“I’m feeling pretty good,” Capela said. “I’m going to keep doing what the medical staff is saying. I think they’ve been doing a pretty good job. I feel pretty good, honestly. I’m not 100 percent yet. It’s getting better, so I’m optimistic about it.”
Storyline: Clint Capela Injury
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“I call every now and then, and they check on me to see how I’m doing and how I’m feeling,” Capela said of his virtual rehab process. “If they need to do any adjustments, I just let them know. If I feel good about exercises, I let them know. I do a report once a week to let them know and make sure the exercises are good. If I feel good about it and if we decide to move forward with the exercises because I’m feeling better about it — that’s pretty much how it works.”
“I’m feeling pretty good,” Capela said. “I’m going to keep doing what the medical staff is saying. I think they’ve been doing a pretty good job. I feel pretty good, honestly. I’m not 100 percent yet. It’s getting better, so I’m optimistic about it.”
“I call every now and then, and they check on me to see how I’m doing and how I’m feeling,” Capela said of his virtual rehab process. “If they need to do any adjustments, I just let them know. If I feel good about exercises, I let them know. I do a report once a week to let them know and make sure the exercises are good. If I feel good about it and if we decide to move forward with the exercises because I’m feeling better about it — that’s pretty much how it works.”
“I was just dealing with it,” Capela said of why he kept playing. “With Houston, there were a lot of injuries — you’re really just trying to go out there and play and trying to get the win. I had to learn how to deal with it and play through it. Sometimes, the first quarter was OK and the second quarter was OK. Then you come back in the second half and it’s super sore. You just go through it. I know a lot of players play hurt, especially when you’re on a team that expects a lot from you. It was an important year with my previous team. It was something that I really wanted to be a part of.”
Capela said the Hawks training staff has not told him to expect to miss the entire season. It’s a day-by-day process of figuring out how much weight his heel can bear. He gets to do a little bit of conditioning, limited basketball activity and some contact on his feet. Capela said he 100 percent wants to play again this season because “I’m not here to sit on the bench and clap my hands. My job is to go out there and play and be as dominant as I can. When I don’t do that, it’s hard.”
Chris Kirschner: Clint Capela doing more work today pic.twitter.com/kn5DR8E7aX
Sarah K. Spencer: Lloyd Pierce makes the point that even if Clint Capela gets to play a few games with the Hawks this season, he’ll be on a minute restriction. It’s very likely Capela won’t be at 100% until next year.
Sarah K. Spencer: Clint Capela says he’s still waking up with a limp some days, since his right heel is still pretty sore. Says it’s difficult to be sidelined when he’s itching to play. “I’m on the bench pulling for my guys, but of course I want to be out there with them. Go to war with them.”
Sarah K. Spencer: Capela says he hasn’t been told it’s a possibility he might miss the rest of the season. Says everyone is taking a day-by-day approach with his injury. “They just said every day, they’re really trying to see how I feel on what I can do.”
Sarah K. Spencer: Clint Capela and Skal Labissiere have both been cleared to participate in impact activities. Both will be re-evaluated in two weeks. A good sign, but they’ll still be out a while longer.
The plan is still to re-evaluate Capela March 4. He’ll be out for a while longer, with Pierce adding he’d be surprised if Capela returns for the Hawks’ games in Washington March 6 and in Memphis March 7. Pierce had originally guessed Capela would miss 7-10 games coming out of the All-Star break (the Hawks’ 11th post-All Star break game is a home game vs. the Knicks March 11), but there’s no way to exactly determine how quickly Capela will rehab, which informs the timetable of his return. “It probably will be 15 (games) or less, after this weekend and next weekend’s over with,” Pierce said.
Michael Gallagher: On Hawks TV, Travis Schlenk said “maybe in the middle of March” for a Clint Capela return.
Kevin Chouinard: On the FSSE broadcast, Travis Schlenk said that Clint Capela’s recovery from plantar fasciitis is progressing well but the additional bone bruise has made things tricky.
Sarah K. Spencer: Lloyd Pierce says Clint Capela is doing more non-contact activity as far as sprints/slides, but there is still no timetable for his return.
Chris Vivlamore: Lloyd Pierce says it will be ‘weeks’ before Clint Capela will play.
Sarah K. Spencer: Clint Capela says it’s his goal to come back from injury after the All-Star break. Travis Schlenk: “Our first goal is to get him healthy. We’re not going to rush him out there.”
Salman Ali: Mike D’Antoni says Clint Capela has made progress on the heel injury: “I heard he’s getting better.” Said Capela “could” play half of the upcoming back-to-back.
From the looks of it, it doesn’t sound like this is a day-to-day situation for Capela, either. There’s a growing sense internally he could be out for a while, at least until after the All-Star break. Capela is said to be in pain daily, struggling to run early Friday morning before the Mavericks’ game. A collective coaching decision was made that day to rest him until he fully recovers. “Hurts like heck,” D’Antoni said, citing his past experience with plantar fasciitis. “He’s dealing with it, and every day it’s tough and he’s dealing with pain. But it’s like he’s gotta get over it and the only way you can do that is rest and treatment. It could linger, it could be a while.”
Clint Capela missing time?
Tim MacMahon: Mike D’Antoni on Clint Capela’s nagging heel contusion: “He shouldn’t come back until he’s pain free.” Capela has been in and out of the lineup for weeks. D’Antoni is noncommittal about whether Capela could sit until All-Star break.
Jonathan Feigen: Rockets center Clint Capela expected to return to practice today, play tomorrow in San Antonio, source said. Danuel House Jr. still out.
Jonathan Feigen: Clint Capela and Danuel House Jr. both upgraded to probable for the Rockets against the Trail Blazers on Monday. Capela (concussion) missed the past two games and House (bruised back) the past three games.
Mark Berman: Mike D’Antoni says Clint Capela out tonight and tomorrow night. Danuel House out tonight, 50-50 tomorrow. Says Russell Westbrook will probably be out tomorrow for load management. Says Ben McLemore in the starting lineup tonight. pic.twitter.com/eez9WdBdBG
Tim MacMahon: A sore right shoulder has been a factor in Clint Capela’s slow start. He hurt it playing for Swiss national team and has been working to strengthen it. “Getting there slowly,” he said, adding that it’s really bothered him trying to dunk with one hand and reaching for rebounds.
Alykhan Bijani: Coach D’Antoni on Clint Capela leaving Tuesday’s game with a sore right thumb: “He’s fine. He’s fine. Last year he tore ligaments in his thumb. He got hit. Got a little scared, but he woke up just fine.” He will play against the Raptors on Thursday. #Rockets
Eric Walden: Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni says center Clint Capela feels “a lot better.” Does not have a minutes restriction.
Salman Ali: Mike D’Antoni says Clint Capela has “more or less” recovered from his upper respiratory infection. pic.twitter.com/ZTx7xYztuY
Salman Ali: Clint Capela missed today’s Rockets practice today with an upper respiratory infection. Per Mike D’Antoni he will play in Game 1: “He better not be as soft as I was.”
Tim MacMahon: Clint Capela spent the All-Star break in Houston working out and playing 1-on-1 against Rockets reserve center Isaiah Hartenstein. His surgically repaired right thumb passed all tests. “It felt great,” Capela said. “I was really happy about it, so now I’m ready to go.”
Jonathan Feigen: Capela wearing a wrap on his right thumb, but said he played all weekend, has no issues. He didn’t know if he’ll wear it the game, but said can catch any passes with it.
Tim MacMahon: Rockets center Clint Capela is returning to practice today after missing 15 games due to ligament damage in his right thumb. Barring a setback, he’s expected to play Thursday against the Lakers.
Clint Capela to return after All-Star break?
To the Rockets, Wednesday’s game was not just the last before the All-Star break. Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni referred to the game against the Timberwolves as “the last one until Clint comes back probably.” Rockets center Clint Capela has been out since he injured ligaments in his right thumb Jan. 13 in Orlando, requiring surgery the following week. The game against the Timberwolves was the 15th he had missed, but he was cleared to resume workouts several weeks ago. The Rockets expect him to practice with the team for the first time since the injury next week in Los Angeles.
“He’s doing everything without contact,” D’Antoni said. “I guess those two practices will determine whether he will play the first game (after the break) or not.” Capela is the Rockets’ leading scorer, averaging 17.6 points per game, and leading rebounder, averaging 12.6.
Mark Berman: Clint Capela (@Clint Capela) w/ update on his thumb:”I felt that my hand has been responding really well.I’ve said before my target is after the All-Star Break” (Has he circled a date?) “I haven’t yet..If it keeps going really well, hopefully the 1st game after the All-Star Break”
The Rockets announced on the day of the surgery to repair ligament damage that Capela would be out for four to six weeks. Capela said he is hoping to return for the Rockets’ first game after the All-Star break, Feb. 21 against the Lakers in Los Angeles, which would put him in the middle of that timetable. “This is my hope, this is my goal,” Capela said.
Tim MacMahon: Rockets center Clint Capela made this trip with the team. No splint or cast on his surgically repaired right thumb. He likely returns right after the All-Star break.
Jonathan Feigen: Rockets announce that center Clint Capela underwent surgery on his right thumb. He is expected to miss the next four to six weeks.
Mark Berman: While Clint Capela may seek a second opinion, according to NBA sources Clint has been told the right thumb injury he suffered Sunday in Orlando requires surgery. League sources confirmed he will miss 4-6 weeks after suffering ligament damage in his right thumb. #Rockets
With two starters already out with injuries, Houston Rockets center Clint Capela is expected to miss four to six weeks with ligament damage to his right thumb, league sources told ESPN. Capela underwent an MRI in Houston on Monday and may get a second opinion with a hand specialist in the near future, league sources said.
Adrian Wojnarowski: MRI showed ligament damage today on Capela, league sources said.
Mark Berman: Clint Capela (thumb) out tonight pic.twitter.com/mas5CM8xWX
Michael C. Wright: Clint Capela had an x-ray onn that tight hand, and D’antoni said it’s just a bruise. Said he was worried. Said Eric Gordon’s knee is fine too.
Kelly Iko: Capela (right hand injury) will not return.
Jonathan Feigen: Capela hand soreness called “just a bruise.”
Alykhan Bijani: P.J. Tucker (sore back) and Clint Capela (right foot soreness) will be available to play tomorrow when the #Rockets travel to San Antonio to take on the #Spurs.
Jonathan Feigen: Clint Capela expects to practice on Saturday and Hope’s to play Sunday in San Antonio.
Adam Wexler: #Rockets Capela (Thumb), Harden (Rest) & Mbah a Moute ( Knee) are OUT: Paul (Hamstring) is probable vs. Bulls
Jonathan Feigen: Ryan Anderson (sore right hip flexor) and Brandan Wright (sore right knee) are out for Rockets vs. Clippers tomorrow. Clint Capela (illness) is questionable. Eric Gordon, who missed past three games with an illness, is not on the injury report, so it seems he will be back.
Jonathan Feigen: D’Antoni said Clint Capela will return on Sunday.
Rockets center Clint Capela has a right orbital fracture and will miss Houston’s next two games, the team announced Wednesday. Capela will be re-evaluated later this week, according to the Rockets.
Tim MacMahon: Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni says Clint Capela, who missed three of the last four games with a bruised left heel, will start against the Rockets. He confirmed that Chris Paul would not play.
Mark Berman: Mike D’Antoni on Clint Capela: “I’m hopeful he’ll play (against OKC). If not, the next game.” On Chris Paul: “Chris is not to far away.” Said Luc Mbah a Moute is “a little bit longer” away. #Rockets
Jonathan Feigen: Nene to start again for the Rockets with Clint Capela out, D’Antoni said.
Jonathan Feigen: Rockets center Clint Capela doubtful for tomorrow with a bruised heel.
Jonathan Feigen: D’Antoni said there is not concern that Capela’s injury could linger long-term because it is a bruise, but it could keep him out “one more day, three days, four days. As soon as the pain goes away, he’ll play.”
Jonathan Feigen: Rockets Center Clint Capela out tonight vs Lakers with a bruised left heel.
Mark Berman: Clint Capela ruled out tonight
Mike D’Antoni said Pat Beverley (stinger), Clint Capela (Achilles), Lou Williams (rest) and Nene (rest) will not play tonight against the Clippers.
Jonathan Feigen: I’ll tweet link when it’s posted, but more from Capela: “I’ve been doing pretty good in the workouts, sprinting, dunking. It all felt good.”
Calvin Watkins: Center Clint Capela is still scheduled to be evaluated next week in his recovery from a fractured left fibula. If cleared by doctors next week, Capela can begin practicing with the Rockets.
Jonathan Feigen: Capela: “My workout is getting better, really better. I’m on the court right now. Did pretty great. I’m going to have to keep going.”
Calvin Watkins: Rockets center Nene said he spoke with Clint Capela regarding his fracture fibula and said he’s in good spirits. Nene also talked about battling back from his own health scares with cancer and a knee injury.
Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that center Clint Capela underwent medical imaging at Memorial Hermann. Tests revealed Capela has a small left fibula fracture. He will be re-evaluated by Dr. Steven Flores in approximately four weeks.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Sources: With loss of Capela, Rockets probing trade market on available bigs. Most likely scenario: Turning minutes to Nene and Harrell.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Sources: Rockets still waiting for final medical intel on Capela leg injury, but bracing to be without him for 4-to-6 weeks.
Clint Capela out six weeks?
Coach Mike D’Antoni said on Monday that Capela will miss Tuesday’s game against the Spurs and was getting an MRI. The Rockets have not released any information about the results. But L’Equipe, the respected French sports publication, reported the MRI showed Capela suffered a broken fibula and will likely miss several weeks. Capela is getting another scan to confirm the injury but likely has a broken fibula, a bone between the knee and ankle, a person with knowledge of his medical visit told the Chronicle.
Calvin Watkins: Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said center Clint Capela will have a MRI on his knee today and won’t play against the Spurs on Tuesday.
May 24, 2020 | 7:24 pm EDT Update
In recent weeks, the Colts’ special guests have featured more of an NBA flavor, as Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers and Hall of Fame sharpshooter Ray Allen have been among those who have spent a few minutes delivering a special message to Indy’s players and coaching staff.
We were able to get our hands on a few minutes of Rivers’ presentation to the Colts team, which you can watch in its entirety above. But here’s what he had to say in full about what he’s learned over the years about championship teams: » “I don’t think people understand that … I think people think champions don’t get hit. Like, you know, I always use boxing, because boxing, for whatever reason, my dad was a big boxing fan, and so I grew up watching boxing matches, and the biggest misnomer is that champions only hit. It’s just not true. Champions get hit all the time. And then it comes to a point — how many times are you willing to get hit and keep moving forward and still punch, so you can win? That’s what it’s gonna come down to: you are going to get hit. You just are. Alright? But you have to be willing to take the punches, you have to be willing to keep moving forward and keep going.”
Doc Rivers: » “I’m going to end with this … I don’t know if you remember the Oklahoma Thunder, when they had Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, James Harden, (Serge) Ibaka, they lost to Miami in the Finals. And I remember in that last game Jeff Van Gundy and Mike Breen were saying, ‘Well, it’s a tough loss for Oklahoma, but they’ll be back here every year.’ They’ve never been back. You cannot take it for granted.”
Free agent forward Greg Whittington has received interest from multiple high-level NBA teams throughout the year, his agent told Hoops Rumors. Whittington impressed scouts during a shortened campaign with Turkish team Galatasaray in the EuroCup.
Liz Mullen: The 1st NBA player to make significant efforts to aid with COVID-19 was OKC Thunder F Danilo Gallinari. He’s from a small town in Northern Italy, so he knew how bad it can get. He helped OKC health care workers buy masks, face shields & testing kits.
NBA players Blake Griffin and Chandler Parsons have been out of work for more than two months now in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. So with some time on their hands, the pair put their ball skills to use when they hooked up for a friendly game of kickball with some pals in Los Angeles on Saturday.
On the heels of The Last Dance sweeping the nation, it looks like NBA TV will attempt to capitalize on that wave. The network aired an advertisement for Basketball Stories: Rip City Revival during “The Match: Champions for Charity” golf match with Tom Brady and Phil Mickelson facing off against Tiger Woods and Peyton Manning.
The documentary, set to air on Sunday, May 31 at 5:00 p.m. PT on. NBA TV, will tell “the untold stories behind the 1989-92 Portland Trail Blazers.” The documentary secured interviews from Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter, Isaiah Thomas, and more to detail arguably the best three-season stretch in franchise history.
May 24, 2020 | 5:32 pm EDT Update
As the NBA is nearing a potential return to its 2020 season, some Knicks players have been told recently to be ready to report to train in early June, sources tell SNY’s Ian Begley. However, where that exact location will be is still a mystery.
After the Warriors moved on from Mark Jackson as head coach in 2014, the search narrowed on two final candidates: former Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy and then-TNT broadcaster Steve Kerr. Former Warriors assistant general manager Travis Schlenk was part of the team that interviewed both contenders and says the front office at one point wasn’t sure they’d even get a chance to sit down with Kerr during the process.
“Steve was being courted very hard by Phil Jackson and the New York Knicks,” Schlenk said on 95.7 The Game last week. “And at one point during the process, it felt like that’s where he was going to go. And so we didn’t think that we were going to even have an opportunity to really sit down and talk with Steve. And I believe it was while we were meeting with Stan down in Orlando, that Steve called Bob and said he kinda had a change of heart and he wanted to meet with us.”
While most of the responses have been incredibly positive, Michael’s 27-year-old daughter, Jasmine Jordan, exclusively tells ET that her dad “hasn’t paid any attention” to what people are saying about it on social media, including “all the new memes/gifs being created.” In addition to Jasmine, Michael shares two sons, Jeffrey, 31, and Marcus, 29, with ex-wife Juanita Vanoy, and 6-year-old twins Victoria and Isabel with Yvette Prieto, whom he married in 2013.
“We are all very happy to see how successful the doc has been and to see athletes, fans, new fans etcetera,” Jasmine says. “Obviously with the coronavirus, we all watched separately versus watching together, but we had a running group text thread.” “We would talk about what was happening, laugh at seeing our younger selves in some of the episodes and ask my dad any questions we might’ve had,” she adds.
One person that was noticeably absent from the 10-part docuseries was Jasmine’s mother, Juanita. Jasmine tells ET that her mom was not in it “simply because she already lived it, of course.” “The doc’s focus was on the team as a whole and their last season,” she said, referencing her dad’s sixth NBA championship with the Bulls in 1998. “My dad is a major focal point, obviously, but it still was about the team as a whole in their final run together, so that’s why she wasn’t in it.”
May 24, 2020 | 4:28 pm EDT Update
League sources indicate that no decisions have been made on exactly how a return will take shape and that some of the rumors leaking out are true but some are not. The simple fact is that Silver does not have a set plan yet. He has made it clear in his few public statements that he wants to absorb as much information as he can. Every week he puts off the announcement, it allows more tests, more planning and more ability to shrink the risk.
The teams on the outside looking in seem to know which way the wind is blowing. The Knicks have not opened up their practice facility. A league source from a team outside the playoff picture indicated that he believes the season is over for his team.
Marc Stein: The 11 NBA teams, entering the weekend, that had yet to fully open their practice facilities for voluntary player workouts: Celtics Nets Knicks 76ers Bulls Pistons Hornets Wizards Mavericks Spurs Warriors
Stefan Bondy: Most of the Knicks and Nets players are not in the NY area. The Knicks, in particular, don’t know if they’ll be part of the restart in Orlando. In other words, the New York teams are awaiting guidance from the NBA and Cuomo’s announcement doesn’t change anything.
Liz Mullen: In the NBA, at least 97 players have donated at least $4.9 million toward COVID-19 relief, said Sherrie Deans, executive director of @TheNBPA Foundation The amount the NBPA Foundation has matched is “approximately $575,000 and climbing,” Deans said.
May 24, 2020 | 1:01 pm EDT Update
Caboclo admits he used Fraschila’s quote as motivation for a period, but ESPN’s international basketball guru wasn’t exactly wrong. Caboclo spent most of the next four years developing with Toronto’s D League affiliate, helping that squad win a D League title in ’17 but playing just 25 games for an ascending Raptors team over the course of his rookie contract. “When I got on the Raptors, Coach [Dwane] Casey was playing 7 or 8 players a game. They weren’t looking to me very much,” Caboclo told Sports Illustrated over a recent Zoom call. “They said I was going to play every season, but I really didn’t play most of the time. I could see how it was going.”
After Memphis signed him away from Rio Grande in January, Caboclo played in 34 games (19 starts) and averaged 8.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting 36.9% from three-point range in 23.5 minutes per contest—all career-high marks. “They welcomed me from the first day. Marc Gasol was there, he treated me very well before he was traded,” Caboclo said. “The coaches were amazing and always supported players with everything we needed. Memphis was a great place for me.”
“With my journey, not everyone can understand how it’s been,” Caboclo said. “The first time I played in the NBA, I felt good. I felt like I belonged there. But you need to gain respect. They don’t pass to you very much at first. But after you start making some buckets, they start to give it to you more. … In my first Summer League, I was playing maybe 30 minutes and got the ball in my hand four times. The thing I learned was to be patient and not change how I play even if I’m not getting the ball—to always play hard.”
Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s push to get professional sports going again in New York took another step forward Sunday. Cuomo said during a press conference at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh that as of Sunday, professional sports leagues can begin holding training camps in New York, as leagues work on their plans to resume play amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“Starting today, all the New York professional sports leagues will be able to begin training camps,” Cuomo said. “I believe sports that can come back without having people in the stadium, without having people in the arena, do it! Do it! Work out the economics if you can. We want you up. We want people to be able to watch sports to the extent people are still staying home. It gives people something to do. It’s a return to normalcy. So we are working and encouraging all sports teams to start their training camps as soon as possible, and we’ll work with them to make sure that can happen.”
Kobe’s mom, Pamela Bryant, famously tried to sell the rings, along with a bunch of other Kobe memorabilia back in the day … and Kobe sued to try and stop the sale. Kobe ultimately agreed to allow his parents to sell 6 items — including the rings — and, in 2013, they sold to a private collector (a big Lakers fan) for a total of $280,000. Now, that private collector went to Goldin Auction to see what they could get for the rings … and obviously, the value has skyrocketed.
May 24, 2020 | 12:47 pm EDT Update
Nets, Knicks allowed to reopen facilities
Andrew Cuomo: Starting today, NY professional sports leagues can begin spring training. On Tuesday, veterinarians can reopen statewide.
In his “All the Smoke” podcast last week, Barnes revealed (around the 1:09:00 mark) the ring is still sitting in the office of Golden State vice president of communications Raymond Ridder. “I came in when (Kevin Durant) went down, playing a consistent 20-25 minutes. The game KD comes back, I get hurt maybe a week before the playoffs and I’m out of it,” Barnes said. “I got a free ride, I got a free ring.”
Barnes averaged 5.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 20.5 minutes per game in the 20 regular-season games he played with the Warriors that year. But it was a different story in the playoffs. “I didn’t sweat … I didn’t get to guard LeBron (James),” he said. With Durant fully recovered, Barnes played just 61 minutes in 12 playoff games. And for that reason, he concluded: “I don’t count that as a championship.”
When Chucky Atkins retired after 11 seasons in the NBA, he found himself directionless. He was accustomed to the regimented schedule that comes with being a professional athlete, jostling nonstop between games, practices, workouts, flights and other engagements. With more time on his hands than he knew what to do with, he found himself playing golf and drinking every day in retirement. Eventually, his drinking became problematic. “I decided the best thing for me to do at that particular time was to step away from it and get myself together, because at the end of the day I did realize I was a role model, and that I was doing the wrong thing,” Atkins said.
After paying his legal fees, finishing his DUI classes and completing his community service, Atkins landed a new head coaching job in the AAU ranks. Now, he’s hoping to climb the coaching ladder once again. Atkins, who played for the Pistons from 2000-04 and in 2009-10, is one of 14 members in the NBA’s Assistant Coaches Program. Since 1988, the program has assisted former players in developing the tools to enter the NBA, G League and college coaching ranks. His goal is to “go to the top,” and become a head coach.
Atkins played for several coaches who have reputations as being among the best in the NBA — Doc Rivers, Mike Fratello and former Pistons coaches Rick Carlisle and Larry Brown. His goal is to take a little bit from each and mix it with his own style. “Ultimately, a coach is only as good as the guys on his team,” Atkins said. “It would be my job to guide and direct them. But ultimately, each guy would have to be a personal contractor to get themselves as good as they can possibly be, but also put it in a team concept. … I would take a little bit from all of those guys’ style and come up with my own formula that would be successful.”
May 24, 2020 | 11:27 am EDT Update
Enshrinement is scheduled for Aug. 29, but the Hall of Fame in Massachusets is looking at potentially pushing back that date if large gatherings are not yet allowed, reports Gary Washburn at the Boston Globe. They are considering pushing the date back to mid-October or potentially into next spring if necessary.
Hall of Fame CEO John Doleva emphasized they are not just going to roll this class into the 2021 class (which has yet to be elected). “I do want to make it very clear we will have a separate event for the class of 2020 because of the notoriety of that class and, frankly, every class deserves its own recognition,” Doleva said. “There is a potential next calendar year that we could have two enshrinements.”
After eliminating the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks in the 2007 NBA playoffs, the “We Believe” Warriors etched their names into Golden State lore. The underdog band of Warriors could be getting treatment similar to The Last Dance. Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes recently joined The Bill Simmons Podcast to talk about the 2006-07 Warriors. While the rest of the details are still unclear, Barnes mentioned a documentary about the We Believe group could be on the way.
Via The Bill Simmons Podcast: We’re in the midst of getting a ‘We Believe’ documentary together. Despite losing to the Utah Jazz in the second round, endless storylines surround the We Believe Warriors.
Dallas Mavericks: Thank you @DoorDash and @matrix31, @Wingstop once again delivered food to healthcare workers at Parkland Hospital last week! #OpenForDelivery
May 24, 2020 | 8:05 am EDT Update
Israel an option for Ante Zizic?
Ante Zizic will be emerging as a candidate for Maccabi Tel Aviv if the player decides to leave the NBA and return to Europe, according to Israeli website One. The Croatian center will hit the upcoming offseason as an unrestricted free agent since the Cleveland Cavaliers have declined the 2020-2021 option in his contract. Another reason why Maccabi is reported to be quite interested in Zizic is the recent departure of center Tarik Black. From the frontline players of the Israeli powerhouse, only center Othello Hunter is bound with a contract for the next season.
The budget of Maccabi remains quite the question mark since a major part of it depends on the revenues from ticket sales. It’s currently uncertain when arenas in Israeli will once again be open to fans and the “Yellows” will be waiting to see the development on this matter before actually signing any new players.
During a recent appearance on ESPN, Johnson had some high praise for James, as he said that the Lakers forward was probably the best “all-around” player of all time. However, Johnson said that when it comes to the greatest player ever, he’s still going with Jordan. “First of all, let’s not take anything away from LeBron James,” Johnson said. “Because LeBron James is a great basketball player, one of the all-time greatest that’s ever played the game. LeBron James to me, when you think about all-around basketball players, he’s probably the best of all time. An all-around basketball player. But when you want to say ‘who’s the greatest ever’ it’s still Michael Jordan.”
While Johnson currently has Jordan ranked ahead of James on his own all-time list, he did leave the door open for James to potentially pass Jordan down the road, as James is still in the midst of his playing days. “LeBron James’ chapter is not closed yet,” Johnson added. “He still has some basketball to play, so maybe he has a chance to catch [Jordan] later on if he can get some more championships under his belt. But at the end of the day, they’re both great and they play they game the right way. They made their teammates better, they won championships, and thank god for LeBron because right now that’s what we’re watching. It’s his time. It’s his era, and he’s dominating his era.”
On Wireside Chat with Houston Rockets broadcaster Craig Ackerman, seven-time champion Robert Horry said The Last Dance documentary reminded him how much Bryant mimicked His Airness: “It’s so weird, getting a chance to really watch Michael Jordan in The Last Dance and hear the words that he used, it’s almost like Kobe just took everything he said and did — his mannerisms, his language, his lingo — and just copied it. “It’s like watching a ghost now. I hate to use those terms, but to watch Michael Jordan, it’s like ‘Man, how did Kobe learn everything this dude did to a T?’ And then he made it a little better in some areas.”
Kobe Bryant’s tragic death in a helicopter crash last January was a devastating blow for one of his main business partners, BodyArmor founder Mike Repole, who cites the NBA legend’s early investment and creative vision as critical factors in the sports drink brand’s current success. At the time of his death, Bryant was BodyArmor’s fourth-largest shareholder. Only Repole, Coca-Cola and Keurig Dr. Pepper owned larger equity shares. Bryant’s widow, Vanessa, and his children inherited control over his stake, the BodyArmor founder told FOX Business.
Bryant’s early belief in the BodyArmor brand paid off in 2018, when Repole sold a significant equity stake to Coca-Cola in a deal that valued his company at $2 billion. When the transaction closed, Bryant’s stake was worth $200 million – a massive increase compared to his initial investment. “For me, this has always been a journey, the last seven or eight years, with Kobe, and now I feel like this is a journey for Kobe,” Repole added.
Darren Rovell: This 96-97 Jordan game-used Bulls uniform just sold for $288,000 at @GoldinAuctions, a record for a game-used Jordan Bulls uniform.
