This is the latest in a monthly series in which industry leaders describe the projects and products that give them the most joy and pride. This month, former NBA player and visual artist Desmond Mason reflects on the process of creating “The Wall” in his Oklahoma studio. Desmond Mason: “I’ve always seen art as a way of expressing my feelings, a way to escape my situation, or a way to simply be creative. I’ve learned so much about myself through my creative processes and I’ve always tried to take that knowledge and apply it to my life or the lives of others. Each piece I do has a special place in my heart because it is directly attached to my emotions and my life’s journey. Some of the pieces I’ve created have had significance or importance due to my emotional state, some due to the style, efficiency or creative flow at that time, and some simply because I thought they were my best works. Art is completely subjective and that’s valid even for the artist that actually creates the art piece. Some pieces I’ve created I loved and others I hated or highly dislike, but all in all, I enjoyed the process of creating each one.”
This is the latest in a monthly series in which industr…
May 30, 2023 | 12:52 pm EDT Update
Warriors Bob Myers steps down
Golden State’s Bob Myers, a two-time executive of the year and architect of four NBA championships with the Warriors, is stepping down as the franchise’s president and general manager, he told ESPN on Tuesday. “It’s just time,” Myers told ESPN. Myers, whose contract expires in late June, declined ownership offers on a new deal that would’ve paid him among the league’s top earning executives, he said. Myers described the decision-making process that led him to leave the franchise after 12 years as including several factors beyond money.
Myers, 48, said he’s unsure of his future professional pathway, but should he someday decide to return to the team side, he’s expected to become the one of the most pursued executives in modern North American professional sports history. Myers’ blend of leadership, talent evaluation and the respect that he commands at every level of the industry — ownership, front office, coaches, players and agents — makes him a uniquely appealing part of a potential ownership group or front office.
In his dozen years with the Warriors, Myers, who grew up in the Bay Area as a fan of the franchise and went on to play basketball at UCLA, built a Hall of Fame resume. He enjoyed strong working and personal relationships with the key members of the Warriors’ dynasty — Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson and coach Steve Kerr. He let each of them know in recent days that there was a real possibility of him stepping away from the job, sources said.
Udonis Haslem: 'The assalytics, assaholycs, probably had us not beating Milwaukee in the first round'
Clutch Points: “I’m sure the assalytics, assaholycs, or whatever they call themselves, probably had us not beating Milwaukee either in the first round.” Udonis Haslem on ESPN giving the Heat a 3% chance of beating the Celtics in the ECF 😤 (via @LeBatardShow) pic.twitter.com/NGt93A7Ixg
Clutch Points: “Jaylen Brown has turned into a turnover machine… I found somebody that has a worse handle than Russell Westbrook… You’re a 2nd Team All-NBA player & you have middle school handles.” Shannon Sharpe on Brown’s 8 turnovers in Game 7 of Celtics-Heat 😳 pic.twitter.com/uPQzLJuSeV
For much of Game 7 on Monday, the 6-foot-5, 205-pounder was the biggest boss on the parquet floor for the Heat, scoring 26 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and nailing four 3-pointers in a 103-84 rout of the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. For his efforts, Martin finished one media vote shy of beating NBA All-Star teammate Jimmy Butler for the Eastern Conference finals MVP trophy. Considering Martin’s unsuspecting road to the NBA Finals, his story — going from undrafted to waived to a two-way contract to playing a starring role on a potential NBA champion — seemed worthy of Rick Ross’ lyrics. “What people can learn from my story is just stay in the saddle,” Martin told Andscape. “Stay in the saddle, man. If you put the work in, eventually it will come to light. People that got drafted ahead of you eventually have to see you. That’s when you have to take advantage… “This means everything. It hard to even explain right now. It’s hard to even think. I’m numb right now. I’m just trying to enjoy it.”
The Heat signed Martin to a two-way contract on Sept. 14, 2021, which eventually was upgraded to a contract for the remainder of the season. Martin believed the “Heat Culture” and “underdog mentality” was a good fit for him. He also said the player development that the Heat are renowned for helped him grow. The Heat rewarded Martin with a three-year, $20 million deal last offseason. “The people here, I just mesh with them,” Martin said. The signing of Martin has more than paid its dividends for Finals-bound Miami. As Martin walked off the floor Monday, newfound fans agreed as they yelled, “Caleb… Caleb…” “I am kind of numb right to be real with you,” Martin said. “This is crazy right now. We are trying to stay focused. Try to get four more [wins]. But we are definitely going to enjoy the moment…
“It was just one of those things where I was like, ‘Damn, he actually called me about this kid,'” Butler said, “and he’s like, ‘Yo, seriously, he needs that [opportunity].'” Without J. Cole’s phone call, there’s a chance Martin’s workout would have never happened. And if it didn’t, then maybe Miami’s run through this postseason would have gone far differently. Maybe it would have been much shorter. Without Martin’s presence this postseason, the Heat may not be in the enviable spot of sitting on the precipice of the NBA Finals.
