Brickley initially named the runs “BlackOps” because he wanted the workouts and open runs to be discreet. Here, he gives us his breakdown of another year of BlackOps Basketball and his award picks.

The 2024 SLAM x BlackOps Awards

Breakout Season: Paolo Banchero

Photo by @kees2life

This was the fourth summer I worked with Paolo. His energy was laser-focused! We would go 60-75 minutes, and he did every drill at game speed. Coming off his first All-Star season and playoff run, he wanted more. I believe we will see Paolo in many more All-Star Games and many more playoff runs. The Magic will be very good this year.

Best Summer Shooter Award: Klay Thompson

Klay came in this offseason looking like a completely different player. He seemed a step quicker, and he shot incredibly well all summer. He literally broke every shooting record this summer. But, in CJ McCollum’s defense, Klay locked in with me in August/September, while CJ held many records and worked with me in May/June.

Best Middle Schooler I Have Ever Worked With: JJ Crawford

During the workout, JJ’s father (Jamal Crawford), Jordan Clarkson and Boardroom’s Nick DePaula were watching. Ju was hitting NBA three-pointers at a high percentage, picking up the ballhandling drills I was giving him and getting buckets on my interns! The internet always gives the interns a hard time, but they can really defend. After the workout, Jamal and I talked hoops for about an hour, and it was one of my favorite conversations of the summer. Jamal is a true student of the game. I’m calling it now: JJ Crawford will be a top-five pick one day!

Draft Day Award: Matas Buzelis and Tyler Kolek

I believe both of these guys will have long NBA careers. Matas will be a name we see on ESPN’s Top 10 plays many times this season. Tyler Kolek is my sleeper from this past draft. The Knicks got a great playmaker and scorer at No. 34. I think he’ll bring great energy with the second unit.

NCAA Award: lan Jackson

The best thing that happened to Ian Jackson was that to start his senior season, he dropped in the rankings. His entire workout approach changed at that moment, and Ian became a man on the basketball court. He worked out with me five days a week—sometimes twice a day—and went hard! I put him in situations where he played 1-on-1 with NBA players, and he more than held his own—he was wowing everyone in the gym. I can’t wait to see what he does at UNC this season.

High School Award: Kiyan Anthony & Chris Cenac Jr.

I’ve seen Kiyan Anthony develop from a little kid running around MSG to getting buckets in the NBA BlackOps runs. He is constantly texting me, showing his urgency to get in more workouts and keep improving. Chris Cenac played in the Brickley Invitational and shocked me during the workout portion. At 6-10, he can shoot the three, finish around the rim, play in the mid-post and try to dunk on you by the rim. It’s no surprise he’s skyrocketing up the rankings!

Chris Brickley Invitational Award: Tyran Stokes and Jasper Johnson

Tyran Stokes is ranked No. 1 in the Class of 2026 for a reason—he’s a matchup nightmare. He can shoot and find his teammates, and his motor is always on 100. Jasper Johnson went crazy in the game, hitting tough shot after tough shot. He really reminds me of D’Angelo Russell. Kentucky is producing high-level prospects right now.

Mentor Award: Russell Westbrook

People can say what they want about Russ, but the reality is he’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer and one of the Top 75 NBA players of all time. This was the second offseason in a row where he took the time to mentor a younger player. Last summer, it was Azzi Fudd from UConn, and this summer it was New Jersey legend Isaiah Briscoe. Russ invited Briscoe to a few of his 6 a.m. workouts and shared some gems. Russ and I have developed a genuine relationship over the years, and I’m thankful to have him as a friend.

GOAT Award: LeBron James

I was blessed to help prepare LeBron for his Gold medal run. His work definitely paid off, as he ended up getting MVP of the Olympics at 39 years old! Aside from his great workouts, toward the end of the summer, I was offered a lot of NBA coaching positions, and I needed someone to talk to who knows the game and the business. I reached out to LeBron with no expectations—if he didn’t respond, I wouldn’t have been upset at all, knowing he has a million things going on. But he sent me some great advice, and it was exactly what I needed to hear. So, thanks to the GOAT for taking the time to do that.

Best Group Workout of the Summer: Kevin Durant and CJ McCollum

There was something special about the energy at The Summit, with music blaring through the Bose speakers. Normally, players gradually work up to game-speed actions, but this workout was different. KD caught the ball in the corner, ripped through hard with two dribbles and hit a beautiful pull-up–just like he was in a playoff game. Then I passed the ball to CJ, and he did the same thing. For the next 65 minutes, both players gave it their all. That was awesome.

Best Rapper Basketball Player: Russ

Russ decided to take basketball seriously and came to me after training with his Atlanta trainer. He became a knockdown shooter. The transformation in his game was insane. He had dribble moves, was hitting NBA threes with consistency and just played with confidence. I think Russ became the best rapper-shooter l’ve ever worked with.

Best BlackOps Matchup: Jalen Brunson vs. Immanuel Quickley

Immanuel Quickley, fresh off signing his $175 million deal with the Raptors, was playing with supreme confidence against All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson. There was definitely a sense of major competition. Quickley backed up Brunson for the Knicks before being traded to the Raptors, so it felt like Quick was playing with a chip on his shoulder. Watching these two go at it for almost two hours was super entertaining. It was like watching a great boxing match. They were giving it their all and not letting up. Man, that was a great run!

Photos by @nextsubject.

The post The 2024 SLAM x BlackOps Awards: LeBron James, Jalen Brunson and More appeared first on SLAM.

Since its inception during the 2017-18 season, the All-LeagueFits awards have only gotten more contentious. LF legends like Russell Westbrook, Jordan Clarkson and Kelly Oubre are still dominating the landscape, but this next generation of tastemakers are rapidly closing in. From the lottery to the second round, the rookies put it ON for their first bout in the tunnels. Between Victor Wembanyama diving headfirst into San Antonio’s cowboy culture, Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s refined vibes echoing the beaches of Miami and Alperen Sengun walking away with Most Improved Player, the L has been left in more than capable hands.

Fresh off of his Rookie of the Year award last season, Jalen Williams has cemented a spot on the All-LeagueFits First Team. The OKC Thunder in general were consistently dressed to the nines, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander becoming the first player in LF history to win MVP in back-to-back seasons while Lu Dort rounded out the Third Team.

This year’s All-LeagueFits teams were carefully selected. The voting system was split into three categories: 25 percent of the votes were calculated from the LeagueFits discord, another 25 percent were derived from a legendary LeagueFits panel highlighted by Dwyane Wade, Serge Ibaka and Ty Young. The remaining 50 percent of the votes were weighted by LeagueFits producer Ian Pierno.

2023-24 ALL-LEAGUEFITS: FIRST TEAM

Three players made their debuts this season on the All-LeagueFits First Team— Bol Bol, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Jalen Williams—and joined a squad rockin’ sleek, suave and braggadocios attire with flashy accessories.

2023-24 ALL-LEAGUEFITS: SECOND TEAM

LeBron James easily had the best-dressed season of his career this year while Ty pushing the limits of his style, from pea coats to berets and a stream of loafers. Longtime LF legend Russell Westbrook locked in his seventh-straight All-LeagueFits appearance. And after back-to-back honorable mentions, Jordan Poole finally cracked the code with his consistent workwear wardrobe.

2023-24 ALL-LEAGUEFITS: THIRD TEAM

Jarred Vanderbilt made his third-straight All-LeagueFits team while Jerami Grant’s eclectic style turned heads constantly. On the other side of the aisle, Kelly Oubre and D’Angelo Russell put another stamp on their historic LeagueFits passport, marking their fifth and fourth placements, respectively.

2023-24 ALL-LEAGUEFITS: ROOKIE TEAM

Let’s be real, the rooks went absolutely crazy this year. After becoming Louis Vuitton’s latest ambassador, Victor Wembanyama fully enveloped the legendary brand’s new wave led by Pharrell Williams. An insane amount of ice spearheaded Scoot Henderson’s selection amidst the backdrop of Amari Bailey’s puffer campaign and Brice Sensabaugh’s break-out year.

2023-24 ALL-LEAGUEFITS: HONORABLE MENTIONS

Honorable mentions are a must. Don’t get it twisted. With only 15 slots on the All-LeagueFits teams and an otherworldly amount of drip, the guys on this years list stayed laced in layers of palettes, fabrics and textures.

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS: 2023-24 ALL-LEAGUEFITS: MOST IMPROVED PLAYER

2023-24 ALL-LEAGUEFITS: ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

2023-24 ALL-LEAGUEFITS: MOST IMPROVED PLAYER

Check out the award winners from years past below:

2017-18 Awards

2018-19 Awards

2021-22 Awards

2023 WNBA Awards

The post The 2023-24 All-LeagueFits Awards: SGA Named MVP, Wemby Wins ROTY (Again) appeared first on SLAM.

This year’s voting style for the All-star League Fits was unique by mirroring the NBA’s voting process, with the ballot being split up by conference *and* frontcourt/backcourt. In the East, layering has been a critical style choice for stars like the Jays and Tyrese Haliburton while wearing many hats: beanies, fitted’s, and cowboy hats. Meanwhile, in the West, stars like SGA and Jordan Clarkson have been showing out in the tunnel, as they always do, with their effortlessly cool style, bold accessories, and choice of shades.

Here’s this year’s LeagueFits All-Stars:

That’s back-to-back starting selections on the LeagueFits All-Star teams for Jaylen Brown.

Is there anyone in the League whose outfits are more talked about more than Tyrese Haliburton’s? He’s in a class of his own right now.

Who said there’s no waves in Philadelphia? The first-ever LeagueFits MVP snags a starting spot on this year’s starting 5.

Sometimes less is (a lot) more. Jordan Poole led the entire Eastern conference in votes this season.

Jayson Tatum led the Eastern frontcourt in voting (and by a lot, too).

Save any and all other nicknames, after back-to-back style All-Star selections, he’s officially Thanasfits Antetokounmpo.

Aesthetic this, aesthetic that, nobody’s aesthetic is as defined and consistent as Bruce Brown’s. (Who says cowboys can’t come from Massachusetts?)

Nic Claxton’s consistently been NYC’s best-dressed player despite being nearly 7-feet tall. Well deserving of his first LeagueFits All-Star selection.

Buddy Hield’s been consistently throwing fits for a few seasons. Excited to see it continue in Philly.

Once upon a time, Kyle Kuzma was the first-ever LeagueFits Rookie of the Year. He clearly hasn’t slown down at all since then.

Y’all know scary Terry was the first box checked on my ballot.

A guy who dresses how he’s feeling, there’s few guys in the league with the same variety and range as Myles Turner.

It’s been a season of straight heaters since Bol Bol arrived in the desert. (Oh, and he’s been putting in work on the court since the turn of the new year, too).

The Alexander’s are officially the LeagueFits royal family. Nickel Alexander-Walker joins Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as a western conference starter, beating out an absolutely stacked ballot feat. Two former LeagueFits MVP’s. 

 Yeah, nobody had more votes than this guy. It’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s world and we’re all living on it.

It’s not easy to get dressed night in and night out when you’re a 7-footer with the largest sneaker size in the association, but Karl Anthony Towns has managed to do it. Shout out to the on and off-court All-Star.

Jalen Williams is the THIRD member of the Oklahoma City Thunder to be voted a LeagueFits All-Star, and the second to be voted onto the starting lineup. S/O dub.

You’ll be hard-pressed to find someone as consistently dressed as Devin Booker.

The host of last year’s on-court All-Stars is back. No LeagueFits discussion is complete without Jordan Clarkson in the conversation.

The first (of many) LeagueFits accolades for Lu Dort. One of the best-dressed players on the league’s coolest team.

The only thing better than winning your first ring is being voted as a LeagueFits All-Star for the first time.

LeBron’s in the GOAT conversation. He’s a business mogul. He’s a husband and father. He’s maybe the busiest basketball player ever, and he’s still found time to craft the best slate of pregame style we’ve ever seen from him in his career.

Jarred Vanderbilt made our All-LeagueFits first team last spring, it’s not a surprise that Los Angeles’ best-dressed added another style All-Star to his resume.

Russell Westbrook’s wardrobe is gonna be carved into the NBA style Mt. Rushmore when he retires. In the meantime, tho, he has more fits to get off (and create).

The post The 2024 LeagueFits All-Stars: Full List appeared first on SLAM.

I’ve always tried to do things a different way, and I’ve never been afraid of taking a risk. 

That meant going to Oak Hill, when I was already the #1 player in the country, cause I wanted to run at 6 AM every day. Learn from the best High School coach of all time, Steve Smith. I wanted to play the best schedule in the country. I wanted to break Melo’s scoring record. I wanted to put my skills on display, every night, and see if my love for the game, and that $30 orange ball, could get me millions. (And I did all that.) 

When I skipped college and went pro in Rome, I took an even bigger risk. I signed a shoe deal with a football brand that had never even launched a basketball shoe, and I took pride in that shit. I trusted Kris Stone and Kevin Plank and the vision we all had. I knew we all had that same dog mindset to get after it. 

I’m the OG at Under Armour, had their 1st ever signature shoe, and to this day I’m proud of that decision. The way I looked at making big decisions, I was always willing to take a risk, but confident about what I bring to the table. I was open minded, but knew how much work would have to go into building things from scratch. I always knew what I signed up for. And I was hyper aggressive and wanted to create some real energy.

That type of mindset was also exactly how Kevin Plank built the whole brand from his grandma’s basement. 

I always had that same entrepreneurial spirit, and you can probably see that now too, ever since I launched my own brand — Tuff Crowd. 

And now, it’s all coming full circle.

My Draft classmate, who I call Thirty, took a chance on UA a handful of years after me too.

When Stephen Curry first signed on with Under Armour, he hadn’t even made an All-Star Game yet. (He started the very next one.) His team hadn’t won a ring in like 40 years. (He won his first of four titles the year after that.) He got a signature shoe too, and now he’s on his 11th. (He won MVP in the 1, then again in the 2s.) 

So it’s only right that the two guys that laid the foundation of Under Armour Basketball are coming together now for a full collaboration collection. 

When I first launched Tuff Crowd in 2019, it was built on a simple idea. Life is a Tuff Crowd, and things don’t always go according to plan. That’s what I started to really figure out when I was by myself and playing in China that year. Stuff gets thrown your way that you didn’t think you’d ever have to deal with, but you gotta power through.

That’s where the idea of my “Hostile Territory” tagline comes from. You gotta have that dog mindset to get past the struggles, and trust me, when you have that belief that things will work out, there’s no better feeling than being on the other side. 

I’ve been through it all. I tore my Achilles and my entire life changed. Changed the whole course of where I thought my career was headed. I was on a run right before that and playing my best hoop ever. But that’s life.

Friends and fam issues came up that you couldn’t imagine. Situations where I had to fight through, that made me stronger. I spent a lot of time by myself when I was playing in China and Russia, where I could really reflect. And I have perspective, appreciation, and belief cause of all of it. I’m at peace with the path I’ve lived. 

All of that goes into Tuff Crowd. 

People might not know this, but during the NBA lockout in 2011, I actually interned at Under Armour for that whole summer in Baltimore. Kevin Plank loaned me his black Jeep to drive around. Had a whole office with my job title on it — “Curator of Cool.” 

Being in there every day, with Kris Stone, Ron Johnson and Ryan Drew, was everything. Being able to see how things work as a company, and learning about materials, fabrics, designs, comfort and different styles, it helped me get more detailed about how I wanted my product to be. 

That whole internship helped me a lot. Waking up every day, going to the office and working on projects that had to be delivered by a certain time and required an attention to detail — it was my foundation of understanding how brands and business works. 

When it comes to style, I always felt like I had an eye for stuff that was effortless, but bold. Drewsy at UA used to always joke that he could drop me off at a Goodwill for 10 minutes, give me $20 bucks to cop a whole outfit, and I’d come out fresh. 

I always just had that feel. That sauce. 

I’d be on LeagueFits every day if it was around back then. 

Since I’ve been working on my brand for the last couple years, we’ve had a ton of highlights for sure. Getting featured in NBA 2K has been killer. Doing an official collab with the Bucks was crazy. 

And I gotta give a shout out and special thanks to Jordan Clarkson. He really believed since day one that Tuff Crowd would take off, and he rocked the whole fit when he won 6th Man of the Year. You have no idea how much that support has meant to me.

Seeing players rock Tuff Crowd at championship parades, in the tunnel and at All-Star events ever since has been amazing.

But this, I’m telling you, is the dopest thing I ever worked on.

You already know Steph is locked in for life at UA, and with Curry Brand, he’s looking to really build up the style and designs of what he’s putting out.

That’s why we teamed up.

Tuff Crowd and Curry Brand — but not just a shoe, or a couple pieces. A whole collection. We’ve got three shoes off top, and almost 20 pieces of gear and accessories. And the story behind it is great. 

The idea of 11:11 is big for me. 

The bones design on the collection come straight from my neck tattoo, and it’s a spiritual reminder for me. 

It speaks to understanding who you are, what your purpose is, and alignment with your path and what God has in store for you. When you think about it, there’s no better representation of that than Stephen.

He’s a good dude at his core, he’s locked in on what matters most, and he wants to really, genuinely, help people out. No matter if you’re from Charlotte, Oakland, or anywhere else in between, he has a whole team around him that’s there to get things moving and make a difference. I’ve seen that firsthand. 

Steph has been rocking with Tuff Crowd since the start. It’s funny, cause earlier this summer, I was randomly looking up some of our original orders from TuffCrowd.com, and sure enough, Steph had bought one of the first beanies that we dropped years ago. He rocks the collar stitch tees. The dad hats. The dog hoodies too. 

And of course, that fire ass black and red chain stitch jacket that I made him after he broke the 3-Point record, with 2974 on the wrist, and patches repping his kids on the sleeve. 

But this is different. We’ve got some Curry 11s that have black Flow tech for the first time ever for Curry Brand. The Cozy we did is so fire and clean. We got a hoody that I think is the best clothing item that Curry Brand has ever made. We got tees, socks, shorts, hats and a tote bag that is my go-to, day to day joint. 

I wanted to bring an edge to this collection and show another side of Stephen, that people haven’t seen. There’s a mood the whole way through. People think Steph is just a nice guy, but trust me, he’s hostile out there on the court, with how competitive he is. He attacks everything he does in life with intent and purpose, and I wanted to celebrate that part of his game and his mentality through the designs.

It’s about the details. The story. And the idea that two of UA’s most impactful dudes early on can come together again and put out some real heat that you’ll actually want to rock. To dinner. In the tunnel. On the court. With your fam. Wherever. 

I’m big on the idea of ownership. Of running your own thing. Putting your name, your imprint and your stamp on something that you can stand behind and be proud of. That’s what Steph is doing now as President of Curry Brand, what I’m building with Tuff Crowd, and really the roots of how Under Armour took off. 

When my guy launched his own damn Curry Brand at the end of 2020 (which is killer…read that sentence again!!), one of the first things he told everyone at UA was something like, ‘Look, this isn’t even about me, we have a real opportunity here to impact the next generation.’ 

They came up with a tagline for Curry Brand to describe the idea: “Change The Game For Good” 

Ever since, I’ve been able to see that impact up close. 

I’ve been at Curry Camp the last two summers now, where Stephen is walking the top next up dudes and women through every drill, every detail and giving them some real talk about how you need to think the game at that highest level. All these boys and girls are the best at what they do — right now — but that doesn’t guarantee nothin when the lights come on, on the biggest stage, a few years from now. 

We know Steph’s story. He laughed and told all the Camp players, that when he was their age, he wouldn’t have even been invited to his own camp. That should say a lot right there. There’s work, detail and intent that you gotta pour in, to get to where we’ve gotten.

The week after his camp last year, I pulled up to a middle school in Long Beach, where him and Snoop Dogg had re-done the entire gymnasium for the LBC community. 

Man, you shoulda seen the smile on these kids’ faces. I can’t even begin to tell you how much hope that provides to all the youngins coming up, to get to see STEPH CURRY right up close, and know that he cares about them and wants to help them out.

Look — the shoes and the clothes we’re dropping are hard as hell. Like, really some of the hardest stuff I’ve ever dropped since I even started Tuff Crowd. 

But Steph’s line that he uses — “Change The Game For Good” — is real.  

That’s what makes this next sentence so amazing. 

As part of our 11:11 collection launch this week on Saturday, we’re actually taking it back to my hometown gym in LA, where I literally picked up a ball at 5 years old and learned how to hoop. Where our kids league director JK made sure we had a safe place to play. I got the trophy to prove it. 

I’m talking Rowley Park.

Back in 2011, one of the first givebacks I did with UA was donate a new outdoor court at the park. The street signs say Brandon Jennings Way and Under Armour Way. And for the whole last decade it became a spot where kids from the neighborhood could escape and just play. Just have fun. Just be kids. 

This time around, I wanted to do even more.

That inside gym in Gardena, California ain’t seen any love since I was there in elementary school. It was the same hard court I dribbled on as a kid. The same walls and everything.

And we’re about to upgrade and overhaul the whole thing. 

A whole new Rowley Park, that’s gonna last for years to come. 

It’s gonna have “TUFF CROWD” on the baselines. My dog logo at the center court. The Curry splash logo with the barbwire in the key. And on the sidelines, it says “Change The Game For Good.”

11:11 is all about timing. All about balance. All about alignment, and things working out for you when your energy is right. 

The “011” on the hardwood means it’s the 11th court that Curry Brand has helped to re-do and upgrade since 2020. That’s timing right there.

We’re gonna kick the gym re-opening off with a basketball camp for kids. And then let my hometown get a first crack at copping the whole Tuff Crowd x Curry Brand collection. It’s gonna be one of the proudest days ever. 

All of this is as full circle as it gets for me. I’m hoping it shows the power of what players can provide for the communities that built them and supported them on their journey to somewhere as amazing as the Association. And how you can continue to find new passions in life, like being a clothing designer, or even a co-host on a basketball show. 

It also shows how impact isn’t just about launching some fresh black and red shoes and some hard clothes — it’s also about leaving something real for the kids coming up next. 

The kids from Compton and Gardena that need to know they can find their path in life. They can power through any situation they’re faced with. They can channel that Tuff Crowd mindset and keep going. 

The post The Most Impactful Collaboration The League Has Ever Seen  appeared first on SLAM.

The United States will enter the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup in August as the second- ranked country in the world.

Yes, the second-ranked country.

For the first time in more than a decade, US men’s basketball slipped to No. 2 in the FIBA world rankings back in November. The top spot currently belongs to Spain, winners of the 2022 FIBA EuroBasket—the championship of Europe for men’s national teams—and the 2019 FIBA World Cup (a tournament in which the Americans finished seventh). The US does not send its A-team to events such as the FIBA AmeriCup, where it came in third last year after being knocked out by Argentina, but the results of those tournaments still impact the rankings. And while the squad put together for the Tokyo Olympics emerged victorious two summers ago, it lost to France during the preliminary round and only won by 5, 87-82, in a rematch in the Final. 

You don’t have to look hard for proof that the game is growing around the world. The three finalists for the 2023 NBA MVP hailed from countries outside the United States—winner Joel Embiid (Cameroon) and runners-up Nikola Jokic (Serbia) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece)—as well as six of the top eight vote-getters. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada) finished fifth, followed by Domantas Sabonis (Lithuania) in seventh and Luka Doncic (Slovenia) in eighth. This marked the fifth straight season that a foreign-born player was crowned MVP, dating back to Antetokounmpo’s first triumph in 2019.

Most of those stars have confirmed that they intend to play in the upcoming World Cup, which will take place in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia. This year’s event will be the second to feature 32 teams and the first to be hosted by multiple nations. It’s also the gateway to the 2024 Olympics in Paris, as seven countries will qualify based on their performances: two from the Americas, two from Europe, one from Africa, one from Asia and one from Oceania.

For the US, the tournament will be far from a cakewalk, regardless of who lands on the team’s final roster. 

“There are quality players around the world—I think we’re starting to see that,” says Carlan Gay, deputy editor at The Sporting News and an announcer for international competitions. “Four of the five that finished at the top of the MVP voting aren’t American born—that just tells you that the world isn’t catching up, it has caught up.” 

“I think that we have this idea that, well, if it’s not American, it’s not as good,” says Jeff Taylor, an international basketball commentator since 1997. “I understood immediately watching the [1997] EuroBasket—watching a game between Poland and Germany—I was struck by how good they were.” 

Taylor has covered most of FIBA’s flagship events since then, observing firsthand how the level of talent has risen in other countries. “It’s grown exponentially,” he tells SLAM. “I think it was already good at the time, but I think there are different factors at work here [that have made it even better].”

For one, an increasing number of Europeans jumped to the NBA in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The success of guys like Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol and Tony Parker helped erase stigmas about foreign players—mainly, that they were too soft and not athletic enough to succeed in the States—and inspired others to follow in their footsteps.

Emerging talents overseas join top professional organizations as teenagers, where they are exposed to elite coaching and stiff competition that accelerates their development. Doncic signed a five-year contract with Real Madrid at the age of 13, and No. 1 NBA draft prospect Victor Wembanyama has been a pro since he was 15. Of course, those high-level prospects also join their respective national team programs early on, which facilitates even more growth.

“There’s more opportunity for development within your national team program [overseas],” says University of Alabama assistant coach Ryan Pannone, who has previously coached in the NBA, G League, China Germany, Slovakia and Israel. “And the pressure those guys are playing under and the pride for their national teams is really high. [For example], Luka was playing within the national team obviously from a very young age in Slovenia, and he was in the academy within Real Madrid in Spain. So he’s getting professional coaching seven days a week from coaches whose full-time jobs are to make sure he develops; and then in the summer, he’s in the national team system of Slovenia, where he’s playing in high-pressure-filled games.”

Basketball journeyman Scotty Hopson, who has played in 10 countries and suited up for the 2018 USA World Cup Qualifying Team, notes that the “athleticism level” has increased among international players. “Whenever I go to these countries and play against other teams and players, I feel like they always have a knowledge of basketball that’s pretty high level,” says Hopson. “And now you add the component that guys are starting to get more athletic, starting to understand how to take care of their bodies, how to train more.”

It’s important to mention that the FIBA game is different—harder, in a lot of ways. Quarters are 10 minutes long as opposed to 12. The court is smaller (91 feet-10 inches by 49 feet-2.5 inches, compared to the NBA’s 94 feet by 50 feet), and the three-point line is about a foot closer. There’s no defensive three seconds, and goaltending rules are modified: players are allowed to swat the ball off the cylinder as soon as it touches the rim.

All of these changes result in a distinct style of play: more strategic and methodical, less spaced. Teams value possessions more because there are fewer of them. On defense, it’s easier to pack the paint and provide help. Closeouts are faster—there’s not as much ground to cover—so coaches emphasize shooting and making quick reads. “The game internationally can be very physical, very tactical. And if you’re going to play it, you have to be very intelligent,” explains Taylor.

“The game in Europe is way harder than the game in the NBA,” Antetokounmpo said last September. “The talent obviously in the NBA is way higher, but the space [is better]—you have a lot of lanes to drive the ball, a lot of lanes to create. Over there it’s more intense.” 

During the 2022 FIBA EuroBasket last summer, Antetokounmpo had to work extremely hard for his points, as opponents clogged the middle and sent double or triple teams his way. “And in the past, this has helped me a lot, like when I came back from [the World Cup] in 2019,” he added. “That was the year we went to the bubble. The first couple of games, I felt like the court was huge.”

“Is it harder? Yes, because I think you really need to have quick thinking,” Jokic said about the international game after EuroBasket. “In the NBA, if you go by the guy, you can see the help is coming. In Europe, help is always there. So you need to think and play ahead.” That challenge helped Jokic evolve into the playmaker that he is today and made transitioning to the NBA much easier. Similarly, Doncic told SLAM in 2022: “I think from [Europe] comes my reading the game, all the passing skills.”

Thus, current and future NBA players can benefit tremendously from participating in FIBA events, especially given the intensity of those environments. Many of those players also assume bigger roles for their national teams, which allows them to showcase other parts of their games. Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen, for example, shined as the number one option for Finland at the 2022 EuroBasket, averaging 27.9 points on 54 percent shooting from the field and 41 percent from three.

When he returned to the States for the 2022-23 NBA season, Jazz head coach Will Hardy encouraged Markkanen to play exactly as he had for Finland—confident, assertive, in more of a central role. And Markkanen had the best year of his NBA career, making his first All-Star team and winning the Most Improved Player award.

Says Coach Pannone, who was an assistant for the New Orleans Pelicans in 2022-23, “Obviously, Lauri Markkanen and the way that panned out doesn’t happen for every [NBA] team, but [FIBA events] certainly give you the chance to see one of your players in more of a star role—how they’re used, how they handle it, how successful they are. And you get that opportunity without it costing you games by trying to experiment with that throughout the NBA season.”

Markkanen will be with Finland again this summer for the World Cup. Other international players expected to compete include Antetokounmpo, Doncic, Jokic, Gilgeous-Alexander, Sabonis, Wembanyama, Rudy Gobert (France), Karl-Anthony Towns (Dominican Republic), Kristaps Porzingis (Latvia), Franz Wagner (Germany), Josh Giddey (Australia), Nikola Vucevic (Montenegro), Jordan Clarkson (Philippines) and more. The US will likely enter the tournament as a significant favorite, but the depth of talent this year will once again make the road to the Naismith Trophy very difficult.

“Whether you’re from the United States or not, there’s going to be amazing competition here because the level of basketball in this World Cup, I think, will be unprecedented,” NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum said during an episode of One Sports’ The Game.

Defending champions Spain should have another formidable roster, led by veteran point guard Ricky Rubio, MVP of the 2019 FIBA World Cup, and Willy Hernangomez, MVP of the 2022 FIBA EuroBasket. Australia, ranked third, should have Giddey and several other NBA players, including Patty Mills, Joe Ingles, Matisse Thybulle, Josh Green and Jock Landale. The likely presence of Antetokounmpo, Doncic and Jokic ensures that Greece, Slovenia and Serbia will all be tough opponents. Canada could be stacked with household names: Gilgeous-Alexander, Jamal Murray, RJ Barrett, Andrew Wiggins, Kelly Olynyk, Dwight Powell, Lu Dort, Dillon Brooks and more. And then, of course, there’s France, a country that nearly toppled the United States in the Tokyo Olympics and should have a similar squad, plus the 7-4 phenom Wembanyama. 

The list of worthy competitors for the ’23 World Cup title goes on and on—each one composed of prideful players determined to reach the podium for their countries. 

“You can go down the list of guys who really take pride in putting on that [national team] jersey,” says Gay. “I don’t think it’s something that we truly understand in North America—how much passion there is for basketball outside of these borders and how much passion there is for performing on the world stage for your country—because of the NBA factor. I think kids around the world grow up not dreaming to be in the NBA but dreaming to play and win a World Cup and win an Olympic gold medal.”

“Representing your national team, it’s heavy,” said Antetokounmpo in September. “You represent your whole country.”

Asked about facing Antetokounmpo during the 2019 FIBA World Cup, then-United States head coach Gregg Popovich said this of international superstars: “When they play for their countries, we like to say that they become superheroes. They get together and, through their relationships and their views about their game, they just form a team that—they fall in love with each other. They enjoy playing with each other. And that goes across the board for everybody that’s in the tournament. A lot of them have grown up together, a lot of them have spent a lot of time playing together, and you can see that.”

“The biggest advantage I felt like [other countries] had was that those teams play together for years and years and years,” Hopson reiterates. He speaks from experience, having lost to a cohesive and well-coached Argentina squad during qualifiers for the 2019 FIBA World Cup. “You’re going into a situation where you’re playing against guys who have probably been playing together since they were kids. They have an advantage with that because the chemistry is already built.” 

Combine that chemistry with the rising talent and the hunger of players to win for their countries and the US will certainly have its hands full trying to reclaim the World Cup title and the No. 1 FIBA ranking.

“The gap has closed, but also, the fear factor is gone,” Gay says. “No one’s afraid to play Team USA. In fact, they’re circling that date on the calendar to try to make history.”

SLAM 244 is also available in this exclusive Gold Metal Edition.

Photos via Getty Images.

The post International Superstars are Now Dominating the Game More Than Ever Before appeared first on SLAM.

The song choice is almost too good for this moment. Clarkson, who, per our sources, actually styles himself, is a rock star in his own way, from popping out at New York Fashion Week in the fall to arriving this season ready to really turn things up and average new career-highs. As he poses for his first-ever SLAM cover wearing his Utah Jazz City Edition jersey and rockin’ a black gel manicure, his All-Star teammate, Lauri Markkanen, asks for his thoughts on how he should style his jersey. 

“Gotta have it untucked,” Clarkson says. 

SLAM 243 featuring Lauri Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson is out now. Shop here.

While Clarkson and Markkanen might seem different—Markkanen was born and raised in Finland and turns 26 in May, while Clarkson is from down South, raised in Texas, and a few years older (he turns 31 in June)—they actually have a lot in common. They’re both fathers and both born under the Gemini sign, which is Latin for “twins,” for the two stars that make up its constellation. This season, the Jazz’s two leading scorers are shining brighter than ever: Markkanen is averaging a career-high 25.7 ppg and was just named an All-Star for the first time, while Clarkson has significantly improved as a playmaker and is putting up a career-high 20.8 points and 4.4 assists per contest. They’ve gone from being parts of trades—Clarkson was sent to the Jazz in 2019 after stints in L.A. and Cleveland, while Markkanen was a part of a blockbuster trade this past summer after four years in Chicago and a year in The Land—to becoming two key pieces of a franchise on the rebuild.

“Confidence is everything in this League,” Markkanen says. “In life, in general. It makes everything so much easier when you believe in yourself—what you’re doing—but it goes to your teammates as well. On the court, for example, going [into] every shot, knowing that my teammates believe that I’m going to knock it down. I think it’s just everything in this building. We all believe in each other, and I think that’s really helping us build something bigger than ourselves.”

While JC and Markkanen describe themselves as chill—as Clarkson takes photos, Markkanen chats about taking his family bowling for the first time and wanting to make time for them in between traveling—they’re equally as perceptive when it comes to the future of the organization. They know it’s not just on them, or about them. They’ve got an entire squad behind them, too.

“Everybody is hungry,” Clarkson later adds. “We’ve got a bunch of young guys who are willing to prove themselves, coming in here to work. That’s like a foundation point of anything.” 

Just a few days after our shoot, the Jazz went out and showed how promising their future can be with a big win against Boston, in which Markkanen scored 28. Even as he and JC sat out against Sacramento, the rest of the team held it down, with Kelly Olynyk notching his second straight double-double and rookies Walker Kessler and Ochai Agbaji, who impressed with a 27-piece, shining. 

“We’ve got big goals for ourselves. Obviously it is a process, but we’re not trying to fast forward a little bit as well [in] trying to build a winning culture,” he says. “…For everybody, the end goal is to win a championship. While we’re having a good time as a team, I don’t think that’s why we’re here. I don’t think we’re here just to have a good time. We’re trying to win games and play meaningful games. That’s what we’re working toward.” 

There are guys who have been exactly where the Jazz are working to get to. Even Juan Toscano-Anderson, who just joined the team after a trade sent him to Utah in February, won a championship with the Warriors just last year. JC has been to the playoffs four times throughout his career. What he’s learned from playing with LeBron and Kobe is that in those moments, good or bad, you have to just keep it pushing. 

“It goes with the territory,” Clarkson later adds. “The biggest thing is that you wake up and the sun comes out the next day. You put your shoes back on, tie ’em up and figure it out. All of this is a part of the trials and tribulations, the ups and downs. The roller coaster ain’t no fun unless it makes loops.”

Back in 2018, JC was a 25-year-old with a low-top cut, learning those lessons firsthand in Cleveland. He made his first playoff appearance, and at the time, everything was “eye-opening.” The play calls. The level of communication. The Cavs went seven games against Indiana, swept Toronto and then went seven more against Boston to get to the Finals. Clarkson was trying to get up to speed as quickly as he could, but admits now that he didn’t feel as prepared as he thought he needed to be. 

The Cavs ended up losing to the Warriors in four games in the Finals. Clarkson didn’t hit the floor in either of the last two matchups. 

“Trying to get up to speed in a time where I’d never been in that situation was pretty crazy,” Clarkson says. “I kind of take it as a learning experience for me and just kept pushing and pushing, and now we’re in a position [where I’ve] played in the playoffs the last three, four years, have produced and we’ve won games—not where we wanted to be in the end goal but, I think I’ve made progress in that sense and being in a position now where we’re winning games and we’re trying to lead guys as well.”

As someone who prefers to live in the present, Clarkson has been able to dial in and prove the narrative wrong that his game is one-dimensional and he’s limited to just scoring wrong. He’s emerged as a playmaker who can dish no-look passes to Markkanen and orchestrate an offense. “The biggest thing is calm down. Not try to do too much and let plays happen,” he explains. “A lot of times, aggressiveness turns into bad things, so just being able to find yourself in those moments and being able to reel yourself in with a snowball effect…Knowing that I am an older guy now, I’ve been in the League for a while, [so], just trying to knock those moments down and just help the team. 

Is that what he’d tell his younger self? 

“Oh yeah, for sure. I’m probably talking to myself right now,” Clarkson says.

Both literally and figuratively, JC has really been climbing his way throughout his career, and since he arrived in Utah, he’s also been exploring what the city has to offer. He’s hiked the Living Room Trail, visited the hot springs and traveled even further south to see the canyons. “I just kind of get lost up there,” he says. “I know a few times, we’ve been up there when it was dark—figured out that’s not our cup of tea.” 

Utah has been a turning point for Markkanen, too. While he hasn’t had much time to really see Salt Lake City like that—he was playing for Finland in the EuroBasket this summer when the trade went down—he felt a “mental shift” from the minute he touched down in the city for training camp. 

“Getting traded, first of all, and then arriving here, I think just kind of flipped the switch in my mindset,” he says. “I thought I did everything I was asked to a year ago, and then to see the business side of basketball and still get traded. I kind of go out there and try to play my best every night. That really motivated me as well.” 

When asked how he’s managed to make such a massive leap within just a year, Markkanen admits that he’s always had the individual goal of wanting to become an All-Star. But to actually make that happen, he gives credit to his support system. “Coach [Will] Hardy has been doing a great job in just empowering the whole team and trying to play everybody [to] their strengths,” Markkanen explains. “And so, we’re all working toward a bigger goal, and it’s been a big part of why I’ve been able to do that—just getting the help and watching film, and again, back to that teammate thing, I’m not doing it by myself. A lot of my scoring, for example, is assisted baskets. They’re coming off my teammate’s passes, so they’ve been finding me, giving me good looks, and then I just gotta be able to knock them down. So I always give the biggest credit to my teammates and coaches.”

Clarkson is quick to show him love right back. “This year, as a player, seeing what the defenses are throwing at him and how he’s adjusting has been amazing,” he says, when asked about Markkanen’s growth. “It’s one of those things [where]—I’ve been around stars, major stars. Bron, Kobe. Seeing Don [Donovan Mitchell] last year as a young star. Seeing [Lauri] come into his own as a star, it’s been amazing.” 

Regardless of what the outcome of this season is, there’s power in Clarkson, Markkanen and the whole team keeping everything in perspective. To move up in the Western Conference standings, and solidify themselves as playoff contenders, they’ll have to keep that same energy, and keep it pushing. 

“I know it sounds crazy, but stick with the process,” Clarkson tells Markkanen. “The biggest thing you can always say: it’s never a failure, it’s just a learning experience. Next time, I know how you are, how you get to work. You ’gon figure it out. Next time that happens, he’s ’gon be prepared for it.”

SLAM 243 is also available in this exclusive Gold Metal Edition and Cover Tee.

Portraits by Marcus Stevens.

The post Lauri Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson are Ready to take the Utah Jazz to New Heights appeared first on SLAM.

It’s easy to explain the 1993 NBA All-Star Game in today’s terms: Lauri Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson are MVPs as their team wins an OT classic. Neat as it would be for the locals if Markkanen and Clarkson played a big role in this year’s game—were they even to make it—or even if this was last season and the Gobert-Mitchell partnership starred, that doesn’t actually do justice to what went down at the Delta Center on February 21, 1993, the first and only time Utah has hosted the game until this year.

The ’92-93 NBA season saw two Jazz legends at their steady and consistent best. Power forward Karl Malone, at 29 years old and in his eighth season, played all 82 regular season games, averaging 27 points and 11 rebounds per game for a Jazz team that was on the rise. Many of his points came via feeds from Utah point guard John Stockton, a 30-year-old in his ninth season who led the League in assists at 12 per while also notching 15.1 ppg and 2.4 spg. At that point in their careers, in fact, Malone and Stockton had each only missed a total of four games. “DNP-rest” did not exist back then, to say the least. The two pick-n-roll greats didn’t rest on the day of the All-Star Game that year, either, each starting and playing more than 30 minutes.

Obviously, every All-Star Game is filled with the best the NBA has to offer, but the way that
year’s classic fell in certain players’ career trajectories gave it an extra sheen. And this was despite the fact that this was the first All-Star Game in NBA history (dating to 1951!) without a Celtic or Laker on a roster.

We had to re-watch this joint on YouTube in part because, in something as rare as the Celtic-Laker stat but in reverse, SLAM wasn’t there. And for an awfully good reason—we didn’t exist yet. So we’ve got no funny stories about run-ins with other media or PR staff, over-the-top gifting suites, too many free drinks, off-the-hook Stance Spades parties or Sprinter vans on the loose. Considering SLAM launched before the ’94 All-Star Game took place, this ’93 mid-winter classic belongs in the record books for that reason alone: The Last All-Star Game Before SLAM. 

And just to stay on that tangent, the cover of the very first SLAM, which hit stands sometime around Jan 1, 1994, featured Larry Johnson, who started the ’93 All-Star Game, which shows how fly a player he was. And yet…you know a crazy stat about LJ vis a vis the other star(ter)s in the ’93 Game? He’s the only one who is not in the Hall of Fame. 

Peep the greatness from the other nine ballers who were on the court for the game’s beginning: Malone, Stockton, Charles Barkley, Clyde Drexler and David Robinson in the West; Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Scottie Pippen and Isiah Thomas in the East. 

The game was the last of 12 straight Thomas would make in his career. It was the last All-Star appearance Jordan would make before he won his third straight NBA title and then shocked the world with his first retirement. It was the first All-Star appearance of 15 O’Neal would make in his big career. The ’93 All-Star Game also featured classic pivot men Patrick Ewing and Hakeem Olajuwon off the bench, along with the penultimate All-Star appearance for Dominique Wilkins, who appeared in a total of eight as a member of the Atlanta Hawks.   

Chock full of dudes known as much for their competitive spirits as their on-court abilities, the game was entertaining and tightly contested from the jump, which the video of the game confirms. With Dick Enberg on play-by-play duties and Mike Fratello and Magic Johnson on color commentary, the early hype around the game focused on Jordan (already well on his way to GOAT status) and Shaq (the first rookie to start an ASG since…Jordan in ’85). When the PA announcer ran through the Western Conference starters, he led with Stockton and closed with Malone, who got by far the biggest applause of anyone. It all felt cute, but not like these were real MVPs-in-waiting.

As was their custom, though, the Jazz stars steadily asserted their influence on the game, wearing down the East with their all-around excellence. Jordan was the leading scorer, notching 30 points and making the biggest pass of the game, when he hit Ewing to complete a perfect pick-n-pop for a game-tying jumper with seconds left in regulation. When the West took control in overtime, however, the writing was on the wall. A strong performance in the fifth period helped Stockton and Malone to final stat lines of 9 points and 15 assists (the only player with double-digit dimes) and 28 points with 10 rebounds, respectively. Within about three seconds of the buzzer sounding to end the game, and before the players could even have been told, Enberg made it official: Stockton and Malone were co-MVPs.

What else happened that weekend? Well, not as much as would happen at later extravaganzas, to be honest. Friday was media day, but MJ didn’t even get to town for that because he was off playing golf (as he would do most years). There was no All-Star Friday night because there was no Rookie Game, Rookie-Sophomore Game, Rising Stars Challenge, etc. That whole concept didn’t exist yet. Like SLAM, that was an invention that the world would need to wait until 1994 for. 

All-Star Saturday was a thing, and 1993’s version was, let’s say, average? The Three-Point Shootout was won by Mark Price, which is fun because dude really was a bonkers shooter and because he won the next year, too. Those were the only two three-point shootouts Price was ever in, which is a dope stat. 

The Dunk Contest had already fallen from the ’80s highs of MJ vs Dominique but was still a place you might catch a future star do their thing. In ’93, Harold Miner provided a glimpse of what might be, winning the contest as part of a rookie year that saw him, believe it or not, average 10 points in just 19 minutes per outing with the Miami Heat. The dunks and the instant offense were, as of February 1993, enough to make one think maybe the “Baby Jordan” moniker that had been attached to the 6-5, shaved-head-sporting shooting guard was accurate. Alas, by year three of his career, his numbers had fallen off precipitously, and while Miner did join Price in the two-time champ club when he won the ’95 Dunk Contest, he was out of the League for good by ’96. It could be argued the rookie year dunk title was the high-point of his career.

There was also, if our photo research can be believed, some sort of celebrity dunk contest that involved Jaleel White and Mayim Bialik. We literally can’t figure out what was going on there and probably don’t want to. Honestly, all of the Saturday “action” was long-forgotten by the time Sunday’s game reached its exciting climax. As Enberg would say in his second to last line of the broadcast, the game had produced a “Utah Jazz parlay” in the form of the co-MVPs (Enberg’s sign-off that day was “Wayne’s World is next.” The ’90s were on one.), and that’s all anyone in Utah cared about. Malone himself summed things up with a perfect quote after the game. “I guess if you were writing a storybook,” The Mailman said, “this is just about how you’d write it.” 

Photos via Getty Images.

The post A Look Back at the 1993 All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City appeared first on SLAM.

“That’s the beauty of style and fashion,” says Barnett, now a creative consultant for the Utah Jazz, over Zoom. “You can really create your own narrative, and you can drive the story. You can have people focus on certain things.”

Wade went on to average a career-high 30.2 points and make his fifth consecutive All-Star appearance that year, and Barnett, who started working with him in ’07, has remained the visionary behind his ever-evolving style. It’s her innovative thinking, as well as her keen attention to detail—the Miami native was studying to be an accountant for the FBI before getting into fashion and attending FIT—that makes Barnett perfect for her new role as creative consultant for the Utah Jazz. As creative director of their private label apparel brand, Counterpoint, she’s been monumental in how the team approaches being more “fashion forward” as well as how they are reimagining fan apparel.

As excitement continues to build around the Jazz, which has one of the most stylish players in the NBA, Jordan Clarkson, on its roster, and has Wade as a co-owner, Barnett is ready to help bring Utah to the forefront. There will even be a pop-up event at this year’s All-Star Weekend featuring some pretty big-name brands. “I think that once people see it, they’re going to be like, Oh, you know what? I don’t need to go to New York, I don’t need to go to L.A. I need to go to Utah, where there isn’t much in terms of fashion but people are hungry [and] they’re ready for the stores to come to them.” 

The post How Calyann Barnett Went from Being an NBA Stylist working with Dwyane Wade to the Creative Consultant for the Utah Jazz  appeared first on SLAM.

Its name is a nod to the neighbor-y, community-driven aura it provides visitors—a time travel-like, nostalgic experience from the moment they enter. 

The Provo spot has already drawn plenty of high-profile names, including Clarkson, Sexton, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Royce O’Neale, to name a few. Clarkson randomly messaged them one day on social media and has been a loyal customer ever since. He recently scooped up a rare Jeff Hamilton All-Star Weekend jacket. 

“Thrifthood actually all happened by mistake. Myself and Alby [Alan Bostrom], the other co-owner…we were just friends who loved to get together, like, to do game night hosting, whatever, for fun with our friends,” says Krysten “Sissy” McDade of how it all originated. “And we also love fashion and somehow stumbled upon getting fits together and reselling and all these things. And it literally was just supposed to be for fun, and suddenly we’re like, Let’s just sell and see if we can make money to shoot ourselves a new pair of shoes, to whatever we wanted, really. And literally since that day in 2018 when we started, we never stopped, and so we actually sold out of a basement for seven months.”

After seven months of that basement, Thrifthood made the transition to a storefront, and like the  saying goes, the rest was indeed history. 

“The day that we opened the storefront, we had $22 in our business bank account, and we were like, This better work, let’s just make sure we can pay for rent month to month,’” says Sissy, who also credits partner Aaron and store manager Warren for the success. “And then slowly but surely our team started coming together.”   

It more than just came together; it’s now high on the to-do list of every hoops fan visiting the state this All-Star Weekend. 

Photos via Thrifthood.

The post Thrifthood is the Utah-based Vintage Store that’s Catching the Attention of Players Around the NBA appeared first on SLAM.

“After one of the natural disasters they had over there, I saw a picture where it’s flooded and kids are still playing basketball with the hoop still standing,” he said to NBA.com. “Just showing love for the game over there and how pivotal basketball is, how far it stretches. It’s crazy then just seeing the support I have from the Philippines.”

Clarkson, whose mother is of Filipino descent, recently told the Philippines media that it was important to him to represent the country at this year’s All-Star event in Salt Lake City. “I know in the West they’ve got a lot of talented guards,” he said to ESPN. “But I feel like I can represent Utah, the Philippines at the All-Star Game, if it happens. It would be exciting if that happens.”

Whether he’s selected or not, Clarkson has been having quite the year so far, from putting up career-high numbers—21.1 points and 4.3 assists—to embracing his role as an experienced guard. Having played with and learned from the likes of King James, the Black Mamba and Lou Williams, JC knows firsthand what stepping up as a leader looks like, too, telling NBA.com: “Being around Kobe and Bron, there’s been [lots] of vets I’ve been around in the NBA, you know. Lou Williams, guys like that. It’s kinda pushing me to a leadership role in my ninth year in the League. Just seeing how they handled it and kinda doing the same.” 

After getting traded to the Jazz from Cleveland, Clarkson has found all the support he needs to thrive. “The trade was definitely a lot to take in. I didn’t know what to expect,” Clarkson told The Athletic back in 2021. “But when I got here, the team, the coaching staff, the city and the fans, they welcomed me with open arms. The Jazz showed they invested with me and made me feel comfortable. I feel free here.” 

It’s that freedom that has allowed Clarkson to remain true to himself. As head coach Will Hardy recently emphasized to Andscape, Clarkson is “a very creative player, and he sees the game in a unique way sometimes. And I have to give him the latitude to be himself out there because when he plays freely, he plays with his instincts, he’s at his best. He’s a guy that I definitely don’t want to put in too narrow of a lane because of his ability to impact the game in a lot of ways. Off the court, he is as fun-loving and easy going, engaging a person as I’ve been around in the NBA.”

Clarkson is undeniably one of the most unique and stylish players in the League, from his painted nails and his appearances at Paris Fashion Week to his eternal presence on @LeagueFits. Regardless of what other people might think, Clarkson has always remained true to himself. “Everybody around the League knows who I am and respects it,” he told Marc J. Spears.

What many have also come to respect is Clarkson’s commitment to the grind. The 46th pick in the 2014 NBA Draft has come a long way from playing on the then-Los Angeles D-Fenders in the NBA Development League his rookie year. And he was just coming off the bench a year ago. He’s now a solidified starter, second on the team in scoring, and, as Hardy pointed out after the Jazz’s win against the Cavaliers, can make “some big plays.”

Even when Donovan Mitchell made his well-awaited return to the Beehive State on January 10, it was Clarkson who stole the show. But anyone who saw his tunnel fit that night already knew what type of time he was on. Clarkson pulled up wearing a black graphic tee from his brand, Shop Sixx, that has a printed skull in the middle and icy blue lettering spelling out his name. 

Many fans will recognize Clarkson’s sartorial side; he once told @LeagueFits, “When I take a night off from dressing, I think I go 0-20 and it ain’t a good look.” Well, that night against Spida and the Cavaliers, he went 11-19 from the field and erupted for 32 points in the win. 

Clearly, Clarkson isn’t taking any time off soon.

And as the Jazz look to continue their climb up the NBA standings—as we go to press, they’re
No. 8 in the West—they’ll look to Clarkson for his leadership, energy and the unwavering passion he brings to everything he does on and off the court. 

“His ability to kind of reform himself, reshape himself around that idea is leadership in itself,” said teammate Mike Conley, according to KSL.com. “And he’s been awesome.”  

He’s also got a dedicated fan base rooting for him, one that extends 7,400+ miles from Utah to the Philippines. Clarkson has said he plans on suiting up for the Gilas Pilipinas in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup next summer, too. 

But until then, he has business to handle at home. 

Photos via Getty Images

The post Jordan Clarkson Has Brought His Game, and Tunnel Fits, to Another Level in Utah appeared first on SLAM.

Patience. 

Patience. 

Patience. 

Patience. 

Patience. 

And… 

Patience. 

Patience. 

Patience. 

Patience. 

Patience.

Still there?

We’re on Lauri Markkanen time right here. 

His story is one of patience. Like, one where nothing, like, nothing really, um, even kinda, sorta happens at first. Or at second. Enough doesn’t happen that what has happened gets forgotten. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing happening. Stuff is happening. 

Patience is a test. It’s illusions and confusions. What’s real isn’t revealed for a long time. How strong is will? Patience will be the great unveil. Patience is lonely. Patience is a marathon. It’s stamina unending. How long will the run be? How far is the distance? Can the sprint continue all the way into the unknown? What if the running isn’t worth the work?

What if it is?

So…

Patience.

Patience. 

Patience. 

Patience. 

Patience.

This test isn’t pass or fail. Pass or fail is a destination. Markkanen’s story is not about arriving.

It’s about becoming. He knows perseverance. 

Because even what he’s done with the Utah Jazz this season, a season where it looks like he has arrived, isn’t complete yet. Though it does look like the fury of the patient man has become a fire. The 7-foot Markkanen is looking more like the potential has been realized. He’s looking like an offensive cornerstone, a stone that had to survive unforgiving rushing rapids, a stone that’s lasted to become fully polished and shiny.

Shiny like 25 points and 9 boards a game. He’s had a 49-point outburst and he’s had six games of at least 13 rebounds. He’s had gamewinners and he’s had the firepower to ignite complete blowouts. There’s some new confidence to him out there. But it might not even be new. Patience is a test of illusions and confusions. Maybe he’s always been this all along? Has he always been this good? Statistically, no. This is his best and most impactful campaign since the Bulls selected him with the seventh pick in 2017. There’s some type of spirit in him this season, something entirely different from everything we saw during his time in Chicago and Cleveland. It just might’ve been restrained, which can be attributed to any number of reasons, from more famous names demanding more shots to less nuanced leadership not realizing how much Markkanen is capable of. So he’s been let off the leash and all of that marathon sprinting he’s been doing has led him to rove ’round the floor without any restrictions. It’s credit to first year head coach Will Hardy and even more credit to Markkanen for continuing to work in the silence of patience, when absolutely nothing was even promised. 

And with nothing promised, Markkanen improved on everything. He’s gotten better at creating his own shot and at finishing around the rim. He can roll, pop or slip from any ball-screen situation. He can post or face, dunk or shoot, draw fouls and make free throws. He’s the Jazz’s closing option because of the matchup problem that comes with a mobile and aggressive 7-footer. 

The skill set varies from moment to moment. Markkanen acts as a slasher, with his foot pressed all the way down on the accelerator to meet a lob at the rim. He goes off the bounce by himself, finishing through contact. He spots up in the corner, waiting for a pass to drill a three.

More waiting. 

More patience. Many a mind has valued patience to the utmost. 

“Genius is eternal patience,” Michelangelo, who crafted the frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, once said. 

“I get you all you can eat, just have some patience with me,” Aubrey Graham, who is the voice of a generation, once said. 

Markkanen’s whole team is eating because of his patience. Behind resurgent performances from Jordan Clarkson, Mike Conley, Malik Beasley, Kelly Olynyk and Collin Sexton, the Jazz are right back in the playoff hunt during a season in which the bottom was outside the world’s expectations. Their best player has them just 1.5 games from fifth in the West, as we go to press. 

In fact, he and Conley have created a pick-and-roll duo that follows in the tradition of John Stockton and Karl Malone and Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer. Markkanen is in the 80th percentile in the League as a finisher out of PNR. Other numbers tell a similar story as he inches close to a 50-40-90 season. Right now he’s 52-42-87. It’s striking efficiency considering how a ton of the offense relies on him. 

Does high-level basketball like that only come through patience? Could he have done that at stop No. 1 or stop No. 2? Could he have been mature enough to handle so many different looks on the offensive side? 

Do any of these questions even matter? 

No, they don’t. Because we’re here now, in this moment where Lauri Markkanen should represent the Utah Jazz at the ’23 All-Star Game in Salt Lake City. He’s taken the leap out of ever-waiting patience up into a consistent scoring threat from each of the three necessary levels. In a year where nobody expected anything to happen, a lot has happened. If he doesn’t make it, there will be more time for him to get there, no matter which city it’s being held in. He’s just 25 years old. We know that he has patience.

His head coach Will Hardy knows it, too. 

“I thought it was another game where Lauri seemed to kinda do a little bit of everything, made threes, got to the basket with force early in the game,” he said just a few days before we went to press. “He’s just continuing to grow before our eyes every night in terms of understanding there’s a lot of different ways to be effective on the offensive end in this League, especially when you have his combination of size, skill, and athleticism.” 

Just a little patience. 

Photos via Getty Images

The post NBA All-Star Lauri Markkanen is Putting the League on Notice with the Utah Jazz | SLAM appeared first on SLAM.

As of Thursday, Clarkson averages 20.7 points per game on 45.1 percent shooting from the field and 35.9 percent from beyond the arc. Utah (21-23) is also in ninth place and is a prime candidate to play in the play-in tournament. With Clarkson leading Utah into a possible postseason appearance, it’s likely he will receive a big payday for his efforts.

According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo! Sports, Clarkson could reportedly choose to decline the $14.3 million player option he has and become an unrestricted free agent. Free agency may be his best choice due to CBA rules preventing Utah from offering Clakrson a contract extension in his preferred range of $20 million per season.

Clarkson is in the prime of his career and is bonafide playoff threat after averaging 17.3 points per game on 45.4 percent shooting from the field over his last three postseasons. At 30-years-old, Clarkson can be a primetime scorer off the bench capable of carrying teams to wins when it matters the most.

Utah is set to host the Magic on Friday.

The post REPORT: Jordan Clarkson Likely to Hit Unrestricted Free Agency appeared first on SLAM.

Trent is averaging 16.9 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.6 steals per game on 43.0 percent shooting from the field and 33.5 percent from beyond the arc. His gradual improvement since he was drafted by Portland Trail Blazers in 2018 will help him earn a solid second contract. However, Scotto believes that the Raptors aren’t keen on committing to Trent long-term.

“According to numerous NBA executives who spoke with HoopsHype at the G League Showcase, the top Raptors trade candidate is unanimously Gary Trent Jr.,” HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported.

“The current belief from those executives is Trent Jr. will opt out of his $18.8 million player option and enter unrestricted free agency this summer. Two executives told HoopsHype they believe Trent could earn $20 million or more if he entered unrestricted free agency. There’s skepticism amongst several front offices across the league that Toronto would be willing to retain Trent Jr. if he eclipses the $20 million annual range.”

The Raptors acquired Trent in the middle of the 2020-21 season after trading away Norman Powell for the former Duke Blue Devil. In the 112 games Trent has played for Toronto, he’s averaged 17.7 points per game. Because of that production, it’ll be difficult to let Trent walk, but the Raptors are in the middle of being a playoff threat while they are fighting off being a high-draft pick team or tanking.

Toronto (13-18) will look to break their six-game losing streak against Cleveland (21-11) on Friday.

The post REPORT: Gary Trent Jr. Expected to Opt-Out of Player Option appeared first on SLAM.

Clarkson understood the assignment and went off for a season-high 39 points in the gritty OT thriller. Clarkson shot 15-of-26 from the field to go along with a season-high eight rebounds and seven threes too.

After the game, Clarkson was asked what it was like to be in a zone, to which he replied:

“It feels good definitely, get the shot going, moving the ball. I think the big thing for us we just kept playing. Even though I was hot, we wasn’t forcing the ball to me. We were just playing together, moving the ball, and making shots, that’s it.”

Clarkson was then asked about the teams clutchness and how they responded in overtime.

“Just big plays at the end. We all grinding, we all hungry, so when it comes down to those clutch moments we just try to make big shots.”

Clarkson went on to credit teammates Lauri Markkanen, Kelly Olynyk, and Malik Beasley for their performances not only in the game, but throughout the season so far as well.

The post ‘We All Grinding’: Jordan Clarkson Drops a Season-High 39 Points in Jazz OT Win appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Conley will be out for at least two weeks.

Sources: Utah Jazz guard Mike Conley Jr. avoided major injury or ligament damage on the non-contact left knee injury suffered Saturday night. He has a knee strain and is expected to miss at least two weeks.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 20, 2022

If it’s one thing that the Jazz are going to miss with Conley out, it’s definitely going to be his ability to create shots for this young team.

Despite the 35-year-old nearing the end of his magnificent career, it is actually now where he is averaging a career-high in assists with 7.9 dimes a contest, along with 10.2 points. With a record of 12-6, the Jazz does not have a lot of breathing room between them and the Phoenix Suns. The Suns are second in the Western Conference and are only a game behind Utah. 

The situation calls for Jazz guards Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton to step up. Expect the two to have more playmaking responsibilities with Conley out. Clarkson is averaging 18.6 points, 4.6 assists, and 3.9 rebounds this season. As for Sexton, he’s putting up 13.1 points and 1.9 assists for the campaign.

Next up, the Jazz will be back at it again tonight at 10:30 P.M when they take on the Los Angeles Clippers.

The post REPORT: Mike Conley to Miss at Least Two Weeks with Leg Injury appeared first on SLAM.

They were again led by great perimeter play, Jordan Clarkson scored 23 points, and Collin Sexton kicked in 22 points from the bench. The Jazz was up by double digits early in the first half, but they blew the lead and had to rally after trailing for much of the third and fourth quarters. 

After a blistering shooting performance on Friday to take down the Los Angeles Lakers, the Jazz had to reach deeper to gut out last night’s win and complete the Los Angeles sweep. The Jazz turned over the ball a whopping 20 times in their victory, but they outscored the Clippers 26-17 in the fourth quarter. 

“Finding ways to win is fun,” Coach Will Hardy said following the game, per ESPN. “I’m very proud of the team to overcome 20 turnovers.” 

The Jazz is the second seed in the Western Conference despite most of the “experts” projecting them to be a bottom-tier team in the league. The Jazz traded Donovan Mitchell (Cavs) and Rudy Gobert (Timberwolves) this summer and are supposed to be starting their rebuild. The draft assets the Jazz got in return: Lauri Markanen, Sexton, Malik Beasley, Walker Kessler, and Kelly Olynk said not so fast.

“I’m starting to get more comfortable in myself,” Sexton said after the game. “Just staying ready and being present throughout the game.” 

Sexton had the game-sealing dunk when the Jazz was up by 4 with 54 seconds left. Clarkson could be seen cheering from the bench. The Jazz has surpassed all expectations of what was projected to be a down year. Whether or not they can maintain this level of play remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: Utah is a lot of f****ing fun. 

The Jazz plays the Lakers on Monday at 10:15 PM EST.    

The post As They Rebuild, the Utah Jazz Are Now 8-3 and A Lot of Fun to Watch appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Although she’s only been styling for a year, she worked with a handful of clients around the W and even has plans to expand to work with NBA players and other professional athletes. 

“Fashion is important to these WNBA players for so many reasons, but for one, it’s getting more people involved. It’s getting people attached to them, it’s getting people to be able to see their personalities. I just feel like it helps get people intrigued or interested. It gives them an inside look to these players’ personalities and who they are. And then when you go watch the game, you’re like, Oh, wait, this game is fire! They’re good as hell!”

We sat down with Sydney to learn more about her career as a stylist, WNBA fashion, what goes into styling players around the L and her plans for the future. 

SLAM: You have degrees in sports management and you played basketball throughout your life. It’s clear that you have an interest in the sport, but when and where did you find an interest in fashion?

Sydney Bordonaro: I think it’s from Allen Iverson. He was always an inspiration to me, not only his game but his style. I feel like he was the one that really started this, you know, the way he would come to the games dressed up. I feel like that’s something I’ve always paid attention to as a young kid growing up. 

When I was in school I had all different Iverson jerseys and I was always wearing them. I always wanted to look good and feel good. That was important to me, even when I was playing basketball. I always cared about what I was wearing. When I moved to the West Coast for college, I felt like I was able to branch out with fashion. I would try different things, and maybe be a bit more outlandish with how I was dressing. I was really portraying how I feel.

SLAM: How did you start styling WNBA players? 

SB: So actually, I haven’t asked anybody to be my client thus far. My start in styling was actually kind of random. It all started off with Jewell Loyd. She’s been like a longtime friend of mine and she liked the way that I dressed. It was August or September of 2021 and she randomly was like, “Yo, what’s up, bro? You tryna style me?” Of course I said yes. So that’s really how it started. But since then, everything and all of my clients have happened organically. It’s always been through other people or by word of mouth. 

SLAM: How do you plan out a fit for one of your clients?

SB: This whole process is so new to me and I’m refining it as it goes, so the more often I get to do this, I can get more of a structure. One of the first things I do with a client that is non-negotiable is I need to get on FaceTime with them. I need to talk with them a little bit, get a feel for their personality. I can’t just start styling someone if I don’t know what they’re like on the inside.

Rae Burrell is a perfect example. We talked and she asked me to style her for a game and it was her birthday. I remember I went to Urban Outfitters, got a few things together and just pulled up at the house. From there, she literally became one of my best friends just like that. It was crazy. We get together like three hours before her games and it’s almost like we’re playing dress up. It’s hilarious.

So I think I need to get a feel for a person, you know. If they live in LA, I want to pull up on them. I just want to speak with them and get a feel for their personality and what they got in their closet. 

SLAM: Could you talk about the different WNBA players that you do style? How do they speak through their style?

SB: Everybody’s different. Like Kelsey Plum doesn’t want to take any risks. Her style is very clean cut, almost like a businesswoman. Very professional. Jewell Loyd wants to be in cargo pants and like oversized tees. And then Rae Burrell or like DiDi Richards, they don’t give a damn. I could put them in anything and they’re all for it. 

I’m putting them in these outfits, and the whole thing is like a growing process. They can get a sense of trust for me and sometimes it’s gonna take a minute. But I think I’m able to ask them how they want to dress, and I get a feel for what they’re thinking. I always check out their Instagram, too, so I can see how they are trying to dress and then I can help elevate and personify how they are.

SLAM: Does your own style ever influence what you are creating for a client?

SB: So at first, it really did. This is all so new to me; I’ve only been doing this for like less than a year. 

In the beginning, with Kelsey for example, I wanted to dress her how I would dress myself. But then I realized that isn’t her, so I would try not to do that. You have to look at each of them individually as their own being. I have whiteboards in my room to separate their different styles. I need to be focused on one at a time. I can’t shop for multiple clients at the same time. Like for example if I’m in DiDi-mode that’s all I do. Each client is so different so I need to lock in on one of them and do it one at a time. It’s almost like switching languages when you are looking for a client that is into streetwear and then going to a client that is more formal. 

SLAM: You haven’t been styling WNBA players for too long, but have you had any ‘pinch me’ moments so far? 

SB: I’d say probably working with Kelsey. Kelsey was someone who I watched growing up. She’s only three years older than me, but when I would watch her play, I wanted to style my game after hers. She was my favorite player when I was in high school, so it’s super cool that I’m now working with her. I looked up to her on the court. To have a relationship with her is one of the most amazing things for me. Her work ethic is second to none. I feel like I kind of manifested that relationship. I wanted to work with her and I kind of got a lob thrown to work with her. It happened through a friend. And now it’s just unbelievable to me. 

SLAM: It seems like you’re making really solid connections with your clients.

SB: Yeah. That’s how I want it. Like, It’s fun. I’ve always wanted to be an agent, and that is kind of how agents are. They have a close relationship with their players. I want to do deals. 

SLAM: Speaking of agents, you started your own agency, called Innovative Icon Group, which represents cultural icons in sports and entertainment. Can you tell me about that?

SB: Yeah, so after I had finished school I was going to work for a sports agency, but because of COVID, I was back home on the East Coast and the job kept getting pushed back. I decided to move back to LA to better myself. I put my head down and started working on creating my own agency. Then the styling stuff came along. Now I am completely doing my own thing, it’s very cool. At first the agency was just going to be like a marketing management agency, but now I want to shift the approach a little bit to help professional athletes with marketing deals. Along with that, I think a stylist is something that almost all of them need. It’s crazy. No one has a stylist. So I think I’m trying to combine the marketing with the styling. I want to help these athletes with their image, because that is huge. 

SLAM: It seems like you really want to be a liaison between athletes and everything that comes along with their image?

SB: I want to help athletes with their whole image. And I feel very strongly about working with athletes because I was an athlete and I can relate to them.

I know I can help these athletes a lot, like finding deals, getting them this money, putting these players’ names in with these brands. I have connections to a lot of these cool brands. I’ve always been connected with clothing brands and they’ll offer to send me stuff. And this I think benefits everybody because I can get sent this stuff and then put them in all this gear. 

I’m having so much fun with all of this, too. This is everything that I feel like I’ve always wanted. I have big goals for myself. I want to do big things and I’ve already worked so hard. I feel like I have an opportunity right now. I’m not gonna let this slip for nothing. I’m gonna bust my butt and do anything I can [to] keep going and keep growing. You know?

SLAM: Absolutely. On the note of connecting with players, do you have a dream WNBA player that you’d like to work with and style?

SB: I have a few people that I want to work with. I think in the WNBA, I’d say Skylar Diggins-Smith and then Liz Cambage. I would love the possibility to style them. Maybe Olivia Nelson-Ododa, too. She looks like she would be a high fashion model on a runway or something. Then also there is a women’s soccer player named Trinity Rodman. I think that she’s really effortlessly fly. I would love to style her at some point.

Then in the NBA, I would love to style like a Jalen Green or a Jordan Clarkson-type of guy. I think they’d be a dream to style. 

SLAM: In your opinion, what type of role does fashion play in the lives of WNBA players? Why do you think fashion matters for them? 

SB: This is really important. I think there’s a few reasons. I feel like for a very long time, everyone wanted women’s basketball players to have a particular look. They couldn’t dress too masculine, needed to wear a dress, and so on. And once you get them in the dress and heels they just look so uncomfortable! 

I think now there is this crazy switch where people who aren’t even WNBA fans will see players and become fans of them as people. Especially with social media. Like even when I was younger, because in Pittsburgh there wasn’t a team there I grew a love for Allen Iverson and I attached myself to him. 

Now it’s cool to see these WNBA players are role models through social media. I think the way people dress is just a representation of how they feel on the inside, who they really are. 

Like for example if I’m wearing all-black, baggy clothes, it’s probably because I’m feeling sad. It’s all just how I’m feeling on the inside. So I feel like it’s important that these women are able to portray how they feel and who they are, and for that to be easily transmitted when you see how they’re dressed. You see them and get a feel for who they are based off of how they’re dressing. Also, women are such a huge consumer of clothes. So this is another sort of marketing opportunity here. I just feel like this is a huge opportunity for these women to capitalize off of these social media deals they need to be making, with whatever fashion brands.

SLAM: You also play a huge role in helping these players express themselves, too.

SB: It’s crazy how people just don’t know how to dress how they feel. For me, it is something that comes very easy for me. It doesn’t come that easy for other people, so it’s so cool that I could just kind of assist them with it. I’m helping them come into their own, helping build out their closet, and they might not need me in a couple years. To me, that would mean that I did a good job. 

SLAM then showed Sydney two fits that she’s put together in the last year and asked her to talk us through what went into the styling...

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A post shared by SYDNEY BORDONARO (@sbordonaro21)

SB: This was [Rae’s] birthday fit. We were going with a Hendrix vibe. That is my jacket and I was like “Hold up, this would look so cool.” I told her when she walked she better hit her Hendrix and at first she was like “No bro, I can’t.” But she did it! 

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A post shared by Kelsey Plum (@kelseyplum10)

SB: I had wanted Kelsey in this one for a while. I liked this suit a lot and I knew it would fit her really well, but she had a lot of anxiety about it. It was for the first game. I said to her, “Mob. We on mob sh*t this year Kelsey.” With this fit we were thinking like we mean business, mob ties, MVP Kels, all that. She actually wasn’t sure if she wanted to wear this at first. She was skeptical. She ended up loving it and everybody went crazy over it. I feel like with a lot of Kelsey’s looks we have a similar vibe; she’s very serious before games. So, I think all of the fits are very clean, like she looks like a boss. But that’s Kels. She’s coming into her own. She’ll come out of it every once and a while with a little streetwear look but for the most part she wants to be like a professional boss woman. That’s how I found her vibe. 

Photos via Sydney Bordonaro and Getty Images.

The post Sydney Bordonaro on WNBA Fashion and Styling Players Around the W, From Kelsey Plum to DiDi Richards 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.

With countless tunnel fits to choose from, the All-LeagueFits Teams were carefully selected by a voting system that include one-third of fan votes, one-third of votes from LF’s Survival of the Fitted Podcast, and the remaining votes from an exclusive panel that includes designer Mamadou, former WNBA star Ty Young, 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 Tik Tok influencer Ayeeron, former NBA standout and designer/ ‘Bucks in 6’ legend Brandon Jennings, Richard aka @thehapablonde and stylist Devon Byrd.

Here are the official results of the First, Second and Third Teams, as well as the All-Rookie and Honorable Mentions. Stay tuned for the individual award selections.

Jordan Clarkson is truly in a class of his own. This is his third consecutive first team selection, and he was one of only two unanimous picks between the panel, fans and pod. Kelly Oubre Jr. was the first-ever LeagueFits MVP, and he makes an epic return to the first team after showing out in a major way with charlotte this past season.

As for SGA, no debates to be had this time around. He showed off his versatility this season and rightfully secured his spot on the top team. Then there’s Devin Booker, who has the most defined aesthetic in basketball. he was one of two players to be unanimously voted to the first team.

Meanwhile, D-Lo elevated his looks to another level this season, and he did it in the classiest way possible.

These five did it their way and one time for some of the tunnel’s tuffest. Russ came back to Hollywood this year, and he owned the tunnel at STAPLES for the full 82, while CP3 has yet to miss out on the LeagueFits teams since we started doing this in 2018. Jerry Lorenzo’s favorite hooper, Frank Jackson is making his return to the LF teams, and so is Kuz, who was the first-ever LF Rookie of the Year and has turned up the heat more and more. He’s never afraid to push the boundaries of self-expression and is a permanent LF mainstay.

While these awards are based on the regular season, we’ll admit that JT is the last guy we want to see on the court, or in the tunnel, during this postseason.

Jalen Green claims his spot on the third team after a heavy dosage of love from the fan vote and bringing in some unique looks his rookie season. Caris LeVert is maybe the most underrated tunnel star in the League. No more sleeping on Levert, he’s like that on the court and in the closet.

One time for Myles Turner, who’s gotta be the tallest dude to ever make a LeagueFits team standing at 6’11. We’re also not going to let y’all snub Jared Vanderbilt this year because he deserves this one, and Pj Tucker is gonna have a permanent spot on the LeagueFits teams as long as he plays in this League. True legend and true drip OG.

Nobody in the freshman class went harder post All-Star Game than Scottie Barnes. He’s surely cemented as a future LeagueFits and NBA star. Jonathan Kuminga’s been doing it his own way his entire life. No surprises he’s the same way in the tunnel.

Josh Christopher was the first (and we think the only) high school player to ever be posted on LeagueFits. This has been in the works for years. And, if you watched even five seconds of the 2021 NBA draft, you knew Jalen Green was going to be a superstar.

David Duke Jr held nothing back with his bold play on the court and in the tunnel his rookie campaign. The undrafted rook surpassed every expectation that was set, and it’s just the beginning.

Consistency matters in a season that’s 82-plus games long and Nickeil Alexander-Walker routinely delivered. Then we’ve got the LF fan favorite, Tyler Herro, who burst onto the scene as our rookie of the year a few years back and has kept the bar high since.

Jordan Poole might be from the midwest, but he embraced the laid-back California style to the fullest this year, while Thanasis Antetokounmpo used the Milwaukee winters as the perfect reason to consistently layer up, earning his first-ever LeagueFits award.

James Harden might be an OG in the tunnel, but he’s been dressing since before LF was even an idea. Tristan Thompson played in a few cities this year, and he dressed up in all of them. He earns LeagueFits awards honors for the second straight season.

And last but definitely not least, we confirmed on the Survival of the Fitted Pod that Gary Trent Jr. had the fit of the year. It’s only right he gets an LF awards nod.

The post The 2021-22 All-LeagueFits Teams Awards Results appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bones Hyland tweeted that at 10:38 am on July 29, 2021—the day of the NBA Draft. It sums up who he is—and what he brings to the table—pretty perfectly. Later that evening, the Denver Nuggets selected Hyland with the 26^th overall pick. The 6-3 guard, originally from Wilmington, Delaware (just the third player from the state ever to be drafted in the first round), had dominated the previous season at Virginia Commonwealth University, averaging 19.5 points and leading the Atlantic 10 Conference in three-pointers made (69). He was considered one of the most talented perimeter shooters in the 2021 Class, capable of pulling up from anywhere and knocking down tough, contested looks. With his elite quickness and crafty handles, Bones also showed an ability to get to the rim. If it wasn’t obvious from the tweet above, he plays with a lot of energy, passion and confidence—on both ends of the floor. He added 4.7 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game last year for the Rams.

Still, it was Hyland’s potential to deliver “instant offense” at the NBA level—to be a flamethrower, electrifying sixth-man type—that stood out to most scouts. Here are some of the players he was compared to heading into the ’21 Draft: Immanuel Quickley, Jordan Clarkson, Devonte Graham, Jamal Crawford and Ben Gordon.

Those comparisons should give you a good sense for Hyland’s game, and they have proved apt during his rookie campaign so far. The 21-year-old has been a much-needed scoring spark for the Nuggets, especially with primary weapons Michael Porter Jr and Jamal Murray sidelined. In just 18 minutes per game, Bones is averaging 8.7 points and shooting 36 percent from three. He hasn’t been shy or hesitant at all, ranking 12^th in the entire NBA at one point in three-point attempts per 100 possessions (min. 25 games played) with 13.3. Among rooks, he is fourth in total three-pointers made (80), trailing just Cade Cunningham (89), Chris Duarte (87) and Jalen Green (83). Worth noting: Hyland has played 500 fewer minutes than all three of those lottery picks.

In other words, Hyland is doing exactly what the Nuggets want him to do: providing a lift on offense and being aggressive from the moment he steps on the floor. He also brings an intensity, flair and competitiveness that can be contagious. Stuff like this tends to inspire the whole team: 

Bones has been improving steadily throughout his first year, developing more chemistry with former MVP Nikola Jokic and earning more trust from the coaching staff. Before the All-Star break, he had five-game stretch in which he averaged 12.4 points, including a 22-point outing in a 132-115 win over the Knicks.

As expected, there have been several nights when Bones has caught fire and quickly lit up opposing defenses. He dropped 24 points in 26 minutes—shooting 8/11 from the field and 4/5 from three—against the Hawks in December. A month later, facing the Lakers at Staples Center, he went off for a career-high 27 points and 10 assists, knocking down 6/10 from deep. Watch how fearlessly he attacks in the highlight video below, whether he’s unleashing a stepback, coming off a ball screen or launching from way behind the arc. 

Hyland replaced the injured Davion Mitchell in last Friday’s Rising Stars Challenge and showed why he belonged. He was, unsurprisingly, a source of instant offense, notching 10 points and hitting a pair of threes. Hall of Famer Gary Payton—his team’s coach—was apparently telling him, “They can’t guard you, go get a bucket every time.”

“Man, this is just the beginning for me,” Bones said afterwards. “Just to see everything and knowing what I can be in this league—[with] what I provide, what I can bring, I know I’m going to be an All-Star in this league. So seeing this stuff firsthand, it’s big for me. I’m soaking all of this in.”

The post SLAM x Panini Rookie Spotlight: Bones Hyland appeared first on SLAM.

It hasn’t been all bad, though. Tyrese Haliburton, the Kings second-year guard out of Iowa State, has taken a major step forward in the absence of De’Aaron Fox, averaging 20.2 points and 8.2 assists on the team’s recent road trip. And so has rookie Davion Mitchell. 

The ninth overall pick from Baylor joined the starting lineup last Wednesday. Since then, he has averaged 19.4 points (on 49 percent shooting from the field and 39 percent from three) and 5.6 assists per game. When Sacramento drafted Mitchell this summer, the decision was met with some backlash, given his small size (6-0) and the number of young guards—Haliburton, Fox, Buddy Hield—already on the Kings roster.

“Certainly, when you just look at the team we had and who we had drafted the year before and Tyrese and who we already had on the team with De’Aaron, and you say, ‘Why would you draft another point guard?’” general manager Monte McNair told The Athletic in November. “[But] this is where we talk about being a best player available in the draft. And it’s a hard thing to do sometimes, but we truthfully sit here and try to [draft] best player available. And when Davion is sitting at the top of our board, we do not hesitate to draft him.”

It was hard to argue with Mitchell being there. Here’s what the 23-year-old managed to accomplish during his two seasons at Baylor: 2021 NCAA Champion, 2021 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, 2021 NABC Defensive Player of the Year, 2021 Lefty Driesell Award winner and two-time All-Big 12.

As those accolades suggest, Mitchell was renowned primarily for his defense coming into the NBA, having averaged just under two steals per game the previous year. He was undoubtedly one of the best on-ball defenders in all of college basketball, using his energy, quickness and athleticism to pester opposing guards. That lockdown ability has carried over to the League, where Mitchell now faces elite scorers on a nightly basis. Below is a rundown of how some of those guys have fared in head-to-head clashes with the Kings rookie, per NBA.com: 

Russell Westbrook in 11:31 matchup minutes: 1/11 from the field

Damian Lillard in 9:16 matchup minutes: 1/14 from the field

Trae Young in 4:47 matchup minutes: 1/8 from the field

Jalen Brunson in 11:55 matchup minutes: 2/8 from the field

Jordan Clarkson in 10:21 matchup minutes: 3/10 from the field

Tyrese Maxey in 11:41 matchup minutes: 3/11 from the field

Numbers like that are the reason Mitchell earned the nickname “Off Night” while at Baylor. All-Stars Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland shot well against him, but combined for seven turnovers in 19 total matchup minutes.

Mitchell’s offense has been steadily improving, too. He was an incredibly efficient scorer in college, shooting 51 percent from the field and 45 percent from deep in 2020-21, but has struggled to find his rhythm at times this season. His confidence hasn’t wavered, though. He dropped 20 points and hit four three-pointers against the Hawks last week. Three days later, he had 15 points and knocked down 3/7 from behind the arc against the Sixers. Then, in his first game at Madison Square Garden, he put up 18 points, 6 assists and 2 blocks. 

On Wednesday, Mitchell helped Sacramento get a 112-101 win over Brooklyn, posting 18 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists, and defending Kyrie Irving extremely well, holding him to 2/6 shooting in seven matchup minutes. He also spent time on James Harden, who had one of his worst performances as a Net (4 points, 6 turnovers).

Just look at the activity in the clips below. This is why they call him “Off Night.”

Davion Mitchell since being moved into the starting lineup (four games):

17.7 PTS
2.7 REB
5.0 AST
44% FG
35% 3PT

Limited sample size, but it’s hard to not be impressed by what the rookie has done in a starting role.

Also, the defense… pic.twitter.com/rrLwPsy3Lx

— Franklin Cartoscelli (@FCartoscelli3) February 3, 2022

Davion puttin’ the pressure on Kyrie pic.twitter.com/amj7BHsJDH

— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) February 3, 2022

Davion steal -> Damian pic.twitter.com/vESWMANuED

— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) February 3, 2022

He followed that up with perhaps the best game of his young career at Golden State: 26 points (on 11/17 from the field and 3/5 from three) and 8 assists.

Davion Mitchell drives and finishes to set a new career-high (23 PTS)

Watch Now on NBA League Pass: https://t.co/oz9UCQxdQa pic.twitter.com/54J3aqWVe6

— NBA (@NBA) February 4, 2022

For the season, Mitchell is now averaging 10.1 points, 3.4 assists and 2.3 rebounds. He will represent the Kings in the Rising Stars Game at All-Star Weekend in Cleveland, along with Haliburton.

With losses mounting and trade rumors swirling as the deadline nears, things have been bleak in Sacramento lately. But Mitchell’s success, development and potential have provided a glimmer of much-needed hope. 

The post SLAM x Panini Rookie Spotlight: Davion Mitchell appeared first on SLAM.

ESPN Sources: Utah Jazz F Joe Ingles has suffered a season-ending torn left ACL. Ingles, 34, was found to have no other structural damage in his left knee.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 31, 2022

The 34-year-old forward got injured in the second quarter of a 126-106 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Ingles fell to the hardwood after his knee buckled on a drive to the basket. The lefty from Australia was helped to the locker room, and the Jazz was reportedly concerned the injury was severe from the get-go.

“I feel bad for him,” Utah assistant head coach Alex Jensen, who was filling in for head coach Quin Snyder due to Snyder being in health and safety protocols, told ESPN. “Hopefully, it’s better than we all think.”

Before he suffered his season-ending injury, Ingles averaged 7.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. Last season, Ingles was the runner-up for the Sixth Man of the Year award given to Jordan Clarkson. The timing of the injury couldn’t be worse with Ingles entering free agency this coming summer.

The Jazz has had their fair share of injury woes, with Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert missing 11 games combined. Utah is also dealing with players and coaches being in and out of the lineup due to health and safety protocols.

The Jazz (30-21) are fourth in the Western Conference after dropping five straight games and eight of their last 10 games. On Wednesday, Utah will look to get back on track against the Denver Nuggets (28-21).

The post REPORT: Joe Ingles Out For Season After Suffering Torn ACL appeared first on SLAM.

Mitchell appeared to have taken a shot to the head just before halftime in Utah’s 101-95 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, and the symptoms became apparent after the game.

This is the play where Donovan Mitchell was hurt last night, leading to him being in the concussion protocol and out for the Jazz’s game against the Rockets tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/Eb2Fd3niyi

— Sarah Todd (@NBASarah) January 19, 2022

ESPN’s NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski was the first to report the news of the Jazz placing him into the concussion protocols.

The Jazz are entering Donovan Mitchell into concussion protocol, team says. Contact occurred in second quarter of loss to Lakers on Monday night.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 19, 2022

Mitchell finished the game with 13 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. As of Wednesday, he averages 25.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game.

The Utah Jazz is out to a strong start with a 29-15 record, which places them at fourth in the Western Conference. However, the Jazz will need Mitchell back as soon as possible to keep pace with the Warriors and Suns at the top of the standings and a surging Memphis Grizzlies team now occupying the third seed.

The Jazz will look for reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year Jordan Clarkson, who has shined previously in big games with veteran wing Joe Ingles and Rudy Gobert to fill minutes against Houston potentially.

The post Donovan Mitchell Put in Concussion Protocol and Held Out Against Rockets appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

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

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) November 5, 2021

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

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

“I honestly credit A$AP Rocky for majority of my fashion things,” Stanley told LeagueFits. “When he dropped the song, when I was about thirteen, [in] the LONG.LIVE.A$AP album, it’s called “Fashion Killa,” it’s kind of where I started figuring out a lot of crazy brands because he name dropped every brand. It’s a great song.”

‘Catch My Thrift’ is a brand new series by SLAM in which players around the L go thrift shopping with LeagueFits and candidly share their thoughts on their personal style, game day fits and more.

If you know, you know that Stanley’s fits, which include rockin’ a pair of vans and donning a crewneck by NAHMIAS, are often featured on LeagueFits’ Instagram feed—a testament to how his style has evolved since his time as a Blue Devil at Duke wearing only a “Duke shirt and Duke shorts” around campus (those are his words, not ours).

During NBA Summer League, Stanley went thrift shopping with LF and found some pieces that beyond just the vintage tees.

LeagueFits, a social media account run by creative producer Ian Pierno, sits at the intersection of the basketball world and the fashion world by capturing style all across the NBA and WNBA. ‘Catch My Thrift’ is the latest content series by LeagueFits, which also includes a podcast, ‘Survival of the Fitted’. 

The show, hosted by Pierno and intern Joe Williams, features conversations with some of the most fashionable athletes, designers, stylists, and influencers in the game, from JJ Redick to DiJonai Carrington. Stream ‘Survival of the Fitted’ here.

LeagueFits x Change of Heart Collection is AVAILABLE NOW!

Photo via Cassy Athena Photo.

The post ‘Now I Take Risks’: Cassius Stanley Goes Thrifting with LeagueFits During NBA Summer League on ‘Catch My Thrift’ appeared first on SLAM.

When it comes to fashion, Jordan Clarkson is a style connoisseur. The 2021 NBA Sixth Man of the Year recently appeared on ‘Catch My Thrift’—a brand new series by SLAM in which players around the L go thrift shopping with LeagueFits and candidly share their thoughts on their personal style, game day fits and so much more.

Clarkson needed an outfit for brunch in Venice Beach, so LeagueFits took him shopping right off the boardwalk in order to find the perfect look. The 2019-20 LeagueFits All-Drip Teams MVP also revealed what he’d wear to a yacht party, The Kentucky Derby and even the moon.

LeagueFits, a social media account run by creative producer Ian Pierno, sits at the intersection of the basketball world and the fashion world by capturing style all across the NBA and WNBA. ‘Catch My Thrift’ is the latest content series by LeagueFits, which also includes a podcast, ‘Survival of the Fitted’.

The show, hosted by Pierno and intern Joe Williams, features conversations with some of the most fashionable athletes, designers, stylists, and influencers in the game, from JJ Redick to DiJonai Carrington. Stream ‘Survival of the Fitted’ here.

LeagueFits x Change of Heart Collection is AVAILABLE NOW!

Photo via Cassy Athena Photo.

The post Jordan Clarkson Goes Thrift Shopping With LeagueFits on Brand New Series, ‘Catch My Thrift’ appeared first on SLAM.

According to multiple reports, veteran forward Rudy Gay has agreed to a two-year deal with the Jazz in his pursuit to remain on a championship-contender late in his career.

Per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Gay’s deal is $12.1 million contract that includes a player option for the second season.

Gay will be 35-years-old at the start of the 2021-22 season but his age is the least important number, as he averaged 11.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game with the San Antonio Spurs last season while boasting a career scoring average of 16.8 points per game.

Following his move to Utah, Gay will now be suiting up for his fifth NBA team in 15 years, having previously played for the Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors, Sacramento Kings and Spurs over that time.

In 2020-21, the Jazz amassed an impressive 52-20 record—the best in the revered Western Conference—before being bounced in the second round by the Los Angeles Clippers.

The post REPORT: Rudy Gay Signs Two-Year, $12.1 Million Deal with Jazz appeared first on SLAM.

Jackson hails from Prince George County, a basketball mecca nestled outside of Washington D.C. Her upbringing was marked by admiration for Allen Iverson because of his on-court ball-handling and playmaking abilities in addition to his off-court swagger. He was The Answer on and off-the-court because of a willingness to truly and authentically dress his way. The oversized white t-shirts, flashy jewelry and bombastic aviators. Iverson, as many know, captivated fans while at Georgetown. Just thirty minutes away, Jackson knew she wanted the same sizzle that Iverson had. And that started with the work ethic on the court. 

While at Riverdale Baptist High School, Jackson excelled as a shooting guard. She was named the Washington Post Girl’s Basketball Player of the Year and ranked as the 19th best shooting guard nationally. She committed to North Carolina State but got injured just four games into the season. The frustrating start was an impetus for Jackson’s transfer to LSU, where after two years hampered by injury and transfer regulations, Jackson starred in the SEC. By her sophomore year, she was second on the team in scoring with 13.1 points, and fourth in rebounding with 5.1 boards per game, and the following season she led the Tigers with 18.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.

She guided LSU to the NCAA Tournament but after losing in the first round, Jackson left searching for that next mountaintop: an NCAA championship. Jackson took what she calls a “leap of faith” and committed to play as a graduate transfer at Baylor. 

“Making that move to Baylor was a huge leap of faith because you’re going from a place where you’re playing 40 minutes a game and the leading scorer on that team to being uncertain in your role on that new squad,” Jackson says. “ I believed in [Coach Mulkey’s] plan and vision for me.”

At Baylor, Jackson transitioned from shooting guard to point guard. She averaged 11.7 points and 5.3 assists per game for the Bears. Five years after leaving Maryland, Chloe Jackson was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament, and left with a national championship in hand. She also had her Jordans, which were a staple piece for her road outfits as the Bears traversed the country.

Jackson was drafted by the Chicago Sky in 2019 and gave WNBA training camp her utmost attention before deciding to hang up her shoes. She was still thinking about her Jordans. She was thinking about those road trips where Coach Mulkey would let her wear any sneakers, tuck her sweatpants into her Nike socks, or wear her favorite jewelry. Allen Iverson-style. 

Jackson’s winding basketball journey wasn’t just marked by accolades, but a plethora of new friends along the way. Chelsea Nelson and Akela Maize from her class at NC State. They were a strong trio of teammates and roommates. Jackson attended Baylor teammate and current New York Liberty rookie Didi Richard’s draft party in April. She had collected friends from Prince George County’s basketball hotspots like the Lakers’ Quinn Cook, as well as a following of 52.3k on Instagram not only for her hoop skills but for her style. As the days went by, Jackson continued to think about styling more frequently. She thought about her Jordans and love of fashion.

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After that initial training camp season with the Chicago Sky, Jackson continued to research. She learned about A-list celebrities like Rihanna and Hailey Bieber and how stylists assisted them with their runway looks. She curated mood boards. She continued to thrift and rock graphic t-shirts, puffer coats, and a plethora of Air Forces. She dominated runways while playing overseas, wearing a slim-fit brown blazer, heels, and Kobe’s in hand. These looks came to life on her Instagram feed because they were on display for all of her friends in the basketball community.

“It’s so important to network,” Jackson says. “I was able to make a lot of good connections while having the platform that I have.”

Players started to catch wind of Jackson’s style, so she paid it forward. She asked if Cook and DeMar DeRozan would give her a “trial run” to showcase her styling abilities on a greater platform. They responded enthusiastically and in 2020 her looks were on full display as these two stars graced the runways. In particular, the case of DeRozan illustrates the attention to detail Jackson places when dressing different stars. She knew that Jackson prioritized comfort over sophistication in his runway looks. 

“You can’t go into it thinking you’re going to dress DeMar DeRozan like Jordan Clarkson,” Jackson says. 

She dressed DeRozan in a white sweatshirt with a faded black print, Palm Angels joggers, socks with a pop art eagle and Air Forces. Compare this to on-air fits that Jackson has put together for the likes of Maria Taylor and Cari Champion, and there’s a large variety in the types of looks Jackson can create. Whereas comfort is key for many NBA players, finesse and sophistication is something Jackson has learned to prioritize with on-air styles. Jackson must make sure Taylor or Champion’s angles play well on TV whereas NBA players are likely to be shot in the tunnel. But regardless of the circumstance that Jackson is styling for, what sets her apart are her relatability and her authenticity. 

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Jackson finds fashion everywhere. Along with her mood boards, she is constantly cultivating ideas from her time overseas or even from the Zara or Urban Outfitters around the corner. For Jackson, there is no blueprint to style and she can find inspiration in gritty urban streets just as much as runways in Milan. 

“You can wear all the brand names you want to wear and it can still be a bad outfit,” Jackson says. 

Along with her tried and true love for the intersection of basketball, fashion and culture, she’s coupled these passions with business savvy. There is no detail worth overlooking when dressing the biggest stars of the game whether that be exact height measurements or the logistics required to ship clothes across the country.

While playing overseas in Poland, she got an Instagram message from another basketball legend who Jackson puts up there with favorite players like Allen Iverson—none other than Dwyane Wade. He connected Jackson with his stylist and has continued to check in with Jackson. And in December, Wade posted a photo on the ‘gram of him on a boat with bleached blonde hair, a Rhude graphic t-shirt, and tie-dyed Supreme leggings, styled by Jackson. The post garnered over 94,000 likes, but at the end of the day, it’s the relationships that matter the most to Jackson. 

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“Having [Wade] as a friend and mentor and later in the year being able to style him was a dream come true because that was one of the people I looked up to,”  Jackson says. “Styling him, it really came full circle.”

Jackson’s journey has taken her down countless roads and avenues from Waco to Poland to the NBA All-Star Game but no matter where they go, they always seem to lead back to the tunnel. Jackson will likely be the engineer behind your favorite player’s next look, but in the back of her head, she will still be a high schooler geeking out over her first pair of Jordans. 

—

Photo credits via Getty Images and Chloe Jackson.

The post Chloe Jackson’s Path from Hoopin’ to Stylin’ Those Around the Game appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 19, 2021

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

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

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

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

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

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

Number two: Would Donovan Mitchell be able to play?

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

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

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) June 19, 2021

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

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

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

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

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

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) June 19, 2021

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

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

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

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) June 19, 2021

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

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

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

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

Atl leads 3-2

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

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

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

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

LAC leads series 3-2

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

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

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

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

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

Series tied 2-2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Series tied 2-2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So when Clarkson, the winner of the 2020-21 Sixth Man of the Year Award, saw photos circulating social media last week of Salt Lake City’s Yum Yum Food Truck plastered with anti-Asian hate speech and images, it struck a chord.

A proud Filipino-American himself, Clarkson was just one of thousands of social media users that saw the racial slurs and images spray-painted across the well-known Filipino food truck last week. Amidst a pandemic that has seen a severe jump in hate crimes against Asian-Americans, Clarkson knew he couldn’t sit on the sidelines for this one.

“There’s just no room for that, especially right now,” Clarkson said. “It’s been tough, tough years on this earth, this country, this world. There’s a lot of stuff going on. I feel like us together, and everybody finding a peace, will make things a lot more comforting in this world. We ain’t got no room for the hate no more. That’s got to go out of the window real quick.”

With the help of vehicle wrap company Identity Graphx, the 29-year-old paid for interior cleaning, detailing and designed a brand-new exterior for the truck that will be unveiled tomorrow at the Philippine Independence Day celebration in Salt Lake.

It hurt me deeply to see that Salt Lake’s @yumyumasian food truck was recently vandalized – I know the pain that hateful language and racism causes. With help from @identitygraphix we’ll be able to restore the truck and hopefully lift Ben and his family’s spirit!! #StopAsianHate pic.twitter.com/HLfzX7AaEc

— Jordan Clarkson (@JordanClarksons) June 9, 2021

The organization stepped in to aid the efforts of Clarkson and local businesses and politicians by inviting Ben Pierce, co-owner of the Yum Yum Food Truck, and his family to Game 2 of the Jazz’s Western Conference Semifinals series against the Los Angeles Clippers.

During a third quarter timeout, the Jazz presented Pierce and his family with a signed Jordan Clarkson jersey on the jumbotron. A sold-out Vivint Arena provided a deafening applause in support for the family.

After @JordanClarksons lent a helping hand to the Filipino owners of the Yum Yum Food Truck that got vandalized, the @utahjazz and JC welcomed the family to Game 2. #RepublikaNgNBA #Jordan6larkson pic.twitter.com/4DHIwxGw9z

— NBA Philippines (@NBA_Philippines) June 11, 2021

Due to the dramatic uptick hate crimes against Asian-Americans, many Asian-Americans are currently living in fear.

According to Stop AAPI Hate, there were more than 6,600 incident reports from March 2020 to March 2021. The Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism reports Asian-American hate crimes have surged by 145 percent in 2020 compared to 2019.

“It has been powerful, and for me, it’s been a lot,” Clarkson said. “But you know, I am learning and doing a lot of things as well to try to catch up on a lot of this stuff. Being young in the league, you are kind of not really paying attention to a lot of this stuff. As you get older, you really kind of embrace this role of who you are. It really hits home in those times.”

The post Jordan Clarkson Revamps Local Food Truck Targeted by Hate Crime appeared first on SLAM.

The Washington Wizards, just one loss away from elimination, were set to fight the 76ers to stay in the playoffs. Following that matchup, the Memphis Grizzlies looked to even the series with the Utah Jazz.

(#1) Philadelphia 76ers 114, (#8) Washington Wizards 122

76ers lead 3-1

The Washington Wizards needed a win Monday night to avoid being the second team sent home from the 2021 NBA Playoffs. Thanks to breakout games from frontcourt studs Daniel Gafford and Rui Hachimura, the Wizards were able to best the 76ers.

Gafford, who made his first start for the Wizards, managed to put up 12 points and block five shots while Hachimura had a 20-point, 13-rebound double-double. Bradley Beal led the Wizards in scoring, dropping 27 points on 9-23 shooting from the field.

On the other side, Philadelphia losing their first postseason game wasn’t optimal, of course. However, the real cause for concern lies with All-NBA center Joel Embiid.

In the first quarter, the four-time All-Star fell awkwardly on his knee, causing him to miss the rest of the game. While the 76ers may not need Embiid to close out the Wizards, Philadelphia may only go as far as Embiid can take them on the rest of their postseason journey.

The positives on the court for the 76ers took the form of Tobias Harris, who had a 21-point outing, and rookie Tyrese Maxey, who finished with 15 points off the bench.

(#1) Utah Jazz 120, (#8) Memphis Grizzlies 113

Jazz lead 3-1

The Memphis Grizzlies couldn’t replicate the underdog success of their fellow eight-seed Wizards on Monday, but they did keep the Utah Jazz within reach all night.

Jazz superstar Donovan Mitchell looked healthy and dangerous, racking up a game-high 30 points and dishing out eight assists. Freshly minted Sixth Man of the Year Jordan Clarkson chipped in 24 points, and Defensive Player of the Year finalist Rudy Gobert had 17 points, eight rebounds and two blocks.

The Grizzlies managed to have three players finish with at least 20 points in Ja Morant (23), Jaren Jackson Jr. (21) and Dillon Brooks (21). Memphis had a late surge in the fourth quarter, cutting the Jazz lead to just two with five minutes left to play, thanks largely to a 15-point fourth quarter from De’Anthony Melton.

The post Post Up: Eight Seed Excitement appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

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

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

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 27, 2021

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

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

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 27, 2021

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

Lakers’ LeBron James weighed in as well:

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

— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 27, 2021

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

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

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

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

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 27, 2021

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

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

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 27, 2021

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

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

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

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

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 27, 2021

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

The Jazz had the honor of having two bench players to finish first and second in the balloting. Fellow Jazz teammate, Joe Ingles finished second. He surprised Clarkson by presenting the award on TNT.

Joe Ingles hands Jordan Clarkson the #KiaSixth Man of the Year trophy pic.twitter.com/pamxUATDqb

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 24, 2021

Clarkson collected 65 first-place votes for 407 total points. Ingles finished 34 first-place votes and 272 points. This the first time in NBA history that teammates finished with the top two spots for the award.  New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose finished third with 77 points.

The post Jordan Clarkson Outlasts Jazz Teammate to win NBA’s Sixth Man Award appeared first on SLAM.

MVP FINALISTS:

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The MVP race will be a tight one, with three very deserving finalists. Stephen Curry ended the season as the NBA’s leading scorer, averaging 32 points per game this year while shooting 42.1 percent from three-point range on over 12 attempts per game.

Nikola Jokic, the favorite for the award, played in every game this season and averaged 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game. Joel Embiid had an incredible season and is averaging 28.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game.

DPOY FINALISTS:

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Defensive Player of the Year may be less of a mystery, with Rudy Gobert, who is averaging 13.5 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game, is the runaway favorite. Ben Simmons, who is averaging 7.2 boards and 1.6 steals per game, and Draymond Green (7.1 rebounds, 1.7 steals) both had excellent seasons on the defensive end as well.

SIXTH MAN FINALISTS:

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The sixth man of the year will come down to a pair of Utah Jazz players, Jordan Clarkson and Joe Ingles, and Derrick Rose. Clarkson has been a scoring machine all year, averaging 18.4 points per game.

As for his teammate, Ingles has a well-rounded case and is averaging 12.1 points, 4.7 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game. Rose has been no slouch either, with his time with the Knicks proving crucial to their success and averaging 14.7 points per game to boot.

ROY FINALISTS:

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Rookie of the Year is down to three young guards. Anthony Edwards put up gaudy scoring numbers all season, averaging 19.3 points per game, while LaMelo Ball’s 15.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game for a near playoff team is hard to ignore. Tyrese Haliburton is a distant third in this race, but he had a very respectable rookie season for Sacramento.

MOST IMPROVED FINALISTS:

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The Most Improved Player Award is another one where little debate is needed. Julius Randle has had an unbelievable season for the Knicks, going for more than 24.1 points per game on the fourth-best team in the Eastern Conference while being named an All-Star.

The two other finalists are one current Denver Nugget, Michael Porter Jr., and one former Nugget, Jerami Grant. Porter Jr. took a huge step in his second season, averaging 19 points per game while shooting 44.5 percent from three-point range. Grant went from averaging no more than 14 points per game at any point in his career to averaging 22.3 points per game.

COACH OF THE YEAR FINALISTS:

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Quin Snyder and Monty Williams will both have excellent cases, leading their teams to first and second in the Western Conference, respectively. Tom Thibodeau has a great case himself, taking a Knicks team that finished 12th in the Eastern Conference last year and pushing them to fourth in his first season.

The post NBA Announces Finalists for End of Season Awards appeared first on SLAM.

Below you can see pictures of the plane after it struck a flock of birds, causing the engine failure. The Jazz would land safely back in Salt Lake City following the hair-raising spectacle, per TrueHoop’s Henry Abbott.

Many Jazz players tweeted after the incident, including Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Jordan Clarkson, Royce O’Neale and Mike Conley, with Abbot noting that that Jazz players were “rattled” by the chain of events.

The Jazz will still face the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, Mar. 31, as Utah looks to improve upon their league-best 35-11 record.

The post Utah Jazz Flight Makes Emergency Landing Following Takeoff appeared first on SLAM.

For so many professional athletes, everything is calculated. They’re building a brand, and there’s a team of public relations professionals, agents, and more scheduling their interviews, picking their outfits, and deciding just about everything else off the court. 

That wasn’t the case for Dennis Rodman. 

“Do you want to come play for the Bulls?” 

“I don’t care. Whatever. What’s up?” 

Everything Dennis Rodman did, Dennis Rodman called the shots for. 

Who he played for. What he wore. Who he dated. Where he went. Playing on the heights of two dynasties—the late 80’s Detroit Pistons and the 90’s Chicago Bulls—he had a platform. Everything about Dennis was unique. 

On the court, he was a superstar who rarely hit double digits in the scoring column. 

Off the court, he was rainbow-haired, piercing-covered, dress-wearing free spirit that took what the universe presented to him at any moment (even if it was a televised wrestling match during the NBA Finals).

Some called him crazy. Some called him cool. In reality, he was riding a blurry line that sat in the middle. 

While Dennis had to wear a team-issued jersey when he took the court, and he made up for that by dressing HOWEVER he wanted when he was off of it. Team flights, in the tunnel, talk show appearances, post-title visits to The White House, it didn’t matter. 

He was pushing stylist boundaries long before the likes of Russell Westbrook and Nick Young became stars on LeagueFits and GQ for doing the same. If Jordan created sneaker culture, or at least shot it into the highest echelon, in basketball, then Rodman did the same for style. 

It went beyond copping unreleased designer gear, that’s following trends—he created them. 

He wore a wedding dress to a marriage ceremony—to himself. He wore long, unbuttoned shirts and bedazzled tank tops to a nationally broadcast interview—because he could. He wore gallon-sized cowboy hats to games in metropolitan Chicago—I mean, why not? 

Fashion wasn’t a man’s world yet, but you couldn’t say Dennis Rodman wasn’t manly. Yeah, he might’ve worn lipstick and the occasional dress, but he was also a 6-7, 210-pound maniac that’d outhustle any soul that’s ever played the sport of basketball … and he dated Cindy Crawford. 

“I’ll be the judge of my own manliness,” Dennis once said. 

And that’s the point. Long before Harry Styles rocked a dress on the cover of Vogue or Jordan Clarkson normalized wearing a kilt in the tunnel before games, Dennis Rodman normalized being yourself. Even if it’s weird, even if it’s different, it’s you. And, for better or for worse, “you” is pretty damn cool. 

—

Rodman: For Better or Worse—A 30 for 30 film and part of The Undefeated on ESPN+

Dennis Rodman reveals his darkest memories and brightest moments, in a study of the perils of fame and how complicated identity can be. Stream now on ESPN+

The post Beautifully Complicated: Stream Dennis Rodman’s Documentary on ESPN+ appeared first on SLAM.

With how good they’ve been, there doesn’t appear to be any buzz around the League for either of their stars to be in the MVP race. In an interview with Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, Clarkson expressed his opinion that both Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell should be in the conversation for MVP. 

“Donovan, Rudy, both of these guys are impact players and superstars. I don’t see why they wouldn’t be in the conversation.”

Gobert and Mitchell have been exceptional. When it comes to anchoring their defense, Gobert has once again been the key driver for their success on that end of the floor. At this point in the season, he’s averaging 2.8 blocks per game to go along with 14.2 points and 13.2 rebounds per contest. 

Mitchell is unstoppable on the offensive end of the floor. He’s averaging 24.4 points and 5.4 assists per game while shooting .380 from deep on 8.6 attempts per contest. The Jazz have an offensive rating of 117.0 this season, good for third in the league, behind Mitchell as their primary scorer. 

While there are many superstars who deserve to be in the MVP race, perhaps Clarkson has a point about Mitchell and Gobert. Historically, the NBA Most Valuable Player has been on one of the better teams in the league that season. With the highest net rating in the league as well as the best record, Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell deserve more credit. 

The post Jordan Clarkson Thinks Rudy Gobert And Donovan Mitchell Deserve More Recognition appeared first on SLAM.

However, as productive and well-respected as he’s been, it’s never resulted in an NBA All-Star nod. Perhaps it’s his understated personality or his game, which isn’t to flashy itself. It could even, reasonably, be the abundance of superstar point guards in the Western Conference, where he’s played his entire career.

Nonetheless, with how well Conley has played this season and the Jazz having the best record in the NBA (26-6, as of this writing), he thought it might be the year that he finally got over the hump. Unfortunately for Conley, when the full NBA All-Star rosters were announced earlier this week, his name wasn’t on the list of starters or reserves. 

Shortly after, Conley spoke to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon and other members of the media to give his take on being snubbed and how it felt. 

“Man, it was tough. I really, really thought this was the year. I joked with the guys on the team that I blame them. We should have started the year 31-0. Maybe that would have given me a chance, but I don’t know what else to do.”

Conley is averaging 16.3 points, 5.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting .420 from deep this season, with he and Sixth Man of the Year candidate Jordan Clarkson’s play a driving force behind Utah’s surge up the Western Conference standings.

Now 33-years-old, Conley won’t break into the NBA All-Star game this season and maybe he never will.

However, an NBA Finals appearance could be in his future with how well his team is playing, which is the best consolation prize he could possibly ask for. Outside of winning it all, of course.

The post Mike Conley on All-Star Snub: ‘I Don’t Know What Else to Do’ appeared first on SLAM.

Perhaps what’s been most important for the Jazz is their continuity and chemistry this season. In a unique year, where things feel very different, this team has looked as fluid as any in the league. Perhaps that’s the advantage of having a similar core over the past couple of seasons while the rest of the league has mostly assembled brand new rosters.

Over this 19 game stretch, Utah has been near the top of the league in quite a few categories. For starters, their defense has been as good or better as it’s ever been, with a league-leading 105.6 defensive rating over this stretch. They are also ranked top-five in the League in blocks (5.8 blocks per contest).

Offensively, the Jazz have played with the eighth-slowest pace in the league, working through their half-court offense and generating quality shots while posting the second-best offensive rating of any team. They’ve attempted the most three-pointers in the league over this stretch and, finally, they’ve taken care of the glass, dominating in that category with 48.5 rebounds per game, which is best in the league over these 19 games.

With Rudy Gobert once again playing as one of the best defenders in the NBA along with Donovan Mitchell torching opposing defenses, Utah has been extremely efficient on both ends of the floor. Not only do the Jazz have a well-rounded starting lineup, but they also have an excellent bench that is headlined by NBA Sixth Man of the Year Candidate, Jordan Clarkson.

The post How The Utah Jazz Have Put Together 18 Wins In 19 Games appeared first on SLAM.

Last season, Montrezl Harrell won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award for the LA Clippers. While he certainly will be considered to win it again this season, he’s got plenty of competition. Similar to past NBA seasons, having a guy who can come off the bench and give you a high level of production has proven to be a necessity.

At the quarter mark of the 2020-21 season, we broke down our top five Sixth Man of the Year candidates.

Chris Boucher (Toronto Raptors)

13.9 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 2.0 BPG, .444 3P%

Boucher will be in consideration for both NBA Sixth Man of the Year as well as Most Improved Player. Although he was solid over the first few years of his career, he’s made an enormous jump off the bench this season. 

Boucher has done it all for the Raptors this season, giving them a scoring punch of the bench, while also being the team’s second-best rebounder. Even at the forward position, his three-point shooting has been excellent during his early 2020-21 campaign. 

Jordan Clarkson (Utah Jazz)

17.5 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 0.9 SPG, .387 3P%

When it comes to pure scorers in the NBA, Clarkson is one of the best, even outside of just bench players. In fact, he’s top 50 in the league this year in points per game and comes off the bench for the Jazz. 

During Utah’s recent ten-game win streak, Clarkson was unstoppable. He’s converted on 3.1 three-point attempts per game, which is 14th best in the league. 

Eric Gordon (Houston Rockets)

18.4 PPG, 2.3 APG, 0.6 SPG, .363 3P% 

Eric Gordon should be in consideration for this award as long as he continues to come off the bench. To this point, he’s actually started in just over a third of the Rockets’ games. 

Regardless, he’s had one of his best seasons in the scoring department. Averaging over 17 points per game is no easy task off the bench. 

Shake Milton (Philadelphia 76ers)

14.1 PPG, 3.0 APG, 0.8 SPG, .886 FT%

Shake Milton has been one of the key reasons for the Sixers having a consistent season thus far. After Doc Rivers spoke highly of him all offseason, Milton has risen to the occasion. 

On one of the most talented squads in the NBA, he’s the third leading scorer on the team. Milton is also a great facilitator, with the second most assists on the roster. 

Terrence Ross (Orlando Magic)

13.7 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 1.0 SPG, .331 3P%

Terrence Ross has made a name for himself in this league by scoring the ball at a high level. This season, nothing has changed, as he’s been one of the best in the NBA once again.

As Orlando’s third-leading scorer, Ross has been great from beyond the arc. As a bonus, he’s been a pest defensively and leads the team in steals per game. 

The post NBA Award Watch: 2021 Sixth Man of the Year appeared first on SLAM.

That same evening, NBA players opted to compete, but members of the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, and the Detroit Pistons took a knee in protest to the recent events.

Coaches and players across the league have also spoken up about what happened, including the vast difference between how Capitol law enforcement responded to the peaceful Black Lives Matter protests outside of the White House in June compared to how they handled the riots at the Capitol building.

According to The Guardian, Washington police, US Park police, over 5,000 national guard troops (in full body armor), and federal agencies like the Bureau of Prisons were present in June. The Black Lives Matter Movement tweeted that Black protesters were met by law enforcement carrying assault rifles, tear gas, and battle helmets.

Meanwhile, only 340 guardsmen were sent in advance to handle the rioters on Wednesday. 115 of them were on duty and mainly directed traffic, while the DC and Virginia national guard were sent only after the Capitol had been breached. Officers were even spotted taking selfies with rioters.

Here are reactions from the NBA:

Jaylen Brown: “There is two split different America’s. In one America you get killed by sleeping in your car, selling cigarettes or playing in your backyard. In another America, you get to storm the Capitol. No tear gas, no massive arrests.”

Brad Stevens: “My own personal takeaway is the same as many of you: That we have a long way to go. My personal belief is two weeks from now we’ll be in a better spot, but we still have a long way to go,” said Stevens .”We have to continue to prioritize it. Not only ask about and talk about, but do something about it.”

Boston Celtics and Miami Heat:

Steve Kerr: “The truth matters in our country and anywhere in any circumstance because of the repercussions if we allow lies to spread and if we enable people in power to lie…All of a sudden you have millions of people who are doubting an election that was certified in every state. We had seven to eight more million people vote for [Joe] Biden than for Trump. Every state has certified those results. Every court appeal has been turned down. A legitimate election is suddenly questioned by millions of people, including many of the people are leading our government because we’ve decided to over the last few years allow lies to be told. This is who we are. You reap what you sow.”

Stan Van Gundy: “If you are an American and aren’t embarrassed by the domestic terrorism taking place at the Capitol there is something wrong with you. This is a shameful day for our country.”

Doc Rivers: “It’s pretty disturbing, obviously. Sad. But what it’s not is, I keep hearing, this attack on democracy. It’s not. Democracy will prevail. It always does. It shows you a lot, though. When you saw the protests in the summer and you saw the riots and the police and the National Guard and the army, and you see this and you saw nothing. It basically proves a point about a privileged life in a lot of ways. I’ll say it because I don’t think a lot of people want to: Could you imagine today if those were all Black people storming the Capitol, and what would’ve happened?

“So that, to me, is a picture that is worth a thousand words for all of us to see, and probably something for us to reckon with, again. No police dogs turning on people, no billy clubs hitting people — people being peacefully escorted out of the Capitol. So it shows you that can disperse a crowd peacefully, I guess, would be the one thing. But it’s a sad day in a lot of ways; not good for our country and more across the borders, that people see this. It’s part of what we are, and so we have to solve it.”

John Wall: “The most important thing we can do is still stand up for what we stand for and believe in that and stand behind that. We can’t really control what people want to have outbursts and things like that.”

Draymond Green: “…It’s shameful to keep calling them protestors. They’re not f***ing protestors. They’re f***ing terrorists.”

“It’s baffling with the reaction that the law enforcement had and whoever else was involved from a authoritarian standpoint to see the National Guard standing on those same steps when there was a peaceful protest and now to see a terrorist attack and there was no National Guard. It just goes to show you where this country is and where this country has always been and probably where it’s going to stay, to be quite honest. Nothing’s changed. I think through social media and all of these different things we have at our fingertips today, we’re more aware of things. But nothing has changed. This is the same America that it’s been. It’s no different.”

Andrew Wiggins: “Let there be some black people running in there, they all would’ve been shot before they even got to the building.”

Lloyd Pierce: “It’ll never change unless there’s acknowledgement in the past with regards to how African Americans have always been treated in the history of that and going back to slavery and going back to Reconstruction and going back to civil rights,” Pierce said. “You can’t say that things are going to change if you don’t acknowledge that it’s a problem. What you’re seeing today is a reminder there’s a huge difference. There’s a reason why there [aren’t] shooting and brutality and looting and things of that nature, and people are just walking around the Capitol building as if it’s nothing; and people sitting in [Speaker of the House of Representatives] Nancy Pelosi’s office as if it’s nothing.”

Kevin Love: “An absolute disgrace what’s happening at the US Capitol right now. And a blatant example of inequity in how law enforcement chooses to deal with those involved.”

Jamal Crawford: “You do things like this when you know there is a certain privilege where nothing is gonna happen to you.”

Garrett Temple: “I scan my timeline and keep seeing the word “embarrassing.” I’m not embarrassed, I’m not surprised, or shocked even. Embarrassed would mean that I feel a sense of shame by what is going on. I have no such feeling. These people do not come close to being a representation of me”

Scott Brooks: “We should be better than this. What I see in the videos, it’s disgusting. This is a special place. You just hope that everybody from there, our fans; everybody’s safe. This should not be allowed. It’s unacceptable. This is America’s Capitol. You should not be able to do what I saw on video. It’s disgusting, it’s embarrassing, and it should never happen. We have to [play]. This is our job. This is what we have to do. It’s a couple hours out of the day. We all feel the same. It’s just disgusting, but we have to be better. Democracy is there for a reason. It’s all everybody has fought for.”

Jordan Clarkson: “People see the difference; they saw what people did today and how there were no consequences for them. On the other side, it would have…ended in multiple arrests and deaths.”

 J.B. Bickerstaff: “I mean, it’s saddening. It’s disgusting, to be honest with you,” Bickerstaff said. “Our democracy has been a beacon for hundreds of years of what the world ideologically should be. People have looked up to us all over the world and what’s happening there is a disgrace. We have a democracy. Every vote should matter. Every state should have the right to certify their votes and their results. And when that happens, we move forward.

“It’s a stain on our democracy. It’s entitled, spoiled, throwing temper tantrums instead of accepting and moving forward to make our country better, which is the most important thing. It’s not about us as individuals, it’s about what’s best for the country and how we heal our country. And this doesn’t help. This makes it worse.”

The post NBA Reacts To Riots At U.S. Capitol appeared first on SLAM.

Rudy Gobert has looked effective to this point, fresh off of inking his new contract extension, whereas his front court partner, Derrick Favors, has struggled out of the gates.

For more information about the numbers behind our Heat Check series, hop over to our main Heat Check 2020-21 post.

Mike Conley	19.3p, 6.3r, 5.0a
Rudy Gobert	16.7p, 14.3r, 2.7a
Jordan Clarkson	18.0p, 4.7r, 1.0a
Bojan Bogdanovic	15.7p, 5.3r, 1.3a
Royce O’Neale	4.7p, 8.7r, 0.3a
Miye Oni	1.5p, 0.5r, 0.5a
Juwan Morgan	0.0p, 0.5r, 0.0a
Donovan Mitchell	20.3p, 2.3r, 5.0a
Joe Ingles	9.3p, 3.7r, 3.3a
Georges Niang	0.0p, 1.0r, 0.0a
Derrick Favors	7.0p, 5.3r, 1.7a
Shaquille Harrison	0.0p, 0.0r, 0.0a

Team-by-Team Breakdown

The post Heat Check 2020-21: Utah Jazz appeared first on SLAM.

We broke down the Jazz depth chart for the 2020-21 season below. We’ve also previously published a summary of the Jazz offseason.

Biggest Questions

• Will Rudy Gobert prove to be worth his new contract? This was the third largest in NBA history and the most expensive for any big man.
• How effective can Mike Conley be? He wasn’t his best last season but will certainly have the opportunity to raise the ceiling of this Jazz team in the upcoming season.

All NBA Team Offseason Summaries

The post Utah Jazz: Projected 2020-21 Depth Chart appeared first on SLAM.

Clarkson averaged 15.2 points per game in his 42 contests with the Jazz and provided a crucial offensive spark for the team that pushed the Denver Nuggets to Game 7 in the first-round of the playoffs.

The four-year deal will keep the 28-year-old Clarkson in town through the 2023-24 season.

The move was made possible thanks to Utah’s prior trades this week to unload Ed Davis on the New York Knicks and Tony Bradley on the Detroit Pistons.

The post Jordan Clarkson to Sign Four-Year Deal with Jazz appeared first on SLAM.

It’s unclear what New York will send in the deal.

This deal will save Utah $5 million in salary for the upcoming season, which is crucial in their efforts to re-sign Jordan Clarkson and extend Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert in the near future. For them, it was worth giving up two second-round picks for the Knicks to take on Davis’ salary.

Davis is 31 years old and had the worst campaign of his career last season with Utah. He averaged just 1.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per contest and appeared in only 28 total games.

The post Jazz Send Ed Davis to Knicks in Order to Shed Salary appeared first on SLAM.

Where Rudy Gobert is the team’s defensive standout, Mike Conley is the team’s heady veteran and underrated contributor. Jordan Clarkson, dealt to the Jazz last year in a trade that Utah were the winners in, is an elite sixth man. Meanwhile, Joe Ingles, Bojan Bodanovic and Royce O’Neal are Utah’s lethal perimeter threats.

That’s impressive roster building and lends credence to the belief that, even though the Jazz only have a late first-round pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, they’ll make a shrewd decision with it.

Related: Full Utah Jazz 2020 Salary Cap Preview

2020 NBA Draft Picks

Jazz Draft Needs

Looking at Utah’s roster, the Jazz front office needs to add depth to their backcourt, as the players projected to be behind Conley and Mitchell on the depth chart next season can’t be relied upon when one of those two sit for important games. With Conley playing only 47 games last season, Utah’s need for a backup point guard is even more apparent.

Finding another strong perimeter defender, particularly one who can excel when defending the more explosive or shifty wings in the league, would also benefit the Jazz.

2020 NBA Draft Prospect Watchlist

What The Mocks Are Saying

Projected Roster

Team-by-Team NBA Draft Guides

More: SLAM’s 2020 NBA Draft Preview

The post Utah Jazz: 2020 NBA Draft Preview appeared first on SLAM.

During the six-week summer program, students were paired with mentors and industry experts to create their own music. Listen to some of the Songwriting Academy’s content here.

In the video below, Bazley, Clarkson and McLemore congratulated the All-Stars for their hard work and presented them with a pair of LG TONE Free true-wireless earbuds.

The post NBA Players Served as Advocates in ASAS’ Summer Songwriting Academy appeared first on SLAM.

In addition to a summary for each of the 30 teams (accessible in the link grid below), we’ve also tiered the top NBA free agents league-wide and published a general comparison of all teams’ cap space. Follow @SLAMnewswire on Twitter for constant offseason updates as we head into free agency.

Projected Roster Players

Projected Free Agents

2020 NBA Draft Picks

Exceptions Available

• Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception – $9,258,000
• Bi-Annual Exception – $3,623,000

Key Offseason Decisions

• How quickly can the Jazz sign Donovan Mitchell to a max extension? Utah messed around with Gordon Hayward and it ultimately cost them when they had to match an offer sheet. They won’t make the same mistake with Mitchell. He’ll likely get a full, five-year max offer as soon as Utah can make it.
• While Utah sign Rudy Gobert to an extension or let him reach free agency in 2021? The Jazz can sign Gobert to a near-max extension this offseason. He’s an annual contender for Defensive Player of the Year and a key member of the team alongside Donovan Mitchell.
• Which of the five partial/non-guaranteed players stick? The most likely scenario is that all five of them are back with the Jazz, at least to start the 2021 season. All had moments and all are on minimum deal. That will probably see them back in Utah.

Projected Team Salary

$147,792,720

Mike Conley is going to pick up his player option. That removes almost all of the intrigue from the Utah offseason. It’s all about Donovan Mitchell’s rookie scale extension and then a possibly extension for Rudy Gobert. If Gobert isn’t interested in locking in long-term, then a trade becomes possible. At that point a relatively quiet offseason could become an exciting one really quickly. (@KeithSmithNBA)

Cap Space Forecast

-$38,652,720 (12^th out of 30). $17,976,946 under the Luxury Tax.

Team Salary Cap Outlooks

The post Utah Jazz: Salary Cap Space 2020 appeared first on SLAM.

We’ve listed the entire roster with comparisons to last year’s launch rating below. We’ve also identified some general NBA 2K21 ratings trends for the league as a whole.

Jazz NBA 2K21 Ratings

View the NBA 2K21 player ratings for other teams below.

The post Utah Jazz: NBA 2K21 Ratings appeared first on SLAM.

Nov. 20 Update: The Top 2020 NBA Free Agents Available, 24 Hours In

Rather than focus on specific rankings for players, a process limited by the fact that a given individual’s value fluctuates based on the needs of each team, I’ve broken down the league’s available free agents into general tiers.

Not all of the players that you see listed here will end up hitting the open market. Any team with (player) or (team) next to them has an option built into their contract. If that option is picked up, they’re immediately under contract for a pre-negotiated amount in 2020-21.

Players with (restricted) next to their names are restricted free agents, meaning the teams that they currently play for hold the right to match any contract that they’re able to draw from outside organizations.

The actual date for the start of NBA free agency is unknown but it stands to reason that the official negotiation period will fall after the now locked in Nov. 18, 2020 NBA Draft. Earlier this summer, the league had floated a potential Oct. 15 draft with free agency set three days later. The October dates are moot now but the three-day buffer could still apply.

While I stayed away from floating any potential contract figures for these pending free agents, the tiers were constructed under the assumption that the 2020-21 NBA salary cap would fall in line with what it was in 2019-20 ($109 million). Originally it was set to increase but the league’s economic forecast is less optimistic than it was pre-pandemic.

The exact cap number will impact how teams approach free agency but the value of the players available remains relative. Scroll through the complete list below but remember that different teams will prioritize different tiers depending on where they are as an organization.

The Pre-Packaged Superstar Tier

• Anthony Davis (declined PO)
• Brandon Ingram (restricted)

There are two players in this year’s free agent class that you could envision as the No. 1 option on an NBA playoff team. Anthony Davis and Brandon Ingram are, all things being equal, players that a front office could legitimately plan their offseason strategy around. In reality, it’s hard to imagine a scenario in which Anthony Davis leaves the Los Angeles Lakers given the trouble he went through to get there, even if that means he turns down his player option and signs a new deal. Ingram bet on himself in 2019-20 and fortified his case for max money. If such a deal doesn’t come from the New Orleans Pelicans ahead of free agency, it’ll certainly come via restricted free agent offer sheet, even if the 2020-21 salary cap remains right where it was this season.

The Established Star Tier

• DeMar DeRozan (exercised PO)
• Andre Drummond (exercised PO)
• Gordon Hayward (declined PO) -> Agreement with Charlotte
• Danilo Gallinari -> Agreement with Atlanta
• Mike Conley (declined ETO)

There won’t be too many teams lining up to poach an established star in or at the end of their prime this offseason, even if they come with the All-Star resumes and accolades that this lot comes with. Without question, these are the types of players that could make good teams great but that’s not much help if the price point isn’t feasible for the teams that need them. With a shortage of cap room around the league this year, expect most of the players in this group to exercise their player options. If they do end up on the market, as both DeMar DeRozan and Andre Drummond have at different times implied, their best bet may be to trade a pay cut in the short-term for a longer duration deal like Al Horford and Jonas Valanciunas did last season.

The Emerging Star Tier

• Fred VanVleet – > Back with TO
• Montrezl Harrell – Agreement with Lakers

Both Fred VanVleet and Montrezl Harrell have made their names providing immense value in supporting roles for teams with first-class championship aspirations. As a result, fans and opposing teams alike have no shortage of chances to see what they’re capable of. What nobody truly knows, however, is how either of these teams would fare as a primary or secondary option on another squad, the type of role that comes with max or near-max money. Both Toronto and Los Angeles are well positioned to give their guys a substantial pay raise and keep them in town but things could get complicated in a hurry if outside teams hungry for assets they can grow with start to court them. 

The Brimming with Potential Tier

• Davis Bertans -> Back to DC
• Christian Wood -> Agreement with Houston
• Malik Beasley (restricted) – > Back in Minny

In certain offseasons, teams flush with cap space would be happy to throw money at players who’ve shown the glimpses of high ceiling potential that this group has. This year though, with a shortage of spenders and much of the league’s financial outlook still uncertain, things are different. While all of these particular individuals had shown promising signs with other teams, it wasn’t until they landed on their current squads that they started to truly gain momentum as potential long-term building blocks. For that reason, any outside team eager to pluck one would likely need to spend more on a relatively unproven commodity than they’re comfortable with. That’s a risk that may seem especially hard to justify in 2020, leaving incumbent teams in prime position to bring them back.

The Proven Impact Player Tier

• Serge Ibaka
• Bogdan Bogdanovic (restricted) -> Offer from ATL expected
• Jordan Clarkson -> Back in Utah
• Goran Dragic -> Back in Miami
• Otto Porter Jr. (exercised PO)
• Carmelo Anthony – > Back with Portland
• Evan Fournier (exercised PO)
• Aron Baynes
• Derrick Favors -> Agreement with Utah
• Marc Gasol -> An “option” for Lakers
• Jerami Grant (declined PO) -> Agreement with Detroit

This group of starting caliber impact players can be one of the most interesting to monitor every offseason. None of the players will command max money or even a featured role in any new team’s offense but they can immediately tilt the scales for whichever franchise they land with. These players are safe, often nomadic, with a track record of performing consistently. If the fit and the price are right, it’s a perfect marriage with postseason implications.

The Elite Role Player Tier

• Tim Hardaway Jr. (exercised PO)
• Joe Harris –> Back with Nets
• Marcus Morris -> Back with Clippers
• Paul Millsap -> Back with Denver
• Kelly Olynyk (exercised PO)
• Dario Saric (restricted)
• Dwight Howard -> Agreement with Philly

While these players may not have the luxury of demanding heavy usage wherever they go, they’re capable of specifically thriving in certain ideal situations. Fit is key with these players and that can completely shift the narratives that follow them around for the rest of their career. There’s a thin line between heroic supporting veteran and onerous contract and it usually depends on how competitive the team ends up being after they’ve signed them.

The Re-Purposed Veteran Tier

• Tristan Thompson
• DeMarcus Cousins
• Isaiah Thomas
• Austin Rivers (declined PO)
• Enes Kanter (exercised PO)
• Jeff Teague
• Hassan Whiteside
• Bobby Portis (declined TO) – >Agreement with Milwaukee

This group of players with histories of featuring heavily into team rotations will always garner interest because of their track records but they may be forced to accept reduced roles if they’d like to play meaningful basketball come playoff time. Alternatively, they could opt instead for larger, albeit temporary, roles with developing programs in need of starters.

The High Ceiling Rotation Piece Tier

• De’Anthony Melton (restricted) -> Back with Memphis
• Harry Giles
• Jakob Poeltl (restricted) -> Back with Spurs
• Svi Mykhailiuk (exercised TO)

Teams looking to stockpile assets that they can grow and work with will always have an interest in this mid-level group. Inevitably, these players appeal more to teams with room and patience to focus on player development since there’s no guarantee that they’d be able to consistently excel on a team contending for a title. Not all will blossom into major rotation pieces down the road but they’re simultaneously capable contributors in the short-term and low-risk investment opportunities in the long term.

The Veteran Support Tier

• Jae Crowder -> Agreement with Phoenix
• Nerlens Noel -> Agreement with New York
• D.J. Augustin -> Agreement with Milwaukee
• Mason Plumlee – > Agreement with Detroit
• Nicolas Batum (exercised PO)
• Reggie Jackson
• Kyle Korver
• Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
• Avery Bradley (declined PO) -> Agreement with Miami

Teams less inclined to take on development projects may prefer mid-rotation pieces that they can plug into their lineup without stress. None of these players are going to move the needle for a team on a season-to-season basis but they can still make a difference from game to game. Given that they wouldn’t likely yield big contracts, they’re the perfect building blocks to slide into contending rosters to fortify already impressive lineups.

The Mystery Value Tier

• Rodney Hood (declined PO) -> Back in Portland
• Kenrich Williams (restricted)
• Josh Jackson -> Agreement with Detroit
• Jevon Carter (restricted)
• Juan Hernangomez (restricted)
• Mario Hezonja (exercised PO)
• Chris Boucher (restricted)
• Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
• Allonzo Trier
• Chandler Parsons

Whether a team is ready to compete now or still in the rebuilding phase, they’ll need to fill out the middle portion of their rotation with reliable players. This particular group would appeal more to teams still developing their core as the players within it have room to grow on a personal level. The fact that a young team could commit now and groom a potential long-term supporting cast member carries a lot of weight. The fact that they could settle on a contender and then blossom into something more is scary.

The Veteran Reinforcement Tier

• Andre Roberson
• Alec Burks -> Agreement with NY
• Langston Galloway
• JaVale McGee (exercised PO)
• Michael Carter-Williams ->. Agreement with ORlando
• Kent Bazemore
• Markieff Morris
• Matthew Dellavedova
• Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
• Maurice Harkless -> Agreement with Miami
• Pat Connaughton -> Back with Milwaukee
• Marco Belinelli
• Frank Kaminsky (declined TO)
• Meyers Leonard -> Back in Miami
• Justin Holiday -> Back with Indy

While unlikely to grab many headlines, these veterans are necessary components of the NBA workforce. Equally equipped to slot in as prominent bench players for contending teams or help guide a developing team through a rebuild in more of a leadership role, there’s an impressive amount of flexibility here. They’ll get minutes wherever they end up and can be some of the most affordable sources of value in the league.

The Low-Risk Gamble Tier

• Kris Dunn -> Agreement with Atlanta
• Rajon Rondo (declined PO) -> Agreement with Atlanta
• Evan Turner
• Torrey Craig
• Thon Maker
• Stanley Johnson (exercised PO)
• Bryn Forbes
• Jonah Bolden
• Dragan Bender

Teams don’t necessarily go looking for prominent contributors at the bottom of their rotation but these are players that could start there and work their way up. These players aren’t so much budding prospects as they’re veteran players capable of more if things break right. So long as the price is right, these are low-risk gambles with intriguing rewards.

The Dormant Game Changer Tier

• Shabazz Napier
• Cameron Payne (declined TO)
• JaKarr Sampson
• Anthony Tolliver
• Marvin Williams -> Retired
• Raul Neto -> Agreement with Washington
• Mike Muscala (exercised PO)
• Garrett Temple (declined TO) -> Agreement with Chicago
• Wesley Matthews (declined PO) -> Agreement with Lakers
• Bismack Biyombo
• Brandon Knight
• Robin Lopez (declined PO) -> Agreement with Washington
• J.J. Barea
• Iman Shumpert

It’s unrealistic to expect a deep rotation piece to be able to produce above their weight class consistently but any time a utility player can step up as an injury replacement or even just flex a unique skill set, it provides additional value for the team. These players may slide by undetected in the box score on most nights but are capable of much more.

The Depth on Depth Tier

• Gary Payton II
• Emmanuel Mudiay
• JaMychal Green (declined PO) -> Agreement with Denver
• DeMarre Carroll
• Jeff Green -> Agreement with Brooklyn
• Dwayne Bacon -> Agreement with Orlando
• Wilson Chandler
• Chris Chiozza
• Glenn Robinson III
• Derrick Jones Jr. -> Agreement with Portland
• Wes Iwundu -> Agreement with Dallas
• Treveon Graham
• David Nwaba (exercised TO)
• Wenyen Gabriel (restricted)
• C.J. Miles
• Dion Waiters
• James Johnson (exercised PO)
• E’Twaun Moore
• Solomon Hill
• Isaiah Hartenstein
• Tim Frazier

What can make or break a season is the depth at the bottom of the roster. There are no shortage of quality hoopers in this world who can fill in at the end of the bench for an NBA squad but if those players have the skills, experience and gravitas to make the most of the fleeting action they do get, the sky is the limit. These players won’t demand consistent court time but they’re a luxury to have at the bottom of a rotation.

The Scrapping for Opportunities Tier

• Damyean Dotson (restricted)
• Skal Labissiere (restricted)
• DeAndre’ Bembry (restricted)
• Ian Mahinmi
• Corey Brewer
• Yogi Ferrell
• Caleb Swanigan
• Kyle O’Quinn
• Hamidou Diallo (exercised TO)
• Patrick Patterson -> Back with Clippers
• Willy Hernangomez
• Denzel Valentine (restricted)
• Shaquille Harrison
• Bruno Caboclo
• Alize Johnson (restricted)
• Noah Vonleh
• John Henson
• Frank Mason (restricted)
• Jahlil Okafor -> Agreement with Detroit
• Frank Jackson (restricted)
• Sterling Brown (restricted)
• Tyler Johnson
• Kadeem Allen

Securing a consistent job in the NBA is incredibly difficult, leaving this group the most susceptible to churn as 60 new rookies enter the league every offseason. These players will have their work cut out for them landing new roles and some could even spend time on the outside of the league looking in if they don’t find a good fit. We’ve seen time and time again examples of players that left the league only to return after a brief hiatus in the G League or overseas.

Update #1, Sep. 17, 2020: Post updated with new NBA Draft date, additional free agents added to existing tiers.

Special Offer: Click Here To Get 15% Off NBA Store With Code NBASLAM15

The post Top 2020 NBA Free Agents List appeared first on SLAM.

—

On the evening of Thursday, June 4, thousands gather at Revolution Hall in Portland, Oregon’s Southeast neighborhood to march against police brutality and the recent murders of Tony McDade, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, whose murder caught on video at the hands of Minnesota police officers sparked global outrage. As the protest heads two miles toward the Southwest waterfront over the Morrison Bridge, a Black grandmother who has been here before marches with her granddaughter who’s likely new to the fight. A multiracial group of high school students capture video on social media, as a middle-aged, same-sex couple walks in unison carrying a large sign that reads, “Black Lives Matter.” Floyd and Taylor’s names fuel emotionally charged chants, muted only by moments of silence honoring them and other victims. The protestors signify Portland as a city looking for unity and change. And at the front of the movement, leading the people in lockstep, is Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard.

The Black Lives Matter movement has reached unprecedented support since Floyd’s death on May 25, 2020, with organized protests across all 50 US states and over 60 countries. Truthfully, police brutality isn’t new. Nor is capturing it on video. But amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, everything deemed non-essential has been placed on pause. People have had more opportunity than ever to watch Floyd’s death and internalize what is really going on. With protests arising across the country, NBA players have joined in with their presence and platforms. Minnesota Timberwolves players Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Okogie joined former NBA player Stephen Jackson to protest for Floyd, who was a close friend of Jackson’s, in Minneapolis. Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown drove 15 hours from Boston to organize a protest in his hometown of Atlanta. And reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo led several of his Bucks teammates to join a protest in Milwaukee, while calling for change and justice over a bullhorn.

All of their efforts are significant, but other than Jackson, whose proximity to Floyd rightfully centers his voice, Lillard leading Portland in a protest hits different given the city’s tense racial history. Portland’s a complicated microcosm of America. A progressive environment on its surface, it’s a city that’s built on prejudice and unjust racial inequalities once you peel back a few layers. Oregon’s foundation has an uncomfortable and often omitted historical timeline of aggressively anit-Black legislation, events and organizations. Dating back to the 1850s, laws made it illegal for Black people to live in the state or own property; state officials intentionally chose not to ratify both the 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution until 1973; and Portland was a well-known epicenter for hate groups as recently as the mid 2000s.

Lillard’s been with the Blazers since 2012, his outward affinity for the city of Portland growing more evident each year. He’s performed as Dame D.O.L.L.A. at several shows with local artists. Other members of his family work with the city’s youth, and it’s far from uncommon to see him at a local establishment supporting small business. He’s openly talked about how much he wants to go down as the best Trail Blazer ever and, considering his investment in the community, he’s an NBA Finals appearance away from being the Rose City’s GOAT.

But the same city that loves Lillard doesn’t always make the six percent of people who look like him feel quite as welcome. Portland’s often considered a place where creative opportunities seem endless, which might actually be true for some residents. But for many Black people in Portland, side-stepping stressfully damaging microaggressions and trite stereotypes in community spaces and work environments is part of the day-to-day. Even the African Americans and POC who fuel the city’s creative industries deal with racism, exclusion and are made to feel as though they should just be thankful to be there. Co-workers mine them for their “cultural insights” in systems that seldom promote people of color but couldn’t exist without them. And to be a Black person outside of Portland’s cool kid industries can make you feel largely unseen.

Like his NBA brethren in other cities, Lillard stepping up to join the conversation is so important because he bridges entire communities. As great a player as he is, Portland adopted Dame because he’s the type of leader willing to work when no one is looking and fight like a mad underdog for the city when it counts. And that’s the type of dedication necessary for Portland, and all other cities across America, to put toward ending racial inequalities in order to enact change. Let’s hope the energy is reciprocated.

The list of NBA and WNBA players who have shown up for Black Lives Matter protests is extensive. SoCal natives DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook spoke out against police brutality at a rally in Compton, with DeRozan revealing that he recently had a friend slain by police. Golden State Warriors swingman Juan Toscano-Anderson led teammates Damion Lee, Kevon Looney, Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry at a protest in Oakland. Current and former Kings Harrison Barnes and Matt Barnes showed up to represent at a demonstration in Sacramento. Pelicans forward Jaxson Hayes attended a protest in NOLA, and Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson attended a march in Los Angeles. Pacers guard Malcolm Brogdon delivered a powerful speech in Atlanta, and Sixers forward Tobias Harris joined the movement in Philadelphia. Enes Kanter drove from Chicago to Boston to protest alongside Celtics teammate Marcus Smart.

Karima Christmas-Kelly of the Minnesota Lynx attended a vigil in Minneapolis where Floyd was murdered. Renee Montgomery passed out bottled water to protestors in Atlanta. Seattle Storm teammates Jewell Loyd and Breanna Stewart both addressed the crowd at a local protest. Several players from the Fever marched for equality in Indiana. Aces star Liz Cambage led passionate chants for justice on the streets of Melbourne, Australia. Members of the Wizards and Mystics peacefully protested together in DC.

The fight for justice continues. And basketball players remain at the forefront.

—

One hundred percent of proceeds from SLAM’s new issue will be donated to the Social Change Fund. Grab your copy here.

Terrence Watson is a contributor to SLAM. Follow him on Twitter @LowerEastScribe.

Photos by Bruce Ely and via Getty.

The post How NBA & WNBA Players Became Leaders in the BLM Movement appeared first on SLAM.

We’ve broken down each of Wednesday night’s matchups below. For a crash course on Tuesday’s games, when both conference’s No. 8 seeds slayed their No. 1 seeded opponents, click here.

No. 2 Raptors 104, No. 7 Nets 99

TOR leads series 2-0

The Nets came back swinging after getting punched in the mouth in their first-round opener and even started to pull away from the defending champions for a quick minute in the first quarter. As the Game 2 match progressed, however, the Raptors clawed their way back in front thanks to a 24-point, 10-assist showing from Fred VanVleet. Each of Brooklyn’s starters scored 14 or more points and that helped them play the Raps close until the bitter end but it wasn’t enough. All but 16 of Toronto’s 104 points came from VanVleet, Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam and Norman Powell, indicative of the multitude of scoring options the Raptors bring to the table.

No. 3 Nuggets 105, No. 6 Jazz 124

Series tied 1-1

Donovan Mitchell followed up a historic playoff opener with a second star performance and while he topped out at 30 points in this one, his Jazz took and finished with a commanding lead on their favored opponents. Hired gun Jordan Clarkson chipped in with 26 points off the bench, leaving the Nuggets reeling and reconsidering their efforts on the defensive end. It was a night to forget for Denver’s starters, though Michael Porter Jr.’s 28-point showing, including six made threes, could be interpreted as a sign of hope for the future.

No. 3 Celtics 128, No. 6 Sixers 101

PHI leads series 2-0

The Sixers jumped out to an early lead in their second game against the Celtics but it wasn’t long before Jayson Tatum continued to evolve into a veritable superstar. The fearless 22-year-old shot 8-for-12 from beyond the arc, for a grand total of 33 points, and the Cs handled their business for the final three quarters of the game. Joel Embiid led all scorers with 34 but couldn’t prevent his squad from being simply outmatched.

No. 2 Clippers 114, No. 7 Mavericks 127

Series tied 1-1

The Luka Doncic show continued in the bubble but the best thing to happen to the Mavericks in their Game 2 bout with the Clippers came when he was sidelined with five fouls. The cavalry appeared for the Mavs and the glimpse of depth changes the forecast for the No. 7 seed. Former Michigan teammates Tim Hardaway Jr. and Trey Burke combined for 33 points in the win, while Boban Marjanovic wowed with 13 points and nine boards in his own nine minutes of action. The Clippers got little support outside of Kawhi Leonard and Lou Williams.

The post Post Up: The Cavalry Has Arrived appeared first on SLAM.

After a dominant February, Donovan Mitchell’s March production hit somewhat of a snag. The 23-year-old struggled from the field and put up just 17.8 points per game during the month (versus the 24.8 he put up previously).

If Mitchell can reverse that trend and Mike Conley can continue to make his own progress, the club could be better equipped for the postseason as a result. Conley averaged 16.4 points and 5.6 assists per game in March, up from the 13.5 and 4.2 he put earlier.

The additional time with the Jazz coaching staff and playbook will only help the veteran.

SLAM’s Heat Check series compares each individual player’s personal production in the month of March with their production prior. The goal is to get a sense of the direction in which players were trending when the league stood still. For a more in-depth description, check out our Heat Check (Hiatus Edition) introduction.

Heat Check Utah Jazz

Tony Bradley
Mike Conley
Joe Ingles
Royce O’Neale
Miye Oni	–
Bojan Bogdanovic	–
Georges Niang
Rudy Gobert
Jarrell Brantley
Jordan Clarkson
Donovan Mitchell
Emmanuel Mudiay

Team-by-Team Breakdown

The post Heat Check (Hiatus): Utah Jazz appeared first on SLAM.

Also included in the team-by-team breakdowns are all partial/non-guaranteed players for the 2020-21 season, essentially expanding the list to include any individual that could plausibly hit free agency this summer.

Related: CBA Explained – Different types of NBA free agency

Denver Nuggets

Minnesota Timberwolves

Oklahoma City Thunder

Portland Trail Blazers

Utah Jazz

The post 2020 NBA Free Agents – Northwest Division appeared first on SLAM.

Cleveland jumped ahead with 33 points in the first quarter and never looked back. Tristan Thompson registered a double-double of 27 points and 11 rebounds.

Pistons 112 (19-38), Magic 116 (24-31)

Both teams hit clutch threes to send the game into overtime, but it was the Magic that came away with the win. Orlando featured a two-headed attack by Aaron Gordon (25 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists) and Markelle Fultz (22 points, 10 assists).

Raptors 91 (40-15), Nets 101 (25-28)

Toronto’s 15-game wining streak came to an end Wednesday in Brooklyn. Five Nets players hit double digits, including four of their five starters, led by Caris LeVert’s 20 points.

Bucks 111 (46-8), Pacers 118 (32-23)

Milwaukee fell short in Indiana as Giannis Antetokounmpo missed his second game due to the birth of his son. TJ Warren set the tone for the Pacers with 35 points and 4 steals.

Wizards 114 (20-33), Knicks 96 (17-38)

Washington turned it on in the fourth quarter, scoring 37 points to seal their road win. All-Star Bradley Beal paced his team with 30 points.

Blazers 104 (25-31), Grizzlies 111 (28-26)

The Grizzlies’ young duo of Brandon Clarke (27 points) and Ja Morant (20 points) helped fend off Portland. CJ McCollum scored 23 points for the Blazers.

Hornets 115 (18-36), Timberwolves 108 (16-37)

Minnesota reclaimed the lead in the closing minutes, but Charlotte rallied and earned the victory. Devonte’ Graham put up 28 points for the Hornets, while his teammate Malik Monk added 25 points.

Kings 111 (21-33), Mavericks 130 (33-22)

Luka Doncic was back to normal in his return after a seven-game absence due to a sprained ankle. Doncic posted 33 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists in the Mavs’ home win; Kristaps Porzingis added 27 points and 13 rebounds of his own.

Warriors 106 (12-43), Suns 112 (22-33)

Devin Booker’s 27 points led Phoenix in their victory over Golden State. Andrew Wiggins scored 27 points for the Warriors.

Heat 101 (35-19), Jazz 116 (36-18)

Utah received an offensive boost with three 20-point scorers: Donovan Mitchell (26 points), Bogdan Bogdanovic (22 points) and Jordan Clarkson (21 points). Jimmy Butler put up 25 points for the Heat.

Lakers 120 (41-12), Nuggets 116 (38-17)

Anthony Davis (33 points) and LeBron James (32 points) gave L.A. the firepower it needed to top the Nuggets in overtime. Davis and James connected for two straight threes in the extra period that sealed Denver’s fate. Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 32 points.

The post Post Up: Luka Doncic Puts Up 33 Points in Return From Ankle Injury appeared first on SLAM.

Charlotte mustered up just enough offense in this low-scoring affair to come out on top. Miles Bridges (18 points) and Devonte’ Graham (14 points, 11 assists) helped lift the Hornets over Detroit.

Nets 106 (24-28), Pacers 105 (31-23)

Spencer Dinwiddie continues to step up in the clutch. His step-back with 3.8 seconds left put Brooklyn ahead for good; he finished with a team-high 21 points.

Hawks 126 (15-40), Magic 135 (23-31)

The scoring was plentiful in Orlando, with the home team securing the win. Nikola Vucevic posted a near triple-double with 24 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists. All-Star Trae Young scored 29 points for Atlanta.

Timberwolves 126 (16-36), Raptors 137 (40-14)

D’Angelo Russell scored 22 points in his Timberwolves debut, although Minnesota fell short of the win in Toronto. It was the Raptors’ 15th straight win. Pascal Siakam led Toronto with 34 points.

Kings 111 (21-32), Bucks 123 (46-7)

Without Giannis, the Bucks had no problem taking care of business. Eric Bledsoe (28 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists) and Khris Middleton (28 points, 11 rebounds) gave Milwaukee the boost it needed with the MVP out.

Jazz 123 (35-18), Mavericks 119 (32-22)

Jordan Clarkson has been reinvigorated since arriving in Utah. Clarkson scored a team-high 25 points off the bench to help the Jazz beat Dallas. Tim Hardaway Jr. put up 33 points for the Mavs.

Spurs 120 (22-31), Nuggets 127 (38-16)

Denver didn’t hold a lead until the fourth quarter, rallying late to upset San Antonio. Jamal Murray paced the Nuggets with 26 points. LaMarcus Aldridge scored 33 points for the Spurs.

Heat 113 (35-18), Warriors 101 (12-42)

Andre Iguodala received a warm welcome and a win in his return to Golden State. Jimmy Butler and Jae Crowder led the team with 21 points apiece.

Suns 100 (21-33), Lakers 125 (40-12)

Los Angeles handled the Suns easily, turning it on in the second half. Anthony Davis scored a team-high 25 points, followed by Rajon Rondo’s 23 points.

The post Post Up: Spencer Dinwiddie Hits Game-Winner to Beat Pacers appeared first on SLAM.

We’ve got an entire list of the trades that have been agreed upon in this post and have consolidated our 2020 NBA trade deadline coverage so that you can easily access the most substantial of reports that we’ve been keeping our eye on.

February 6

Reported – The Los Angeles Clippers agreed to acquire Marcus Morris and Isaiah Thomas in a three-team trade with the New York Knicks and Washington Wizards. A total of four players and a pick were involved. Full story.

Reported – The Orlando Magic agreed to acquire James Ennis from the Washington Wizards in exchange for a second-round pick. Full story.

Reported – The Washington Wizards agreed to trade Jordan McRae to the Denver Nuggets for Shabazz Napier. Full story.

Reported – The Miami Heat, Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves have agreed to seven-player trade built around Andre Iguodala, Justise Winslow and Gorgui Dieng. Also changing places are Dion Waiters, Jae Crowder and more. Full story.

Reported – The Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed to acquire Andre Drummond from the Detroit Pistons in exchange for John Henson, Brandon Knight and a second. Full story.

Reported – The Portland Trail Blazers have agreed to trade Skal Labissiere to the Atlanta Hawks for cash. Full story.

Reported – The Houston Rockets have agreed to deal Jordan Bell to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Brunoc Caboclo. The two teams are also exchanging future picks in the trade. Full story.

Reported – The Golden State Warriors have agreed to trade D’Angelo Russell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Andrew Wiggins. A number of players and picks are also in play. Full story.

Reported – The Los Angeles Clippers have agreed to trade Derrick Walton Jr. to the Atlanta Hawks for cash. Full story.

February 5

Reported – The Golden State Warriors agreed to trade Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for three second-round picks. Full story.

Reported – The Sacramento Kings have agreed to send Dewayne Dedmon and two second-round picks to the Atlanta Hawks for Jabari Parker and Alex Len. Full story.

February 4

Official – The Atlanta Hawks acquired Clint Capela in a four-team trade involving the Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets. The Rockets will bring aboard Robert Covington, the Wolves will get a look at Malik Beasley and total of 12 players will change teams. Full story.

January 24

Official – The Dallas Mavericks acquired Willie Cauley-Stein from the Golden State Warriors in exchange for a second-round pick. Full story.

Official – The Dallas Mavericks acquired Justin Patton from the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Isaiah Roby. Full story.

January 18

Official – The Portland Trail Blazers acquired Trevor Ariza, Caleb Swanigan and Wenyen Gabriel from the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Kent Bazemore, Anthony Tolliver and a pair of seconds. Full story.

January 16

Official – The Atlanta Hawks traded Allen Crabbe to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Jeff Teague. Full story.

December 23

Official – The Utah Jazz acquired Jordan Clarkson from the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Dante Exum and a pair of second-round picks. Full story.

The post 2020 NBA Trade Deadline Tracker appeared first on SLAM.

Toronto held off a Cleveland rally late to hold on to the road win. Serge Ibaka led the team with 26 points, while Kyle Lowry added 23 points. Collin Sexton and Kevin Love each scored 23 points for the Cavs.

Hornets 107 (16-32), Wizards 121 (16-31)

Bradley Beal was fed up with his All-Star snub. The Washington guard went out and let his game do the talking, posting a near triple-double of 34 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists.

76ers 117 (31-18), Hawks 127 (13-36)

Trae Young had a career night and earned the victory to boot. Young posted 39 points, 18 assists (a career high) and 6 rebounds to beat Philadelphia. Ben Simmons led the 76ers with 31 points.

Warriors 104 (10-39), Celtics 119 (32-15)

Boston took control after the first quarter, growing their lead to as large as 19 while they coasted to a win. Three Celtics hit 20+ points: Gordon Hayward (25), Marcus Smart (21) and new All-Star Jayson Tatum (20).

Jazz 100 (32-16), Nuggets 106 (33-15)

The Nuggets outscored the Jazz by eight in the second half, which was enough to lift them over Utah. Nikola Jokic put up a double-double of 28 points and 10 assists. Jordan Clarkson went off for 37 points for Utah.

Kings 124 (18-30), Clippers 103 (33-15)

Sacramento blazed the Clippers from beyond the arc, setting a franchise record with 21 made threes in the win. De’Aaron Fox also registered a career-high 34 points.

The post Post Up: Bradley Beal Nears Triple-Double in Win After All-Star Snub appeared first on SLAM.

In this post, just one of a series of 30, we’ll break down the reports that have started to trickle out about Jazz players that may or may not be on the move. While there’s no guarantee when it comes to a league as wild as the modern NBA, it doesn’t hurt to brush up on each squad’s roster as the deadline draws near.

Players Unlikely To Be Traded

• Rudy Gobert
• Donovan Mitchell
• Joe Ingles
• Royce O’Neale
• Juwan Morgan
• Rayjon Tucker

The Jazz have rebounded nicely from a rocky start and as many expected prior to the season, the team appears to belong in the top echelon of the Western Conference. It’s unlikely that the franchise makes major changes to its core, meaning Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell aren’t going anywhere.

Joe Ingles is also not going anywhere, as he’s not eligible to be traded this season as a result of signing an extension with Utah earlier in the year. Royce O’Neale, who just signed an extension as well, is also not eligible to be traded. Neither is Juwan Morgan, who inked a deal with Utah in late November, nor Rayjon Tucker, who signed his in December.

Biggest Name Available On Market

• Ed Davis

The Ed Davis signing hasn’t worked as well as the team had hoped. The big man was expected to be a major part of the team’s bench, though a leg injury and ineffective play after returning has blanketed hope. He’s making $4.8M this season and $5.0M next and it wouldn’t be surprising if the Jazz attempt to shop his deal.

Logical Trade Pieces

• Mike Conley

There have no reports of the Jazz shopping Conley nor any of his discontent in Utah. Conley recently returned from a hamstring injury that robbed him of 19 games and by all accounts, he’s embraced his current role off the bench for the club. However, if the Jazz want to be a true contender, they’ll either need the point guard to revert to Memphis Conley or they’ll need to search for a trade.

The offseason deal for Conley, who is making $32.5M this season, sacrificed some of Utah’s depth and if the team searched for a trade before the deadline, it could certainly regain some of that depth. The team’s trade for Jordan Clarkson alleviated some of those concerns, though Utah’s biggest weakness is its frontcourt rotation behind Gobert. Additionally, adding another wing wouldn’t hurt, especially since the club will have to best the likes of Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and LeBron James if it wants to reach the NBA Finals. Trading Conley, who has an ETO worth $34.5M for next season, could be the answer for the Jazz.

Trades Are Possible

• Bojan Bogdanovic
• Tony Bradley
• Georges Niang
• Emmanuel Mudiay
• Nigel Williams-Goss
• Miye Oni

Offseason signing Bojan Bogdanovic has worked out quite well for the Jazz. He’s one of just six players league-wide who is making at least three shots from behind the arc at a 40% rate. Tony Bradley has assumed the back-up center spot in Utah. He’s eligible for a rookie-scale extension after the season. Georges Niang has knocked down 44.1% of his triples this season, proving to be a nice offensive piece for the club. Emmanuel Mudiay, who’s on a one-year deal in Utah, has solidified another contract in the league with his play this season. The 23-year-old has shown flashes this season of what made him an intriguing prospect leading up to the 2015 draft. Nigel Williams-Goss has only appeared in nine games for the Jazz. He’s gotten most of his run with the Salt Lake City Stars of the G League. Miye Oni is another player who’s likely known more by Stars season ticket holders than he is with Jazz season ticket holders.

The post 2020 NBA Trade Deadline Primer: Utah Jazz appeared first on SLAM.

Another game without a star (this time Paul George), and yet another win for the Clippers. Reaching win number 30 on the season was no breeze though, with the feisty Pelicans leading for a good chunk of the game. But ultimately, Kawhi Leonard was too much to handle. He had himself a phenomenal game, with 39 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals. And who could forget Lou Will, who dropped a cool 32 points off the pine.

For the Pelicans, Lonzo Ball had a triple double, scoring 18 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing 11 assists. Derrick Favors was also excellent, scoring 22 points on a perfect 10-10 shooting along with 11 boards.

Bucks 117 (38-6), Nets 97 (18-23)

The Bucks just do not let up. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 29 points and 12 rebounds in only 25 minutes, Khris Middleton had 20 of his own, and Brook Lopez did a fantastic job protecting the rim, notching 5 blocks.

The Nets were helpless against the brutal efficiency of the Bucks, and it showed with no player scoring higher than 17 points.

Suns 123 (18-24), Celtics 123 (27-14)

Fantastic win for the Suns beating Boston at home. Devin Booker went inferno, with 39 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists. Deandre Ayton backed that up with a monster 26 points and 15 boards.

Despite the loss, Marcus Smart went bonkers, with a career-high 11 3-pointers made for 37 points, 8 assists and 4 steals.

Pistons 136 (16-27), Hawks 103 (10-33)

It must have been very cathartic for Detroit to finally blow somebody out. Derrick Rose, recently inserted into the starting lineup to fill the playmaking black hole, was excellent. D Rose scored 27 points along with 9 assists and a plus/minus of +24. Andre Drummond also cleaned up as usual, with 16 points, 17 rebounds and 5 swipes.

76ers 90 (28-16), Knicks 87 (11-32)

A surprisingly close game, but all Philly should care about is getting the victory. Ben Simmons was fully in control, ending the game with 21 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 steals.

Raptors 122 (28-14), Timberwolves 112 (15-27)

The Raptors have been butchered by injuries all year, and they finally had their core group together again, and the results were excellent. Fred VanVleet (29 points, 4 steals, 7-8 from deep) barely missed a beat from his weeks-long absence. Kyle Lowry was great too, scoring 28 points, grabbing 7 rebounds and splashing 5 3-pointers.

Bulls 118 (16-28), Cavaliers 116 (12-31)

What an impressive win from the Bulls! Coming into the 4th quarter down a sizable 15 points, none other than Zach LaVine went off. The star guard had 42 points, 6 rebounds and 5 steals for a wild performance.

Don’t blame the loss on Kevin Love though. He had a 29-5-6 line and the Cavs outscored the Bulls by 11 points when he was in.

Warriors 109 (10-34), Magic 95 (20-23)

Orlando may have a subpar record, but they’re long, athletic and make you beat them, making this a quality win for a youthful Dubs team. DLO had 26 points, 12 assists and 2 steals along with a beautiful 3 late in the game.

Also, let’s take a moment, even in defeat, to appreciate the comeback of Markelle Fultz. Dude has been a problem for defenses.

Lakers 124 (34-8), Rockets 115 (26-15)

No Anthony Davis and on the road against the Rockets…that’s a quality win right there, Lakers. LeBron was fantastic as usual. He put up 31 points, 12 assists and 5 rebounds. Kyle Kuzma, Danny Green and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope all showed out as well.

For the Rockets, Russell Westbrook scored 35 points and James Harden scored 34, but no one else really stepped up.

Jazz 123 (29-13), Kings 101 (15-27)

The Jazz are rolling. Other than a slight hiccup against the Pelicans a couple of nights ago, they’ve been creaming everyone in their path and tonight was no different. Bojan Bogdanovic had a clean 30 points, Rudy Gobert had a monster 28 points, 15 rebounds and 3 blocks, and Jordan Clarkson had another quality performance off the bench with 20 points.

Thunder 119 (24-19), Blazers 106 (18-26)

Chris Paul had 30 points and 7 assists on 11-15 shooting in just 28 minutes, while his protege and backcourt mate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 22 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists.

For the Blazers, it’s unfortunately becoming a common trend to see Dame go off (34 points, 6 assists), but lose the game.

The post Post Up: Kawhi Pops Off for 39 Points to Defeat Pelicans appeared first on SLAM.

In this post, just one of a series of 30, we’ll break down the reports that have started to trickle out about Cavs players that may or may not be on the move. While there’s no guarantee when it comes to a league as wild as the modern NBA, it doesn’t hurt to brush up on each squad’s roster as the deadline draws near.

Players Unlikely To Be Traded

• Dante Exum
• Darius Garland
• Collin Sexton
• Cedi Osman

The Cavaliers selected Darius Garland with the intention of playing him alongside Collin Sexton and that’s exactly what they have done. The duo has played 838 minutes together, the fourth-most out of any two-man combo on the team, and while their -13.0 net rating leaves much to be desired, any trade that parts with either guard isn’t likely to occur before this year’s trade deadline.

Cedi Osman, who inked a veteran extension with the team prior to the season, is not eligible to be traded and Dante Exum, who came to the Cavs in the Jordan Clarkson deal in late December, is unlikely to be dealt. If Exum is dealt, the team can’t aggregate his salary with another in order to take back a higher-priced player.

Biggest Name Available On Market

• Kevin Love

Ever since the team traded for Kevin Love, the big man has been the subject of trade speculation in Cleveland, though this feels like the year that he actually dons another uniform. Love had an altercation with general manager Koby Altman earlier in the month, showcasing his frustration with the franchise. Love reportedly berated Altman in front of coaches and players and after Altman threatened to fine Love, the former All-Star responded with “go ahead. I have plenty of money,” per Shams Charania and Joe Vardon of The Athletic.

Love will continue to get plenty of money. The big man is making $28.9M this season and is owed roughly $90M over the ensuing three seasons. The Cavaliers would like to net a first-round pick in a Love deal, though that contract will give teams pause. Evan Dammarell of Forbes.com hears that the Nuggets and Suns are among the teams to have expressed interest in Love.

Logical Trade Pieces

• Tristan Thompson
• Brandon Knight
• John Henson
• Matthew Dellevedova

It’s no secret that Cleveland is in the midst of a rebuild and the franchise has a desire to trade away its veterans. Tristan Thompson, who is in the final year of his five-year, $80M contract, has played well this season and could help a contender in need. Brandon Knight ($15.6M), John Henson ($9.7M), and Matthew Dellevedova ($9.6M) will all be harder sells due to each player’s price tag.

Trades Are Possible

• Ante Zizic
• Dylan Windler
• Kevin Porter Jr.

Ante Zizic, who has appeared in 16 games for Cleveland this year, will be an unrestricted free agent after the season, as the team turned down his fourth-year option. Dylan Windler’s rookie season was cut short thanks to ongoing symptoms related to a lower leg stress reaction. The 2019 No. 26 overall pick hasn’t had a chance to suit up for the Cavs this season. No. 30 overall pick Kevin Porter Jr. appeared in 34 games for Cleveland before going down with a knee injury. He’s expected back later this season.

The post 2020 NBA Trade Deadline Primer: Cleveland Cavaliers appeared first on SLAM.

All five of Utah’s starters finished in double figures with Bogdan Bogdanovic scoring a game-high 31 points. Rudy Gobert had 21 and 14, and Jordan Clarkson added 23 off the bench.

Knicks 124 (11-29), Heat 121 (27-12)

Julius Randle finished with 26 points and RJ Barrett added 23 points at MSG to snap a five-game losing streak. The Knicks rallied back from being down 14 in the third quarter.

Grizzlies 122 (18-22), Warriors 102 (9-32)

Jonas Valanciunas posted a double-double (31 points, 19 rebounds) to give Memphis its fifth consecutive win. Jaren Jackson Jr added 21 points and Ja Morant posted a near triple-double (11 points, 10 assists, 7 rebounds).

Nets 108 (18-20), Hawks 86 (8-32)

In his return back to the starting lineup, Kyrie Irving finished with a team-high 21 points at Barclays Center. Tauren Prince had 14 points and DeAndre Jordan put up 13 and 8.

Spurs 105 (13-21), Raptors 104 (25-14)

DeMar DeRozan put up a game-high 25 points, including a nasty poster on Chris Boucher. Rudy Gay, who also had an impressive dunk of his own, finished with 15 points. Derrick White added 13.

Suns 100 (16-23), Hornets 92 (15-27)

Kelly Oubre led all scorers with 25 points in the home win. Devin Booker finished with 12 and Ricky Rubio and Mikal Bridges finished with 10 apiece.

Nuggets 112 (267-12), Clippers 104 (27-12)

The Clippers showed signs of closing the gap, but couldn’t convert down the stretch. Nikola Jokic finished with 20 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. Jamal Murray finished with 19 points and Michael Porter Jr (13 points) and Monte Morris (12 points) combined for 25 points off the bench.

The post Post Up: Kyrie Irving Leads Nets to Win Over Hawks in Return 😤 appeared first on SLAM.

The Wiz have played admirably without star guard Bradley Beal. Jordan McRae scored 29 points, Troy Brown Jr chipped in 18 and 10 boards off the bench and Davis Bertans treated us to a surprising flush.

Pelicans 123 (14-25), Knicks 111 (10-29)

Watch out for the Birds. After a pitiful start to the season, they’re finding their stride, with an easy schedule and Zion Williamson on the horizon. In the present, Brandon Ingram went off for 28 points, Lonzo Ball had 11 assists and rookie Jaxson Hayes had 18 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks.

No matter how many starting lineups they try, the Knicks still find a way to lose. At least all five starters scored, and we glimpsed signs of life from the mysterious Frank Ntlikina.

Nets 117 (17-20), Heat 113 (27-11)

Spencer Dinwiddie is so under-appreciated. He’s kept the entire Nets boat afloat while Kyrie nurses a shoulder injury, and tonight was no different. Dinwiddie dropped 26 points and 14 assists to take down the Heat.

Pacers 116 (24-15), Bulls 105 (13-26)

Without arguably their best player Malcolm Brogdon (plus Victor Oladipo having missed the whole season thus far), the Pacers still took care of business against an inferior Bulls team. Center Myles Turner produced one of his best games yet, with 27 points, 14 rebounds and 2 blocks.

The Bulls wasted a fantastic Zach LaVine 43-point scoring outburst (he scored 20 in a row at one point), and look poised for another year in the lottery.

Grizzlies 134 (17-22), Spurs 121 (16-21)

The new guard beating the old guard. There’s something symbolic about that, and Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson are the future, but the present is pretty damn good too. Jaren had 24 points on an efficient 8-11 shooting. Ja also had a complete game with 22 points, 14 assists and 7 rebounds.

The Spurs had beaten the Bucks and Celtics in recent games, yet they succumbed to the pesky Grizzlies. DeMar DeRozan had a 36-9-9 stat line, but it was not enough.

Suns 98 (15-23), Magic 94 (18-21)

The Magic were leading the Suns 94-90 with less than a minute to go.

Then, Devin Booker happened. The star shooting guard drained a 3-pointer, then caught a steal on defense and came back down to splash another 3. Game, set, match.

Jazz 109 (26-12), Hornets 92 (15-26)

The Jazz are rolling. Trading for Jordan Clarkson has been a godsend, as the seemingly minor trade simultaneously excised poor, yet consistently injured Dante Exum and brought in a much needed bucket-getter. Clarkson scored 20 points on 8-15 shooting, while Rudy Gobert provided his usual dose of stingy defense with 5 blocks and a modest double-double. The Jazz have won 13 of their last 14 games.

Lakers 129 (31-7), Mavericks 114 (23-15)

LeBron James did LeBron James things with his superstar sidekick Anthony Davis sidelined. Bron dropped 35 points, 16 rebounds and 7 assists to dismantle the Mavs, making him the first Laker to put up such stats since Shaq in 2003. Kyle Kuzma stepped into the starting lineup admirably with 26 points of his own.

Bucks 127 (34-6), Kings 106 (15-24)

Another day, another Bucks win while Giannis doesn’t even play 30 minutes. Khris Middleton (27 points, 11 rebounds) and Eric Bledsoe (24 points, 5 assists) led the way to crush the Kings, who actually stayed competitive through halftime.

De’Aaron Fox was phenomenal stuffing the stat sheet, with 19 points, 9 boards, 10 assists, 4 steals and even 2 blocks in the loss.

Clippers 109 (27-12), Warriors 100 (9-31)

The Dubs played them close, but the Clippers still took care of business even without star Paul George. Kawhi had a monster slam dunk, and 36 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals. Pat Beverley was one assist shy of a triple-double.

The post Post Up: Lakers Defeat Mavericks in Final Regular Season Meeting appeared first on SLAM.

The Utah Jazz intend to waive veteran forward Jeff Green, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports. The 33-year-old was signed to a one-year veteran minimum deal this season.

In 30 games for the Jazz, Green has played a consistent role, averaging 18.5 minutes and 7.8 points per game. His release will open up an additional roster slot for a team intent on contending in the Western Conference this year.

News of Green’s release comes hours after it was revealed that the Jazz would trade former lottery pick Dante Exum to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Jordan Clarkson.

Green will hit waivers when he’s formally released and could be of interest to contending teams looking for experienced depth heading into the middle of the 2019-20 campaign.

Green averaged 12.3 points per game with the Wizards last season and has been on seven teams in the past six seasons.

The post Utah Jazz To Waive Jeff Green appeared first on SLAM.

The move gives Cleveland a highly acclaimed former lottery pick that has struggled to stay healthy throughout the last five years of his career.

While Exum has long shown upside given his length and athleticism, he’s played more than 42 games just twice in six campaigns.

Exum remains a relatively intriguing building block with two years left on his current contract but the Jazz are better positioned to attempt to contend in the west than develop long-term assets. The Aussie guard has seen less action this year, just 7.6 minutes a night, than he has in any previous season.

The Jazz, in exchange, land an offensive catalyst that’s proven himself capable of filling the stat sheet across stints with the Cavs and Los Angeles Lakers. Clarkson has averaged 14.6 points in just 23.0 minutes per game this season.

Clarkson’s $13.4 million deal expires at the end of this season.

The post Cavaliers Acquire Dante Exum From Jazz appeared first on SLAM.

Sometimes, the Cavaliers can be very competent. John Henson (remember him?) swatted 7 shots, Jordan Clarkson exploded for 33 points on 12-17 shooting, and Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love both recorded double doubles in a solid victory.

Meanwhile, even though they lost, Ja Morant was this close to smashing home the dunk of the century.

Pacers 119 (20-9), Kings 105 (12-16)

What the Pacers are doing is so admirable. They play team ball, no one is selfish and you don’t hear a peep from them about how much they miss star Victor Oladipo, who is still recovering from a quad injury. By dismantling the Kings, Indiana just won their fifth game in a row, with all starters and two bench players hitting double digit points. Just imagine this team when Oladipo is back out there wrecking poor fools.

The Kings are slowly getting back their injured young guns De’Aaron Fox and Marvin Bagley, and they’ll have to sort out a crowded front court when everyone is back to full strength.

Celtics 114 (19-7), Pistons 93 (11-18)

The Celtics keep on rolling, this time with a dub over the middling Pistons sans Blake Griffin and Reggie Jackson. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum each had 26 points, while Enes Kanter gobbled up 18 rebounds and rookie Grant Williams had a career-high 18 points off the pine.

Thon Maker was the Pistons’ highest scorer with only 15 points. Yup, it was that kind of night for Detroit.

We were also treated to some Tacko Time, and the fans in TD Garden gave his a standing ovation as he entered the game.

Raptors 122 (20-8), Wizards 118 (8-19)

You simply have to tip your cap to the Raptors. In the past few days, they’ve lost Marc Gasol, Pascal Siakam and Norman Powell to injuries, and they’ve already withstood injuries to Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet and Serge Ibaka. But nonetheless, the wins keep coming. Lowry had 26 points and 9 assists, VanVleet had 18 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists, and Ibaka added 23 points, 10 caroms and 3 blocks.

Meanwhile, Bradley Beal continued his phenomenal season with 27 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Also, shoutout Ish Smith for dropping 26 on 9-9 shooting. That type of efficiency deserves to be appreciated.

Heat 129 (21-8), Knicks 114 (7-22)

The Heat are now 12-1 at home after easily dispatching the Knicks. It goes to show how deep they are when seven players hit double digits and Jimmy Butler wasn’t even one of them. We were treated to a fantastic Derrick Jones Jr dunk and a smooth Goran Dragic between the legs dime.

Mavericks 117 (19-9), 76ers 98 (20-10)

Kristaps Porzingis is starting to shake off his post-ACL rust and the result is terrifying. The Unicorn recorded 22 points, 18 rebounds and 3 blocks to crush the 76ers at home. Tim Hardaway Jr also lit it up from deep, with 27 points and seven 3-pointers.

Other than a touching Boban reunion with their former beloved role player, the 76ers did not bring it. Joel Embiid was the only player to show up, with 33 points and 17 rebounds, but when the rest of the starting lineup manages only a combined 38 points, that is…not good, chief.

Thunder 126 (14-14), Suns 108 (11-17)

The Thunder have won 9 of their past 13 games, and it’s pretty great to see a team so at peace with themselves. For a franchise that has been worrying about superstar departures for the past few years, it must be refreshing to be thriving amid small expectations while potentially cultivating their next star…Shai Gilgeous-Alexander:

Nuggets 109 (19-8), Timberwolves 100 (10-17)

Someone help the Wolves. Losers of nine in a row, they have to pick up the intensity to prevent a lost season.

At least Nikola Jokic has broken out of his slightly underwhelming start to the season. He dropped a 22-10-10 triple double with 2 blocks and has looked much more engaged recently. The league is better off when the Serbian Star is pleased and balling out.

Blazers 118 (13-16), Magic 103 (12-17)

It was a vintage Blazers backcourt game. Dame Lillard did his thing, with 36 points and 6 assists with 7 treys, while CJ McCollum dropped 31 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists to handle the Magic. Hassan Whiteside also chipped in 17 boards and 5 blocks.

The Magic were outmatched, but Nikola Vucevic had a vintage game with 23 points, 12 rebounds and an impressive 6 steals.

Markelle Fultz also unleashed this vicious dunk:

Warriors 106 (6-24), Pelicans 102 (7-23)

Behind 25 points and 7 assists from D’Angelo Russell and 20 points from Damion Lee, the Dubs squeezed out the win against the pesky Pelicans.

Brandon Ingram and Jrue Holiday each had 25 points, while Lonzo Ball swiped 6 steals off the bench.

The post Post Up: Kristaps Porzingis Dominates 76ers in Convincing Victory appeared first on SLAM.

Devin Booker (35 points) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (25 points) gave Phoenix the scoring push to edge out Minnesota. Karl-Anthony Towns put up 31 points for the Wolves.

Bulls 116 (6-11), Hornets 115 (6-11)

Zach LaVine had a career night that ended with a game-winner. LaVine poured in 49 points, including 13 made threes. His steal and fadeaway 3-pointer put Chicago ahead for good with just 0.8 seconds left.

Magic 106 (6-9), Pacers 111 (9-6)

Indiana enjoyed double-digit scoring from six players, led by Domantas Sabonis’ 25 points. Orlando received 51 combined points from Evan Fournier and Jonathan Isaac but came up short.

Raptors 119 (11-4), Hawks 116 (4-12)

Pascal Siakam continues to tear up opposing defenses, finishing with 34 points on 61.1% shooting from the field. Trae Young scored 30 points in the loss.

Spurs 111 (6-11), Knicks 104 (4-12)

LaMarcus Aldridge (23 points) and DeMar DeRozan (21 points) helped San Antonio finally snap its eight-game losing streak. Marcus Morris scored 20 points against the team he spurned to sign with the Knicks this offseason.

Heat 86 (11-4), 76ers 113 (11-5)

Philadelphia spoiled Jimmy Butler’s return with a stifling defense that gave Miami trouble all night. Josh Richardson, also facing his former team, scored a game-high 32 points in the win. Butler finished with 11 points.

Blazers 104 (5-12), Cavaliers 110 (5-11)

Portland can’t shake out of its funk, dropping its fourth straight game. Jordan Clarkson and Tristan Thompson combined for 53 points in the win. Damian Lillard scored 23 points in the loss.

Lakers 109 (14-2), Grizzlies 108 (5-10)

The Lakers locked in late to steal the road win. LeBron James put up 30 points, while Anthony Davis added 22 points. Memphis stud rookie Ja Morant impressed with 26 points.

Pistons 90 (5-11), Bucks 104 (13-3)

Milwaukee secured its seventh straight victory with the home win against Detroit. Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded 28 points in 27 minutes, adding 10 rebounds. Derrick Rose led the Pistons with 20 points.

Pelicans 120 (6-10), Jazz 128 (11-5)

Utah held the lead for the entire game even as the Pelicans rallied late. Donovan Mitchell (37 points) and Brandon Ingram (33 points) put on an offensive show, though it was the Jazz that came away victorious.

The post Post Up: Zach LaVine Drops 49 Points, Hits Game-Winner appeared first on SLAM.

T. J. Warren led the way with 23 points on 10-14 shooting as the Pacers cruised to a win in OKC. Malcolm Brogdon added 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists.

76ers 98 (7-3), Cavaliers 97 (4-6)

A clutch, go ahead dunk from Joel Embiid with 13 seconds left lifted the 76ers to the win over the Cavs. Embiid was a monster all night, finishing with 27 points and 16 rebounds. Kevin Love and Jordan Clarkson each dropped 20 in the loss.

Heat 117 (7-3), Pistons 108 (4-8)

The Heat held off a late surge from the Pistons to secure their 7th win of the season. Miami had 6 players finish in double figures, and Jimmy Butler led the way with 20 points and 13 assists. Luke Kennard finished with 22 points in the loss.

Bulls 120 (4-7), Knicks 102 (2-9)

It was the Coby White show in the windy city.

The rookie splashed a franchise record 7 threes in the 4th quarter alone and finished with a game-high 27 points. Zach LaVine shined too, dropping 25 points and 5 assists. For the Knicks, rookie RJ Barrett continued to impress, finishing with 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists.

Lakers 123 (8-2), Suns 115 (6-4)

The top-seeded Lakers took care of business on the road against the Suns, closing the game on a 12-2 run. Anthony Davis dropped a game-high 24 points to go along with 12 rebounds. Kyle Kuzma added 23 points, and LeBron stuffed the stat sheet with 24 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists. The Suns, who have been the surprise of the season thus far, battled till the end on the backs of Devin Booker (21p, 9a) and Ricky Rubio (21p, 10a).

Hawks 125 (4-6), Nuggets 121 (7-3)

Ice Trae continues to tear up the league.

He went OFF for a season-high 42 points, including 8-13 from three, and 11 assists to lead the Hawks to a big win in Denver. Trae became the first player in Hawks franchise history to record 30 points and 10 assists in three straight games. Nikola Jokic finished with 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists.

Jazz 119 (8-3), Nets 114 (4-6)

The Jazz continued their red-hot start to the season with a wire-to-wire win over the Nets. Donovan Mitchell shined, dropping a game-high 30 points. Rudy Gobert added 18 points, 15 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Kyrie Irving led the Nets with 27 points and 5 assists.

Kings 107 (3-6), Blazers 99 (4-6)

The Kings outscored the Blazers 35-21 in the third quarter and held off the late comeback to pick up their 3rd win of the season. Bogdan Bogdonaovic led the way with 25 points and 10 assists off the bench. Portland’s elite backcourt showed out, with Damian Lillard dropping 27 and CJ McCollum adding 24 in the loss.

The post Post Up: Trae Young Drops 42 to Lead the Hawks to a Win in Denver appeared first on SLAM.

Below is a list of the contract types the Cleveland Cavaliers have heading into training camp. This resource will be updated as players are signed and waived. Check back often to see if your team’s roster configuration has changed.

Cleveland Cavaliers

For a complete list of all the NBA teams and links to each team’s roster breakdown, check out our 2019 NBA Training Camp Index. Follow the curators of this database, Chris Crouse and Austin Kent, on Twitter.

More NBA Training Camp Rosters

The post Cleveland Cavaliers Roster Count: 2019 Training Camp appeared first on SLAM.

We’ve broken down the overall ratings for each player and sorted them by team so that you can see how your squad stacks up against the rest of the league.

Cleveland Cavaliers NBA 2K20 Ratings

This table is updated as of Nov. 22, 2019

Can’t get enough 2K? SLAM’s dedicated gaming channel, @SLAMftw, is blowing up. Hit us with your best uploads and watch our streams!

More NBA 2K20 Ratings

The post NBA 2K20 Ratings: Cleveland Cavaliers appeared first on SLAM.

COP THE LOU WILLIAMS COVER TEE

Lou Williams is somehow both underappreciated and respected. He’s arrogant and humble. He’s young and old. He’s super laid-back and he’s an assassin.

He lives in a quiet town and throws parties so big they inspire hit rap songs. He makes his own music and doesn’t care to promote it much.

He never starts and is always one of the best basketball players in a game. He won’t go unnoticed and he won’t say a word. He does things his way and is the ultimate teammate. He keeps to himself and he’s cool with every celebrity you know.

He hasn’t been an All-Star and he regularly puts up All-Star numbers. He writes his name in record books and could not give a shit about his legacy.  

The story of Lou Will can be broken down into what seem like a million contradictions, but they’re not. They all make perfect sense for the Underground GOAT. 

It’s a beautiful Thursday in mid-June and Lou Williams is kicking it at LouWillVille, his now-fabled home in suburban Atlanta. Wearing black sweatpants and Uggs that aren’t fully slipped on, he crashes on the living room couch. A nearby trophy case displays two Sixth Man of the Year awards—from 2015 and 2018—and a ledge for a third has already been put in place, even though a formal announcement of the 2019 winner has yet to come.

Jerseys hung up in the basement trace Lou’s journey from a kid dreaming of the NBA to the No. 1 bench scorer in league history. Trying to explain that path and all that it’s encompassed isn’t easy. The truth is, it’s had a little bit of everything. Five different cities, an idol turned big brother, an acceptance and mastery of a unique role, a 3 a.m. trade call in China, an absurd amount of buckets. It’s featured a wide array of characters: Jermaine Dupri, Bow Wow, Allen Iverson, Meek Mill, Drake, Doc Rivers. It’s had ups and downs and strange twists, but the action continues to rise.

Its protagonist is only 32 years old and has enough tales to fill several books.

He once hosted a party so epic that it inspired Meek Mill, one of his best friends, to write the well-known song “House Party.” It went on to be certified gold and the music video was filmed back at LouWillVille.

Lou raps himself and has collaborated on projects with Meek, 2 Chainz, Jadakiss and numerous others. He started his own label—Winners United—that has three artists currently signed to it.

As a teenager, he was introduced to Jermaine Dupri and Bow Wow at a Jay-Z concert and would keep in touch with them on AOL Instant Messenger. They all remain tight to this day.

He joined an unknown, unsponsored AAU club called the Suwanee Players and made them so good that they were eventually absorbed by a premier program—the Georgia Stars.

At South Gwinnett High School, he scored 40 or more points in nine straight games.

He spent a lot of time in the studio with Drake as the album If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late was being recorded. One of the tracks, “6 Man,” opens with a shout out to him.

He led the Clippers back from a 31-point second-half deficit against the Warriors during the first round of the 2019 playoffs, dropping 17 of his 36 in the third quarter alone.

A gunman attempted to rob him on Christmas Eve in 2011, but Lou talked the guy out of it. The two took a trip to McDonald’s instead, where they chopped it up about life.

Who is this figure who’s transcended basketball, who has earned the respect of seemingly everyone he’s come across? Who is Lou Will?

“I’m super laid-back,” Williams tells SLAM. “I mind my business. I stay in my own zone. And I do my own thing.”

“Lou is just cool,” explains Andrea Hamilton, his manager. “He has that vibe, that aura. When people are around him, they gravitate toward him. They like his energy. He’s not one of those people walking around flashy. He’s the everyday guy who can go anywhere, talk to anyone, be in rooms with whoever.”

“You know man, he’s just a regular dude,” says Jarrett Jack, who’s been close to Lou for the past 15 years. “One thing that I love about him—he seems like that regular dude that’s just from the neighborhood. Through and through, he’s still a ‘Let me get a 10-piece wings’ guy.”

“He’s your favorite player’s favorite player,” adds Mike Scott, a friend of Lou’s since they were first teammates on the Hawks. “Lou is like an uncle. He’s just cool with everybody and everybody respects him. He’s like an old soul, man. He looks young, but Lou is really, like, 60.” 

“He’s Uncle Lou,” says Jordan Clarkson, who played with Williams on the Lakers. “He’s on his own wave, he’s on his own vibe. He’s going to do what he wants to do. I think that’s why people look at him and respect him for who he is.”

“He’s very humble, first and foremost,” describes his longtime trainer Chuck Ellis. “He’s a very loyal person. If you’re in his inner circle, if you’re his family, he’ll do anything he can for you. And he has a big heart—I’ve never seen him tell one fan no about taking a picture or signing an autograph or anything like that.”

As the legend of Lou has grown, the man himself has never switched up. He’s the type of guy who loves to debate, mainly because his core values and beliefs cannot be shaken. He’s stubborn about his ways and constantly tries to impart wisdom. He even has his own little proverbs.

“He’s always got something to tell you or some insight to give you,” Clarkson says. “He for sure got go-to quotes.”

Do you think anyone’s gonna care about this in 15 years? is a popular one.

Over the course of his career, Lou has often deserved a bigger spotlight. He has more than 13,000 total points and has been a major contributor to multiple organizations. This past season, he averaged 20.0 points and 5.4 assists in merely 26.6 minutes.

But Williams doesn’t seek the public eye. He’s barely promoted any of his music and you won’t see him doing many interviews or photo shoots. 

“He has always never really cared to get any recognition,” says Hamilton. “Even with us, he doesn’t want to do press, he doesn’t want to do media, he doesn’t want to do anything. I have to force him. I always tell him, ‘You owe me 10 things a year with no pushback. Just give me my 10.’”

Others who’ve come to appreciate his game have made a point of speaking up for him. They understand how great he is and sense that outsiders don’t.

“You can’t just say, ‘I’m gonna stop Lou Williams tonight,’” Kevin Durant told reporters during Golden State’s playoff series against L.A.

“He’s straight buckets,” says Scott. “He’s a professional scorer. You know, he’s not the strongest, he’s not the fastest. But I mean, I can’t explain it.”

No one can, really.

Everyone knows what Lou’s going to do and yet he can’t be stopped. He likes to go left and has certain spots on the floor that he navigates toward. The pace is slow, methodical and intentional. He’s a killer out of the pick-and-roll and has a slight fade to his shot that creates just enough separation. As he dismantles a defense possession after possession, his expression doesn’t waver.

“I’m an assassin,” Williams states. “I’m one of those people that—I’m not really talked about, but everybody knows that I’m there. No matter how many All-Stars are on the floor, I’m going to be one of those guys that’s gonna be talked about as well. There’s a lot of guys that you have to deal with on the frontline, but you know that somewhere, there’s somebody [else] that you got to look out for. I’m that person.”

People with his skill don’t usually come off the bench. As an All-American in high school, Lou opted to bypass college and was the 45th pick in the 2005 NBA Draft by the 76ers. He got the chance to learn under his childhood hero in Allen Iverson, but barely saw the floor. Iverson was soon traded to Denver and Lou’s role gradually increased. He started nearly half the games for Philly during the 2009-10 campaign, before AI—now more like family to Lou—returned to finish his career there.

From then on, Williams has embraced being a reserve.

“My position was kind of weird because I’m coming off the bench, but I’m doing everything career-wise that you would expect from All-Star guys,” says Lou, who passed Dell Curry for the most bench points ever back in March. “So why not embrace it? It’s a different lane. There’s rarely guys that do that. It’s a small group of guys when you mention great six mans.”

His role has been pretty consistent even as he’s changed teams. He signed with his hometown Hawks in 2012, won his first Sixth Man award with the Raptors in 2015, was with the Lakers during Kobe’s 2015-16 farewell tour and spent less than half a season with the Rockets before being hastily dealt to the Clippers in June of 2017.

Within a five-month span, Williams found himself on his third franchise. He’s not one to lack confidence, but questions started to flood his mind. He was visiting China when the trade to the Clippers happened and remembers getting a call around 3 a.m. from his agent. Upon hearing the news, he “cried like a baby.”

“Being on three teams in six months was an eye-opener for me,” Williams says. “Like, maybe I value myself more than other teams value me or the League values me. So I had to look in the mirror like, This is Year 12, you’ve had a pretty good run, you’ve had a pretty good career, are you coming to the end of the road?”

In an ongoing group chat with his teammates from Toronto (DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry, Chuck Hayes and Amir Johnson), Williams disclosed that he would play one more year—the last on his contract—and then retire.

“Just to be frank, I told those guys, ‘This year in L.A., I’m going to go out with a clear mind and go do what the fuck I want to do and I’m gonna go home,’” he recalls with a smile. “That was my mindset. I was planning my own farewell tour without telling anybody.”

He went to L.A. to do the press conference but really didn’t want to be there (“You can look at my face—I’m holding the jersey like, let’s get this over with”). He planned to leave immediately and was en route to the airport when his phone rang. It was Clippers head coach Doc Rivers, insisting that they meet right away.

The message Doc had for Williams was simple and clear: I don’t know what those other front offices were thinking, but you can get comfortable here. This is going to be home. It was exactly what Lou, who signed a three-year extension in February of 2018, needed to hear.

He’s enjoyed the top two seasons of his career with the Clippers, claiming back-to-back Sixth Man of the Year trophies. Despite not having an All-Star on their roster—although many would argue Lou’s been more than deserving—the team has thrived, primarily because they all get along and love going to battle together. Now they’ll add Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to the mix and instantly become serious title contenders, if not the favorite.

Though he’ll be turning 33 in October, Williams feels like he’s right in his prime. He recently came across a list of “The Top 10 Old Guys in the NBA” and was startled to see his name at No. 2, just after LeBron James.  

“I was like, Damn, I’m considered one of the old guys.”

—

Ask those close to him for their most legendary Lou Williams story and you get a wide range of responses.

“Most legendary Lou Will story? I don’t know—the off-the-court ones might not be the ones that could go in [the story],” jokes Jarrett Jack.

There was the time he took Jordan Clarkson to a Waffle House in Atlanta and shut the joint down. They had the whole restaurant to themselves.

Or when he faced off against Mike Scott’s squad in the AEBL—Atlanta’s Pro-Am league—and made a dude fall on his way to another 50-point performance.

Or when he hosted a summer camp in Philly in 2012 even though he knew he wasn’t returning to the 76ers. Rather than cancel and begin his move to Atlanta, Lou stayed an extra month to put on the event.

Piece together all of these anecdotes and you start to get a complete picture of Williams.

On a peaceful Thursday afternoon, he relaxes on the edge of his pool. With the built-in stretch of sand and the mini palm plants, the setting resembles a Florida beach resort more than a backyard in Georgia. It’s quiet now, but there were over 700 people here not too long ago. Remnants of the annual MDW party (Meek, Iverson, Rick Ross, French Montana and James Harden are among the guests who’ve come through) aren’t hard to find. Garbage cans are packed to the brim. An outdoor seat cushion has been ripped up. The cabana has several “RESERVED” labels on it.

Lou is fresh off an incredible season—perhaps his best—but he’ll tell you straight up: He doesn’t care how the overall basketball world remembers him. All that matters is that he has the respect of his peers. That much is undeniable.

“You look at rap, you have your Jay-Zs, you have your Lil Waynes and all of those guys,” Lou says. “And then you have the guys that Lil Wayne and Jay-Z appreciate, like Bun B and Pimp C. Underground Kingz.

“So in basketball you have your GOATS. You’ve got Michael Jordan. You’re going to have LeBron, you’re going to have Kobe, you’re going to have KD. And then you got guys like me who are from the underground, who are the underappreciated, the underdogs.

“I feel like I’m the Underground GOAT. I’m the underground greatest of all time.”

—

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Alex Squadron is an Associate Editor at SLAM. Follow him on Twitter @asquad510.

Portraits by Ryan Young.

The post THE UNDERGROUND GOAT: Lou Williams Is Your Favorite Player’s Favorite Player appeared first on SLAM.

It’s a proverb that rings its truth every day in the NBA.

Players around the League stepped up their game in the tunnel this season, so we added on a third team. It’s important to recognize progress, too, so we also mixed in a most-improved award to show love to the hooper who stepped up his tunnel walk the most in 2018-2019.

Anyways, we can skip to what you’re here for: This year’s LeagueFits All-Drip Teams and Awards.

THIRD TEAM: Dwayne Bacon, Ben Simmons, Dennis Schroder, Jordan Clarkson, Serge Ibaka

Three players made their All-Drip debuts in Dwayne Bacon, Ben Simmons and Dennis Schroder.

SECOND TEAM: Terry Rozier, Tobias Harris, Kevin Love, Kyle Kuzma, Mike Scott

Kyle Kuzma built upon his Rookie of the Year award from a year ago by making the jump to the Second Team. Tobias Harris and Mike Scott also made their All-Drip debuts.

FIRST TEAM: Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Kelly Oubre, PJ Tucker, Shai GIlgeous-Alexander

No surprises here. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander became the first rookie in LeaugeFits history to make an All-Drip Team.

MOST-IMPROVED: Dennis Schroder

One time for the #EuroDrip icon.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

No one rook should have all this power.

MVP: Kelly Oubre

Waves never die.

—

Ian Pierno is an Associate Social Media Editor and Drip Director at SLAM. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter.

Pat Bonoan is a Graphic Designer at SLAM. Follow him on Instagram.

Photos via Getty Images.

The post The 2019 LeagueFits All-Drip Teams are STACKED appeared first on SLAM.

Ep. 3 feat. the final four contestants — Terry Rozier, Ben Simmons, PJ Tucker and Russell Westbrook — competing for the NBA’s drip crown judged upon by Nick Young, Jordan Clarkson and Allen Onyia.

Swaggy and JC weren’t contestants in the bracket, but we slid in a quick mystery round so we could see ’em go head-to-head.

Watch the final episode above and scroll down for refreshers on episodes one and two.

The post Ep. 3 of the LEAGUEFITS PLAYOFFS Powered by 1800 Tequila appeared first on SLAM.

Hit the video above to watch Swaggy P, Jordan Clarkson and Allen Onyia set the stage for the inaugural LeagueFits Finals that’ll debut in Ep. 3.

If you missed Ep. 1 or need a refresher, you can check that out below.

The post Ep. 2 of the LEAGUEFITS PLAYOFFS Powered by 1800 Tequila appeared first on SLAM.

Beilein is a decorated NCAA coach with a pair of Final Four appearances and four Big Ten titles on his resume. He’ll arrive in Cleveland hopeful to build a culture within the organization similar to what he helped build in Ann Arbor.

The Cavaliers struggled mightily last season as they acclimated themselves to life without LeBron James. Their dismal 19-63 finish, however, has granted them a 52.1% chance of landing a top-four pick in June and 14% chance of first overall.

Beilein, 66, will take the reins of the roster from interim-turned-head coach Larry Drew who coached the majority of 2018-19 after Tyronn Lue was dismissed in October.

As far as returning talent goes, Beilein will have a relatively young core of Collin Sexton and Cedi Osman to work with out of the gates. Veterans Kevin Love, Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. will be back with the Cavs as well.

Although this will be Beilein’s NBA debut, this isn’t the first time he’s contemplated a jump to the professional ranks. Previously Beilein had considered coaching vacancies with the Pistons and Magic but opted to return to campus.

The post Michigan’s John Beilein To Coach Cavs appeared first on SLAM.

We took the 2019 NBA Playoffs bracket, but instead of breaking things down with X’s and O’s, we brought in NBA’s styles greatest minds to break down the League’s waviest players. Nick Young aka Swaggy P rocked out with Jordan Clarkson, a member of last year’s LeagueFits All-Drip Team, and professional style coach Allen Onyia, to judge the NBA’s best-dressed hoopers in the playoffs.

Check out Ep. 1 above for the first round and stay tuned for Ep. 2 and 3 in the upcoming weeks. In addition to matching up players in the NBA Playoffs, we’ll also feature surprise match-ups involving Nick Young and Jordan Clarkson.

—

Ian Pierno is an Associate Social Media Editor and Drip Director at SLAM. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter.

Follow LeagueFits on Instagram and Twitter for more on the NBA’s Survival of the Fitted.  

The post Ep. 1 of the LEAGUEFITS PLAYOFFS Powered by 1800 Tequila appeared first on SLAM.

On Tuesday night, Lillard dropped a playoff career-high 50 points—including a buzzer-beating game-winner from about 40 feet—to defeat the Thunder, 118-115. The win gave the Blazers a 4-1 series win against OKC.

After Lillard’s clutch bucket to the clinch the series, NBA and WNBA players took to social media to sound off on Dame’s epic performance.

The post NBA Players React to Damian Lillard’s CLUTCH Game 5 Performance appeared first on SLAM.

The Bucks scored 46 points in the fourth quarter to clinch the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and the best record in the NBA.

Giannis Antetokounmpo went off for 45 points, 13 rebounds, six steals and five blocks. George Hill added 20 points coming off the pine.

Joel Embiid had 34 points, 13 rebounds, 13 assists, two steals and three blocks to lead the Sixers.

Cavaliers 104 (19-60), Kings 117 (39-40)

Jordan Clarkson scored 22 points on 9-for-13 shooting off the bench, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Kings as Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson had to sit out.

Buddy Hield scored 23 for Sacramento as eight other players chipped in at least eight points.

Warriors 108 (54-24), Lakers 90 (35-44)

The Warriors raced out to a 39-12 lead in the first quarter and never looked back as the Lakers shot just 35.9 percent from the field and and 8-for-37 from deep.

Kevin Durant had a game-best plus-minus of +37 with 15 points, six rebounds and eight dimes. Quinn Cook added 18 points in 19 minutes off the bench.

The post Post Up: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks Clinch Best Record in the NBA appeared first on SLAM.

Pink was the theme for evening for Wes Iwundu and Derrick Jones Jr. as Iwundu wore an all-pink version of the Under Armour Antamoix Spawn 2019 while Jones Jr. took it back a bit a few years with the “Aunt Pearl” Nike KD V.

Also starring on the footwear stage Monday night were Luka Doncic’s custom “Dragon Ball Z” Nike PG 2.5, Dwyane Wade’s wild Li-Ning Way of Wade 7 and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot’s sick yellow and black Nike PG2s.

Check out the rest of the night’s NBA kicks right below.

Photos via Getty Images

The post NBA Kicks of the Night appeared first on SLAM.