Catching Michael Jordan in the NBA’s pantheon of all-time greats isn’t the only thing on LeBron James’ bucket list. He also wants to stick around long enough to face off against his son, LeBron James Jr., at the professional level. Okay, well, he isn’t necessarily determined to do so. But he would welcome the opportunity, [...]
October 17, 2017
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Stop asking Kyrie Irving about why he wanted a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers. Because he isn’t saying jack shit. As he told reporters ahead of the Boston Celtics’ opening-night clash in Cleveland, per The Athletic’s Jason Lloyd: [tweet https://twitter.com/JasonLloydNBA/status/920315316047155200] Irving is well within his right as a human being—and very real grown-up—to continue deflecting [...]
October 17, 2017
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Joel Embiid, as expected, will begin the 2017-18 NBA season on a minutes cap. As for what that cap will be, the Philadelphia 76ers don’t seem to know for sure. They do know, however, he won’t be clearing 20 minutes out the gate, as head coach Brett Brown detailed, per NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Jessica Camerato: [...]
October 17, 2017
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As if you needed anymore evidence the Boston Celtics’ acquisition of Kyrie Irving over the summer was ridiculously unique. But here’s some more anyway. Per the Boston Globe‘s Adam Himmelsbach, Celtics assistant general manager Mike Zarren relayed the story of what happened the first time he phoned the Cavaliers to inquire about Irving’s availability: [tweet https://twitter.com/AdamHimmelsbach/status/920051246001721344] [...]
October 17, 2017
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The NBA’s extension deadline came and went on Monday without players like Rodney Hood, Marcus Smart, Aaron Gordon, Elfrid Payton and Jabari Parker, among others, receiving new deals. But LaMarcus Aldridge got his. Wait, what? Yes, the San Antonio Spurs reached a three-year extension with their at-times unhappy power forward, according to ESPN.com’s Adrian Wojnarowski: [...]
October 17, 2017
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So maybe the Cleveland Cavaliers don’t miss Kyrie Irving after all. Sure, losing him is big in the grand scheme of things—especially if they were hoping to use him as a safety net in the event LeBron James leaves next July. The Cavaliers also cannot tout too many of their blessings following that trade. They [...]
October 16, 2017
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People often stack up Jimmy Butler’s tenacious approach to defense alongside Tom Thibodeau’s maniacal approach to coaching. And where some players might try to separate themselves from such a comparison, Butler is leaning into it as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves. As he told The Vertical’s Shams Charania: “These young guys do listen, but it’s [...]
October 16, 2017
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Stephen Curry is about to receive his second championship ring when the Golden State Warriors meet the Houston Rockets on opening night, a moment that will no doubt mean something to him. But it will also, apparently, give the two-time MVP another ring to not wear. When asked in front of reporters how he’s put the Warriors’ [...]
October 16, 2017
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The Cleveland Cavaliers could be incredibly low on Kyrie Irving now that he’s a member of the Boston Celtics. They aren’t, of course. But they could be. As head coach Tyronn Lue said when asked how the Cavaliers would defend their former point guard on opening night, per ESPN.com’s Dave McMenamin: How are the Cavs [...]
October 16, 2017
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Did the Philadelphia 76ers really give up the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft, plus another future first, for the right to select Markelle Fultz first overall and bring him off the bench? Apparently, yes. Per NBA Sports Philadelphia’s Jessica Camerato: [tweet https://twitter.com/JCameratoNBCS/status/919590464675868674] The move is bizarre, given Fultz’s draft-day status. It is [...]
October 16, 2017
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