Oleh Kosel: JJ Redick to Robin Roberts on @GMA right now: “70% of our league is Black. What is the league doing, what are owners doing in their communities to step up? And that’s really what we mean by can we create some change through the resources that our league and our owners have.”
New Orleans Pelicans Rumors
Paul gave basketball fans some insight on what that hour was like for him in an interview with Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles on the “Knuckleheads” podcast, and he revealed he spoke to Bryant during that small window of time: “I was on the phone with my brother and my agent, and all that. We figuring out a plane to get to New Orleans to get us to LA … let’s just say my agent clicked over, said hold on, clicked over and then he came back on and he was like, stuttering. And we was hot. We was hot. Me and Kobe had talked, you know what I’m saying? We had talked already and all that. And it was a lot. It was a lot.”
Malika Andrews: Nets’ Garrett Temple said that while he is committed to playing in Orlando, he echoed JJ Redick’s sentiment that there isn’t a total comfort in going. He says he feels “nervous anxiousness” about making the trip.
Recovering from an Achilles rupture is a long, difficult process that only a handful of NBA players truly understand. In August, Pelicans reserve forward Darius Miller ruptured his right Achilles tendon during a three-on-three game. Miller, who has been in contact with Cousins throughout the recovery process, said the pandemic has made it difficult to gauge how close he is to returning.
“Like I said, right now I’m just taking it day-by-day, trying to add something new into my workouts and see how my body reacts,” Miller said. “Like I said, it’s unfortunate I can’t play five-on-five or at least three-on-three just to get a gauge, but we’re doing the most that we can right now to see about when I’ll be able to play.”
Miller said players who have suffered Achilles injuries gave him more advice about staying positive mentally than they have about the physical aspects of recovering. “Everyone I talked to pretty much had the same message: It was going to be a long road. It was going to be tough,” Miller said. “That was one of the reasons I tried to stay around the team as much as possible, just to stay involved and keep my mind off of things, stay in the team atmosphere. I feel like the team did a great job of helping me get through it. It was just little things like that, staying positive and attacking every day as if it’s a game.”
Michael Singer: #Nuggets will play Washington on July 22nd, New Orleans on July 25th, and Orlando on July 27th in the team’s three scrimmages before the season’s re-start.
Orlando bubble: No decision on Alvin Gentry
Meanwhile, multiple sources tell ESPN no decision has been made yet on Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry’s status heading into Orlando. Sources say the Pelicans are supportive of Gentry, 65, being able to join the team for the remainder of the season and have been working with the league in order to ensure he can make it to Orlando.
Bzdelik retired from coaching just before the start of the 2018-19 season but ultimately joined the Houston Rockets again in November of that year. He joined the Pelicans in July of last year. According to sources, Bzdelik will be able to remain in New Orleans and continue to help the team with defensive strategy from afar.
Orlando bubble: No decision on Alvin Gentry
Meanwhile, multiple sources tell ESPN no decision has been made yet on Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry’s status heading into Orlando. Sources say the Pelicans are supportive of Gentry, 65, being able to join the team for the remainder of the season and have been working with the league in order to ensure he can make it to Orlando.
Bzdelik retired from coaching just before the start of the 2018-19 season but ultimately joined the Houston Rockets again in November of that year. He joined the Pelicans in July of last year. According to sources, Bzdelik will be able to remain in New Orleans and continue to help the team with defensive strategy from afar.
Malika Andrews: A poignant, powerful statement from JJ Redick: “To say that we have any sort of comfort level, would be a lie. There is no comfort level…” pic.twitter.com/6UR2jKdNaQ
While the team hasn’t disclosed which players tested positive, sources say Williamson wasn’t one of them. The protocol alone makes that much obvious, as players who test positive have to self isolate for 14 days and can’t take part in physical activity or be at the team’s facility during that time.
Will Guillory: Darius Miller says he’s unsure if he’ll be ready to play in Orlando. Hasn’t been able to play any 3-on-3 or 5-on-5 bc of COVID-19. I doubt we’ll see him playing if he can’t ramp up his activity really quickly.
While the team hasn’t disclosed which players tested positive, sources say Williamson wasn’t one of them. The protocol alone makes that much obvious, as players who test positive have to self isolate for 14 days and can’t take part in physical activity or be at the team’s facility during that time.
Will Guillory: Darius Miller says he’s unsure if he’ll be ready to play in Orlando. Hasn’t been able to play any 3-on-3 or 5-on-5 bc of COVID-19. I doubt we’ll see him playing if he can’t ramp up his activity really quickly.
Williamson said he got on the court “every day” during the quarantine period with his stepdad, since he wasn’t allowed to work with the Pelicans’ coaching staff because of NBA guidelines. When asked where he was working out, Williamson let out a laugh. “I can’t tell you all my secrets, man,” Williamson said. “Some things I gotta keep to myself.”
Count Josh Hart as one of Williamson’s teammates who was impressed with how he looked in the gym once players got back together. “I think body-wise, he looks amazing,” Hart said. “He looks good. His shot looks better than it has in a while. He’s been putting the work in, and that’s great to see. “And he’s one of the players that has one of the biggest spotlights in the league and in the world right now. So he’s handled everything with great humility. I’m very surprised and proud of just how he handles all that stuff.”
Sarah Todd: Niang said he’s looking forward to getting back to hooping and said he’s glad the Utah Jazz have the first game. Pelicans are always a good matchup and it will be nice to see Favors as a friendly face and to get game one out of the way before anyone else
Asked Thursday for specifics on where and how he was able to get on a basketball court every day of the NBA’s three-month hiatus, the 19-year-old smiled and replied, “I can’t tell you all of my secrets, man. I think I’ve got to keep that to myself.” Williamson had just finished explaining to reporters that despite the ongoing pandemic, he and stepfather Lee Anderson held daily basketball sessions, gaining access to gyms at undisclosed locations.
Williamson’s pro career began with an earthquake erupting during his summer league debut in Las Vegas; he was sidelined for 44 regular season games due to a knee injury, played in 19, then was forced off the hardwood again in mid-March by COVID-19. “The last 12 months have been a different experience,” he said, shaking his head. “With the injury, all the different stuff going on. Not playing basketball as much as I’m used to. It’s been a crazy experience. But I stick with my family. My mom tells me, ‘Life is life. You may go through a lot of good times and bad times. Prepare yourself as best you can.’ For me, (the best way to do that is) sticking with my family.”
“I think this can be a very special team,” Williamson said, when asked about NOLA’s potential. “It’s about us coming together, fighting those mental battles of being in the bubble (at Disney). If we can come together, we can do something really special.”
Oleh Kosel: For those who have been asking for pics throughout NBA suspension, here’s your proof: Zion Williamson appears to be in fantastic physical shape. And how about the #WontBowDown gear, the pose and glare coinciding with an important public service announcement? Hell yes. #MaskUp
Will Guillory: Josh Hart, who is extension eligible going into next off-season, said his next contract wasn’t on his mind when he made the decision to go to Orlando. Said worrying about injuries or playing at half-speed is the easiest way to get hurt.
The New Orleans Pelicans star and the 2019 No. 1 overall pick has been named the NBA 2K21 cover athlete on next-generation consoles. “Realizing that I am going to be on the cover of NBA 2K21 was one of those moments that I am still processing,” said Williamson over a Zoom chat with Sports Illustrated. “I dreamed about being on the cover and for 2K to give me this honor, it means a lot because I have always played 2K with teammates and all my friends growing up. 2K has always been there with me. Looking at each cover and thinking maybe one day I could possibly be on the cover of one of these and for it to actually happen is a lot to process.”
How did he spend most of his time at his residence in downtown New Orleans? Melli: “Sitting on the couch.” His diet? “I was eating like a bull.” Any attempts at cardio? “I wasn’t going outside. I tried to run a couple times on the balcony, but I looked too much like a hamster on a wheel, so I went back on the couch and watched The Last Dance and Netfix.”
Melli was also concerned that if he left the United States, he may not be able to return to America for the NBA’s resumption, due to travel restrictions. Fortunately, he indicated that none of his family members or friends contracted the coronavirus. “Everybody was affected from this virus,” Melli said. “Luckily all of my family and friends were healthy and are still healthy. I feel very lucky about it. It was a tough period (this spring).”
Asked whether he’ll be able to reclaim his shooting touch (36.1 percent this season) after a long layoff, Melli again joked that based on his initial results, maybe a lack of reps is actually for the best. “The first shot I took (in the practice facility) was a three-pointer and I made it,” he said, grinning. “So I said to myself, the next time I have to prepare for an important game, I should not practice for two months. (The lengthy hiatus) was weird, but hopefully it’s not going to take long. We will see in the first official game. Hopefully I can go back and (make) threes.”
Will Guillory: Jrue Holiday says he doesn’t want to have his name on the back of his jersey in Orlando. He plans on using a name or a slogan to shed light on some of the issues going on around the country.
Oleh Kosel: Nicolo Melli via Zoom conference call talking about how he felt once NBA allowed teams to reopen practice facilities: “As soon as they gave the green light, I was in the gym.” Melli previously said that he had not touched a basketball for a few months.
Will Guillory: NBA 2K21 announces Zion Williamson as their second cover athlete next year, joining Damian Lillard. pic.twitter.com/XRC16PR0ep
Jim Eichenhofer: Alvin Gentry on one important factor in a no-fan environment: “(Assistant coach) Chris Finch said your bench is going to be really important, from an enthusiasm standpoint. I think that’s where all of the energy is going to come from. You’re going to need a really good bench.”
Jim Eichenhofer: David Griffin on big picture for 2019-20 #Pelicans and being part of upcoming games in Orlando: “The mark of success for us was to play meaningful games in March and April. This is now going to be meaningful games in July and August. That was important to us.”
Jim Eichenhofer: David Griffin said #Pelicans had three players test positive for COVID-19 on the first day of testing, but none since then. Players who tested positive are in self-isolation and test daily. Once they have two favorable tests, they can return to participation
Will Guillory: David Griffin: “We have no reason to believe that anyone will not go (to Orlando)”
Oleh Kosel: David Griffin on how Zion Williamson has looked asides his physical fitness: “He is handling the ball really well and the shooting looks great.”
Oleh Kosel: David Griffin on players going to Orlando: “Jrue and Lauren view this as an opportunity for Jrue {Holiday}.” Sounds like Jrue is a go for the NBA restart.
Mark Medina: David Griffin, a cancer survivor, will be in Orlando for the resume season. Griffin: “I’m not at all in a high risk area. I’m not going to ask my players do anything I wouldn’t do.”
