The NBA All-Star is keeping that same energy when it comes to supporting the current crop of NBA rookies. Brown, who has his own brand, 7uice, is now venturing into art collecting and wants to educate players coming into the League on the value of investing through art. 

Working alongside creative legend Set Free Richardson, they’ve set out to gift rookies with art pieces that, in time, will appreciate in value. The two met up with Portland Trail Blazers guard and fellow Marietta native Scoot Henderson during NBA Summer League in Vegas and presented him a hand-signed print by award-winning painter and one of Brown’s favorite artists Rafa Macarrón at the Rookie 1 Party. The piece, which is worth over 20k, was acquired from Lio Malca’s Gallery 60 White. 

“A good amount of our players are current art collectors,” Brown tells SLAM. “I’m currently growing my art collection and looking forward to learning more about art and all its capacities. As I learn and grow, I plan on sharing that learning process with the world, as well as my NBA counterparts.” 

Macarrón, a self-taught artist from Madrid, Spain, has a personal style that’s inspired by dreams and childhood. The piece gifted to Henderson is both eclectic and interesting as it is playful, and features pastel colors and uniquely drawn figures. It perfectly connects with Henderson’s own creativity, too, as the SLAM 244 cover star is also interested in art and fashion. 

Now, thanks to Brown and Richardson, he has his own very limited-edition piece to take with him to his new home in Portland. Scoot is just the first of many rookies Brown and Richardson plan on gifting art pieces to, including Victor Wembanyama and Brandon Miller.

“Hopefully in time the piece will grow in value and art collecting will become a great hobby that [they] will learn to love and appreciate,” Brown adds.  

Photos courtesy of Set Free Richardson.

The post Jaylen Brown and Set Free Richardson Want to Educate NBA Rookies on the Value of  Investing Through Art  appeared first on SLAM.

Let’s take it back to ‘06. Long before he became a six-time NBA All-Star, Jimmy Butler was dropping buckets as a senior at Tomball High School in Texas, where he averaged 19.9 points and served as team captain. Still, he was considered a two-star recruit, and went on to play at Tyler Community College before catching the attention of Marquette. 

The story goes that the same young player who once was overlooked emerged into a college standout, and is now one of the most dominant players in the League. Butler wears that on his sleeve through his gritty playing style and his unwavering confidence, and quite literally: the Miami Heat superstar has rocked personal and custom-made high school and college varsity jackets inside arena tunnels throughout the season. 

While the apparel is personal to Butler—his Tomball varsity jacket even features a captain patch as well as the year 2007 and his jersey number—he’s teamed up with TOP DRWR, an innovative platform that’s the premier destination for all things high end fashion, to bring a unique experience to NBA fans and style icons.

TOP DRWR, which was co-founded by one of the illest artists in the game, French Montana, is now offering their first unveiling which includes an auction of ten items from Butler’s personal closet, including both varsity jackets, a pair of Jordans and more.

Done in partnership with The Shop Miami, all of the items have been curated by longtime stylists Calyann Barnett and Khalilah Beavers. Barnett, who has worked with everyone around the game including Dwyane Wade, is one of the most innovative visionaries in the NBA fashion world. Then there’s Khalilah Beavers, who has styled everyone from Butler to Carmelo Anthony to Jimmy Butler, and has redefined the style across the League through her work. 

The first auction is available at www.topdrwr.io and will close on Thursday, August 31, 2023. A portion of the proceeds from TOP DRWR’s initial auctions will be donated to the Social Change Fund United to support important issues impacting the Black community. 

To get a better sense of what kind of heat TOP DRWR offers, look no further than their vast collection of apparel, sneakers and luxury accessories from designers including Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Fendi, Versace, Fear of God, Off White, and Rolex. You don’t have to be a 6-7 NBA All-Star to show out like you’re in the tunnel or on LeagueFits—but thanks to TOP DRWR, you can look like one. 

Don’t just cop clothes, cop pieces. Sign up here. 

The post Inside Jimmy Butler’s Closet: TOP DRWR is Auctioning the Superstar’s Varsity Jackets, Sneakers and More appeared first on SLAM.

In our cover story, Haliburton opens up about his journey thus far and how he “loves” proving all the doubters wrong. Still, the 23-year-old doesn’t take himself too seriously. Basketball, he says, is a “child’s game,” and brings him back to memories of having a ball in his crib and playing video games. That’s the joy behind Haliburton’s ever-apparent smile when he’s out there on the hardwood.

“When I’m playing basketball, it’s just fun,” he told SLAM. “It’s like I’m a kid again, you know? And that’s what I love about it. This isn’t a job for me. This is a passion of mine and something I really love to do.”

Read the full story here.

To get to know the All-Star more, we sat down with Haliburton and surprised him with items from his past for the latest episode of “Bag Talk.” Check it out below.

The post Get to Know Tyrese Haliburton: Pacers Star on High School Musical, Steve Urkel and MORE appeared first on SLAM.

Last October, we had Wemby on the cover of SLAM 240. Read his cover story and get exclusive SLAM 240 Cover Tees here.

The post Read our SLAM 240 Cover Story on No. 1 NBA Draft Pick Victor Wembanyama appeared first on SLAM.

Since his college days, the superstar has always been a force to be reconciled with, and now, Murray has made sure everyone knows that. In honor of his, and the Nugget’s victorious season, here’s a look back at Murray’s ascension over the years—from his SLAM 230 cover story to his days at Kentucky and more.

2016: FEATURE IN SLAM 199

Back in 2016, a 19-year-old Jamal Murray was finishing up his first, and only, season of college basketball at the University of Kentucky. In SLAM 199, Murray opened up about his decision to enter the NBA Draft, dealing with expectations and more.

You can read this story and more in our SLAM Digital Archives, which has every copy of SLAM, ever.

2020: JAMAL MURRAY COVERS SLAM 230

In 2020, Murray was gearing up for what would be a breakout run in the bubble. Murray was averaging a then-career high 18.5 points per game during the 2019-2020 season.

For the cover of SLAM 230, we talked to Murray about how he expresses himself through basketball and how he’s inspired by martial arts legend Bruce Lee, practices mindfulness and more.

Celebrate ‘Mal’s championship status with this exclusive SLAM 230 Cover Tee.

The post Here’s a Look Back on Jamal Murray’s Ascension Over the Years — SLAM 230 Cover and More appeared first on SLAM.

Chris Perfetti (Abbott Elementary, Gotham, Blue Bloods) plays Matt and Glenn Davis (actor, producer and Artistic Director of Steppenwolf Theatre Company; The Christians, Head of Passes, The Brother/Sister Plays, Downstate) plays Shawn. Collectively they perfectly (serious when it needs to be, and hilarious just as accordingly) bring to the forefront themes around race, family dynamics, friendship, death and betrayal. The play was written by Rajiv Joseph (Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo) and directed by Kenny Leon (A Raisin in the Sun, Fences), while Khloe Janel absolutely kills it from the DJ booth. 

You can catch King James at the Manhattan Theatre Club until June 18.  

The post New Off-Broadway Play “King James” Examines How LeBron’s Time in Cleveland Helped Bring Two Strangers Together  appeared first on SLAM.

“In tennis you can tell who has control of the point by the depth of the players,” Kerr told the media back in 2022. “If you’re pressuring (in basketball) and get them starting their offense well above the three-point line you’re controlling the possession.”

As someone who started playing tennis about 10 years ago, and still continues to love the game today, I’m pretty familiar with the ins and outs of it. But when I had the opportunity to intern for SLAM in New York City, that’s when I was fully introduced to the world of basketball. After researching different players, watching highlights and helping organize older issues of SLAM, I started to think more about what the two sports could possibly learn from each other. 

Let’s keep it real, professional hoopers are just as into other sports as they are basketball, whether it’s golf or even tennis. Charlotte Hornets forward Gordon Hayward used to play tennis as a kid and once said that if basketball didn’t work out, he would’ve tried going pro in tennis. He still credits tennis for most of his mental game and says he still enjoys playing at home in his free time.

Meanwhile, tennis players like Frances Tiafoe also have a love for the game. Tiafoe even played in the 2023 NBA All-Star Celebrity game this year. 

There’s a lot that both games have in common—from popularity to the fact that both basketball and tennis are global sports. But there’s also a lot they can learn from each other.

SLAM let me have some fun with it during my internship and think creatively about what they might look like. 

Give tennis fans more freedom at matches to make the experience more enjoyable

When you’re at a tennis game the rules are pretty strict. If a stadium worker sees you standing, they’ll immediately run over to tell you to take your seat. If the umpire hears too much talking before a point, they’ll make an announcement for it to be quieter. When these types of things happen while you’re trying to enjoy a match, it can make you feel annoyed and not want to be there instead of enhancing the live sports experience. In this case, tennis can look to the NBA and see how players feed off the crowd’s energy. Why do you think teams have an at home advantage? If the tennis world eases up a bit and lets the audience go as crazy as they please, the experience for the viewer will be on a different level. It might even encourage more people to attend. 

What if tennis had two-way contracts and a G League?

The two-way contact has been monumental for the NBA and its players. By giving the athletes the opportunity to bounce between two clubs, it allows them the chance to adapt to pro ball rather than just being dropped in and expecting to produce from Day 1. Tennis should try a concept like this, especially since it can be hard for an up-and-coming player to break through while playing against the best. Without high rankings, they end up playing the top seeds and losing right away. 

If there were some sort of starter league where they could play before, or even a two-way type of contract, that could be way more beneficial for a player’s career.

Tennis needs a set season and a championship

Without a set season like the NBA, a tennis “season” starts to feel endless. There’s a new tournament every two weeks or so, and at the end of November, they get about five weeks off before it just restarts. While the NBA has now become a year-round game in terms of coverage, there’s an ebb and flow to the season with the playoffs being the most exciting time to conclude the season. 

Perhaps tennis should look to the PGA in terms of a playoff and championship model outside of the majors to add to the storytelling and drama of competing for a title each year.

The NBA could benefit from installing the Hawk-Eye computer vision system to make calls

In the past few years tennis has installed a camera system that makes all the calls exact. It’s changed the game. If basketball were to install this type of technology it could save not only time, but any confusion/skepticism on certain calls. Whether it’s for fouls or who hit it out of bounds, this could also be highly beneficial for the refs. 

Tennis should have an All-Star Weekend

NBA All-Star Weekend is when the League’s best players come together and compete in games and skills competitions. Tennis desperately needs something like this, and it would certainly draw some much-needed attention for the sport’s up-and-coming stars. From the skills competition to legends playing doubles (or pickleball as we just saw in Florida), having fun with the game and putting individual rivalries aside for a weekend would help propel the sport forward.

Basketball should have more men’s and women’s overlap at events

In all tennis tournaments there’s a men’s and a women’s draw going on at the same time. That means the game’s biggest stars, regardless of gender, are all in one place. Tennis is able to incorporate men’s, women’s, doubles, juniors, and even wheelchairs all in the same tournament. So why can’t we see that in basketball? Could the NBA season overlap with the WNBA season and have more crossover type of events? We’ve seen it a little during NBA All-Star Weekend through the years, but in more of an exhibition vs. competitive format. 

Tennis stars need to engage the crowd more

NBA players like Jayson Tatum will hit a crazy shot or make a great play and then engage with the crowd. The audience lives for that, and that feeling between players and fans makes the game even more exciting. Tennis doesn’t have that as much because the players tend to stay locked in (sure, they may yell for a second after winning a big point, but it’s just not the same). It’s no surprise that tickets to Nick Kyrgios’ matches sell more than any top player, and it’s time for the rest of the tour to tap into that same energy.

Allow tennis fans to cheer and yell during points

Imagine a silent NBA game. Not the same, right? In tennis, you can hear a pin drop throughout the arena while a point is being played, and fans are immediately shushed if they start to yell during points. While the silence may sometimes make the point more intense, it’s about time we start letting the fans get more into the game.

Let tennis fans walk to their seats at any moment during the match

Tennis only allows people to walk to their seats on a change over, which is every odd-numbered game. If you run to the bathroom or go to grab a drink and get back as they restart, you could be waiting to get in for over 10 minutes (and no one wants to do that). While you may have to wait a second if you’re sitting courtside at an NBA game, you can walk to your seats at any given moment, which encourages fans to feel like every game is truly an experience. 

Find ways to get the next generation of fans more into tennis

How do we make tennis more exciting and get the next generation to love the sport just as much as the rest of us do? Let’s look to the NBA. By marketing marquee matchups and following the game’s biggest stars from high school to college to the League, players are building a fanbase before they ever step on an NBA court. By unifying youth tennis and with more consistent storytelling, the hype will match the talent by the time they take center court at their first major.

Photos via Getty Images.

The post 10 Things the NBA and Tennis Can Learn From Each Other appeared first on SLAM.

Curry and top NBA Draft prospect Scoot Henderson have announced that they will form a “groundbreaking mentorship and strategic alliance,” that will focus on basketball, business, media and having a social impact.

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A post shared by Scoot Henderson ° (@thereal0_)

Henderson, who is a projected top lottery pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, starred on the G League Ignite throughout his two years and averaged 18.3 points, 6.7 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game this past season. As he continues to ascend on the court, Henderson is just as dedicated to his impact off of it. His family is currently based in Marietta, GA and is passionate about making an impact in their community—they run Next Play 360°, a non-profit organization in Georgia that’s provides both youth basketball programing and STEM education for underrepresented K-12 students throughout the Metro Atlanta region.

In addition to mentoring Scoot, the alliance will also extend to his younger sister, Crystal “Moochie” Henderson, who was just named the Georgia State Player of the Year, as well as the entire Henderson family.

“I have been watching Scoot and his family for a while now, and I am beyond impressed with what he has accomplished thus far, and excited to watch him take control of his future and grow,” says Stephen Curry via an official press release. “Our values are deeply aligned when it comes to prioritizing family, hard work and appreciating the blessings in our lives. I firmly believe that what he and the Henderson Family are building is transformative and will change the narrative for how athletes and their families leverage their influence. I truly admire that we share a common interest and commitment to promoting equity and access for athletes through youth sports and empowering the next generation. As I look towards the future of the NBA and the broader world of sports, Scoot embodies the next evolution of the game over the years, demonstrating the importance of playing for something greater than oneself.”

As a four-time NBA champion, two-time MVP and businessman and entrepreneur, Curry has made waves across multiple industries, including Unanimous Media, Eat. Learn. Play., Curry Brand and UNDERRATED Golf and Basketball. Henderson says he’s just as hyped to gain support and learn from Curry, especially as he gets ready to launch his career and grow his own enterprise.

“I am so excited to establish this one-of-a-kind strategic alliance with Stephen and his team,” says Scoot Henderson. “This is an incredible opportunity and a dream come true for me, as I have grown up watching Stephen on and off the court, admiring him from afar as he disrupted the game and built empowering businesses over the past decade. His accomplishments are inspiring, and I want to learn from Stephen and the team he has assembled and take the reins of my own future. Stephen has such a profound impact on people and his community, and his humanity and unwavering humility are evident. As we embark on this new journey, I look forward to learning and growing together, while focusing on becoming the best version of myself, in basketball, business and beyond.”

Photo via Noah Graham for SC30 Inc.

The post Stephen Curry Will Mentor Top NBA Draft Prospect Scoot Henderson, Providing Support in Basketball, Media and Social Impact appeared first on SLAM.

First we hit up a bodega in Red Hook, where viral-sensation The Ocky Way makes the craziest sandwiches. Bridges even cooked his own chopped cheese right on the grill. Check it out below.

Next Bridges went on the subway for the first time, hit up Cuts & Slices in Bed-Stuy and even talked to local Brooklynites about the city. This video is definitely a must watch.

The post Mikal Bridges Tours Brooklyn, Tries First-Ever Chopped Cheese, Subway Ride and More appeared first on SLAM.

“You gotta think: somebody that can keep a dribble, show the ref that you’re holding them off balance but keep themselves on balance to finish or practice being unbalanced and finishing, they’ve mastered it,” Shumpert tells us on set. “You watch so many different players that come out of college polished [and] able to do things that we weren’t working on cause the college game wasn’t half that stuff wasn’t even allowed. The game is evolving and there’s becoming a universal understanding of what you can do.”

To put on performances like what we’ve seen so far this NBA season—from 71-point nights to 100-plus game totals—is as much testament to the level of talent as it is passion. “This young group, they’re so talented and in love with [the game],” Shumpert continues. “You know what I’m saying? They sleep with basketballs [and] their game shoes on. I love that. They be in pressure situations and they’ll still windmill it. Like, they don’t care and they are so locked in and so in love and trusting of their bodies. Me being somebody that had all them surgeries, I’m like, I wish I could trust my body on game 55, [and] I’m just doing a windmill on a breakaway in traffic. 

I remember being that young and just dribbling to a place and just being like, f*** it, let’s try it. I’ve never done it from this angle, turn this way contorted, but let’s do it. It’s like, those kids that were like five and they were trying those grown moves and you like, bruh, your ‘lil self can’t do that, like calm down. But they kept doing it and kept doing it and now they look at a grown up like, you ain’t even worked on the stuff I worked on. I mastered it.” 

Shumpert, who suited up for the Knicks and won a championship with the Cavaliers in 2016, has both played alongside and against NBA superstars like LeBron James and Stephen Curry. Now, he’s witnessing firsthand how the next generation of standouts not only look up to the older players, but are taking their game even further. “Now, they look at a grown up like you ain’t even work on all the stuff I worked on. I mastered your game in my mind at eight. I start working on Steph Curry game, too, then I added a ‘lil Melo game ‘cause I had to learn how to play in the post. Now I got Kyrie Irving all up in my head so you can’t stop me. It’s crazy. It’s so cool to talk to a kid now that’s playing in the pros and they be like, yeah I been watching Kyrie my whole life and I be like, dang bro that’s crazy. I’m old. Me and Kyrie are old? Wow. Kyrie [is] younger than me so I’m like, Kyrie is who you look up to? We’re watching a new generation of just killas. It’s cool.”

As for the level of competitiveness in the League, Shumpert’s next take sparks a conversation amongst the Starting Five: “They wanna win but I meant the competitive nature of I’m gonna score on this end and you can’t score on the other end. I think the grittiness of that has left—part of it is them adjusting to officiating, the hand checking is gone, the ability to rough somebody up sorta got taken away completely but I just felt like that’s what [is lacking] when I watch it…I know what it’s like to be in the League and it’s like Iman you got four fouls, stop and I’m like, dog who’s letting somebody lay a ball up? Like why y’all mad at me, bro? I didn’t even foul ‘em, like that was a tic-tac call. But it’s like you don’t just get layups, you don’t just get open shots, you have to do it under duress or I don’t believe it. 

I’m one of those guys. I don’t believe he’s that good [if] he can’t do it under duress,” he adds. “…That’s what I end up watching but like I said that’s my personal [opinion]. I want y’all to play how I want y’all to play and it’s like nah, they worried about scoring 150 points and they’re doing it very well.”

As for what SetFree, Kiss and Danielle think? Watch the DraftKings’ Starting Five series here.

Photos via The Compound and DraftKings.  

The post Iman Shumpert Shares His Take on the Competitiveness of the NBA on DraftKings’ Starting Five  appeared first on SLAM.

While on set for their SLAM 242 cover shoot, we had Zion, CJ and BI play Point ‘Em Out—and let’s just say, they did not disappoint. The New Orleans Pelicans trio had us cracking up.

Check it out below.

Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum, and Brandon Ingram, who just appeared on the cover of SLAM 242, recently opened up about the team’s pursuit this season and how they plan on taking the franchise to new heights. Read here.

SLAM 242 is available now, as well as Gold Metal Editions and Cover Tees. Shop now.

The post WATCH: Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum, and Brandon Ingram Play SLAM Point Em Out appeared first on SLAM.

When we caught up from Smith in January (throwback to SLAM 143 when we photographed him on a course) to talk about his new golf podcast, Par 3, which he hosts alongside producer, actor and jewelry designer Ben Baller and Stephen Malbon, who co-founded Malbon Golf, he told SLAM that he got “hooked” on golf pretty quickly and soon developed a deep fascination with learning more about it and, specifically, how to improve his skillset. Back for SLAM 143, we even photographed Smith on a

“I tried to translate it to basketball,” Smith tells SLAM. “I really started learning how to work on certain skills as opposed to just trying to hit shots. I started working on my short game, started working on trying to work the ball left to right, right to left and different swings. [I started] watching a lot more videos looking at Tiger [Woods], watching Taylormade—those videos gave me a lesson here, lesson there, [but] everything else was pretty much self taught.”

Next thing Smith knew, he was all in: buying the gear, checking out different courses and thinking constantly about how to get better and better.

“At that point, I really realized I really had a problem,” he continues. “Because then I started going into different pro shops and started playing really, really good courses, or buying up all the gear—I got a closet right now that pretty much looks like a pro shop from different [stores] all over the country. And it’s just game that I really love…I feel like golf is a sport that you can always improve [in] and continuously get better. You never really have a cap.”

On the Par 3 podcast, not only will Smith, Ben Baller and Malbon dive into their personal journeys and how they’ve developed a love for the game, but they’ll also share hilarious commentary and dive deep into the culture of the golf from fashion and trends to some pretty wild stories, like Smith picking up a few pointers from the late, and great-Moses Malone. While there’s a lot of misconceptions surrounding golf, Par 3 is here to re-define what the “golf life” truly means by offering a unique perspective.

Check out the latest episode and be sure to subscribe here.

The post JR Smith is Hosting an Exciting New Golf Podcast, ‘Par 3,’ Alongside Ben Baller and Stephen Malbon appeared first on SLAM.

Wall is playing his first year with the Clippers after joining the team as a free agent. He’s currently out after suffering an abdominal injury, but when he’s healthy, the five-time All-Star is averaging 11.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game on 40.8 percent shooting from the field and 30.3 percent from beyond the arc.

The Clippers (23-22) have legitimate title aspirations, with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George leading the way. Wall was expected to come in and compete for the starting point guard role and has settled in as a strong sixth man who can start in spots. The Clippers have dealt with Leonard’s load management and are still building their chemistry as a team.

Adding frontcourt depth behind Ivica Zubac and Moses Brown could help the Clippers gain some ground in the Western Conference playoff standings. The trade deadline is Feb. 9, and it’ll be interesting to see what moves the Clippers will make their team better.

The Clippers are set to host the Philadelphia 76ers tonight.

The post REPORT: Clippers are Discussing a John Wall Trade for Frontcourt Depth appeared first on SLAM.

It’s important to note that this scenario could play out IF VanVleet decides to opt-out of his player option next summer. VanVleet rose to prominence after signing with the Raptors as an undrafted free agent in 2016. As a rookie, he played in Toronto and with their G League affiliate. The following season he came off the bench and played in 76 regular season games with the Raptors.

VanVleet eventually played a prominent role in Toronto winning their first-ever title in 2019. In 2022, he became the fifth undrafted player to make the All-Star game in 2021. VanVleet is averaging 18.2 points, 6.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game this season. He’s played in 36 games thus far, missing eight contests due to a back injury.

VanVleet’s four-year deal that he signed in 2020 could expire this offseason if he doesn’t sign his player option. He’s making $21.3 million this season and could make $22.8 million if he does pick up the extra year.

VanVleet and Toronto are set to play the Milwaukee Bucks on the road on Tuesday.

The post REPORT: Fred VanVleet Drawing Free Agent Interest from Phoenix and Orlando appeared first on SLAM.

The Suns are currently 1-9 in their last 10 games after dropping a 30-point decision to the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday. They’ve also ended their four-game road trip with three straight losses to the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Memphis. The losses can be attributed to the Suns being last in offense (104.6 offensive ratings) and 23rd in defense (117.2 defensive ratings).

Chris Paul, Cam Payne, Cameron Johnson, and Devin Booker have also been out for periods of time due to leg, hip, and foot injuries. Booker has been out since Dec. 17 due to a hamstring injury, and CP3 has been in and out of the Suns’ lineup due to a collection of injuries.

After their 136-106 loss to Memphis on Monday, Suns forward Josh Okogie said that Phoenix can get out of their rut by simply playing “through it.”

"Keep playing. Can't get out of it. You've got to get through it."

Josh Okogie as #Suns are 1-9 in their last 10 after Monday's loss at #Grizzlies to end 4-game road trip with three straight defeats. #MLKDay2023 pic.twitter.com/UCi07VoAKz

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) January 17, 2023

Okogie is also encouraged by the Suns’ culture persevering through this skid and that Phoenix’s “spirits are still high” despite the losses they’ve dealt with. Okogie believes that once the Suns get healthy, they’ll “be just fine.”

“The way we operate, the way we practice, our attention to detail, we’re still operating like we’re a top three team in the West.”

Okogie and the Suns are set to host the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday.

The post Josh Okogie is Confident the Suns Can ‘Get Through’ Recent Skid appeared first on SLAM.

The three-time All-Star officially passed the three-time MVP for most 50-point games in Boston Celtics history after he scored a season-high 51 points on 15-23 shooting from the field, 7-12 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 14-14 from the charity stripe to lead Boston to a 130-118 win over Charlotte. Tatum has posted more 50-point games than Bird and Paul Pierce COMBINED.

“He makes me look like a better coach,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said per ESPN. “He didn’t settle for shots; he got catch-and-shoots, he got off the dribbles, he got layups. The other piece of that is the humility of our team to really work with him to get those 51 points.”

JAYSON TATUM 51 PIECE

HE DROPPED 18 PTS IN Q4 pic.twitter.com/dinmve9N8T

— NBA (@NBA) January 16, 2023

Tatum’s 51-point effort was his first 50-point outing since he scored 54 and 51 last season and notched a career-high 60 points during the 2020-21 campaign. Tatum has tied Gilbert Arenas for the third-best scoring performance on MLK Day after Agent Zero dropped 51 points in 2007.

“It’s been a while since I scored 50,” Tatum said per Yahoo Sports. “So I needed that one.”

Tatum scored his 51st point with 38 seconds left after knocking down his seventh triple of the evening, which drew “MVP ” chants from the Charlotte crowd. After Charlotte cut Boston’s lead to 98-95 following a pair of free throws from Jaden McDaniels, Tatum came in and responded with 18 fourth-quarter points to put the game out of reach.

Boston (33-12) holds the top spot in the League after Tuesday and is 4.5 games ahead of Brooklyn (27-15) for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.

The post Jayson Tatum Breaks Boston Record For Most 50-Point Games appeared first on SLAM.

Here’s what happened in the NBA and WNBA over the weekend. Let’s get it!

Draymond Green Gets Candid in Interview with Taylor Rooks

Draymond Green recently sat down with Taylor Rooks of Bleacher Report. The Warriors legend dropped some revealing gems during their interview. Green admitted “the writings on the wall” when he was asked about leaving the Warriors as a free agent.

The two parties have had some incredible highs as four-time champs and a record-setting 2015-2016 regular, but the lows have been low during public spats with head coach Steve Kerr, Kevin Durant, and a controversial altercation with teammate Jordan Poole. When it comes to that infamous moment, Green said their relationship is “a work in progress,” and he’s willing to do the work because he was wrong.

He also said they “definitely moved forward” and that he’s “seen improvements day by day, week by week, month by month.”

TOMORROW pic.twitter.com/avHPFxt6MV

— Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) January 13, 2023

Ja Morant’s Challenge to All Rim Protectors: ‘Jump with Me if You Want to Go Viral’

Do not get it confused; Ja Morant will never back down. The former No. 2 overall pick has posterized many a rim protector. Few, if any, were as impressive as Morant’s yam on Jalen Smith. The unbelievable slam was punctuated by Memphis winning their ninth straight game after beating Indiana, 130-112, on Sunday.

Postgame, Morant admitted his thunderous dunk was his best of the difficulty. Morant felt so good about it that he challenged all rim protectors to jump with him if they wanted to go viral.

“It’s what everybody has been waiting for. I finally made it.”

jump with me if you want to go viral https://t.co/3ESSiC3A1w

— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) January 15, 2023

Jonquel Jones is Headed to New York Via Blockbuster Trade

Jonquel Jones is on the move! The 2021 MVP was a part of a three-team deal that will send her to the New York Liberty, while Rebecca Allen and Natasha Howard will be sent to the Connecticut Sun and Dallas Wings, respectively. The Wings will also receive Liberty guard Crystal Dangerfield, Kayla Thornton will go to New York, and Ty Harris is headed to Connecticut.

Connecticut will also receive the No. 6 overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft.

JONQUEL TO BROOKLYN?!

Welcome to free agency @RachGall @Winsidr pic.twitter.com/PpZqvW1hgn

— WSLAM (@wslam) January 15, 2023

Nikola Jokic’s Game-Winner Sinks Orlando

Nikola Jokic delivered a stepback game-winner to sink the Orlando Magic 119-116. The back-to-back MVP posted 17 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists on 8-11 shooting from the field and 1-4 from beyond the arc.

“He stepped back, got the space, and just shot over the top,” teammate Aaron Gordon said per ESPN. “It was a beautiful shot.”

EVERY ANGLE OF NIKOLA JOKIC’S STEPBACK GAME-WINNER pic.twitter.com/007JQYDLas

— NBA (@NBA) January 16, 2023

LeBron James Inches Closer to History After Scoring 38,000 Career Points

The King is the second player to score 38,000 career points and is now 364 points away from breaking Hall-of-Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbarr’s career scoring record. James accomplished the historic feat after knocking down a three-pointer from the top of the arc. The four-time MVP posted 35 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists in the Lakers’ heartbreaking 113-112 loss to the 76ers.

LeBron tonight:

35 PTS
8 REB
10 AST

Only the second player in NBA history to score 38,000 career points pic.twitter.com/W7DvUvFB7s

— NBA (@NBA) January 16, 2023

The post Weekend Recap: LeBron James Makes History and Ja Morant Challenges All Rim-Protectors appeared first on SLAM.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves are reportedly interested in trading for Lowry too. The Timberwolves could move D’Angelo Russell to Miami for Lowry, and the Lakers have reportedly decided to stand pat at the trade deadline.

The Heat are still finding itself at the moment. Miami (23-20) is eighth in the Eastern Conference standings due to a dearth of injuries to key players like Lowry, Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, and Victor Oladipo. Lowry is averaging 13.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game while shooting 39.8 percent from the field and 33.6 percent from beyond the arc.

Miami trading Lowry could help them create a younger backcourt that could help reverse their fortunes for the season. Making a move with either the Lakers or T-Wolves could help them make a move in the offseason in the draft or the free agent.

Miami will host the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday afternoon.

The post REPORT: Lakers, Timberwolves Interested in Trading for Kyle Lowry appeared first on SLAM.

Beasley, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, is an athletic wing and efficient shooter from beyond the arc. For his career, Beasley averages 12.4 points and 4.7 rebounds on 46.5 percent shooting from the field and 34.9 percent from beyond the arc.

“If you pay attention to how I play, that’s how the NBA plays today,” he said, per Sports Illustrated. “I stay in shape and play everyday. If I get the call, I can definitely make an impact. The NBA is on some s—. Donovan [Mitchell] scored 71, Luka [Doncic] 50, LeBron [James] still scoring 40. The game is wide open. When I was playing, the game was about defense. It is about holding teams to 75, 80, 90 points. Now it’s like a rodeo.”

Beasley spend the first two seasons of his NBA career with Miami and bounced around with Minnesota, New York, Phoenix, Houston, Milwaukee, and the Los Angeles Lakers with stints in China as well. He recently played in Puerto Rico and in the Big3 league.

Beasley’s opinion about the NBA is certainly understandable as fans watch the NBA transform from an inside-outside League to an outside-inside League with teams setting three-point shooting records yearly and most shot diets consisting mostly of three-pointers, layups, and free throws. As a three-level scorer and capable long distance shooter who can play and multiple defend multiple positions, Beasley fits the mold.

Beasley last played with the Lakers during the 2018-2019 campaign. He averaged 7.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game while shooting 49.0 percent from the field.

The post Michael Beasley Believes He Can Make An Impact in the NBA appeared first on SLAM.

Mac McClung, a Delaware Blue Coats guard whose sensational dunks have gone viral, has accepted an invitation to compete in the NBA’s Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star Weekend next month in Salt Lake City, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

McClung joins Shaedon Sharpe and KJ Martin so far in dunk contest, averaging 17.6 points, 4.4 assists, 63.8 percent shooting and 41.7 percent from 3 this season for the 76ers’ G League affiliate. The high-flying guard played in two NBA games for Bulls and Lakers last season. https://t.co/36wLVSRtx5

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 13, 2023

McClung averages 17.6 points and 4.4 assists on 63.8 percent shooting from the field and 41.7 percent from beyond the arc in seven games with the Delaware Blue Coats. McClung has gained a ton of notoriety due to his athletic exploits, going viral as a high school phenom thanks to his electric dunks. His high-profile playstyle helped him play college ball at Georgetown and Texas Tech.

McClung went undrafted during the 2021 NBA Draft and has played two games for the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. He won the G League’s Rookie of the Year while playing with the South Bay Lakers and Windy City Bulls. He signed with the Blue Coats after the Golden State Warriors released him in October.

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McClung will compete with Portland’s Shaedon Sharpe and Houston’s KJ Martin.

The post Mac McClung Will be the First G League Player in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest appeared first on SLAM.

Respect is the ultimate currency. (via @nba) pic.twitter.com/kbqHv9Fexu

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) January 13, 2023

The loss came after Luka Doncic (35 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists) knocked down a step-back triple over the 6’2 Dennis Schröder. Luka Legend forced overtime after he inbounded the ball to Spender Dinwiddie, who then handed him the ball while simultaneously setting the screen, forcing the Lakers to switch from Russell Westbrook being Doncic’s primary defender to Schröder defending Doncic.

“We weren’t looking to foul,” Ham explained postgame. “Felt confident in the five guys we had defending, and he did what Luka does, he made a shot. I’m kicking myself in the butt. I needed to coach a little better in that instance; we should have blitzed him — or at least forced him inside the three-point line.”

“You know, it’s those situations [that are] kinda chaotic — bunch of chatter, everything’s going on, you’re trying to figure out matchups. We — read [the Mavericks’ offense], switched anyways. So I’ll take the bullet for that. That’s on me. We have to be better defensively in those moments and force someone else [other than Doncic] to beat us.

2 clutch @luka7doncic stepbacks.
2 powerful @SDinwiddie_25 dunks.
2 big @Chriswood_5 blocks.

2 overtimes… 1 @dallasmavs win! pic.twitter.com/lCHqHodGcf

— NBA (@NBA) January 13, 2023

Leaving Schröder on an island was a vastly different strategic decision for a Lakers team blitzing Doncic with double-teams all game. Although Doncic finished the game with a triple-double, forcing the ball out of his hand or making him shoot over a taller lengthier defender would’ve been the preferred result.

The lakers had a chance to win after rallying back from a 19-point regulation deficit, but they couldn’t make enough plays over the extra 10 minutes they played. Dinwiddie delivered the win after scoring twice during Dallas’ decisive 6-0 run, making sure the Mavs won for the second time in five games.

The Lakers will host the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.

The post Darvin Ham Regrets Not Double-Teaming Luka Doncic Before His Clutch Shot appeared first on SLAM.

The former lottery pick scored nine points and grabbed three rebounds during the 10 minutes he played off the bench to help the Cavaliers beat the Trail Blazers 119-113. He also won the junkyard dog chain for his efforts in his first game since suffering a season-ending torn ACL in December 2021.

“It felt good,” Rubio said of his first game, per ESPN. “It felt weird in the beginning, especially the first time, but after that, it felt back to normal. Of course, rhythm and all that stuff will come, but today was a lot of emotions out there. Working hard all year just to be healthy and grateful to be out there playing basketball again.”

Ricky Rubio with his first bucket of the season!

Welcome back, @rickyrubio9 pic.twitter.com/95Zx4AIGWO

— NBA (@NBA) January 13, 2023

The 32-year-old point guard was a critical part of Cleveland’s success last season. After he suffered his knee injury, he was traded to Indiana for Caris LeVert, but come back via free agency because of the chemistry and camaraderie he saw in Cleveland. Donovan Mitchell, who played with Rubio in Utah, was excited to see his teammate back on the court.

“I couldn’t stop smiling,” Mitchell said. “It felt like my rookie year. For me, it’s just a full-circle moment, but it’s great to see him out there after the ACL. And also, hitting two big 3s for us, leading the offense.”

Never too high, never too low.@ThatsJared | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/TnDCLMMgpp

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) January 13, 2023

Cleveland head coach J.B. Bickerstaff told reporters during a pre-game scrum that he wanted to play Rubio in two stints in the first half. However, Rubio played six minutes, so Bickerstaff played Rubio for a third stretch in the third quarter. After the game, Rubio said he felt good physically because the cardio workouts he did in rehab were more challenging than game action.

The Cavs admitted Rubio has been ready to play “for a long time,” but Rubio understood why they held him out. Regardless, Rubio said the process of coming back was “frustrating” but he’s happy to be “playing the game I love,” after 380 days.

“I didn’t work just to come back today,” Rubio said. “I worked hard to come back stronger than ever. It’s not just about today. I’m looking forward to having a strong season, not just a comeback season.”

Cleveland (27-16) is set to play the Minnesota Timberwolves on the road on Saturday.

The post Ricky Rubio Feels ‘Back to Normal’ After Comeback Game appeared first on SLAM.

Pacers say that Tyrese Haliburton sprained his left elbow and absorbed a mild left knee bruise and will be reevaluated in two weeks. Team is also awaiting additional opinion on the results of the scans.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 12, 2023

Haliburton suffered the injury late in the third quarter when he lost his right shoe, fell awkwardly, and hurt his left knee and elbow on the play.

“He’ll get looked at tomorrow closely,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said, per ESPN. “He’s walking out of Madison Square Garden on crutches, so I would guess his availability on Friday will be in question, and probably Saturday, too, but who knows.

“One of the great things about Tyrese is he has been banged up the last year and a half that he’s been with us, and he always wants to play. He always wants to play, and it’s something that’s really helped our culture as a team. So we’ll hope for the best. We’re surely not going to put him in harm’s way.”

Haliburton posted 15 points and seven assists before he left the game for good; on the season, Haliburton is averaging 20.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 10.2 dimes per game on 48.0 percent shooting from the floor and 39.9 percent from beyond the arc.

The post Tyrese Haliburton Will Miss the Next Two Weeks Due to a Sprained Elbow and Knee Bruise appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

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

Utah is set to host the Magic on Friday.

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

The Pacers are reportedly intent on trading Turner if a new extension can’t be negotiated before the trade deadline comes in February. As of Thursday, Turner is averaging a career-high 17.0 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game on 55.2 percent shooting from the field and 37.9 percent from beyond the arc.

Turner has been involved in numerous trade rumors over the last few seasons, including last season when he was linked to trade rumors linking him to the Clippers and the Lakers. The Clippers could utilize Turner’s two-way dominance, and he would be a welcomed addition to a veteran-laden team.

The Pacers (23-19) are seventh in the Eastern Conference and could undoubtedly use Turner, and signing him to a long-term extension would help them make a run to the playoffs.

The post REPORT: Knicks, Clippers, and Raptors Interested in Acquiring Myles Turner appeared first on SLAM.

After a monster outing on Wednesday, Brown believes that The Jays have “other limits to reach in the future.” Brown dropped a season-high 41 points and 12 rebounds, while Tatum added 31 points and 10 rebounds to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 125-114. It was the fifth 40-point game in Brown’s career and the 10th time that Brown and Tatum combined to score 70+ points.

“I don’t think this is the best you will see,” Brown said, per ESPN. “I definitely think we’ve got other limits to reach in the future, in our career. This is just part of the process.”

41 PTS (season-high)
12 REB

Jaylen Brown went off in the Celtics home W pic.twitter.com/faQNsTi5qo

— NBA (@NBA) January 12, 2023

Interim head coach Joe Mazzulla believes Tatum and Brown have been using the pain of losing the 2022 NBA Finals to fuel their high level of play. He complimented Brown for playing aggressively against the Pelicans, saying Brown “took what the defense gave him and made the right plays.”

“To get to that point in your career when you know you need each other, and you know you need your teammates — it’s a very powerful thing,” Mazzulla said.

The Jays continued to shine for us tonight by combining for 72 points and 22 rebounds during our win over the Pelicans. pic.twitter.com/CHr0zdzD8f

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) January 12, 2023

Malcolm Brogdon (20 points, four rebounds, and four assists) echoed those statements during a TV appearance and said that he’s noticed how The Jays have “taken a huge leap individually and together, so it’s a joy to be with them.” Al Horford (14 points, three board, and four dimes) commended The Jays for the growth they’ve experienced this season.

“They continue to grow in front of our eyes,” Horford said. “What we did last year and what they did last year leading us to the Finals, it shows a lot of growth on their end — Now I feel like they’re just playing basketball, trying to lead us.”

Boston (30-12) plays the Brooklyn Nets (27-13) on Thursday.

The post Jaylen Brown Believes He Has ‘Other Limits to Reach in the Future’ with Jayson Tatum appeared first on SLAM.

The Spurs sold 63, 592 tickets for the record and could sell 68,000, including standing-room tickets. The Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks set the previous record of 62,046 that stood for nearly 25 years. The Eastern Conference rivals played the game at the Georgia Dome on March 27, 1998.

The biggest crowd in League history was at the 2010 All-Star Game when the AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, hosted 108 713 fans. Excluding that monster attendance, Friday’s matchup between the Spurs and Warriors will be the fourth NBA game with more than 50,000 in the stands. Two of those were at the Silverdome when Detroit hosted 52,745 fans against the Philadelphia 76ers on Feb. 14, 1987. On Jan. 29, 1988, the Pistons drew 61,983 fans when they played the Boston Celtics.

The previous Alamodome record for an NBA game was 39,554 fans when the Spurs hosted the New York Knicks for Game 2 of the 1999 NBA Finals.

The post San Antonio Spurs Set to Break Single-Game Attendance Record appeared first on SLAM.

Now, after three seasons with the Chicago Bulls, the two-time All-Star recently admitted that he’d like to last to play “one last year in Orlando.”

“Of course, yeah,” Vucevic told the Sixth Man Show. “That’s something that I would love to do. We’ll see when that is possible, if that’s realistic and how it all works out. If anything, at least get one last year in Orlando. I think it’s only right it happens. So, we’ll see.”

NIKOLA. VUCEVIC. Massive shot!@NikolaVucevic | @NBCSBulls pic.twitter.com/CMRd8S5rnf

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 3, 2023

Vucevic averaged 17.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game on 49.9 percent shooting from the field and 35.3 percent from beyond the arc and made his first All-Star Game in 2019 after putting up 20.8 points and 12.0 rebounds per game on 51.8 percent shooting from the field. This year, Vucevic is doing what he can to help Chicago make their second straight postseason appearance.

Vooch down the lane!@NikolaVucevic | @NBCSChicago pic.twitter.com/1ysAhWXLvm

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) December 19, 2022

The Bulls (19-22) are set to play the Wizards on Wednesday, then the Thunder (18-23) on Friday.

The post Nikola Vucevic Says He’d Like ‘One Last Year in Orlando’ appeared first on SLAM.

ESPN Sources: After a full year of rehabilitating an ACL tear in his left knee, Cavaliers guard Ricky Rubio is targeting a return against the Trail Blazers on Thursday. Rubio will practice today, and if all goes well, play in Portland tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/wB5RzNhRdy

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 11, 2023

If all goes well when Rubio practices with the team on Wednesday, then he will play against Portland, per Woj. The Cavs (26-16) will welcome Rubio’s vaunted playmaking abilities and veteran presence on a team looking to lock in their playoff spot after All-Star weekend. Before he tore his ACL, Rubio helped lead Cleveland to a 20-14 start.

When he was last healthy, Rubio averaged 13.1 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game. Rubio is known as one of the most popular teammates in the NBA and was a close friend of Donovan Mitchell while they played on the Utah Jazz.

The post REPORT: Ricky Rubio Set to Return to Action on Thursday appeared first on SLAM.

While no rumors have come out stating wise, Zach Lowe of ESPN reported that The King plans on completing his career with the Lakers. Lowe said that James’ recent comments calling for the front office to make a roster change should be seen as the four-time champion being transparent about his waning patience with losing as much as the Lakers over the past few seasons.

The Lakers have a strong chance of getting back to .500 as they host their next five games against the Mavericks, 76ers, Kings, and Grizzlies. There’s a reason for hope due to the Lakers’ 10-8 record at home.

If anyone can help lift those Lakers team into the play-in tournament, it’s James. The future Hall-of-Famer is showing no signs of slowing down at 38-years-old, averaging 29.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game on 51.0 percent shooting from the field. He’s dropped back-to-back 40-point games against the Hawks (47) and Hornets (43).

The Lakers will host the Mavericks on Thursday.

The post REPORT: LeBron James Plans on Finishing Career with the Los Angeles Lakers appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Leonard’s 33-point outing was his second 30-point game of the season, showing more and more that he’s getting his legs under him. According to ESPN, this was the third time in his career that he scored at least 30 points while shooting 75 percent from the field (9-12 shooting and 12-12 from the free-throw line).

“I’m gradually just getting my feet under me,” said Leonard, per ESPN. “I’m starting to play 35-plus minutes, able to get [out of] that minutes restriction where it cuts you in and out those games, playing five-minute segments, six-minute segments here and there. So, just a continuous thing. Just keep getting better, stay healthy and just see where we could go from here.”

Kawhi did it all in the @LAClippers win

33 PTS
9 REB
4 AST
4 STL
9/12 FGM
12/12 FTM pic.twitter.com/48FufDbVuU

— NBA (@NBA) January 11, 2023

Leonard logged 36 minutes, marking the ninth time he’s played 31 or more minutes in the last 10 games. The only time he didn’t was when he played 18 minutes during their 122-91 blowout loss to the Denver Nuggets. Leonard is still being held out of playing back-to-back games, indicating he’s frustrated with his minute restriction.

“If you’re basing it on minute restriction, it is frustrating,” Leonard said. “Because I’m not going in there jacking shots, so I’m trying to play team basketball. It was frustrating [with the restriction]. We were losing games. From a minute restriction, I’m not the only one either that was on it. Guys have been in and out the lineup all year, getting injured.

“So, just gotta stay the course and hope for the best. I’ve been in the league for a while, so just know if you keep just punching [and] punching, you eventually could knock down something.”

The Clippers will look to build a consecutive win streak when they play the Nuggets on Friday.

The post Kawhi Leonard on His Season-Best 33-Point Outing appeared first on SLAM.

To our friends up north, this one’s for you.

Scottie Barnes covers SLAM 239. https://t.co/5QiShW5rSW pic.twitter.com/jA1rpGeA5z

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) July 29, 2022

The reigning Rookie of the Year is still adjusting to becoming a player on top of opponents scouting reports, but his first year in the League highlighted just how bright his future could be in Toronto while the Raptors attempt builds around him and pursue their second title in franchise history.

However, the possibility of a Raptors rebuild is still developing. On Tuesday afternoon, Toronto (11-23) sits 11th in the Eastern Conference standings. They’re 1.5 games back of the Bulls for the final play-in spot, and if the season were to end now, it would be the second time in five seasons that the Raptors missed the playoffs.

Toronto has a three-game homestand, starting with back-to-back contests against the Charlotte Hornets.

The post REPORT: Toronto Marks Scottie Barnes As their Only Untouchable Player appeared first on SLAM.

If things go well when he plays with the Lakeland Magic, Issac will be closer than ever to finishing his comeback attempt after all of the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.

Isaac is likely to play two games for the Lakeland Magic on a comeback that’s been in the making since tearing his left anterior cruciate ligament on August 2, 2020 in the NBA bubble, sources said.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 10, 2023

Issac has been practicing with the Magic since early December, per Woj.

The former Florida State Seminole has averaged 9.3 points, 1.5 blocks, and 1.1 steals since he entered the NBA in 2017 as the sixth overall pick. He’s in the second season of a four-year $70 million contract and will be rejoining a Magic (15-26) team building around Paolo Banchero.

The post REPORT: Jonathan Issac Set to Play with Lakeland Magic Before He Makes His Return to the NBA appeared first on SLAM.

Quickley had thrived as a starter this season, averaging 20.3 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.9 rebounds per game during his eight starts when he took over R.J. Barrett’s spot in the startling lineup while he recovered from a finger injury.

As a trade target, Quickley could serve as another capable scorer on a playoff contender like the Mavericks, who are looking for another player to help relieve Luka Doncic from all the scoring and playmaking duties he has to deal with. Quickley could be seen as an upgrade over Grayson Allen for the Bucks as a two-way combo guard that can shoot well.

The Wizards could use another guard that can spot start and play as a combo guard next to Bradley Beal on offense.

The Knicks are reportedly seeking first-round draft pick compensation in exchange for Quickley. They’re in the playoff picture with the seventh-best record in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, thanks to Quickley’s contributions as a starter and off the bench.

The former SEC player of the year is averaging 12.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 41.7 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc.

The post REPORT: Bucks, Mavericks, and Wizards Are Interested in Trading for Immanuel Quickley appeared first on SLAM.

The only thing is, Atlanta has a STEEP asking price for Atlanta. An Eastern Conference executive reportedly told Heavy Sports that the Hawks want a “big-time return for Collins” and “something in that neighborhood” of what the Utah Jazz received when they traded their All-Star cornerstones, Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, over the summer.

Gobert was traded to Minnesota for four first-round picks and one pick swap, while Mitchell was traded to Cleveland for three first-round picks and two pick swaps, Collin Sexton and All-Star candidate Lauri Markkanen.

Collins is averaging 13.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game during the 2022-23 campaign. His lower numbers can be attributed to a new role and adjusting to De’Andre Hunter and Dejounte Murray taking up more shots and opportunities to score. However, Collins was a major contributor to Atlanta making an Eastern Conference Finals run in 2021 and certainly has All-Star talent.

It’ll be interesting to see if any team will take a significant step forward and essentially give the farm away for Collins by the time the trade deadline ticks down. The Brooklyn Nets are reportedly the main team showing interest. The Nets reportedly expressed interest in acquiring Collins during the 2022 NBA Draft and are looking to add a star or “power-forward-like player” heading into the season’s stretch run.

Atlanta will look to build a consecutive win streak when they take on the Bucks on Wednesday.

The post REPORT: Atlanta Wants John Collins Trade Package Similar to What Utah Got for Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell appeared first on SLAM.

The fifth-year center out of Texas A&M started a game for the first time since Game 6 of the 2022 NBA Finals. He ended the night with six points, seven rebounds, two assists, and two blocks while playing 23 minutes in a 107-99 win over the Chicago Bulls.

“He was great,” Celtics interim head coach Joe Mazzulla said of Williams’ contributions, per NBA.com. “I think he brought a level of joy to our team just because of how unselfish he is and the type of plays he’s able to make on both ends of the floor. I thought our spacing was better with our big lineup. That’s just something we’re going to continue to work on.”

big man pass, big man jam pic.twitter.com/qbcq5WGOxV

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) January 10, 2023

Williams has played in 10 games since he first returned from offseason knee surgery on Dec. 16 against the Orlando Magic. Since then, he’s averaged 7.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game while playing 19.8 minutes. Boston has also become the seventh-best defense (110.9 defensive rating) and the best offense in the League (117.1 offensive rating).

According to Mazzulla, Boston found their identity as an improved offense that can play stingy defense. Williams being in the lineup allows Boston to fully realize their two-way potential, with Mazzulla specifically stating that Williams gives Boston “a different attack that we can have.”

Grant Williams seems to agree with that assessment. The fourth-year forward said that the Time Lord strengthens Boston offensively and fortifies them on the defensive end with his ability to patrol the paint and defend the rim at an elite level. Tatum noticed how Williams “was in a great rhythm” and that the Celtics are”extremely happy to have (Williams) back.”

 “He does so many tremendous things that not many people in the league can even do,” said Grant, “He does a phenomenal job of not only protecting us on the defensive end, but he’s doing a great job pressuring on the offensive glass, being a threat down there – a lob threat. And like JT and [Jaylen Brown] have both said in previous days, we get to continue to include him, we get to continue to work him back into the offense, get familiar with him, understand that there may be opportunities to not only throw lobs but also dropping off to him to allow him to make a play.”

Boston will look to win their fourth-consecutive game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday.

The post Boston Reacts to Rob Williams’ Return to the Starting 5 appeared first on SLAM.

AD has missed 12 straight games as of Saturday due to a bone spur fractured off the navicular bone in his right foot and a stress fracture. The Lakers are on a season-best five-game winning streak, improving to 7-5 without Davis in the lineup.

New story: Lakers star big man Anthony Davis will begin the ramp-up process this week to work towards a return, league sources told ESPN. There’s optimism he could be back in the lineup within a couple of weeks https://t.co/8GOqqIttzy

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) January 9, 2023

Davis suffered his foot injury on Dec. 16 when they last played the Denver Nuggets. Since then, the Brow has been limited to spot shooting this far while rehabilitating his foot, per McMenamin.

AD’s ramp-up process will include aquatic pool workouts and running on an altered-gravity treadmill to keep Davis’ total weight off his foot while it continues to heal, according to McMenamin. The Lakers are reportedly optimistic Davis could take only a couple of weeks before he can be penciled in for a potential return to game action.

Davis was averaging 27.4 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game on 59.4 percent shooting from the field.

The post REPORT: Anthony Davis to Begin Ramp-Up Process in Preparation of Return appeared first on SLAM.

There’s optimism Durant will miss less time than he did with a six-week absence last season; a significant sigh of relief around the Nets and their MVP candidate. https://t.co/MrfAPtU90W

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 9, 2023

Kevin Durant will likely undergo MRI testing on his right knee on Monday, according to Brooklyn Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn (via Nick Friedell of ESPN).

Vaughn said Durant will likely get an MRI on Monday.

— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) January 9, 2023

Durant injured his knee late in the third quarter as Heat swingman Jimmy Butler drove to the rim and got his shot blocked by Nets point forward Ben Simmons. Butler fell back into KD’s knee, and the two-time Finals MVP stayed on the ground for a few moments before he remained in the game. The Nets called a timeout 30 seconds later as KD kept rubbing at the knee up and down the floor.

Durant went back to the locker room to get examined and didn’t return.

“He’s in good spirits as we all are,” Kyrie Irving said of Durant, per ESPN. “The strength of our team is us picking each other up. Just being ready for whatever’s thrown at us. I think one of the greatest qualities of our team is our bench and the way we support each other, despite who’s in the lineup. And now it’s time to go out and exemplify that until we find out the timeline with K and when he could be available again. So we just got to be mature about it.”

The injury couldn’t have happened at a worse time for Brooklyn. The Nets have won 18 of their past 20 games, going on a 12-game win streak that catapulted them into second place in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Brooklyn will have to rely on Irving and a next-man-up mentality to keep up their momentum and prevent a collapse like they suffered last year.

Nearly a year ago, Durant suffered a knee sprain on Jan. 15, 2022, that forced him out of action for close to two months. The Nets were 27-15 at the time and went 5-17 during his absence, including an 11-game losing streak. Brooklyn ultimately made the playoffs as a play-in team but got swept in the first round by the NBA Finals runner-up Boston Celtics.

KD has averaged 30 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game as he’s led the Nets back to the top of the Eastern Conference standings. It’ll be interesting to see how Brooklyn will survive his absence and how they play on learning from the lessons they learned during their collapse last year.

The post Nets Will Re-Evaluate Kevin Durant’s Knee in Two Weeks appeared first on SLAM.

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

Andrew Wiggins practiced in full today, Kerr said.

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

— Kendra Andrews (@kendra__andrews) January 6, 2023

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

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

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

Walker averaged 8.0 points and 2.1 assists per game during his nine-game stint with the Mavericks after he signed a veterans minimum to play in Dallas in November.

Sources: Mavs are waiving Kemba Walker, whose salary would have become guaranteed Saturday. Two-way G McKinley Wright IV has earned minutes and Mavs also want to leave path for rookie Jaden Hardy to get playing time. Walker had 32-point game for Mavs and was ultimate pro.

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) January 6, 2023

Cardiac Kemba’s best performance as Mav came after dropping 32 points in a 100-99 loss to Cleveland on Dec. 17 in an effort to carry the load when Luka Doncic and Spencer Dinwiddie sat out.

McKinley Wright’s development and increased workload as a defensive-minded guard helped Dallas decide. Dallas is reportedly looking to create more playing time for rookie guard Jaden Hardy who has averaged 28.8 points per game when playing in the G League. Hardy scored 15 points in 15 minutes against the Celtics on Thursday.

Dallas will also consider signing players to 10-day deals before they officially close that open roster spot Walker’s release created.

The post The Dallas Mavericks Have Waived Veteran Guard Kemba Walker appeared first on SLAM.

They talked about one crucial detail: KD’s decision to walk back his offseason trade request and reiterate his commitment to playing with the Nets after the front office couldn’t find a suitable trade to move the former MVP. Since then, Brooklyn has taken over third place in the Eastern Conference playoff picture after reeling off a 12-game winning streak and winning 13 of their last 15 games.

During that same 15-game span, Brooklyn was no. 1 in offense (120.4 and no. 5 in defense (111.3). Durant averaged 29.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game on 59.5 percent shooting from the field and 38.9 percent from beyond the arc. Teammate and close friend Kyrie Irving put up 27.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game while shooting 51.7 percent from the field and 41.5 percent from beyond the arc.

The big-time production has led to Brooklyn becoming an Eastern Conference Finals contender, and the vibes around Barclays Center have been higher than ever. Durant told Friedell that he knew his teammates “enjoy grinding” and that he “had the faith” that his questions about the team practicing harder and paying attention to detail would be answered and that Brooklyn and his teammates understood those are his values as a player.

“I don’t even look at s— that way. My whole thing was like — are we, does the process matter to us? And that’s one thing I did know that people here enjoy, grinding. So that was the most important thing for me. Titles and stuff come with the process in which you — how you prepare. It was more so, “All right, are we going to practice harder? Are we going to pay more attention to detail?”

“Not just everybody else, all of us, me included. Is that going to be preached to us every day? I had the faith that that would happen because I voiced that throughout the summer as well. Even behind the scenes, like, “Yo, this is what I like to do. This is how I like to practice.” I’ve been saying that for the last couple years, so I figured at that point with me going through that, they understood what I value. That’s what I was hanging my hat on, the preparation side of it.”

Brooklyn and Durant will look to get back their winning ways when they play the New Orleans Pelicans (24-14) on the road.

The post Kevin Durant on Why He’s Confident Brooklyn Can be a Title Contender appeared first on SLAM.

To this point, Brunson has averaged career-highs in points (20.8 points) and assists (6.5) per game on 46.7 shooting from the field and 37.5 percent from beyond the arc. On Wednesday, Brunson set the tone of New York’s 117-114 win over the Spurs after scoring a career-high 38 points, seven board, and six dimes.

The 38-point outing left Popovich in a complimentary mood with the five-time champion saying Brunson’s “got it all.”

“He’s got it all,” Popovich said of Brunson, per Sports Illustrated. “He’s got the skill, but he’s also got the toughness. He’s got the basketball IQ to go with it. Just a hell of a competitor.”

Jalen Brunson dropped a regular season career-high to lead the Knicks to the W in MSG.

38 PTS
7 REB
6 AST pic.twitter.com/HcFmHRRSXC

— NBA (@NBA) January 5, 2023

Brunson knocked down three field goals over the final 3:02 minutes of the game to secure New York’s three-point win.

“Whatever it takes to win,” Brunson said. “I could have 38, or I could have three points. If we win, that’s all I really care about.”

The post Gregg Popovich Says Jalen Brunson’s ‘Got it All’ After Career-High Outing appeared first on SLAM.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Indiana and Turner have opened up extension talks. However, Matt Moore of Action Network reported that if no deal can be negotiated, the Pacers might pull the trigger and move on from the eighth-year veteran.

Turner is averaging 16.7 points and 7.9 rebounds per game on 55.6 percent shooting from the field and 39.8 percent from beyond the arc. He’s been the subject of trade rumors for a couple of seasons despite being one of the top defensive big men in the League while blocking 2.3 shots per game for his career.

Over his last five appearances, Turner has put up 19.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game and is knocking down 62.3 percent of his shots.

The Pacers (21-18) are seventh in the Eastern Conference, squarely in the play-in tournament, and hold the tiebreaker over the New York Knicks. Indiana had won six of its last eight games and was on a four-game winning streak before the Philadelphia 76ers snapped it on Wednesday.

The post REPORT: Indiana Expected to Trade Myles Turner At the Deadline appeared first on SLAM.

Beal suffered the injury in the second quarter of Washington’s eventual 123-113 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. He posted eight points and four assists in 13 minutes before he left the game. Washington said that the three-time All-Star will miss the next three games and will be re-evaluated in one week.

Bradley Beal was diagnosed with a low-grade left hamstring strain after undergoing an MRI.

Beal will be out for the team’s next three games and will be re-evaluated in one week.

: https://t.co/nmqIvOVwAB pic.twitter.com/K2ZWlWZrcU

— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) January 5, 2023

Beal is averaging 22.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game on 52.5 percent shooting from the field and 34.0 percent from beyond the arc for a Wizards (17-22) team fighting for a play-in tournament spot.

The post Bradley Beal Will be Evaluated in One Week After Suffering Hamstring Strain appeared first on SLAM.

The home win came despite LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Lonnie Walker being absent from the lineup. Instead, the Lakers relied on Dennis Schroder, Russell Westbrook, Thomas Bryant, and Austin Reaves to deliver the four-point win.

Reaves was particularly important for the win after contributing 11 points, five rebounds, and three assists, including a inbounding dime to Westbrook for a clutch and-one layup to give the Lakers a 110-106 lead with 14.2 seconds remaining. Reaves’ dish earned some significant praise from head coach Darvin Ham during postgame interviews.

In fact, the clutch play led Ham to call the second-year guard an “all-time inbounder,” per Michael Corvo of Clutch Points. When Reaves heard what his first-year head coach said, he said “it means a lot for him to have trust in me in that position to make the right play.”

“It’s great, I mean, if we [score] off of that every game it’s a win, so it means a lot for him to have the trust in me to put me in that position to make the right play,” Reaves said per Spectrum SportsNet.

“I [saw] Russ was open, semi-open, so I threw it to him,” Reaves joked about his decision-making process in threading what was essentially the pass that led to the game-winning score.

The Lakers will look to extend their winning streak when they play the Hawks (18-20) on the road.

The post Darvin Ham Calls Austin Reaves An ‘All-Time Inbounder’ appeared first on SLAM.

If the Bulls make Zach LaVine available before the trade deadline, rival NBA executives are keeping an eye on the Knicks, Lakers, Mavericks, and Heat as potential suitors.

More on players who can be moved after January 15 with @YossiGozlan on @hoopshype. https://t.co/kN2RBmIy5I

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) January 5, 2023

Each team has assets, connections, or an ideal player they’d like LaVine to play with if they can acquire him.

The Knicks have endless draft capital they could trade, LaVine is signed with Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, and LaVine played college ball at UCLA, so joining the Lakers is a possibility. Dallas can only rely on Luka Doncic so much, and pairing him with another All-Star like LaVine could yield fantastic results. According to Scotto, the Mavs don’t want to trade a first-round pick unless they think they’re trading for a championship-caliber player.

Miami is Miami, and they can include reigning Sixth Man of the Year winner Tyler Herro in any package they offer.

However, this is all contingent on Chicago’s willingness to part ways with LaVine. The Bulls (17-21) are in 10th place and squarely in the fight for a play-in tournament spot.

The post REPORT: Knicks, Lakers, Mavericks, and Heat Listed as Potential Zach LaVine Suitors appeared first on SLAM.

Antetokounmpo dropped 30 points on 7-18 shooting from the field, 1-3 from beyond the arc, and he went 15-21 from the free-throw line, 10 assists including the game-winning dime to Grayson Allen (16 points and the game-winning triple from the corner), and a season-high 21 rebounds to secure a 104-101 win over the Toronto Raptors (16-22) on Wednesday.

His second triple-double performance comes off a career-high 55 point performance against Washington the night point. Before that, he posted at least 40/10/5 in each of his past three appearances. The back-to-back MVP being able to summon that kind of outing on the back end of a back-to-back is indicative of his desire to make his dominance “boring.”

“On a back-to-back, he used a lot of energy both last night and tonight,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said per ESPN. “They (Toronto) are very physical. For him to find a way to get us over the top was huge.”

Embrace every moment. pic.twitter.com/LCd9XGGpPV

— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) January 5, 2023

Antetokounmpo’s triple-double wasn’t just noteworthy for the fact it made Milwaukee 4-0 on the second game of a back-to-back. It also placed the Greek Freak beside Kareem Abudl-Jabbar for another outstanding accomplishment. This time Antetokounmpo became the first player to drop 200+ points, 80+ rebounds, and 30+ assists over a five-game stretch since the Hall-of-Famer center did it in 1972.

“Obviously your body is tired,” Antetokounmpo said. “It’s more mental than physical, just being about to go out there and get the job done on a back-to-back always feels good.”

Giannis’s last 5 games:

30 PTS, 21 REB, 10 AST
55 PTS, 10 REB, 7 AST
43 PTS, 20 REB, 5 AST
45 PTS, 22 REB, 7 AST
27 PTS, 9 REB, 3 AST

He's the first player since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1972 to drop 200+ PTS, 80+ REB, and 30+ AST over a 5-game span. pic.twitter.com/gktMMk1a9Y

— NBA (@NBA) January 5, 2023

Antetokounmp is averaging 32.7 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game and has led the Bucks (25-13) to a tie with the Boston Celtics (26-12) for the top record in the Eastern Conference. The Bucks have Wednesday off and then they’ll play the Charlotte Hornets (10-29) on Friday.

The post Giannis Antetokounmpo Reaches Another Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Milestone appeared first on SLAM.

Just one play before, Klay Thompson (30 points on 11-12 shooting) tied the game up at 119-all with one second left on the clock. Bey responded with an off-balance triple to stun the Warriors.

The former Villanova Wildcat scored 17 points on 6-17 shooting from the field and 4-10 from beyond the arc, including his game-winner to sink Golden State. Bey also contributed three rebounds and two steals off the bench.

“It was tough, I don’t even remember I kind of blacked out a little bit,” Bey said, per ESPN. “I had one second, so I didn’t have that much time to think, so I had to shoot it, so I’m just grateful it went in.”

SADDIQ BEY. GAME WINNER.#TissotBuzzerBeater | #TimingEmotions pic.twitter.com/JiIYbiNKQI

— NBA (@NBA) January 5, 2023

Bey has knocked down two game-winning three’s in his career, and both came in January. Bey hit an overtime game-winner to sink the San Antonio Spurs on Jan. 1, 2022.

The post Watch: Saddiq Bey’s Buzzer-Beater Shock the Golden State Warriors appeared first on SLAM.

On Wednesday, Myers shared that Curry was evaluated New Year’s Weekend and that the two-time MVP didn’t suffer any “setbacks or anything like that.” Myers believes Curry can return by Golden States’ upcoming road trip, which begins Jan. 13 against the San Antonio Spurs.

“He’s going to get evaluated this weekend, and he’s working out on the court,” Myers told 95.7 The Game. “The two-week mark to evaluate him was this weekend, but there’s been no, at this point, setbacks or anything like that. So that would be — what, the first road game is on Friday; I think it’s San Antonio.

That would be a hope. I mean, that will be what we’ll be shooting for — He’s been, not contact, but out there doing all this stuff, and he looks like the same guy. He’s got a sleeve on his shoulder and his arm, but that would be the plan. We’ve got to see what he looks like this weekend.”

Curry suffered a left shoulder subluxation on Dec. 14 when the Warriors took on the Indiana Pacers. The injury knocked him out of Golden State’s last nine games. The Warriors have been able to go 6-3 without the only unanimous MVP in NBA history and are riding a five-game win streak capped by Klay Thompson’s season-high 54-point outing against the Toronto Raptors.

The post Bob Myers Reveals Stephen Curry Could Return as Soon as Next Week Against San Antonio appeared first on SLAM.

The recent stretch of lagging defense and tough losses have proven to be their first test of adversity this season. Surging star forward Jayson Tatum recently gave NBC Sports Boston some insight into what Boston has to do to rediscover their identity and play winning basketball again.

“I think it’s on the first group; we’ve got to back to our identity,” Tatum said. “When we were playing at the best and highest level, we would just play faster. That’s some 0.5 basketball, shoot it, pass it, or drive it. When we play like that, we’re damn near unguardable. Making shots is part of that, so they go hand and hand.”

Over the last nine games, Boston ranks 23rd in offense (113.5) and seventh in defense (112.8). A bit of a reversing trend for a team that held the top offense in the League and a bottom-15 defense before the Celtics’ 4-5 stretch of basketball. Going forward, Boston will likely look to marry their two-way play at a higher level beginning with a road game against the Dallas Mavericks.

The post Jayson Tatum on How the Boston Celtics Can Get ‘Back to Our Identity’ appeared first on SLAM.

the minivan is revving up! pic.twitter.com/uc5ozuO1Qp

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) January 3, 2023

The Beard has continuously encouraged the former Iowa State Cyclone to shoot the leather off the ball whenever he plays. When the Sixers hosted the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday, Niang took that advice to heart and scored a bench-high 15 points on 5-9 shooting from deep after 26 minutes of action. Niang’s effort earned praise from Harden, who called Niang the 76ers’ “sharpshooter.”

“If he’s not shooting the ball, he shouldn’t be in the game,” Harden said per Sports Illustrated. “I said, ‘Shoot the ball.’ Tonight, he did a really good job of that. He’s our sharpshooter.”

.@GeorgesNiang20 is now 4-5 from 3…

pic.twitter.com/Z8oDTI22BR

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) January 3, 2023

Niang is in the middle of his second season with the 76ers after signing as a free agent in 2021. Last year, Niang shot 5.1 threes per game and hit them at a 40.3 percent rate off the bench. He’s reprised that role this season, and he’s been shooting 40.7 percent from beyond the arc on a career-high 5.7 attempts per game. He’s also scoring a career-best 9.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game.

The post James Harden: Georges Niang is Philadelphia’s ‘Sharpshooter’ appeared first on SLAM.

Although they’re looking outside the playoff and play-in tournament picture, Toronto doesn’t seem likely to blow up the roster and start a rebuild. However, if Raptors president Masai Ujiri decides that tanking is the best long-term option, he could reportedly find a significant haul trading Pascal Siakam and O.G. Anunoby, according to Michael Grange of Sportsnet.

“Or maybe they go all in and consider trading Siakam and Anunoby for what would likely be massive returns of picks and young talent,” Sportsnet’s Michael Grange wrote. “‘A s—load’ was the ballpark estimate provided by one league insider.”

The Raptors could use that trade to help build a strong roster around reigning Rookie of the Year and SLAM 239 cover star Scottie Barnes.

Siakam is averaging 26.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game while shooting 48.5 percent from the field. Anunoby is averaging a career-high 18.6 points per game on 47.1 percent shooting from the field and 35.3 percent from beyond the arc. Siakam is a solid second or third star that any team would like to pair with their superstar duo.

Anunoby has emerged as an intriguing trade candidate and is putting up borderline All-Star numbers as a two-way wing for the Raptors. Siakam and Anunoby have deals that go through the 2023-24 season, with Anunoby carrying a player option for the 2024-25 season.

Barnes is a cornerstone talent for Toronto, and shipping off veterans like Siakam and Anunoby would force Barnes into a more significant role. The Raptors have lost seven of their last 10 games and are 5-18 on the road. They’ve made the postseason in eight of the previous nine seasons and won an NBA title in the 2018-19 campaign.

A decision will likely be made soon as the trade deadline approaches, and Ujiri can’t go wrong with either choice.

The post REPORT: Toronto Looking at Big Return if They Trade Pascal Siakam and O.G. Anunoby appeared first on SLAM.

Crowder hasn’t played this season after he told the Suns he wanted out of Phoenix. Crowder is in the final year of his current deal.

“According to someone who has spoken to the Heat’s front office, the Heat remains interested in Jae Crowder, but only in a buyout situation, barring Phoenix shockingly taking a bad contract off Miami’s hands,” per Jackson.

The Heat is still looking to regain the identity that helped them make a run to the 2020 NBA Finals and an Eastern Conference Finals appearance against the Boston Celtics. As of Tuesday, Miami (20-18) has the seventh-best record in the East. They could use some depth at the forward position after P.J. Tucker left for the 76ers in free agency.

The Heat have also dealt with an avalanche of injuries to their core players.

When Crowder last played, he averaged 9.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game while shooting 39.9 percent from the field and 35.8 percent from the three-point line. Crowder has developed a reputation as a three-and-D wing that’s value due to his playoff experience and timely shooting.

Crowder last played for Miami during their run to the 2020 NBA Finals. His familiarity with their system could help negotiations if the Suns and Heat agree on a buyout. He appeared in 20 games that season and averaged 11.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game on 48.2 percent shooting from the field and 44.5 percent from beyond the arc.

The post REPORT: Miami Interested in Buying Out Jae Crowder appeared first on SLAM.

The Hornets said that “updates on the procedure and his rehabilitation status will be provided when appropriate.” Oubre missed three of Charlotte’s last four games with the injury.

Sources: Hornets forward Kelly Oubre Jr. will undergo surgery on a torn ligament in his left hand and miss 4-to-6 weeks. Oubre – averaging a career high 20.2 points – suffered the injury in the first week of the season and has been playing through the pain on his shooting hand.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 3, 2023

The 27-year-old wing is averaging a career-high 20.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game on 42.1 percent shooting from the field and 30.8 percent from beyond the arc. The Hornets will also miss Gordon Hayward for their upcoming Wednesday night game against Memphis due to a hamstring injury he suffered on Monday against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The post Kelly Oubre to Undergo Surgery to Repair a Torn Hand Ligament appeared first on SLAM.

After 10 seasons and one championship with the Bucks, the Greek Freak is ready to be so dominant that it becomes a regular thing to expect. That it’s “boring” to see him put up the type of performance he recently had against Washington. Antetokounmpo dropped 55 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists on Tuesday as the Bucks beat the Wizards 123-113, snapping Washington’s five-game winning streak.

“I want to get in a position … that my game is boring,” Antetokounmpo said. “I just do what I do, and people don’t talk about it because it becomes boring — I do it every single night. That’s what I want to do. I want other people to feel like my game is boring. But I don’t get bored. The greats — the best players — never get bored. They go out there, and they always give their best any given night.”

Giannis joins Moses Malone and Russell Westbrook as the only players since 1976-77 with 40+ points and 10+ rebounds in three consecutive games!

Dec. 28: 45 & 22
Dec. 30: 43 & 20
Jan. 3: 55 & 10 pic.twitter.com/UdU37BCc9D

— NBA (@NBA) January 4, 2023

The back-to-back MVP has put at least 40/10/5 in all three of his last outings. The only other players to replicate that kind of stat line in NBA history are Elgin Baylor in 1961 and ’63 and Russell Westbrook in 2016. The only other Bucks to score at least 40 in three straight appearances are Flynn Robinson in February 1969 and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in February 1972.

Create art. pic.twitter.com/t4JIc1yYYh

— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) January 4, 2023

The 2021 Finals MVP is averaging a career-high 32.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 5.2 rebounds on 53.6 percent shooting from the field. The Bucks are set to take on the Raptors to end their latest set of back-to-back games

The post Giannis Antetokounmpo is Aiming to Make His Nightly Dominance ‘Boring’ appeared first on SLAM.

New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson is expected to miss multiple weeks with a hamstring strain, sources tell ESPN. Williamson underwent an MRI today.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 3, 2023

Williamson suffered his hamstring injury on Monday against the Philadelphia 76ers. He left the game and didn’t return after he pulled up and grabbed his right leg while rumbling down the court. An MRI on Tuesday confirmed the severity of Williamson’s injury, according to Woj.

Zion cruising through traffic pic.twitter.com/G6MZok2Pvj

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) January 3, 2023

This multiple-week absence will be the first time the Pelicans will miss Williamson for an extended amount of time. New Orleans (23-14) is a game back of first place, behind the Nuggets (24-13) and second-lace Memphis Grizzlies (23-13).

Williamson is averaging 26.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game on 60.8 percent shooting from the field and 36.8 percent from beyond the arc.

The post REPORT: Zion Williamson Expected to Miss Multiple Weeks with Hamstring Injury appeared first on SLAM.

And rookie head coach Darvin Ham has indicated that he will continue to lean on the four-time MVP until Davis returns and the Lakers are healthy.

“I just want to ride him,” Ham said, per ESPN. “And he allows you to do that because he takes such great care of himself. So, it’s a great luxury to have.”

While AD has missed the last nine Lakers contests, James has taken over and has averaged 35.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game. The King has put up back-to-back 40-point outings in the previous two games and led the Lakers to a 6-5 record over the last 11 games, eight without AD. The future Hall-of-Famer has maintained dominance because of his famously rigid body maintenance.

“At 18 and 20, you’re just doing it off straight-up energy and straight skill,” he said when comparing his younger self to now, per Yahoo Sports. “But at 38, for me, it’s mental. How much rest I can get from day to day, get my optimal sleep, get the right food in me, treat my body right.”

While The King’s dominance has been amazing to watch, Ham has to be careful that he doesn’t rely too heavily on James. The future Hall-of-Famer has more basketball behind him than ahead of him, and he’s dealt with more leg injuries than ever.

The Lakers have a soft schedule between Jan. 3 and Jan. 15, with four of them being played at home. Right now, the Lakers are just four games back of the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference and are set to host the Heat and Hawks on Wednesday and Friday, respectively.

The post Darvin Ham: ‘it’s a Great Luxury to Have’ LeBron James appeared first on SLAM.

The Pistons acquired Bagley at the trade deadline last season and signed him to a three-year deal over the summer.

Marvin Bagley III will reportedly miss an indefinite amount of time after suffering an undisclosed right-hand injury, per NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Bagley III is averaging 10.6 points and 5.9 rebounds for the Pistons.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 3, 2023

Woj reported that Bagley would undergo further testing to determine his next steps to return to the team. Bagley is averaging 10.7 points and 5.9 rebounds on 53.7 percent shooting for a Detroit team already without Cade Cunningham, who suffered a shin injury that ultimately needed season-ending surgery to repair.

The post Marvin Bagley III Out Six Weeks After Successful Hand Surgery appeared first on SLAM.

 The five-time All-Star showed he’s another step closer to reaching those peak performances after dropping 54 points on 21-39 shooting from the field, 10-21 from the three-point line, leading the Warriors to a 143-141 double-overtime against the Hawks.

“It’s a huge accomplishment for me,” Thompson said per ESPN. “There were some hard days for me when I didn’t know that this would be possible in real-time. I am just going to embrace the heck out of it.”

Klay in the Warriors 2-OT win!

54 PTS
7 REB
10 threes pic.twitter.com/CdOB2SqCaT

— NBA (@NBA) January 3, 2023

The 54-point outing was his biggest scoring out since his career-best 60-point performance in three quarters on Dec. 5, 2016, against the Indiana Pacers. It was Thompson’s fourth career 50-point game and his seventh with at least 10 3s

“He just made shot after shot and play after play. He was incredible,” Golden State coach Steve Kerr said.

After a prime-time performance like that, Thompson’s confidence will likely be at an all-time high. It’s the type of performance that can also set up some great things in 2023. Great news for a team looking to reverse their fortunes and make a run for a higher seed in the playoffs. However, teammate Draymond Green doesn’t want Thompson to not place too much pressure on himself.

“You don’t have to be the same Klay that you once were before,” Green said. “When you understand that, and you buy into that, then you become the Klay you were before.”

“When you’re as competitive as he is when you’re as good as he is, it’s tough sometimes,” Green said. “For two years, everybody is doubting you. That same fire toward that doubt is what made you, Klay Thompson — you don’t just lose that. That is embedded in you. It’s good to see him settle down. He’s not chasing it anymore, and it’s falling right in his lap. When you are that good, that’s usually what happens.”

Fourth career 50-point game.
Klay Thompson balled out last night.

» https://t.co/ocDF2EHeJH pic.twitter.com/anzqUguZj1

— VoteDraymond4AllStar (@warriors) January 3, 2023

Thompson says he’s in a place now than at the start of the season. The 32-year-old sharpshooter told reporters that wanting to prove everyone wrong was a disservice to himself, and now he has to remind himself that playing for the Warriors “is a dream” and that he’s shifted his mindset to “having fun and playing hard.”

“I have to remind myself daily that [playing for the Warriors] is literally the dream. What matters most is having fun and playing hard. All the numbers, all the big nights will come as long as I do those two things.”

The Warriors and Klay Thompson will play the Pistons on Wednesday.

The post Steve Kerr Calls Klay Thompson ‘Incredible’ After 54-Point Performance appeared first on SLAM.

He’s become a premier playoff performer during his six postseason tours; however, the Jazz only won two playoff series; Mitchell was a standout and did everything he could to help lead Utah over the hump before they traded him to Cleveland last summer.

Now that trajectory is skyrocketing again after he dropped a Cavaliers franchise record 71 points, career-high tying 11 assists, and eight rebounds in 50 minutes on 22-34 shooting from the field and 7-15 shooting from beyond the arc to lead the Cavaliers to a 145-134 overtime win over the Chicago Bulls. He also hit a career-high 20-25 free throws.

71 PTS
8 REB
11 AST
W

Donovan Mitchell sets a new scoring record for the Cleveland Cavaliers and becomes only the 7th player in NBA history to score 70+ points in a game. pic.twitter.com/qbOwr3sqyH

— NBA (@NBA) January 3, 2023

Mitchell has scored the most points in a game by any player since Hall-of-Famer Kobe Bryant put up 81 points against the Toronto Raptors on Jan. 22, 2006. Then-76ers center and eventual Hall-of-Famer Wilt Chamberlain holds the single-game record for most points scored after he scored 100 against the Knicks on March 2, 1962.

“To be there in the record book with guys like Wilt is truly humbling,” said Mitchell, per ESPN. “I always believed I could be one of the best players in the league. I’m speechless and blessed to be in the company of that greatness.”

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Mitchell’s coup-de-grace happened during overtime, as he scored 13 points. He forced overtime after rebounding his intentionally missed free throw and hit a circus shot layup with 3.0 seconds left to tie the game up at 130-all. The clutch bucket broke the Cavaliers’ previous single-game scoring record of 58 points.

Spida is the seventh player in League history to join the 70-point club. Chamberlain did it six times, while Bryant, David Thompson, Elgin Baylor, David Robinson, and Booker each scored at least 70 points once.

“We were treated tonight to one of the greatest performances in the history of the game,” Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “Every single play that he made was a play that was necessary.

“Donovan has never put himself above the team, so how can you not root for a guy like that? I told everyone else to get out of the way.”

The three-time All-Star scored or assisted on 99 points, the second most in a game in NBA history and the most since Chamberlain’s legendary 100-point outing. His 55 second-half points are tied with Bryant for the most by any player over the past 25 seasons.

The post Donovan Mitchell On His ‘Humbling’ Franchise Record 71-Point Outing appeared first on SLAM.

However, that hasn’t given free agent signee Austin River any reason to believe Minnesota is incapable of a run. The Timberwolves are still headlined by Anthony Edwards, D’Angelo Russell, Rudy Gobert, and Karl-Anthony Towns once he returns from his calf injury. With All-Star-level talent like that, Rivers believes “the dynamic will change” once they reel off “three or four” wins in a row.

Austin Rivers:
“We gotta go get wins. Then the energy will turn, I promise you. We win three or four in a row, the whole dynamic will change. I promise you. Just gotta stay with us, man. And we gotta stay with us, more importantly, than anybody else.”

— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) January 2, 2023

He also believes that Minnesota has “more than enough here” with a “loaded roster” and “great coach” that can get Minnesota back to contending for the playoffs. The T-Wolves are likely looking at good fortunes coming once KAT returns and the team finds a winning rotation that can help make the most out of what Edwards, Towns, and Gobert do well as offensive threats.

Combine that with Russell running pick-and-rolls and being a contender to help close games out, and it’s possible Minnesota can go beyond just being the play-in contender they currently are.

Rivers:
“We have more than enough here. We have a loaded team, loaded roster, great coach. It’s one of those things that in the NBA, when it rains it pours sometimes, it really does. But perspective is everything. I think the main thing for us right now is keeping perspective.”

— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) January 2, 2023

The post Austin Rivers: Minnesota’s ‘Dynamic Will Change’ With More Wins appeared first on SLAM.

Through 30 games, the rookie out of Purdue has established that his elite athleticism is his greatest gift, and until he can harness it just a bit more, it will lead to some struggles as he learns the NBA. He can’t blow by defenders like he did in high school and college. Now he has to learn how to change speeds and harness his lethal first step to shoot outside the paint.

“You watch him the open floor, and he’s dangerous,” Pistons head coach Willie Green said per The Athletic. “He’ll continue to develop his shot. He’ll get better as time progresses. That’s just how those guys are.”

Luckily for Ivey, there is confidence in Detroit and from coaches around the NBA that Ivey possesses the work ethic needed to become a pivotal centerpiece to the Pistons returning to relevancy. Within Detroit, Ivey works out with Pistons assistant coach Rex Kalamian and player development coach Jordan Brink after practice to improve his mid-range game.

The gains haven’t been immediate, but Detroit and Ivey know that the mid-range addition to his bag will force opponents to defend him honestly and will be a crucial counter against teams clogging the paint when Ivey drives to the rim. Conversely, Ivey has swiftly helped Detroit get to the free-throw line more often. As of Tuesday, the Pistons rank no. 1 in free-throw attempts per game, and Ivey ranks fourth on the roster in free throws per game, third among all rookies with 4.2.

“He plays with a fearlessness, from the outside looking in,” Cavaliers coach JB Bickerstaff said.” And it’s one of those things where, if you continue to put in the work when you have that mindset, you have an opportunity to be a really good player, and I think he does.”

The development and improvement will come as Ivey continues to work on his game. Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley saw that Ivey is “a very serious kid about his work.” He noticed this trait when the Magic hosted pre-draft workouts and interviews with Ivey.

“Sitting down and talking to him a little bit, he’s a very serious kid about his work,” said Mosley, whose Orlando team, the holder of the No. 1 pick, worked out and interviewed Ivey during the pre-draft process. “You respect that. You enjoy that. To see someone who takes their craft seriously. Being one of those guys who is going to be the first in the gym and last out of the gym. He’s got a basketball mind and just wants to work.”

Clippers head coach Ty Lue said Ivey has been “amazing” during his rookie year. He has also noticed that Ivey’s aforementioned pressure on the rim helps tip games in Detroit’s favor. The former champ believes that the problems Ivey will face come from “just understanding the NBA game,” and compared the former lottery pick to Russell Westbrook, specifically comparing how they get downhill and stay in attack mode.

“At the point guard position, more than anything, just understanding the NBA game,” Lue said when asked about the big problem young guards faces. “What (Ivey) does every single night? He plays hard, he attacks, and he gets downhill. Soon, he’ll see, ‘OK, I have to get a mid-range shot. Now, I have to improve my 3-point shooting.’ That’ll open up everything for him. The change of pace, change of speeds … he’ll get that. Right now, he’s a lot like Westbrook when he came into the game — getting downhill, attacking.

Thus far, Ivey is averaging 15.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game on 41.2 percent shooting from the field and 31.5 percent from beyond the arc.

The post Head Coaches Around the NBA Praise Jaden Ivey’s Impact on Detroit appeared first on SLAM.

Here’s what happened across the L over the weekend. Let’s get it.

Darvin Ham Announces the Pain in Anthony Davis’ Foot ‘Has Just About Dissipated’:

Lakers head coach Darvin Ham told reporters that Anthony Davis’ foot has improved to the point that “his pain has just about dissipated” since he first suffered the injury two weeks ago against the Nuggets.

Darvin Ham, two weeks after Anthony Davis suffered the stress injury in his right foot, says “the biggest thing is, his pain has just about dissipated” and says Davis is trending in the right direction when it comes to approaching a ramp up to return to the court.

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) December 30, 2022

LeBron James Drops 47-10-9 on his Birthday to Deliver a Lakers Win:

LeBron James showed us once again that age ain’t nothing but a number on his birthday. The four-time MVP turned 38 on Friday and celebrated this lap around the sun by dropping 47 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists to lead the Lakers to a 130-121 win over the Atlanta Hawks.

“At 18 years old, I knew how to play the game,” James said, per ESPN. “I knew I belonged in the NBA, but I didn’t know what I could become at 18. But I knew if I continued to put in the work and I continued to reach into the game, then I could be one of the greatest players to ever play this game.”

47 PTS
10 REB
9 AST@Lakers W@KingJames showed out on his 38th birthday!pic.twitter.com/33lO5BnVpo

— NBA (@NBA) December 31, 2022

CJ McCollum Knocks Down A Pelicans Record 11 Three-Pointers:

CJ McCollum was unstoppable Saturday night as he scored 42 points, four rebounds, five assists on a franchise record, and a career-high 11 made three-pointers against the 76ers.

“You don’t just fall into these types of nights,” McCollum said, per The Athletic. “It comes with preparation. It comes with a lot of different sacrifices you make in your household and things like that. Some nights I go to the gym. Some nights I’m getting treatment. Some nights I’m lifting. It’s time away from home. But I joke with my wife all the time and say, ‘I could be gone a lot and suck at basketball. Luckily, I’m gone a lot, and I don’t suck.’”

42 PTS
4 REB
5 AST
11 3PM (franchise-record, career-high)@CJMcCollum went OFF in the @PelicansNBA win. pic.twitter.com/s09E7DdoQr

— NBA (@NBA) December 31, 2022

Tyler Herro Brings in the New Year With a Buzzer-Beater:

Tyler Herro put an exclamation point on Miami’s strong offensive showing with a game-winning buzzer-beater to beat the Utah Jazz on New Year’s Eve, 126-123. Herro posted 29 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, followed by Bam Adebayo’s game-high 32 points and eight rebounds, and Victor Oladipo rounded out the final win in 2022 with 23 points off the bench.

Miami outscored Utah 54-32 in the win and shot 51 percent from the field. As a team, the Heat dished 32 assists on 45 buckets.

“The ball was flying around,” Herro said, per ESPN. “We were making plays for each other, getting stops defensively, and turning it into easy buckets on the other end.”

TYLER HERRO WINS IT FOR THE HEAT #TissotBuzzerBeater | #TimingEmotions pic.twitter.com/MqLHRlsVXL

— NBA (@NBA) January 1, 2023

Luka Doncic Makes More History After Dropping 50+ For the Third Time in 5 Games:

Luka Doncic has been on a historic tear while helping Dallas win six straight games after Doncic dropped 51 points, six boards, nine dimes, four steals, and six made triples to beat San Antonio 126-125. Luka Legend has dropped three 50+ points in his last five outings, put up the most 40+ point games in Mavs history, and became the first player ever to post 225+ points and 50+ rebounds, and 50+ assists over a five-game span.

The three-time All-Star is also the eighth player in NBA history to contribute three or more 50-point outings in a season before he turned 25-years-old. He joins James, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Rick Barry, Nate Archibald, and Wilt Chamberlain in the exclusive Hall-of-Fame club.

51 PTS
6 REB
9 AST
4 STL
6 3PM
W

Luka has dropped 50+ in 3 of his last 5 games. Unstoppable. pic.twitter.com/AFYYqmWaUb

— NBA (@NBA) January 1, 2023

The post NBA Weekend Recap: LeBron James Drops Buckets on His Birthday, and Luka Doncic Makes More History appeared first on SLAM.

“It’s been crazy, but that’s how the game goes,” McClung said in an episode of “The Break,” a series produced by the G League. “If I got to play for all 30 [teams] to make it, I’m going to play for all 30.”

Life on the fringes of the NBA is often a roller coaster. And even for a former high school superstar and social media sensation like McClung, the spotlight doesn’t shine very bright in the G. Nonetheless, the 6-2 guard out of Texas Tech has quietly been making big strides. 

After going undrafted in 2021, McClung eventually landed with the South Bay Lakers, the affiliate of the Los Angeles Lakers. He averaged 19.6 points, 5.8 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.2 steals through the first 13 games of the season before being called up by the Chicago Bulls in mid-December. Hundreds of players entered COVID-19 protocols that month, which led to an unprecedented number of opportunities for G Leaguers. McClung signed a 10-day contract with the Bulls and made his NBA debut almost exactly a year ago (2 points in 3 minutes against the Hawks). Chicago gave him a second 10-day, but McClung did not receive any more playing time, and returned to the South Bay Lakers in January. 

First known for his jaw-dropping dunks, the 23-year-old has shown his versatility as a pro. Back with South Bay, he averaged 21.6 points, 7.5 assists, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.5 steals, winning the 2021-22 Kia NBA G League Rookie of the Year award (previous winners include Paul Reed, Quinn Cook, Tim Frazier, and Robert Covington). In April, Los Angeles rewarded McClung with a two-way contract and brought him up for the final game of the regular season. He capped a solid performance (and a Lakers victory) that evening with one of those signature jaw-dropping dunks…

Despite a successful, albeit hectic, rookie year, and an impressive showing at the 2022 Summer League, McClung did not make an opening day roster. He turned down million-dollar offers from clubs overseas, instead opting to rejoin the G League and keep chasing his NBA dream. As a member of the Delaware Blue Coats, the affiliate of the Philadelphia 76ers, McClung has thrived in various roles this season. He dropped a career-high 44 points in November and notched his second career triple-double (21 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) shortly after. On some nights, he’s provided a much-needed scoring spark off the bench; on others, he’s been the Blue Coats’ primary playmaker, running the offense and facilitating for his teammates.

SLAM caught up with McClung during the recent G League Winter Showcase in Las Vegas. Delaware won both of their games at the annual scouting event, with McClung averaging 12.5 points (on 59 percent shooting), 7 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals.

SLAM: What was your mindset heading into the Showcase? 

Mac McClung: Just to make the most of whatever my role is for the team. We won, 2-0, that’s always great. Wish we were in the winner’s bracket. But yeah, just make the most of it. Show that I can fit in in any situation.

SLAM: How are you a different player this season compared to last season?

MM: I think I just became better at adapting to situations. I feel like if you’ve seen this year, I’ve played multiple different roles for this team. And I feel like I’ve been a positive influence in each and hopefully people notice that and notice that I can adapt to any situation. 

SLAM: Is there anything specific that you worked on this summer?

MM: Really just film work on patience. When your minutes get cut or something, people often want to force things. I kind of learned to [hold] that back and also just play the game the right way no matter what the situation is, which sounds easy but it’s harder than it sounds.

SLAM: Can you sum up what this past year has been like for you, with all the movement up and down and to different teams/cities? 

MM: It’s been a rollercoaster, if you let it be. That’s one thing I was talking to my parents about. If you let success determine your happiness, it’ll just be a rollercoaster, instead of just buying into each day and the process. That’s one thing I’ve done. And I’m doing what I love every day. Me getting better every single day is my goal—not [moving] up and down [from the NBA]. So when I have that time, hopefully I can capture it. 

SLAM: Any specific moments that encapsulate just how chaotic last season was for you?

MM: If you look at the whole situation, I’ve changed multiple teams. Other teams picked me up. Here, in [Las Vegas] Summer League, I ended up with the Warriors, when I started with the Lakers. It’s just being able to adapt, man. That’s just the League. You’ve got to control what you can. I can’t control what team I’m playing on or if someone wants to give me an opportunity. I just always stay ready.

SLAM: Can you describe your thought process when you were deciding whether to rejoin the G League or sign with a team overseas?

MM: I’ll shout out my best friend, Zac Ervin. I was offered quite a bit of money to go overseas—like, probably I could change my life with that money. I always tell myself I’m going to stick it through until I make it [to the NBA], because I believe in myself. And you get offered that stuff and you’re like, Oh, man. That changes. But my boy Zac was like, “Man, that’s not who you are.” Because we worked out every day from seventh grade to senior year. Every single day. He was like, “Man, you weren’t in the gym for that.” So I’m like, Damn, that’s not who I am. Let me get it while I’m here. 

SLAM: How was your brief experience in the NBA last year beneficial? What did you take away from it?

MM: It’s good just seeing it and learning. I think that’s the biggest thing—experience. When it comes to growing, people talk about, you can work on certain things, but experience is so valuable, man. Being there before is valuable. I got to touch the NBA a little bit and I got those nerves out, those jitters, and I got to see what it’s about. And I’m ready whenever my next opportunity comes. 

SLAM: What can you provide an NBA team right now? 

MM: Multiple things—that’s what I’m trying to show. I’m diverse. If you need me to come and be a point guard off the bench and get others involved, I can do that. If you need me to score, I can score. I’m going to be active—I’m going to be rebounding, diving on the floor, just [providing] energy in any way you want me to.

SLAM: What’s the biggest misconception about your game? 

MM: When I was in college, I wasn’t much of a point guard. But I think if you watch these games, I really get my teammates involved.

SLAM: What’s the biggest misconception about life in the G League?

MM: People just don’t understand how lonely it is, I don’t think. It’s not easy. Andre Ingram told me, “Every five days, something changes.” In the G League, something is changing every five days.

SLAM: What are your overall goals for this season?

MM: Just to keep growing each day, man. I want to play in the NBA. I believe I’m an NBA player. But that will come when I keep working on each day, trying to grow each day. 

Photos via Getty Images.

The post Mac McClung Talks G League Journey, NBA Experience and More appeared first on SLAM.

Those abilities and the opposing defenses’ inability to keep him in front of them led to Williamson scoring 40 points for the first time during his three-year career. Furthermore, Williamson has a distinctive playstyle where he goes through or around defenders on his way to the rim with his incredible combination of size, strength, quickness, explosion, touch, and body control.

Simply put, Williamson is more likely to wear your ass out and break you down for 48 minutes than play like Kyrie Irving and finesse his way to the rim. Case in point, Williamson attempted 20 of his 21 shots in the paint, and only two came from outside of the restricted area. And that came against three-time Defensive Player of the Year and Timberwolves defensive anchor Rudy Gobert guarding the rim.

On Wednesday, all those unique qualities came together to help Williamson post a career-high 43 points on 14-21 shooting from the field, including 33 in the second half, as he showed off that he can close games out in high-pressure moments. He also went 14-19 from the free-throw line and contributed five assists to help New Orleans beat Minnesota 119-118.

“I’ve never seen anything like him. I’ve played with different types of players – scorers and guys who score in a variety of ways. But never someone who’s so paint-dominant,” teammate CJ McCollum said, per The Athletic. “Everything is predicated on drives to the paint. … the ability to make the right plays and be able to handle and move the way he does. The fluidity in his movements, but also the body control on the jumps. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like that. I don’t think we will.”

Career night. Special moment for Z. (via @PelicansNBA) pic.twitter.com/NoG1XD6EmK

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 29, 2022

Williamson’s playstyle has helped New Orleans (22-12) take the top spot in the Western Conference. It’s a developing spot that matters a great deal to Williamson. The one-time All-Star is focused on winning and knows fans and media will “remember winners.”

“People remember winners,” the 22-year-old Williamson said, per ESPN. “When you look at some of the greatest of all time, the first thing you go to is championships, what they did in big moments.

Williamson also added that teammate McCollum urged Williamson to take over in the fourth quarter. And the former Duke Blue Devil took that advice and ran with it as head coach Wille Green told the Pelicans to “get the ball to Z and get the f— out of the way,” according to McCollum. Williamson scored 14 points over the final three minutes of the game.

43 last night. Most points Zion has scored so far. pic.twitter.com/FyEYdlLKuQ

— SLAM Kicks (@SLAMKicks) December 29, 2022

He’s a relentless player that doesn’t take his foot off the pedal, especially when attacking the paint. Williamson doesn’t settle for jumpers; among his 422 shot attempts, 396 of them have been in the paint. That constant aggressiveness helped Williamson average 30.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game in December.

New Orleans can build on their West-leading schedule when they play the 76ers on Friday.

The post CJ McCollum Has ‘Never Seen Anything’ Quite Like Zion Williamson’s Career-High 43-Point Outing appeared first on SLAM.

After the Lakers’ 112-98 loss to his former team, the Miami Heat, the four-time MVP was asked to share how much longer he thinks he will play in the NBA. James led the Lakers in points (27), rebounds (nine), and assists (six) against the team that he played his best basketball for. The Lakeshow is reeling after making so much ground to get back to being a play-in tournament team.

“I don’t have a number,” James said, per ESPN. “I know as long as my mind stays in it, I can play at this level for a minute. Now, that’s up to my mind. My body is going to be OK because if my mind is into it, I will make sure my body is taken care of, and I’ll continue to put in the work.”

The absence of Anthony Davis (out for 7-10 days due to a foot injury) has contributed to the Lakers losing for the ninth time in their last 13 games. James and the Lakers (14-21) are in 13th place in the Western Conference, and it’s already been reported that the Lakers’ front office will likely stay put at the trade deadline due to concerns that making “win-now moves” could compound their past mistakes.

The Lakers’ fortunes will ultimately decide how much longer he stays in the purple-and-gold. He has two years and $97 million left on his current contract. Not to mention that he has a player option for that final year. The one thing that can alleviate Rob Pelinka and Jeanie Buss’ concerns that the King will leave them high and dry is getting back to playing winning basketball.

After all, winning is the true fountain of youth, and James ultimately identifies with the sentiment.

“I’m a winner, and I want to win,” James said. “And I want to win and give myself a chance to win and still compete for championships. That has always been my passion. That has always been my goal since I entered the League as an 18-year-old kid out of Akron, Ohio.

“And I know it takes steps to get there, but once you get there and know how to get there, playing basketball at this level just to be playing basketball is not in my DNA. It’s not in my DNA anymore. So we’ll see what happens and see how fresh my mind stays over the next couple years.”

James’ Lakers tenure has been highlighted by winning his fourth title in 2020 and becoming the first player in League history to win a Finals MVP with three teams. However, as a member of the purple-and-gold, the Lakers have also missed the playoff twice and lost in the first-round of the playoffs for the first time in 2021 after dragging the Lakers into the play-in tournament.

They’ve also been criticized for trading away the farm to acquire Davis and not trading Russell Westbrook last summer.

Front office exec Rob Pelinka declared at Laker’s media day that it would be his duty to field a competitive team around James. The four-time champ has been able to beat Father Time while averaging 27.8 points per game, good for ninth in the League. While his longevity and commitment to keeping his body at peak fitness are legendary, it’s only a matter of time before James’ game starts to decline.

So the matter of building a team that can defend and shoot the ball competently is of the utmost importance. The other vital step in keeping James will be convincing Lakers leadership that it’s better to build a championship culture, and team will create better results instead of trying to buy one and selling the farm for All-Star talent.

“Let me be abundantly clear: We have one of the great players in LeBron James to ever play the game, and he committed to us on a long-term contract, a three-year contract. So, of course, we will do everything we can, picks included, to make deals to give us a chance to help LeBron get to the end,” Pelinka said. “He committed to our organization. That’s got to be a bilateral commitment, and it’s there.”

The Lakers can get back on track with a road win against the Atlanta Hawks (17-18) on Friday.

The post LeBron James on His Mental Approach Going Into His 38th Birthday appeared first on SLAM.

On Tuesday, the former lottery pick continued to make his case for more minutes once with his fourth-quarter defense against Hornets swingman P.J. Washington, his opportune buckets, and his athleticism to finish plays on both ends of the floor. Being able to play the entire fourth quarter was proof of head coach Steve Kerr’s trust in his defensive play. He also found a way to contribute some timely buckets too.

“We went with him for his defense,” Kerr said, per The Athletic. “He’s playing really well defensively, and he was guarding LaMelo (Ball).”

“At the moment — fourth quarter,” Kuminga admitted, “I don’t usually get to be in the game.”

Here were the five big Jonathan Kuminga plays in crunch time tonight vs Hornets

*Rips away a steal from PJ Washington
*Traffic rebound over Plumlee
*Gets available for dunk
*Floater in iso vs Hayward
*Cuts open for another dunk pic.twitter.com/kEvGuzLhqg

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) December 28, 2022

During crunch time, Kuminga sat down, put a seat belt on Washington, and subsequently forced a turnover; he grabbed a traffic rebound out of Miles Plumlee’s hands and hit a floater over Gordan Hayward to give Golden State a five-point lead. Kuminga ripping the ball and collecting a steal garnered a lot of praise from Kerr and four-time champion Draymond Green.

“That was will,” Draymond Green said. “That was ‘I want the ball more than you.’ That was, ‘Our backs are against the wall. We’ve lost the lead. Let me go make a play myself.’ So he took the ball. He goes and gets a dunk. He goes and snatches a rebound in traffic. He made every play down the stretch. I think it all started with that play with PJ Washington taking the ball. He manhandled him.”

Here’s some of that Draymond Green sound on Jonathan Kuminga and individual vs team defense

“I don’t play defense within the team concept. I know most people think I do. But I don’t. When you’re good enough, the team concepts adapt around you.” pic.twitter.com/AnfplvJ63k

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) December 28, 2022

Kuminga put the finishing touches on the win with a cutting dunk in the lane and clamped up LaMelo Ball for 90 feet. Ball wanted a quick bucket with 10 seconds left, but Kuminga’s pitbull mentality forced Ball into a miss that sealed Charlotte’s loss. Kuminga’s effort is a welcome development for a Warriors team looking to reclaim the stingy defensive identity that former coach Mark Jackson built that led to four championships.

“It’s been a beautiful thing to watch,” Green said. “It’s his (improved) understanding on that side of the ball. He’s in the right spot more often than not now. I think his growth in that area has been absolutely amazing. Quite frankly, it’s been much needed for us. Because we haven’t guarded dribble penetration well. We haven’t been really good at the point of attack all year. He’s changing that for us.”

Although Kuminga isn’t a seasoned veteran yet, his physical acumen and embrace of being Golden State’s defensive hound dog will help the Warriors turn around a season that hasn’t gone quite as they expected. Getting stops and forcing timely turnovers like Kuminga caused will do the job. Draymond Green took the time to the point that, saying, “it’s a beautiful thing to watch,” Kuminga became a dogged defender in real-time.

“He f—ing locks up now,” Green said. “I think it’s very impressive to see. Not that you never thought he was capable, but to see the maturity and buying into a role. Like, ‘Oh, that’s my role; that’s what I need to do. I’m going to go do that better than anyone.’ We’ve seen his impact over the last few weeks. He’s hawking every point guard he gets on. … As a competitor, you lose your spot in the rotation; what are you going to do to get it back? Some sulk. Most sulk. Then some go and take it back. That’s what he’s done.”

Green also believes that if Kuminga can continue developing his defensive acumen and basketball IQ, he can play within and outside Kerr’s defensive concepts. Being disruptive on the ball and locking up his individual assignments will also help.

“I don’t play defense in the team concept,” Green said. “I know most people think I do, but I don’t. When you’re good enough, the team concepts adapt around you. That’s what he’s starting to show. We may not want him to pick up as high as he picks up all the time. But if you’re wreaking havoc, and it’s bettering us, and it’s worsening the opponent’s offense, who is going to say stop? When you’re good enough, and you’re capable, the team concepts adapt around you.”

The post How Jonathan Kuminga Impressed Draymond Green With His Defense appeared first on SLAM.

Suns star Devin Booker will miss at least four weeks with a left groin strain, team says.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 28, 2022

Book missed three games with a groin injury before attempting to come back on Christmas Day when the Suns played the Denver Nuggets. However, that comeback was cut short after four minutes when he re-aggravated the injury, forcing him to miss the last two games of contests and will keep him off the court for the foreseeable future.

After the win on Tuesday, head coach Monty Williams offered the following on how Phoenix looked without Booker. 

“I think guys are always wanting to play, but I don’t think anybody’s ever excited when [Devin Booker] is not on the floor. They want to win for him,” Williams said per Sports Illustrated.

“They know how much he loves to play; they know how much he loves his team; they know how much he gives to the program. I think they just want to win for him. By and large, everybody wants [Devin Booker] back here, but to your point, I think guys look for opportunities, but I think they were thinking, ‘We got to win this for the guys that are out.’ 

“Especially [Devin Booker], because we watched him grind to get back onto the floor, and he comes back on Christmas day, and he reinjures himself, and we saw his frustration. I’m sure our guys are texting him and FaceTiming him and whatever they’re going to do to let him know that those kinds of wins are for him and the guys who are out.”

Grateful we get to witness Devin Booker play basketball. pic.twitter.com/bGSdxkQwIo

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) November 6, 2022

The Suns (20-15) are coming off a 125-108 win over the Grizzlies (20-13) and will play the Wizards (14-21) on Wednesday.

The post Phoenix Suns Expect Devin Booker to Miss Four Weeks with Groin Injury appeared first on SLAM.

48 PTS
10 REB
3 STL
3 BLK

Joel Embiid passes Wilt Chamberlain for the 2nd most 40+ point games in @Sixers franchise history. pic.twitter.com/IAAKfRm3RF

— NBA (@NBA) December 28, 2022

Well, one of Chamberlains’ many, many, many achievements has been knocked down after 76ers center Joel Embiid posted 48 points, 10 rebounds, three steals, and three blocks against the Wizards. The stat line gives him the second most 40-point outings in 76ers franchise history. Embiid scored 40 points for the sixth time this season and the 32nd overall in his career.

Embiid will now be chasing former MVP Allen Iverson for the franchise record of 76 games with at least 40 points. Iverson owns the record after playing 12 seasons and 722 regular-season games. The Process has played seven seasons and has suited up in 352 games.

Embiid and the 76ers will look to get back on track with a win when they play the Pelicans on the road.

The post Joel Embiid Passes Wilt Chamberlain for Second Most 40-Point Games in 76ers History appeared first on SLAM.

The three-time All-Star was simply dominant on Tuesday, calmly dropping a franchise-record 60-point triple-double against the New York Knicks. Doncic officially posted 60 points (team record 21-31 shooting), 21 rebounds, and 10 assists, breaking Hall-of-Famer Dirk Nowitzki’s (53 points) team record as a Maverick. Luka Legend also set a career-high for points and boards during his epic Tuesday night outing.

Doncic has matched James Harden for the highest-scoring triple-double in NBA history, who accomplished the historic feat on Jan. 30, 2018, against the Orlando Magic. NBA legends Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor are the only other hoopers to grab at least 20 boards while posting a 50-point triple-double.

“I’m tired as hell,” a smiling Doncic said during his postgame TV interview. “I need a recovery beer.”

“I need a recovery beer.”

60 pts, 21 reb, 10 ast tonight. Well earned, Luka. : @Sean_Daniel01 pic.twitter.com/G2HjuLNPMV

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 28, 2022

According to Callie Caplan of the Dallas Morning News, Luka Legend celebrated his legendary 60-burger with some water, a protein shake, and a beer while watching some NBA TV highlights, and of course, he scrolled through his phone.

“To do something that’s never been done before, that’s hard to do,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said per ESPN. “There’s been some great players before him. Elgin Baylor and Wilt, he was in that class, and then he separated himself and made his own class.”

Happy to hoop. : @Sean_Daniel01 pic.twitter.com/rCHl0qgtyt

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 28, 2022

Now for the nitty gritty. Dallas is now the first team in at least two decades to win after trailing by at least nine points in the final 35 seconds. According to ESPN, teams in that situation were 0-13,884 in the last 20 years. The reason behind that feat? Doncic scored 38 points in the second-half and helped Dallas claw back from a 12-point deficit.

Doncic forced overtime after purposefully bricking a free throw, corralling the loose ball, and putting up a double-clutch fade away. From there, Doncic scored Dallas’ only field goal in overtime, but he knocked down five of his six free throw opportunities to help the Mavericks escape with an exhausting win.

“I promise I was trying for sure,” Knicks guard Quentin Grimes said, the primary defender on Doncic. “I mean, I’m trying to get over every pick-and-roll. He’s in almost every action. It was a lot on me trying to get over every pick-and-roll with him. He’s crafty with the ball, without the ball. Have to know where he is at all times on the court. He’s one of the top three players in the league for a reason. I have to tip my hat.”

Another for YOU pic.twitter.com/EWkH4RLsqP

— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) December 28, 2022

Dallas can build on this win when they host the Rockets on Thursday.

The post Luka Doncic is ‘Tired as Hell’ After Historic 60-Point Triple-Double Performance appeared first on SLAM.

“I would expect him, if things go the right way, sometime early next month,” Bickerstaff said. “So we’re definitely progressing in the right direction.”

#Cavs J.B. Bickerstaff on Ricky Rubio’s progression: “I would expect him, if things go the right way, sometime early next month. So we're definitely progressing in the right direction.”

— Kelsey Russo (@kelseyyrusso) December 27, 2022

Rubio was averaging a career-best 13.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.4 steals per game on 36.3 percent shooting from the field and 33.9 percent from beyond the arc when he suffered the injury on Dec. 28. At the time, Rubio played a significant role in Cleveland’s massive turnaround to becoming a play-in tournament participant.

As a veteran point guard, Rubio helped Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen become All-Stars. The positive impact he had was so palpable that after he got traded to Indiana for Caris LeVert, Cleveland re-signed him over the summer to a three-year pact despite Rubio missing a chunk of time rehabbing his knee.

The post J.B. Bickerstaff: Ricky Rubio’s Torn ACL Rehab ‘Progressing in the Right Direction’ appeared first on SLAM.

Robinson accomplished the extraordinary feat late in the first quarter off his first shot of the game. Robinson played 14 minutes and ended up posting nine points, four rebounds, and a steal in Miami’s 113-110 win over Minnesota.

No. 800 on his 1st attempt in the game. Pure shooter. pic.twitter.com/9s6CVxFkyG

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) December 27, 2022

Robinson is also the quickest player to hit 200,300,400,500,600 and 700 triples in his career. It took him 263 outings to do, 25 fewer than perennial MVP contender Luka Doncic. The previous fastest four players to hit 800 were Doncic (288 games), Buddy Hield (296), Donovan Mitchell (302), and Stephen Curry (305).

Fastest in NBA history to do it! pic.twitter.com/7XicNkQMwS

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) December 27, 2022

Robinson has knocked down 802 career threes as of Tuesday and is four away from tying Hall-of-Famer Tim Hardaway for the all-time lead in franchise history.

The post Duncan Robinson: the Fastest to Knock Down 800 Career Three-Pointers appeared first on SLAM.

The Nets have beaten the Hornets, Hawks, Pacers, Wizards, Raptors, Pistons, Warriors, Bucks, and the Cavs, 125-117 on Monday to continue a win-streak tied for the longest in the NBA this season. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving dropped 32 points apiece to outlast a monster 46-point effort from Darius Garland, who single-handedly brought the Cavs back after scoring 18 points in the fourth quarter.

However, Kai and KD responded to Garland’s onslaught by scoring a combined 21 points on 7-10 shooting, 3-5 from beyond the arc. Durant and Irving have scored 30 points in the same game five times this season, tied for the most such games with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

The All-Star duo’s big-time contributions have helped raise Brooklyn’s ceiling to the point they look like championship contenders again after 13 of their last 14 contests. As of Tuesday, Brooklyn is first in offense (120.1 offensive rating) and 10th in defense (111.9 defensive rating) in the previous 14 games.

“To be honest, we’ve always been about basketball,” said Durant, per ESPN. “The outside noise makes it seem like we don’t care about the game, but so many voices speak about our locker room who don’t have any idea what’s going on.

“We’ve always been about the game.”

The @BrooklynNets are in the midst of their longest winning streak since 2006

Peep the best play from all 9 games! pic.twitter.com/jLuPLlUdxi

— NBA (@NBA) December 27, 2022

The win streak coincided with Durant passing five-time champion Tim Duncan (26,496 points)after he dropped a 20-footer in the second quarter.

“At some point, you’ve got to be able to celebrate some small wins,” Durant said of overtaking Duncan. “To be able to pass a legend, it’s something I’ll call my folks about tonight. I know that I’ve got more to do.”

pic.twitter.com/K3OH3gez2F

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) December 27, 2022

Brooklyn has a chance to lengthen their streak with a Wednesday night contest against the Hawks on the road.

The post The Brooklyn Nets Are on Their Longest Win-Streak Since 2006 appeared first on SLAM.

The Lakeshow gave up 51 points in the third quarter, the most any team gave up in the NBA this season. L.A. went into the fourth quarter down 19, and Dallas had the flow of the game well within their grasp. The road trip losing streak and progress to making the playoffs have halted after Anthony Davis suffered a foot injury that’ll keep him out for at least another week.

The Lakers are now 13th in the West and looking for answers. Coming into the season with a new head coach in Darvin Ham, the plan was to play through AD more often and Ham decided that utilizing Russell Westbrook off the bench as a sixth man would be the best course of action after a tough first year in the purple-and-gold.

With the trade deadline quickly approaching, the Lakers are reportedly leaning towards standing pat and saving their draft capital for other deals, according to Jovan Buha of The Athletic. Furthermore, Buha reports that the Lakers front office, led by Rob Pelinka, is weary of compounding their “previous mistakes with more win-now moves.”

Reinforcements via trade would obviously help, and the Lakers are still evaluating their options on a dormant trade market. At the same time, it becomes increasingly challenging to justify trading a first-round pick if the group continues to struggle. The front office doesn’t want to compound its previous mistakes with more win-now moves.

With that being said, the Lakers and Pelinka have plenty of time to contemplate the best course of action with the deadline set for Fed. 9. At 13-20, the Lakers are most likely headed towards a fight for the play-in tournament for the second time since LeBron James joined the Lakers during the 2018-2019 season. Since he joined, the Lakers have made the playoffs twice, winning their 19th championship in 2020.

Although James and Davis have played at a high level, the Lakers are still a top-heavy team. Their offense is ranked 20th in the League (111.6 offensive rating) and 20th in defense (113.6 defensive rating). Whatever moves they make must remedy their middling play on both ends. They will likely have to trim around the edges to make that happen; Westbrook, Davis, and James are all owed money that’s hard to move off their books.

The Lakers have a chance to stop the bleeding when they play the Magic on Tuesday.

The post REPORT: Lakers Front Office Weary of Making ‘Mistakes with More Win-Now Moves’ appeared first on SLAM.

Golden State outlasted Memphis 123-119 due to Jordan Poole’s magical 32-point outing helping make Ja Morant’s 36-point effort mute. The win was highlighted by some heated jaw-jacking between the Warriors and Grizzlies, particularly between teammates Klay Thompson (24 points, nine rebounds, four assists) and Draymond Green (13 rebounds, 13 dimes, two blocks, one steal) and Grizzlies swingman Dillon Brooks.

#NBAXmas was a vibe.@MichelobULTRA || Joy Cam pic.twitter.com/N4sPUkAExM

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) December 26, 2022

At one point, Thompson hit a mid-range J from the free-throw line to put the Dubs up 16, and while he ran back to play defense, Brooks stumbled backward and fell. Replays showed Thompson leaning over Brooks and sticking his tongue out in Brooks’ face as he shuffled back to the other end of the court.

“Some good, old-fashioned trash talk,” Thompson said per ESPN. “It’s always fun to talk trash. We’ve been doing that since we were in middle school. You usually play your best, or you get frazzled. For me, it’s usually the former.”

Get hype, #DubNation pic.twitter.com/0Ao8iD1njD

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) December 26, 2022

Although the Warriors and Grizzlies may not call it a rivalry, it’s hard not to call it with all the evidence in front of us. The contention started after the Grizzlies outlasted the Warriors during the 2021 play-in tournament to get a first-round matchup with the Utah Jazz. The following year, the Warriors beat the Grizzlies 4-2 in the second round of the Western Conference semifinals.

That playoff rematch lit the flames of a burgeoning rivalry as Green got ejected in Game 1 for a Flagrant 2 foul on Brandon Clarke, and then he got elbowed in the eye during Game 2.

Brooks earned a one-game suspension for his role Gary Payton II missed extensive time after he fouled Payton hard on a fast break resulting in Payton suffering an elbow injury that knocked him out of 10 postseason games. The damage only seemed to stoke some flames as Warriors head coach Steve Kerr called Brooks out for violating an unwritten code.

From there, the second-round playoff series only got more heated and physical as Golden State tried to prove the old grizzled (no pun intended) vets had some juice left in them and could outlast the young and hungry Grizzlies. Once the series was over and Golden State marched on to win their fourth title in eight seasons, the Warriors, specifically Thompson and Green, took offense to Memphis talking trash and called them out for what they perceived to be disrespectful comments.

Way to bring the energy tonight, #DubNation

pic.twitter.com/pFXTGubWTj

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) December 26, 2022

After the championship parade, Green and Morant had a back-and-forth on Twitter, with both parties declaring their excitement for a primetime Christmas. The anticipation and hype did not fail as the Dubs and Grizzlies put on a show. However, the Grizzlies will have to wait a little longer to exact their revenge after losing on Sunday.

The post The Memphis-Golden State Rivalry Continued with ‘Trash Talk’ on Christmas Day appeared first on SLAM.

Here’s what happened across the L over the weekend. Let’s get it.

James Harden is Reportedly “Seriously Considering” Returning to Houston:

According to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski at ESPN, Harden is reportedly considering a reunion with the Rockets if he doesn’t re-sign with Philadelphia as a free agent in July.

However, after the Sixers’ win over the Knicks on Christmas Day, Harden addressed the media and let them know how he really feels about being in Philly.

“I’m here, we’re playing very well, and I don’t know where that report came from,” Harden said, per NBC Sports Philadelphia. “But I’m excited to be here, and we’re playing well. We’re continuing to get better.”

Meanwhile, Harden caught everyone’s attention with this colorful holiday fit. Hide y’all presents.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by LeagueFits (@leaguefits)

Joel Embiid and Harden Combine to Score 64 Points against the Knicks:

The Beard (29 points and 13 dimes) and Joel Embiid (35 points) put up a combined 64 points, 12 rebounds, and 14 assists to help the 76ers extend their win streak to eight games with a 119-112 dub over the Knicks on Sunday.

The Sixers outscored the Knicks 24-9 to open the fourth and turned a one-point deficit into a 116-102 lead late in the fourth quarter.

“It was one of those games where you’ve just got to stick around,” Harden said per ESPN. “Like, stick around, stick around, and then fourth quarter, you give yourself a chance.

64 PTS | 12 REB | 14 AST @JHarden13 & @JoelEmbiid‘s combined Christmas Day stat line. vote both for NBA All-Star: https://t.co/kNf5hhEIQx.

presented by @palottery pic.twitter.com/Lu2cQROE6c

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) December 25, 2022

Jayson Tatum Torches the Bucks For 41 Points while Jaylen Brown Takes Over:

Jayson Tatum posted 41 points, including a ferocious first-half yam over Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Jaylen Brown scored 29 points to help Boston (24-10) reclaim the top record in the League with a 139-118 win over the Bucks (22-11).

Boston grabbed a 100-86 lead after Tatum scored 20 points in the third quarter, and Brown brought the Celtics home with 13 points in the final frame; he also refused to back down after posting a screen that sent the Greek Freak to the ground. Brown and Antetokounmpo had a back-and-forth, but y’all know it’s only basketball. The players don’t take it seriously, and neither should basketball fans.

Boston gave Milwaukee their first three-game losing streak, while the Celtics have now won back-to-back contests after losing five out of six recent games.

HE CAUGHT ONE @jaytatum0 hammered it home in tonight’s @JetBlue Play of the Game pic.twitter.com/ZU6oCbvRB0

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 26, 2022

Jordan Poole Put Up a Dominate 32 Points to Lead Golden State Past Memphis:

Jordan Poole did what he had to do to play Grinch and ruin the Grizzlies’ Christmas after he dropped a team-high 32 points to lead the Warriors past Memphis on Sunday. Draymond Green (13 rebounds, 13 assists, two blocks) and Klay Thompson (24 points on 8-25 shooting) also put up some solid performances. They played up the burgeoning rivalry they have with Memphis with some sublime shi*t talking toward Dillon Brooks as well.

“He knows that he can’t get a second one. He’s still a young player,” head coach Steve Kerr said per ESPN. “Jordan was fantastic tonight, and we needed his offensive firepower.”

Dray Jordan

» https://t.co/ocDF2EGGU9 pic.twitter.com/HL0YggMOBa

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) December 26, 2022

Nikola Jokic Drops a Christmas Day Triple-Double Against the Suns:

Nikola Jokic (41 points, 15 boards, and 15 dimes) dropped his 83rd career triple-double and led the Nuggets to a 128-125 win over the Phoenix Suns. The two-time MVP recorded a 40-point, 27-rebound, 10-assist performance a week ago. It was the fourth 40-point, 15-rebound, 15-assist game in League history. Oscar Robertson (1961, 1962) accomplished it twice, and James Harden did it in 2016.

“Sick,” Aaron Gordon said of Jokic’s outing, per ESPN. “Those are video game numbers.”

Another MVP performance

41/15/15. Triple-Double 8⃣3⃣ pic.twitter.com/W5PNYlDFar

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 26, 2022

Jamal Murray (26 points, five rebounds, and five assists) forced overtime with a game-tying dunk, and Aaron Gordon put the exclamation point on the win with a poster over Landry Shamet.

“Yeah,” Gordon said. “Because of the time and score.”

Nuggets Nation BROUGHT THE ENERGY tonight. For that, we leave you with this

Goodnight, Wuggets Wation pic.twitter.com/WOYUm1twk7

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 26, 2022

The post NBA Weekend Recap: Elite Christmas Day Matchups and James Harden Addresses Reports of His Return to Houston appeared first on SLAM.

The 26-year-old has solidified himself as one of the best rim protectors in the NBA, and he is having his best scoring season to date during this 2022-23 campaign. Turner is averaging 16.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks on an efficient 54.1 percent from the field. Amongst centers in the League, his accuracy from downtown is remarkable at 41.7 percent from three. The highest right now for the center position this year.

Despite being mentioned in some trade rumors in the past several months, it shouldn’t be surprising that the Pacers want to continue having Turner in Indiana. He can stretch the floor and defend at a high level: The quintessential modern-day big man that’s hard to find.

His experience of having already played eight seasons in the NBA increases Turner’s value. With Indiana’s promising young core of Tyrese Haliburton and rookie Bennedict Mathurin making their mark this season, Turner can help take this team to the next level. If negotiations break down, the 26-year-old can become a free agent when the season ends.

The Pacers (16-16) are currently ninth in the Eastern Conference, with the same record as the eighth-seeded Atlanta Hawks (16-16) and the seventh-seeded Miami Heat (16-16). Indiana will look to change that when they play their next game versus the Heat on Friday.

The post REPORT: Myles Turner and Indiana Open Up Contract Extension Talks appeared first on SLAM.

Once Bridges and Charlotte finalize a deal, it will likely help the NBA finish their investigation and give Bridges a suspension for his role in an offseason arrest that’s dried up his market as a free agent and left him off a roster a quarter of the way through the season. The length of the suspension is unclear.

.@MilesBridges AT THE BUZZER#AllFly pic.twitter.com/B4isBaxEEH

— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) March 20, 2022

Bridges averaged 20.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game and have been a cornerstone member of the Hornets franchise since he was drafted 12th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft. As a restricted free agent, many around the League expected Bridges to draw a $100 million plus offer sheet that Charlotte likely would’ve matched. His offseason actions changed that market, as stated above.

Charlotte (8-24) has dealt with some injury woes with LaMelo Ball, specifically missing double-digit games due to ankle injuries. Signing Bridges will help Charlotte upgrade their roster at the wing and will bring some entertainment and physicality to a lineup looking to make a run for a play-in seed and a spot in the playoffs.

The post REPORT: Negotiations Heating Up Between Hornets and Miles Bridges appeared first on SLAM.

However, the spectacular play from the Celts hasn’t led Celtics president Brad Steven to consider removing Mazzulla’s interim tag. Steven said that Mazzulla has “done a good job” and is “running the show like a head coach.” Those words couldn’t be any more true for a team that ranks second best on offense (116.6 offensive rating) and seventh in defense (110.6 defensive rating).

Brad Stevens said he had no update on if or when the #Celtics will remove Joe Mazzulla’s interim status. “He’s done a good job. He’s running the show like a head coach.”

— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) December 23, 2022

Boston also has an MVP frontrunner in Jayson Tatum and an All-NBA/All-Star in Jaylen Brown. They can still rely on the two-way excellence of Marcus Smart, Robert Williams, and Al Horford. With those five and a reliable bench mob, the Celtics look like the cream of the crop.

The post Brad Stevens: No Update On Removing in Joe Mazzulla’s Interim Status appeared first on SLAM.

ESPN Sources: The pain has subsided in past several days in Anthony Davis’ foot and he’s expected to rest it for another 7-to-10 days and have it re-evaluated and see if he can return to play. For now, there’s hope that a procedure can be avoided. https://t.co/4B2RXiAZTV

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 23, 2022

The Lakers initially announced that he could be out indefinitely with a stress injury in his foot, but Woj’s report suggests otherwise. At the time of his injury, AD was putting the Lakers on himself and playing like a man possessed after posting

The Brow was averaging 27.4 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game on 59.3 percent shooting from the field when he went down with the foot injury he suffered at the beginning of the month.

The post REPORT: Anthony Davis Set to Undergo Reevaluation in 10 Days appeared first on SLAM.

DeRozan has been Chicago’s best and most consistent star this year, averaging 25.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game on 50.8 percent shooting from the field. He’s also set to play one more season on the three-year 81.9 million deal he signed when the Spurs traded him to the Bulls on a sign-and-trade move.

Natural bucket getter.@DeMar_DeRozan | @NBCSChicago pic.twitter.com/YZEgWuKFy7

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) December 21, 2022

The Bulls have two options when it comes to trying to retain a high-caliber player like DeRozan, improve and extend him or let him walk if they can’t win this season or the next. It’ll be interesting to see how the three-time Alll-NBA selection and the Bulls respond to reports of dysfunction in the locker room surrounding DeRozan and fellow All-Star Zach LaVine.

Chicago will look to get back on track when they take on the Knicks on Friday. In order for that to happen, the finger-pointing and lack of accountability will have to be solved so that the Bulls can maximize their potential over the next two seasons.

The post REPORT: DeMar DeRozan Could Ask to Get Out of Chicago appeared first on SLAM.

B/R Sources: Rival executives are of belief Hawks guard Trae Young could be next star player to request trade if team doesn’t make inroads come playoff time. More news and nuggets for @BleacherReport: https://t.co/7u9PY3fpjJ

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) December 22, 2022

Young is under contract until 2026-27 and can opt out after the 2025-26 season if the Hawks don’t meet playoff expectations. The two-time All-Star and the Hawks have been trying to find the rhythm and consistency that helped them make a run to the Eastern Conference Finals two years ago. The ninth-place Hawks (16-16) are a playoff contender despite the offseason trade acquisition of SLAM 241 cover co-star Dejounte Murray.

What you really know about the Dirty South?

Dejounte Murray and Trae Young cover SLAM 241. https://t.co/JA8oG1KC8Z pic.twitter.com/2X95SX5UNj

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 13, 2022

Atlanta is under new leadership in the front office after they hired Landry Fields as their general manager. Young and Fields reportedly meet often and have developed a close bond. Fields has the green light to improve the team however he sees best but executing those ambitions has been difficult so far. Atlanta has made it clear they’re willing to part ways with John Collins, but a partner hasn’t been found yet.

Young is averaging 27.6 points and 9.8 assists per game on 41.1 percent shooting from the field and 30.7 percent from beyond the arc. Atlanta will play the Detroit Pistons on Thursday.

The post REPORT: Trae Young Could Request a Trade Out of Atlanta appeared first on SLAM.

His game—and his legacy, if it’s not too early to discuss such things—lies at a unique intersection of old and new, historic and cutting edge. Jayson Tatum is 24 years old, and it seems simultaneously as if he’s been in the League a decade, or barely any time at all. The truth, as he begins his sixth NBA season, is that Tatum is a three-time All-Star and one of the most complete forwards in the game.

The old and historic date back to his schoolboy days in St. Louis, where his family connections spoke to future success. He’s the godson of Larry Hughes and a cousin of Tyronn Lue. After a college year in Durham at Duke, he landed in Boston, the NBA’s most history-obsessed city, where like all great players, he’s compared to the legends (Larry and otherwise) who wore the green and white before him. At the same time, he also developed a deep connection with one of the iconic legends of the Celtics’ greatest rival. With Tatum, the connections to the past run deep, and in multiple directions.

But his game? That’s thoroughly new school, and already truly elite. He showed it during the 2019-20 season, when his per-game scoring jumped from nearly 16 ppg to better than 23 points per. Last season, in his third straight All-Star campaign, he averaged 26.9 points, 8 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game, establishing himself in that rare tier of players who do everything very, very well.

Tatum chose the playoffs, as all Boston greats must, to truly announce himself to the basketball-watching world. He led the Celtics past Giannis and the defending champs from Milwaukee, then past a relentless squad from Miami and into the NBA Finals, where it took Stephen Curry and the healthy, resurgent and reloaded Golden State Warriors to keep Boston from another title and Tatum from his first. He settled for Eastern Conference Finals MVP honors and the gift of understanding what it will take to lead his team to a championship.

You don’t have to believe in destiny to like Tatum’s odds. He’s everything an NBA standard bearer needs to be: immensely talented, intensely focused on improving and a joy to watch, owner of one of the smoothest and most complete offensive games of his generation. He may not have the high-wattage personality of most of the rest of the new Starting Lineup generation of which he’s so deservedly a part, but Tatum has the quiet swagger and a definite sense of style—those Taco Js, immortalized on his figure, are already iconic—to go with it. Most importantly, he’s got the game.

Simply put: He’s already so good and probably not yet close to his peak. More All-Star picks, more MVP consideration and many more deep playoff runs seem all but inevitable. The green and white, and the game in general, are in good hands.

The post Starting Lineup’s Jayson Tatum NBA Action Figure Captures the Celtics Superstar’s Elite Game appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

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

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) December 22, 2022

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pat McInally has lost track of how many times he’s told the story, but he still has a lot of fun telling it. And why wouldn’t he? Not many people can claim to have inspired arguably the most enduring and iconic sports collectible line, well, ever.

Not long after he retired from a 10-year NFL career with the Cincinnati Bengals, McInally was writing an advice column for parents of young athletes when he met then-Kenner executive Bruce Stein. When the toy executive asked McInally if he had any ideas for new products, McInally thought about the ubiquity of G.I. Joe figures and of the popularity of real-life athletes. Eventually, the idea evolved into a pitch: Why not something that combined the fame of the biggest sports stars with the coolness of an action figure? 

When the team at Kenner heard the idea, McInally remembers, “Everybody loved it. They were all asking, Why didn’t we think of this?” The Starting Lineup brand launched in 1988 and became an instant classic. Featuring NFL, MLB and NBA greats, the line was a hit with kids and collectors alike, building on what at the time was cutting-edge realism in design. Retired in 2001, it lived on as a cultural touchstone with legendary status among collectors.

And now, with a level of realism the original line couldn’t have imagined, Starting Lineup is back. McInally’s genius idea has been upgraded for the times, building on a few decades’ worth of advances in digital technology while maintaining the inspiration behind the original line. For fans and collectors of all ages and interests, it’s reason to celebrate.

The folks at Hasbro, which now oversees the Starting Lineup brand, are pretty excited about it as well. 

“I’ve lived this as a collector, so it’s incredible to now be a part of it,” says Justin Spagnuolo, Director, Global Brand Strategy & Marketing at Hasbro. “It’s been so cool seeing how deep the collection’s roots go—the Facebook groups that follow all the old-school stuff, collectors still buying, selling and trading. It’s a live thing, so it’s great seeing the interest in the new line.”

The new generation of Starting Lineup kicks off with eight current NBA All-Stars, a group that, from all-time greats like LeBron James and Stephen Curry to young stars like Ja Morant and Luka Dončić, harkens back to the legends of the original late ’80s run. McInally comes from football, of course, but he has great appreciation for the value the original NBA lineup played in the launch of the brand.

“Michael Jordan was the key, of course,” McInally says of the player whose career statistical peak coincided with the Starting Lineup launch. “I remember that first set had Jordan, Patrick Ewing, all those guys. Let’s face it, they were neat.”

From the head-to-toe, hyper-realistic detail of the players themselves to the NFT trading card included with each new figure, the 2022 relaunch is light years beyond the original run. But the history that aligns McInally’s perfect idea with the newest iteration of the line is what makes Starting Lineup special. And the best part? 

As Spagnuolo promises, “We’re just getting started.” 

The post The Evolution of Starting Lineup: How the Brand is Changing the Game of NBA Action Figures appeared first on SLAM.

Brunson agreed to a four-year, $104 million contract shortly after free agency began. Brunson has multiple long-standing ties with the franchise, mainly his father, Rick, being hired as an assistant coach during the offseason. Rick Brunson was an assistant on the Bulls and Timberwolves, while Tom Thibodeau served as head coach at both franchises. Thibs coached Rick Brunson as an assistant with the Knicks during Brunson’s playing days.

Rick Brunson was Knicks executive Leon Rose’s first client as an agent. He was also Jalen Brunson’s agent before the Knicks hired him as their president of basketball operations. Rose’s son, Sam, is currently Jalen’s agent.

“This outcome reflected a finding, following an investigation, that the Knicks engaged in free agency discussions involving Jalen Brunson prior to the date when such discussions were permitted,” the NBA said in a statement.

AYO. BRUNSHIM knocking it DOWN

VOTE https://t.co/8hMm0OqLE3 pic.twitter.com/k958actEeL

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 21, 2022

The Knicks still have 11 first-round and nine second-round picks over the next seven years at their disposal to use or trade for a superstar to pair with Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle.

Brunson averaged 20.8 points and 6.2 assists per game and led the Knicks to a League-leading eight straight wins before they lost to the Raptors on Wednesday. The sixth-place Knicks (18-14) play the 76ers on Christmas Day.

The post New York Knicks Lose 2025 First-Round Pick Over Jalen Brunson Tampering appeared first on SLAM.

Memphis (19-11) is second in the West behind the Nuggets, who have a similar record. Morant is averaging 27.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game on 45.4 percent shooting from the field and 34.6 percent beyond the arc. Morant has done a lot of heavy lifting, with Desmond Bane still missing in action because of a sprained big toe he suffered in November.

That said, Morant is confident in Memphis’ place within the NBA hierarchy. The 2022 All-Star told Andrews that he believes the Boston Celtics (22-9) are the team to beat and the main team the Grizzlies will have to run through in order to win a championship. When the NBA Today host asked about the Western Conference, Morant said, “I’m fine in the West.”

The strong words come a season after the Grizzlies finished second in the West and lost a six-game second-round series to the eventual champion Warriors. The Southwest Division winners gave the Warriors a run for their money, but a Morant knee injury and the championship DNA of the Warriors were too much for the Grizzlies.

Through it all, the ’22 playoff run was marked by plenty of jaw-jacking, hard-nosed defense, and remarkable shotmaking from a Grizzlies team looking to burst through the championship scene. Memphis will look to exorcise those demons this season and make it to the Conference Finals and possibly beyond, with the Warriors facing some trouble with their win-and-develop-now approach to the season.

The post Ja Morant: Memphis Grizzlies Are ‘Fine in the West’ appeared first on SLAM.

HE DID NOT JUST RIDE THE WARRIORS’ BUS.

Contrary to what some NBA fans and a certain Inside the NBA commentator may believe, KD was still a main source behind the Warrriors winning a consecutive titles. That doesn’t mean he did it by himself tho. Durant will tell you himself that he “never done anything I want to do on this Earth of significance by myself.”

In fact, Durant believes whatever success he achieves with the Brooklyn Nets comes due to a “contribution from everybody.”

“I never made winning about me, even when I was at Golden State,” Durant said per Washington Post. “I could’ve easily stepped out and said, ‘Yeah, this is my s—.’ I never did that. I didn’t even come here to prove to people that I could win on my own.” I can’t put all the pressure on myself, I did that before. You want it all, you want to experience it all, but it wasn’t good for my sanity trying to put everything on me.”

Which is why the suggestion that he rode Golden States’ coattails to immoratlity strikes such a nerve. Like he said, KD never did anything by himself.

“I hated that,” Durant says. “Riding coattails? That’ll never happen when I’m playing basketball. Either I’m going to step back, so you can go ahead and do your thing, or I’m going to take control.”

It’s probably why he’s been so adamant about seperating the time he’s spent with the Warriors to what he’s doing now with the Nets. And why he’s known for challenging basketball fans that like to give him a hard time about his controversial decision to sign with Golden State in 2016 and believe his sensitive because he has a burner account or takes time to talk to fans who want to talk about basketball with him.

The former MVP and Brooklyn will take on the Warriors on Wednesday.

The post Kevin Durant Refutes Narrative He Rode the Coattails of the Warriors appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

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

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

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

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

“I think it’s apparent [that] injuries are not declining,” says Jeff Stotts, ATC and owner of the popular injury-tracking website In Street Clothes. “The number of games lost to injury or illness in the NBA were at an all-time high last season.” When I spoke with Stotts earlier this week, he noted that total games lost to injury were even higher through the first portion of the 2022-23 season. Through November 29, two of the stars we were hoping to see this year after they missed most of last season—Kawhi Leonard and Damian Lillard—had played in only 24 percent and 55 percent of their teams’ games so far, respectively.

So what’s going wrong? “It’s impossible to identify one specific thing influencing the growing rates as it’s likely multiple factors,” says Stotts. “While the treatment and approach to sports medicine has evolved, and continues to evolve, the game has also changed in the process. Players are asked to do more and cover more ground as the game has expanded to the three-point line and beyond, resulting in more stress and load applied to each athlete.”

Over the past decade, general “pace of play” changes such as the 8-second rule and 14-second shot-clock reset have created a faster game, favoring more athletic players. Changes to defensive rules and position-less lineups have fostered an era of constant switching on defense, which has resulted in players moving laterally more often during game play. Players are running faster and covering more mileage in today’s game than ever before.

Looking at this question through a medical lens: are we, as a sports medicine community, doing an inadequate job with load management and biomechanical evaluations? Or is today’s game so different that our interventions have helped players adjust to a completely different game than what was being played 15 years ago? Are we nearing the biological limit of what players can do with their bodies?

To try and answer these questions, I spoke with Dr. Marcus Elliott, a sports scientist and founder of the Peak Performance Project (P3). P3 has been studying athlete biomechanics for over 15 years and has been working closely with NBA athletes throughout that time. Every athlete at the NBA rookie combine undergoes a biomechanical assessment by P3, and as of the start of the 2022-23 season, 64 percent of NBA opening day roster athletes have been evaluated by P3. Dr. Elliott sees P3 as “an academic research project embedded in professional sport.”

As I sat at my laptop on a typical frigid November day in Detroit, Dr. Elliott logged onto our Teams chat from his facility in Santa Barbara. At the time of our call, my hometown team’s star and SLAM 238 cover star Cade Cunningham was on his way to P3 to be evaluated. I was glad to see both the Pistons and Cade’s personal team were taking this step to protect his short-term and long-term health. He had missed a few games with shin pain, which may seem unalarming to the casual fan. But when I see an athlete experiencing shin pain in the office, one concern I must rule out is a stress fracture. This diagnosis was first mentioned by Shams Charania on November 19.

“Thankfully we have baseline data on Cade from when he entered the League and was healthy,” Dr. Elliott said. “How we move has significant implications around what happens to us in the future, both in terms of injury and performance advantages/disadvantages. We can assess his motion to find any imbalances or compensation patterns that have developed and may have led to this injury. Then, we can recommend exercises to correct these patterns and prevent continued strain on this area. The baseline testing allows us to create a very granular return-to-play (RTP) protocol.”

P3 started off using a variety of tools and medical tests to assess athletes, including EMG (electromyography to assess muscle and nerve function), EEG (electroencephalography to assess brain wave patterns), and accelerometers (to measure acceleration and deceleration of player movement). But it wasn’t long before they gave up all that fancy stuff. “We realized early on that the keys were in biomechanical assessment,” said Dr. Elliott. “We got huge amounts of useful input relative to the other tools.”

Sometimes, injuries occur and not much can be done to prevent them. Chet Holmgren was the No. 2 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft and fans everywhere were excited for his debut. However, this summer he suffered a Lisfranc injury in a pickup game, keeping him out for the entire 2022-23 season. “With Chet, he is an example of someone who was moving very well on his initial assessment, and then experienced an incredibly atypical injury for his sport,” said Dr. Elliott. “So we expect a full recovery for him, and we can use his baseline to create his RTP protocol resulting in a return to his usual movements. We do not expect to see an overuse or compensation-related injury based on his movements.”

“It’s a player-driven league, and it’s on us to make an athlete’s life better by preventing injuries and extending careers,” said Dr. Elliott. A study of 400 NBA athletes shows that, based on biomechanical assessment, P3 is able to predict a knee injury with 75 percent accuracy. This is groundbreaking work—the ability to assess and predict injury while an athlete is healthy! Talking with Dr. Elliott, my mind jumped immediately to the athletes—what if teams got hold of this data and used it to influence their draft decision-making or to leverage player contracts? Dr. Elliott nodded, understanding this concern.

“We hear this concern and are ultimately here for the athlete. We give the data directly to the players, who are welcome to share it with someone they trust. Nowadays it is more accepted to undergo this type of assessment. Not only are we building a means of helping players, but the players really seem to appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the health and longevity of those who come after them.”

Understanding that Dr. Elliott is clearly on the cutting edge of sports science, what does he think of the load management movement? What does the future hold?

“The systems of an athlete are overloaded, which leads to an overuse injury. But frequent rest results in ‘de-training.’ Despite the tools and technology currently available, load management is still distributed somewhat evenly across the 15-man roster. Load management is completely overcooked right now. The best load management requires objective assessments with a significant subjective component. Machine learning is also key for the future.

“These technologies that allow us to estimate loads, when not in the hands of a skilled operator, are actually taking teams further into the weeds versus serving them, leading to players becoming less robust and more vulnerable,” he added. “Load management is missing the other big piece of the equation, specifically how [each athlete is] vulnerable mechanically (and to a lesser extent metabolically). What is the [quality of their movement] and do they do things mechanically that are specifically increasing risk?”

Understanding this is key to measuring how much a player’s body can be loaded (playing time, practice time, workouts) based on the current state of the player’s individual biomechanics. Furthermore, loads can be increased when a player’s biomechanics are optimized.

He also sees a future where P3 will be utilized by the entire NBA in a similar way as SportsVU. SportsVU provides the arena-mounted camera systems and proprietary software that tracks player movement. Once a luxury for a select few teams, SportsVU is now standard in every arena and data is shared for the benefit of the entire league. Dr. Elliott’s hope (and mine as well) is that P3 will follow a similar path. The Spurs and Jazz franchises were the early adopters, and the plan is for P3 to provide assessment and recommendations to every single NBA athlete in the near future.

And for amateur 37-year-old athletes like myself?

“We hope to democratize this in the future. Right now, you do what you love until something hurts. You go to see an orthopedic doctor that tells you to stop doing the thing you love,” said Dr. Elliott. This is admittedly an accurate description of both my own experience and how I typically first meet patients. In the world Dr. Elliott envisions, I could have had an assessment and worked on correcting my running gait to prevent the smattering of issues I’ve dealt with. I would jump at the opportunity to provide that kind of tool for my patients. I’m sure it makes more economical sense for players who have $100 million contracts and jobs requiring them to maintain their athletic prowess—but I anxiously await the day when this technology is available to everyone.

For now, let’s hope that the NBA and all professional athletes will adopt these methods. They can play, we can watch, and your favorite players are able to log a few more games at full strength for fans to enjoy. Everybody wins.

Danny Seidman is a sports medicine physician, NBA fanatic, and lifelong Pistons fan. This is his first article for SLAM. He can be found on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post Is Load Management Worth It? This Sports Medicine Physician Shares His Take appeared first on SLAM.

On Tuesday, their 132-94 loss to the Knicks in Madison Square Garden can be chalked up as a mixed result as they never led and played without Stephen Curry for the third straight game since he went down with a shoulder injury on Dec. 14. Golden State never led after the Knicks opened the game with an 8-0 run and never looked back during a wire-twire-win that gave New York their eight straight win.

The Warriors made it as close as 35-33 in the first-half but the Knicks pulled away over time and entered halftime with a 69-56 lead.

“The Knicks are in a good groove right now. They totally outplayed us,” Kerr said per ESPN. “We sank tonight. We’re trying to hang in there and we will. Another game tomorrow.”

When Anthony Slater of The Athletic asked about the fourth quarter effort Kerr got from Jordan Poole (26 points), Moses Moody (11 points), Jonathan Kuminga (13 points, four rebounds, and four assists) James Wiseman (four points, three rebounds, one steal, two blocks), the nine-time champ said that Golden State’s young guys are “working their butts off” and that they have “to keep our energy and our spirit up” when “things don’t go well.”

Steve Kerr on the struggles from the younger portion of the roster tonight vs Knicks pic.twitter.com/6B5u1T5sj4

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) December 21, 2022

As the Warriors continue to mesh their maxamzie both their present and future lineups, they will have to see that Poole, Moody, Kuminga, Wiseman, and Andrew Wiggins (when healthy) are capable of taking the torch Curry, KlayThompson, and Draymond Green lit and continue to build on the championship DNA and culture that’s led to four titles since 2015.

The post Steve Kerr on Young Players Keeping Their ‘Spirits Up’ During Tough Times appeared first on SLAM.

The Mavericks will host the Los Angeles Lakers for a holiday. As the face of the franchise’s cherished history since 1998, Nowitzki will never be forgotten for leading Dallas to an NBA Championship in 2011. The championship victory came in six games against the star-studded Miami Heatles led by LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh.

The 2011 Finals MVP was pleased to hear he will be getting a statue built after him on the global holiday.

“That’s going to be there forever,” Nowitzki said per NBA.com. “I think that’s what’s so unbelievable, that this statue will stand there, and my kids will grow up with it. That’s what’s really mindboggling and so amazing about it –  That this piece is for really for eternity and will be there long, long after I’m gone.”

During his time with the Mavericks, Nowitzki solidified himself as an NBA legend and a building bridge between the inspiration the Dream Team created during their Gold Medal campaign in the 1992 Olympics. Nowitzki saw what Team USA did, and his success paved the way for more international players to cross the world and become NBA stars, like former teammate Luka Doncic or Giannis Antetokounmpo.

When talking about his impact on the game in this aspect, the former superstar admitted it is a humbling feeling.

“Along the way, if I inspired somebody to pick up a basketball or if I motivated a guy to work harder or dream of the NBA, of course, that’s humbling to me,” said Nowitzki. “Super humbling. That makes me proud, for sure.”

The post Dallas Mavericks Set to Unveil Dirk Nowitzki Statue on Christmas appeared first on SLAM.

The former first-round NBA draft pick has evolved from carving out a valuable 3-and-D wing to a versatile swiss army knife capable of scoring and defending in multiple ways. This season, Anunoby is averaging 18.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and an NBA-leading 2.4 steals per game on 47.4 percent shooting from the floor and 33.6 percent from beyond the arc.

NBA leaders in Matchup Difficulty (min 250 minutes):

1. Quentin Grimes
2. Dorian Finney-Smith
3. Jrue Holiday
4. Lu Dort
5. Jevon Carter
6. OG Anunoby
7. Herb Jones
8. Kevon Harris
9. Deni Avdija
10. Alex Caruso

These defenders guard the NBA’s elite most often.

Explainer Vid pic.twitter.com/Bojz552Kkq

— BBall Index (@The_BBall_Index) December 20, 2022

According to Lowe, if Anonoby gets traded, people around the League will be surprised that the return “might be on par almost with what the Cavs gave up for Donovan Mitchell.”

Anonoby’s two best offensive performances came in season-high 32-point efforts against Miami in Orlando. Defensively, he collected six steals in a win against the Atlanta Hawks. He’s held former MVP Kevin Durant to 2-6 shooting, Mitchell to 2-7 shooting, and Jimmy Butler to just one field goal with his unique blend of strength, size, and athleticism.

At his current level, Anonuby’s game represents the ideal example the Raptors or any NBA franchise seek, a two-way menace capable of locking down their matchups that can create turnovers and extra buckets and can get buckets in various ways.

For now, Anonuby will suit up with the Raptors (13-18) and look to break up their six-game losing streak with a win against the Knicks (17-13).

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BREAKING: Billionaire mortgage lender Mat Ishbia is finalizing a purchase of the Phoenix Suns, sources tell ESPN. The deal, expected to be completed in the near future, would end the tumultuous tenure of owner Robert Sarver.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 20, 2022

The deal is reportedly worth $4 billion per Woj. Ishbia will be bringing in his brother, Justin, as a significant investor and alternate governor for the Suns, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

ESPN Sources: Ishbia’s purchase price is in the neighborhood of $4 billion. https://t.co/HzH2XSspHp

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 20, 2022

Sarver and Ishbia also released their own official statements. Sarver called Ishbia “the right leader to build on franchise legacies of winning and community support,” while Ishbia said that he’s “honored” to be the “next stewards of the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury.”

Official: Mat and Justin Ishbia reach agreement to buy majority stake of the Phoenix Suns and Mercury from Robert Sarver: pic.twitter.com/dEe6QGfZJP

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 21, 2022

Sarver has been looking to sell the Suns since he was suspended for a year and fined due to the League investigating allegations of a hostile workplace within the Phoenix front office. The fine and suspension were met with many mixed emotions from players, the players union, and even a chairman of the Suns’ ownership group.

Ultimately, Sarver’s decision to sell won’t go down as infamously as Donald Sterlings’ ouster, but it does clarify that the NBA won’t stand down to allegations of racism and allegations within franchise front offices in the League.

The post REPORT: Robert Sarver Set to Sale Suns to Billionaire Mat Ishbia appeared first on SLAM.

The former Kentucky floor general won the game after hitting baseline fadeaway to beat the buzzer. The buzzer-beater capped a 35-point performance for the emerging Canadian superstar.

“I caught it,” Gilgeous-Alexander said per ESPN. “I was going to try to face up, but I saw the double team so I tried to spin away from it into the shot.”

The shot heard round the world pic.twitter.com/GGRv5IvTZj

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 20, 2022

SGA’s heroic moment was the perfect response to Dame Time’s usual clutch moment. Lillard (28 points) knocked down a reverse layup with 3.5 seconds left to tie the game 121. The loss makes Lillard’s clutch bucket and record-setting performance moot, but he couldn’t help but heap a ton of praise on to the 24-year-old guard who ranks third in scoring.

“He’s impressive,” Lillard said. “He’s obviously a really good player. Not just a good young player. He’s coming into his own. I can remember when I was younger and I became the leader of a team. And I was basically introducing myself as the lead guard on the team, and I was going after it, you know, being aggressive. And I see that he’s in that state. He’s trying to show what he can do.”

Lillard also said he likes how SGA is “playing free” and how OKC “believes in him” and that his teammates “understand

Lillard, on Gilgeous-Alexander: “He’s in a situation where he’s playing free. You know, they believe in him. He’s got a group of guys that understand that he’s the leader. He’s the guy. He’s in a great position. He’s off to a great start.”

OKC will look to build on this dagger win with second consecutive win over the Trail Blazers.

Best caption ever? pic.twitter.com/mIiWHmmOfY

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 20, 2022

When it was all said and done, SGA posted the coldest buzzer-beater IG post caption ever.

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Lillard (18,047 career points) entered Paycom Arena 21 points short of passing Drexler (18,040 points as a Blazer). By the time the final buzzer sounded, Lillard had dropped 28 points on 9-17 shooting from the field, 6-12 from beyond the arc, three rebounds, and six assists. Lillard tied Drexler with a deep triple in the third quarter and then took over the franchise record with a free throw with 1:33 left in the third.

“It’s a great feeling to reach the top,” Lillard said per ESPN. “It’s been a goal of mine, and the list has so many players, great history of our organization, so to finally be No. 1 is a special accomplishment that I’m proud of.”

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— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) December 20, 2022

Lillard is the 10th active player to become a franchise’s all-time leader in points. He is one of three scoring leaders who currently plays for that team, too, joining Giannis Antetokounmpo and Stephen Curry in the exclusive list. Lillard is a celebrated hooper in the NBA community, and the fans at Paycom Arena gave him a standing ovation after the Thunder PA announcer told the crown Lillard had reached the historic achievement.

“Even during the game tonight, I wasn’t playing focused on getting to the record,” Lillard said. “I was playing the game just trying to win. I knew it would happen eventually.”

Lillard took over the record after playing 730 career games with Portland, 137 less than it took Drexler to reach (867). The Blazers drafted Lillard sixth overall in the 2012 NBA Draft out of Weber State.

The six-time All-Star is averaging 28.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game on 45.4 percent shooting from the field and 40.4 percent from downtown. For his career, Lillard has put up 24.7 points, 4.2 boards, and 6.7 dimes per game on 43.8 percent shooting and 37.4 percent from beyond the arc.

“Damian’s commitment to Portland is now incapsulated with this prestigious career milestone,” Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin said in a statement. “His dedication, humility, and hard work have been pillars for his path to this very moment. On behalf of the organization, we would like to congratulate Damian on this great achievement and look forward to many more.”

Dame Time and the Trail Blazers will look to get back on track against the Thunder on Wednesday.

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The six-time All-Star expressed how he was grateful that the NBA at least sent Miami to play in Mexico this year since they are not getting any nationally televised games.

“I don’t feel like the NBA rock with the Miami Heat too much anyway,” Butler said per Heat Nation. “At least we get to play somewhere. We don’t got no TV games or nothing.”

The Miami Heat finished the 2021-22 campaign with an Eastern Conference-best 53-29 record. Although Miami was last year’s top seed in the East, the Heat weren’t even in the top 10 for most games televised on the major networks. Surprisingly, teams who were missing key pieces for most of the season, like the Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Clippers, had more nationally televised games.

Earlier in December, Heat center Bam Adebayo also chimed in on Miami not getting enough media attention.

“You’ve got to think about: we were No. 1 in the East and people didn’t even pay us any mind,” Adebayo said. “Us being where we’re at, they’re definitely not talking about us. The biggest thing for us is to keep stacking these wins.”

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Five straight losses are detrimental to any franchise, but to some, it’s a learning curve to championship success.

Warriors forward Draymond Green has been a contributor on four title teams in the last eight years, and within that time period, the Bay Area had to get accustomed to playing a majority of a season without their star players in Green, Stephen Curry, and Klay Thompson.

The Golden State dynasty was struggling after missing the playoff two years in a row in 2020 and 2021, but the Warriors trusted their core to figure it out and find a way to win another title this past season, and they accomplished just that. Given Green’s veteran leadership, the former defensive player of the year shared advice on how to overcome the challenges, starting with their “commitment.”

“You start hearing noise about trades, and this guy shouldn’t be here, and that guy shouldn’t be here, but you have to stay committed to each other. You can’t let the outside noise dictate how you act or essentially your attitude towards the same or, more importantly, towards your teammates,” Green said per Sports Illustrated. “I think for us, you just always want to re-center yourself and re-center your focus to the game, and if you do that, the game rewards you.”

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The struggles for the Raptors have come in crucial areas of the floor. Thus far, the Raptors rank as the third-lowest three-point shooting team at 32.6 percent. Meanwhile, defensively, the group gives up the fifth most fast break points (15.6) and averages the lowest defensive rebounds across the League (30.1).

There’s plenty to like for the Raptors as well, as they currently lead the League in steals at 9.6 per game, but capitalizing off those forced turnovers hasn’t been on full display as of yet.

“I don’t think that we haven’t shown that this group of guys can play the way we want to play,” said Raptors head coach Nick Nurse.

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There are still a lot of games left to do in the season, but the turning point for the Raptors, as Green eluded to, is the team sticking through the thick and the thin of a losing stretch.

The circling trade rumors can’t become a distraction in the locker room if the team hopes to find post-season success; therefore, it’s up to the championship pedigree of the Raptors veterans to invoke a mindset to their young talent.

“We gotta play better; that’s the main thing,” Pascal Siakam said. “We[‘ve] got to get wins, and we[‘ve] got to figure out a way to get a win and then kind of build on it. Yeah, it’s hard for me to try to analyze everybody, but just us, we have to get a win.”

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The two-time Finals MVP has everything a team could ask for out of a 7-footer. His footwork, speed, shooting, and even his aggression as an interior scorer and defender have helped his game improve significantly. Therefore, the Brooklyn Nets superstar believes his next step as a premier scorer is to take advantage of the different defensive coverages thrown at him, which he studies countless hours on.

“I never know how opposing teams are going to guard me, what schemes they’re going to throw at me,” said Durant after last night’s win over the Detroit Pistons. “Sometimes there’s some new stuff that I haven’t seen before. At this point, I’ve seen a lot of different coverages over the last couple of years. I’m trying to stay prepared for that. So that’s definitely how I can keep getting better; just reading the defense even more.”

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At 34-years-old, Durant has pushed back the clock in the last 10 games with glimpses of his 2014 MVP campaign. KD is averaging 32.9 points (second best) while shooting a whopping 63.6 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from beyond the arc.

In the win against the Pistons, Durant scored 43 points, to go along with the highest scoring total in a quarter of any player this season at 26 in the third. While the Pistons thought they had an answer for Durant, his knowledge of what the defense throws at him aided him in making the right reads.

“The full-court, they made some good adjustments; running guys at me and Kai [Kyrie Irving], and we had to make the right decision,” Durant said. “We generated some good looks. We’re still working on that: when teams run and jump us, what’s our alignment after that and how we’re gonna make plays after that? That’s more so what I’ve been focused on.” 

“I feel like those threes at the end of the third; they didn’t know what they wanted to do on their coverage. Whether they were gonna play in the drop, trap the ball, or just switch it. I felt like they were indecisive a bit, and I was able to get free on some of those three-pointers.”

Durant is at a state where he believes he can “predict” what the defense will throw at him, and if that isn’t scary enough, he claims his film study adjustment is to focus on the tendencies of his opponent’s method of scoring to ease his game at his end.

There’s nothing Durant hasn’t accomplished in his 16 years in the NBA, and for what it sounds like, he’s only aiming to solidify his spot as the greatest scorer of all time, a case that can already be made in favor of him.

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