Storyline: Paul George Injury
156 rumors in this storyline
More Rumors in this Storyline
The LA Clippers limp into the All-Star break with injury concerns after Paul George suffered a strained left hamstring again and was ruled out of Thursday night’s 141-133 double-overtime loss to the Boston Celtics. The Clippers announced George was out at halftime because of the same injury that cost him nine straight games in January and a total of 10 games. “He just told me that he felt his hamstring again,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said about when George hurt himself in the first half. “He said it wasn’t bad. I said you shouldn’t have told me that. I don’t think he wanted to come out. But once you tell me your hamstring, you feel anything, we have an All-Star break coming up, it’s a no-brainer for us.”
Andrew Greif: Paul George said his nose isn’t broken. “I didn’t feel blood start trickling when it first happened and then next thing I know it’s Niagara Falls just flowing.” pic.twitter.com/6wUFJRkDFi
Jovan Buha: Paul George and Pat Beverley are both playing tonight, Doc Rivers said.
Jovan Buha: Paul George, who hasn’t played since Jan. 5, is getting shots up at shootaround. The team has listed him as probable for tonight’s game vs. Sacramento. pic.twitter.com/dbEfl74coW
Andrew Greif: Patrick Beverley (groin) and Paul George (hamstring) are listed by the team as “probable” to play Thursday against Sacramento.
Andrew Greif: Doc Rivers pregame on PG: “I think he did 2-on-2 (Tues.). I think he did something today as well but as I said before I know he’s close but I don’t know if that means tomorrow, or five days. We’re just letting him go through the process. That’s something you don’t want to rush.”
Andrew Greif: Clippers forwards Paul George (hamstring) and Kawhi Leonard (left knee injury management) will *not* play tonight in Atlanta, per the team. Pat Beverley, who left last night’s win in Dallas with a sore right groin, is “doubtful” to play.
Jovan Buha: Paul George is getting shots up at shootaround. Doc Rivers said it’s unlikely we see him tonight. pic.twitter.com/zxmm0clhCH
Andrew Greif: Paul George will miss his third consecutive game with a strained left hamstring, according to the Clippers injury report. The Clippers play Cleveland tomorrow.
Andrew Greif: Paul George will not travel to Denver for Sunday’s game, and will be re-evaluated after the weekend.
Jovan Buha: Paul George and Patrick Beverley are both playing, per Doc Rivers.
Ohm Youngmisuk: Doc Rivers said there wasn’t anything specific that happened with Paul George’s injury. Rivers also said he thinks the injury has more to do with the “back” and he will be evaluated. George’s injury was listed as left hamstring tightness.
Paul George cleared to play
Jovan Buha: Paul George is making his season debut tonight, according to Doc Rivers.
Jonathan Feigen: Paul George out tonight. Doc Rivers said “maybe tomorrow.”
Tim MacMahon: Doc Rivers says he expects Paul George to make his Clippers debut tomorrow in New Orleans. Will Kawhi Leonard play on the second night of a back-to-back? “I don’t know yet,” Rivers said. “That was a good question. Nice try.”
Andrew Greif: Clippers injury report ahead of Wednesday’s game in Houston: Paul George is questionable and Landry Shamet (ankle) is out. Kawhi Leonard is not on the team’s injury list.
Paul George back Thursday?
Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George plans to make his season debut on the road against the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Barring an unexpected setback, the six-time All-Star will take the court for the first since his first-round exit in April when he was a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Los Angeles Clippers All-Star Paul George will make his franchise debut during upcoming roadtrip to Houston (Wednesday) and New Orleans (Thursday), league sources tell ESPN. George and Clippers still deciding on first game. He had been rehabilitating offseason shoulder surgeries.
Mark Medina: Doc Rivers said he’s not sure if Paul George will play in Houston on Wednesday. No new update on his progress
JD Shaw: Clippers star Paul George is being listed as OUT for tomorrow’s game. Los Angeles will travel to Houston and play the Rockets on Wednesday.
Moments later, however, Rivers expressed his reservations about George’s return coinciding with Kawhi Leonard facing Toronto for the first time since leaving that franchise last summer as a free agent. “I doubt that he plays [Monday],” Rivers said of George. “But it’s a possibility.”
George said his conditioning is “the least of concern” for him right now. The All-Star is looking to regain his rhythm after undergoing surgery in May to repair a partially torn tendon in his right shoulder and then a month later repairing a partial tear of his left labrum. “I still got some stuff,” George said when asked if he feels ready to return. “From a health standpoint, I feel great. But I think just rhythm, especially where these guys are at right now in their season, they’re flowing right now. So I just want to come in with an easy transition.”
Eric Smith: Paul George practiced today for the Clippers, fully. Live drills etc. Doc Rivers asked…”what’s the plan?” ……he says “I don’t know yet”
Brett Dawson: Doc Rivers says Monday is possible for Paul George’s return.
Josh Lewenberg: Paul George returned to practice for the Clippers today. Doc said it’s possible he could play in their next game: Monday vs the Raptors. Will he be load managed when he comes back? Doc: “I’m scared of that word.”
In terms of a specific return date for George, sources tell The Athletic the Clippers are focused on the back-to-back set of road games at Houston (Nov. 13) and New Orleans (Nov. 14). If he plays against the Rockets, he’s not expected to play in the Pelicans game.
Malika Andrews: Doc Rivers said Paul George is inching closer to returning to the court for the Clippers, but he has yet to play 5-on-5 live. Rivers couldn’t offer a specific return date, saying only it will be “very, very soon. Possibly our next real practice.”
Brett Dawson: Paul George hasn’t done any live portions of practice but Doc Rivers says he tried to sneak into a live session in the Clippers last practice, “unsuccessfully.” He’s getting close.
In terms of a specific return date for Paul George, sources tell The Athletic the Clippers are focused on the back-to-back set of road games at Houston (Nov. 13) and New Orleans (Nov. 14). If he plays against the Rockets, he’s not expected to play in the Pelicans game.
Jovan Buha: Here’s Doc Rivers’ full quote on Paul George: “He’s been going hard. He’s doing more live work. Just not in a 5-on-5 yet. Hopefully, next week we start doing that. I’ll give you that much. Then we go from there.”
Paul George was on the bench with his team the entire game and was just as enthusiastic and animated as he would be if he weren’t rehabbing from two shoulder procedures. The All-Star forward is expected to make his season debut in approximately three weeks, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
Mark Medina: Doc Rivers said Paul George will go through non contact drills through all of training camp. Not clear when he’ll start doing full contact work. He’s doing some spot shooting drills right now
Jovan Buha: Doc Rivers said Kawhi Leonard continues to add to his workload each day. He essentially confirmed Leonard won’t play in Hawaii. Paul George will maintain the same workload for the next week or so.
Andrew Greif: Paul George: “I’ve dealt with injuries, dealt with rehab…there’s no rush.” Said he’s staying engaged with everything team is doing in practices even if his own participation has been limited to “skeleton” drills.
LA Clippers forward Paul George says he will not play in the pre-season and is targeting a November return from surgeries he had on both shoulders this offseason. In an interview with SportsCenter on Sunday, before the team’s annual media day, George said he still has “a little ways to go” in his rehabilitation, but “I’m where I want to be right now at this point in the season almost starting. I like where the progression is going.”
“I will be out of the preseason,” George told ESPN. “As of now, I’ll be out of October fully, but who knows? We’ll see. In the November range is our target date.”
Ramona Shelburne: Note: The Clippers knew Paul George could and probably would miss first few weeks of the season when they traded for him. November has been the target, albeit a moving one.
Paul George out until November?
Ramona Shelburne: The return date for Paul George is a bit of a moving target. But he told me today he’s out all of training camp and hoping to be back “November-ish” catch the full interview in @SportsCenter later today.
Mark Medina: Paul George on his health: “I’m pretty good. I’ll be in camp starting this week.” He does not think he’ll do contact, but he’ll do 5-on-0 drills.
Jovan Buha: Paul George told @NBATV he’s 85-90 percent, if he had to put a percentage on it. “But I’m close,” George said. “I’m happy with where I’m at.”
Frank said that George has “made great progress” since having off-season surgery on his left shoulder, but declined to provide a timetable on his possible return.
George has been in the training facility practicing and weightlifting for nearly three weeks, as we’ve seen on Instagram. His on-court work has primarily consisted of shooting and finishing-at-the-rim exercises, one-on-one drills to keep his isolation skills sharp and free throws. He has yet to return to full-contact action. But that hasn’t prevented from being in the gym every day, including making late-night trips with Leonard and Lou Williams. “He’s made great progress,” Frank said. “He works his tail off. He’s been terrific. We have a great performance, health and wellness staff. … We put it in their hands. He works extremely hard. He’s extremely excited and motivated. I’m sure you guys have seen some of the stuff that’s been posted. He gets after it.”
When asked if George was ahead of schedule in his recovery, Frank declined to go into specifics. “We don’t talk about timetables,” Frank said. “We leave it up to our medical people to determine that.”
Jovan Buha: Clippers pres. of basketball ops. Lawrence Frank to the media today on Paul George’s status ahead of training camp: “He’s made great progress. He works his tail off. He’s been terrific. … We have a great performance, health and wellness staff. We put it in their hands. He works extremely hard. He’s extremely excited and motivated. I’m sure you guys have seen some of the stuff that’s been posted. He gets after it.”
Jovan Buha: On if PG is ahead of schedule at this point in his recovery: Frank: “We don’t talk about timetables. We leave it up to our medical staff to determine that.”
My speculative answer: I think George will return around the start of the season on Oct. 22, give or take a couple weeks. The early side is probably early-to-mid October; the late side mid-to-late November. Most people I’ve spoken to around the league are leaning towards the latter, with George likely missing the start of the season. The recovery process from surgery is rarely linear — there can be unforeseen setbacks or progress in the process. There’s enough time — almost two months until he’ll be re-evaluated — for things to change for George. We’ll have a better idea around the start of training camp in late September.
Mirjam Swanson: PG on his return from his shoulder injury: “No set date. I’m progressing really, really well.”
Paul George has undergone two shoulder surgeries since the end of the season. Thunder general manager Sam Presti said Friday morning the Thunder will have a better feel for George’s status closer to training camp in late September. George is expected to miss most of preseason as he recovers from surgery to his right rotator cuff and left labrum. “He’s doing well,” Presti said. “He’s going to make a full recovery.”
Paul George had successful elective surgery on his right shoulder to repair a partial thickness supraspinatus tendon tear. George will also address a small labrum tear in his left shoulder with a procedure in the coming weeks. An update on the six-time All-Star’s return-to-play status will be provided prior to the start of the 2019-20 NBA season.
Paul George to miss start of training camp
Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Paul George underwent rotator cuff surgery to repair a partially torn tendon in his right shoulder Tuesday and will miss at least the start of preseason training camp, league sources told ESPN.
Before the injury in late February, George had been considered an MVP front-runner and a Defensive Player of the Year candidate. He is expected to make a full recovery, although it won’t be until the preseason when the Thunder next address a time frame for his return.
Erik Horne: Donovan on Paul George’s shoulder(s): “I’m sure he’s going to have to deal with that, but he was cleared to play. He’s not a guy that ever complained. When he was in discomfort or had problems, he voiced those to me.”
Royce Young: Paul George on his shoulder said he’ll “address it this summer and come back next season healthy.” Wouldn’t say if surgery was in the plans or not.
Royce Young: Paul George said today that his shoulder is pain-free. “It didn’t have any effect during the game.” Re-iterated yesterday’s performance was more rhythm related.
Erik Horne: Billy Donovan said Russell Westbrook (right ankle) and Paul George (right shoulder) both participated in all activities during the Thunder’s light practice Monday.
Brett Dawson: Paul George says four days ago he couldn’t lift his shoulder. Says today was the first day he shot the ball. Says he’ll get up shots tomorrow and hope for the same looks in Game 2.
Erik Horne: Billy Donovan on Paul George’s shoulder: “I think he’ll be fine, but when you don’t play for a while, it’s going to be a matter of him trying to find his rhythm.”
Brett Dawson: Paul George getting up shots. Has been going through his regular routine. pic.twitter.com/bgufGIkAO2
Erik Gundersen: Paul George is a gametime decision for Game 1.
Erik Horne: Billy Donovan says Paul George will be a game-time decision. “He’ll go out for his normal workout then we’ll have more detail once he gets out from there.”
Dwight Jaynes: Thunder have listed Paul George as “questionable” for Sunday. I bet he plays.
Royce Young: Billy Donovan says Paul George is “day to day” with his shoulder. He says OKC didn’t do much contact today in practice. Wouldn’t speculate either way if George will be available for Game 1.
Royce Young: Paul George said the pain in his right shoulder was too much to try and play through against Milwaukee, but says “as much as I can get it 100 as possible or close to it, you can expect me out there Sunday.”
Malika Andrews: Billy Donovan said a decision on whether or not Paul George (shoulder) will play tonight against the Bucks will be made after warm ups. He said there is no expectation this injury would keep George out in the playoffs.
Royce Young: Paul George is available and will start.
Royce Young: Paul George is a game-time decision still, Billy Donovan says (sore left shoulder). George will go through a pregame workout and make a decision from there.
Brett Dawson: Paul George took a hit to his shoulder getting over a screen in the Indiana game. Billy Donovan didn’t know the specific play and isn’t sure if it was the hard hit PG took on a Domantas Sabonis screen.
Brett Dawson: No Paul George update from Thunder shootaround. Billy Donovan will give an update pregame.
Brett Dawson: Thunder list Paul George as questionable with left shoulder soreness for tomorrow’s game against Denver.
Erik Horne: Thunder coach Billy Donovan said Paul George (right shoulder soreness) is progressing, but no determination has been made about tonight in Minnesota. George will be re-evaluated later today. Before San Antonio, George was ruled out at shootaround, so re-evaluation = progress.
Brett Dawson: Thunder listing Paul George (right shoulder soreness) as out for tomorrow’s game in San Antonio.
Erik Horne: Paul George (right quad contusion) upgraded to probable for Sunday against the Mavericks, Alex Abrines (stomach illness) as out, per Thunder.
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.
