“I love the way that they operate here,” said Kevin Love, who has been working out in Miami since he signed on Monday. “You can tell that it’s a top-tier, high-class, high-character organization and that all starts at the top. So for me, at the end of the day, it was a pretty easy decision.”
Source: Tim Reynolds @ Associated Press
And, so, while he could take the rest of the season off, rest his body, pick out a suit and brainstorm the best way to dap up Adam Silver when the time comes, Wembanyama and his agents, Bouna Ndiaye and Jeremy Medjana, have flatly rejected that notion. His tools and skills would have let him coast to top-prospect status, but the fact that he’s putting together a dominant campaign doesn’t hurt. His last year in France is a platform to work on his craft. “I gotta diversify my skills even more so people don’t get bored,” Victor Wembanyama says.
Where is your patience level with winning in Washington? Bradley Beal: I’m patient, but there comes a time where you have to be a little selfish and draw a line in the sand, for sure. So, I have thoughts in my head but at the same time I stay in the moment. I stay engaged with what we have and what we do and don’t get caught up in noise and just go from there, take it a day at a time, control what I can control.
Source: Marc J. Spears @ Andscape
You had a chance to win a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but didn’t join the team in Japan after being placed in health and safety protocols. How do you reflect on that? Bradley Beal: It’s something that’s out of your control. Obviously, in hindsight, I wish I would’ve got the vaccine. I wish I’d have had it at the time because I could’ve avoided all that. But everything happens for a reason. Again, I’m proud of the opportunity. I could come again in another year, so it’s not like it’s out of reach... Читать дальше...
Kevin Chouinard: When @Jeff Schultz asked John Collins if accountability was an issue, Collins sighed and said, “Yeah, I definitely feel like we could do a better job of that.”
Source: Twitter @KLChouinard
Magic Johnson: I think D’Angelo has really grown and matured. He can score the basketball. He can pass the basketball. He doesn’t turn it over a lot. That’s what I like about him, too. That pick-and-roll with Anthony Davis is going to be special. You have to pick your poison for what you try to do whether it’s Russell coming off the PnR or Anthony Davis rolling to the basket and they’ll have some more time playing with LeBron. If the Lakers can get in, and I think they will, nobody is going to want to play them. Читать дальше...
Miles Bridges says he may be back in the NBA soon, returning to play for the Charlotte Hornets. “It’s been a long process,” Bridges told The Associated Press on Tuesday night at halftime of Michigan State’s home game against No. 17 Indiana. “I might be back in March.”
Source: Larry Lage @ Associated Press
According to ESPN in December, Harden, who signed a two-year $68.6 million contract with the Sixers in June, could entertain the possibility of reuniting with the Rockets if he re-enters free agency this summer. The Athletic says there is a 70 percent chance Harden returns to Houston in July. “I’m putting it at a seven out of 10,” Kelly Iko said on KPRC. “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. James loves this city and the young guys on the roster. Crazier things have happened. Don’t call me crazy. Читать дальше...
The combination of Durant, Booker and Paul make for an imposing trio, and up the stakes much more considerably for the Suns — especially for their newly acquired star. “If they don’t win, f–k the Nets’ group” Arenas said, “this would be the biggest failure for Kevin Durant.”
Source: New York Post
Kobe Bryant was a regular at the All-Star Game throughout his career, having been selected for the event every year from his sophomore season till his last one in the NBA (with the exception of 1999, when the game was not held due to the lockout).
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Another transaction cycle is completed now with the 2023 trade deadline way behind us. Last year following the 2022 trade deadline, we looked ahead at potential players who were nearing the end of their contracts and could be candidates to remain with their teams or look for new homes. Here we attempt to identify players whose names we could potentially hear in rumors ahead of the 2023-24 offseason. The most significant difference between this year and last year is that this year’s version will... Читать дальше...
NBA Central: Massive brawl in Taiwan 😳 Coach started throwing hands pic.twitter.com/qMK7QboFOy
Source: Twitter @TheNBACentral
Harrison Wind: Aaron Gordon: “It hurt me not being in the All-Star game. If I wasn’t focused on the mental aspect of it, understanding that it’s going to get greater later & there’s a bigger picture, it would have pulled me into a negative mentality…it actually made me that much more hungry.”
Source: Twitter @HarrisonWind
“You know me, I’m going to be on Zach LaVine’s ass,” Pat Bev said on his podcast. “I’mma give him all the energy he needs. Destroy people. Me and DeMar DeRozan, we good. I got a popping five in Vucevic. I’m excited, I’m really excited.”
Source: YouTube
Clutch Points: “Knock them out the playoffs.” Patrick Beverley on his mindset when the Bulls play the Lakers next month 😬 (via @PatBevPod) pic.twitter.com/QWmNilz7A3
Source: Twitter @ClutchPointsApp
Vivek Jacob: Nurse says he expects OG, Gary and Thad to be ready for Thursday’s game
Source: Twitter @vivekmjacob
Shams Charania: Charles Lee – who served as an assistant under Mike Budenholzer in Atlanta from 2014-2018 – will be a serious candidate for the Hawks’ head coach opening, sources said. Lee was promoted to associate head coach of the Bucks last offseason.
Adrian Wojnarowski: ESPN Sources: The Hawks are planning a wide-ranging search, but one candidate expected to be at the top of the list: Former Utah Jazz coach Quin Snyder. Others expected to be considered include Bucks assistant Charles Lee, Golden State assistant Kenny Atkinson.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Joe Prunty will be the interim Hawks coach, sources tell ESPN.
Adrian Wojnarowski: After clearing waivers, guard R.J. Hampton plans to sign with the Detroit Pistons, sources tell ESPN. Hampton, the 24th overall pick in 2020, averaged 5.7 points in 13.9 minutes for the Magic this season.
Source: Twitter @wojespn
Adrian Wojnarowski: The Bulls are signing forward Terry Taylor to a two-way deal, sources tell ESPN.
Source: Twitter @wojespn