Rachel Nichols: Tuesday: FS1 airs an interview in which Terry Rozier calls Joel Embiid “lame.” Wednesday: Sixers beat the Celtics, Embiid posts this on IG. Note the “location” and also the pic with Jimmy Butler.
Terry Rozier: "I thought the confetti was going to drop tonight. A big win, don't want to take nothing away from them, but I thought the confetti was gonna drop tonight."
Boston has won 17 of the last 19 regular-season meetings, the last of which was a 112-109 victory in Philadelphia in February. Embiid believed he'd been fouled by Al Horford in the final minute -- the NBA's Last 2-Minute Report would later agree -- and was fined for his public criticism of the officiating that included profanity. He used more profanity the next night when explaining why he was so angry. "It was against Boston again which I (expletive) hate. I'm sorry, which I hate," Embiid said.
Terry Rozier: Philly ain’t beat us since they had AI dummy
Rob Perez: 10 seconds later, Simmons tip slams on Giannis’ head and primal screams in his grill let’s go
Patrick Beverley: Men lie, numbers don’t. He tried to blame the refs. Naw bra bra!!!
Spencer Dinwiddie: Don’t worry @nyknicks fans. Atleast y’all can say I never lied to you...
Jusuf Nurkic: “Why not”Westbrick* 🤣🤣 #HaHa
Joel Embiid: It was an honor to be part of the 3rd stringers and get a win against real NBA starters #TheProcess
Rob Perez: Brook Lopez trolling Hassan Whiteside 10/10
Kings guard Iman Shumpert was stopped from going into the Portland locker room by arena and Trail Blazers security after Sacramento's 115-107 victory Monday night. Shumpert apparently was angry at Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic, who set a hard screen in the second half. "Some stuff needed to be between me and him, a conversation between two men," Shumpert said. "Some stuff happened out there that we needed to have a conversation about. That's it."
"I'm not going to worry about it," he said. "He's going into retirement soon. I'm not going to worry about a guy who's going into retirement soon."
Iman Shumpert: I apologize to the fans if I made a scene. Wasn't my intention but this 2019 stuff is all about a "story". Don't let that distract you from this young Scores ball club getting a great victory against a tested Blazers team #theScoresisHERE #purpletalk
Ben Golliver: Thunder’s Russell Westbrook on his air guitar celebration near Lakers’ Lance Stephenson: “Was I thinking about it? I wasn’t thinking about no damn guitar. It was an and-one. Having fun, per usual.”
To which Embiid responded in the comments: “Bruh that’s a block, layup … whatever that is. You were bbq chicken on the post tonight. You had 4 fouls in 8 mins young fella. I would’ve fouled you out in 10. That’s a welcome to the f league. Gotta learn to guard without fouling. All love haha.”
John Denton: .@OrlandoMagic C Mo Bamba on finishing a dunk over @sixers C Joel Embiid: "I winked at (Embiid), I winked at him, and I should have told him, `Welcome to the league.'" He was referring to the dunk that Embiid got over him earlier in the summer and posted on social media channels.
The Knicks rookie’s debut included a couple highlight alley-oop jams and a heated exchange with Wizards grumpy veteran Morris, who was ejected following two technical fouls because he couldn’t get over something Robinson called him. “This stupid ass rookie was talking too much. And obviously, I didn’t like what he said,” Morris complained Monday after the Knicks beat the Wizards in overtime of their preseason opener, 124-121.
Candace Buckner: Morris was asked if he ever had any interaction with Mitchell Robinson before: “I don’t even know him. I ain’t never really seen him b4. He just checked into the game. I never even guarded him. I didn’t know there was a Mitchell on their team! I didn’t know anything about him.”
“He could have helped his team out tonight if he’d just be quiet. I didn’t say nothing to him,” said Robinson, who finished with six points and seven boards in 17 minutes. “If he would’ve just hushed and continued to play the game, but he wanted to keep going. He got out. We got the win, I kept playing.”
“Yeah, that was awesome. You don't instigate it but you don't back down,” Fizdale said. “The kid's tough. Don’t let his slim frame fool you. He's not going to back away. The kid grew up in some tough surroundings. I'm sure he got in some scuffles down there in the Bayou. That's who we are. That's the Knicks DNA. We're going to keep holding on to that. We may not necessarily totally instigate stuff but we're definitely not shying away from stuff.”
Howard laughed off whatever beef there might be at the Wizards media day podium, but when he got a chance to sit down with Chris Miller, he was more frank about what's going on between them. "I like to joke and have fun, but I don't go at other NBA players or NBA vets because I respect all of them because they came before me," Howard told Miller. "[Shaq] said something online about the whole rings situation. He got rings, I'm not in his league and all that stuff. But if that's your only way to come back at all players, then you really don't have too much to say."
"I think it's a little insecurity on his part because people call him 'Superman' and they call me 'Superman.' But if I'm an older guy and it's younger players that are being compared to me and they have that same nickname, I want to feel good about it."
Alex Kennedy: Here is Ben Simmons' response to Tristan Thompson:
Ben Axelrod: Tristan Thompson: “We’re still 4-time Eastern Conference champions, so until you take us down from that, teams ain’t got much to say. Boston, Philly, they ain’t got much to say. Boston had homecourt Game 7 and lost. Philly, you guys almost got swept. Toronto - we know that story”
Shaquille O’Neal is still not Dwight Howard‘s biggest fan. And Shaq still loves the tired “ringzzzz” argument. It all started because Shaq was watching a couple of guys roast Howard on MTV’s Wild N’ Out. Shaq liked it so much he decided to post it to Instagram. Howard took the bait and responded in the comments. He should have known better.
Def Pen Hoops: Shaq from the top rope.
Rob Perez: oh it’s a go
Rob Perez: Wiggins’ story update is likely in response to Captain Jackson going off on him and telling him he has no heart... Or was it meant for both? WHAT IS GOING ON
Stephen Jackson: Have a good yr lil one. This ain’t the smoke u won’t. God bless. Somebody @ Lil one for me. Wish u the best. #GBG #BoyStop #TruthHurts
Less than two hours after Rubio’s tweet went live, Ingles had a little bit of fun with his own tweet when he wrote “My purple jerseys sold out already?”.
That’s when things got interesting as former Los Angeles Clippers and now Detroit Pistons player Blake Griffin injected himself. Griffin has built a reputation as a funny character outside of his immense basketball talents and he tried using those skills on Ingles. His reply of “yeah Michigan is cold. Needed something to burn in my fireplace” was well received as it recorded more than 13,000 likes.
June 2, 2023 | 12:55 pm EDT Update

The Phoenix Suns are finalizing a five-year, $31 million deal with Frank Vogel to hire him as their coach, league sources tell The Athletic. Vogel, who guided the Lakers to the 2020 NBA championship, is known for his defensive acumen and detail-oriented approach.
After parting ways with Monty Williams on May 14, the Suns had a thorough coaching search process that led to five finalists. Vogel, former Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers, now-76ers coach Nick Nurse, Kings assistant Jordi Fernandez and Suns assistant Kevin Young each met with Suns owner Mat Ishbia, president of basketball operations James Jones and other team officials in the final stage of the search over the past couple weeks. For the Suns, Vogel’s connectivity and collaborative approach provided the organization confidence that this could be a long-lasting partnership with staying power.
Evan Sidery: Frank Vogel is one of the best defensive tacticians in the NBA. Consistently has his teams elite on that end of the floor. Vogel also puts a heavy emphasis on rim protecting bigs (ex: Roy Hibbert and Anthony Davis). The big question now pivots to whether Deandre Ayton is a fit…
Chase Hughes: The Wizards will host their first pre-draft workout tomorrow. Six players will work out including NCAA Tournament star Markquis Nowell: pic.twitter.com/b3y2trUo9J
June 2, 2023 | 12:40 pm EDT Update
Suns tab Frank Vogel as next head coach

Shams Charania: JUST IN: Frank Vogel is finalizing a deal to become the new head coach of the Phoenix Suns, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium .
Adrian Wojnarowski: BREAKING: The Suns are planning to hire Frank Vogel as the franchise’s next coach, sources tell ESPN. Sides are starting work on a long-term deal. Vogel brings with him a 2020 NBA title and history of constructing high-level defenses.
Shams Charania: The Suns and Frank Vogel are finalizing a five-year, $31 million contract to make the 2020 championship coach the new head man in Phoenix, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium .

Marc J. Spears: Former NBA head coach Doc Rivers has pulled his name from the Phoenix Suns head coach search, a source told @andscape .