Timberwolves

Last night, on his 42nd birthday, Jamal Crawford announced his retirement from the NBA. Crawford is one of eight players in NBA history to play for 20 seasons; only Vince Carter (22), Robert Parish (21) and Kevin Willis (21) had a longer career.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
&ldquo; Goodbye to the game, all the spoils the adrenaline rush.&rdquo; Thank you basketball, I owe you everything &hellip;..✌🏾 <a href="https://t.co/PpKYjoqz9p">pic.twitter.com/PpKYjoqz9p</a>
&mdash; 🏁 Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) <a href="https://twitter.com/JCrossover/status/1505795444693082112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2022</a></blockquote>
Crawford will go down as arguably the greatest sixth man of all-time, and he's one of just two players to win the Sixth Man of the Year award three times. He was known for creating instant offense off of the bench, and he was one of the league&rsquo;s best ball-handlers &mdash; consistently coming up with new moves and wowing fans with his handles. He scored the second-most points off the bench in NBA history (trailing only Lou Williams), per <a href="https://twitter.com/statmuse/status/1505915685238497285" target="_blank" rel="noopener">StatMuse</a>.
Crawford was also known as one of the best teammates around the league, winning the NBA&rsquo;s Teammate of the Year award in 2018. He has strong relationships with many people around the basketball world &mdash;&nbsp; from players to coaches to executives to media. Throughout his career, he garnered a ton of respect from fellow players because of his immense love of the game and electrifying style of play, which inspired plenty of younger hoopers (especially in his hometown of Seattle).&nbsp;
Over the years, Crawford has done everything in his power to help up-and-coming Seattle-area players, even letting some live with him throughout his NBA career (including Isaiah Thomas, Nate Robinson and Abdul Gaddy among others).
&ldquo;That&rsquo;s what it&rsquo;s all about. When you&rsquo;re a kid, you think it&rsquo;s all about you making it. Then, as you get older, the real joy, the real fulfillment, comes from seeing someone else make it," Crawford <a href="https://hoopshype.com/2018/09/03/nba-seattle-supersonics-sonics-jamal-crawford-proam-crawsover/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told me</a> in 2018. &ldquo;How can I tell someone like Isaiah Thomas or Brandon Roy or Nate Robinson or Tony Wroten or any of these guys to go help the next generation if I&rsquo;m not doing it? It all goes full circle. That&rsquo;s the payback. I don&rsquo;t want anything from those guys, I just want them to do it for the next generation... Before looking at their talent, I like to see how good of a kid they are and what kind of character they have. That&rsquo;s No. 1 for me. Once I see that, I&rsquo;m willing to help to the moon and back. I want to work with them and show them that this [lifestyle] is attainable.&rdquo;
When Crawford thinks about his career, he's said that passing down that pay-it-forward mentality to the next generation of Seattle players is one of his proudest achievements. Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine raves about Crawford, and he now tries to help younger players just as Crawford helped him.
&ldquo;Jamal is just, like, the best human being. He&rsquo;s a great person,&rdquo; LaVine&nbsp;<a href="https://hoopshype.com/2018/09/03/nba-seattle-supersonics-sonics-jamal-crawford-proam-crawsover/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told me</a> in 2018. &ldquo;I try to be the same way; it&rsquo;s just how you&rsquo;re supposed to be, how you&rsquo;re supposed to treat other people. I thank my parents [for instilling that]. I remember being in high school &ndash; or even right before I entered high school &ndash; getting little invites to their pro runs. To be a high-schooler going up against Brandon Roy, Jamal, Nate Robinson, Tone [Wroten]? You keep getting better and better. You can see the progression, and they can see that you&rsquo;re part of that group of players who will carry on Seattle basketball. You start from a young age and then once you get there [to the pros], you just pass it down the same way.&rdquo;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Crawford is beloved by quite a few fan bases, having suited up for the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets.
After a productive 2018-19 season with the Suns (where Crawford was a strong leader and scored 51 points in his final game), he had a hard time getting signed by NBA teams. The Nets ultimately signed him during the NBA Bubble in Orlando, but he appeared in just one game before injuring his left hamstring. That would end up being Crawford&rsquo;s final NBA game, as he remained unsigned throughout the 2021-22 season &mdash; even when COVID-19 ravaged rosters and created opportunities for other veterans.
What&rsquo;s next for the 42-year-old? He has already been co-hosting the HooperVision broadcasts on NBA League Pass alongside Quentin Richardson, and he has received other offers in the media space (such as podcasting opportunities). Crawford has long been considered an excellent candidate for a broadcasting gig, and now he can seriously pursue that.&nbsp;
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rG_DUD-cKFE" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Recently, Crawford has been coaching his son's basketball team, and he revealed on a Twitter Spaces conversation several months ago that he has received coaching and front-office offers from NBA teams. He has said that he wants to become an NBA executive someday because he feels that the NBA needs more former players in those positions, but it remains to be seen when he&rsquo;ll pursue that.
&ldquo;I [have] wanted to get into management just from the standpoint, I think we need more players in those roles and positions, someone that can give some insight into what it is like in the locker room,&rdquo; Crawford said, according to <a href="https://landonbuford.com/2021/10/03/jamal-crawford-reveals-he-has-gotten-nba-coaching-front-office-offers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Landon Buford</a>. &ldquo;Everything is not about numbers; sometimes, it is: what is driving this person? For example, how much does this person love the game? And is there something off the court affecting his on-the-court play? Those are the little nuances that I don&rsquo;t think they are looking at.
&ldquo;I would love to do that still, but I am enjoying coaching my son&rsquo;s team right now. Like, I am having a ball doing that. And I&rsquo;ll tell you guys that I have gotten offers for front-office and coaching in the NBA. I have put it on pause because I enjoy doing this, and I&rsquo;m the parent that is good with keeping the scorebook. The coach asked me to help out and that turned into a bug. I look forward to it and that&rsquo;s the immediate step basketball-wise, and then the other [stuff] will be there like TV and management hopefully at some point down the road.&rdquo;
After an amazing 20-year career, the basketball world is excited to see what the future holds for Crawford.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Looking to go to the hottest concerts, sports, theater &amp; family shows near you? Get 100% guaranteed tickets to more than 125,000 live events from TicketSmarter, the official ticket marketplace of BasketballNews.com. <a href="https://www.ticketsmarter.com/?utm_source=basketballnewscom&amp;utm_medium=tsaff&amp;utm_campaign=referral" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Order online now</a>!

Last night, on his 42nd birthday, Jamal Crawford announced his retirement after a 20-year NBA career. What's next for Crawford?

Jamal Crawford retires after 20-year NBA career: What's next for him?

It's that time of year when NBA trade machines and insider gossip hijack basketball discourse. Trade deadline season means absolute chaos for just about anyone involved in basketball from a management, player or media perspective. For better or for worse, I'm pulling the "we live in a society" card and conforming.
The Tank-O-Meter is back for the second time this season to assess how seriously teams should consider folding for the remainder of 2021-22. Teams are rated on a scale from 1 (playoffs or bust) to 10 (do not even think about winning a game again) based on how much a rebuild helps the long-term franchise outlook.
A key part of any good rebuild is maximizing selling out at the trade deadline. It makes sense to get a read on what teams should do before Thursday to build their chests of assets and get out of the limbo of a weak postseason push. You'll see a Tank-O-Meter reading for each of these 10 squads, plus the usual Sour Rankings.
If you're new to the Sour Rankings, here's a refresher: Unlike the typical "power rankings" that repeat themselves throughout sports media, Sour Rankings are a bizarro-world counter. These rankings highlight the top-10 most frustrating NBA franchises throughout the season, and they will be updated every week to match the twists and turns of the league.&nbsp;
This is not merely a bottom-10 of your typical best-to-worst outlooks. You will see championship contenders and playoff hopefuls mixed in with struggling squads. Teams well under .500 may never touch the Sour Rankings because they are on track with their respective processes. Injuries, drama, transactions and generally underwhelming play will earn you a spot on this list.
The central question is ultimately this: How good should you feel about the direction of each franchise? Let's get going.
Escaping the Sour Rankings:&nbsp;The New Orleans Pelicans got Brandon Ingram back from injury and immediately started winning. They're currently on a three-game stampede and have even moved into the Play-In tier of the Western Conference standings. Boston is also rolling on a five-game win streak with perhaps the hottest defense in basketball, suddenly tied with Toronto and Brooklyn for sixth in the Eastern Conference.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
10. Charlotte Hornets (28-26) &mdash; Tank-O-Meter reading: 2/10
The Hornets sink into the Sour Rankings as they tough out a four-game losing streak with defeats against the Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat. Their run to the All-Star break is daunting; it features 6 games in 11 days and includes matchups against the Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves and Heat (again). According to <a href="https://heavy.com/sports/boston-celtics/nba-trade-rumor-josh-richardson/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Heavy's Steve Bulpett</a>, Charlotte is also looking to trade PJ Washington, which still doesn't make much sense to me.
Charlotte shouldn't consider bottoming out as long as the team has confidence in its young core. The Hornets have the pieces to either become buyers or sellers at the deadline, and are right in the thick of a competitive East playoff race. At the absolute minimum, this is great experience for guys like LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges, and the Hornets are still a threatening offense on a nightly basis.
(Last week: Unranked)
9. Detroit Pistons (12-41) &mdash; Tank-O-Meter reading: 9/10
Easy reading for Detroit &mdash; the franchise has already been near the bottom of the league all season. The Pistons can really supercharge the current rebuild with how they approach the trade deadline regarding veterans like Jerami Grant and Cory Joseph.
But Detroit still cracks the Sour Rankings, because even in the scheduled losses, it just feels like there's been too much uninspired basketball. Honestly, what young talents on the roster do you feel better about from the start of the season besides Cade Cunningham? I'd say there's an argument for Saddiq Bey and... that's about it. Detroit still has several questions to answer about the team's identity, and those questions can be answered even in losses.
(Last week: Unranked)
8. Utah Jazz (32-21) &mdash; Tank-O-Meter reading: 1/10
Utah battled to a win against the Denver Nuggets and dismantled the flailing Nets this week, bringing some stability after a five-game skid. However, reports are back (this one from <a href="https://www.deseret.com/2022/2/4/22916919/utah-jazz-donovan-mitchell-on-reports-relationship-with-rudy-gobert-has-deteriorated-thats-not-true" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESPN's Brian Windhorst</a>) that Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert are "at each other's throats." Mitchell once again denied the rumors, and who knows at this point what's grounding the reports. But it's never good to hear.
No, the Jazz should not tank &mdash; they're still fourth in the West standings even in this rough patch.
(Last week: 6)
7. Indiana Pacers (19-36) &mdash; Tank-O-Meter reading: 9/10
The Pacers <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/reaction-caris-levert-fills-blended-need-for-cavs-as-pacers-reset" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dealt Caris LeVert to the Cavaliers yesterday in a trade</a> that brought back an expiring (and injured) Ricky Rubio, a lottery-protected first-round pick that will likely convey this season and two additional second-rounders. That's not a bad return for a team that simply needs young talent in waves, and draft picks always add some trade flexibility.&nbsp;
Moving LeVert for that package signals a rebuild is on the way. It's long overdue. Now, the Pacers have to get what they can for Myles Turner, Justin Holiday and their other vets. I do not think Domantas Sabonis is a "must-trade" due to his sheer skill. But Indiana also can't be afraid to accept a good offer. They're one of the primary teams to watch ahead of Thursday.
(Last week: 4)
6. Portland Trail Blazers (21-33) &mdash; Tank-O-Meter reading: 8/10
Here's another team giving off "rebuild" vibes. The Trail Blazers traded Norman Powell and Robert Covington to the Clippers this week for Eric Bledsoe, Justise Winslow, Keon Johnson and a future second-round pick. That return feels underwhelming considering Portland gave up two very good rotation players. But if they like the uber-athletic Johnson, so be it.
With no Damian Lillard return in sight, Portland should really sell at this deadline. What does being in a Play-In race even mean for this franchise? Young trade pieces and the NBA Draft are the best way to find game-changing talent. CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic have been involved in trade rumors recently. I wouldn't be surprised if both had new homes by Thursday evening.
(Last week: 7)
5. New York Knicks (24-29) &mdash; Tank-O-Meter reading: 7/10
One day, Deuce McBride and Immanuel Quickley will join the starting lineup and everything will be alright in New York. For now, the Knicks remain a woefully inconsistent basketball team that can't be trusted &mdash; but can't be counted out &mdash; on any night. If I had my way, Tom Thibodeau would commit to playing the youth; Quentin Grimes, Quickley and McBride would see serious playing time increases, and New York would head into the offseason with a good draft pick and an enticing young core. Then again, it's Thibs.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Julius Randle got into it with a coach on the bench against the Lakers. 😬 (h/t <a href="https://twitter.com/AhnFireDigital?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AhnFireDigital</a>) <a href="https://t.co/NNhrE2XgVt">pic.twitter.com/NNhrE2XgVt</a>
&mdash; theScore (@theScore) <a href="https://twitter.com/theScore/status/1490765945396244482?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2022</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

By the way, read this <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/julius-randle-and-the-george-costanza-problem" target="_blank" rel="noopener">excellent piece from Mat Issa</a> that further highlights how the Knicks are leaving Julius Randle out to dry.
(Last week: 5)
4. Sacramento Kings (20-35) &mdash; Tank-O-Meter reading: 9/10
<a href="https://theathletic.com/3113791/2022/02/07/detroit-pistons-nba-trade-deadline-guide-what-im-hearing-about-jerami-grant-trade-tiers/?article_source=search&amp;search_query=jerami%20grant" target="_blank" rel="noopener">James L. Edwards III of&nbsp;The Athletic</a>&nbsp;says that the Kings have reported interest in Jerami Grant. This comes after all the will-they-won't-they drama surrounding a Ben Simmons trade and the availability of De'Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton. Of course, smokescreens exist in trade gossip, but I still can't rationalize most of the reported targets for Sacramento.
This is a bad basketball team. The Kings have the second-worst offensive rating in the NBA over the past few weeks in addition to their perenially-porous defense. Sacramento may be two games out of 10th place, but the team would have to unseat several better squads in the San Antonio Spurs, Trail Blazers and Pelicans. As repetitive as selling is for this squad, it's the logical step.
(Last week: 2)
3. Los Angeles Lakers (26-28) &mdash; Tank-O-Meter reading: 1/10
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
&ldquo;more from an off-ball perspective&rdquo; from TALEN HORTON-TUCKER is just- <a href="https://t.co/LO3LSpvuxR">https://t.co/LO3LSpvuxR</a>
&mdash; Nekias (Nuh-KY-us) Duncan (@NekiasNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NekiasNBA/status/1490191241878851589?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2022</a></blockquote>
I audibly chuckled reading this reaction from Nekias Duncan on Frank Vogel's rationale benching Russell Westbrook late against the Knicks. L.A. won that game in overtime, but it sure wasn't thanks to either player. Even though the Lakers went 2-1 this week, the lasting image will be the game-winner from Clippers guard Reggie Jackson on Thursday. The purple and gold are now down to ninth in the Western Conference.
The Tank-O-Meter reading remains the same: You don't tank with a healthy LeBron James.
(Last week: 3)
2. Washington Wizards (24-28) &mdash; Tank-O-Meter reading: 5/10
Washington's downward spiral continued last week with two one-sided losses to the Bucks and Suns. The Wizards did manage a 106-103 win over Philadelphia, but they've now been usurped by the Atlanta Hawks for the final Play-In bid. Does being on the outside looking in change anything from a directional perspective?
I think the Wizards are at the most polarizing trade deadline crossroads of any NBA team. They could make a desparation play for a star to help Bradley Beal and <a href="https://twitter.com/JakeLFischer/status/1488860395683168259?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1488860395683168259%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2F8points9seconds.com%2F2022%2F02%2F03%2Findiana-pacers-domantas-sabonis-trade-wizards%2F" target="_blank" rel="noopener">swing on someone like Domantas Sabonis.</a> Or, Washington could send out its solid veterans in return for young talent or draft assets &mdash; at the risk of losing Beal this offseason. Moves have to be made by Thursday, but I couldn't honestly say what the right direction is.
(Last week: 1)
1. Brooklyn Nets (29-24) &mdash; Tank-O-Meter reading: 1/10
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Harden effort thread because I watched the film back and, my god, it's pathetic. Clip 1: just blatantly not caring. <a href="https://t.co/NbCccj2Ntt">pic.twitter.com/NbCccj2Ntt</a>
&mdash; Erik Slater (@erikslaterNR) <a href="https://twitter.com/erikslaterNR/status/1489287381031297027?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2022</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Whew... An eight-game losing streak, complete with some epic meltdowns, has the Nets in the Play-In tournament. And that's not even the worst part amidst the firestorm of rumors surrounding James Harden's potential availability. Whether or not he gets traded, Harden is showing visible disinterest at a critical point in Brooklyn's season. It's hard to consider the Nets a legitimate title contender with the way they've played over the past three weeks.
(Last week: 8)
Looking to go to the hottest concerts, sports, theater &amp; family shows near you? Get 100% guaranteed tickets to more than 125,000 live events from TicketSmarter, the official ticket marketplace of BasketballNews.com.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ticketsmarter.com/?utm_source=basketballnewscom&amp;utm_medium=tsaff&amp;utm_campaign=referral" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Order online now</a>!

Ethan Fuller looks at which struggling teams should sell ahead of Thursday's trade deadline.

NBA Sour Rankings: Tank-O-Meter readings ahead of the trade deadline

The&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/tracy-mcgrady-to-launch-1-on-1-nationwide-basketball-league/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
The success of Ice Cube&rsquo;s BIG3 basketball league showed there is a hole in the market for alternative-format basketball leagues. Now, Tracy McGrady is trying to come up with a concept of his own:
&ldquo;Ones Basketball Association&rdquo;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
The Hall of Famer joined Jamal Crawford and Quentin Richardson on &ldquo;NBA HooperVision,&rdquo; a broadcast on NBA League Pass. While watching the Bucks blowout the Magic &mdash; the final result was 136-118 &mdash; T-Mac announced he&rsquo;s in the process of starting a professional one-on-one basketball league.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m creating something, a one-on-one league that I&rsquo;m creating,&rdquo; McGrady said. &ldquo;Nationwide. Not a tournament, a league. 18 and up. It&rsquo;s called OBA. Ones Basketball Association. Coming to you.&rdquo;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Tracy McGrady just announced on HooperVision he&rsquo;s in the process of starting a professional 1-on-1 league, for 18 and over adults, called the OBA (Ones Basketball Association) Details ⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/YkkfTbuaW4">pic.twitter.com/YkkfTbuaW4</a>
&mdash; Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) <a href="https://twitter.com/WorldWideWob/status/1476736450485899265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

McGrady has yet to reveal more details about the project. He also didn&rsquo;t specify when he plans to launch it. But judging by Jamal Crawford&rsquo;s reaction, who is one of the greatest one-on-one players the NBA has ever seen, the potential entertainment value of such a league is enormous.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m calling you, man,&rdquo; Crawford said to McGrady, aspiring to join the project both as a player and a business partner. &ldquo;I need in.&ldquo;
Following BIG3&rsquo;s example
When Ice Cube launched BIG3, he wanted to allow guys who had &ldquo;honed basketball skills to the highest level to continue to play at a high level.&rdquo; T-Mac aims to do the same thing, just through a different format, arguably an even more exciting one to watch.
Following the 2020 season&rsquo;s cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic &mdash; going into its fourth season &mdash; the BIG3 faced the challenge of regaining momentum and keeping the league alive. The league even lost one of its biggest sponsors in Adidas due to financial losses caused by the pandemic.
But the project&rsquo;s core idea &mdash; returning favorite former NBA players back to pro-level action &mdash; is still alluring to the basketball public. Now it&rsquo;s just a matter of regaining awareness and reminding people of what they liked about the league in the first place.
McGrady&rsquo;s project seems to be along the same lines. If executed properly, assuming Crawford isn&rsquo;t the only one-on-one artist interested in participating, Ones Basketball Association has the potential to be a huge success. We can&rsquo;t wait for it to launch &mdash; fans always welcome any form of competitive basketball involving NBA-caliber players.
&nbsp;

On NBA HooperVision, Tracy McGrady announced one-on-one basketball league.

Tracy McGrady to launch one-on-one nationwide basketball league

The&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/heres-how-special-joe-johnsons-return-really-is/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
After ending a three-year absence from NBA basketball, "Iso" Joe Johnson is back with the Boston Celtics. He played less than one minute in his return to the NBA, but was able to knock down a late-game jumper for the team that drafted him in 2001.
Now, only he and the prestigious Dirk Nowitzki have scored buckets for the same team as a 20-year old and a 40-year old.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Players to score as a 20-year-old and a 40-year-old for the same NBA team: - Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas - Joe Johnson, Boston
&mdash; Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) <a href="https://twitter.com/ByTimReynolds/status/1473851864584183809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

For those who don&rsquo;t remember Johnson in a Celtics uniform during their famous Eastern Conference Finals juggernaut run in 2002, there&rsquo;s a key reason. The Phoenix Suns sent Tony Delk and Rodney Ray Rogers (who was once famous for scoring &zwnj;nine&zwnj; &zwnj;points&zwnj; &zwnj;in&zwnj; &zwnj;eight&zwnj; &zwnj;seconds&zwnj; &zwnj;against&zwnj; &zwnj;the&zwnj; &zwnj;Utah&zwnj; &zwnj;Jazz) away to Boston for Johnson in &zwnj;a&zwnj; &zwnj;late&zwnj;-February&zwnj; &zwnj;trade.
Is there a reason the Celtics had no idea that Iso Joe would go on to be one of the most gifted scorers of the 2000s, toppling over 20,000 points for his career and counting? The Celtics coach at the time, Rick Pitino, couldn&rsquo;t recognize young talent even if it started for him. Guess who the Celtics drafted No. 3 overall and let walk before the season even started?&nbsp;
Chauncey Billups! Thanks Pitino...
In the present day, there is a chance Johnson might mentor Jayson Tatum and teach him how to become an even greater iso player than he already is. Of course, this is only inhibiting the part of Tatum&rsquo;s game that doesn&rsquo;t involve teammates and leads to the occasional Marcus Smart callout. But hey, it&rsquo;s not like Johnson can do any harm to the Celtics&rsquo; chemistry and stylistic problems.
Would you have guessed that Johnson was a seven-time All-Star and an All-NBA player in 2010? That&rsquo;s as many All-Star appearances as Scottie Pippen, Kevin McHale and Willis Reed &ndash; all while competing with Allen Iverson, LeBron James, Tracy McGrady, Paul Pierce, Dwyane Wade, Gilbert Arenas, Vince Carter and Carmelo Anthony during his peak in the East from 2007-14.&nbsp;
Even if he doesn&rsquo;t stay past his 10-day contract, he is now on a Mount Rushmore with only Dirk Nowitzki&rsquo;s face beside him. Those accomplishments last forever.
With Lance Stephenson on the Hawks, Isaiah Thomas on the Lakers and now Johnson on the Celtics, it's only fitting to ask when Jamal Crawford is making his return. (He might be too busy with Quentin Richardson doing their &lsquo;NBA Hooper Vision&rsquo; stream for league pass games, though.)
Here's another name that comes to mind...
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
😂😂😂😂😂 I can&rsquo;t <a href="https://t.co/aRHFJrw44b">https://t.co/aRHFJrw44b</a>
&mdash; DWade (@DwyaneWade) <a href="https://twitter.com/DwyaneWade/status/1473890924694413316?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

It looks like Wade&rsquo;s already made it clear that you can cross him off of your Christmas wish list.&nbsp;
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net&nbsp;<a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

When Joe Johnson made an isolation jumper late in the fourth quarter for the Celtics, he joined another legend in NBA history.

Joe Johnson's NBA comeback was historically special

Kevin Durant is a basketball junkie. When he isn&rsquo;t lighting up opposing teams on the court, he&rsquo;s often studying film or watching games on NBA League Pass.
Because he watches so much basketball, Durant can offer up informed takes and detailed analysis of players and teams around the NBA. That&rsquo;s why Durant was the perfect first guest for the new #NBAHooperVision stream, which is hosted by Jamal Crawford and Quentin Richardson.
During the broadcast, Crawford asked Durant which young NBA players he likes the most, and the two-time champion used this opportunity to praise the 2021 rookie class.
&ldquo;I like a lot of the rookies this year,&rdquo; Durant said. &ldquo;I like Scottie Barnes. I like [Chris] Duarte. We played them a couple of weeks ago. He reminds me of an old-school shooting guard. [He&rsquo;s] quick off the catch and can shoot the mid-range off a couple of dribbles too. He&rsquo;s got good size. I like him. I like him a lot. I like this rookie class a lot.&rdquo;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/KDTrey5?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KDTrey5</a> discusses this year's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBARooks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBARooks</a> class with <a href="https://twitter.com/JCrossover?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JCrossover</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/QRich?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@QRich</a>! Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAHooperVision?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBAHooperVision</a> on NBA League Pass: <a href="https://t.co/xoeIs9fLvQ">https://t.co/xoeIs9fLvQ</a> <a href="https://t.co/Hg15w0v3OB">pic.twitter.com/Hg15w0v3OB</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1461515840000561152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Barnes has been one of the biggest surprises among this year&rsquo;s rookies, as he was initially viewed as a raw prospect who would take some time to develop. After all, during his lone collegiate season, he only started seven contests and averaged just 10.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 24.8 minutes per game. However, Barnes has been excellent for the Toronto Raptors, starting every game and averaging 14.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.6 blocks in 34.9 minutes per game.
Duarte was playing 35.9 minutes per game over the first month of the season, as the Indiana Pacers were without Caris LeVert, Malcolm Brogdon and Jeremy Lamb for multiple games. The 24-year-old made the most of this opportunity and showed why he was considered one of the most NBA-ready players in this class. However, he&rsquo;s come back down to Earth a bit recently, and he&rsquo;s averaging just 23.1 minutes over the last six games. Still, on the season, Duarte is averaging 13.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.9 threes and 0.9 steals, and he&rsquo;s been one of the most efficient rookies with 43.4/39.2/76.5 shooting splits.&nbsp;
Several weeks ago, after the Brooklyn Nets' 96-90 win over the Detroit Pistons, Durant also praised No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham.
&ldquo;I love Cade&rsquo;s game,&rdquo; Durant <a href="https://therookiewire.usatoday.com/2021/11/05/pistons-cade-cunningham-kevin-durant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &ldquo;I think he&rsquo;s going to be a tough, tough cover for a long, long time. I got to know him while he was in high school, so we built a little relationship. To play against him in the NBA is what we had a lot of conversations about &mdash; being on this level and what it took. He battled some injuries to start, but to come out here and play aggressive tonight [was big]. He hit some big shots for them. I&rsquo;m happy for him and looking forward to seeing his career... This is really one of my guys.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Cunningham got off to a slow start, but he&rsquo;s currently averaging 14.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.9 threes and 1.4 steals for the 4-12 Pistons. With that said, the 20-year-old has struggled with his efficiency, shooting 35.0% from the field and 25.3% from three-point range.
In addition to Barnes, Duarte and Cunningham, this rookie class has also featured impressive play from Cleveland Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley (who's widely considered the Rookie of the Year favorite), Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner, Oklahoma City Thunder Josh Giddey, Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green, etc.
It remains to be seen how the 2021 NBA Draft will stack up alongside other classes in the long run, but the early results have been promising.
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-rookie-rankings-2021-evan-mobley-scottie-barnes-bursting-onto-scene" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Be sure to check out BasketballNews.com&rsquo;s top-10 rookie rankings.</a>

Kevin Durant is a big fan of the 2021 rookie class, praising Scottie Barnes, Chris Duarte and Cade Cunningham in particular.

Durant praises 2021 NBA Draft class: 'I like this rookie class a lot'

Heads up, NFL. The NBA is ordering up more alternate game telecasts similar to Omaha Productions&rsquo; popular ManningCast with Peyton Manning and Eli Manning.
The league is expected to announce an alternate telecast co-starring Jamal Crawford and Quentin Richardson for NBA League Pass, its subscription-based product that provides access to hundreds of live and on-demand games.
Source: <a href="https://frontofficesports.com/nba-manningcast-megacast-espn-tnt-peyton-manning-eli-manning/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports </a>
ANALYSIS: The report goes onto say that Crawford and Richardson are expected to provide their own weekly commentary for the next 10 weeks starting Thursday. ESPN debuted the ManningCast starring Peyton and Eli Manning this year on Monday night's and it has been a great success for the network. The NBA will look to replicate that success with their own alternative telecast via NBA League Pass.

The NBA is expected to announce an alternative streaming telecast via League Pass, starring Jamal Crawford and Quentin Richardson.

Jamal Crawford, Quentin Richardson to host alternative telecast via League Pass

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/dr-j-shares-who-was-the-only-player-wilt-chamberlain-feared/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
It&rsquo;s hard to think of any players throughout NBA history that were as dominant and imposing on the court as Wilt Chamberlain. &ldquo;The Big Dipper&rdquo; is immortalized in history as one of the best players ever, setting numerous statistical <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/basketball-news-what-are-the-most-unbreakable-individual-records-in-nba-history-lebron-james-wilt-chamberlain" target="_blank" rel="noopener">records that will most likely never be broken</a>. At 7-foot-1, Wilt was an athletic giant who was ahead of its time, presenting an unsolvable case for most of the big men of his era.&nbsp;
The physical stature, skill, confidence and aura around Wilt made him the most feared matchup for the whole league, as you were getting 50-pieced with 20 rebounds on a nightly basis with ease. But even though Wilt dominated the NBA for the whole of his career, even he had to face some tough matchups from time to time. His biggest rival was Bill Russell, as his Celtics teams robbed Wilt of getting more than two rings on his resume.
You may think Russell was the only player Wilt didn&rsquo;t like to face, but there was one player you wouldn&rsquo;t think of instantly who apparently gave Wilt real problems. Julius Erving recently joined Darius Miles and Quentin Richardson on the "Knuckleheads" podcast and discussed various interesting topics.
Since Dr. J is remembered as one of the best dunkers in NBA history, the crew wanted to know Erving&rsquo;s favorite dunk from his career. Erving picked a monster dunk over the legendary Elvin Hayes, but along the way of telling the story of that day, he slipped in an interesting note about Big E&rsquo;s teammate Wes Unseld being one of the most rugged players in the game and the only guy Wilt feared:
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m going in the lane, and that damn Wes Unseld was back there helping, and Elvin. I knew Unseld would hurt you and not even blink,&rdquo; Erving said on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H4enZ3t-04" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Knuckleheads Podcast</a>. &ldquo;He would take the courage from the other players on your team because they wouldn&rsquo;t even come out and come to your rescue. Might not even come pick you up because they gonna get hit by him too. So he was the only guy Wilt was scared of in the league, and I always heard that before I got over to the league.&rdquo;
It&rsquo;s hard to imagine someone as imposing, confident and dominant as Wilt being afraid of anyone, but the legendary Hall-of-Famer Wes Unseld was apparently a thorn in his side. At just 6-foot-7, Unseld was one of those stern and strong undersized big men, who used his basketball IQ and fearlessness to handle his own in the paint. He wasn&rsquo;t the most skilled guy, but Unseld still managed to average a double-double while pulling down 14 rebounds per game for his whole career. A true enforcer and fighter.&nbsp;
That type of player will make anyone work, even the great Wilt Chamberlain. Unseld likely made Wilt work for every bucket and sent him home bruised. Sometimes, that is enough to make you simply hate playing against the guy.&nbsp;

On the "Knuckleheads" podcast, Julius Erving revealed the one NBA player that Wilt Chamberlain feared during his playing days.

Dr. J shares 'the only guy Wilt Chamberlain was scared of' in the NBA

The <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/dude-how-you-get-off-doing-this-julius-erving-criticizes-lack-of-accountability-in-the-3-point-era/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">following article</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
If you are not a fan of today&rsquo;s NBA, blame it on Steph Curry. The Golden State Warriors superstar, and the league&rsquo;s latest revolutionary, <a href="https://sidelinesources.com/nba-news/andre-iguodala-discusses-stephen-currys-impact-on-the-nba-in-the-last-decade/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spearheaded the NBA&rsquo;s shift towards long-range shooting</a>. And while not everybody enjoys it, Julius Erving does.
That in and of itself is an anomaly &ndash; former players are the loudest critics of the playstyle dominating the league. But Dr. J, although coming from a whole different era of basketball, grew to love it.
"I&rsquo;ve evolved with the game," Erving <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/knuckleheads-with-quentin-richardson-darius-miles/id1452698284" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said on the Knuckleheads podcast</a>. "So when a center would grab a rebound, dribble it up court, start the offense at the top of the key with a little hand-off, and then go down and spot up in the corner, it was like, &lsquo;When you&rsquo;re gonna put your feet in the paint big fella?&lsquo; But that&rsquo;s the way it is now."
It&rsquo;s refreshing to see an all-time great not being bitter about how the game has evolved. Because this isn&rsquo;t the first time something like that has happened. It might&rsquo;ve taken on a different form over the decades &ndash; from the big men era to the iso basketball of the &rsquo;00s &ndash; but the NBA has always been a forever-changing game and Erving has too much respect for the game to be bitter about it. That&rsquo;s why he gives credit where credit is due.
"The coaches have kept pace with the changes in the game and the fact it&rsquo;s played differently," <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/knuckleheads-with-quentin-richardson-darius-miles/id1452698284" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Erving said</a>. It&rsquo;s played outside-in and there&rsquo;s a lot of fan appeal who want to see the three-ball go up."
And while he appreciates the current three-point environment, Erving did single out two things that bother him about today&rsquo;s NBA. First, the rules favor offensive players too much &ndash; this is something the league tried to address with recent rule changes, trying to eliminate players manipulating defenders into foul calls. But according to Erving, that&rsquo;s still not enough.
"Offensively, players have a huge advantage. That&rsquo;s why you see so much dancing," Erving said. "Back in the day, a dude would just take a shot at you; &lsquo;You&rsquo;re not here dancing on me, embarrassing me like we at a night club or something.'"
The second thing is a lack of accountability, especially regarding the three-point shooting.
&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think everybody should have a license to shoot it and that&rsquo;s obvious sometimes when you see some of those shots,&rdquo; Erving said. &ldquo;When a guy misses five or six of them and then he makes one and he&rsquo;s kissing up to God, I&rsquo;m like, &lsquo;Dude, how you get off doing this? Is that really appropriate?'&rdquo;
This is another Steph Curry effect that shook up the risk-reward perception when it comes to shooting long-range shots. That&rsquo;s why you don&rsquo;t see coaches holding their players accountable after missing a few in a row. It&rsquo;s also why you don&rsquo;t see them trying to score in a different way to get back into a rhythm.
The potential of overcoming such a slump by shooting the ball is enough for the players to always have a green light &ndash; the Rockets missing 27 straight threes against the Warriors in 2018 is the perfect example of that. And no matter how much he likes today&rsquo;s NBA, that&rsquo;s something Erving will never understand. Can you really blame him for it?
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

Julius Erving joined the Knuckleheads podcast to discuss his feelings on the NBA's shooting evolution.

Julius Erving criticizes lack of accountability in the three-point era

Facing a hostile Utah Jazz crowd, and with the Los Angeles Clippers missing their leader and perennial All-Star in Kawhi Leonard (whose season may be in jeopardy due to a knee injury), Paul George had two options in Game 5: Shut up his critics. or give them further ammunition for ridicule across social media from national pundits. It seemed as though the naysayers were salivating at the chance to further mock the self proclaimed &ldquo;Playoff P."
But PG had other plans, scoring 37 points, pulling down 16 rebounds and dishing out 5 assists -- a performance that no other Clipper has had in a playoff game.
That&rsquo;s not to say that this was in any way a one-man show. The &ldquo;others,&rdquo; as Shaq refers to them, all stepped up in Kawhi&rsquo;s absence. Marcus Morris poured in 25 points and Reggie Jackson lit up the stat sheet for 22, while Terance Mann continued to impress with a solid 13 points and an electrifying dunk over the three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, as the Clippers pushed the top-seeded Jazz to the brink of elimination. The Clippers shot 51% from the field without Leonard, as they collectively willed themselves to victory. But the bulk of the praise has to go to George.
For the most part, all of the questions about George&rsquo;s ability to carry the team absent of Kawhi Leonard should have been put to rest. This was a statement game. His redemption song.
I picture Kool Moe Dee with his arms folded on his album cover back in '87 and his white Kangol and sunglasses on with &ldquo;How Ya Like Me Now&rdquo; at the top.&nbsp;
Serge Ibaka said it all with one tweet.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Please, make sure you fill out the form appropriately. Let me know if you have any questions. Thank you. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ClipperNation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ClipperNation</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAonTNT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBAonTNT</a> <a href="https://t.co/3uz3ghWi5J">pic.twitter.com/3uz3ghWi5J</a>
&mdash; Serge Ibaka (@sergeibaka) <a href="https://twitter.com/sergeibaka/status/1405390154613739521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

And there was much more praise from his piers where that came from. I reached out to former Clipper great Cuttino Mobley to get his thoughts.
&ldquo;Paul is a star," Mobley said. "For some reason there was a blockage mentally. I think he has opened up that block. He is being who we all knew he was. I&rsquo;m super happy for my guy. One of the most talented in the game, 'Playoff P.'" 
On my podcast, The Rematch, Darius Miles <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/podcasts/the-rematch/episodes/basketballnews-com-episode-25-quentin-richardson-and-darius-miles-on-starting-knuckleheads-podcast,-life-after-the-nba,-more" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared his own feelings</a> on George.
"I&rsquo;m so proud of him in how he came back from last season and how he&rsquo;s playing and his mindset," Miles said. "I just DM&rsquo;d him the other day just out the blue and told him, 'Hey man, I&rsquo;m proud of you. You&rsquo;re out there looking good, you&rsquo;re looking happy and you look like you&rsquo;re in a zone.'"
I sat down with Clipps, lifelong Clippers fan and co-host of <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/podcasts/The-Follow-Through-podcast-with-Clipps-and-Drew" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Follow Through with Clipps and Drew</a>, to discuss the significance of this epic performance by Paul George and if he has in fact silenced his critics.
Etan: Has Paul George made a statement to all of his critics?&nbsp;
Clipps: "A hundred percent. I mean, I did an interview yesterday and I think last night was the most important game in Clipper history. Yesterday was the saddest day in Clipper history, as well. And we've had many, Etan, like many; getting the news about Kawhi was absolutely devastating. But for the first time in my life, I wasn't sad or upset because I knew we could still beat this team. This wasn't like we had to win four games against these guys. We had win two without Kawhi. And all anybody wanted to talk about was, 'Will Paul George step up and rise to the occasion?' And he did that and more for us yesterday. And then with the <a href="https://twitter.com/Farbod_E/status/1405394982442135554?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news coming out that he told Ty Lue</a>, 'Look I've got this, I got you guys today. Don't even worry about it.' So yes, it was [a statement]. I think that from a statement that he made three years ago in a postgame interview, calling himself Playoff P has turned into this huge thing. And it's so crazy to me because Paul George has been great for us for the past two seasons. Yes, he had a really bad Bubble, but this playoffs he's been great for us. So yes, it is a major statement game for all of his critics."
Etan: You mentioned Playoff P, so let me ask you this: Why did that rub everybody wrong so much? Why did people get so upset about that?
Clipps: "Man, you're asking the wrong guy, because that's something I've been trying to figure out for a while now. It's kind of like... Etan, feel me on this. If you ask LeBron haters, 'Hey, why don't you like LeBron?' And they always say, 'Oh, well, because of The Decision, when he did The Decision, I just ended up hating him.' And it's like, okay, that's a really lame reason to hate LeBron. And then it's like, well, why do you hate Paul George? 'Oh, Playoff P, because he called himself Playoff P.' I don't know, man. I think there's just some certain players that the media want to pick on, and Paul George is one of them. It should never be about his athletic [ability] or his game at all because he's a top-15 guy, no matter what."
Etan: I agree. I thought it was interesting, last year in the Bubble, he came out and said that he had some mental health challenges and was depressed while he was there. And nobody cares. You know what I mean? They just pushed him aside. And other people came out and they said that they had mental health challenges and depression and they were praised. DeRozan, Kevin Love, they were praised for their courage to come forward, praised for helping so many people have the courage to open up as well, and they were on panels and all this stuff. But Paul George, it was like nobody cared. And then when he didn't perform well, they dumped on him even more. That's what I saw. Did you see the same thing?
Clipps: "Oh, 100%. And Kevin Love and DeRozan, they were not trendsetting, but they were being honored for their honesty with coming out and speaking about mental health. But [with] Paul George, [it] is looked at as an excuse, right? And I don't know if it's the Clippers either, Etan. I've been a diehard, Clipper fan for 30 years, man, and for the past 10, I've never met so many people that hate the Clippers. For a long time. Nobody cared about the Clippers. They could give... They just did not care about what the Clippers did or who they were for the past 10 years. And especially these past three [years], it's just, people want to find anything to hate the Clippers. And I think his case for having mental health issues was valid. I mean, the Bubble was not easy for anybody. Right?"
"But I guess it could be looked at as a soft excuse from his performance in the Bubble. You know what I mean? It could have been just something that he just didn't want to address and he wanted to write it off as mental health, but in actuality, players don't joke about that. Or they wouldn't joke about that. So I continue to believe in... Look man, the Bubble and last year, [there] was mental health issues for all of us, not just athletes in the Bubble. We were all going through it, and there was a lot going on with the Clippers at that time that we didn't know about. We didn't know that there was some beef, Lou Williams [was] doing his thing. And there was some issues with Montrezl Harrell, and obviously it came out later with Doc Rivers that there was some problems. But I think, especially his performance this season, I just don't know what more people want from Paul George, Etan, I don't understand. You tell me, what more can this guy do?"
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_16255845_lg.jpg" alt="" />
Etan: I agree with you 100%. I saw Serge Ibaka tweeted out apology forms for everybody that wants to sign up. What is it going to take for people to finally say, 'Okay, we apologize to Paul George?' Is it going to take him getting out of this round, the Clippers getting out the round or is that still not going to be enough? What is it going to take?
Clipps: "Okay Etan, I'll tell you this. I said it on our show the other day. First of all, it's never going to be enough. It'll never be enough for the talking heads. It won't be enough until you win a championship, I guess, right? But I want to speak on behalf of just the Clipper fan and Clipper Nation in me, 'cause a lot of Clipper Nation hates on Paul George, too. Clipper fans like to blame somebody or something. Yesterday morning, it was all about, 'Oh we're cursed, we're cursed, the Clipper curse.' And I was more like, 'I believe in our team, I believe in Paul George, Ty Lue and our whole squad.' I think that Clipper fans in general, this should be enough for you and Paul George, right? Look, this was the biggest game of our [season]. Do you know that Kawhi or Paul George, while they've played together, have not won in Utah?
"They haven't won a game in Utah, and for Paul George to do what he did, in Game 4 in the playoffs with a sold-out arena. Could you even hear the announcers talk? It was so loud and just rocking last night. And for him to show up and drop 37 [points], like a true superstar would and put our whole team on his back, that should be enough for Clipper Nation. Do I think it's going to be enough for Nick Wright? Or Chris Broussard? I don't think so. Because I think a lot the talking-head guys wanted him to fail so bad so they could have something to talk about for the next 24 hours. When in actuality, you should be praising Ty Lue and praising the Clippers and Paul George. Give him his flowers. And I don't necessarily need him to win the whole series. I think we should [win] with this series coming back home, because we can not go back to Utah, or we're in deep trouble. But, I think this should be enough for everybody. Like, I just don't understand what everybody wants."
Etan: Yep. You mentioned the Clippers fans that hate on Paul George. Lakers fans really hate on Paul George. Is it something to do with not wanting to see the Clippers have any success? It also doesn't seem like they hate on Kawhi the same way. I could be wrong. It seems like they have a special hate for Paul George.
Clipps: "They do, because they've got to find... Look, I think Laker fans are [upset] that Kawhi chose the Clippers over the Lakers, but for whatever reason, that doesn't piss them off as much as Playoff P [choosing to]. A Playoff P comment pissed them off, right? If anything, you should be mad at Kawhi, but he just toyed with your emotions two summers ago, because Laker fans really thought it going to be Kawhi, LeBron, AD when in actuality, we knew that wasn't going to happen. Laker fans are fickle, and I deal with a lot of them. They're just... Even if the Clippers the championship this year, which would be absolutely amazing, the Laker fans will always go back to, 'Well, we have 17. Get 16 more and we'll talk.' It'll never be enough for the Laker fans, either, to gain this guy's respect.
"And most of these Laker fans were huge LeBron haters, right? Huge LeBron haters! So I just think they're in a compromising situation right now. Because they absolutely love LeBron, even though they hated him before. I think people just pick a certain kind of player that they want to see fail, and Paul's that guy. And Etan, I said on our show, I think it's time for Paul George to just embrace being the hated guy. And I don't necessarily think he's a villain, but just embrace being... Having that Russell Westbrook, that Allen Iverson, that Kobe Bryant, that now-Trae Young kind of vibe where people just aren't going to like you -- wherever you go. They're going to have their opinions about you, but just embrace it and use that as fuel to prove everybody wrong."
Paul George has a lot of people rooting for him and happy for him, and he also has a lot of haters waiting for the opportunity to hate again. It&rsquo;s amazing how people will shout their criticisms from the mountain tops with a bullhorn, but whisper their praise. And some won&rsquo;t even do that, but instead will sit back quietly and simply wait for the next opportunity to be able to shout their criticisms again.
Hopefully, Paul George, a.k.a. Playoff P, continues to make them all eat their words.

Etan Thomas shares his thoughts on Paul George's statement game in Utah and gathers opinions on PG from his fellow former players.

Quentin