Storyline: Hassan Whiteside Injury
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Anthony Chiang: Goran Dragic (left calf strain), James Johnson (slight left AC sprain), Kelly Olynyk (right ankle sprain), Hassan Whiteside (left hip strain) all QUESTIONABLE for tomorrow’s game vs. Nets. Derrick Jones Jr. probable with bruised right knee.
Ira Winderman: Spoelstra says no long-term concern with Whiteside injury.
Shandel Richardson: Hassan Whiteside (hip pointer) will not play tonight. (James Johnson out too.)
Ira Winderman: Whiteside limited today by hip pointer.
Ira Winderman: Hmm, Heat, on the NBA’s 5:30 p.m. injury report, have listed Hassan Whiteside as questionable for Monday vs. Detroit (and Andre Drummond) with a “right knee injury.” Dragic questionable with “right foot injury.” James Johnson (hernia) and Dion Waiters (ankle) out.
Manny Navarro: Whiteside on his health: “I feel great. I feel a lot better than I did during the season. I’m completely healed now. I feel like my regular self again.”
Ira Winderman: Spoelstra says Whiteside, Adebayo, Wade and Tyler Johnson will all play.
Manny Navarro: Hassan Whiteside practiced today. It was his first live competitive work since the injury Spoelstra said. There’s a chance he could play Thursday. #Heat
Ira Winderman: Hassan Whiteside again is being listed as out for Tuesday against the Cavaliers with his strained left hip flexor. That will make it nine consecutive games missed.
Barry Jackson: Whiteside inactive. Eighth game in row out with strained hip flexor.
Ira Winderman: Heat are again listing Dwyane Wade and Hassan Whiteside as out for Wednesday’s game against the Knicks: Wade (Mild Left Hamstring Strain) – Out. Whiteside (Left Hip Pain) – Out.
Amid the ongoing struggles of the Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets, the Heat have faced little pressure when it has come to maintaining a final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. But Spoelstra stressed it is the medial reports, and not the standings, that are influencing the approaches with Wade and Whiteside.
“No, there’s not that kind of caution,” he said of having his players healthy for the playoffs, which open April 14. “There’s only health caution. We’re not going to bring them back until they’re ready to come back. We can’t look at it as other teams are looking at it, ‘That we’re going to make sure we’re ready for the postseason.’ That is not how it’s going to be for us — it’s go time. And both of those guys know that. They’ve been very committed and diligent behind the scenes to working. But we have to do it smart, intelligently.”
Manny Navarro: #Heat still listing Hassan Whiteside and Dwyane Wade as out tomorrow versus the #Kings
Ira Winderman: Spoelstra on Wade and Whiteside: “They’re not playing tonight. That’s all I know. We’re playing it day by day. Nothing like being in the present moment.”
Ira Winderman: Hassan Whiteside (left hip pain) is out tonight for the Heat against the Wizards.
James Edwards III: SVG said #Pistons Dwight Buycks (fever) and Luke Kennard (foot) are out tonight against the #Heat. Hassan Whiteside is out for Miami
Whiteside said Thursday that he lost 10 pounds in a grueling rehabilitation program when he was away from the team for 13 games with a bone bruise on his left knee. “I can run on the treadmill and ride a bike all day. I even lost 10 pounds doing that when I was out,” he said after practice at AmericanAirlines Arena. “It’s a lot different than minutes in an actual game.”
The Miami Heat got back to work Tuesday morning after having two days off to welcome in the new year, and center Hassan Whiteside got back to wearing a protective brace on his troublesome left knee. The Heat’s starting center, who missed 18 games with bone bruises to the knee, took the brace off after he went to the bench with 4:36 left in the opening quarter in Saturday’s win at Orlando and played without it for the rest of the game. But coach Erik Spoelstra said Whiteside will wear the brace going forward, calling it “non-negotiable” as the team tries to protect him from further injury.
“That’s not going to happen any more or he’s not going to be out there,” Spoelstra said of Whiteside, who finished with nine points, 13 rebounds, a career-high four assists and a season-high 10 screen assists. “He had discomfort [wearing it]. We expect that – just like a guy wearing an ankle brace or taped ankle. The first few times you do it it’s uncomfortable, it’s new. But we want to protect him. He’s going to wear it. That’s non-negotiable.”
Ira Winderman: Hassan Whiteside expected back tonight and expected to start.
Heat center Hassan Whiteside is expected to return for tonight’s game against the Orlando Magic. Whiteside had a full workout Sunday and went through shootaround this morning. “Everything looked great,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “He is going to warmup with the intent to play.”
For the first time since he sat out a Nov, 29 loss to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden due to a bone bruise in his left knee, center Hassan Whiteside has been upgraded to questionable.
Anthony Chiang: Spo on Hassan: “He’s been working out twice a day. One workout is always a non-impact, full conditioning workout either on the bike or in the pool. Then the last few days, he’s been doing court work and he’s been making a lot of progress.”
The Heat (13-14) will be without center Hassan Whiteside and forward Justise Winslow on Friday when they face the Hornets in Charlotte. Whiteside (left knee bone bruise) and Winslow (left knee strain) will not make the trip as they recover from their injuries.
The good news is that Whiteside, who will miss his eighth consecutive game and his 13th game of the season Friday due to a bone bruise on his left knee, is inching closer to a return. After being evaluated Wednesday night by team physician Dr. Harlan Selesnick, Whiteside was cleared to start working on the court.
Anthony Chiang: Hassan Whiteside still listed as out for Wednesday’s game vs. Portland with bone bruise on left knee, according to game notes. Thursday will be two weeks since the Heat announced Whiteside would miss one to two weeks with the injury.
Whiteside will not travel for the team’s upcoming three-game trip, which begins Wednesday in San Antonio against the Spurs, as he continues to recover from a bone bruise on his left knee. This means the earliest Whiteside can make his return will be when the Heat return home to face the Trail Blazers on Dec. 13.
“Just wait until it’s totally healed,” said Whiteside, who missed five games in October with a different bone bruise on his left knee. “I think I kind of rushed it before, so just wait until I’m totally 100 percent. So I don’t want to come back and be a watered-down Hassan and people looking at you crazy like, ‘What’s wrong with Hassan? Why is he not playing at this level?’ or whatever. I don’t even want to risk that.”
The Miami HEAT announced today that center Hassan Whiteside will begin rehab immediately due to a left knee bone bruise. The rehab process will include a strength and conditioning program over the next one-to-two weeks.
Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside hinted that his left knee injury could keep him out even longer after missing Wednesday’s game against the New York Knicks. “It’s really bothering me,” Whiteside told reporters after the Heat’s 115-86 loss to the Knicks. “We’re going to figure it out. We’re going to figure it out when we get back to Miami and figure out what’s wrong.”
Whiteside, who is averaging 14.9 points, 12.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game, missed five games after initially suffering a bone bruise on Oct. 18. “It has really been bothering me throughout the season,” Whiteside said. “… You know, I sat out, I missed them games, I came back, and it’s still bothering me.”
Although he and Spoelstra said the injury was not a factor, Whiteside played just 21:19 and was not on the court for the final 16:15, sitting on the bench with heat applied to his knee. “I was just keeping it warm so if coach needs me I’m ready,” Whiteside said. “I’m fine if I put my jersey on. I basically came to the conclusion that I can play. That day of rest (Saturday) really helped me.”
Ira Winderman: Hassan Whiteside expected to play in Chicago amid to knee pain.
Ira Winderman: Whiteside says he is playing.
Manny Navarro: Hassan and JJ will go tonight Spo says. Hassan still dealing with soreness. JJ feels much better. #Heat
Ira Winderman: Whiteside a little sore but will play Friday. Question will be the minutes restriction at altitude.
Ira Winderman: Whiteside is expected to play and start tonight.
On a light day of work in the wake of Monday’s overtime loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, a practice session held in the absence of point guard Goran Dragic, who was out ill, Spoelstra said Whiteside did 2-on-2 and 3-on-3 drill work. “He’s making progress,” Spoelstra said, with the Heat’s season-longest six-game homestand concluding Wednesday against the Chicago Bulls. “We’ll evaluate him tomorrow. I don’t have a determination on when he’ll be ready.”
Whiteside, who has been sidelined with a bone bruise on his left knee since the Heat’s Oct. 18 season-opening loss against the Orlando Magic at the Amway Center, not only was ruled out in advance of Saturday’s game against the Boston Celtics at AmericanAirlines Arena, but coach Erik Spoelstra acknowledged that Monday’s game against the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves also appears unlikely. “He’s doing more. I’m encouraged by his activity level. He’s not ready for a practice yet,” Spoelstra said after Saturday morning’s shootaround. “So we’ll check that box when he gets to that. But in terms of pain, that’s gotten a lot better. And he’s been doing more.”
The next opportunity for Whiteside to make his return will come in Monday’s home game against the Timberwolves. Whiteside’s participation, or lack thereof, in Sunday afternoon’s practice will help to show where he stands entering the fifth game of Miami’s season-long six-game homestand. “We talk, but we don’t want to force him [to play] if he’s not OK,” Dragic said of Whiteside. “He’s good every day. He’s coming early, doing treatments. He’s with the team, talking a lot. That’s the only thing he can do right now, take care of his body, try to get better. And when the doctors or Jay [Sabol] say he’s got a green light, then he’ll be back.”
Tom Orsborn: Heat center Hassan Whiteside (bruised left knee) will miss his third consecutive game.
Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside is missing his second straight game, sitting out Monday’s matchup with the Atlanta Hawks with a bruised left knee. Whiteside got hurt in Miami’s season-opening loss at Orlando, a game where he finished with 26 points and 22 rebounds. He is listed as day-to-day and will be re-evaluated before Miami’s Wednesday home game with San Antonio.
Friday, Whiteside didn’t practice and walked gingerly before and after answering reporters questions. Coach Erik Spoelstra said Whiteside is listed as day-to-day.
“I was wearing padding everywhere on my knee, but it hit a spot where I was hit before,” Whiteside said before explaining how he also bumped knees with Hawks forward Taurean Prince in the Heat’s preseason opener Oct. 1. “I got an MRI on it, so it’s treatment, exercise and hip work to get back. [The doctors] ain’t give me no [timeline]. It’s just kind of a day-to-day thing, to get the swelling out and stuff.”
Anthony Chiang: Whiteside suffered a bone bruise on his knee in Orlando game. He didn’t practice today and he will not play Saturday vs. Pacers. Day-to-day
Whiteside is still playing with 13 stitches in his right hand, an injury sustained two weeks ago against Phoenix. “It will take a little longer to heal,” he said. “It hurts a lot less. I don’t have full function in dribbling.”
“Probably most players would have sat out,” guard Goran Dragic said of Whiteside playing through the hand injury. “He demonstrated that he cares for this team, for his teammates, for the city. To have 13 stitches in his shooting (hand), most of the times people are hitting him. It gives us a lot of energy when we’re able to appreciate what he does for us.”
Ira Winderman: Whiteside downplays sprained left ankle, is planning on being out for opening jump Sunday in Boston.
Anthony Chiang: Spoelstra said Hassan Whiteside sprained his ankle late in the game. Unsure of severity.
Barry Jackson: Whiteside said sprained ankle is “not crazy like Dion’s. More just annoying”… too early to tell on Sunday at Boston.
Hassan Whiteside was back in the Miami Heat’s starting lineup for Thursday night’s game against the Toronto Raptors at AmericanAirlines Arena two days after opening a 13-stitch gash on his right hand. “I’m going to come out here and give what I can,” said Whiteside, who sustained the injury during Tuesday’s victory over the visiting Phoenix Suns.
He said he spent part of the past two days exploring protection options. “You know, I’m a high-volume rebounder, grabbing rebounds with my right, just using it,” he said. “But we’re going to try a couple of things to make it where I don’t have to worry about the stitches opening up and pad it up nice and pretty and see how I feel.”
It took 13 stitches to close the gash on Hassan Whiteside’s right hand Tuesday night. But it may take more than that to keep Whiteside out of Thursday’s home game against the Raptors. The Heat’s $98 million center is listed as probable to play in the finale of Miami’s five-game homestand. “It’s day-to-day,” Whiteside said Wednesday afternoon in his first interview since suffering the injury. “But I’m going there with the intention to play tomorrow. I’m going to go out there, see how it feels.”
September 15, 2019 | 4:39 pm EDT Update
The NBA is looking to further crack down on tampering, proposing a new top fine of $10 million for teams conducting the practice, according to a league memo obtained by ESPN. Other maximum-fine levels could be raised significantly as well, provided the league’s board of governors approves the measures Sept. 20.
If a team enters into an unauthorized deal with a player, it can be fined up to $6 million — and the player can get hit with a $250,000 fine as well. Statements or conduct detrimental to the NBA could come with a $5 million fine now, up from the previous ceiling of $1 million. And a rule violation with no specific penalty could merit a $10 million fine, up from $2.5 million — the amount that Silver fined former LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling while banning him for life from the NBA in 2014 after he was found to have made racist remarks.
Other proposals that the board of governors will consider: a requirement that a team report, within 24 hours, any instance of an agent or player representative asking for a benefit that is not allowed under the salary cap or collective bargaining agreement (“unauthorized benefits”); a requirement that teams preserve communications with players and their agents for one year; new channels for teams and team employees to anonymously report rules violations or tampering; prohibiting players from inducing players under contract to request trades.
The Nets were among the big winners in free agency and claimed they had no idea Durant was signing with them until he posted it on Instagram. According to GM Sean Marks, Durant committed to the Nets before he knew he’d be offered a contract.
In reality, a source told the Daily News that the Nets were confident deals for Durant and Kyrie Irving were done the day before free agency. That doesn’t necessarily mean the Nets organization tampered. There are many different avenues for recruitment and information without a direct line between player/agent and team. People are connected everywhere in 2019. But it does underscore that tampering is difficult to prove or enforce.
Dane Moore: Jared Terrell — who played for the Timberwolves last season on a two-way contract and was around the Wolves facilities for much of this summer — will not be back with the Wolves this season. Terrell will be playing for Hapoel Eilat in Israel.
Dwain Price: Dirk Nowitzki: “We were in Europe with the kids for almost two months, and it was nice not to have the discipline of dieting and finding a workout spot everywhere I went. It’s almost like regular life.” @Dirk Nowitzki @Dallas Mavericks #Mavs
September 15, 2019 | 1:07 pm EDT Update
“I’m looking forward to playing point guard this season,” said Justise Winslow, whose Robin’s House Family Foundation teamed up Carnival Cruise Line to host more than 25 underprivileged kids for a day of fun Sunday aboard Carnival Horizon while the ship was docked at PortMiami. “We’ll see how that works out, but that’s my plan, is to play point guard and be the point guard for this team.”
“But everyone has ideas of what they want their role to be, and for most people it never fits what they want,” Winslow added after saying he wants to play as a point guard this season. “Everyone always wants a bigger role, whatever team you’re on. So you just have to understand that as a basketball player — everyone wants the ball late in the games, everyone wants the ball in their hands, everybody wants every play to be run for them.”
With the Heat trading Josh Richardson to the 76ers as part of the Butler deal this offseason, Winslow said of the departure of his close friend and fellow member of the Heat’s 2015 draft class: “Just the emotional standpoint, that’s someone I grew close to. So even more than just having him as a teammate, just having him around the city, being able to go to his house, go out to eat, having that just easy communication, I’ll always have by my side. As a competitor, it won’t be too hard. It’s part of the business, but the emotional part is a little hard, but we’ll be Rook 1 and Rook 2 forever.”
The signature shot in Mavericks history – and one of the most copied and influential moves in NBA history – will be emblazoned on the American Airlines Center court this season, and beyond. Dirk Nowitzki’s iconic one-legged fadeway jump shot will be silhouetted on both ends of the AAC court, replacing the Mavericks’ alternate logo that was there last season.
“That’s super-sweet,” Nowitzki said Sunday at his Pro Celebrity Tennis Classic on the SMU campus. “That was a surprise to me. It’s of course an honor. I don’t think anybody else has done that before. I’m super, super thankful to Mark (Cuban). I think it was actually his idea for the Mavericks to execute that. It’s going to be surreal going to games and seeing that right there. It’s definitely special.”
He’s the NBA’s sixth-leading all-time scorer and will have a stretch of Olive Street in front of AAC renamed Nowitzki Way. While no word has come yet about when a statue will be erected in front of the building, it’s fair to say that the day will come sooner than later. “Yeah, it’s a lot, but of course, that will be something I’ll always be proud of,” Nowitzki said of all the honors. “If I take my kids to the game in 10 years and driving on Nowitzki Way, I mean, it doesn’t get much better than that. It’s been a beautiful summer, I got to say. Getting honored everywhere. All the sports teams here and went to all sorts of galas and they honored me. It’s been special.”
September 15, 2019 | 11:40 am EDT Update
When asked on if the Gasol brothers will be in Tokyo, Japan for the 2020 Olympics, Gasol didn’t make any promises: “At this point in your career, you don’t know. You want to be there, you hope to be there, but you’re not gonna make any promises. Potentially this could be my last World Cup”.
“It’s been a good three months”, he said jokingly. “I’m very happy and fortunate. I’m blessed to be in this position.” Gasol, 34 was also voted in the All-Star five, but still, he said: “the sun will come up again, the world will keep going, but we get to be world champions”.
Tim Reynolds: Ricky Rubio: ““We weren’t the most talented team. We weren’t the bigger team. Put anything you want, but we were the team with the biggest heart and we showed it tonight and we showed it during the whole tournament.”
Tim Reynolds: More from MVP Ricky Rubio: “I lost my mom three years ago and I know she was behind me, pushing me every day to get the best out of me. There’s nobody in this world who loved me more than her and she’s still driving me every day. She’s not here, but I feel it.”
September 15, 2019 | 11:23 am EDT Update
The Toronto Raptors center becomes the second player to win an NBA title and a FIBA world gold medal in the same year, joining Lamar Odom — who did it for the Los Angeles Lakers and USA Basketball in 2010. Gasol also became the 19th to win either an NBA or WNBA crown along with a gold medal, either of the Olympic or World Cup variety, in the same year. The first 18 all did it for the U.S. This time, Vamos España! “NBA champion and a World Cup champion as well,” Gasol said. “What can I say? How does it sound to you? I feel very fortunate to be in this position and be able to play this game and help these guys be part of history of Spanish basketball.”
Jorge Sierra: Spain has a +12.1 point differential in World Cup/Eurobasket finals this century. They don’t mess around when it matters the most. Olympic finals a different matter because 🇺🇸
Jorge Sierra: Ricky Rubio MVP of the World Cup. No complaints.
Mark Woods: The All Star Five for the World Cup: Bogdan Bogdanovic (Serbia) – the leading scorer in the tournament – Evan Fournier (France), Ricky Rubio (Spain), Luis Scola (Argentina), Marc Gasol (Spain)
Emiliano Carchia: Juancho Hernangomez: In the past two months I had great teachers as Ricky Rubio, Marc Gasol, Rudy. They know how to win.
September 15, 2019 | 9:55 am EDT Update
Nikos Varlas: Asia favors Spain! World Champions in 2006 and 2019 #FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/m2ytKONV2h
Donatas Urbonas: Bogdan Bogdanovic and Evan Fournier share the first row in the World Cup final, which might indicate that they’re going to make the all-tournament team. 2-3 other players likely share the floor right now.
September 15, 2019 | 7:18 am EDT Update
France are the winners of FIBA Basketball World Cup bronze medal. The team coached by Vincent Collet beat Australia 67-59 with a comeback in the second half. France was led defensively by Nicolas Batum while offensively Nando De Colo paced the team with 19 points.
Tim Reynolds: Jazz center @Rudy Gobert on the bronze: “It means everything. Obviously it’s not the one we wanted. We all know that. But being able to come back _ we’re the only team that was on the podium five years ago and on the podium now. So it shows our heart.”
Globally, there has been a lot of talk about Team USA’s absences, and the 32 players who withdraw their names from the preliminary roster. Fournier, 26 was critical of his competitors in the NBA: “It does [bother me]. To be honest, when you look at LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and all these guys… they came here already and won, so it’s fine. But for friends of mine like Tobias [Harris], I thought it was a great opportunity for him to see something different and compete. I think they don’t realize how beneficial this is for their career. It’s a great tournament, great basketball, super intense. I know you have to work on your game, but this is way better.”
Tim Reynolds: Magic G @EvanFourmizz after France win: “It feels good to finish on a good note. When you see Australia, the players, Bogut, Dellavedova, I know those guys and it’s awful for them. But that’s definitely what we didn’t want, to finish the tournament feeling like (crap) like that.”
Manu Ginobili: #FIBAWC Congrats to the French team on winning bronze and to the Aussies for a great tournament! 👏👏
September 15, 2019 | 5:35 am EDT Update
Victor Oladipo back sooner than expected?
SiriusXM NBA Radio: While speaking with @TheFrankIsola Pacers Center Myles Turner (@Original_Turner) was very optimistic about Victor Oladipo’s (@VicOladipo) return from injury. “He [Victor Oladipo] will be back a lot sooner than people think”.
Of course, everyone in Milwaukee wants Giannis to stick around until the day he calls it a career. If he were to sign the deal, it would prevent him from entering free agency in July of 2021, when his current contract is set to expire. It’s long been assumed that the Bucks will give him anything he wants, and on Saturday, it was confirmed by general manager Jon Horst at a town hall with fans of the team. “First of all, the answer for it, right now, is we can’t talk and negotiate anything,” Horst said. “So Giannis, basically a year from now, will be eligible for a supermax extension. At that time, of course, he will be offered a supermax extension.”
LiAngelo entered the G League player pool last season and went unsigned, without a peep of interest from teams the entirety of the season. During a recent radio interview with Big Boy, Lonzo Ball gave some interesting thoughts on LiAngelo’s game and whether he could hang in the NBA. “I think he can make it. He’s 6-foot-6, he can shoot, he’s 240 pounds, so he’s strong enough to guard anybody. I mean, as long he gets healthy and works on his handle, he should be alright.”
Nick Young: Don’t know how JH wasn’t back to back MVPs and how the media get bored with RW averaging a triple doubles 3 yrs in a row this is crazy.
If the U.S. wanted to be a defensive-minded, versatile and small team, there were no players in the roster pool that fit that definition more than Gordon. By all accounts, Gordon would have taken the call if the U.S. called him up to the roster. There was no reporting to suggest he even got an invitation to the tryout or specifically declined an invitation.
Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Lamar Odom, LeBron James, and Kyrie Irving. Those are the only five players to win an NBA title and a gold medal in the same year, whether it was in FIBA or Olympic competition, with Pippen doing it twice. It is an exclusive club – one that Marc Gasol is on the cusp of joining.
A mere three months after helping the Toronto Raptors win the NBA Finals, Gasol has led Spain to the gold medal game at the World Cup. It’ll be Spain against Argentina on Sunday, with both nations looking for their second title. Spain won the world championship in 2006 when Gasol was a 21-year-old backup, and Argentina won the inaugural tournament in 1950. “I’m so deep in the rabbit hole right now that I don’t get to see much light,” Gasol said. “You’re so focused on your opponent, your next rival, recovering, doing whatever’s necessary to win games that you don’t look at the big picture. It’s been great. I’m very fortunate. “I knew that committing to the national team this summer would not be easy physically. But it’s so worth it, and not just because we’re in the final game.”
Nick DePaula: Derrick Rose officially launched his Adidas DRose 10 sneaker in China this week, becoming just the 8th player in NBA history to have a signature series with more than 10 consecutive models. His shirt crosses out “DONE DONE DONE” and reads: “NOT DONE YET” pic.twitter.com/tPTitT0UCy
Sanders was asked during an appearance on “The Kyle Kulinski Show” who he’d pick between James and Jordan, and unsurprisingly this is another area where his opinion differs from the current president: Kulinski: Last question: Michael Jordan or LeBron James? Sanders: LeBron James. Kulinski: Is that because of the policy he just supported with you? Sanders: Well actually, yes, I think LeBron has been willing to do what a lot of athletes are not and get involved in the political process, put money into education, and I respect that.
September 14, 2019 | 6:36 pm EDT Update
A USA Basketball spokesman responded Saturday to comments made on ESPN suggesting Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox would not be allowed to represent Team USA in the future because he withdrew from consideration for this summer’s FIBA World Cup team.
Conley spent 12 seasons with the Grizzlies, more than a third of his life, and so “this is still home,” the 31-year-old said. “It’s all I know.” Still, he arrived in Memphis for the first time since being traded to the Utah Jazz in June, and even the flight Thursday night felt strange. He went to the house he still owns here, where half the furniture has already been moved to Utah and thought, “this doesn’t even feel like my home anymore.”
“Not a lot of players get that connection with the team or the organization. Like I really did care about how the team would fare after I left if I got traded, who they got in the trade,” Conley said. “It was almost like I was negotiating the deal for them, like make sure you get this, that and the other because you want to have more picks or more people, and I’m just thrilled to see the guys they got. They got a heck of a future in front of them because of the trades they were able to make for Marc, or myself, or Chandler (Parsons), and just really turned it over well.”
They were talking about his decision to switch to No. 10 with the Jazz, instead of wearing the No. 11 he had throughout his Grizzlies career. That number, like Conley, ultimately belongs to Memphis. “If I ever play (for) Memphis again, that’s the number I’ll wear,” said Conley, whose first game in Memphis with the Jazz will be Nov. 15. “I’m not wearing it anywhere else.”
Hornets Sports & Entertainment Chairman Michael Jordan today announced that Gabe Plotkin, Founder and Chief Investment Officer, Melvin Capital, and Daniel Sundheim, Founder and Chief Investment Officer of D1 Capital, will join HSE as partners. The transaction is subject to NBA approval.
“I’m excited to welcome Gabe and Dan as my partners in Hornets Sports & Entertainment,” said Michael Jordan. “While I will continue to run the Charlotte Hornets, make all decisions related to the team and organization, and remain the team’s NBA Governor, Gabe and Dan’s investment in the franchise is invaluable, as we continue to modernize, add new technology and strive to compete with the best in the NBA. Both Gabe and Dan are industry standard-setters and proven leaders, with a belief in philanthropy and a passion for the game of basketball. They share my commitment to Charlotte and the Carolinas, and I look forward to working with and learning from them.”
The NBPA has been communicating with NCAA officials in recent weeks about a way to work together, league sources tell ESPN. NBPA executive director Michele Roberts declined to comment for this story.
September 14, 2019 | 5:03 pm EDT Update
Michael Jordan selling part of the Hornets
Michael Jordan has agreed to sell a large piece of the Charlotte Hornets to two New York-based investors, the Charlotte Observer has learned.
Jordan is bringing in Gabe Plotkin, a founder of Melvin Captal, and Daniel Sundheim, a founder of DI Capital. Both prospective owners must be approved by the NBA, but that is already in process and the sale is expected to close in the next couple of weeks, a league source confirmed.
Jordan controls about a 97 percent stake in the Hornets. This agreement has no provision for him to give up majority control of the team or its operation. A source familiar with Jordan’s thinking said he plans to own and run the Hornets “a good, long time.”
Mark Leonard was the owner of a car wash here Compton. Witnesses say he was shot and killed after an argument with an associate. Investigators are hoping Kawhi’s NBA fame and his return to Los Angeles may jog some memories about the murder and may bring some clues to who was behind it. “Now they are finding out this was Kawhi’s father and they may not have known that back then. Although it may be risky to get involved, they may be compelled to come forward, Lt. Shaun McCarthy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.
September 14, 2019 | 4:56 pm EDT Update
Bucks to offer Giannis a supermax contract extension
In case you had any doubts, the Milwaukee Bucks want to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo around. During a recent event, Bucks GM Jon Horst confirmed what everyone already assumed, which is that the Bucks are going to offer the reigning MVP a supermax extension next summer when he’s eligible for the huge deal.
Horst’s response: “First of all, the answer for now is that we can’t talk and negotiate anything. So Giannis, basically, a year from now will be eligible for a supermax extension. At that time, of course, he will be offered a supermax extension.”
NBA agents refuse to register for NCAA certification process
Adrian Wojnarowski: The NBA’s agents have signed a letter that informs the NCAA that player agents will not register for the NCAA’s proposed agent certification process, according to the letter obtained by ESPN. The @TheNBPA will transmit letter to the NCAA soon, per sources.
Adrian Wojnarowski: NBPA has been talking with the NCAA on finding common ground on behalf of the agents, sources said. In letter, agents are willing to take bi-annual online seminar on protecting players amateurism. Entire discussion has been centered on players “testing the waters” of NBA Draft.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Contents of signed letter the NBPA will send to NCAA on behalf of player agents refusing to be a part of NCAA certification process to advise undergrads testing draft waters.
Dave McMenamin: This letter was signed by virtually every major player agent. One notable name absent was Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, sources told ESPN.
September 14, 2019 | 2:49 pm EDT Update
Popovich said it’s too early to think about what USA Basketball needs to do before getting ready for the Tokyo Games. But he warned — just as two-time gold medalist Kobe Bryant did on Friday — that the days of American romps to gold are done. “There are a lot of great teams in the world,” Popovich said. “It’s not written in stone that the United States is supposed to walk to a championship. That’s pretty old-school thinking. Even the teams that have won in the past had a lot of close calls.”
Kemba Walker (neck) didn’t play, joining Boston Celtics teammates Jayson Tatum (left ankle) and Marcus Smart (left hand) on the U.S. injured list. White started in Walker’s place at point guard.
Serbia guard Bogdan Bogdanovic finished the 2019 World Cup with some phenomenal stats, including the number of 3-pointers he made in the tournament. In fact, Bogdanovic hit more 3-pointers by his own than seven national teams that participated in the World Cup.
The Raptors-branded sports hijab, the first of its kind in the NBA, has been in the works since the playoffs this past spring, said Jerry Ferguson, senior director of marketing at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. The inspiration to release the hijab came from the Hijabi Ballers, Ferguson said, referring to a group of young Muslim women in Toronto who play basketball every Sunday, and advocate for increased participation of Muslim women in sports.
Hijabi Ballers helped to design the black hijab — which will be priced at $39.99 at Scotiabank Arena — and the group was featured front and centre in Friday’s launch video. The founder of Hijabi Ballers, Amreen Kadwa, said she’s happy with the end product, adding the Raptors were “amazing” in showcasing what the group was about.
September 14, 2019 | 12:04 pm EDT Update
League to crack down on tampering?
Shams Charania: In an effort to prevent tampering, NBA sent memo to teams about improving compliance, @TheAthletic @Stadium has learned. Memo proposes that a lead team ops member certify annually that it didn’t engage in impermissible free agency talks; max fine amounts raised significantly.
Shams Charania: Proposed increases in NBA’s maximum fine penalties for tampering and cap circumvention, @TheAthletic @Stadium has learned: – Tampering with player/team personnel: $10M, up from $5M. – Unauthorized agreements: $6M for team; $250K for player.
Emiliano Carchia: Sasha Djordjevic steps down as head coach of Serbia’s National Team
September 14, 2019 | 9:58 am EDT Update
“People want to play the blame game, there’s no blame to be placed anywhere,” Popovich said. “They want to play the shame game, like we should be ashamed because we didn’t win a gold medal? That’s a ridiculous attitude. It’s immature, it’s arrogant, and it shows that whoever thinks that doesn’t respect all the other teams in the world and doesn’t respect that these guys did the best they could.”
“I don’t fault anybody that decided not to come — everybody’s got a life,” Popovich said. “Things happen in people’s families. People have things going on. Could be injuries, could be personal commitments that they have. Whoever came, came. “This group I couldn’t have been happier with any other group no matter who would’ve come. They wouldn’t have worked any harder this group.”
Tim Reynolds: Donovan Mitchell, world-class good dude, was the last American to leave the court in the pre-warmup period. He took off his sneakers and tossed them into the crowd — making sure a young fan he was pointing to got them.
September 14, 2019 | 2:22 am EDT Update
Sebastian Telfair out of jail
Sebastian Telfair is FREEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! … for now. The ex-NBA star and former H.S. prodigy is out of prison just days after he was sentenced to 3.5 years in his gun case … but there’s a chance Telfair could end up back behind bars. Here’s the deal … 34-year-old Telfair was convicted of possessing an illegal firearm stemming from a June 2017 incident where he was caught with an arsenal of weapons during a traffic stop.
According to court docs obtained by TMZ Sports … Telfair was released on $500,000 bail. As part of his agreement with the court, Telfair must surrender his passports and remain in New York City. Telfair also agreed to be confined to house arrest from 7 PM to 7 AM daily while also wearing an electronic monitoring ankle bracelet.
Livingston found as much value in being a good teammate as he did in unleashing his own game. That was his game, too. It does make you wonder what is happening to the league. The fact he is just announcing this suggests, as the behind-the-scenes chatter said, he was trying to keep playing. It seems he couldn’t find a home. If so, what does that say about the league?
Steve Kerr: It’s hard to express how thankful I am to have coached this man the past 5 years. What an amazing combination of talent, grace, & character. I will miss his calm leadership,his presence, his passing & his turnaround jumpers in the post. Nothing but great things ahead!
“Dot’s a legend,” David West said via text. Livingston’s teammates called him Dot, a spinoff of S-Dot, as in S. Livingston. Jay-Z, whose government name is Sean Carter, made it a popular nickname for “S” names with his 1999 song “S. Carter.” “He came back from an injury that would have sealed the fate of most players,” West said. “He had a determination that should be admired for years to come. Great teammate and even better person. Proud to call him a friend.”
He really appreciated winning. He really liked being around the guys. He really liked good conversation. I’ve seen him pull a reporter aside and compliment a piece. I’ve also seen him politely chastise a reporter about a piece in defense of his teammates. I’ve heard him be critical about himself and I’ve heard him break down what a teammate needs to work on. I’ve seen him give that look-you-in-the-eye thank you to the workers most others overlook.
Nikola Vucevic: When I grow up, I want to be Luis Scola
Australia and Bogut — if he plays — will face the wrath of much of the Beijing arena when they take on France for the bronze medal. The footage of Bogut swearing repeatedly and making accusations of favouritism was widely featured in Chinese media. Many reports called for FIBA to ban him.
Baynes was typically staunch when leaving training, delivering his message as he breezed by journalists to the bus. “I’ve got three words for you; nothing else, no questions, nothing,” he said. “Regroup. Refocus. Reinvigorate.”
The loose ball foul against Andrew Bogut is the one most will point to – he sure did – with the centre apparently making contact with Marc Gasol, who would hit a pair of free throws to give Spain a one-point lead. Patty Mills would split a pair on the other end, sending the game to overtime. “They’re furious. They’re crushed and furious,” Longley said. “Where their fury is directed, I can’t tell you. Probably all over the place. It’s very quiet in there. That’s the team we lost to in Rio, but we felt like we deserved to win it. We felt like we played well enough to win it. Yeah, it’s pretty quiet in there.”
Rose and Noah were teammates on the Bulls and New York Knicks. Rose says Noah is a free spirit, loving guy and wants his son — PJ — to grow up like Noah. The closest teammate I’ve had—other than Randall Hampton in high school—was Joakim Noah, and that’s where Arthur Ashe comes in again. A lot of people don’t mess with Joakim because they think there’s some bad shit that comes with him or just how outspoken he is or whatever. For me, I can respect that, knowing everything about him, like for him to be who he is and act the way he is. It’s an amazing story behind it. I actually want my son PJ to grow up to be like Joakim. You know, a free spirit, a loving guy. Joakim loves people. He’s just a great role model. And his story is special. And think of Jo. To be this silver-spoon kid, his dad is a big star, rich and famous, and he don’t want nothing to do with that. Like, “Nah, I’m doing my own thing.” Gets multiple contracts by himself when he easily could have lived off of his pops forever. His pops could’ve got him jobs. But he didn’t want that. He’s got his own individuality. That’s what I love about Jo, how he created something on his own.
Charles Barkley wasn’t playing to the crowd when talking about how much he believes in the current 76ers. On the day that he became the eighth former Sixer to have a sculpture unveiled in his honor at the team’s practice facility, Barkley let it be known that he has the highest expectations for this coming season. “I already picked the 76ers to win the championship next year, so no pressure,” he said during a stirring acceptance speech before the unveiling of his statue. “I mean that sincerely.”
Former German national team and NBA superstar Dirk Nowitzki has been appointed as Chair of the Players Commission on Saturday at the first FIBA Central Board meeting for the new term. With this appointment, he also becomes a member of the 25-member FIBA Central Board. Nowitzki has had an illustrious playing career for Germany and consistently was a star performer at numerous FIBA tournaments for more than 15 years. He led his country to its best-ever result at a FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2002, finishing in third place, the nation’s only podium finish at the world level. He also led Germany’s run to the Final of FIBA EuroBasket in 2005, finishing in second place.
“He literally broke the club!” Grown. Man. Strength. 💪 @Zionwilliamson
Klay Thompson: These past few weeks have been so unimaginably hard for Bahamians, especially on the islands of Abaco and Freeport. People have lost everything- loved ones, family, possessions, homes. Whatever you cherish it’s gone for these communities. This is far from a quick fix, it will take years and years of rebuilding. The @thompsonfamilyfoundation will do everything in its power to help with relief efforts right now and for many years to come. All contributions no matter how big or small will go long way and are greatly appreciated.
Klay Thompson: Secondly, shame on our current administration for not welcoming our Bahamian neighbors in their greatest time of need. I’ve been so lucky to visit my family in Nassau since childhood, and in those times I’ve seen countless Americans use the Bahamian islands as their playground for letting loose and vacationing. And now we turn our back on the people who welcomed us with open arms, when they’ve lost everything !? There’s no excuse for this… and if you have one your a real piece of 💩 Bahamians will persevere, but help along the way is greatly appreciated. Thank you ❤️ 🇧🇸
NBA star James Harden is being sued by a man who claims he lied about the use of a $30 million mansion in Beverly Hills according to TMZ. The man, George Santo Pietro, owns the mansion which includes 8 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, a gym, a spa and a pool. TMZ said Harden signed a contract to use the mansion for one week and he paid over $82,000. One of the things Santo Pietro said that there were details in the contract that stated Harden could not have more than seven adults on the property at any time.
September 13, 2019 | 9:00 pm EDT Update
Bob Rule (1944-2019)
Bob Rule, one of the original Sonics whose promising NBA career was cut by short by a devastating Achilles injury, died last week. Rule, who lived in Minnesee, Calif., passed away in his sleep at his sister’s Sherry Randle’s home in nearby Riverside. He was 75 years old.
During the 1969-70 season, Rule gained national prominence while averaging 24.6 points and 10.6 rebounds. He garnered a spot in the 1970 NBA All-Star Game and became the third Sonics All-Star following Walt Hazzard (1968) and Wilkens (1969). Four games into the 1970-71 season, Rule’s season ended after tearing his Achilles’ tendon and was never the same again. He averaged 29.8 points that season.
