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Posts tagged as “NBA”

Los Angeles Lakers are the 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament Champions

December 10, 2023

The Los Angeles Lakers are the 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament Champions, this is after a dominant performance the Lakers Stars Anthony Davis with his 41 points, 20 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocks. Lakers also had a lot of help from Austin Reaves, who came off the bench, he scored 28 points, Lebron James also helped with his 24 points and 11 rebounds.

The Lakers controlled the tempo of the game, even though Indiana are in striking distance until Los Angeles went on a 15-3 run late in the fourth quarter to secure the win for good. Lakers went old school by scoring in the paint at will, exploiting Indiana’s lack of size. This was also evident in the Rebounds, where the Lakers grabbed 55 rebounds versus Pacers 33 rebounds.

Pacers’ PG Tyrese Haliburton had 20 points and 11 assists, Bennedict Mathurin also scored 20 points and Aaron Nesmith had 15, but they could not contain AD for wreaking havoc in the paint. As for tournament awards.

Pacers will visit Detroit on Monday night to start a four-game road trip, while the Lakers will go to Dallas on Tuesday night for their three-game road trip.

Oklahoma City Thunder defeat Golden States behind Gilgeous-Alexander’s 38 points in OT (138-136)

December 9, 2023

The Oklahoma City Thunder (OKC) continue their impressive run, defeating the Golden State Warriors in overtime by a score of 138-136 on December 8th, 2023. This marks the second time in four matchups this season that the young Thunder squad has bested the defending champions in OT, highlighting their growing confidence and ability to compete with the league’s best.

The game was a rollercoaster of emotions, with both teams trading leads throughout the contest. Stephen Curry led the Warriors, pouring in 34 points and 6 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Thunder’s balanced attack. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge for OKC, dropping a game-high 38 points with 5 rebounds and 5 assists, he is 15-30 from the field.

Chet Holmgren, the rookie sensation, played a pivotal role in the Thunder’s victory. He dominated the paint, racking up 21 points, 7 rebounds and an assists with 3 blocks, making his presence felt on both ends of the court. His size and athleticism were too much for the Warriors’ frontcourt to handle, and his clutch free throws in the final seconds of regulation sent the game into overtime.

The Warriors is once again plague with turnovers, committing a 29 turnovers which the Thunders took advantage and converted to 35 points. This will be OKC’s 3 straight win over the Warriors and this will be the last game between the two teams in the regular season.

Warriors will visit KD and the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, while OKC will host the Utah Jazz on Monday.

Steph Curry’s 31-points carries Golden State Warriors to a win over Trail Blazers in Tight Contest (110 – 106)

December 7, 2023

The Golden State Warriors emerged victorious in a thrilling matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers, securing a 110-106 win at Chase Center. Stephen Curry led the charge for the Warriors, dropping a game-high 31 points, including a clutch three-pointer in the final minute to seal the deal.

The game remained close throughout, with both teams trading baskets and neither able to gain a significant advantage. The Trail Blazers held a 55-48 lead at halftime, but the Warriors were able to responded with a run in the third quarter, Portland 34-31. However, the Blazers refused to back down, and fueled by Anfernee Simons’ 28 points, they were able to hold on to the lead until the 4:40 mark of fourth quarter.

The Warriors are just hold on to a 1-point lead, Curry stepped up and delivered a step-back triple to give Golden State a 4-point with 9.2 left in the game.

Draymond Green also played a crucial role in the Warriors’ victory. He was flirting with triple-double of 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists, anchoring the Warriors’ defense with 2 blocks.

For the Trail Blazers, aside from Anfernee Simons’s performance, Shaedon Sharpe had a big game with 26 points, 6 reds and 5 assists, followed by Jabari Walker’s 12 points and 5 rebs.

This victory was crucial for the Warriors, who improved their record to 10-11, which will put them 11th in the Western Conference standings. The Trail Blazers, on the other hand, fell to 6-14 and they share the bottom of the standings with the Spurs.

Portland Trail Blazers will host Dallas on Friday night, while the Warriors will visit Oklahoma City on Saturday night.

These are the Trophies for the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament

December 6, 2023

Now that we have the 4 team standing for the Semifinals of the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament, the league unveil the trophies as well as the awards that will be given to the winners for the tournament, this in addition to the cash prize that the team and players will receive from the league.

From NBA;

There are cash prizes for reaching the knockout round in the tournament, and the prizes will keep growing as a team advances. Each player gets $500,000 for winning the title, $200,000 for making the final, $100,000 for reaching the semifinals and $50,000 for making the quarterfinals. There is one caveat: two-way players on those rosters only get half as much as those on standard contracts.

NBA In-Season Tournament Champions

The NBA In-Season Tournament Championship Trophy will be called – ‘The NBA Cup’. This will be given to the team for winning it all for the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament.

  • Color: The gold reinforces the connection to the NBA’s trophy offerings and symbolizes the highest level of achievement, while the black coloring is unique to the league’s trophy collection, a new addition for the In-Season Tournament.
  • Material: Sterling silver trophy, coated in 24-karat gold vermeil and black ceramic.
  • Measurements: 23” high, 18” prong height, 5” base height, weighing 35 lbs.
  • Details:
    • Eight prongs flow into the channels of the cup, inspired by the prongs of a diamond ring.
    • The base, featuring net detail, is a blend of the design of the Eastern Conference and Western Conference Championship Trophy bases.
    • The underside of the trophy features the NBA In-Season Tournament event logo.
  • Design Inspiration:
    • One trophy – Represents the one In-Season Tournament champion.
    • Three-tier base – Represents the three games that the champion must win in the In-Season Tournament Knockout Rounds.
    • Eight prongs – Represents the eight teams that advance to the Knockout Rounds.
    • 23” total height – Represents the inaugural year of the In-Season Tournament.
    • 30 net openings on the trophy’s base – Represents the 30 NBA teams.
    • 35 lbs. – Represents the three groups of five teams in each conference for Group Play in the In-Season Tournament.

NBA In-Season Tournament MVP Trophy

No special name the league will just straight up calling this The NBA In-Season Tournament MVP trophy. This will be awarded to the most valuable player in the In-Season Tournament.

  • Color: The black and gold colors match the championship trophy, with the two stems mirroring the championship prong design.
  • Size: 15” high, 6.5” width, 5” ball (17.5” circumference), 8” stem, 3” base height, weighing 11.5 lbs.
  • Representation:
    • 15” height – Represents 15 teams in each NBA conference.
    • 5” width – Represents the six groups and five teams in each In-Season Tournament group.
    • 3” base – Represents the three In-Season Tournament groups in each conference.
    • Two stems – Represents the two teams competing in the In-Season Tournament Championship Game.

NBA In-Season Tournament Medals

Each player on the In-Season Tournament championship team will receive the In-Season Tournament Medals. No special name for the medals as well.

  • “NBA In-Season Tournament Champions” is etched on the front of the medal, along with the year.
  • The back of the medal features a silhouette of the NBA Cup in the middle of two tournament brackets.
  • The four extruding balls on the face of the medal represent the four teams competing in the In-Season Tournament Semifinals.

NBA In-Season Tournament All-Tournament Team Trophies

This will be awarded to each player on the In-Season Tournament All-Tournament Team. This is the equivalent of the “All-NBA Team” awards that are given at the end of season.

The All-Tournament Team members will receive trophies, designed by Victor Solomon, composed of a solid black crystal basketball with gold channels, one of which features a bracket motif in a nod to the In-Season Tournament. Each trophy stands 7.5” in height and weighs 20 pounds.

Final 4 of the NBA In-Season Tournament are now Complete

December 6, 2023

We now have the Final 4 teams for the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament, which will be held in Las Vegas this 7th of December.

Semis

For the West side, it will be between LA Lakers versus New Orleans Pelicans, then for the East Side, we have Indiana Pacers against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Finals

The two winners for games between; LA Lakers versus New Orleans Pelicans, and Indiana Pacers against the Milwaukee Bucks, will once again play for the NBA In-Season Tournament Championship, which the league is calling ‘The NBA Cup’. Games will also be in Las Vegas and will be on Dec. 9th.

Clippers Edge Warriors in Thrilling Finish on a Paul George buzzer beater three (113-112)

December 3, 2023

The Los Angeles Clippers pulled out a thrilling 113-112 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday afternoon, avenging their 120-114 loss to Golden State two days earlier in Los Angeles.

Paul George hit the game-winning 3-pointer with just 9.2 seconds remaining to give the Clippers their first lead of the game. George finished with 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists, while James Harden added 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists. Kawhi Leonard also had a solid performance with 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists.

The Warriors were led by Stephen Curry, who had 22 points and a season-high 11 assists. Draymond Green added a season-high 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists. Klay Thompson also contributed with 17 points and 6 rebounds. Warriors big three; Curry, Thompson and Green all made four 3-pointers but the Warriors as a team made are 17-43 from beyond the arc and committed 13 turnovers, to which the Clippers were able to capitalize.

The Warriors led by as many as 22 points in the first half and appears to be walking away for the win, but the Clippers slowly chipped away at the lead. In the fourth quarter, the Clippers were able to cut the lead to just a point with still 2:04 remaining in the game then took the lead for the first time after George hit the game-winning 3-pointer to give the Clippers the victory.

The Clippers improve to 9-10, while the Warriors fall to 9-11.

Golden State will host the Portland Trailblazers while the LA Clippers will host the defending champs Denver Nuggets, both games will be this coming Wednesday.

Golden State Warriors Defeat Clippers in Close Game (120-114)

December 2, 2023

The Golden State Warriors defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 120-114 on Thursday night. This was after the Warriors was eliminated by the Kings from a devastating loss.

After a close game in the 1st qtr, Warriors controlled all 3 quarters leading as much as 18 pts. It was a balance Warriors offense where 7 players in double figures and bench contributed big with Saric, Kuminga and Podziemski leading the bench with 13 pts, 17, pts and 13 pts, respectively.

Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 26 points, 7 rebs and 8 assists, while Klay Thompson added 22 points and 6 rebs. Draymond Green chipped in with 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists.

For the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard had 23 points and 7 rebounds, while Paul George made 15 points and 10 assists.

The Warriors were without three of their major contributors: Chris Paul is sidelined by a nerve contusion in his lower left leg and sat out his first game of the season. Gary Payton II missed his fifth game due to a strained right calf. He will be re-evaluated in a week. MRI exams showed that neither player sustained structural damage. Andrew Wiggins slammed his right index finger in a car door earlier Thursday and was unable to play.

The win was the Warriors are now 9-10, while the Clippers fell to 8-10 with the loss.

Both teams will face again this Saturday evening in crypto.com arena.

Kings defeats Warriors, clinches In-Season tournament (124 – 123)

November 29, 2023

Kings advances to the quarterfinals of the In-Season Tournament with their win over the Golden State Warriors. It may be a tough loss to swallow to a lot of Warriors fans, since Golden State was enjoying a 24-point lead at the end of the 1st half. But since then, the Kings went on a 69 to 51 in the second half, scoring mostly inside the paint, specially in the 3rd qtr where the game grinded to a halt after both team went into penalty with still more than 5 mins remaining in the 3rd.

It didn’t help that the Warriors committed 18 turn overs, which the Kings capitalizes by scoring at least 19 points, most notably the two late turnovers by the Warriors; Monk hit a 3-pointer following a turnover by Stephen Curry and on the next possession, Draymond Green turned it over allowing Monk for a go-ahead 13-footer shot that gave the Kings the lead and steal the game.

Curry and Wiggins lead the Warriors with 29 points a piece, while Thompson had another great game with his 20 points and 9 rebs. Draymond Green back from a five-game suspension was a non-factor in the game, scoring 8 points, 6 rebs and just 3 assists.

Kings leading scorer is Deaaron Fox with 29 pts, 9 rebs and 7 assists, Huerter and Monk both scored 21 points.

Sacramento Kings swept their group for In-Season tournament with a 4-0 record and will host New Orleans next week in the quarterfinals. While the Warriors are eliminated from the contest.

Next for the Kings, will face the the Clippers on Wednesday night, while the Golden State Warriors will also host the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night.

Dubs defeats Spurs to keep In-Season Tournament hopes Alive (118-112)

November 25, 2023

Golden State Warriors are still in the running for the first ever NBA In-Season Tournament, powered by Steph’s shooting brilliance.

It was a close game in the 1st half with Victor Wembanyama helping the Spurs with his 22 points, 9 rebs and 4 assists, but shot 1 of 6 from the three-point line. There was also a defensive sequence by 6-foot-2 guard Gary Payton II (GP2), when he blocks Spurs 7-foot-3 rookie Victor Wembanyama’s jump shot. This was GP2 first game after recovering from a foot injury.

Golden State started to break away from the Spurs at the end of the 3rd qtr and continue at the start of the 4th qtr, where they lead as much as 18 points, but the Spurs were able to make a run and cut the lead to just 4 points with still a whole minute left in the game. But the Spurs couldn’t complete the comeback since Curry and Thompson made all their free throws.

Warriors guard Steph Curry lead the team with 35 points and 6 assists, he’s 7 of 14 from beyond the arc. Curry got a lot of help from the team particularly from the bench; Saric, who played for just2 6 mins, is the second leading scorer with 20 pts, 7 rebs and 4 assists then add the two steals that he made. Klay Thompson also made significant contributions adding 15 points, 3 rebs and 6 assists.

Devin Vassell led the Spurs with 24 points and 22 pts by Keldon Johnson with 12 rebounds 4 assists. San Antonio finished 0-4 in the group play of the In-Season Tournament. While the Golden State Warriors are still in contention to advance to the knockout round of the In-Season Tournament, as they face the Sacramento Kings this Tuesday for the final game of Group C play.

Spurs will visit Denver this Sunday evening.
Warriors will face the Sacramento Kings this Tuesday.

Suns defeats Warriors behind Durant and Booker (123 – 115)

November 23, 2023

After winning their last game, Warriors got another loss from the Phoenix Suns lead by Kevin Durant, who scored a game high of 32 points with 8 rebs and 2 assists.

Warriors initially finished the 1 qtr with a 5 point lead but the Suns practically ended the game with a 37 – 16 run in the 2nd quarter. The Suns biggest lead was 23 points with just 7 mins remaining in the qtr. On the last 23 seconds of the 2nd qtr, Warriors received a total of 3 consecutive technical fouls from referee Scott Foster; a quick 2 by Chris Paul, after arguing about a foul he committed on Durant, this got Paul ejected from the game, then another technical foul on Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr for shouting at Foster after Paul’s ejection.

The Warriors tried to make a run in the 3rd qtr but ended up where they were in the 1st half, trailing by 16 points.

In the 4th Qtr, Warriors starter made another run but it made little to no difference, since all of the Warriors starters had a negative impact on the game. This is when things got interesting, with just 6 mins left in the game, Steve Kerr removed all his starters then put the Warriors’ bench; Saric, Kuminga, T. Jackson, C. Joseph and Brandin Podziemski. Warriors’ bench went on a 14 to 4 run, cutting the lead to a single digit on a Cory Joseph 8-foot pullup jump shot.

Golden State were able to cut the lead to just 6 points with enough time to steal the game but the Suns was able to hold on to their lead even after a Podziemski 3-point play that cut their lead to just 4 points. Steve Kerr later explained why he left the bench team remained and finished the game;

Aside from Durant, Booker had a double-double game with his 25 pts and 10 assists. Eric Gordon chipped-in 13 pts, 4 assists and 3 steals.

For the Warriors, this was Klay Thompson’s second game scoring a team high of 23 points but a liability no defence, while Curry who have been the bright spot for the Warriors was a non-factor in this game even though he had 16 points, he was 1-of-8 from the 3-point line and just 6-of-15 from the field.

The only Warriors take away from this game is that if needed their bench team can be a big help, specially when (and if) they reach the play-offs.

Warriors next game will be against the San Antonio Spurs, while the Suns will face the Memphis Grizzlies both games will be this Saturday, Nov. 25th.

Golden State Warriors Ends Losing Skid with a Win Over Rockets (121 – 116)

November 21, 2023
Golden State Warriors Ends Losing Skid with a Win Over Rockets (121 – 116)

The Golden State Warriors finally got their much needed win and stopped their 6-game losing streak with a hard-fought 121-116 victory over the Houston Rockets on Monday night at Chase Center. Stephen Curry, the league’s all-time leading 3-point shooter, led the Warriors with 32 points and five 3-pointers, extending his remarkable streak of making at least four 3-pointers in each of his first 13 games this season.

Klay Thompson, also finally broke out of his shoot slumped and had a big night for the Warriors, scoring 20 points on 5-of-11 shooting from beyond the arc and 7-16 from the field. Aside from Thompson, the Warriors got a lot of help specially from their starters, Andrew Wiggins scoring 12 pts and 7 rebs, then Chris Paul with his 15 points and 12 assists and add the 18 points of Dario Saric. The starter’s performance, particular that of Thompson was a welcome sight for the team, who have been relying on Curry to carry the scoring load.

The Rockets were led by Center Alperen Sengun, who scored 30 points. However, even if all the starters scored 10 or more points, their efforts were not enough to overcome the Warriors’ balanced attack and 48.8% shooting from beyond the arc.

The Warriors led by as many as 14 points in the second half, but the Rockets fought back to make it a close game in the fourth quarter. Curry, however, hit a clutch 3-pointer with 2:09 remaining to give the Warriors a 13-point cushion to secure the win.

The Houston Rockets will the struggling Grizzlies at home this Wednesday, while the Warriors will visit the Kevin Durant and the Suns on the 22nd of Nov.

Warriors loss to Thunder even after Curry returns, 130-123 in OT

November 19, 2023

OKC gave the Warriors their 6th straight loss, even though the Golden State Warriors got the services of Steph Curry back after missing two games because of a right knee sprain. Curry got the much needed help with Wiggins scoring 31 pts.

It was a close game in the 1st half then in the 2nd half, the Warriors played their signature 3rd qtr game, leading as much as 18 points, then the Thunder ended the qtr with a 24-8 run, cutting the Warriors lead to just 2 points.

It was then a close game in the 4th qtr until Andrew Wiggins made 24-foot three point jumper to give the Warriors a 3-point lead and with just 3 secs left in the game. Then to tie the game rookie Chet Holmgren beat the clock with his 25-foot three point shot, that setup by Josh Giddey.

In the overtime, the Warrior only managed to score 6 points, while the Thunder made 10 points, all by Shai Gilgeous Alexander, who lead OKC by scoring 40 points, 7 rebs and 6 assists. Aside from SGA, Four OKC players also scored double-digits points, Chet Holmgren scored 36 pts, 10 rebs, 5 assts with 2 steal and 2 blocks, followed by Jalen Williams contributing 22 pts, 6 rebs and 3 assists.

Warriors will host the red hot Rockets this Monday, while the OKC will visit the Trailblazers this on Sunday evening.

Timberwolves defeat Warriors two in a row after 3 players got ejected early in the game

November 15, 2023

Warriors guard Klay Thompson and Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels both got 2 technical fouls after getting into a shoving match, resulting in Thompson’s jersey being ripped. While Warriors’s Draymond Green got ejected after head locking Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert, from the same incident.

Warriors leading scorer, Steph Curry did not play after experiencing right knee soreness and still waiting for the MRI results.

Even though the Warriors was playing without their 3 veterans, they still dominate the game leading as much as 12 points in the 3rd quarter and Timberwolves only took control of the game in the last 6 mins of the 4th quarter, where Warriors committed crucial turner and a 33 points, 11 rebs and 2 assists game from Karl Anthony Towns, scoring 11 points in the 4th qtr, including the 3-points at 1:09, to give Minnesota the lead and the win.

Golden State Warriors leading scorer is rookie Brandin Podziemski with 23 pts, 7 rebs and 5 assits. Dario Saric helped with 21 pts, 4 assists and 4 rebs.

Together with KAT, Timberwolves got plenty of help from Anthony Edwards with his 2 pts, 4 rebs, 4 assists and 3 steals, and 13 pts and 8 assists from Mike Conley.

This will be the last game between the Warriors and the Timberwolves this year and the next time they face will be on March 25th, by then we already have a clear picture of the playoffs matchups.

Timberwolves will be going to Phoenix on Thursday, while the Warriors will be facing OKC for a back-to-back game this Friday (Nov 17th) and on Sunday (Nov. 19th).

Stephen Curry and Jason Tatum named the NBA Players of the Week

November 8, 2023

After two weeks of basketball, NBA named Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors and Jason Tatum from Boston Celtics, as NBA Players of the Week of the 2023-24 season.

Stephen Curry

In their second week of the league, Stephen Curry helped the Warriors to a 3-1 week, where he averages of 30.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists. In just 7 games, Curry already made 40 3-pointers, the most in the league. Curry made his case of the player of the week after he torched the Pelicans with his 42-point, 5-assist, 5-rebound performance.

Jason Tatum

On the East side, Tatum powered the Celtics to be 3-0 this week. Stat-wise, the 25-year-old Celtic forward averages 30.2 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists over the first five games. Topping his performance with a 155-point win against the Pacers.

NBA announces that San Francisco Bay Area will host the 74th NBA All-Star 2025

November 8, 2023

Good news to all basketball fans in the Bay Area, since NBA has officially announced that the 74th NBA All-Star 2025 will be in San Francisco Bay Area at Chase Center, home of the Golden State Warriors. This will be the first time that the NBA All Star will be held at Chase Center, which opened in 2019.

NBA All-Star on-court events will tip off on Friday, Feb. 14 at Chase Center with NBA Rising Stars, an annual showcase for top rookies and second-year NBA players. On Feb. 15, the fourth NBA HBCU Classic Presented by AT&T will feature men’s basketball programs from two historically Black colleges and universities followed by State Farm All-Star Saturday Night which will feature the Kia Skills Challenge, the STARRY 3-Point Contest and AT&T Slam Dunk. NBA All-Star 2025 will culminate with the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 16.

You can watch the video below as NBA Commissioner Adam Silver make the announcement.

The 73th NBA All-Star 2025 will be in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Bucks Star Giannis Antetokounmpo signs 3-years extension worth $186M

October 24, 2023

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo has agreed on a three-year, $186 million contract extension with the team, announced on his social media accounts. The extension includes a player option for the 2027-2028 season. The deal will run through the duration of guard Damian Lillard’s contract and ends the possibility of him entering free agency in 2025. Bucks acquired Damian Lillard in a 3-team blockbuster trade this summer.

In a recent interview published on NY Times, Giannis said that we won’t sign any extension until he knows that the Bucks can continue to contend for a championship. This may have prompted the team to trade for Damian Lillard. Bucks as in a similar situation in 2020, where he signed a five-year, $228 million supermax extension, after the Bucks acquired Jrue Holiday from Pelicans. That same season, the Bucks became the NBA Champion, Giannis was named Finals MVP, after being awarded the regular season MVP and the Defensive Player of the Year award. Only two other player have ever won all 3 awards in the same season; Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon.

NBA releases statement on Israel-Palestine conflict

October 10, 2023

In a very short message, NBA and NBPA issued a statement in support of Israel regarding its conflict with Palestine.

The NBA and NBPA mourn the horrific loss of life in Israel and condemn these acts of terrorism. We stand with the people of Israel and pray for peace for the entire region.

Israel declared war after “Gunmen from the Palestinian group Hamas rampaged through Israeli towns on Saturday, October 7, killing at least 250 Israelis and escaping with dozens of hostages in by far the deadliest day of violence in Israel since the Yom Kippur war 50 years ago.”

To know the history of the Israel-Palestine conflict you can checkout the sources below;

Joel Embiid to play for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics

October 8, 2023

Philadelphia 76ers and the NBA’s reigning MVP, Joel Embiid announced that he will play for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The announcement comes after talking to both Team USA executive director Grant Hill and the representatives from the French national team.

Joel Embiid who was born in Cameroon and holds both French and American citizenship, to which team he will be playing have been the talk/debate, since Team USA failed to bring home a medal in the last FIBA World Cup and the coming 2024 Paris Olympics. Embiid joins other NBA superstars like LeBron James, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant who have expressed interest in playing for Team USA at the next year’s Olympics.

Jrue Holiday traded to Boston Celtics

October 2, 2023

All-Star guard and NBA Champion Jrue Holiday has been traded to the Boston Celtics. The trade took place just less than a week after the Bucks sent Holiday to Portland that got them Daim Lillard.

In the trade, Portland TrailBlazers will receive Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams, 2024 1st-round pick (via Warriors) and an 2029 unprotected 1st-round pick (via Celtics), while the Celtics will get Jrue Holiday.

The trade signals that the Blazers are indeed in rebuilding phase with a mix of youth and veteran, which will accelerate the development of the Blazer’s young core headed by Scoot Henderson, the third overall pick in this year’s draft.

Jrue Holiday on the Celtics will make the team a contender in the East, together with teh Bucks, he’e perfect with Brown and Tatum, since he is a two-way guard that can facilitate, create his own shot and can play off ball, and also his championship experience which will surely be a big help for the Boston Celtics in the Playoffs.

The projected starting lineup of the Boston Celtics will be;

  • Guard: Derrick White
  • Guard: Jrue Holiday
  • Forward: Jason Tatum
  • Forward: Jalen Brown
  • Center: Kristap Pozingis/Al Horford

Damian Lillard traded to Milwaukee Bucks as part of a 3-team deal

September 28, 2023

After months of waiting, we finally know where “Former Blazer” is headed, since the Portland Trailblazer traded Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks, as part of a 3-team trade also involving Phoenix and Portland. Bucks already release an official statement regarding the trade.

In the trade,
Bucks will received;

  • Damian Lillard

Trail Blazers will received;

  • Jrue Holiday
  • Deandre Ayton
  • Toumani Camara
  • 2029 unprotected 1st round pick (from MIL)
  • Unprotected MIL swap rights in 2028 and 2030

Suns will received;

  • Jusuf Nurkic
  • Grayson Allen
  • Nassir Little
  • Keon Johnson

The trade will surely make Bucks the favorite to win it all this year and will give Giannis Antetokounmpo that much needed help in the Playoffs, it also give Deandre Ayton a new home after being unhappy with the Suns for the past couple of years. As for the Suns, it will give them the much needed body and supporting cast for Durant and Booker to contend in the West.

Source: NBA

Adidas unveil first signature shoes of Anthony Edwards, the AE1

September 25, 2023

After unveiling the logo, Adidas just introduced the first signature shoes of Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards called the AE1. Anthony “Ant-Man” Edwards, is one of the rising star in the NBA, and fresh off the FIBA World Cup 2023, the European Sports sportswear company has unveil Ant’s first signature shoes, which they aptly calling AE1. The shoe was unveiled on September 23, 2023, in Atlanta, Edwards’ hometown.

The AE1 is a performance basketball shoe that is designed to match Edwards’ playing style. The shoe features a lightweight and breathable knit upper with TPU overlays for added support. The AE1 is equipped with a BOOST cushioning system and directional herringbone blades throughout the tread to provide optimal performance on the court. The outsole features a herringbone traction pattern for optimal grip on the court.

The shoe itself boasts a unique grate-type/honeycomb design and will be available in Timberwolves-themed colorways, including a “Georgia Peach” colorway that pays homage to Edwards’ home state. The shoe also features Edwards’ signature logo, which is a combination of the letters “A” and “E” in a forward and backward motion.

The AE1 is scheduled to be released in December 2023. It is a highly anticipated shoe among basketball fans and sneakerheads alike, as Edwards is one of the most exciting young players in the NBA. AE1 will retail for $120.

Team USA falls to Canada for the 3rd Place of the FIBA World Cup 2023

September 10, 2023

Canada made history at the FIBA World Cup 2023 by winning its first-ever medal at the tournament, defeating USA 127-118 in overtime in the third-place game on Sunday in Manila, Philippines.

As expected between two NBA laden team, it was a roller coaster game that had 14 lead changes, 12-0 scoring run by the Americans and 8-0 by the Canadians, and it was punctuated by Mikal Bridges at the end of the 4th qtr; he missed 2nd free-throw on purpose, got the rebound, then hits corner 3 with 0.6 seconds left to extend the game to over time. In the OT, the Canadians had other plans, since they outscored Team USA, 16 to 7 to secure the bronze medal.

The Canadians, who had never finished higher than sixth in the World Cup, protected a 2-point lead at the start of OT and outscored the Americans 7-16.

Dillon Brooks was the hero for Canada, scoring a game-high 39 points on 12-of-18 shooting, including 7-of-8 from the 3-point line. He also added four rebounds, five assists, a steals and a couple of blocks in a stellar performance.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was equally impressive, adding 31 points, twelve assists and six rebounds. He scored nine of Canada’s 16 points in overtime, including an assist to RJ Barrett for a a clutch 3-pointer that gave them a 115 – 124 lead with 0:23 secs left.

Canada also got contributions from Kelly Olynyk (11 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists), Luguentz Dort (11 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists) and Dwight Powell (4 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists).

Team Highlights

USA, meanwhile, will go home without a medal for the FIBA World Cup 2023. Team USA has not won a medal in the World Cup since 2014, that featured a roster lead by Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Derrick Rose, Kyrie Irving, James Harden and Anthony Davis.

Six players of Team USA had double digits points; Mikal Bridges with 19 pts, 9 rebs, 2 steals and 4 assists, Anthony Edwards led the team with 24 pts and 5 rebs, then there’s Austin Reaves who contributed 23 pts, 5 rebs, an assists and a steal, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Bobby Portis Jr. also made big contributions scoring 13 pts, 10 pts and 14 pts respectively.

Despite the loss, Team USA, already qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics in France and we can expect that the team will have totally different roster.

Here’s the latest bracket for the Semis of FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023

September 7, 2023
Here’s the latest bracket for the Semis of FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023

Now that Quarter-Finals (QF) is done and we have now have a clear picture on who will compete for the semifinals of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 and which is worth watching.

Team USA versus the Germans
The game will be this Friday, 8th of Sept at the MOA arena. Team USA advanced to the Semis after defeating ITALY in the most convincing manner (100 – 63). The Americans needed a strong win against the Italians after being handed by their only loss in the tournament by Lithuania. On the other side, Germany barely escape Latvia in the QF but remain to the one of the few undefeated team in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.

Dennis Schroder and Franz Wagner, who are both NBA veterans, are the top performers of the team on points, rebounds and assists.

For Team USA, their top performers are Anthony Edwards, Mikal Bridges and Tyrese Haliburton and we cannot disregard the fact anyone in the team can explode and carry team to the finals, just like what Mikal Bridges did against Italy in the QF, where in scored a team high of 24 points and 6 rebounds.

Serbia versus Canada
The game will this Friday, 8th of Sept 16:45 local time at the MOA Arena. Serbia took care of the business by eliminating Lithuania and bringing them back down from cloud 9, after defeating USA in the last game of the second round.

Bogdan Bogdanovic and Nikola Milutinov are the top performer of Serbia. Bogdanovic is the top scorer in their game against Lithuania, chipping-in 21 pts with 4 rebs, while Nikola Milutinov is the towering presence in the middle and top rounder of the team.

For team Canada, we may very well call this Team B of NBA in FIBA, since 7 of the 12 players in the roster are playing in the NBA. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the best player, leading in all stats; 25 pts/game, 7.2 rebs/game and 5 assists per game.

The winners for each game will face in the finals, while the two losing team will play for the 3rd place. Finals of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 is scheduled on Saturday, Sept 10th at the MOA Arena.

FIBA introduces LED Basketball court

July 25, 2023

Basketball fans may soon see a different kind of basketball court as FIBA introduced the first ever LED glass flooring, it premiered at the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2023 in Madrid.

The LED glass court will feature full video floor that allows for interactive applications, as well as other benefits. For example, the court is much brighter than a traditional basketball court, which makes it easier for players to see the ball and the court markings. It can also feature player tracking to the video floor, display live stats and athletic achievements on the floor, providing fans with enhanced interaction and better engagement as well as an enhanced show staging with additional options for sponsorship and marketing.

Additionally, the court is also more durable than a traditional court, which means that it will last longer and require less maintenance.

FIBA already approved the used of LED Glass court developed by ASB GlassFloor for events it oversees and the one that they used in the 2021 Ruhr Games in Bochum and 3×3 basketball in Germany. NBA is already using On-Court Projection Mapping and may just be a matter of time before we see an LED Glass Basketball court.

Golf: Warriors Steph Curry make a hole-in-one at American Century Golf Championship

July 16, 2023

GSW Star Steph Curry already cemented himself as the Greatest Shooter in Basketball and it looks like being a shooter is not only in the basketball court but also in the golf course.

At the American Century Golf Championship, Steph Curry made a hole-in-one on the par-three seventh hole at the American Century Championship on Saturday. It bounced once on the green and into the hold for the 4-time NBA Champ and tournament leader, he sprinted down the 152-yard hole in excitement after the shot.

The day before, Steph also made a difficult putt shot where the ball curve rolls across the green as it curves to the hole.

Curry later revealed that this is his second hole-in-one.

Fellow NBA star Lebron James reacted to Curry’s amazing shot.

Curry’s hole in one made him the leader of the tournament and could take home this year’s American Century Golf Championship.

Kai Sotto finally played in the 2023 NBA Summer League

July 15, 2023

After receiving a DNP in the first 3 games, Kai Sotto finally played his first game in the NBA Summer League against the Portland Trail Blazers.

In his first game in the NBA Summer League, 7’3″ Kai Sotto made the most of his 13 mins play time by scoring 6 pts, 4 rebs, 1 assists and 3 blocks.

Sotto entered the game at the start of the 2nd qtr, replacing Robert Baker. Even though he did not score, Sotto was active on the defense blocking a Shaedon Sharpe layup and a couple of defensive rebounds. Kai Sotto made his first-ever basket on a putback with less than a minute to go in the 3rd.

In the 4th, he made a 14-foot jumper an assist from Quinndary Weatherspoon and a 2-foot dunk from a Tyger Campbell assists. An assists to Quinndary Weatherspoon then blocked a 6-foot hook shot by Rayan Rupert. Orlando Magic ended the Summer League with a 0 – 4 standing. Orlando still have a consolation game on Sunday against the Boston Celtics and hopefully Kai Sotto will have a much better outing than this one.

Another DNP for Kai Sotto in a loss to the Indian Pacers (108 – 85)

July 11, 2023

It was another disappointment for Filipino fans who went to the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Tuesday morning, Manila time, to see Kai Sotto in action. Instead, the 7-foot-3 Hiroshima Dragonflies center was benched once more in a loss to the Pacers.

The Orlando coaching staff once again gave priority to contracted players and draft picks though at the 2:22 mark in the 2nd qtr, fans can be heared chanting “We Want Sotto!” The game was decided in the middle of the second qtr, where the Pacers are enjoying a 17-pt lead.

Kai Sotto will have 2 more games for his NBA Summer League debut; July 12th facing the New York Knicks and on July 13th against the Portland Trail Blazers. Sotto was also a DNP in the first game against the Detroit Pistons.

NBA announces that there will be an In-Season Tournament this 2023-24 season

July 10, 2023

NBA just announced that they will be an In-Season Tournament this season. The tournament is structured similar to the FIBA Tournament where there will be a group competition and knockout rounds. The In-Season Tournament will start on Friday, Nov. 3 in NBA team markets and the Semifinals (Thursday, Dec. 7) and Championship (Saturday, Dec. 9) will be held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

“We are excited to introduce the NBA In-Season Tournament as an opportunity to further enhance and innovate around our season structure,” said Joe Dumars, NBA Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations. “With the addition of this new marquee event on the NBA calendar, we are focused on providing players and teams with another competition to win, engaging fans in a different way and driving further interest in the early portion of the regular-season schedule.”

NBA also announced the groupings for the In-Season Tournament, there will be 3 Group for each conference that will have 5 teams for each groupings. NBA said that groupings are randomly drawn within their conference based on win-loss records from the 2022-23 regular season.

Eastern Conference

  • East A: Philadelphia 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons
  • East B: Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, Miami Heat, Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets
  • East C: Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic

Western Conference

  • West A: Memphis Grizzlies, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz, Portland Trail Blazers
  • West B: Denver Nuggets, LA Clippers, New Orleans Pelicans, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets
  • West C: Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs

In the “Group Play“, each team will play four designated Group Play games – one game against each opponent in its group, with two games at home and two on the road – on “Tournament Nights,” which will take place every Tuesday and Friday from Nov. 3-28 (with the exception of Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 7, when no games will be played).

The two teams with the best record in their respective groups will advance the the “Knockout Rounds” with the addition of two wild cards (the team from each conference with the best record in Group Play games that finished second in its group). The Knockout Rounds will consist of single-elimination games in the Quarterfinals (played in NBA team markets on Monday, Dec. 4 and Tuesday, Dec. 5) and Semifinals and Championship (played in Las Vegas on Dec. 7 and Dec. 9, respectively). The Knockout teams will compete for a prize pool and the new In-Season Tournament trophy, the NBA Cup.

Below is the In-Season Tournament prize pool will be allocated to the players on the teams that participate in the Knockout Rounds as follows:

  • Players on winning team of Championship: $500,000 each
  • Players on losing team of Championship: $200,000 each
  • Players on losing team of Semifinals: $100,000 each
  • Players on losing team of Quarterfinals: $50,000 each

At the end of the In-Season Tournament, there will be the Most Valuable Player of the In-Season Tournament and the All-Tournament Team. Selection will be based on the players’ performance in both Group Play and the Knockout Rounds.

The In-Season Tournament will count toward the regular-season standings except the Championship. Each team will continue to play 82 regular-season games in the 2023-24 season, including those games that are part of Group Play and the Knockout Rounds.

Here’s the video that NBA released explaining the In-Season Tournament;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fT1Vk286308

Kai Sotto is a DNP in the Magic – Piston Game at the NBA Summer League

July 9, 2023

Filipino fans need to wait a bit longer for them to see Kai Sotto for his NBA Summer League debut, since he was a DNP “did not play – coach’s decision” in the Magic – Piston Game at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Sunday, Manila time.

Sotto is suiting up for the Orlando Magic but did not play against the Detroit Pistons, who fielded Ausar Thompson, a top 5 draft pick, with 2nd year Jalen Duren and Jaden Ivey, as well as a former GSW Top 2 Pick James Wiseman.

Kai Sotto and the Orlando Magics have 3 more games for the NBA Summer League; on July 10th against the Indiana Pacers; July 12th facing the New York Knicks and on July 13th against the Portland Trail Blazers.