Being Lauren Betts is not for the faint of heart. It’s not just her 6-7 frame, or her glowing confidence—which didn’t come overnight—but because of a basketball résumé that has crowned her as the No. 1 prospect in the graduating class of 2022.

With a top-five college list that included Notre Dame, UConn, South Carolina, Oregon and Stanford, Betts ultimately chose the Cardinal, where she’ll join Hall of Fame coach Tara VanDerveer in the fall.

“I’m honestly most looking forward to being challenged in the classroom and in the gym. I think it’s like the best of both worlds,” Betts says. “It’s going to be tough, but I think it’s going to teach me a lot, to just kind of balance those things, and I think that’s going to give me a lot of opportunities to just learn some life lessons. I think I’m gonna learn a lot from Stanford.

“I don’t want to go to a school where I know I’m going to be, like, the best as soon as I walk in. I want to go to a school where, obviously, my freshman year might not be as amazing as I want [it] to be, but we’ll see what happens. Once I get there, just know that each season is gonna get better and better, and I think that I chose the best school for that.”

The Grandview High (CO) standout’s story begins all the way across the Atlantic Ocean in Spain, when she was introduced to the game at an early age thanks to her dad, Andrew, a former NBA draft pick who spent most of his playing career overseas.

“I think that made me fall in love with the sport,” Betts recalls. “I got to watch my dad, you know, how hard he worked every day, and I got to see him come back and just grind—coming home and having to take a quick nap and then leave again. Just traveling all around the world is something that when I was younger, I obviously wasn’t really excited about because I didn’t get to see him [as often], but as I got older, I thought, honestly, that’s something that I want to do.”

Early on, tuning into her athleticism was tricky as she struggled with adjusting to her lengthy, thin frame. Betts recalls not having much control of her body during her first phase of playing basketball. But with her parents’ athletic genes (her mom was a volleyball standout at Long Beach State), it started to become second nature.

Any worries she had are obviously in the past. She’s gone on to receive back-to-back Gatorade State Player of the Year awards after leading her high school team to a 17-9 record, ultimately winning the Class 5A state title and finishing the season on a 13-game winning streak. In March, she starred in the prestigious McDonald’s All American Game and followed that up at the Jordan Brand Classic in April.

With the move to California looming, she’s focused on enjoying her loved ones before she heads west. But, in the midst of the stardom that comes with being ranked the best in the nation, Betts remains thankful for the moment.

“It’s definitely a dream, and it still hasn’t hit me yet,” she says. “When I started playing basketball, my first goal was just to make varsity, and once I started getting in the gym more and more in training, all these things just kept coming. My family has always taught me to just stay humble and just keep working, so I don’t do that much talking. I kind of just grind, that’s pretty much just what I’ve done. All these things just kept coming, and I just think it’s really cool. Really, I still can’t believe it all.”

Photo credit Oscar Castillo and Getty Images.

The post No. 1 Senior Lauren Betts is Ready For Her Next Journey at Stanford appeared first on SLAM.

There’s much more than what meets the eye when it comes to rising junior standout Deja Kelly. There are so many layers to the San Antonio native’s story. Each layer exposes even more greatness lying beneath the surface. You find a genuine heart that enjoys spreading wisdom and building out her women’s empowerment initiative in her community. And then there’s the killer competitiveness and top-notch IQ on the court. 

The men’s hoops program isn’t the only one enjoying a renaissance in Chapel Hill. The women’s squad is fresh off a Sweet 16 appearance for the first time in seven years and hungry for more. And yes, Deja Kelly is a major reason for it all.   

“Deja Kelly, on the court, she’s a competitor. She loves to win, she wants to win and I think that she makes other people better around her,” Kelly says when asked to describe herself. “I think that she is very goal-oriented on and off the court, and she just has a lot of values and [lives] by them every day. She just wants to win in life, on and off the court. She wants to be great; she will do whatever it takes to get there.”

A lot of thought goes into Kelly’s style of play, which is part of what makes her unique on the court. She makes sure to make time to expand on the small details that may not be the most fun to focus on during office hours but pay off in the long run, like keeping her ballhandling tight and working on her footwork and shot mechanics. The small things ultimately make the biggest differences and they have made Kelly the player she is.  

The former All-American acknowledges that although she may not always be the fastest or most athletic on the floor, her favorite part of the action is having the ability to hold off opposing teams with her versatility and high basketball IQ.

“It’s hard to guard me, the way I play. You know, people think that I should play against size—longer defenders, bigger defenders—but then I use that against them and I attack the hips,” she says. “Or if they try to put smaller defenders on me, I get them in foul trouble or just rise up over them into my pull-up.

“I always have a counter for what you’re trying to do or I’m very strategic on how I’m going to attack you—whether you’ve got a bigger person on me, whether you put a smaller person on me, whether you’re chopping me, whether you’re double-teaming, face guarding, anything like that. I think my IQ is so high that I figure out how to get around that and I still figure out how to score, still figure out how to get my team involved, or still figure out how to win. I think I use my IQ to my advantage. It’s hard to beat. It’s hard to guard.”

It’s not cockiness. It’s just pure swagger. The type of swagger she’s had since her early days holding a basketball. College recruitment had been on Kelly’s mind ever since fifth grade, when she began seriously pursuing hoops and started elevating her game to prepare for the next levels. Plenty of sacrifices needed to be made, which she was ready to take on at a young age with the wise counsel of her mother, Theresa Dunn, who offered a blueprint that would later make most of her wildest aspirations come to life.

“I started elevating my training [in] like fourth, fifth grade, so about that time was when I kind of started having to make a lot of sacrifices, you know, as a younger kid, just because I knew the goals that I had for myself,” Kelly recalls. “I knew that I really had love for the game because I was willing to sacrifice fun stuff. I knew that I wanted to be great one day and that was gonna take a lot of sacrifices, so I told my mom like this, These are my goals—McDonald’s All American, Jordan Brand All American, get my first college offer by eighth grade, be top 20 in my class in the country. Like, those are all my goals at such a young age and she sat me down and was like, OK, if you want to achieve all of these, you’re gonna have to sacrifice a lot, You’re gonna have to work harder than anybody else.”

Although Kelly was granted the opportunity to be mentored by influential people around the world of basketball (such as John Lucas and Jason Terry, whom she played for during her junior year of club basketball), her mom has always been the biggest of them all. 

She credits her mom for her work ethic, versatility, IQ and film study sessions, and for assisting in growing Kelly’s brand beyond the court.    

“My relationship with my mom is different,” Kelly says. “I think a lot of kids have their parents as coaches, trainers and things like that, but sometimes that messes with their off-the-court relationship. Like, she’s literally like my best friend. She’s my ride or die, my biggest supporter, my biggest critic, she’s everything in one. And to have that in a mom is so special, and that’s something you can’t take for granted. There’s not enough thank yous in the world that I can give her, but it’s amazing how much she cares [and] how much she just wants me to be great. And she will do anything that she can to help me do so. She’ll do anything she can to help me reach my goals. She’ll go make 100 phone calls if she has to.”

With her mother’s wisdom and extra push, Kelly is poised to lead UNC to a Final Four appearance and beyond. Not so out-of-reach for someone who has already spoken almost every one of her accomplishments into existence.

She earned First-Team All-ACC after ranking fourth in the conference in scoring this past season, averaging a team-best 16.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists, while also leading the ACC in free-throw percentage (85.8 percent). Showing that she’s able to tap into a new level when the lights are the brightest, Kelly averaged 22 points during her three NCAA Tournament games.

As she continues to elevate on the court and in front of the camera as a sports broadcaster for Sports Xtra, UNC’s weekly student-led sports show via its Hussman School of Journalism and Media, she hopes to build a legacy that cements her name among the many other greats who have stepped onto the hardwood at UNC.  

“Where I want to see myself in this game is just someone who was an inspiration. I think even now, getting little messages from these little girls that are playing, telling me that they watch every single one of my games and they want my jersey and [that] I’m an inspiration to them, like, that is what I’m doing it for, because I’m building for the next generation,” Kelly says. 

“I want them to just think of Deja Kelly as an inspiration and seeing [that] what I’m doing they can do, too. I want to make that known to everyone that’s watching me, that follows me, that likes watching me play. By the time I’m done playing, I think that’s truly special, just as a player, as a person, to know that you did your job, you left the next generation excited about what’s to come about their future because they see that you could do it and that you are going about it in a certain way that not a lot of people do.

“And the legacy I want to leave, I mean, it’s pretty much that people know me as Deja Kelly. I want to be tied with these banners. I want my number out there. I want people, when they hear Carolina Basketball, to tie me on with the Ivory Lattas, the Charlotte Smiths, Michael Jordans—I mean, like, that is Carolina Basketball. And I want people to know that I did everything I could. 

“I think that I’m on the right path to do so. So, that’s exciting, but I got to win a national championship. We’re so close.” 

Portraits by Amanda Rudd, action photo via Getty Images.

The post From a Sweet 16 Run to NIL Deals, UNC’s Deja Kelly is Already a Star in the Making appeared first on SLAM.

Barker had initially committed to the University of Georgia but changed her mind after former Bulldogs head coach Joni Taylor left the program for Texas A&M this spring. Other top 2022 Georgia commits like Sydney Bowles and Tineya Hylton also decided to join her in the Lone Star State.   

“I’m excited to start something new, especially with coach Joni,” Barker said back in February when asked about playing for Taylor. “She’s been there but it’s her era now, I want to help her get to where she’s wanting to go…Hopefully, get her a national championship, that’s what I’ve told her. I’m gonna give her one in one of my four years.” 

On the court, the 6-3 forward means business, and in 21 games this season, she averaged 15.2 points and 9.3 rebounds. With her talent and confidence making it look easy to dismantle opposing offenses, Barker attests her confidence to her work ethic and the support she’s received from her family.  “You can only be confident in something you know you’ve been working on,” Barker tells WSLAM. “I just want to be the best. I want to be the best. With that, your work ethic has to be incredible [and] more than anybody. I have to be [in] over time, [putting up] extra shots, in the gym when everybody’s not, [being] the first person there. It can be a lot, but a lot comes with being the best.”

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The best is exactly what the future Aggie has her eyes set on becoming, and even with all of her accomplishments, Barker isn’t slowing down any time soon, as she gets ready to enter a new chapter. 

“It’s really surreal,” Barker says. “I’m on a USA team, I got 2 gold medals. That is something that everybody has not done. That is not normal, that’s rare.”

“I thank God I’ve done it, but I don’t see myself in that type of top-tier aspect. And maybe one day it’ll click, and I’ll give myself those props. But right now, I just see myself as me and I just see it like, ‘I did that, it’s an accomplishment.’ There’s more to do than what I’ve done and I just want to keep building, keep going.”

Portraits by Johnny Lewis. Action photo via Getty Images.

The post Fresh Off a National Championship, Texas A&M Commit Janiah Barker is Ready For The Next Level appeared first on SLAM.

As she approaches her 19th season with the Seattle Storm, Sue Bird refers to this phase in her life, and her style, as “tomboy chic.” It’s mid-March, and the four-time WNBA champion is chatting with WSLAM over the phone to promote her recent collab with Corona on a limited-edition Corona Fine Life Fridge, which gives sneakerheads everywhere a cool place to keep their kicks, and their drinks, fresh (learn more here). Aside from being one of the most elite point guards to ever play the game, Bird is a sneaker connoisseur, a style icon and a All-Leaguefits First Team honoree. 

And yet, Bird admits over Zoom that she’s been on a journey, one in which her style is now a reflection of who she truly is. 

“The way I dress now, it’s really just what feels good to me,” Bird says. “What’s fascinating about being an older player, like in the world of team sports, is I’ve kind of gone through this journey, like, of style as well, because you know, as athletes, people check out what we’re wearing. 

“I feel like, for a long time, there were just certain styles being pushed on female athletes, especially early on in my career. Now when I look at my clothes, I know it’s what I want to wear. It’s what I’m choosing to wear. It’s what I feel good in. And like I said, look good, feel good, play good. It really is all connected. So [it] just feels really good that I have personally found my own style through my own fashion journey. Now, I just feel like I’m dressing for me.”

Bird’s love of sneakers goes way back, from rocking Charles Barkley’s first signature pair of kicks, the Nike Air Force Max CB, to begging her mom to buy the nostalgic Nike Air Tech Challenge II, the sneaker that Andre Agassi made famous. That pair dropped when Sue was in elementary school.

Ever since she was young, she’s always had to make sure her sneakers looked on point.

“When I look back, it’s like yeah, sneakers were always really important,” Bird says. “It’s like what I was wearing on court was always a huge decision, one I never took lightly, like, I had to be right. I totally subscribe to the look good, feel good, play good mantra. So, it’s like the shoes always had to be right ever since I was in, like, fourth, fifth, sixth grade. And then sneakers have always been part of my off-the-court style as well. And I joke now that I’m just glad they’re socially acceptable to wear everywhere now. People wear them literally everywhere. So that’s kind of how it came to be for me.”

In high school, Bird was playing in the All-American game when her team was given a few pairs of Sheryl Swoopes’ iconic signature sneaker, the Nike Air Swoopes, which dropped in ‘95. Swoopes is the first woman to get a signature Nike basketball sneaker.

“We were looking at it like whaaaaat,” says Bird, who played alongside Swoopes on the 2004 Olympic team, and later the Seattle Storm. “Like, a female basketball player shoe? That was, I mean, even now it’s almost unheard of, which is really sad. Hopefully that changes…I actually still have, like, three or four pairs of them and I’m waiting to see Sheryl, because I’m definitely getting a signature on those. So, it’s pretty amazing that I got to play with the woman who had the first signature shoe.”

The collection she’s built up over the years is every sneakerhead’s dream, from Nike Dunks, which is one of her favorite models of all time, to Nike’s many collaborative silhouettes with Japan-based brand Sacai, to the “Dior” Air Jordan 1 and even the green Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1s that she doesn’t plan on taking anywhere, let alone outside of the box. Bird realized she had quite the collection when she moved in with her fiancé, Megan Repinoe, and found herself having to make room. She saw, then, that she had a lot of gems, from endless colorways and PEs to kicks she won championships in while at UConn, as well as throughout her time with the Storm. 

Back in 2018, in what she’s called “arguably the best game of her career,” Bird was surprised by another standout point guard, Kyrie Irving, with a pair of CONCEPTS x Kyrie 4 “Green Lobsters” before Game 5 of the WNBA semifinals against the Phoenix Mercury. She’s since said that they haven’t been worn again. 

Bird then followed up that championship-run with yet another title in 2020, which she won in a pair of “Keep Sue Fresh” Kyrie 5s. Last year, Nike released two colorways of the Sue Bird x Kyrie 4 Low “Keep Sue Fresh” EPs, which Bird got to help design. 

While Bird has continued to serve as an inspiration to many, she admires the fact that other women around the game are now being spotlighted for the heat on their feet, too. 

“I think it’s pretty cool because you know, I think there are a lot of female sneakerheads out there, we just haven’t been able to get the same love, same attention. I know I’m not the only one. I don’t even think I’m the biggest one in the WNBA. We have some legit, legit sneakerheads in the WNBA whose collections are insane when I see their closets. I have a teammate, Epiphanny Prince, whew! Her closet is next level. So, I’m just proud to be a part of that group because I know I’m one of [the] hundreds.”

There’s also the question of exactly how many pairs she really own? 

“The million-dollar question. Man, I don’t know,” Bird tells SLAM. “Too many, too many. Where I now need a fridge to store them.”

Photos via Getty Images.

The post Sue Bird on Her Sneaker Game, Wearing the Nike Air Swoopes in High School and Dressing for Herself appeared first on SLAM.

Back in February, Texas A&M women’s basketball player development and assistant recruiting coordinator Sydney Carter woke up to a flood of Twitter notifications and text message alerts from her family’s group chat. The team had just faced off against Kentucky on February 6, and Carter, as she usually does, had posted a photo of her game day fit: a white turtleneck, shiny, vinyl pink pants and a pair of heels. Suddenly, everyone was talking about it. The photos had gone viral across social media platforms, from Twitter to Facebook. Her phone was full of alerts: some were of praise, from “yes queen! Link those pants” to “Black GROWN WOMAN Magic HUNI.” But then there were the insecure haters, criticizing her outfit and sparking internet debates about what type of attire is deemed “appropriate” for a female coach. There were misogynistic comments like, why would you dress in pants that tight to coach?

When we caught up with Carter in March, she kept it real: she wasn’t listening then, and still isn’t listening to what the critics have to say. 

“I just think that everybody has to understand somebody is always going to have something to say whether it’s negative or positive,” the former Atlanta Dream guard tells SLAM. “I think they picked the right one when they picked me because I know my worth and I’m very confident. People need to continue to remember that as women, we are strong individuals, and men and or anybody else are always going to feel like their opinion should matter. The people that are on the outside looking in, and people that haven’t taken the time to actually look at the things that I have done in my basketball career and what I’m doing now in my coaching career but decided to criticize my outfits—at the end of the day, that’s never going to matter to me because I don’t do it for them.”

Carter’s love for fashion stems back to her elementary school days. Her mom initially wanted her to go into modeling, and Carter, then in third grade, got her first pair of knee high boots to wear to the gig. She wore those boots every single day, so much so that her teachers ended up nicknaming her “boots.” 

“I didn’t realize it then but that’s where my mind goes back to when I [first] think about when I started to kind of get the sass and the confidence that I have,” Carter says. 

As she developed a love for the game, her passion for fashion never wavered: in fifth grade, Carter used to rock a pair of sky blue wedge heels to school—even on the blacktop, where she’d shoot hoops with the boys before classes started. 

“Obviously, I don’t recommend [that] these days, but I just think that I’ve always had a passion for them both. It just so happens [that] fashion and passion go hand in hand at the end of the day. This whole thing that has happened has never been about me trying to impress somebody or me trying to be put on the map. I never had people come to me giving their opinion about what I had on.

When she first got the job at Texas A&M, Carter started posting her gameday fits because she simply likes to look nice at work. One scroll through her feed will tell you that when it comes to style, Carter has always understood the assignment. It’s never been about impressing, though, but about dressing for success. 

“I just happen to have a different fashion sense [than] other people, and maybe I’m a little bit curvier than other people,” she says. “I’m going to always put my best foot forward when I go to work—that’s when I’m drawing up X’s and O’s to call up a play or whatever. Those two things are always gonna go hand-in-hand.”

And while the world has had something to say about her choice of attire, Carter’s resume speaks for itself. Since joining her former team as a video coordinator in 2020, and then promoted to a recruiting coordinator last year. The former Aggies guard helped lead her team to a Big 12 Tournament Championship in 2010, and then, as a junior, all the way to an NCAA Championship in 2011. Following her four-year college career, Carter was then drafted with the 27^th overall pick in the 2012 WNBA Draft by the Chicago Sky. She suited up in the W for four years, including stints with the Connecticut Sun, Indiana Fever and the Atlanta Dream, and also had a seven-year career playing overseas in Latvia and Israel, where she was a three-time Latvian/Estonian Champion in 2014, 2016 and 2017, as well as an Eastern European League champ in 2016.

But Carter then suffered a meniscus tear that marked the end of her playing days. While making peace with the decision to part ways with playing hoops was difficult, she has gracefully eased into her new role at Texas A&M.

“I think coming back here and starting my coaching career back at A&M just made it easier because I was familiar with the people that were here,” Carter says. “I had been around them for a year before I started working here, like rehabbing and everything, so the transition from just retiring to getting into the real world was pretty easy. But then once I got into a job where I hadn’t necessarily done it before, [that] had its challenges.

“This is like a 24-hour thing where you have to get these kids ready for real-life after this as well. You’re on call 24 hours, seven days a week—that was the biggest change for me, but it hasn’t been tough.”

After posting a 14-15 record this season, the Aggies’ loss to Vanderbilt in the SEC Tournament brought an overflow of emotions from Carter and the team. Now, she’s continuing to self-evaluate and ask herself how she can be better for not only herself but her team as well to ensure that better results are on the horizon.

 “I’m competitive, I wanted to win,” Carter says. “So, it was tough for me, anytime we lose. I’m losing sleep sometimes to try to figure out how I can be better for the next game or the next season or the next day, so that I can continue to help who I’m around.”

She aspires to one day help lead the program as a coach and gradually climb her way up the ladder. 

“My goal is to have that full title of recruiting coordinator and assistant coach because right now I’m doing player development as assistant recruiting coordinator. So, I really want to have those actual responsibilities instead of kind of just aiding other people. That’s definitely in my plans. And when I’m thinking big, big picture, in a perfect world, I would later on in my career be head coach at A&M because, you know, my story will come full circle. So that’s the main goal.”        

As Carter continues to climb that ladder in her coaching career, she also wants to give flowers to all women coaches around the game, especially those breaking barriers and entering into leadership roles, whether it’s coaching at the collegiate level or applying for head coaching positions within the NBA.

 “The SEC has five women that are head coaches,” Carter says. “You’re starting to see women actually in these positions lead and showcase the types of skills that we have [and] I just think it’s important to celebrate women because we are amazing at the end of the day, and there are so many different things that we can do.”

 “It’s important to keep highlighting women because if we do, we’re going to continue to see women in these leadership roles. We’re not scared anymore to put ourselves out there because people are honestly and actually paying attention to and seeing what we’re worth.”

All the while, Carter’s resilience and confidence is inspiring the next generation. Last month, she even posted a photo of a young girl dressed up as her—in shiny pink pants—while holding a sign that read, “I am Coach Carter.” 

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A post shared by Sydney Carter (@sydcarter4)

“Representation Matters. I am Rose!” Carter wrote in her caption. 

“I think, you know, just anybody that’s looking at this or that has been inspired by my story just needs to continue to understand that you have to be happy with yourself at the end of the day. And if you’re happy with yourself, put your pumps on, go to work, and walk in it.”

SLAM has partnered with the Black Coaches Association on a content series that will spotlight Black coaches, coordinators and more from every level. To learn more about the past and present of the BCA, and to register as a member of the BCA, click here.

Photos courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics.

The post How Texas A&M’s Sydney Carter Ignored the Critics and Remains True to Herself appeared first on SLAM.

On the outside looking in, one would assume Maya was just following in her big brother Zeke’s footsteps, considering that he too committed to Arizona before being drafted in the first round by the Denver Nuggets in 2020. However, Nnaji’s path is a unique one, and she makes it very clear that while the two are alike, they are different people with different interests.

Recruitment for Nnaji started back in the eighth grade. While she received offers from various programs, the University of Arizona was among the pile. One day, while on a visit to Tucson with Zeke, Barnes FaceTimed her to offer a scholarship.

“Talking on the phone with her felt so different from talking to other coaches,” Nnaji says. “It just felt so much more natural, and after a while the conversation shifted from basketball to just about life. She’s just a great person to talk to. I can tell she’s a family-first type of coach and she cares about her players a lot. Her players love her, and they really trust her, which speaks volumes to the great person that she is.”

Nnaji is in her senior season at Hopkins High School (where UConn star Paige Bueckers attended), currently standing undefeated at 12-0. While stepping into big shoes and with a potential third state championship on the line, she remains humble, although ready to dominate at the next level.

For the five-star recruit (currently ranked No. 7) and the highest-rated women’s hoops recruit in UA school history, the player and coach dynamic is one of the most valuable things. To Maya, having a strong relationship off the court is more important than the actual relationship on the hardwood because that will ultimately translate to what she will exude as a player once she’s out there on the floor. The care, compassion and family environment that Barnes provides for her team is one of the reasons Nnaji was sold when it came time to commit.

“Going to a team that’s really a family environment, that’s what I want,” Nnaji says. “I’m going to be away from home for four years [and] my parents have to be able to trust her to take care of me and the rest of the girls that are leaving their homes, you know? It has to be like a home away from home. I have to trust her and be excited to be there, and I know I will be at Arizona.”

While basketball has opened many doors for Nnaji, she hopes to become a doctor and plans to pursue a pre-med major while at Arizona. It’s a perfect field for the senior, whose main goal is to inspire and leave an impact on those around her, especially those living in her original roots in Nigeria. With her rising hoops career and her impactful work in the community through the Nnaji Family Foundation and her project Silent Strength, there is no limit to what she can accomplish next.

“When I become a doctor, I can go there and provide them with better medical care,” Nnaji says. “I want to dedicate my life to helping people after the ball stops bouncing. I want to inspire the next generation of little boys and little girls. 

I just want to be a light to people. I want to be a positive role model. Every time I hit the court, I want to keep in mind that people are watching me. One of my ‘whys’ is to keep going for my people and keep pushing through.” 

Portraits by Awa Mally.

The post Arizona’s Highest Rated Recruit, Maya Nnaji Wants to Inspire the Next Generation appeared first on SLAM.

“My heart was saying it was time to go. This is where I am supposed to be right now,” Hammon said, per the Washington Post. “There were a lot of sleepless nights getting to this conclusion.”

With the Spurs, Hammon received guidance from the legendary Gregg Popovich but felt it was time to venture down a different path leading back to where she started.

“It’s a great opportunity to have a head coaching job at that level.,” Popovich said. “To prove herself. She’s already proven herself to me, but that doesn’t matter in the long run. She’s interviewed for a few jobs in the NBA, and she’s more than qualified and would have done a great job.”

Over the years, Hammon received offers and calls from the WNBA, one being from the NY Liberty, where she spent the first eight seasons of her playing career making three All-Star appearances and helping lead the team to the Finals three times.

Hammon will join the Aces next season following a near-successful run with Las Vegas finishing 24-8, a second-best in the League, before losing to the Phoenix Mercury in the semifinals. Before she arrives, Hammon plans on reaching out to players to establish roles and build chemistry with her future players.

“Right now, I’m reaching out to all the players on the roster,” Hammon said. “Establish a relationship with them and talk a little bit about roles what we’re doing offensively and defensively.”

While Hammon continues to trailblaze and follow her heart while adding to her extensive resume, she hears the outside noise. She doesn’t believe that transitioning to the WNBA would be a “step down” from coaching in the NBA, but she is set on her path and confident in the choice she’s decided to make:

“I think it’s an ignorant statement. To think I’ve outgrown the WNBA in a coaching capacity is ridiculous,” Becky says. “I’d rather be a coach in the WNBA and have my own organization and be running a team.”

The post Becky Hammon On Her Transition To the WNBA: “My Heart Was Saying It Was Time To Go.” appeared first on SLAM.

Surrounded by her parents Damon and Shwanda, as well as other loved ones, Evans receives the long anticipated, and overdue, call from the Dallas Wings. She has been selected first in the second round with the 13th pick in the draft. For Evans, this beautiful moment came with slight disappointment—she expected to be drafted much higher. 

“Honestly, I was a little disappointed because I thought I should have [gone] earlier,” Evans says looking back. “Everyone that I talked to prior to the draft told me that I was a first round pick, for sure. Early on, top five, lowest would be like top eight that I [would]  fall, so it was surprising to me but it was also a blessing.”

Despite sliding a few spots down the board, the moment was still a dream come true. 

“That’s something that I dreamed about. Hearing my name being called was something that I’ve always wanted. So it was still something that I look at, and thank God for, because like I said, that’s what I worked for my whole life. And I finally did it.”

For Evans, her spirituality is what keeps her optimistic and hopeful no matter what occurs. Being a 5-6 guard (on a “good day” she once tweeted) came with being overlooked, and for her, this was another moment where she knew that trusting the process was key. Throughout her basketball journey, Evans has had to look past perfection and remind herself not to rush things. She believes that God always has a plan and timeline. 

Evans is from Gary, Indiana, a small city that’s sent a handful of players to the pros, including Glenn “Big Dog” Robinson (Bucks), Dick “Skull” Barnett (Knicks) and Wilson Eison (Lakers). Her hometown instilled a sense of toughness in her, as she saw things around her neighborhood that forced her to grow up fast. 

“Growing up in Gary groomed me into the person I am today,” Evans says. “It made me tough, it made me blue collar, It made me appreciate the little things in life as well. Not to take anything for granted. Seeing people that I grew up with get killed or go to prison for something that could have been avoided is sad watching but that was just the reality. I will say it helped me mature quicker than usual. But it made me the person I am today.”

The game has another way of teaching you how to deal with adversity. After spending a little over a month on the Dallas Wings’ roster, Evans was traded to the Chicago Sky, which meant she was less than an hour away from the 219. She found a sense of comfort in the move.

“I think it was the best move for me,” Evans tells SLAM. “Me being close to home, me being able to be the backup point guard for [Courtney] Vandersloot and learn from her is huge.Dallas had a lot of guards so I didn’t think that was the best fit for me. And that’s okay, because it’s a lot of girls out here that’s really good. So, finding the right fit in an organization is important in this League.”

Chicago presented the perfect opportunity for Evans to thrive, as she joined a stacked roster with perennial All-Star veteran Candace Parker, Courtney Vandersloot, as well as elite hooper Diamond DeSheids and Kahleah Copper. Assistant coach Olaf Lange and Parker were two people that really welcomed the rookie with open arms.

“Candace is somebody that I always wanted to get pictures with after games and I never could because it was always so hard,” Evans says. “I always used to go to the Sky games and I used to see Vandersloot, even Sylvia Fowles when [she] was on the Sky. So going from watching them and then playing with them and then also playing against two of my favorite players in the Finals was honestly mind blowing, because it’s like, I’m really here.”

Although Evans’ career started off as somewhat of a roller coaster, it’s been nothing short of full circle moments. She played in 23 regular season games this past season and was named to the WNBA All-Rookie team, averaging 3.9 points and 1.2 dimes. 

The former 2x ACC Player of the Year went from being overlooked in the draft to now sending the Dallas Wings home in the first round of the playoffs and winning a WNBA championship against Diana Taurasi and the Phoenix Mercury in front of 10,000-plus fans in Game 4 of the Finals.

“Honestly, that was the best time of my life, especially being able to do it with my family, with my friends, the people that I grew up with close to home,” Evans says. “It was big because I think when you do it with people that [have] been there with you from start to finish, it makes it a little better just because they know how hard it’s been, they know what I’ve been through—they know how bad I’ve been wanting the championship, and to get it at the highest level was crazy.”

Someone who can truly speak to the testament of Evans’ basketball career and how far she’s come is her former Westside High School coach and Indiana Basketball Hall of Famer Rodney Fisher. He first started coaching Evans when she was in the fifth grade and became her coach again once she started attending Westside. It was her defense that stood out to him most. 

“That’s what sold me,” Fisher tells SLAM. “She was just outstanding and relentless on defense. Couldn’t shoot the ball, didn’t have the handles, but you [could] see her willingness to learn and just how hard she played. Just a great, great attitude. The will to win. The time that she put in, even in the fourth and fifth grade, she put in the time. So everything she’s gotten she’s earned.”

Leading the pack at Westside her junior and senior year of high school, Evans scored 2,832 career points, the fifth-most in state history. As a senior in 2016-17, she helped lead Westside to a 20-7 record while averaging 36 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 6.2 assists. 

She had her options of playing at Purdue, Tennessee or Louisville, and ultimately chose to take her talents to the Cardinals and suit up for head coach Jeff Walz. Her four-year career at UL was nothing short of spectacular: as a freshman, Evans was named to the ACC All-Freshman team in 2018 and the following season she doubled her scoring average from 5.1 points to 10.4, earning ACC Sixth Player of the Year.

That was just the beginning: she turned things up as a junior and became the first player in the history of the conference, men or women, to go from Sixth POY to ACC Player of the Year. As a senior, Evans averaged 20.1 points and played a key role in leading the Cardinals to the Elite Eight.

“Louisville was the stepping stone to get to where I really wanted to go in life. Obviously, graduating college and playing at that level was huge too because that’s something that I wanted to do as a younger kid, and being able to finally do it was huge,” Evans tells SLAM. “Louisville helped groom [me] and made me better on and off the court.”

With all that she’s accomplished throughout her career, Fisher says that Evans hasn’t switched up at all. She’s still just a kid from Gary.

“She’s got so many accolades from high school to college and being drafted, but she’s always level-headed. It’s never about her,” Fisher says. “She still comes over to the house, you know, whenever she can. She makes everybody feel like I’m really something special. And she doesn’t have to do that.” 

Photos via Getty Images.

The post Just a Kid From Gary: How Dana Evans Went From Being ‘Disappointed’ on Draft Night to a WNBA Champion appeared first on SLAM.

Early in the season, Memphis got off to a rough start struggling to find a notable seed in the East with a 9-10 record. Once Morant went down back in November, the Grizzlies went on a 10-2 run making their way to the fourth seed.

Morant made his return against OKC, a team the Grizzlies destroyed by a historic 73 points a few weeks ago but coincidentally fell short to last night. In turn, Grizzlies fans pinned the blame on Morant telling him to ‘sit back out.’

Despite the turn of events, Morant posted 16 points, six rebounds, and eight assists.

Following the loss, Morant did not shy away from the fact that the lack of support and blame hurt him:

“Even during the game, I was running down the court, and I heard some of my fans courtside tell me I need to sit back out,” Morant said. “So, I just don’t understand what they wanted to get out of that. I feel like that just makes it worse.

“I’m just frustrated. Normally, y’all have seen it, when anybody says something negative about me, it fuels me,” Morant continued. “But, tonight, the remarks from the fans actually hurt. I’m going to do what I normally do and bounce back, and I’m very excited for this next game.”

Later that night, Morant tweeted that he was taking a break from social media “for a while” but later deleted the tweet replacing it with a change of heart that read “appreciate da real ones.”

The post Ja Morant ‘Hurt’ After Backlash From Fans appeared first on SLAM.

Tuesday, the Mavericks have four players in the NBA’s health and safety protocols: Hardaway Jr, Reggie Bullock, Josh Green, and Maxi Kleber.

Dallas also signed NBA G Leagues Caliente Clippers forward George King to a 10-day hardship deal.

The newest add-ons to the team come just in time for the Mavericks in their matchup against the Timberwolves, Tuesday evening.

With Delaware, Brown averaged 16.8 points and 8.1 boards. King averages 13.7 points and 5.7 rebounds.

The post Maverick’s Sign Charlie Brown To A 10-Day Deal appeared first on SLAM.

James has undergone eight tests, all of which came back negative after testing positive before the Lakers 117-92 win over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday. James’ teammate, Anthony Davis, said James was asymptomatic and “feeling fine” postgame, according to YahooSports.

James missed Thursday’s practice and was required by health and safety protocols to remain isolated from the team until he returned two negative tests within 24-hours.

The NBA released a statement Thursday regarding James’ clearance from health and safety protocols that will enable him to enter the Lakers lineup for Friday’s game:

The League said in their statement that James was originally placed in the health and safety protocols after a series of tests delivered conflicting results, including an initial positive test that was collected on Monday. According to the League, the sample that produced the initial positive was re-run twice and returned one negative and one positive result on two different PCR instruments.

As a result, James underwent additional testing on Wednesday, with one test returning a negative result and a second test resulting in a “clinically inconclusive result.”

“Additional testing confirmed that he is not a positive case,” the NBA said.

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During his time with the Capitanes, Clark averaged 14.4 points, 6.9 boards, 1.5 steals, and 1.1 dimes.

The former Bearcat went undrafted in 2018 and signed a two-way deal with the Houston Rockets. Shortly after playing for Houston, Clark signed a 10-day deal with the Magic, playing well enough to warrant signing another two-way deal and staying on for the rest of the season.

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According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Adebayo will undergo surgery this weekend, and the timetable for his return could be anywhere in the ballpark of four-to-six weeks. During Monday’s 120-111 win against the Nuggets, Adebayo put up 24 points, 13 boards, and six assists.

Toward the end of the matchup, Adebayo was seen holding his right thumb with a painful facial expression, but when asked if he had injured himself, he claimed to be “alright.”

Adebayo’s absence will be a big hit for Miami, who is currently tied for the third spot in the East with a 13-8 record. The 24-year-old has averaged 18.7 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists this season through 18 contests.

The post Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo to Undergo Surgery for Torn UCL appeared first on SLAM.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Booker will the next few games as the team plans to keep the star off of the court with “title hopes” still remaining.

The Suns defeated the Warriors, 104-96, to extend their 17 game winning streak, which has now tied the longest win-streak in franchise history since the ’06-07 season.

Phoenix and Golden State both lead the Western Conference with an 18-3 record.

The post REPORT: Devin Booker to Miss Next Few Games After Minor Hamstring Injury appeared first on SLAM.

The Warriors announced that Thompson and teammate James Wiseman would be scheduled to practice with the Santa Cruz Warriors just days ago. The five-time NBA All-Star was cleared for 5-on-5 scrimmages leading up to hitting the floor with Santa Cruz.

On Monday, the Warriors released footage of 1/2 of the splash brothers back on the court getting shots in during G League practice.

Thompson has been out since Game 6 of the 2019 Finals, where he tore his ACL going on to tear his Achilles tendon during a workout before the start of last season. Hopes are finally high for the three-time champ as he has been given the green light to play ball after two years.

“He’s cleared for full go, so everything we did was full 100 percent he was going,” Santa Cruz’s Head Coach Seth Cooper says (per CBS Sports). “There was no holding him back. There was no pulling back, it was just letting him go and letting him experience playing all out. He did that, and he looked really good doing it… I think he made his first 18 shots.”

With Thompson cleared his Warriors return is around the corner as he is expected to make his debut around Christmas.

“I hate to use the phrase ‘can’t wait,’ because I love to be present in my life,” Thompson says, per CBS Sports. “But I cannot wait. I really, really enjoy being a Warrior.”

The post Klay Thompson Given The Greenlight To Go 100 Percent appeared first on SLAM.

With a little over five minutes to go in the third quarter, the Nets found themselves in a 12-point hole. After checking in, the 20-year-old immediately made big plays scoring eight points in the third frame, including a 15-foot jumper to give the Nets a two-point lead going into the final frame. 

“I got in and knew the game-plan and knew what we had to do. I got in. I got great looks and got open looks, so I feel like those are really good for me coming in right away, getting open looks, and I made most of them,” Thomas says, per the Nets Daily. “When James [Harden] or KD kicks it to me, you got to knock it down when you’re wide open. A great building block to me.

Thomas delivered for Brooklyn when it counted the most, finishing with 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting and 2-of-3 from behind the arc in 15 minutes. With major pieces like Joe Harris and others out, the Nets were open to rotating players on the hardwood to help clench Brooklyn’s 117-112 win over the Cavs.

“Without Joe, we were down a shooter, a spacer,” Nash says, per the Nets Daily. “We have to go with some different lineups and different guys. Cam was great. He stepped up with confidence to take shots. I think he is a kid who we all love and think has a bright future, but sometimes these early stages of the season, you’re in tight games. It’s difficult, just some of the mistakes that are inevitable with these young guys. But tonight, he really hung in there. Made some big shots for us and I thought was really aware defensively. I was proud of him tonight.”

Thomas’s confidence-boosting game comes two days after a 46-point performance with Brooklyn’s G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets.

“I always had that confidence. Whenever coach puts me in, I just try to be ready at all times. The 46 didn’t really do anything tonight. It was just my role on that team and tonight, I just had the opportunity to have a chance, coach put me in and I made the most of it.”

The Nets (13-5) don’t play until Wednesday when they play a surging 10-8 Boston Celtics squad on ESPN.

The post Cam Thomas Pulls His Weight in Nets Win Over Cavs: ‘I Got In And Knew the Game-Plan And Knew What We Had to Do’ appeared first on SLAM.

Shumpert and his partner Daniella Karagach performed a freestyle set to Missy Elliot’s “Lose Control” and “Bounce” by DJ Cent. The duo killed it wowing the judges which resulted in a perfect score of 40 and a shoutout from Julianna Hough who said it was her favorite freestyle she’s seen.

Winning isn’t new for Shumpert who won an NBA Championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers back in 2016 in seven games against the Golden State Warrior. The Oak Park native recently played a stint for the Brooklyn Nets back in January.

After receiving the Mirror Ball trophy, Shumpert spoke to Entertainment Tonight about the work that was put in to receive to secure the price:

“Hats off to the work that we put in,” Shumpert says per Entertainment Tonight. “I think me and Dani set our mind to that when we got that 40, that we don’t want to just to drop off now and just steam out of the competition. I think we just put in a lot of hours and when it was time to perform, it got easy.”

After the electric performance congratulations were in order and even Missy Elliot herself took to Twitter to praise the dynamic duo after their big win:

Earlier in the season of DWTS Shumpert foreshadowed the big win putting an emphasis on being a champion:

“I’m a very competitive person. I want the Mirror Ball. I’m a champion, man. That’s what I do.”

The post Iman Shumpert Becomes First NBA Player to Win Dancing With The Stars appeared first on SLAM.

“Every game, I feel like I add something to the hard drive and something to my game,” Cunningham said via NBA.com. “I’ve learned so much about me as a person and me as a player since I got to the NBA. It’s promising for me, at least, to stay confident and just believe in myself for the future.”

Cunningham missed the first four games of the season due to a sprained ankle, but his performance against the Kings marks his second 20-plus point game thus far.

The Pistons, who are 3-10 to start the season, will take on the Pacers on Wednesday night.

The post Cade Cunningham Becomes Youngest Player to Post 25/8/8 Stat Line With Five Three-Pointers Made appeared first on SLAM.

So far this season, DeRozan has been a vital piece in the team’s 10-4 start to the season, as he’s averaging 26.9 points per game along with 5.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and shooting 51 percent from the field. As of right now, he’s ranked third in the League in scoring so far this season.

According to Jamal Collier of ESPN, DeRozan is aware of the naysayers calling him “washed” and questioning his capability:

“I can go down the list of just being counted out, being looked over,” DeRozan says, per ESPN. “So many chips that’s on my shoulder that I carry. And just wanting to be a winner and wanting to enjoy this ride. We can’t play this game forever, so I want to get as much as I can out of it.”

At 32-years-old, DeRozan doesn’t view his age as an “issue” or a “limit” to how he can continue to contribute to the Bulls:

“I never looked at age as being an issue,” DeRozan added. “I never looked at it. People put the age limit on everything, and I never did. The way I worked, the way I take care of my body, the way I prepare, I knew what I was capable of doing. I just took different roads the last couple years of playing basketball, trying to do the right thing, figuring it out.

“This time, just knowing my ability was always there, I never lost confidence. I never thought I couldn’t be who I was before. Chicago allowed me to completely be myself.”

The post DeMar DeRozan: ‘I Can Go Down the List of Just Being Counted Out, Being Looked Over’ appeared first on SLAM.

Kaminsky has stepped up and produced in the last three games in the absence of the Sun’s center, Deandre Ayton, who was ruled out until further notice with a right leg contusion.

As Kaminsky heated up against Portland, fans were in full support chanting what sounded like “let’s go tank” or “let’s go frank”.

While coming off the bench and filling in admirably for the injured Ayton, it looks like Kaminsky has no problem understanding the assignment :

“I want to be who I think I am,” Kaminsky says in a postgame interview following the dub according to Yahoo! Sports.

All five starters reached double figures with Chris Paul being the second-leading scorer in last night’s contest dropping 21 points, seven dimes, and four boards.

The Suns look to extend their win-streak against the Memphis Grizzles (6-5) Thursday

The post Frank Kaminsky Posts Career-High 31 Points In Suns Win appeared first on SLAM.

James posted a photo from SLAM Kicks on his Instagram story of Banchero tying his blue and white LeBron 11s with the caption “PAOLO VIBEZ!!!! 11’s GO CRAZY. AND BY THE WAY HE SO TOUGH!!! SEATTLE GOT ANOTHER 1.”

After James’ posted on his IG story, Banchero shared his reaction on Twitter:

The Seattle-native, who is currently projected to be a top-lottery pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, recently told SLAM that “part of my mission is to try to put Seattle on the map and get us as much recognition as I can.”

He’s also caught the attention of Tacoma, Washington’s own Isaiah Thomas, who recently tweeted about him as well, writing, “So when @Pp_doesit is the #1 pick in next years draft what will they say about our state then?? Lol we just keep producing!!!”

On Tuesday, Charlotte Hornets’ Miles Bridges saluted Banchero’s skills by quote-tweeting him with the words, “Paolo Banchero got game” and fire emojis after Duke’s 79-71 win over Kentucky at the Champions Classic. Banchero finished with 22 points and seven rebounds.

As Banchero continues to impress, he’s got a message for Duke fans:

“As far as Duke fans, you’re going to see me playing extremely hard, playing with energy,” he says in his SLAM 235 cover story. “Seeing us [all] play extremely hard and play with energy. We got a lot of talent all over the floor, all over the squad. I think it’s going to be a great year, a fun year. So just be on the lookout for that. Don’t miss it.

Oh yeah, and he’s got a few words for hoop fans as well: “And then basketball fans in general…Some might not know me, but they will soon.”

Learn more about Duke’s star freshman in SLAM 235, the New World Issue.

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James, who is averaging 24.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, with 7.0 dimes, missed two games last week due to a sore right ankle.

Per StatMuse, the Lakers are 1-1 this season without James. The team currently stands at 5-3 and are on a three-game win streak heading into Thursday’s contest against the Thunder. From there, the Lakers will play Portland.

The post REPORT: LeBron James Expected to Miss At Least One Week With Abdominal Strain appeared first on SLAM.

The team came together following Celtics guard Marcus Smarts’ comments in a postgame interview where he stated that Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum need to pass the ball more (per ESPN). Smart’s comments came after Boston’s 128-114 upset against the Bulls, where they were outscored 39-11 in the fourth quarter at home.

“The last few days, we’ve just been focused on Orlando,” Brown says, per ESPN. “That was the goal: come out, try to get a win. That was it. Team meeting — just an opportunity to talk as a group, get some communication going in, and move forward.”

“At the end of the day, we’ve been playing basketball together for a long time, all of us, especially our core group. So when it comes down to it, it’s all about trying to find ways to win, and that’s what the conversation was about, et cetera. The last two days, we’ve just been focused on Orlando, and now we’re focused on Miami.”

While both Tatum (14 points, six rebounds, three assists) and Brown’s (team-high 28 points, five boards, three assists) assist’s averages have dropped this season, Brown acknowledges that there are areas he and his teammate could improve in:

“I can do a lot of things better,” Brown says, per ESPN. “Try to find ways to get guys going, talking to Jayson, trying to find ways to get him going. Just making our teammates better. I think that’s part of being a leader and things like that. I still have a lot of growth to do that I’m actively working on. But that’s my challenge, and I’m focusing my energy on that. Just continuing to watch film and get better and see how I can make my teammates better.”

The Celtics look to continue their winning ways Thursday against the Miami Heat (6-1).

The post Jaylen Shares His Thoughts On Celtics’ Team Meeting, Says Team is ‘Focused on Miami’ appeared first on SLAM.

Against the Sixers, Lillard finished with 20 points and 10 assists, shooting 7-for-20 from the field and 2-for-9 from behind the arc.

“I always look at struggles as an opportunity to show my true character,” Lillard says, per ESPN. “When things go great there’s a lot of praise that goes along with that. A lot of people give you a lot of credit. They speak highly of you on social media, TV. ‘Oh Dame had 60, Dame had 50.’ They speak really highly of you. But I think it says more when you’re going through something and s— is kind of hitting the fan and you’re struggling and everybody’s got something to say and to me the real ones, they can keep on trucking and keep on going and still find a way to get the job done.”

According to ESPN, Lillard hit the floor against Philly with low averages in points (18.6), field goal percentages (34.9%), and 3-point shooting (23.1%). However, the guard is embracing the low-point that he is currently in and sees this as a challenge to beat the odds and prove the naysayers wrong:

“And, me personally, I love when those opportunities present themselves,” Lillard says, per ESPN. Because when I am riding high and when I do get smoking hot and when I get going people are going to look at it and be like, ‘We remember when you were struggling and you didn’t shy away from it.’ I think it will be more respect for the success when they see how you handle failure and how you handle struggle.”

“So, personally, I embrace that. It’s not fun. It’s not easy but it’s part of my DNA. That’s how I got to this position. I’m not angry about it. I’m frustrated with it. I do see it as a challenge and it’s one I accept and I know I’ll come out on top like I always do.”

The post Damian Lillard Views Struggles As ‘An Opportunity to Show My Character’ appeared first on SLAM.

In two seasons since being traded to the Rockets from the Cavs last season, Porter has suited up for 32 games with 29 starts and is averaging 15.8 points, 6.1 assists, and 3.9 boards in that time.

The talented guard averaged 16.6 points, 6.3 dimes, and 3.8 rebounds in his second year in the League. In a game against the Bucks, he became the fifth-youngest player to score 50-plus points and the youngest to ever do so with 10 assists under his belt. The previous youngest was LeBron James, who reached the 50 and 10 mark at 23-years-old. So far in the 2021-2022 campaign, Porter Jr. has put up 12.5 points, 5.0 dimes, and 4.2 boards per game.

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“Every team knows we’re going to Jayson [Tatum] and Jaylen [Brown], and every team is programmed and studies to stop Jayson and Jaylen,” Smart says, per CBS Sports. “I think everybody’s scouting report is to make those guys try and pass the ball. They don’t want to pass the ball and that’s something that they’re going to learn. They’re still learning and we’re proud of the progress they are making, but they are going to have to make another step and find ways to not only create for themselves but create for others on this team.

“To open up the court for them later in the game where they don’t always have to take those tough shots or take tough matchups when they do get the 1-on-1 and see a trap. Just reading that It’s something that we’ve been asking for them to do and they’re learning. We just got to continue to help those guys do that and help our team.”

Smart who scored 16 points, one rebound, and four steals in last nights contest also expressed wanting to be more involved offensively:

“There’s only so much I can do without the ball in my hands, I just stand in the corner,” Smart says, per CBS Sports.

“When we’re running plays for your best players, every team knows that and they do a good job of shutting that down. We can’t allow that, when they shut that down we can’t keep trying to go to those guys, we gotta abort that and find them another way to get them the ball in spots that they need the ball. And like I said for me, I can only do so much standing in the corner, or when I come up and give the ball away.”

The franchise ranks 27th in the League in isolation offense, scoring just 0.74 points per possession. Jaylen Brown ranks 13th on points per possession while Tatum is 38th in the league per the NBA. The Celtics are ranked 27th in the League with a 110.3 defensive rating and 19th in offensive rating at 104.6.

The post Marcus Smart After Third Straight Loss: ‘There’s Only So Much I Can Do Without The Ball In My Hands’ appeared first on SLAM.

After starting the season without Irving, the Nets are now 2-3. Durant, who notched 25 points, 11 boards, and two assists against Miami, opened up about the team’s circumstances:

“I know what you want me to say,” Durant said. “Yeah, we do miss Kyrie. We do. He’s a part of our team.”

“He’s a part of our team but for the most part we’ve been generating great shots, getting into the paint,” Durant said. “It’s just a matter of us knocking them down. I think it will come.”

The Nets will take on the Pacers on Friday night.

The post ‘We Do Miss Kyrie’: Kevin Durant Opens Up About Nets After Loss to Heat appeared first on SLAM.

“With a guy like that, you can’t stress about him scoring. That’s what he gonna do. Motherf–ker’s 7’2″, 280 pounds.” Edwards says per Bleacher Report.” There ain’t nothing you can do about it. Like s–t, we put four people on him, and he still score the ball. I was telling [Leandro Bolmaro] today—because we played against him last year—I’m like, ‘Bruh, I ain’t never seen nothing like it.’ You can put four people on him, he might miss it, jump right back up and dunk that bih…He’s unstoppable. I don’t know what to say.”

Scoring was exactly what the Greek Freak did in last nights contest, dropping a season-high 40 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists.

Although guarding Giannis may have been a challenge for the TWolves, Edwards held it down on the front-end, scoring 25 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Last night’s matchup was the rookie’s fourth consecutive game dropping double-digit points.

The post Anthony Edwards on Giannis Antetokounmpo: ‘He’s Unstoppable’ appeared first on SLAM.

After the Lakers’ 121-118 win over Memphis, James mentioned what it was like to play against Williams:

“I looked at Ziaire a couple times and was just shaking my head inside,” James says, per CBS Sports. “Just remembering a year and a half ago, two years, not even a full two years, he was hitting a game-winner to send them to the state championship alongside my son, and going to the game and supporting Sierra Canyon, and one year at Stanford and now he’s here, so it’s a weird dynamic for myself to see something like that but happy for the kid, obviously. But I had a moment for sure.”

Williams, who was drafted in the first-round of the 2021 NBA Draft, is currently averaging 4.0 points and 1.7 in 17 minutes so far this season. At Stanford, Williams averaged 10.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists.

With the new wave of talent coming into the League, James is set to face another one of his son’s former teammates, Brandon Boston Jr., when the Lakers play the Clippers on Dec. 3.

The post LeBron James on Playing Against Ziaire Williams, former HS teammate of Bronny appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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“I had to make up for the missed dunk in New York,” Brown says, per MassLive. “So my teammates was teasing me a little bit. It was just a good play. Miles, obviously, is one of the better athletes in the league, so I knew that if I tried to lay it up, he was going to send it back to Boston…So, I was going up with bad intentions.”

Bridges then took to social media after the game, tweeting: “Also imma jump everytime down 3 in an overtime game or anytime the game on the line!! Helluva play!!”

Although Brown sat out of the matchup against the Rockets due to knee soreness, he still managed to pop off against the Hornets with 30 points, nine rebounds and 3 dimes.

“I think last year was more chronic,” Brown added, per MassLive. “I think this year is just a spike just because of the amount of minutes coming out the gate from the double-overtime game, being in quarantine, et cetera, only having one day to come back. I think this one was just more of an isolated incident.

“It kind of dragged out all season. I’m hoping that’s not going to be the case here. So I think they’re just being cautious of that because they don’t want it to bother me all season long. I don’t think it will.”

Brown’s performance, alongside a 41-point game from teammate Jayson Tatum, helped will the Celtics to their second win of the season. They’ll take on the Wizards on Wednesday night.

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The NBA has been an avid supporter when it comes to celebrating and offering opportunities for Historically Black Colleges and Universities to be seen and represented positively. The NBA’s plan to promote these institutions will continue on to All-Star weekend and in the foreseeable future.

All-Star weekend will be held in Cleveland, Ohio and will feature a highly anticipated, televised matchup between Howard University and Morgan State’s men’s basketball teams. The NBA HBCU Classic will be held on Feb. 19 at the Wolstein Center, according to The Undefeated.

If you recall, former NBPA President Chris Paul was a leading voice in pushing for inclusivity among HBCUs, leading to $3 million being raised for these institutions during All-Star weekend earlier this year. Next year, the NBA’s goal is to donate at least $1 million for the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and the United Negro College Fund.

In addition to the exciting All-Star news, the NBA and WNBA, according to Forbes, will offer a new paid fellowship program next year. This program will offer hands-on professional, business experience with the League

“We have a long history of the values of our sport, being diversity, equity, and inclusion,” NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum says, per The Undefeated. “This is part of our DNA. We think there is so much opportunity here for Black youth. We want to help accelerate those opportunities for Black youth and graduates of HBCUs to get them access to and exposure into the sports industry. The business side of it. The operations side of it.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Simons also reportedly “described back tightness” to team staff members and was treated for it on Thursday. He then was cleared to participate.

With that, The Athletics’ Shams Charania reports that Simmons is “currently not mentally ready to play for the team.” He also reports that the All-Star will not play in Friday’s matchup against the Nets and that he isn’t expected to compete for “an undetermined period of time.”

Simmons did not play in Philly’s season opener win against the Pelicans after facing a suspension due to “conduct detrimental to the team.” He was thrown out of practice on Tuesday after reportedly refusing to take part in team drills.

According to Wojnarowski, Simmons is “expected” to arrive to the team’s shootaround early on Friday morning to “discuss his playing status.”

Amidst the Simmons saga, head coach Doc Rivers mentioned how this predicament is “no fun” and that he wants Simmons to play:

“It’s a predicament that we’re in and that part is no fun, it really isn’t,” Rivers says per ESPN. “We get to play right now, Ben’s not—I want Ben to be playing, you know, that’s his job.”

“I don’t like any player losing money. There’s so many things about this that I don’t like. But that still doesn’t mean you don’t have to do your job.”

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The contract will be fully guaranteed for the first season.

A 6-foot-3 guard who went undrafted in 2019, Brooks’ three-and-D skillset has led to him being a key part of the Rockets’ young core.

After stints with multiple G League teams, Brooks signed a two-way contract with Houston at the end of the 2020-21 season and had it converted to a regular contract in October.

Last season, the Texas native averaged 11.2 points per game and shot 38.2 percent from 3-point range in his rookie season. Brooks looks to be picking up right where he left this preseason, as he’s currently averaging 10.0 points per game and shooting 56.2 percent on 3-pointers.

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Most people seek the game, then there are those who are chosen by it. From ballin’ at Penn State to giving 14 years of consistent grit and grind to the WNBA, Las Vegas Aces assistant coach Tanisha Wright’s connection to the game runs deep.

Wright, who joined the Aces last season, stepped into her coaching role prepared to help lead the Aces to a 24-8 record and a No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. As the team begins to prepare for the upcoming 2021 playoffs, Wright says she often reminds her players to embrace the journey and the process that comes with the game.

“Obviously winning is the peak, but I think a lot of people forget about the journey and the process,” Wright says over Zoom. “Everybody wants to win, but what are you willing to do to win? The biggest thing I want out of this season is for the girls to really fall in love with the process and what it takes to be a champion, not just being a champion, because what it’s all about, like, that’s where those emotions come out when you win a championship because you know what [you’ve] done, you know the work that you’ve put in, everything [you’ve] done to get to this space.”

Who better to teach the Aces about the appreciation of a journey than Wright, who went from lining up against the best of the best on the courts of Mon View projects where she was raised, to playing for Penn State, where she earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year three times. After going 12th overall in the 2005 WNBA Draft, Wright eventually won a ‘chip with the Seattle Storm in 2010. It’s safe to say that the former guard knows all about the appreciation of the process. 

Wright’s hoop journey goes way back, having had the best of both worlds being born in Brooklyn and raised in Pittsburgh. She still recalls the host of memories of time spent shooting hoops with her peers before school and the summers spent in the Big Apple where she would hit the gritty courts near Fulton and Utica.

Wright, who picked up the sport at the age of five, saw her toughness and skill set develop on those very courts, as she was often one of the only girls playing one-on-one and competing in games like 33, also known as Utah or 21, against older guys in the area because playing people her age was a “wash.”

“You see a lot of basketball players and [their] one-on-one skills, especially people from the hood, is top notch,” Wright tells SLAM. “But that’s because you had to be a great one-on-one player in order to play a lot and win a lot of these childhood games against them and they’re not taking it easy on you.

“If you’re gonna be out here you’re gonna be out here, forreal. [You’re] gonna get beat up, you’re gonna get your shot blocked, so you better figure out another way to get it off, or whatever the case may be.”

While Wright didn’t have big dreams of going pro during her youth, it wasn’t until much later when she was suiting up for Penn State that she realized she could take her talents to the next level.

“Like in high school I knew I had the opportunity to go to college, but it really wasn’t until like college where I really thought, like, ‘alright, this could be something more than just getting an education,’ you know what I mean?” Wright says. “Like, college was just when I really was like I need to really, really take this seriously.”

After a historic collegiate career at Penn State, where she ranks sixth on the all-time scoring list with 1,995 career points, and graduating with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, Wright was headed to the League.

She found a home with the Storm, where she started in 117 consecutive games, the second-longest span in franchise record, all while playing the third-most seasons, games, and minutes in the team’s history.

After a decade with Seattle, Wright headed to the New York Liberty, who was led by now-Aces current head coach, Bill Laimbeer. 

After two seasons with Laimbeer and the Liberty, Wright decided to rest and hang her jersey up for a season. Although she stepped away from playing, she continued to be in the mix making moves in the coaching realm.  

Laimbeer invited Wright to the Liberty’s training camp where she would sit in during coaches’ meetings and practices.

“I was in the coaches’ meetings, I sat in the practices, I listened, I was in the meetings for cutting players—just different things like that,” Wright says. “When you become a coach you have to be equipped for and prepare for it, so shout out to Bill for giving me that opportunity to do that.”

That September, Wright joined UNC Charlotte’s staff as an assistant coach, which led to a reunion between her and head coach Cara Consuegra, who was the director of operations during her time at Penn State. Consuegra would go on to play an instrumental component in Wright’s coaching career, assisting her in the transition to becoming a coach.

“Cara was a really good mentor for me, she was really my first example of a head coach because she was the first head coach that I coached under,” Wright says. “So, preparedness, how to even transition from being a coach to a player, drawing those boundaries and just pretty much everything, she’s the foundation of what I know for coaching.”

“Obviously, I’ve played for great coaches, but when you’re playing for these coaches you don’t necessarily get the backseat. You know, I’m not sitting in the backseat where I get to see everything. All I see is like, ‘okay, you come to the court and you’re coaching me now,’ but I don’t get to see everything that’s put into being a really good coach. And with her, because I was coaching for her and under her, I was able to see firsthand what it looks like and how you should prepare and all these different things on how to be a good coach.”

After taking a season off from suiting up for the W, Wright joined the Minnesota Lynx’s roster, where she averaged 4.3 points, 2 assists, and 1.6  rebounds before being traded back to familiar territory in the Big Apple. As her time playing for the W was coming to a close, Wright found herself filling the shoes of a mentor to the younger players surrounding her.

“Towards the end of my career I became a mentor to younger players, that became like part of my role as a player,” Wright says. “So, even though I was still playing, I was still mentoring people and sharing knowledge so it kind of came a little bit more natural because at the end of my career, I was doing a lot of mentoring and coaching while I was playing on the court.” 

“Seeing things different than what younger players see and that just comes from experience, you know, you don’t see that stuff unless you actually experienced a lot of that.”

In the summer of 2020, Wright found herself reunited with Laimbeer in Las Vegas alongside retired WNBA veteran and now head coach of the Dallas Wings Vickie Johnson.

With years of mentoring and being a floor general under her belt, Wright was well equipped for the new coaching position with the Aces.

“The transition for me kind of happened quick, but it was also a very natural progression, and I think [about] my relationships with players, and the fact that I’m still close to them,” Wright says. “I’m only two years removed, so I think people, or at least the players that I have coached so far, respected me as a player, so it makes that transition a little bit easier.”

One of Wright’s favorite aspects of coaching is the relationships that she has been able to develop with her players. She views human dynamics as being the most important thing that we get to experience in this life. Being able to build that trust and seeing individuals that she coaches going after their dreams is fulfilling to the W vet.

“I’m the coach that is going to get in your ass when [you’re not] doing what you’re supposed to do,” Wright tells SLAM. “But I’m also the coach that’s gonna be your biggest cheerleader.

“You could be A’ja Wilson or Destiny Slocum, who’s our rookie, and I’m gonna treat y’all the same. I think that they probably get sick of hearing my voice a little bit but for the most part, I do think that they enjoy it because players want to be coached, they want to be ablle to be told like, ‘okay, this is what I need to do,’ so that they can go out and just fulfill that.”

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Photos via Getty Images and Kris Lumague.

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In the midst of one of their franchise’s most successful seasons, Aces guard Kelsey Plum was recently voted as the WNBA’s Sixth Woman of the Year after a record-breaking regular season.

The baton was finally passed down to Plum for the first time in her career after Aces forward and 2021 All-Star Dearica Hamby reigned as Sixth Woman of the Year for two consecutive seasons (2018-19).

A year after tearing her Achilles, the former first overall draft pick came off of the bench in every game this season, averaging 20 points in eight of those games, the most in a single season by a reserve in the W.

Plum averaged a career-high 14.8 points this season, along with 3.6 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.0 steal per game. For the 2021 season, Plum ranks 16th in WNBA scoring and 14th in assists.

The fourth-year pro blew other contestants out of the water in voting, earning 41 votes from a national panel of 49 sportswriters and broadcasters. Hamby followed behind with five, Marina Mabrey (Dallas Wings) with two, and Natisha Hiedeman (Connecticut Sun) with one vote.

In honor of being crowned Sixth Player of the Year, Plum will receive $5,150 and a trophy designed by Tiffany & Co.

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What started out as an aspiration in business, investing, and a LeBron James tweet soon became reality for Renee Montgomery. In January of last year, the WNBA champion peeped a tweet from James expressing interest in buying the Atlanta Dream. She immediately reached out to his camp about bringing the tweet to life.

“I’ve always been interested in business and investing, but I never actually thought about having an ownership stake,” Montgomery shares with WSLAM. ”It wasn’t until the summer of 2020 when some discussions started to circulate that the Atlanta Dream would be selling in the near future. That’s when my family and I got the crazy idea of What if? It didn’t really seem realistic at the time. Fast forward to November when an ownership opportunity presented itself and I became an FCF Beasts co-owner with Marshawn Lynch and pro-wrestler Mero, before the Atlanta Dream ownership stake.”

Breaking down barriers is something that players across the W are already accustomed to doing, and Renee epitomized this when she became the first former player to own a team as well as hold a leadership role.

Little did Montgomery know that she would soon set the standard for minorities everywhere, symbolizing that basketball success doesn’t just stop on the hardwood, but it seeps into the business sector as well. 

“I feel humbled because when we started this journey, I didn’t even realize that I was, that wasn’t my intention,” Montgomery reflects. “I just wanted to be in the rooms where decisions were being made, to have representation at the highest level I can, because it matters to have that representation speaking up in that room. I hope to see more players go on the ownership or executive path. The players have earned the experience through sweat equity. It’s just about getting the opportunity.”

The two-time champ appeared in 37 playoff games, retiring from the W after having played in 364 games with 173 starts. She showed pure dedication and work ethic on the court, but she knows and urges the youth to understand the importance of skills such as communication and leadership off the court as well.

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“Don’t take skills like speaking, writing and insight for granted,” she says. “Communication skills are an important part of leadership. Good communication that gets through to people is essential in whichever workplace you choose. You just need the confidence to believe you can do it. The skill set that you have does not change when you switch positions, the only thing that changes is the responsibilities. Then you realize you were always capable. Don’t be afraid to make your own path.”

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Photos via Getty Images.

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One hand full of thick honey blonde curls pulled up on the right, check. The left side, check. DiDi Richards takes her edge brush going back to the side she started with, laying her baby hairs as if it’s part of a religious practice to the game of basketball—I mean, it sort of is or else she’s sitting on the bench thinking, Oh God, I did my puffs in the wrong order today. 

Just like Richards’ perfectly crafted, meticulous signature style, her game isn’t that much different. As one of the nation’s top on-ball defenders suiting up for the Baylor Bears, DiDi dominated during her collegiate career and helped lead her squad to the Elite Eight last season. While things didn’t pan out the way they would have wanted to against UConn, it became clear, just from watching her compete and give it her all, that she truly is one of one. 

Her mother, Ungeanetta, knows that better than anyone: “I think that her style is explosive because she’s so fun to watch,” she shares with WSLAM. “It’s like when she’s on the court, something is gonna happen. And not only that she’s a girly girl—she’s pretty out there but she’s not playing like a girly girl. She plays rough and I love that about her. I remember this one time when she was playing, she had her glasses and she was sitting up there and everybody wanted to guard her on the other team. They had no idea. She doesn’t look the part, but when she gets on that court…Beware, she’s explosive.”

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While the Liberty’s second-round pick has her mother to thank for her dope style on and off the court—which includes pre-game tunnel looks like black ripped mom jeans and a baby blue Louis Vuitton saddle bag paired with Hyper Royal Jordan 1s—her pops, Damian Sr, played a major role in pushing her to play sports. DiDi tried her luck at gymnastics and karate before ultimately deciding to play basketball in middle school.

“My first memory…” Richards pauses, thinking back. “When I first picked it up, my dad was pushing me to play sports because I was a late bloomer. I didn’t play sports until, like, the sixth grade. My first game was in the Cipher League, which is a YMCA kind of deal, and I could only play defense. I know that’s shocking—it’s not shocking,” Richards says, almost as if she has a lightbulb moment remembering who she is. “But I was so good at defense and I would get all these steals and just throw it up at the backboard whenever I would go on the other end.”

And yet, Damian Sr made sure that both of his children mastered the fundamentals of the game rather than rely solely on their athleticism.

“In high school I got away with just being more athletic, being able to outjump everybody, outrun everybody, but when I got to college, my coach tried to put me in the guard position and I couldn’t play it,” Damian Sr shares. “It kind of shortened my career because I couldn’t dribble, so I said, Alright, Didi and DJ are not going to have this problem. We’re going to dribble, dribble, dribble. That’s how DiDi became a 6-2 point guard, because I just made sure she was going to know how to dribble. I used all of the things that stopped me, because I wasn’t going to let it stop them.”

Battling through adversity and ignoring the naysayers is something that both of her parents have instilled in her, and her brother, from an early age. 

“People are always going to talk whether you’re doing good or bad,” Richards says. “I think that was my biggest hurdle to get through, but to just understand that it’s just life, and that’s something you’re gonna have to get through for the rest of your life. Thanks to my mom and my dad for that because they were constantly like, Forget it, and I just finally started understanding that.”

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On October 24, 2020, DiDi’s life would take a turn no one saw coming. The Cypress, TX, native collided with teammate Moon Ursin during a practice. Richards passed out from the horrific impact, and when she woke up, she learned that she was temporarily paralyzed. Not only would her physical strength be put to the ultimate test during this time, but her mental toughness, too.

“I was still very scared the whole time and I don’t know,” Didi reflects. “I was putting on this front that I’m gonna walk, I know I’m gonna walk, but in the back of your head, you really can’t feel your legs, you can’t get up on your own, you’re really on a walker.”

Following the incident, Richards began the exhaustive battle of physical therapy, which caused her to question if she would be able to perform simple tasks like pushing the pedals on a stationary bike. 

“Three weeks in was when I started to get the feeling [back in her legs] a little bit,” Richards recalls. “I was like, Oh, maybe this really can happen. It took me starting to walk again and finally getting rid of the walker…I think that’s when my mind was kind of like, We can do this again. So when I started playing basketball again I definitely shocked myself. I was like, Oh my God, I’m really in this game again.”

Thirty-eight days later, Richards was back on the court for her first win with the Bears since her injury. Her perseverance and resilience never wavered. It’s a part of who she is, who her family is. 

“Our family has been through so much to where my faith is just so strong,” Ungeanetta reflects. “I believed that she was gonna make it out of it and I wasn’t accepting that she was not going to be able to walk again. I was blocking any negativity out, you know, speaking positive things and always trying to stay strong around her, because you know your emotions can also transfer into somebody else. I didn’t want her to have that doubt in her mind, so I basically tried to keep everyone around her and us positive and not think of her not being able to walk again.”

And while New York might seem like worlds away from H-town and her family, including her younger brother Damian and her Schnoodle pup, who earned the name Tuxedo for his black fur and white chest (and who also gives Richards a run for her money in the style category), she feels like she’s exactly where she is supposed to be. 

“I think I got drafted to the perfect team, the perfect coaches, the perfect players,” Richards says. “It’s definitely an adjustment still in progress right now, but I’m loving it so far. I have such understanding teammates, and I say that all the time whenever I get on these interviews or whatever it is, I just think this is the perfect spot for me and God just put me in the perfect spot. I’m just really happy about it. I didn’t want anything else but this. 

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Photos via Getty Images.

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Byington makes her mark in history being the first woman to fill a full-time play-by-play position for a professional men’s team.

An experienced broadcaster and reporter, Byington wrote in a statement that she’s “absolutely thrilled” for the opportunity to work for the reigning champions.

“I know that I will be stepping into the role long-held by Jim Paschke, and I appreciate his passion for the team and the memorable moments his voice will always be a part of,” writes Byington (h/t ESPN News Services).

“I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge his work and commitment to the franchise, and it’s my honor to be the one who takes the baton from him. I’m particularly excited to work with such an amazing team of Marques Johnson, Zora Stephenson, Steve Novak and everyone involved with Bucks games at Bally Sports Wisconsin.”

The newfound role isn’t Byington’s first time making history considering that she became the first woman to call play-by-play for a Big Ten Network college football game back in 2017.

Fiserv Forum president Peter Feigin and the Bucks franchise have welcomed Byington in with open arms:

“We are so excited to welcome Lisa to the Bucks family and to bring such a talented play-by-play announcer to our broadcast team,” says Feigin.

“Lisa’s extensive television broadcasting background, including her play-by-play work for high-level NCAA basketball on several national networks, makes her the perfect choice to take on this major role. While we appreciate the significance of selecting Lisa, and we celebrate this historic moment, Lisa earned this position based on her extraordinary skills and experience. We look forward to Lisa becoming the voice of the Bucks.”

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

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

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

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

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The Jazz have pushed the luxury tax significantly keeping Conley on the roster, as both Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell have recently signed five-year extensions worth $368 million combined.

Amid the news, Conley took to Twitter excitedly announcing his return:

Conley’s past two seasons with Utah have been dampened by recurring hamstring issues, resulting in him sitting out of the Jazz’s entire Western Conference semifinals against the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2021 NBA Playoffs.

Although injuries have been no stranger to the well-rounded veteran, he’s still been a key figure in Utah’s backcourt, tallying a stat line of 16.2 points, 6.0 assists and 3.5 boards per game on 44.4 percent shooting from the field (42.1 percent from three).

The new deal also allows Conley to be reunited with former Grizzlies teammate, Rudy Gay, who has signed a two-year deal with the Jazz.

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Curry now becomes the first player in league history to sign two $200M-plus contracts.

Last season, Curry closed out of one of his best playing seasons yet, scoring a career-high 62 points and ending his 2020-21 campaign as an MVP finalist, averaged 32.0 points, 5.8 assists and 5.5 boards per game while shooting 48.2 percent from the field and 42.1 percent from 3-point range.

Curry’s contract translates to him spending the rest of his prime with the Warriors as they look to extend the lifeline of their championship window, while he continues propel up the ladder of NBA greats.

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After averaging 14.2 points in 22.8 minutes in only 15 appearances for the Detroit Pistons this past season, Rose joines the Knicks roster in a midseason trade back in February, eventually going on play a significant role anchoring New Yorks bench.

In the postseason, Rose would only improve his play, notching averages of 19.4 points, 5.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game on 47.6 percent shooting and 45.1 percent from 3-point range and appearing to be New York’s most dominant force.

Although Rose has battled with injuries since his ACL tear in 2012, he has still proven to be an essential piece to the Knicks puzzle through his leadership and ability to get the job done on the floor.

On Monday, the Knicks would reaffirm Rose’s importance to their mission.

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The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NAIA) has produced legends, NBA champions, and All-Stars such as Elgin Baylor, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman. The conference has continued to exemplify greatness over the years with programs such as Shawnee State University, located in Portsmouth, Ohio.

The 2021 NAIA National Championship-winning program is led by one of the greatest generals in this university’s coaching history, DeLano Thomas. Since taking over as head coach of his alma mater in 2017, the Bears have done a complete 180 under Thomas’ guidance. Last night, their recent graduate, E.J. Onu, signed an Exhibit 10-day contract with the Dallas Mavericks.

Thomas knows firsthand what it takes to utilize not only his talent but heart in the game of basketball. He holds the record for blocked shots (148) and rebounds per game (14.5) in Shawnee State’s program history and was inducted into the Shawnee State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017.

Although his collegiate career was nothing short of successful, the Columbus, Ohio native made the decision in between his junior and senior year to step away from college ball and take his talents overseas. Thomas’  international pro career includes suiting up for pro teams in Germany, Syria, Brazil, and Uruguay, over the course of nine years.

He also began his coaching career in ‘07, serving as the head coach at Montevideo High School in Uruguay where he led the team to a 22-10 record. 

Thomas continued to add to his coaching resume in ‘08, serving as the head coach of Ulriken Elite located in Norway for the U21, U18, U14 boys and the U14 girls team. While coaching the U15 boys and girls squad from 2012-14, Thomas got a taste of what it really felt like to lead a winning team. He led the girl’s team to a second place finish in the Bergen Region, winning a silver medal in the Hansa Cup. The boys squad finished as bronze medalists. During that time in 2014, Thomas also served as the Activity Consultant for the Norges Basketballforbund in Oslo, Norway, where he helped recruit young athletes from schools, coordinate clinics and educate new coaches with practice plans.

Thomas says the experience of coaching young players changed his perspective. While he was there to coach and educate them, they taught him many things in return:

“At first it was just for extra money, but then it just kind of led to loving it, to seeing the impact that I had on those kids…They taught me different languages and kind of helped me during that time because I came across a lot of kids that couldn’t even speak English so it gave me the patience I needed at that time to talk a little bit slower, just being able to break stuff down for them.

After suffering a dislocated hip injury, the former Bear decided to tap into his resources and reached out to his former coach Jeff Hamilton. Hamilton gave Thomas the option of finishing his degree while also becoming SSU’s assistant coach.

“Once I was there, my grind was different, just on the impact that I knew I would have. And the guys kind of gravitated towards my work ethic, so it kind of built it for me today,” Thomas says. 

After returning to his old stomping grounds in 2014, Thomas worked with the big men and helped develop and powerhouse defensive unit. That season, Shawnee State broke the single-season record for defensive rebounds (948), scoring defense (57.6), defensive field goal percentage (.373) and defensive field goal percentage (.279). 

Accolades aside, Thomas has also continued to educate his players on valuable life lessons and know-how, including managing one’s finances and navigating relationships. 

“When I came up, the coaches I remember, all they talked about was basketball, basketball, basketball,” Thomas says. “It wasn’t about how to budget my money, the impact of what I eat, my rest, different details like that. We talk about all that, we talk about marriage—I’m married now so I talk to them about how it is, you know, the impact of having your kids. My father wasn’t in my life growing up so I wanted to make sure that was a detail I took advantage of. So that’s just something else they can see from me just how I carry myself from everything that I do.” 

Going into the 2019-20 season, the future looked even brighter for the Bears when they added assistant coach Lindal Yarbrough onto the coaching staff. 

As a walk-on at Middle Tennessee, Yarbrough transferred to Cumberland University where he averaged 8.2 points, 4.32 assists, and 1.6 steals. While earning his degree, he also served as an assistant coach at Cumberland for five seasons after graduating from the university in 2012.  During the second half of the 2017-18 season, he was also the interim coach with the Phoenix.

Since joining forces at Shawnee State, together Thomas and Yarbrough have made a huge impact on SSU’s men’s basketball program. They led the Bears to their best overall record, 21-11, during the 2019-20 season—marking the program’s first winning record since the 2002-03 campaign. Together they were able to lead their team to the Mid-South Conference semifinals at the end of this season, where they fell to the No.1 seed Georgetown. 

And yet, even with all of their success, the two are aware of the hardships and lack of opportunities that many Black coaches continuously have to deal with in the industry.

“First, it takes people really believing in the African American coach,” Yarbrough says. “Pretty much over half of the players are going to be African American. It really takes just people opening  their eyes, especially with the movement that’s going on right now in the world today. Just really opening the eyes and seeing that, you know, African American coaches can get the job done at a high level, and I think that we did a good job of proving that there’s one thing to have talent, but it’s another thing to coach the talent and get them to achieve goals that never has been done like here at Shawnee state.” 

Thomas says that aspiring coaches can combat this by propelling themselves forward and putting themselves out there as much as possible, whether it be reaching out for resources or utilizing social media platforms.

“Honestly, you got to keep working. It’s gonna be some tough days where you know you’re working beside somebody that you’re better than, but you got to continue to work, just continue to work,” Thomas says. “If there is another situation you can get into that somebody is going to allow you to really be you and not just handcuff you to having a certain role but you got to kind of get yourself there.” 

With two strong Black coaches leading Shawnee State and creating relationships fueled by passion and impact, the Bears have continued to reach new heights. This past season, Thomas and Yarbrough led the team to a 31-2 overall record, winning their first-ever NAIA National Championship, defeating Lewis-Clarke State 74-68. 

Thomas has earned numerous awards this past season, including the NAIA Coach of the Year, the Don Meyer Coach of the Year Award, and the HoopDirt.com NAIA Coach of the Year Award. 

The Bears’ success is a testament to not only their talent but their leadership. Their team motto, “Be different, Be Special” it’s stitched into the foundational fabric of the program itself. 

And as DeLano and Lindal continue to look to make a difference in their player’s lives, one that extends beyond the game of basketball, it’s clear that the Shawnee State Men’s Basketball program is truly, truly something special. 

Photos via Anna Trankina, Marketing & Communications, Shawnee State University

The post How Coaches DeLano Thomas and Lindal Yarbrough Built a Championship Program at Shawnee State appeared first on SLAM.

After 11 years of playing for the pros, Randy Livingston knows first-hand about the challenges that come with transitioning from suiting up as a player to becoming a coach.

The NOLA-native who went on to play for the LSU Tigers in college, shortly before being drafted 42nd overall has suited up for the Rockets, Hawks, Warriors, SuperSonics, Pelicans, Clippers, Jazz, and Chicago during his time in the League. The former high school top recruit even went on to play overseas in Turkey and had an impressive run in the NBA G-League (then known as the Developmental League) where he would reign as an MVP in 2007. 

Deemed a “local legend” in the boot state, Livingston, who was inducted into the Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame in 2016, has tapped into his roots, his ‘why’, and picked up a career in coaching.

After serving as the head coach for the Idaho Stampede, Livingston returned to his alma mater in 2016 as an assistant coach at Louisiana State University. Then, he went back to his old stomping grounds, Isidore Newman School in New Orleans, where he himself led the Greenies to three consecutive state titles back in the ’90s. Now serving as their head coach, he’s using his platform to help pave the way for his young hoopers, providing the same type of mentorship he received growing up.

“I had some really great mentors when I was young, it’s really the reason I’m coaching today,” Livingston says on ZOOM.

Growing up in the Calliope Housing Complex—the same projects that Master P grew up in, was tough. But it was when mentors like his former AAU coach Bill Robinson, stepped into his life that leads Livingston on a path of success and distinction.

“Coach Robinson was our mentor, father figure, surrogate father however you want to call it,” Livingston says, “He did it all. It didn’t surprise me that once my playing career was over with, that coaching was my avenue. That’s because I had great men to follow. “

In 2012, Livingston started a foundation overseas based on the principles of the gems that his mentors and coaches have blessed him with through the years. The LivOn Basketball Foundation included a wide range of basketball activities that included coaching camps, scouting, and recruitment service for Australian and New Zealand hoopers.

Although Livingston has coached nearly all levels of the game, he has still faced many trials when it comes to missing out on coaching opportunities—even when he’s felt as though he was overqualified for the position. It’s a challenge that many Black coaches are faced with during their coaching tenure.

“During my time where I couldn’t get a job, I would send resume after resume. I would get really really close, I’d be a hot, hot, hot candidate and then it goes cold and you don’t know why.” Livingston says, “At the end of the day, having those mentors and people that you can reach out to and just have a conversation, I think helps a lot.”

 “Where I’m at right now is where I’m supposed to be,” he added. “ Do I think I could be a head coach in college? Yes. Do I think I could be a head coach in the NBA? 100%. But this is where I’m supposed to be and where I’m most impactful right now, and I accept that.”

The BCA plans on extending a hand and giving out tools to coaches, such as Livingston, that are looking to make an impact in the field. That includes helping them connect with other mentors and coaches throughout the game who can both support and give them insight that will help develop them into more valuable and knowledgeable coaches who are ready to apply for whatever position their hearts desire. 

“The Black Coaches Association is not gonna be able to promise you things but we’re gonna give you every tool to make sure you succeed at that level,” co-founder Pooh Jeter says on the call, “and one of the tools is the networking and relationships.” 

With that, Livingston shares this optimistic piece of advice for his fellow Black coaches:

“For all the Black coaches out there, for any business, you’ve gotta make yourself so valuable that they want you,” he says. “Because other than that you’re replaceable, they can find anybody. So if you come with something of value, they’re going to hire you.”

Charlie Desadier is an editorial intern and social media intern for SLAM and WSLAM. She attends Ball State University. Follow her on Twitter @chardesss.

Photos via Getty Images.

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Straying away from the typical East-West format due to the Olympic year, fans have been anxiously awaiting the list of their favorite players that will get their chance to face off against Team USA.

That being said, the All-Star roster is loaded on both sides, featuring veterans and a few newbies as well.

First-time All-Stars include: six-year veteran Betnijah Laney (New York Liberty); second-year forward Satou Sabally (Dallas Wings); seven-year veteran Dearica Hamby (Las Vegas Aces); third-year guard Arike Ogunbowale (Dallas Wings); sixth-year wing Kahlea Copper (Chicago Sky); six-year veteran Courtney Williams (Atlanta Dream); and five-year pro Brionna Jones (Connecticut Sun).

Notable players returning to the All-Star Game include two-time MVP Candace Parker (Chicago Sky), four-time All-Star Liz Cambage (Las Vegas Aces); and three-time All-Star Jonquel Jones (Connecticut Sun).

Team WNBA and Team USA will face off in Las Vegas on July 14 at 7pm (ET) on ESPN.

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“Based on what we’ve already proven, we can field a team of talent on par with the pros of today, and we want the chance to do that,” the Globetrotters wrote, per CBS Sports. “As a world-renowned and legendary professional basketball team, we petition Commissioner Adam Silver, the NBA governors and the powers that be to grant The Original Harlem Globetrotters an NBA franchise. Not now, but right now!” 

The Globetrotters have entertained hundreds of thousands of fans since they were founded in 1926, dazzling crowds across the nation with their eccentric dunks and unconventional styles of play.

The “worldwide icons” even played a role in the integration of the league when former Globetrotter Nathaniel Clifton suited up for the New York Knicks, becoming the first Black player to sign an NBA contract in 1950. Other former players that followed suit include Connie Hawkins and Wilt Chamberlain.

“We continued to pack arenas and grow the game of basketball across the globe,” the Globetrotters wrote, per CBS. “When the NBA struggled to draw more than a few thousand fans, we agreed to schedule doubleheaders featuring the Globetrotters. As the NBA grew, you were able to attract the best Black players, but we remember who helped the NBA get it all started … don’t get it twisted; basketball would not be what it is today without us.”

As the NBA continues to grow as a business, the Globetrotters feel its time that they are honored and included considering the support they’ve given throughout the years.

“Congratulations on growing into a multi-billion-dollar industry with international endeavors and huge media deals,” the Globetrotters wrote added, per CBS Sports “… It’s time to right the wrongs and rewrite history. It’s time for the NBA to honor what the Globetrotters have done for OUR sport, both here in the U.S. and around the globe.”

The post Harlem Globetrotters Petition NBA to Become Next Franchise appeared first on SLAM.

The W typically skips the All-Star Game during the summer Olympics but made the decision to go forward after not having either in 2020.

While the All-Star Game will be returning to Las Vegas, this time with a surprising twist: fan voting will remain but in the new format, a team made up of players from the U.S Basketball Women’s National Team and another team of players who are not.

Rosters will be revealed June 30 and voting for fans began on June 15 at 2 PM (EST), concluding on June 27 at 11:59 PM (EST).

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‘Destiny’ is a word that is used so often, but do we truly grasp what it means? Destiny is believed to be the hidden power that controls what will happen in the future, linear to fate. Yet, the tricky thing about one’s destiny is that most times, it’s out of our control and comes with a series of events that we fail to see coming—but for some strange reason, we’re prepared for it. 

Following the abrupt, bittersweet announcement that the Seattle Storms’ former head coach, Dan Hughes, was retiring after 40 years of coaching, assistant coach Noelle Quinn had no idea that the torch would be passed down so soon—and that she would be the one to lead the Storm for the remainder of the 2021 season.

“Honestly, if you think about the journey for me, I just finished playing in 2018 and within that time, there was some discussion—coming back and coaching and eventually the destination being that, but you know we’re in 2021, just a few years later, and again that was something that I didn’t really imagine happening so fast,” Quinn says humbly on a zoom call. 

“Obviously it’s important to have goals, dreams, and aspirations but I didn’t go into anything like ‘one day I’m going to be the head coach.’ It was me going into my assignment and wanting to dive in and how can I be better, how can I be great in my role, and just learning in that manner and within that.” 

Congratulations to Noelle Quinn on being named the seventh head coach in Seattle Storm history! #TakeCover pic.twitter.com/DIFV0jjY9d

— Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) May 30, 2021

After six years in the W, Quinn suited up in yellow and green and joined forces with the Storm in 2013, solidifying a leadership role by building trust that would foreshadow an easy transition from teammate to coach in years to come. 

There have been many coaches who have turned from being a player to head honcho, but coaching your former team is another thing. For Quinn, who is currently the only former player in the WNBA to be actively coaching the same team she played for, this has been a strong advantage as she’s stepped into her new role. 

This LA native knows first hand what it was like to go through the fire with her former teammates.

“I like to joke about it, it’s like I’m coaching my homies,” Quinn says lightheartedly. “I think the biggest word that comes from that is trust. They trust me to get them to where they need to be. I trust they will give us what we would need every day—their attention, their focus, their passionate dedication and to have that respect level was garnered because I was their teammate.”

With that, stepping into a coaching position with strong leaders and legends, such as Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart and Jewell Loyd to name a few, can be a tough transition, but luckily for Quinn, she’s the type of leader that earned her respect just by being who she is and having a heart for those on her team throughout the years. 

“Being in a locker room with someone and going to war with someone, every single day you, you just create this really this intrinsic value for this care for one another and it’s something very special that can’t be duplicated or replicated, if you haven’t been through it,” Quinn says.

“They know where my heart is,  they know where my mind is and, in turn, I’m able to lead them because that trust is there and that history between us is there.”

If there was one word to describe Noelle, or ‘Noey’ as her team and loved ones refer to her as, it would be humble. Through all of her hard work and dedication to the Storm, it seems she was the only one who didn’t see this amazing opportunity coming her way. Those around her knew that this day would come.

Assistant coach Ryan Webb recalls sitting on the bench with Noey, back when she was still hoopin’, and seeing her coach others:

“We would sit on the sidelines and be talking the game. She was already coaching,” Webb says over Zoom. “She was already being a leader in the locker room, players were already gravitating to her like ‘yo, I need to get my mind right, I need to go talk to Noey.’”

 “That started real early on, and so I was seeing this growth. I think that speaks to our team and what our team will expect out of us and I’m just ready to lift her up and let her go on this journey and be there where I can support and make her feel, you know, take into consideration the position that she’s in, not just as coach, but as a Black woman in this League so I was really excited.”

In a League that made up of 80% persons of Color, Quinn stands in good company with three other Black coaches in the W: James Wade (Chicago Sky), Vickie Johnson (Dallas Wings), and Derek Fisher (LA Sparks). Over the years, there has not only been a lack of Black coaches but Black female coaches in the League as well. For Quinn to rise up and takeover a winning team is a huge win.

“Representation is key,” says Quinn, who is also on the Board of Directors for the Black Coaches Association. “I grew up watching the WNBA and the fact that I can look at a professional event and see someone who looks like me, that does something for me.” 

“To see a Black woman, young Black girls, we’ll just keep it specific—to see me in this leadership role there is a responsibility for me to carry that. And to have honor in that because I am going to one day pass the torch to somebody else. And so it’s important that they see that hey, you can do it and you can be awesome in it as well.”

“What moves me is my impact.”

In her first press conference as Head Coach, @Noey_Quinn spoke about becoming the first Black head coach in Storm history and the Black women who have coached in the WNBA that paved the way for her. #TakeCover pic.twitter.com/ZRk1NdMffe

— Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) June 1, 2021

According to Quinn, being a Black woman comes off as a “double negative” considering the racism and sexism from all facets of life that are presented to this group. She knows the pressures of being a Black woman in this industry all-too-well but has no problem combating it.

“There’s no room for failure, but I embrace it because I understand the value of holding a position like this as a black woman and is it fair? No. But life isn’t fair,” Quinn says. “If I were to dwell on that, then I wouldn’t be focusing on the impact that I can make, not only in my space but in our organization,  in our city,  [and] in our world—for someone to see someone like me sitting in this position and leading in the way that I do and I don’t take it lightly because I understand that it is hard, but at the end of the day, I’m making room for someone else who looks like me and making it a little bit easier and palatable for people to pick someone that looks like me in positions of power.”

Quinn understands that she has to be twice as good in the industry, but she’s used that to the betterment of her craft as she strives for excellence. As the Storm sit in the second spot in the Western Conference with a 8-2 record, Quinn’s main goal for Seattle is to continue to exceed the level they’ve always played at.

“We are so used to playing at a high level and clicking immediately,” Quinn says. “So now the challenge is getting everybody to that level and exceeding with the new pieces that we have in a short amount of time and finding chemistry.”

And as she continues to come up for air after the stadium standing ovations and hundreds of text messages of love from her supporters, those who know her best expecting nothing less from her. Even if doubt lingers, and she’s unsure of herself, she’s reminded that she was destined for this.

“People continue to see things within me that I don’t see within myself sometimes,” Quinn says. “With this situation, I was like, I don’t feel quite comfortable. I don’t feel quite prepared, but people are like, You are, and step into that! And so when I hear that and I receive that confidence then it’s like, Alright if you’re telling me I can do it, I trust y’all. Let’s roll, let’s get it done.”

—

To learn more about the past and present of the BCA, and to register as a member of the BCA, click here.

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

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 27, 2021

At one point in the 2nd quarter, Morant attempted to defy gravity single-handedly but was no match for Rudy Gobert’s timely block. Do you think that stopped the former ROY? Nah. It was clear that Ja was on his Grizzly.

“I’m not afraid,” Morant says, per ESPN. “I mean, that’s his job: to protect the rim. My job when I’m attacking the rim is to go finish. Obviously, he got a good block, but as you seen, I was right back inside the paint.”

LOOK AT THIS pic.twitter.com/c4TkVEDShz

— utahjazz (@utahjazz) May 27, 2021

According to Tim MacMahon of ESPN, Morant managed to drop double-digit points in every quarter of Game 2, bringing the Grizzlies back from a 20-point deficit in the third to a 2-point Jazz lead. Morant was 15-of-26 from the floor and 15-of 20 from the free-throw line.

His spectacular 47-point performance is the most in NBA playoff history by a player 21-years of age or younger, as well as a franchise record for the playoffs. The only other players to drop 40 in the postseason include previous LeBron James (45), Magic Johnson, Tracy McGrady, and Luka Doncic.

Morant has also placed himself on the list of greats who scored the most points in their first two career playoff games.

Ja is making history pic.twitter.com/y35OJH5BDF

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 27, 2021

“Honestly, it’s not that surprising,” Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell says, per ESPN. “He’s a gamer. He goes out there and competes…Tonight, he was aggressive from the jump. At a young age, for him to be able to have that is definitely special. That’s something that I respect about him and about his game. He doesn’t quit.”

Although Morant finished with 47 pts, 7 dimes, and 4 rebounds, he still wasn’t satisfied with how the night ended. The Grizzlies were outscored by the Jazz in a 141-129 Game 2 loss tying the match-up 1-1.

“We lost,” Morant says, per ESPN. “Obviously it wasn’t enough.”

The Game 3 faceoff will take place on Saturday, with the Grizzlies having a home advantage.

The post Ja Morant Makes Franchise History in 47-Point Game 2 Performance appeared first on SLAM.

The Orlando Magic are in that rebuilding phase. Despite ending the season with a 21-51 record, many believe that there are brighter days ahead for the promising young team. That includes their newly acquired guard RJ Hampton, who has shined bright since getting traded down South.

You know the name: RJ Hampton, whose journey to the pros was both unconventional, and monumental as a 5-star recruit. The Little Elm-native confidently passed upon his final three collegiate offers from Kansas, Memphis, and Texas Tech to take his highly sought-after skills overseas, as did Charlotte Hornet’s rookie LaMelo Ball. Hampton opted to play in New Zealand, suiting up for the Breakers in the National Basketball League. 

Looking back, Hampton says he feels like the NBL helped prepare him for the Association:

“The NBL definitely prepared me for the NBA” he says confidently as if the answer is quite obvious over ZOOM in April. “I think playing against grown men at such a young age helped me mature a lot faster I think than I would have if I went to college.”

After getting selected No. 24 overall by the Denver Nuggets, Hampton was traded to the Magic in March, where he’s since then impressed while earning significantly more playing time. Prior to the trade, Hampton only saw the floor for 9.3 minutes per game, but while suiting up for the Magic, he was given more opportunities to showcase just how explosive and impactful his game truly is while playing 25.2 mpg. 

He scored his first career double-double in a 119-112 win against the Detroit Pistons, dropping 16 points and a career-high 10 dimes, shooting 5-of-11 from the field. Hampton, who later admitted that he’s been feeling more “comfortable” on the floor, was showered by water and hugged by teammates.  

“I get a lot of playing time here with the Magic,” Hampton says, “so every game is a new game, a fresh start…It’s a new opportunity for me, a new place where I can showcase my skills. We have a lot of young guys on the team so I’m getting to mesh with them (and)  getting to grow with them, I think it’s gonna be fun for me.”

Hampton finished his rookie season scoring consistent double-digit numbers, including a career-high 19 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves. 

He averaged 16.0 points, 7.1 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game in the Month of May, leading all rookies in rebounding. 

That improvement hasn’t gone unnoticed, either. On Monday, Hampton was named NBA Rookie of the Month for games played in May, making him only the seventh Magic player to earn the honor and the first to win it since Elfrid Payton in 2015. 

As a player on the rise that has continued to prove himself and adapt to whatever has been thrown his way, Hampton has been able to compete, and learn from, players around the League this season, from Russell Westbrook and Zach LaVine to scoring-champ Steph Curry.

“It’s fun competing against those guys,” Hampton says, “[But] at the same time, you want to take their heads off anytime you do play them and get the edge on them but I can always grow and learn from playing against those guys and watching their film.” 

Hampton’s addition to the team will surely only continue to help elevate the Magic, and his speed and playmaking abilities have already been deemed a “breath of fresh air” for the franchise. As he continues to solidify his role on the team, it’s only up from here. 

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Per CNBC’s Jabari Young, the Phoenix Suns will make their first appearance in the NBA Playoffs for the first time since the 2009-10 season.

Back in those days, Steve Nash and Amar’e Stoudemire were a deadly pick-and-roll duo for the ‘7 Seconds or Less’ Suns in an offense as exciting as any had been seen to that point.

You just had to be there.

That being said, Phoenix is no stranger to having a hot-shot roster. Nowadays, a different high IQ point guard — Chris Paul — is leading the charge, with rising stars in Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton making an indelible impact for the franchise.

Booker has averaged 25.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists so far this season, while Paul has averaged 16.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game. Ayton, now in his third season, is averaging 14.8 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting a career-high .620 percent from the field.

Currently the second seed in the Western Conference, the Suns ended their 10-season playoff drought (the fifth-longest in NBA history) following a 109-101 victory over against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.

While this is CP3’s 11th postseason appearance, Booker will have his first career playoff experience in a stretch that will be invaluable to his evolution into superstar player.

The post Suns Set to Make First Playoff Appearance Since 2010 appeared first on SLAM.

Wade, who retired from the league in 2019, joins forces with Qualtrics founder Ryan Smith and his wife Ashley, who purchased a majority stake in the Jazz at the end of 2020. Accel partner and investor Ryan Sweeney, Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes, and the Miller family will all be part of Utah’s ownership group as well.

“As a businessman, entrepreneur, and investor, I bring a lot to this partnership outside of my basketball experience,” Wade said. “I’m excited to help take the Utah Jazz to the next level.”

Smith and the Jazz are obviously thrilled to add Wade to their ownership group, who Miami Heat governor Micky Arison admitted had turned down an offer to purchase an ownership stake in the Heat following his retirement.

“Dwyane is not only a basketball legend, he is also a great leader, businessman, and human being,” Smith says.

“As we continue to build on the incredible legacy of the Utah Jazz franchise, we are excited to add Dwyane’s experience and expertise to the equation. Utah is an amazing place and I couldn’t be more thrilled about the future of the franchise and the future of this state. Dwyane’s influence will be important to both.”

“Partnering with Ryan and the Utah Jazz is the perfect fit as we share the same vision and values,” Wade said. “Not only is this group focused on building a championship franchise, they are also committed to using their platform to do good and actively create a more inclusive, equitable world. We share a lot of the same goals and are trying to go the same places in life.”

The post NBA Legend Dwayne Wade Purchases Ownership Stake in Utah Jazz appeared first on SLAM.

His scoring frenzy has seen him 148 points in the last week; as hung up 45 points when matched up against fellow All-Star Zach LaVine and the Chicago Bulls on Mar. 3; 32 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Apr. 2; 36 points against the Houston Rockets on Apr. 5; and 35 points in a fight against superstar guard Donovan Mitchell and the Utah Jazz.

Averaging 26.3 points per game in this stretch, it was Booker’s second-best four-game stretch this season in terms of scoring average (he averaged 33.0 points per game from Feb. 22 to Feb. 28) but the first stretch this season that he’s scored at least 30 points in four consecutive contests.

For the season, Booker is averaging 26.1 points per game (currently 10th in the the NBA) while is shooting .495 percent from the field. Meanwhile, the Suns are 36-14, just 1.5 games back of the Western Conference’s top mark just a season removed from going 34-39 and missing the playoffs altogether.

They’ve won nine of their last 10 contests.

The post Devin Booker is on a Scoring Splurge for Surging Suns appeared first on SLAM.

VanVleet is set to miss the next regular season game while Bembry will miss tonight’s game against Chicago. Emerging Lakers talent Talen-Horton Tucker also faces suspension, while Montrezl Harrell was fined for their involvement in Tuesday night’s debacle.

The Raptors are now operating with a highly limited roster, as Kyle Lowry, Rodney Hood, Jalen Harris, Patrick McCaw and Paul Watson Jr. are all currently out due to COVID-19 protocols or injuries.

The post Fred VanVleet, DeAndre Bembry Face Suspension for Roles in Raptors-Lakers Scuffle appeared first on SLAM.

Beard adds that the hiring was made following an emergency meeting by its board of trustees.

Davis, now 50-years-old, had been on Williams’ staff since 2012 while serving in multiple capacities. A coach, recruiter and scout, he also served as head coach of the UNC junior varsity program and oversaw the program’s charitable endeavors, experience that was all likely a factored into the decision to promote him.

As is his career as a professional athlete, as Davis is a former first-round pick who spent 12 seasons in the NBA.

Athletic director Bubba Cunningham would speak on the hiring of Davis, the first Black head coach in the basketball program’s history, saying “he teaches student-athletes on and off the court… He inspires his fellow staff members. He is strongly committed to family.”

“He has a tenacious, burning desire to be the best he can possibly be; we witnessed that when he was a player, a broadcaster and an assistant coach — and I have no doubt he will ensure that our student-athletes and program will be the best they can be, as well.”

“I love this university,” Davis would say of his hiring. “I played here, I earned my degree here, I fell in love with my wife here, I got married here, I moved here after I retired from the NBA and I have raised my family here. I am proud to lead this team, and I can’t wait for all that comes next.”

The post UNC Tabs Hubert Davis to Succeed Roy Williams as Head Coach appeared first on SLAM.

It was just back in October that Thomas was eyeing a return to the NBA, even playing well in the FIBA AmeriCup earlier this year as he attempted to demonstrate that he’s still capable of playing at a high-level.

Having been off a roster since last February, IT’s sustained desire to play in the league after being hindered by a nagging hip injury has become akin to a NBA side story.

His rise to stardom was followed by what’s been a rocky path, and we’re all pulling for the King of the Fourth to have a strong finish to his career.

The post Isaiah Thomas Plans to Sign 10-Day Contract with Pelicans appeared first on SLAM.

In a 134-132 victory over the Pacers, the nine-time All-Star logged his 162nd triple-double, which was also his 16th triple-double with the Wizards in 38 career games with the franchise (per NBA.com’s News Services)

With his performance of Monday night, Westbrook now leads in franchise history with the most triple-doubles, eclipsing former guard Darrell Walker (who set the former record after playing 283 games with the Wizards).

Hired to be the Oklahoma City Thunder’s head coach the year that the Thunder drafted the UCLA standout with the fourth overall pick, Wizards head coach Scott Brooks is no stranger to Westbrook’s dominance and dedication to the game:

“He does things that I’ve never seen,” Wizards coach Scott Brooks said of Westbrook, whom he also previously coached in Oklahoma City. “He’s a winner, man. He fights. He’s not perfect, and a lot of times the geniuses want to look at the things that he doesn’t do well. But sometimes they forget about the other things that he does well.”

Westbrook’s eye-popping numbers on Monday included marks of 35 points, 14 rebounds and a career-high 21 assists, making him just the third player in NBA history to record at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and 20 assists in a game. Brodie joins elite company with his latest statistical anomaly, joining Hall of Fame point guards Oscar Robertson (32-15-20) and Magic Johnson (32-11-20) as the only players to accomplish the feat.

Although Westbrook has been a tremendous player throughout the course of his career and mastered the art of the triple-double, he still remains humble about his gift:

““I don’t deserve the credit, honestly,” Westbrook said of the feat. “I always give credit to the man above for blessing me with the ability to play, and along those lines, I have so many great coaches and teammates that make my job easy and help me out. Assists don’t happen. I can’t make the shots.”

The post Russell Westbrook Joins Magic Johnson, Oscar Roberston with Historic Triple-Double appeared first on SLAM.

By his senior season, he led the Eagles to a perfect 35-0 record and ended his high school career with a bang: he scored 47 points in his last high school game and his team went on to win a Geico National Championship. Oh yeah, and then he won all of the major National Player of the Year accolades, a feat that had only been accomplished by LeBron James. 

As if his high school accolades weren’t enough, the guy who was once nicknamed ‘Maple Mamba’ went on to lead Canada to a win in the FIBA World Cup. Then he found himself suitin’ up in blue and white with ‘Duke’ written across his chest, joining a stacked squad that included Zion Williamson, Cam Reddish and Tre Jones. All of them, RJ included, would go on to play in the League.  

Transitioning into the NBA brings on a lot of heat. Some players fade into being labeled as a “has been” while others either live up to expectations or beat the odds. Coming in as the third pick in the draft, expectations from NY fans and basketball critics around the world were high for the former top prospect—especially considering that many fans had hopes of Barrett becoming the second coming for the Knicks.

His rookie season was tough for both himself and the team, but he still showed glimmers of potential and high-upside. As shown in NBA Rooks, now streaming on ESPN, RJ had a spectacular debut for the Knicks but acknowledged that the tempo of the game and the competitiveness is different in the League compared to college. The Knicks started the season 4-18 before acquiring head coach Tom Thibodeau with hopes of reviving a franchise that seemed to have lost not only it’s footing but the spark that it once had.

The move eventually paid off for the Knicks, and RJ, who averaged 14.3 points, 5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists showed glimmers of potential and high-upside, including multiple 20-point games. Still, he didn’t make the All-Rookie First or Second Team and finished eighth in Rookie of the Year voting.

While criticism followed about his shooting, and whether he was the prospect everyone expected, sometimes you just need to trust the process before developing into a star.

And, a star on the Knicks he is blossoming into. RJ has improved in nearly every scoring category, averaging 17.3 points, 3.0 assists and shooting 45.3 percent from the field. He’s also had four back-to-back 20+ point games and recently scored a career-high 32 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder, proving that he has the ability to run the offense. RJ’s offensive contributions have helped propel the Knicks toward success, and the team is potentially in a position to make the playoffs. If successful, this would be their first playoff appearance since 2013. 

Unfortunately, we live in a time where if a 20-year-old enters the League and has a rough couple of seasons, judgment comes quickly. But basketball is a game of momentum, and sometimes it just takes time to get the ball rollin’. It took a minute, but RJ’s hoopin’ just like everyone knew he could. 

—

Stream NBA Rooks exclusively on ESPN+

Follow the journeys of Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, RJ Barrett and more as they begin their pro careers on NBA Rooks, exclusively on ESPN+.

The post Follow RJ Barrett’s Journey on NBA Rooks, Streaming Now on ESPN+ appeared first on SLAM.

Thomas is a young, bright talent that began his career playing in the Spanish ACB league before becoming a free agent and finding a spot on the Raptors roster after the 2019 season. He is averaging 2.7 points this season while shooting 38.7 percent from the field and 41.5 percent from three.

The post Raptors to Trade Matt Thomas to the Jazz appeared first on SLAM.

After being drafted with the first overall pick in the 1958 NBA Draft, Baylor’s sensational athleticism and dynamism made him a must-watch performer in an era where there were often only live spectators. As a result, and due to Baylor’s career being short by injury, Baylor has become one of the most underrated superstars despite being considered a trailblazer for the sport.

Baylor played 14 years for the Lakers franchise during his entire career, being named to 11 All-Star Games, 10 All-NBA teams and led the Lakers to eight NBA Finals appearances. The 1959 Rookie of the Year (and 1959 All-Star Game MVP), “Rabbit” received a ring for the Lakers’ championship in 1972 although he retired nine games of the season.

During his historic career, he managed to average 27.4 points, 13.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.

Having spent 22 years with the Los Angeles Clippers franchise as the vice president of basketball operations, the Clippers family and Jerry West (Baylor’s former teammate) both released statements after his loss:

“He was one of the most gifted and special players this game will ever see and he has never gotten his just due for what he accomplished on the court… he cared for me like a father would a son,” West would write.

“I loved him like a brother.”

The post NBA Icon, Lakers Legend Elgin Baylor Passes Away at 86 appeared first on SLAM.

14 seconds.

Grizzlies De’Anthony Melton sets the screen. Ja Morant tosses the rock up to 7-footer Jonas Valančiūnas who waits patiently for Morant to get open—which takes no time. In a matter of seconds, it’s as if the basketball IQ gods whispered into Morant’s ear as he breaks away with keen precision around Melton.

12 seconds.

Morant defies the iso—then gravity shortly after, taking flight to the rim and sinking the ball single handedly over OKC’s big man, who doesn’t appear to have made a convincing attempt to stop Morant. Tough.

Now ask yourself, is Ja really like that?

The kid who was once deemed underrated with only one college offer came into the league taking names and leading the 2019-20 rookie class in scoring (17.6 ppg) and dimes (7.3) all while shooting 47.7 percent from the field in a matter of 59 games. No other rookie in this century has reached these numbers besides LeBron James and Luka Doncic. Rookie of The Year? Well deserved.

We could go on a tangent listing every single reason why Ja is insane on the hardwood but that would be redundant. Although if we did, it would only be right to discuss his eye-popping athleticism, or how he’s a superb leader in this new era of hoops, or maybe how crafty he is…

On second thought, a little redundancy never hurt nobody.

Anyone that has seen Ja Morant play can’t deny that he’s nearly defined “poetry in motion” since he was a rookie in the League last season. Check out NBA Rooks, now streaming on ESPN+, and you’ll notice that Ja has made a bold impression since he stepped foot on the court. He immediately displayed how versatile his game is, from clean and controlled left-handed layups to unleashing the grizzly inside of him as he soared to the rim.

Call it superstition, but  Ja’s career has gotta be a symbol of karma. The good kind of course. The humility that the 6-foot-3 guard has exemplified throughout his career has turned around 10 fold in his game. Morant played the role of underdog playing on an AAU team with Zion Williamson. He went from being the kid with mad talent only lacking in the clout that Williamson had at the time, to almost averaging a triple-double in high school. Morant broke through the shield of being anunderrated asset to nearly doubling his points per game in his last collegiate season at Murray State (24.5).

The second pick in the 2019 NBA Draft was just on a different type of time when he got to the League.

Ja was different from the jump, wrote SLAM’s Lang Whitaker in Ja’s SLAM 227 cover story. For the Grizzlies’ first official public outing with him, the team held an open practice at a local high school. When Ja was announced to the crowd, he stopped and broke into a perfect Milly Rock. Then the games started, and immediately we saw it all: Ja can score, push the tempo and make perfect reads on breaks and in the halfcourt. But what makes him so much fun are all the moves he sprinkles in throughout every game. They are pure jazz, equal parts improvisation and imagination.

Improvisation and imagination. It’s that energy that has truly set Ja apart from the rest, stats and numbers aside. Even as a high-flying rookie, Ja was in his bag all season long while having fun wit’ it, dunking on anybody and everybody (teammates included). The celebrations, the antics, the goggles-brought-up-to-his face every time he dished out a dime to one of his teammates. His pops encouraged him to have fun every time he hit the floor, and it’s a testament to what his game evolved into.

While he has said that a young fan had inspired him to start doing his “joggles” celebration, he’s also admitted that when he competes, he’s serving a bigger purpose:

“I feel like God has a plan for everybody,” Ja said last season. “You can’t put a time on it. It’s his timing. I feel like everything that’s been happening to me and the positions that I’ve been put in is because of my hard work and what God blessed me with, the talents He blessed me with, and just him. So, I’m thankful for everything and I’m just going to keep pushing.”

Objects in motion stay in motion. With his sights set on pure domination, there’s no slowing down Ja Morant. His numbers are even better this season, and the Grizzlies are ranked tenth in the League right now. As Ja continues to ascend to new heights, the question that remains is: who’s gonna stop him?

—

 Stream NBA Rooks exclusively on ESPN+.

Follow the journeys of Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, RJ Barrett and more as they begin their pro careers on NBA Rooks, exclusively on ESPN+.

The post It’s Only Up From Here: Follow Ja Morant’s Journey On ESPN+ appeared first on SLAM.

However, Timberwolves rookie Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns have been bright spots for the downtrodden franchise, with the duo making history on Thursday night against the Phoenix Suns.

In the comeback victory, Edwards dropped a career-high 42 points on 15-31 shooting from the field for Minnesota with Towns not far behind, scoring 41 points on 15-24 shooting.

The performance was just the second time in Timberwolves history in which two players scored at least 40 points in the same game, with Towns and Andrew Wiggins also accomplishing the feat in April 2017.

For Edwards in particular, the night was special as he became the third-youngest player in NBA history (19 years, 225 days) to have a 40-point performance, behind All-NBA forward LeBron James (19 years, 88 days) and Kevin Durant (19 years, 200 days). Subsequently, Edwards is also the youngest player to score 40 point in Timberwolves history.

Following his sensational outing, the first overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft gave perhaps the quote of the year, saying “I put in the work. I work in the dark, it should come to the light.”

The post Anthony Edwards Becomes Third-Youngest in NBA History to Score 40+ Points appeared first on SLAM.

While there are a few teams on the trading chopping block, most are willing to make upgrades within specific positions even if that means cutting ties with veterans — the Orlando Magic has entered the chat.

With only guard Markelle Fultz and forward Jonathon Isaac deemed “untouchable” by Orlando, veterans Aaron Gordon, Evan Fournier and All-Star Nikola Vucevic are on the Magic’s trade block (per Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix).

The 22-year-old Fultz has experienced a career resurgence in Orlando, averaging 12.2 points and 5.2 assists per game in two seasons with the Magic while starting in 68 of 80 contests.

Isaac, who will miss the 2020-21 season with a torn ACL, averaged 11.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 1.6 steals in the 2019-20 season.

13-26, Orlando is likely ready to fully re-tool, as each of Gordon, Fournier and Vucevic were acquired by the Magic before they hired Jeff Weltman to be their president of basketball operations in 2017.

Mannix adds that Magic head coach Steve Clifford has a particular fondness for Boston Celtics guard Kemba Walker.

Walker, who has averaged 18.0 points and 4.5 assists per game this season, would make a nice addition to Orlando.

This trade shouldn’t be ruled out, as the Celtics have a host of draft picks in their arsenal, along with a $28.5 million trade exception. In addition, Walker continues to struggle with his efficiency in Beantown, shooting just .388 from the floor this season.

Boston has long been reported to have their sights set on Sacramento Kings forward Harrison Barnes as well, although the Kings haven’t shown a willingness to move the veteran leader.

The post Markelle Fultz, Jonathan Isaac Are Magic’s Only ‘Untouchable’ Players appeared first on SLAM.

The Heat’s ‘Big Three’ Era feels like it happened an eternity ago now, thanks to the rapid rise and fall of the Golden State Warriors dynasty. However, with former NBA forward-center Chris Bosh recently named as one of the 14 finalists for the Basketball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2021, Miami’s most infamous era has re-entered the spotlight.

On Wednesday, 17-year veteran Udonis Haslem discussed Bosh’s potential induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, saying that “we all felt, probably, Chris Bosh was the most important piece of our puzzle” (per the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Ira Winderman):

Bosh, an 11-time All-Star, may not have held the sway or prominence of teammates Wade and James. With that said, the versatility of his skillset and his athleticism at 6’11” allowed Miami build a disruptive defense and dangerous offense that utilized small-ball principles like switching and floor spacing.

As a result, Bosh was certainly key to the Heat winning two championships in four consecutive Finals appearances, stats aside.

Even when looking at the numbers Bosh put up during the Heat’s ‘Big Three” Era though, it’s difficult not to come away impressed. The Dallas native averaged 17.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.0 block per game while shooting .509 percent from the field and .315 from 3-point range from the 2010-11 season to 2013-14.

The post Udonis Haslem: Chris Bosh the ‘Most Important Piece’ of Heat Big Three appeared first on SLAM.

Per ESPN’s David Purdum, Caesars Sportsbook has Embiid as the consensus favorite to win MVP for the 2020-21 regular season at +200. James, not far behind by any stretch of the imagination, is at +225.

Trailing behind Embiid and James are Nikola Jokic (+350), Luka Doncic (+1300), Stephen Curry (+1400), Giannis Antetokounmpo (+1600).

With the Sixers currently holding the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference standing at 24-12, Embiid has averaged 30.2 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.2 steals in 33.0 minutes per game. The four-time All-Star is also shooting a career-high .416 percent from 3-point range and leads the league in free-throw conversions (298).

Advanced stats also paint a positive picture of Embiid’s season.

According to Basketball Reference, The Process is averaging .283 win shares per 48 minutes (ranked second in the NBA) and recording a box plus/minus of 8.5 (also ranked second in the NBA).

The post Joel Embiid Overtakes LeBron James as Odds-On Favorite to Win NBA MVP Award appeared first on SLAM.

Nonetheless, an NBA first could happen in just a couple of years, as Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James says that it’s “definitely one of [his] goals” to play with his son LeBron James Jr. in the future.

Nicknamed “Bronny,” James’ eldest son is currently a 16-year-old high school sophomore and a top-25 recruit for the Class of 2023 in ESPN’s Top 100.

A 6’3″ point guard for the standout Sierra Canyon High School in the Greater Los Angeles Area, Bronny recently underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus that he sustained at practice. However, that hasn’t affected his future prognosis nor his offer from the John Calipari-led Kentucky Wildcats, a NCAA powerhouse that’s produced multiple All-Star player.

James, who has expressed interest in playing with Bronny in the past, is under contract with the Lakers through the 2022-23 season.

Considering that he’s still playing at a MVP level at 36-years-old (in fact, he just played in his 17th All-Star Game on Sunday) and hasn’t lost his passion for the sport, the possibility of him playing against (or on the same team with) Bronny doesn’t sound far–fetched at all.

Far from it, in fact.

The post LeBron James: ‘It’s Definitely One of My Goals’ to Play with Son Bronny in NBA appeared first on SLAM.

Ever since LaMelo Ball stepped foot into the league, there has been a never-ending Twitter debate about whether or not it’s permissible to call him “Melo”—considering that the nickname already belongs to 10-time All-Star, walking bucket, and NBA vet Carmelo Anthony. When Ball started mimicking Anthony’s three-to-the-dome three-point celebration gesture, everyone had something to say about it.

However, Anthony has given his stamp of approval to the Charlotte Hornets rookie to not only mimic his iconic celebration, but he also said that it’s an “honor” to share his name with Ball:

“There’s nothing nobody can do, nobody can say, I think LaMelo is going to be somebody in this game for a long time,” Anthony said, according to Yahoo Sports. “So, the name Melo you might as well continue getting used to that or stay with it. I don’t get into that though. For me, it’s a respect thing. It’s an honor for him to have that name, for him to embrace it, for him to do the celebration. It’s an honor, it’s a blessing, it’s a respect thing for me, so I embrace him.”

Ball continues to impress as a rookie and finished with 30 points and 8 assists in the Hornets 111-123 loss to the Trailblazers on Monday. Anthony finished with 29 points, two assists, and two rebounds.

After the game, the two swapped jerseys—solidifying that one generation has embraced the next.

Melo Melo

Respect.#RipCity #StayMe7o pic.twitter.com/cfeqUuj09h

— NBC Sports Northwest (@NBCSNorthwest) March 2, 2021

The post Carmelo Anthony Gives LaMelo Ball His Blessing appeared first on SLAM.

According to data mined by StatMuse, while Green is averaging 8.3 assists per game, he’s been horrid as a scorer with 5.3 points per game on .358 percent shooting from the field and .226 percent from 3-point range.

Subsquently, Green is on track to become the first player in NBA history to record at least 8.0 assists per game while scoring under 6.0 points per game and shooting under .400 percent from the field. Green has averaged 8.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game over the course of his nine-year career, shooting .433 percent from the field.

Green, whose rise to NBA stardom was a byproduct of the unique role he played for the Warriors at the zenith of their dynasty, has long been considered to be one of the league’s true unicorns. A gifted playmaker and a versatile defender whose ‘tweener’ skillset helped transform the league into the positionless one there is today, it would be fair to say that he’s the ultimate glue player.

If former NBA forward Boris Diaw played with the type of edge and intensity that Green does, perhaps we would be looking at Golden State’s Dancing Bear as the second coming of the Frenchman.

That being said, Green has a great chance to be the originator of a particular type of archetype.

In fact, it’s quite impressive that while not being a formidable scoring threat that he’s such an irreplaceable player; it only goes to show just how dominant Green is in the other areas of his game.

The post Draymond Green Remains an Anomaly as the NBA’s Statistical Unicorn appeared first on SLAM.

“There is a portion of Raptors personnel, league sources said, that believes the franchise should bid its beloved All-Star farewell and begin Toronto’s next chapter in earnest.” Per Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer.

The six-time All-star has been one of the most important components keeping the Raptors team together while also winning a championship alongside former teammate, Kawhi Leonard, back in 2019.

According to Sam Quinn of CBS Sports, the Raptors have formed a team consisting of younger players with Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet who are both 26, and OG Anunoby who is 23. The team could be looking to take advantage of their fresh talent by building around them.

It was only a year ago that Lowry agreed to a one-year extension with the Raptors. The guard could potentially have a few options, only if cap space does not pose as an issue considering most teams are maxed out.

Whether or not Lowry will be placed in the market remains unclear considering there haven’t been any serious notions regarding the guard and a possible trade.

The post Raptors Front Office in Talks of a Possible Kyle Lowry Trade appeared first on SLAM.

“We’ve gotta have some pride, man, some dog,” Beal said, per CBS Sports. “We’ve got no dog. We just kind of let teams just walk all over us and that s— is frustrating.

“It’s tough because we’re all adults. I can’t do it for guys. I can only do it for myself. All we can do is encourage the next man to be ready to go and accept the challenge. I can’t do that for someone else. I can’t do your guys’ job and you can’t do my job. You know what I’m saying?”

Beal has attempted to pull his weight on the Wizards roster this season leading the league in scoring with 33.2 points and dropping a game-high 31 points in Sunday’s contest, but it seems as if there is a missing piece to the puzzle considering the Wizards are ranked second-to-last in the Eastern Conference.

Although things have not been looking up for the Wizards the past few seasons – and despite the recent John Wall trade – Beal has made it clear that he does not plan on being traded anytime soon.

The post Bradley Beal: ‘We’ve Gotta Have Some Pride’ appeared first on SLAM.

Russell, 87, used his platform to urge people to take part in getting vaccinated:

Just got my #COVIDVaccination “This is one shot I won’t block” I know it is difficult to get an appointment! My wife put in the time for weeks and finally got us in. No side effects to report. @NBA @BostonGlobe @celtics #COVIDー19 #CovidVaccine @espn #NBA @BleacherReport https://t.co/yX7rWeYiPd

— TheBillRussell (@RealBillRussell) February 4, 2021

While Yahoo Sports’ Vincent Goodwill reports that no active player in the NBA has gotten the vaccine, veterans such as Russell and Abdul-Jabbar have been taking the initiative to spread the word by doing PSA’s.

“Because of the COVID-19 virus, we’ve had to find new ways to be together, we’ve had to find new ways to communicate, we had to find new ways to play and we have to find new ways to keep each other safe,” Abdul-Jabbar said, per Yahoo!Sports. “For myself and my family, I am going to take the COVID-19 vaccine. To learn more about the vaccines, go to CDC.gov. Let’s do this together.”

The post Bill Russell Among The Few NBA Legends Who Have Received The COVID-19 Vaccination appeared first on SLAM.

Last month Jabbar and Arnold Schwarzenegger, both 73, were filmed while receiving the vaccination on separate occasions in hopes of encouraging the public, especially those fearful, to consider taking the vaccine.

“I’d bet that those few seconds of film from both of us will do more to persuade certain people to get vaccinated than months of experts, charts, statistics and studies.” Abdul-Jabbar said. “It shouldn’t be that way, but it is. Which is one reason the National Basketball Association is focused on getting its players vaccinated as soon as possible. It’s also why I agree some of them should be.

Abdul-Jabbar believes that following COVID-19 safety protocols such as wearing a mask, washing hands, and maintaining social distancing are important but the real change is dependent on mass inoculation:

“But certain pockets of the population are skeptical of the vaccines, and unless we pass a federal vaccination mandate (which would present its own problems), we will have to do everything we can to convince them that the vaccines are safe and that getting vaccinated as soon as possible is in the best interest of themselves, their loved ones and the country.” Jabbar said.

According to Abdul-Jabbar, studies have shown that among groups of individuals reluctant to get vaccinated, African Americans and adults under the age of 35 stood at the top of this list. Due to corrupt social and health experiments dispersed by the federal government throughout history, the skepticism is valid.

But for Abdul-Jabbar, this is where the help and leadership of NBA players steps in:

N.B.A. players, 81.1 percent of whom are Black, appeal to the under-35 and African-American demographics. LeBron James, whom Forbes called “America’s most popular athlete,” has 72.6 million Instagram followers, and Steph Curry has 30.4 million (compared with Tom Brady’s 8.2 million), so when they and other influential N.B.A. athletes publicly get their shots, they will contribute to convincing Black and under-35 skeptics that the vaccines are safe and necessary. Other role models might be necessary to reach other populations that are reluctant to get vaccinated, like those in rural areas of the country.

[Read the entire Op-Ed here]

The post Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Calls for Vaccination of NBA Players appeared first on SLAM.

“I can’t wait until he gets that,” Nelson said, per USA TODAY Sports. “That will be a great day for me.”

With five championships under his belt, Popovich has had a pretty epic 25-year run with the Spurs, cementing him as a future hall of fame coach. He is the only NBA coach and one of eight coaches in the US’ four major sports to coach a franchise for that length of time, per USA TODAY Sports.

Accolades and making history are no stranger to Popovich, who had a 22-year playoff streak that ended during the 2019-20 season. He’s tallied up the most regular-season and playoff wins out of all of the coaches in NBA history (1,458).

During Nelson’s coaching tenure, he had 1,335 wins—which means that Popovich would need only 48 more wins to break his record. However, Nelson says that he doesn’t think Popovich gives any thought to things like numbers and making history:

“He’ll get that after this year and one more probably,” Nelson said. “I hope he sticks around to get that record. I want him to have it.”

“I don’t think he really does,” Nelson added. “But he’s going to get it anyway. So it doesn’t matter what he thinks.”

Fans can only hope that Popovich will stick around the league long enough to break yet another record, as he’s done with ease thus far.

The post Don Nelson Is Eager For Gregg Popovich To Break His Coaching Record appeared first on SLAM.

Durr, 23, tested positive on June 8. 2020, and her experience was nothing short of life-changing. She opened up to “Real Sports” correspondent Mary Carillo, stating that her life has “completely changed” since she was diagnosed, per Yahoo! Sports.

Durr expressed having severe lung pain comparing it to being stabbed. She has since lost 32 pounds and has had to change her daily habits:

Louisville legend Asia Durr is still in a major fight with Covid after being diagnosed in June. She’s lost 32 lbs and hasn’t played basketball in 6 months. She’s unsure if she’ll ever play again. Very sad. : @wncaudill pic.twitter.com/AVdtuklovB

— Nick Coffey (@TheCardConnect) January 27, 2021

“There’s days where I feel great where I can go out and go to the store or I can clean up,” Durr said. “And then there’s days where I’m like, I just have to stay in the bed. You just feel like you get hit by a bus.”

This was a major turnaround for the former Louisville player who ranked second in career points (2,485) and was drafted 2nd overall in the 2019 WNBA Draft by the New York Liberty.

Durr then opted out of the 2020 WNBA season, having been listed as a “medical high-risk player” and questions if she will ever be able to play basketball again.

“I haven’t been able to [pick up a ball],” Durr said. “It’s really challenging for me. But I’ve talked to doctors and they’ve told me I’m not cleared yet. I’m not cleared to be able to do anything physically, which could cause flare-ups [is] what they call it. And that’s what’s really hard for me because in life whenever something was hard I would go and play. I can’t even do that now. I can’t even shoot a free throw.”

Although this has been a rough time for the Ann Meyer Drysdale Award winner, she tweeted a thank you to those who have supported her, and stressed the importance of taking COVID-19 seriously:

She’s also optimistic about her future in the WNBA and is doing what she can to get back on her feet.

The post Liberty’s Asia Durr Opens Up About Fight With COVID-19 appeared first on SLAM.

It’s been almost a year since fans have had the chance to see the two-time All-Star on the hardwood being that he’s been a free agent since February 2020.

Thomas took to Twitter announcing the exciting news:

Thomas received medical attention and surgery after a battle with a lingering hip injury that came about during his final season with the Celtics in 2016-17.

According to Michael Kaskey-Blomain, near the end of Thomas’ NBA run, he found himself being traded from team-to-team having tenures with the Cavaliers, Lakers, Nuggets and the Wizards where he averaged 12.2 points and 23.1 minutes. The Wizards traded him to the Clippers who in turn waived him.

This new opportunity with Team USA may be I.T’s gateway to showcase his talent and wake NBA teams up as he has been eyeing to make a return to the league since last year.

The post Isaiah Thomas Set to Play For Team USA in AmeriCup Qualifier appeared first on SLAM.

During the third quarter, Embiied was pushed by James and ended up on the floor. He landed on his back:

“First of all, I mean, you look at it, that’s a very dangerous play,” Embiid said. “I guarantee you that if it was me, I would have probably been ejected from the game, which has happened in the past with me getting flagrant fouls really for nothing.”

According to Tim Bontemps of ESPN, James was only given a flagrant 1 foul and was allowed to finish the game. A minute later, Embiid picked up a flagrant 1 for an elbow at Anthony Davis which caused even more frustration for him. He doesn’t feel as though the foul was a necessary call:

“When you compare that to the one that I got, which I thought I didn’t really hit him, I didn’t elbow him,” Embiid said, per ESPN. “I might have touched him, but I don’t think it deserved the flagrant if you’re gonna compare those two.

“Those are tough plays, and I just thought, you know, it should’ve been a flagrant 2.”

Although Embiid was able to finish the game, he felt as though his back limited his ability to compete. He had missed Monday’s game against the Pistons due to back-tightness.

“It’s on me,” Embiid said. “I missed a couple shots. I just didn’t have the legs. Not because I was tired, which I wasn’t, but my back just didn’t allow me to dominate the way I’ve been doing in fourth quarters. I missed a couple shots, we made a couple mistakes on defense, they made a few 3s, and just like that they were up one.”

Despite last night’s mishaps, Embiied finished with a solid stat line consisting of 28 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocked shots.

The post Joel Embiid: Lebron Should’ve Been Ejected For Foul appeared first on SLAM.

Brown shot 13-of-20 from the field in just 19 minutes, setting a record for the most points scored in under 20 minutes in an NBA game since the shot clock was instituted in 1954.

This season, Brown is averaging career highs: 27.3 ppg, 5.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and shooting 53.2 percent.

Brown’s breakout performance even earned him a shoutout on Twitter from 86 year old Celtics legend, Bill Russell. The 11-time NBA champ tweeted, “Great playing tonight @FCHWPO keep it going.”

Great playing tonight @FCHWPO keep it going. @NBA @celtics

— TheBillRussell (@RealBillRussell) January 25, 2021

With this being Brown’s fourth straight game scoring at least 25 points, it will be interesting to see if he can keep his flame lit in their next game against the Chicago Bulls on Monday at 9 p.m.

The post Jaylen Brown Makes NBA History For Most Points Scored In Under 20 Minutes appeared first on SLAM.

Just months ago, footage of a homeless West circulated the web showing the 37-year-old homeless at an intersection in Dallas, Texas. Shortly after, Cuban picked him up at a gas station and admitted him into the Rebound therapy center in Florida.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Cuban has remained in close contact with West and helped reunite him with his mother.

In November, a video surfaced showcasing the former guard’s reunion with the hardwood.

West was the 24th pick in the 2004 NBA Draft and spent eight years in the league playing for the Boston Celtics, Seattle SuperSonics, Cleveland Cavaliers and played his final season for the Mavericks.

During his tenure, West played in 432 games averaging 9.7 points, 3.6 dimes, and 2.9 rebounds.

The post Delonte West Is Working At Rehab Facility He Attended appeared first on SLAM.

Harden reportedly wants out of Houston, and his lists includes the 76ers and, notably, the Brooklyn Nets so that he could join forces with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

It was only a few weeks ago that Rockets coach Stephen Silas said he was giving Harden “space” after he expressed interest in being traded, but Silas also mentioned that he’s “confident that [Harden will] be all-in” when the season starts.

However, Harden is continuing to push a trade, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne recently reported, specifically due to the “arrival of John Wall”:

“The arrival of John Wall has left All-NBA guard James Harden unmoved and uninterested in pursuing a new partnership and the franchise star continues to push the Houston Rockets for a trade,” Woj tweeted.

To make things even more interesting, Jackson reports that the Heat’s rising star, Tyler Herro, is not “untouchable” and could be “made available” in the deal:

“The source disputed any suggestion that Heat guard Tyler Herro would be untouchable in such a deal,” Jackson wrote. “Though the Heat loves Herro, the source advised against any conclusion that he wouldn’t be made available in a Harden deal if serious talks eventually happen. He would be in play.”

Herro averaged 13.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists his rookie season.

The post Miami Heat Takes Interest In James Harden, Tyler Herro Not ‘Untouchable’ appeared first on SLAM.

After Irving and the Nets were fined $25,000 by the league for failing to speak with the media during media week, Irving took to Instagram to express his views on the media and getting fined. He stated that he does “not talk to pawns” and his “attention is worth more.”

It’s a bold statement, one that former Cleveland Cavaliers teammate Kevin Love disagrees with:

“Calling anybody a pawn is a sure sign of disrespect,” Love said, per Spencer Davies of Basketball news. “I’m not a divisive person.”

Love and Irving spent a few years together on the Cavs, where they won a a championship with former teammate LeBron James back in 2016.

Although Love has respect and understanding for Irving, he was very clear that he had opposing views in regards to handling the media:

“I understand where Kyrie is coming from in trying to better a number of people’s lives, but I’m just not a divisive person, so that’s where I stand on that,” Love said. “I love Kyrie. I know he’s changed, (don’t know) what’s going on, but again I’m just not a divisive person. I believe everybody has a part to play, so long as the intent’s there and it comes from a good place.”

The post Kevin Love On Kyrie Irving Calling Media ‘Pawns’: ‘A Sure Sign of Disrespect’ appeared first on SLAM.

Although some feel like Wiggins has been disappointing since his arrival in the NBA, he has not let the naysayers affect his confidence and hopes for his future with the Dubs:

“Everyone has something to say. Everyone has their own opinions and stuff. You only can control what you do, how you do things. That’s my thought process,” Wiggins said, per CBS Sports. “I’m coming into the season, I want to do what I have to do to help the team win, and I think I can do it.”

According to Colin Ward-Henninger of CBS Sports, “inefficient scorer” is one of the many negative connotations that have been attached to Wiggins; name—although he averaged 19.4 points last season and 22.4 the year before with the Timberwolves.

Wiggins will be expected to be a leader in scoring while the other half of the Splash Brothers is out for the season after suffering a torn Achilles tendon.

Warriors GM Bob Myers had hopes of Wiggins playing a pivotal role next to Steph Curry and Thompson, but with the change-up in the team’s dynamic, he now has different expectations for him:

“We’ll see what Andrew can do. He’ll probably get more opportunity offensively than he would have, and that’s not something we wanted — probably not something he wanted,” Myers said of Wiggins’ revised role. “He’d love to share the ball with a Klay Thompson, give Andrew space. But he still hasn’t played with Steph or Klay or Draymond much for that matter — a little bit. So we’ll see. We’ll see what he does.”

The post Andrew Wiggins Could Be A Crucial Component To The Warriors appeared first on SLAM.

According to Michael Marot of NBA.com, Warren has plantar fasciitis in his right foot and will be listed as “week to week.”

While a few missed preseason games are to be expected, the Pacers are “hopeful” that Warren will make a comeback by the time they face off against the Knicks in the season opener.

Warren averaged a career-high 19.8 points and shot 53.6% from the field last season. He was on fire in the bubble averaging 31.0 points six games and even dropped 53 points against the 76ers:

“He’s just a sneaky scorer and we’ve got to take advantage of that,” president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard said, per the NBA.com. “And we’ve got to play him at the four. Last time, I checked when he played the four, he was nearly unstoppable. So I imagine he’ll play at the four some this year, too.”

The Pacers are also dealing with backup guard Brian Bowen II, who will miss six to eight weeks after suffering a partial groin tear.

The post TJ Warren Battling Foot Injury Before Season Opener appeared first on SLAM.

It was only a few years ago that Rose’s agent said that he didn’t want to mentor younger Knicks players, stating, “you’re a mentor when you no longer can play.”

According to Eric Woodyard of The Undefeated, Rose has now humbly accepted this role and acknowledges that there is a “new generation” of point-guards in the league:

“You’ve got to adapt. That’s why I always throw Kobe [Bryant] in it,” Rose said, per The Undefeated. “He always adapted. He looked at what the game and what the kids were doing. Like, ‘Oh, y’all are Euroing now? All right, let me gone ahead and add that Euro to my game.’ He didn’t change his game totally, but he took the little pieces that they added to the game and that’s how he was able to withstand all them years.

“I’m trying to do the same thing. I watch the shorties, I watch their workouts. I watch all that just to see what’s new.”

Rose has even been welcoming in young players such as Killian Hayes and Isaiah Stewart, and dropping gems about the game:

“I’m a rookie. I’m new to this league. He’s been around, he know how things go, so I’m always asking questions about it,” Hayes said. “Like at the end of practice, we still talk about the game and everything, so it’s definitely great having a guy like D-Rose helping me.”

“It’s been great,” Pistons rookie Isaiah Stewart. “Just another guy who I’ve been talking a lot to. Picking his brain as well, asking him questions. … He has a lot of knowledge.”

The youngest to ever be named MVP in the league, Rose has endured a host of injuries that would cause his career to take unexpected turns. Still, he’s managed to persevere.

According to Woodyard, Rose felt like his happiness was “restored” last season after averaging 18.1 points per game and shooting a career-best 49%.

“It’s nothing wrong with chasing your dream, and I’m not trying to hate or nothing like that, but for myself, I had to figure out who I was and my path was hard, my path was pain, but everybody’s is different and I was able to get through that,” Rose says.

They say leaders emerge during the toughest of moments, and in the words of Tupac Shakur:

The rose that grew from concrete...By keeping its dreams, it learned to breathe fresh air.

The post Derrick Rose Is Accepting His Role as a Veteran Player appeared first on SLAM.

According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, the Rockets’ newly acquired point guard participated in his first practice with the team, and said it was a “surreal” feeling.

While he remains appreciative of the Wizards’ organization and wishes them all the best next season, Wall has newfound hopes for his future with the Rockets:

“I was a skinny kid, 19 years old with no facial hair and didn’t know where I was going in life,” Wall said per ESPN. “They watched me grow up and be this grown man that has two beautiful boys and has a family at home. That’s all I can say. I love them. My heart is always going to be there. The way I touched the fans, the way I touched that community, that still exists today and that will still exist until the day I’m off this Earth.”

“I wish that whole team, the organization the best of luck this year, but my main focus is with my new team, the Rockets, and what I’m trying to accomplish: come back and be an All-Star player and be that player that everybody feels like I don’t have no more.”

With the season quickly approaching, Wall’s debut with the Rockets will be his first NBA appearance since 2018. A five-time All-Star, he averaged 19 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 9.2 assists throughout his career, but suffered from a ruptured Achilles.

Wall says he’s determined to get back on the hardwood and show fans that he is still the same John Wall:

“I’m going to be John Wall no matter what when I get on that court, but at the same time, me being out and me just looking at how much longer I want to play and certain things I want to improve on, I’m able to do certain things that I wasn’t able to do before when I was injured and playing through certain things,” said Wall per ESPN.

“That’s why I feel like my game is going to evolve because I’m finally healthy and don’t have those little nagging injuries that I was dealing with over the last six or seven years. People will finally get to see at some point what I was playing through and what I was going through.

“To be doing what I was doing on one leg basically lets me know how special I am.”

The post John Wall Ready To Perform At All-Star Level With the Rockets appeared first on SLAM.

Less than a month ago it was reported that both Harden and Russell Westbrook wanted out of Houston—and earlier this week, the team traded Westbrook to the Wizards for John Wall in an unexpected blockbuster deal.

According to Tim MacMahon of ESPN, Harden has reportedly informed the Rockets’ organization that he wants to join the Brooklyn Nets and get a “fresh start” on a team with Kyrie Irving and former teammate Kevin Durant.

With everything going on, Silas has decided to give the Rockets’ 2017-18 MVP some space:

“When stuff like this kind of happens where there’s a little indecision and stuff going on, I kind of take a step back and allow guys some space,” Silas said per ESPN.

“From my perspective, my communication has been, ‘I’m giving you space,’ and that’s kind of where it’s been as far as my communication with him. Guys like that need that. They need to figure it out, and they don’t need someone banging on them all the time to kind of figure out where they’re at and whatnot.”

Silas also says that he is not looking to “change things drastically” with his offensive lineup following the Westbrook and Wall trade, and he is hopeful that Harden will be ready for showtime once training camp begins:

“We’re going to try to change things to make it a little bit more diverse, but he’s going to have the ball quite a bit,” Silas says, adding:

“I’m confident that he’ll be all-in. That’s where I’m leaving it. As I said, I’m giving him his space to do his thing, but I’m confident that he’ll be here when we get started.”

The post Rockets Coach Stephen Silas Giving Harden ‘Space’ Amid Preseason Transactions appeared first on SLAM.

Weatherspoon is no stranger to the hoops world in the region. She suited up for Louisiana Tech from 1984-88, where she lead the Bulldogs to the NCAA championship during her senior season.

As one of the OG members of the WNBA, she suited up for the New York Liberty in 1997, where she led them to the first-ever WNBA Finals and was named Defensive Player of the Year (another league first). She spent seven seasons with the Liberty before making her way to the L.A Sparks for her final season before retiring.

Weatherspoon was then inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010. She is a two-time Defensive Player of the year, a five-time All-Star and four-time second-team selection. She is ranked No.12 all-time in assists (1338).

She wasn’t finished yet, though. The Hall of Famer coached at her alma mater, Louisiana Tech, and helped lead them to the NCAA tourney twice. They won the WAC tournament in 2010.

After her development stint with the Pels, Weatherspoon becomes the eighth woman to become a full-time assistant coach in the NBA. She joins Brittini Donaldson (Toronto), Lindsay Gottlieb (Cleveland), Jenny Boucek (Dallas), Becky Hammon (San Antonio) and Sonia Raman (Memphis).

After elevating Weatherspoon and bringing new additions to the staff that include Bob Meyer, Casey Hill, Rex Walters, and former NBA players Corey Brewer and Ben Udrih, it will be interesting to see how these coaches will help contribute and revitalize a team that fell to No. 12 in the Western Conference in 2019-20.

The post Teresa Weatherspoon Hired as Assistant Coach With Pelicans appeared first on SLAM.

White and other hoopers from his neighborhood were aware of the imperfections of Alexander Park, but that did not stop them from coming to the court for friendly, competitive hoop sessions.

“When on the court, it’s just a different feeling,” White says. “You get away from all of the troubles that you may have faced in life, and it’s something that’s just therapeutic.”

White can recall being on the court, feeling the togetherness with members of his community—no matter what they looked like or what background they came from.

After attaining his Ph.D. from Texas Southern this year, White thought long and hard on what he could do to give back to his community. For White, an important part of becoming successful is showing love to your hometown.

After a call with local pastor Doug Alexander—whose family happens to be Alexander Park’s namesake—White was able to get in contact with Hernando’s Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) and share his dream of renovating the park’s basketball court.

“I wanted to help the kids growing up with all of this craziness that’s going on in the world right now,” White said. “And this is something that I felt could really bring the community together, get our minds off of what’s really going on, and just really bond over the game of basketball.”

After his call with the BOCC, it was game time. White hosted a basketball tournament where he was able to raise funding for the renovations. He also presented his ideas to the Citrus County Hospital Board, who became one of many donors for the park’s renovations.

Alexander Park opened its beautiful, refurbished court to its community on October 17. The court will be a place where neighborhood kids can congregate to share their love for the game of basketball and simply have fun.

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Charlie Desadier is an intern at SLAM. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

Photos courtesy of Dr. Devonte White

The post Bigger Than Basketball: Newly Renovated Court Lifts Spirits Amid Pandemic appeared first on SLAM.

Many athletes have unapologetically rejected the notion of “sticking to sports” and have been using their platforms to not only speak out on the litany of issues that came attached to the hip of the new decade, but to also inform the world around them.

Blazers guard CJ McCollum is one of many players who has been actively utilizing his platform.

After undergoing surgery to repair a vertebral fracture, McCollum decided to hone in on his journalistic passion by starting his very own show, “ReMaking America.”

The first episode features Sixers forward Tobias Harris and Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell. The three are rivals on the court, but they teamed up together to have a sit down with California senator and vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris.

The first episode of “ReMaking America” discusses a slew of topics ranging from voting, police brutality, education reform, and the importance of investment in underserved communities.

The post CJ McCollum Interviews Kamala Harris on ‘ReMaking America’ appeared first on SLAM.

The new documentary film, TO THE LINE, focuses on the growth of the game in New Zealand. Created by first-time filmmakers Jack Chapman and Antony Young, TO THE LINE documents the journey of the Rongotai College basketball team as they embark on a run in the 2018 Nationals.

The film focuses on Rongotai guard, Finn McClure, who not only shoots the lights out but is also a leader on and off of the court. Viewers get an inside look at McClure’s challenging journey as he aims to earn a scholarship at a DI college in America.

Chapman says the story was continuously changing throughout the filming.

“We wanted to explore the process of the youth wanting to pursue basketball in New Zealand,” Chapman said. “The character of the kids playing basketball here is a different mentality.”

The film highlights Steven Adams‘ influence in his native New Zealand, giving the young Kiwi basketball players hope that they could make it to the States to get the chance to follow in his footsteps.

“He’s a starter on a good-quality team that is marketed extremely well,” former Tall Blacks coach Kenny McFadden expressed in the film. “With his success itself, the next Kiwi kids are saying, Why not me?”

Chapman says Adams epitomizes the approachable Kiwi spirit and occasionally returns to coach Kiwi kids and show them genuine support.

TO THE LINE showcases these young athletes with vivid dreams and impeccable drive as they work hard to get an opportunity to live out their hoop dreams.

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Charlie Desadier is an intern at SLAM. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

The post ‘TO THE LINE’ Documentary Film Explores Basketball’s Rise in New Zealand appeared first on SLAM.

It hasn’t even been a week since Game 6 of the NBA Finals and James is already plotting and strategizing how to be better for the next season. What better way to do that than to study your hero?

After succeeding in winning his fourth title, James posted several videos on his Instagram story on Wednesday night. These stories featured him in bed watching April’s compelling, galvanizing Michael Jordan documentary, The Last Dance.

James captioned the story saying, “doing my homework.”

James and Jordan are often pitted against one another especially when it comes to the age-old G.O.A.T debate. But it’s clear that James knows he has big shoes to fill and that studying the six- time Finals champ could be the gateway to the rings to come in the near future.

The post LeBron James Studies The Last Dance as Homework appeared first on SLAM.

At the end of a successful 2016-17 with the Boston Celtics in which he averaged 28.9 points per game and finished fifth in MVP voting, Thomas began to experience problems with his hip during the playoffs.

“There’s no more pain,” Thomas told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. “I’ve got my full range of motion. For three years, I was trying to play the best players in the world on one leg.“

Thomas would go on to miss the Eastern Conference Finals that year with the C’s and was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a package for Kyrie Irving that summer.

Since the Cavs trade, Thomas has found himself circulating through NBA squads searching for a home, including the Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Washington Wizards and Los Angeles Clippers.

“In some ways, the time off because of COVID was a blessing in disguise for my career,” Thomas told ESPN. “It allowed me to take the time to get this procedure done, and get back physically to a level I need to be to compete in the league.“

Now 31 years old, the unrestricted free agent figures to be a candidate to fill a supporting role as an offensive force out of a team’s backcourt. We saw a hint of that on display with the shorthanded Wizards this season when he averaged 12.2 points in just over 23 minutes.

Exactly what comes next for IT remains to be seen but with hard work post-surgery, he’s been able to get healthy and back on the court. That’s a win for the entire hoops community.

The post Isaiah Thomas Eyes Return in 2020-21 appeared first on SLAM.

On Monday, Mavs owner Mark Cuban was filmed picking up West at a Dallas gas station.

“I can confirm that I found him and helped him,” Cuban told the Washington Post. “The rest is up to Delonte and his family to tell.”

West, now 37 years old, played eight memorable seasons in the NBA, the latest as a member of Cuban’s Mavericks back in 2011-12.

Per the Washington Post, Cuban sought to reach out to West, has since taken him to a hotel and offered to pay for his treatment at a drug rehabilitation facility.

West’s struggle has been well documented over the years and he’s spoken previously about his mental health, as have several other current NBA players who’ve dealt with their own issues like Kevin Love and DeMar DeRozan.

The NBA, as a league, has stressed the importance of mental health of late, knowing the pressures that the league can provide. Before the start of this season, the league introduced new rules that require all 30 teams to have a least one mental health professional on staff.

We extend love and light to Delonte West and his loved ones during this time and are hopeful that he will receive the help that he needs.

The post Mark Cuban Aids Delonte West After Viral Photo Emerges appeared first on SLAM.

Only one of the officers involved in the March 13 shooting of 26-year-old Breonna Taylor would face charges and be indicted for shooting into neighboring apartments.

Erik Spoelstra, head coach of the Heat, knows first hand the impact the decision has had on his players.

“These are unprecedented times and there’s incredible disappointment and frustration in our locker room,” Spoelstra told Sekou Smith of NBA.com before Game 4, “as well there should.”

Since the restart of the NBA season, players made it their mission to bring more attention to the heart-wrenching, demoralizing events that were continuously affecting black people.

Whether it was making statements on jerseys or writing “Justice for Breonna” on sneakers and speaking about it with the media, NBA players across all 22 teams have made an effort to not stick to sports and to use their platforms to call attention to police brutality and the social injustices that the Black community has endured.

Back in August, teams didn’t play games following the shooting of Jacob Blake by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

“I think we’re being heard, but obviously the goals that we’re trying to achieve we’re very far away from after seeing today’s verdict,” Lakers guard Danny Green told NBA.com. “It’s a disappointment. We feel like we’ve taken a step back, that we haven’t made the progress we were seeking. Our voices aren’t being heard loud enough.”

The post Frustration Looms in Bubble Following Breonna Taylor Verdict appeared first on SLAM.

Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma told reporters on Wednesday that his team didn’t take any satisfaction in the Clippers getting eliminated.

“We’re not focused on the Clippers and we never really were,” Kuzma said. “It’s all about who’s in front of you. When you focus on other teams instead of taking care of your food, I mean shit happens like that.

“So for us, we’ve always focused on us, and then focused on Portland, focused on Houston and controlled what we can control as a team. Now our focus is on Denver.”

It seems as though the Lakers as a collective have been studying and staying focused on what matters most to them: the team.

Tonight, the Lakers and the Denver Nuggets will face off in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.

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Charlie Desadier is an intern at SLAM. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

The post Kyle Kuzma: Lakers Were ‘Never Focused’ on the Clippers appeared first on SLAM.

Gordon just dropped the debut single off his upcoming rap album (above). The track, “LVL UP,” features Moe (an artist signed to Epic Records) and is meant to inspire others to improve in every aspect, becoming the best they can be and leveling up their own lives in the face of adversity. Gordon’s work ethic and perseverance to reach the NBA shine a light to motivate people.

While a release date for the full album (“All Good”) has not yet been revealed, you can expect to hear more motivating lyrics that will make you want to grind harder.

Gordon used his time in quarantine to sharpen and really pursue his musical aspirations. Back in April, he put out his first song, “Pull Up,” which also featured Moe. Around the time of that initial release, Gordon said there was a lot more to come and hinted at a project for September.

It appears that he put his heart into the music and is keeping his word. Tune in.

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Charlie Desadier is an intern at SLAM. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

The post Aaron Gordon Releases New Single ‘LVL UP’ appeared first on SLAM.

“Elisabet Gianna Gasol, a very meaningful name for our super beautiful daughter!!” Gasol shared on social media.

Gasol and Kobe won back-to-back championships with the Lakers in 2009 and 2010. Playing together from 2008-2014, it was inevitable that the pair became very close friends. So close, that Kobe named Gasol the godfather of his children.

Earlier this year, Kobe and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, along with seven other passengers tragically passed away in a helicopter crash on January 26.

Gasol and his wife have remained close by Vanessa and her daughters’ side following Kobe’s death. The couple chose Vanessa to be their daughter’s godmother.

In a post on her private instagram, Vanessa wrote: “My goddaughter is here!!!! Congratulations @paugasol @catmcdonnell7 Love you 3 so much! So touched by your request to honor my Gigi Can’t wait to hold Elisabet Gianna Gasol.”

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Charlie Desadier is an intern at SLAM. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

The post Pau Gasol, Wife Honor Kobe Bryant’s Family With Newborn Daughter’s Name appeared first on SLAM.

The six-time All-Star has stepped up to the plate throughout the competitive series. In game 6 on Wednesday, he dropped a game-high 33 points. He also ended the night with 8 assists, 6 rebounds, 2 steals and a block to lead Toronto to a 125-122 double overtime victory.

Lowry’s effort and fearlessness on the court has helped tie the series 3-3. His all-around play has too often been overlooked, as Celtics head coach Brad Stevens stressed afterwards.

“He’s an All-Star, but he might be the most underrated player in the league,” Stevens said, via USA Today. “I just feel like he’s a terrific defender, he’s a terrific leader, a terrific effort player. Offensively, he puts you in a bind by getting fouled, making tough shots, and obviously, he does every little thing that helps teams win. Somehow he’s been underappreciated. The more people watch him in these settings, the more people appreciate him. He’s an amazing player, and certainly a big engine to them.”

“He’s a great one. He’s fun to watch. He’s the ultimate competitor,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse added, per USA Today. “He stepped step into it. He’s not afraid of the moment. Made some big ones for sure. Played great.”

Game 7 is set for Friday at 9:00 pm ET. The winner will meet Miami in the Eastern Conference Finals.

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Charlie Desadier is an intern at SLAM. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

Photo via Getty.

The post Brad Stevens: Kyle Lowry ‘Might Be the Most Underrated Player’ in NBA appeared first on SLAM.