However, the Warriors will likely look to play with more intensity and focus on meeting their goal of making the NBA Finals again and defending their 2022 championship. That much is clear to four-time champion Klay Thompson (29 points), who noticed that Golden State “relaxed a bit more than we should have,”

“I think with Steph and [Andrew Wiggins] back, we probably relaxed a bit more than we should have,” Gy Thompson said, per ESPN. “We thought with them showing up; we’d just get the dub.”

Meanwhile, Curry and Wiggins are looking to regain their rhythm and swag. Chef Curry dropped 24 points on 8-22 shooting from the floor and 5-15 from beyond the arc. Wiggins contributed 10 points on 5-16 shooting and was noticeably looking to find that aggression and rhythm he had before he suffered his abductor strain and illness that took him out for over a month.

Curry said that he wasn’t thinking about his shoulder while he played and that he didn’t think his conditioning took much of a hit due to the 11 games he missed after suffering a shoulder issue on Dec. 14. He also believed that playing under a minute restriction made finding his rhythm back a little more complicated.

He noted that there was a level of pressure to play at a high level of play within a certain amount of time on the court. He tried to balance regaining his form while trying to play within the flow of the game and said that his first game back was “hit or miss” as he tried to knock the rust off and play within the speed of the game.

“It’s hit or miss with how much rust you will have and how close you can get to the speed of the game,” Curry said. “The first quarter, it felt good just to be out there, running with our guys. I felt like I got stronger as the game went on. In the fourth, the intensity of the game picked up. We were playing very desperately, trying to come back and make some plays. I felt like myself again.”

The Warriors were encouraged by their play in the fourth quarter when they outscored the Suns 34-27 as they climbed back into the game as Curry scored 14 points in the final frame. The two-time MVP hit three consecutive triples to give the Warriors some momentum, then Jordan Poole (27 points) hit a layup, the Dubs got a stop, and Poole hit a three-pointer to pull Golden State to within six after trailing by 27.

“I’m hoping that fourth quarter was the team that I have come to know and love and recognize,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “But we have to show in the first quarter, not in the fourth quarter.”

At the halfway point of the season, Kerr and the Warriors hope they can consistently play as they did in the fourth quarter. They have another 41 games left in the season to see if that’s who they are or if this Jekyll and Hyde type of season is who they are.

“We’ve been talking about it for a long time,” Curry said. “Eventually, you have to do it, or else time runs out. We have 41 games to figure it out — or else we won’t.”

The post Stephen Curry on His Return to Play and Regaining His Rhythm appeared first on SLAM.

The Warriors have said they wanted Wiggins to be a full participant in practice before he can play again, and that stipulation has finally been met. Head coach Steve Kerr announced Wiggins participated in all practice activity on Thursday and that “there’s a chance he could play tomorrow,” according to ESPN’s Kendra Andrews.

Andrew Wiggins practiced in full today, Kerr said.

“There’s a chance he could play tomorrow.”

— Kendra Andrews (@kendra__andrews) January 6, 2023

Wiggins’ return comes on the heels of Kerr announcing Stephen Curry could come back from his shoulder injury as soon as Jan. 13 when the Warriors start their next road trip against the San Antonio Spurs next week.

The Warriors (20-19) are coming off a last-second loss to the Pistons. They look to return to their winning ways on Saturday when they take on the Orlando Magic. They’re two games back of grabbing fourth place in the Western Conference playoff standings.

The post Steve Kerr: ‘There’s a Chance’ Andrew Wiggins Could Return and Play on Saturday appeared first on SLAM.

They’re also 1-5 on their latest trip, highlighted by back-to-back blowout losses to the Knicks (132-94) and Nets (143-113).

“You are what your record says you are,” Kerr said, per ESPN. “It was a bad road trip. We are 15-18, so we’re a below-.500 team, and we’ve got to find a way to reverse that.”

Steve Kerr: “Bad road trip. We are 15-18. We’re a below .500 team. Gotta figure out a way to reverse that.” pic.twitter.com/FdgK0TZH7O

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) December 22, 2022

The Warriors gave up a 29-point lead in the first quarter, the second-worst deficit in franchise history, and they scored 17 points, the second-fewest in an opening frame this season. The Dubs also allowed the Nets to score a Brooklyn-record 91 points in the first half, becoming the third time in League history to score 91 points through the first half.

The 40-point lead Brooklyn held over Golden State was also a franchise record. The point differential is also the largest halftime deficit by a defending champion in the history of the NBA.

“That first half, it was kind of a shock,” Draymond Green told ESPN.

One way the Warriors can address their struggles is by cutting down on turnovers. They turned the ball over 13 times in the first and finished the night with 21, with Brooklyn scoring 36 points off those miscues. Another would be picking up the energy and allowing it to help them play more organized fashion on both ends of the floor.

Those changes will likely have to come from Jordan Poole (13 points on 4-17 shooting, 1-11 from beyond the arc, and seven turnovers) and James Wiseman (30 points on 12-14 shooting in 27 minutes). That means Wiseman will likely have to continue to play at a consistently high level as he did on Wednesday. The Warriors can deal with Poole figuring out how to adjust to playing as a scouting report focus, but they likely need him to refind the magic he possessed last season.

“The simpler [he] plays, the easier shots [he] gets. It sounds like a bit of a paradox, but it’s been an issue here for us the past few games,” Kerr said. “The last couple of nights [he was] just trying way too hard.”

For now, the Warriors are stuck in a weird place while they figure out their win-and-develop-now ethos. For Green, that means Golden State must keep their cool over this stretch without Curry in the lineup. As well as Donte DiVincenzo and JaMychal Green, and maintaining Klay Thompson for the long haul.

“You have to have that understanding because you don’t want to overreact,” Green told ESPN. “In saying that, the most important thing is always playing right; as long as you’re not making effort-related mistakes, you live with the results — we just have to understand where we are.”

The post Steve Kerr On the Golden State Warriors’ ‘Bad Road Trip’ appeared first on SLAM.

Stephen Curry delivered another brilliant Finals performance, this time against the Boston Celtics, with his typical distance shooting and desire to get his teammates involved in the flow of the offense. Although Curry had solidified his legacy, it couldn’t have been done without the contribution of Andrew Wiggins.

In that series against the Celtics, Wiggins made his case for Finals MVP by shutting down the opposing superstar in Jayson Tatum and being the team’s second-best scorer at 18.3 points a game. He even led the team in rebounding with an 8.8 average and blocks with 1.5, ahead of Draymond Green and Kevon Looney.

The 2014 first overall pick had himself a series that cemented his name into NBA history, but in their title defense season, a rematch with the Celtics at Chase Center will feature Wiggins on the bench due to a right adductor strain, according to head coach Steve Kerr.

It's a bird.
It's a plane.
It's Andrew Wiggins! pic.twitter.com/DCpMYWfLBT

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) November 28, 2022

Wiggins had missed the last two games resulting in losses for the Warriors, but before his absence, in a win against the Houston Rockets, the forward dropped 36 points in the 34 minutes played. He went 14-19 from the field while shooting 80 percent from three (8-10), showcasing his improvement as an offensive threat once more.

Klay Thompson, the usual Robin to Curry as Batman, has struggled to get to form this season, averaging 18.9 points on the lowest field goal percentage shooting of his career at 39.6 percent. However, Thompson has found his rhythm lately, scoring 20+ points in five of his last seven games. With Wiggins sitting out this primetime matchup, Thompson will have to carry just a little more weight to make up for that missing production.

In Tatum and Jaylen Brown‘s revenge tour, the duo is currently averaging over 25 points each and have led the Celtics’ best record in the NBA at 21-5. The Finals rematch is shaping up to be completely different than last season after the Celtics added another scoring talent in Malcolm Brogdon, and interim coach Joe Mazzulla has created a League-leading 119.9 offensive rating.

The Warriors will have to find some defensive answers to figure out against the Celtics, but Kerr is “hopeful” that two of his four-time champions will be able to suit up, in Green and Curry. Dub Nation will undoubtedly miss what Wiggins can bring to the table, being one of the best two-way players in the game, but there should be no doubt in an NBA fan’s mind that the dynamic Warriors can find a way to steal a victory.

The post Andrew Wiggins to Miss Finals Rematch Between Warriors and Celtics appeared first on SLAM.

Wiggins’ improvement comes after he joined a Warriors team that allowed him to take a lesser role as a valuable third scorer and premium defender tasked with defending any opponent’s top perimeter threat. It’s the kind of role that’s allowed him to prevent anybody from saying he didn’t live up to his potential as Maple Jordan.

The rapid development caused Coach Steve Kerr to rave about how “confident” he looks this season and how he’s used his role on the ’22 title team to “springboard” into possibly having a better year than he did last year. During the Finals, Wiggs averaged 18.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game while primarily being a thorn in Jayson Tatum’s side. He also played tough defense against Luka Doncic and Ja Morant while being a go-to scorer late in the shot clock.

“I think (Andrew) Wiggins — this is I’ve ever seen Wiggs,” Kerr said. “He’s an All-Star last year; he helped us win a championship. I think he’s used that momentum that he gained a year ago to kinda springboard into this season, and I don’t think he’s ever looked more confident.”

"This is the best I've ever seen Wiggs." pic.twitter.com/XopHFZCytm

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) October 24, 2022

As of Tuesday, Maple Jordan is averaging 22.3 points, a career-high 6.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game on 52.0 percent shooting from the field and 38.1 percent from downtown. It’s a small sample (three games), but it’s the type of production that justifies Golden State’s commitment to its future while prioritizing its veteran championship experience.

“Not only in his own game but with what we’re doing, the way we play. You saw the extra pass last night that he made to (Stephen Curry) for the three. He’s making those simple plays, but then he’s attacking when he needs to attack and playing just really efficient basketball, playing great defense. So a lot of good stuff, but we have to put it together as a team, and that’s gonna take some time.”

Draymond Andrew pic.twitter.com/GDNRYHOHSR

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) October 24, 2022

The post Steve Kerr Believes ‘This Is the Best I’ve Ever Seen’ Andrew Wiggins Play appeared first on SLAM.

Right off the bat, Coach Steve Kerr has decided to put four-time champions Klay Thompson and Draymond Green on minute restrictions to start the campaign for conditioning. In the team’s season opener versus the Los Angeles Lakers, Thompson played only 20 minutes, while Green finished at 25.

Kerr told reporters that the two veterans’ that he thinks their minute restrictions will be lifted slowly to their normal regular season minute level in a “couple of weeks.” 

Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins will be expected to step up during the process. In fact, they did exactly that on Tuesday. Poole dropped 12 points and seven assists in 28 minutes, while Wiggins scored 20 points in 29 minutes.

The Warriors will take on the Nuggets on Friday for their second game of the season. Perhaps Thompson and Green will see a slight increase in their playing time then.

The post Steve Kerr Expects to Lift Klay Thompson and Draymond Green’s Minute Restriction Soon appeared first on SLAM.

Andrew Wiggins’ deal includes a player option, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/V51QrQ7tkr

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 15, 2022

When Wiggins came to Golden State, he had a complicated resume as a “empty-calorie” scorer that hadn’t lived up to the massive contract he signed to be the leader in Minnesota. There was also questions about his intensity and whether or not he would live up to the moniker of Maple Jordan.

Since then, Wiggins has evolved into a first-time All-Star, two-way star, and third-scoring option who helped Golden State win their fourth title since starting their dynasty run in 2015. Maple Jordan took a paycut to stay in Golden State, going form making $33 million this year and will earn up to $24 million in 2023. Wiggins is set to make $15 million less than the max he could’ve made if he tested the open market next summer.

What makes this extension even sweeter is the fact that it cames just hours after teammate Jordan Poole signed his contract extension over the weekend. Golden State being able to lock down two of their young stars bodes well for a franchise that is looking to make the most out of their “foundational six” still being on the roster while aiming to develop the stars that they hope will carry the Warriors into the future.

“You never know what the future holds. I’m happy here,” Wiggins said. “We have a chance to do something special. I believe in the guys, the organization. So we have a deal done and I’m happy about it.”

Heading into the 2022-23 season, Wiggins will be asked to reprise his role as the ideal wing next to Stephen Curry. Namely being a primary defender against opposing teams’ best offensive players that attacks the boards at a high clip while filling in as the third option capable of being a strong shotmaker when the shot clock is winding down. In fact, it was

That’s the role he mastered on the way to his first title, and that’s the role he can be expected to refill while the Warriors look to successful defend their title.

“What I see with Wiggs is just a comfort level with his daily routine and our style,” Coach Steve Kerr said. “The way we play is very different from the way he played his first years. So he looks relaxed and ahead of the game compared to the first years where ehe had to figure out how we played, he’s comfortable in it because he’s got a couple of years of work within the style.”

When asked about that he wants to bring over from the playoff run of his life, Wiggins said that his main priority is continuing to rebiund the ball and play defense at a high level. Wiggins believes that he “took a step with the playoffs” that’s capable of continuing to play at that level. Heading into his second full year with the Warriors, Wiggins will look to prove Kerr’s thoughts about him correct.

“There are a handful of guys like Steph or LeBron (James), Giannis (Antetokounmpo) who are going to be great no matter where they are,” Kerr said. “But most of the league, you have to find a good spot. And Wiggs found a good spot.”

Photos via Getty Images.

The post Andrew Wiggins: Warriors ‘Have a Chance to Do Something Special’ After Signing Extension appeared first on SLAM.

This means that unvaccinated NBA players can play in Toronto without fear of missing games, suspension, or fines. This news comes after about a year of drama surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine and players in the NBA and across the sports world.

As it stands, Canada’s government requires each person entering the country to have their first and second COVID shot or the one shot of Johnson and Johnson at least two weeks before entering.

This new proposed move from Canada comes on the heels of the NBA releasing a League memo to teams this past month. In the memo, the League informed teams that players still needed to have either received a primary course of a COVID vaccine or must receive medical clearance to get one.

With that being said, the Candian Government still needs Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to sign off and finalize this act. This past 2021-2022 NBA season was not short on players who used their platform to speak out against the COVID-19 vaccine. The most notable NBA players who spoke out were Kyrie Irving and Matisse Thybulle, who could not play or even travel to Toronto last season.

Andrew Wiggins, who was opposed to getting the vaccine at first but then got it revealed that he regretted getting the vaccine at all. While we wait to see what the Prime Minister decides, we are on the verge of another enormous shake-up to hit the League.

The post Report: Canada Set to Remove Its Vaccine Requirements appeared first on SLAM.

The Warriors decided to go all in on maximizing their championship window by keeping their “foundational six” around and choosing to develop Poole, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, and James Wiseman by throwing them in the fire after deciding to let Porter Jr., Payton, and Juan Toscano-Anderson walk away to the Raptor, Trail Blazers, and Lakers respectively.

Column on my pre-camp conversation with Warriors president Bob Myers…https://t.co/A4eNHKKBeD

— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) September 16, 2022

The Warriors have yet to come to terms with a deal with Green, Poole, and Wiggins this summer. Wiggins can become an unrestricted free agent next summer, Poole can become a restricted free agent next July if he doesn’t sign a rookie extension by Oct. 17 per rookie extension rules, and Green can become a free agent if he decides to opt out of the current deal he’s currently on.

When Bob Myers was asked about keeping Wiggins and Poole, Myers included Green in his question, making it clear that he wanted to keep “all three as long as we can have them.”

“I think with both those guys and Draymond, the goal, we want all three as long as we can have them,” Myers said, per The Athletic. “We’ve had conversations with all three players, their representatives. I’m not going to get into the likelihood or not of any of them getting done. But we know how important they are — I don’t know that we win a championship last year if you take any of them away. Draymond, his pedigree here, he’ll go down as one of the best Warriors ever to put on a uniform.

“So we know the value of all those guys. Too early for me to say what will happen or won’t happen. But the goal is to keep those guys, all three of them, as long as we can. But again, there’s financial components.”

Being able to sign Green, Poole, and Wiggins will be a costly endeavor for the Warriors. Golden State currently has a $380 million payroll; unless the Warriors make cuts, Poole’s extension will take them over $400 million during the 2023-24 season. A scenario that Warriors owner Joe Lacob doesn’t see as “remotely possible.”

If there are any cuts to make, fans would think that Draymond Green fits that role as someone who doesn’t produce monster numbers. However, Stephen Curry wants to play the remainder of his career with Green, who is a part of that “foundational six,” he’s consistently healthy and has embodied the Warriors’ non-positional greatness and defensive prowess since 2015.

According to Myers, the Warriors see Green as “not a guy we look at and say he’s not going to be around,” but he did leave the door open about Golden State possibly having to make a difficult decision in not re-signing Green whether or not he opts-out of his player option.

“No, no, I would definitely, unequivocally say (he’s) not a guy we look at and say he’s not going to be around,” Myers said. “Now, at some point, decisions are going to have to be made. But as far as his importance to this organization and what he’s done, we’re going to do everything we can to keep him in the fold.

“We don’t make these decisions definitively, ‘This guy’s going to be here, this guy’s not.’ We don’t do that. Because right now, we’re not making those decisions today. So everything’s on the table. And you really have to, in my position, do your best, and you owe it to the fans and the organization, to players that have helped in the way that all of those players have.

“Draymond, certainly it’s obvious to anybody what he’s done for us. I could never sit here and say, ‘Well, he’s not going to be around.’ I can’t even get the words out of my mouth.”

The Warriors will celebrate their 2022 title on Oct. 18 when they host the Lakers for ring night.

The post Bob Myers: ‘We Want’ Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins, and Jordan Poole ‘As Long We Can Keep Them’ appeared first on SLAM.

Wiggins has since brought the Larry O’Brien Trophy to Canada as he hosted youth camps in Vaughan and Mississauga. The 2022 All-Star returning to his hometown allowed him to prove to the kids attending his camp that when you believe in yourself and shut out the outside news, you can reap a lot of awards.

“I feel great,” Wiggins said per the Toronto Star. “There’s been a lot of ups and downs, a lot of people had counted me out, but to be back and … winning a championship? All the sacrifices, all the ups, and downs, all the stuff was worth it. It makes the story that much better.”

HOW'S THE AIR UP THERE WIGGS? (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/dR3ehMFnft

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) June 14, 2022

It was a challenging and humbling lesson Wiggins learned as he went from being a volume scorer in Minnesota known for putting up empty calorie stats on losing teams. When he arrived in Golden State, Wiggins was able to thrive as the third star on a group headlined by Stephen Curry and Klay Thomspon.

Under the watchful eye of GM Bob Myers, Coach Steve Kerr, Curry, Thompson, and Draymond Green, Maple Jordan embraced being a two-way wing that could be relied on to get a bucket late in the shot clock while guarding the toughest perimeter threat.

“When I step on the court, I’ve always been confident in what I can do,” he said. “When I was in Minnesota, I put up numbers. But people said, ‘He put up numbers on a bad team.’ So, I go to Golden State, and I’m not scoring as much, but I’m doing a lot at a more efficient rate, so the whole world gets to see.”

Wiggs is so damn smooth.
(via @warriors) pic.twitter.com/T9unmLqnet

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) June 14, 2022

He played a pivotal role in guarding offensive threats like Luka Doncic, Ja Morant, and Jayson Tatum. He took on each assignment and won more than his fair share of battles, averaging 16.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game on 46.9 percent shooting from the field and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc.

“It’s been a different type of summer, but the best summer of my life,” he said. “It’s been amazing coming down here and feeling all this love and positivity. It’s been great. Just being able to bring the trophy back home to where it all started for me —— where all my friends and family are, that helped me get to the place where I’m at now.”

Wiggins hopes to come into the 2022-23 season with a freshly minted extension after carrying a significant two-way load last season. The Warriors will likely have to lean on Wiggins as they implement Moses Moody, Jonathan Kuminga, and James Wiseman into the lineup after they let several veterans walk away in free agency.

The post Andrew Wiggins Feeling ‘Great’ During ‘Best Summer’ of His Life appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photos via Getty Images.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photos via Getty Images.

The post Steve Kerr on the ‘Strong Foundation’ the Warriors Have Built appeared first on SLAM.

On Monday, Wiggins didn’t need to be the alpha dog to save the Warriors from a dismal performance from Curry. The 2015 Rookie of the Year finished Game 5 with 26 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block. It was the type of performance that reminds you why Wiggins was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. Most importantly, it gave the Warriors a 3-2 series lead and pushed them to within one win of a title.

“We knew we needed his athleticism and defense and his versatility,” Kerr said per Sports Illustrated. “We had no idea that he would make this kind of contribution. But I think it’s a reminder that for almost every player in the NBA, circumstances are everything. You kind of need to find the right place, the right teammates, that kind of stuff. Wiggs has been a great fit.”

HOW’S THE AIR UP THERE WIGGS? (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/dR3ehMFnft

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) June 14, 2022

After Wiggins helped lead the Warriors to a pivotal win, his teammates gave him his flowers. Draymond Green gave Wiggins particular kudos with an enthralling story he told reporters about the 2022 All-Star. Green said the Warriors knew that they could trust Wiggins to deliver in big moments based on the belief the notoriously demanding Knicks Coach Tom Thibodeau had in Wiggins.

What really punctuated the moment was the fact that the equally demanding Jimmy Butler raved about Wiggins despite his ugly and infamous departure from Minnesota in 2018.

“I mean that trust has been building for two and a half years now since he got here. A lot of people looked at the trade as it’s another piece that they can move,” Green told reporters. “And we looked at the trade from the very beginning like that is a guy who can fit next to a healthy group absolutely well. When he first came here, and I’ll never forget, it’s when Thibs wasn’t with the Knicks, and Thibs was like, ‘you guys are going to love him. He competes, he defends’ — and he was telling us Jimmy (Butler) loved him, and we all know how Jimmy Butler is, if you got any softness to you Jimmy don’t like you. That’s just how Jimmy is cut, and he’s continued to show that, he’s continued to get better, he’s taken on every challenge that we’ve thrown in front of him, and it’s huge, and we need him to do it for one more win.”

Draymond Green on the trust they have in Andrew Wiggins. Some great perspective, and even something Tom Thibodeau told the Warriors after the trade happened: pic.twitter.com/imd2iWZDB7

— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) June 14, 2022

Wiggins has averaged 16.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game on 47.4 percent shooting from the field in 20 games this postseason. Wiggins has thrived as a two-way player in Golden State’s vaunted system and will play a key role in guarding Tatum and being a security blanket late in the shot clock as a capable off-the-bounce bucket.

The Finals shifts to Boston for Thursday’s Game 6, and the Celtics will likely play with force and urgency to tie the series back and force a do-or-die Game 7 back in San Francisco.

The post Draymond Green Raves About Andrew Wiggins After Game 5 appeared first on SLAM.

Instead of allowing Curry’s slow night to deter him and his Warriors teammates, Maple Jordan showed up and showed out, finishing the Warrior’ 104-94 win over the Celtics with 26 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block.

“Attacking the rim,” Wiggins said after being asked what felt good about his offense in a postgame TV interview with ESPN’s Lisa Salter. “I felt like I got a lot going on early and got in that mindset to stay aggressive and stay attacking.”

Wiggs is so damn smooth.
(via @warriors) pic.twitter.com/T9unmLqnet

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) June 14, 2022

The Warriors, now up 3-2 in the Finals, are a game away from winning their fourth title since 2015, extending their home record to 11-1 and giving Boston their first back-to-back postseason losses.

It was Wiggins, and Draymond Green (seven rebounds and six assists) who set the tone of Game 5, playing with a burst of energy as Green was making plays on both sides of the game, scoring all eight of his points in the first half, throwing down a two-handed dunk for safety after faking a handoff to Klay Thompson (21 points and three rebounds)to give Golden State a 12-4 lead nearly five minutes into the game.

Draymond said see ya. (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/5nhY04ZIIr

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) June 14, 2022

Wiggins scored 16 points in the first half, helping the Warriors grab an 11-point lead heading into the second quarter. Boston could cut that lead to six as Curry sat, but once he re-entered the game with seven minutes to go, Golden State’s offense opened up, and the Warriors led 51-39 at halftime.

Once halftime came and went, Boston woke up and smothered the Warriors’ offense as they jumped out to a 19-4 run to grab their first lead of an Al Horford (nine points and nine rebounds) triple. However, that dominant Celtics run was answered by Thompson and Jordan Poole (14 points), who hit a pair of threes apiece, including a buzzer-beater that stole the momentum while giving Golden State a one-point lead at the end of three quarters.

Thompson, Poole, and Wiggins continued to push that momentum forward with a 10-0 run to start the final frame. By the time Curry returned with 7:44 left on the clock, the Warriors had held an eight-point lead that Boston would never cut into.

“I’m just trying to do every little thing to win,” Wiggins said. “That’s it. Whether I gotta score, rebound, defend, anything I’m asked to do on the court or to help, I’m going to do.”

Quick Poole Party at the end of the third. (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/tKBEI87s8l

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) June 14, 2022

The former No. 1 overall pick scored 10 points in the fourth on 5-6 shooting. His consistent effort defensively and in the rebounding effort meant everything on a night Curry only scored 16 points and eight dimes on 7-22 shooting.

Wiggs be soaring. (via @warriors) pic.twitter.com/4IP5Zvqgej

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) June 14, 2022

This time, the Warriors’ secondary players delivered when Curry rested to start the fourth quarter. Thompson, Poole, and Wiggins contributed heavily to Golden State’s 10-0 run to start the quarter. His poster on Derrick White cemented his big-time performance with a little over two minutes left in the game.

“We’re here, we’re hungry, and we want this. The team that wants it the most can get it, and we want it.”

HOW’S THE AIR UP THERE WIGGS? (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/dR3ehMFnft

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) June 14, 2022

Golden State looks to close the series out on Thursday at the TD Garden. Should the Warriors lose, Game 7 will be in San Francisco.

“I’m excited. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime, something I’ve worked hard for; this whole team worked hard for. So I’m excited; I can’t wait.”

The post Andrew Wiggins After Game 5: ‘We’re Hungry and We Want This’ appeared first on SLAM.

31 PTS | 5 REB | 11 AST@StephenCurry30 pic.twitter.com/GBOXfHWNaD

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) May 23, 2022

Andrew Wiggins followed Curry up with 27 points and 11 rebounds on 11-20 shooting from the field, including this insane poster dunk on Luka Doncic that gave the Warriors a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter. The Wiggins slam was initially called an offensive foul but was counted as a bucket after Coach Steve Kerr successfully protested otherwise.

“He hasn’t had the opportunity to be on the stage before,” Curry said. “With the confidence that we have as a team and the ability to come out here and prove who he is as a player in games that matter and I always say ‘just find ways to impact winning,’ he’s figured that out.

Wiggins with the poster on Luka .

(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/RgHjDk8a61

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 23, 2022

The Warriors’ other starters were in rhythm and flowed throughout Game 3. Klay Thompson finished with 19 points and seven rebounds, Kevon Looney contributed nine points, 12 rebounds, and four assists, and Draymond Green posted 10 points, five rebounds, and five dimes. Not to mention the 10 points and five rebounds effort from Jordan Poole.

The Mavs’ apparent game plan to stretch the floor and match the Warrior’s firepower with a barrage of three-pointers fell flat on its face. Dallas made just 13-45 triples on Sunday, with Luka Magic’s first-quarter buzzer-beating three bringing the Dallas fans to their feet. The Mavericks’ two long-range snipers, Reggie Bullock and Maxi Kleber, struggled on Sunday, missing all 12 of their combined long-range attempts.

The first half of Sunday’s Game 3 was a roller coaster ride for the WCF foes. The Warriors led by as many as 12 in the first quarter, while the Mavs led by as many as nine. The Warriors took over and sustained that effort over the long haul after ending the half on a 15-5 run.

With a look-away three-pointer, Curry put a bow on the Warriors’ first-half effort. Curry’s bucket irritated Doncic, who promptly exchanged words with Poole and Juan Toscano-Anderson. After officials stepped in to claim the situation down, a confused Curry asked Doncic what happened. The two superstars cleared the air, with Green eventually playing peacemaker when the conversation ran its course.

His movement off the ball is god-tier. Curry with the iconic look-away three.

(via @warriors) pic.twitter.com/QApyPsgQCJ

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 23, 2022

The Warriors controlled the tempo and continued to keep Dallas at bay. It wasn’t until the fourth quarter, at the 1:15 mark, in fact, that the Mavs made the game close with a Spencer Dinwiddie (26 points) triple to cut the Warriors’ lead to five points. Poole promptly slammed the door shut on any comeback bid with a triple from the left wing to cement the Warriors’ nine-point win.

POOLE PARTY pic.twitter.com/gLIZCIf1tu

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) May 23, 2022

The last time the Warriors swept a WCF series was in 2019 against the Portland Trail Blazers. They lost the 2019 NBA Finals to the Raptors in six games. No team in NBA history has come back from a 3-0 deficit.

“When you’re up 2-0, and you come on the road, to stranglehold control of the series, that’s huge. It’s a good feeling to know that we came in and gotta win, and then we can play with house money on Tuesday and try to get a dub,” Curry said.

The post Stephen Curry Scores 31 to Lead Warriors to 109-100 Win and 3-0 Series Over Mavs appeared first on SLAM.

The win was partly due to Andrew Wiggins doing a solid job of defending and ultimately slowing Luka Doncic down. Wiggins thrived on guarding Doncic the full 94 feet at times while also using a box-and-one and mixing up zone looks to hold the three-time All-Star to 20 points on 6-18 shooting from the field, including shooting 3-10 from deep. Wiggins also forced Doncic to turn the ball over three times.

Wiggins’ efforts to shadow Doncic all 94 feet up the court did the job of wearing Doncic down and frustrating him.

“It’s a tactic obviously in terms of just making guys work,” Stephen Curry said per ESPN. “It’s just one more thing to think about. I wouldn’t say it bothers you, but something you can’t try to overcome. Wiggs is going to keep doing it, but it’s just one more thing to think about, and that’s good playoff basketball.”

For many players, guarding a superstar like Doncic with max effort would take away from their offensive production. Not Wiggins, who told reporters that the matchup didn’t make him tired after the final buzzer.

“I feel like I’m still young. I don’t really get too tired,” Wiggins said. “I’m locked in. I’m motivated, and when you see it work or I feel like it’s helping us play better, it just motivates me to do it more. I’m not tired or nothing. You know, it’s adrenaline. I just feel good.”

Holding Luka Legend below his average of 31.5 points in the playoffs is a confidence boost for the former No. 1 overall draft pick. Since arriving in Golden State, Maple Jordan had transformed into the two-way monster so many were expecting to see when Minnesota first drafted him, earning his first All-Star nod after averaging 17.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game on 46.6 percent shooting from the field.

”I thought Wiggs was fantastic,” Coach Steve Kerr said. ”Doncic is as difficult a cover as there is in this League. — It’s important to make him work. He’s so good. Any great player in the League, you’re trying to limit the damage that they do.”

Wiggins scored 15 of his 19 points in the second half and finished Game 1 with five rebounds and three dimes. All five Warriors starters scored in double-digits, including Jordan Poole (19 points) and Otto Porter Jr. (10 points, six rebounds).

The Dubs were able to outscore the Mavs, 58-42, in the second half. For the game, the Warriors held the Mavericks to 36.0 percent shooting from the field, 22.9 from distance. Golden State also scored 18 points off of 13 turnovers.

With Friday’s Game 2 looming, expect Dallas to make the necessary adjustments to tie the WCF at 1-1. Stealing home-court advantage as the series shifts to Dallas will be pivotal for a Mavericks team essentially playing with house money this deep into the playoffs.

The post Andrew Wiggins Thrives in Game 1 Matchup Against Luka Doncic appeared first on SLAM.

In the first two series of the playoffs, Wiggins has averaged 14.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game on 40.0 percent from beyond the arc. Wiggins posted 17.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game during the regular-season on 39.3 percent shooting from deep.

When asked about the task of guarding Luka Doncic in the Western Conference Finals, Wiggins admitted the three-time All-Star would be a handful. Doncic had carried the Mavericks to their first conference finals since 2011, when they won their first NBA title. To this point, Luka Legend has averaged 31.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game over 10 games.

“It’s gonna be a tough matchup, for sure,” Wiggins said about guarding Doncic. “You’ve seen what he’s been doing these whole playoffs. It’s gonna be a team effort. All of us, the whole team, will have to do it collectively.

Dallas beat Golden State in three out of its four games during the regular-season. During those four matchups, Doncic averaged 31.5 points, 9.0 boards, and 5.5 dimes per game while shooting 47.6 percent from the field and 38.2 percent on three-pointers.

Game 1 of the WCF between the Warriors and Mavericks begins on Wednesday.

The post Andrew Wiggins On ‘Tough Matchup’ Coming Against Luka Doncic appeared first on SLAM.

After a couple of seasons riddled with injuries and player development, the Warriors started their first playoff run in three years with a newer, more exciting version and have added another shooter to the mix.

The Denver Nuggets have had no answers to defending the Warriors when Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins, and the newest addition, Jordan Poole, have shared the floor. Golden State has gone for momentum-stealing runs in the first two games that have changed momentum or put the game out of reach.

Jordan Poole drops a behind-the-back dime to Klay in transition

The @warriors are on a roll in Q2!#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel on TNT pic.twitter.com/zsLzLaJyTf

— NBA (@NBA) April 19, 2022

This combination played only five minutes together in Game 1, but they outscored Denver by 14 points to shift the momentum sparking their 123-107 win. In Game 2, they played another five minutes, which led them to move the momentum to their side going into the second half.

After falling behind 43-31 in the second quarter, the Warriors erased that deficit by halftime with runs of 16-0 and 23-4 late to take a 57-51 lead at the break. The trend is not lost on Thompson, who forecasted this type of performance after Game 1.

“It’s a scary sight when we really get going,” Thompson said. “This is really only our first time really playing together.”

The story of this series so far has been Jordan Poole. Poole had yet another strong performance after a historic performance in Game 1, scoring 29 points while putting on another dazzling display that had the Chase Center crowd rocking!

Jordan Poole was dropping dimes and buckets in Game 2 to lift the @warriors to the 2-0 series lead! #DubNation

Poole: 29 PTS (10-16 FGM), 5 REB, 8 AST, 2 STL, 5 3PM

Warriors vs. Nuggets Game 3: Thurs. 10pm/et on TNT#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel pic.twitter.com/STMdXEiLIm

— NBA (@NBA) April 19, 2022

While the running joke around the team is will Curry ever get back in the starting lineup, SC30 was very impressed with Poole’s play to start the playoffs.

“He doesn’t lack confidence,” Curry said per ESPN. “That play embodied it. Because you just have the creativity and confidence in yourself to make that play. You don’t second-guess yourself. You kind of live with the results, and we’ve done it for years, and he’s stepping into that now. It’s fun to see.”

Game 3 of this, the Warriors-Nuggets series shifts to Denver on Thursday.

The post Warriors Unlock Next Level With New Small Ball Lineup Featuring Jordan Poole appeared first on SLAM.

On Thursday, Andrew Wiggins spoke with NBC Sports’ Taylor Wirth about Wiseman and how he believes he will “dominate” after getting back on the floor.

“Obviously he’s had his ups and downs already in his career with the injury and stuff, but he’s still so young and if you look at him now, he’s a tank, man,” Wiggins said. “He’s a tank, he’s been working hard, so I feel like when he comes back he’s going to dominate. He has his head on straight, he comes into the facility, to the games with a good attitude, ready to work, ready to get better. The main thing about him is he listens, he wants to get better, he wants to learn. I think the sky is the limit for him also.”

Wiseman has been out the entire season thus far as he is still recovering from a torn meniscus suffered during the tail end of last season. According to Wirth, Wiseman is now back to participating in 5-on-5 drills in Warriors’ practices and could be nearing a return in the coming weeks.

Wiseman had a mixed bag of performances in his rookie season, playing in 39 games and averaging 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. However, Wiseman’s presence didn’t result in positive play from the Warriors as they ended the season with a -10.2 offensive rating with Wiseman on the court and +4.5 when he was off the court. That gave Wiseman an on-off offensive rating of -14.7, the worst on the team among players who played more than 100 minutes last season, per basketball reference.

However, Wiseman was only a rookie last season, a rookie with little experience playing against high-end basketball talent at that. He only played three games with the University of Memphis the season before getting drafted.

The Warriors certainly don’t need to rush Wiseman back, as, without him, they currently sit second in the Western Conference with a record of 42-17.

The post Andrew Wiggins Says James Wiseman Will ‘Dominate’ Upon Return appeared first on SLAM.

On Thursday, the NBA announced the five starters from both the Western and Eastern Conferences, with a few first-time All-Stars making the list.

The two captains are a pair of familiar faces to the All-Star Game in LeBron James, making his 18th All-Star appearance, and Kevin Durant, making his 12th All-Star appearance.

Joining James in the west as starters are Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokic, Andrew Wiggins and Ja Morant. Joining Durant in the east are DeMar DeRozan, Joel Embiid, Trae Young and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

There are two first-time All-Stars among the 10 starters, both in the west, in Wiggins and Morant. Young will be making his second All-Star appearance.

The All-Star reserves, which are voted on by the head coaches across the NBA, will be announced on Feb. 3.

The All-Star Game will take place in Cleveland on Sunday, Feb. 19.

The post NBA Announces Starters for 2022 All-Star Game appeared first on SLAM.

His quest for knowledge has taken on a new level as he asked former 2015 NBA Finals MVP, Andre Iguodala for tips on defending LeBron James. Iguodala shared the story on Draymond Green‘s latest episode of “The Draymond Green Show” via NBC Sports Bay Area.

“Wigs was like, ‘Yo, what are some things you like to do when you guard LeBron [James]?’ I was like, ‘Woah! Bro, you got way more ability than me.’ But then I had to like, ‘Oh, OK. This is a good thing.'”

“I gave him some pointers. Like, it’s really not about stopping him because you can’t. It’s about beating him to the spot when he gets there. That starts when Steph Curry shoots. So as soon as Steph shot the ball, I would be looking for LeBron like, ‘All right. Where is he at? At what point attack will he be taking the ball out of bounds?’ That’s the first thing that went on my mind.”

Iguodala was the lead defender on James during the Warriors’ four consecutive NBA Finals appearances against the Cleveland Cavaliers. His defense on James was the main reason he took home the 2015 NBA Finals MVP award.

Wiggins has resurrected his career after coming over in a trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2020. This season, Golden State will need his defensive prowess with Iguodala near the end of his career and Klay Thompson returning from two significant injuries.

As the Warriors’ primary wing defender, the former No. 1 overall pick looks to continue improving with Iguodala in his ear along the way.

The post Andrew Wiggins Asked Andre Iguodala For Tips On Guarding LeBron James appeared first on SLAM.

As first reported by ESPN’s Nick Friedell, the Warriors are concerned about the status of Andrew Wiggins this season for those games as home, as he plans to not receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

According to Friedell, Wiggins made it clear earlier this year that the only way he would get a COVID-19 vaccine is if he were forced to do so. 

“Yeah, I don’t really see myself getting it any time soon, unless I’m forced to somehow,” Wiggins said in March. “Other than that, I’m good.”

At this point, unless he’s able to get some sort of exemption, Wiggins will not be able to play in home games for Golden State this season. If he changes his mind and receives a full vaccination, this would make him eligible to play at home.  

Wiggins is a key piece of the Warriors roster after averaging 18.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per contest last season. 

The post Warriors Concerned About Vaccination Status of Andrew Wiggins appeared first on SLAM.

On Tuesday, Wiggins confirmed on Instagram that he will be representing Team Canada this summer for the Olympic qualifying tournament.

This is big news for Canadian basketball fans, as Wiggins’ presence was anything but a given heading into the summer. Wiggins hasn’t played for Canada since 2015 in a FIBA event, and that most recent pairings left a bad taste in the mouths of both parties.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Andrew Wiggins (@22wiggins)

Now, six years later, Wiggins returns a much more mature and polished professional basketball player than he was in 2015. Wiggins was great for the Warriors this season, averaging 18.6 points per game and shooting a career-best 38 percent from three and 47.7 percent from the field. Wiggins also took a major step defensively, helping the Warriors to the eighth seed in the Western Conference.

Team Canada will have some weapons, with Wiggins potentially joining R.J. Barrett, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dillon Brooks this summer.  

The post Andrew Wiggins Confirms He Will Represent Team Canada in 2021 Summer Olympic Qualifying appeared first on SLAM.

What does a Canadian basketball player look like?

Ten years ago, the answer to that question would’ve probably involved picturing Steve Nash who, in some ways, affirmed some of our stereotypes. I can still see rookie Nash skating around a hockey rink holding a stick and wearing his full Suns uniform.

Yep. That happened.

As a player, Nash was tough, not too flashy and quick to pass before taking a shot. For a while he was our point of reference (in terms of both his appearance and playing style) for Canadian ballers, and this was difficult to shift. Oh, there was Bill Wennington too, and I also heard a rumor about Rick Fox…

What does a Canadian basketball player look like? When SLAM 189 came out in the summer of 2015, Andrew Wiggins had already begun breaking the image we had lodged in our fickle minds. Remarkably, Wiggins was only the second Canadian to be picked No. 1 in the draft and was already doing significantly better than his predecessor (respectfully), by taking home Rookie of the Year honors. This would not be an award earned through assists and long-range jumpers alone (although there were plenty of those). Wiggins was swatting shots, catching lobs, posting up and hammering it down on defenses regularly. Don’t let the haters fool you, Andrew Wiggins has game.

At only 25, Wiggins is just getting started. While he may not be the superstar that some expected (yet), his numbers are solid and he continues to improve steadily. Perhaps bigger than that, though, he has paved the way for a new wave of Canadian basketball players to make their mark in the League. So much so that when we realize the likes of RJ Barrett and Jamal Murray hail from The Great White North, hopefully we aren’t surprised anymore.

What does a Canadian basketball player look like?

The type of dude who might just drop 50 on you.

The post The SLAM Archives: SLAM 189 Featuring Andrew Wiggins From July of 2015 appeared first on SLAM.

Often criticized during his time with the Minnesota Timberwolves for his approach to the game, Wiggins has become—more or less—an all-around player. Not one who’s asked to carry a team but one who still leaves an indelible imprint on the game, for better or worse.

Lately, it’s only been for the better.

Having been traded for the second time in his career, it’s not as if Wiggins is unfamiliar with new environments or processing what would likely be mixed feelings about the move. Yet, hearing Wiggins’ thoughts about being traded to Golden State shows a level of maturity—of understanding and acceptance—that speaks volumes.

Per the Minneapolis Star-Tribune’s Chris Hine:

“Looking back, I feel like [the trade] worked in the best favor for both teams,” Wiggins said. “Golden State needed a wing that could defend and just play his game, and Minnesota—they needed someone that could play with KAT, create with KAT, play make. They needed a PG, you know? I feel like it worked out in the best favor for both.”

In terms of team fit, Wiggins is on the money. A star big man like Karl-Anthony Towns would always fit well with an upper-echelon point guard; as most do. The Warriors, in the wake of Klay Thompson’s injury and Kevin Durant’s departure, needed a wing with the raw talent of a player once dubbed as Maple Jordan.

Still, the biggest winner of the trade is Wiggins himself.

At 25-years-old, he’s just now entering his prime. With growth in the right environment, he may prove himself to be the player he was capable of being all along.

The post Andrew Wiggins: Warriors Trade ‘Worked Out in the Best Favor for Both’ 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.

The Dubs’ braintrust is “very excited” about Wiggins’ potential next season, and beyond.

Lacob adds that Golden State’s sudden and unexpected rebuild perhaps isn’t the worst thing that could have happened to them.

Per NBC Sports Bay Area (via “The TK Show“):

“Our coaching staff is very excited about Andrew and how he may fit here going forward,” Warriors owner Joe Lacob told Tim Kawakami of The Athletic on Thursday. “Very hard — it’s so hard — to find wings right now in the NBA with good positional size and athleticism.

“He’s a walking 20 points. He’s gonna go out there and he’s gonna get you 20 points in any game. He’s capable of doing a lot more than that. But that’s pretty good.”

The 25-year-old averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.4 blocks, while shooting nearly 46 percent overall and just under 34 percent from 3-point range.

“When Harrison Barnes was with us — and I loved Harrison, different kind of player a little bit — but we would sit there and say, ‘If we can just get him to get 20 points in a game it would really help,'” he said. “You know (you’ve got a) good chance to win a game if you got three guys scoring 20 in a game. And we needed that.”

Related Draymond Green: Andrew Wiggins ‘Not a F**king Bum’

The post Warriors Owner: Andrew Wiggins a ‘Walking 20 Points’ appeared first on SLAM.

“How could you not draft me No. 1?” Embiid yelled at then-Cavs GM David Griffin, who ultimately selected Andrew Wiggins with the top overall pick.

The Philadelphia Sixers ended up with the irrepressible big fella, who had also implored his agent to figure out a way for him to land with the Los Angeles Lakers: “Work your magic.”

Per Bleacher Report:

The Cavs moved Embiid to the mid-range. His jumper was fluid and smooth. He finished the workout by stepping out behind the three-point line. He splashed his first shot from behind the arc.

“How could you not draft me No. 1?” he shouted at Griffin. He swished another. “Look how good I am!”

Another ripped through the net. “You need me, Griff!” A fourth make. “Come on, Griff, you gotta draft me!”

A fifth. “I’m so good!” A sixth. “I gotta be No. 1!”

A seventh. “How can you not take me?”

Related Joel Embiid Calls Himself the ‘Best Player in the World’

The post Joel Embiid Asked the Cavs: ‘How Could You Not Draft Me No. 1?’ appeared first on SLAM.

Golden State didn’t find some “diamond in the rough” when they traded for Wiggins this season, according to Green.

Draymond believes Wiggins has the potential to become “an All-Defensive player.”

Per The Athletic:

What do you think of Wiggins’ defensive potential?

Green: “I think he can be an All-Defensive player. That’s one of my goals for him. As a leader of this team, that’s one of the things I really want to push him on. He has all the tools, has the tools, the athleticism. Reminds me a lot of Kevin [Durant] as a defender, where they’re both long and lanky, but agile. Can move. Very skinny guys, but not weak. From that aspect, he remind me a lot of Kevin. And Kevin is a great defender. So if he can continue to build off that … which I think he can. The couple games that he’s been here I’ve seen him match up with some pretty good guys and he’s shown a lot of promise on that side of the ball. Defensive end, I think he can be really, really good.”

People have questioned his passion during his seasons in Minnesota.

Green: “Once again, people never talk about the situation. But I think he wants to be great. He’s not demonstrative. He’s not very talkative. So people will never say that or see it. But talking to him, trying to get to know him, watching him work — he wants to be really good. I take that upon myself as a leader on this team, one of the older guys. I haven’t been in the league much longer than him, but I have a little more experience, a little older. I want to help him do that any way that I can. It’s the same for Steph [Curry]. I think he fits in here perfectly. We want to help him reach his promise, whatever that is. We’ll figure it out. But it’s not like we gotta take his hand and walk him through. This guy’s averaged 20 points in this league for three, four years and probably over a career averaged 20 points. It’s not a fucking bum we’re talking about. So I’m not gonna sit here and act like we found some diamond in the rough. This is the No. 1 pick. He’s averaged 20. He’s a player.

“But when I say help him through it, I mean from the more experience side of things, what it takes to win a championship, all those different things. But he’s a player. And he’s been a player. If a guy’s averaged 20 points in the league over the course of his career … If he ain’t at 20, he’s damn close.”

Related Warriors Owner: ‘We Can Re-Imagine the Next Dynasty’

The post Draymond Green: Andrew Wiggins ‘Not a F**king Bum’ appeared first on SLAM.

“You add one guy and it can change everything,” says Lacob.

Stephen Curry is expected to re-join Golden State’s lineup next month, with Lacob adding that he has zero interest in tanking.

Per USA Today:

“The great thing about this is we can re-imagine the next dynasty,” owner Joe Lacob told USA TODAY Sports during the NBA’s Tech Summit during All-Star weekend. “I think it’s been a good year for us to take stock with where we’re at and try to recreate.”

Oh yeah, and the Warriors expect to have a fully healthy Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Kevon Looney next season.

“You add one guy and it can change everything,” Lacob said. “We already happen to have two of the greatest shooters of all time. Look at the games. We’ve only been losing by six or eight points. But add those two guys, and we’re already pretty good. I think [Andrew] Wiggins is going to help a lot.”

[Curry] has spent the past month completing various shooting workouts.

“Steph is coming back. That’s not even a discussion internally,” Lacob said. “He’s ready to play so he should play. By the way, we’ll try to win every game. I’m not really about, ‘Let’s lose every game so we can get the best pick.’ You try to do that, you’re messing with the basketball gods. So we don’t believe in that.”

Related Warriors Owner: ‘I Think We’re Going to Be Really Good’

The post Warriors Owner: ‘We Can Re-Imagine the Next Dynasty’ appeared first on SLAM.

Lacob says the swap for Wiggins in exchange for D’Angelo Russell at last week’s trade deadline is a “great deal for us.”

Golden State’s braintrust acknowledged that Russell was a poor fit in their scheme.

Per The Athletic:

Was trading Russell before he played a full season with the Warriors a sign that management miscalculated his value and the Warriors’ ability to fit him in?

“What people don’t understand is that if we lost Kevin Durant (straight up in free agency), we would’ve got nothing,” Lacob said. “We just got somewhat fortunate that he went to Brooklyn and we were able to get a sign-and-trade for a guy that is a good player. Questionable whether he was going to be a fit. You’ve heard (Steve) Kerr’s comments. I mean, everyone knew that. But we were hopeful. And you want to have a positive attitude. And we didn’t have Steph and Klay to play with him this year, so I don’t think that we had a fair test. But I think … there was a chance that we were going to make a move at some point that maybe made more sense. There was a chance. And it just turned out that we did it now. We got what we wanted. I think if I would’ve bet before the trade deadline, I probably would’ve said we would’ve re-evaluated in the summer, gone through the whole year. But we were fortunate. We got what we wanted, and we did it.”

Does he believe that (Stephen) Curry, (Klay) Thompson, (Draymond) Green, Wiggins, (Kevon) Looney and whomever else the Warriors can add to that next season is a group that can win a championship?

“I think we’re going to be really good,” Lacob said. “We almost beat — well, we stayed competitive with the Lakers (Sunday night.) They played all their guys and we lost by what, five points. And we didn’t have arguably our three best players (Curry, Thompson and Green). So you tell me. The reason we didn’t win the game tonight is we didn’t have enough perimeter scoring. It’s not football, one player can make a huge difference. We’ve got two great ones coming back. Arguably the two greatest shooters of all time. So I feel pretty damn good, and our fan base should feel great about our future.”

Related Wolves, Warriors Agree To D’Angelo Russell, Andrew Wiggins Swap

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Towns, 24, was happily “shocked” the Timberwolves were able to pull off a Russell – Andrew Wiggins swap with the Golden State Warriors ahead of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline.

The T-Wolves (13-35) have lost thirteen games in a row, but their franchise cornerstone and fanbase suddenly and unexpectedly have reason to smile.

Per The Athletic:

“I’d be lying if I told you I thought it was possible,” Towns told The Athletic on Thursday. “I’m shocked like everybody else. We’ve been putting it into the universe since Day 1. We’ve never been shy about saying it in the media or interviews or wherever it may be. If you want something to happen, you have to keep believing and keep saying it to the universe and repeating it and one day the universe will hear it and give you your wish.”

He was all smiles as he surprised unwitting customers as a fill-in clerk at a Northeast Minneapolis Metro by T-Mobile store while shooting an ad campaign, then laid to rest the growing speculation about his long-term future in Minnesota.

“I think with D-Lo here, it’s always going to be a big incentive for me to want to stay,” Towns said. “D-Lo is a big part of everything the vision is. D-Lo always knows he’s going to be wanted because his brother is here with him and he always knows he’s going to have his back covered because I’m always going to be there for him.”

He was still coming to grips with the whirlwind of activity. He still couldn’t believe he was about to head to the airport to pick up his best friend.

“At the end of the day, I think it’s starting to set in that my brother’s going to be here with me,” Towns said, “and hopefully we’re going to be together for a long, long time.”

Related Karl-Anthony Towns: ‘You Obviously See My Patience Running Low’

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The two teams have been dancing around a potential trade for weeks but the Warriors were reportedly not pleased with what the Wolves were initially able to offer.

The agreed upon trade will send Russell to Minnesota to team up with friend Karl-Anthony Towns while the Warriors recoup Andrew Wiggins, whose contract had to be included to make the deal legal, a protected first-round pick in 2021 and a 2022 second-rounder.

Also involved in the trade are Jacob Evans and Omari Spellman, who will head to Minnesota.

Related: View SLAM’s complete 2020 NBA Trade Deadline Tracker

The protected first that the Warriors will acquire will have top-3 protection on it in 2021 and will become unprotected entirely in 2022 if it doesn’t convey.

The move comes amid mounting evidence that Towns, the Timberwolves cornerstone, is growing more frustrated by the day. The pairing of Towns and Wiggins didn’t yield success on the court and now, at least, he’ll get the opportunity to try to win some ball games alongside Russell.

While Wiggins was the No. 1 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, Russell is the one that has developed into a star.

Russell’s stint with the Brooklyn Nets established him as a reliable offensive focal point and you could argue that he gives the Wolves a similar offensive catalyst to what they had briefly with Jimmy Butler.

What isn’t clear yet is why the Warriors had a sudden change of heart. The acquisition of Wiggins doesn’t give the team any additional financial flexibility considering that he’s under contract through 2023-24.

Alas, on paper the idea of an athlete such as Wiggins chipping in on a dominant Warriors team that will return Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson next season is a scary thought. A move to the Bay Area could be the best thing for Wiggins’ career.

It is possible that Golden State’s apparent unwillingness to deal Russell was simple posturing, as the deal they ultimately agreed to isn’t any more lucrative than the one that was in play ahead of the four-team mega-trade that eventually went down involving the Denver Nuggets instead.

More to come.

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He’s also coming off the most productive month of his six-year NBA career for a 10-9 Minnesota Timberwolves squad.

Wiggins, 24, has formed a bond with head coach Ryan Saunders: “He’s a big difference,” Wiggins said. “He believes in me, and he puts more confidence in me. To have a head coach that’s like that, that means a lot.”

Per Bleacher Report:

With that trust already in place, getting Wiggins to tweak his offensive approach was simple. “Ryan told me [that] he wanted me to be successful and [that] this is one of the ways that can help me and my career, just thinking more about the shots that I take,” Wiggins said.

Wiggins wanted to grow. He was aware of his reputation.

“You hear it, on social media, when you turn on the TV and watch sports, you always see certain stuff; certain people say certain things,” he said. He did his best to remain positive, to try tuning out the noise. “It never really got to me to the point where, you know, it messed up my lifestyle, my life,” he said. “I love myself more than anyone loves me.” But he does admit there have been times, especially last year, when all the criticism dragged him down.

“I’d go through a slump, and then you can’t help but hear it, and then you’re like, ‘F–k,'” Wiggins said. “You always want to shut the people up that doubt you.”

Related Andrew Wiggins: ‘There’s Not 100 Players Better Than Me’

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“It doesn’t matter what people think,” Wiggins says.

The 24-year-old former No. 1 draft pick is out to silence critics of the $147-million max contract extension he inked with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2017:

“I don’t really look at that too much, top 100 or not top 100,” Wiggins told ESPN. “There’s not 100 players better than me, so it doesn’t matter what people think. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. My job is to come out here and hoop, and that’s what I’m going to do.”

He averaged 18.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists on a career-low 41.2% shooting during the 2018-19 season, which was more focused on the public criticism and trade demands of former teammate Jimmy Butler, the firing of head coach Tom Thibodeau and a “personal” element, which he wouldn’t detail, but he claims he’s ready to put those issues behind him.

“I would say I enjoy it more than I did last year because last year was a rough start,” Wiggins said. “The joy has always been there. I’ve never been on the court and not wanted to play.”

Reestablishing the value of Wiggins with $122 million left on his contract over the next four years after pushing through numerous head coaches will certainly be something to watch in Minnesota this season under the new regime.

“Everyone is counting pockets. Some people are mad about, some people are happy for you,” Wiggins told ESPN. “That’s how the world goes especially when you’ve got something they don’t have or do something they don’t do. That’s how the world goes.

“Even when I averaged almost 24 points and got the max deal people were still saying stuff,” he added. “Look at max players and some max players don’t average as much, but it is what it is. I’m just trying to get right, get back on track.”

Related Andrew Wiggins: ‘I’m as Confident as I Was When I First Came Into the League’

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The T-Wolves plan to fly under the radar and sneak back into the playoffs, according to Towns.

“My confidence was born in the gym,” says KAT.

Per The Undefeated:

“Everyone always sleeps on people in Minnesota because they don’t hear our name a lot,” Towns, who was named a 2019 NBA Western Conference All-Star, told The Undefeated. “That’s fine. That’s cool. We are going to come from the underground and just find ourselves in the playoffs if we continue to do what we’re doing.”

“It’s fine. Keep sleeping on us.”

How good can the Wolves be?

KAT: “We can be as good as we want to be, as long as we stay cohesive, we stay unified and continue to play the game we play on a nightly basis. … It’s easy to win one game. It’s hard to win most of the games in an 82-game season. Obviously, if we are blessed with health and play basketball the way we know we can play basketball, we will be just fine.”

After getting a taste of the playoffs in 2018, how tough was it not to be a part of the postseason last season?

KAT: “It’s always tough not to be in the playoffs. I live for the playoffs. I have won a lot in my life. And I have expected nothing less in the NBA since day one in training camp as a rookie. … I had a great time in the playoffs, and I learned a lot more things that people don’t get to learn. I learned how to do things to benefit the team as best as possible.”

Related Karl-Anthony Towns: ‘I Have to Be Aggressive and I Have to Shoot the Ball’

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Wiggins, 24, “worked really hard this summer” and is feeling extremely confident going into training camp.

He adds that he’s looking forward to playing a full season for Ryan Saunders (“a players’ coach.”)

Per Sportsnet (via SKOR North):

“I feel like my first three years I was on the rise and was getting better and better and then some changes were made,” Wiggins said. “I worked really hard this summer, and I’m as confident as I was when I first came into the league.”

The change Wiggins referred to is likely the big move Thibodeau made in the summer of 2017 to acquire Jimmy Butler, a player Thibodeau helped coach and develop while with the Chicago Bulls.

“All the yelling and stuff, I feel, is not going to really change my mood,” Wiggins said of what style of coaching gets the best out of him. “But when a coach comes at me and is real and tells me the real I feel like I respect that a lot more than anyone just yelling. Because anyone can yell, anyone can raise their voice, but not a lot of people can be real. So that goes a long way for me.”

At only 33 years old, Saunders is the youngest coach in the NBA, something that Wiggins says has helped acclimate himself to the Timberwolves players well.

“He’s a players’ coach for sure,” said Wiggins. “He has a great energy about him and I feel like a lot of guys can relate because he’s not too much older than us and I feel like he gets us.”

Related T-Wolves GM: Andrew Wiggins Has ‘Got to Be a Main Contributor’

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Rosas says Wiggins needs to play a more consistent brand of basketball heading into his sixth NBA season.

Minny’s braintrust is hopeful the 24-year-old can thrive in head coach Ryan Saunders‘ system and create a formidable 1-2 punch with All-Star big man Karl-Anthony Towns.

Per The Star Tribune:

“Andrew in particular with his talent and physical abilities, the potential he’s shows, we’ve got to get that on a more consistent basis,” Rosas said. “He’s focused on it as well. In order for us to have the success we want to have, he’s got to be a main contributor. He understands that, we understand that.”

To Rosas, some factors that contribute to this inconsistency has been out of Wiggins’ control, like the number of coaches he has had during his young career. Rosas is hopeful having Ryan Saunders as his head coach, along with the changes the Wolves are making in terms of player development, will remove that uncertainty from the equation.

“To be fair to him, he needs some continuity in terms of coaching, philosophy, strategy and style of play,” Rosas said. “We think he’s going to be one of the better beneficiaries of this style of play. His physical tools, talent and skill. We do feel there’s a lot of upside for him. He’s worked very hard this summer. He’s been committed to everything that we’ve done.”

Related Andrew Wiggins: ‘The Last Couple Years Haven’t Been the Best for Me’

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Towns, 23, is thrilled to play under new bench boss Ryan Saunders.

KAT, who inked a five-year max extension last summer, adds that he feels good about Minnesota’s chances in the hunt for top-flight free agents.

Per WCCO:

“I think that I’m very blessed that I have a great front office. I have a great coaching staff,” Towns told WCCO’s Cory Hepola during a live interview at his summer camp. “We think we have the best coaching staff possibly in the game right now from a talent, experience and just culture standpoint. And the culture we’re building here is something special. So I’m a very happy. I’m very glad now we’re introducing [rookies Jarrett] Culver and [Jaylen] Noel to a culture that we possess now. You know, I don’t think the situation before it would’ve been very beneficial for them.”

While clearly referencing the Tom Thibodeau-led Timberwolves, Towns talked about how he felt it held back the development of the players.

“And that’s a disrespect and a slap in the face to their development, you know, and I want to make sure that they develop not only as players, but as human beings and as men. And, uh, you know, that’s what we’re here to do. And in Minnesota, the thing, one of the biggest things where Ryan and with me is like, we have to make sure our culture is not based on just basketball. This is a family atmosphere. Everything we do here in Minnesota has to be able to have a family. A family backing and a family thought process. And building people’s personalities, characters and showing them more of themselves. And you’re more than basketball.”

[D’Angelo] Russell ended up signing with Golden State, but Towns feels good about where the team is in its pursuit of new players.

“I think that what the Wolves fans are seeing though now is that people, they felt that were untouchable, people that they thought were never would to think of us are thinking”, said Towns. “And that’s because of, you know, our front office being so great … everybody, and our coach Ryan Saunders. I’m telling these players and for the players to see a person they really want to play for. It’s just another testament to the talent that we had, we possessed as a team.”

Related Karl-Anthony Towns Stunned By Tom Thibodeau’s Firing

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Wiggins says he will be “back on track” in 2019-20.

The 24-year-old is excited to play in new Timberwolves head coach Ryan Saunders‘ offense.

Per The Pioneer Press:

“I feel like I was at a good pace, and then the last couple years haven’t been the best for me,” Wiggins said last week. “The main thing for me is to get back on track.”

He noted how Saunders put the ball in his hands more late last season, and, subsequently, Wiggins’ aggressiveness increased.

“I feel like I was getting back into a really good groove,” Wiggins said, “and the confidence and everything was there.”

Karl-Anthony Towns said that, with their contracts, the responsibility belongs to he and Wiggins to take the Wolves as far as they can go. It’s time for Wiggins to shoulder more of that load.

“I feel confident in the changes we made this year, this summer,” Wiggins said. “And I feel confident that I’ll be back on track this season.”

Related Andrew Wiggins: ‘I Didn’t Have the Best Season’

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Butler has no regrets about his messy exit from Minny, and insists he would “do nothing over.”

The 29-year-old NBA All-Star knows he is “in a good place” with the Philadelphia Sixers, and dares critics to overlook them in the playoffs.

Per The NY Times:

“They’re going to boo me,” Butler said of the Minnesota fans who watched him force his way out of town via a trade to the Philadelphia 76ers in November — months after Butler led the woebegone Timberwolves to their first playoff berth in 14 seasons.

“I would boo me, too. I’m not going to lie to you.”

Those who have spent any time around the rugged swingman surely don’t doubt it. At a time when N.B.A. Commissioner Adam Silver openly frets about player happiness — and when standouts such as Boston’s Kyrie Irving and Golden State’s Kevin Durant routinely rail against the approach of some of the news media — Butler is the rare star who savors the game’s edgy side and has embraced his portrayal as a villain.

“Oh, I love it,” Butler said in a phone interview, throwing in a profanity for emphasis. “I love it. I love it. Who wants to be loved all the time?

“It’s O.K. It’s fine. I don’t need everybody to like me. I know who I am. I can’t say that enough. I know what I’m about. I know where my heart is. People will say, ‘He’s this way, or he’s that way,’ but nobody knows except for the people around me every day. Ask them and they’ll tell you differently.”

Related ‘I Do Want to Beat Those Guys’: Jimmy Butler Enjoys Win vs Minny

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Andrew Wiggins talks about the dunk attempt on Nerlens Noel and the altercations with Dennis Schröder #Thunder #Timberwolves pic.twitter.com/f5qpHQNNox

— Michael Kinney (@EyeAmTruth) January 9, 2019

Schroder was upset with Timberwolves players after Nerlens Noel was taken off the court on a stretcher due to a head injury.

Id like to clarify what I said tonight during my post game media session. I said: “I don’t know what’s wrong with him he was just getting… acting crazy for no reason”.

— andrew wiggins (@22wiggins) January 9, 2019

I have the utmost love and respect for the LGBTQIA community and I would never use any term to disrespect them in anyway.

— andrew wiggins (@22wiggins) January 9, 2019

Wiggins finished with 40 points and 10 rebounds for Minnesota, spearheading new head coach Ryan Saunders earn his first victory.

Per the AP:

Thunder coach Billy Donovan said after the game that Noel was taken to the University of Oklahoma’s OU Medical Center. He did not offer details on the injury.

Wiggins said he didn’t mean to hurt Noel.

“I just tried to make an aggressive move and dunk,” Wiggins said. “He tried to contest it. I think he fell wrong. I didn’t really see it until I saw him on the ground. Hopefully, he’s good. I hope nothing but the best for him. I hope he gets healthy soon and comes back stronger.”

The post Andrew Wiggins: Meant No Disrespect Calling Dennis Schroder ‘Gay’ appeared first on SLAM.

Wiggins lashed out after being booed off his home floor Saturday night, this after missing six of eight free-throw attempts in the fourth quarter of Minnesota’s disheartening 123-120 loss to the lowly Atlanta Hawks.

Wiggins on the boos: “That’s fans for you. We’ve got some shitty fans and we’ve got some good fans. That’s just how it works.”

— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) December 29, 2018

The 23-year-old former No. 1 draft pick shot 5-14 from the field and finished with 16 points in the defeat.

A bad night for Wiggins, a bad night for the Wolves in general. Another home loss they couldn’t afford to take https://t.co/YHzim7ChOg

— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) December 29, 2018

Per The Athletic:

“That’s fans for you,” Wiggins said. “We’ve got some shitty fans and we’ve got some good fans. That’s just how it works.”

When Wiggins offered the comment about “shitty” fans, it appeared to be a sign of frustration from a player who rarely shows it on the court or in interviews. Alas …

“I’m not frustrated. I don’t get too worked up,” Wiggins said. “We have the next game in a couple days. I just gotta get some extra shots up, get some free throws up, and I’ll be back to normal. I’ve been shooting good this year, cool this year. It’ll be good.”

And that’s exactly what has driven the Wiggins haters crazy, even dating back to his one season at Kansas. He doesn’t get worked up. He’s not frustrated. They want to see some sign of give-a-damn from a player in the first season of a five-year, $147-million max contract. They want to a see a five-year veteran step into the void created by Jimmy Butler’s departure and take control.

“It sucks,” Wiggins said of his missed free throws. “But it is what it is. Just gotta keep going and next time make my free throws.”

The post Andrew Wiggins: ‘We’ve Got Some Sh**ty Fans and We’ve Got Some Good Fans’ appeared first on SLAM.

Taylor adds that Minnesota “wasted some time” trying to convince the All-Star shooting guard to recant his trade request, which was fulfilled last week.

“We have to play at least 10 games and then we would see which teams were meeting their goals, which teams weren’t and the teams that weren’t we thought we'd have a better chance to negotiate." T-Wolves owner Glen Taylor on trading Butler, Thibs' status: https://t.co/wlrpiRsDbE

— Chris Hine (@ChristopherHine) November 14, 2018

Taylor believes the T-Wolves, health-permitting, can still be a “darn good team.”

Per the Star Tribune:

“It just appeared that they weren’t working together as a team or as a unit the way that they should’ve. I can’t exactly answer why,” Taylor said. “The only thing that was different that we had was Jimmy’s position of leaving the team. Maybe that was affecting guys more than they even knew themselves.”

[Taylor] said the Wolves’ slow start and miserable 0-5 road trip wasn’t the main catalyst behind trading Butler. But Taylor added the trade might have gone down around this time anyway, the product of an agreement among him, the coaching staff and Butler to play at least 10 games of the regular season and evaluate where the Wolves were and what the league’s temperature was relative to making a deal for Butler.

“We have to play at least 10 games and then we would see which teams were meeting their goals, which teams weren’t and the teams that weren’t we thought we would have a better chance to negotiate,” Taylor said. “We were preparing ourselves to do this anyway. But certainly, I guess if we would’ve won all five games out there, it might have been different.”

Taylor said he was “not satisfied” with the 4-9 start of the season, though he added, “I don’t think it was all under our control. I wish it would’ve been more under our control, but I think we saw Jimmy had an agenda and we had to work around that.”

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Kevin Garnett: T-Wolves Owner ‘Doesn’t Know Sh*t About Basketball’

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Towns says camaraderie and fun are key ingredients for teams to succeed.

Karl-Anthony Towns tells ESPN he wants the Timberwolves to find joy again. “I am just trying to bring a different culture into Minnesota.” https://t.co/cacagLBu0H

— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) November 15, 2018

The T-Wolves are 2-0 since trading Butler to the Philadelphia Sixers.

Per ESPN:

“All those teams I was on that were successful were the ones that everyone had love for each other and had fun,” Towns told ESPN. “Things that seem minuscule — joking around, laughing, conversing, all those things that seem childish — that is what builds camaraderie.”

The locker room aura has become lighter since Butler’s locker was cleaned out and replaced with Luol Deng’s nameplate. Towns, who is described by teammates as goofy, has gotten back to cracking jokes postgame.

Towns gifted his new teammates with winter coats.

“I am just trying to bring a different culture into Minnesota,” Towns said.

Related
Karl-Anthony Towns: ‘I’m Just a Piece on This Team’

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Right?

Not so fast says KAT: he’s apparently “just a piece on this team.”

The Jimmy Butler-to-Philadelphia trade is complete, and the #TWolves have three new players in the deal. They all have uniform numbers, but won't suit up tonight vs. Brooklyn at Target Center. Pregame blog from @BloodStrib https://t.co/VTk9p6FPy3 pic.twitter.com/K7hwmlWOJA

— Star Tribune Sports (@StribSports) November 12, 2018

The 22-year-old All-Star center’s Minnesota teammates, however, fully expect him to take on leadership duties.

Per the Star Tribune:

“First of all, I’m not one of the most important [players on the team],” Towns said. “I’m just a piece on this team. Everyone is just as important as the next. So if everyone’s doing their job and everyone is working hard, doing the little things, we make a great product. That’s first. And second, we just have to come together. We’re not doing well on defense so far this year, and we have to clean that up.”

[Anthony] Tolliver politely appeared to beg to differ. To him, Towns and Wiggins are leaders.

“What really matters is those guys understanding the responsibility of being max players,’’ Toliver said. “Being depended on every single night to bring a certain level of consistency. I think that both of them are very young. But it’s up to all of us around them to continue to bring them along on the consistency side, and on the responsibility side.

And on Towns in particular? “He’s our best player,” Tolliver said. “There is a certain responsibility that comes with contracts you get and also being very talented. People expect it every night, even though sometimes it might not be fair. But they expect him to get 30 and 20. And if he doesn’t, it’s not as good a night as they wish he could have had. That’s a part of this game, part of this league. So, whenever you sign those types of contracts, and you’re a part of a team and they’re building around you, you gotta bring it.”

Related
Andrew Wiggins: Sixers to ‘Win the East’ With Jimmy Butler

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Joel Embiid talked with Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins about Jimmy Butler. "They thought that we were definitely going to get along," Embiid told ESPN. "He wants to win. Wiggs told me that he thought that we were going to win the East for sure."

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) November 11, 2018

Butler appeared to burn every bridge in his final days with the T-Wolves, but maintained the respect of Minnesota’s locker room.

Karl-Anthony Towns adds that the All-Star shooting guard—who led the 4-9 Timberwolves in scoring at 21.3 points a game—is “one hell of a player” who will be missed.

Karl Anthony Towns: “He's one hell of a player. I don't know how many Jimmy Butlers there are in the world, so I think he'll be missed." @espn news story from Minnesota — https://t.co/aTbqUEeHsY

— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) November 11, 2018

Per ESPN:

“He’s one hell of a player,” Towns said Sunday. “I don’t know how many Jimmy Butlers there are in the world, so I think he’ll be missed.”

Towns had spent much of the two months following Butler’s trade request shooting down speculation that there was any friction between the two All-Stars. They didn’t work well together on the court, though. In Towns’ second season in the league — the last full season he played without Butler — the center averaged 25.1 points and 12.3 rebounds per game. Through nine games with Butler this season, Towns’ numbers plummeted to 15.3 points and 10.7 rebounds per game.

The Timberwolves were together on the team plane returning from Sacramento, California, when Butler found out he would be traded to the 76ers, along with Justin Patton, in exchange for Robert Covington, Dario Saric and Jerryd Bayless.

“We have a new start,” Derrick Rose said. “There’s no excuses.”

Related
Wolves Trade Jimmy Butler to 76ers for Robert Covington and Dario Saric

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With the Wolves now 4-9 and 13th in the Western Conference standings, Butler voiced his latest frustrations to The Athletic‘s Sam Amick after his team’s 110-121 loss to the Kings last night.

Amick: You played 41 minutes tonight…

Butler: That shit has to stop.

Amick: Why?

Butler: We’ve got fucking 14 other guys.

The Wolves and Butler reportedly came to an agreement before the season to play him around 32 minutes a game, but that plan has not been carried out, with the 29-year-old Butler averaging 36.1 minutes per game, and clocking over 40 minutes in his last two outings.

Rewind the clocks back a year and…this should not have been a surprise.

Butler, who is averaging 21.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.4 steals this season, may get his wish any day now.

RELATED: 
Jimmy Butler: ‘I’m in Minnesota for the Time Being’

The post Jimmy Butler on Heavy Minutes Load: ‘That S*** Has to Stop’ appeared first on SLAM.

Butler told reporters he feels “fortunate to be able to play basketball every day” with his T-Wolves teammates.

Here's @ChristopherHine's report from San Antonio, where he was at #shootaround and talked to Jimmy Butler. "I’m fortunate to be able to play basketball every day with these incredible group of guys," Butler said. https://t.co/SHLsBU6StI pic.twitter.com/IfgKwFmuuq

— RandBall (@RandBall) October 17, 2018

The All-Star guard finished with 23 points (on 9-23 shooting) and seven rebounds in the Timberwolves’ 112-108 road loss to the San Antonio Spurs.

Per the Star Tribune:

“I have no worries in the world,” Butler said after shootaround Wednesday. “I’m fortunate to be able to play basketball every day with these incredible group of guys and seriously just going out and playing basketball.”

If you watched the Wolves after shootaround Wednesday you might think there was nothing abnormal about the start to the season. Teammates were joking around, Butler included, before boarding their bus back to their hotel. But the Wolves find themselves in an awkward position to start the year with Butler wanting out of town. But for Wednesday, they had a game to play.

“I just want to hoop and be out there with my soldiers, go to war, try to the best of my ability help us win,” Butler said.

Related
Jimmy Butler: ‘Sure, Boo Me’

The post Jimmy Butler: ‘I Just Want to Hoop and Be Out There With My Soldiers’ appeared first on SLAM.

Kevin Garnett: not a fan of Glen Taylor pic.twitter.com/3mdnExc6A8

— /r/NBA (@NBA_Reddit) October 16, 2018

“He’s dealing with Glen, who doesn’t know s–t about basketball,” Garnett said during a TNT interview Tuesday night. “He know how to make money, but he don’t know anything about basketball. I wouldn’t say that he’s the best basketball mind.”

And Butler has only made things worse with his public criticism of teammates and the front-office in Minnesota, according to Garnett.

KG joins the TNT crew to share his thoughts on Jimmy Butler and the Timberwolves. pic.twitter.com/3hk68QuUSB

— KG's Area 21 (@KGArea21) October 16, 2018

KG gives his perspective on how he believes the Jimmy Butler situation will impact the T-Wolves this season pic.twitter.com/djrmuzEoOl

— KG's Area 21 (@KGArea21) October 16, 2018

Taylor and the All-Star guard have agreed that the franchise will continue to explore trade options.

Per the Star Tribune:

“The latest is he is going to be going to practice every day, which he has been, and plans to play in games,” said Taylor. “He will be a regular team player. What I said to him in the meantime is our GM, Scott Layden, will be talking to other teams to see if there is a trade that works.”

Is Taylor committed to trading Butler?

“Yes. I think [Butler has] made it very clear that he would not re-sign with us at the end of the year and therefore it is in our interest to get a trade so that we can get a player or two to replace him that helps our team,” Taylor said.

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Kevin Garnett: Jimmy Butler Saga a ‘Sh*t Storm’

The post Kevin Garnett: T-Wolves Owner ‘Doesn’t Know Sh*t About Basketball’ appeared first on SLAM.

Butler, who is looking for a trade out of Minnesota, says the hostility will only make him smile more.

Jimmy Butler practices again with Wolves, as opener nears. https://t.co/p03rQ10Wfd

— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) October 15, 2018

The 29-year-old NBA All-Star is expected to be in the T-Wolves’ starting lineup on Opening Night this week.

Per the AP:

“They want me to go out here and hoop to the best of my abilities,” Butler said. “Make sure I’m healthy, compete, because that’s what I love to do, and do it for the guys in the same jerseys as me.”

The Wolves face Cleveland in their first home game on Friday, and the crowd at Target Center that cheered so loudly for Butler in his standout debut season in Minnesota is more than likely to produce the opposite reaction if he plays against the Cavaliers, considering the dysfunction his demand has caused.

“Sure, boo me,” Butler said. “Ain’t going to change the way I play. Probably going to make me smile more. Please, come with it.”

Related
Kevin Garnett: Jimmy Butler Saga a ‘Sh*t Storm’

The post Jimmy Butler: ‘Sure, Boo Me’ appeared first on SLAM.

KG believes both Jimmy Butler and the Timberwolves’ front-office are being “delusional.”

Exclusive: Kevin Garnett on the Jimmy Butler saga — 'It's a shit storm up there' https://t.co/MZ9Siezg6F

— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) October 12, 2018

The future Hall of Famer spent 12 seasons in Minny, and wonders aloud if Butler “has enough juice” to hold the franchise hostage with a trade demand.

Per The Athletic:

“I think both sides are a little delusional,” Garnett said. “I think Jimmy thinks his worth is a little more than what it is. He’s a very good player. I don’t see him on the (Kevin Durant) and LeBron (James) level. But if they are A-plus, he’s definitely A, A-minus.

“I don’t know if he had the power to come out and force a trade like this. He can be disruptive, but I don’t know if he actually had the clout to come out and do that. I don’t know if Jimmy has enough juice to be that.”

[…]

“I’ve always wanted better for not only the city and the franchise, but [Andrew Wiggins], [Karl-Anthony Towns], those are my guys,” Garnett said. “I root for those guys. Gorgui Dieng. Those are my guys. I’m just hoping they can get through this rough patch and everybody can get on the same patch and figure it out. It’s a s— storm up there.

“I never requested a trade because I viewed ‘Sota as mine. I built this house. I’m not leaving this g– d— house. You can get the f— up out of here. You don’t like it, then leave … If you don’t want to be here, get the f— up out of here, man. Guys know this. Guys know what you sign up for. I never asked for a trade because I never wanted to be traded.”

Related
Jimmy Butler Held Players-Only Meeting With T-Wolves Teammates

The post Kevin Garnett: Jimmy Butler Saga a ‘Sh*t Storm’ appeared first on SLAM.

Butler told his Timberwolves teammates that his problems are largely with Minnesota’s front office, which has yet to fulfill his trade demand.

Sources on @TheAthleticNBA @WatchStadium: Several players spoke up in players-only meeting, but Butler led it, made known his issues with management. His message was similar to one he displayed Wednesday: I run this. He's far too competitive to sit real games. https://t.co/Cwo8OCFY8m

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 11, 2018

The T-Wolves called off practice with no reason given for the last-minute change.

Per ESPN:

Butler said he reiterated to players in the meeting that his issues were with management and not his teammates.

At least one member of the Timberwolves, however, disputed that it was a players-only meeting. Guard Jeff Teague, in his second year with the team, tweeted “it wasn’t no players meeting,” after the first reports surfaced.

Butler said in Wednesday’s interview with ESPN that the source of his discontent is what he sees as the team’s lack of a commitment to winning.

“I think that’s the part everybody doesn’t see,” Butler said. “I’m not going to say no names. I’m going to be honest, if your number one priority isn’t winning, people can tell. That’s the battle. Now there is a problem between people. That’s where the disconnect is.”

Related
Jimmy Butler Says He Plays the Hardest in Minnesota

The post Jimmy Butler Held Players-Only Meeting With T-Wolves Teammates appeared first on SLAM.

The All-Star guard made an explosive return to practice Wednesday, and he was brutally-honest during and after the run.

Here's an abridged version of my conversation with Jimmy Butler. We'll have more on #TheJump at 3p ET/noon PT on ESPN (including a little backstory on "keep that same energy") https://t.co/Bkzc1y5SRO

— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) October 11, 2018

Butler expressed some regret about how he handled himself, but made it clear that his team could benefit from that sort of unrestrained passion.

Per ESPN:

So do you think it was the wrong thing to do, or was it an OK thing to do?

Butler: “I think that I was honest. Was I brutally honest? Yes. But I think that that’s the problem. Everybody’s so scared to be honest with one another. If you didn’t like the way I handled myself in practice, one of the players come up to me. Somebody say something, anybody. I’m not gonna take it as offense, it’s not personal. “Jimmy, you shouldn’t have done that.” “Yeah, you probably right,” and I would’ve said, “I ain’t hooped in I don’t know how long. I’m passionate about it. I love the game and I love to win.” And that’s all I was out there doing. I went into practice today and I competed.”

Well, look, your two most high-profile teammates — KAT and Andrew Wiggins — according to this, you got into it with them today too.

Butler: “But I was seeing red. Whatever color was in front of my eyes, I was — it was emotion, it was passion. That’s what it was. And to tell you the truth, this is the truth. I didn’t go at those two. One of them came at me. One of ’em came at me and I just …”

Which one?

Butler: “KAT. KAT came at me. We’re up in practice and he said, ‘Anybody can get this work!’ I said, ‘Do it to me.’ That’s all that I said. I said, “Every time I get switched out onto you, you pass it.” I’m a competitor, I’m in here talking, come at me. If you score on me, I’m gonna tap you on your butt. You got the best of me — but you got to do it every time. Am I being tough on him? Yeah! Yeah, that’s who I am. I’m not the most talented player. Who’s the most talented player on our team? KAT. Who’s the most god-gifted player on our team? Wigs. Wigs got the longest arms, the biggest hands, can jump the highest, can run the fastest. But like who plays the hardest? Me. I play hard. I play really hard. I put my body on the line every damn practice. Every day in the games. That’s my passion. That’s how I give to the game. That’s how I give to you guys.”

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Report: Jimmy Butler Screamed ‘You Can’t Win Without Me’ at Timberwolves’ Practice

The post Jimmy Butler Says He Plays the Hardest in Minnesota appeared first on SLAM.

Taj Gibson spent a lot of time with Butler this summer, and was floored when the news landed.

Taj Gibson and Derrick Rose have been through a lot with Jimmy Butler over the years. They want to support him no matter what he decides but they’re even a little surprised how quickly the news of his trade demand came down. https://t.co/FfEFButNqj

— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) September 29, 2018

Derrick Rose was also surprised that Butler’s relationship with the Timberwolves had deteriorated to the point of no return.

Per ESPN:

“At the end of the day, you’ve got to look at it from a player’s standpoint and a business standpoint,” Gibson told ESPN after Friday’s practice. “He’s trying to do what he got to do, but everybody’s calling him. It’s more of a [situation where] I’ve got to go see him kind of thing. But I worked out with him all summer, so when I said what I meant, it was like a right hook. I didn’t see it coming. I didn’t know. I thought — it looked like from everything things were going good. But sometimes it’s a money aspect, and fans and different players got to understand that. I understand that with being in the league for so many years, but got to try to just see what we can do.

“… One thing about everybody who’s here, from the coaching staff, players, everybody’s familiar with each other, we’ve been through a lot together, so we just got to keep trying.”

Gibson, who has a close relationship with Butler dating to their time with the Chicago Bulls, said he has tried to give Butler space to make his decisions over the past couple of weeks. Despite Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau’s best efforts to keep his team focused on the present, the Butler saga remains at the forefront of the minds of players and coaches.

“Now in the NBA, everybody has a little bit of freedom to do a little more of what they want,” Rose told ESPN. “And he’s expressing that he don’t want to be here and he want to go somewhere else. I mean, Kawhi [Leonard] did it last year, didn’t he? Like he just didn’t play. Jimmy just came out and said he didn’t want to play here. I had so much [stuff] going on, I couldn’t even focus on what was really going on with the team. I signed early, and I left everything up to Thibs. [Butler’s trade demand] was just a surprise, not only to me, I think to everyone that he wanted to leave. … I didn’t know what the situation is. I just didn’t know it was that bad. Even being here, I didn’t know it was that bad.”

Related
Report: Timberwolves’ Asking Price for Jimmy Butler Is Too High

The post ‘It Was Like a Right Hook’: Jimmy Butler’s Teammates Surprised By Trade Demand appeared first on SLAM.

The owner of the Timberwolves, however, appears to be at odds with his own front-office, which wants to take a much more cautious approach with the disgruntled All-Star guard.

ESPN story on the latest in the trade circus surrounding Minnesota All-Star Jimmy Butler. https://t.co/uzPYgn4mir

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 23, 2018

Taylor and Butler both would prefer a deal to be completed prior to Tuesday, the team’s first day of practice.

Per ESPN:

So far, few franchises, if any, are engaged in serious conversations with the Timberwolves on Butler, sources said. But the list of organizations interested in talking further with Minnesota is significant, league sources said: Brooklyn, Detroit, Houston, the LA Clippers, Miami, Philadelphia, Portland and Sacramento are among the teams interested in probing for deals.

So far, Pat Riley and Miami have been as aggressive as any team, league sources said.

“The owner’s trading him,” one board of governors source told ESPN. “That was made clear. It’s just a matter of when.”

“He basically said, ‘If you don’t get anywhere with [Layden] and you’ve got something good, bring it to me,” another high-ranking league official told ESPN.

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The post T-Wolves Owner Reportedly Wants Jimmy Butler Quickly Traded appeared first on SLAM.

Cap’n Jack took offense to Wiggins’ brother celebrating the news of Butler’s trade demand.

Andrew Wiggins' brother!!!! pic.twitter.com/uyJHH9FtVy

— Sherwob Holmes (@World_Wide_Wob) September 19, 2018

View this post on Instagram

my bad y’all don’t like the truth. I’m going to bed. Got 6am and . Love to all GN World. #GBG GetBetterGang

A post shared by Stephen Jackson (@_stak5_) on Sep 19, 2018 at 8:09pm PDT

Wiggins responded by calling Jackson a “bum ass.”

View this post on Instagram

Have a good yr lil one. This ain’t the smoke u won’t. God bless. Somebody @ Lil one for me. Wish u the best. #GBG #BoyStop #TruthHurts

A post shared by Stephen Jackson (@_stak5_) on Sep 19, 2018 at 9:04pm PDT

Butler, meanwhile, seemed to take the over-wrought drama in stride.

Jimmy hit 'em with that

(via @JimmyButler) pic.twitter.com/um2XxM2aLG

— Yahoo Sports NBA (@YahooSportsNBA) September 20, 2018

The NBA is the best.

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Report: Jimmy Butler Requests Trade from Timberwolves

The post Andrew Wiggins and Stephen Jackson Beef Over Jimmy Butler Trade Request appeared first on SLAM.

Butler is eligible to sign an extension with Minnesota during the offseason, but Wiggins is on the Wolves‘ books for five more years. Can the two co-exist long-term?

Sources familiar with the situation told Sporting News that Butler is uncertain about playing with Wiggins — Butler had problems last season with Wiggins, his work ethic and his approach on the defensive end of the floor.

Thibodeau has had similar problems with Wiggins in the past, too, and he had some hope that bringing a tough-minded veteran like Butler into the locker room would spur Wiggins to improve. It didn’t.

RELATED:
Report: Andrew Wiggins Unhappy Being Timberwolves’ Third Option

The post Report: Jimmy Butler ‘Uncertain’ About Playing With Andrew Wiggins appeared first on SLAM.

Andrew Wiggins admits he 'didn't have the best season,' says 'next year will be better' https://t.co/3OvUJzmgda via @pioneerpress

— jace frederick (@JaceFrederick) May 3, 2018

Wiggins pointed to cutting down on turnovers as a specific area he needs to address this summer.

The Minnesota Timberwolves inked the 23-year-old to a five-year, $146 million contract extension last fall.

Per the Pioneer Press:

In his final performance of the season, a 122-104 loss in Houston, Wiggins tallied 14 points on 5-for-14 shooting, committed two turnovers and had not a single assist.

“I kept losing the ball a lot,” Wiggins said. “Just got to take it into the summer and use it as motivation.”

“I didn’t have the best season,” Wiggins admitted. “Learned a lot, but I don’t think I had the best season. It’s motivation for the summer.”

[Tom] Thibodeau noted this summer “won’t be clouded” for Wiggins. Last offseason featured his highly-publicized contract negotiations with the Wolves. Thibodeau said that “probably took something away from him. You’re not going to be approaching things maybe the same way. So this summer will be great.”

The post Andrew Wiggins: ‘I Didn’t Have the Best Season’ appeared first on SLAM.

According to KSTP’s Darren Wolfson, Wiggins has “whispered to teammates” about his dissatisfaction with his role.

https://twitter.com/DerekJamesNBA/status/973958329117626374

RELATED:
Andrew Wiggins: ‘Me and Jimmy Butler are Going to Be a Problem’

The post Report: Andrew Wiggins Unhappy Being Timberwolves’ Third Option appeared first on SLAM.

Barrett, a 6-7 small forward, led Montverde Academy to a perfect 31-0 record thus far. Last summer, he led Canada to the gold medal at the 2017 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup, a run that included an upset victory over Team USA in the semifinals.

See below for the official announcement from the Atlanta Tipoff Club:

Earlier this week, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced that Montverde coach Kevin Boyle was named the 2018 Naismith High School Coach of the Year award winner. This marks the third time ever that the Player of the Year and Coach of the Year have come from the same school. Previously, Satch Sullinger (COY) and Jared Sullinger (POY) from Northland High School in Columbus, Ohio won in 2010 while in 2016 Steve Baik (COY) and Lonzo Ball (POY) took home the awards to Chino Hill High School in Chino Hills, California.

Barrett is also ranked the No. 1 player in boys’ high school basketball and is the second player from Montverde Academy to win the Player of the Year title in the past four seasons (Ben Simmons, 2015).  Barrett’s team is 31-0 and hopes to continue its streak at the High School Basketball National Tournament in New York City later this month. He will be the third high school award winner to go on to play collegiately at Duke University, tying UCLA and Georgia Tech, following Shane Battier (Detroit Country Day, Beverly Hills, Michigan) in 1997 and Austin Rivers (Winter Park High School, Orlando, Florida) in 2011.

“It is an honour to receive the Naismith Player of the Year award,” said Barrett. “I want to thank God, my family, friends, teammates, coaches and the Montverde community, as well as all the people who voted for me.”

The post Duke Commit R.J. Barrett Wins 2018 HS Naismith Player of the Year Award appeared first on SLAM.

Minnesota’s big three responded to a disheartening loss on Friday night by going out and putting numbers on the board. Karl-Anthony Towns went off for 32 points and 12 rebounds, Jimmy Butler scored 25 points and Andrew Wiggins added 21 points.

KAT (32 PTS, 12 REBS) tallies his league-leading 16th double-double of the season in the @Timberwolves' W! #AllEyesNorth pic.twitter.com/fVWWOhFRCk

— NBA (@NBA) November 26, 2017

Taj Gibson pulled down 14 rebounds (7 offensive and 7 defensive) to help the Timberwolves bully the Suns on the glass. The big three combined to score 78 total points. Besides winning the glass, the Wolves also came up with 12 steals that led to 30 points off turnovers.

For the Suns, Mike James came off the bench to score 26 points while Devin Booker sat with an injured right big toe.

Heat 100 (10-9), Bulls 93 (3-15)

The Heat scored just seven points in the first quarter, the fewest in team history for an opening period. But they got cooking in the second and fourth quarters, scoring a combined 74 points in those frames.

Miami had only five players for the entirety of the fourth and Goran Dragic had 14 of his 24 points in those 12 minutes. James Johnson added 11 points, too, and they shot 67 percent to close the game out and win their third straight.

Dragic scores 24 PTS, including 14 in the fourth, to propel the @MiamiHeat to their 3rd straight victory! #HEATCulture pic.twitter.com/IIVvd1MSHX

— NBA (@NBA) November 26, 2017

Nets 98 (6-12), Grizzlies 88 (7-12)

The Grizzlies have lost eight in a row. Despite a tie game at halftime, Memphis lost tonight’s third quarter, 32-18, and never made it back into the game. The Grizzlies haven’t lost eight straight since February 11-March 3, 2009, according to NBA.com.

DeMarre Carroll scored a season-best 24 points for the Nets.

DeMarre Carroll lifts the @BrooklynNets to victory with a season-high 24 PTS! #WeGoHard pic.twitter.com/BxJIHhqnIP

— NBA (@NBA) November 27, 2017

The post Post Up: Run With the Wolves appeared first on SLAM.

After dropping the first two games of the season, Boston has now reeled off 5 straight Ws.

The Spurs, on the other hand, have reeled off 3 straight Ls after winning their first 4 games.

To be fair, there wasn’t much they could have done to stop Kyrie Irving.

Handle on full display, Kyrie had 6 assists to go with his 24 points (10-16 FG).

Kyrie's passing is on another level (via @celtics) https://t.co/emiU7TGPnv

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 31, 2017

Another one (via @celtics) pic.twitter.com/XfVrJAXDAk

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) October 31, 2017

Wolves 125 (4-3), Heat 122 (2-4) (OT)

We don’t normally focus on sneakers in the Post Up, but Karl-Anthony Towns was on point with these custom Halloween Hyperdunks.

KAT goes with the custom Nike Hyperdunks to celebrate Halloween pic.twitter.com/01J4kmFozp

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 31, 2017

After falling down by 12 in the second quarter, the Wolves battled back as the teams went back in fourth in the final minute.

Andrew Wiggins had one of the great dunks of the season on Josh Richardson that all but nailed the coffin shut.

WIGGINS (via @Timberwolves) https://t.co/wCzjnaPhpB

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 31, 2017

But of course, Miami had Dion Waiters, who lest we forget, lives for the clutch moments.

Waiters had 14 points in the final five minutes of the game, including this layup on Jimmy Butler that sent the game into OT.

Waiters layup sends it to OT (via @MiamiHEAT) pic.twitter.com/N6pggMRvOh

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) October 31, 2017

Minnesota got off to a quick start in the extra period, and Jeff Teague (23 points, 11 assists, 6 steals) hit a big trey to put the game out of reach.

The Heat are now on a three-game losing streak with Hassan Whiteside sidelined.

Nuggets 110 (3-4), Knicks 116 (3-3)

Chanting MVP as Kristaps Porzingis sealed the win at the foul line, Knicks fans have all but forgotten the infamous night when they booed KP during the 2015 Draft.

Then as now, Porzingis handled it all with class, proving that he had the chops to take over in New York.

And take over he has. Porzingis dropped a career-high 38 points, outdueling Nuggets star Nikola Jokic, to lead the Knicks to a three-game win streak.

from waaaay downtown (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/tVV9p7XCP1

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 31, 2017

KP has now scored at least 30 points in five of the Knicks’ six games. He’s on fire.

Porzingis has recorded 30+ points in five of the Knicks' six games pic.twitter.com/nfGIWi6V6R

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 31, 2017

Sixers 115 (3-4), Rockets 107 (5-3)

Philly’s two-game Texas road trip couldn’t have gone any better.

After dominating the Mavs on Saturday, the Sixers came into Houston and had the lead for the entire game.

Houston cut Philly’s lead to 3 late in the game, when Ben Simmons (24, 9 assists, 7 boards) decided to take matters into his own hands.

Take it all the way young fella! https://t.co/tVGd13KR8Q

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) October 31, 2017

Joel Embiid, who played despite having a hand contusion, couldn’t be stopped in his 25 minutes: 22 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists.

Philly looks like a playoff team with Embiid on the floor.

Hornets 104 (4-3), Grizzlies 99 (5-2)

After beating the Magic last night, Charlotte knocked off the No. 1 team in the West (by record).

Kemba Walker scored 27 points as the Hornets outscored the Grizzlies by 14 in the fourth quarter.

Magic 115 (5-2), Pelicans 99 (3-4)

The Magic bounced back from a loss in Charlotte with a quality W in New Orleans.

With Aaron Gordon and Jonathan Isaac both in foul trouble, Marreese Speights stepped up to score 18 points off the bench.

Jonathon Simmons, Evan Fournier and Nikola Vucevic all scored 20 points apiece.

It’ll be interesting to see if the return of Elfrid Payton has any negative effects on Orlando’s No. 2 offense.

Mavs 89 (1-7), Jazz 104 (4-3)

Dallas held a 14-point lead late in the second quarter, and it was all downhill from there.

Utah outscored the Mavs by 17 in the third quarter, and it was essentially a wrap.

Rudy Gobert had 17 points, 12 boards, 6 blocks and 6 assists. Wow.

Raptors 99 (4-2), Blazers 85 (4-3)

Toronto got their first quality win of the season with a blowout W on the road in Portland.

Even without Jonas Valanciunas and Serge Ibaka, the Raptors managed to hold the Blazers to just 6 second-quarter points. Yes, you read that correctly.

DeMar DeRozan (25 points) and Kyle Lowry (19, 10 rebounds) did their thing, but it was Bebe Nogueira who stepped up with 17 points (7-8 FG), 9 boards and 5 blocks.

Warriors 141 (5-3), Clippers 113 (4-2)

The way Golden State was playing, no team could have beaten them tonight.

After losing their third game of the season with a L to the Pistons on Sunday, the Warriors played easily their best game of the season against their once-rivals.

The starters only played three quarters, and that’s all Stephen Curry needed to drop 31 points. He ended the third with this dagger buzzer-beater.

Steph ended the third quarter with 31 points (via @warriors) pic.twitter.com/VmDEicIDxF

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 31, 2017

The post Post Up: Year of the Unicorn appeared first on SLAM.

In Los Angeles, the Pelicans got their first win of the season with Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins leading the way in the Nike Air Max Dominate. Lonzo Ball dropped a near triple-double in his BBB ZO2 Prime Remix while Jordan Clarkson led the Lakers in scoring in the Nike Kobe A.D. Mid “Optimism.”

Out in Brooklyn, D’Angelo Russell led the Nets to a victory over the Hawks in an all-white pair of the Nike Kyrie 3.

Check out the rest of Sunday’s best NBA kicks just ahead.

Related
Post Up: Wiggins and the Wolves Win in OKC

Photos via Getty Images

The post NBA Kicks of the Night appeared first on SLAM.

The Nets were able to hold off a fourth quarter comeback attempt from the Hawks after D’Angelo Russell stepped up to hit a pair of clutch jumpers. Russell, who had 10 dimes, was part of a balanced scoring effort by the Brooklyn boys. He and Caris LeVert both scored 16 points, DeMarre Carroll put in 17 and Allen Crabbe added 20 off the bench.

D-Lo Caris. Young Nets out and running (via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/ZKbczSxq6s

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 22, 2017

Dennis Schroder went down with an ankle injury in the fourth quarter.

Timberwolves 115 (2-1), Thunder 113 (1-2)

Russell Westbrook was just about unstoppable in the fourth quarter. His 15 fourth quarter points spearheaded the Thunder’s comeback after they were losing 88-75 after the third.

Westbrook ended up with 31 points, complemented by 23 from Carmelo Anthony and 14 from Paul George. Carmelo hit a three-ball from the left wing with 5.1 seconds remaining to give OKC a one-point lead. But Andrew Wiggins wasn’t going to be denied. He pulled up from just inside halfcourt and banked in a buzzer-beating jumpshot to give the Timberwolves the win.

Andrew Wiggins goes glass to send the Thunder home!!! (via @nbatv) pic.twitter.com/4GlkaMVuaQ

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 23, 2017

He and Karl-Anthony Towns both scored 27 for Minnesota. They were helped out by 19 points and 9 assists from Jeff Teague, 15 points and 6 assists from Jimmy Butler and 11 points and 10 rebounds from Taj Gibson.

Pelicans 119 (1-2), Lakers 112 (1-2)

Jordan Clarkson led a furious comeback, an extended 29-6 run, that helped the Lakers overcome a 22-point deficit to take a five-point lead in the fourth. The Pelicans opened up their lead throughout the first three quarters by pounding the paint and giving Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins plenty of touches.

Nah, how'd AD pull this off? (via @nbatv) pic.twitter.com/BVpeDzJKru

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 23, 2017

But Clarkson, Kyle Kuzma and Julius Randle didn’t quit. It took big shots from E’Twaun Moore and Jameer Nelson (in his first game with the Pels) to put the Lakers down.

Davis finished with 27 points, 17 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 blocks, Cousins added 22 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists. The young Lakers got plenty of contributions in the losing effort. Clarkson had 24 points and 5 dimes off the bench, while Kuzma scored 20 points and Lonzo Ball filled up the stat sheet, registering 13 assists, 8 rebounds and 8 points.

The post Post Up: Timberwolves Escape Oklahoma City appeared first on SLAM.

Andrew Wiggins goes glass to send the Thunder home!!! (via @nbatv) pic.twitter.com/4GlkaMVuaQ

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 23, 2017

Both Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns scored 27 points for the Timberwolves, outlasting a 31-point performance from Russell Westbrook.

The post Andrew Wiggins Banks in Game-Winning Three Pointer Against Thunder appeared first on SLAM.

According to The Vertical’s Shams Charania, there’s no player option on the deal.

Andrew Wiggins' Minnesota final extension terms: five-year, $146.5M max deal — with no player option, league source tells The Vertical.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 11, 2017

Wiggins cut ties with his agent who negotiated the max deal back in August, but was long expected sign the extension.

Per team press release:

The Minnesota Timberwolves announced the team has signed forward Andrew Wiggins to a multi-year contract extension. Per team policy, terms of the contract agreement were not released. […]

 

“I’m very excited to continue my career with the Timberwolves,” said Wiggins. “I love it here. The fans and organization have supported me from my first day here in Minnesota. I want to thank Glen Taylor, Tom Thibodeau, the entire coaching staff and my teammates for believing in me.

 

“We’ve had some good times over the last three seasons, but the best is yet to come. I look forward to doing right by them and bringing this team to the postseason.”

RELATED:
Andrew Wiggins: ‘Me and Jimmy Butler are Going to Be a Problem’

The post Andrew Wiggins Agrees To 5-Year, $146.5 Million Max Extension With Wolves appeared first on SLAM.

Butler will let Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau handle the yelling.

From minivan to Gulfstream with Jimmy Butler, for the @SInow NBA preview: https://t.co/gRZFXCrrgk

— Lee Jenkins (@SI_LeeJenkins) October 10, 2017

Butler, 28, says he was “too emotional, too confrontational” in the Windy City.

Per SI:

Andrew Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns and the Timberwolves can expect to hear a similar mantra for the next six months. Butler believes Thibodeau has mellowed a bit since the Chicago days (“He’s still up and yelling, don’t get me wrong, but he’s gained this whole human element”) and ponders whether he can do the same. Criticism of Butler’s leadership in Chicago was poorly timed, but not unfounded. His tongue-lashings can actually be harsher than Thibodeau’s. Butler gives an example: “What are you doing right now? What is going on in your mind? Who the f— do you think you are? If you shoot that ball again, I’m throwing it upside your head.” Butler pauses to assess his words. “O.K., that’s what I’d want to hear. But not everybody is the same, and right now, you’re probably scared of me and want to be left alone.”

 

Like [Kevin Garnett] with Flip Saunders, Butler can address Thibodeau on the sideline and channel him in the locker room. “I’m able to tell Thibs, ‘Chill out, I’ll talk to Karl,’” Butler says. “And I’m able to tell Karl, ‘If you come off the ball screen, I need you to be up, I can’t have you back. That’s what Thibs wants.’” The Timberwolves, despite their glut of young talent, did not resemble a Thibodeau team in Year 1. They finished 20 games under .500 and 28th in field goal percentage defense. Enter Butler, a stopper, scorer and emerging playmaker who transforms a promising collective into a potent core. “Great intensity, great passion,” Towns says. “I just don’t know if I’m going to listen to the country.”

 

“I’m not going to do what I did before,” Butler vows. “I can’t be like, ‘Look, motherf——, here’s what we’re gonna do.’ I was too emotional, too confrontational.”

Related
Andrew Wiggins: ‘Me and Jimmy Butler are Going to Be a Problem’

The post Jimmy Butler Aims to Be a Better Teammate in Minnesota appeared first on SLAM.

Andrew Wiggins’ first comments today: “Me and Jimmy [Butler] are going to be a problem.” #Twolves

— John Meyer (@thedailywolf) September 22, 2017

Wiggins isn’t the only player in Minnesota with high hopes for the 2017-18 campaign.

KAT: "I made a promise to Flip Saunders that we would win and end the playoff drought. And I intend to keep that promise."

— Jon Krawczynski (@APkrawczynski) September 22, 2017

The 22-year-old fired his agent and is patiently negotiating a five-year, $148 million max deal with the Minny on his own.

Per the Star Tribune:

“Just want to make sure, take my time — there’s no rush,” the fourth-year guard said Friday as the team gathered at their practice facility before flying to San Diego to begin practices on Saturday.

 

Wiggins, entering the final season of his rookie deal, will be the highest paid athlete in Minnesota history.

 

“That’s what hard work does,” Wiggins said. “I’ve been working my whole life for this contract.

 

“I’ve missed one game in three years. I’m not too worried about getting injured.”

The post Andrew Wiggins: ‘Me and Jimmy Butler are Going to Be a Problem’ appeared first on SLAM.

The Wiggins 5-years, $148M extension is expected to be done before Saturday's 1st practice, per a chat I had w/ owner Glen Taylor. #Twolves

— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) September 18, 2017

T-Wolves owner Glen Taylor expects to have “something worked out” in short order.

Wiggins, 22, averaged 23.6 points and four rebounds last season.

Per 1500 ESPN:

Andrew Wiggins’ five-year, $148 million contract extension with the Timberwolves is expected to be done before the opening practice of training camp on Saturday.

 

“He’s indicated he wants to get it done,” Taylor said. “I wouldn’t be surprised that you’ll hear something worked out this week.”

 

Wiggins, who has yet to hire a new agent after firing Bill Duffy from that role, averaged 23.6 points per game last season to finish second on the Wolves in scoring. He also grabbed 4 rebounds and had 2.3 assists per game.

Related
Andrew Wiggins Says He Deserves ‘Nothing Less’ Than Max Deal

The post Report: T-wolves Finalizing Max Deal With Andrew Wiggins appeared first on SLAM.

With Kobe Bryant playing defense, Wiggins took two dribbles, gave a little shoulder fake and buried a turnaround jumper to cut the deficit to three as Bryant tried to contest the shot. The two exchanged words on the opposite end of the court, and Bryant, who made a myriad of those mid-range jumpers throughout his career, told Wiggins how much that move—from the dribbles to the shot to the back-peddling—looked familiar.

Wiggins finished the night with 30, but the Wolves would end up losing. Despite the outcome, Wolves fans could appreciate the fact the 2014 No. 1 Draft pick, who landed in Minnesota after a trade that sent Kevin Love to Cleveland, was going at Bryant. Now, when Wiggins is on the floor, shots like the one he hit over Bryant have become the norm.

In 2015, Wiggins first made his #SLAMTop50 debut at No. 38 and moved up to No. 31 last year, but comes in at 36 on this year’s list. As he prepares to enter his fourth season, two things (OK, one for sure right now) will look different: his teammates and his contract.

This offseason, the Wolves acquired Jeff Teague, Jamal Crawford, Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson—four veterans with experience in the Playoffs, a place Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns have yet to visit. The last time the Wolves played in the postseason, Wiggins and Towns were in elementary school. With the new additions, the Wolves could potentially be in a position to break the 14-year drought.

In regards to his contract, reports came out in July that the Wolves were working on something along the lines of a five-year, $148 million extension. Glen Taylor, the team’s owner, told the Associated Press that the 22-year-old star “can’t be paid for what he’s doing today,” and that he needs 100 percent commitment—especially with his defense and rebounding—before going forward with the process to give Wiggins the max.

At 6-8 with a seven-foot wingspan, Wiggins has all the intangibles to be in the discussion for top two-way players under 25, but his play on the defensive side still raises some concerns. The positive to this is that during training camp, which is right around the corner, he can soak up knowledge from someone like Butler who knows a thing or two about defense.

In terms of rebounding, there’s no question Wiggins can easily grab eight to 10 boards a game, but he averaged a mere four rebounds per game last season. Will Wiggins make it a priority to up his rebounding numbers this season? Not sure. Many can argue that guys like Gibson, Towns, Gorgui Dieng and Cole Aldrich, the team’s key assets in the paint, already fulfill all of the rebounding duties.

When it comes to points, Wiggins has excelled in that field since he entered the League after spending one year at Kansas. Last season, he averaged a career-high 24 ppg, shooting 45 percent from the field and 35 percent from deep while playing 37 mpg. Wiggins ranked in the top 10 last season in two-point field goals made. Also, 23 percent of his points came from the mid-range area, as he shoots 44 percent from the left side of the court—his bread and butter.

In shots 10 to 16 feet from the basket, Wiggins shot 36.5 percent, and 38 percent on shots further than that, according to Basketball Reference. With Teague and Butler on the team, more opportunities for Wiggins to get more looks from the 3-point line will likely open up when Teague collapses the defense on dribble-drives and Butler hits the extra pass on the perimeter. In regards to corner threes, Wiggins shot 45 percent from the right side and 30 percent from the left side, respectively.

Although the Timberwolves won’t be under the same media microscope as the Cavaliers, Celtics, Rockets and Thunder, they’ll have tabs kept on them to see if the organization benefitted from its offseason acquisitions, or if Wiggins was deserving of getting all those M’s (assuming he gets the max).

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 31
2015: No. 38
2014: Not Ranked

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

No. 50 – Dion Waiters
No. 49 – Ben Simmons 
No. 48 – Brook Lopez
No. 47 — Harrison Barnes
No. 46 — Jrue Holiday
No. 45 — Lonzo Ball
No. 44 — Myles Turner
No. 43 — Goran Dragic
No. 42 — Andre Drummond
No. 41 — Al Horford
No. 40 — LaMarcus Aldridge
No. 39 — Kevin Love
No. 38 — Paul Millsap
No. 37 — Hassan Whiteside

The post SLAM Top 50: Andrew Wiggins, No. 36 appeared first on SLAM.

After agent negotiates 5-year, $148M max extension with Wolves, Andrew Wiggins cut ties. Deal is on table. Story: https://t.co/tsZlUhbwBI

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 23, 2017

Duffy says he is “disappointed” by Wiggins’ decision.

T-Wolves ownership wants a commitment to improvement from the budding 22-year-old star.

Per ESPN:

“We are disappointed that Andrew made this decision, especially after a three-year partnership where we worked closely with Andrew and his entire family,” Duffy said. “Unfortunately, tampering is a common problem in our industry, and that’s part of the reason why I’ve already been in contact with the NBPA to discuss my rights in this matter. Obviously, whenever Andrew signs the max extension that we negotiated with Minnesota, we will work with the NBPA to make sure that our interests are protected.”

 

Duffy, the chairman of BDA Sports and one of the league’s most prominent player agents, said on Tuesday he had recently been made aware of rival agencies and potential start-up enterprises that were recruiting Wiggins with inducements that included no commission fees on contracts.

 

Minnesota owner Glen Taylor recently said he was open to paying Wiggins the $148 million maximum deal, but wanted to meet with him face-to-face and share some of his expectations with Wiggins for the future. Wiggins would be the first member of the 2014 draft class to agree to his rookie extension. Class of 2014 players are eligible to sign the extension through late October.

Related
Andrew Wiggins Says He Deserves ‘Nothing Less’ Than Max Deal

The post Andrew Wiggins Fires Agent Who Negotiated Max Deal appeared first on SLAM.

With Wiggins’ marketability in question, adidas is turning its attention to signing Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer.

Per ESPN:

The brand had hoped that Timberwolves rising phenom Andrew Wiggins could fill that role, but internally there has been strong hesitation about whether Wiggins could carry his own signature shoe.

 

Antetokounmpo’s game is already more established and more accomplished, leading the company to look at making a massive offer that could steal him away from Nike.

RELATED:
T-Wolves Owner Wants Commitment from Andrew Wiggins Before Max Offer

The post Report: adidas ‘Hesitant’ To Give Andrew Wiggins a Signature Shoe appeared first on SLAM.

Wiggins “can’t be paid just for what he’s doing today,” says the Minnesota Timberwolves’ owner.

Wolves owner wants meeting with Wiggins before max contract https://t.co/S4EskoD9Hx

— Jon Krawczynski (@APkrawczynski) August 7, 2017

The former No. 1 overall NBA Draft pick averaged 23.6 points and shot 35.6 percent from 3-point range per game last season.

Per the AP:

“To me, by making this offer, I’m speculating that his contribution to the team will be more in the future,” Taylor told The Associated Press. “We’ve got to be better. He can’t be paid just for what he’s doing today. He’s got to be better.

 

“So when you’re talking about negotiations on his part, I’m already extending to him that I’m willing to meet the max. But there are some things that I need out of him, and that is the commitment to be a better player than you are today.”

 

For all of the big scoring nights he has enjoyed early in his career, he has been much more inconsistent in many other areas of his game, including defense and rebounding.

 

“I think it’s important. I don’t know what else you can do but look at the person face-to-face and trust that he will follow through,” Taylor said. “He seems like a very good person. He seems to have the ability and so the only thing it would be is for some reason he didn’t work hard enough to obtain the skill sets. That’s what you’re asking him to commit to.”

Related
Andrew Wiggins Says He Deserves ‘Nothing Less’ Than Max Deal

The post T-Wolves Owner Wants Commitment from Andrew Wiggins Before Max Offer appeared first on SLAM.

According to ESPN’s Darren Wolfson, the Cavs would want Wiggins “and more” from Minnesota.

Not Wiggins, and it'll take him and more.

— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) August 1, 2017

Word is they want more than Aldrich to make the $$ work. They want something of substance in addition to Wiggins. No trade w/ MN is close.

— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) August 1, 2017

RELATED:
Report: Karl-Anthony Towns and Jimmy Butler Lobbying for Kyrie Irving Trade

The post Report: Wolves’ Offer for Kyrie Irving Didn’t Include Andrew Wiggins appeared first on SLAM.

Even with the ridiculous weather, kids flocked to the Chelsea Theater at the Cosmopolitan Hotel, where adidas had taken over. They built out an expansive space to show off the all-new Crazy Explosive and to host a celebration of basketball.

Before experiencing the fandom, Andrew Wiggins said, “This type of event is great for kids, great for adidas, great for everybody. When I was doing AAU and we came to Vegas, we didn’t really get a chance to do this stuff.”

The “stuff” included a dunk cam that created GIFs of jams on an eight-foot hoop, drill work with pro-level trainers, a designated room to play NBA 2K17, a spot to design your own shirt, a first look at the Crazy Explosive 17 and of course, the chance to kick it with a group of the game’s biggest stars.

“I’ve been on the other side and to get the type of respect and love from those young athletes is one of those feelings that can’t be replaced, because you know they respect you for what you’ve worked so hard to get to and what you’ve accomplished,” Damian Lillard said. “It’s cool to get out there and socialize and talk to them.”

Lillard and Chiney Ogwumike, the 2014 WNBA Rookie of the Year, sat up on stage and handed out duffle bags full of gear to a swarm of kids. Jaylen Brown and Jamal Murray locked up against those brave enough to challenge them.

Brandon Ingram slowly walked through the main entrance, followed by a few Three Stripes executives, a couple of friends and a security guard. They all stepped aside when a group of young hoopers noticed the 6-9 Lakers forward and surrounded him. Ingram, still a kid himself, smiled from ear to ear.

Fresh off beating the Big Ballers, Zion Williamson and his SC Supreme AAU teammates showed up, too. Williamson patiently posed for countless pictures and he also soaked in the dunk cam–he didn’t throw any down, though.

“It’s super dope to be a part of this,” Brown said. “Stuff like this is pretty cool to you in high school when someone is doing something you want to do, so people got a lot of questions. People think they are better than you, I’m ready for it all. They want to talk to me, play me, people want to bounce things off me, I’m here.”

Like Brown, Lillard understands how much the game means to everyone.

“I’m 27 and some of these kids are 14, 15, 16,” he said. “You might have somebody’s dad out there who played back in the day and now they’re coaching and they’re 55. It’s one thing that can bring people together, it’s one thing that everybody has in common. You come here and you know everybody is gonna love hoop, and they got some type of story from hoop. They know this person for that reason, they know that person for another reason, and it’s all based around that ball. I think that’s what makes it all cool and all worth it.”

The latest Crazy Explosive silhouette introduces a sock collar into the Crazy Explosive series and combines the Three Stripes’ latest technology–Forged Primeknit–with its most popular technology–BOOST.

“It’s a shoe that kind of fits to your foot, not a shoe you have to fit into,” Brown said. “I want the shoe to move with me and I think these are a great example and adidas is getting better and better at it.”

“I love everything about it, the way it looks, the comfort level, how it feels on the court, the traction, the BOOST,” Wiggins said.

Last season, the Wolves forward took off while wearing a mostly green pair of Crazy Explosives. When he laced them up, he averaged 29 points per game in the colorway, according to Nice Kicks. 

“They kind of threw it at me, I didn’t put too much effort into designing it,” he said. “I was just interested in it. It just worked out for the best because, while I was wearing those shoes, I was scoring a lot and we were winning. They were like my good luck charm,” he said with a smile.

Alex Zerzan, Global Product Director, says that Wiggins and a whole bunch of others can look forward to colorways that continue to pop.

“Yeah, it’s going to be exciting keep your eye out on the court for when [Kristaps] Porzingis and Wiggins and Justise Winslow, Eric Gordon, Ingram, Murray are going to wear it,” he said.

Zerzan bridged the gap between the design team and the Futures Department.

“When [the Futures Department] came to us with the Forged Primeknit, we thought no better shoe to use it on than Crazy Explosive,” Zerzan said. “It allows us to take the Primeknit to a whole ‘nother level in 2017. We knew the 2016 was a performance beast, but the Forged Primeknit allowed us to make the shoe lighter, stronger and more tapered and sleek to the athlete’s foot.”

With a single-piece upper, the Forged Primeknit replaces the traditional sneaker construction that required different parts.

“So we go back 18 months, sitting in a meeting with kids and hoopers and teens and seeing what they wanted in a shoe, what they liked in the Crazy Explosive, but what they wish they would have had better or different,” Zerzan remembers. “We were tapping into this lifestyle-play. This sleek style play. Adidas is, as you know, more than just a performance brand, it’s a style brand, it’s a culture.”

“I think it’s dope what Adidas is doing here with the LVL3 event,” Brown said. “It’s basketball, but it’s using basketball as a platform for other areas. You got other stuff going on. You got musicians involved, technology involved. Basketball, it’s crazy how influential the sport of basketball is. It’s great for [the] culture.”

Related
Best Sneakers of 2016-17: adidas Crazy Explosive
Brandon Ingram Talks About His Rookie Season PEs
Candace Parker Wore Orange Crazy Explosives for Pat Summitt

The post Andrew Wiggins, Jaylen Brown and Brandon Ingram Introduce the Crazy Explosive 17 at adidas’ LVL3 appeared first on SLAM.

Andrew Wiggins: I'm worth 'nothing less' than a max contract https://t.co/160HNRGu2Z pic.twitter.com/HdhKC1VdMR

— The Crossover (@TheCrossover) July 28, 2017

Minnesota and its 22-year-old star are said to be negotiating the terms of a five-year, $148 million deal.

Wiggins believes “this year is the year” for the T-Pups.

Per SI:

“We have great pieces, we added great pieces, and we have a great coaching staff,” Wiggins told The Crossover during an interview promoting his Adidas Crazy Explosive 2017 sneakers. “I think this year is the year.”

 

While Wiggins said that he is taking a “day by day” approach to the contract discussions, he didn’t waver when asked whether he was worthy of a max contract, which could reach $148 million over five years with a starting salary of $25.5 million. “I definitely do,” Wiggins told The Crossover. “Nothing less.”
 

During Wiggins’s first three seasons, Minnesota won 16, 29 and 31 games, respectively, and he’s been passed over for All-Star consideration despite his gaudy scoring numbers and durability. Even though cracking the West’s All-Star team has gotten more difficult thanks to the East-to-West migrations of [Jimmy] Butler, Paul George and Paul Millsap, Wiggins has nevertheless set his sights on earning a trip to Los Angeles in February

 

“[Being an All-Star] is definitely is a goal,” he said. “[To make it happen], we need to win first off, play good, and make my team better. Just rebound the ball more, that’d be the most important thing [to prove to voters].”

The post Andrew Wiggins Says He Deserves ‘Nothing Less’ Than Max Deal appeared first on SLAM.

#NBA Lockdown Pod: @AminESPN @mcten & I on @KyrieIrving situation, his relationship w/ @KingJames & teams involvedhttps://t.co/4hhmGufeJr

— Jorge Sedano (@SedanoESPN) July 25, 2017

Irving recently informed the Cleveland Cavaliers that he’d like to be be moved.

Minnesota is reportedly where Kyrie wants to end up.

Per the Star Tribune:

No, it wasn’t any of the alleged drama between LeBron James and his Cavaliers teammate. Rather, it was a nugget from ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith during a radio appearance on Mike & Mike.

 

We already knew that Irving apparently has four teams he would prefer to be traded to: New York, Miami, San Antonio and Minnesota.

 

But Smith went a step further, reporting that those are indeed the four teams Irving would prefer to play for and adding, “and Minnesota is his No. 1 preference.”

 

It’s also worth wondering how well Irving would fit in with the Wolves given his seeming desire to be a clear No. 1 player on a team. The Wolves already have Karl-Anthony Towns, Jimmy Butler and Andrew Wiggins, and even if one of them was involved in a trade for Irving (Wiggins is the most likely candidate), this is a team that already has some star power.

The post Report: Karl-Anthony Towns and Jimmy Butler Lobbying for Kyrie Irving Trade appeared first on SLAM.

On Wednesday, Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau confirmed that both sides are in discussions surrounding a long-term deal, saying, “We’re working on it right now.”

Thibs on a forthcoming contract extension for Wiggins: "We're working on it right now."

— Jerry Zgoda (@JerryZgoda) July 19, 2017

From the Star Tribune:

The Wolves have until October to complete a negotiation that shouldn’t take all that much negotiating if Wiggins accepts a contract that’s expected to approach $150 million.

 

“We’re working on it right now,” Wolves coach/president of basketball operations Tom Thibodeau said Wednesday.

RELATED:
Karl-Anthony Towns says it’s time to end the playoff drought in Minnesota

The post Andrew Wiggins, Wolves Working on 5-Year Extension appeared first on SLAM.

Russell’s heroics erased monster performances by both Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins, and turned back the Minnesota Timberwolves 110-109.

The 21-year-old says that were it not for a missed flight to his hometown, he wasn’t even supposed to suit up.

D'Angelo's game-winning tribute: https://t.co/HUCZ8oEFh6 pic.twitter.com/BTw8Hg4vZi

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) April 10, 2017

Per the LA Daily News:

Russell quickly broke free of his teammates’ hugs so he could find family members, in the stands. Shortly after, Russell hugged one of his brothers, Antonio, and shed some tears over the recent passing of their grandmother.

 

“It’s just God, honestly,” said Russell, who finished with 16 points on 6-of-19 shooting, four assists and four rebounds. “I just wanted to win. For me to win the game with a game-winning shot, that’s God putting a cherry on top. A win would have been good enough.”

 

“She was a strong woman. She did a great job raising my dad,” Russell said of his grandmother. “To piggy back that, my dad did a great job raising his sons and kids in general and being a good father. That’s’ what she was put on this Earth for.”

The post Heavy-Hearted D’Angelo Russell Hits Game-Winner appeared first on SLAM.

First, the good: Washington erased a 21-point deficit behind 39p from John Wall, and 26p from Bradley Beal. With Saturday’s win, the Wizards passed Boston to claim the second seed, having now won seven of their last 10. Scott Brooks’ squad is exceeding expectations, and it’s been fun to watch.

Now, the not-so-good: Markieff Morris pretty clearly looked to have stepped out of bounds prior to hitting a game-winning jumper. The play was not reviewable, and Portland fans are stuck with a sour taste in their mouths from a controversial loss.

Markieff Morris' foot clearly on the sideline—and out of out bounds—as he catches the pass before his game-winner in OT. pic.twitter.com/b3p4DpP9Yo

— The Crossover (@TheCrossover) March 12, 2017

Nuggets 105 (30-35), Kings 92 (25-40)

Jamal Murray scored 11 fourth quarter points and Nikola Jokic added a double-double (20p, 14r), helping Denver gain ground over Portland for the Western Conference’s eighth seed. Gary Harris stepped up for the Nuggets, leading all scorers with 24 points on 10-of-15 shooting. Buddy Hield turned in a nice performance (17 points, six boards), but there weren’t many positives for Dave Joerger.

https://youtu.be/55RL3hJe8Cg

Thunder 112 (36-29), Jazz 104 (41-24)

The Brodie is on a mission. Russell Westbrook dropped 33 points with 14 dimes and 11 rebounds en route to his 32nd triple-double of the season. Victor Oladipo added 22 and Enes Kanter scored 16, spoiling quality nights from Dante Exum and Alec Burks (22 and 21 points, respectively).

https://youtu.be/h1v3mfRPjdA

Clippers 112 (39-26), 76ers 100 (23-41)

With Saturday’s W, the Clippers have now beaten Philadelphia in 10 of their last 11 games. Chris Paul led the way with 30 points, DeAndre Jordan double-doubled (20r, 19p), and Blake Griffin added 15. The Sixers battled to the finish, outscoring L.A. 37-21 in the fourth quarter; earning Doc Rivers’ respect in the process.

“I can tell you what Philly is not, and that’s the worst team,” Rivers said. “People who have never coached have no idea how hard it is to get a team that’s not winning to buy into roles. That is a near impossibility, and yet Brett [Brown] somehow pulls that off.”

Pistons 112 (32-33), Knicks 92 (26-39)

The Pistons raced to an 18-point lead in the first quarter, and never looked back. Tobias Haris scored 28 points- 23 n the first half alone- and Andre Drummond dominated the boards for a 24p/15r line. The Knicks continued their second half swoon, having now dropped seven of their last 10, managing just 11 fourth quarter points.

One of these days Phil needs to organize a "team defense clinic" for the Knicks.

— Frank Isola (@TheFrankIsola) March 11, 2017

Cavaliers 116 (42-21), Magic 104 (24-42)

The Cavs snapped a three-game skid thanks to a 24p/13a/12r triple-double from LeBron James, 22 points from Kyrie Irving, and 50% team shooting from beyond the arc. Orlando, on the other hand, converted just 19% of their 3-point attempts.

“Tonight was a good step in the right direction,” James said after the victory. “Everyone has to be productive. It’s a process. We don’t get too high, and we don’t get too low in a long season. I’m just doing whatever I need to do to help this team win.”

Pelicans 125 (25-40), Hornets 122 (29-36)

Have a birthday, Anthony Davis! On the day he turned 24, AD scored 46 points to go with 21 boards, lifting the Pels to an overtime victory. Davis put the team on his back in this one, scoring 24 of his points between the fourth quarter and OT. DeMarcus Cousins, who managed just 11 points, racked up five fouls by the start of the fourth quarter. The Hornets can take solace in a career night for Marvin Williams (27p, 10r), as well as 24 points apiece for Kemba Walker and Nicolas Batum. Charlotte will have a tough road to the postseason, now trailing Milwaukee 3.5 games for the eighth seed.

Heat 104 (31-34), Raptors 89 (38-27)

The Heat continue their torrid run, having now won 21 of their last 25 games. Dion Waiters had a team-high 20 points, Tyler Johnson added 16 off the bench, and Goran Dragic scored 15 before eventually leaving with an eye injury. The Dragon showed off his shiner late in the game:

Yeah, gonna guess @Goran_Dragic won't be back tonight. pic.twitter.com/MphX6nnM27

— Clay Ferraro (@ClayWPLG) March 12, 2017

Suns 100 (21-44), Mavericks 98 (28-36)

He’s all of 20 years old, but Devin Booker is a seasoned pro in pressure situations. In the game’s final possession, Booker hit a fadeaway jumper at the top of the key to wrap up the win for Phoenix.

.@DevinBook hits the to sink Dallas! #ColdBlooded pic.twitter.com/uh7w4YdRYS

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) March 12, 2017

T.J. Warren had 16 points with eight boards in the win and Alan Williams continued his run of stellar production off the bench. The loss sets Dallas back one game further in their playoff chase, despite 23 points apiece from Harrison Barnes and Dirk Nowitzki.

Bucks 102 (31-33), Timberwolves 95 (27-37)

Karl-Anthony Towns‘ 35 points weren’t enough against Milwaukee, as seven Bucks scored in double-digits to assume sole possession of the eighth seed. Jason Kidd‘s squad is now riding a six-game winning streak, and the former 10-time All-Star couldn’t be happier.

“We’d love for everybody to score 10 points but the big thing is these guys kept fighting,” Kidd said. “There are a lot of tired bodies in that locker room.”

Tony Snell led the Bucks with 19 points, and Ricky Rubio scored 22 points while dishing out eight assists for the Wolves.

https://youtu.be/NmCx3hWUBYY

Spurs 107 (50-14), Warriors 85 (52-13)

Well, this wasn’t the primetime showdown ABC executives were probably expecting before the season. The Spurs- sans Kawhi Leonard, Tony Parker, Dejounte Murray, and LaMarcus Aldridge– were in control every moment of this game. Steve Kerr gave out minutes to his younger players, and Ian Clark took advantage of the opportunity, netting a career-high 36 points. Golden State will look to regroup before Tuesday’s match-up with the 76ers.

Ian Clark has his first career 30-point game & the first 30-point game by a Warriors reserve since Jordan Crawford scored 41 on 4/16/14

— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) March 12, 2017

Hawks 107 (36-29), Grizzlies 90 (36-29)

It hasn’t been pretty for the Grizzlies of late. Memphis has now dropped five straight, shooting a dismal 17% from long-distance against the Hawks. Paul Millsap, Dennis Schroder, and Kent Bazemore all scored 15+, and recent pick-up Jose Calderon added 14 off the bench. In a game they led by 26 at one point, Saturday’s win pushes Atlanta’s fifth-seed lead to 3.5 games over the Pacers.

1⃣2⃣3⃣4⃣5⃣

All 5 touch the ball without it hitting the floor in the most beautiful possession ever: pic.twitter.com/YKATIFInZp

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) March 12, 2017

The post Post Up: Game On The Line appeared first on SLAM.

Minnesota came up with their second win against the Warriors in the past two seasons. Tonight, Wiggins put in 24 and Towns had 23. They handed the Warriors their second losing streak of the season, outplaying Golden State in the clutch.

Andrew Wiggins, too strong, too clutch. pic.twitter.com/5FcUu64XZn

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) March 11, 2017

The post WATCH: Andrew Wiggins and Karl Towns Take Down the Warriors appeared first on SLAM.

The “Gold Standard” is decked out with a navy blue upper that sits on top of a royal blue midsole. It has gold accents and silver Three Stripes.

The “Wolf Gray” has a wave pattern featuring black and gray Primeknit along the upper. The Three Stripes and AW logo are contrasted by an iced black outsole for a tribute to the T’Wolves.

The “Gold Standard” drops tomorrow for $120, while the “Wolf Gray” releases on April 7 for $140 on adidas.com.

The post adidas to Release Two Andrew Wiggins Crazy Explosive Low PEs appeared first on SLAM.

A good ‘ole fashioned blowout. The Spurs, as we’ve learned, don’t lose to team who shoot under 40 precent for the game.

Orlando could perhaps be the most offensively challenged team in the League, and they played like it. Just 39.5 percent shooting (22.2 percent from three), 15 assists to 17 TOs.

If you weren’t watching the game, we certainly forgive you. But we hope you didn’t miss this pass by Manu Ginobili.

Look at this pass by Manu Ginobili. pic.twitter.com/hI01dxOgBq

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 16, 2017

Pacers 104 (29-27), Cavs 113 (39-16)

Even with no Kevin Love, Cleveland got absolutely whatever they wanted on offense in this game.

The Cavs shot over 46 percent from three and made 18 treys. They had 23 assists to only 8 TOs. And they had LeBron James, who played through an ankle sprain to put up 31 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.

And this is for those of you who are still in the Valentine’s Day spirit.

Uncle Drew got talent. pic.twitter.com/gf2BDeFkw8

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 16, 2017

76ers 108 (21-35), Celtics 116 (37-19)

Boston probably should have lost this game with the way they were playing. The Celtics turned the ball over 24 times and were outrebounded 39-47.

They made up for it by shooting 46.4 percent from three, scoring 62 points in the paint and having Isaiah Thomas (33 points) and Marcus Smart (21 points, 5 boards, 5 dimes, 8 STEALS).

.@Isaiah_Thomas has now scored 20+ points in 40 straight games pic.twitter.com/I1jtvES5vm

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 16, 2017

Hornets 85 (24-32), Raptors 90 (33-24)

The shorthanded Raptors were lucky to come away with this win. They shot only 38.1 percent from the field.

But they rallied in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Hornets 32-10 (not a typo) and eked out the win.

Bucks 129 (25-30), Nets 125 (9-47)

In the four games that the Bucks have been without Jabari Parker, Milwaukee has gone 3-1. Granted, they only played one (barely) above-.500 team in the Pacers, but they have to be feeling pretty good heading into the break.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, playing in front of a large Greek contingent in Brooklyn, had another nice game, finishing with 33 points, 9 rebounds and 4 steals.

Mavs 91 (22-34), Pistons 98 (27-30)

Detroit predictably dominated the boards (57-38), but only had 15 assists on 36 field goals. They also only had 6 treys on the night. They were up by 27 at halftime, but saw the lead dwindle to single digits in the fourth quarter.

Jon Leuer had 20 points and 8 rebounds for Detroit.

Pelicans 95 (23-34), Grizzlies 91 (34-24)

New Orleans got a much-needed win to stay in the playoff race. They were outrebounded 38-48 and only had 3 second chance points.

But they kept good care of the ball (just 12 TOs) and 49.3 percent from the field. It also helped that Memphis was ice cold, shooting just 37.1 percent from the field and 18.2 percent from three.

A big fourth-quarter run by Memphis cut an 18-point deficit down to 1, but the Pels held on for the W.

Heat 117 (25-32), Rockets 109 (40-18)

After cranking off 13 straight wins, Miami had dropped their last two games before winning once again on Wednesday.

Behind big nights from Hassan Whiteside (23, 14, 5 blocks) and Dion Waiters (23 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists), Miami led the entire 48 minutes and maintained a double-digit lead through most of the second half.

It's lit on Waiters Island pic.twitter.com/xRCmtj5hBZ

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 16, 2017

T-Wolves 112 (22-35), Nuggets 99 (25-31)

Andrew Wiggins dropped 41 points on 15-26 shooting less than 24 hours after he dropped 40 against the Cavs on Tuesday.

Wiggins has been on an absolute tear and hasn’t scored under 21 points since January 17. And yes, he managed to dunk on yet another 7-footer.

Andrew Wiggins with the poster on the Joker. pic.twitter.com/gLA1neAHpt

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 16, 2017

Blazers 88 (23-33), Jazz 111 (35-22)

February has not been kind of the Blazers. They’re 1-5 this month and have the NBA’s third-worst net rating during that span.

Still, they were within 7 with about 9 minutes remaining, but Utah went on a huge run to open up a 28-point lead.

Gordon Hayward had 22 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists for Utah.

Lakers 101 (19-39), Suns 137 (18-39)

Phoenix completely dominated this one. The Suns had a 66.5 true shooting percentage as a team, outrebounded the Lakers 59-36 and scored 60 points in the paint.

Eric Bledsoe recorded his third triple-double of his career with 25 points (on 14 shots), 10 rebounds and 13 assists.

Knicks 105 (23-34), Thunder 116 (32-25)

It was a tale of two halves. The Knicks built a 17-point lead early on behind Carmelo Anthony’s 19-point first quarter.

OKC came thundering back and took a two-point lead heading into halftime. They never looked back.

Russell Westbrook recorded his 27th triple-double of the season, finishing with 38 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists.

Hawks 84 (32-24), Clippers 99 (35-21)

The Clippers outscored Atlanta 33-18 in the second quarter and never looked back. The Hawks committed 23 TOs and only had 20 assists and shot just 40.5 percent.

Blake Griffin had 17 points, 5 boards and 9 assists for the Clippers.

Kings 86 (24-33), Warriors 109 (47-9)

Draymond lost his cool after getting whistled for a foul in the second quarter. He picked up two quick techs and was ejected.

Draymond Green was ejected after arguing a call in the second quarter. pic.twitter.com/kFdWLju4uN

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 16, 2017

The team honestly didn’t need Draymond in the second half.

Golden State scored 42 points (to Sacramento’s 15) in the third quarter, and the rest of the game was garbage time.

Klay Thompson’s sore heel looked just fine, as he had 35 points on 12-18 shooting to lead the Warriors.

The post Post Up: Collective Attack appeared first on SLAM.

Perhaps more impressive than Wiggins’ in-game dunking acumen is his blossoming overall ability as a scorer.

He dropped 41 points on Wednesday’s win against Denver (and 40 on Tuesday against Cleveland) and hasn’t scored under 21 points since January 17.

Andrew Wiggins with the poster on the Joker. pic.twitter.com/gLA1neAHpt

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 16, 2017

RELATED:
WATCH: Andrew Wiggins Dunks All Over Jonas Valanciunas

The post WATCH: Andrew Wiggins Posterizes Nikola Jokic appeared first on SLAM.

Kyrie Irving and LeBron James scored 25 points apiece to help Cleveland come up with a road win, but Andrew Wiggins made things interesting with a 41-point breakout performance. Wiggins, who has now eclipsed 40 points three times this season, scored 19 points in the third quarter alone.

It was a well-rounded effort for Tyronn Lue’s squad, as Channing Frye and Tristan Thompson each double-doubled, while Derrick Williams added 13 points off the bench. Still on his first 10-day contract with the team, Williams is stating his case to stick around in Cleveland.

Derrick Williams comes up clutch for the @cavs! #DefendTheLand #NBARapidReplay pic.twitter.com/HdmuG9Av5B

— NBA (@NBA) February 15, 2017

Bulls 105 (27-29), Raptors 94 (32-24)

The bad news for the Raptors: DeMar DeRozan was just 5-of-19 from the field, as the team managed just 39 first half points in Tuesday’s loss. The good news: help is on the way.

TRADE ALERT @Raptors get: Serge Ibaka@OrlandoMagic get: Terrence Ross + 2017 first-round pick

Details https://t.co/qTiWo4pNsy pic.twitter.com/CpRxkw2Fo0

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 14, 2017

Kyle Lowry scored 22 points and Norman Powell– who will likely claim Terrence Ross‘ minutes- poured in 13 off the bench. The Bulls otherwise took care of business, as Doug McDermott scored a team-high 20 points and Jimmy Butler added 19 (albeit scoring 15 from the charity stripe). Rajon Rondo showed signs of life with a productive 12p, 4a, 3r line…even busting out his signature crossover:

Rondo's still got it. pic.twitter.com/9Icl44i800

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 15, 2017

Kings 97 (24-32), Lakers 96 (19-38)

Rumors have been surfacing of Lou Williams‘ trade availability, and Tuesday’s performance only raised his stock. The decorated sixth man scored 29 points in just 25 minutes off the bench, nearly propelling the Lakers to a come-from-behind win. DeMarcus Cousins, however, was just too much for L.A. to contain; Boogie dropped 40 points with 12 rebounds and eight dimes in Sacramento’s fourth straight W. Cousins would eventually hit free throws to put Sac-town up for good, but check out this clutch trey from Williams:

Sacramento came away with the W, but this was just cold-blooded from @TeamLou23 pic.twitter.com/NsaVfRh3n3

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 15, 2017

The post Post Up: Valentine’s Day Hoops appeared first on SLAM.

Highlights from his teammate, Karl-Anthony Towns:

The post WATCH: Andrew Wiggins Goes Off For 41 Points appeared first on SLAM.

LeBron's got it going on @NBATV.

He's up to 14 PTS, 8 ASTS for the @cavs & they lead the @Timberwolves 69-61 at the half. pic.twitter.com/ltVLKqFMoZ

— NBA (@NBA) February 15, 2017

The post LeBron James Hits Between-The-Legs Pass appeared first on SLAM.

But that didn’t matter at all to Andrew Wiggins.

Taking off of two feet, Wiggins can throw down on practically anyone.

Sorry it had to be you, JV.

Disrespectful pic.twitter.com/evlWrqhzdE

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 9, 2017

The post WATCH: Andrew Wiggins Dunks All Over Jonas Valanciunas appeared first on SLAM.

The Hawks entered halftime with a 65-39 lead and never looked back, blowing out the Magic behind a combined 42 points from Paul Millsap and Tim Hardaway Jr. Orlando shot a dreadful 34.6% from the field on the night, falling to a 3-7 mark over their last 10 games.

Look at where Bazemore is at the start of this alley-oop… pic.twitter.com/pvhOjw13HC

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 5, 2017

Wizards 105 (30-20), Pelicans 91 (19-32)

Are the Wizards ever going to lose at home again? Washington outscored the Pelicans 25-8 in the fourth quarter, cruising to their 17th straight victory at the Verizon Center. John Wall had 25 points with 13 dimes, Markieff Morris added 18, and Marcin Gortat grabbed 17 boards with 12 points. As has been the case throughout the season, the Pels lacked offensive firepower behind Anthony Davis; despite nearly tallying a triple-double, Jrue Holiday shot 5-of-17 from the field.

Pacers 105 (28-22), Pistons 84 (23-28)

The Pacers cruised to their sixth straight victory, as Paul George scored a team-high 21 points and Lavoy Allen added a double-double (18p, 11r). Indiana went on a 20-5 run in the third quarter, signaling defeat for Marcus Morris (19 points, six boards) and the Pistons. Despite emerging with the W, Pacers coach Nate McMillan wasn’t thrilled with his team’s effort.

“We just felt like we didn’t establish ourselves defensively, giving up 58 points, in the first half,” coach Nate McMillan said. “Way too many points to be giving up. I thought we responded in the second half and I though the defense got stronger with each quarter.”

Heat 125 (21-30), 76ers 102 (18-32)

Hassan Whiteside had a field day with the Joel Embiid-less 76ers, scoring 30 points with 20 rebounds. Dion Waiters scored 21 while Goran Dragic and Tyler Johnson tallied 16 points apiece, blowing out Ersan Ilyasova (21 points) and the Sixers. The legend of Dion Waiters continued to grow after the game:

After tonight's game I asked Dion Waiters a question about his confidence level. His answer lasted nearly 4 minutes. Here it is. Enjoy. pic.twitter.com/kqjRLRuJJj

— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) February 5, 2017

Cavaliers 111 (34-15), Knicks 104 (22-30)

Give the Knicks credit for fighting back; entering halftime facing a 64-45 deficit, it appeared the Knicks would flounder in this primetime match-up. Brandon Jennings turned in a 23-point performance and Courtney Lee added 17, but LeBron James (32p, 10a) and the Cavs were ultimately able to protect their lead after a rocky second half. Carmelo Anthony was hearing it from the crowd for parts of the game, and appears to be fed up with the MSG boobirds.

https://youtu.be/TFpYC9BYYI4

Grizzlies 107 (31-22), Timberwolves 99 (19-32)

It was a somber day in Minnesota, as the Timberwolves absorbed a close loss after learning Zach LaVine would be out for the year with a torn left ACL. Karl-Anthony Towns double-doubled with 27 points and 16 rebounds, but the T’Wolves blew a 31-15 first quarter lead in their third straight defeat. JaMychal Green led the Grizzlies in this one, going off for a career-high 29 points with six boards.

https://youtu.be/bYEAydxI-sk

Jazz 105 (32-19), Hornets 98 (23-28)

The Jazz rallied back from a 10-point fourth quarter deficit to go on a 19-4 run, handing Charlotte their seventh straight defeat. Gordon Hayward dropped 33 points on 13/20 shooting, George Hill added 25, and Joe Johnson scored 18. Recent acquisition Miles Plumlee made his Hornets debut, scoring four points with eight boards.

Spurs 121 (39-11), Nuggets 97 (22-28)

With Saturday’s win, Gregg Popovich became the winningest coach in NBA history with an individual team (1,128 victories). Aside from a banner 20-point night from Jamal Murray, the Nuggets appeared outmatched from the jump; getting outscored 65-47 in the second half. Kawhi Leonard, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, and Jonathan Simmons each scored at least 18 points. Following the W, Parker delivered props to his legendary coach.

“Growing up, Jerry Sloan was one of the big names, watching the (NBA) Finals and stuff like that,” Parker said. “To have Pop up there, he’s going to keep it going. It looks like he’s not getting tired at all. He’s not going to stop anytime soon.”

Bucks 137 (22-28), Suns 112 (16-35)

Devin Booker went off for 27 points in the second quarter…and the Suns still lost by 25. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 18 of his 30 points in the first quarter and Mirza Teletovic added 19 in the victory. Marquese Chriss achieved a milestone in the loss, recording a career-high 27 points.

https://youtu.be/wxTeTo3vzEE

Kings 109 (20-31), Warriors 106 (43-8)

Draymond Green made his return to the lineup, but Golden State absorbed an overtime defeat at the Golden 1 Center. Kevin Durant had a rare off-night, scoring just 10 points on 2-of-10 shooting from the field. DeMarcus Cousins recorded a double-double (32p, 12r) and Willie Cauley-Stein lived up to his promise off the bench, scoring 14 points in 17 minutes. The Warriors played most of the second half without their head coach, as a livid Steve Kerr was ejected in the third quarter.

https://youtu.be/9MKFfExRBsM

The post Post Up: Royal Upset appeared first on SLAM.

ANDREW. WIGGINS. pic.twitter.com/dDZzAUyLar

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) January 31, 2017

Don’t jump, Vucevic!

The post WATCH: Andrew Wiggins Elevates For Poster Slam appeared first on SLAM.

Video courtesy of FreeDawkins

The post Andrew Wiggins Outduels Devin Booker appeared first on SLAM.

Wiggins finished with a game-high 31 points against the Suns, and hit Minny’s first win at the buzzer in five years.

The T-Pups have won three in a row.

Per the AP:

Tuesday night’s play had other options.

 

“But my mind was made up once I got the ball. I was going to shoot it,” Wiggins said. “I got to my spot. I knew the pull-up would be there.”

 

Minnesota coach Tom Thibodeau said Wiggins fought through the contact on the play. […] “He got through that and got the shot off,” Thibodeau said. “He got to his spot, which is part of the design of that play, to get to his spot. He had the concentration and the mental toughness to take all the stuff that happened on that play and make the shot. It was a great play by him.”

The post Andrew Wiggins Beats Phoenix at the Buzzer appeared first on SLAM.

John Wall and the Wizards put pressure on themselves leading up to Tuesday’s match-up, dressing up in all black for what the team deemed a “funeral game.”

All business. pic.twitter.com/fllTLXusby

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) January 25, 2017

Isaiah Thomas, who wasn’t amused with Washington’s antics, dropped 25 points with 13 dimes while Al Horford added 22 points. The Wizards, however, controlled the action with 66 first half points. Bradley Beal erupted for 13 fourth quarter points (31 overall) as the Wizards pulled away for their 14th straight win at home. Marcus Smart reached his boiling point by the end of regulation, snapping at assistant coaches.

An irate Marcus Smart whipped his towel at Celtics coaches at the end of Tueday's loss. https://t.co/ZCCWlrYNwH pic.twitter.com/DArjhFckRR

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) January 25, 2017

Bulls 100 (23-23), Magic 92 (18-29)

Dwyane Wade fired warning shots early Tuesday that he may not re-sign with the Bulls if they kept up their pedestrian play.

“I wouldn’t lie to you and say no. Of course,” Wade said, when asked if continued mediocrity would influence his decision. “I can’t play this game forever. I just turned 35 and I have a number in my head on how long I want to play. I take my career seriously and where I am and where I want to be. And I will do the same thing this summer.”

Wade’s supporting cast responded well to his remarks, as Jimmy Butler scored 20, and Cristiano Felicio double-doubled in a stellar win over the Magic. Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg altered his rotation, giving Jerian Grant a starting role and having Rajon Rondo serve as his back-up.

The Bulls' PG situation is strange. Remember: If Hoiberg thought any of these guys could really play he would stick with them.

— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) January 24, 2017

Spurs 108 (35-9), Raptors 106 (28-17)

Toronto gave the short-handed Spurs a run for their money, as Kyle Lowry dropped 30 points and Terrence Ross added 21 in a close loss. The Raptors, who were playing without DeMar DeRozan, have now dropped four straight and lost 19 of their last 24 games against the Spurs.

Patty Mills scored 18 points off the bench, LaMarcus Aldridge scored 21 and Davis Bertans added 12 in the victory.

David Lee goes for 8 points after 1.@spurs lead @Raptors 29-25 on @NBATV. Lowry: 11p. pic.twitter.com/qPzVgCRspu

— NBA (@NBA) January 25, 2017

76ers 121 (16-27), Clippers 110 (29-17)

The Clippers were flying high at halftime, staked to a 68-59 lead in Blake Griffin’s return game. The Clippers were able to complete a stunning comeback, however, erasing a 19-point third quarter deficit before a capacity crowd of 17,591. Richaun Holmes tallied a career-high 18 points and Nerlens Noel added 19, filling in admirably for the injured Joel Embiid.

.@Sixers completed a 19-point comeback against the Clippers tonight. the highlights here: https://t.co/Esf2CVHYPX pic.twitter.com/aNHp46pZK4

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) January 25, 2017

Timberwolves 112 (17-28), Suns 111 (15-30)

Tyson Chandler double-doubled (22p, 17r) and Devin Booker dropped 26 points, but Andrew Wiggins (31 points) sunk Phoenix with a clutch jumper at the buzzer.

Andrew Wiggins seals the deal in Phoenix! pic.twitter.com/IUrEJ1NikC

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) January 25, 2017

Ricky Rubio recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 dimes. The Timberwolves are reportedly shopping Rubio, and have a crowded depth chart in the meantime; despite finishing with a +22 in Sunday’s game, Tyus Jones received a DNP against Phoenix.

Nuggets 103 (19-25), Jazz 93 (29-17)

Nikola Jokic stuffed his stat sheet; scoring 23 points with 11 boards, six dimes, three blocks, and a pair of steals in Denver’s upset win over the Jazz. The Nuggets, who have now won five of their last seven, received a stellar performance off the bench from Darrell Arthur, who drained three treys in a 16-point night. Derrick Favors and George Hill had 18 and 17 points, respectively, while Boris Diaw scored a season-high 16 points.

Really good chance this will be the last time in Jazz franchise history they ever play 4 games in 5 nights. #progress #newschedule

— David Locke (@DLocke09) January 25, 2017

The post Post Up: Funeral Game appeared first on SLAM.

The pack is handcrafted by Reigning Champ at their Vancouver factory, from custom Canadian-made fabric. It releases on January 12 at adidas.com, Reigning Champ, adidas stores, Reigning Champ stores in Toronto and Vancouver and select Foot Locker stores in North America.

The post adidas Athletics x Reigning Champ Collection, Featuring Andrew Wiggins appeared first on SLAM.

The Grizzlies pulled off an improbable comeback at Oracle Arena, erasing a 24-point deficit behind a double-double from Mike Conley (27 points, 12 dimes) and 27 points from Zach Randolph. Stephen Curry lit it up for 40 points in the loss, while Kevin Durant added 27 points with 13 boards.

Memphis outscored Golden State 49-21 between the fourth quarter and overtime period, which didn’t sit well with coach Steve Kerr.

Steve Kerr on what bothered him in the fourth quarter when Memphis made its run: “I didn’t like our body language.”

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 7, 2017

Wizards 112 (17-18), Timberwolves 105 (11-25)

Despite a game-high 41 points from Andrew Wiggins, John Wall (18 points, 18 dimes) and the Wizards emerged with the W. Washington shot a combined 58.2% from the field in their ninth straight win at home.

Rockets 100 (29-9), Magic 93 (16-22)

The Rockets connected on a barrage of 3-pointers at the Amway Center, converting 15-of-49 shots from beyond the arc in Friday’s win. Sharp-shooter Eric Gordon was just 3-of-16 from long range, but Ryan Anderson, Patrick Beverley, and Trevor Ariza hit at least three each. D.J. Augustin and Aaron Gordon were Orlando’s leading scorers, notching 19 and 18 points, respectively.

https://youtu.be/TFrbpVCqFlY

Cavaliers 116 (27-8), Nets 108 (8-27)

LeBron James benefited from Kyrie Irving’s return to the lineup, posting 36 points with nine boards at the Barclays Center. Irving added 32 points in the victory, and Kevin Love double-doubled (17 points, 13 rebounds). With the impending arrival of Kyle Korver, the future looks bright for King James and the Cavs.

LeBron James says the Cavs "need a point guard." https://t.co/sHqVvDT9h8 pic.twitter.com/FSaxgfkkDX

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) January 6, 2017

Celtics 110 (22-14), 76ers 106 (9-25)

Al Horford drained four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter of Friday’s home victory, sealing the win for Avery Bradley (game-high 26 points) and the Celtics. Nerlens Noel appears to have leapfrogged Jahlil Okafor in coach Brett Brown’s rotation, as Okafor sat out the duration of the game. Joel Embiid logged 23 points with eight boards and Ersan Ilyasova added 20 in Philadelphia’s close loss.

Joel Embiid said he wanted to guard Isaiah Thomas. So Isaiah had some words for him pic.twitter.com/cf41EsbVad

— SB Nation NBA (Click the pic to read ) (@SBNationNBA) January 7, 2017

Knicks 116 (17-19), Bucks 111 (18-17)

It was a showdown of elite big men at the Bradley Center, as Kristaps Porzingis (24 points, three blocks) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (25 points, five blocks) went down to the wire. Ultimately, the Knicks outscored Milwaukee 33-15 in the fourth quarter, snapping a six-game skid. Jabari Parker matched Antetokounmpo’s 25 points, while Carmelo Anthony led New York’s scoring with 26 points.

Joakim Noah FLUSH! #NBARapidReplay pic.twitter.com/5QDhqxam1A

— NBA (@NBA) January 7, 2017

Clippers 106 (25-14), Kings 98 (15-21)

What a difference one player’s return to the lineup makes. Chris Paul scored 14 points with 12 dimes and three steals in his return from a hamstring injury, helping L.A. mount a second half comeback. DeMarcus Cousins recorded 25 points with 11 boards in the loss, outscoring DeAndre Jordan (20 points, nine rebounds). If the Kings want to grab a 7 or 8 seed, the time to make a move is now.

The Sacramento Kings are pursuing Paul Millsap https://t.co/XgQTa5sKcL

— Sactown Royalty: A Kings Herald Joint (@sactownroyalty) January 6, 2017

Lakers 127 (14-26), Heat 100 (11-27)

There was bad blood in Friday’s rout, as Jordan Clarkson and Goran Dragic each received third quarter ejections for fighting.

https://youtu.be/OX9WNHGukys

Willie Reed scored 22 points with 12 rebounds and James Johnson added 20 for the short-handed Heat, but Lou Williams poured it on with a game-high 24 points. At least the Heat can take solace in Tyler Johnson’s jaw-dropping poster in the first half.

https://t.co/Io8gGTvz0m

— DWade (@DwyaneWade) January 7, 2017

The post Post Up: 24-Point Rally appeared first on SLAM.

SLAM: What are your earliest musical memories?

Andrew Wiggins: I know my dad used to always play 2Pac, Kanye West. When I was younger, there was a lot of 2Pac playing. But he wouldn’t always let me listen to it. I’d get in the car and he’d turn it off. He would only let me listen to certain songs, like “Dear Mama” and more of the softer 2Pac songs. I definitely had to sneak around to find the other stuff.

SLAM: Your dad is American, and your mom’s background is Bajan. How did that shape the music you heard around the house?

AW: Yeah, she was born in Barbados. Growing up, I heard a lot of soca, a lot of reggae. I was always aware of it. I always have reggae and soca in my iPod—I have to have some of that.

SLAM: You’ve said in the past that you’re a fan of guys like SAFE and Smoke Dawg who, like you, are from Toronto. Tell me about your relationship with artists from that scene.

AW: They’re big names in Toronto. They’re making it big right now, and they’re producing good music. And I know them personally. Me and Smoke Dawg, I know him from back in the day, through his older brother. He started making music, and I started listening to it. He’d give me music to listen to, and then I saw the songs were getting better. Now he has some songs with some big names, too—for example, French Montana. And SAFE, he’s traveling to the States performing and stuff, getting to know different people out here.

SLAM: Because Toronto is brick eight months out of the year, it’s always seemed like artists there make music that sounds and feels like winter. What is it about the so-called “Toronto sound” that’s appealing to you?

AW: It’s always cold, yeah, but I never really cared about the weather. I just listen to whatever I feel like. Mostly, I know the slang, I know how people talk [in Toronto]. I understand what they’re talking about ’cause I’m from there, you know? It’s the same culture.

SLAM: Do you have any secret musical ambitions of your own?

AW: [Laughs] Nah, I can’t sing, and I can’t rap. I just love listening to music. And I love giving my opinion about it, but I have to say that I have no musical talent. You know, sometimes with my friends or something we’d rap for fun, but I wouldn’t say I’m good.

SLAM: You have no bars at all?

AW: I got, like, one or two bars. I could maybe go four or five bars max, and after that I’d be done.

SLAM: How does music fit into your pre-game ritual?

AW: It’s huge! If I listen to certain rappers before a game, it gets me hyped, it gets me in the mood. And I need to be in a competitive mood to play. I’ll play someone like Styles P—that [puts me] in a competitive mood. Or sometimes it’s Jadakiss, or DMX or Eminem.

SLAM: How about when you’re shooting around or practicing?

AW: It all depends on what I’m doing in practice. If I’m just shooting, I want to hear something smoother.

SLAM: Back in the day, Jadakiss and AI had those wildly popular Reebok commercials together. If you had to pick a rapper to work with on something similar for adidas, who would you pick?

AW: That’s a good and very hard question. I’d say Drake but Drake’s with Jordan, so I’d say…J. Cole. I like him a lot as a rapper. I like Kendrick a lot, too. It just kinda fits my style.

SLAM: You’ve namechecked legacy rappers, people who were at their peaks when you were still super, super young. Where does your musical discovery come from?

AW: It’s mostly from my dad, plus I have two older brothers. But I always found music myself, too. When you’re younger, you just get on the computer, you search and keep searching and searching and searching and finding new stuff. My best friend likes music a lot, too, so we always talked about it. A lot of my friends really, really like music, so they’ll figure out what’s new and they keep me updated. There’s people [whose taste] I trust. They keep me updated a lot.

SLAM: You were first coming up around the same time that Drake was really getting into his bag and sort of refashioning the way people from outside of Toronto were understanding the city. How did it feel to see that happen through music?

AW: In those days, Drake was considered up and coming—he was putting us on the map. Everyone from Toronto knew he was about to be the best rapper in the game and now he is, so there’s a lot of pride. Sometimes there’s a lot of things Americans don’t know. I catch myself saying things that the average American wouldn’t understand—I feel like maybe people from the East, from New York, understand a lot of it. When you’re in Minnesota, you don’t really hear that slang too much. Sometimes listening to guys like SAFE or Smoke Dawg or whoever can make you feel more close to home. Sometimes.

—

Rawiya Kameir is a Senior Editor at The FADER. Follow her @rawiya.

Portrait courtesy of adidas; Action photo via Getty Images.

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While you’re at it, peep NBA’s Top 10 Handles list from this past month!

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— NBA (@NBA) December 3, 2016

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The post WATCH: Andrew Wiggins Posterizes JaVale McGee appeared first on SLAM.