Golden Grizzlies

Last week, NBA legend Shawn Marion traveled to Abu Dhabi to support the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games, which featured two preseason games between the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves as well as youth clinics and fan events.&nbsp;
Marion led a skill-development clinic for youth athletes from Dubai's NBA Basketball School &mdash; a year-round basketball program in the UAE for boys and girls ages 6-to-18. He also judged a dunk contest, met with fans and took part in other NBA events alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Ray Allen, Tim Hardaway Sr., Gary Payton, Sam Perkins, Kenny Smith, Ronny Turiaf and Salah Mejri.
Marion is an NBA champion, four-time NBA All-Star, two-time All-NBA selection and one of just five players in NBA history to record 17,000 points, 9,000 rebounds, 1,500 steals and 1,000 blocks (the other four are LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, Karl Malone and Hakeem Olajuwon). The Phoenix Suns recently announced that they'll retire Marion's jersey this season.
While in Abu Dhabi, Marion joined me on <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexKennedyNBA/status/1710458099448811578" target="_blank" rel="noopener">my new show "Running Up The Score"</a> to discuss his legendary career, the Suns' decision to retire his jersey, Mat Ishbia's impact since buying the franchise, the globalization of the NBA, how the game has evolved, whether he'll get back into podcasting and more.&nbsp;
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You&rsquo;re currently in Abu Dhabi for the Mavericks-Timberwolves preseason games and to host a basketball clinic with kids from the NBA Basketball School in Dubai. How is your trip going?&nbsp;
Shawn Marion:&nbsp;"Man, the trip is going amazing. This is a new culture for me; I've never experienced this, never been here. We're in a different part of the world right now and, I mean, I can tell you this: this is a place I'll definitely be coming back to. This is truly awesome. And, you know what, they're very passionate about [basketball]. I just had this meeting; I just came from an office visit and they had like 250 employees, but everybody spoke different languages! There were 16 languages being spoken! That tells you how diverse it is here, and they really pride themselves on that here. It's pretty amazing."
The globalization of the NBA has been a big priority for the league for some time. From when you were playing to now, do you see a big difference in terms of the NBA&rsquo;s worldwide popularity and international support?
Marion: "Yes. I think as you look at the lay of the land right now, the NBA and basketball is a global sport. But the way that the NBA has been able to grow it, they're taking it to other levels. They're starting NBA Academies and having clinics all around the world, and that just helps it grow even faster. Of course, TV and social-media content help as well, but the level it's growing at right now is unheard of."
The Phoenix Suns recently announced that they are retiring your jersey. Congratulations!
Marion: "Thank you!"
How did you find out that news and what was your reaction?
Marion: "I'm gonna be very honest and candid. Mat [Ishbia] called me as soon as he took ownership of the team and he was like, 'I'm not doing some of the shit that's been done [before]. I'm going to take care of you and reward you by retiring your jersey. I'm a man of my word, and that's what I'm going to do.' That's exactly what he said, and he did! Yep, it was that simple."
Ishbia is quickly winning over fans &mdash; he&rsquo;s spending money, making it easier to watch games, honoring past legends like yourself and so on. What do you think of Ishbia and the fresh start in Phoenix from an ownership perspective?
Marion: "I love it, man. I got a chance to see the practice facility; it's literally not too far from the place that I still have in Phoenix and I ain't been able to see [it before]. I ain't feel like... I feel like a weight was lifted off my shoulders to a certain degree. He's making the transition so easy. And he wants all the players who paved the way and set the foundation for the Suns organization and helped build that team into what the city loves and admires [to be involved]. He just wants everybody to be a part of it, man, and I love it. I think it's awesome. He's doing some amazing things out there."
The Suns have so much talent with Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic. What do you think of this year's team and do you think they can win it all?
Marion: "Man, I think they got a chance just like anybody else, but, of course, their [championship hopes] are probably a little bit more realistic than some other teams. I just hope they stay healthy. When you stay healthy, you give yourself a chance. That's the thing. A lot of teams deal with injuries, and they've been hit with the injury bug a little bit as well. But they've got Frank Vogel as the head coach out there now and he's a defensive-minded guy. They just made another trade and got some other pieces to add to it &mdash; Grayson Allen and Jusuf Nurkic. I think that happened while I was out here; I was at a meeting when I got the alert and I was like, 'Wow! They ain't playing no games right now!' Listen, at the end of the day, he's trying to give himself and the organization the best chance to win. That's what you gotta do."
You obviously helped change the game and were ahead of your time. Overall, what are your thoughts on the modern NBA?
Marion: "Listen, it's run-and-gun, it's feast-or-famine right now. We set the foundation for what [the game] is now. There's so much positionless basketball being played, and it's dynamic. You're seeing the transition and evolution of what we started back in my Phoenix days during the Seven-Seconds-Or-Less era. That's what we started, and that's what it is right now. And I don't see the game going back to two traditional big men ever again."
Throughout the 2000s, not having a specific position was a death sentence for a player; nobody wanted to be labeled a "tweener." Then, seemingly overnight, the NBA became obsessed with "positionless" players and the tweeners were suddenly the most valuable players. That's one of my favorite examples of how the NBA is always evolving.
Marion: "Here's the thing: people can say [they're positionless], but it don't mean they are. You know, to be a two-way player in this league is very rare, but to be a positionless player is even more rare. You could be a guy who can go out there and guard 1 through 5, but to actually do it &mdash; willingly do it &mdash; is a big difference! A lot of guys probably could do it, but they don't do it, you know? Right now, teams are playing positionless basketball because everybody's switching everything. Most guys don't really post up anymore either. It's all face-up game and jumpers. So, it's easy to just jump into that narrative and bandwagon, but if you look at the game as a whole though, it's more of a guard-heavy game now than it was prior to when we made that transition. It's just been a shift. A lot of bigs now don't post up anymore; they're face-up players [too]. That's the evolution of the game."
A few years so, you and I did some of the NBA Watch Parties together on Clubhouse. I also love that <a href="https://twitter.com/MainTeamSports2/status/1506615984173592589" target="_blank" rel="noopener">video where you jumped on Twitter Spaces</a> and educated fans about your career; it was incredibly entertaining. You're obviously passionate about this game. Have you ever thought of doing a podcast?
Marion: "Well, Alex, it's funny you say that. I actually had a podcast with one of my guys in Dallas, so I was one of the first guys to ever do it. I just didn't do any promoting or all of that stuff, but it was something that we did in the Mavs organization kind of early on &mdash; like way before everybody started getting into podcasts. And it was great! But the thing about podcasts is unless you got a set thing, you gotta create content all the time, and I was so busy focusing on trying to be a father first. That was my lane. And then I dibbled and dabbled in TV a little bit and thought about doing some broadcasting work, but, like I said, my priorities shifted because I'm a hands-on father. So, I couldn't keep doing it in Dallas because that was the situation, but I have thought about reopening that window.
"I do have a different side of the game that I like to talk about. I know narratives get created easily by the media, and we consume them and we digest them. It becomes part of our thought process of that player, of that team or whatever it is. But I was talking about this with one of my friends. I was telling him: it's easy for a [former] player to say, 'I can do this or that.' But what kind of player were you though? Because it's hard for a point guard to tell how to guard a big, or for a big to tell how to guard a point guard. But when I say it, I actually guarded all of them! I did it all! And I didn't just do it for a quarter or half a quarter. I did it for full games! So, when I sit there and I tell people that, people are like, 'Man, you know, I never thought about it from that standpoint.' I was like, 'Yo, I actually did this.' You know what I'm saying? Like, it's easy for somebody to say, 'I can guard somebody,' or, 'Oh, I'm a two way player; I can guard this player.' I'm like, 'Can you do it for a full game though?' I'm the only person ever to do it for full games."
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I love to ask players about big &ldquo;what-ifs&rdquo; from NBA history. There was a report a while back that you were nearly traded to the Boston Celtics as part of a three-team deal that would have sent Kevin Garnett to Phoenix and picks to Minnesota. Is that true and, if so, can you tell that story?
Marion: "It is true. But Phoenix wasn't gonna do the deal. They didn't think it was viable because they would have to change their style of play instantly because we're two different type of players. So, they didn't want it. KG was in Minnesota at the time, and I would've went to Boston and he would've came here (to Phoenix). At the time, Boston was losing; I think they had a losing record at that time. I was like, 'Uhh...' But I mean, we have no control over that. Some of the rumors that come out about trades are actually true, but both sides have to agree to it. People throw out deals all the time, [teams talk] all the time, so there's plenty of hypotheticals out there.
"But you wanna hear an untold true story? I never really fully ever became a free agent except my last year playing when I signed with with Cleveland. When I signed with Dallas, it was a sign-and-trade, so I was still under contract basically with Toronto. It was a sign-and-trade deal, so I never really tested the free-agency market like that. So, what happened was I was about to be a free agent or get traded, and this was around that same time as those KG rumors. Kobe [Bryant] called me and said, 'If you're really gonna go out on the market and it's a possibility [that you're changing teams], I want you to come out to L.A.' So, we was texting and he was like, 'Yo!' It ain't happen because they didn't have the money to pay me, but that's a story that a lot of people don't know about."
I love those kind of stories and it's always interesting to think how those potential moves could have changed NBA history.
Marion: "Oh, there were a lot of situations out there like that where [trade talks] were open! It was pretty fun. When you look at the business of the NBA, man, the optimism and [hope] of what could possibily be is what makes it so fun and dynamic &mdash; een with the trade that just went down with Damian Lillard. It's funny, Paul Pierce actually predicted that. He called that in July. He said, 'If I'm Dame, I would try to get to Milwaukee.' It's funny that he said that and I could see it [from Lillard's perspective]. But do I think they're better? Ehh, they lost a lot for that trade, you know? [Jrue Holiday]. Grayson Allen was a great player for Milwaukee. He is a great pickup for Phoenix. He's a hell of a player, a great player, dude. Like, he does a lot of small stuff. He's a very tough guy. I like him. It's something about him that I like. I like the little Duke dudes with that little rough-and-rugged side! But he's one of those guys who can hit shots, he's gonna play defense and he competes. He's actually a lot better than people give him credit for. He ain't got a chance to really showcase his skills, but he can play. And if they use him the right way, he can help them."
For sure. Thanks for your time, I really appreciate it!&nbsp;
Marion: "Anytime, man. You know, we have great conversations and stuff. I might contemplate doing a podcast again. I gotta have the mobile equipment. We'll see; I don't know. I gotta have a great co-host. I like people who shoot [straight]. I told this to a reporter, so I'll give this to you. I told this guy who was recording me yesterday: when you are doing your interviews, do not ask the same questions and stuff that somebody else asks. Do not&nbsp;ask the same stuff."
I'm sure that gets really annoying.
Marion: "It's so annoying. It's okay to piggyback off of answers just to get some kind of content to create something in your own way. But don't ask the exact same questions. You sound you are a true fan. I know you are a true fan of the game. Like, you really love this. And so [you] ask the questions that you wanna know from someone in my position! Forget about the stuff that's already been out there already! Create your own. We all got a story to tell."
For sure.
Marion: "And the thing is, I love my former guys talking about ball and stuff, but some of them talk like they was way bigger and better than they were. Some of these guys were below-average role players, but they talk like they were superstars! I'm like, 'What did you... How good was you? What did you do?!' (laughs) I'm like, 'He was a role player!' He was a solid role player! And look, I became a role player. But you know...
Yeah, but that was because of your longevity. You had four All-Star years before that.
Marion: "Yeah, that's about longevity and understanding that you gotta sacrifice to win. That's the biggest thing, you know? And I could have easily averaged such and such, but I was like, 'You know what? They don't need me to do that. I don't have to do that. If we can win and I'm averaging 16, 17 points, I'm cool with that. We gonna win, so I'm good with that. Let's win.' That was about getting them Ws.
"But that's something to think about though. You asked some great questions. That's the lane to go into. Those are the things to ask &mdash; the hypotheticals or something you [researched]. Like, 'You know what, he was pretty good at this, how did you pick up on that?' or, 'What's something that you did differently than everybody else?' Those are different questions, not the same questions [we always hear]. We get repetitively asked the same questions time and time again. It's boring. It sucks. I'ma be honest: it sucks. I hate it. It&nbsp;sucks!"
I can't imagine how old that gets.
Marion: "One thing that everybody was constantly asking me about was my shot. Everybody seemed to want ask me about my shot. But listen, you know what's really messed up about that though? One media person said it, so it went rampant and every media person wanted me to replicate the answer, right? Whether I like it or not, or whether I enjoy it or not. I did so much on the floor, but you wanna focus on something that nobody talks about? Nobody in the league talks about that. Don't nobody in the league shoot the same! ... I [used to get] pissed off, but now I respond and it's fine. 'It don't matter, don't nobody shoot the same. Next!' But why would you wanna talk about my shot, but then you won't talk about how I just had 25-and-15!"
Or that you shot 39% from three-point range one year!
Marion: "You wanna discredit me and what I did just to talk about my shot? Got it. I totally understand. There's certain lanes and narratives that will be pushed. I totally get it. I'm an owner now, so I see exactly what lane [they're in]; it's all marketing strategies. I know how it works and I know who controls it. Being on this side of the business, I know how things work now. But it's all good though. And it's all love. Thank you."
This interview has been edited for length and clarity. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/MwvBnhrrzgs?si=2BRrY0Vaq8WWyAPe&amp;t=1676" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Watch the full conversation here</a>.
Other news from around the web: <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/dress-to-impress-why-barbie-and-ken-are-the-hottest-couples-costume-this-halloween/ar-AA1iaTEh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Barbie and Ken are the hottest couples costume this Halloween</a>

Shawn Marion opens up about the Suns retiring his jersey, nearly getting traded to the Celtics, Mat Ishbia, the modern NBA and more.

Shawn Marion on Suns retiring his jersey, near-trade to Celtics, more

When the new league year began on July 1, NBA teams were quick to sign free agents and start negotiating extensions with some of their younger players.&nbsp;
Players who were selected in the first round of the NBA Draft are signed to rookie-scale contracts, which are eligible to be extended on the first day (July 1) of the fourth and final year of their deal. This past offseason, the vast majority of players eligible for rookie-scale extensions were picked in the first round in 2020. Teams have until the day before the start of the 2023-24 regular season (which begins on October 24) to agree to an extension, or else those players will hit restricted free agency next summer.&nbsp;
Out of the 30 first-round picks in the 2020 NBA Draft, 27 were eligible for rookie-scale extensions. In addition, the Orlando Magic&rsquo;s Chuma Okeke also became eligible for a rookie-scale extension because he signed his rookie deal in 2020, a year after he was drafted due to injury. So far this offseason, five players have signed extensions, with four of them receiving maximum contracts.&nbsp;
Those who received the max signed what&rsquo;s called a Designated Rookie Extension, which has a starting salary at 25% of the 2024-25 salary cap (projected at $37,405,750) with 8% raises over five years (for a total contract value of $216,953,350). However, via the &ldquo;Derrick Rose rule,&rdquo; if any of the players who signed one of these extensions is a member of any of the 2023-24 All-NBA teams, their starting salary will be set at 30% of the 2024-25 salary cap (projected at $44,886,900) with 8% raises over five years (for a total contract value of $260,344,020). These players include Minnesota&rsquo;s Anthony Edwards, Charlotte&rsquo;s LaMelo Ball, Indiana&rsquo;s Tyrese Haliburton and Memphis&rsquo; Desmond Bane. However, Bane&rsquo;s extension doesn&rsquo;t contain the &ldquo;Rose Rule&rdquo; language, so he can&rsquo;t receive a starting salary raise even if he earns an All-NBA nod.
There is also a new wrinkle in the Collective Bargaining Agreement that changed the rules in regards to rookie-scale extensions, allowing teams to offer all players an extension up to five years. Previously, only players who were offered maximum contracts could agree to an extension up to five years. So far, no team has given out a five-year non-max extension.
The only player who has signed a non-max rookie extension this offseason is Detroit&rsquo;s Isaiah Stewart. Stewart, the No. 16 pick in 2020, has been a starter for the rebuilding Pistons over the past few years. The tough, defensive big man agreed to a four-year, $64 million extension with $60 million guaranteed, $4 million in potential performance bonuses and a team option in the final season. Stewart&rsquo;s extension could serve as a potential benchmark for other big man extension candidates like Toronto&rsquo;s Precious Achiuwa and Atlanta&rsquo;s Onyeka Okongwu.
With 21 first-round picks (and Okeke) still awaiting a potential extension, let&rsquo;s take a look at who is most likely to receive an extension and what their deals might look like.
LIKELY TO BE EXTENDED
Patrick Williams (Chicago Bulls): Williams has been a steady force for the Bulls amid the team&rsquo;s struggles to consistently play winning basketball. The former Florida State forward has improved his shooting each year of his career but has yet to really break out as a primary scoring option for Chicago. Williams is just 22 years old and still has a lot of potential, so he should command an extension similar to what Atlanta&rsquo;s De&rsquo;Andre Hunter received last summer.
Extension Prediction: Four years, $90,000,000, no options
Onyeka Okongwu (Atlanta Hawks): Okongwu has been slotted as the Hawks&rsquo; center of the future for a few years now and has mostly looked the part backing up Clint Capela. Atlanta has a very crowded cap sheet, especially after extending Dejounte Murray. It is possible they could look to move Capela soon in order to free up cap space and give the starting center job to Okongwu. As mentioned above, look for Okongwu to ask for slightly above what Detroit gave Isaiah Stewart.
Extension Prediction: Four years, $72,000,000, could earn up to $80,000,000 with incentives, no options
Devin Vassell (San Antonio Spurs): The Spurs should try to lock up some of their reliable young pieces as they begin the Victor Wembanyama era. Similar to what San Antonio did with Keldon Johnson, they&rsquo;ll likely look to give Vassell a long-term value deal. They also could take advantage of the new CBA rules, keeping the former No. 11 pick under contract through 2029.
Extension Prediction: Five years, $110,000,000, no options
Josh Green (Dallas Mavericks): Green has quietly been developing very nicely with the Mavericks and could fight for a spot in the starting lineup this fall. The Australian native has shown real potential as a 3-and-D wing and could command the full mid-level exception if he reaches the open market next summer. Dallas shouldn&rsquo;t (and most likely won&rsquo;t) let that happen.
Extension Prediction: Four years, $65,000,000, no options
Immanuel Quickley (New York Knicks): Quickley is coming off his best season as a pro that saw him finish as runner-up for the NBA&rsquo;s Sixth Man of the Year award. A scoring machine, the former Kentucky guard would likely start for a good chunk of NBA teams, but will likely have to be the backup as long as Jalen Brunson is in New York. The Knicks would certainly love to keep Quickley, but look for them to wait all the way up to the October 23 deadline to pay him in order to maintain trade flexibility.
Extension Prediction: Four years, $88,000,000, could earn up to $92,000,000 with incentives, no options
Jaden McDaniels (Minnesota Timberwolves): McDaniels is certainly viewed as a core piece by the Timberwolves&rsquo; brass as they fought hard to keep him out of the Rudy Gobert trade, sacrificing more draft capital instead. The Washington product has been a versatile, two-way player since arriving in Minnesota and is an ideal wing next to Anthony Edwards. He should be paid accordingly.
Extension Prediction: Four years, $100,000,000, no options, declining annual salary
LIKELY TO REACH RESTRICTED FREE AGENCY
James Wiseman (Detroit Pistons): Wiseman has been better on both sides of the ball since being traded to Detroit last February, but his game still needs to be developed further if the Pistons are to seriously invest in him.
Isaac Okoro (Cleveland Cavaliers): Cleveland has been looking for a permanent solution at their starting small-forward position for some time now, resulting in them paying Caris LeVert and signing Max Strus. Okoro hasn&rsquo;t shown he can be the Cavs&rsquo; long-term solution.
Obi Toppin (Indiana Pacers): If Toppin had stayed in New York, there&rsquo;s no way he would have been extended. Now in Indiana, the former Naismith National Player of the Year should get a chance to start and improve his stock going into next summer.
Deni Avdija (Washington Wizards): Avdija is a pretty good young player outside of his shooting struggles. With a new regime in Washington, Avdija may be a trade candidate if new president Michael Winger doesn&rsquo;t see him as a part of the team&rsquo;s long-term plan.
Aaron Nesmith (Indiana Pacers): A starter for the Pacers last year, Nesmith may be buried on the depth chart with the additions of Toppin and rookie Jarace Walker. He hasn&rsquo;t made enough of an impact to warrant an extension.
Cole Anthony (Orlando Magic): Anthony has been a solid bench contributor for Orlando since being drafted out of North Carolina. However, the Magic backcourt is extremely crowded with the addition of rookie Anthony Black, making them unlikely to prioritize securing a deal with Anthony.
Aleksej Pokusevski (Oklahoma City Thunder): Poku is coming off a fractured leg that kept him out for the back half of last season. He needs to show that he can be a long-term piece if he wishes to stay with the Thunder.
Saddiq Bey (Atlanta Hawks): Bey is certainly talented enough to warrant an extension, fitting into the starting five seamlessly after being acquired from Detroit at the trade deadline. However, the team may have to choose between extending Bey or Okongwu in order to manage their already-very-full salary cap sheet.&nbsp;
Precious Achiuwa (Toronto Raptors): The Raptors have already committed to a center in Jakob Poeltl this offseason. Achiuwa hasn&rsquo;t shown enough to break through outside of his bench role to warrant an extension.
Zeke Nnaji (Denver Nuggets): Despite not being a regular member of the rotation, Nnaji has shown he is a capable backup option to Nikola Jokic when he&rsquo;s on the floor. While an extension isn&rsquo;t in the cards, the Nuggets should look to retain him.
Payton Pritchard (Boston Celtics): Boston would probably love to keep Pritchard on a team-friendly deal, as he has been a reliable insurance option for them since coming into the league. The former Oregon guard will more than likely want to test the free-agency market to see if he can possibly find a path to more playing time elsewhere.
LIKELY TO NOT RECEIVE A QUALIFYING OFFER, BECOME AN UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT NEXT SUMMER
Killian Hayes (Detroit Pistons): Hayes has not lived up to his top-10 pick billing and has fallen out of Pistons general manager Troy Weaver&rsquo;s long-term outlook. Detroit could extend him a qualifying offer next summer, but he likely won&rsquo;t receive much interest on the open market.
Kira Lewis Jr. (New Orleans Pelicans): Lewis has been relegated to a reserve while suffering through multiple injuries through his first three years in the NBA. The Pelicans have made it known league-wide that he is available for trade.
Chuma Okeke (Orlando Magic): Okeke has struggled with his all-around game for the better part of the last two years and is unlikely to be retained by Orlando going forward.
Malachi Flynn (Toronto Raptors): Flynn hasn&rsquo;t taken advantage of the many opportunities he&rsquo;s had to be a part of the Raptors&rsquo; rotation as the backup point guard. He may see some run this year, but the Raptors may have seen enough to move on this summer.
THE TYRESE MAXEY WILD CARD
Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers): Maxey is the wild card of the rookie-extension candidates, as Sixers general manager Daryl Morey has said that the team will hold off on extending the 22-year-old shooting guard in order to maintain trade and cap flexibility going into next summer. Maxey has blossomed into a core member of the 76ers going forward and would likely receive close to, if not the full, max rookie extension. With no end in sight to the James Harden debacle, the Sixers may want to secure their young prize before their situation could turn worse.

Blake Stern takes a look at which players are most likely to receive a rookie-scale extension prior to the October 23 deadline.

Checking in on the NBA's rookie-scale extension candidates

PHOENIX (AP) &mdash; Mat Ishbia&rsquo;s five-month tenure as the new owner of the Phoenix Suns has produced a whirlwind of change.
Nobody seems completely safe &mdash; not even 12-time All-Star point guard Chris Paul &mdash; as the Michigan native continues his quest to deliver Phoenix its first NBA title.
The aggressive owner oversaw his latest big move Sunday, when the Suns&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/wizards-suns-trade-bradley-beal-55adab5fa31d5dfbc35b83223743d9c6">put together the framework for a trade</a>&nbsp;that would send Paul, Landry Shamet and other compensation to the Washington Wizards in exchange for three-time All-Star Bradley Beal.
Paul &mdash; making&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://twitter.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/1670789719184089092" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">an appearance on ABC&rsquo;s &lsquo;Good Morning America&rsquo; on Monday</a>&nbsp;morning to promote his new book &mdash; seemed just as shocked by the development as everyone else.
&ldquo;I was surprised, too,&rdquo; Paul said. &ldquo;I found out on the plane, yesterday, flying here for this. In this league, anything can happen, so you just figure out what&rsquo;s next.&rdquo;
Paul came to the desert in 2020, bringing instant credibility to the Suns, who had languished near the bottom of the standings for the better part of a decade. The point guard formed a formidable backcourt with Devin Booker, and the Suns came agonizingly close to a championship, winning the first two games of the NBA Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021 before losing the next four.
The Suns were also good in the past two regular seasons, but suffered back-to-back embarrassing playoff exits on their home floor.
That was apparently enough for Ishbia to decide that wholesale changes needed to be made.
Ishbia &mdash; who took over control of the team&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/milwaukee-bucks-brooklyn-nets-phoenix-suns-new-york-knicks-houston-rockets-3f59feda34360905962e1f9ff0bf6cc5">from the embattled Robert Sarver in February</a>&nbsp;&mdash; hasn&rsquo;t been shy about making big moves, even before their latest playoff exit. The Suns added 13-time All-Star Kevin Durant in a blockbuster trade deadline deal that sent Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson and a bevy of first-round picks to the Brooklyn Nets.
The bold move failed to produce a championship, so Ishbia continued his overhaul.
The Suns&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/suns-monty-williams-fired-53f33c2c3c8d69af7449cbfbf931bc0a">recently fired coach Monty Williams</a>, who was the NBA&rsquo;s Coach of the Year in 2022,&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/phoenix-suns-new-coach-frank-vogel-993576f1cc1daf71ac0adbaf76cc8e9b">and brought in Frank Vogel</a>, who led the Lakers to a title in the Florida bubble in 2020. Now the team is moving on from the 38-year-old Paul and bringing in Beal, who has averaged more than 22 points per game over his 11-year career.
More changes could be on the horizon.
The Suns now have a stellar nucleus of Booker, Durant, Beal and Deandre Ayton, but not much help around them. The foursome will make about $150 million next season and the Suns will have to be creative as they try to add quality role players.
Another option would be trading Ayton, a former No. 1 overall pick in 2018 who has had five up-and-down seasons with the franchise.
There doesn&rsquo;t seem to be a ton of obvious suitors for an Ayton deal, particularly after the 6-foot-11 center had an underwhelming performance in this year&rsquo;s playoffs.
But with Ishbia helping pull the strings these days, nothing seems impossible. The former Michigan State walk-on basketball player &mdash; who was part of the Spartans&rsquo; championship team in 2000 &mdash; has made it clear no one in the organization is sacred as he pushes for a title.
&ldquo;I want to think big,&rdquo; Ishbia said back in February.

Mat Ishbia’s five-month tenure as the new owner of the Phoenix Suns has produced a whirlwind of change.

Suns continue whirlwind of change under new owner Mat Ishbia

Shaka Smart has packed an entire career&rsquo;s worth of experiences into 14 years as a college head coach.
He led VCU to an improbable Final Four as a 30-something wunderkind in 2011, guided mighty Texas to a Big 12 Tournament title during six otherwise tepid years in Austin, and now has turned Marquette into a Big East beast.
It&rsquo;s sometimes easy to forget he&rsquo;s still just 45 years old.
Yet his work with the Golden Eagles this season might have been his best: Picked ninth in the 11-team league by its coaches, they won the regular-season title going away, then beat Xavier to win&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/big-east-marquette-xavier-df67d940335f3a9d69f2f6e7b626beaf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">their first Big East Tournament championship</a>.
That earned Smart the AP coach of the year award Friday. He garnered 24 of 58 votes from a&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-college-basketball-player-of-year-b2820fee259952b664327b49a112f193" target="_blank" rel="noopener">national media panel</a>&nbsp;to edge&nbsp;Kansas State&rsquo;s Jerome Tang, who received 13 votes before guiding the Wildcats to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, and Houston&rsquo;s Kelvin Sampson, who earned 10 before taking the Cougars to the Sweet 16.
Voting opened after the regular season and closed at the start of the NCAA Tournament, where the No. 2 seed Golden Eagles were&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-michigan-state-marquette-izzo-690d24a67256a2bf187353c0bfed577a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">knocked out in the second round</a>&nbsp;by Michigan State and Smart&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-east-regionalmichigan-state-marquette-shaka-smart-405b0ccc948ec1480a2749496b3c5ef8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">longtime mentor, Tom Izzo</a>.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m very grateful to win this award,&rdquo; said Smart, the second Marquette coach to take it home after Hall of Famer Al McGuire in 1971, &ldquo;but obviously it always comes back to the guys you have on your team.
&ldquo;Early on,&rdquo; Smart said, &ldquo;we had a real sense the guys had genuine care and concern for one another, and we had a very good foundation for relationships that we could continue to build on. And over the course of seasons, you go through so many different experiences as a team. And those experiences either bring you closer together or further apart. Our guys did a great job, even through adverse experiences, even through challenges, becoming closer together.&rdquo;
It&rsquo;s hardly surprising such cohesion is what Smart would choose to remember most from a most memorable season.
The native of Madison, Wisconsin, who holds a master&rsquo;s degree in social science from California University of Pennsylvania, long ago earned a reputation for building close bonds with players and a tight-knit camaraderie within his teams.
No matter how high or low the Golden Eagles were this season, those traits carried them through.
&ldquo;Everything that we go through, whether it be the retreat that we went on before the season, all the workouts in the summer, he&rsquo;s preaching his culture,&rdquo; said Tyler Kolek,&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-all-america-mens-basketball-team-2ab037abcde5157ad840f7dcd22cc8a4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a third-team All-American</a>. &ldquo;And he&rsquo;s showing his leadership every single day, and just trying to impart that on us, and kind of put it in our DNA. Because it&rsquo;s definitely in his DNA.&rdquo;
That&rsquo;s reflected in the way Smart, who&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/nba-basketball-wisconsin-coronavirus-pandemic-texas-longhorns-mens-basketball-972b7ad63710f78f34b9a35797ed031c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">accepted the Marquette job</a>&nbsp;two years ago after an often bumpy tenure at Texas, has rebuilt the Golden Eagles program after it had begun to languish under Steve Wojciechowski.
Sure, Smart landed his share of transfers &mdash; Kolek among them &mdash; in an era in which the portal has become so prevalent. But he largely built a team that finished 29-7 this season around high school recruits, eschewing a quick fix in the hopes of long-term stability. Among those prospects were Kam Jones, their leading scorer, and do-everything forward David Joplin.
&ldquo;He teaches us lots of things about the importance of each other,&rdquo; Joplin said. &ldquo;He lets us know, time and time again, that we can&rsquo;t do anything without each other, but together we can do anything.&rdquo;
That sounds like a decidedly old-school approach to building a college basketball program.
One embraced by a still-youthful head coach.
&ldquo;I think being a head coach has never been more complicated, never been more nuanced, and never more all-encompassing,&rdquo; Smart told the AP in a wide-ranging interview last week. &ldquo;Does that mean it&rsquo;s harder? You could say that.
&ldquo;What makes your job less hard,&rdquo; Smart said, &ldquo;is having a captive audience in your players, and guys that truly understand and own what goes into winning, and that&rsquo;s what we had this past year. But those things just don&rsquo;t happen. There are a lot of steps that have to occur on the part of a lot of people, not just the coach, to get to where you have a winning environment.&rdquo;

After helping Marquette dominate the Big East, Shaka Smart earned the AP men's college basketball coach of the year award.

Marquette’s Shaka Smart voted men’s AP coach of the year

For the vast majority of his career, Caris LeVert has been a high-usage player. With the ball in his hands, he puts pressure on defenses primarily as a downhill scorer and distributor. His unorthodox methods and pull-up abilities make him one of the most efficient isolation threats in the NBA.
This season, however, the Cleveland Cavaliers have asked much more of LeVert, who&rsquo;s bringing a different kind of value that can&rsquo;t be quantified: sacrifice and adaptability.
&ldquo;The biggest challenge would probably be trying to adjust game-by-game depending on who's playing, matchups on the other side. Sometimes I've played the 4, I've never done that in life before,&rdquo; LeVert told Basketball News following the Cavs&rsquo; win over the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night. &ldquo;So just playing different positions, just staying ready for different roles.&nbsp;
&ldquo;It's been pretty tough, but I think on the flip side, we're a super talented team. We're obviously on the winning side of things more times than not, so it's definitely fun to be on that side of it 'cause I've been on the other side of it too, where guys aren't necessarily playing to win and playing for stats. Here, it's completely different, so I think that's definitely been a plus."
Instead of moving him at the trade deadline as some expected due to his expiring $18.8 million contract, Cavs president Koby Altman and his front office held onto LeVert. Altman made it known publicly how much he appreciates the 28-year-old&rsquo;s contributions and dedication to the team&rsquo;s vision, even going as far as sharing the franchise&rsquo;s interest in a potential contract extension this summer.&nbsp;
&ldquo;The thing that really speaks to me is, and I'm a softy for this, but guys that really want to be here,&rdquo; Altman said last week. &ldquo;Guys that show up every day to work, that have a great attitude, that whatever their role is &mdash; and he had to take a substantial step back, be a sixth-man type when he could be starting in the NBA on a lot of different teams &mdash; and being like, 'I want to make this work. I want to be here.' That's meaningful to me, that's meaningful to this organization and it's a big reason why he's here."
Asked about sticking around after the 3 p.m. buzzer sounded, LeVert was just glad not to be on the move for the third straight deadline.
&ldquo;It's cool to, I guess, have a home for the rest of the season, not have to pack up and go somewhere else,&rdquo; LeVert admitted. &ldquo;I've done that the past two seasons. It's very stressful to do that and hectic, so it's cool to be with this group and finish the season out and see how far we can go.&nbsp;
&ldquo;The vibes are pretty high. Winning does that. You know, you win a lot of games... we're around each other, sh**, more than we are with our families. So obviously, you're gonna get really close to a group when you win a lot of games.&rdquo;
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Since his arrival a year ago, multiple members of the Cavs told Basketball News that LeVert has bought in with the organization, so much that he changed his diet and "was in the best shape of his life."
"Especially with his role changing so much, last year and this year, he's the same person every day," said one Cavs source.
On the current campaign, LeVert&rsquo;s usage rate has dipped to 20.6% overall, per Cleaning The Glass &mdash; his lowest since he was a rookie with the Brooklyn Nets. According <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/touches?TeamID=1610612739&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=TOUCHES" target="_blank" rel="noopener">to NBA.com</a>, he is fourth on the team in touches per game (49.9) and fifth in average dribbles per touch (3.07). In previous stops in Indiana and Brooklyn, those numbers were higher on average &mdash; especially before the Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving era.
Even with that fact, he is one of four Cavs creating ~10 points per game off assists and third on the squad with <a href="https://go.nba.com/3mts8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">6.9 potential assists per game</a>, which is one of the many reasons Cleveland head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has spoken so highly of LeVert&rsquo;s willingness to put the team first over everything else since he came into the fold.
&ldquo;The first conversation we had when we traded for him, he told me, &lsquo;Do whatever you need to do with me because I'm very adaptable,&rsquo;&rdquo; Bickerstaff said in early November. &ldquo;And understanding himself, and not having an unrealistic picture of who he is allows him to do that and do it comfortably because a lot of people can&rsquo;t. If you ask a guy to be different on a night-by-night basis, that's extremely difficult. And I think Caris, again, has showed that he can do it and I think he's only gonna get better at it.&rdquo;
In addition to making the right plays on offense while Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell (and now, a returned Ricky Rubio) operate in the half-court, the Cavs have tasked the 28-year-old with more defensive responsibility as well.
&ldquo;I knew as soon as we made the trade for Donovan, it was gonna be a different type of role for me. But I've always kinda been a player to do it all,&rdquo; LeVert explained. &ldquo;I think just this year, it's been a lot different just because I'm not necessarily on the ball as much. So the other parts of my game are gonna show a little bit more.
&ldquo;It's something that is definitely uncomfortable at times just because I've always kinda just been that (go-to scoring option). That's been my role on a lot of teams. So I just try to put it all on the defensive end of the ball, make the effort plays, make the energy plays and try to win. Make winning plays.&rdquo;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-theme="dark">
Caris LeVert digging down &amp; making BI work <a href="https://t.co/0ltjwrllts">pic.twitter.com/0ltjwrllts</a>
&mdash; Siddharth (@SiddharthNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/SiddharthNBA/status/1624294956579065856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2023</a></blockquote>

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Specifically, Bickerstaff has pointed out how LeVert&rsquo;s ability to get through screens allows Cleveland to avoid putting two on the ball. He&rsquo;s deflecting passes, staying in front of his man near the perimeter and keeping the Cavs&rsquo; towering duo of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley closer to the basket.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s huge, because although you have those big guys back there to support you, you don't want to put those big guys under duress all the time,&rdquo; Bickerstaff said of LeVert&rsquo;s impact on that end. &ldquo;That (contribution), you know, allows the rest of your defense to just be in place. So, when shots go up, now you're in rebounding position and you can be better at finishing possessions.&rdquo;
&ldquo;I've always played defense, but I think when you're asked to do more on the offensive side of the ball, you kind of slack on that end sometimes,&rdquo; LeVert added. &ldquo;I think, with here, my role's not necessarily to score. It's more so to be a Swiss Army knife, do it all. It's more onus on my defense, so naturally, I'm just more locked in on that end.&rdquo;
At the beginning of the season, he was a starter for the first 14 games of the campaign &mdash; first at small forward, then at shooting guard and even once as a point guard before eventually moving back to the 3.&nbsp;
Then, it was ultimately determined that LeVert could do his best work off the bench, and he&rsquo;s been a fixture of the second unit ever since (as long as the Cavs have been healthy).
&ldquo;It was an easy conversation because Caris is easy to talk to and because of his willingness to do whatever to help the team. He reiterated to me that he was just all in. That literally came out of his mouth,&rdquo; Bickerstaff said in late November when the change was made. &ldquo;It was like, &lsquo;Whatever you need me to do to help the team win and be better, that&rsquo;s what I want to do.&rsquo; He is more comfortable with the ball in his hand. He was sacrificing a ton playing that kind of third position with those two guards and then obviously we throw it to Evan and JA, so his strength needs to be a rhythm that happens through the game.&nbsp;
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s unfair to him to not allow him to catch a rhythm and then be on the floor at the end of games when we need him, and now, he has no rhythm and when the ball does find him, he&rsquo;s disjointed. It&rsquo;s a combination of doing what&rsquo;s best for him but then when that&rsquo;s our finishing lineup, he&rsquo;s got a rhythm, he feels comfortable and he&rsquo;s touched the ball and has had an impact. That&rsquo;s what we&rsquo;re looking for. Will it happen overnight? No. But we will continue to work at it and think it will work.&rdquo;
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Fast-forward from Nov. 18 to mid-February and the All-Star break, and LeVert&rsquo;s numbers have been steadily similar to his season-long averages. He&rsquo;s produced 11.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists over 41 games, making 42.0% of his overall field goals including a 34.9% clip from deep.
Even wilder, LeVert has attempted just 11 shots total over his last three contests heading into the All-Star break. That's the least volume he's seen in literally five years over a three-game stretch.
&ldquo;I think for me, it's all about rhythm. When you take one a game, the percentages are gonna look a little off, same with your threes,&rdquo; LeVert said. &ldquo;When I play starter minutes, the attempts are there. Coming off the bench, it's a little bit different. If you make your first one, then the percentages look good. If you miss your first one, you may miss one each half, you're 0-for-2. If you go 0-for-2 for three straight games, the percentages look a little different. So, I try not to think too much about that and just go out there and hoop.&rdquo;
There will come a time when the Cavs are going to need LeVert to revert to his ball-dominant self in certain situations. Altman believes having him as a ready-to-go spot starter is a luxury, and noted that in the postseason, there has to be someone who's able to break down his man one-on-one when Garland and/or Mitchell need to breathe a bit.&nbsp;
"He can step right in and we won't miss a beat," said another member of the franchise.
LeVert's also able to catch the ball with momentum and make things happen when all three are on the floor together.
&ldquo;Really lethal,&rdquo; Garland said of LeVert earlier this season. &ldquo;Because when me and Donovan are up top, there's not a lot that you can do with us, I believe. And then you've got to help a lot, which means Caris is open a lot more. We have a lot more opportunities for catch-and-shoots, attacking on closeouts &ndash; which he does best &ndash; getting to the rim, getting to that floater.&rdquo;
&ldquo;I consider him like Jordan Clarkson because he can get going at any time,&rdquo; Mitchell said after a Dec. 2 win over Orlando.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
That&rsquo;s the type of play Caris LeVert was kept for. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LetEmKnow?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LetEmKnow</a> <a href="https://t.co/D9ur9pTakm">pic.twitter.com/D9ur9pTakm</a>
&mdash; Mack Perry (@DevaronPerry) <a href="https://twitter.com/DevaronPerry/status/1625297368529731586?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2023</a></blockquote>

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Once a point guard at Pickerington Central High School in the Columbus area before hitting a growth spurt, LeVert has always been able to deliver an on-target pocket pass, as well as a crafty wraparound after a drive to the bucket.
&ldquo;I've always kinda had that. I've always been pretty good at reading the floor on drives. And I have great chemistry with JA playing three, four years together in Brooklyn. We used to do that a lot,&rdquo; LeVert said with a laugh.
He&rsquo;s picked up where he left off with his former Nets teammate in Allen, who's the <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/player/1627747/passes-dash?PerMode=Totals&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=AST&amp;OpponentTeamID=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">only player to receive at least 50 assists from LeVert</a>. Next on the list is Mobley, whom LeVert has dimed to 43 times.
LeVert hasn&rsquo;t been perfect. There have been moments of ill-advised decisions on offense with turnovers in traffic and on defense such as fouling three-point shooters at inopportune times, for example.
Yet, there will be moments like a near-comeback effort in Philadelphia that unfairly get glossed over, where LeVert gets his hand on a ball or pressures his man to the point where a teammate gets a steal, or he slides to help on a defensive rotation when somebody needs it, or he makes a pass leading to a pass that leads to an assist, or he tips a loose ball up to himself and lobs it up for a teammate in transition.
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LeVert ➡️ Stevens ⬆️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LetEmKnow?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LetEmKnow</a> <a href="https://t.co/np3xhmhQBX">pic.twitter.com/np3xhmhQBX</a>
&mdash; Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) <a href="https://twitter.com/BallySportsCLE/status/1626030403730477056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2023</a></blockquote>

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When you look at the entire body of work and LeVert's activity, Cleveland would not be a top-four team in the East without him.
What's asked of him may differ every game, but he always makes sure to bring his best.
"I think just coming in and providing a spark,&rdquo; LeVert said when asked how he can best help the Cavs the rest of the way. &ldquo;That may be offensively, that may be defensively, that may be loose balls, that may be moving the ball and making sure we get a good shot every time. But I think that's been made clear, that's pretty much my role on this team. So just team-[first].&rdquo;
&ldquo;[There&rsquo;s] just a resiliency. Things always haven't gone his way and things haven't been easy or perfect for him. But he's never once tucked his tail, he's never put his head down and had bad body language or been disruptive to his teammates or any of those things,&rdquo; Bickerstaff said. &ldquo;He's just continued to work and continue to try to help the team. And we appreciate that. As a coach, you appreciate a guy who doesn't let his own problems or successes get in the way of the team and that's who Caris is.
"All he cares about is trying to do what's right for the team and help as much he can.&rdquo;

Spencer Davies speaks with Cavs swingman Caris LeVert about staying in Cleveland past the trade deadline and how he's adapted.

Despite fluid role, Caris LeVert stays bought in with Cavaliers

The tributes officially started in 2019 with Dirk Nowitzki Way, a street that was renamed in Dallas to honor the greatest Mavericks player of all time. Then in January, the Mavs retired his No. 41 jersey. Then in September, Germany retired the No. 14 jersey he wore for his country.
Even after scoring 30,000 points, he still is not enjoying all the fuss.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s been super surreal,&rdquo; Nowitzki said, &ldquo;and a little embarrassing for me.&rdquo;
Merry Christmas, Dirk. Here comes another celebration. Two of them, actually.
On Wednesday, he was <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/basketball-hall-of-fame-announces-candidates-for-class-of-2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced as a nominee for the 2023 enshrinement class</a> by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. And on Sunday, when the Mavs host the Los Angeles Lakers as part of the NBA&rsquo;s Christmas quintupleheader, the Dirk Nowitzki Statue will be unveiled at American Airlines Arena.
It will be the ultimate Christmas present and incredibly fitting that it comes on a day where a slew of international stars that Nowitzki helped pave the way for &mdash; Philadelphia&rsquo;s Joel Embiid, Milwaukee&rsquo;s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Denver&rsquo;s Nikola Jokic and fellow Maverick Luka Doncic &mdash; will get showcased on the NBA&rsquo;s big day.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s been super fun to watch,&rdquo; Nowitzki said when asked about the ongoing imprint international players are making on the game. &ldquo;And along the way, if I inspired somebody to pick up a basketball or if I motivated a guy to work harder or dream of the NBA, of course, that&rsquo;s humbling to me ... super humbling. That makes me proud, for sure.&rdquo;
It&rsquo;s not a new development. The last four MVP&rsquo;s &mdash; in reverse order, Jokic, Jokic, Antetokounmpo, Antetokounmpo &mdash; are from Serbia and Greece. It seems reasonable to think that this season&rsquo;s MVP will be an international player as well, with Jokic, Doncic and Embiid likely among the early frontrunners.
Entering Tuesday, the NBA&rsquo;s top five scorers were from five different countries &mdash; Embiid (Cameroon), Doncic (Slovenia), Oklahoma City&rsquo;s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada), Antetokounmpo (Greece) and Kevin Durant (U.S.).
Such was unthinkable just a few years ago. Over a 13-season span, from 2004-05 through 2016-17, only one international player cracked the top five &mdash; Nowitzki, who was fourth on two occasions during that stretch. Every other slot was taken by an American.
This is what former Commissioner David Stern wanted &mdash; and why he prioritized making the NBA go international.
&ldquo;It was his vision to truly make the NBA and basketball a global sport," Commissioner Adam Silver said last weekend before a Miami-San Antonio game in Mexico City. &ldquo;I began at the league in 1992, shortly before the Barcelona Olympics and the Dream Team. We saw the impact that had. Now looking back 30 years, 30 years of playing games in M&eacute;xico City, it&rsquo;s really happening."
It&rsquo;s not an accident that Doncic, Antetokounmpo, Jokic and Embiid are getting the Christmas game treatment. They are brands, huge draws globally, and the NBA has embraced international viewers more and more over the years.
Nowitzki preceded them all, a mop-topped German kid who initially wasn&rsquo;t sure if he wanted to come to the NBA when he got drafted and wound up making the best possible decision for him and the Mavericks. He played three times on Christmas; Dallas went 2-1 in those games and Nowitzki averaged 27.3 points.
The Christmas lineup this year goes like this &mdash; Philadelphia at New York first, then the Lakers at Dallas, Milwaukee at Boston, Memphis at defending champion Golden State, then Phoenix at Denver in the nightcap. Some star power will be missing, with the Lakers without Anthony Davis and the Warriors without Stephen Curry. It&rsquo;ll be LeBron James&rsquo; 17th Christmas appearance, and the first for the Grizzlies.
&ldquo;These are the games that everybody grew up watching,&rdquo; James said last year when asked about Christmas.
The NBA does its part to make sure &ldquo;everybody&rdquo; can watch &mdash; like the NBA Finals, the Christmas games are being sent to more than 200 countries and territories, with commentating happening in more than 50 languages.
German, of course, will be one of them. The Nowitzki statue depicts his famous one-legged jumper, a shot that changed the game. He was a unicorn when he got to the U.S.; a 7-footer who could shoot, pass and dribble and wasn&rsquo;t just a back-to-the-basket guy. Now, those skills aren&rsquo;t rare to see in big men. They&rsquo;re basically required.
Again, it&rsquo;s so fitting that the statue is coming on Christmas. His game was a gift. And with the way it&rsquo;s been emulated by so many in the last 20 years, it&rsquo;s a gift that keeps on giving.
&ldquo;That&rsquo;s going to be there forever,&rdquo; Nowitzki said. &ldquo;I think that&rsquo;s what&rsquo;s so unbelievable, that this statue will stand there, and my kids will grow up with it. That&rsquo;s what&rsquo;s really mindboggling and so amazing about it&mdash; that this piece is for really for eternity and will be there long, long after I&rsquo;m gone.&rdquo;
___
Tim Reynolds is a national basketball writer for The Associated Press. Write to him at treynolds(at)ap.org

On Sunday, when the Mavs host the Lakers as part of the NBA’s Christmas quintupleheader, the Dirk Nowitzki Statue will be unveiled.

Fitting that Dirk Nowitzki will be celebrated on Christmas

The Los Angeles Clippers have gotten their 2022-23 season off to a great start with a 103-97 win over their local rival, the Lakers, and everybody played a part.
In his first game since June 2021, Kawhi Leonard produced 14 points and 7 rebounds off the bench in 21 minutes. In another return over 18 months in the making, John Wall added 15 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in 24 minutes.
Paul George registered a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double to go along with 4 dimes, Marcus Morris dropped 14 points and Ivica Zubac had his own double-double with 14 points and 17 boards.
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Entering this year, there was a multitude of questions hovering over the entire Clippers organization:
<ul>
<li>How will Kawhi Leonard look after missing the entire last season? Did he put on too much muscle? How will load management be handled with him this season?</li>
<li>How will the acquisition of John Wall work after he missed almost two years of action? Will the Clippers be getting the old John Wall or just an older John Wall?</li>
<li>How will Paul George fare after also coming off of an injury that derailed what was a very productive season in 2021-22?</li>
</ul>
I caught up with two former Clippers greats, Darius Miles and Maurice Taylor, to explore these questions and much more.
Darius Miles
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot-2022-10-21-at-16-14-10-540845-jpg-0-jpg-webp-image-2120-1413-pixels-scaled-59_.png" alt="" width="751" height="376" />
Etan Thomas: The Clippers really looked good in their first few games. A lot of people are saying they could win it all. How good do they look to you?
Darius Miles: "I don&rsquo;t wanna jump out there too quickly; it&rsquo;s still early, but I think they look really good. Seeing the pieces, the depth, having Kawhi back, PG. I&rsquo;m so excited for John Wall. He&rsquo;s always been one of my favorites. I saw him get a little frustrated there at the end against the Lakers. This is a different kind of role; he wanted the ball in his hands at the end like he was back in D.C. So he is adjusting to the new role, and I think it&rsquo;s gonna be just fine."
Etan: One of the things with John Wall people were wondering was if he can he get back to the Washington Wizards-level version of himself on the court after sitting out two seasons, but he looks good to me so far.&nbsp;
Miles: "He definitely looks good, I really want John to embrace this new role because if he does, the sky's the limit. And he&rsquo;s been saying all the right things. I heard one interview and he kept saying, 'I&rsquo;m so excited that I don&rsquo;t have to do it myself.' So he has to really embrace the fact that, sometimes down the stretch, you&rsquo;re not going to have the ball in your hands. You may have to go to the corner and spot up and let Kawhi and PG run this two-man game like they were doing against the Lakers. And sometimes, they may need (John) to speed dribble it up and initiate the offense, but other times it may be something different. And he just has to fully embrace the different times, whatever they are, because really, he can &mdash; and I believe will &mdash; be vital for this team."
Etan: You know, I&rsquo;m really rooting for PG to have a great year. He has taken a lot of criticism really since the Bubble season.
Miles: "I think last season while Kawhi was out, he really just put his head down and went to work. He wasn&rsquo;t saying much, wasn&rsquo;t getting into too much, and, before the injury, he was having a great season. I think this year is gonna be the same thing. He came out and said, 'Yeah this is Kawhi&rsquo;s team, so I&rsquo;m not gonna let the media play that game with us of whose team it is.' He squashed all that. 'This is Kawhi&rsquo;s team, and that&rsquo;s going to go a long way for us.' Because it cuts down on the chatter, you know?"
Etan: Definitely, like how Magic Johnson did with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Miles: "Exactly, just so there&rsquo;s no discussion. I&rsquo;m very, very excited for the Clippers. I wanna see the Clippers win a chip in L.A. Now, of course we don&rsquo;t have the ridiculous number of championships like the Lakers have, but this year, I think this team could really pull it off. And we&rsquo;re not talking about the best team in L.A. &mdash; we already got that. We&rsquo;re talking about winning it all."
Etan: Let&rsquo;s stay on PG for a minute. Why do you think he receives so much criticism? He was really getting criticized heavily I thought.
Miles: "That&rsquo;s just this day and age. As soon as someone sees a vulnerable spot, they jump on it. That&rsquo;s just how it is unfortunately."
Etan: It&rsquo;s interesting though because PG talked about struggling with his mental health while in the Bubble, and it was like, people got mad at him. Other players like Kevin Love and DeMar DeRozan talked about their mental health, and they were praised for their courage, given awards and sitting on panels. I mean, PG just announced not long ago that he was <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/clippers-paul-george-giving-away-3-million-in-free-therapy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">giving away $3 million in free therapy</a>.
I just co-wrote <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Finding-My-Voice-Grieving-Pushing/dp/1642598313/ref=nodl_?dplnkId=64d1657e-59d6-4718-87b6-89b40eb80095" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Emerald Garner&rsquo;s book</a> (Eric Garner&rsquo;s daughter), "Finding My Voice," and she talked about how costly therapy is and how much her entire family should&rsquo;ve had it for their mental health, and he is giving away $3 million of free mental health therapy for people!
Miles: "Yeah, how could anyone be mad at that? I don&rsquo;t know. I never really understood it myself. I&rsquo;m happy when any athlete has the courage to talk about their mental health because them saying that gives other people the comfort that they don&rsquo;t have to be ashamed. So yeah, I agree with you. It should&rsquo;ve been praised not mocked."
Etan: You mentioned Russell Westbrook earlier, and that&rsquo;s my guy. I played with him in OKC for a year, but they got him in the matrix right now, nonstop criticism. It&rsquo;s like he is taking the heat for a poorly-constructed team.
Miles: "Man, I love Westbrook. And I&rsquo;m glad [Charles] Barkley said something about it. But people don&rsquo;t understand how the slander, the politics of the game, the wrong situation or construction of a team, like you said, how that can take away someone&rsquo;s love for the game, and it looks like that with Westbrook. His body language, that 'lion' that makes Westbrook, Westbrook you know? Now, he&rsquo;s second-guessing himself; not sure if he should pass or shoot, just everything is off. I hate to see my man go through this."
Etan: So last question, there have been built-up expectations before for the Clippers. The year in the Bubble and the season before the Bubble, everyone was waiting for them to match up with the Lakers. It seemed like those years could&rsquo;ve been the Clippers' years as well. And I know a lot of teams always say this, but this season, it does really feel like this could be the Clippers year to win it all.
Miles: "I hear you. I just don&rsquo;t want to get too ahead of myself &mdash; especially with guys coming off of injuries &mdash; but then, we came out the gate looking really good this year. And we have a really deep bench, like 10-11 deep. I&rsquo;m super excited for this season, but I don&rsquo;t wanna jump out there too soon. I appreciate the support from Barkley, but not yet. But do I feel like we could be a contender? Absolutely.
"Also, we gotta see what happens with Kawhi&rsquo;s injury and his load management, and if that is a plus or a minus. I love the team, love the coach, Ty Lue; they have the team built to win the championship. They have the ability to beat any team &mdash; Golden State, Portland, Phoenix, Denver, anyone in the West or the East. Of course a lot has to go right, but yes, I&rsquo;m excited. (It's) gonna be a great year for us."
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Maurice Taylor&nbsp;
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot-2022-10-21-at-16-14-49-maurice-taylor-net-worth-jpg-jpeg-image-1200-600-pixels.png" alt="" width="750" height="375" />
Etan Thomas: How good can the Clippers be this season?&nbsp;
Maurice Taylor: "I think they could be really good, top-tier even. If you look at how the team is constructed, they really have everything you need in today&rsquo;s game. They&rsquo;re a really good defensive team, they can run, they can shoot threes, they&rsquo;re athletic. They can play iso ball, but don&rsquo;t have to rely on iso ball in order to be productive. And they have an incredibly deep bench. And they&rsquo;re big. They had a lineup out there with [Nic] Batum, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George; those are 6-6 to 6-8 wing players. And for Kawhi and Paul George to be the elite defenders they are, what other team has guys that size who can all defend and score at that level at the same time?
Etan: And how much do you think John Wall can help this team? Here in D.C., we&rsquo;re all rooting for him to do well. I <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/marcin-gortat-a-lot-of-people-owe-john-wall-an-apology" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interviewed his former teammate Marcin Gortat</a>, who also echoed those sentiments, especially taking into consideration everything he went through that he detailed over the summer. But how great of an addition was Wall to this team?&nbsp;
Taylor: "I don&rsquo;t understand why there weren&rsquo;t more teams in line to get John Wall, especially contenders. The only knock against him was that he hasn&rsquo;t played in two seasons for whatever reason &mdash; still not sure what was going on in Houston &mdash; but he looks good so far. He looked quick. He didn&rsquo;t look like he lost a step at all, which was what so many people were worried about. But I was definitely impressed. If he can be that for us, I don&rsquo;t see anyone in the East who would be able to stop us if we make it to the Finals.
Etan: Yeah I saw Charles Barkley picked the Clippers to win it all and doubled down after the game against the Lakers. So he is sticking with his pick. He may have even said, "GUARANTEED!" (Laughing)
Taylor: "Well, I&rsquo;m not going that far (laughing). But remember, I was with the Clippers during the down years. The bad old days (laughing). So for us, the guys I talk to from my era, it&rsquo;s amazing to be discussing the Clippers in terms of championship favorites. But yes, they could definitely win it all this season."
Etan: I agree, and does T-Lue get enough credit for his coaching? Especially the way he was able to keep the team together last season when Kawhi was out. I know he was my former teammate, so I may be a little biased, but I do think he doesn&rsquo;t get the recognition he should for the job he has done coaching.&nbsp;
Taylor: "I think he is definitely underrated. In today&rsquo;s NBA, the notion is almost that you don&rsquo;t really need a coach because of the level of talent. We heard that when he took over in Cleveland and was coaching LeBron [James]. You heard that in Brooklyn with Steve Nash..."
Etan: Well, that may not be the best example because of how disgruntled it seems Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are with Steve Nash, but continue.
Taylor: "Yeah that&rsquo;s true. But, point being, I think good coaches sometimes fall through the cracks because players are so good now. But in reality, coaching is the X-factor for each team. That&rsquo;s why Miami was so good, that&rsquo;s why Boston with Ime Udoka overachieved the way they did last season. But to answer your question, no, Ty Lue definitely doesn&rsquo;t get the credit he deserved, and for the very reason you mentioned. He held everything together while his star player was out for the entire season. And he really pieced together a team. Like, they have a great unit. If you look at the Lakers, they just have a bunch of guys who got signed together. That&rsquo;s a pickup game, what the Lakers have."
Etan: And no proven shooters. They have some developing shooters, but they need proven shooters who can contribute immediately, right?&nbsp;
Taylor: "Absolutely, I don&rsquo;t know what they&rsquo;re thinking over there, but that&rsquo;s not my problem. We&rsquo;re constructed as a complete team, and you have to give credit to Steve Ballmer &mdash; when you have a team governor who goes all out for his team? I mean, the Clippers haven&rsquo;t had that in history, at least not while I was there. We&rsquo;re in arguably the best market in the league, so to have an organization that&rsquo;s willing to invest in their players and open their checkbooks the way Steve Ballmer is, it&rsquo;s going to be attractive to free agents to come to the Clippers. And they&rsquo;re making moves to win the whole thing. They&rsquo;re not penny-pinching or trying to spend the bare minimum. They are investing the way a team is supposed to."
Etan: If only someone could&rsquo;ve recorded Donald Sterling earlier while you were there (laughing).
Taylor: "Man, don&rsquo;t get me started (laughing). It&rsquo;s a night and day difference, but that&rsquo;s why they are in the position they are in. People always say players make the team, and that&rsquo;s true, but the ownership, the way the organization is run makes all the difference. So a lot of this credit, like I said, has to go to Steve Ballmer."
Etan: I hear you, so last question: Kawhi Leonard. I don&rsquo;t know how they&rsquo;re going to do with the load management for the entire season. Against the Lakers he came off the bench well into the second quarter. I&rsquo;m sure that&rsquo;s not going to be the strategy for the entire season, but how good did Kawhi Leonard look to you?&nbsp;
Taylor: "He looked really good. He moved well. With wing guys, when they come back from injury, you wanna see how their lateral movement is, if they have that pop back, and he had all of that. He definitely looked strong. And he&rsquo;s only going to get better as the season progresses. But the thing I am a little concerned with is the very load management (subject) you mentioned.
"A team can load management themselves right out of the playoffs if they&rsquo;re not careful. Is it going to get to a point where he&rsquo;s back and he&rsquo;s at full strength and he is their main guy this season? Or is it going to be an ongoing situation where, 'Okay, we have a back-to-back, we&rsquo;re going to rest him this second game?' If you do that enough times, that could change the dynamic of your playoff run or position. Because Golden State doesn&rsquo;t have any load management players, and that&rsquo;s who you have to be eyeing on the way to the Finals. So I am a little concerned, to be honest. But, other than that, things look very good for the Clippers this season."
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/violalogo1.png" alt="" width="750" height="375" />

Etan Thomas speaks with former Clippers greats Darius Miles and Maurice Taylor about LA's opening night win and the upcoming year.

Darius Miles and Maurice Taylor have high praise for the Clippers

The NBA today announced the launch of the reimagined global NBA App, the all-in-one destination for NBA fans of every team. With entirely new personalization features, the NBA App will provide wall-to-wall content from every NBA game and feature social-style vertical video, unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to players and teams, new and existing shows and series, and access to the NBA vault for free. The NBA App &ndash; a product of NBA Digital, the league&rsquo;s joint venture with Turner Sports &ndash; is free to download.
Additionally, the NBA has launched NBA ID, the league&rsquo;s new global membership program offering fans benefits and rewards from the league, teams and its partners. NBA ID, which is free to join, will link a fan&rsquo;s experiences across existing products like NBA League Pass and NBA Pick&rsquo;Em. Throughout the season, NBA ID members will get access to new original content and fan favorites from the NBA vault. Additionally, there will be enhanced members-only experiences from NBA partners, ticket promotions, prizes through predictive and sweepstakes-style NBA Pick&rsquo;Em fantasy games, voting campaigns and other rewards.
The NBA App is powered by the NBA&rsquo;s new integrated digital platform, which was built in&nbsp;<a href="https://news.microsoft.com/transform/the-nba-launches-a-first-of-its-kind-new-app-experience-for-fans-driven-by-the-power-of-data/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://news.microsoft.com/transform/the-nba-launches-a-first-of-its-kind-new-app-experience-for-fans-driven-by-the-power-of-data/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1664377747764000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3PHTQLNOwS7uhFb5VtWfxw">partnership with Microsoft</a>, the NBA&rsquo;s official cloud and AI partner. The NBA App now includes a sleek new design and a first-of-its-kind &ldquo;For You&rdquo; experience, with content recommendations based on fan preferences and personalization powered by Microsoft Azure and Azure AI. Within the app&rsquo;s &ldquo;For You&rdquo; page, fans can tap into a social-like vertical video experience &ndash; with vertical scrolling &ndash; that features real-time highlights of all NBA games in progress.
The league&rsquo;s direct-to-consumer subscription offerings &ndash; NBA League Pass and NBA TV &ndash; will be integrated into the NBA App, giving fans the ability to watch live games and highlights and check scores, statistics and standings, all in one place. For NBA League Pass subscribers, the live-streams will feature higher video quality, lower streaming latency and a seamless user experience for consuming live NBA content.
NBA League Pass returns this season with a new bundle and at its lowest price ever (the standard package is now available for $14.99 per month or $99.99 for the full season, and the premium package for $19.99 per month or $129.99 for the full season). Subscribers will automatically receive the NBA TV direct-to-consumer offering as part of the new bundle.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&ldquo;Launching our new NBA App and digital platform is a major milestone as we continue to build and strengthen our direct-to-consumer offerings,&rdquo; said Chris Benyarko, NBA Executive Vice President, Direct-to-Consumer. &ldquo;We are thrilled to deliver a reimagined product that will enhance and personalize the way NBA fans engage with the league on a daily basis.&rdquo;
Content highlights on the NBA App include:
Live Programming and Social-Style Content:
<ul style="font-weight: 400;">
<li>Gameday Experience &ndash; Fans will be immersed in game-day content all day long and, for the first time, get live access to streams of all pregame and postgame NBA press conferences and media days from every major event. In addition, NBA ID members will have access to teams&rsquo; pregame shows for NBA League Pass games. </li>
<li>Lifestyle &ndash; Social-style content series looking at the lifestyle, culture, fashion, music and more around the game and off the court, including NBA Kicks, NBA Fits, Jersey Drop, Ride Along, Celebrity Row and NBA Ink, among others. </li>
<li>&ldquo;CrunchTime&rdquo;&nbsp;&ndash; A free weekly whiparound show taking fans live to crucial moments of each game and providing real-time updates and analysis, produced by NBA TV and hosted by Jared Greenberg. </li>
<li>&ldquo;NBABet stream&rdquo;&nbsp;&ndash; A weekly stream produced by NBA TV with betting expert Tim Doyle and a selection of top contributors to provide the latest betting information during live game coverage. </li>
<li>Live NBA League Pass Programming&nbsp;&ndash; In addition to 24/7 NBA TV programming and out-of-market live games, NBA League Pass subscribers will have access to expanded options for personalized viewing experiences through a wide variety of alternate streams, including additional camera angles, betting-focused streams, influencer-led and analytics-driven options, and in-language feeds with commentary in three languages (Spanish, Portuguese and Korean).&nbsp; &ldquo;NBA HooperVision&rdquo; returns for its second season with former NBA players and hosts Nate Robinson and Quentin Richardson.</li>
</ul>
External Content Contributors:
<ul style="font-weight: 400;">
<li>All-Access Directly from Teams&nbsp;&ndash; Behind-the-scenes storytelling from teams&rsquo; social and digital channels. </li>
<li>Partner Content&nbsp;&ndash; Content produced by popular basketball and sports-highlight creators, including Turner Sports, featuring content from the hosts of &ldquo;Inside the NBA&rdquo;, Grant Hill and Greg Anthony, as well as FanDuel, DraftKings, Action Network, Bleacher Report and more. </li>
<li>Influencers&nbsp;&ndash; Influencer-created content from popular creators including Thinking Basketball&rsquo;s Ben Taylor, Jesser, Kris London, Lethal Shooter, Devin Williams, Tristan Jass, and more focused on fashion, lifestyle and NBA culture both on and off the court.</li>
</ul>
Exclusive Original Programming:
<ul style="font-weight: 400;">
<li>&ldquo;Gold Blooded&rdquo; &ndash; A new seven-episode docuseries telling the story of the Golden State Warriors&rsquo; journey to the 2022 NBA championship. Narrated by Andre Iguodala, the series features never-before-seen footage and new interviews with team executives and players, including Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. The first episode is available on the NBA App today. </li>
<li>&ldquo;Pass the Rock&rdquo; &ndash; Fans will get an exclusive look at the league&rsquo;s next generation of stars and their lives on and off the court throughout the 2022-23 season. The multi-part series is slated to begin in late November. </li>
<li>&ldquo;Inside the App&rdquo;&nbsp;&ndash; An exclusive weekly segment from TNT&rsquo;s &ldquo;Inside the NBA&rdquo; team that will spotlight the hottest storylines and most topical events from around the league.&nbsp;&nbsp; </li>
<li>&ldquo;NBA Real Training Camp&rdquo;&nbsp;with the Philadelphia Sixers (Sept. 29) and Dallas Mavericks (Sept. 30) &ndash; A special all-access show produced by NBA TV during the opening week of preseason providing exclusive look-ins at the teams&rsquo; practices and interviews with players, coaches and front office personnel.</li>
</ul>
NBA Vault:
<ul style="font-weight: 400;">
<li>Archived Games&nbsp;&ndash; Fans will have access to archival footage from the NBA vault, including 500 of the best classic games in NBA history.&nbsp; Every NBA Finals game since 2000 will also be available, with more Finals and popular games being released throughout the season. </li>
<li>Archived Series&nbsp;&ndash; Documentaries and all-access series from NBA Entertainment&rsquo;s archives will be available on-demand, including &ldquo;Dream Team&rdquo;, &ldquo;The Doctor&rdquo;, &ldquo;Wilt 100&rdquo;, &ldquo;The Association&rdquo;, &ldquo;Unscripted&rdquo;, &ldquo;Inside Stuff&rdquo; and more.</li>
</ul>
International-Focused:
<ul style="font-weight: 400;">
<li>NBA&rsquo;s International Games&nbsp;&ndash; The NBA App will be the go-to destination for fans to engage with and watch The NBA Japan Games 2022 Presented by Rakuten &amp; Nissan (Golden State Warriors vs. Washington Wizards on Friday, Sept. 30 at 6 a.m. ET and Sunday, Oct. 2 at 1 a.m. ET) and The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2022 (Milwaukee Bucks vs. Atlanta Hawks on Thursday, Oct. 6 at noon ET and Saturday, Oct. 8 at noon ET). </li>
<li>&ldquo;Hoop Cities&rdquo;&nbsp;&ndash; An eight-part, in-language docuseries produced by the NBA&rsquo;s Europe and Middle East team that explores the local culture, history and basketball communities surrounding the game throughout the following European cities: Belgrade (Serbia), Bologna (Italy), Cologne &amp; Leverkusen (Germany), Istanbul (Turkey), Kaunas (Lithuania), Paris (France), Seville (Spain) and Thessaloniki (Greece).</li>
</ul>
Additional content series and other enhanced features on the NBA App will be announced throughout the season.

The NBA today announced the launch of the reimagined global NBA App, the all-in-one destination for NBA fans of every team.

NBA launches reimagined app with new features, exclusive content

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) &mdash; Anthony Edwards said he's &ldquo;willing to do whatever it takes to make it right&rdquo; with the LBGTQ community and Minnesota Timberwolves fans following the homophobic remarks he recently made on social media.
Addressing reporters at Timberwolves media day on Monday, his first public appearance since the NBA <a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-timberwolves-nba-sports-kevin-durant-1d513d7924e8199c789d9739ca74c324" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fined him $40,000</a> for his now-deleted video clip on Instagram, Edwards apologized again for the disparaging, profane comment he made about what he assumed to be the sexual orientation of a group of men he filmed on a sidewalk outside a vehicle he was riding in.
&ldquo;Man, I respect everybody. I know what I posted was immature, and I&rsquo;m sorry for that if I hurt anyone,&rdquo; Edwards said. "I&rsquo;m working to be better.&rdquo;
Edwards said he would be OK having a gay teammate if someone came out and would try to clamp down on homophobic language in a locker room if he heard it.
&ldquo;For sure. I'm taking it as far as I can. That's not who I am,&rdquo; Edwards said.
After ranking 19th in the league with an average of 21.3 points per game last season and helping lead the Timberwolves back to the playoffs, Edwards in his second year flourished into a true star and fan favorite who consistently brought a youthful energy and a charming confidence to the court and off of it.
Following the trouble he stirred up earlier this month, Edwards found himself in the strange and sudden position of being an unpopular figure.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s kind of messed up, because I want people to love me, man. I don&rsquo;t want to give nobody a reason to hate me or talk bad about me, so I felt bad for myself and for what I said about people for sure,&rdquo; said the 21-year-old Edwards, who was the first overall pick in the 2020 draft.
Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly and coach Chris Finch both had stern conversations with Edwards after the social media post.
&ldquo;It just makes me think before I do everything now, pretty much," Edwards said.
Said Connelly: "He&rsquo;s disappointed in his own actions. He&rsquo;s disappointed that he put himself in that position, and hopefully he&rsquo;ll continue to grow and we&rsquo;ll continue to educate these guys on the importance of being really positive community members and respectful of all people that we&rsquo;re lucky enough to have in our community.&rdquo;
BONJOUR, RUDY
Media day for the Timberwolves has often been accompanied by some kind of off-the-court distraction, with the sudden firing of president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas (2021) and the trade demand made by star Jimmy Butler (2018) the most recent examples.
This time, the Edwards situation overshadowed some of the arrival of Rudy Gobert, the veteran center and defensive ace who was <a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-timberwolves-utah-jazz-nba-sports-26b3c07948dc5cd6e28b8f7da887517f">acquired this summer</a> from the Utah Jazz for four players and five first-round draft picks.
Gobert recently returned from the EuroBasket championship, where his France national team lost to host Spain in the gold medal game in which he had only six points and two shots.
&ldquo;You learn from the losses. You learn from the wins. For me, just learn how to finish the job. We had a really good tournament, but we fell short at the end,&rdquo; Gobert said.
PATIENT RUSSELL
Playing this season on a salary of more than $31 million, point guard D'Angelo Russell has returned to training camp with an upbeat attitude, a new pick-and-roll partner in Gobert &mdash; and as a <a href="https://twitter.com/Timberwolves/status/1574419596387520512?s=20&amp;t=YBy0s1HmslFrRdF9UVckzg">new dad</a>.
After an up-and-down season, and a first-round series against the Memphis Grizzlies &mdash; a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-timberwolves-memphis-grizzlies-nba-sports-9d7a219a489c09c76fcd763eeed7041d">six-game loss</a> &mdash; that left much to be desired, Russell did not receive a contract extension. But the eighth-year veteran didn't get traded, either.
&ldquo;The money&rsquo;s in free agency, so if that&rsquo;s what you&rsquo;re about, tap into it. No frustration," he said. &ldquo;The organization has treated me as great as it could possibly go, and the people here now have obviously showed their love toward me and how much they want me to be here. That&rsquo;s all I can ask for.&rdquo;
MISSING TOWNS
Karl-Anthony Towns was absent from media day with an unspecified illness, but he was not expected to miss the first practice on Tuesday.
STRONG IMPRESSION
Versatile forward Kyle Anderson was the most accomplished of the role players signed in free agency. The ninth-year veteran came from the Grizzlies, not coincidentally, after both parties made a positive impression on each other during the playoffs.
&ldquo;The fans were awesome and then the team played with tenacity,&rdquo; Anderson said. "Looking back at it, it was just like, &lsquo;Wow, Minnesota was all in.&rsquo;&rdquo;
&nbsp;

Anthony Edwards hopes to get past "immature" remarks and help lead the Minnesota Timberwolves back to the playoffs.

Wolves' Edwards 'working to be better' after homophobic post

HOUSTON (AP) &mdash; The Houston Rockets still have a long way to go after finishing with the league&rsquo;s worst record for the last two seasons as they embarked on a complete rebuild.
This season is likely to be another tough one for this extraordinarily young team, but one of its rising stars issued a guarantee ahead of training camp.
&ldquo;This year the Houston Rockets will be better than last year,&rdquo; Jalen Green, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft, said Monday. &ldquo;If we buy and stay together and I think the team will take off.&rdquo;
These Rockets aren&rsquo;t banking on winning a lot of games or vying for a playoff spot. What they are focused on is improvement and building toward the future.
General manager Rafael Stone made it clear that this team won&rsquo;t be one that anyone can take lightly.
&ldquo;If we are a team that is very hard to play at both ends of the court ... I think for a team like us, for a young and up-and-coming team, I think that&rsquo;s the measure of success,&rdquo; he said.
The Rockets went 20-62 last season, and just 17 the season before. They aren&rsquo;t predicted to have a much better record this year, but coach Stephen Silas needs to see growth every time his team takes the court.
&ldquo;There has to be a level of improvement,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The team that we see next Sunday against San Antonio and the way that we play is going to be different than the team that we see post-All-Star break. So having some level of patience, obviously. But there has to be steady, marked improving as the season goes on.&rdquo;
A year after opening the season with four 19-year-olds on the roster, the Rockets will again field one of the youngest teams in the league. Their training camp roster features seven players who are 20 or younger, including three starters in Green and Alperen Sengun &mdash; both 20 &mdash; and 19-year-old rookie Jabari Smith, Jr., who was the third overall pick in this year&rsquo;s draft.
Kevin Porter Jr., who at 22 is like a big brother to others, loves the youth on the team.
&ldquo;Our team is filled with young guys and we&rsquo;re filled with fire,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We want to get better and want to be the best. I think that all of us being around the same age and working together is a big part of our chemistry and growth.&rdquo;
GETTING DEFENSIVE
It might take some time for Smith to settle in offensively in the NBA, but the Rockets are convinced he&rsquo;ll make an immediate impact on defense.
&ldquo;He is such a gifted defensive player right now ... him as a defender is what I&rsquo;m so, so excited about,&rdquo; Silas said. &ldquo;And that&rsquo;s the thing that I&rsquo;m going to really hone in on him with because as I said ... last year at the end of the season, our defense needs to be better. And he&rsquo;s a big piece to that.&rdquo;
STILL GROWING
Green spent the offseason trying to add some bulk to his slim frame, proudly noting he&rsquo;s &ldquo;officially 182 pounds." The 6-foot-6 guard said he played at just 172 pounds as a rookie, but spent a lot of time in the weight room and hired a personal chef that had him eating four meals a day to beef up.
Smith, meanwhile, believes he might have gotten taller since he was last measured before the draft. Listed as 6-10, Smith said both he and his father, former NBA player Jabari Smith Sr. think he might have added at least an inch.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m really curious to see if I have, but I think I have,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I feel taller.&rdquo;
LEARNING THE LANGUAGE
Sengun, who is from Turkey, conducted his interviews in Turkish with a translator during his rookie season. On Monday, he sat down to meet the media and announced that he&rsquo;d answer questions in English, with his translator there in case he needed a hand.
The center took some classes for a couple of months last year to work on his English, but he said his learning was helped much more by simply practicing with his new friends in Houston.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not a shy guy,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m always talking, and I can make mistakes. But that&rsquo;s it doesn&rsquo;t matter. I don&rsquo;t care actually.&rdquo;

The young Houston Rockets team is focused on improvement and building toward the future behind Jalen Green and Jabari Smith, Jr.

Young Houston Rockets focused on growth and improvement

PHOENIX (AP) &mdash; All-Stars Devin Booker and Chris Paul, along with freshly paid Deandre Ayton and coach Monty Williams, are back together for another run at an elusive NBA title.
One man who apparently won't be along on the journey &mdash; team owner Robert Sarver.
The Suns met in downtown Phoenix on Monday for media day, less than a week after the embattled Sarver <a href="https://apnews.com/article/phoenix-suns-nba-sports-mercury-basketball-5d41fac4d946eaa106cb8bdfd567c37e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced his intention to sell the team</a>. Sarver was <a href="https://apnews.com/article/phoenix-suns-nba-sports-basketball-mercury-10452a9e19873c53422d07502053f798" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suspended one year and fined $10 million on Sept. 13</a> by the NBA over workplace misconduct that included racist speech and hostile behavior toward employees.
Sarver's intention to sell seemed to diffuse tensions on what could have been a very awkward day &mdash; and season &mdash; for the Suns.
&ldquo;I think it was on its way to being a distraction,&rdquo; Booker said. &ldquo;But now that he's chosen to sell the team, I think we can move forward, focus on the goal that's at hand and that's playing basketball.&rdquo;
The Suns have been one of the NBA's elite teams over the past two seasons. They made the Finals in 2021 before losing to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games. Last season, they set the franchise record for regular-season wins before a lopsided Game 7 loss to the Dallas Mavericks knocked them out of the playoffs in the second round.
Since then, there's been drama. There was speculation Ayton was moving on to another team. There was chatter the Suns wanted to make a move to acquire star Kevin Durant in a trade with the Nets. There was the unhappiness of starting forward Jae Crowder, who won't be with the team during training camp.
But nothing was as disruptive as the Sarver situation.
A 10-month investigation into Sarver&rsquo;s behavior confirmed he had used racist language, made sexually inappropriate comments, left some employees &mdash; male and female &mdash; feeling uncomfortable with his words and actions, and took part in what would be considered workplace bullying.
Booker, Paul and Williams all said reading the final report was difficult.
"It's tough for me because that's not the Robert Sarver I know," Booker said. "It's not the Robert Sarver that welcomed me to Phoenix with open arms, but at the same time, I'm not insensitive to everybody that's involved with the situation. I understand everyone's personal experience with other people is always going to be different.&rdquo;
Suns GM James Jones said he doesn't believe the Sarver situation will become a distraction.
&ldquo;That's called life,&rdquo; Jones said. "I never forget that we're playing the game of basketball. There's a lot of things that go on in society and the day-to-day that people deal with that are much more stressful than the things we're talking about in the context of sport.
&ldquo;For us, it's all about focus. We're paid to be professionals, to be pros, to navigate these types of situations and still perform at a high level. I have no doubt my team will be able to do that."
HAPPY AYTON
Ayton's return to the organization was uncertain during the offseason, with the fifth-year forward eligible for a lucrative contract.
The Indiana Pacers made a max offer and the Suns matched it. Now he's got a $133 million, four-year deal to remain with the organization that drafted him No. 1 overall.
&ldquo;We were clear since Day 1 that we wanted Deandre here,&rdquo; Jones said. "The unique thing about sport is whenever you start talking about contracts, a lot of noise happens. People attribute things to you that you didn't say. I'm not on social media as much as many, but that's what I call a &lsquo;noise box&rsquo; where narratives start to go and people start to speculate.
&ldquo;They speculated we did not want Deandre. But I think we were very proactive in matching (Indiana's offer) and making sure that he stayed here in Phoenix.&rdquo;
PAYNE MANAGEMENT
Cameron Payne was a key players for the Suns when they made their run to the Finals two years ago. He was also a big part of the team's success during last year's regular season, when they set the franchise record for wins.
But the backup guard fell out of favor during last year's playoff run, losing his regular spot in the rotation.
It'll be interesting to see what he does in his fourth season with the franchise. The 28-year-old averaged more than 10 points per game during the regular season last year.
JAE'S AWAY
It appears starting forward Jae Crowder won't be back with the Suns despite being under contract for this season. The team has released a statement saying the veteran won't be with the team when training camp opens Tuesday.
The 32-year-old averaged 9.4 points and 5.0 rebounds per game last season, providing 3-point shooting, rebounding and toughness.
NEW GUYS
The Suns should be very similar in terms of the starting lineup, but the bench could look quite a bit different.
Guards Josh Okogie, Duane Washington Jr., Frank Jackson and forwards Damion Lee, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Jock Landale were all added during the offseason. The team also welcomes back forward Dario Saric, who missed all last season after tearing an ACL during the Finals in 2021.

With ownership no longer a distraction, Devin Booker, Chris Paul, and the Phoenix Suns look to make another run at an NBA title.

Minus owner Sarver, Suns return for another run at NBA title

In his "Blazing the Trail" series, Mat Issa analyzes the offensive splendor of Dirk Nowitzki and the dramatic evolution of his career.

Blazing the Trail: Dirk Nowitzki, the unicorn that became world champion

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) &mdash; The Minnesota Timberwolves reprimanded star guard Anthony Edwards on Monday for homophobic comments he made on an Instagram video and <a href="https://twitter.com/theantedwards_/status/1569043807085236224">later apologized for</a>.
&ldquo;We are disappointed in the language and actions Anthony Edwards displayed on social media,&rdquo; president of basketball operations Tim Connelly said in a statement distributed by the team. "The Timberwolves are committed to being an inclusive and welcoming organization for all and apologize for the offense this has caused to so many.&rdquo;
In the since-deleted post, Edwards recorded a group of men on a sidewalk from a vehicle he was inside and made a disparaging, profane comment about what he assumed to be their sexual orientation. He posted an apology on Twitter on Sunday.
&ldquo;What I said was immature, hurtful, and disrespectful, and I&rsquo;m incredibly sorry. It&rsquo;s unacceptable for me or anyone to use that language in such a hurtful way,&rdquo; Edwards tweeted. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s no excuse for it, at all. I was raised better than that!&rdquo;
Nikola Jokic, Kevin Durant, Rajon Rondo and Kobe Bryant are among the NBA players who've been disciplined by the league in the past for anti-gay language.

“We are disappointed in the language and actions Anthony Edwards displayed on social media,” Wolves president Tim Connelly said.

Wolves reprimand Edwards for homophobic social media remark

JOHANNESBURG AND LONDON &ndash; The 2022-23 NBA regular season features 45 games that will air in primetime in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) as part of &ldquo;NBA Saturdays and NBA Sundays presented by NBA 2K23,&rdquo; marking the 10th consecutive regular season that the league has scheduled weekend games that air in primetime in EMEA.
The 45 games start as early as 12 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CET and feature the league&rsquo;s biggest stars, including two-time Kia NBA Most Valuable Player and 2021 NBA champion Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks; Greece; ties to Nigeria), four-time NBA champion and 2022 Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), 2021-22 Kia All-NBA First Team member Luka Doncić (Dallas Mavericks; Slovenia), five-time NBA All-Star Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers; Cameroon), four-time NBA champion and Finals MVP LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers), and reigning back-to-back Kia NBA MVP Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets; Serbia).
&ldquo;Scheduling weekly games in primetime for fans in Europe, the Middle East and Africa is a critical component of our efforts to make the excitement of NBA basketball more accessible to casual and hardcore fans,&rdquo; said NBA Senior Vice President, Head of International Content Partnerships Matt Brabants. &nbsp;&ldquo;Over the last 10 years we&rsquo;ve seen a tremendous response to this initiative from fans across these regions, and with the quantity and quality of talent from Europe and Africa in the NBA at an all-time high and weekly appointment viewing in primetime, there has never been a better time to be an NBA fan in EMEA.&rdquo;
&ldquo;The growing impact of African players in the NBA is evident every time you turn on a game,&rdquo; said NBA Africa Senior Director, Global Media Partnerships Kornelia Semmelink. &nbsp;&ldquo;As our footprint on the continent continues to grow, the NBA Saturdays and NBA Sundays presented by NBA 2K23 initiative is one of many ways we&rsquo;re providing localized content to our passionate fans in Africa at a time that is convenient for them on the devices and platforms they use most.&rdquo;
In addition to &ldquo;NBA Saturdays and NBA Sundays presented by NBA 2K23,&rdquo; games that will air in primetime in EMEA this season include The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2022 (Oct. 6 and 8 during the preseason), one game on the day after Thanksgiving in the U.S. (Nov. 25), Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan. 16), The NBA Paris Game 2023 (Jan. 19) and the final day of the regular season (April 9). &nbsp;In total, NBA games and programming reach fans in more than 100 countries and territories across EMEA through the league&rsquo;s broadcast partners in those regions and NBA League Pass, which features a season-long subscription package.
During the 2021-22 season (regular season and Playoffs), a record 56 games aired in primetime in EMEA. &nbsp;Opening-night rosters for the 2021-22 NBA season featured 65 players from Europe and the Middle East, 14 players from Africa and more than 30 players with at least one parent from Africa.
Below are highlights of the &ldquo;NBA Saturdays and NBA Sundays presented by NBA 2K23&rdquo; schedule. &nbsp;The complete schedule is available here.
&bull; Sunday, Oct. 30: 2020 NBA All-Star Brandon Ingram, 2021 NBA All-Star Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans visit seven-time NBA All-Star Paul George, two-time NBA champion and Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard and the LA Clippers at 3 p.m. ET / 9 p.m. CET.
&bull; Sunday, Nov. 27: Curry, four-time NBA All-Star Draymond Green, five-time NBA All-Star Klay Thompson and the defending NBA champion Warriors visit three-time NBA All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns, three-time NBA All-Star and Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert (France), 2020-21 Kia NBA All-Rookie First Team member Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves at 3:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 p.m. CET.
&bull; Sunday, Dec. 25: 2020 NBA champion and eight-time NBA All-Star Anthony Davis, James and the Lakers visit Doncić and the Mavericks at 2:30 p.m. ET / 8:30 p.m. CET on Christmas Day, followed by an NBA Sundays presented by NBA 2K23 rematch in Dallas on Feb. 26 at 3:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 p.m. CET.
&bull; Saturday, Jan. 14: Six-time NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler, 2020 NBA All-Star Bam Adebayo, 2021-22 Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year Tyler Herro and the Miami Heat host Antetokounmpo, three-time NBA All-Star Khris Middleton, four-time Kia NBA All-Defensive Team member Jrue Holiday and the Bucks at 1 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CET.
&bull; Saturday, Jan. 28: Jokić and the Nuggets visit Embiid, 2017-18 Kia NBA MVP and 10-time NBA All-Star James Harden and the 76ers at 3 p.m. ET / 9 p.m. CET as part of NBA Rivals Week. &nbsp;Embiid and Jokić were the top two 2021-22 Kia NBA MVP finalists, with Jokić winning the award for the second consecutive season.
&bull; Sunday, Feb. 12: Three-time NBA All-Star Jayson Tatum, 2021 NBA All-Star Jaylen Brown, 2021-22 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart and the defending Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics host 2022 NBA All-Star Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies at 2 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CET.
&bull; Sunday, March 5: Curry, Green, Thompson and the Warriors visit Davis, James and the Lakers at 3:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 p.m. CET.
&bull; Sunday, April 9: Three-time NBA All-Star Devin Booker, 12-time NBA All-Star Chris Paul and the Phoenix Suns host George, Leonard and the Clippers at 3:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 p.m. CET.
The NBA yesterday released the complete game schedule for the 2022-23 regular season, which will tip off on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022, and conclude on Sunday, April 9, 2023. &nbsp;The complete schedule and team-by-team schedules are available at NBA.com here. &nbsp;
About the NBA
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball. &nbsp;Built around five professional sports leagues: &nbsp;the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and Basketball Africa League, the NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming available in 214 countries and territories in more than 50 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 200 countries and territories on all seven continents. &nbsp;NBA rosters at the start of the 2021-22 season featured a record 121 international players from 40 countries. &nbsp;NBA Digital&rsquo;s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass. &nbsp;The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with 2.1 billion likes and followers globally across all league, team, and player platforms. &nbsp;Through NBA Cares, the league addresses important social issues by working with internationally recognized youth-serving organizations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.
About NBA Africa
NBA Africa is a standalone entity formed in May 2021 that conducts the NBA&rsquo;s business in Africa, including the Basketball Africa League (BAL). &nbsp;The NBA has a long history in Africa and opened its African headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2010 before opening additional offices in Dakar, Senegal, and Lagos, Nigeria. &nbsp;The league&rsquo;s efforts on the continent have focused on increasing access to basketball and the NBA through youth and elite development, social responsibility, media distribution, corporate partnerships, NBA Africa Games, the BAL, and more.
NBA games and programming are available in all 54 African countries, and the NBA has hosted three sold-out exhibition games on the continent since 2015. &nbsp;The BAL, a partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and NBA Africa, is a professional league featuring 12 club teams from across Africa that recently completed its second season. &nbsp;Fans can follow @NBA_Africa and @theBAL on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

The 2022-23 NBA regular season features 45 games that will air in primetime in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

NBA to feature 45 weekend primetime games in Europe, Middle East, Africa

It's unfortunate that the treasure-hunting roller coaster of business in the NBA often leaves player development in the dust.
A rumor, a ping-pong ball or a phone call can accelerate a franchise's competitive life cycle out of nowhere. With just about every major leap, however, comes a squeeze, where young players suddenly find their professional lives dramatically altered.
Every fan has a "What if?" story of a player who felt close to figuring things out, but simply ran out of time as the next big move packed him up and sent him away. Maybe it's the Los Angeles Lakers and Brandon Ingram, or the Lakers and Lonzo Ball, or the Lakers and Josh Hart, or &mdash; you get it. My personal wistful regret is the Minnesota Timberwolves dealing specifically Kris Dunn (along with Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen, of course) in the 2017 trade that returned Jimmy Butler. Even if the trades and draft picks made sense, we still wish we could have just a small peek at the alternate universe.
It feels like Mo Bamba is about to fall into that category. The 2018 No. 5 pick struggled to find his place in the NBA while wading through myriad injuries over his first few years. Then, this past season, he finally started to lay down a pattern of production with his flashes of potential, even as the Orlando Magic languished at the bottom of the league.
The problem: Orlando has the No. 1 pick in a <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/nba-draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2022 NBA Draft</a> with three game-changing bigs ranking among the consensus top prospects. Bamba, Wendell Carter Jr., Franz Wagner and *insert top pick* cannot all share a starting frontcourt now, in three years or in 10 years. Someone is probably getting squeezed out.
According to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, Bamba appears to be on the outside looking in. And regretfully, it's understandable. Wagner had a <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA_University/status/1536109881853218816?s=20&amp;t=-gBn7I0iLjpdqhaqWAM2hQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">phenomenal All-Rookie First Team season</a> and Carter appears fully entrenched as a <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/wendell-carter-jr-dont-publish-yet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cornerstone big man</a>. Still, Bamba truly took a leap in his own right, and it's worth reestablishing what makes him such a promising young player.
Bamba appeared in a career-high 71 games and averaged a career-high 25.7 minutes per game in 2021-22. He started 69 of those contests after earning six combined starts across his first three seasons. The availability alone is a major positive; just look at <a href="https://www.foxsports.com/nba/mohamed-bamba-player-injuries" target="_blank" rel="noopener">all of the injuries Bamba battled through four years.</a> With the increase in playing time came corresponding career highs in practically every major box-score category. But Bamba's most notable leap by far came from his deadeye perimeter shooting.
Bamba canned 38.1% of his 4.0 three-pointers per game, including a scorching 44.6% clip after the All-Star break. All of the sustainability indicators are there; Bamba hit 78.1% of his free-throws, improved from the arc as the year went on and proved himself on high volume.
According to Synergy, over 26.6% of Bamba's offensive plays last year were spot-ups. He also demonstrated comfort on pick-and-pop actions, where he cashed in plenty of open threes.
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Defenses dared Bamba to make them pay because he hadn't yet in his career, and the 24-year-old fired away. Opponents will likely pay more attention to him next season, but if you were to pair Bamba with scoring guards who can create advantages with his screens, he'll find open shots.
Bamba is a better screener than he gets credit for. The screen-assist stats from this season (1.7 per game) won't show it because Carter was the chief impediment, but Bamba averaged 3.0 screen assists per game in 2020-21 despite playing just 15.8 minutes per game. He's not a brick wall, but Bamba has greatly improved his build and strength since entering the league.
As a paint presence, Bamba is essentially a pure finisher at this stage. He made 70.4% of his shots in the restricted area, which is fine, but he doesn't create chances on his own and hasn't shown nearly enough as a passer or connector.
Then, you flip to the defensive end and you see why Bamba was so high-regarded before the 2018 draft. He contested over 46.7% of opposing shots at the rim this season, ranking in the 96th percentile at his position, according to The BBall Index. A whopping 29.5% of those contests resulted in blocks (93rd percentile), and opponents shot over 6% worse than expected at the rim when facing him (92nd percentile). Questions still remain about how he guards on the perimeter and how he handles 1-on-1 drives and post-ups. The bottom line is that few intimidate at the rim more than Bamba.&nbsp;
Despite the dissonance on paper, Bamba and Carter fared pretty well as a tandem. Together, they anchored Orlando to the 13th-ranked defense during the regular season. The five-man lineup of Cole Anthony, Gary Harris, Wagner, Carter and Bamba was a plus-5.8 per 100 possessions, according to Cleaning the Glass. Not bad for a lineup that played a lot together on a 22-win squad.
The final pitch for Bamba is that he is an efficient low-usage scorer who you can trust to boost teammates as a screener and cash in on his perimeter and lob chances. He's not quite an "anchor" yet on defense, but he is a pillar. Do teams buy that he can grow as a switching player, and do they buy that he can stay on the floor enough to stack his bright moments into a foundation? Those are the major question marks.
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Fortunately, several NBA teams should take interest in a 7-foot center with valuable traits and an untapped ceiling. Bamba is a restricted free agent, which means a pursuing team has to overwhelm Orlando with a contract and, most likely, a trade package. But loads of avenues exist for a deal that benefits Bamba, the Magic and his possible new franchise.
So, let's look at where Bamba could end up this summer.
ORLANDO MAGIC
The Magic hold all the power at the end of the day. They can match any contract opposing teams try to throw at Bamba, and maybe they want to. Orlando isn't a probable playoff contender, so why lose a young talent when the current objective is to amass young talent? The guessing game comes down to what the contract extension looks like.&nbsp;
Bamba has the pedigree of a No. 5 overall pick and the trajectory of a sturdy starting center with a concerning injury history and still-unrealized potential. it's pretty difficult to estimate what his next salary could look like.&nbsp;
If&nbsp;(and it's a big if) I had to compare, the most similar scenario would be the Boston Celtics inking Robert Williams III to a four-year, $48 million deal last summer. Like Bamba, Williams had a prior history of ailments and flashed starter ability. Williams had shown a lot more for a competitive basketball team &mdash; but also didn't carry the same stature Bamba does. So I'd say those cancel out, and for visualization's sake, we can estimate his extension would look something like $12 million per year .
Should Bamba stay in Orlando, he likely won't have long as a starter if Jabari Smith, Chet Holmgren or Paolo Banchero are waiting in the wings. But he'd absolutely continue as a high-end back big for an Orlando roster that boasted a pretty solid defense last year.&nbsp;
BROOKLYN NETS
Nic Claxton (restricted free agnet), Andre Drummond, Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge all hit free agency this summer. This is Brooklyn's chance to mold a center rotation that complements Kevin Durant, Ben Simmons and (most likely?) Kyrie Irving. Those three, plus Bruce Brown (also a free agent), are all excellent playmakers and passers. Bamba would simply be asked to finish his looks, be it as a stretch-5 or a lob threat. He'd have no burden to create on offense and could fill similar rim-protecting roles as his predecessors on defense.
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How could a trade work? Let's stick with Bamba's current salary estimate of $12 million for at least next season. Fanspo's trade machine says a deal exchanging Bamba for Joe Harris, Kessler Edwards and a future first-round pick works financially.
I think this is a fair starting point. Harris is making just over $18 million for the next two years, but Orlando shouldn't be concerned with cap space, and I actually love the idea of the Magic adding a movement shooter on the wing. Orlando is going to have a tough defense again next season; this is an easy way to give its slashing guards an outlet.
DALLAS MAVERICKS
Bamba is absolutely not Kristaps Porzingis, but he can take on some of the same responsibilities as an above-the-break shooter, screener and rim-protector while playing as a more versatile defensive center than Porzingis has ever been. The Mavericks desperately need size on the glass as well, and Bamba can grab rebounds while fitting into the team's overall spacing.
Dwight Powell is a solid NBA player. His minutes also decreased in every subsequent playoff series this spring, and he played just 9.8 minutes per game in the Western Conference Finals. Does Bamba have the two-way versatility to stick in these matchups against Golden State Warrior-like squads? It's difficult to say for certain, but I think he can get there.
Trading Bamba for Powell, Josh Green and/or the No. 26 overall pick works in the trade machine. It would be a complicated move to pull off because Bamba's restricted free agency begins after draft night, but this would be my guess at the framework.
MIAMI HEAT
How does Miami feel about Bam Adebayo as its long-term center? Obviously, he's a <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/pat-riley-like-most-of-us-wants-more-bam-adebayo-offense-too" target="_blank" rel="noopener">core piece to the overall team</a>, but is he best-equipped anchoring a smaller lineup or working alongside another big man? Bamba might be the ideal test.
Adebayo can operate as his All-Defensive self, taking on any matchup on the floor, while Bamba lurks as a shot-blocker and helper. Then, on offense, Bamba can space for Adebayo and Jimmy Butler. If the move doesn't work out, Bamba would at least be a significant upgrade over Dewayne Dedmon in a worst-case development scenario.&nbsp;
This deal, like with the Nets, starts with trading an elite movement shooter in Duncan Robinson. The Heat also have the No. 27 overall pick at their disposal and could add another flier prospect like Omer Yurtseven.
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OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
The Thunder have an exciting backcourt duo in Josh Giddey and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who could both use a pick-and-pop big to heighten their impact. OKC does not yet (though the draft could change things) have a certified stopper in the frontcourt. Enter Bamba, who plugs the on-paper hole at center and could reasonably fit alongside any of the top picks in the draft.
With picks and prospects galore, OKC can kind of take this deal in any direction that gets Bamba to the city. Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins seem to fit some Magic needs at first glance.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
The Trail Blazers surprisingly have oodles of cap space this offseason and a vacant starting center spot with Jusuf Nurkic hitting free agency. It's certainly possible Portland re-signs Nurkic, extends Anfernee Simons and heads on its merry way. But we've all expected some roster overhaul, as the franchise tries to throw one last contender together around Damian Lillard. Bamba won't vault Portland to the playoffs on his own, but he might be a suitable replacement for Nurkic on a manageable contract with room to grow.
Keon Johnson feels like an obvious return target for the Magic as a long, athletic wing with two-way upside. Perhaps the trade conversations start there and include an additional rotation player, plus some draft compensation.
I do ultimately hope that Bamba lands in a situation that is willing to be patient with his development. He's hit some rotten luck with injuries and deserves a extended chance to shine &mdash; whether that's in Orlando or somewhere else.&nbsp;
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The Nets, Mavericks, Heat and Trail Blazers could be possible, logical landing spots for Mo Bamba. Ethan Fuller explains.

Examining potential destinations for Mo Bamba

BOSTON (AP) &mdash; Jaylen Brown scored 22 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, and the Boston Celtics rallied from 17 points down to beat the Brooklyn Nets 114-107 on Wednesday night and take a 2-0 lead in their first-round series.
Jayson Tatum added 19 points for the Celtics, who held Kevin Durant without a basket in the second half. Al Horford had 16 points, Daniel Theis scored 15 and Payton Pritchard had eight of his 10 in the final period.
Durant finished with 27 points but struggled from the field for the second straight game, shooting 4 of 17. Kyrie Irving had just 10 points on 4-of-13 shooting a day after being fined $50,000 for directing obscene gestures and profane language at Celtics fans during Game 1.
The series shifts to Brooklyn for Game 3 on Saturday night.
Durant and Irving were a combined 1 for 17 in the second half. Bruce Brown finished with 23 points and Seth Curry added 16.
The TD Garden faithful peppered Irving with boos throughout, beginning with the pregame introductions. The volume ratcheted up after tipoff with the addition of &ldquo;Kyrie sucks! Kyrie sucks!&rdquo; chants on each of Brooklyn&rsquo;s first two possessions. The boos returned whenever he got his hands on the ball.
Boston trailed the entire first half but finally caught up to tie it at 79 on a short jumper by Daniel Theis. The Nets were able to settle in and took a 90-85 edge to the final period.
The Celtics tied it up again at 92 early in the fourth on a leaner by Jaylen Brown and took their first lead of the game with 7:48 left on a jumper by Pritchard.
It was part of 23-4 run that grew the Celtics&rsquo; lead to 108-96. The Nets went almost three minutes without a basket during the stretch.
The barrage of boos fans aimed at Irving did little to rattle Brooklyn early. The Nets jumped out to a 9-0 lead, which led to a quick Boston timeout. Bruce Brown had all nine points, part of a 12-point quarter that helped put Brooklyn in front 33-24.
The lead increased to 45-31 in the second, prompting another Celtics timeout. During the break, Marcus Smart, who injured his left thumb minutes earlier while diving on the floor after a loose ball, could be seen grimacing as trainers attended to him on the bench.
He got the thumb taped and remained in the game, scoring six straight points.
Brooklyn settled in and got its lead as high as 15 before a late flurry by Boston helped it trim the deficit to 65-55 at half.
TIP-INS
Nets: Irving, who is observing Ramadan, came out of the game with 3:23 left in the first quarter. He went to locker room and returned with food, the sun having just set in Boston. &hellip; Curry was called for a flagrant foul in the first after he grabbed Tatum&rsquo;s arm and knocked him to the ground while breaking up a sure fast-break basket.
Celtics: Had nine turnovers in the first half.
MAKING PROGRESS
Nets: Ben Simmons went through some contact work with teammates on Wednesday, which coach Steve Nash called &ldquo;another step&rdquo; in the point guard&rsquo;s rehab efforts on his injured back. But Nash said an ESPN report that Simmons could return to action as early as Game 4 was news to him.
Celtics center Robert Williams III has started participating in 3-on-3 play, coach Ime Udoka said.
Though Udoka cautioned the team still isn&rsquo;t anticipating him recovering from his recent knee surgery to return in time for this series.

The Boston Celtics' stifling defense led the way in a Game 2 win over the Brooklyn Nets.

Celtics rally in 2nd half, beat Nets 114-107 for 2-0 lead

CLEVELAND (AP) &mdash; When things got tight down the stretch, the Bulls' experience &mdash; and their All-Star power &mdash; showed up.
The Cavaliers caved.
Zach LaVine scored 26 points, DeMar DeRozan added 20 and Chicago stayed alone in the No. 5 spot in the Eastern Conference with a 98-94 win Saturday night over Cleveland, which didn't wake up until the second half.
The Bulls held the Cavs to just 35 points in the first half, then held off Cleveland's comeback in the fourth quarter to win on the road for the first time since March 9.
Chicago came in holding a one-game lead over Cleveland for the fifth playoff spot. The Bulls were determined not to give it up.
&ldquo;We played desperate tonight and it showed,&rdquo; said center Nikola Vucevic, who had 16 points and nine rebounds. "We needed to. It goes to our approach, knowing how important these games are.&rdquo;
With the loss and Toronto's win, the Cavs fell into seventh place &mdash; one of the play-in positions &mdash; and are one game behind the Raptors, who beat Indiana 131-91.
&ldquo;Reality is what reality is. We've got young guys who are trying to figure it out and you never figure it out until you&rsquo;re in those positions,&rdquo; said Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m proud of our guys because it didn&rsquo;t take them the whole game to figure it out.&rdquo;
Darius Garland scored 28 points and Caris LeVert had 17 in his second start for Cleveland since coming over in a February trade.
Down by 18 at halftime, the Cavs woke up and kept chipping away. They got within 10 several times before finally making a run and closing to 83-80 on LeVert's dunk &mdash; off a nice dish from Garland &mdash; with 5:35 left.
The Cavs were still within four when the Bulls reeled off eight straight points on buckets by LaVine, DeRozan and two by rookie Ayo Dosunmu to open a 95-83 lead, sending many in the sellout crowd at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse toward the exits.
DeRozan missed the Bulls' previous game with a groin strain, and spent a good chunk of the first half on the bench in foul trouble. But when Chicago needed a bucket, the All-Star forward came through with a mid-range jumper or drive.
&ldquo;DeMar DeRozan is one of the best small possession offensive players we have in this league,&rdquo; Bickerstaff said. "His efficiency, his ability to get a two-point make is top tier. You put yourself in that position and you put the ball in his hands, he&rsquo;s a guy who can close on you and we saw that tonight.&rdquo;
The Cavs came out flat, sloppy and disconnected defensively in their biggest game so far in this turnaround season.
They weren't much better on the offensive end, committing eight turnovers and going 1 of 18 on 3-pointers in scoring 35 points &mdash; matching a season low &mdash; in the first half.
&ldquo;We allowed them to keep pushing, pushing, pushing and at no point in the first half did we say, &lsquo;Enough is enough&rsquo; and push back,&rdquo; Bickerstaff said.
TIP-INS
Bulls: G Alex Caruso added 10 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. ... F Tristan Thompson was fined $20,000 by the NBA for directing profane language at a game official Thursday in New Orleans. ... Chicago plays five of its final eight games at home and owns the season-ending tiebreaker over Toronto.
Cavaliers: Rookie F Evan Mobley had 11 rebounds. ... Kevin Love made his 1,000th 3-pointer with Cleveland, joining LeBron James (1,251) as the only players in team history to reach the plateau. ... Love didn't play in the fourth quarter. ... Dropped to 6-1 in home games against Central Division opponents. ... All-Star C Jarrett Allen missed his 10th straight game with a broken finger. Bickerstaff said Allen's pain has decreased, which has allowed him to do more on-court activity without risking further injury.
CELEBRATING THE CAVS
World B. Free, a flashy scoring guard who kept the Cavs relevant in the 1980s, was honored with a spot on the team&rsquo;s Wall of Honor along with former owner Gordon Gund, Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens and forward Campy Russell.
Free only played four seasons in Cleveland, and was the only good thing for a franchise during some lean years and one that nearly moved.
Gund stopped that, buying the Cavs from Ted Stepien. He was the team&rsquo;s principal owner from 1983-2005.
Wilkens has the most coaching wins (316) in team history. Russell was a member of Cleveland&rsquo;s &ldquo;Miracle of Richfield&rdquo; team in the 1970s.
UP NEXT
Bulls: Visit New York on Monday night.
Cavaliers: Host Orlando on Monday night.

Zach LaVine scored 26 points as Chicago stayed alone in the No. 5 spot in the Eastern Conference with a 98-94 win over Cleveland.

LaVine's 25 lead Bulls to 98-94 win over young Cavaliers

NEW YORK (AP) &mdash; Kevin Durant scored 38 points, Seth Curry returned to the lineup with seven 3-pointers in his best game as a Net, and Brooklyn rallied to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 128-123 on Friday night.
Curry finished with 27 points, his most since coming from Philadelphia last month in the trade headlined by James Harden and Ben Simmons. Curry had missed the previous three games with left ankle soreness.
Andre Drummond and Bruce Brown each added 17 points for the Nets. They bounced back from their loss at the buzzer to Dallas on Wednesday and won for the fifth time in six games.
Josh Hart scored 25 points for the Trail Blazers, who led by 18 early in the second half but couldn't hold on and lost their third straight. Brandon Williams added 24 points.
Durant shot 11 for 15 from the field and added six rebounds and six assists, but the decisive stretch came when he was on the bench to begin the fourth quarter. The Nets opened with a 10-0 spurt, featuring two 3-pointers by Curry, to turn a tie game into a 111-101 lead.
Portland would get it down to three late but Curry finished it off with two free throws the final time.
Playing again without Kyrie Irving at home, the Nets allowed the Blazers to make nine of first 12 shots, but recovered for a 34-33 lead after one behind 13 points from Durant. Portland then shot 18 for 25 (72%) in a 42-point second quarter. Ben McLemore's 3-pointer made it 75-62 at the break.
Portland extended the lead to 82-64 with a good start to the third. The Nets charged back by hitting 13 of 18 shots in the third, outscoring the Blazers 39-26 to even it at 101 heading to the fourth.
TIP-INS
Trail Blazers: Justise Winslow played in his second straight game since returning from a sore right Achilles tendon. Coach Chauncey Billups said he came through Wednesday's game well and had a good workout Thursday.
Nets: Durant was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Friday for directing obscene language toward a fan with 9.4 seconds left in the first half of the loss to Dallas on Wednesday. ... The Nets had lost six straight home meetings, though one was a designated home game played at Walt Disney World during the restart in 2020
FORGETTING FEBRUARY
Coach Steve Nash said he couldn't recall whether he noticed if Simmons, who remains out with a back injury, appeared to have any physical issues after the Nets acquired him from Philadelphia on Feb. 10.
&ldquo;What was that, a month ago?&rdquo; Nash said. &ldquo;I can&rsquo;t remember if he was having issues or if it flared up.&rdquo;
Simmons' back began bothering him after he tried to rebuild his conditioning after the trade and has done nothing more than individual workouts. Nash revealed that the guard had an MRI he believed was a couple weeks ago and how no update on how Simmons felt after getting an epidural earlier this week.
STANDINGS SITUATION
Toronto went into play Friday tied with Cleveland for sixth place in the East. If the Raptors avoid seventh and the play-in, the Nets wouldn't have to worry about possibly playing there without Irving, who can't travel to Canada because he is unvaccinated.
&ldquo;Not that I&rsquo;m oblivious to all that, but I&rsquo;m not like refreshing my screen to find out what the standings are,&rdquo; Nash said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re focusing on ourselves, trying to improve, trying to put ourselves in a position where we&rsquo;ll be ready for that game no matter who we play.&rdquo;
UP NEXT
Trail Blazers: At Indiana on Sunday.
Nets: Host Utah on Monday night.

Kevin Durant scored 38 points, Seth Curry hit seven 3-pointers and the Brooklyn Nets rallied to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 128-123.

Durant, Curry lead Nets back to beat Trail Blazers 128-123

Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant has been fined $25,000 for directing obscene language toward a fan, it was announced today by the NBA.
The incident took place with 9.4 seconds remaining in the second quarter of the Nets&rsquo; 113-111 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on March 16 at Barclays Center.&nbsp;
When a fan told Durant to take over the game, KD responded, <a href="https://twitter.com/DeLo_77/status/1504293717922009094" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"Shut the f*** up and sit down."</a>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Somehow this got reported? But my wife is just like KD when I say I&rsquo;m getting one more drink. <a href="https://t.co/qcNZygISMm">pic.twitter.com/qcNZygISMm</a>
&mdash; DeLo (@DeLo_77) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeLo_77/status/1504293717922009094?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Kevin Durant was fined $25,000 for directing obscene language at fans during a game.

Nets' Kevin Durant fined $25,000 for swearing at a fan

It&rsquo;s been a tough season for Syracuse freshman Benny Williams, the 6-foot-8 forward from Prince George&rsquo;s County, Md. &mdash; the same place that produced Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Markelle Fultz, Victor Oladipo and many other NBA standouts.&nbsp;
Williams arrived at Syracuse as a five-star, top-25 prospect. In fact, he's the highest-rated recruit that Syracuse has landed in a long time. Fans couldn&rsquo;t wait to see what a recruit of this caliber would do once he set foot inside the Carrier Dome.&nbsp;
However, this season didn&rsquo;t go as planned.&nbsp;
Williams was relegated to the bench for the majority of the season, seeing inconsistent spot minutes and failing to live up to the expectations set for him. And while the majority of Syracuse fans were up in arms over Williams' lack of playing time, his status didn&rsquo;t change.&nbsp;
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It looked like things could possibly turn around for the freshman after a good showing in a lopsided loss to Duke (when he had 14 points and 6 rebounds on 71.4% shooting from the field). However, these hopes were crushed when it was announced that <a href="https://www.syracuse.com/orangebasketball/2022/03/benny-williams-will-miss-the-rest-of-the-2021-22-season-with-an-injury-su-announced.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Williams would miss the rest of the season</a> with a lower-body injury.
But what was strange was that he was not on the bench for the final game against Miami nor for the first game of the ACC Tournament against Florida State. This, of course, has led to more chatter and speculation from fans about the possibility of him not returning to Syracuse next season.&nbsp;
Syracuse legend Derrick Coleman was a guest on my podcast "The Rematch," and we discussed Benny Williams, his limited playing time and the likelihood of him returning next season. Below is an excerpt of our conversation.
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Etan Thomas: "Let me ask you a question about the current team. It's been a tough season."
Derrick Coleman: "Cardiac 'Cuse." (Points to his hoodie)&nbsp;
Thomas: "Cardiac 'Cuse! It's been a tough season. And there are a lot of aspects that are troublesome. One of them is: I saw <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ncaa-basketball-news-losing-kadary-richmond-tragedy-for-syracuse-university-orange-transfer-portal-jim-boeheim" target="_blank" rel="noopener">what happened with Kadary [Richmond]</a>. I saw his demeanor. I was watching him on the bench &mdash; watching him sitting there, not playing. Then, watching him when he played, he got in there and he did well, but there was no joy. There was no happiness. You know what I mean? He did what he did, and went back to the bench emotionless. So I knew he was going to leave. That's why I kept saying, 'He's going to leave if we don&rsquo;t play him.' And I see the same thing with Benny Williams. And the thing about it, he&rsquo;s from this area. PG County. I've seen him play. My son knows him and has seen him play for years.
"He is someone who is a special talent. And now it's setup to where it's like, 'I'm going to play you sparingly here, and then take you out, and then tell the media you're not ready.' Or, 'I'm not going to play you for four games, and then put you in for two minutes. After one mistake, I'm going to talk about that mistake publicly, and then tell the media again, 'That's why you're not ready.'' And that's the part that bothers me because I&rsquo;ve seen this script before. Benny&rsquo;s saying all the right things publicly. He's staying after the game, shooting, all that stuff, which is great because somebody's advising him very well, most likely his father."
Coleman: "But that's not getting him into the game. Let me just say this, okay? Benny Williams is a top-30 prospect. Can you name anybody else on our team that's a top-30 prospect?"
Thomas: "No."
Coleman: "Can you name anybody on our team the last two, three years that has been a top-30 prospect?"
Thomas: "Hmmm..."
Coleman: "So how you got a top-30 prospect sitting on the bench when nobody on our team is a top-30 prospect? That's sad. But the thing that I don't like about it [is]: You're playing with kids' lives, their livelihood, and just what you just said, he now has no enthusiasm. No joy. So now you&rsquo;ve sucked the soul out of me so now the game of basketball, something that I love, is not fun anymore."
Thomas: "Right."
Coleman: "So when it's not fun, okay, I got to go somewhere where it's going to be fun for me again. And just like you say, I sit and... Every time Seton Hall plays, I'm watching because I'm rooting for [Kadary]."
Thomas: "He puts on a show too, every single time."
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Coleman: "Because it doesn't make any sense what's going on at our university. And you cannot do that."
Thomas: "Yeah. I agree."
Coleman: "You&rsquo;re taking the life out of a kid, man. He's no longer having any fun, and nothing that he's doing in the game of basketball is fun anymore and it&rsquo;s not supposed to be like that. Basketball is supposed to be fun, man. Like you said, you're not even having fun with your teammates."
Thomas: "Right. There's no joy."
Coleman: "The demeanor is dry. Your smile is dry. You know what I'm saying?"
Thomas: "Yeah, you can tell."
Coleman: "You're not really engaged and then you&rsquo;re constantly looking over your shoulder because any mistake..."
Thomas: "You're coming out."
Coleman: "And you&rsquo;re going crazy about me making a mistake? When I'm coming out of the game, you&rsquo;re yelling and cursing at me. I expect a mistake, Coach. Went from a 2-3 to a 1-3-1, Coach. Where they do that at?"
Thomas: "Right. Where they do that at? "
Coleman: "Yeah. Come on, man. What are we doing?"
Thomas: "And somebody throws me a bad pass and I don't catch it, and it's my fault. And I get snatched out and I get fussed at. And you&rsquo;re yelling and snarling and spitting and carrying on ."
Coleman: "Right."
Thomas: "And it's interesting because I've been on the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/syracuse-center-jesse-edwards-answers-critics-with-his-play" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Free Jesse [Edwards] campaign</a> and rooting for Jesse for some time now. And I saw the same thing happening with him. Me and Roosevelt Bouie, we've been talking to him. He was in the same predicament that Benny is currently in &mdash; not getting to play, you saw the demeanor changing. Put him in for a minute, take him out. Publicly saying, 'He's not ready. He's not this, he&rsquo;s not that.' Now, this year, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/syracuse-center-jesse-edwards-answers-critics-with-his-play" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jesse is ballin'</a>! You know what I mean? It's amazing what you can do with time on the court, being allowed to play through mistakes."
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Coleman: "Thank you."
Thomas: "And then gaining confidence, and then you're able to produce because everybody's like, 'Well, oh, Jesse all of a suddenly learned how to play...' And I&rsquo;m like, 'He could&rsquo;ve done this last year!'"
Coleman: "Exactly. You gotta get a chance to have some type of rhythm out there on the court."
Thomas: "And that's where we, as Syracuse alumni, step in. I was talking to Jesse all the time, lifting his spirits and encouraging him &mdash; the same way that Roosevelt Bouie did with me when I was playing. You didn't go through any of that."
Coleman: (Laughing) "Nah, nah."
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Thomas: "Come on DC, you know you don&rsquo;t know nothing about that. Having the freshman blues where you&rsquo;re sitting there in practice, looking at Coach Boeheim and you&rsquo;re like, 'Let him say one thing to me today and this going to be the day! One thing, and it goin' down today!'" (Laughing) &nbsp;
Coleman: (Laughing) "But what you got to understand with me, man, everybody have a rock on their shoulder. I got a brick."
Thomas: "I got you."
Coleman: "I got a brick on my shoulder. I'm raised by strong women, man. And I tell people that all the time: Man, the strongest person in my life has been my grandmother. Period. So I'm raised not to take no shit. I'm raised to be respectable and to have respect, regardless of what the situation is. You might not like me, don't like what I say or whatever I do, but you know what? You going to respect me. So I'm raised that way. And like I said, I used to go through my pitfalls and have my battles with Coach. But again, confidence, man. I would never let nobody take away my confidence from me."
Thomas: "Who were the older players, the vets, that came back and poured into you, while you was at Syracuse?"
Coleman: "Well, again, it started for me probably being up there, playing in camp. And I used to always play with Leo Rautins and those guys. So they used to always be up there. And then seeing Pearl [Washington], talking to Pearl a lot. Seeing Gene Waldron and Howard [Triche], you know what I mean? So as a freshman, I'm just trying to feel my way through everything. Like Derek Brower... I probably spent more time with Derek Brower [than anyone]... He was my ride, as a freshman, you know what I'm saying? He was my ride everywhere."
Thomas: "He's a character. He's so funny on Facebook."
Coleman: "A character, man! A great dude, but he is a character. But I spent a lot of times with him and Greg Monroe. Hhe actually gave me my nickname, Coast To Coast. Because people were always like, 'Why they call you Coast?' I say, 'Because I would grab the rebound and push it coast to coast. Greg Monroe gave me that nickname.' And it was always great having those guys motivate me just like I&rsquo;m sure it&rsquo;s great for Jesse to have you motivate him.
"But again, man, confidence is everything. And like you said, when I'm looking at Benny... Body language tells us everything. So when I'm sitting there watching the games, like we do, I see it. I see it in the kid&rsquo;s face. The way he looks, his whole body language. He's just like, 'Man, I'm just here.'"
Thomas: "I'm just here so I won&rsquo;t get fined."
Coleman: "Exactly! So I&rsquo;m like what&rsquo;s going on? You know what I'm saying? And again, I don't see nobody better than him or with more upside."
Thomas: "And you better believe there are other programs, especially around the DMV, that would love to have him. I'm sure Maryland is on the horn... If they are smart, they're on the horn talking to his parents like, 'Hey, you&rsquo;re not going to have to go through what you're going through there, over here.' I know it! Any coach should do that right now. So I'm a little bit doubtful [he returns]&hellip; I mean, he&rsquo;s always saying all the right things. The media keeps asking him and putting him on the spot, but what is he supposed to say to the media? I hate it here and I can&rsquo;t wait to get up outta here the first chance I get? But no, I don't have the confidence to say he's going to be back next year."
Coleman: "Me either. But why would he? Why would he come back to go through all of this stuff again that he did as a freshman? What&rsquo;s really gonna change, Coach? How are you gonna convince me that anything will be different?"
Thomas: "It&rsquo;s just unfortunate."
Coleman: "It&rsquo;s very unfortunate, because you&rsquo;re playing with a kid&rsquo;s life and he really has a chance to go to the next level. And now, you have this kid second-guessing himself out there and not even playing like himself anymore."
Thomas: "And like I said, I saw him in high school, the kid can play!"
Coleman: "I saw him too, he can go. Bounce, shoot, drive, defend, I saw him and said, 'Oh, he&rsquo;s gonna be special.' So now, he may be special for another school and that&rsquo;s terrible."
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Etan Thomas speaks with Derrick Coleman about the Syracuse men's basketball team and the future of Benny Williams.