Anthony Slater: Kevin Durant nudged about his contract …
January 19, 2021 | 9:29 am EST Update
Kyle O'Quinn Turkey bound?
Donatas Urbonas: Eight-year NBA veteran Kyle O’Quinn is in advanced talks with Fenerbahce Istanbul, few sources confirmed.
“I just feel like each year you have to learn something,” LaVine said. “My situation is different than (others). Obviously, you have to play the cards you were dealt. Learning each year what I did good and what I still need to improve on and what was missing to help me help my team win. Obviously, everybody wants to be a leader but you’re not just gifted with that. So you have to learn it, and I feel I’ve taken a step in the right direction and tried to be more unselfish, be more open with talking with teammates watching film and things like that. And I feel like it’s going well and it’s going to continue to get better the better I get at it.”
Justin Kubatko: Duncan Robinson appeared in his 100th career NBA game last night. He has 76 more 3PM through 100 games than any other player in NBA history: 326 – Robinson 250 – Luka Doncic 235 – Damian Lillard 229 – Donovan Mitchell 228 – Lauri Markkanen
Chris Haynes: Portland Trail Blazers say CJ McCollum will be re-evaluated in four weeks with a small hairline fracture to the lateral cuneiform in his left foot and a mid-foot sprain.
Chamath Palihapitiya: We flew to NY and approached Allen&Co to be our banker and broach a meeting with the then commissioner, David Stern. Specifically, we had our eye on the Sacramento Kings with the goal of moving them to either Seattle or Las Vegas. The meeting rolls around and Stern sits and listens patiently about our ideas and desire to buy the Kings. At the end of our monologue, he asks one simple question: “How much do you think the team is worth?” We answer and float an admittedly low number (less than $300M). He looks around, slams his fists on the table and says: “Then you’re in the wrong f***ing meeting!” My friend and I fly home dejected. I’m now all-in on venture capital with no diversification to speak of and 100% anxiety ridden.
Chamath Palihapitiya: When I land, I call my friend Phil Hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth) He listens to my sob story and says, hey, let’s go and have some pizza and watch basketball with my friend Joe Lacob. So the next day, a Saturday, we go to Joe’s house to eat pizza and watch some basketball. At the end of the pizza, he tells me that he’s close to buying GSW. At the time, the news was that Larry Ellison was going to buy the team and I didn’t think it likely that Joe would win the bid. But he was confident and says to me: “I have 10% of the team you can buy for $25M if you want to join our bid.” I shook his hand, wired the money and at 34, became a co-owner of an NBA team. Pretty nuts! Joe’s obviously done an amazing job building the best franchise in sports and I’ve been extraordinarily lucky to be along for the ride.
January 19, 2021 | 3:28 am EST Update
CJ McCollum to miss time
Shams Charania: Trail Blazers star CJ McCollum has a fractured left foot and will miss an extended period of time, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium .
Victor Oladipo eyeing future with Rockets?
Guard Victor Oladipo exuded optimism about the Houston Rockets after his franchise debut, presenting quite a contrast to James Harden’s final comments as a member of the franchise. “I know that better days are ahead for the Houston Rockets, and I’m looking forward to being a part of those special days,” Oladipo said after his 32-point, nine-assist performance in a 125-120 road loss to the Chicago Bulls on Monday night.
