Ambassadors

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The term &ldquo;3-and-D&rdquo; has long been one of the most valuable archetypes in modern basketball. It refers to players who can knock down the three-pointer consistently while also defending at a high level on the perimeter. The idea was never just about specialists who could only do one thing. True 3-and-D players were those who could space the floor offensively while also holding their ground defensively against elite scorers.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That role defined Danny Green&rsquo;s career.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Green built a reputation as one of the most reliable players in that mold. A three-time NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, and Los Angeles Lakers, he became known for his ability to stretch defenses with timely three-point shooting while also guarding the opposing team&rsquo;s best perimeter player.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">During championship runs, Green&rsquo;s value often came from the balance he provided. Offensively, his shooting forced defenses to stay honest and opened space for star teammates to attack. Defensively, his discipline and positioning allowed him to take on difficult assignments without sacrificing team structure.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to Green, players who truly excel in both areas have become less common.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;We don&rsquo;t see it as often as we used to,&rdquo; he said, reflecting on the classic definition of the 3-and-D role.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Green recently visited the Philippines as part of an initiative to support local partnerships and fan engagement in collaboration with NBA Store PH. During the visit, he interacted with fans and discussed various aspects of the modern game, including how the role he once thrived in has evolved.</span></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">3x NBA champion (Spurs, Raptors, Lakers) Danny Green is in the Philippines to support local partner engagements and interact with fans <a href="https://twitter.com/basketbllnews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@basketbllnews</a> <a href="https://t.co/4Kjp7XnMDv">pic.twitter.com/4Kjp7XnMDv</a></p>
&mdash; Mon Anthony Valmoria (@MorvalNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/MorvalNBA/status/2032392344079876556?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2026</a></blockquote>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">
<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In today&rsquo;s NBA, the game has shifted toward more ball-dominant creators and versatile offensive engines. Many players are asked to do more than simply space the floor and defend. They initiate offense, handle the ball in pick-and-roll situations, and create their own scoring opportunities. While that versatility is valuable, it has also blurred the lines of what a traditional 3-and-D player looks like.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite that shift, Green pointed out that there are still players in the league who embody the spirit of the role, even if their responsibilities extend beyond it.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Among the names he mentioned were Jaylen Brown, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cade Cunningham, and Victor Wembanyama, and e</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">ach of those players fits the description in different ways.</span></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">3-time NBA champion Danny Green on who he thinks are the top 3-and-D players in the NBA today: &ldquo;Jaylen Brown, SGA, Cade Cunningham, all these guys that we watch that are MVP candidates, Victor Wembanyama.&rdquo; <a href="https://twitter.com/basketbllnews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@basketbllnews</a> <a href="https://t.co/wbECdJ8E8K">pic.twitter.com/wbECdJ8E8K</a></p>
&mdash; Mon Anthony Valmoria (@MorvalNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/MorvalNBA/status/2032407708004139228?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2026</a></blockquote>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">
<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Brown has built his reputation as one of the league&rsquo;s premier two-way wings. He can score at all three levels while also defending multiple positions with physicality and athleticism. His ability to knock down perimeter shots while guarding top wings reflects the modern evolution of the 3-and-D role.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Gilgeous-Alexander, while primarily known for his offensive brilliance, has also developed into a disruptive defender with strong instincts and length. Cunningham&rsquo;s size and versatility at the guard position allow him to contribute defensively while spacing the floor when needed. Wembanyama represents perhaps the most unique version of the concept, combining elite rim protection with the ability to stretch the floor from beyond the arc.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What these players represent is the modern version of the archetype. They are not limited to standing in the corner waiting for a kick-out pass or focusing solely on defensive assignments. Instead, they incorporate shooting and defense into a broader skill set that includes playmaking and scoring creation.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Green&rsquo;s perspective carries weight because he spent more than a decade mastering the role at the highest level. His shooting helped swing playoff games, and his defense allowed championship teams to maintain balance on both ends of the floor.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The league may be evolving, but the core value of the 3-and-D concept remains the same. Players who can space the floor while defending at a high level will always be essential pieces for winning teams.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Even if the role looks different today, its importance has not disappeared. According to Green, the players who can truly do both at an elite level are still among the most valuable in the game.</span></p>

Danny Green discusses the evolution of the 3-and-D role, saying the archetype is less common today.

“We don’t see it as often than we used to”: Danny Green cites elite 3-and-D guys

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett is set to reunite with his former team Minnesota Timberwolves, according to ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Timberwolves legend will be in an &ldquo;all-encompassing role&rdquo; involving business, community efforts, and content development, as he returns to the franchise he once starred for in the past.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Garnett has not been involved with the Wolves organization since his career ended in 2016 after a rift with then Wolves owner Glen Taylor. Since then, Garnett has built a rapport with new owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez, prompting this move back to the franchise.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Along this new role, Garnett will reportedly finally be given a jersey retirement ceremony for his iconic #21 in the near future. </span></p>

Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett is set to reunite with his former team Minnesota Timberwolves, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Kevin Garnett to reunite with the Minnesota Timberwolves

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Two of the league&rsquo;s biggest names returned to action this week, each under very different circumstances but with high expectations. Paul George made his season debut with the Philadelphia 76ers after a lengthy rehabilitation, while LeBron James returned for the Los Angeles Lakers in his historic 23rd season.</span></p>
<p><strong>Paul George back on the floor for the Sixers</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">George made his long-awaited return on November 17 in Philadelphia&rsquo;s 110-108 win over his former team, the Los Angeles Clippers. He logged 21 minutes, scoring nine points on 2-of-9 shooting, while adding seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 35-year-old wing had been sidelined since early March with a left knee injury that required surgery &ndash; a disruption that curtailed what was meant to be a pivotal season in Philadelphia.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, Sixers head coach Nick Nurse confirmed George will still be on a minutes restriction as Philadelphia carefully eases him back into full form.</span></p>
<p><strong>LeBron James begins 23rd NBA Season in style</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">James returned to the court November 19 in Los Angeles, leading the Lakers to a 140-126 victory over the Utah Jazz. He played 30 minutes and posted 11 points and 12 assists.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The appearance also marked a historic milestone: James became the first player in NBA history to participate in a 23rd season.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite missing the first 14 games due to sciatica, James didn&rsquo;t appear visibly rusty and helped energize the Lakers&rsquo; offense and veteran presence immediately.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the postseason outlook, his return is seen as a major boost for LA&rsquo;s aspirations &ndash; especially alongside the contributions of Luka Doncic and other rising teammates who have stepped up in his absence.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">ANALYSIS: What this means for George is him returning gives the Sixers the veteran wing and two-way defender they signed for. This is a hint at a player ready to contribute again and help them reach even greater heights. For LeBron, his debut sets the tone for another chapter in his legendary career. Less about big scoring and more about orchestration and leadership &ndash; at age 40 he remains impactful.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These returns come at key moments. Philadelphia needs George&rsquo;s presence to stabilize their rotation and absorb pressure as their injury list grows. The Lakers get a foundational piece back to complement their younger core for what they aim to be a deep run.</span></p>

Paul George made his season debut with the Philadelphia 76ers  while LeBron James returned for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Paul George, LeBron James mark season debuts coming back from injuries

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">MACAU, CHINA &mdash; The NBA officially returned to China for the first time in six years, and the moment didn&rsquo;t disappoint. In a thrilling overtime showdown at the Venetian Arena, the Phoenix Suns outlasted the Brooklyn Nets 132-127 here in the first game of the 2025 NBA China Games, capping off a night filled with history</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The atmosphere inside the 14,000-seat arena was electric, with fans witnessing not just the return of NBA basketball to Chinese soil, but also a matchup that had all the flair of a midseason battle. After a six-year hiatus following strained relations between the league and the country, the NBA&rsquo;s return marked a new chapter &ndash; and Macau&rsquo;s vibrant crowd made sure it was one to remember.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Several NBA legends also were in attendance, including Shaquille O&rsquo;Neal, Yao Ming, Vince Carter, Vince Carter, Dwyane Wade, Jeremy Lin, Shawn Marion, Deron Williams, Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, and Stephon Marbury with special appearances from David Beckham and Jackie Chan.</span></p>
<p><strong>Game report: Nets start hot before Suns find their rhythm, as Booker leads third-quarter surge and Goodwin seals it in overtime</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Brooklyn came out blazing, storming to a 23-6 lead behind the hot hand of Cam Thomas, who poured in nine early points and looked unstoppable in isolation. The Nets were crisp and confident, converting tough looks while capitalizing on Phoenix&rsquo;s early turnovers and sluggish defense. The Suns struggled to find their footing initially, looking overwhelmed by Brooklyn&rsquo;s pace and pressure.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As the game wore on, though, the Suns began to settle in. They tightened their defense, slowed the tempo, and began finding their offensive groove. By halftime, Phoenix had clawed back into the game, their ball movement improving and their defensive rotations much sharper.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The third quarter belonged to Devin Booker, who caught fire after a quiet first half. The All-Star guard found his rhythm from midrange and from downtown and began orchestrating the Suns&rsquo; comeback. His leadership helped steady the team, and his ability to collapse the Nets&rsquo; defense opened the door for Phoenix&rsquo;s role players to step up.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In overtime, it was Jordan Goodwin who delivered the dagger &ndash; drilling a clutch three-pointer that sealed the Suns&rsquo; victory. Phoenix&rsquo;s bench outplayed Brooklyn&rsquo;s late, displaying poise and depth that underscored how balanced this Suns roster can be even in exhibition play.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nets head coach Jordi Fern&aacute;ndez spoke about his young group after the loss, noting both positives and areas for growth.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;I&rsquo;m very happy with them overall,&rdquo; Fernandez said, speaking about rookie PGs Nolan Traore and Ben Saraf. Traore finished the game with 6 points in 7 minutes, starting the game, while Saraf had 9 markers off the bench. &ldquo;I thought Nolan and Ben as point guards felt the real NBA pressure &ndash; and that&rsquo;s a good thing. That&rsquo;s a learning opportunity when you feel that pressure from a good defensive team. But 34 turnovers for 42 points? You&rsquo;re not going to win many games that way.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fernandez also commended rookies Drake Powell and Danny Wolf for their energy and composure. &ldquo;Drake took advantage of his minutes &ndash; you can see his athleticism, how he pressures the ball, and plays on both ends. Danny had a good punch with that last group and made winning plays to help us take the lead.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For Cam Thomas, who finished with an impressive scoring and playmaking display with 22 points and 6 assists, the balance between aggression and facilitating remains a focus.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;Me and Jordi always talk about it,&rdquo; Thomas said about him being a scorer and a facilitator. &ldquo;He knows I&rsquo;m a scorer, but it&rsquo;s about that fine line &ndash; being aggressive while creating for others. We&rsquo;re finding that balance this year, and it&rsquo;s trending up.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On the Suns&rsquo; side, head coach Jordan Ott highlighted the impact of rookie center Oso Ighodaro, who showcased his mobility and passing feel in the short roll.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;The speed and aggressiveness early from the Nets did affect him,&rdquo; Ott said. &ldquo;But you saw how important Oso is to us. His third quarter really helped stabilize that group, especially against a team that pressures as much as Brooklyn. He&rsquo;s a pressure release for us &ndash; that short-roll decision making is big.&rdquo;</span></p>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ndash; &ndash; &ndash;</span></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Beyond the box score, the night carried symbolic weight. The NBA&rsquo;s return to China &ndash; facilitated with lots of partnership including with Alibaba and Tencent &ndash; marks a rekindling of one of the league&rsquo;s most lucrative international relationships. The Macau crowd&rsquo;s energy underscored how much Chinese fans have missed live NBA action.</span></p>

The Phoenix Suns defeated the Brooklyn Nets 132–127 in Macau as the NBA returned to China for the first time in six years.

Suns edge Nets in Macau as NBA returns to China after six years

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The New York Knicks are standing at a crossroads, but it feels like they are primed to cross it for the very first time in a long while. For two seasons, they&rsquo;ve climbed steadily up the Eastern Conference ladder &ndash; first breaking through as gritty playoff underdogs, then proving themselves as a legitimate contender. Now, with their roster fully fortified and a wide-open East beckoning, the Knicks are no longer chasing respect. They&rsquo;re chasing the only thing that matters in New York: a championship.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It might be a title or bust season for the Knickerbockers this year.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Knicks of the past were easy to caricature &ndash; a franchise trapped in mediocrity, waiting decades for a new star to deliver salvation. But the past two years have rewritten that narrative. Under the leadership of Jalen Brunson, the Knicks have reached the second round and the conference finals, proving their rise wasn&rsquo;t just a flash in the pan.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Those playoff runs forged their identity: a rugged, defense-first team with just enough offensive firepower to punch above their weight. Along the way, their core hardened. Brunson has blossomed into one of the NBA&rsquo;s elite guards. Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges, longtime Villanova teammates, brought a rare chemistry and two-way grit. OG Anunoby, acquired in a trade, added length, defense, and a winning pedigree to the wings.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And then came Karl-Anthony Towns &ndash; the big swing. The Knicks didn&rsquo;t just want to compete; they wanted to win it all. Towns&rsquo; arrival gives them a true second option, a versatile big man who can space the floor, play inside-out, and take scoring pressure off Brunson when defenses collapse.</span></p>
<p><strong>The stars align for the Knicks</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At the center of it all is Brunson. Once dismissed as just a role player early in his career, Brunson has authored one of the league&rsquo;s great ascensions. Last season, he averaged career-high scoring and efficiency while becoming the face of New York basketball. He is the Knicks&rsquo; engine, their heartbeat, their unquestioned star.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But stars need support, and New York has surrounded him with just that. Towns&rsquo; ability to play inside-out unlocks spacing that Brunson hasn&rsquo;t enjoyed in years past. Bridges and Anunoby flank him with defense and shooting, ready to guard the East&rsquo;s elite wings. Hart remains the connective tissue, doing everything from crashing the boards to igniting transition.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The starting five alone looks built for May and June. But what makes this year&rsquo;s Knicks different is the depth behind them.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Playoff basketball often hinges on moments when stars rest. Last season, that&rsquo;s where New York&rsquo;s flaws surfaced. This year, the front office addressed those gaps head-on, adding three key veterans who could shape the season.</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jordan Clarkson: The ultimate microwave scorer. Clarkson gives the Knicks a proven bucket-getter who can take over second-unit stretches, easing the scoring burden on Brunson. His ability to create off the dribble gives the bench a different dimension.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Malcolm Brogdon: The stabilizer. The 2023 Sixth Man of the Year brings poise, playmaking, and the ability to run the offense when Brunson sits. Brogdon&rsquo;s versatility also allows him to close games if needed.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Guerschon Yabusele: Perhaps the most under-the-radar pickup. The recent Sixers forward, now returning from overseas and having his spot in the league, offers toughness, shooting at the four, and defensive versatility. He fits perfectly into this Knicks system.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Add them to holdovers Deuce McBride &ndash; defensive spark plug who can hit threes &ndash; and Mitchell Robinson, who anchors the paint, and suddenly New York&rsquo;s bench feels like one of the best in the league, if not the best.</span></p>
<p><strong>The East is there for the taking this season</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Timing is everything in the NBA. The Knicks might be hitting their stride at the perfect moment.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers, the last two Eastern Conference champions, are dealing with a gap year with Achilles injuries to their superstars Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton. Philadelphia continues to juggle health and chemistry concerns. Miami&rsquo;s grit will always be a factor, but their ceiling appears capped. For the first time in decades, the East feels like a genuine battlefield with no clear ruler.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This parity opens the door for the Knicks. They&rsquo;re not just contenders &ndash; they&rsquo;re one of the few teams with both the star power and the depth to survive a grueling postseason.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But with opportunity comes weight. New York doesn&rsquo;t just want a strong season; they demand a championship. Madison Square Garden has not witnessed a title since 1973. Every year since has been another layer of frustration, another reminder of unmet potential.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This year&rsquo;s roster is designed to end that drought. Anything less than a Finals appearance could feel like failure.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The pressure falls first on Brunson, who must sustain his leap and prove he can be the best player on a championship team. Towns, meanwhile, faces his own proving ground. Long criticized for struggles, he now has a chance to rewrite his legacy in New York. Bridges, Hart, and Anunoby must bring consistency every night. The veterans &mdash; Clarkson, Brogdon, Yabusele &mdash; will need to produce under the brightest lights.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And now being led by newly-hired head coach Mike Brown who has a great track record for managing players, the Knicks are going all in this year with one of the deepest rosters in the league.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Knicks enter 2025-26 with rare clarity. They&rsquo;ve climbed past moral victories and developmental milestones. They&rsquo;ve reached the stage where only banners matter.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">To win a championship is to etch your name in New York sports lore forever. To fall short &ndash; especially with this roster &ndash; could mean a wave of questions, from roster construction to coaching to whether the pieces truly fit. This is the razor&rsquo;s edge the Knicks now walk.</span></p>
<p><strong>The moment of truth</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For years, Knicks fans have begged for a team worthy of the Garden. They wanted stars. They wanted toughness. They wanted a roster that could finally deliver hope of a parade down the streets of Manhattan.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Now, they have it. The Knicks enter the 2025-26 season with everything in place: an MVP-caliber guard, a co-star hungry for redemption, wings who defend and shoot, a fortified bench, and the chemistry of a battle-tested core.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The time for waiting is over. The excuses are gone. The East is wide open, and the Knicks are built for this moment. In New York, where pressure and passion collide every night under the Garden lights, only one question remains. Is it a title or a bust for the New York Knicks?</span></p>

The Knicks are loaded with talent and depth in 2025-26. With Jalen Brunson leading the way, it’s championship or bust for New York.

Title or Bust: Knicks enter 2025-26 season with championship expectations

<div dir="ltr">An Open Letter To RG3</div>
<div dir="ltr">&nbsp;</div>
<div dir="ltr">Dear RG3,
<div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>My son Malcolm was one of the biggest RG3 fans growing up.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/4-etan-thomas-1_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></div>
<div>
<div>In 2011, The Washington Commanders had an open scrimmage for fans and the community. I took my son there and we watched the entire practice from start to finish including stretching, warm ups, everything. So afterwards, we were standing on the side and you walked by Malcolm and said,&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&ldquo;Hey you got braids like me&rdquo;&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>And Malcolm replied,</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&ldquo;No, I have dreadlocks&rdquo;&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>And you laughed, and Malcolm asked if he could take a picture with you and from that day on, he was the biggest RG3 fan on earth. So that meant so was I.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>We went to the games, sat out in the stadium in the freezing cold, bought the RG3 jerseys, bought him an RG3 poster with you pointing up to the heavens and me and my wife used it to illustrate that athletes like you and Steph Curry in particular always give thanks and praise to Jesus Christ for everything they accomplish whether it was a touchdown (RG3) or 3 pointer (Steph Curry).</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Young Malcolm received the message and put the poster on his bedroom door. He would tap it every day as he walked by. We were full blown RG3 fans as a family. He even dragged his little sister Imani to the games.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/4-etan-thomas-3_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></div>
<div>
<div>I remember that infamous game in the 2012-2013 NFL Wild Card game against the Seattle Seahawks where you re-aggravated your knee injury during the game and ultimately tore your ACL and LCL. I remember watching my son asking over and over the entire game from the first snap why you were even playing. He kept saying,&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&ldquo;If RG3 is hurt and playing, couldn&rsquo;t he get hurt more ?&rdquo;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>He was literally yelling,&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>"Look at his face daddy, he is in pain why is he still playing if he is in that much pain?"</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>When you went down, the look on Malcolm&rsquo;s face is something I will never forget. It was sheer horror followed by anger. I remember he couldn&rsquo;t even sleep that night he was so upset.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/therootdc/post/robert-griffin-iii-an-open-letter/2013/01/07/5e4da812-58fd-11e2-beee-6e38f5215402_blog.html">The next day I wrote an article for The Washington Post mainly to convey Malcolm&rsquo;s frustration over the entire situation as we both felt that you should&rsquo;ve never been cleared to play and the medical staff, the coaches, and the entire organization failed you.&nbsp;</a></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Even now, whenever I am discussing the topic of a team neglecting a player&rsquo;s safety and well being by playing them injured and risking their health for &ldquo;The Big Game&rdquo; I use you as an example. It is a cautionary tale for athletes that should be repeated which I did recently in my article titled, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/the-indiana-pacers-rg3d-tyrese-haliburton?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwLfDdtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHmNyk6lZSSvwHjakPrXhs6dC9sgeHiJSuaRNTmALm5an_9ymtdg4Px4VUq94_aem_q_a1E4M2rtFYSDjf4ZGzWw">&ldquo;The Indiana Pacers RG3&rsquo;d Tyrese Haliburton&rdquo;&nbsp;</a></div>
<div>
<p>We as a family always supported you. I even did a few Fatherhood Panels with your father at different churches in the DMV including my church First Baptist Church Of Glenarden, Reid Temple, and we went to Wise High School. My daughter became friends with your niece. My wife hugs your mother every time she would see her in church. We loved your entire family.&nbsp;</p>
<p>So now, years later I have to ask you, what happened to you since retiring and going into the media ?&nbsp;</p>
<p>Let me say this, you are incredibly talented behind the mic.&nbsp;</p>
<p>I don&rsquo;t have to agree with all of your perspectives and takes to be able to acknowledge that. You have the gift of gab, a big personality on screen, and I am happy you found something you are passionate about especially as I feel and will always stand on the fact that your career was unfairly taken from you by the Washington Commanders coach, medical staff and everyone else who still to this day failed to take responsibility for playing you and in essence ruining your entire career.&nbsp;</p>
<p>But somewhere something changed. You morphed into someone I would have never expected.&nbsp;</p>
<p>By now everyone has seen what transpired with you and your comments regarding a racist disgusting tweet aimed at Angel Reese.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Quick recap, for those who are not aware, Angel Reese was named one of 3 athletes who will grace the NBA 2K26 cover and in response to that news, a now viral tweet replaced her face with that of an ape. So you responded with a tweet condemning the racist depiction and declared that racism has no place in society and can&rsquo;t we all just get along. The tweet was going just fine, but then it took a turn and you brought back up your notion that according to your anonymous sources Angel Reese does in fact hate Caitlin Clark so you was right along. And that&rsquo;s where you lost me.</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/4-etan-thomas-4_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></p>
<p>You couldn't just say it was racism, terrible and disgusting and leave it at that? Why would you feel the need to continue this narrative about Angel Reese hating Caitlin Clark ? Why even bring that up? Whether intentional or unintentional, you are fanning the flames for the Caitlin Clark white grievance mob.&nbsp;</p>
<div>You may not be aware of this but let me explain what you are doing again whether intentionally or not.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>The Angel Reese is jealous of Caitlin Clark narrative you continue to parrot has been implemented for a reason. This entire situation has been manufactured ever since Angel Reese beat Caitlin Clark (The Great White Hope) in college. There is historical context to this.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Back in 1910, Boxer Jack Johnson beat James Jeffries (The Great White Hope of the time) this fight was marketed and widely viewed as a &ldquo;referendum on white superiority&rdquo;&nbsp;</div>
<div>The hate and anger was instant as his victory ignited&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://timeline.com/when-a-black-fighter-won-the-fight-of-the-century-race-riots-erupted-across-america-3730b8bf9c98" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://timeline.com/when-a-black-fighter-won-the-fight-of-the-century-race-riots-erupted-across-america-3730b8bf9c98&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1752743372198000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2BLD6dkizo_qfoiccJB3jZ">bloody confrontations and violence</a>&nbsp; all throughout the country actually leaving two dozen people dead, almost all of them Black and hundreds injured and arrested. And that&rsquo;s when Jack Johnson became hated by the white masses.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><a href="https://theconversation.com/when-a-black-boxing-champion-beat-the-great-white-hope-all-hell-broke-loose-163413" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://theconversation.com/when-a-black-boxing-champion-beat-the-great-white-hope-all-hell-broke-loose-163413&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1752743372198000&amp;usg=AOvVaw39vP21OkVB_BH6KU_53lal">https://theconversation.com/<wbr />when-a-black-boxing-champion-<wbr />beat-the-great-white-hope-all-<wbr />hell-broke-loose-163413</a></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Fast forward to 2023, when a new Great White Hope arises (Caitlin Clark) and is defeated by Angel Reese but not only did she beat her, she told her about it along the way accompanied with the hand gesture in her face, and taunts (which Caitlin Clark did first accompanied with trash talking and taunts of her own that nobody had an issue with but I digress)&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Well, this isn&rsquo;t the 1910s so the Caitlin Clark mobs couldn&rsquo;t respond the way the James Jeffries mob did, but they could take their hate, anger, vitriol, racism, etc etc online, which they did all directed toward Angel Reese. She didn&rsquo;t just become a villain, as she told reporters she had been actually receiving death threats online for over a year.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/loss-iowa-lsu-angel-reese-death-threats-rcna146023" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/loss-iowa-lsu-angel-reese-death-threats-rcna146023&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1752743372198000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3AAvUloVRuhTsBBuhBsniM">https://www.nbcnews.com/news/<wbr />nbcblk/loss-iowa-lsu-angel-<wbr />reese-death-threats-rcna146023</a><wbr />&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>So, now back to you pushing this&nbsp;</div>
<div>Angel Reese is jealous of Caitlin Clark narrative. Do you realize exactly whose narrative you are promoting ? I don&rsquo;t see how you couldn&rsquo;t. You see your comment sections every time &nbsp;you disparage, demonize, and discredit Angel Reese. You even mocked her with your wife sitting in the background drinking tea like the movie &ldquo;Get Out&rdquo; or something.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Maybe you&rsquo;re not aware of this but this entire situation is now being weaponized by a certain demographic of Caitlin Clark fans. She is now being used as a symbol of white grievance which directly correlates to the MAGA narrative that the whole country is out to get the &ldquo;good christian white folks&rdquo;.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Despite the fact that Caitlin Clark has repeatedly asked not to be weaponized as a symbol of racism and bigotry, this has become much bigger than Caitlin Clark so it really doesn&rsquo;t matter what she requests.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>The narrative is to protect the white damsel in distress in correlation to historically how even the thought of a &ldquo;white delicate flower&rdquo; being harmed or in danger or disrespected or whistled at would result in a vicious white mob attacking, lynching, mutilating, and murdering the suspected perpetrator.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>That&rsquo;s why the narrative that the entire WNBA are intentionally fouling her or viewing her with Latonya Harding eyes skating past Nancy Kerrigan, is not only inaccurate but also promotes this same dangerous mentality.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><a href="https://foxsportsradio.iheart.com/content/2024-09-23-jason-whitlock-says-dijonai-carrington-assaulted-caitlin-clark-in-attack/">Media members like Jason Whitlock purposely used the words &ldquo;assault&rdquo; and &ldquo;attack&rdquo; and &ldquo;stab in the eye&rdquo; when discussing a foul by Dijonai Carrington.</a></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><a href="https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/basketball/wnba/fever/2024/09/24/caitlin-clark-says-dijonai-carrington-eye-poke-wasnt-intentional-wnba-playoffs-indiana-fever-sun/75365622007/">All of the intentionally stoked outrage prompted Caitlin Clark to publicly denounce the narrative and state, &ldquo;the foul was unintentional."</a></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>And then and only then did people like Jason Whitlock back away from the narrative. But that&rsquo;s exactly what you are doing. You are pushing a very dangerous narrative.&nbsp;</div>
<p><a href="https://x.com/torreysmithwr/status/1943333887163158840?s=46&amp;t=FiXBDRUe_KpN8Ix5Vb08vg">Former Baltimore Ravens Torrey Smith was 100% spot on when he tweeted:</a></p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/4-etan-thomas-5_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></p>
<p><a href="https://x.com/realrclark25/status/1943702842818052426?s=46&amp;t=FiXBDRUe_KpN8Ix5Vb08vg">Ryan Clark was also spot on when he tweeted:</a></p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/4-etan-thomas-6_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></p>
<p>Here is my sincere honest question to you. Are you attempting to follow the breadcrumbs left by people like Jason Whitlock ? Meaning someone who purposely takes on certain positions and perspectives that you know will be applauded amongst a certain demographic?&nbsp;</p>
<p>Coincidentally, this is a meme that I saw floating around social media of you. I put it next to a meme that has been floating around social media of Jason Whitlock for sometime now and you are better than this !!! I know you are, but this is exactly what you are morphing into, and it hurts my heart to see.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/4-etan-thomas-7_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></p>
<p>Comedian Goddfrey was spot on how he described your spat with Ryan Clark a few months ago when he said,&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;Every time you publicly dog a Black Woman, you&rsquo;re dogging your mother, your grandmother, your aunties.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>I don&rsquo;t know if you heard his message to you but please listen to his entire video. He agreed with you that children and family should be left out of the conversation which Ryan Clark also acknowledged and apologized to you for. But that aside, their points still stand.&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJ8EbTdJwlc/?igsh=N2g0eHBpcmJmczJp">https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJ8EbTdJwlc/?igsh=N2g0eHBpcmJmczJp</a></p>
<p>Let me paint a another illustration.</p>
<p>Savion Glover&rsquo;s character Manray in the Spike Lee Classic Bamboozled.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Remember at the end when he was looking in the mirror as he was about to put on the Black Face and his conscious started to attack his soul and he just couldn&rsquo;t do it anymore. He couldn&rsquo;t participate in their minstrel show so he came on stage without the Black Face ? My hope and prayer for you is that you eventually get to the place where you simply can&rsquo;t do it anymore and you wipe the Black Face off, and come on to the stage as Robert Griffin III.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/4-etan-thomas-9_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>

Dear RG3: Please Don’t Turn Into Jason Whitlock

<div>The Indiana Pacers medical team decided to clear Tyrese Haliburton to play in Game 7 of the NBA Finals despite an existing calf strain and that blunder resulted in a torn Achilles tendon. While understandable given the gravity of the situation, that decision proved to be very costly for not only the organization as a whole but more importantly to Tyrese Haliburton as it was just announced that he would miss the entire 2025/2026 season due to a torn achilles.&nbsp;</div>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/3-etan-thomas-1_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></p>
<div>In contrast, this past summer, my daughter Imani Thomas class of 2026 was faced with a very difficult decision to play through an injury at Nationals and risk further more severe injury.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Here&rsquo;s the story: &nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Imani had played through shin splints for the entire travel season with her team Maryland Juniors. These shin splints actually developed during her junior year high school season with Bishop McNamara, but she is a soldier and she pushed through like all athletes do.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>However, toward the end of her travel season, the shin splints continued to get worse. She did constant treatment and even started over compensating to protect her shin splints until one practice she could barely move. The assistant coach (Coach Ashley Williams) came up to me and said,&nbsp;</div>
<div>&ldquo;Imani is a beast, and she is not going to stop playing no matter what I tell her. But you need to get this checked out because it&rsquo;s visibly getting worse&rdquo;&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>So me and my wife Nichole took her to get X Rays and a MRI and it was discovered that her shin splints had turned into a stress fracture.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>She was devastated. Nationals were coming up and like any athlete she contemplated just sucking it up and playing through the pain.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>The doctor was honest with us. He explained to us that if Imani was playing soccer, he would definitely not clear her to play because the likelihood of her getting kicked in her stress fracture was relatively high. If she played football or rugby or any contact sport, he would also not clear her. But she plays volleyball, and the likelihood of her getting kicked in her stress fracture was very low.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/3-etan-thomas-6_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>However, if she landed wrong, the impact could be just as severe as if she got kicked. Then he asked how her mechanics were and I told him that she had been over compensating for quite some time. She&rsquo;s been pushing through and getting a lot of treatment but she has been in pain for a long time. And the doctor said honestly, it&rsquo;s a decision you have to make for her. She is going to want to risk it all and play. That&rsquo;s how athletes are.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>So we talked to Imani, explained the risks, and together we came to the decision that it would be best to sit out.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>And it was a very difficult process for her as it would be for any athlete but long term over short term was what was important.&nbsp;</div>
</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Now, back to Tyrese Haliburton.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>
<div>NBA fans across the world witnessed what would have been a story of triumph. One for the archives of NBA history. The storyline would&rsquo;ve been.... Facing elimination in the NBA playoffs in a pivotal Game 7, Tyrese Haliburton battles through injury with superhuman perseverance and in heroic fashion to save the Pacers and propel them into victory solidifying this as one of the greatest finals performances in the history of the NBA. They probably would&rsquo;ve had a picture of Haliburton with a Superman emblem on his chest and a cape under his Warriors uniform. Would&rsquo;ve had his dad holding the same Pacers towel he waved in front of Giannis next to his son with the trophy. Would&rsquo;ve been a sportswriters dream as so many angles could&rsquo;ve been covered and explored.</div>
<div>
<p>People love stories of heroics. Isiah Thomas hobbling around on one foot in game 6 of the 1988 NBA Finals against the Lakers and scoring 25 points in the 3rd quarter. Or Willis Reed walking out of the tunnel for the New York Knicks on his bum ankle in Game 7 of the 1970 Finals. Everything was set up for Haliburton to be added to that list.</p>
<p>High school, college and professional coaches across the country were just salivating to be able to use this as an example to their players to enforce the philosophy that &ldquo;pain is weakness leaving your body&rdquo;. They would&rsquo;ve used Haliburton as an example to young athletes that the game (not your health) is what matters most. And a real &ldquo;team player&rdquo; would sacrifice a &ldquo;little discomfort&rdquo; for their team.</p>
<p>I have seen this all before. During my tenure with the Washington Wizards, I witnessed team trainer Eric Waters misdiagnose player after player because what was best for the Wizards organization was for that player to play.</p>
<p>I saw Richard Hamilton go off on the entire training staff after he learned that&nbsp;he had been playing through a torn groin, only disclosed to him after the team was out of playoff contention. He had been complaining about his groin for weeks and the trainers were giving him treatment two and three times a day all the while knowing his groin was torn, but they wanted to push for the playoffs so they didn&rsquo;t tell him.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/3-etan-thomas-3_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></p>
<p>I saw them tell Jarvis Hayes that he simply had a case of &ldquo;tendinitis&rdquo; in his knee and had him playing through the pain. Turned out he had a broken knee cap and ruined his entire career.&nbsp;</p>
<p>I saw them tell Kwame Brown that he was just experiencing a &ldquo;little discomfort&rdquo; in his leg and that he needed to play through the pain to show everyone that he was worthy of being the number 1 pick. Turned out later, he actually had a torn hamstring.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/3-etan-thomas-4_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></p>
<p>I saw Eric Waters tell Deshawn Stevenson there was nothing seriously wrong with his back and had him getting ice and stem and playing through the pain. After the season, upon further review by an outside doctor it was discovered that he actually had an Inflamed L5 Nerve that was stuck underneath a disc that required not one but two back surgeries to repair.&nbsp;</p>
<p>My point in saying all of this is not to simply blast Eric Waters, I am showing that this happens all the time in professional sports. With team doctors and trainers, there is a conflict of interest and the sworn medical oath becomes blurred and effects their diagnoses. They are hired by the teams and are in essence employees of the organization not employees of the players. So they don&rsquo;t have the players best interest in mind, typically, they only have the organization&rsquo;s.</p>
<p>The Indiana Pacers medical staff basically RG3&rsquo;d Haliburton. They &ldquo;Any Given Sunday&rsquo;d&rdquo; him. They Eric Waters&rsquo;d him.</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/3-etan-thomas-5_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></p>
<p>He shouldn&rsquo;t have been playing period.</p>
<p>The risks outweighed the rewards. Even from a team standpoint. This is your franchise player. This is a player who has the capability of single handedly turning an entire NBA championship finals series around. This is a player that you should&rsquo;ve done everything in your power to convey to him how important he is long term for them and how much they value his health and are looking out for his best interest etc etc. However, what they showed was the exact opposite.&nbsp;</p>
<p>It doesn&rsquo;t matter if Haliburton insisted on playing in Game 7, just like it didn&rsquo;t matter if Imani insisted on playing in Nationals.&nbsp;Sometimes, when it comes to their health, athletes need people to make the decision for them. That&rsquo;s our job as parents and we did that. That was also the job of the Pacers medical team, and they did not have the medical integrity to do that.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Imani had her boot off now and is starting rehab and will be back full strength in a few weeks. Haliburton&rsquo;s calf strain turned into a ruptured Achilles and he will have to sit out the entire 2025/2026 season.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In explaining the difference in how me and my wife Nichole handled her injury vs how the Pacers medical staff handled his, I started singing, &ldquo;They Not Like Us&rdquo; A Dad joke that fell flat with Imani but I don&rsquo;t care it was a good joke.&nbsp;</p>
<p>But in all seriousness, I hope all young players see this and learn that no matter what the circumstances or how big the game is, your health always comes first, and you ALWAYS get a 2nd opinion from your own doctors that have nothing to do with the organization like Kawhi Leonard did in San Antonio his last season there.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Let me refresh everyone&rsquo;s memory.</p>
<p>Everyone with a microphone dogged Kawhi that season. Skip Bayless was still going on his hateful rants and baseless criticisms of Kawhi even after the Raptors beat the 76ers in the playoffs.</p>
<p>Skip Bayless tweeted out</p>
<p>&ldquo;Well, I guess it worked for No. 2 to quit on the Spurs last season complaining of what Spurs doctors decided was no more than a thigh bruise. He wound up in the East, playing against a hobbled, sick Embiid and an overrated Giannis. "Crime" pays.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Kawhi delt with Coach Popovich taking shots at him, his teammates taking shots at him, the team questioning his injury because their &ldquo;team doctors&rdquo; said he was fine. But he got a 2nd opinion and was told otherwise and did what was in his best interest. Danny Green was reportedly playing through a torn groin after being misdiagnosed by the same team doctors that misdiagnosed Kawhi.</p>
<p>And the Spurs are one of the most respected organizations in the NBA with one of the most respected coaches in the NBA. But, the bottom line is, any organization will throw you out there in a heartbeat injured if they feel it is best for the organization. They will publicly criticize you if you don&rsquo;t play and if you play and re-injure yourself worst or just don&rsquo;t play up to their expectations (as if they don&rsquo;t know your playing injured) they will get rid of you in a New York minute just like The Washington Commanders did RG3 and just like the Washington Wizards did with Jarvis Hayes.</p>
<p>I remember watching Grant Hill. He was about to literally take over the league.</p>
<p>People were calling him out for not playing hurt. Said he was soft, overrated etc etc just like they were saying about Haliburton before he shut them all up this playoff series.</p>
<p>The Orlando medical staff derailed Grant&rsquo;s entire career.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Another example is the young Isiah Thomas. He shouldn&rsquo;t have been playing in Boston in the playoffs but he played, ended up hurting himself more, ended up needing surgery, cost himself 100 million dollars came back and played after losing his sister and they traded him that summer because they knew about his injury and knew that he needed surgery.</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/3-etan-thomas-8_690w.jpeg" alt="" /></p>
<p>Kyrie Irving goes and gets a 2nd opinion and they say you need surgery, the Celtics doctors didn&rsquo;t tell him he needed surgery, so he had his surgery and came back the next year strong. There is a reoccurring theme here.</p>
<p>I immediately called my son Malcolm who is working hard at The University Of Dayton right now as I write this article I hope he learned the lesson in what just happened to Haliburton. Told my daughter Baby Sierra and Imani the entire way to school yesterday, like literally the whole entire way I was going on an endless rant.</p>
<p>Told them stories of Eric Waters and Ernie Grunfeld trying to get me to take a cortisone shot in my pubic bone and go out an play when I was suffering an abdominal strain that kept me sidelined for an extended period of time. But also how the 2nd opinion I received from my doctor was that if I did that, I would almost certainly hurt myself worse because the Cortisone show wouldn&rsquo;t exceed the healing process, it was just make it so I didn't feel the pain.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>But just think of it logically, your body sends pain signals to you when something is hurting to let you know to stop doing that. If you block that signal, you won&rsquo;t feel the warning you&rsquo;re supposed to feel. Made perfect sense to me so I told them no. And sure they tried to put pressure on me and have a beat writer pressure me through the power of the pin in a few articles (no I didn&rsquo;t have any actual proof of this but the timing and coincidence was way too convenient so I&rsquo;ll say &ldquo;allegedly&rdquo; had a beat writer pressure me through the media). But the end result was me standing firm and telling them no, I can&rsquo;t go.</p>
<p>However, the onus shouldn&rsquo;t be placed on the athlete&rsquo;s shoulders. Of course athletes are going to want to play but it shouldn&rsquo;t be up to them. A solution to this league wide issue was suggested to me by a lawyer by the name of Marlon Amprey. He explained that the Players Association should assemble a group of outside doctors/specialists (or specific doctors/specialists the player suggests) that have no connection to the team whatsoever.</p>
<p>That will provide 2nd &amp; 3rd opinions and give players detailed reports on their health and risk of injury. All doctors&rsquo; reports given by teams that drastically differ should go under review and there should be repercussions for team doctors and trainers who medically clear players who shouldn&rsquo;t be medically cleared to play.</p>
</div>
</div>

The Indiana Pacers medical team decided to clear Tyrese Haliburton to play in Game 7 of the NBA Finals despite an existing calf strain.

The Indiana Pacers RG3’d Tyrese Haliburton

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green and Stephen Curry have been recognized for their exceptional contributions during the 2024&ndash;25 NBA season. Green received the Hustle Player of the Year award, while Curry was honored with the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year award.​</span></p>
<p><strong>Draymond Green: 2024-2025 Hustle Player of the Year</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Draymond Green, known for his relentless energy and defensive prowess, secured the Hustle Player of the Year award for the 2024&ndash;25 season. This accolade celebrates players who make impactful plays that often go unnoticed in traditional statistics.Green distinguished himself by ranking among the top 40 in all nine hustle categories, including deflections, loose balls recovered, charges drawn, screen assists, contested shots, and box-outs. Throughout the season, he averaged 9.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks over 68 games. At 35, Green becomes only the second player, alongside Marcus Smart, to have won both the Defensive Player of the Year and Hustle Award in their careers.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><strong>Stephen Curry: 2024-2025 Teammate of the Year&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stephen Curry's influence extends beyond his scoring ability; his leadership and camaraderie have earned him the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award for the 2024&ndash;25 season. This award honors players who exemplify selfless play, mentorship, and dedication to their team. Curry received 66 first-place votes and totaled 1,257 points, narrowly surpassing Houston Rockets center Steven Adams, who finished with 1,237 points. This marks Curry's first time receiving this honor, adding to his illustrious career that includes four NBA championships and two MVP awards.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The achievements of Green and Curry underscore the Warriors' culture of excellence, resilience, and teamwork. Their recognition serves as a testament to their enduring impact on and off the court.​</span></p>

The Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green and Stephen Curry have been recognized for their contributions during the season.

Warriors’ Draymond Green, Stephen Curry earn respective 2024-2025 NBA Awards

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard has been honored with the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award for the 2024&ndash;25 season, recognizing his significant contributions off the bench.​</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In his fifth season with the Celtics, Pritchard played in 80 games, starting only three, and averaged career highs of 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. He led all NBA reserves with 1,079 total points and set a new league record by making 246 three-pointers as a reserve, shooting 40.7% from beyond the arc.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pritchard received 82 out of 100 first-place votes from a global media panel, totaling 454 points. He outpaced Detroit Pistons' Malik Beasley, who finished second with 279 points and 13 first-place votes, and Ty Jerome of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who placed third with 91 points and two first-place votes.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This accolade places Pritchard among notable Celtics who have won the Sixth Man of the Year award, including Kevin McHale, Bill Walton, and Malcolm Brogdon.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pritchard's recognition as Sixth Man of the Year underscores his dedication and adaptability, solidifying his role as a vital component in the Celtics' pursuit of consecutive championships.​</span></p>

Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard has been honored with the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award for the 2024–25 season.

Payton Pritchard named 2024–25 NBA Sixth Man of the Year​

<p>Many people were pleasantly surprised to hear the news that Michael Jordan opened his fourth free health clinic in his home state of North Carolina. <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/in-this-trump-era-michael-jordans-free-health-clinics-are-very-much-needed-">This new clinic, established in collaboration with Novant Health, focuses on providing care to uninsured and underinsured patients.</a>&nbsp;</p>
<p>This is a stark contrast to the overall perception of Michael Jordan as the athlete who doesn&rsquo;t care about his community or anything outside of himself.&nbsp;</p>
<p>I figured it was a good time to revisit an interview i conducted with Athlete Activist Legend Craig Hodges for <a href="https://www.akashicbooks.com/catalog/police-brutality-and-white-supremacy-the-fight-against-american-traditions/">my book Police Brutality And White Supremacy &ldquo;The Fight Against American Traditions."</a></p>
<p>Here is an excerpt of our interview in which Craig Hodges goes back to 1991 when the Rodney King beating happened and he was frustrated that Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson in particular were reluctant to make a public statement during the NBA Finals.&nbsp;</p>
<p>During the interview, I made the correlation to the movie &ldquo;One Night In Miami&rdquo; in which Malcolm X was frustrated with Sam Cooke, but was proud to see the eventual maturation and realization of the power of his voice. This was really a powerful discussion. I condensed the interview for the purposes of this article.</p>
<p>Etan: What were your thoughts after you first saw the Rodney King beating ?&nbsp;</p>
<p>Craig Hodges: The biggest part was just the shock. Seeing four or five policemen pummeling the brother mercilessly with their night sticks. And the manner in which they did it was just left me speechless. It was beyond brutality. I looked at it and said regardless to what the Brotha did, no human being deserves to be beaten like that. You had 4 or 5 cops surrounding him, he was on the ground, there are measures you can take to subdue him without beating him like that. But unfortunately, this has been the mentality of policing in America for generations and nothing has changed but with Rodney King that was one of the first times everyone could see it happening in real time. And the fact that someone was smart enough to tape it brought it to America.</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/2-etan-thomas-2_690w.jpeg" alt="" width="745" height="477" /></p>
<p>Etan: I remember being in middle school and the first thing I thought was they wouldn&rsquo;t treat a dog like this.</p>
<p>Craig Hodges: Exactly, and this happened right at the beginning of the NBA Finals and some athletes were speaking about it others weren&rsquo;t but I was like, any and everybody should be able to speak to this because this could be your brother this could be your father or your uncle. And it was just too obvious and blatant what was going on as far as the racism and the evil of police brutality right there for all of America to see&nbsp;</p>
<p>Etan: It was really horrifying like traumatizing for me seeing that as a kid.</p>
<p>Craig Hodges: It was traumatizing for me as an adult. Things like this is what made me feel the need to have to be vocal while I was playing in the league. I was an athlete but this goes for everyone no matter what your occupation is, you have to be able to stand on truth and for what is right and to call out what&rsquo;s wrong. We as a society have been collectively letting so much slide and we just can&rsquo;t allow it anymore. And we have left a lot on the table for the next generation to fight for, and they are fighting for now. &nbsp;</p>
<p>Etan: The frustrating part is the bar is set so low. We&rsquo;re starting the discussion just fighting for our humanity.</p>
<p>Craig Hodges: We get caught up so much of our differences whether we&rsquo;re Republican, Democrat, Christian, Muslim, all of these different labels that divides us. Yes we are all humans and that&rsquo;s the basis that we should be unified on. Kwame Ture told us it&rsquo;s all about organization and we have to all bring what we can to the table and we all have different strengths and attributes and we have to use all of them for this fight.</p>
<p>Etan Thomas: It&rsquo;s interesting you say that, there is this movie One night in Miami, fantastic movie, that depicts a night in Miami with Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, and Sam Cooke. There is a part where Malcolm X and Sam Cooke are having a back and forth and Malcolm X is challenging him, and you&rsquo;re the first person I thought of when I saw this, he&rsquo;s telling Sam Cooke listen, you&rsquo;re the most talented Brotha on earth, your voice can captivate audiences both Black and white, you have all this power, you can play in white venues and be accepted, other musicians can&rsquo;t do that. And then he told him, you&rsquo;re not using the power for good. You&rsquo;re not challenging what is happening to us in society. Malcolm X said to him Black People are dying in the streets and we cannot afford to straddle the fence anymore. We have to pick a side, either you&rsquo;re on the side with us or you&rsquo;re on the side with them. And it was this intense discussion with them. And you know where I&rsquo;m going with this. Did you ever feel that level or frustration in relation to what we&rsquo;re talking about now with Rodney King and everything that was happening to us at that time. And you want to do that recruiting that Kwame Toure was talking about and that unification and strength in numbers but you see some people just not on board with it and thus the frustration.</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/2-etan-thomas-3_690w.jpeg" alt="" width="732" height="732" /></p>
<p>Craig Hodges: Yes I know exactly where you&rsquo;re going with this and to answer your question yes I did. And trying to get someone to see it is one hurdle, but to get someone to feel it is a whole nother mountain to climb. I feel blessed that i was raised the way I was raised so a lot of things, I didn&rsquo;t have to figure out. We&rsquo;re at that point now where there is enough information out for people to be able to easily educate themselves as to what&rsquo;s going on. There&rsquo;s really no excuse right now. You can&rsquo;t say, I didn&rsquo;t know about this anymore because it&rsquo;s everywhere. During the 90s when Rodney King happened, we had great athletes who were similar to Sam Cooke as far as their leverage in white communities and not nation wide but world wide, and the option was, do I make a stand or do I get paid ? And that&rsquo;s what it boiled down to and people were hesitant because they were afraid that it would hamper their ability to earn. And that has been the common denominator in us coming up short. Those who have been in position to really make a difference don&rsquo;t. And what I saw from a lot of athletes was I&rsquo;ll play my career and then come back after and revisit Black people and Black Issues after. And from my standpoint, during the time where you are making the wealth and you have the bully pulpit to speak from, utilize that. You may not be able to be all out Malcolm X with it, but you can definitely have impact. The Rodney King incident really brought to life what Black People have been facing for centuries and that&rsquo;s something that not just athletes, but everyone should be able to speak on.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/2-etan-thomas-4_690w.png" alt="" width="738" height="414" /></p>
<p>Etan Thomas: And one thing that was great about the movie One Night In Miami was at the end it showed Malcolm&rsquo;s impact on Sam Cooke. He was on this program, and was singing the songs that they liked, and then he said he wanted to sing a song that hadn&rsquo;t been released yet and it was A Change Is Gonna Come. And it was passionate and moving and Sam Cooke dropped a tear at the end and they showed Malcolm X looking and he was smiling and it was beautiful to see because even though they were arguing and they were really arguing like almost came to blows arguing, but you saw that he heard Malcolm X. Now, I want to make this correlation to you and Michael Jordan because people still write it now and say Craig Hodges was talking bad about Michael Jordan and no it wasn&rsquo;t that and it wasn&rsquo;t personal but you saw MJ and the impact he could have had the same way Malcolm X saw the impact Sam Cooke could have had in particular after Rodney King happened.</p>
<p>Craig Hodges: When Rodney King happened it was a galvanizing time. Right before the 91 NBA Finals with Michael and Magic and we can have an impact, we have the whole world watching, all eyes are on us.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/2-etan-thomas-5_690w.jpeg" alt="" width="729" height="926" /></p>
<p>And to think about how my Mom was organizing in the early 60&rsquo;s, she was having this tremendous impact with no resources, and here we are with all of the resources of the NBA Finals with the two biggest athletes in the game and the impact you can make just from your voice would be amazing. And that&rsquo;s what I was trying to talk to Magic and MJ about especially after Rodney King. And here&rsquo;s the thing, in private, we all were having discussions about what was going on, but then in public, we went quiet and we simply can&rsquo;t be private anymore. And now we&rsquo;re at the point where people outside of our community are feeling our pain. And that&rsquo;s what Malcolm was telling Sam Cooke, hey to talk to them white folks at their clubs and that was my position with MJ on a lot of things. I would say hey, you have the ear of a lot of people that I can&rsquo;t reach. So yea that&rsquo;s a very good comparison.</p>
<p>Etan Thomas: Now I&rsquo;mma make one last correlation, I said how Malcolm X watched Sam Cooke on the program singing A Change Is Gonna Come and he was smiling, did you ever feel that after watching Michael Jordan in the last 10 years or so as MJ has become more vocal, spoken out against police brutality on numerous occasions, he even put together a whole fundraiser for Obama and brought 50 different NBA athletes to join him. That&rsquo;s a long way from &ldquo;Republicans Buy Shoes Too."</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/2-etan-thomas-6_690w.jpeg" alt="" width="730" height="1291" /></p>
<p>Craig Hodges: Oh yes. I love it. People have to understand that everyone grows at different points in their lives and I definitely feel like that (proud) every time I see not only MJ and Magic but all the young athletes like Lebron and this current generation of athletes, it&rsquo;s great to see.</p>

I figured it was a good time to revisit an interview i conducted with Athlete Activist Legend Craig Hodges for my book Police Brutality And White Supremacy “The Fight Against American Traditions."

Craig Hodges discusses the  maturation of Michael Jordan

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sacramento Kings guard/forward DeMar DeRozan has become the 27th player in NBA history to surpass 25,000 career points. DeRozan reached this milestone during a game against the Chicago Bulls on March 20, 2025, at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. ​</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Entering the game with 24,983 points, DeRozan needed just 17 to hit the 25,000 mark. He accomplished this feat in the third quarter with one of his signature mid-range jumpers, underscoring his reputation as a master of the mid-range game.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Notably, DeRozan is the only active NBA player to reach 25,000 points with fewer than 1,000 career three-pointers made, highlighting his proficiency in an area often overshadowed in today's three-point-centric game. ​</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Throughout his 16-season career, DeRozan has maintained an average of over 20 points per game for 12 consecutive seasons, a testament to his consistency and scoring ability. His dedication to the mid-range shot draws parallels to legends like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, emphasizing the enduring value of this skill in the NBA. ​</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">DeRozan's journey began as the ninth overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors. He spent nine seasons in Toronto before playing for the San Antonio Spurs and the Chicago Bulls. Now with the Sacramento Kings, DeRozan continues to be a pivotal player, averaging 22.2 points per game this season. ​</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This milestone not only solidifies DeRozan's place among the NBA's elite scorers but also serves as an inspiration to players who excel in various aspects of the game beyond the three-point line.​</span></p>

Sacramento Kings guard/forward DeMar DeRozan has become the 27th player in NBA history to surpass 25,000 career points.

DeMar DeRozan nets 25,000 points for NBA career

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry achieved another significant career milestone when he surpassed 25,000 career points on March 9 in the Warriors&rsquo; 115-110 victory over the Detroit Pistons at Chase Center.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Curry reached this landmark with a three-pointer in the third quarter, and by doing so became the 26th player in NBA history to reach or surpass the mark.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is another important achievement for the newly-minted Olympic champion, with fellow OG&rsquo;s LeBron James and Kevin Durant reaching 50,000 points and 30,000 points, respectively.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The game continues to highlight these three global superstars as they continue to dominate the game even with their advanced age.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 36-year-old sharpshooter finished the game with 32 points, leading the Warriors to their 11th win in 13 games and 11-1 since acquiring Jimmy Butler.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Teammate Draymond Green ensured the game ball was preserved for Curry, highlighting the significance of the achievement.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Curry's milestone underscores his enduring excellence and pivotal role in the Warriors' success over the years. As he continues to ascend the all-time scoring list, his legacy as one of the game's greatest shooters remains firmly intact.</span></p>

Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry achieved another significant career milestone when he surpassed 25,000 points.

Stephen Curry reaches 25,000-point milestone

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Sacramento Kings have announced the signing of free-agent point guard Markelle Fultz, according to ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fultz, the first overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, was not signed during the offseason and now he joins the Kings to bolster their backcourt depth following the trades of De'Aaron Fox and Kevin Huerter.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fultz spent the previous five seasons with the Orlando Magic, where he averaged 10.8 points, 4.6 assists, and 3.1 rebounds per game. His tenure with the Magic was marred by injuries, including a torn ACL in January 2021, which sidelined him for an extended period. Despite these setbacks, Fultz returned to the court and delivered notable performances, such as a career-high 28 points against the Los Angeles Clippers in March 2023.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Upon signing with the Kings, Fultz expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "I'm excited for this new chapter with the Kings and eager to contribute to the team's success." The Kings anticipate that Fultz's playmaking abilities and defensive prowess will enhance their guard rotation as they aim for a strong finish to the season.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">ANALYSIS: The Kings add another point guard to the roster after losing away De&rsquo;Aaron Fox in a trade with the Spurs. They have sought after multiple PG talents to replace Fox, with Malik Monk taking over the lead guard duties for now. With Fultz, the Kings get a big, heady guard that sees the floor and has the ability to facilitate. Fultz also has the uncanny ability to get downhill and this particular skill set will fit perfectly with star center Domantas Sabonis on cuts to the rim.</span></p>

The Sacramento Kings have announced the signing of free-agent point guard Markelle Fultz.

Kings sign former No. 1 pick Markelle Fultz

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Milwaukee Bucks have obtained guard Kevin Porter Jr. from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for forward MarJon Beauchamp, according to ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania.</span></p>
<p><strong>Trade Details:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><strong>Milwaukee Bucks Receive:</strong></li>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kevin Porter Jr.</span></li>
</ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><strong>Los Angeles Clippers Receive:</strong></li>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><span style="font-weight: 400;">MarJon Beauchamp</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">ANALYSIS: The Bucks finally get their backup PG to Damian Lillard in Kevin Porter Jr. Porter Jr., 24, has had a tumultuous NBA career, including legal issues and team changes. He was drafted 30th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2019 before being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Porter later joined the Houston Rockets, where he showcased his dynamic offensive skills and ability to create for teammates. His growth as a scorer and ball-handler has made him a promising young player in the Rockets&rsquo; lineup.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">MarJon Beauchamp, 23, has shown promise as a versatile forward with defensive capabilities. His addition to the Clippers is expected to bolster their wing depth or as an insurance being a young developmental talent.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This trade reflects the Bucks' strategy to enhance their backcourt depth and offensive versatility, while the Clippers aim to strengthen their forward rotation with young talent.</span></p>

The Milwaukee Bucks have obtained guard Kevin Porter Jr. from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for forward MarJon Beauchamp.

Bucks obtain Kevin Porter Jr. from Clippers for MarJon Beauchamp

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In two separate moves, the Memphis Grizzlies have traded guard Marcus Smart and forward Jake LaRavia to the Washington Wizards and the Sacramento Kings respectively, according to ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania. In the deal, the Grizzlies also sent a 2025 first-round pick to the Wizards and received two second-round picks in return.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><strong>Trade Details:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><strong>Memphis Grizzlies Receive:</strong></li>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Marvin Bagley III</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Johnny Davis</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Two second-round picks</span></li>
</ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><strong>Washington Wizards Receive:</strong></li>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Marcus Smart</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><span style="font-weight: 400;">2025 first-round pick</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><strong>Memphis Grizzlies Receive:</strong></li>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><span style="font-weight: 400;">TBD</span></li>
</ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><strong>Sacramento Kings Receive:</strong></li>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jake LaRavia</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">ANALYSIS: Marcus Smart, 31, has been a key defensive presence for the Grizzlies and his entire career, averaging 10.6 points, 4.2 assists, and 1.5 steals per game this season. His leadership and tenacity are expected to bolster the young Wizards.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Marvin Bagley III, a versatile forward, and Johnny Davis, a promising young guard, will add depth to the Grizzlies' roster as they continue their pursuit of a championship.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jake LaRavia, 23, has shown potential as a versatile forward, averaging 6.2 points and 3.1 rebounds per game this season.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, these two separate moves can be likely seen as a move for the Grizzlies to consolidate their small forward rotation. They struck gold with Jaylen Wells in the 2nd round this year, who is having an excellent rookie season. They still have Vince Williams Jr. coming back, who was also good last year. Then there&rsquo;s GG Jackson, a super scorer that fits well with the starters. There was a need to make a move, hence these two trades.</span></p>

In two separate moves, the Grizzlies have traded Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia to the Wizards and the Kings.

Grizzlies trade away Marcus Smart, Jake LaRavia to Wizards, Kings

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">PASAY CITY, PHILIPPINES &ndash; The Philippines&rsquo; San Miguel Beermen and Meralco Bolts will face the KT Suwon Sonicboom and the Macau Blackbears in the 2024-2025 East Asia Super League (EASL) season in the league&rsquo;s Tip-Off event today at the Mall of Asia Arena here.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is the opening act of the tournament dubbed the Champions League in East Asia, with champion teams from each of the participating countries gunning for the crown of the best team in the region.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With that being said, let&rsquo;s dive into what to expect from the slate of games today.</span></p>
<p><strong>How will the Beermen and the Bolts adapt to the international style of play?</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Over the past few days, San Miguel and Meralco have been in the thick of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) playoffs as both teams are battling hard to get out of the quarterfinals. And now they would have to be up to the challenge of transitioning and adjusting their play when they meet international counterparts from Korea and Macau.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This seems like a tough task ahead for the Beermen and the Bolts as they have been accustomed to playing the Filipino brand of basketball for over a whole season, and the little turnaround time could present some issues along the way.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Koreans have always been known to be shooters and ball movers, utilizing their speed and team chemistry to damage their opponents. The Black Bears employ a similar playstyle, offering a variety of their shots from three as well as relying on production from their imports.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nevertheless, San Miguel and Meralco are two of the best teams the Philippines has to offer, so it will be a fun matchup regardless as they showcase their brand of basketball to the visitors.</span></p>
<p><strong>San Miguel Beermen and KT Suwon Sonicboom: The three-point game</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to stats from EASL, the Beermen and the Sonicboom are both great three-point shooting teams. Throughout the Beermen&rsquo;s 2023-24 PBA Commissioner&rsquo;s Cup run, they hit 10.8 3&rsquo;s per game at a 34% clip. In contrast, KT hit 9.2 3&rsquo;s per game last season in the KBL, scoring 35.2% of their shots from deep.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">San Miguel sharpshooter Marcio Lassiter, who became the PBA&rsquo;s all-time 3-point leader with 1,251 career 3-pointers on Sep. 15, will lead the way for the Beermen, while Heo Hoon, who averaged 3.6 threes in the KBL Finals last season, will do the same for Suwon.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This will be a very interesting thing to monitor as the Beermen have had to deal with the newly implemented 4-point line in the ongoing PBA season, and this has led to interesting results. Teams have been playing less zone over in the country&rsquo;s scene so we might see the Sonicboom play some tough 1-on-1 defense throughout the game.</span></p>
<p><strong>Meralco Bolts and Macau Black Bears: Bounce back or good start?</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After a tough EASL season last year, the Bolts aim to improve and increase their wins this EASL season. Meralco has also bowed out of the current PBA playoff season, and now they shift their focus onto their EASL campaign hoping for better results.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On the other hand, the Black Bears come into the 2024-2025 season as an expansion team and are looking to start good and hot. They will make their debut in the East Asian League full of hope and optimism but armed with lofty expectations.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to EASL&rsquo;s scouting report, the Black Bears are equipped with a fast-paced and free-flowing offense. Macau also runs most of its sets through floor general Damian Chong Qui, who just at 5-foot-9, operates well off of ball screens but can also pop out and hit an open 3. Jenning Leung, a sharp-shooting 6-foot guard out of Canada&rsquo;s McGill University, makes up an elite Black Bears&rsquo; backcourt and together these two are for sure going to give the Bolts a lot of problems.</span></p>

The Philippines’ San Miguel Beermen and Meralco Bolts will face the KT Suwon Sonicboom and the Macau Black Bears in the EASL.

EASL Tip-Off Preview: San Miguel, Meralco go up against neighboring Korea, Macau

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Minnesota Timberwolves&rsquo; center/forward Naz Reid took home the 2023-2024 Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year, the league announced Wednesday night.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Reid, 24, won the award by the closest of margins over the Sacramento Kings&rsquo; Malik Monk. Reid finished with a total of 352 points with 45 1st place votes (equivalent to five points), 39 2nd place votes (three points), and 10 3rd place votes (one point). Monk had 43 1st place votes and had the same 2nd and 3rd place votes, making up 342 total points and just 10 points shy of Reid.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Reid becomes the 1st Timberwolf ever to win the award and the third undrafted player in history, joining John Starks in 1996 and Darrell Armstrong in 1998.&nbsp; Reid averaged 13.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists for the 56-26 Minnesota, which finished third overall in the West.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 6-foot-10 big guy who moves like a guard and has guard-like skills has set</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> career highs in points and rebounds per game this season</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Reid also made 169 total three-pointers in the season </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">exceeding his total from the previous two seasons combined (132), shooting a career-high 41.4% from three-point range.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">During a 13-game stretch this season when the Timberwolves went 10-3 from March 16-April 10, Reid started 12 of the 13 games for an injured Karl-Anthony Towns, averaging 17.1 points on 45.4% shooting, including 41.4% from deep, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game. His 17.1 points per game during that stretch were the second-most PPG for the Wolves (Anthony Edwards, 25.4 ppg). </span></p>

Minnesota Timberwolves’ Naz Reid took home the 2023-2024 Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year, the league announced Wednesday night.

Naz Reid takes home 2023-2024 Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award

<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">There has been a level of dominance the Boston Celtics have had this season that not a lot of teams in the history of the league have reached or come close to. The team&rsquo;s mixture of star power, depth, and chemistry within the tight-knit group of guys has been the source of power for the historically dominant regular season team.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In their March 17 game vs Washington, Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday, and Al Horford combined to destroy the Wizards, 130-104. Bench player Sam Hauser, who started the game, led the team in scoring with 30 points built on 10 three-point shots.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Then on their next game, in came Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Kristaps Porzingis, who then annihilated the Detroit Pistons 119-94 on the second night of a back-to-back. Another bench player, Payton Pritchard starred with 23 points and 7 assists as the Celtics earned yet another win.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">This speaks to their depth as a team as well as the adaptability of each player to play with either of their core six guys with relative ease and without skipping a beat. The Celtics are a machine that keeps going with pieces and parts that are versatile enough to keep their brand of basketball going no matter who you sub in or slot onto the floor whenever someone is out.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">With their dominant regular season coming down to a close, one question awaits the rest of the league as the playoffs arrive.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Who is stopping the Boston Celtics?&nbsp;</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The guys in green have been far away the best team in the league by a wide margin, racing past ahead of all the other teams.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Celtics just speedrun through everything, especially in the East, where they were far away the best team and are just cherry-picking to wait and see whoever will finish second behind them. The only disappointment thus far was not winning the In-Season Tournament title, which probably wasn&rsquo;t the championship they wanted to win anyway.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">They have the league&rsquo;s best record at 64-18 and they never lost more than two straight throughout the year. They blew out three teams by 50 or more points and they have only lost four games at the Boston Garden, and have only just lost to an Eastern Conference team at home for over a year &ndash; since March of 2023. The only team to win two and claim the season series over Boston are the defending champions Denver Nuggets, which makes sense considering they&rsquo;re the team all teams in the NBA are chasing after.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Celtics will be the only team that will finish in double-digits in plus/minus efficiency (+11.3) and they rank 1st in offensive rating (120.4) and 5th in defensive rating (110.5) in the entire league. This level of dominance in the regular season makes it one of the most impressive ones in recent NBA history.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Boston Celtics might go all the way this year and take that coveted 18th championship title, but what makes them so good?</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>'The Jays' superstar duo: Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Celtics start and end with their star forward duo. They would not be near where they are right now without these two. The way they complement each other and play off of each other has been spectacular, and their chemistry has been built since 2016-2017 when Boston drafted both guys back to back with the no.3 pick. With the Celtics having two dynamic two-way guys in Tatum and Brown, they have the foundation to allow them to surround the team with guys that complement their skills, which president Brad Stevens and coach Joe Mazzulla have done an incredible job of doing so over the past couple years.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Roster construction</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">After trading away mainstays Marcus Smart, Robert Williams, and Grant Williams this season, Brad Stevens built the roster with some awesome replacements in Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Porzingis just fits the Celtics&rsquo; scheme so much as he gives them a stretch big that can space the floor for their 5-out offense. On defense, his towering 7&rsquo;3 frame can alter and block shots. Porzingis is also the perfect Al Horford replacement who has been key to the lineups the Celtics run in the previous years. Although Horford is now 37 and is nearing the end of his career, he's still bringing that veteran leadership and the floor spacing to give the Celtics more options on offense.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Holiday&rsquo;s transition into the team has been seamless, filling in the place of Smart. A 2022 champion with the Milwaukee Bucks, Holiday brought the championship mindset along with his trademark defensive versatility and a plug-and-play offensive repertoire that has elevated the Celtics&rsquo; play all season long.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Around Tatum and Brown and their new acquisitions Porzingis and Holiday, the ever-consistent Derrick White and the ageless Al Horford come into place to complete their starting five and their fearsome six-man lineup. Solid bench pieces led by Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser provide quality backup minutes to ensure Boston does not lose a single step whenever their mainstays rest during the games. Depending on the matchup, big men Xavier Tillman and Luke Kornet will see some minutes and both have proven they can play the style of basketball the Celtics need to win. Overall, this team is arguably the best the Celtics have in years, and they have all the makings to have a deep playoff run.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, Boston knows the job is not done yet and the real test is at hand. No matter how good they have been in the first six months of the year, it all comes down to how they will perform and execute in the season&rsquo;s final three months when it matters the most. And they certainly hope they can reach the pinnacle again and this time, come out on top in June.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">To further strengthen that point, it isn&rsquo;t a guarantee to win all the time, especially in the playoffs. Although it is an indication of good habits built throughout the season, the playoffs are a different beast. According to NBA.com, only five teams in the last 20 years had the best record winning the title that season. The last best-record champions were the 2016-17 Warriors as teams deal with a variety of challenges throughout the postseason.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">As the road to the 18th banner looms close, the Celtics have themselves as their biggest obstacle &ndash; only they can stop themselves from achieving their full potential.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><br style="font-weight: 400;" /><br style="font-weight: 400;" /></p>

As the road to the 18th banner looms close, the Celtics have themselves as their biggest obstacle.

Who’s stopping Boston? Dissecting the Celtics’ juggernaut after their dominant season

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It&rsquo;s going to be the best player in the country vs. the best team in the country in the national championship game after all.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes survived a thrilling game against Paige Bueckers and the UConn Huskies 71-69 in their NCAA Women&rsquo;s March Madness Final Four matchup Friday night at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The National Player of the Year recipient put up 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists to lead the Hawkeyes to their second straight national title game appearance and a meeting against the 36-0 South Carolina Gamecocks.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Clark, who scored 17 points in the second half after just 4 at halftime, was clutch in the 4th quarter. She tallied 8 points and dished 3 assists, making big plays after big plays.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But perhaps none bigger than the play with 1.1 seconds to go with Iowa inbounding from the baseline. In a display of high basketball IQ, Clark threw the ball off the back of an unsuspecting Bueckers with her back turned towards her and the baseline to waste time off the clock. With just 0.3 seconds on the timer, Iowa inbounded the ball again to essentially win the game.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;I watch a lot of basketball and I understand basketball and she had her back turned to me. So the biggest point was &ndash; you know the biggest thing at that point in the game is like you just want the clock to go down,&rdquo; Clark said when asked about the play. &ldquo;I mean you don&rsquo;t want to give them the ball but she had her back completely turned so I just tried to waste some clock, and you know &ndash; it just came into my brain &ndash; so I just went for it and it worked.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, Clark and Iowa&rsquo;s brilliance in the 4th quarter and the clutch were overshadowed by a crucial call late in the game. With Iowa just leading by one 70-69 with 9 seconds left and UConn having possession for the final shot, Aaliyah Edwards was called for a questionable moving screen call to give the ball back to the Hawkeyes &ndash; setting up for Clark&rsquo;s end-game brilliance.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bueckers, who played all 40 minutes of the game, scored 17 points in UConn&rsquo;s losing effort while fellow All-American teammate Edwards and rookie KK Arnold had 17 and 14 respectively in a heartbreaking game for the Huskies.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Helping Clark survive the battle against Bueckers was Hannah Stuelke who played perhaps the best game of her life by contributing 23 points on 9/12 shooting. Kate Martin chipped in 11 points and 8 rebounds for the no.1 seeded Hawkeyes, who will now move on to face the formidable Gamecocks who have yet to lose a game for the season.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">South Carolina took care of business earlier in the night against Cinderella team NC State 78-59 to keep their dream perfect season alive entering Sunday&rsquo;s title game.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As for Bueckers, she and UConn will end their season a game short of the title game &ndash; a feat she has accomplished twice now in her career. A symbol of resilience and togetherness all season long, Bueckers and UConn led by legendary coach Geno Auriemma lost 6 players during the season to injuries and came into the final four with just 7 available players.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nevertheless, Bueckers will have one final shot at a national championship next year with hopefully a fully healthy and complete UConn squad with her best friend and 2021 HS no.1 recruit Azzi Fudd in the fold.</span></p>

It’s going to be the best player in the country vs. the best team in the country in the national championship game after all.

Clark's Hawkeyes outlast Bueckers' Huskies, advance to national title game

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Iowa Hawkeyes are headed back to the Final Four following a sensational performance from women&rsquo;s college basketball superstar Caitlin Clark.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Clark poured in 41 points, 12 assists, and 7 rebounds to lead the Hawkeyes past the defending champions LSU Tigers in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament&rsquo;s March Madness 2024 at the MVP Arena in Albany New York.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The NCAA&rsquo;s all-time leading scorer in either men&rsquo;s or women&rsquo;s division played all 40 minutes, draining 9 threes. In the process, Clark broke yet another set of records including career D1 3-pointers made, career tournament 3-pointers made, and career tournament assists.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This Elite Eight win allows Clark and Iowa to avenge their loss in the national championship game last year to LSU. Clark notably scored 41 points to beat the then-undefeated South Carolina Gamecocks in the Final Four before succumbing to LSU in the title game.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite the loss, the Tigers dominated the boards 54-37 led by their own star Angel Reese&rsquo;s 20 rebounds on top of 17 points, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks for an all-around brilliant game.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kate Martin stepped up big time for the Hawkeyes to supplement Clark&rsquo;s production with 21 points while Tigers freshman and HS no.2 overall recruit Mikaylah Williams tallied 18 points and 7 rebounds in a losing effort.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Iowa now await the winner of the UConn vs USC matchup for their Final Four opponent at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio next weekend.</span></p>

The Iowa Hawkeyes are headed back to the Final Four following a sensational performance from superstar Caitlin Clark.

Marco