nba – Page 318

Melo Starts 'Em Young

You’ll have to wait a decade to complain about his ball-stopping tendencies, but you know Phil will still be around to do it.

I Hope The Beef Between Meyers Leonard And DeMarcus Cousins Lasts Forever

DeMarcus Cousins dropped 55 points on Tuesday, but not before dropping a platter of hot beef on Meyers Leonard’s lap. In the decisive seconds of the fourth quarter, he spun his way into a pretty and-1, walked over to the Blazers bench and let some choice words and a mouthguard fall out of his mouth:

George Karl: I Struggled Because My Players Didn't Have Good Dads

Longtime NBA head coach George Karl has written a book, titled Furious George, and in that book he partakes in the time-honored and always-wack tradition of coaches talking shit about players they used to coach. (Or so we are told by the New York Post, which got its hands on a copy of the book.)

Is Anthony Davis Evolutionary Kevin McHale? A Very Short Debate

No.

Malcolm Brogdon Is Feeling Himself And Dunking On Everyone

Malcolm Brogdon may be a rookie, but that’s not stopping him from showing off against the Cavaliers tonight. He warmed up with a nifty little dunk over Kyrie Irving:

DeMarcus Cousins Apologizes To Everyone Except The Sacramento Bee

A week after DeMarcus Cousins chewed out a Sacramento Bee columnist for writing about his brother—and three days after the Bee released video of the incident—the Kings center has reportedly been fined $50,000 by the NBA. He also released an apology heavy on public relations-speak:

The NBA's New “Kevin Durant Rule” Will Incentivize Young Superstars To Stay Put

We knew the new CBA made life a little sweeter for the NBA’s superstars, but it’s a dense thing to parse, and explanations have been dribbling out slowly. ESPN’s new Q&A with salary cap expert Larry Coon argues that the most noteworthy development is the owners’ new weapon to keep their superstar players locked in.

Celebrate Nikola Jokić, The Big Boy Who Can Pass

We should revise our initial appraisal of Nikola Jokić: Denver’s second-year center can pass the ball, and deserves that reputation. Coach Mike Malone attributes the 21-year-old’s buttery playmaking to his past as a “fat point guard,” and though that chub has since been stretched thin over a 6-foot-10 frame, the skills remain: he posted 27 points, 15 rebounds, and 9 assists in last night’s win over the Mavericks. Here’s his slickest dish of the night, a no-look bounce pass to hit Gary Harris on a backdoor cut:

Stan Van Gundy Has Had It

The Pistons got walloped 113-82 last night by the not-very-good Bulls, and it was ugly from start to finish—Detroit was being doubled at halftime. Head coach Stan Van Gundy did not hide his feelings on the matter:

Russell Westbrook Almost Beat The Hawks One-On-Five

We’re far enough into the NBA season now to make some declarative statements about most teams’ identities and playoff hopes. You probably don’t need me to tell you this, but the Thunder can only go as far as Russell Westbrook can drag them.

You Can't Style On That Shot, Man

We’re fans of NBA players making the most of their skills. You gotta at least get the ball somewhat close to going in the basket, though. Better luck next time, John.

Report: New NBA CBA Bans Players From Using Hoverboards, Trampolines, Guns

Details of the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement are still leaking out in dribs and drabs, as the big-money items get the most attention (players naturally wants to know how much they’ll be making, and horrified fans want to know exactly how much their team will pay on Jrue Holiday’s inevitable max contract). And, of course, the CBA’s not officially done yet; they’ve got a framework in place, the whole thing won’t be published until it’s signed and sealed.

Nerlens Noel And The Sixers Are Reaching A Breaking Point

Before the Sixers’ season even started, Nerlens Noel understood that there were too many large dudes in Philly and too few good ideas about what to do with them. But because Noel has been recovering from knee surgery, it was only last Friday that the Sixers had to confront this nauseating truth head-on, as they finally played their trio of true centers in the same game. The initial results were bleak. Joel Embiid, maybe the most promising of the bunch, got awkwardly shifted to power forward to make room for Jahlil Okafor, and Noel played an uneventful eight minutes, letting let some of his dissatisfaction spill out into public view: “I mean, I’m too good to be playing eight minutes … that’s crazy, that’s crazy, that’s crazy. Need to figure that shit out. Fuck it,” he told reporters after a 100-89 loss to the Lakers.

Tim Duncan's Retirement Ceremony Was Charming And Delightful

The Spurs retired Tim Duncan’s No. 21 last night in a muted, charming ceremony, proving that you can still celebrate a guy’s legacy even if that guy’s central myth is his complete absence of flash, ego, or pomp. That image of Duncan can sometimes feel reductive or parodic, but last night it was just nice to see it burnished by a whole a slew of anecdotes from coaches and teammates past. Fans of fundamental basketball were treated to a highlight reel of Duncan operating in the low post, demonstrating immaculate footwork, setting screens, pulling Fabricio Oberto up off the floor, adjusting his jersey in the locker room, embracing teammates, embracing trophies, and embracing basketballs. It was a fine sendoff for Timmy, who came across as nothing short of a perfectly moral being and basketball automaton.

DeMarcus Cousins Berates Columnist For Writing About His Brother

Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins has never had a cozy relationship with the local media, but things seem to have hit a new low last week.

J.R. Smith Wears Shirt

Here’s what J.R. Smith said about the city of Cleveland after being traded to the Cavaliers nearly two years ago:

Nerlens Noel On 76ers' Center Situation: “Need To Figure That Shit Out”

Three months ago, Nerlens Noel said that he had no idea how the Philadelphia 76ers were going to handle having three true centers on the roster. Now, he knows how they’re handling it—by playing him a whole lot less. And he’s pissed, as he told reporters after last night’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers:

Here Are The Emails Sent By A Scammer Pretending To Be Dikembe Mutombo

If you’ve ever fantasized about would it would be like to be swindled by someone posing as Basketball Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo, you’re in luck.

Steve Kerr Leads Warriors Fans In “Moment Of Joy” Sager Tribute

Golden State coach Steve Kerr spoke to fans in attendance for tonight’s Knicks-Warriors game to recognize Craig Sager, who died earlier today—but instead of a moment of silence, Kerr found it more appropriate to lead the crowd in a standing ovation as a “moment of joy.”

This Nikola Jokic Pass Is One Spicy Meatball

Nikola Jokic is not a man known for spectacular passes. The Nuggets center averages four assists per 36 minutes over his career, which is fine for a big man, but still, this here dish was wholly unexpected.

Kevin Garnett Playfully Roasting Craig Sager's Suits Will Never Not Be The Best

Craig Sager is most fondly remembered for his back-and-forth routine with Gregg Popovich, in which Sager would play the earnest sideline reporter and Popovich a sort of caricature of a surly coach who has no time for the manufactured pleasantries of a scheduled television interview. But for my money, Sager’s best foil was Kevin Garnett, who, over the years, would almost always end an interview with him by going in on whatever Willy Wonka-esque suit Sager happened to be wearing that night.

NBA, NBAPA Agree On New CBA And Draymond Green Is Also Mad About Something

There will not be another NBA lockout next year, as the NBA and NBAPA reached an agreement on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. The deal has not been ratified yet, but Adrian Wojnarowski reports that it will be a seven-year deal. Here’s the NBA’s full release.

Kristaps Porzingis Was Ready To Scrap

The Knicks took on the Suns last night, and despite losing this matchup of dysfunctional defenses, Kristaps Porzingis posted 34 points (including a perfect 4-of-4 from the arc), eight rebounds, three blocks, three steals, and the feistiest moment of his brief career. In the third quarter, Porzingis stumbled over a defender and was intentionally flung to the ground by the Suns’ Marquese Chriss. He did not take that lightly: