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

The 2024 SLAM x BlackOps Awards

Breakout Season: Paolo Banchero

Photo by @kees2life

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

Best Summer Shooter Award: Klay Thompson

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

Best Middle Schooler I Have Ever Worked With: JJ Crawford

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

Draft Day Award: Matas Buzelis and Tyler Kolek

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

NCAA Award: lan Jackson

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

High School Award: Kiyan Anthony & Chris Cenac Jr.

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

Chris Brickley Invitational Award: Tyran Stokes and Jasper Johnson

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

Mentor Award: Russell Westbrook

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

GOAT Award: LeBron James

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

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

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

Best Rapper Basketball Player: Russ

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

Best BlackOps Matchup: Jalen Brunson vs. Immanuel Quickley

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

Photos by @nextsubject.

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

However, the two threes that Thompson hit moved him into some very elite NBA company. Coming off a recent game where he had just moved up to 13th in the NBA’s all-time made three-pointers list, Thompson is also the 13th NBA player ever to make 2,000 career three-pointers.

Thompson now joins Stephen Curry, Ray Allen, Reggie Miller, James Harden, Kyle Korver, Vince Carter, Jason Terry, Jamal Crawford, Damian Lillard, LeBron James, Kyle Lowry, and Paul Pierce as the only NBA players ever to accomplish such a milestone.

Becoming a part of such an elite group of sharpshooters must feel great to Thompson after battling his way back to form after suffering an Achilles injury in 2020 after just returning from an ACL injury in 2019.

This 2023 season has been sort of a “revenge tour” for Thompson, as he has trying to block out the noise and prove to the doubters that he’s still got it. Admittedly Thompson has come out and said that comments about his game “slipping” have hurt, but he knows that he can’t please everybody.

While it is a great career moment for Thompson, he and the Warriors look to get back on the winning track Thursday against the Indiana Pacers.

The post Klay Thompson Becomes the 13th NBA Player to Knock Down 2K Threes appeared first on SLAM.

Exams show Chet Holmgren has potential torn ligaments in his foot, sources said. A timetable is being determined based on further evaluations. https://t.co/vig5zWOSzz

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 24, 2022

According to Charania, exams showed that Holmgren “potentially” tore some ligaments in his foot. The Oklahoma City Thunder will set a timetable after determining the extent of the No. 2 overall picks injuries. The former Gonzaga standout reportedly suffered the injury while playing at a Jamal Crawford CrawsOver Pro-Am game that featured LeBron James, Jayson Tatum, Dejounte Murray, Paolo Banchero, and Tari Eason.

Holmgren averaged 12 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.0 blocks per game during the three games he played at the Las Veagas Summer League.

The post REPORT: Chet Holmgren Suffered Potential Torn Ligaments in His Foot appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photos via Getty Images.

The post Jamal Crawford Believes Jaden McDaniels Will Be a ‘Great Player For Years to Come’ appeared first on SLAM.

Leading up to tonight’s festivities, we’re taking a look at the cant-miss prospects you should have on your radar. Let’s get it.

Bennedict Mathurin

A native of Montreal, Quebec, Bennedict Mathurin leads the next generation of Canadian hoopers.

A true shot-maker with the ability to score in the catch-and-shoot or off the dribble, Mathurin should be able to provide instant offense for a team at the next level. He scored 17.7 points per game on 45.0 percent shooting from the field, and 36.9 percent shooting from three and displayed the capability to take a game over at Arizona (look no further than his career-high 30 points against TCU in the second round of the NCCA Tournament).

In addition to his shooting prowess, Mathurin has a powerful first step when attacking the rim and has shown the physicality to destroy rims.

His efficiency as a long-range shooter is something teams across the League love. During his freshman season, Mathurin hit 41.8 percent of his three-point attempts as a spot-up shooter. When asked to do more during his sophomore campaign, Mathurin improved his accuracy despite jumping up to 6.1 shots per game (while also managing ball-handling and playmaking duties).

Mathurin also has an excellent in-between game and is reliable at the free-throw line, 78.9 percent as a sophomore. His maturation from a spot-up shooter to a dynamic three-level scorer makes him one of the most dangerous prospects in the draft. He’s also a willing rebounder with good size and strength, pulling down 5.6 boards per game last season.

The 2021-22 PAC-12 Player of the Year and consensus second-team All-American has earned comparisons to the likes of Jamal Crawford and Victor Oladipo with his length and ability to score off the dribble and in catch and shoot sets.

A product of the NBA Academy Latin America, Mathurin’s refined offensive game makes him a flat-out baller and a player who should be a productive scorer for years to come.

Keegan Murray

Improvement was the key to Keegan Murray’s college career at Iowa. Nearly every major statistical category of Murray’s game improved from year one to year two. His rebounding improved by over 3.5 boards per game; he transformed into a knockdown outside shooter, dished one more assist per game, and saw improved steal and block numbers. The result of this? A projected top-five pick with the tools to be a two-way star.

At 6’8, Murray’s a versatile defender with the length and mobility to guard nearly every position on the court. He averaged two blocks and a steal per game last season and used his leaping ability to contest shots at the rim. The Iowa native isn’t afraid to mix it up with big men on the boards, averaging 8.7 rebounds per game.

On offense, Murray is a scorer who can be productive without the ball in his hands. Between timely cuts to the basket and a robust pick-and-pop game, Murray knows how to contribute without demanding isolation or ball-dominant sets effectively. He’s comfortable in the post and is productive in the paint because of his superb shot selection (a career 54.3 percent from the field).

Murray didn’t shy away from the pressure of being a number one option for the Hawkeyes, recording 23.5 points and 8.7 rebounds per game while shooting 55.4 percent from the field and 39.8 percent from three last season.

After averaging just 7.2 points per game as a freshman, Murray was a consensus first-team All-American, first-team All-Big Ten, and Big Ten Tournament MVP as a sophomore. He was also the winner of the Karl Malone Award, given annually to the nation’s top power forward.

Murray could be considered a strong wing player or even a small-ball center in the League. His versatility presents mismatch nightmares for opposing teams. The ability to serve as a solid defensive presence while scoring from all three levels on offense is a rare trait. A late bloomer who was unranked in high school, Murray’s enormous improvements and potential as a do-it-all contributor on both sides of the floor make him one of the most intriguing prospects of the 2022 draft class.

Dyson Daniels

An Australian guard with elite defense and passing? We know what you’re thinking. No, Dyson Daniels is not a Ben Simmons replica, but he certainly shares a similar skill set as the 2016 No. 1 overall pick.

Daniels is a crafty playmaker and high-IQ defender who played in the NBL1 and NBA Global Academy in Australia before joining the G League Ignite in 2021. In the G League, he displayed his skill as a reliable ball-handler and master in the pick-and-roll with the ability to hit the open man or make defenders pay with his patented floater, a move that’s become a go-to option for the 19-year-old.

Daniels averaged 11.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game when matching up against NBA-caliber talent last season. The 2018 FIBA Oceania U15 Gold Medalist emerged as a two-way threat with his 6-10 wingspan and solid frame. Excellent court vision and ability to be a disruptor on defense allowed Daniels to set himself apart from the rest as this year’s top G-League prospect.

Speaking of defense, Daniels recorded 1.9 steals in 2021-22 while showcasing the ability to lock up both traditional guards and larger wing players. His high basketball IQ serves him well on this end, as he knows when to switch and send help, but his one-on-one defense is what could make him a bag in the League. He sticks to his matchup, and because of his active hands and ability to slide his feet, he can be trusted on an island to put the clamps on.

The Australian only averaged 2.1 fouls per game last season, so he knows how to play defense without fouling. Daniels is also the first to dive on a loose ball and set the tone of the game, an invaluable asset not always shown on the stat sheet. Because of that mindset, Daniels contributed in ways you don’t see in the box score with his instincts, feel for the game, and hustle.

On offense, Daniels will have to boost his three-point shot (he shot 25.5 from three last season) to become an all-around threat, but he has the potential to turn into a spot-up shooter with his already much-improved jumper. He could potentially contribute immediately as a perimeter defender and facilitator as the two-way prospect teams desire in a top pick.

Ochai Agbaji

No prospect has improved over his four years in college more than Ochai Agbaji. He went from bench piece to regular starter to star player and has progressed at every point to find himself as a potentially coveted piece for an NBA team. 

It starts with his physical tools: Agbaji possesses a 6’10 wingspan and a 6’6 frame, making him an ideal wing defender for today’s NBA. Agbaji’s advanced defensive metrics suggest he is a wildly optimistic defender, something many NBA teams will find valuable. In his four years at Kansas, Agbaji hasn’t had a defensive plus/minus of less than 2.2. His vertical was measured at 39 inches at the combine, which will also serve him well in cutting situations and rebounding. 

Agbaji’s three-point shot has also steadily improved over his time in college, as he shot over 40% this past year, delivering several clutch moments throughout the college year. His most important moment was shooting 6/7 from three in the Final Four matchups against Villanova. He also went 7/12 from the field against Texas Tech at home and was a key performer in the Big 12 tournament championship going 3/6 from downtown, finishing with 16 points and seven boards.

When asked about staying for a fourth year in college, Agbaji opened up about his thought process.

“Sometimes you’ve gotta stay patient; sometimes it’s not going to be there right away, the first two years or first three years. But if you stay the course, things will come to fruition,” Agbaji said.

It seems as if staying one more year at Kansas helped his draft stock after testing the waters last year, which resulted in a consensus All-American year with a Big 12 & National championship at a blue blood program under an all-time great coach in Bill Self. The stars have aligned for him as the ideal “Three and D” prototype that teams demand after four years of steady improvement and being a late bloomer, which has been for the better.

Shaedon Sharpe:

Shaedon Sharpe technically hasn’t played since his senior year of high school, where he was the number one ranked player in the 2022 class until he reclassified to the 2021 class. Sharpe sat out the entire 2021-2022 college season, choosing to develop on-campus without playing a game; however, that hasn’t seemed to hurt his draft stock in any capacity. 

“My thought process as an athlete, as a basketball player, was really just getting better,” Sharpe said per Sporting News. “So I was just in the gym every day, working out. Really for me, whatever happened, I’d be ready for it.

“Like I said before, everything happens for a reason. So I really don’t regret [not] playing,” Sharpe said. “I mean, I’m working with NBA teams now. So I guess I did something right.”

According to Eric Bossi, the National Basketball Director of 247sports, “Sharpe is an explosive athlete with a nose for the rim.” Bossi also said Sharpe had developed his handle “tremendously,” which has allowed him to become a creative scorer and playmaker.

According to Bossi, Sharpe also has an “electric first step and his ability to get downhill, into the lane, and then finish around the rim.” Bossi also likes Sharpe’s length and ability to move well laterally and believes he “has all of the tools to develop into a player who is just as disruptive on the defensive end of the floor as he is on offense.”

Like Agbaji, his physical tools allow him to be a coveted prototype NBA wing that plays defense and can score at all three levels. His explosive athleticism will keep him a step ahead of everyone else in the League, much of that credit going to his above-average first step. If he can just control the ball-handling a little bit more and prove to be healthy, he could be THE steal of the draft.

The post 2022 NBA Draft Preview: Can’t-Miss Prospects appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

6-3 AND BELOW

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

6-4 TO 6-8 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

6-9 AND UP

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The post SLAM’s Official Top 75 Greatest 1-on-1 NBA Players of All Time List appeared first on SLAM.

Crawford, who was drafted eighth overall in the 2000 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, suited up for nine different teams throughout his career.

After stints with the Bulls, Knicks, and Warriors, Crawford joined the Atlanta Hawks in ’09 where he backed up stars Joe Johnson and Mike Bibby. He averaged 18 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists off the bench that year, leading to him winning his first Sixth Man of the Year award. In addition, he also set an all-time NBA record for most career four-point plays in 2010, surpassing Reggie Miller.

In 2019, Crawford put the perfect cherry on top to his legacy by becoming the oldest player to tally 50-plus points; a record previously held by Michael Jordan. During the game, Crawford shot 60 percent from the field, 7-of-13 from three-point range, and 8-of-9 from the free-throw line.

Throughout his time in the NBA, Crawford has been a prominent figure in the basketball community with his filthy handles and crazy hoop mixtapes over the year. His game has opened the doors for many of the finesse players we see today such as Lou Williams, Immanuel Quickley, and Bones Hyland.

As we’ve said before, a moment of appreciation for all that he’s done for the game.

The post Three-Time NBA Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford Retires from the NBA appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OK, so no “lasts”—but there should be plenty of talk of “firsts” in Durham this year, especially since freshman phenom Paolo Banchero arrived on campus. The Seattle native already made history by signing a name, image and likeness (NIL) deal to become the first college athlete featured in the video game NBA 2K. He is also the first player to join the Blue Devils from the state of Washington since Quin Snyder in 1985. While countless talented prospects have come through Duke’s program, Banchero is perhaps the first with his specific skill set at his size—he is a legitimate 6-10 but can do just about everything on the floor. Oh, and Banchero might very well be the first overall pick in the NBA draft come June…

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Right now, on a muggy evening in late September, Banchero is at Cameron Indoor Stadium for his first ever SLAM cover shoot. Lil Durk blasts from a nearby speaker, breathing life into the gym. After all, it’s past 7 pm and things have been moving nonstop for Paolo since the morning. During media day, when he was swarmed by writers and cameras, the news broke that he had agreed to another exclusive NIL deal with the trading card company Panini—the first of its kind, too. He had his first official Duke practice in the afternoon and then an hour or so to get ready for our shoot. Once we wrap—around 9 pm—he’s off to study for an upcoming exam.

There are, of course, high expectations for Banchero, who was a consensus five-star recruit and the No. 3 player in the Class of 2021, according to ESPN’s rankings; and with those expectations naturally comes pressure, particularly in what will be Coach K’s last—err, 47th (including his five seasons at Army)—season. But you wouldn’t know it at all from being around the freshman. Banchero is laidback and soft-spoken, but still manages to exude the type of cool confidence that says, Why worry? None of the outside noise appears to be getting to his head. He is just taking it day by day and, like his coach, staying in the moment.

Traces of his journey to this point are tattooed across his burly right bicep—the downtown Seattle skyline in intimate detail, with Mt. Rainier edged in the background; the name of the street where he grew up and his family continues to reside; the location of the Rotary Boys and Girls Club, where Paolo first picked up a basketball. “I carry [Seattle] with me everywhere I go. Seattle is always going to be in me and a part of me,” Banchero says. “Part of my mission is to try to put Seattle on the map and get us as much recognition as I can.”

Being a proud Seattleite is part of being a Banchero. Paolo’s parents, Mario and Rhonda, met when they were both athletes at the University of Washington—Mario, a walk-on tight end on the football team, and Rhonda, a star center on the basketball team. Mario is of Italian descent, which led Paolo to receive Italian citizenship in February 2020. Rhonda graduated from UW as the program’s all-time leading scorer and eventually became the first player from the state of Washington to be drafted to the WNBA. She spent a year in the W, seven years competing overseas and 11 years as a high school coach in Seattle.

Unsurprisingly, Paolo was a multi-sport athlete as a kid. He was a track star in numerous events and initially dreamed of going to the NFL. His stellar quarterback career culminated with an invitation to the FBU All-American Game in eighth grade, which annually features the best prospects from across the country. Playing in the historic Alamodome, Banchero threw for more than 200 yards and three touchdowns in the first half alone. “I don’t think there’s any doubt that he was a high DI, high major quarterback prospect,” says Mario. “And if you ask Sam Adams [Paolo’s coach and a former NFL player], he’ll tell you that he was a league guy.”

A massive growth spurt in middle school, however, gradually steered Paolo closer to basketball. And the hometown heroes he once admired from afar—Jamal Crawford, Isaiah Thomas, Nate Robinson, Zach LaVine, Spencer Hawes and many others—started to embrace him in their Seattle hoops brotherhood. He has since trained alongside several of them, battled against them in the city’s Pro-Am (The Crawsover) and been in constant communication with them over text. They provide valuable advice and inspire him to keep pushing, just as Rhonda and Mario have always done. By her own admission, Rhonda is the stern and brutally honest one, nitpicking his every mistake and keeping it real with him when others won’t. Mario instilled lessons of discipline and hard work, accompanying Paolo to the gym at 5 am each morning to train before school.

The result of all that? Well, even as an 19-year-old kid, Banchero is already paving the way for generations to come—both on and off the court. As a player, he is the prototype for the modern and future NBA: a strong, dynamic, versatile forward who can score at all three levels, make plays for others and guard every position defensively. During his junior year at O’Dea High School (Paolo did not play in his senior season due to the pandemic), he averaged 22.6 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.6 blocks. He is still getting accustomed to his 6-10 frame and working on the type of quick post moves that once made his mom unstoppable, but he can just as easily shoot from deep and rise over smaller defenders for midrange jumpers as he can finish with force at the rim. He genuinely loves to set up teammates—passing, he says, is his favorite part of his game—and has a lot of good ones to facilitate for at Duke, from returners Wendell Moore Jr, Jeremy Roach and Mark Williams to fellow freshmen Trevor Keels, AJ Griffin and Jaylen Blakes and Marquette transfer Theo John.

“I don’t think there’s anything on that court that I can’t do,” Banchero tells SLAM. “I’m going to always play hard. I’m going to always get my teammates involved. But, like I said, I can score, pass, defend. Just going to be able to do whatever the team needs me to do.”

“He’s special. He’s unique,” says Amile Jefferson, a former forward at Duke who now serves as the program’s Director of Player Development. “He fits the modern day prototype of if you could make your dream player. He’s 6-10, 255-260 [pounds], can handle the ball, can shoot it. When you watch him, you don’t understand how massive he is. When I used to watch tape or footage of him, I used to be like, Wow, he looks like a guard. But he really looks like a center coming at you with speed, handles, unbelievable athleticism. It’s almost like when people create a 2K player—you make him the biggest, the strongest, the fastest, and then you also give him a jumpshot. You’re like, Alright, this is not real. I’m playing a game. But then you see this kid, and he’s almost like a real life version of that.”

“We’ve had a lot of really good bigs, but he’s up there with the best of them, just as far as his versatility. I think that’s what separates him,” Duke assistant coach Nolan Smith says. “The fact that he can put it on the floor, he can shoot the three, he can play inside, he can score at all three levels. That’s what makes him very, very different from a lot of guys I’ve seen with my eyes in this basketball game.”

Outside the game, Banchero is blazing a very, very different path as well. Due to recent changes in NCAA policies that now enable college athletes to profit off their NIL, he suddenly finds himself becoming as much a trendsetter in business as he is in sports. The family sat together shortly after the NCAA’s announcement and mapped out a strategy that made the most sense for Paolo. Every opportunity wasn’t worth pursuing, they established. It was, and still is, about finding the ones that fit best—that stay true to who Paolo is and what he really wants. In August, he signed with an agency (CAA Basketball) to help represent him in all NIL negotiations. 

“Our perspective was always that any opportunity that we’re going to take advantage of should be foundational, should be things that lead to other opportunities,” Mario explains. “Before NIL was finalized, we had discussed pursuing opportunities to be involved in NIL type of deals for no money, just to introduce Paolo to it and sort of build his brand and put him out there in an authentic way. With NIL, obviously there are more opportunities to do that and also be compensated.

“For him, specifically, it was, Don’t worry about chasing the dollars here. At Duke, you’re already affiliated with a premium brand. If the opportunities don’t meet or exceed that brand, then you don’t want to do them. You want to be focused on things that are authentic and things that can further you and be foundational, that you can build on as you continue to grow and progress through your collegiate—and hopefully ultimately—professional career.”

“Just not saturating,” adds Rhonda. “Wanting him to be one-of-one or the first. We thought that was important. Not that you don’t want to be associated with other players who may also sign deals with the same companies, but we wanted Paolo to be the first. With that said, you can’t be the first at a million things. You can be the first at a few.”

Nothing can, and nothing will, get in the way of basketball, though. Paolo understands that none of these deals would be possible without his commitment to the game. Business opportunities won’t distract from his primary goals: winning Player of the Year, being the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, sending Coach K out with a national championship. “He’s not one of those dudes who’s just focused on that he could make millions of dollars,” says freshman guard Trevor Keels, Paolo’s suitemate in the dorms. “He’s going to focus on the time right now. And he knows we gotta win a national championship.” Following a disappointing 2020-21 campaign, the new-look Blue Devils ranked ninth to open the season, and beat No. 10 Kentucky 79-71 in the Champions Classic on Tuesday night. Banchero finished with 22 points and 7 rebounds in the victory.

He might be soft-spoken, but you can also tell that beneath his calm exterior, Banchero is eager. When we dim the lights in Cameron Indoor Stadium blue, just as they will be for the school’s annual “Countdown to Craziness” event soon after our photo shoot, you can see his eyes widen. A smile slowly takes over his face. He can’t wait much longer.

We ask him to deliver a message to the Duke faithful and basketball fans across the country anticipating his debut.

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

“And then basketball fans in general,” he continues. “Some might not know me, but they will soon.”

SLAM 235 featuring Paolo Banchero is available now in gold and black metal editions.

Portraits by Mario Soriano/Victory

The post Paolo Banchero Is Paving the Way For Generations to Come appeared first on SLAM.

The free-agent guard just dropped 81 points (ode to the Mamba) in The Crawsover Pro-Am League, which is put on every summer by hometown hero Jamal Crawford.

And it was even better in person!!!!!!!!! What @isaiahthomas did today we will be talking about decades from now https://t.co/RaP4uHXuaN

— Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) August 9, 2021

The Seattle native usually suits up in his Nike Kobe Protros and gets to work on the summer circuit, pulling up from well beyond the arc and using his All-NBA footwork to slice around the defensive pressure.

Yesterday’s run at Seattle Pacific University was nothing less than extraordinary. Thomas had poured in 40 points before halftime including a bone-chilling crossover that sent his defender sliding four feet.

Thomas has been on a rampage this summer, scoring 37 in his Drew League debut back in July, setting the AEBL scoring record with 65 just a week later, then dropped this 81-point gem.

Nearly a year removed from his latest hip surgery, Thomas is in peak condition, flying past defenders with ease and displaying his quintessential shot-making that made him so deadly in his Eastern Conference battles with the Boston Celtics.

Give IT a shot. He’s more than ready for the League.

The post Isaiah Thomas Stuns Pro-Am League Crowd with 81 Points appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

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

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

Here are reactions from the NBA:

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

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

Boston Celtics and Miami Heat:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Even if they don’t manage to secure a trade for Houston Rockets superstar James Harden, the Nets find themselves in prime position to make a surprise run through the Eastern Conference Finals. They had one of the most quiet offseasons of any team and everyone is wary of what Durant and Kyrie Irving can do with the Nets.

Nets Roster Additions

Biggest Acquisitions

• Bruce Brown: Despite being one of the more unheralded players in the NBA, Bruce Brown has proven himself to be a well-rounded wing who can hang his hat on his defense. Brown could be one of the smartest trade acquisitions made by any team, as he’s a low-profile player with a indelible impact on both sides of the court.

• Jeff Green: Veteran big man Jeff Green is still athletic at 34-years-old and although he’s streaky from beyond the arc, can still operate as a stretch-four or stretch-five with his length and mobility. He complements Brooklyn’s more traditional big men in DeAndre Jordan and Jarrett Allen.

Nets Roster Subtractions

Biggest Losses

• Garrett Temple: A lanky veteran point guard with a high basketball IQ and solid perimeter shooting, Garrett Temple is a player that the Nets may have managed to replace during the offseason by trading for Bruce Brown. Nonetheless, Temple is the most productive player that Brooklyn lost this fall.

• Jamal Crawford: Jamal Crawford was initially signed by the Nets to be a playmaker for the second unit, what he’s always done. With Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving ready to return to the court, perhaps the Nets no longer need an additional playmaker though; especially if the Nets stagger their minutes.

All NBA Team Offseason Summaries

The post Brooklyn Nets: Offseason Summary 2020 appeared first on SLAM.

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

Nets NBA 2K21 Ratings

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

The post Brooklyn Nets: NBA 2K21 Ratings appeared first on SLAM.

Crawford left the court after getting entangled with Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe and didn’t return. Nets general manager Sean Marks visited the veteran in the locker room prior to the revelation that he would sit for the rest of the contest.

Crawford was signed by the Nets as one of several replacement players for other injured players. On a relatively green and inexperienced roster, Crawford was in position to emerge as a leader on a playoff hopeful club. That’s still possible if the decision to shut Crawford down early on Tuesday was largely precautionary.

Crawford hadn’t played in the 2019-20 campaign prior to today. His last taste of NBA action came in 2018-19 with the Phoenix Suns.

The post Jamal Crawford Injures Hamstring in Debut appeared first on SLAM.

Four months after the NBA became the first North American professional sports league to close its doors as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the Association is back. Despite the chaos of the times, the NBA and the players’ union agreed to reconvene at Walt Disney World for an eight-game addendum to the interrupted campaign, two potential play-in tournaments and a (relatively) traditional postseason.

A total of 22 teams saw their playoff aspirations renewed with the decision to return: the top 8 from each conference back when the League stood still and an additional half dozen that were within six games of sneaking in. The remaining eight teams will watch like the rest of us, from the comfortable confines of self-isolation.

The ambitious bubble plan, including a March Madness-esque carousel of games through the first two weeks of August, gives teams and players an opportunity to take care of their unfinished business. It gives the League a much-needed opportunity to recuperate lost television revenue, too, an essential component of the basketball-related income that benchmarks like the salary cap and luxury tax threshold are tied to.

The NBA’s return plan is experimental and unprecedented—we’re about to watch the biggest games of the season unfold without fans in attendance, across the backdrop of a global pandemic and a massive social justice movement—but basketball is back and that’s a small victory for everyone.

Questions About the Restart

How will playing in the bubble, with no fans or home court advantage, impact the games?

With no fans present in the bubble, home court advantage will be nonexistent in the 2020 NBA playoffs. The great equalizer—so to speak. If there is one team that probably benefits the most from this, it’s got to be the Los Angeles Clippers. If the brackets align the way they’re shaping up to, the Lakers and Clippers could meet in the Western Conference finals (ESPN’s BPI says there is a 31 percent chance of that happening). In a pre-COVID world, that’d mean all games would be held at STAPLES Center, where Lakers fans usually pack the house even when the NBA schedule officially has it down as a Clippers home game. After all, Southern California is predominantly Laker Nation. The Clippers would’ve never had a true home game in a series against the Lakers. The global pandemic may have tipped the scales.

How seriously will the bottom seeds take the Orlando format?

For the teams invited to the bubble without a realistic shot at making the playoffs, the goal will be to get experience for young players without risking injuries to their stars. Look for the Suns, Wizards and Spurs to treat the season resumption like an early Summer League. The Grizzlies, Pelicans, Blazers and Kings will be fighting for the 8-seed in the West, with Memphis having a 3.5-game head start. Portland is looking to salvage a disappointing season, while MEM, NOLA and SAC stand to gain valuable big-game experience.

What will be the effects of a four-month quarantine on the level of play?

There’s no denying that the layoff—a longer layoff than the typical offseason—will have a substantial impact on the basketball we see in Orlando. For the most part, however, the effects of the reduced training camp will be felt evenly across the board. Perhaps the energy level starts lower as teams play themselves into game shape in the seeding round. Some teams, nonetheless, will still come out ahead—like the Philadelphia 76ers now that Ben Simmons has returned to full health. Others, like the Washington Wizards, who lost Bradley Beal to lingering shoulder issues, will have to adapt to life without players that were otherwise available before the shutdown.

What is life in the bubble like for players off the court?

If you really want to know the answer to this question, follow guys like JaVale McGee and Matisse Thybulle, who have been vlogging their daily off-court experiences. We’ve also had multiple players take over SLAM’s Instagram account and give us a behind-the-scenes look at the Disney World campus. On social media, we’ve seen revamped hotel rooms, including elaborate video game set-ups and mini recording studios. Donovan Mitchell has already dubbed himself the “best ping pong player in the bubble.” Other available activities: swimming, golfing, fishing, bowling, tennis and bike riding. Keep your eyes peeled for more incredible content coming out of Orlando.

GRAB YOUR COPY OF SLAM 228

Should the championship have an asterisk next to it?

Whoever ends up raising the Larry O’Brien trophy in October should have an asterisk next to their team name. Not because this title will be cheap or unwarranted; but because this will be, perhaps, the most difficult and trying championship race we’ll ever see. The dudes that earn the jewelry will have fought through a pandemic, social upheaval and the passing of a multi-generational basketball hero. So absolutely, throw an asterisk next to ’20 in the record books. This one’s reserved for the strongest group of players out there.

How will players use the platform of the NBA restart to advocate for social justice?

Avenues for change are numerous. And as they’ve proven time and time again, NBA players are leading the way. Some are replacing the names on the backs of their jerseys. Some are going to write messages on their sneakers. Some will undoubtedly use national media interviews as a platform to educate the masses. One thing’s for certain; these players will continue to speak up for what’s right and speak against what’s wrong.

SLAM’s Bubble Awards

*These award predictions are just based on performances in Orlando*

CHAMPS: Los Angeles Lakers

Yes, the Clippers are now well-rested, while the Lakers will be without a couple of their most important pieces—Avery Bradley and Rajon Rondo (’til the end of August, at least). Then you got the Bucks, who are also among the favorites to win it all, according to Vegas. At the end of the day, though, a very eager LeBron James is not one to bet against. Despite being down a couple of players, the team still has plenty of championship experience on its roster. And LeBron has certainly done more with a lot less in the past.

MVP: LeBron James

It’s hard to imagine an athlete better equipped to handle the League’s unconventional return to action than LeBron James. Virtually every hurdle that could negatively affect player performance in the bubble doesn’t apply. James’ unparalleled physical conditioning leaves him particularly well-suited for the return and his years of playoff experience afford him the invaluable discipline to remain focused under such unusual circumstances. Scariest of all? He’s got every reason to be as hungry for a title as he was in March.

BEST NEW KICKS: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nike Zoom Freak 2

White columns twinkled with sunlight on a blazingly hot day in Athens back in June of 2019. Nike had taken over the Zappeion, a landmark in Greece’s capital, for the launch of the Zoom Freak 1, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s debut signature sneaker. Antetokounmpo, through an unbreakable smile, showed the world his kicks under an unforgiving sun. He’ll show the world his second sneaker, the Freak 2, under the bubble this summer. A decoupled outsole built specifically for his Euro Step highlights his sophomore silhouette, along with a forefoot Air unit, an exaggerated Swoosh and multiple callouts to his family.

BEST FITS: Kyle Kuzma and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

It’s not too difficult to predict who the NBA bubble’s fashion kings will be—it’s going to be the same guys who were getting fits off on their own in quarantine without the help of arena photographers. Kyle Kuzma and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t let the pandemic falter their Instagram grid—both of them might’ve actually posted more during quarantine. If there are guys comfortable with getting a fit off at any time and in any place, it’s these two.  Don’t count out Troy Daniels, though—he had two Instagram pictures up from the bubble (word to self-timer flicks) before any other player posted even once.

BIGGEST BREAKOUT: Bam Adebayo

Just this past season, Bam Adebayo became an All-Star and a SLAM cover star. Adebayo isn’t a breakout player candidate in the strictest sense—well-known among hoop fans since his days as a top-10 HS recruit—but Bam has a chance to boost his overall profile tremendously in Orlando. Since becoming a full-time starter, he’s taken on a larger role while remaining an efficient offensive player. He’s a good passer who fits perfectly in Miami’s dribble-handoff-heavy offense. He’s an excellent finisher and draws a ton of fouls but is still just scratching the surface of what he’s capable of offensively. Add the fact that Bam can legitimately lock down any position 1-5, and it’s easy to see why he’s become the fulcrum of Miami’s success.

UNSUNG HERO: Robert Covington

The Houston Rockets experimented with an unconventional small-ball lineup before the break and that hasn’t gone anywhere over the course of the hiatus. Foundational to Houston’s success using Mike D’Antoni’s latest concept roster is trade deadline acquisition Robert Covington. Covington’s defensive versatility allows Houston to get away with starting the 6-5 PJ Tucker at center, which opens the floor for James Harden and Russell Westbrook. The team’s superstar duo will dominate if the strategy works, but don’t sleep on the critical component that allows it all to happen.

SUBSTITUTE PLAYER MVP: JR Smith

Sharpshooter Jamal Crawford will definitely get his buckets for the Nets, but they aren’t likely to make any noise in the playoffs. The veteran Luc Mbah a Moute is a solid addition to Houston’s small-ball rotation. But we picked the Lakers to win it all, and we’re hoping for at least one JR Smith game on their journey to the top. With Avery Bradley opting out of the restart and Rajon Rondo sidelined due to injury, the road is paved for others to step up. JR hasn’t suited up this season but has experience playing alongside LeBron and can get hot in a hurry. Oh yeah, and he’s completely fearless. Let’s get it.

—

GRAB YOUR COPY OF SLAM 228

Cover by Tyson Beck.

Photos via Getty.

The post NBA BUBBLE PREVIEW: Questions and Predictions for the Restart appeared first on SLAM.

Beasley was recently signed as a substitute player for a Nets team decimated by injuries, opt outs and COVID-19.

If Beasley isn’t able to play for the Nets when the regular season resumes later this month, he’ll be the ninth player sidelined for the franchise.

While the Nets’ chances of competing for the title grew slim with the confirmation that stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving wouldn’t suit up, they emerged as an exciting option for league fans hungry for NBA action.

Beasley was signed along with Jamal Crawford, giving the franchise a compelling duo of player’s with interesting narratives and penchants for getting buckets.

The post Michael Beasley’s Roster Spot Uncertain After COVID-19 Diagnosis appeared first on SLAM.

Beasley will join Jamal Crawford as veteran enforcements for a team desperately short-handed ahead of the league’s restart later this month. While Beasley’s Lakers run was a forgettable one, his 2017-18 campaign with the New York Knicks was his best in seven years.

The 31-year-old could be cast into a significant role given the sheer uncertainty going on with Brooklyn’s roster. In addition to long-term injuries to players like Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, at least five other players will sit out the Disney games.

Beasley averaged 13.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game for the Knicks in 2017-18, a campaign in which he played 74 games and started 30. His one-year tenure with the Lakers the following season was cut short by the death of his mother.

Beasley was expected to ink a deal with the Detroit Pistons in training camp last offseason but that deal never came to fruition.

The post Nets, Michael Beasley Progressing Toward Deal appeared first on SLAM.

Crawford’s 2018-19 season ended with a bang when dropped 51 points on the Dallas Mavericks in the final game of the season but he didn’t catch on with an NBA squad throughout the first portion of the season.

Now, almost incomprehensibly short-handed, the Nets will solicit the veteran journeyman’s help.

Crawford will play for the Nets for the remainder of the 2019-20 campaign and help the Nets defend their No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference bracket.

During the 2018-19 campaign, Crawford averaged 7.9 points in an elder statesman role with the Suns. With the likes of Spencer Dinwiddie and Kyrie Irving already ruled out of action in Disney, Crawford could step into a significant role out of the gates.

The post Jamal Crawford to Sign With Brooklyn Nets appeared first on SLAM.

It’s truly incredible that Luka Doncic is not even legally allowed to drink yet and he already has 29 30-point performances under his belt. He’s been the engine behind one of the league’s best and most efficient offenses all season.

Luka scored 33 points, grabbed 10 boards and dished out 8 assists in the convincing win over the Magic. Maxi Kleber also had himself a career-high 26 points.

Cavaliers 113 (15-40), Wizards 108 (20-34)

In their first game since John Beilein stepped down as head coach, the Cavs grabbed a solid victory against the Wizards. Colin Sexton led the way with 25 points, and Andre Drummond had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Despite the loss, Bradley Beal was putting on a show around the rim. He finished with 26 points.

Pacers 106 (33-23), Knicks 98 (17-39)

Behind the steady pair of TJ Warren (27 points, 8 rebounds) and Domantas Sabonis (24 points, 13 rebounds), the Pacers put away the Knicks. While Victor Oladipo continues to find his groove after missing almost a year of basketball, the Pacers can support their star just fine.

Raptors 118 (41-15), Suns 101 (22-34)

All the Raptors do is win, and the most impressive part is most of the time, one of their core players is usually injured. This time it was Marc Gasol and Norman Powell, still nursing injuries after the All-Star break.

But no matter. Pascal Siakam dropped 37 points, 12 boards and 3 blocks, while every other starter scored in double digits to stifle the poor Suns.

Celtics 127 (39-16), Timberwolves 117 (16-38)

Four Celtics went off to defeat the Timberwolves. Jayson Tatum had 28 points and 11 rebounds, Gordon Hayward had 29, Daniel Theis had 25 and 16 boards, and Jaylen Brown had 25 of his own. A true committee approach.

The last time four starters scored at least 25 points each was when Jamal Crawford, Eddy Curry, Channing Frye and Stephon Marbury did it with the Knicks in 2006, Per NBA stats.

Thunder 113 (34-22), Nuggets 101 (38-18)

This was a huge win for OKC. Leading the Nuggets by only a single point heading into the 4th quarter, CP3 took over as they broke it open and won by a solid 12 points.

CP3 had 29, Steven Adams had 19 points and 17 boards, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was one assist and one rebound away from a triple double.

Spurs 113 (24-31), Jazz 104 (36-19)

Time is running out for San Antonio to keep their 22-year playoff streak alive, and beating a West heavyweight in Utah is as good a win as they can get.

DeJounte Murray led the way with 23 points, 7 rebounds and 4 steals, while Donovan Mitchell treated us to another classic slam.

Lakers 117 (42-12), Grizzlies 105 (28-28)

The Lakers came out of the break strong, defeating a pesky and youthful grizzlies team by 12 points. As usual, LeBron (32 points, 7 assists) and trusty sidekick Anthony Davis (28 points, 13 rebounds, 7 blocks) led the way.

Pelicans 128 (24-32), Trailblazers 115 (25-32)

The Pelicans soundly defeated the Blazers, who were without franchise star Damian Lillard, who is still nursing a groin injury.

Zion Williamson continued his insane start to his career with 25 points, while the rest of the team played a solid floor game to take down the Blazers.

The post Post Up: Spurs Defeat Jazz To Keep Playoff Hopes Alive appeared first on SLAM.

Disabled player exceptions don’t grant teams an additional roster spot but the Blazers have one space available.

Portland has been deep in the luxury tax all season and had been surviving with one less than the maximum number of 15 standard contracts. The season-ending injury that Hood sustained earlier this month, however, depleted the team’s bench further.

Hood tore his Achilles on Dec. 6 and has been ruled out for the season. In order for the league to grant the disabled player exception that the franchise promptly applied for, a third-party doctor had to confirm that he’d be sidelined through mid-June.

The Blazers can’t package the disabled player exception in a multiplayer trade but they could use it to acquire a player in a trade directly, they can also sign an available player into that exception or claim one.

Two players remain on our list of the top 2019 NBA free agents available, including Kenneth Faried and Jamal Crawford. The former was recently released from his Chinese league squad.

Other players that have been waived so far during the 2019-20 campaign include Tyrone Wallace, Iman Shumpert and Ryan Anderson.

The post Blazers Awarded Disabled Player Exception For Rodney Hood appeared first on SLAM.

“I showed up to the first practice in cargo shorts,” Holmgren remembers. “I was this long, lanky, awkward white dude. I looked terrible. I couldn’t catch the ball, couldn’t dribble. Everybody’s making fun of me. I just wasn’t ready.”

Holmgren is still a long, lanky white dude, but there is absolutely nothing funny about his game. Now a 7-1 junior, in less than a year he’s gone from an anonymous Minnesota high schooler to a top-five prospect in the 2021 class. Always tall for his age, Holmgren initially was a reluctant hooper, but his love for the game grew alongside his height and his skill set. And from the beginning, that skill set was suited to a much smaller player.

“From when I started with Sizzle, my coach never put me on the block,” Holmgren says. “He always put me with the guards, taught me everything he taught the guards. I guess it’s just paying off.”

Even in the unicorn era that is coming to dominate the game, Holmgren stands out for his combination of ridiculous length and deadly outside-in game. The big change—literally—came when he was in eighth grade and grew almost eight inches over the course of the year. In the short term, it was rough—“My body hurt from growing so much, and I couldn’t move too well,” he says—but once he had a chance to adapt, he started to become a problem. He was a non-factor early in his freshman year but a solid contributor by the end of the season; as a sophomore, he and teammate Jalen Suggs—a top-10 guard in the 2020 class—started dominating opponents. Both seasons ended in state titles.

But it was last spring and summer when Holmgren’s game, and name, really blew up. Playing with Sizzle in the Under Armour Association in April, he earned tournament MOP honors with averages of 19.8 ppg, 7 rpg, and nearly 9 bpg. He carried that momentum into the summer season, a run that included one of the craziest highlights any high schooler has ever posted. Running pick-up at Stephen Curry’s SC30 Select Camp last August, Holmgren found himself guarded by the two-time MVP. Attacking from the wing, he squared up Curry, put the ball behind his back with his right hand and immediately whipped it back with his left, essentially using one of Curry’s own signature separation moves to blow by him and drive for a two-handed dunk.

“That double crossover, Jamal Crawford, whatever you want to call it, that’s what most people know me from,” he says now. “It was crazy.”

It wasn’t just that Holmgren had the nerve to try that move, but that he pulled it off so smoothly. Those who know him weren’t surprised. “Chet is one of my favorite kids,” says Chandler Sentell, a Minnehaha assistant coach who has worked with Holmgren for years. “I think a lot of times, just based on the way he looks, there are a lot of assumptions that go along with that. But he’s tough. He doesn’t back down from anyone.”

The rankings have reflected it: After being an afterthought in most 2021 rankings, he’s now a contender for the top spot in the class. There’s still plenty of room for polish in his game, not to mention the obvious need to get stronger, but Holmgren is already adapting to the pressure of being one of the best players in the country. “It used to be that I stepped on that court like, ‘I’m coming at you.’ Now it’s the other way around—people are trying to come at me,” he says. “But I still have that same mentality. I’m trying to rip your throat out.”

—

GRAB YOUR COPY OF SLAM 225

Ryan Jones is a Contributing Editor at SLAM. Follow him on Twitter at @thefarmerjones.

Portraits by Wale Agboola/DEEN.

The post BIG STEPPER: Chet Holmgren’s Game Keeps Growing appeared first on SLAM.

—

Gym Rat Award: Cole Anthony

Cole lived in the gym. He would put in 60-90 minutes on the court pretty much every day. Even when he was off, he would come by and observe guys like CJ McCollum and Donovan Mitchell work out. He really is a student of the game. He’s hungry.

Locked-In Award: D’Angelo Russell

During free agency, when D’Angelo didn’t know where he would be playing this season, we had some of our most intense workouts. I’m talking, some of the most intense workouts I’ve ever conducted. Some nights we would be on the court working from midnight to 2 a.m.

18 Minutes Champion: James Harden

One of my favorite workouts is an 18-minute shooting drill. It consists of 18 straight minutes of 3s. For nine of those minutes, the player is on the move; and for the other nine, they stand still. James Harden had the summer record with 265 makes. CJ McCollum finished second with 261. Those numbers are ridiculous!

Biggest Surprise: Ty Jerome

When Ty played in the Black Ops runs, he controlled the game. He was hitting threes from almost half court and also making his teammates better. One day, he won every single game (nine straight). Ty is going to have a big rookie year. 

Biggest Surprise, Non-NBA Player: J. Cole

J. Cole played in a handful of Black Ops runs, but one of the days was particularly memorable. Sharing the court with nine NBA guys, he hit 3 game-winners and shot 7-8 from deep.

Most Focused: Donovan Mitchell

Heading into Team USA tryouts, Donovan would come in the gym every morning with a chip on his shoulder. He logged double sessions a lot of days, too. He was extremely focused and pushed himself to be as ready as possible for USA. His work was rewarded by his great play in the World Cup.

What People Don’t Know: James Harden’s Work Ethic

James would work out daily and he’d run suicides on his own afterward. One day, following a tiring session with two other NBA players, James still got on the line and knocked out his suicides. Averaging 36.9 points per game doesn’t just happen. Tremendous work ethic is required.

The Mentor: Carmelo Anthony

Melo worked very, very hard this summer himself, but he also helped others get better. He did individual sessions and played one-on-one with Cole Anthony, Kyle Kuzma, Julius Randle, Donovan Mitchell and Terrence Clarke. He shared his knowledge and taught them how to do specific moves. Melo showed his maturity and his leadership qualities. He didn’t have to do those sessions. He did it because he wanted to pass on his wisdom to the next generation.

Best Duo: Donovan Mitchell and Trae Young

Imagine these two in the same backcourt. It’s a coach’s dream. It started in Louisville, when Mitchell and Trae worked out together and played pick-up against the Cardinals’ men’s basketball team. Then when we started the Black Ops games, they ran together and it was a scary site. They have great chemistry. 

Walking Bucket Award: TJ Warren

TJ played in a few Black Ops games and was unstoppable. He can score in a number of ways and he’s highly underrated on a national scale. 

NC Crew: Dennis Smith Jr, TJ Warren & J. Cole

The North Carolina crew is very close. Not only would they play on the same team during Black Ops runs, they would also work out together at night.

Most Viral Picture: Cole Anthony Putback Dunk

Wow Moment: Adrian Griffin Jr & Terrence Clarke

Adrian Griffin Jr was the youngest player to ever play in a Black Ops run. He was 15 years old and he was on fire. His first outing, he scored over 20 points and played like a grown man. Everyone left the gym impressed. Terrence Clarke also put on a show. His handle reminds me of Jamal Crawford and he’s very skilled. Kentucky got a great one.

Most Competitive Workout: Russell Westbrook & James Harden

James and Russell worked out together and I said, ‘First to win 10 drills wins the workout.’ It literally came down to the last shot. It was 9-9 and the last drill was 50 threes on the move. James got 35. Russ was at 34-49 and the last shot would have tied James to send the workout into overtime, but he missed it.

Any time Russ is on the court, he brings a whole different level of intensity. I love it.

High-Flyer Award: Kelly Oubre

Oubre really had 16 dunks in a single Black Ops run. And he had a beanie on when he did it, too. The internet ran with it. #BeanieKelly

—

Follow Chris Brickley on Instagram.

The post Black Ops Basketball: 2019 Summer Recap and Awards appeared first on SLAM.

At this point in the summer, the number of teams able and willing to offer more than minimum contracts is slim but that doesn’t mean squads aren’t interested in fortifying their rotations with affordable but experienced assets.

Below is a list of the top remaining players available to ink deals with new teams, I’ve ranked them in the order of the potential impact they could still have on an NBA roster.

1. Carmelo Anthony

There’s been no shortage of criticism for Carmelo Anthony and some of that criticism is justified. That said, the 35-year-old remains one of the most offensively gifted isolation players available in basketball.

If Anthony is truly ready to accept a bit role, he could be a major asset to a contending NBA squad. He may not be capable of providing plus value as a starter or even as a sixth man in today’s NBA but you know as well as I do that a dialed in Melo could get hot at just the right time and move the needle in a pivotal 2020 postseason matchup.

The question is what kind of team he’d do that for.

2. Joakim Noah

Joakim Noah didn’t put forth the same statistical outbursts as some of the other players below him on this list did but I’ve ranked these players based on their potential impact on an NBA team in 2019-20. At 34 years of age, Noah’s game is more or less a subdued version of what it always was; a poetic blend of intelligence and rabid energy.

There’s not one team that wouldn’t benefit from an experienced, smart, defensive-minded rotation big like Noah and the former All-Star seems to have finally adjusted to his new reality, post-Chicago.

Noah is reportedly being hounded by a club in New Zealand, so NBA teams may not be able to grab him if they wait until the season is underway.

3. Kenneth Faried

Kenneth Faried was a revelation for the Rockets when they signed him mid-season last January. The 29-year-old immediately began stuffing the stat sheet just as he’d done for so long with the Denver Nuggets earlier in his career and averaged 13.5 points and 8.8 rebounds in games in which he saw at least 20 minutes of playing time.

Faried’s production dipped when Houston welcomed an injured Clint Capela back into their rotation in late February but he remains a productive big that no longer comes with an eight-digit price tag.

4. Shaun Livingston

Although he never averaged more than 20 minutes per game in his five seasons with the Warriors, Shaun Livingston became a vital piece of the team’s rotation throughout the peak of its dynasty. The guard is a stabilizing force with elite length that doesn’t squander possessions.

Livingston may not be able to anchor a second unit but he’s a low-risk depth piece that would make any team better.

5. Ryan Anderson

Despite the fact that we’ve all been conditioned to shun Ryan Anderson because of the albatross price tag that haunted him, when utilized consistency, he’s a competent stretch four capable of flirting with the .400 mark from beyond the arc.

Anderson on a near $20M contract is unpalatable, yes, but Anderson on a minimum deal is something that any team looking to add floor spacers should consider. There’s no guarantee that a 31-year-old Anderson could make waves on a competitive basketball team but I’d be surprised if a team doesn’t take a chance on him before the end of the season.

6. Iman Shumpert

Iman Shumpert is another example of a player who has become somewhat radioactive for financial reasons but his eight-digit annual cap hit is a thing of the past. Don’t bet your house on the 29-year-old matching the .366 he shot from beyond the arc in Sacramento last season but he seemed to be a positive influence on the Kings during his stay there.

Unlike most of the players on this list who seem hand picked to fill gaps on a contending team, Shumpert could be a valuable addition for a team still trying to establish itself. The energy he brought to the Kings locker room last season is no joke.

8. Marquese Chriss

There’s no denying that Marquese Chriss has had plenty of opportunities to carve out consistent playing time across stints with the rebuilding Phoenix Suns and Cleveland Cavaliers. The fact that he hasn’t, should not go unnoticed.

That being said, I’m not ready to give up on the the 22-year-old former lottery pick just yet. Chriss averaged 16.5 points and 6.8 rebounds when given more than 20 minutes of playing time during his rookie season three years ago.

Yes, that’s a cherry picked stat, but it’s not Chriss’ fault that he landed in a terrible developmental environment when he was drafted. If Chriss was going to be a competent starter, he would have forced a team’s hand by now, but there’s no reason why he can’t still be a valuable, athletic, rotation big with upside.

8. Amir Johnson

Amir Johnson has never been a high maintenance NBA player and as a result has put together a long career as a valued rotation player for a number of competitive basketball teams. Sure he may not be the endless source of bounce and athleticism that he used to be but the prep-to-pros veteran is still just 32 years old.

Don’t expect Johnson to be a game-changer if he ends up back on an NBA squad but do realize that he’s an adaptable high character guy that could provide front court depth cheap.

9. Justin Anderson

Justin Anderson has bounced around a number of franchises since arriving on the NBA radar in 2015 and shown flashes of potential as a solid defensive wing with good size. If he ever lands with a team that can coax more out of his jumpshot, he could have a long career as bench piece on the perimeter.

That sort of late-blooming project may not appeal to rebuilding teams but where’s the downside for a playoff club with their rotation set and a roster spot available this late in the offseason?

10. Jamal Crawford

If you don’t day dream about Jamal Crawford landing on a playoff team, filling his role as token elder statesman on farewell tour admirably throughout the regular season before ultimately rising to the occasion as an injury replacement when his down-and-out championship hopeful squad needs him, immediately dropping 30-plus off the bench and punctuating a crucial postseason victory with a loping crossover that frees him up for a game winning jumper then who even are you?

The post The Best NBA Free Agents Still Available appeared first on SLAM.

We’ve seen a flurry of free agency activity since June 30, all listed and detailed in our 2019 NBA Free Agency Tracker, but not all players have found their homes for 2019-20.

The Kawhi Leonard domino fell in the wee hours of Saturday morning, which could open the flood gates for the final wave of activity. What might that wave actually look like though?

Below are the twenty most impactful free agents, many of whom could be excellent late additions to teams bracing up for a wild NBA campaign. Disagree? Hit us up in the comments below or chase me on Twitter (@AustinKent).

The post The Top 20 Remaining NBA Free Agents appeared first on SLAM.

Charlotte took an 8-point lead into halftime and grew it to 27 by the fourth quarter.

Jeremy Lamb scored a game-high 23 points (9-13 FG) with 5 dimes, 3 steals and a +21 plus/minus.

Cleveland finished their season on a 10-game losing streak.

Grizzlies 93 (32-49), Pistons 100 (40-41)

Detroit managed to rally back from a 15-point fourth quarter deficit to snap a four-game losing streak and keep their playoff hopes alive.

Andre Drummond dropped 20 points (6-11 FG) with 17 boards, 5 steals, 3 blocks and a +17 plus/minus.

Blake Griffin appeared to re-injure his left knee during warmups and only managed to contribute 5 points on the night.

Celtics 116 (49-33), Wizards 110 (32-50)

Boston rested their entire starting lineup and still managed to rally back during the fourth quarter for the win.

Terry Rozier scored a game-high 21 points with 4 treys and 4 dimes.

Sixers 99 (50-31), Heat 122 (39-42)

Miami crushed the Sixers and snapped a 4-game losing streak in Dwyane Wade’s final home game.

In his only start this season, Wade scored a game-high 30 points with 4 treys and 3 dimes.

Knicks 96 (17-64), Bulls 86 (22-59)

With the win, New York avoided their worst record in franchise history.

Dennis Smith Jr scored a game-high 25 points with 5 dimes and a +15 plus/minus.

Raptors 120 (58-24), Wolves 100 (36-45)

Toronto outscored the Wolves by 24 points (!!!) in the second quarter and never looked back. By the fourth quarter, the Raptors’ lead had ballooned to 32 points.

Kawhi Leonard dropped a game-high 20 points with 4 treys and 6 boards in just 24 minutes.

Warriors 112 (57-24), Pelicans 103 (33-49)

Going deep into their bench, Golden State rallied to take a 9-point lead in the third quarter and held on to the lead for the rest of the game.

In his return to New Orleans, DeMarcus Cousins scored a team-high 21 points with 12 boards and 6 dimes.

Golden State has now won 6 straight games.

Suns 109 (19-63), Mavs 120 (33-48)

Dallas nearly blew a 31-point third quarter lead, but they managed to hold on in what would ultimately be Dirk Nowitzki’s final home game.

Dirk dropped a team-high 30 points with 5 treys and 8 boards. Luka Doncic scored 21 points with 16 boards, 11 dimes, 3 steals and a +15 plus/minus.

Jamal Crawford went off for 51 points in a losing effort. The 39-year-old surpassed MJ as the oldest player to drop a 50-piece. He’s now dropped 50 with four different teams.

Nuggets 108 (53-28), Jazz 118 (50-31)

Utah outscored the Nuggets by 9 points in the second half and are legitimately one of the hottest teams in the League right now.

Donovan Mitchell tied a career-high with 46 points, adding 7 boards, 4 dimes and a +24 plus/minus.

Rockets 111 (53-29), Thunder 112 (48-33)

OKC rallied back from a 14-point fourth quarter deficit to snap the red-hot Rockets’ 6-game winning streak.

Russell Westbrook dropped a team-high 29 points with 12 boards and 10 dimes. Paul George (27 points, 9 boards, 4 steals) hit a crazy game-winner to put away the Rockets.

Blazers 104 (52-29), Lakers 101 (37-45)

Moe Harkless scored the final 12 points for Portland as the Blazers narrowly avoided defeat in Los Angeles.

Harkless dropped a team-high 26 points with 8 boards, 4 blocks and a game-winning three to end the Lakers’ season.

The post Post Up: Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki Drop 30-PIECES in Final Home Games appeared first on SLAM.

Steph Curry went off for a game-high 40 points as Golden State held off a late Cavaliers run in the fourth quarter. Curry’s performance included an impressive 9-for-12 shooting display from 3-point land.

Raptors 111 (56-24), Hornets 113 (37-42)

Jeremy Lamb (22 points) once again sunk the Raptors as he hit the go-ahead shot with 3.3 seconds left. Lamb banked a half-court buzzer-beater in Toronto just a couple of weeks ago that also gave the Hornets a win.

Hawks 113 (29-51), Magic 149 (40-40)

Orlando set a franchise high with 81 first-half points as it was an all-out offensive attack by the Magic in the win. Nikola Vucevic, Terrence Ross and Evan Fournier each scored 25 points for Orlando.

Spurs 129 (46-34), Wizards 112 (32-48)

Eight Spurs hit double-digit scoring, led by LaMarcus Aldridge’s 24 points. Bradley Beal put in 25 points for Washington.

Celtics 117 (48-32), Pacers 87 (47-33)

Boston earned a game of separation from Indiana in playoff seeding thanks to their road win. Jayson Tatum (22 points) and Gordon Hayward (21 points) led the scoring way for the Celtics.

Knicks 96 (15-64), Rockets 120 (52-28)

Houston jumped out to the lead with 32 points in the first quarter and never looked back. James Harden registered 26 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in the win.

Heat 109 (38-41), Timberwolves 111 (36-43)

Dwyane Wade put in 24 points for the Heat but it wasn’t enough in Minnesota as the Wolves locked in down the stretch. Dario Saric and Gorgui Dieng each led the Wolves in scoring with 19 points.

Pistons 110 (39-40), Thunder 123 (46-33)

Russell Westbrook earned three assists early on the game, which secured his third straight season of averaging a triple-double — the first to achieve that in NBA history. He finished the game with 19 points, 15 assists and eight rebounds.

Grizzlies 122 (32-47), Mavericks 112 (31-48)

Memphis’ Delon Wright posted his first career triple-double (26 points, 14 assists, 10 rebounds) as the Grizzlies notched the road win. Courtney Lee scored 21 points for the Mavs.

Kings 98 (39-41), Jazz 119 (49-30)

This one got out of control early as the Jazz put in two straight quarters of 35 points, blowing open their lead. Donovan MItchell and Grayson Allen each contributed 23 points.

Pelicans 126 (32-48), Suns 133 (19-61)

Phoenix came away with the win in overtime thanks to a huge effort by Josh Jackson (35 points, nine rebounds, five assists). Jamal Crawford contributed 28 points of his own as well.

Blazers 110 (50-29), Nuggets 119 (53-26)

Denver’s offense was just too much for the Blazers to keep up with. The Nuggets were led by a scoring trio of Paul Millsap (25 points), Jamal Murray (23 points) and Nikola Jokic (22 points).

Lakers 122 (36-44), Clippers 117 (47-33)

Alex Caruso was the difference in the battle of L.A. Caruso popped off for 32 points, including 5-for-7 shooting from deep. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 25 points.

RELATED: Stephen Curry Fixed His Vision This Season By Wearing Contacts

The post Post Up: Steph Curry’s 40 Points Pushes Warriors Past Cavaliers appeared first on SLAM.

Along with Montrezl Harrell—another throw-in in the swap—Williams has improbably helped lead L.A. back into the playoffs.

The veteran guard and young big man have formed one of the NBA’s most dangerous pick-and-roll partnerships.

Per ESPN:

[Doc] Rivers told Williams he saw a potential match. “He was like, ‘If you got a girlfriend, kids, whatever, get comfortable here,'” Williams says. “‘We are gonna do something special.'”

Rivers had less intel on a young big man who came in the Paul trade. “When we first got Montrezl [Harrell], it was, ‘Why didn’t [Houston] play him?'” Rivers says. “‘Like, what does he do?'”

[Last] month, Williams became the NBA’s all-time leading bench scorer. He is second in fourth-quarter points, behind only James Harden, and a robust 19-of-34 in the last three minutes of games when the score is within three points, per NBA.com. Williams is favored to win his third Sixth Man of the Year award, which would tie Jamal Crawford for most all time. Harrell has a case for finishing second in voting; no teammates have ever gone 1-2.

“The Rockets,” Williams says, “paid a healthy price for Chris Paul.”

Related Lou Williams: Allen Iverson ‘Reason I Ended Up Coming Off the Bench’

The post Lou Williams: Rockets ‘Paid a Healthy Price for Chris Paul’ appeared first on SLAM.

Williams, 32, is now the NBA’s all-time leader in bench scoring.

Lou says he wants to be “remembered as a team guy” when it’s all said and done.

Per The Undefeated:

“[Iverson] was the reason I ended up coming off the bench,” Williams said. “When he came back to Philly, I was in a really good run and I ended up getting hurt when he came in. He got the starting spot. That kind of solidified me as a role player. But for him, he’s a Hall of Fame guy, an MVP-caliber guy. I wouldn’t expect him to accept a bench role like that.”

Coming off the bench after having success as a starter was not easy for Williams. His family and friends thought he deserved more. It wasn’t glamorous. But Williams changed his mentality when he began to pay attention to the success of Jamal Crawford, who is a three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year and now has the third-most bench points ever. Williams also realized he was getting more notoriety as a scorer and more satisfaction coming off the bench.

“If you want to be a part of a team and a team player and you really mean it, you accept the role,” Williams said. “You always hear these clichés that ‘I will do whatever to help the team win.’ I was put in that position. I had to walk it like I talked it. I had to mean it. That was the part that kind of stuck with me. I always wanted to be remembered as a team guy and not a selfish person. …

“That is something that you have to go through with yourself. You start talking to your family and ain’t no one gonna tell you that you should embrace a bench role. They’re going to tell you, ‘You’re supposed to be a starter and you’re supposed to be a star.’ That was some adversity I had to go through early on in my career. I had to embrace it.”

Related Post Up: Lou Williams Breaks Scoring Record as Clippers Blow Out Celtics

The post Lou Williams: Allen Iverson ‘Reason I Ended Up Coming Off the Bench’ appeared first on SLAM.

James Harden was a man on a mission. The star used an array of moves to drop 47 points on the Jazz in the win, including a monstrous dunk on Rudy Gobert. As Utah crept back into the game and pulled it even late in the fourth quarter, Harden took over and hit multiple clutch shots that sealed it for good.

James Harden danced on 'em for the dagger (via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/920ZtIfIdj

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 18, 2018

Bucks 107 (20-9), Pistons 104 (14-14)

Milwaukee enjoyed a 15-point lead in the third quarter before Detroit came back, taking the lead shortly in the fourth quarter. But behind Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 32 points, 12 rebounds and five assists, the Bucks held on to the win. Blake Griffin contributed a triple-double (19 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds) in the loss.

Good luck going up at the rim with Giannis (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/CWHne9W9hD

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 18, 2018

Suns 128 (7-24), Knicks 110 (9-23)

Phoenix’s main core put on an offensive showing. Devin Booker notched a season-high 38 points, TJ Warren scored 26 points and Deandre Ayton had a double-double (21 points, 13 rebounds). Even veteran Jamal Crawford dropped a career-high 14 assists.

"I had my career high in points & now assists in the same building. That's pretty cool."

Former Knick Jamal Crawford loves playing @TheGarden. pic.twitter.com/9sCFeZAenY

— MSG Networks (@MSGNetworks) December 18, 2018

Kings 105 (16-14), Timberwolves 132 (14-16)

Nine Wolves players hit double-digit points in the all-around team win. Andrew Wiggins led the team with 17 points while Karl-Anthony Towns posted a double-double of 14 points and 14 rebounds. Buddy Hield put in 21 points for the Kings.

Taj Gibson playing defense with a shoe in his hand (via @Timberwolves) https://t.co/TSHWF9GP5o

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 18, 2018

Bulls 96 (7-24), Thunder 121 (19-10)

With 13 points, 16 rebounds and 11 steals, Russell Westbrook registered his 111th career triple-double. Teammate Paul George added a game-high 24 points. Bobby Portis and Lauri Markkanen each scored 16 points for Chicago.

Clear the deck for @russwest44
2nd half now on @FOXSportsOK #OKCvsCHI pic.twitter.com/6qDLE1v0ag

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 18, 2018

76ers 96 (20-12), Spurs 123 (16-15)

San Antonio’s triple threat of Rudy Gay (21 points), DeMar DeRozan (20 points) and LaMarcus Aldridge (20 points) propelled the Spurs to the win. The 76ers were held to just 17 points in the second quarter, allowing the Spurs to grab the lead. Ben Simmons and JJ Redick led the 76ers in scoring with 16 points each.

That ball movement #GoSpursGo https://t.co/y4SXxgMOye

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) December 18, 2018

Grizzlies 93 (16-14), Warriors 110 (21-10)

It was a night of memorable buckets for both Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant. Curry hit a 3-pointer to hit the 15,000-point mark for his career; Durant passed Larry Bird for No. 33 on the all-time scoring list. The pair finished with a combined 43 points in the easy win.

Of course Steph Curry hits 15,000 points with a 3 (via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/RdCAKrPxHh

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 18, 2018

Blazers 131 (16-13), Clippers 127 (17-2)

Portland and L.A. went down to the wire as the Clippers fought back to make the game close in the final minutes. However, the tandem of Damian Lillard (39 points) and CJ McCollum (27 points) helped the Blazers pull it out. Tobias Harris dropped 39 points in the loss.

D A M I A N pic.twitter.com/E3bDXNkUrN

— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) December 18, 2018

RELATED:
‘My Game Doesn’t Make Sense’: James Harden Says He’s One-of-a-Kind

The post Post Up: James Harden Drops 47 Points in Clutch Win vs. Jazz 🔥 appeared first on SLAM.

The way Booker sees it, the Suns aren’t in any position to take down the the defending champion Golden State Warriors or even the next tier of contenders. But he knows the path to greatness — look at Green’s recruitment of Durant in 2016 — is possible and can change the league forever.

“ … Dynasties only last for so long,” Booker said. “I’m not wishing trades upon any of the superteams.”

But …

“I’d like to build a superteam. I’d like the superteam to come to me.”

The Suns (4-15) currently have a promising young roster alongside Booker with 2018 No. 1 draft pick DeAndre Ayton and Josh Jackson, and some veterans like Jamal Crawford and Trevor Ariza.

Booker, the 13th pick in the 2015 Draft, signed a five-year, $158 million contract this offseason and is averaging 24.9 points and shooting 44.8 percent from this field this season.

RELATED
Devin Booker: Suns Deserved Boos at Home in Loss to Nets

The post Devin Booker: ‘I’d Like to Build a Superteam’ in Phoenix appeared first on SLAM.

When the time came, Jamal Crawford stepped up to the occasion. With the clocking running down Crawford pulled up and drained the go-ahead bucket with just 0.8 seconds left. Devin Booker led Phoenix with 29 points and seven assists.

.@JCrossover was born for the moment. What a shot for the win (via @Suns) https://t.co/gzE2epR3Ux

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 24, 2018

Jazz 83 (8-11), Lakers 90 (11-7)

LeBron James turned it on in the second half to secure the Lakers’ third straight win. James finished with 22 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, with a. The Jazz’s Donovan Mitchell had to leave with a rib contusion and did not return.

It's really over when LeBron starts hitting these kind of shots (via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/UYd080qVWF

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 24, 2018

Rockets 111 (9-8), Pistons 116 (9-7)

In another back-and-forth game, the Pistons and Rockets battled in the final seconds of regulation, switching leads until Eric Gordon tied the game. In overtime, the Pistons pulled away as Blake Griffin exerted his power over the game. Griffin finished with 28 points.

This Pistons-Rockets game is wiiiiild. Eric Gordon just sent it to OT (via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/7wANxYHegj

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 24, 2018

Timberwolves 112 (8-11), Nets 102 (8-12)

Minnesota and Brooklyn took part in a morning affair post-Thanksgiving. Derrick Rose came up huge off the bench with 25 points on 11-of-17 shooting from the field. Karl-Anthony Towns added 21 points and nine rebounds.

Derrick Rose is shooting 46% (!!!) from 3 this season.

Marksman Evolution. (via @Timberwolves) https://t.co/vSN22F2CS5

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 23, 2018

Grizzlies 107 (12-6), Clippers 112 (12-6)

The Clippers and Grizzlies went toe-to-toe Friday, with the game heading to overtime thanks to Lou Williams. In OT, Avery Bradley put on the defensive clamps to secure the win. Montrezl Harrell led L.A. with 22 points and 11 rebounds.

CLAMP CITY pic.twitter.com/ik9qrJK5VS

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) November 23, 2018

Celtics 114 (10-9), Hawks 96 (3-16)

Boston led this one from start to finish, holding a lead as large as 29 points. It was a collective effort by the Celtics, with six players hitting double-digit points. Aron Baynes led the team with 16 points.

Scary Terry gets it done on both ends in tonight's @JetBlue Play of the Game! https://t.co/NekJebLYuN

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) November 24, 2018

Pelicans 109 (10-9), Knicks 114 (6-14)

New York was led by guards Emmanuel Mudiay and Allonzo Trier, who scored 27 and 25 points, respectively. Anthony Davis notched 33 points and 12 rebounds in the loss.

YOU KNOW HIS NAME. pic.twitter.com/O6zn4AZifq

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) November 24, 2018

Cavaliers 121 (3-14), 76ers 112 (13-8)

Cleveland received great games from Rodney Hood (25 points), Collin Sexton (23 points) and Cedi Osman (20 points) in the win. Joel Embiid led the 76ers with 24 points and 12 rebounds.

LARRY NANCE JR. #BeTheFight https://t.co/RxiRtODax1

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) November 24, 2018

Wizards 107 (6-12), Raptors 125 (16-4)

Toronto debuted their new white OVO “City” jerseys and took home the win. Kawhi Leonard used an array of moves to notch 27 points. Five other Raptors hit double digits as well.

GOT EEEM https://t.co/Zz3OVUCKOB

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) November 24, 2018

Spurs 111 (9-9), Pacers 100 (11-8)

LaMarcus Aldridge put on a classic performance, putting in 33 points and grabbing 14 rebounds in the win. Domantas Sabonis continued his breakout season with 19 points and 16 rebounds.

Team basketball. #GoSpursGo https://t.co/uz3jjsSOgn

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) November 24, 2018

Heat 103 (7-11), Bulls 96 (5-14)

The return of Dwyane Wade, after missing seven games for the birth of his child, featured a win for Miami. Josh Richardson led the Heat with 27 points. Justin Holiday scored 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the loss.

Dwyane Wade gifting Khalil Mack his jersey (via @MiamiHEAT) pic.twitter.com/B0ub8mzqUG

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 24, 2018

Hornets 104 (9-9), Thunder 109 (12-6)

Russell Westbrook did his usual Russell Westbrook thing, posting a near triple-double with 30 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists. Dennis Schroder added 23 points. Kemba Walker dropped 25 points and eight assists for Charlotte.

Deonte Burton with the HAMMER (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/ukZvZ7RELA

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 24, 2018

Magic 87 (9-10), Nuggets 112 (12-7)

Eleven Nuggets that touched the floor scored in an easy win over Orlando. Trey Lyles (22 points) and Jamal Murray (16 points) led the team in scoring. Terrence Ross continued a hot stretch of play with 18 points.

Mason Plumlee getting trickyyyy with the over-the-shoulder pass (via @nuggets) https://t.co/Ol64frrT1Z

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 24, 2018

Blazers 97 (12-7), Warriors 125 (13-7)

The Warriors finally got back on track as they made easy work of one of the West’s best teams. Portland headed into the game on the last of a six-game road trip, and it showed in the final score. Kevin Durant led Golden State with 32 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

.@KDTrey5 dish @1jordanbell SLAM

@NBCSAuthentic pic.twitter.com/us8vaEmkzg

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) November 24, 2018

RELATED:
Jamal Crawford Talks About the Origin of His Legendary Shake-And-Bake Move

The post Post Up: Jamal Crawford Hits Game-Winner in Suns Win 🎯 appeared first on SLAM.

Per Dave McMenamin of ESPN:

Kyle Kuzma echoed the amazement. “He can score with the best of them,” he said. “People always talk about his facilitating and pass-first mentality, but he can probably average 40 if he wanted to.”

This was James’ 12th career 50-point game as he joined Bernard King, Jamal Crawford, Moses Malone and Wilt Chamberlain as the only players to score 50-plus points with three different franchises.

“I’ve played for three very, very historic franchises in the time that I played,” James said. “Obviously, in Miami we did some historical things. In Cleveland we was able to do some historical [things]. And obviously the Lakers [name] speaks for itself, what they’ve been able to do. And so, my teammates, my coaching staff, they just put that trust in me to go out and make plays, and I just try to be as efficient as possible when I’m on the floor and make things happen.”

RELATED
LeBron James Passes Wilt Chamberlain on All-Time Scoring List

The post Kyle Kuzma Says LeBron James ‘Can Score With the Best of Them’ appeared first on SLAM.

The 2018 Teammate of the Year winner brings veteran leadership to a team featuring young stars like Devin Booker, DeAndre Ayton, Josh Jackson and Mikal Bridges. Crawford hasn’t lost his scoring touch either, the 38-year-old scored 17.9 points per 36 minutes with the Minnesota Timberwolves a year ago.

2️⃣ generations. 1️⃣ mentality.

The Phoenix Suns have a backcourt dedicated to buckets. pic.twitter.com/BfkkmQ5k3U

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 15, 2018

RELATED: Jamal Crawford Talks About the Origin of His Legendary Shake-And-Bake Move

The post Report: Jamal Crawford Joining the Phoenix Suns on a 1-Year Deal ☀️ appeared first on SLAM.

For Jamal Crawford, that move is the shake-and-bake.

As the veteran guard explains in a new video for The Player’s Tribune, he actually made up the famed shake-and-bake on the fly during a Pro-Am All-Star Game. It’s not even a complete version of his idealized move:

“What a lot of people don’t know is, the version the NBA has seen is the reduced version. The way I made it up, I do it on command, but I don’t want to show everybody since I was waiting until I made the All-star game to pull it out.

“But after it didn’t happen, it’s just like one of those Prince records that’s in the vaults, it’s not going to ever come out.”

Dear @NBA: Sign @jcrossover ASAP. pic.twitter.com/ltJdAiW5Yl

— The Players' Tribune (@PlayersTribune) October 13, 2018

With the NBA set to begin in three days, Crawford has still not signed with a team. He declined a $4.5 million player option with the Timberwolves over the summer.

The Seattle native has averaged 15 points and 3.4 assists throughout his illustrious 18-year career.

RELATED
Crawford: “I Know I Will Be Somewhere At One Point” 

The post Jamal Crawford Talks About the Origin of His Legendary Shake-And-Bake Move appeared first on SLAM.

Even NBA stars Allen Iverson, Jamal Crawford and Damian Lillard rave about his game.

RELATED:
Kevin Porter Jr Impresses Damian Lillard at Nike Hoop Summit Scrimmage

The post USC’s Kevin Porter Jr Is No Longer Under-the-Radar! 👀 appeared first on SLAM.

The 2018 MSHTV Camp was lit. Held in the Midwest’s nicest basketball facility (Pacers Athletic Center, which is also home to the Nike EYBL), over 400 players from 37 states made the venture to Indianapolis to show that they could hold it down with some of the nation’s finest. In a generation where exposure is essential, there was no better place for a young hooper to be than MSHTV.

SLAM was holding it down with cameramen on four courts and there is a reason why. In the three years if the camp’s existence (this was year four), the MSHTV Camp has generated over 100 million video views on various platforms (YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, etc.) and 13 players obtained USA Basketball invites afterwards. While the vast majority of the nation’s top youngsters were in the building, the select group of older players in attendance all showed that they had some serious game, too.

Here are a few of the top high school prospects at the 2018 MSHTV Camp:

Terrence Clarke, 6’6, SG, Brewster Academy (NH), 2021

A consensus top-2 player in the class of 2021, Terrence Clarke came to Indy and showed why he’s next up out of Boston. Clarke shot the lights out of the rock from beyond the arc (both from the catch and off the bounce), created his own shot on anyone, and straight punished the rim with his explosive dunks. The underrated shot creator showed that his game is continually advancing and he will be on center stage this upcoming season at Brewster Academy.

Kyree Walker, 6’5, SG, Hillcrest Prep (AZ), 2020

A relative household name amongst recruiting circles, Kyree Walker continually is taking his game to new heights. The powerful guard finished through just about anyone, hit a number of deep J’s, and went in his bag to do his best Jamal Crawford shake ‘n bake impression. Bound for Arizona State, Kyree is set to be ASU’s biggest recruit since James Harden and has the talent to make a similar impact from the second he steps foot on campus.

Amari Bailey, 6’4, SG, Oaks Christian (CA), 2022

Making the move from the CHI to the left coast, Amari Bailey has quickly established himself as one of the next stars out west. The lefty is an explosive athlete who crushed the rim with dunks, put the clamps on guys defensively, and was able to create his own shot as a straight line driver. The one time Depaul commit has now reopened his recruitment and is already hearing from some of the nation’s finest colleges prior to playing his first high school game.

Josh Primo, 6’5, SG, Huntington Prep (WV), 2021

Continuing the Canadian pipeline, Josh Primo appare to be the next high major prospect from North of the border to land at Huntington Prep. He showed range out to the NBA three point line, was able to create separation for himself on the regular, and has the athleticism to finish everything around the rim with a dunk. A high academic kid, Primo appears to be the perfect fit on a loaded Huntington Prep squad.

Reggie Bass, 6’3, SG/PG, Muncie Central (IN), 2022

One of the better freshmen in the Hoosier state, Reggie Bass was straight up in attack mode all weekend long. He got to the rim at will, was an elite level finisher, and showed the ability to defend both backcourt spots. The highly touted freshman is certainly going to be one of the more sought after guards in the region, provided he continues to develop at the rate he has thus far.

Alex Karaban, 6’7, PF, Algonquin Regional (MA), 2022

A new age power forward, Alex Karaban shocked just about everyone at MSHTV with his sneaky bounce. He was great in pick and roll play, finished everything around the rim, and exhibited legit mobility for a young big man. Alex’s package of size, skill, and agility will immediately make him one of the Northeast’s better 2022’s.

DJ Dudley, 6’4, SG/SF, San Ysidro HS (CA), 2022

An explosive swingman, Dudley showed the ability to not only finish through defenders, but rise above them to finish over the top. He played the game at his own pace, was always under control, and has the size to defend a number of perimeter positions. Dudley is a part of the next wave of talent to come out of SD and has all of the tools of a big time wing.

Bowen Hardman, 6’4, SG, Cincinnati Princeton (OH), 2022

One of the better shooters in the event, Bowen Hardman picked his spots, but continually produced with some of the nation’s finest. The deceptive athlete banged everything in transition, shot the lights out from the corners, and showed off an IQ higher than most in the event. With shooters with size being at a premium (especially with the way the game is changing), expect Hardman to follow Darius Bazley’s footsteps at Princeton.

Sean Jones, 5’9, PG, Gahanna Lincoln (OH), 2022

Perhaps the shiftiest guard at the 2018 MSHTV Camp, Sean Jones already blew up with his initial mixtape and did enough to show why there will be plenty more to follow. His change of pace was straight nasty, he was able to get to the rack on anyone who attempted to stay in front of him, and he showed off a competitive side that made it clear to anyone that he believed he could ball with anyone on the court. Running with Miller Factory on the AAU circuit, Sean has plenty of experience playing up against older cats and it certainly showed in Indy.

Felix Okpara, 6’9, C, Hamilton Heights (TN), 2022

New to the states from Nigeria, Felix Okpara is a blank canvas with a world of upside. He was outstanding running the floor, showed off a great motor on the offensive glass, and made his presence felt immediately in the paint on D. Playing under an outstanding coach in Zach Ferrell at Hamilton Heights (developed Shae Gilgeous-Alexander from unranked to lottery pick), Felix will have all of the tools at his disposal to reach his fullest potential.

The post 2018 MSHTV Camp: Top HS Prospects appeared first on SLAM.

The 38-year-old, however, believes he’ll land on an NBA squad sooner or later.

Why is @JCrossover unsigned? Why did Jamal Crawford opt out of his contract in Minnesota? What’s next for the top #NBA free agent? Find out in @TheUndefeated. https://t.co/r5q37lKsRj

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) September 21, 2018

Crawford says he’s drawn interest this offseason, but is holding out for the right situation.

Per The Undefeated:

“There is interest,” Crawford said. “I could just sign a deal to sign a deal. I’m just waiting for the situation where I think I can help where I fit well. I don’t want to sign something just to sign it.

“I’m not saying ‘championship or bust.’ A team on the rise makes sense. I bring a specific skill set, so a team that needs me instead of just, ‘Oh, that can work.’ I feel like I just went through that last season, and I don’t want to do that again.”

Crawford says he has been staying in shape by working out daily and playing basketball regularly. So while he waits for the right opportunity, he says, his spirits are still high as he is rewarded with more time with his wife, Tori, and his kids.

“It’s different, but it’s not the worst thing, to be honest,” Crawford said. “This is the first time where my family are not separate from the standpoint of not living together in the same city. I had to get the kids to school and continue with our [family] business that we have to take care of.

“For me, it’s not the worst thing in the world because I’m spending time with them. I’m just staying ready and being patient.”

The post Jamal Crawford: ‘I Know I Will Be Somewhere at Some Point’ appeared first on SLAM.

Today, with a wide range of feelings, I’m announcing my retirement from basketball. IMMENSE GRATITUDE to everyone (family, friends, teammates, coaches, staff, fans) involved in my life in the last 23 years. It’s been a fabulous journey. Way beyond my wildest dreams. pic.twitter.com/3MLCUtmd6K

— Manu Ginobili (@manuginobili) August 27, 2018

Other hoopers immediately hopped on Twitter to pay tribute and thank the Argentinian for his immense contributions to the game:

@manuginobili Congratulations on one helluva career brother! It was a pleasure to match up against you over the years. Regular season, Finals, National Team, didn’t matter was always a treat! The game of basketball has you to thank for the most swag move in..

— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 28, 2018

basketball right now which is the “Euro Step”!!!! God bless you, thanks for the playing the game the right way and for the competition!!!

— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 28, 2018

Congrats on an amazing career @manuginobili. You embody how basketball is meant to be played. With Passion, joy, and obviously a Champion through and through. Inspiration many sir. pic.twitter.com/Z86WgYFVMk

— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) August 27, 2018

@manuginobili Thank you for the unbelievable 16 years we shared on the court together! You are a true friend and I wish you all the best. #GraciasManu

— Tony Parker (@tonyparker) August 28, 2018

.@manuginobili You are true champion my friend and one of the best I have ever matched up with. Enjoy life after the game hermano. You deserve that and more. pic.twitter.com/g5qtYlsNMA

— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) August 28, 2018

Manu – you’re a living legend. Thank you for all the great moments and showing us how to be a leader on and off the court. It was an honor to watch you at work. https://t.co/8Av5tLUNNH

— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) August 28, 2018

Congrats on an amazing career @manuginobili! Won everything on every level! Unbelievable #legend

— Kristaps Porzingis (@kporzee) August 28, 2018

Thank you for being a fierce competitor on the court @manuginobili, impacted the game for generations to come! #Ginoooooooooobili

— Chris Paul (@CP3) August 28, 2018

One of the reasons I wear number 20! Congrats @manuginobili on a great career! pic.twitter.com/rA2wewYbKV

— Gordon Hayward (@gordonhayward) August 28, 2018

One of the best to ever do it. Thank you @manuginobili for pushing the game forward and for showing players all around the world what i true champion looks like. #HOF

— DWade (@DwyaneWade) August 27, 2018

Manuuuuuu! Noooooo! There has been no one like you, and there won’t be again. You have made us all proud. Enjoy your beautiful family and the next stage of your journey.

— David Robinson (@DavidtheAdmiral) August 27, 2018

I competed against you for 9 years. I sat through countless pregame meetings discussing how not to let you go to your left hand because when you do, you’re impossible to stop! Then, I became your teammate and got to witness first hand how you bring way more value to a team than pic.twitter.com/JJYbvXNToE

— LaMarcus Aldridge (@aldridge_12) August 27, 2018

just scoring. You’re a ultimate competitor and a “team first” kind of guy. You lift the culture in an organization just by simply being around. You were even successful in getting me to participate in more team activities than I have in my entire career. It was an honor competing

— LaMarcus Aldridge (@aldridge_12) August 27, 2018

against you, but even better competing with you on my side. Thanks Manu!

— LaMarcus Aldridge (@aldridge_12) August 27, 2018

Congrats @manuginobili on an amazing career. Great player. Fierce competitor. Winner. Next stop: HOF

— Dirk Nowitzki (@swish41) August 27, 2018

Hell of a career @manuginobili . One of the best to ever do it. Pick and roll genius. Euro-step king. Hated trying to force you right in the pnr knowing you would still snake back to the left hand. I’ve borrowed a lot of your moves and set-ups. The game will miss you !

— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) August 27, 2018

What a player @manuginobili! A pleasure to compete against you and enjoy your greatness. Congrats!

— Steve Nash (@SteveNash) August 27, 2018

The @NBA is going to miss you @manuginobili. Appreciate everything you did for the game of basketball! #Lefty #EuroStepKING #HallOfFame

— Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas) August 27, 2018

The Euro Step Legend will be missed! Fair to say he changed the game in a unique way! Congrats on a beyond amazing career @manuginobili !!

— Bradley Beal (@RealDealBeal23) August 27, 2018

It’s a real honor to have competed against you, @manuginobili ! The definition of a winner ! #GraciasManu pic.twitter.com/dkIlk0y13c

— Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) August 27, 2018

Thank you @manuginobili pic.twitter.com/hy6MRG2Hpk

— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) August 27, 2018

Witnessed pure greatness for many years to see a Legend leave. Thank You. @manuginobili pic.twitter.com/QbfkQVUCSu

— D’Angelo Russell (@Dloading) August 27, 2018

THANK YOU For Teaching Me What It’s Like To Be A Real PRO On And Off The Court @manuginobili The Game Will Miss You & Forever Remember You!! pic.twitter.com/ahWJxait4r

— Dejounte Murray (@DejounteMurray) August 27, 2018

@manuginobili , you were the main person I looked at when deciding I was gonna be a 6th man for good. Your style, talent, competitiveness, and will to win will be truly missed. Nothing but respect! #best6thman pic.twitter.com/gHsjX9yPvY

— Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) August 27, 2018

THANK YOU for absolutely everything you have done for basketball. A role model for all of us that love this wonderful sport. Fortunate to have shared locker room with you the last 2 years.#GraciasManu pic.twitter.com/HBJDvjIw2j

— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) August 27, 2018

Salute, Manu!

RELATED
More Than a Hooper: Lonnie Walker IV Is The World’s Most Interesting Rookie

The post NBA Players React to Manu Ginobili’s Retirement appeared first on SLAM.

The duo led the Most Hated Players into the semis next weekend in Los Angeles.

Will Swaggy and DeMar be lifting the Drew League championship trophy later this month?

RELATED:
Zach LaVine, Jamal Crawford, Kyle Kuzma and More SHOW OUT at Zeke-End

The post DeMar DeRozan, Nick Young DOMINATE The Drew League! ⚔️ appeared first on SLAM.

RELATED
Isaiah Thomas Reportedly Agrees to One-Year Contract with Nuggets

The post Zach LaVine, Jamal Crawford, Kyle Kuzma and More SHOW OUT at Zeke-End 🔥 appeared first on SLAM.

Check out the video above to see all their answers!

The post NBA Players Talk Burner Accounts, Trash Talk and Throwing #ThemHands 😂 appeared first on SLAM.

On this year’s #SocialMediaDay, we wanna know which player has the best Twitter fingers in the League.

Peep some of the strong candidates below.

—

LEBRON JAMES

KOBE BRYANT

KEVIN DURANT

JOEL EMBIID

ISAIAH THOMAS

SWAG CHAMP

CJ MCCOLLUM

EVAN TURNER

JAMAL CRAWFORD

Let us know your thoughts in the comment section.

RELATED
Joel Embiid Dunks on Mo Bamba in Pickup Game

The post Who Has the Best Twitter Fingers in the NBA? 😂🤔 appeared first on SLAM.

Crawford, 38, will be an unrestricted free agent after declining his $4.5 million option with the Wolves.

There is some mutual interest between the Warriors and Jamal Crawford in a potential minimum deal, sources say.

He might want more than the minimum. It’s unclear if the Warriors will use their mini-midlevel exception, but if they do, it likely will not be on Crawford.

RELATED:
JaVale McGee Hopes to Re-Sign in Golden State

The post Report: Warriors, Jamal Crawford Have ‘Mutual Interest’ appeared first on SLAM.

Walker is part of this story because the story doesn’t exist without him. Well, maybe it does, but he’s an integral part of it nevertheless. Back in the early 2000s, during one of his three All-Star media appearances, Walker was asked why he shot so many threes. “Because there are no fours,” he famously responded. At the time, Walker was attempting somewhere around seven or eight threes a night, and Hall of Famer Steph Curry hadn’t even started high school yet. His words would become prophecy.

Four-pointers are normal enough now, all an entire generation knows. They started as a BIG3 (remember the BIG3?) gimmick shot in 2017—kind of like how the three-pointer originated in the ABA before debuting in the NBA—and then became a league-recognized shot over a decade later in 2028. Curry, then in his final season at age 40, already the all-time three-point leader, found his familiar launching spot now worth an additional point. He not only surpassed Jamal Crawford’s four-point record (Crawford having retired five years earlier at 43), he passed LeBron James to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and won the inaugural Four-Point Shootout at All-Star Weekend, narrowly edging Trae Young and LeBron James Jr.

Twenty years later, the four is commonplace. It’s important to remember that, while the introduction of the three-point line in 1979 changed the game so dramatically that it took nearly 40 years for a full-on revolution to happen, the four-point line was embraced quickly. In the first year of the NBA three-point line, Clippers guard Brian Taylor led the league in threes, hitting 90 in 78 games. That paltry number would stand as the single-season record for three seasons, until Darrell Griffith broke it with 91 in 1984. It would be nine years before anyone hit 100 in a season. That was Danny Ainge, who hit 148 in 1988. By 2018, a full 12 players hit 200 threes in a season, led by MVP James Harden’s 265. Two seasons earlier, Curry had set an NBA record with 402, taking more than 11 attempts a game.

By that time the floor had spread so much, the players become so long and athletic, that the next logical step was to spread the floor itself. But the matter of history and records (and expensive courtside seating) made such a change difficult. There had to be a better reason. So in the process of adding the four-point line, the NBA expanded the court for the first time ever—from 94×50 to 104×55—allowing for not only a full 23’9” three-point arc, but 25-foot corner fours. Keeping the 24-second and eight-second clocks meant things sped up anyway.

The four-point line was instituted in college that year as well—at the 23’9” distance of the NBA three-point line—but seeing that the college game was already primarily a three-or-dunk proposition, it didn’t affect the gameplay as much as it did the scoring. Records, like Troy State’s 258-point game and Pistol Pete Maravich’s 44.2 ppg average, seemed primed to fall.

But a funny thing happened on the way to four-point Nirvana. Spreading the floor that much further and teams regularly launching from 25 feet out led to something else—a big man renaissance. With more room to operate and plenty of rebounds to corral, other records fell instead. Amir Cousins pulled down 50 rebounds in a 2030 game for the Kentucky Wildcats, shattering the post-’73 record of 37. And seven-footer Shaquille Lewis averaged 45 ppg in his lone season at LSU before being drafted first overall by the Golden State Warriors in 2031.

In the NBA, there was more room for bigs to operate too, but the four-point shot mostly opened things up for the shooters. After all, they’d been waiting for this opportunity for a long time. Stephen Curry and his Golden State Warriors 25-footered their way to six titles through the teens and early ’20s, and the Philadelphia 76ers even went so far as to put a four-point line down on their practice court’s floor in 2018, a full decade before the line became a reality for the rest of the NBA.

When it did, all of a sudden those coaches who complained that their young charges were just launching deep threes trying to be like Steph decided that this wasn’t such a bad thing after all. The Rockets and the Warriors led the way while some teams—like the mid-range centric Knicks, led by their 25th coach of the millennium—more or less pretended the four-point line wasn’t there at all. It also put a premium on shooters. Word was that the Spurs actually called up 52-year-old Hall of Famer Ray Allen before the start of the ’28-29 season to see whether he’d give it one more shot. Allen, well on his way to qualifying for the senior PGA tour, passed.

Zaire Wade, then 26, quickly adapted to the deeper shot, finishing second in fours to Curry and averaging a career-high 34.6 ppg, besting Hall of Fame father Dwyane’s best single season average of 30.2. The elder Wade was proud, yes, but also prideful: “When we played we didn’t have fours,” Dwyane said. “If we did, you bet your ass I would have averaged 35.” Wade the younger, knowing his pops averaged under 30 percent from 23’9” for his career, wisely kept his mouth shut.

That first year had its moments. A four-point lead could now be erased by a single shot, and early on coaches failed to realize this—or fouled when they didn’t need to. Then there was the matter of Donte DiVincenzo, the No. 17 pick out of Villanova in 2018 who had bounced around the league before landing in Minnesota. With the help of assistant coach Jamal Crawford, he became the league’s first five-point specialist, able to draw contact and still hit from (very) deep. Double-digit deficits could be made up in two trips down the floor. What was once just a saying became absolute truth: No lead was safe.

Bigs got theirs a little later, as teams got used to looking for deeper looks. Offenses spread, and vets like Shareef O’Neal and Bol Bol got busy. Teams with shooters looked to team them with agile bigs like Bol and O’Neal who could chase down long rebounds and either reset the offense or finish strong. O’Neal, a free agent pickup for Lakers GM Kobe Bryant on a mid-level deal of six years, $300 million, nearly doubled his scoring and rebounding averages to 35 points and 18 boards per between 2028 and 2030. He turned out to be a bargain.

Bol Bol manned the middle for the Golden State Warriors—a team that had previously employed his 7-7 dad as the league’s most unorthodox three-point specialist. They’d previously established a dynasty thanks to the three, one that just would have been that much more dominant had Curry’s deep threes counted as fours. They replicated their success in the ’20s with a balanced attack, fours from LaMelo Ball—who they’d signed away from the rival Lakers after hiring father LaVar as a special assistant to GM Bob Myers—and Bol’s flawless inside game.

But just as teams adapted to the Warriors run-and-gun (and gun) style of the ’10s, teams adapted to their four-and-the-floor style of the ’20s. Celtics coach Antoine Walker encouraged his team to launch everything—damn the shot clock—while the Miami Heat, led by LeBron James Jr and Zaire Wade, used a more planned-out style of attack backed with an in-your-shorts defense. The Chicago Bulls, meanwhile, were still rebuilding. And the Knicks—nobody knew what the Knicks were doing.

Which more or less brings us to the current day. No one has eclipsed Curry’s record of 402 threes in a season, and it’s likely no one ever will. Not now. Perhaps, though, someone will one day top it with combined threes and fours, as players edge ever closer to the mark. The Houston Rockets backcourt of Zion Wade and Chris Paul II came close, as did Timberwolves guard DJ Rose. At 36, Rose will get another shot at it. And of course there will be new challengers to the throne, like rookies-to-be Trey Iverson and Smoothie Antetokounmpo.

Has the four-point shot been good for basketball? Is that even a valid question to ask? As long as there has been basketball, there have been those who’ve bemoaned each and every innovation, from the jump shot to the slam dunk to the three-pointer. And no amount of 3D GIF highlights beamed through those haters’ iHomes will change that. Which, quite honestly, is their problem. The game changes, but the game lives on.

There are fans today who don’t remember a game without a four-point line, and that’s fine. There are others—not many, but some—who still remember the game before threes. Michael Jordan, 85 years old now, still thinks he was better than anyone who ever played, four-point line or no. Seven-time champion and six-time MVP LeBron James feels the same way at 63.

Then there’s someone like Walker, who lord knows would have jacked up fours by the dozen had they existed when he played. But that was a long time ago, and today Walker’s range isn’t what it used to be. His shot is more of a heave, and his first attempt clangs off the front of the rim. He beckons to a ballboy, who feeds him another. He rotates the ball, centering commissioner Joel Embiid’s signature under his fingers, and lets fly again.

*Swish*

Walker looks over and ruefully shakes his head. He doesn’t say anything. Which is fine. The meaning is clear just the same.

—

This is a fictional story written from a fictional future. Please keep that in mind.

—

Russ Bengtson is a freelance writer. He tweets @RussBengtson.

Illustration by Mark Ward.

The post Welcome to 2048: A Basketball World with a Four-Point Line 🤖 appeared first on SLAM.

“Working with my trainer, especially the past couple of weeks, he’s been teaching me how to slow the game down, to be more efficient,” Simons explains. “I like how guys like CJ McCollum or Donovan Mitchell do that. They know when to slow the game down.”

All of which is an entirely logical thing for Simons to be thinking, especially right now. After wrapping up his prep basketball career at IMG Academy this spring, the Orlando native did what any elite prospect would at that time: He focused on getting ready for the next level. But for Simons—unlike the rest of the 2018 class—that didn’t necessarily mean big-time college ball. He actually graduated in 2017, then played a post-grad season at IMG, making him eligible to enter the 2018 draft. And in March, he confirmed he would do just that.

And there, of course, is the irony: A young man focused on slowing things down, even as he accelerates and blows right by one of the “expected” stops on the road to his NBA dream.

“Honestly, I’m just confident in myself,” Simons says. “Whatever team chooses me, I’m just going to try to get in there, learn and get better. I’m confident that I’ll be able to compete.”

He’s not the only one. Whatever skepticism might still exist in 2018 among certain so-called draft experts about a player skipping college for the League, most observers agree on Simons’ potential—he’s a consensus top-20 pick in most of the reputable mock drafts. A 6-3, 185-pound combo guard, he possesses an explosive and versatile offensive game, and he’s as comfortable getting to (and above) the rim as he is splashing from deep. He knows his strengths—and he knows who to share the credit with. “I’d say it’s my shooting and playmaking ability, and my IQ—that came from my dad,” he says. “He made me think about the game a lot more—to be instinctive, but at same time, think about it before it happens.”

It’s a balance the great ones are able to master, and Simons knows he has a long way to go. Which is only natural: Always young for his grade, he reclassified back a year in high school—a rarity among top players—and began to make up ground on his peers. Just three years ago, he left his original high school, Edgewater HS (FL), for powerhouse Montverde Academy, but struggled to get any run. He went back to Edgewater the following season, then on to IMG for that postgrad year. Both in the prep ranks and the summer circuit, he’s since showed that he has more than caught up with his peers.

Now he’s focused on that next, huge step. In addition to guys like McCollum and Mitchell—he counts Spida as a mentor and friend—Simons admires guys like Jamal Crawford and Dame Lillard, “guards who are able to score the ball and do other things, too.” A seemingly less likely inspiration is the guy who inspired his name: Simons’ parents were big Penny Hardaway fans, and Simons eventually become a close friend and teammate of Hardaway’s son, Jayden.

And if Simons can’t match the original Penny’s rare combo of size and skill, he’s confident in what he has—and what he can build from it. “I feel like I’m pretty decent at everything, but I know I’ve got to get better at everything, too—every day, inch by inch,” he says. “I try not to get too far ahead of myself, but I’m really focused.”

—

Ryan Jones is a Contributing Editor at SLAM. Follow him on Twitter at @thefarmerjones.

The post Straight from Prep Ball to the NBA, Anfernee Simons is Calling All the Shots 🗣 appeared first on SLAM.

Golden State cruised to a 108-85 victory in Game 4 at Quicken Loans Arena, completing their sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Stephen Curry led the way with 37 points and KD posted a triple-double (20 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists).

Here’s how players around the League reacted to the game, and to the Warriors hoisting the Larry O’Brien:

GS trying to set the tone early. Said forget trying to win it at home, let’s end this tonight.

— Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) June 9, 2018

Safe to say Steph gunning for that MVP. As he rightfully should tho. #nbafinals2018

— Patrick Patterson (@pdpatt) June 9, 2018

Atleast compete like it’s the finals. Smh

— Marcus Morris (@MookMorris2) June 9, 2018

The bay about to be litttttttt

— Marreese Speights (@Mospeights16) June 9, 2018

This is getting ugly to watch ughh!! pic.twitter.com/Z0gV5dY3xA

— Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) June 9, 2018

I can’t wait until the day I’m playin’ in the NBA Finals!

— Forever Humble (@taureanprince) June 9, 2018

No more basketball to watch… that’s weak.

— Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) June 9, 2018

3 of em!!! @StephenCurry30

— Seth Curry (@sdotcurry) June 9, 2018

Name Doris Burke the Finals MVP

— Francis Kaminsky III (@FSKPart3) June 9, 2018

As a basketball player, if seeing another team win a championship doesn’t motivate you to work harder, then this ain’t for you.

— Terrence Ross (@TFlight31) June 9, 2018

I really hope @StephenCurry30 gets his first finals MVP… he deserves it #NBAFinals

— Jeremy Lin (@JLin7) June 9, 2018

Congrats to a legit pro my guy, @andre and @SteveKerr. It’s a amazing blessing and accomplish it 3/4 xs has to be amazing

— Channing Frye (@Channing_Frye) June 9, 2018

And of course, as soon as the game ended, players began to recruit LeBron James:

Get ready for a summer of reporters thirsty for click-bait!!!!!

— kuz (@kylekuzma) June 9, 2018

Let the Fun begin #cLeaveLand pic.twitter.com/hgWixRyQG2

— Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) June 9, 2018

pic.twitter.com/lO4giEDfet

— Dejounte Murray (@DejounteMurray) June 9, 2018

Trust The Process!!!! Find a new slant @KingJames

— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) June 9, 2018

League gonna be weird as hell next year lol.

— Lou Williams (@TeamLou23) June 9, 2018

RELATED
NBA Players React to Game 3 of the Finals

The post NBA Players React to Game 4 of the Finals, Warriors Championship 🏆 appeared first on SLAM.

KD put up 43 points (on 15/23 shooting), 13 rebounds, and 7 assists, and hit a dagger three-pointer in the final minute, to lead the Warriors to a 110-102 comeback victory.

Players around the League hopped on Twitter to discuss the epic performance:

Wasn’t they just killing KD about a wk ago?? ” Then you drop a couple of hits, look how they wave to you”

— Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) June 7, 2018

KD !!!!

— Manu Ginobili (@manuginobili) June 7, 2018

KD IS NOT NICE

— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) June 7, 2018

“My goodness”( Jeff van gundy voice)

— DWade (@DwyaneWade) June 7, 2018

Kd put the whole season away lol

— SLOWMO (@KyleAnderson5) June 7, 2018

KD yooo

— Buddy Love !!!! (@buddyhield) June 7, 2018

@KDTrey5 ladies and gentlemen…….

— Andre Drummond (@AndreDrummond) June 7, 2018

KD is snatching hearts right now

— Francis Kaminsky III (@FSKPart3) June 7, 2018

Warriors fans cheering for KD today they like them one on one moves when they going in. I dnt hear people saying he hurting the offenseive movement

— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) June 7, 2018

After this Ring I hope KD goes somewhere else and tries to win one with his own team.. He got his validation.. He’s one of the best in the World it’s time.. Just my opinion. Not suppose to be this easy

— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) June 7, 2018

NBA Twitter was also buzzing about Rodney Hood, who finally saw significant minutes and posted 15 points and 6 rebounds:

People forget Hood was a rising star in Utah. You’re as good, or as bad as the situation you’re in..

— Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) June 7, 2018

Hooooooooooooooooooooooood!!!!

— Brandon Jennings (@brandonjennings) June 7, 2018

HOODIE

— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) June 7, 2018

— Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) June 7, 2018

People acting like they re surprise Hood can play

— Evan Fournier (@EvanFourmizz) June 7, 2018

People are acting like Rodney Hood is a 10 days and nobody knew who he was…

— Nicolas Batum (@nicolas88batum) June 7, 2018

Rodney Hood being freed is up there with Meek Mill’s

— Tobias Harris (@tobias31) June 7, 2018

Rodney Hood should’ve been free . Glad he getting some tick and hoopin

— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) June 7, 2018

Despite a triple-double from LeBron (33 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds), the Cavs now trail Golden State 3-0 in the series.

Game 4 is Friday at 9pm ET.

RELATED
NBA Players React to Game 2 of the NBA Finals

The post NBA Players React to Game 3 of the Finals appeared first on SLAM.

It was two-time MVP Stephen Curry (33 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists) who stole the show, nailing a Finals-record nine 3-pointers. Players around the League were amazed by the performance:

Greatest shooter of all time.

— kuz (@kylekuzma) June 4, 2018

Sheesh Steph

— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) June 4, 2018

Damn Steph was 6-20 ten mins ago . Now he breaking the finals record for treys sheesh . Man jumper stupid

— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) June 4, 2018

Steph moves without the ball better than anybody, and then he makes shots that you don’t even expect people to attempt!!!

— Garrett Temple (@GTemp17) June 4, 2018

That’s usually when I throw the controller! #VideoGameSteph

— Justin Anderson (@JusAnderson1) June 4, 2018

Good morning. Break records https://t.co/oY2x1NEbE5

— Baze (@24Bazemore) June 4, 2018

LeBron James followed up his 51/8/8 Game 1 with 29 points, 9 rebounds, and 13 assists in the losing effort:

As great is Bron is, just no way he can sustain that every single play.. The role players have to help to even make this competitive.. But truly needs another superstar ( and more) against this juggernaut.

— Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) June 4, 2018

Facts.. next season he’ll have more https://t.co/UqQUn9EWHq

— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) June 4, 2018

Bron make this game look so easy. Out there going through the motions and damn near got a triple double and the third quarter not even over yet #freerodneyhood

— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) June 4, 2018

The #freerodneyhood movement (Hood logged four minutes of garbage time in Game 2) has certainly been gaining momentum on NBA Twitter:

Play @rodneyhood this series he can help

— Reggie Bullock (@ReggieBullock35) June 4, 2018

Put in Rodney Hood/Cedi Osman! Try something @cavs #nba #nbafinals #makeitaseries

— Kris Humphries (@KrisHumphries) June 4, 2018

Put my man Hoodie in

— Trevor Booker (@35_Fitz) June 4, 2018

The series heads to Quicken Loans Arena for Game 3 on Wednesday. Tip-off is 9pm ET.

RELATED
Tristan Thompson Walks Out of ‘F**ked Up’ Game 2 Interview

The post NBA Players React to Game 2 of the Finals appeared first on SLAM.

LeBron James scored in double figures for the 867th consecutive game and scored 27 points overall. James reached the double-figure mark in the first quarter and earned himself a standing ovation for passing Michael Jordan for the most such games in a row in NBA history. Jrue Holiday had 25 points to lead the Pelicans.

The historic bucket!

@FOXSportsOH pic.twitter.com/ugGXdkXkub

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) March 31, 2018

Bulls 90 (25-51), Magic 82 (22-53)

The Bulls scored just nine points in the third quarter, but came back to win thanks to a defensive push in the fourth. Chicago shot 2-22 in the third before holding the Magic to 13 points over the final 12 minutes to end their seven-game winning streak. Lauri Markkanen and Sean Kilpatrick each had 13 points, which was somehow enough to lead the team. Aaron Gordon had 18 for the Magic and neither team shot better than 35 percent from the field.

This didn’t count but we still wanted to share… @iamFelicio from waaaaaay downtown! #InAndOutAndInAgain pic.twitter.com/5eU0sUSFrp

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) March 31, 2018

76ers 101 (45-30), Hawks 91 (21-55)

Ben Simmons (13 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists) had a triple-double after three quarters and the Sixers cruised to a win in Atlanta without Joel Embiid. Philly led by only six at halftime but used a 39-18 third quarter to end any doubt in the outcome. Ersan Ilyasova had 21 to lead all scorers and Damion Lee had 20 for the Hawks.

*runs through brick wall*@MARKELLEF WITH THE JAM pic.twitter.com/RBL8vjY3zu

— x – Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) March 31, 2018

Rockets 104 (62-14), Suns 103 (19-58)

The Rockets trailed by 18 late in the third quarter, but James Harden (28 points, eight rebounds, 10 assists) spearheaded a comeback to set up a wild finish. First, it was a game-tying three from Harden with 12 seconds to go. Then, Josh Jackson (27 points) responded with what looked like the game-winner with 1.4 seconds left. But out of a timeout, Gerald Green did this:

Catch.
Shoot.
Win.

What a comeback for the Rockets. (via @HoustonRockets) pic.twitter.com/BGDq4sJITV

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) March 31, 2018

Nuggets 126 (41-35), Thunder 125 (44-33) (OT)

Paul Millsap scored a career-high 36 points on 13-18 shooting to lead the Nuggets to an overtime win. Russell Westbrook (33 points, 13 assists, nine rebounds) missed what would have been the game-winning three at the end of regulation. He did, however, hit four threes and Carmelo Anthony hit five more as the Thunder set a franchise record with 20 for the game. Nikola Jokic had 23 points and 16 rebounds for Denver as well.

MONEY MASE pic.twitter.com/3IxLnZqGXS

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) March 31, 2018

Timberwolves 93 (44-33), Mavericks 92 (23-53)

Karl-Anthony Towns had 21 points and 20 rebounds, and Jamal Crawford had 24 more as the Timberwolves won their second straight. Crawford scored 13 in the fourth quarter, including a huge shot with under 10 seconds left that put Minnesota up by four. Harrison Barnes had 19 to lead the Mavericks.

ICED. pic.twitter.com/qBTisCDKBX

— Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) March 31, 2018

Jazz 107 (43-33), Grizzlies 97 (21-55)

The Grizzlies hung around, but Dante Exum‘s 21 points (8-10 FG) helped put the Jazz over the top as he shined in the fourth quarter. Donovan Mitchell led the team with 22 points, and Joe Ingles had 17 points and 10 assists. Marc Gasol had 28 for Memphis.

We’ve got a live one pic.twitter.com/2Tu6QalvK6

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 31, 2018

Trail Blazers 105 (47-29), Clippers 96 (41-35)

Jusuf Nurkic had 21 points and 12 rebounds, while Damian Lillard added 17 points and 11 assists to lead the Blazers over the Clippers. Lou Williams had 23 for L.A., but the Clippers shot 4-13 from three and 20-35 from the foul line. With the win, Portland has now won three out of four as it looks to lock up the 3 seed in the West.

THE MAN @SHABAZZNAPIER pic.twitter.com/orH6PMpiJZ

— Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) March 31, 2018

Bucks 124 (41-35), Lakers 122 (33-42) (OT)

Eric Bledsoe scored 11 points in overtime and 39 overall to lead the Bucks to the close victory. Bledsoe also shot 7-12 from three, had six assists, and had four steals. Giannis Antetokounmpo went for 27 points and 16 rebounds as well. Kyle Kuzma had 27 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists for the Lakers.

Giannis hits that crossover on Randle!! #FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/Nrp5lN0yoQ

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) March 31, 2018

The post Post Up: LeBron Sets Consecutive Double-Digit Games Record In Cavs Win appeared first on SLAM.

Dejounte Murray is 21-years-old and has been summoned to replace a future Hall of Famer in Tony Parker as the starting point guard for the San Antonio Spurs.

Parker held the job when healthy from November 6, 2001 until January 21, 2018.

But that merely scratches the surface.

A dynasty that has spanned two decades, hung five banners in the rafters, and resulted in nineteen 50-or-more win seasons, is currently at a crossroads. Tim Duncan is gone. Parker and Manu Ginobili will soon follow. For the first time in awhile, the Spurs are fighting for their playoff lives in the final weeks of the regular season.

The burden now falls on players like Murray to ensure the torch remains lit as it is passed – To prolong the success of one of the most dominant empires in not just basketball, but all of sports history.

Yes, the task is daunting, especially for someone who graduated high school only a few years ago. But Murray isn’t afraid of it.

And Spurs fans worried about the future can find comfort in this: Dejounte Murray is all in.

—

—

Alex Squadron is an Associate News Editor at SLAM. Follow him on Twitter @asquad510.

Photos via Getty Images.

The post Dejounte Murray Won’t Settle For Anything But Greatness appeared first on SLAM.

James Harden and Jaylen Brown made waves at All-Star when the “Vision” adidas Harden Vol. 2 and a mismatched pair of adidas T-Mac 3s respectively made their way to the hardwood. And Nick Young showed out after ASW by playing in the adidas Yeezy 500 at Madison Square Garden.

Jimmy Butler stole the show this month, though. Besides playing in the “BHM” Air Jordan III and the “Quai 54” Air Jordan V, Butler made a neckbreaking return to Chicago. The former Bull visited his old team and played in the “Eminem” Air Jordan IV, an extremely rare and pricy silhouette. The friends-and-family colorway has sold for up to $20,000. Butler went for 38 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists in the “Eminem” joints.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BfBWqfoHLLZ/?hl=en&taken-by=slamkicks

Lance Stephenson and Montrezl Harrell brought fire and PJ Tucker continued to flex with multiple rare pairs.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BfpZBi3H4dO/?hl=en&taken-by=slamkicks

Under Armour athletes like Dennis Smith Jr and Patty Mills wore special-edition Black History Month colorways. And Karl-Anthony Towns continued to hoop in custom Nike Hyperdunk colorways, including a “DragonBall Z” pair.

And finally, Dwyane Wade used his WoW6s to pay tribute to Parkland shooting victim Joaquin Oliver, who was buried in Wade’s jersey.

Dwyane Wade's tribute to Parkland shooting victim Joaquin Oliver. It's #BiggerThanBasketball. pic.twitter.com/egOskdqdLP

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 28, 2018

Scroll down below to see the best NBA kicks from February.

The post Best NBA Kicks of February 2018 appeared first on SLAM.

New addition Marco Belinelli was a spark plug off the bench as the Sixers ran out to an 18-point halftime lead. Joel Embiid led all players with 28 points and 14 rebounds.

Knicks 112 (24-37), Celtics 121 (42-19)

Trey Burke dropped his second straight 26-point game, but it wasn’t enough as Kyrie Irving led the Celtics with 31 points, nine rebounds and eight assists as he put on a show in the arena he grew up just half an hour away from. Jaylen Brown added 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting for the Celtics.

Kyrie makes getting buckets look so easy… (via @celtics) https://t.co/sbdvC5akUY

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 25, 2018

Kyrie Irving with the KILLER crossover in MSG (via @TheRenderNBA) https://t.co/3hR2CmIDMr

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 25, 2018

Grizzlies 89 (18-40), Heat 115 (31-29)

The 26-point advantage set the mark for Miami’s largest win of the season thus far as six players scored at least 13 points. Tyler Johnson led the way with 23 for the Heat and Andrew Harrison dropped 17 for the Grizzlies.

DWYANE WADE BUCKETS FOREVER (and ever and ever)

(via @MiamiHEAT) https://t.co/qL9pcYp6a5

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 25, 2018

BAM ADEBAYO HAS THEM CAROLINA KID HOPS (via @nba) pic.twitter.com/M7Jnalb4HF

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 25, 2018

Thunder 80 (34-27), Warriors 112 (46-14)

The Thunder led 59-58 with 7:18 to go in the third quarter, but an insane run jumpstarted by Nick Young (16 points in 18 minutes) kept Oklahoma City from earning its third win of the season against Golden State. Kevin Durant led the Warriors with 28 points against his former team while the Thunder’s “Big 3” of Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony and Paul George shot just 11-of-46 from the field.

NBA Twitter was popping as Anthony got into small altercations with Durant and Green, Westbrook shoved Young and Zaza Pachulia dove on top of Westbrook’s knees.

OKAY KD (via @nba) pic.twitter.com/ZUGOCuZlC2

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 25, 2018

Melo and KD getting HEATED (via @DefPenHoops) pic.twitter.com/2tir7bwLdU

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 25, 2018

Dirty or accidental? pic.twitter.com/Yq47Qh2BtI

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 25, 2018

Bulls (20-39), Timberwolves 122 (37-26)

There was question if the Timberwolves could still be a playoff team after Jimmy Butler’s meniscus injury, but if Saturday was any indication, Minnesota has a solid shot to stay competitive as five different players (Jamal Crawford, Taj Gibson, Andrew Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns and Jeff Teague) scored at least 19 points to thrash the Bulls. Zach LaVine scored 21 against his former team for Chicago.

Trail Blazers 106 (34-26), Suns 104 (18-43)

It’s not uncommon to find the ball in Dame Lillard’s hands as the clock ticks down in the fourth quarter and Saturday was no different and Lillard delivered again, crossing up Elfrid Payton as he drove inside for the winning bucket right before the buzzer. Lillard finished with 23 points. Devin Booker led the Suns with 18.

DAME LILLARD FOR THE WIN (via @nba) pic.twitter.com/eRX0zxawJV

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 25, 2018

Mavericks 90 (18-42), Jazz 97 (31-29)

There may not be a hotter team in the NBA than the Jazz, who won the 12th game of its last 14. Rookie phenom and defending dunk contest champ Donovan Mitchell scored a team-high 25 points. Joe Ingles (12 points, eight assists) appeared in his 200th consecutive game, the third-longest active streak in the NBA.

HARRISON BARNES POSTER (via @dallasmavs) pic.twitter.com/qoel04srjf

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 25, 2018

Lakers 113 (25-34), Kings 108 (18-41)

It was a career night for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as he hit eight 3s en route to a 34-point performance. Buddy Hield hit five 3s off the bench for the Kings.

Vince Carter has got to be the dopest 41-year-old in the (via @nba) pic.twitter.com/f2PDifgYvw

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 25, 2018

The post Post Up: Warriors Crush Thunder, Dame Lillard Hits Winner in Phoenix appeared first on SLAM.

Nate Robinson, Baron Davis and Rachel Demita have been tapped to host the live-streams together. Demita, who’s been the host of NBA 2K TV since 2014, will be on the mic for each week and she’ll be joined by either Robinson or Davis, who will take turns hosting each week.

We caught up with Robinson, the three-time NBA Dunk Contest champ, to talk about #TheDebut, the new sneakers that he’s been feeling, Isaiah Thomas in Cleveland, keeping his NBA dream alive and the announcement that he’ll be playing in the BIG3.

SLAM: What will your role be with #TheDebut?

Nate Robinson: Interaction with the fans, commentating with the games. Pretty similar to what you see with what Reggie Miller does. Basically calling the game, getting kid’s input on the coverage of the game. How do they feel about certain things, interacting on Twitter.

SLAM: So you’re going to be all business on the air, like Reggie or Kenny Smith?

NR: I’m going to add my own creativity for sure. But for me, it’s always going to be high energy. When something cool happens, if someone gets posterized, you know I gotta step out of my seat and give the crowd what they want. So you know, just getting that energy and giving the crowd what they want, to give it back to them, I think that everyone’s going to have a good time. On top of top, interacting with the fans. Anything to get the fans going and rocking.

SLAM: What does this kind of opportunity do for the kids that are going to be playing?

NR: I’m just jealous that I didn’t get the opportunity to be able to have my high school games broadcast like this. I would’ve gave people a great, great show. But for them, they get exposure. They get their name out there. People know who you are. Back in the day, when we were in high school, nobody knew. You had to be there. Here, they get the opportuneity to broadcast their stuff all over the world. Everybody can see it.

SLAM: You’ve seen a lot of great NBA players when they were in high school. Growing up out there in the Northwest, you got to see Jamal Crawford, Isaiah Thomas, Dejounte Murray, Michael Porter Jr, Brandon Roy and of course yourself. Who do you think had the nastiest high school career out of those guys?

NR: That’s tough because I was there when Jamal scored 43 in the state championships. I was watching Isaiah Thomas kill Franklin. He had 50-something in the tournament. But two players that I’ve seen and that I’ve played with were Lodrick and Rodrick Stewart. They played at USC. People won’t know who they are. But they were top ranked guys, next to LeBron James in high school. They were the best in the West coast. And nobody ever heard of them. We didn’t have a platform like what you guys are getting right here.

SLAM: Are they playing overseas now?

NR: One just had a new son, Lodrick. And Rodrick, he’s in the community here in Washington, helping the youth. Him and his other brother are coaches. They’re in the community doing great things. It would’ve just been good for people to actually know who they are. From what I seen with my eyes, them being in high school, the things that they were doing. Jumping over people, between the legs, reverse, behind-the-back. And I got to see that. And it was pretty cool that I got to play with two of the best players in the country on my team.

SLAM: Will you and Baron get on the court at all, do any light work out there?

NR: I don’t know, but whatever it is that we can feed off the fans. We’re just going to play it by how the fans are feeding off of us.

SLAM: It was just announced that you’re going to be playing in the BIG3. Have you heard of anyone else that’s also signing up to play?

NR: I’m not sure if BD played, but he’s playing. He has my guy, Carlos Boozer, playing. I heard Big Baby Davis is playing. He saw me put my name in so he got in. I want the guys to come back and play, guys like Kobe. It’d be cool to see Kobe, Paul Pierce. Old school guys like that. They really can still ball if they want to play three-on-three. That’d be cool.

SLAM: You’ve got to be pretty excited, right?

NR: I’m very excited. I wouldn’t say that I’m upset that I can’t show my talents in the NBA, which I want to do. Hopefully again one day because I’m in great shape. But I just want to give the fans what they want to see. I want to give that to myself. I want to give them the gift of playing hard, having fun, making shots, playing defense, blocking shots, dunking. I want to give them what they want to see. I talked to Ice Cube and he’s excited. It’s going to be fun, man.

SLAM: Where does all that passion you play with come from?

NR: I watched my mom. My mom is a one-foot dynamite. She’s a little lady, but she packs a mean punch. But her energy, as a kid, watching her raise three children on her own. Or work three, four jobs, not complain about nothing. Just go. Being a parent now I have so much more respect for her. So I play with that same fire. I’ve learned from the best person in the world to learn from, from a little lady. She’s the people’s champ here. Everybody loves my mom.

SLAM: Have you been talking to Isaiah Thomas throughout the season?

NR: Not really. Zeke, once he’s focused and he’s into his craft, he’s locked in. That Mamba Mentality. He has that. The Force is strong with him.

SLAM: You’re a real big sneakerhead. Are there any new joints that have caught your eye?

NR: Yeah, man, the new Russell Westbrooks. He had some blue ones on that were unbelievable. Those new Westbrooks, those are one of my favorites. Those and the Kyrie Irvings. The new 4s. Me and my son waited in line to go buy those, just because. Uncle Drew, what he’s doing, I just love him. I love his game. I love his sneakers. He’s making them affordable for kids to actually go and get a couple of pairs.

SLAM: He didn’t hook you up with the plug? You’re in the Uncle Drew movie.

NR: Nah, he had a pair for everybody. These are the ones that I wanted, had to go buy them with my kid.

—

See below for #TheDebut’s full schedule, tipping off this Friday:

Jan. 19 – Spartanburg vs. Shannon Forest Christian (SC)
Jan. 20 – Vermont vs. Tilton (VT)
Jan. 23 – Apple Valley vs. Lakeville South (MN)
Jan. 25 – Simeon vs. Curie (IL)
Jan. 27 – Montverde Academy vs. TBD
Feb. 2 – IMG Academy v Florida Prep (FL)
Feb. 8 – Windward v Crossroads (CA)
Feb. 23 – Findlay Prep vs AZ Compass (NV)

The post Nate Robinson Talks BIG3, Kyrie Irving’s Sneakers and Gatorade’s #TheDebut appeared first on SLAM.

The Bucks held the lead for most of the first half. The Heat, after five ties and nine lead changes, took over with a 30-16 third quarter. They turned up their defensive intensity and Milwaukee shot just 31.6 percent for the game, including 4-28 from three-point land.

The Heat won their seventh straight game on the strength of 25 points from Goran Dragic, 8 assists from James Johnson and 15 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocks from Hassan Whiteside.

https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT/status/952729554006585344

Pelicans 123 (22-20), Knicks 118 (19-24)

The Knicks had MSG rocking early, breaking out of the gates with a 29-13 first quarter. Tim Hardaway Jr made his return to the Garden for the first time since late November, and along with Jarrett Jack, carried the Knicks offensively.

Anthony Davis was the lone bright spot for New Orleans throughout the first three quarters. He had 35 and 11 after 36 minutes, leading the Pelicans charge back from a 19-point deficit. New Orleans clamped down in the fourth quarter, holding the Knicks to 14 points.

Jrue Holiday stepped up to help AD, registering 9 of his 31 points in overtime. Davis finished with 48 points, 17 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 blocks on 17-30 shooting.

BRO THIS SHOT CRAZY. AD IS A CHEAT CODE (via @nba) pic.twitter.com/BCEHi1GUVT

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) January 14, 2018

Pacers 120 (23-20), Suns 97 (16-28)

The Pacers built a 33-point lead in this one, relying on a balanced team effort that was spearheaded by Darren Collison and Victor Oladipo. Collison went for 19 points and Oladipo had 17 and 4 steals. Five other Pacers scored in double-figures.

Timberwolves 120 (29-16), Trail Blazers 103 (22-21)

After CJ McCollum got in foul trouble, the Timberwolves smothered Damian Lillard, bringing multiple defenders on all of his drives to the rim, forcing him into 6 turnovers and holding Portland to 10 second quarter points. And on the offensive end, Jamal Crawford joined all five of the Wolves’ starters in scoring at least 10 points.

Keenum to Diggs… I mean, Wiggins to Butler! https://t.co/WOAusixTwJ

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) January 15, 2018

The post Post Up: Brow on Broadway appeared first on SLAM.

Rajon Rondo set a Pelicans franchise record with 25 assists, becoming the first player to hand out 25 in a game since Jason Kidd in 1996. New Orleans made 48 field goals in the game, giving Rondo a hand in more than half of the team’s baskets. And it all came in just 30 minutes. Anthony Davis had 33 points and 11 rebounds to handle the scoring load for the Pelicans and Caris Lavert had 22 for Brooklyn.

Rajon Rondo sets a #Pelicans franchise-high & career-best 25 assists – in 30 mins! #DoItBIG #NBAVote pic.twitter.com/fJZea6DDr7

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 28, 2017

Thunder 124 (20-15), Raptors 107 (23-10)

Paul George tied the Thunder’s single-game record with seven made threes to lead OKC to a home win over Toronto. His 33 points and Russell Westbrook‘s 30 was more than enough to counter Toronto’s balanced attack. All 12 Raptors players who saw the court scored, led by CJ Miles, who had 20.

STEVEN ADAMS! (via @okcthunder) pic.twitter.com/PHkJDKGlRy

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) December 28, 2017

Celtics 102 (28-10), Hornets 91 (12-22)

Jayson Tatum scored 10 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter as the Celtics pulled away from the Hornets. Kyrie Irving led Boston with 21 points and eight assists. As for the Hornets, Kemba Walker led the way with 24, though Charlotte shot just 37 percent for the game.

Rook makes it look easy (via @nba) pic.twitter.com/hQiQHTyOaP

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) December 28, 2017

Mavericks 98 (11-25), Pacers 94 (19-16)

Harrison Barnes broke a 94-94 tie on a free throw in the final minute as the Mavericks snapped an eight-game road losing streak. Barnes was one of six Dallas players in double figures, and Dirk Nowitzki led the team with 15 points. Myles Turner, Darren Collison, and Lance Stephenson all had 16 to lead the Pacers.

What a finish! #MFFL pic.twitter.com/MdFGe1uuxk

— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) December 28, 2017

Bulls 92 (12-22), Knicks 87 (17-17)

Enes Kanter’s missed three-point attempt with six seconds left gave the Bulls their second-straight win and sent the Knicks to their third-straight defeat. New York shot just 4-23 from three for the game and blew a 15-point first-half lead. Kris Dunn led the Bulls with 17 points and Kristaps Porzingis had 23 for the Knicks.

LAURI. MARKKANEN. #Bulls lead by 2 with 39 seconds left! pic.twitter.com/GoGQe46Lrv

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) December 28, 2017

Hawks 113 (9-25), Wizards 99 (19-16)

The Hawks have finally won consecutive games. Atlanta won its second in a row, out-scoring the Wizards 35-23 in the fourth quarter. Dennis Schroder scored 21 and 20 from Ersan Ilyasova to lead Atlanta. Bradley Beal had 20 for the Wizards.

HUSTLE. HARD.#TrueToAtlanta pic.twitter.com/lH03K9x8N4

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) December 28, 2017

Timberwolves 128 (22-13), Nuggets 125 (19-16) OT

Jamal Crawford broke a tie with 47 seconds to go in overtime to give the Timberwolves an overtime win in Minnesota. This was their fifth straight win and their eighth in their last 10 games. Jimmy Butler led all scorers with 39 points, doing his work on 10-20 shooting, while Jeff Teague had 11 points and 10 assists. Will Barton had 28 points to lead the Nuggets.

You can go ahead and read Jimmy Butler’s lips (via @World_Wide_Wob) pic.twitter.com/wbqIuXu4rg

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) December 28, 2017

Kings 109 (12-22), Cavaliers 95 (24-11)

The Kings held the Cavs to just 15 points in the fourth quarter and won behind 24 points from Vince Carter on 10-12 shooting. LeBron James had a triple-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 14 assists, while Kevin Love led the Cavs with 23 points.

Normal night for the (via @cavs) pic.twitter.com/SCJk9topga

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) December 28, 2017

Warriors 126 (28-7), Jazz 101 (15-21)

Golden State outscored Utah 42-22 in the third quarter and shot nearly 60 percent from the floor to win its 13th game in 14 tries. Kevin Durant had 21 points to lead the Warriors, while Rodney Hood had 26 to lead the Jazz.

Grizzlies 109 (11-24), Lakers 99 (11-22)

Tyreke Evans had 32 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists to lead the Grizzlies over the Lakers in L.A. With Lonzo Ball out with a shoulder injury and Kyle Kuzma limited to just nine points on 4-24 shooting, the Lakers relied in a combined 45 points from Brandon Ingram and Jordan Clarkson.

t o u g h pic.twitter.com/f3HfakjsaN

— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) December 28, 2017

The post Post Up: Dimes And Triples appeared first on SLAM.

LeBron James says Dwyane Wade early leader for NBA Sixth Man of the Year @clevelanddotcom https://t.co/sktUyG6nyd

— Joe Vardon (@joevardon) December 2, 2017

James swears he’s not biased in favor of his teammate and longtime friend—his analysis is based on Wade’s performance through 22 games.

Wade, 35, is coming off the bench for the first time in his Hall of Fame career, and putting up averages of 11.4 points, 3.9 assists and 3.8 rebounds in 23.5 minutes a night.

Per Cleveland.com:

“He’s probably the No. 1 candidate,” James said at shootaround Saturday.

 

“Not even being biased, that’s one of my best friends,” James continued. “Just looking at the teams. Eric Gordon has had to start a lot this season because CP (Chris Paul) was out. (Andre) Iguodala’s been out a little bit, you look at Manu (Ginobili), you look at Jamal Crawford … those are sixth man guys, right? D-Wade would probably be leading that right now, but there’s a long way to go.”

 

Cavs coach Tyronn Lue has handed the reins of the second unit to Wade, and also uses Wade in the fourth quarter as a sometimes point guard, all the time playmaker alongside James.

 

“Team success is always up there with winning an award, that’s just my personal opinion,” James said. “Then the impact you make on that second lineup, or whatever lineup that you’re in. You have a lot of winners and you’ve seen why they’ve won. When J.R. [Smith] won it when he was in New York, Jamal Crawford and Eric Gordon, seeing the things that they did coming off the bench and doing the things they’ve done off the bench to help their team be successful.”

Related
LeBron James ‘Bothered’ Some Cavs Teammates Didn’t Want Dwyane Wade

The post LeBron James: Dwyane Wade ‘No. 1 Candidate’ for Sixth Man of the Year appeared first on SLAM.

Column from sitdown with Blake Griffin in LA: Unfinished business, embracing new Clippers challenge. https://t.co/nOAkrGKHeF

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 27, 2017

The Clips lost Chris Paul, JJ Redick and Jamal Crawford over the summer, and Griffin has so far managed to keep the team humming with a 4-0 record while playing the best basketball of his career.

The 28-year-old NBA All-Star re-upped on a five-year, $173 million extension, and vows to reverse his squad’s past disappointments.

Per Yahoo:

“Jerry [West] had a major voice to me, and he’s had an influence in coming and working on the culture here,” Griffin told The Vertical. “This franchise had unfinished business, and I had unfinished business here. We had unfinished business together and I valued that. We laid it out there that no matter what was going on around us, both sides hadn’t accomplished what we set out for.

 

“I couldn’t abandon this now.”

 

This season has placed Griffin in position to drive this Clippers offense and cement a full season as a lead shot-maker and creator. Paul ran the Clippers’ play calls and commanded the ball for most of the shot clock. But Griffin had thrived as a do-it-all component, something of a point forward at times when Paul sat out with injuries in previous seasons.

 

“I embrace the challenge,” Griffin told The Vertical. “With Chris gone, it changed our dynamic. For me, of course, I can look at it: I have the responsibility on my shoulder – all season. I have to do it. When Chris sat out, I was able to show it. I want to prove that I can sustain that style of play. Chris was one person, but we also lost J.J. [Redick], who I knew going into the free-agency process wouldn’t be back, Jamal [Crawford], who I thought we’d keep this summer but we had to move him around.

 

“So part of our core guys separated and that affected us. It changed the philosophy and we had to be accepting of the challenge.”

Related
Blake Griffin: Clippers Not in ‘Transitional Season’

The post Blake Griffin Ready to Carry the Clippers appeared first on SLAM.

A lot was made of Lonzo Ball’s three-point opening night performance on Thursday.

But Ball silenced the doubters, at least for a night, by flirting with a triple-double with 29 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists.

Ball was the catalyst on a night that the Lakers looked much better overall, especially with plays like this (note the assist goes to the rookie out of UCLA):

Ball movement #LakeShow

(: @SpectrumSN / @spectdeportes) pic.twitter.com/2AdOcZCFFh

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 21, 2017

The Lakers trailed by three at the half, but came out of the locker room to quickly take the lead thanks to a couple baskets from Brandon Ingram. He finished with 25 for LA, while Eric Bledsoe led Phoenix with a game-high 28 points.

Cavaliers 116 (2-0), Bucks 97 (1-1) 

Giannis Antetokounmpo continued his stellar start to the season (34 points, eight rebounds, eight assists), but LeBron and company pulled away in the second half as the Cavs earned their second win.

Kyle Korver provided some firepower off the bench, scoring 17 points on 5-6 shooting from three for Cleveland. Three of those came in the third quarter as Cleveland extended its lead.

Watch @KyleKorver sink all five of his #CavsBucks triples … with 3 in the 3Q!
pic.twitter.com/wFZieCuwdF

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) October 21, 2017

LeBron had 24 on 10-16 shooting, while Kevin Love had a double-double with 17 and 12.

Timberwolves 100 (1-1), Jazz 97 (1-1)

The Timberwolves got the best of Ricky Rubio and the Jazz in Rubio’s return to Minnesota.

Rubio did have 19 points, 10 assists, and a rousing ovation from the crowd, but it was Jamal Crawford’s three with 28 seconds left that lifted Minnesota to victory. Crawford’s shot put the Timberwolves ahead 98-96, with a few free throws the rest of the way providing the final margin.

Andrew Wiggins led all scorers with 21 points, three of them coming like this, to end the first half.

Wiggins. From deep. (via @nba) pic.twitter.com/H0KyyCrxi7

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) October 21, 2017

Hornets 109 (1-1), Hawks 91 (1-1) 

Charlotte outscored Atlanta 35-17 in the third quarter, turning a tie game at halftime into a comfortable first win of the season. Kemba Walker (26 points, nine assists) was great again, while Dwight Howard and Frank Kaminsky added 21 and 20 respectively.

Howard also had an interesting encounter with an official after committing a foul:

Wyd, Dwight pic.twitter.com/DIXImtDcZj

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 21, 2017

As for the Hawks, Dennis Schroder had 25 as 13 players saw at least three minutes.

Trail Blazers 114 (2-0), Pacers 96 (1-1)

Portland improved to 2-0 with the road win behind 28 points from CJ McCollum and a strong performance from Al-Farouq Aminu.

Aminu had a double-double with 16 points and 16 rebounds, helping the Blazers methodically build a lead that they held much of the night.

It may have been a loss for Indiana, but Pacers fans can take solace in getting to see this dunk from Victor Oladipo, in which he elevated roughly 35 feet in the air.

Sometimes it’s just not fair. (via @pacers) pic.twitter.com/31vL4IufeK

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) October 21, 2017

Celtics 102 (1-2), 76ers 92 (0-2) 

In a tie game with just over seven minutes to go and staring at a potential 0-3 start, the Celtics finished the game on an 18-8 run to escape Philadelphia with a win. Kyrie Irving (21 points) scored seven in that stretch.

JJ Redick led the way for Philadelphia with 19 points while the younger core of the team struggled offensively. Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Markelle Fultz combined to shoot just 10-36 (27.7 percent), though Simmons and Embiid both had double-digit rebounds. 

Wizards 115 (2-0), Pistons 111 (1-1) 

John Wall blocked Reggie Jackson’s attempt in the final minute that would have tied the game, allowing the Wizards to hold off a Pistons rally late. Wall also scored 19 of his 26 points in the second half to go with his 10 assists.

Jackson had 21 to lead Detroit, while Andre Drummond added nine points and 12 rebounds inside.

You can count on Wall to provide at least one play a night that you’ll want to watch on a loop. Here was tonight’s:

John Wall is unreal. (via @WashWizards) pic.twitter.com/EyaV3t0arp

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) October 21, 2017

Nets 126 (1-1), Magic 121 (1-1)

Nikola Vucevic’s second consecutive great game wasn’t enough for the Magic to escape Brooklyn with a win. Vucevic had 41 points on 17-22 shooting from the field and 6-8 shooting from three, along with 12 rebounds.

Brooklyn countered with a balanced attack that included six players in double figures.

The Nets held a slim lead for most of the fourth quarter, and nearly gave it away when Terrence Ross pulled the Magic to within one on a three with 14 seconds to go.  Evan Fournier, however, missed a three of his own on the ensuing possession, giving the Nets their first victory of the year.

Kings 93 (1-1), Mavericks 88 (0-2) 

Fresh off a statement regular season debut, Dennis Smith Jr. was a late scratch for the Mavericks with a knee injury.

The Dallas rookie had 16 points and 10 assists in his first game and the injury is not believed to be serious, according to coach Rick Carlisle. Still, there’s some cause for concern as it is the same knee that Smith Jr. had surgically repaired two years ago.

George Hill had 21 to lead the Kings, while rookie De’Aaron Fox came off the bench to contribute nine points and 10 assists.

Warriors 128 (1-1), Pelicans 120 (0-2) 

The defending champs earned their first win of the season behind 33 points from Klay Thompson and 28 from Steph Curry.

The Pelicans, led by 35 each from Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins, were up 13 after a quarter, thanks to a 10-0 run capped in dramatic fashion by Davis.

Boogie AD to cap a 10-0 run for the #Pelicans!#DoItBig pic.twitter.com/WIgx7HYUmW

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) October 21, 2017

The Warriors trailed by as many as 17, but came back, scoring 11 of the final 13 points of the first half to pull within three at the break. Thompson went 7-11 from three overall, and his triple to start the third quarter completed the comeback and pulled Golden State even.

The post Post Up: Lonzo Ball Breaks Out as Lakers Earn First Win appeared first on SLAM.

Who will own press conferences this season?

Russell Westbrook had this on lock last season, and will likely repeat, but there will be some stiff competition. KD seems to give less and less of a damn with each passing interview. James Harden always brings out ridiculous outfits—though his postgame quotes leave something to be desired. LeBron is LeBron. The dark horse, though, might be Dion Waiters. If you’ve been following him on social media at all this summer, you’ve seen a man that is feeling himself on a whole new level. Add the fact that the Heat has a real shot to get back to the playoffs and we should be seeing and hearing from Philly Cheese plenty this season. —Peter Walsh, Senior Editor

When will the Sixers take over the NBA?

So we can all agree that we might as well hand the 2018 Larry O’Brien trophy over to the Warriors right now, right? Right. But that doesn’t mean this season will be without intrigue—for example, how long before the post-Process FEDS take over the NBA? Embiid, Simmons and Fultz have as much potential as any young core we’ve seen in years. Can they stay healthy and fulfill all those lofty expectations, making fans forget all the ugly years that led to this point? We won’t know that answer for years. This season, though, should provide a hint of what’s to come. —Yaron Weitzman, Senior Writer

Is this the year Giannis Antetokounmpo explodes?

After a breakout season that saw him emerge into an All-Star and become the first player in NBA history to finish the regular season in the top 20 in total points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks, it is clear that Giannis is now a fan favorite in the League. The question moving forward is whether the 22-year-old can become a legitimate contender in the MVP conversation. —Franklyn Calle, Associate Editor

Can the Warriors get…better?

Honestly? I didn’t think the Warriors were gonna win the Championship last year. Not for lack of talent—I just didn’t think they’d put it all together in KD’s first year. More of a Year 2 thing. I was wrong, but it doesn’t mean the Dubs won’t improve, with Durant further acclimating to GSW’s system and all that. They won’t go for 73+ wins—they’ve hopefully learned why attempting such a feat is a pretty terrible idea—but they’ll play more together, more as a unit. Which is to say, more unbeatable. Yikes. —Adam Figman, Editor-in-Chief

How will the Chris Paul-James Harden era play out in H-Town?

While Chris Paul opted in to the final year of his contract to join the Rockets, CP3 is far from committing long term to Houston. The 32-year-old will be an unrestricted free agent after this season, giving him an easy out if the partnership with Harden doesn’t go as planned. But all signs have been positive so far. Harden and Paul have been in constant communication since the June 28 trade and have played together in the Drew League, Black Ops in NYC and at UCLA pickup runs.—Ryne Nelson, Senior Editor

How will social media continue to change the League?

Raise your hand if you thought 10 years ago that social media would play a major role in the NBA. Waiting…nobody, right? But here we are. This past offseason, CJ McCollum posted a picture of Carmelo Anthony in a Blazers jersey on Instagram, and Rudy Gobert traded playful jabs with Isaiah Thomas on Twitter. When the Kyrie Irving trade went down, if you weren’t on Twitter, you were missing out on countless news items, jokes, memes and hours of entertainment. Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball even set the Lakers army on a war path because of a player’s video game rating. What a time. —Max Resetar, Associate Editor

Are the T-Wolves ready?

Are we sure this is even a debate? Minnesota’s starting five—Jeff Teague, Andrew Wiggins, Jimmy Butler, Taj Gibson and Karl-Anthony Towns—is perfectly balanced. It has youth and experience, scoring and selflessness, speed and defense. Reserve Jamal Crawford can bail the team out if need be, and there’s plenty of front-court depth, too. It may take a minute to jell, but soon enough, this team is gonna cook. —Leo Sepkowitz, Senior Writer

—

Photos via Getty Images

The post Story To Tell appeared first on SLAM.

Tomorrow's #Clippers notebook today: Read why guard Austin Rivers says, "We will be a playoff team this year." https://t.co/fbaX3lmP9K

— Elliott Teaford (@ElliottTeaford) October 15, 2017

Despite losing Chris Paul, JJ Redick and Jamal Crawford over the summer, Rivers believes the Clips are deeper this season.

LA has nine new players to integrate into their system.

Per the OC Register:

“We will be a playoff team this year,” Rivers said. “Ain’t no reason for us not to be in the playoffs. So, that’s where we’re at. We don’t feel like we’ve slumped off at all. We feel we’re deeper than we were last year. We feel we’ll be that same seed or that same range and go right back to the playoffs.”

 

The Clippers would seem to be in a better position to mix and match players and styles of play after trading Chris Paul to the Houston Rockets in a blockbuster offseason deal that netted a package of players that included (Patrick) Beverley, (Sam) Dekker, Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell.

 

“We did lose a lot,” Rivers said. “When you lose a player like Chris, people are going to write you off, so I think that’s another advantage we have. We have a chip on our shoulder. Nobody is talking about us. People are talking about the Rockets, the Thunder, the Spurs, the Warriors.

 

“Nobody is talking about the Clippers anymore. We’ve got look at that as motivation.”

Related
Blake Griffin: Clippers Not in ‘Transitional Season’

The post Austin Rivers: Clippers Will be a Playoff Team appeared first on SLAM.

In case you missed it: Read why Blake Griffin says Clippers' goal is simply to qualify for playoffs https://t.co/M70xt7tyYs via @ladailynews

— Elliott Teaford (@ElliottTeaford) October 12, 2017

Griffin says the Clippers’ goal in 2017-18 is to qualify for the postseason.

The 28-year-old, five-time NBA All-Star, is ready to become the Clips’ unquestioned leader.

Per the LA Daily News:

“Make the playoffs,” Blake Griffin said. “I don’t really see any other goal. Obviously, it’s to win a championship. Every team starts out at the beginning of the year saying, ‘We want to win a championship,’ but you’ve got to have a goal of getting to the playoffs first.”

 

Griffin disagreed with a reporter’s suggestion that 2017-18 would be a transitional season for the Clippers, what with nine new players on the roster and past standouts such as Chris Paul, Jamal Crawford and J.J. Redick now playing elsewhere.

 

“I wouldn’t really call it a transitional season,” Griffin said. “We have new players. To me, transitional makes it seem like it’s a rebuilding year or something like that. I guess it would be rebuilding if we had done something. We haven’t really done anything over the past five, six years.

 

“It’s different. It’s a different team. It’s a different look. I don’t know about transitional.”

The post Blake Griffin: Clippers Not in ‘Transitional Season’ appeared first on SLAM.

Averaging 25.1 points per game last season, which ranked No. 1 among centers and tied Kevin Durant for 12th overall in the League, the Piscataway, NJ, native proved that he was indeed everything he was touted to be when he was selected with the No. 1 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. Points aside, he also finished top 10 among centers in rebounds (12.3 per night), assists (2.7 per game), free throws and field goals.

Last season he became the first player in NBA history to reach 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 100 three-pointers in a single season while also breaking Kevin Love’s single-season scoring record. He stood behind only Pau and Marc Gasol in three-point shooting percentage among centers.

KAT finished with a double-double in 62 of last season’s 82 games.

Following two years of steady progress and growing into the team’s go-to option, this season will bring KAT into new territory. After being the leader (at age 21) of the youngest team in the NBA last season, some offseason acquisitions by the Timberwolves have suddenly brought in playoffs expectations upon Towns and company. The veteran additions from this summer include all-star Jimmy Butler, Jeff Teague, Jamal Crawford and Taj Gibson.

Despite averaging 25 and 12 for the season, Kat was snubbed from the All-NBA team selections in the spring. Clippers center DeAndre Jordan beat him out by just four points. The seven-footer took to social media in the aftermath to say that “being disrespected is nothing new” to him. And in an interview with Sporting News a month later regarding the snub, he added:

“You know what, it did a little bit, it did a little damage to me. But that’s all right, because it is all about team success. You’ve got to win. You’ve got to win to be respected in this league. You have to do little things, there are things we can do as a team. We have to come back as a stronger team and win in the playoffs, because the playoffs are the most important thing.”

The playoffs are a milestone that Minnesota fans have been looking to claim for over a decade. The franchise hasn’t played in a postseason game since 2004. After only winning 31 games last season, Las Vegas has the Wolves at over/under 48.5 victories this year.

The impact this summer’s additions ultimately have on KAT’s production will be interesting to watch unfold. There are some that fear it might lead to him having fewer touches and shots. Will there be spacing issues that could arise? Is ball sharing a concern?

While those may be some of the trepidations, there are plenty of positives as well on the flipside. The Timberwolves were known for not being all that great on defense last season and having added someone like Butler can certainly help in that department. Also, adding some veterans will certainly help out a young team that in many occasions couldn’t close out games last year. The new pieces will also be taking a load off KAT’s shoulders on both ends of the floor.

In the end, as is the case with just about any of the League’s star players, KAT’s career will be judged on just how much winning he ultimately was able to accumulate. And so while we can debate all day on the impact the additions will have on KAT’s stat lines this coming season, it’s the wins and losses column that may ultimately decide where he really ranks among the League’s best.

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 20
2015: 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
No. 36 — Andrew Wiggins
No. 35 — Marc Gasol
No. 34 – DeAndre Jordan
No. 33 — Bradley Beal
No. 32 — Kemba Walker
No. 31 — CJ McCollum
No. 30 — Devin Booker
No. 29 — Nikola Jokic
No. 28 — Joel Embiid
No. 27 — Mike Conley 
No. 26 — Kyle Lowry
No. 25 — Rudy Gobert
No. 24 — Gordon Hayward
No. 23 — Kristaps Porzingis
No. 22 — Carmelo Anthony
No. 21 — DeMar DeRozan
No. 20 — Blake Griffin
No. 19 — Draymond Green
No. 18 — Chris Paul
No. 17 — Klay Thompson
No. 16 — Jimmy Butler
No. 15 — Isaiah Thomas 

The post SLAM Top 50: Karl-Anthony Towns, No. 14 appeared first on SLAM.

The offseason was a busy one for Teague who, in addition to heading to a new team in a new city, opened up a multipurpose training facility—called The Factory —in Indianapolis. The 34,200-square-foot center opened in August and has 18 basketball hoops, an indoor football field and space for volleyball, dance, baseball and other sports.

It’s the latest collaboration between construction company A M King, Sports Med Properties and D1 Sports Training to be run by a NBA player. Chris Paul, a fellow Wake Forest product, operates his own facility in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Teague talked to SLAM about how D1 Indianapolis came to be, what it was like to play a season in his native Indianapolis and why he chose to sign with the Timberwolves.

SLAM: What was it like playing for your hometown Pacers last season? Similar or different to what you expected?

Jeff Teague: It was fun, it was different having people there at every single game. Other than that, it was a pretty similar situation to that in Atlanta. Family didn’t really bother me or anything, they just kind of stuck to themselves. It was just a transition having them at every game.

SLAM: What was it about the Timberwolves that that made you want to sign with them?

JT: They were the first team to call me, they were really interested in me. They have the young talent but they picked up some vets, like Jamal (Crawford), Taj (Gibson) and Jimmy (Butler). They’re really good and have a chance to be special, I know they haven’t been to the playoffs in awhile—like 15 or 16 years (Thirteen years — Ed.)—so I wanted to be part of something special that’s growing.

SLAM: Tom Thibodeau’s reputation kind of precedes himself. What have you heard about him from guys who played for him?

JT: A lot of hard work, and I imagine a lot of defensive drills. Everyone’s telling me he’s a hard-nosed coach who’s expecting the best out of his players. He wants to win and I can respect that.

SLAM: You mentioned Jamal Crawford. As one of the more prominent and well-respected vets around the League, what do you think it is about him that people seem to be attracted to?

JT: He’s a really good guy, first and foremost. He’s willing to help anyone, he was my vet in Atlanta and made sure that I was ok and tried to help me with anything possible. Besides being a great basketball player and one of the best sixth men ever, he’s one of the best teammates ever. I knew he’d play for a really long time and, as you can see, he’s still continuing his career into his 17th season.

SLAM: How long has the training center been in the works? Was it something you thought of while you were in high school or college, wanting to give back to Indianapolis in that way?

JT: I never really thought about it in high school or college, but when I made it to the NBA I thought it would be cool to have a place where you can go play at any time and to help kids get better on their game.

SLAM: Did the idea come up during your year with the Pacers or back in Atlanta with the Hawks?

JT: I’ve been thinking about it since I was in Atlanta. Indiana’s always been home for me and has a special place in my heart, so I knew I would go back there. I’ve seen Mo Williams and those guys have gyms, and it’s cool to see how they were able to develop kids and help others in their area, and I wanted to do the same thing.

SLAM: Did you have a lot of say in the design of the facility and its features?

JT: It was more of my dad. I let him handle most of those kind of things.

SLAM: Chris Paul has his own facility down in North Carolina. Did you talk to him at all throughout the construction of D1 Indy?

JT: We didn’t really talk to each other at all. I just partnered up with a close friend of mine, a business partner, and he helped me put it all together. We just made it happen.

SLAM: There are a lot of current NBA players from Indianapolis, such as you and Eric Gordon and others. Do you think the city is on the rise in terms of producing basketball talent?

JT: I think the talent pool is very deep, we continue to put out really talented players and teams every year. It’s been going on for a couple of years now, maybe 10 or 11 years, when we started getting a lot of people drafted and playing well in the NBA. The kids now in high school, with skills trainers and other places to develop their skills, are only going to get better.

SLAM: Growing up, did you have facilities like this one to work at or were you mostly playing outside on playgrounds in Indianapolis?

JT: I played outside, I had nothing like this. We didn’t have trainers, we didn’t have people working on your bodies and things like that. We just hooped and played outside, worked on our games that way and it was more fun. We didn’t really play inside until middle school. Times have changed and high school guys are almost getting the NBA treatment when it comes to workouts.

Related
Jeff Teague Agrees To 3-Year, $57 Million Deal With Wolves
Jeff Teague Is Living In His Parents’ Basement

The post Jeff Teague on His New Training Facility, Playing At Home and the Timberwolves 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.

While they’re mostly offense-heavy and predicated on giving fans a chance to see stars up close, that doesn’t mean the guys playing in them don’t want to win badly. As you can see in the video above, J Crossver’s latest game got a little chippy after the NBA vet got frustrated after he was on the receiving end of an especially hard foul.

Not too much happens after Crawford gets knocked to the ground at around the :45 mark, but it’s cool nonetheless to see an exhibition game with some real juice to it. As you’d expect, the new Minnesota Timberwolves guard took over in the second half to lead his team—which also had former NBAer Terrence Williams—to a W.

In the second game, Mason Plumlee made his Crawsover League debut alongside Seattle natives Spencer Hawes and Martell Webster as well as top Class of 2018 recruit Kevin Porter Jr., who’s committed to USC. Plumlee threw down some of his trademark reverse jams—one off a nifty give-and-go with Hawes—while Webster drilled a bunch of threes and Porter showed off the athleticism that made him a top-100 prospect.

Related
Nahziah Carter, Jay-Z’s Nephew, Dominates At Crawsover League
Michael Porter Jr. Drops 47 at Jamal Crawford’s Crawsover League
Jamal Crawford Goes Off At Crawsover League After Signing With Timberwolves

Video courtesy of Ballislife

The post Jamal Crawford Gets Buckets And Gets Heated In Crawsover League Game appeared first on SLAM.

Over the weekend, KAT was active once again, taking part in a livestream for the latest Call of Duty: WWII video game. Once he hopped off the sticks, we spoke with the star about the Mayweather-McGregor fight, the new-look T’Wolves, Hoodie Melo, his appearance in the latest Katy Perry video and more.

Check it.

SLAM: What did you think of the Mayweather-McGregor fight?

Karl-Anthony Towns: I watched the whole fight—undercards included. Mayweather-McGregor was one heck of a fight. They absolutely went out there as warriors. I have nothing but true admiration and respect for Conor McGregor going out there against one of the best fighters who ever lived and holding his own.

SLAM: Were you surprised the fight went that long?

KAT: No, I was expecting the fight to go longer than six rounds. I expected McGregor to slow down. He’s not used to that kind of conditioning—no matter how much sparring you do, it’s still hard. His experience hasn’t gotten him there yet. The first undercard fights are 10 rounds. Boxing fans and analysts always worry about people who come up and fight championship fights—now it’s two extra rounds you have to fight. That could definitely change the outcome. Those two rounds, if someone is tired and the other guy is not, that could lead to a knockout.

SLAM: Do you think Floyd is really going to retire or are they setting things up for the rematch?

KAT: He’s done. I hope everyone enjoyed it while they had the chance.

SLAM: How was Kentucky this past weekend? 

KAT: It was good, it was fun to be back on campus and have a chance to see the players and see the fans. I’m so happy that I had a chance to go back to a place that I feel is home. Kentucky has a big part of my heart.

SLAM: Who were you most excited to see when you got there?

KAT: I got a chance to talk to Trey Lyles and Alex Poythress a lot. People you don’t usually get to see a lot—it’s always good to see the coaching staff and to be in Kentucky. The aura is different, the air is different there. It’s always good to go back anywhere that is like home. It was a great chance to be with my friends and coaching staff that I hadn’t seen in a while and teammates that I hadn’t seen in a while and play the game of basketball that we grew up loving.

SLAM: How did you end up in Katy Perry’s “Swish, Swish” video?

KAT: [Laughs] A phone call led to being asked to make a cameo in the video and I accepted. I thank Katy for giving me the opportunity to be in the music video. It’s a great video. It’s very intriguing, very funny and entertaining.

SLAM: Was that your first time in a music video?

KAT: Yeah, it was cool. It was like shooting a commercial. It was very meticulous work and you want to make sure you get it done right.

SLAM: If you could be in any artist’s music video right now who would it be?

KAT: I think it would be Kendrick Lamar. He’s killing the music video game, I would love to be in one of his. A good friend of mine, Mac Miller, I would love to be in one of his videos, too.

SLAM: Did the trade between the Celtics and Cavaliers catch you by surprise?

KAT: I was surprised, you didn’t know the whole situation—we all didn’t—I’m just happy they both found a way to deal with the situation. I wasn’t too much into it. I’m glad the respected teams got done what’s best for them and that’s really it.

SLAM: What do you think of Minnesota’s new Nike uniforms?

KAT: I mean it’s a new image, we’re trying to do something new. Obviously, we feel that we have a new team to start a new chapter in Wolves history and the jerseys definitely show us going in a new direction that we haven’t taken before.

SLAM: What is the ceiling for this team now that you’ve added Jimmy Butler, Jamal Crawford and Jeff Teague?

KAT: I’m very excited. I think we have a great chance to do something really special. Obviously it’s upsetting that we had to lose Ricky Rubio, Zach LaVine and Kris Dunn to trades but that’s how the business is. We have to look forward and I’m excited about what we have.

SLAM: Last year the Wolves were a trendy pick to take the next step and make the postseason. Obviously, that didn’t happen. After that experience, does your approach to the season change at all?

KAT: No, I expect us to be in the playoffs and I expect us to compete in the playoffs and have Minnesota rocking not just for one round, but for multiple rounds. We have a lot of faith in ourselves that this is something that we can do and we have a coaching staff behind us and great teammates. I think we have something truly special here.

SLAM: I’m sure you’ve been catching all the Hoodie Melo memes. Do you guys get a kick out of that stuff?

KAT: I think it’s funny and I think most of us look at it as very funny. Melo’s been doing that for years and social media took it to a whole new level. It’s fun to see Melo getting in those workouts and see him focused for the upcoming season. You want to go against the best and you want the best to be at their best when you do.

SLAM: Much respect for the article you wrote for The Players’ Tribune. Why did you feel like it was time to make your voice heard?

KAT: I think the timing was right and you never realize how important your voice is until you speak up. I’m trying to do my part to help society and humanity. I wanted to say something. I feel that fans and kids look up to us as professional athletes and role models and we have to do stuff to improve society and make it better for kids to live in. I was trying to do that and spread a message of love and everyone should respect each other and love each other regardless of color, regardless of gender, regardless of situation or monetary status in life. Right now, it should all be about love and respect.

SLAM: What is the response you have been getting?

KAT: People have been texting me and telling me that they’re proud of me for speaking up. I don’t feel like I need admiration or attention from the article—I felt like it was the right time to write something like that. It was on my mind and in my heart and I really wanted to speak out about it and give my ideas. Like i said, these kids look up to professional athletes and we hold a high importance to a lot of kids in the world. It’s important to do something positive with the attention we garner and do something good for the world.

SLAM: What is your initial reaction to Call Of Duty WWII after playing? How is the gameplay?

KAT: It’s great. It’s very fluid, very smooth and they’re going back to the things that made it great from the beginning. This game is really special and Call of Duty fans will feel the nostalgic feeling from old-school COD.

SLAM: Have you been playing COD since back in the day?

KAT: I’ve been playing since the first one came out on PC.

SLAM: How often do you play during the season when you’re on the road?

KAT: I always bring an Xbox everywhere, a lot of us do. For good reason—we have long road trips and we’re tired and want to be in our room and connect with our friends and that’s how we’re able to do it.

SLAM: Who is the best gamer on the Wolves?

KAT: It would be me. Hands down. I’m the best gamer on the Wolves, hands down.

—

Peter Walsh is a Senior Editor at SLAM. Follow him on Twitter @Peter_M_Walsh.

Photos via Getty Images

The post Karl-Anthony Towns on Mayweather-McGregor, Timberwolves, Hoodie Melo and Call of Duty appeared first on SLAM.

Carter, a three-star Class of 2017 recruit who is more well-known as Jay-Z’s nephew, is from upstate New York but committed to play for the Washington Huskies back in June. He made a pretty good first impression against one of Seattle’s proudest sons, dropping 42 points against Crawford’s team at the Crawsover over the weekend.

At 6-6 with a slim 185-pound frame, Carter has a really versatile game and, as you can see in the video above, can score in a bunch of different ways. Crawford, who’s 20 years older than him, holds his own with a casual triple-double but Nahziah stole the show.

Related
Jay-Z’s Nephew, Nahziah Carter, Dunks On No. 1 HS Prospect
Jamal Crawford Goes Off At Crawsover League After Signing With Timberwolves

Video courtesy of Ballislife

The post Nahziah Carter, Jay-Z’s Nephew, Dominates at Crawsover League appeared first on SLAM.

Still showing mad love to Seattle, where he played his senior year under former NBAer Brandon Roy, ‎Porter Jr took a break from summer school to hoop in one of the left coast’s finest summer leagues. He effortlessly bombed threes from NBA range, bounced off the floor like a pogo stick, and had four simply ridiculous blocks. Everyone loves to throw out the KD and Brandon Ingram comparisons, but the craziest part is that the 18-year old might be the most explosive of all of the new crop of unicorn forwards and progressed through high school to the point that he jumped 7-1 monster DeAndre Ayton in most recent Class of 2017 rankings.

While Missouri is certainly in a rebuild right now, Michael Porter Jr definitely has the talent and system set up to take Missouri to heights it hasn’t seen in years, which will hopefully break the streak of potential No. 1 picks not even reaching the NCAA Tournament.

Big thanks to Ballislife for the video

Related
Class of 2017 SLAM HS All-Americans 1st-Team
WATCH: Michael Porter Jr. Earns MVP at McDonald’s All-American Game

The post Michael Porter Jr Drops 47 at Jamal Crawford’s Crawsover League appeared first on SLAM.

BRUH!!!!! pic.twitter.com/xS241oAOPE

— Eurohoops.net (@Eurohoopsnet) July 30, 2017

Gallo will miss the remainder of the tourney, but is expected to be ready for the start of the LA Clippers’ training camp in September.

Danilo Gallinari went to the hospital for a medical evaluation of his hand after the punch he gave to Kok's face, as reported by Sky Sport

— Sportando (@Sportando) July 30, 2017

Gallinari, 28, inked a three-year, $65 million deal with the Clippers earlier this month, coming over from the Denver Nuggets in a sign-and-trade.

Per ESPN:

After landing a punch in a European exhibition game for Italy, LA Clippers forward Danilo Gallinari suffered a right thumb injury that isn’t expected to require surgery, league sources said.

 

Clippers doctors are planning to examine the injury soon, but the initial diagnosis calls for a month of rest and rehabilitation on the thumb, sources said.

 

Gallinari, 28, slugged the Netherlands’ Jito Kok in a scuffle, causing the injury that sent him to a local hospital.

The post Danilo Gallinari Punches Eurobasket Opponent in the Face appeared first on SLAM.

Harden (27 points, 12 rebounds) and CP3 (13 points, 10 assists) led LA Unified to a 83-81 victory against the Hometown Favors.

(Russell Westbrook was a no-show.)

Per the LA Daily News:

The line snaked around King-Drew Magnet school as early as 8 a.m. on Sunday. Nearly 10 hours later, over 1,500 people filled the gym. About 500 people were left standing outside eager to catch a glimpse.

 

Paul and Harden declined to speak to reporters afterward. But Drew League commissioner Dino Smiley echoed the thoughts of many that saw what transpired.

 

“There was a lot of energy,” Smiley said. “It was draining, intense and unbelievable to have NBA stars on the field. It was fantastic, a great evening.”

 

Drew League officials anticipated Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook would play, which would set up a matchup with Harden after beating him for the regular season’s MVP award. But officials were informed Russell did not want to play after experiencing some minor ailments in recent days. It’s not clear if Westbrook will play when the Drew League All-Stars (featuring Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan and Golden State forward Nick Young) host Jamal Crawford’s Seattle pro-am team at Southwest College on at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

Related
Chris Paul, James Harden Dominate Pick-Up Game at UCLA

The post James Harden and Chris Paul Team Up in Drew League appeared first on SLAM.

Robinson may have stole the show as he dropped 37 points, grabbed 7 boards and dished out 6 assists en route to the victory over Sacre’s squad. Crawford played the role of facilitator and stroked it from long range. Check out Crawford’s highlights below.

Courtesy of Ball Don’t Stop 

The post Jamal Crawford, Nate Robinson Ball Out at Battle At The Boarder Pro Am appeared first on SLAM.

The post Jamal Crawford & His 19-Year-Old Son Eric Face off in Pro-Am Game appeared first on SLAM.

Adding to the concern over James’ potential departure next summer, LeBron reportedly disagreed with the team’s ousting of GM David Griffin, missing out on Jimmy Butler and under-bidding on Jamal Crawford, among other decisions.

From USA Today:

Gilbert’s decision left the Cavs without the franchise’s top two front-office execs at a critical time, and it left James frustrated and concerned about the team’s ability to put together a roster that can better compete with Golden State, the person with direct knowledge of James’ thinking told USA TODAY Sports. […]

 

Further exacerbating James’ frustration is the Cavs were close to making a deal for then-Chicago Bulls All-Star Jimmy Butler the day Gilbert decided to mutually part ways with Griffin and Redden, two people familiar with negotiations told USA TODAY Sports. […]

 

James was active in recruiting Crawford, and Crawford appreciated James’ efforts to get him to Cleveland. James did his part. But the Timberwolves offered $4.45 million a season.

RELATED:
LeBron James Unhappy With Cavs GM David Griffin’s Departure

The post Report: LeBron ‘Frustrated and Concerned’ after Disappointing Offseason appeared first on SLAM.

He was sent to the Clippers in the Chris Paul trade and if his unofficial Los Angeles debut is any indication, his microwave scoring ways are going to play just fine in the City of Angels.

Lou, like former Clipper Jamal Crawford, is a regular on the pro-am circuit and has the perfect game for leagues like the Drew. There are very few NBA players who can get as hot as quickly as Lou Will can.

Related
WATCH: Lou Williams Drops 54 Points in Atlanta Pro-Am
DeMar DeRozan Throws Ball at Drew League Ref

The post Lou Williams Drops Record-Breaking 50 Points in Drew League Debut appeared first on SLAM.

Formerly the Seattle Pro-Am, J-Crossover took over the league and it’s already been live in its opening weeks. After a nameless defender got a bucket on him and got in his face, Jamal brought out all the sauce. Crossovers, behind the backs, and 30-foot three pointers. His ridiculous handle hasn’t dissipated one bit with each year that goes by and when you see Jamal with the freedom to show the full arsenal, you see why the 37 year old is regarded as one of the best ball handlers in the League. Along with his excellence with the rock in his hands, Crawford continues to make a difference in the community of Seattle in countless ways, with the free Crawsover League just being one ‎to keep basketball going in the Emerald City.

For the game, the namesake of the Crawsover League finished with 26 points, 10 assists, and 7 rebounds.

Big thanks to Ballislife for the video

The post Jamal Crawford Goes Off at Crawsover League After Signing With Timberwolves appeared first on SLAM.

Thank you @ATLHawks for allowing me to be a free agent. Much respect..

— Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) July 7, 2017

Crawford, 37, is said to have agreed to a two-year, $8.9 million pact with the Timberwolves.

The second year is a player option.

Per Yahoo:

The three-time Sixth Man of the Year was released by the Atlanta Hawks in a buyout agreement on Friday, and started talks with Minnesota, Washington, Golden State, Cleveland and the Los Angeles Lakers. For Crawford, the opportunity of assuming a sixth-man role for coach Tom Thibodeau held major appeal.

 

Minnesota has reshaped its roster this offseason, acquiring Jimmy Butler and Jeff Teague, and getting an agreement from Crawford, a respected veteran able to go to the team of his choice, is a plus for the Timberwolves.

 

Crawford’s buyout agreement with the Hawks allowed him to recoup a significant amount of his salary and put him in position to play for a potential contender in the Western Conference. Crawford was also in serious talks on a possible one-year deal at a strong salary with the Lakers, sources said.

 

The Hawks acquired Crawford in a three-team deal that sent Danilo Gallinari to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Related
2017 NBA Free Agent Tracker

The post Jamal Crawford to Sign Two-Year Deal in Minnesota appeared first on SLAM.

The Cavs aren’t the only team in the market for Crawford’s services.

With Lakers interest dying on both sides, source says Crawford is expected to have interest from T-Wolves, Cavs & Wizards after bought out. https://t.co/Jl1EKdoo1O

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) July 6, 2017

The 37-year-old was dealt by the LA Clippers to Atlanta, and is seeking a contract buyout from the Hawks.

Per Cleveland.com:

The most Cleveland could pay Crawford is the taxpayer’s mid-level exception to the salary cap (worth $5.2 million), but after conversing with James, Crawford is highly interested in joining the three-time defending Eastern Conference champs.

 

Sources indicated it was Crawford who reached out to James, who is vacationing with his family. James and Crawford have known each other for all of James’ 14 pro seasons (Crawford’s played 17), and Crawford has other friends on the Cavs, too.

 

Since it was reported early July 4 that Crawford would be part of a three-team trade to bring Danilo Gallinari from Denver to the Clippers and Crawford would end up in Atlanta, he’s been preparing to seek a buyout and hit the market as a free agent.

 

It’s hard to gauge the Cleveland franchise’s interest in Crawford, though James speaking to Crawford suggests it exists. If the Cavs chose not to use half or all of the mid-level exception on Crawford, then the most they could pay him would be the veteran’s minimum of $2.33 million.

The post Report: Jamal Crawford ‘Very Interested’ in Joining Cavs appeared first on SLAM.

Euro star point guard Milo Teodosic has agreed to a two-year, $12.3M deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, league sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2017

Deal includes a player option on second year, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/QSukVepkTS

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2017

As a member of CSKA Moskow, Teodosic averaged 16.1 points and 6.8 assists last season. His move from the Euroleague to the NBA has been much anticipated.

Related
Danilo Gallinari Traded to Clippers and Jamal Crawford Traded to Hawks in Three-Team Deal

The post Milos Teodosic Agrees to 2-Year, $12.3 Million Deal With Clippers appeared first on SLAM.

Los Angeles, Denver and Atlanta reached agreement Tuesday night on a deal that will have the Clippers send Jamal Crawford, Diamond Stone, a 2018 first-round pick previously acquired from Houstonand cash to the Hawks, league sources said.

Gallo agreed to terms on a 3-year, $65 million contract, while Crawford’s reportedly looking for a buyout.

Gallinari’s played with the Nuggets since being traded to Denver in 2011. He averaged 18.2 points and 5.2 rebounds this past season. Crawford’s been a Clipper for five seasons, clocking 12.3 points per games in ’16-’17.

Related
2017 NBA Free Agent Tracker 

The post Danilo Gallinari Traded to Clippers and Jamal Crawford Traded to Hawks in Three-Team Deal appeared first on SLAM.

The veteran guard is said to be seeking a contract buyout, and hoping the Lakers nab him.

Veteran guard Jamal Crawford's preference would be to join rookie Lonzo Ball in the backcourt with the Lakers if… https://t.co/UTZ31FYTxi

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) July 4, 2017

The Lakers reportedly have a “strong interest” in the 37-year-old.

Per ESPN:

With his family based in Los Angeles and a solid relationship already in place with Ball, Crawford would like to sign as a free agent with the Lakers.

 

The Lakers have strong interest in signing Crawford as well, a source said, and have the money to do so. The Lakers will have $17.2 million in room if the cap holds of Thomas Robinson, Tyler Ennis, Nick Young and Metta World Peace are released.

 

Crawford could possibly start at shooting guard for the Lakers and be a big help as a mentor and shot-maker for the assist-creating [Lonzo] Ball.

 

While Crawford is intrigued by playing for the NBA champion Golden State Warriors, they don’t have much left to offer financially. All they have to offer a free agent is a $5.2 million midlevel exception.

Related
Report: Jamal Crawford Joining Warriors a ‘Strong Possibility’

The post Report: Jamal Crawford Wants to Join the Lakers appeared first on SLAM.

According to ESPN, the Warriors would be favored to sign Crawford if he’s traded to the Hawks and bought out.

Report w/ @MarcJSpearsESPN: ESPN sources say Golden State a frontrunner for Jamal Crawford; Nick Young still in play https://t.co/2Wi6BseMow

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 4, 2017

There’s a strong possibility that either LA Clippers guard Jamal Crawford or free agent Nick Young could end up with the Golden State Warriors this offseason, league sources tell ESPN. […]

 

Sources informed ESPN that Crawford would seek an immediate buyout and the Warriors would be the front-runners for his services if they still possessed the taxpayer midlevel exception of $5.2 million.

RELATED:
Clippers Working on Three-Team Sign-and-Trade for Danilo Gallinari

The post Report: Jamal Crawford Joining Warriors a ‘Strong Possibility’ appeared first on SLAM.

Sources: Clippers, Hawks, Nuggets working on trade of Danillo Gallinari to LA/Millsap to DEN; Jamal Crawford/Diamond Stone/FRP to Atlanta.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 4, 2017

Jamal Crawford would be sent to Atlanta in the deal, along with center Diamond Stone and a future first-round pick.

Gallo and the Clips are said to be discussing a three-year, $65 million pact.

Clippers sold Gallinari on the idea of a Gallo-Blake Griffin-DeAndre Jordan frontcourt. He didn't need to be sold on living in LA.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 4, 2017

Per Yahoo:

All-Star forward Paul Millsap reached agreement on a three-year, $90 million deal with Denver on Sunday and has been discussed in potential sign-and-trade scenarios between the Hawks and Nuggets, league sources said. It’s possible that Millsap could reach the Nuggets through a straight free-agent signing, sources said.

 

For the Clippers, the acquisition of Gallinari would add a potent perimeter player alongside Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan in the frontcourt.

 

Gallinari met with the Clippers over the weekend and came away impressed with the franchise’s direction, sources said.

The post Clippers Working on Three-Team Sign-and-Trade for Danilo Gallinari appeared first on SLAM.

Undoubtedly influenced by the Warriors’ dominance last season, teams have been making big acquisitions to counter the reigning champions.

As usual, we’ve broken down the NBA free agent signings into two categories: “On The Move” and “Staying Put.”

Below is a comprehensive look at the agreements made since the free-agency period began at midnight on July 1. Everything is a verbal agreement until the moratorium period ends on July 7.

Let us know in the comments who you think has had the best and worst offseason so far!

ON THE MOVE

Gordon Hayward: 4-year, $128 million deal with Celtics

Paul Millsap: 3-year, $90 million deal with Nuggets

Jeff Teague: 3-year, $57 million deal with Wolves

George Hill: 3-year, $57 million deal with Kings

JJ Redick: 1-year, $23 million deal with Sixers

Taj Gibson: 2-year, $28 million deal with Timberwolves

Danilo Gallinari: 3-year, $65 million deal with Clippers

Rudy Gay: 2-year, $17 million deal with Spurs

Jonathon Simmons: 3-year, $20 million deal with Magic

PJ Tucker: 4-year, $32 million deal with Rockets

Nick Young: 1-year, $5.2 million deal with Warriors

Omri Casspi: 1-year deal with Warriors

Langston Galloway: 3-year, $21 million deal with Pistons

Zach Randolph: 2-year, $24 million deal with Kings

Vince Carter: 1-year, $8 million deal with Kings

Patrick Patterson: 3-year, $16.7 million deal with Thunder

Kelly Olynyk: 4-year, $50-plus million deal with Heat

Darren Collison: 2-year, $20 million deal with Pacers

Ben McLemore: 2-year, $10.7 million deal with Grizzlies

Justin Holiday: 2-year, $9 million deal with Bulls

Tyreke Evans: 1-year, $3.3 million deal with Grizzlies

Jodie Meeks: 2-year, $7 million deal with Wizards

Bojan Bogdanovic: 2-year, $21 million deal with Pacers

Amir Johnson: 1-year, $11 million deal with Sixers

Michael Carter-Williams: 1-year, $2.7 million deal with Hornets

Jose Calderon: 1-year, $2.3 million deal with Cavaliers

Arron Afflalo: 1-year, $2.3 million deal with Magic

Zhou Qi: Multiyear deal with Rockets

Mike Scott: Veteran’s minimum deal with Wizards

Jamal Crawford: two-year, $8.9 million deal with Timberwolves

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: 1-year, $18 million deal with Lakers

Dewayne Dedmon: 2-year, $14 million deal with Hawks

Ramon Sessions: 1-year, $2.3 million deal with Knicks

Terrence Jones: 1-year, $2 million deal in China

Brandon Jennings: 1-year, $1.5 million deal in China

Ian Clark: 1-year, $1.6 million deal with Pelicans

Michael Beasley: 1-year deal with Knicks

STAYING PUT

Stephen Curry: 5-year, $201 million deal with Warriors

Kevin Durant: 2-year, $53 million deal with Warriors

Blake Griffin: 5-year, $173 million deal with Clippers

Jrue Holiday: 5-year, $126 million deal with Pelicans

Kyle Lowry: 3-year, $100 million deal with Raptors

Serge Ibaka: 3-year, $65 million deal with Raptors

Dion Waiters: 4-year, $52 million deal with Heat

Andre Iguodala: 3-year, $48 million deal with Warriors

James Johnson: 4-year, $60 million deal with Heat

Joe Ingles: 4-year, $52 million deal with Jazz

Patty Mills: 4-year, $50 million deal with Spurs

Tony Snell: 4-year, $46 million deal with Bucks

Cristiano Felicio: 4-year, $32 million deal with Bulls

Mason Plumlee: 3-year, $41 million with Nuggets

Shaun Livingston: 3-year, $24 million deal with Warriors

Kyle Korver: 3-year, $22 million deal with Cavs

Nene: 3-year, $11 million deal with Rockets

JaMychal Green: 2-year, $17 million deal with Grizzlies

Manu Ginobili: 2-year, $5 million with Spurs

David West: 1-year deal with Warriors

Andre Roberson: 3-year, $30 million deal with OKC

Mike Muscala: 2-year, $10 million deal with Hawks

Otto Porter: four-year, $106.5 million deal with the Wizards

The post 2017 NBA Free Agent Tracker appeared first on SLAM.

Peep the gallery above to see what the League was saying about Jay’s “verbal will.”

The post NBA Players React to Jay-Z’s ‘4:44’ appeared first on SLAM.

According to ESPN’s Michael Eaves, tension between Paul and Rivers started as soon as the Clippers acquired Austin Rivers in January of 2015.

Last season, after Rivers reportedly rejected a proposed trade from the Knicks—offering Carmelo Anthony and Sasha Vujacic in exchange for Jamal Crawford, Paul Pierce and Austin Rivers—Paul began to “despise” Rivers for favoring his son.

What really solidified Paul’s dissatisfaction with Doc was a proposed trade involving Carmelo Anthony last season.

 

New York offered Carmelo and Sasha Vujacic to the Clippers in exchange for Jamal Crawford, Paul Pierce and Austin Rivers, a deal to which Rivers ultimately said no.

 

That event led Paul to feel that keeping his son on the roster was more important to Doc than improving the team. So, ultimately, Paul lost both trust and faith in Doc.

 

As one league executive put it, “Chris despises Doc.”

Austin and his sister Callie took to Twitter to dispute the rumors:

These false rumors are comedy…so fictional it's actually amusing! People will say or do anything to get attention. A lot out there

— Austin Rivers (@AustinRivers25) June 28, 2017

yeah… thats what happened. people are delusional.

— callie rivers curry (@calliecurry) June 28, 2017

RELATED:
Clippers Trade Chris Paul to Houston Rockets

The post Report: Chris Paul ‘Despised’ Doc Rivers For Favoring Austin Rivers appeared first on SLAM.

Watch the video above to see J. Crossover get messed with by actor Thomas Lennon, from Reno 911! Crawford has to spin around in circles and put fake tears in his eyes, all to LaVine’s amusement.

Related
Zach LaVine Talks Dunking on Alex Len and His Favorite Kobes
Jamal Crawford and Zach LaVine Duel at the Seattle Pro-Am

Video courtesy of Jimmy Kimmel Live

The post Zach LaVine Pranks Jamal Crawford appeared first on SLAM.

Sweep complete.

LeBron James has not lost a first round playoff game since 2012. The King dropped 33 points and nailed a clutch three-pointer in crunch time to help the Cavs secure this W.

The last 20 seconds were insane. After the Pacers turned it over, J.R. Smith gave the ball right back by attempting a questionable behind-the-back pass. Paul George had a chance to tie it with a trey, but could not convert.

Send it to Springfield pic.twitter.com/wBeumrV9rD

— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) April 23, 2017

After the game, coach Tyronn Lue told the media with a smile that he “didn’t see” J.R.’s turnover. It doesn’t matter now, as the Cavs are moving on to round 2.

Rockets 113, Thunder 109 (Houston leads 3-1)

The unlikely hero of this one was veteran big man Nene Hilario, who scored 28 points on a perfect 12/12 from the field.

Harden Nenê pic.twitter.com/YXMLCjnRBO

— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) April 23, 2017

OKC had their chances down the stretch, especially following a miraculous three-pointer by Westbrook, but the Rockets were able to hold on.

Adams gathers the rebound off his deliberately missed free throw for the Westbrook three-pointer! pic.twitter.com/pFWUWkzTqA

— NBA Australia (@NBA_AU) April 23, 2017

Russ recorded the fastest triple-double in postseason history, achieving the feat by halftime. He finished with 35 points, 14 rebounds, and 14 assists, and joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only players to record three consecutive playoff triple-doubles.

After the game, a reporter tried to ask Steven Adams about the team’s struggles with Westbrook off the floor. The Brodie was not happy.

Game 5 is Tuesday.

Celtics 104, Bulls 95 (Series tied 2-2)

Isaiah Thomas was the story tonight, scoring 33 points in a big time road victory. Chicago head coach Fred Hoiberg told the media that he believes the Celtic point guard gets away with carrying the ball.

Things definitely got chippy during this one.

Things got chippy in Chicago pic.twitter.com/Ze4vp9q2TT

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) April 23, 2017

Playoff intensity. pic.twitter.com/icoLy0ogSZ

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) April 24, 2017

Jimmy Butler, who carried the Bulls with 33 points, called Marcus Smart a “great actor” in his postgame press conference.

Game 5 is Wednesday. Get pumped.

Jazz 105, Clippers 98 (Series tied 2-2)

With the Jazz trailing by five in the fourth quarter, iso Joe Johnson came to the rescue. The seven-time All-Star scored 11 straight points to help put his team on top, finishing with 28 overall.

Joe Ingles and Rodney Hood also hit clutch baskets for Utah, who were without Gordon Hayward in the second half due to food poisoning.

Big man Rudy Gobert made his return to the court tonight and finished with 15 points, 13 rebounds, and 2 blocks on 6/6 shooting.

He’s back. pic.twitter.com/K7706ZaGGK

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) April 24, 2017

The Clippers got most of their offense from Chris Paul (27p, 12a, 9r) and Jamal Crawford (25 points).

Game 5 is Tuesday.

The post Post Up: Moving On appeared first on SLAM.

In this instance, he is guarded by Danny Green. Paul’s teammate, JJ Redick, approaches him from the right wing and runs past him, dragging Green into the far corner, away from the play. The man who had been guarding Redick—this time, LaMarcus Aldridge—is left to guard Paul, whom he is too big and too slow to cover. On a December night in Los Angeles, the Spurs are toast, and the Clippers know it.

DeAndre Jordan jogs toward Paul to set a screen, and his defender, Pau Gasol, follows. The paint is now unprotected, as Gasol and Aldridge are lost to the perimeter, vaguely challenging Paul but mostly just looking nervous. Paul sees all of this and charges toward the basket, causing both defenders to step forward toward him. This is Jordan’s cue. He breaks for the rim, and Paul hits him in stride with a firm one-hopper. A two-handed flush ensues. The whole play takes only four seconds. It is a simple motion, just a high screen-and-roll, one that’s common at every level of basketball, from your local rec league on up.

The Clippers soon try it again. This time, the Spurs counter by hedging against the roll—Gasol and Aldridge move to defend the rim, preventing another Jordan finish (thank goodness). But they’ve left Paul wide open beyond the arc, his dribble still alive—briefly, anyway, before he buries a three. By halftime, Paul is nearing a double-double, and the Clippers lead by 12.

This is the way things have gone for Chris Paul for more than a decade. He is a master of harnessing his teammates’ skills to maximize his own—and vice versa—so that, for instance, his passing precision empowers Jordan as a roll-man, meaning the defense has to keep its eyes fixed on Jordan, meaning nobody’s watching Paul, so he then comes alive as a scorer. And once that happens, forget about it—Jordan can basically stroll right up to the hoop, where Paul will find him. All point guards engage in such a give-and-take. But Paul, more than any other, makes it visible, displaying the whole point and beauty of basketball in plain sight.

In the era of the self-sufficient point guard, Paul fits the old prototype. He is a careful distributor, a lockdown defender and a timely scorer. This year, he is the only player averaging 15 points, 7 assists and fewer than 2.5 turnovers per game. Throughout his career, he has averaged more takeaways than turnovers five times, more than any Hall of Fame guard. He is the most dependable player at his position, an old-school honor in a futuristic age.

“It seems like, every game now, the point guard is the guy,” Paul says. “Every night, [coach Doc Rivers] says, ‘Alright now, you gotta slow this guy down and we’ll be OK,’ and eight out of 10 games, it’s the point guard.”

Several hours before facing San Antonio, Paul, 31, sits courtside at the Clippers’ practice facility in Playa Vista, CA, 15 minutes from the Santa Monica Pier. Outside, Los Angeles is happily accepting a needed downpour.

The Clippers stand at 21-8, and they’ll beat the Spurs tonight. L.A. will secure a sixth consecutive postseason appearance, which makes nine straight for Paul himself (OK, we’re not counting ’09-10 when he missed 37 games due to injury). Entering the Western bracket with such consistency is impressive, but Paul has famously yet to advance past the second round, an increasingly curious trend. To finally triumph this spring, he will have to survive a battle of clashing playing styles. His adversary will be a group of new-age super-point guards—think Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Stephen Curry.

“What Russ is doing, what James is doing—scoring, assisting, handling—it takes a special player to do that,” Paul says. “Point guard has been a dominant position since I’ve been in the League, but it’s even more dominant now.”

Paul’s rookie season can be viewed as the transitional moment in point guard history. Then, in ’05-06, practitioners of the old game (Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Andre Miller, Paul himself) intersected with a fringe group whose members preferred to score themselves (think Allen Iverson or Gilbert Arenas).

“I remember my rookie year, I had to learn how to play defense,” Paul says. He faced every type of point guard that season. “My coach was Byron Scott, and he was like, If we’re playing against J-Kidd, you’re playing against J-Kidd. If we’re playing Iverson, I had Iverson. I had to guard Baron Davis and Chauncey Billups, you know?”

In the 11 years since Paul’s debut, the score-first style once embraced only at the League’s margins has moved to the center.

Today in the West, Harden, Curry, Westbrook and Damian Lillard score upwards of 25 points a night. In the East, Isaiah Thomas leads all scorers, with Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker and John Wall not too far behind. Meanwhile, pass-happy, defensive point guards, like Ricky Rubio and Rajon Rondo, are hardly welcomed anymore. (The same largely applies to offensively limited centers, at least outside of L.A., where Jordan thrives in a system created by Paul and Rivers, a 1980s PG.)

“It’s totally different now,” says Jamal Crawford, a teammate of Paul’s who entered the League in 2000. “Back then, it was frowned upon if you were scoring as a point guard. Now they all get 25, 30 a game. Chris is rare because he’s a true pass-first point guard at the top of the heap. He always knows what to call, who to get a shot for—he’s in total command of the offense. He’s just top-shelf.”

In the words of Kidd, Paul is, simply, “the best.”

“There’s so many talented point guards doing incredible things today, filling up the stat sheet,” Kidd says. “But when you look at Chris, he can control the game on offense and defense, and that’s a rarity.”

Byron Scott has coached Kidd, Paul and Kyrie (in that order). He also played in the NBA for 14 years, many of them alongside Magic Johnson. He understands the point guard transformation as well as anybody. “CP is more of a throwback player to me,” he says. “He could have played in many eras. He’s a true point guard—a facilitator, a leader who commands the offense and loves the challenge defensively. When we played Cleveland, he wanted to guard LeBron. He takes it personal when his guy scores, and he’s able to adapt if he has to score. He reminded me of Isiah Thomas. He had that big ol’ smile, but, inside, he’s an assassin.”

Longtime vet David West, Paul’s old teammate under Scott in New Orleans, separately echoes the same idea. “Particularly when he was younger, Chris scored the ball like Isiah,” West says. “He could just dominate the offensive possession. When he got it going, he was getting the rebound off the glass and taking matters into his own hands. When he wants to win, he just digs in.”

And yet, Paul’s seasons have invariably fizzled.

Some recent knockouts were particularly disheartening. In 2014, the Clippers eliminated Golden State, then lost to OKC in six. In 2015, they eliminated San Antonio then lost to Houston in seven. Last year, Paul and Blake Griffin suffered serious injuries in the opening round against Portland, sealing L.A.’s fate.

The team can’t afford another letdown—Griffin, Paul and Redick are impending free agents. As offseasons grow increasingly volatile, the return of this core is no given.

To keep everybody committed here, L.A. may need to offer substantial evidence that this thing is working; another flop could shake the franchise and, in turn, the NBA. Adding to the organization’s pressure is Paul’s own—across the League, only Paul blends such a frustrating past, such high expectations and such an uncertain future.

After all, his free agent status is not the only long-term consideration here—there is also the need to complete a nearly perfect career, to leave no doubts about it. For now, some injuries and oddities are parts of Paul’s story, but eventually those footnotes will slip the collective mind. Years from now, who will recall that Paul missed the first two games of the ’15 Rockets series with a strained hamstring? Who will believe that, much to L.A.’s dismay, nobody could have stopped Josh Smith and Corey Brewer from carrying Houston to the conference finals? That memory is already hazy—mostly all that’s left is the notion that Paul’s Clippers flatly blew a 3-1 lead. So it goes.

Only so much of even a great career can be remembered vividly. Over time, the sweet details that distinguished a player are often obscured and outlived by digestible, shallow narratives. Snapshots of a player unhinging a defense just by dribbling the ball 30 feet from the hoop; of him creating shots for his teammates; of him maintaining an approach to basketball that was last cool a decade earlier—all of those can someday be undercut by a printer-friendly PDF of his postseason résumé.

For now, Paul is having another signature year despite missing a month with a torn ligament in his left thumb. In his second game back from the injury, in late February, he tallied 17 assists with 0 turnovers. He’s done that twice this year.

Meanwhile, Jordan and Griffin are healthy and thriving, too, and the Clippers’ bench is deeper than ever. Maybe that’s enough to change everything.

“It takes a team to win, not just one guy,” Crawford says. “For Chris, and for us, it’s just about doing it together. He’s always going to be who he is—that throwback point guard, so to speak. He’s probably the best point guard of this generation.”

No question Paul’s game is timeless.

Still, the clock ticks.

—

Leo Sepkowitz is a Senior Writer at SLAM. Follow him on Twitter @LeoSepkowitz.

Photos via Getty Images

The post Take This 4 Granted appeared first on SLAM.

Before being ejected late in the fourth quarter, Paul George did work in this one, dropping 27 on 11/20 from the field. He’s averaged 30.6 points over the last 11 contests, helping the Pacers inch closer to a playoff berth. With a win on Wednesday against the Hawks, Indiana is guaranteed a spot.

Celtics 114 (52-29), Nets 105 (20-61)

Thanks to 27 points from Isaiah Thomas, the Celtics clinched at least the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference tonight.

.@Isaiah_Thomas gets buckets pic.twitter.com/FkLR4EN2iA

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) April 11, 2017

With the Cavs losing in Miami, all Boston needs to do is beat Milwaukee on Wednesday to secure the No. 1 spot.

Heat 124 (40-41), Cavaliers 121 (51-30)

Even with the two of the big three resting (LeBron and Kyrie), the Cavs gave a desperate Heat team a run for their money.

Miami needs a win over the Cavs to keep their playoff hopes alive. They are headed to OT now. pic.twitter.com/PgwqxajqiR

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) April 11, 2017

But Miami took care of business in overtime, with Whiteside (23p, 18r) and Tyler Johnson (24p, 5r, 4a) coming up huge. Deron Williams went off for Cleveland, posting a ridiculous 35p, 9a, 7r stat line on 14/25 shooting.

Bulls 122 (40-41), Magic 75 (28-53)

The Bulls controlled this one from the opening tip, winning the first quarter 34-13 and never looking back. All five Chicago starters scored in double figures, led by Robin Lopez’s 18. As a team, they shot 54% from the field and 46% from three.

Good luck stopping @JimmyButler pic.twitter.com/Zjt72tkH0k

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) April 11, 2017

With a win on Wednesday over Brooklyn, the Bulls are in the playoffs.

Bucks 89 (42-39), Hornets 79 (36-45)

The Greek Freak was all over this one, notching his third triple-double of the season with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. As a team, Milwaukee hit 16 threes on 57% shooting.

They have locked up at least the No. 6 seed in the East and their first winning season since 2009-10.

Wizards (48-32), Pistons (37-43)

Tonight marked the final game at The Palace of Auburn Hills for the Detroit Pistons; and the Wizards’ Bradley Beal stole the show.

.@RealDealBeal23 scored 33 points and shut down The Palace with an emphatic slam pic.twitter.com/AZaovDSUHe

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) April 11, 2017

Still, it was a cool atmosphere for Detroit fans, as players from their three championship teams were honored during halftime. Peep the photo below.

#DetroitBasketball pic.twitter.com/CyWnZw16Nq

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) April 11, 2017

Trail Blazers 99 (41-40), Spurs 98 (61-20)

Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum sat this one out, but the Blazers still managed to get the W in absurd fashion.

Right place, right time.

Noah Vonleh FTW! pic.twitter.com/CfXOgvM9QS

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) April 11, 2017

The highlight of the game was probably this Jonathon Simmons poster, however.

Shabazz Napier led all scorers with 32 points on 9/20 shooting.

Clippers 125 (50-31), Rockets 96 (54-27)

This was a four-point game at halftime, but the Clippers owned the third quarter (36-12) to pull away. Chris Paul and Jamal Crawford scored 19 points each.

.@JCrossover‘s handles are INSANE. pic.twitter.com/2DqlHqAQhf

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) April 11, 2017

With the Jazz winning at Oracle, Los Angeles remains in a tie for the No. 4 seed in the West.

Jazz 105 (50-31), Warriors 99 (66-15)

Rudy Gobert posted 17 points and 18 rebounds and the Jazz snapped the Warriors’ 14-game winning streak.

With his team already assured the No. 1 seed in the West, coach Steve Kerr rested most of his starters in the fourth quarter. In his second outing since returning from the knee injury, Kevin Durant had 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists.

The post Post Up: The Race Continues appeared first on SLAM.

He was never supposed to make it out of Tacoma, WA. Never supposed to be on the cover of SLAM Magazine. And sure as hell never supposed to be one of the NBA’s most feared scorers.

Last pick in the draft? He’ll be lucky to make the team. Traded by the Kings? Not even one of the worst franchises in sports wants him. Traded in a last-minute deadline deal between the Suns and Celtics? Nah, he’ll spend his career as a journeyman.

Good thing Isaiah spends more time putting in work than listening to critics. Because today he’s a two-time NBA All-Star, the best fourth-quarter scorer in the League, a legit MVP candidate and the face of the Boston Celtics.

What are y’all gonna say now?

It’s an unseasonably warm late February day in Boston when Isaiah Thomas strolls into the gym at Cambridge, MA’s Rindge and Latin School rocking a full Nike Tech Fleece sweatsuit and a pair of Air Max 90s. After showing off the cover of a local Boston magazine he was featured on recently, Isaiah and his agency rep joke, “We’re leveling up today!” before he begins to change into his Celtics road uniform and matching green-and-black Kobe A.D. sneakers.

As he’s changing, a small crowd trickles in. First, a few members of the school’s faculty. Then, Officer Michael Daniliuk of the Cambridge PD enters, hoping to get a minute to thank Isaiah for the charitable efforts he and his wife Kayla made after a massive December fire displaced 125 East Cambridge residents.

Isaiah’s face lights up as SLAM photographer Atiba Jefferson tells him stories about working with Kobe Bryant. Meanwhile, students start to pop in to try and sneak a pic for Snapchat. As the swarm grows, Thomas remains unfazed—nowadays, crowds hoping to get a glimpse of him are the norm.

He is a full-blown superstar. And he’s earned it. He came into the NBA in 2011 wanting to become one of the best, and he’s done just that.

“My job is to make people eat their words,” he says after the shoot. “I’m a guy who likes to speak things into existence. Whatever I say, I feel like I can accomplish because I put work in. I’m not where I want to be. I’m headed in the right direction, but I feel like I have so much more to show the world.”

Playing in his second full season with the Celtics, the 28-year-old is showing the world plenty. He is averaging 29.1 ppg, third in the league behind only Russell Westbrook and James Harden—and he’s etching his name into Boston lore right next to Larry Bird, Paul Pierce, Kevin McHale and more. He set a new Cs record by scoring at least 20 points in 43 straight games and his 16 35-point games are the most in a Celtics season since Bird was running around on the old Garden’s parquet. He also became just the sixth Celtic to score at least 2,000 points in a season.

On February 5, IT saw up close just how much the players mean to Celtics fans when Pierce, now wrapping up his career with the Clippers, played his final game in Boston. The Truth memorably ended the game by coming off the bench and hitting a three-pointer—with Zeke playing some relaxed D—as the crowd went wild.

“I was glad I could be part of that moment and see how they embraced him,” Thomas says. “The night before I was out to eat with Jamal Crawford and Paul came into the same restaurant and sat down with us. He was telling me, ‘If you win here, there’s no better feeling in the world because of these fans.’ The next day, seeing how they embraced him, that was an unbelievable moment. And for him to hit the last shot and go out like that, you dream of things like that.”

Thomas’ ascension to icon status with the Celtics was far from a sure thing when he arrived. Isaiah himself was initially unsure how the move would work out, especially after being traded first from Sacramento and then Phoenix less than a year into his contract. After getting the call that he was being sent out of PHX, Thomas was feeling down about playing for his third team in two years. But the people around him—both basketball legends and current players—knew this would be a career-changing move.

“I remember he was very down after the trade, and I talked to him an hour or two hours after and I was just talking and telling him how exciting and life-changing this would be for him,” says Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas, who has been close with IT4 since his days at Washington. “I just thought the way he played the game and the situation the Celtics were in at the time, it was a city and a franchise that would love him and love the way that he plays. I thought it was perfect.”

And sure, in hindsight the situation seems perfect now, but not even his closest friends expected things to take off this fast.

“To be very honest, the first thing I told him was, You can make an All-Star team over there,” says his best friend and fellow Seattle-area native Jamal Crawford. “I didn’t expect 30 points a night. I didn’t expect it this fast and for him to be in the MVP conversation. I didn’t expect all that. I did expect him to be an All-Star. The next level, I did not see it coming this fast.”

Crawford and Thomas have a relationship that dates back to Isaiah’s teenage years. When IT was playing prep ball at South Kent (CT) School, Crawford was playing for the Knicks, and Thomas would frequently stay at Crawford’s White Plains, NY, apartment on weekends. For as long as he can remember, all Thomas wanted to do was be an NBA player—and it was those weekends hanging out with Jamal when he learned what it took to be a professional baller off the court.

“I would be at Jamal’s house and see how he interacts with people and how he goes about his day,” Isaiah says now. “I wanted to be an NBA player, so my whole thing was, I have to do everything I can. When I got older and got into college and became a pro, Jamal taught me how to be a pro, how to be professional, how to come to work every day whether you’re playing or not, how to treat people who can’t do anything for you.”

As Crawford tells it, “When he was going to go [to South Kent], his parents were a little hesitant—he was going across the country for the first time and living alone. I was with the Knicks, so I’m like, Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he’s good. Every weekend he didn’t have school, he would come to my apartment, stay with me and come to games, and I would go to his. I would be the only one in the crowd. My wife and I would drive an hour, hour and a half to watch him play and we’d be some of the only people in the crowd. Since he was 16, we’ve talked every single day. I was a groomsman in his wedding, and he was a groomsman in mine. That’s like my brother. It’s deeper than basketball.”

“He’s like a big brother to me,” Thomas adds of the elder Crawford, who just turned 37. “Without him, there would be no me.”

The Wednesday night after our photo shoot, the Celtics welcome LeBron James and the Cavs for a nationally televised game. The Celtics, at 39-22, are right on the Cavs’ heels for the No. 1 seed in the East, and this is easily the biggest game of the year at the Garden thus far. The crowd is a little bigger than the one at Rindge and Latin, but Isaiah’s cool and calm demeanor hasn’t changed during his pre-game rituals.

Over the next four quarters, with several members of the Super Bowl-winning New England Patriots in the crowd, Isaiah flies around the court, zig-zagging through defenders, tormenting whoever is stuck guarding him. When he’s on the bench for a breather, he rarely sits. Tiptoeing the out-of-bounds line with a towel around his shoulders, Isaiah barks directions at his teammates like a surrogate coach, always involved with the game. Cavs PG Kyrie Irving and Thomas trade spectacular plays all game long.

When the camera pans to the crowd before the start of the fourth quarter, the jumbotron shows young Celtic fans pointing to their wrist, eagerly awaiting the fourth quarter heroics that IT has become known for. Everyone in the building knows what time it is—except for Iman Shumpert, who goes under a screen and leaves Thomas wide open for a go-ahead three with under a minute left.

“I embrace fourth quarters,” Thomas says. “My teammates and the staff look for me to make plays and be that guy in the fourth, so I try to take advantage. At the same time, when I’m in the gym by myself, that’s what I’m working for. To be in those moments and to be looked to as the guy when the game is on the line to take and make the game-winning shot.”

The Celtics withstand a monster 28-point, 13-rebound, 10-assist performance from LeBron to win 103-99. Thomas finishes with 31 points, 5 assists, 2 boards and 1 block. After the game, when a reporter suggests that the Cavs held him in check for most of the game, Thomas quickly interrupts him: “Nobody holds me in check.”

The reporter tries again. “I average 30 points for a reason,” Thomas says.

Up close, it’s stunning to think a player of Isaiah’s size and stature could average 30 a night in a league of mammoth-sized men. Much like Allen Iverson before him, Isaiah gets bumped when he tries to go over a screen, knocked to the ground when he goes to the basket and bullied in the post when he goes up against bigger opponents. But just like his friend Floyd Mayweather Jr, no matter how hard he gets hit, he keeps coming.

It’s a huge reason why legends of the game have lauded him. While tons of ex-players in the media blast many of today’s stars, Thomas seems to be universally loved and respected by ballers of all ages. Over the past two years, IT has gotten the chance to meet and talk with Allen Iverson and Michael Jordan, both of whom are admitted fans. At All-Star Weekend in Toronto two years ago, IT got a chance to sit down with Iverson, the start of a close relationship.

“He said he was a real big fan of mine,” Thomas says. “It didn’t seem real. You know, people say they’re fans of you, but he was, like, emulating my moves and telling me that he watches all of my games and that I’m cut from the same cloth. We exchanged numbers and we’ve gotten closer. He’ll text me after games and be like, ‘Man, that reminded me of myself.’

“He was one guy who, when I got to sit with him, changed everything, because he’s arguably the best pound-for-pound player to play, and I want to be right behind him. To sit down with Allen Iverson and for him to tell me, ‘You’re a real killa, just like me,’ nobody can tell me anything anymore. He gave me the OK to be me.”

Then at this year’s All-Star Weekend in New Orleans, MJ and IT flicked it up for Instagram, and the GOAT passed along a few compliments.

“[Jordan] actually told me, ‘Keep doing your thing, and take the night off when you play the Hornets,’” Thomas says. “That means everything. For the best player to ever play the game to watch what I’m doing, it says a lot.”

The love for Isaiah isn’t limited to legends, either. His peers respect his game immensely. Even LeBron called him a “clear-cut star” this season.

“I think he’s embraced, first of all, because of his size,” Crawford says. “Guys his size usually get weeded out in the NBA in general—they don’t really get a fair shot. His size and his heart, I think everyone sees that. Isaiah is a true student of the game. He works on his craft. He knows the guys who came before him, whether they were a star or not, and he respects those guys and pays homage to them. I think the OGs of the game really take to that because a lot of guys don’t always pay respect like that.”

Before Thomas dips for the day back at our shoot, the Rindge and Latin boys and girls basketball teams come into the gym to take photos with Isaiah and crack jokes with the local hero. At the time, the boys varsity team is riding a 19-game winning streak into the playoffs, and their head coach asks IT to say a few words to the team.

After being challenged to one-on-one games, Thomas gets real about the tough transition from high school to college. He leaves them with a word of advice: “Make the most of every opportunity.”

Speak it into existence, indeed.

—

Peter Walsh is an Associate Editor at SLAM. Follow him on Twitter @Peter_M_Walsh.

Portraits Atiba Jefferson

BTS video by @VASHR, Reaction video by Shakil Uddin

The post Picture Me Rollin’ appeared first on SLAM.

Yo! Jamal Crawford is filthy! pic.twitter.com/Pbsu9ySC9f

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) March 31, 2017

J. Crossover is out in Phoenix tonight, roasting the Suns’ young players. Crawford had a pair of ridiculous moves in the Clippers’ 124-118 win. He finished with 19 points off the bench. He had 0 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 turnovers, 0 steals, 0 blocks. Professional scorer.

Professional scorer. pic.twitter.com/OnTU95zlPK

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) March 31, 2017

The post Jamal Crawford Puts on Dribbling Show in Phoenix appeared first on SLAM.

The Clippers clinched a postseason berth in Saturday’s matinee, riding Jamal Crawford‘s 28-point showing (including 17 in the fourth quarter alone). Rudy Gobert filled his stat sheet as usual (26p, 14r for the Stifle Tower) and Joe Johnson added 17 points, but Utah has now gone 1-4 over their last five. Gobert didn’t call out anyone by name, but clearly wasn’t happy with his team’s showing.

“I think everybody needs to think about making plays for the team, making winning plays, before thinking about how many points we’re going to score and stuff like that,” Gobert said. “Everybody has to be ready to sacrifice. In the playoffs, it’s not going to be pretty. There’s going to be some games where you don’t score. But are you going to take a charge for a teammate? Are you going to come and box out DeAndre [Jordan] for a teammate?”

Wizards 127 (45-28), Cavaliers 115 (47-25)

Despite suffering an eye injury in Friday’s game, LeBron James was stellar against Washington; scoring 24 points while coming just two assists shy of a triple-double. John Wall and the Wizards, however, were just too much for the defending champs, shooting a combined 59.8% from the field in a road win. Bradley Beal added 27 points in the victory, while Kelly Oubre provided 16 off the bench. Having gone .500 over their last 10 games, the Cavs are hearing footsteps atop the Eastern Conference.

Who comes out on top in the East? pic.twitter.com/0QJy1whZLK

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) March 26, 2017

Spurs 106 (56-16), Knicks 98 (27-46)

The Knicks fought valiantly in the third quarter, outscoring San Antonio 31-17, but this one was otherwise all Spurs. Kawhi Leonard went for 29 points while LaMarcus Aldridge and Pau Gasol each had 19 points with 10 rebounds. With Saturday’s W, the Spurs have now beaten every team in the NBA this season.

Despite the loss, this one had to be pretty cool for Willy Hernangomez. Playing against Gasol, who mentored Hernangomez during the Summer Olympics, Willy recorded a career-high 24 points with 13 boards.

https://youtu.be/sdjkR41nvcQ

Raptors 94 (44-29), Mavericks 86 (31-41)

Serge Ibaka and DeMar DeRozan scored 18 points apiece while Patrick Patterson added 14, helping Toronto stay within one game of the third seed. The Raptors, who clinched a postseason spot in their fifth straight victory, scored the game’s first seven points and never trailed. Harrison Barnes led all scorers with 23 points, but offense was otherwise hard to come by for Rick Carlisle’s squad; Nerlens Noel was held to three points while Wesley Matthews only scored four.

Trail Blazers 112 (34-38), Timberwolves 100 (28-44)

The C.J. McCollum show was in full effect, as he lit up Minnesota for 32 points in less than 30 minutes of court time. Damian Lillard added 21, and Jusuf Nurkic tallied 14 points with nine boards to put this one away. While the Wolves have lost sixth straight and are comfortably out of the playoff picture, Tom Thibodeau’s rotation players continue to grind. Andrew Wiggins had a team-high 20 points, Karl-Anthony Towns and Ricky Rubio notched 16 apiece, and Kris Dunn scored a career-high 17 points in a reserve role.

.@CJMcCollum was en fuego tonight, dropping 32 points in a 112-100 win over Minnesota (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/t5SHGrmOpY

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) March 26, 2017

The post Post Up: Old School Meets New School appeared first on SLAM.

The post Jamal Crawford Scores 17 4th Quarter Points appeared first on SLAM.

HoopsHype caught up with Shumpert, Jamal Crawford, Anthony Morrow and Cameron Payne to find out what it’s like to be part of a midseason trade. Shump says he initially “felt bad” that he wasn’t able to help the Knicks climb out of a hole, but after playing for the Cavs and going on a winning streak, he says Cleveland “kind of grabbed me out of hell.”

From HoopsHype:

“I was never the new kid in school or anything, so this was the closest thing for me to changing schools and going through that. For me, it would’ve been cool if [things ended differently with the Knicks]. I was hurt when I got traded, so it would’ve been cool for me if I had at least gotten to play my last games with them. I was sitting out for like a month and by the time I got traded, it was a deflating feeling, especially with that season that we were having. I felt like I didn’t get a chance to help get us out of the hole, you know what I mean? (winces) I just felt bad and felt like we had dropped a bunch of games. I felt bitter that I had to leave on such a bad note. I just remember the feeling [sucked]. It was like, ‘Ah, I’m hurt, we’ve lost a bunch of games in a row and then I’m traded.’ Then, shortly after we walk in and we get to playing with the Cavs, we go on a long winning streak. I kept thinking back to my old teammates like, ‘Damn, I was hurt and we were losing. Now I come here and I’m playing well and the energy is great.’ I just felt like they kind of grabbed me out of hell. And every game was being showcased on TV and we’re winning. It was just crazy. I was happy, but I felt bad too.”

Related
Iman Shumpert: ‘I Think LeBron Would Bust Phil Jackson’s Ass’

The post Iman Shumpert Says 2015 Trade To Cavs ‘Grabbed Me Out Of Hell’ appeared first on SLAM.

Russell Westbrook and James Harden have owned the MVP conversation all year. At the college level, mock drafts have freshmen sensations like Washington’s Markelle Fultz, UCLA’s Lonzo Ball, Kentucky’s De’Aaron Fox and NC State’s Dennis Smith Jr pegged among the top seven picks in the 2017 NBA Draft.

Of course, all the names mentioned above resemble a distinct evolution of the game over the past few years. The common thread? Every player mentioned is a point guard.

Not only has the League shifted to a guard-dominated game—with PG emerging as the most competitive position in the Association—but the upcoming NBA draft, expected to be one of the deepest in history, will be top-heavy with highly touted freshmen point guards leading the way. Add up the college players noted above, and four of the first seven picks in the 2017 NBA Draft could be PGs. That would be unprecedented.

The top three scorers in the NBA right now are all PGs, too, with the Celtics’ Isaiah Thomas sandwiched between Westbrook and Harden. Harden wasn’t even a point guard until this season, yet nonetheless is the League’s assist leader with 11.2 per game. Likewise, 6-11 Giannis Antetokounmpo is now a PG, and he leads the Milwaukee Bucks in just about every major statistical category, assists included.

The top pick in the 2016 Draft, 6-10 Ben Simmons, drew hype because of his court vision and playmaking abilities. Sixers head coach Brett Brown publicly stated last December that the team plans to make him the starting point guard when he makes his pro debut after fracturing his right foot last October.

Whether in the body of a player standing 5-9 or 6-11, point guard play has gone through a transformation right before our own eyes over the last few years. Which brings us to bigger, overarching questions: Why is almost every great player, regardless of height, looking to run point? Why is the game, at every level, filled with star lead guards? Are we witnessing some sort of golden era for the PG position?

https://youtu.be/HVO2ICmCa_4

“I think before we used to get so caught up into positions,” says Jay Williams, current college basketball analyst for ESPN and a former star PG at Duke who was selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft. “You heard a lot of GMs and scouts try to categorize you and tell you, ‘No, you fit into this box.’ But I think as the game evolved into positionless basketball, you now have guys who have the ability to do so many other things than what the prototypical style of a PG was 15 or 20 years ago.”

Positionless basketball: A phenomenon that has taken the League by storm and subsequently has trickled down to college and high school ball, too. It’s enabled players who weren’t traditionally “allowed” to bring the ball up to now do so and make plays.

“Guards are a lot more of combo guards now,” says Williams of where he thinks this trend stems from. “There’s not a lot of prototypical point guards. There’s been an evolution of the point guard position and you’ve seen that with the likes of Derrick Rose, John Wall, Kyrie Irving, Isaiah Thomas—all these guards are able to score prolific-like numbers but are considered PGs. That’s where our game is trending.”

All of which is to say that the qualifications of the position have been modified. It isn’t just about being able to dish out great assists anymore. Today’s starring PGs are also expected to drop 35 or 40 points every so often.

Even guys currently in the League have taken notice. Portland Trail Blazers superstar Damian Lillard says his position has experienced a shift even in just the five years since he’s been in the League.

“Now you see a lot of scoring point guards. They score points and make plays and rebound the ball—do so many things well and I think it’s kind of the golden age of point guards,” says the Oakland native. “When I got in the League, it was heading in that direction but it wasn’t quite there. But I think now, every night that you go out there, you gotta put your best foot forward or you can get embarrassed. To win, you need a point guard that can score, that can dominate a game. If you don’t have that, you don’t have much of a chance at winning.”

Fultz (who has already declared for the NBA Draft) is a dynamic offensive player who can score from anywhere on the floor in a smooth, effortless manner. And while his scoring prowess tops the list of his strengths, the 6-4 guard can do much more than just put up points in bunches. This season, on more than one occasion, the Maryland native came close to becoming the first UW player to ever post a triple-double.

Ball, the oldest of the now world-famous Ball Brothers out of Chino Hills, CA, has drawn comparisons to legends like Magic Johnson and Jason Kidd. The 6-6 freshman literally averaged a triple-double his senior year of high school: 23.9 points, 11.3 rebounds and 11.5 assists per game, leading Chino Hills HS to a perfect 35-0 season and the top spot in the national rankings. He’s helped turn the UCLA program around this season, earning a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament after going 6-12 in the Pac-12 last year.

Smith Jr is arguably the most explosive prospect in the college ranks. After missing his senior year of HS with an ACL tear, the 6-3 Fayetteville, NC, native has bounced back stronger than ever. Aside from making SportsCenter’s top plays periodically thanks to his high-flying finishes, Smith Jr became the first ACC player ever to put up two triple-doubles against league opponents in their entire career. And he did it all in a one-month span.

Fox has drawn comparisons to fellow UK great John Wall, mainly because of his lightning speed and agility. The freshman became only the second Wildcat ever to post a triple-double in the program’s rich history, when he finished with a 19-10-10 line against Arizona State in December. You’ll see him get busy this weekend as March Madness kicks off for 2-seeded Kentucky.

NBA veteran Jamal Crawford is among the current players aware of the PGs slated to enter the NBA in June and he’s quite excited for what they’ll bring to the L.

“These young guys coming up, the League is going to be in great hands,” says the Seattle native, who worked out with Fultz last summer in Emerald City. “With guys like this coming in, who really appreciate and respect the opportunity and take full advantage of it.”

Sonny Vaccaro, the legendary sports marketing executive referred to as the godfather of grassroots ball—and who is best known for having signed Michael Jordan to his first sneaker deal with Nike—has witnessed this evolution into positionless basketball up close.

“When basketball started, what did you do? Inside, out. You guarded the big man. You had to sign the big man. You had to draft the big man,” says Vaccaro. “One of the biggest mistakes ever made was going for the big men and not getting Michael [Jordan]. In today’s game, Kevin Garnett would have been a 1. Kobe [Bryant] would have been a 1. Tracy [McGrady] would have been a 1. The mindset back then wasn’t ready to make them 1s yet.”

In Williams’ opinion, the globalization of the game has also opened doors for today’s contemporary style of PG.

“We have a lot of European influence and one thing about European basketball is that from a skill-level, they’re still better than us,” says Williams. “And so you’re starting to see a lot more younger players do this: Regardless of what their size is when they’re young, they’re working on the ballhandling and offensive skill set in order to be a more complete basketball player.”

There’s also no denying that the athleticism and explosiveness of young players has hit unseen levels, ultimately allowing guys of different physical builds to play out of their traditional positions and still hold their own. That versatility was on full display at this year’s All-Star festivities, when for the second year in a row a big man won the Skills Challenge, which has historically been a contest designed for point guards. (The Knicks’ Kristaps Porzingis won this year’s; Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns won in 2016.)

“It’s a scary place where our game is at—in a good way,” says Williams. “I think our game is at a place where we have the best athletes in the history of the sport. We’re seeing things we’ve never seen before. The athleticism is at an all-time high and now the skill set has started to catch up.”

But considering the amount of love point guards are getting these days and that so many wings and big men are making the transition into the 1 slot, could it be that there are also business reasons behind the trend of everyone suddenly wanting to play point? Because having the ball in your hands and being the team’s playmaker does increase one’s marketability off the court, right?

“I don’t think you can consciously say that, but yes, it does,” says Vaccaro, who is more qualified than anyone to speak on the matter. “Just look at the big men in the league today. There are about four or five traditional big men today that are just great and stand above all of them, but none of them have the Shaq-type sneaker endorsement. Shaq was an anomaly in that he was a personality. Giannis is going to get signed for a nice dollar. Now you got a foreign big guy that’s going to make a lot of money because he has that guard skill.”

Vaccaro says it’s vital for players to be able to relate to the average fan in order to sell sneakers. That personal connection is the hook.

“At first, it used to be the ‘We’re all like him’ narrative, meaning we can identify with him by being 5-10 or 6-feet tall,” says Vaccaro. “That was Jordan’s strength at the beginning. He could look like us. None of us could identify with Moses [Malone] or Wilt [Chamberlain]. So Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, one of the greatest ever, had a little shoe thing. But that didn’t fit then and it doesn’t fit now. The grand slam right now is to be the point guard who’s not a point guard—but he is a point guard.”

At the moment, Stephen Curry is the face of Under Armour, Harden of adidas and Westbrook of Jordan Brand, while Kyrie is rising up the Nike ranks. All “point guards.” In the end, Vaccaro believes there’s an emotional connection that players must offer to ultimately allow them to become the face of major sneaker brands. And no other position offers that opportunity better than PG.

“We all like to root for the little guy,” says Vaccaro. “Russell’s attempt at doing what Oscar [Robertson] did [by averaging a triple-double] is an unbelievable thing because you’re putting the physical equations of everything. The game has changed—it’s so open now. It’s not 18 passes and then throw it to the post guy to dunk it. That game is over. This league is a point guard league. Even the big guys want to play point guard. They’re no longer your daddy’s point guards. Now they’re the show.”

Franklyn Calle is an Assistant Editor at SLAM. Follow him on Twitter @FrankieC7.

Photos via Getty Images

The post Straight to the Point appeared first on SLAM.

Video courtesy of Ximo Pierto

The post WATCH: Jamal Crawford Nails Halfcourt Shot appeared first on SLAM.