The NBA’s Eastern Conference is loaded. The Celtics are living their best lives in first place. What’s the biggest difference between last season and this season for the Celtics? Jaylen Brown: Experience. Chemistry. Camaraderie. And we’ve been able to figure a lot of stuff out and we’re STILL growing. (Last season) we were younger. I was a year younger; JT was a year younger … so now going through that season last year that was magical, we’re a year older and now we see things a little differently with different eyes. We see the game a little bit more now, and we started out the season great. So now we just have to keep it up.
The NBA’s Eastern Conference is loaded. The Celtics a…
February 5, 2023 | 3:58 pm EST Update
Stephen Curry feared his injury could have been season-ending
Dalton Johnson: “The first thing he said to me was, ‘The good thing is, I’m going to be back.'” Steve Kerr talked with Steph Curry last night. Steph’s fear was the injury could have been season ending. The MRI made him very happy
Steve Kerr: Stephen Curry's injury is not going to keep him out for the season
Kerith Burke: Steve Kerr on Steph Curry’s injury; “We’re going to reevaluate a few days. And the good news is he’s going to be back. We don’t exactly know when, but it’s not an injury that’s going to keep him out for the season.” Kerr said he’s viewing this from a “glass half full” perspective.
Kyrie Irving, 30, opted into the final season of his deal in the summer but requested a trade earlier this week after failing to reach an agreement with Brooklyn on an extension. Irving has been seeking in the neighborhood of a four-year, $198.5 million maximum extension available to him until June 30, sources said. He is also eligible to sign a two-year, $78.6 million extension with the Mavericks until June 30.
Chris Mannix: Irving deal won’t impact All-Star. Irving was voted an Eastern Conference starter, but because it’s no longer conference vs. conference, it won’t matter who he plays for when the teams are “drafted.”
Giannis posted video on Sunday of a great interaction he had with a young fan in the tunnel. Giannis saw a sign, challenging him in Rock Paper Scissors for his shoes, and Giannis jumped at the opportunity to take on the young kid. The fan showed paper, and Giannis showed rock. Without hesitation, Antetokounmpo took off his shoes (removed the insoles) and gave them to the kid.
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf says he didn’t know Colin Kaepernick well, but did spend time with the quarterback a few years back. “We never talked a lot, but we did meet up in the Bay Area when he was going through what he did,” Abdul-Rauf told us. “We had a mutual friend. We met in like a private office. We spoke for about an hour. We just shared information and if it resonated, we took it.”
Mahmoud says there was one thing Kaepernick said that stuck with him above everything else. “The biggest takeaway for me during that whole night was when he said this is the most freedom he’s ever felt in his life. I said to him, ‘well, it’s because of this freedom that allows people like yourself and those who came before us and those who’ll come after us to take those risks and do what you did.'”
February 5, 2023 | 3:47 pm EST Update
Suns prepared to pursue Kevin Durant
Chris Haynes: The Phoenix Suns are prepared to pursue Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant should he become available, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport.
