coaching staff,” Plum said in a press release. “I look forward to persisting in our journey to delivering a championship to Las Vegas.”

The Aces currently stand atop the Western Conference with an 18-7 record. Las Vegas has another month to cement itself as the West’s top team before the WNBA Playoffs begin on Aug. 17.

The post Kelsey Plum Signs Two-Year Extension With Las Vegas Aces appeared first on SLAM.

According to Haynes, the proposal would grant the offensive team one free throw and possession if the opposition utilized the take foul in transition. The League plans to mimic the G League rule for “take fouls” in which the offensive team will choose who will take the free throw after the foul, according to Fred Katz of The Athletic.

A highly debated topic among League circles, the take foul has been used as a way to halt opposing offenses looking to push the ball on a fast break. Defensive teams at a numbers disadvantage would often foul an offensive player to stop the offensive push and disrupt the opposition’s momentum.

In past seasons, the offensive team would inbound the ball out of bounds as if it was a common foul. But with the new proposal, defensive teams will be punished, and thus discouraged, from utilizing a take foul.

Haynes also reported that the committee will submit a proposal for harsher penalties regarding bench decorum. This includes bench players standing for extended periods and standing too close to the court.

The Dallas Mavericks were notably fined $175,000 during the playoffs due to bench players standing for the entirety of the game and walking onto the court during game action. The Competition Committee is focusing on stricter enforcement of bench demeanor as fans complained about not being able to see because bench players were obstructing their view, per Haynes’ report.

According to Haynes, the rule change proposals are expected to be unanimously approved when they are presented to the NBA’s Board of Governors.

These proposals come after ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Board of Governors is expected to approve the Play-In Tournament as a regular part of future NBA seasons.

The post REPORT: NBA On the Verge of Penalizing “Take Foul” and Bench Decorum appeared first on SLAM.

In an appearance on ESPN’s “Get Up” Windhorst said the Pacers are “very close” to either offering Ayton a contract or executing a sign-and-trade and could sign Ayton as soon as Monday. 

The Pacers had to officially trade two-way point guard Malcolm Brogdon to Boston to create enough cap space for Ayton. Windhorst says that since the Brogdon trade is “on the verge” of being approved, the Pacers now can offer Ayton a max contract or negotiate a sign-and-trade with the Suns.

Pacers center Myles Turner, who’s been at the center of trade talks throughout multiple offseasons, would likely be a trade piece if Indiana were to pull off a sign-and-trade for Ayton. On June 28, Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan said that the team was not actively shopping Turner, but Windhorst’s reporting suggests otherwise.

Windhorst appeared on “Get Up” last Thursday to say that the Pacers were looking into sign-and-trades “potentially involving” Turner. 

Ayton posts career averages of 16.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game on 59.9 percent shooting from the field. In his last two seasons with Phoenix, the former Arizona Wildcat helped the Suns reach the NBA Finals in 2021 and set a franchise record for wins in 2022. Since Ayton is a restricted free agent, the Suns can match any offer the Pacers send Ayton’s way if they wish to retain the former No. 1 overall pick.

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At just 24-years-old, Ionescu has already recorded three career triple-doubles. She also joins Parker as the only player to have multiple triple-doubles in the same season.

The Liberty snapped a two-game losing streak thanks to Ionescu’s brilliance, and the team’s 116 points are the most in franchise history. The wild back-and-forth contest saw the Liberty and Aces score a W-record 223 combined points. New York and Las Vegas combined to make a League-record 31 three-pointers, with the Liberty hitting 18 shots from beyond the arc. 

Ionescu also made history as she became the first player in WNBA history to record a triple-double without committing a single turnover.

“I was just really trying to take care of the ball, I thought that was really important,” Ionescu said after the game, per ESPN’s Mechelle Voepel. “As a point guard and the primary ball-handler, just wanting to continue to work on that part of the game.

She also shot a career-high 7-of-8 from three and an efficient 10-of-13 from the field.

“I’m just trying to be the best that I can every time I step out on the floor. It’s me versus me. I’m trying to get better and continue to learn from all the situations that I’ve been put in.”

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After a 1-7 start to the season, New York is now 9-12 and within a half a game of the playoffs. The Liberty has a Thursday night road game against the Phoenix Mercury to end the first half of the season.

Ionescu will represent New York on Sunday as an All-Star starter for Team Wilson, led by Aces star A’ja Wilson.

The post Sabrina Ionescu Records First 30-Point Triple-Double in WNBA History appeared first on SLAM.

Charania appeared on the “Pat McAfee Show” Tuesday to discuss NBA news and the Nets’ offseason storylines in light of Kevin Durant’s blockbuster trade request. His report comes three days after Chris Haynes of Yahoo! Sports reported that the Lakers and Nets are “actively engaged” in an Irving-Russell Westbrook trade package.

“There’s no traction on any type of a Lakers deal for Kyrie Irving,” Charania said. “There’s nothing new on that, and I’m not quite sure we’re gonna see that take place.”

It seemed as if Irving was committed to the Nets for the 2022-23 season after opting into his one-year player option last week, but the tables turned following Durant’s trade request.

Charania went on to say that Durant’s stance on a trade request has not changed, and there has been “no signal” that Durant will rescind his request. Charania noted, “if anything, that stance is expected to continue throughout this offseason.” 

The NBA insider claimed the Nets are operating as if Durant and Irving will remain with the team next season. The Nets signed T.J. Warren and Edmond Sumner on Tuesday and re-signed Patty Mills and Nic Claxton during Thursday’s first day of free agency.

Brooklyn is “open” to dialogue with other teams but will not trade Durant until the price threshold of “All-Star-type players [and] a boat load of draft picks” is met, according to Charania.

Charania’s statements match the reporting of ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who appeared on SportsCenter Sunday to claim no traction between the Nets and Lakers on a deal surrounding Irving.

Wojnarowski insinuated that the Nets might remain patient in the cases of both Irving and Durant with the hope of receiving a better deal. While the Lakers and Nets seem to be on opposite sides, for the time being, a trade centered around Irving is certainly a possibility.

The post REPORT: ‘No Traction’ On Possible Kyrie Irving Lakers Trade appeared first on SLAM.

Nets general manager Sean Marks made the moves as Booklyn’s future is uncertain in light of Kyrie Irving’s decision to opt into his player option, only to have Kevin Durant make a trade request three days later. 

Warren, who missed most of the past two seasons with a stress fracture in his left foot, averaged 19.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game on 53.6 percent shooting during the 2019-20 season. A standout in the 2020 NBA Bubble, Warren notably scored a career-high 53 points on 20-for-29 shooting in a win over the 76ers. He averaged 31 points in six games in the Orlando bubble and is a career 15.5-point per game scorer.

The 28-year-old is entering his eighth NBA season after stints in Indiana and Phoenix and will play for Brooklyn on a one-year deal.

The Nets reportedly signed another ex-Pacer in Sumner. The 26-year-old missed all last season with a torn left Achilles tendon but has since fully recovered and is expected to be a part of the Nets’ backcourt rotation. Sumner averaged career-highs in points per game (7.5), assists per game (1.8), and three-point percentage (39.8) in 53 games during the 2020-21 season.

Warren could be a replacement if Durant were to be traded to another team, while Sumner provides the Nets with backcourt depth in the scenario Irving also leaves Brooklyn.

The post REPORT: Nets Sign TJ Warren and Edmond Sumner appeared first on SLAM.

“As I sit here in a Russian prison, alone with my thoughts and without the protection of my wife, family, friends, Olympic jersey, or any accomplishments, I’m terrified I might be here forever,” Griner, who’s been detained in Russia since February for possession of cannabis oil, wrote in an excerpt from the letter shared with the media.

“I realize you are dealing with so much,” she wrote. “But please don’t forget about me and the other American detainees. Please do all you can to bring us home.”

Griner wrote that freedom means “something completely different this year,” as she was forced to spend the Fourth of July in custody. Griner’s trial began last week, and a Russian judge ordered her to remain in custody throughout the trial. 

A White House spokesperson did not confirm or deny that Biden had received the letter but provided the New York Times with a statement from National Security Council spokeswoman Adriene Watson.

“President Biden has been clear about the need to see all U.S. nationals who are held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad released, including Brittney Griner. The U.S. government continues to work aggressively — using every available means — to bring her home,” Watson said in a statement to the Times. 

She went on to say that Biden’s team is in “regular contact” with Griner’s family.

But Griner’s wife Cherelle appeared on “CBS This Morning” on Tuesday, claiming the family has not yet received a reply from Biden. She called the lack of communication “very disheartening.”

“It kills me every time that you know when I have to write her, and she’s asking, ‘Have you met with them yet?’ And I have to say no — I’m sure she is like, ‘I’m going to write him and ask now because my family has tried to no avail, so I’m going to do it myself,'” Cherelle said.

Brittney’s trial began on Friday, and the eight-time All-Star faces up to 10 years in a penal colony if she is convicted.

Visit WeAreBG to learn more about what you can do to help.

The post Brittney Griner Writes Letter to President Biden: ‘I’m Terrified I Might Be Here Forever’ appeared first on SLAM.

The double-digit win gave Bird her 324th WNBA victory, making her the winningest player in the history of the League. Bird surpassed former Lynx and Sun point guard Lindsay Whalen on the all-time list as she continues to establish herself as one of the greatest players in WNBA history.

Bird, a four-time WNBA Champion, and 13-time All-Star, announced earlier this month that the 2022 season would be her final season in the W. 

“It’s not only the assists with Sue; it’s making big plays, the big shots. I thought she played great defense tonight,” Storm Coach Noelle Quinn said PER ESPN. “Those intangibles that she brings, but also: She’s the GOAT, an amazing player with a long career and deserving of every single record she’s about to break because she’s played 20-something years.”

Bird is the League’s all-time leader in assists at 3,142 and was honored on the WNBA’s 10th, 15th, 20th, and 25th Anniversary Teams. She’s also a two-time NCAA Champion and was the No. 1 overall pick out of UConn in 2002. In international play, Bird has notched five gold medals with Team USA.

She scored 13 points, dished six assists, and grabbed two rebounds to help the Storm secure the 10-point victory. At 12-7, Seattle is just two games back of the Aces for first place in the WNBA standings. Bird can add another win to her tally when the Storm host the Indiana Fever on Friday.

The post Sue Bird Becomes Winningest Player in WNBA History appeared first on SLAM.

The 34-year-old Hardy becomes the youngest coach in the League after helping the Celtics and first-year head coach Ime Udoka advance to the NBA Finals this past season.

Hardy, like Udoka, comes from the Greg Popovich coaching tree and spent 10 years with the Spurs from 2011 to 2021. He climbed the ranks from video coordinator to assistant under Popovich and served as the head coach of the Spurs Summer League team from 2015 to 2018. Hardy was also a member of the most recent Team USA Olympic staff in Tokyo.

Hardy’s hire comes days after Andy Larsen of the Salt Lake Tribune reported that Hardy was the “leading candidate” to become Utah’s next head coach. According to Larsen, the Jazz was reportedly looking to hire a young assistant coach to replace Quin Snyder. The move is Jazz CEO Danny Ainge’s first significant front-office move since joining Utah earlier this year.

Rumors of Donovan Mitchell’s future with the team have circulated following Snyder’s resignation as head coach earlier this month, so Hardy’s arrival will highlight an intriguing summer in Salt Lake City.

The post Celtics Assistant Will Hardy ‘Finalizing Deal’ to Become Head Coach of Utah appeared first on SLAM.

At 26-years-old, Turner is entering the last year of his four-year, $72 million contract and is extension eligible until June 2023. One of the game’s premier defenders, he is a two-time NBA block champion with a career average of 2.3 blocks per game.

But as of late, Turner’s struggled with injuries and has failed to play in more than 47 games in the last two seasons. He would have led the league in blocks in 2021-22 if he had met the 58-game minimum, but a left foot injury limited him to just 42 games.

The Pacers cleaned house at last season’s trade deadline when they sent a package including All-Star forward Domantas Sabonis to Sacramento in exchange for Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield, and Tristan Thompson (who later agreed to a buyout with the Pacers and joined the Chicago Bulls). During the draft, the Pacers selected Arizona’s Bennedict Mathurin in the hopes of providing a scoring punch.

With Turner surrounded by what could be a strong group of playmakers and scorers, the Pacers have decided to keep the big man in Indiana, at least for the time being.

The post Pacers Say They Are Not Actively Shopping Myles Turner appeared first on SLAM.

Contract talks are trending in the opposite direction, with Irving’s camp reportedly requesting and receiving permission to pursue sign-and-trade packages with other teams, per Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News.

Winfield also reported that Nets star Kevin Durant and GM Sean Marks have not spoken this offseason, according to “multiple sources familiar with the situation.” According to Winfield, players and coaches around the League now believe that Irving will not play for the Nets next season.

Irving, who played in 103 regular-season games in three seasons with the Nets, listed the Lakers, Clippers, Knicks, 76ers, Heat, and Mavericks as teams he would be interested in playing for if he couldn’t agree to a deal with Brooklyn, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

ESPN Sources: If Kyrie Irving can’t reach an agreement to stay with Brooklyn, he has a list of teams he’d like them to consider on sign-and-trades, including Lakers, Clippers, Knicks, Heat, Mavs and 76ers. None of those teams have cap space to sign him without Nets’ help.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 23, 2022

However, Wojnarowski has since reported that the Lakers are the only team actively looking to pursue Irving and that Brooklyn is not interested in any Laker’s trade packages. Irving would be eligible to sign with the Lakers for a $6 million exception if he were to turn down his $36.5 million player option with Brooklyn.

Irving’s three-year tenure with the Nets has been anything but smooth, as the seven-time All-Star was deterred by a shoulder injury in his first year with Brooklyn, missed games due to personal reasons in year two, and only played in 29 regular-season games last season after refusing to get vaccinated against COVID-19. 

Irving being granted permission to seek sign-and-trade packages comes four days after Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that Durant is contemplating his future with the Nets as uncertainty around Irving continues to develop. Durant currently has four years remaining on his $194 million contract and would have to request a trade if he were to want out of Brooklyn.

The post REPORT: Kyrie Irving Receives Permission to Seek Sign-and-Trade Opportunities appeared first on SLAM.

At 13-5, Wade has led the Sky to the best record in the Eastern Conference. He will coach Team Stewart, named after Seattle Storm star Breanna Stewart. 

Wade was named WNBA Coach of the Year in 2019 and guided Chicago to its first WNBA Championship in 2021, making him just the third Black coach in the W ever to win a ‘chip.

“I know that my rise to this place is unique. It’s not common,” Wade told SLAM and the Black Coaches Association back in January. “Every time I go to work, every time I get up, I know I’m not doing it for me.”

He began his coaching career as an assistant with the San Antonio Stars from 2012 through 2016. Wade also served as a player development coach with the Minnesota Lynx, working directly with players like Sylvia Fowles (who will serve as co-captain at All-Star this year). He also coached multiple overseas teams before landing in Chicago in 2019.

“I was like, Hey, Syl, this is what’s going to happen. We’re gonna win MVP,” Wade recalled. “She was like, Let’s do it. I was like, We’re gonna win Finals MVP, we’re gonna win everything.” 

Earlier this year, Wade was selected to join the USA Women’s National Team coaching staff for training camp and the FIBA World Qualifying Tournament.

“Very humbled to be a part of the All-Star game here in Chicago,” Wade recently tweeted. “So excited for my staff and our players chosen!!!”

Wade will face off against Los Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon, who will coach Team Wilson, led Aces star A’ja Wilson.

The WNBA’s 12 head coaches will vote on the reserves which who be announced on Tuesday.

The post Chicago Sky’s James Wade named 2022 WNBA All-Star Coach appeared first on SLAM.

Shareef spoke to the media Monday after his pre-draft workout with the Lakers, and the topic of his father came to the forefront.

“I felt like in college; I wasn’t getting enough opportunity. I wasn’t feeling like myself in college,” Shareef said. “I got that invite to the G League Elite camp, and that opened a lot of doors for me. I feel like it really brought me back and kind of showed a little bit (of) what I can do. And once I started getting calls from teams to work out, I was like, ‘Man, this is what I want to do.’ I mean, I’m here; it’s right in front of me, so just go for it. So I continued to work.”

But his father, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1992 draft, preferred the 22-year-old to spend another year in college.

“He didn’t like that idea at all,” O’Neal said. “It sucks that he didn’t like that idea, but I’m a grown man, I’m 22 years old, I can make my own decisions. It was right in front of my face. I’m not backing up from it. I’m going to go get it if I see it. That’s just how I’m built. I take everything the same way. I took my heart surgery the same way. Being cleared was right in front of me, being healthy was right in front of me, and I went for it. I’m not backing down from nobody. I know he’s an NBA legend; I know he’s my dad, but it was right in front of me; I had to go get it. So, if he likes it or not, it’s not really going to stop me from doing what I want to do.”

Shaq didn’t graduate from LSU before being drafted to the NBA but eventually returned to LSU to complete his degree. He then received his master’s at the University of Phoenix online and a doctorate at Barry University in Florida.

“He knows I’m working out with teams. But I’m not going to lie; we ain’t talked about this. I’m kind of just going through it. He didn’t do any pre-draft workouts; he just got straight on the [Orlando Magic], so it’s a different grind.

“So, he didn’t want me to do this, and I know he probably doesn’t want me saying this, but sorry. We’re both grown; we’ll get past it.”

The younger O’Neal played 37 collegiate games in one season with UCLA and his father’s father’s alma mater, LSU. He has career averages of 2.6 points and three rebounds per game on 40.5 percent shooting from the field. 

The post Shareef O’Neal Says Father ‘Didn’t Like the Idea’ of Him Staying in Draft appeared first on SLAM.

Andrews, who made her first NBA draft appearance as a green room and telecast reporter in 2020, hosted the NBA Draft Lottery for ESPN in May. 

“I am so excited to be the host of the 2022 NBA draft,” Andrews said in May per ESPN PR. “It’s really kind of beyond words. We just finished the draft lottery, and I feel like that great training, maybe, hopefully for the draft. But, at the end of the day, I know I have a great team behind me.”

The 27-year-old Andrews received a sports Emmy for Emerging On-Air Talent in May and was listed on Forbes’ 30 under 30 sports list in 2021 for “advocating internally at ESPN for more nuanced coverage of race and gender topics.”

“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,” Andrews told SLAM last year. “And that’s what I’m good at. That’s how I approach my job now.”

Andrews will host the 2022 NBA draft for the first time alongside Jay Bilas, Kendrick Perkins, Adrian Wojnarowski, and Bobby Marks from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The draft begins Thursday at 8 p.m. on ESPN.

The post Malika Andrews to Become First Women to Host NBA Draft appeared first on SLAM.

According to Fischer, the Nets prefer a shorter deal with incentives that include “benchmarks, such as games played.” Irving has indicated he’d like a long-term contract despite missing significant time due to injuries and COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

Currently, both sides are open to engaging in contract negotiations regarding Irving’s future in Brooklyn. According to Fischer, Nets officials expect Irving, Kevin Durant, and Ben Simmons to play in Brooklyn next season, an assumption the team has held since falling to Boston in the first round of the playoffs.

While Irving and the Nets are open to negotiations, it seems there is a slight divide between the two sides. Rumblings of Irving being interested in joining the Los Angeles Lakers or New York Knicks have heated up, but there is no tangible assurance to either of those claims. If he were to join the Lakers or Knicks, Irving would have to either decline his $36.5 million extension with Brooklyn and become an unrestricted free agent or opt-in with the Nets and demand a trade.

A seven-time All-Star, Irving has not played more than 54 games in three of the last four seasons. The 30-year-old averaged 27.4 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game in 20 regular-season games last year.

In April, he averaged 21.3 points, 5.3 assists, and 5.3 rebounds per game in Brooklyn’s first-round playoff defeat against Boston.

The post REPORT: Nets and Kyrie Irving Have ‘Ground to Cover’ in Contract Talks appeared first on SLAM.

Beal, who has a $36.4 million player option for the upcoming season, can decline in hopes of signing with another team or because he wishes to sign a new five-year, $246 million supermax contract with Washington.

While Beal has not revealed his offseason plan, he did tell Bleacher Report’s Taylor Rooks in early June that “I know what my decision will be based off of, and that’s gonna be where I feel like I can win. That’s going to be my decision. If I feel like I can win in D.C., that’s what I’m gonna do. I want people to respect that.”

The three-time NBA All-Star has spent his entire 10-year NBA career in Washington. One of the League’s premier scorers, he most recently averaged 23.2 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game in 40 games after undergoing season-ending surgery on his left wrist in February.

The Wizards briefly held the top record in the Eastern Conference last season before things turned for the worse. After Beal’s injury and a stretch of poor play, Washington went from a potential playoff contender to a lottery team. The Wizards currently have the 10th pick in the NBA Draft, which takes place Thursday at 8 p.m.

The post REPORT: Bradley Beal Has Decided Playing Future, Won’t Reveal Decision Until Free Agency appeared first on SLAM.

Per Tim Reynolds, Tucker’s decision was expected, but it’s “like Heat will fight to keep him.” Tucker also let it be known within the locker room that he would like to return to Miami.

P.J. Tucker deciding to opt out was 100% expected. This does not mean he’s leaving Miami, source reiterated to AP. It’s likely Heat will fight to keep him, and Tucker made clear to teammates when season ended that he would like to be back.

— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) June 20, 2022

Tucker is coming off a solid season, which saw the 37-year-old shoot 41.5 percent from behind the arc and average 5.5 rebounds per game. One of the game’s most coveted role players, Tucker was a crucial cog in the Milwaukee Bucks’ 2021 NBA title run and most recently helped Miami reach the Eastern Conference Finals.

A rugged defender who contributes on both ends of the court, Tucker played overseas for five years after a 17-game rookie season with Toronto in 2006. He returned to the NBA in 2012 and became a valued presence on multiple playoff teams. Tucker averaged 7.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game last season with the Heat.

If Tucker picked up his option with Miami, he would have received a $350,000 pay increase for next season. Instead, the veteran entering his 14th NBA season will test the free-agent market and likely look to join another contender.

The post REPORT: P.J. Tucker to Opt-Out of Player Option and Hit Free Agency appeared first on SLAM.

Northeast offers individual and small group training, limited competitive team play, as well as NBA pre-draft training for players looking to make the League. Northeast Run, an invite-only open gym competition for highly-skilled players, features high school All-Americans and NBA vets.

 Founder and director Trevor Harris has just announced NEBC’s inaugural “Club Member” ambassadors, which features of group of young players making an impact in their community both on and off the court.

“I greatly appreciate the athletes and families that came out to celebrate this year’s ambassador class,” Harris says. “Each and every athlete is extremely special both on and off the court, and I’m happy to have them a part of our program at Northeast. I couldn’t imagine a better group of individuals to represent our inaugural  club members class.”

That list includes Alabama guard Jahvon Quinerly, who is hosting his own basketball camp, powered by the club, in August. There’s also Bergen Catholic’s Elliot Cadeau, who is the No. 1 point guard in the Class of 2024, Roselle Catholic guard and North Carolina commit Simeon Wilcher, Hudson Catholic’s Tahaad Pettiford, The Webb School’s Angelica Velez, St. Peter’s Prep’s Jackson Tindall, Rutgers Prep’s Jordan Atkins and Kent School’s Keith Mency.

“I’ve been playing with Northeast since I was in the 8th grade and Trev always allowed me to challenge myself and play up with the older guys while I was still an underclassman in high school,” says Quinerly. “I feel like that really helped my development as a player before I got to college. Northeast has been a great asset for players in New Jersey who love getting better. Trev is a testament of building a brand and program from the ground up and it’s came a long way. The event in Soho was really cool to be a part of. The venue was really chill and I feel like everyone who came through had a good time.”

“Northeast is great, every time I get in the gym whether it’s runs, a game, or just a workout, there is always elite players right next to me. Even when I go out to events that have nothing to do with basketball, I’m always surrounded by elite athletes,” adds Cadeau.

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The Northeast Basketball Club also hosts the Northeast Classic, an annual all-star game in North Jersey showcasing some of the nation’s top talent, as well as “Point Guard University,” an invite-only one-day guard training session featuring some of the top guards in the country.

“Being apart of the northeast ambassadors crew is something I truly feel humbled and honored by!” says Velez. “Especially, being the only female to work and develop along side some of the most elite level male athletes in this area is something that I hold near and dear to me. The event recently hosted in NYC was my first chance seeing the impact and movement we have and are creating. Through our ambassadors program, I get to develop me as a woman and as a basketball player and I am excited about the future of what we will all do together.”

To learn more about the Northeast Basketball Club, read here.

The post Northeast Basketball Club Announces 2022 ‘Club Member’ Ambassadors appeared first on SLAM.

Taylor called upon President Joe Biden and the U.S. Government to safely bring Griner home from Russia after the two-time Olympic gold medalist was detained on Feb. 17 for possessing vape cartridges containing hashish oil.

“BG is our family,” Taylor said at Saturday’s induction. “She’s yours too. The entire global sport(s) community needs to come together to insist that she be a priority.”

Taylor and Griner, along with Taylor’s wife, Diana Taurasi, were teammates on the Phoenix Mercury squad that won a WNBA Championship in 2014.

Two-time WNBA Champion and current Old Dominion Coach DeLisha Milton-Jones, along with DePaul Coach Doug Bruno, also demanded action for Griner, who has garnered national support.

“Brittney is a great human being, and no one deserves what she is going through,” Bruno, who coached Griner as an assistant with Team USA, said. “Enough is absolutely enough. It is time for the powers that be to bring Brittney Griner home.”

The support for Griner to be released back into the United States has grown, but she remains detained in Russia.

The post Penny Taylor Calls for Brittney Griner’s Release At Hall of Fame Induction appeared first on SLAM.

After a halfcourt shot flew off the backboard and landed in Ogunbowale’s direction, the fourth-year player out of Notre Dame kicked the ball and was ejected as a result.

Ogunbowale addressed the incident on Twitter after the game Sunday, claiming she was simply trying to control the ball with her feet, as she would a soccer ball.

“If you know me, you know I was a soccer player first. Literally every practice and game, I stop the basketball with my feet, pass it to my teammates with my feet, etc. Ball comes at me fast. I always stop the ball with my feet; it’s just my first instinct,” Ogunbowale said on Twitter.

She later went on to say that in “NO WAY,” she was trying to kick the ball. “The half was over. I tried to control the ball with my feet like I always do if the ball comes @ me fast. To be ejected for something like this is wild. From here on out, I’ll try to remember WNBA refs aren’t fans of soccer players,” Ogunbowale wrote, attaching a video of herself controlling the ball with her feet during her college career at Notre Dame.

Ogunbowale has made a habit of using her feet on the court, as she received a technical foul for kicking the scorer’s table after being whistled for a free throw violation during a 93-91 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks.

“That incident happened in L.A. as well,” Wings Coach Vickie Johnson said after the game. “We’re not on the soccer field, we’re on the basketball court, and you have to respect the game, period. We play basketball with our hands.”

Johnson said that she would meet with Wings president and CEO Greg Bibb to discuss a potential disciplinary action for Ogunbowale.

“We have talked about it, but that’s something Greg and I have to discuss a little bit more,” Johnson said. “When it affects the team, it affects all of us.”

Ogunbowale, a career 19.6 point per game scorer, is averaging 17.5 points per game this season. Despite a 6-7 record, the Wings are in third place in the Western Conference.

The post Arike Ogunbowale On Ejection: ‘I Was in No Way Trying to Kick the Ball’ appeared first on SLAM.

Ionescu dropped 27 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists, marking her first WNBA triple-double since May 2021. The third-year guard also secured her triple-double through three quarters, making her the first player in WNBA history to do so.

Sabrina is a PROBLEM. pic.twitter.com/NO5e4V6PaK

— WSLAM (@wslam) June 13, 2022

She and Chicago’s Candance Parker are the only WNBA players who have had a triple-double in multiple regular-season games. Courtney Vandersloot and Hall-of-Famer Sheryl Swoopes are the only others to record multiple-triple doubles in a career. Both posted triple-doubles in playoff games. 

“I don’t care about the triple-double; we didn’t win,” Ionescu said Sunday, per ESPN’s Mechelle Voepel. “I’m just trying to do my part, continuing to get better every single day, continuing to learn from my teammates, from this coaching staff.”

The Liberty started the season with a 1-7 record and have gone 4-2 since. Ionescu, a former Oregon standout and No. 1 overall pick in 2020, has averaged 24 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 6.5 assists during New York’s most recent six-game stretch.

Ionescu is averaging 17.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game this season.

The post Sabrina Ionescu Becomes Youngest to Post Multiple Triple-Doubles appeared first on SLAM.

The Warriors sharpshooter has shot a combined 10-for-33 from the field through both games and shot 4-of-19 from the field (1-of-8 from three-point range) in Golden State’s bounce-back win over the Boston Celtics during Sunday’s Game 2. 

Realizing he’s struggling, Thompson says he’s going to watch his highlights on YouTube to get himself out of his shooting slump. Thompson was made available to the media Tuesday and was asked what his go-to search on Youtube was, to which he responded, “Game 6 Klay,” with a smile.

Ever since Thompson’s 41-point performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of the 2016 Western Conference Finals, the “Game 6 Klay” legend will never die. Since that game, Thompson’s always been known to show out once a series hits Game 6 (other performances include a 35-point game against the Houston Rockets in the 2018 Western Conference Finals and a 30-point showing against the Toronto Raptors in the 2019 NBA Finals).

“I’ll probably just YouTube’ Game 6 Klay’ because there were some very high pressurized situations I was in, and I ended up shooting the ball well,” Thompson told reporters Tuesday. “When you can do it when your back’s against the wall, you know you can do it at any given moment. It’s just about keeping that mental strong.”

Draymond Green agrees with Thompson’s idea, saying a shooting slump is about “the power of the mind.”

“You just need to see the ball go in the rim. It’s not always that simple in the game, Green said. “And so if you can go back to that, just a reminder like, I know I can do that, I know what I’m capable of. I can go back, I can feel that, and it gets you to feeling good about yourself. I think that’s a very big deal.”

Regardless of what Thompson does to escape his shooting slump, the Dubs will look to bounce back in Game 3 when they face the Celtics on the road at TD Garden tomorrow night.

The post Klay Thompson Says He’s Rewatching ‘Game 6 Klay’ Tape Amid Shooting Slump appeared first on SLAM.

Monday night’s rally took place outside of the Toyota Center, the home of the Houston Rockets. Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee organized and hosted the rally with the city of Houston and the NAACP Houston Chapter. 

“Unfortunately, I knew that Brittney Griner’s destiny was going to be wrapped up in the leadership of the United States of America and the American people who had expressed their outrage and care for her,” Jackson Lee said in a statement released by the Toyota Center. “…Our nation is founded on the values of equality and democracy. On Monday, Houstonians will stand up with pride in their love of democracy, equality, and justice; and their voices will be heard in Washington DC and all the way to where Brittney is held.”

“We hope this rally and prayer vigil will continue to propel the administration and the President of the United States to continue to work to secure the release of Brittney Griner.”

The rally featured multiple prominent politicians and social activists, including U.S. Marine Trevor Reed. Reed was detained in Russia for nearly three years and was recently released.

“I was wrongfully detained in Russia in 2019, and I was a prisoner there for 985 days,” Reed said. “It’s really medieval.”

A Houston native, Griner was a standout at Nimitz High School and later received national recognition at Baylor, where she led the Bears to an NCAA Championship in 2012.

NBA stars from LeBron James to Carmelo Anthony have called for the release of Griner, who has been detained in Russia for over 100 days.

“She is a WNBA player, an Olympian, a teammate, a sister, a daughter, a wife,” Anthony said in a statement released on social media. “She is a human, and she needs to come home.”

The post Houston Holds Rally Calling For Brittney Griner’s Return From Russia appeared first on SLAM.

Full quote from Quin Snyder: pic.twitter.com/si5W6HY0wg

— Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) June 5, 2022

Team CEO Danny Ainge says the Jazz wanted Snyder to return but ultimately trusted the 55-year-old to make the best decision for “him and his family.”

“We have spent the last few weeks talking, Quin and I, a lot about a lot of different things,” Ainge said during a press conference on Monday. “And I think it’s pretty clear; we desperately wanted him to stay. And at the same time, I’ve walked away from coaching, and I walked away from being a general manager after 18 years in Boston, and so I trust that Quin knows more what’s best for him and his family, much more than we do.”

After eight seasons as coach, Snyder simply decided that it's time to step away. Conversations had been amicable with team, relationships still strong, but Snyder has decided to leave after building the Jazz into a perennial playoff contender. https://t.co/1NCpfsgKku

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 5, 2022

Snyder’s 372 wins are the second-most in Jazz history, only behind Hall of Famer Jerry Sloan’s 1,127 victories. Utah never reached the Western Conference Finals during Snyder’s tenure despite reaching the playoffs in all of his last six seasons.

Ainge says he is confident that Snyder is “going to be coaching somewhere else in the near future, next year probably.” When asked about his future, Snyder declined to comment.

“That hasn’t been on my mind at all,” Snyder said during the press conference. “Just been focused on this. I don’t know what I’m going to do next year as far as coaching next year or anything along those lines.”

In the wake of Snyder’s resignation, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Jazz star Donovan Mitchell was left “unsettled, unnerved, and wondering what it means for the franchise’s future.” Wojnarowski also reported that Mitchell considered Snyder a “significant part” in his decision to sign a five-year extension with Utah in 2020.

After hiring Doc Rivers and Brad Stevens during his 18-year run in the Celtics’ front office, Ainge will now lead the third head coaching search of his career.

The post Danny Ainge Says Jazz ‘Desperately’ Wanted Quin Snyder to Stay in Utah appeared first on SLAM.

The technical came after Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart were whistled for back-to-back fouls on Stephen Curry in the same possession. The fouls put the Warriors into the bonus with more than half of the quarter remaining.

Udoka says he received the technical “on purpose” to gain the referees’ attention and make sure his disapproval of how the game was officiated was known.

“I just let them know how I felt, throughout the game, in a demonstrative way, on purpose to get a technical,” Udoka said following Boston’s 19-point loss.

Al Horford wasn’t surprised to see Udoka get T’d up in the third quarter.

“I could see that coming a mile away. That whole first half was definitely different,” Horford said after the game. “We knew it was going to be different. We just kind of wanted to stay the course. It is what it is. On to Game 3.”

The Celtics went on a 6-0 run following Udoka’s technical but couldn’t hold on to that momentum, as the Warriors went on a 19-2 run to close the quarter. Golden State went on to win Game 2, 107-88. The series now heads to TD Garden, where the Celtics will look to use their home-court advantage in Games 3 and 4.

The post Ime Udoka: Game 2 Technical Was ‘On Purpose’ appeared first on SLAM.

Stephen Curry dropped 29 points while Jordan Poole had 17 (including an insane half court three-pointer to cap off a huge third quarter run) as Golden State cruised to a dub in Game 2. Down 23 points entering the fourth quarter, Boston eventually went down 29 points with 10:45 minutes remaining. Celtics head coach Ime Udoka then elected to pull his starters at the ensuing timeout.

Draymond Green says he was surprised to see the Celtics’ first year head coach “pull the plug” with nearly an entire quarter to play.

“Going into the fourth quarter up 23, all it takes is one blow from there,” Green said on “The Draymond Green Show.” “You throw one punch, and that’s kind of it. And that’s what happened. We threw a punch and went up 29, and then they pulled the plug.

“I was a little shocked to see them pull the plug so early. I do understand it and respect it. But I just did not expect to come back out of that timeout and (see) them pull the plug.”

Boston starters Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart and Al Horford never re-entered the game as Udoka suffered his first Finals loss as head coach.

Despite a perplexed reaction to Udoka’s decision, Green did praise the Celtics reserves, who actually outscored the Warriors by four in the fourth quarter.

“That is a championship organization and those guys didn’t come in and quit,” Green said. “They continued to fight and battle, and we had to continue to close the game out.”

Boston will get a much-needed boost from its home crowd as the series will now head back to the Bean for Games 3 and 4.

The post Draymond Green ‘Shocked’ Celtics Pulled Starters Early in Game 2 appeared first on SLAM.

The NFT is calibrated off the original acrylic on canvas, which was made using industrial rakes, brooms and tools—not paintbrushes. Keezerfeld, who describes himself as a “Thrash Expressionist Artist,” has sold over 100 NFTs to collectors on five continents and is one of the first artists to be selling Solana-based NFTs. The sale of “The Ghost of the ’90s” NFT will also include the original physical piece.

“The cross section of sports and art has always fascinated me, I’m excited about the convergence of so many worlds with the release of this physical work via the 1/1 calibrated NFT,” Keezerfeld told SLAM.

The piece captures the legendary Michael Jordan-led Bulls in which Chicago won six championships in an eight-season span. Such a feat hasn’t been achieved since, as players like Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman have gone down as basketball icons. The Bulls championship squads of the ’90s are also featured in our SLAM Presents TOP 75 NBA Teams of All Time special issue.

An anonymous artist, Keezerfeld found success with “The Quarantine Chronicles,” (TQC), a series of nine abstract paintings containing commentary on mental health during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The collection was featured in Elevator Magazine in April 2021. He says his most recent work features commentary on “the looming ghost of history that has existed for the team,” as the Bulls have not won a championship since Jordan left in January of 1999. In addition to his most recent work, Keezerfeld has over 100 pieces of artwork available for purchase on the secondary market via exchange art.

“The Ghost of the ’90s” is on sale now in celebration of the start of the NBA Finals. It can be purchased here.

The post Artist Keezerfeld Releases NFT Honoring ’90s Chicago Bulls appeared first on SLAM.

The Heat scored just 11 points in the first quarter and immediately found themselves down 18 at the end of one. Miami then went on to only reach 33 points at the end of the second quarter and was down by 24 points at halftime.

Heat star Jimmy Butler scored just six points on 3-for-14 shooting as Miami’s starters scored a combined 18 points in an underwhelming performance.

“This is part of the playoffs; there are these extreme highs and lows,” Coach Erik Spoelstra said, per ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. “We’ve proven that we can find solutions offensively in a lot of different ways.”

The Heat is struggling with multiple injuries, as Butler (knee inflammation), point guard Kyle Lowry (hamstring), and power forward P.J. Tucker (knee contusion) are all playing through nagging injuries. Tyler Herro, the 2022 Sixth Man of the Year winner, is also hobbled and missed Game 4 with a groin injury.

“We are not making any excuse,” Spoelstra said. “We can do it in the mud. We can win it ugly. We can win it when the floodgates come open, hitting threes. We can do it with Jimmy taking over a game. We can do it when he’s facilitating. We have the mental fortitude and the collective toughness to be able to embrace what we have. It’s just a very competitive, good series.”

“No excuse for how I played tonight. It don’t got nothing to do with my knee,” Butler said. “I’ve just got to be better. I will be better. I’m not too worried about it.”

On the other side, Boston star Jayson Tatum scored 31 points on 8-of-16 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds. Big men Al Horford and Robert Williams III combined for 22 rebounds and six blocked shots.

Both teams will look to take a 3-2 advantage as the series heads back to Miami for an 8:30 tip-off at FTX Arena Wednesday night.

The post Erik Spoelstra On Game 4 Performance: ‘We Are Not Making Any Excuse’ appeared first on SLAM.

White grabbed his hamstring after Udoka sat him down in the fourth quarter. White played a game-high 41 minutes Monday night and finished Game 4 with 13 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and dished six assists starting in place of the injured Marcus Smart.

In the post-game press conference, Udoka said that White “had a little cramping, but he’s fine.” Boston’s head coach went on to say that White’s contribution was crucial for the injured Celtics, who put on a dominant display in a 102-82 victory over Miami to tie the series at two apiece.

“Understanding the urgency with Marcus being out and the position he’s put in,” Udoka said. “Obviously, starting the game, [White’s] going to have the ball in his hands a lot more. [I| wanted him to be confident, aggressive, and he picked his spots well early on. They guarded him a certain way; we told him look for his shot but also get downhill and facilitate, and he does that extremely well.

“Just happened that he got the right looks, took the shots that were there, and then started finding other guys. And so, we wanted to be aggressive at all times. Talked about his jump shot may not be falling, but he does so many other things for the team, and he did that tonight.”

White’s provided Boston with depth and defensive versatility since he was traded from the Spurs in February. After feeling adhesive when he first joined the Celtics, White says the players and coaches have helped him become a pivotal cog in Boston’s playoff run.

“The team’s done a great job of just being like, be you. Smart said to me this morning, Rob [Williams] said it. I’ve just gotta do that. That makes it a lot easier.”

The Celtics will hope to take a 3-2 series lead when they travel to Miami to take on the Heat Wednesday night at FTX Arena.

The post Ime Udoka Provides Derrick White Injury Update After Game 4 Win appeared first on SLAM.

Devin Booker has been named 2021-22 LeagueFits MVP, while Josh Christopher is the LeagueFits Rookie of the Year and Myles Turner has won Most Improved.

As we noted in his KICKS 24 cover story, Book has always studied fashion, sneakers and art. His straightforward fashion sense and defined aesthetic helped him earn his first LeagueFits MVP title. Clarkson, Oubre Jr., D’Angelo Russell and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander joined Booker for First Team honors. Phoenix teammate Chris Paul joined Booker on the LeagueFits Second Team.

As for the rookies, Jaygup separated himself from an All-Rookie Team that included Barnes, Green, Jonathan Kuminga and David Duke Jr. Christopher, the first and only high school player to be posted on LeagueFits, established himself as a future MVP contender with a strong rookie showing. Between retro shirts, jean jackets and a countless variety of kicks, Christopher was able to beat out Houston teammate Jalen Green (who earned a Third Team spot) for the ROTY award.

Myles Turner earned All-LeagueFits Third Team honors as well as Most Improved. The Pacers center impressed with his one-of-one style throughout the season and truly showed out, rocking everything from lime green knitted sleeves to slick shades.

The All-LeagueFits teams as well as the MVP, ROTY and Most Improved awards were selected by a voting system that included one-third of votes from fans, one-third of votes from LF’s Survival of the Fitted podcast and votes from an exclusive panel that included former WNBA star Ty Young, designer Mamadou, fashion publicist John Guidry, NBA champ Axel Toupane, NFL star and designer Rodney McLeod, designer Caroline Bentley Noble, Los Angeles Sparks’ star Liz Cambage, fashion TikTok influencer Ayeeron, former NBA standout and designer/‘Bucks in 6’ legend Brandon Jennings, Richard aka @thehapablonde and stylist Devon Byrd.

The post Devin Booker Named LeagueFits MVP, Josh Christopher Wins ROTY appeared first on SLAM.