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Posts tagged as “NBA”

Converse unveils Shai Weapon

Converse just introduced the Shai Weapon, a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander-collab shoes, which is a new colorway of the iconic Converse Weapon. Converse is describing the shoes as;

Style icon Shai Gilgeous-Alexander inspired this take on a hardwood legend—the Shai Weapon. It has the durability and comfort you expect, with details that make every pair unique.

The Shai weapon will retail for $140.00 and they are now available via converse.com or your location retailer.

Together with the Shai Weapon, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was also announced as the new creative director of Converse Basketball, the company did not provide any specifics about the position but we can expect more details from the Converse regarding Shai’s new position.

NBA just release a 5hr video highlights of Steph Curry

Watch 4+ hours of Steph Curry’s most unforgettable clutch moments, complete with his iconic ‘night-night’ celebration!

Never miss a moment with the latest news, trending stories and highlights to bring you closer to your favorite players and teams.

Stephen Curry is arguably the greatest shooter in all of basketball and even though his not as athletic as his other peers, he’s one of the most exciting player to watch in the basketball court.

To borrow Stephen A. Smith’s line – “Steph Curry is the greatest shooter God has ever created.

Emirates NBA Cup 2024 Groupings and Schedule Announced

If you’re wonder, what the heck is the “Emirates NBA Cup 2024”? The Emirates NBA Cup 2024 was previously named the NBA In-Season Tournament, which debut last year and LA Lakers are the inaugural champions of the NBA In-Season Tournament.

Before we can talk about the, let’s talk about the groupings first and below are the groupings for the Emirates NBA Cup 2024.

Western Conference

Group A

  • (1) Minnesota
  • (2) LA Clippers
  • (3) Sacramento
  • (4) Houston
  • (5) Portland

Group B

  • (1) Oklahoma City
  • (2) Phoenix
  • (3) L.A. Lakers
  • (4) Utah
  • (5) San Antonio

Group C

  • (1) Denver
  • (2) Dallas
  • (3) New Orleans
  • (4) Golden State
  • (5) Memphis

Eastern Conference

Group A

  • (1) New York
  • (2) Orlando
  • (3) Philadelphia
  • (4) Brooklyn
  • (5) Charlotte

Group B

  • (1) Milwaukee
  • (2) Indiana
  • (3) Miami
  • (4) Toronto
  • (5) Detroit

Group C

  • (1) Boston
  • (2) Cleveland
  • (3) Chicago
  • (4) Atlanta
  • (5) Washington

Now that we have the groupings out of the way, the schedule for the Emirates NBA Cup 2024 will every Tuesday and Fridays starting this November 12th until December 3rd. The quarter finals will be on the December 11th and 12th, while the Semis will be on December 14th . The Emirates NBA Cup 2024 Finals will be on the 17th of December. Both Semis and the Finals will be held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. As for the full schedule and who will be playing against who, you can checkout the full schedule published by the NBA.

If you are still clueless as how Emirates NBA Cup 2024 works, then here’s a 2 minute video;

As for the name Emirates NBA Cup 2024, NBA and Emirates, yes the Emirates Airlines based in Dubai, has signed a multiyear global marketing partnership naming Emirates the Official Global Airline Partner of the NBA.

Steph Curry powers Team USA for a Gold Medal Finish Against France (98 – 87)

The USA Men’s Basketball team, led by Steph Curry, has won the Olympic gold medal at the 5×5 Basketball tournament. Curry scored a team-high 24 points, making 8-of-12 shots from the three-point line, and added 5 assists. Teammates Booker and Durant each scored 15 points apiece, while LeBron James contributed 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 10 assists. James was also awarded the tournament’s MVP.

It was a dramatic finish for the Americans, as France mounted a comeback by scoring 7 straight points, cutting the United States’ 14-point lead to a single possession game, thanks to a Wembanyama tip-in. But then Steph Curry showcased his greatness with a dagger three-pointer, defended by two French players. He then celebrated with his trademark “Night night” gesture while returning on defense.

Victor Wembanyama led the French team with 26 points but lacked his usual defensive presence compared to the semi-finals against Germany. Guerschon Yabusele added 20 points for France, while no other player scored more than 9 points. Considering the number of young French players entering the NBA, future Olympic medal games could become regular showdowns between the USA, France, and Serbia.

Steph Curry lead Team USA in a come-from-behind win over Serbia, advances to the Finals of the Men’s Olympic Basketball (95-91)

A Steph Curry exploding for 36 points, Lebron James triple-double and a 19-point game from Joel Embiid proved too much for Serbia to overcome, despite leading the game for the first three quarters (76-63). At one point, Serbia was ahead by as much as 17 points and seemed to be hitting every shot, especially from the 3-point line.

Bogdan Bogdanovic led the Serbian national team with 20 points, while Nikola Jokic added 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 11 assists. Aleksa Avramovic scored 15 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. However, as a team, they shot 38.5% from the 3-point line, especially in the final period when their shots started to miss.

As much offensive firepower as Team USA possessed, it was their defense that secured the win. Trailing by 13 points entering the fourth quarter, Team USA clamped down on Serbia, allowing just 15 points in the quarter after surrendering an average of 25.33 points in the first three quarters. Embiid and James made several stops that led to 9 fast-break points, and it was the bench players who helped turn the game around for the Americans.

Steph Curry led the team with 36 points and 8 rebounds, falling just one point short of tying Carmelo Anthony’s 37-point record at the 2012 London Olympics. LeBron James contributed 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists, his second triple-double in the Olympics. The “crowd-favorite,” Joel Embiid, scored 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting.

Team USA will face Team France in the gold medal game this Saturday, August 10th, while Serbia will play Germany for the bronze medal.

Team USA Defeats South Sudan on Last-Second Layup by LeBron James (101 – 100)

In a game that will go down as a major upset alert, Team USA escaped with a narrow victory over a determined South Sudan team by a final score of 101 – 100. The win, secured on a buzzer-beating layup by LeBron James, exposed some vulnerabilities for the American squad and served as a wake-up call heading into the upcoming Olympic tournament.

South Sudan came out firing on all cylinders, surprising Team USA with their aggressive defense and hot shooting from beyond the arc. The young African nation connected on 14 of their 33 three-point attempts, keeping pace with a Team USA offense that struggled to find rhythm early on.

Despite boasting a star-studded roster, Team USA looked uncharacteristically sluggish throughout the contest. Their usually potent offense sputtered, connecting on only 7 of their 28 three-point attempts. LeBron James, however, remained a constant threat, finishing the game with a team-high 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists. Followed by Anthony Davis’ double-double, scoring 15 points and 11 rebounds.

With the clock winding down and South Sudan leading by a point 100 – 99, the ball found its way into the hands of the veteran leader. James, showcasing his experience and clutch ability, drove to the basket and converted a contested layup just as the buzzer sounded, sending the American bench into a frenzy.

The win, will keep USA’s undefeated record in exhibition play but raises concerns about their overall performance. Coach Steve Kerr and the rest of the coaching staff will use this game as a teaching moment, emphasizing the importance of staying focus and keeping their defensive intensity as they gear up for the Olympic Group stage this 28th of July.

Team USA’s next and last exhibition game will be this Monday, 22nd of July, against the Germany, who is the current 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup Champions. Serbia and South Sudan are grouped together with the United States and Puerto Rico in the 2024 Paris Olympics Men’s Basketball Tournament Groupings.

Checkout some of the game highlights:

Full Game Highlights via @NBA;

Team USA narrowly escape Australia in an exhibition game in Abu Dhabi (98-82)

Team USA, composed of some of the greatest basketball players on the planet today, narrowly defeated the Australian National Team. Team USA led by as many as 24 points in the middle of the 3rd quarter (65-41), but the Australians went on a 20-11 run to cut the deficit to just 15 points (76-61) by the end of the period.

Then in the final quarter, Team USA struggled with their shots while the Australians made another run, closing the gap to just 6 points. It appeared the US National Team might lose, but Tyrese Haliburton hit two consecutive three-point shots to secure a 12-point lead, despite Team USA not scoring in almost 4 minutes.

The Australians weren’t finished, managing to cut the lead to just 4 points (90-94) with only 9 seconds remaining in the game.

Anthony Davis led the team with 17 points and 14 rebounds, followed by Devin Booker with 16 points and Anthony Edwards with 14. On the Australia national team, Jock Landale lead the team with 20 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Josh Giddey chipped-in with his 17 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists.

Team USA had six players score in double digits, dominated the boards with 45 rebounds against Australia’s 40, and made 12 three-pointers compared to Australia’s 4. Since this is an exhibition game with no bearing on the Olympic standings, it’s the pride of the US basketball team that’s at stake in these matchups.

Team USA will face the Serbia National Team, led by Nikola Jokic, on July 17th at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Players who got drafted in the Second Round of the 2024 NBA Draft

The second round of the 2024 NBA Draft has concluded, making the entire 2024 NBA Draft complete. The second round went by rather quietly, with the biggest story being Bronny James being drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers. This marks a historic moment, as LeBron James and his eldest son, Bronny James, are now officially teammates.

Aside from Bronny, there were two other noteworthy storylines. First, Kyle Filipowski’s fall to the second round surprised many, as both agents and GMs projected him as a first-round pick. Second, Cam Spencer, drafted by the LA Clippers, joins his brother who was drafted by the LA Lakers two years ago.

Here’s the complete list of the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft;

  1. Raptors draft Jonathan Mogbo (San Francisco)
  2. Jazz draft Kyle Filipowski (Duke)
  3. Bucks draft Tyler Smith (G League Ignite)
  4. Trail Blazers draft Tyler Kolek (Marquette) — Traded to Knicks
  5. Spurs draft Johnny Furphy (Kansas) — Traded to Pacers
  6. Pacers draft Juan Nunez (Ratiopharm Ulm) — Traded to Spurs
  7. Timberwolves draft Bobi Klintman (Cairns) — Reportedly traded to Pistons
  8. Knicks draft Ajay Mitchell (UC Santa Barbara) — Traded to Thunder
  9. Grizzlies draft Jaylen Wells (Washington State)
  10. Trail Blazers draft Oso Ighodaro (Marquette) — Traded to Suns (via Knicks)
  11. 76ers draft Adem Bona (UCLA)
  12. Hornets draft KJ Simpson (Colorado)
  13. Heat draft Nikola Djurisic (KK Mega Basket) — Traded to Hawks (via Heat)
  14. Rockets draft Pelle Larsson (Arizona) — Traded to Heat (via Rockets)
  15. Kings draft Jamal Shead (Houston) — Reportedly traded to Raptors
  16. Clippers draft Cam Christie (Minnesota)
  17. Magic draft Antonio Reeves (Kentucky) — Traded to Pelicans
  18. Spurs draft Harrison Ingram (North Carolina)
  19. Pacers draft Tristen Newton (Connecticut)
  20. Pacers draft Enrique Freeman (Akron)
  21. Knicks draft Melvin Ajinca (Saint-Quentin Basketball) — Traded to Mavericks
  22. Warriors draft Quinten Post (Boston College) — Traded to Thunder, then to Blazers, then to Warriors
  23. Pistons draft Cam Spencer (Connecticut) — Reportedly traded to Grizzlies (via Timberwolves)
  24. Celtics draft Anton Watson (Gonzaga)
  25. Lakers draft Bronny James (USC)
  26. Suns draft Kevin McCullar Jr. (Kansas) — Traded to Knicks
  27. Grizzlies draft Ulrich Chomche (NBA Academy Africa) — Reportedly traded to Raptors (via Timberwolves)
  28. Mavericks draft Ariel Hukporti (MHP Riesen) — Traded to Knicks
  • Suns and 76ers each lost a 2024 Draft second-round pick due to League penalty.

Source: NBA

Who Got Drafted? A Look at the First Round of the 2024 NBA Draft

The first day of the 2024 NBA Draft is in the books, and the Lakers did not draft Bronny James, instead they got what can be considered the biggest steal of the draft at #17 – Dalton Knecht, from the University of Tennessee and lead the team producing “21.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.6 3s per game while shooting 45.8% from the field and 39.7% from deep.”

For those who were not able to follow the live broadcast here’s the complete list of the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft;

  1. Hawks draft Zaccharie Risacher (JL Bourg-en-Bresse)
  2. Wizards draft Alex Sarr (Perth)
  3. Rockets draft Reed Sheppard (Kentucky)
  4. Spurs draft Stephon Castle (Connecticut)
  5. Pistons draft Ron Holland II (G League Ignite)
  6. Hornets draft Tidjane Salaun (Cholet Basket)
  7. Trail Blazers draft Donovan Clingan (Connecticut)
  8. Spurs draft Rob Dillingham (Kentucky) — Traded to Timberwolves
  9. Grizzlies draft Zach Edey (Purdue)
  10. Jazz draft Cody Williams (Colorado)
  11. Bulls draft Matas Buzelis (G League Ignite)
  12. Thunder draft Nikola Topic (KK Crvena Zvezda)
  13. Kings draft Devin Carter (Providence)
  14. Trail Blazers draft Bub Carrington (Pittsburgh) — Traded to Wizards
  15. Heat draft Kel’el Ware (Indiana)
  16. 76ers draft Jared McCain (Duke)
  17. Lakers draft Dalton Knecht (Tennessee)
  18. Magic draft Tristan da Silva (Colorado)
  19. Raptors draft Ja’Kobe Walter (Baylor)
  20. Cavaliers draft Jaylon Tyson (Cal)
  21. Pelicans draft Yves Missi (Baylor)
  22. Suns draft DaRon Holmes II (Dayton) — Traded to Nuggets
  23. Bucks draft AJ Johnson (Illawarra)
  24. Knicks draft Kyshawn George (Miami) — Traded to Wizards
  25. Knicks draft Pacome Dadiet (Ratiopharm Ulm)
  26. Wizards draft Dillon Jones (Weber State) — Traded to Thunder (via Knicks)
  27. Timberwolves draft Terrence Shannon Jr. (Illinois)
  28. Nuggets draft Ryan Dunn (Virginia) — Traded to Suns
  29. Jazz draft Isaiah Collier (USC)
  30. Celtics draft Baylor Scheierman (Creighton)

Second day/round of the draft will be tomorrow, Thurs., June 27 at ESPN’s Seaport District Studios in New York.

ICYMI: Boston Celtics Win 2024 NBA Championship

After a dominant season, the Boston Celtics are back on top of the NBA mountain. With a convincing 4-1 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in the Finals, the Celtics secured their 18th championship title, etching their name in history as the winningest franchise in NBA history.

Jayson Tatum, finally hoisting his first Larry O’Brien trophy, delivered a masterful performance throughout the playoffs, culminating in a phenomenal 31-point, 11-assist and 8 rebounds in the clinching Game 5. Tatum wasn’t alone. Jaylen Brown, the newly crowned Finals MVP, proved himself to be an unstoppable force on both ends of the court, averaging over 23.9 points per game in the Finals series. Then there’s Jrue Holiday, who finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds and Center Kristaps Porzingis who provided the emotional anchor after missing the game 3 and 4 because of a dislocated tendon in his left ankle, he chipped-in five points in 17 minutes.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla deserves all the respects for his leadership throughout the season. After receiving most of the criticism last season due to his lack of coaching experience on the NBA’s biggest stage, this championship win is a remarkable turnaround.

Here are some of the highlights for the Boston Celtics celebrations;

Watch Gatorade New Ad featuring WNBA stars Caitlin Clark and A’ja Wilson with NBA’s Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum Narrated by Michael Jordan

Gatorade just released its “It hasn’t changed” ad, which features WNBA stars Caitlin Clark and A’ja Wilson, two-time Summer Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum, and Buffalo Bills star Josh Allen. The company’s first product endorser, Michael Jordan, narrates the ad.

The ad showcases current and rising stars across various sports, including Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever, a two-time WNBA MVP and champion, alongside Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson. You can also see two-time Summer Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Buffalo Bills star QB Josh Allen, and Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum, who are favorites to win the NBA Championship this year.

The ad features the tagline “It hasn’t changed,” a reference to the legendary “Is it in you?” slogan. The company also brought back the colored sweat, which can be seen in their past promotional materials.

via wikipedia;

Gatorade was created in 1965, by a team of scientists at the University of Florida College of Medicine, including Robert Cade, Dana Shires, Harry James Free, and Alejandro de Quesada. Following a request from Florida Gators football head coach Ray Graves, Gatorade was created to help athletes by acting as a replacement for body fluids lost during physical exertion.

Everything about the game has changed, except for the most important thing: what you have inside.
Narrated by Michael Jordan.

Fuel up with what drives the game at Gatorade.com

FE!N by Travis Scott (ft. Playboi Carti)

Timberwolves Claw Back Against Mavericks in Tight Game 4 Victory

The Minnesota Timberwolves are refusing to go down without a fight! After three straight heartbreaking losses to the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals, the Timberwolves finally secured a crucial win on their home court, defeating the Mavs 105-100 in a nail-biting Game 4.

This victory keeps their season alive and forces a Game 5 back in Minneapolis. The series remains heavily in favor of Dallas, who lead 3-1, but the Timberwolves have shown they have the grit and determination to push this talented Mavericks team to the limit.

Karl-Anthony Towns, the Timberwolves’ star center, had faced criticism for his performance in the first three games. However, he bounced back in a big way for Game 4. Towns was allover the court, near 70% from the field, with 4 of 5 from beyond the arc. His improved play was a major factor in keeping Minnesota competitive throughout the game.

While Towns’ resurgence was important, the key to the Timberwolves’ win was their defense. After struggling to contain Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving in the previous games, Minnesota tightened up their rotations and made it specially difficult for Kyrie Irving to find his offensive groove. Irving is averaging 27.67 pts in the series, he just scored 16pts in game 4.

While the Timberwolves have shown they can compete, the challenge ahead remains daunting. Dallas still holds a commanding 3-1 series lead, and as history suggests, no professional sports team has overcome a 0-3 deficit in a best-of-seven series.

However, this win has injected hope into the Minnesota fans. The Timberwolves have proven they can win in this series, and they’ll be looking to extend the series as they head back home for a crucial Game 5.

Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals will be at the Target Center this Thursday, 30th of May.

Boston Celtics swept the Indiana Pacers to win the 2024 Eastern Conference Championship

The Boston Celtics are headed back to the NBA Finals! They punched their ticket to the championship series after sweeping the Indiana Pacers in a tightly contested Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals (105-102).

The win capped off a dominant series sweep for the Celtics, showcasing their resilience and championship mettle. The Pacers, however, shouldn’t leave empty-handed. They pushed the Celtics to the limit, especially in a nail-biting fourth quarter of Game 4.

It was a close game, with both teams trading baskets and neither side able to establish a significant lead. The largest lead for either team was 9 points. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 29 points, while Jayson Tatum chipped in with 26 points. Jalen Brown wins the Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals MVP. As for the Pacers, Andrew Nembhard had a monstrous double-double with 24 points and 10 assists with 6 rebounds, while Pascal Siakam added 19 points and 10 rebounds. Pacers missed the services of star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who was sidelined by a left hamstring injury.

The final minutes of the game were a heart-stopping display of clutch plays. With the score tied and seconds remaining, Jalen Brown found Derek White for a 23-foot three-point jumper that sealed the win for Boston. The Pacers had a chance to respond, but their final shot attempt fell short.

With the series win, the Celtics return to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2020, where they lost to the Golden State Warriors. This is a much younger team compared to their previous championship run, but they’ve shown a maturity and composure beyond their years.

They’ll now await their opponent, who will be determined in the ongoing Western Conference Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves.

Larry Bird, Jabbar and Magic Posts on Bill Walton

Here are some but not all of the tributes and posts on Bill Walton, who passed away at 71, after prolonged battle with cancer.

NBA Legend Bill Walton Passes Away at 71

NBA Hall of Famer and Basketball legend Bill Walton, has passed away at the age of 71 after a prolonged battle with cancer. Walton, a two-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer, died on Monday surrounded by family in a statement released by the NBA.

Bill Walton is a two-time NBA champion; 1976–77 season with the Portland Trail Blazers, also named Finals MVP, and 1984–85 season with Boston Celtics, earning the sixth man award. Walton is a member of both the NBA’s 50th anniversary and 75th anniversary teams. For his college career, he is a two-time champion at UCLA and a three-time national player of the year.

Tributes are pouring in from across the basketball community. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called Walton “truly one of a kind,” while former teammate Larry Bird described him as a “great friend” and “a thrill to play with.”

It’s the Conference Finals of the NBA 2024

It’s the semifinals of the NBA 2024 and it comes down to just 4 teams; the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves for the Western Conference, as for the East Conf. we have the Boston Celtics and the Indian Pacers.

Minnesota and Indiana advanced to the Conf. Finals after a grueling Game 7. Dallas needed 6 games to advanced, while Boston just took care of the business in just 5 games and have been waiting on the sideline.

  • Game 1 of the WCF between Minnesota and Dallas will be this Wednesday, May 22, 2024, 3:00 AM (Saudi time)
  • Game 1 of the ECF between Boston and Indiana will be on Thursday, May 23, 2024 3:30 AM (Saudi time)

USA Basketball officially announced the 2024 USA Basketball Men’s National Team

The USA Basketball has officially announced the 12-man roster of the 2024 USA Basketball Men’s National Team for this year’s Summer Olympic bound for Paris. The team was selected by USA Basketball Men’s National Team managing director Grant Hill and approved by the USA Basketball Board of Directors.

  1. Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns)
  2. LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers)
  3. Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat)
  4. Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns)
  5. Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
  6. Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers)
  7. Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves)
  8. Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)
  9. Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers)
  10. Jrue Holiday (Boston Celtics)
  11. Kawhi Leonard (L.A. Clippers)
  12. Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)

The 2024 USA Men’s National Team will be led by head coach Steve Kerr (Golden State Warriors), who is assisted by Mark Few (Gonzaga University), Tyronn Lue (L.A. Clippers) and Erik Spoelstra (Miami Heat). Last summer, the quartet coached the 2023 USA Basketball Men’s National Team to a fourth-place finish at the 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cup in Manila.

The team boasts of 12 NBA All-Stars, four NBA MVPs and six NBA champions, as for their international experience, the team brings a combined 11 Olympic appearances and owns 10 Olympic gold medals as well as three FIBA World Cup titles. Talent-wise, we can say that the 2024 Dream team can be compared to the 1992 Dream Team, as for their performance, I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

If you want to see the team in action, USA Basketball will commence training camp on July 6 in Las Vegas. Following the game vs. Canada, the Americans will embark on an international training window that begins when the USA hosts Australia and Serbia on July 15 and 17, respectively, at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Australia and Serbia will also face off on July 18 in Abu Dhabi.

Source: USA Basketball

Watch the Steph Curry versus Sabrina Ionescu Three Point Challenge

If you missed the Steph Curry versus Sabrina Ionescu Three Point Challenge, then just hit the PLAY button from the video bellow to watch the entirety of the contest. Spoiler alert, Steph Curry barely won the event after rallying at the end.

Sabrina Ionescu, who won the WNBA’s 3-point shootout at its All-Star Weekend last year with a record 37 points, breaking Curry’s NBA shootout record of 31 points. Since then the challenge was issued and a plan to meet at the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend was made.

Since the Three Point Challenge was positively received, it’s not surprising if the NBA and WNBA keep the event for next year.

Klay Thompson drops 35-points coming off the bench to lead the win against the Utah Jazz (140-137)

After a disappointing performance against the LA Clippers, Klay Thompson came off the bench for the first time since his rookie season, scored a season high of 35 points, knocking down 7 three-pointers in 13 shots, and lead the Golden State Warriors to win against the Utah Jazz, second time this week.

Draymond Green helped on both ends of the court scoring a season high 23 points, with 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals and 2 blocks. Steph Curry was having another off-night, scored 16 points but was 2 of 8 from three-point line. Andrew Wiggins and Jonathan Kuminga scored 19 and 13 points, respectively. Brandin Podziemski, who replaced Klay in the starting lineup, chipped-in 13 points, grabbing 6 rebounds and dishing out 8 assist. As a team, six players from Warriors scored in double figures and shot 53.3% from the field.

The Warriors win is also the 500th win of Steve Kerr as a Warriors Head Coach.Here’s what HC Steve Kerr has to say about his 500th win;

For the Jazz, Collin Sexton and Keyonte George lead the Jazz, scoring 35 and 33 points, respectively, while John Collins scored 18 points but made a critical turnover by throwing the ball away ball after rebounding the ball and could potentially gave Utah the lead with just 3 seconds remaining in the game.

This is Utah and Golden State last game before the All Star break, that will take place in Indianapolis on Feb. 16-18, 2024. Next for the Warriors will be against the LA Lakers while Utah will face Charlotte Hornets both games will be on the 23rd after the All Star Break.

Watch the last 5 mins ending of the Warriors versus the Jazz;.

Warriors captures 5th straight win against the Jazz (129-107)

The Golden State Warriors are on a roll, securing their 5th straight win and 7th in 9 games, which is enough for the team to move up the standings to 10th place.

It was a slow scoring night for Warriors’ leading scorer Steph Curry, scoring only 10 points in the first half and after a scoreless 3rd qtr, Curry made five 3-pointers in the fourth to capped a 14-5 Warriors run with 4:47 remaining in the game.

Klay Thompson scored 26 points with 5 rebounds, to help get the win even without Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr who when to Serbia for the funeral service for Golden State assistant coach Dejan Milojevic, who had a heart attack at a team dinner in Salt Lake City on Jan. 16 . Kerr was with assistant coaches Chris DeMarco and Ron Adams, general manager Mike Dunleavy, team liaison Zaza Pachulia, and team vice president Rick Celebrini.

Together with the Splash Brothers, 6 other Warriors scored double figures; Kuminga and Wiggins scored 14 points and 17 points, respectively, while Draymond Green anchored the defense and was flirting with a triple-double game with his 12 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists, with one steal and a block.

After the trade deadline, the Utah Jazz have a very different starting line up after trading Simone Fontecchio, Kelly Olynyk and Ochai Agbaji. Colin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson both scored 22 points for the Jazz, with Lauri Markkanen adding 19 points.

Golden State Warriors will host the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday then go to Utah to play the Jazz again Thursday night. The Utah Jazz will host the LA Lakers on Wednesday evening.

Warriors Game Highlights;

Steph Curry makes end-of-regulation 3-Pointer to carry Warriors past the Suns (113-112)

Steph Curry made a last-second three-pointer to lift the Warriors against the Suns in an epic showdown with Devin Booker and former-teammate Kevin Durant.

It was a close game from start to finish and the largest lead by either team was just 7 points. The game got intense in the final quarter with 6 lead changes.

Steph Curry, the leading scorer for the Warriors, secure the lead for Golden State with 3.3 second remaining in regulation, received an inbound pass from Brandin Podziemski and made the three from 29 feet and with the out stretch arms of Bradley Beal and Devin Booker.

Jonathan Kuminga added 21 points and 5 rebounds, while Draymond Green chipped-in 15 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists.

Suns’ big 3 were running on all cylinders, with Ken Durant, a former-Warriors, scoring 24 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists; Devin Booker, score a team high 32 points and 6 assists, and Bradley Beal added 15 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists.

The Golden State Warriors will visit the Utah Jazz on Monday evening, while the Phoenix Suns will host the Sacramento Kings this Tuesday night.

Here’s the final 5 minutes of Golden State Warriors vs Phoenix Suns;

Los Angeles Lakers unveil 19-foot bronze statue of Kobe Bryant

Just hours before their game agains the Denver Nuggets, the LA Lakers unveil the 19-foot bronze statue of Kobe Bryant, honoring the late superstar outside their downtown arena.

The 4,000-pound statue depicts Bryant wearing his white No. 8 jersey with his right index finger raised as he walked off the court following his 81-point performance against the Toronto Raptors in January 2006.

Here’s a side-by-side image from FIBA’s official X/twitter account;

Kobe Bryant’s 20-year career with the Lakers in a nutshell;

Bryant, an 18-time NBA All-Star, retired as the first player in NBA history to play at least 20 seasons with a single franchise. Known for his ‘Mamba Mentality,’ he helped guide the Lakers to five NBA Championships (2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010) and earned Finals MVP honors in 2009 and 2010. Voted the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2008, Bryant earned All-NBA honors 15 times, including 11 First Team selections, and was named to 12 All-Defensive Teams throughout his career, including nine All-Defensive First Team honors.

The Hall-of-Famer and two-time Olympic gold medalist stands as the purple and gold’s all-time leader in regular season games played (1,346), points (33,643), 3-pointers made (1,827), steals (1,944) and free throws made (8,378), while owning franchise playoff records for games played (220), points (5,640), 3-pointers made (292) and free throws made (1,320). A two-time scoring champion, Bryant scored a career-high and franchise-best 81 points on Jan. 22, 2006, at home versus Toronto. The Lakers retired Bryant’s No. 8 and No. 24 jerseys on Dec. 18, 2017.

Kobe’s will be the 7th Laker immortalize in a statue that’s on display outside the Crypto Arena.

NBA to use LED Court at the NBA All-Star 2024

NBA just announced that they will be using the recently introduced LED Court by International Basketball Federation (FIBA) last year. The LED court was developed by ASB GlassFloor, that will be used for NBA All-Star 2024 events taking place at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The events includes the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on Feb. 16th, and all the events happening on the All-Star Saturday Night on Feb. 17th, consisting of the Skills Challenge, the 3-Point Contest, the “Stephen vs. Sabrina,” the first-ever NBA vs. WNBA 3-Point Challenge and Slam Dunk.

This will be the first time that the NBA will using a different kind of materials for the courts, they previously use a different design of the recently concluded Play-In Tournament but the materials are still wood, compare to the glass and LED that will be use at the NBA All-Star 2024.

The league even published a 22 seconds video showcasing the LED court that they will be using at the NBA All-Star 2024;

The NBA today unveiled the state-of-the-art full video LED court that will be used for #NBAAllStar 2024 events taking place at Lucas Oil Stadium, which include the #RufflesCelebGame (Feb. 16, 7pm/et on ESPN) and #StateFarmSaturday Night (Feb. 17, 8pm/et on TNT), consisting of #KiaSkills, #Starry3PT, “Stephen vs. Sabrina,” the first-ever NBA vs. WNBA 3-Point Challenge and #ATTSlamDunk.

The high-performance, immersive sports floor is designed to enhance the fan experience in-arena and on broadcast through its interactive displays. During each event, visual effects displayed on the court will include the following:

▪️ Design and color changes
▪️ Live replays and other video content
▪️ Real-time game stats
▪️ Location-based player tracking animations
▪️ Interactive games for fans during timeouts
▪️ Immersive animations following key plays and moments

Golden State Warriors win over Philadelphia 76ers behind Wiggins’ 21 point game (127 – 104)

Golden State Warriors routs the Embiid-less 76ers behind the most unlikely trio of Wiggins, Kuminga and Thompson. When we talk about the Golden State Warriors, we immediately associate Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, for this particular game, it was Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga and Klay Thompson, the trio scored a total of 57 points, which helped the team since Steph Curry was having an off-night scoring only 9 points with just 2 of 7 from the field.

Even though the 76ers were without Joel Embiid, they kept the game close in the first half, but in the 2nd half the Warriors broke the game open by going on a 27-9 run, that extended their lead to 25 points.

Andrew Wiggins scored a team high of 21 points and 10 rebounds. Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr have nothing but positive things to say about Wiggins’ performance;

At the same time, Jonathan Kuminga scored 18 points to helped seal the win for the Warriors, he also grabbed 6 rebounds and dished 5 assists. Klay Thompson bounced back from a bad game against the Nets and scored 18 points, shooting 50% from the field and making 4 of his 5 three-points shots.

For the Philadelphia 76ers, 6 players scored in double-figure led by Ricky Council IV who scored 17 points. Followed by KJ Martin with his 15 points and 5 rebounds. Pat Bev and Tobais Harris both scored 13 points apiece. It also did not helped that the 76ers missed 24 of 32 3-point shot and only grabbing 40 rebounds compared to 52 rebs from the Warriors.

This is the second consecutive win by the Warriors and second win against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Here are some highlights;

The Warriors will visit the Pacers this Thursday evening, while the 76ers will hosts the Hawks on Friday.

NBA Officially announced the 2024 NBA All-Star Game reserves

Seven days after announcing the 2024 NBA All-Star Game Starters, the league unveil the 7 All-Star Game reserves for each conferences.

Eastern Conference reserves

  • Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
  • Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic
  • Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
  • Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
  • Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers
  • Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Julius Randle, New York Knicks

Western Conference reserves

  • Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
  • Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
  • Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
  • Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
  • Paul George, LA Clippers
  • Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers
  • Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves

Just like with the starters, the 2024 NBA All-Star Game reserves were selected by fans, current NBA players and a media panel. Fans accounted for 50% of the vote, while players and media accounted for 25% each.

Here are your 2024 NBA All-Star Game Starters

NBA has finally announced this year’s All-Star Game Starters. The TNT crew (Shaq, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson) even had a segment in their show to announce the 10 All Star starters.

Eastern Conference starters

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo*
  • Joel Embiid
  • Jayson Tatum
  • Tyrese Haliburton
  • Damian Lillard

Western Conference starters

  • LeBron James*
  • Kevin Durant
  • Nikola Jokic
  • Luka Doncic
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

* = denotes team captain

Starters for the 2024 NBA All-Star Game were selected by fans, current NBA players and a media panel. Fans accounted for 50% of the vote, while players and media accounted for 25% each.

This year, the league will revert back to the EAST vs West format, which means that title CAPTAIN will just be for formality and each players will team up for their respective conference in the 73rd NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 18 at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the home court of the Indiana Pacers.