Category: NBA Basketball

NBA Basketball News

Joe Lacob on Klay Thompson's depature: He informed us that he did not want to come back

By | July 26, 2024

“We made an offer to him, it’s well chronicled, in the fall, substantially higher than what he ultimately did end up signing for. So I thought it was very fair,” Lacob said of the reported two-year, $48 million offer before last season. “Very fair, if not more than fair at the time. We’re trying to anticipate what the market is for him. We’re trying to be really fair to him and recognize him for who he is. And so we did that and that was not acceptable to them. That’s their choice. At that point, you know, we sort of have to go to free agency, we told them. Get closer to that day and see how the team is forming, so how we do this year, and see how

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Joe Lacob on Stephen Curry staying with Warriors long-term: 'I think he's very comfortable with the path of the franchise'

By | July 26, 2024

Not a surprising answer, but it was certainly hard to miss the theme: Curry wants to win and wants to be a Warrior for as long as he believes they have a chance to win. “From what I’ve heard, all he said was what you’d expect, I’d think, which is, ‘I want to win,’” Lacob said. “And if we were a really bad team, I guess he would rethink, you know, whether he really wanted to finish his career here. But he didn’t expect — that’s not the case and he didn’t expect that to be the case. And certainly from any conversations I’ve had with Steph, and I’m pretty close to Steph, we talk a lot. I think we have a great relationship. I think he’s very comfortable with

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Ranking the top 25 NBA players of the 21st century

Jul 25, 2024, 08:00 AM ETOpen Extended Reactions

When LeBron James entered the NBA as the top pick in the 2003 draft, he did so in the face of seemingly impossible expectations.

James already had graced a Sports Illustrated cover with the headline “The Chosen One.” His high school games had been broadcast on national television for more than a year. He was one of the most anticipated rookies in the history of the sport.

More than 20 years later, James has not only met those expectations; he has exceeded them.

Today, the 39-year-old superstar — in the middle of trying to lead Team USA to a fifth straight Olympic gold medal at the Paris Games — is still among the best players on the planet.

James is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. He reached eight consecutive NBA Finals and 10 in total. He has hoisted four Larry O’Brien Trophies, including leading the

David Roddy heads to Atlanta

By | July 26, 2024

What’s the buzz on Twitter? More on this storyline Duane Rankin: “Just embracing the journey.” David Roddy after double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds in Phoenix Suns loss to Indiana Pacers. On his hand after a dunk: “Just bruised my nail a little bit. A little bit of a stinger. I’m fine.” #Suns #NBA2KSummerLeague pic.twitter.com/QmAReb16h9 -via Twitter @DuaneRankin / July 16, 2024

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Olympics men's basketball: USA is the team to beat, and here are the teams that could do it

Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior WriterJul 26, 2024, 07:51 AM ET

CloseESPN.com NBA writer since 2010 Covered Cleveland Cavs for seven years Author of two booksOpen Extended Reactions

PARIS — The most competitive international men’s basketball tournament in history is finally here.

Just being one of the 12 teams to qualify for the 2024 Olympics is a major accomplishment. There are loaded teams and world-class players who are wishing they were in France now, including the Luka Doncic-led Slovenia squad that reached the semifinals in Tokyo three years ago, but lost in a pre-Olympic qualifying tournament earlier this month.

Here’s a look at what you need to know to get ready for the tournament, which tips off Saturday with Australia vs. Spain (11 a.m. local time/5 a.m. ET).

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The 12 nations competing for gold will be divided into three groups of four teams for the opening round. Each team plays the other

Sources: Knicks' Thibodeau gets 3-year extension

Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPNJul 24, 2024, 01:38 PM ET

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New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau has agreed on a three-year contract extension that will take him through the 2027-28 season, sources told ESPN on Wednesday.

Thibodeau, a two-time NBA Coach of the Year, has been at the forefront of a franchise resurgence that includes a No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs after a 50-32 mark last season. The Knicks return a team with higher expectations and expect to compete with the Eastern Conference elite.

The Knicks have reached the conference semifinals in each of the last two seasons after winning only one playoff series between 2001 and 2022, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Thibodeau ranks fifth in team history with 175 wins, reaching the playoffs in three of his four seasons as coach.

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Under Thibodeau, the Knicks were one of four teams to rank among the top

Kerr calls Team USA to raise intensity: 'It's time'

Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior WriterJul 25, 2024, 09:04 AM ET

CloseESPN.com NBA writer since 2010 Covered Cleveland Cavs for seven years Author of two booksOpen Extended Reactions

PARIS — After games on three continents and a whirlwind of ceremonies and travel, Team USA has finally arrived in the Olympics’ host city.

And coach Steve Kerr had a corresponding message: It’s time to act like it.

After a sobering film session Thursday that showed clips of some lackadaisical play, Kerr put Team USA through its most aggressive practice since coming overseas, hoping to ignite more spirit ahead of its Olympic opener Sunday against Serbia.

“That’s what today is about. It’s the reminder. It’s time. We’re here,” Kerr said. “So it’s got to be 40 minutes of force and attention and focus, and we can’t let teams outplay us effort- and energy-wise like we did the other night against Germany, like we did against South Sudan.”

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Durant practices, big collab set on Games debut

Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior WriterJul 24, 2024, 01:04 PM ET

CloseESPN.com NBA writer since 2010 Covered Cleveland Cavs for seven years Author of two booksOpen Extended Reactions

LILLE, France — Kevin Durant practiced Wednesday, and coach Steve Kerr said there will be a “big collaboration” in determining when the program’s all-time leading Olympic scorer will make his debut for Team USA.

The team’s training staff, Durant’s Phoenix Suns and his representation are all involved as they manage the delicate issue of Durant returning from a calf injury and his intense desire to play for his national team.

“It’s not just our training staff, but [USA Basketball managing director Grant Hill] is constantly in touch with Kevin’s people and with the Suns,” Kerr said. “This is not going to be like us going out and saying, ‘Hey, let’s just throw him out there.’ This will be a big collaboration.”

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