Warriors

<p>Defense is not a switch you flip. It is a discipline you practice, a mindset you carry from the film room to the floor, and a daily commitment that either holds or it does not. Rudy Gobert has understood this longer than most. Four Defensive Player of the Year awards tend to sharpen a man's philosophy on the subject, and right now, he is watching the Minnesota Timberwolves struggle with the very question his entire identity is built around.</p>
<p>Following a 153-128 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, a game in which Kawhi Leonard dropped 45 points, the Clippers connected on 19 of 37 three-point attempts, and Minnesota surrendered 58 points in the paint,&nbsp; Gobert was direct in his assessment when speaking to RG.org. The Wolves were not connected. They were not competing on every possession. And in his view, those problems do not originate at tip-off. They originate in the preparation that happens before the game is ever played.</p>
<p>"We need to be connected," <a href="https://rg.org/news/basketball/rudy-gobert-talks-dpoy-chances-wembanyama-anthony-edwards">Gobert told RG.org</a>. "We need to play with the level of urgency. All of us, all five guys on the floor, need to compete. Every possession, we have to sharpen up our awareness and focus."</p>
<p><strong>What a Fifth DPOY Would Actually Mean</strong></p>
<p>Rudy Gobert sits on the doorstep of something that has never been done. Four Defensive Player of the Year awards already place him in a conversation with Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace, two of the most impactful defenders in the history of the sport. A fifth would separate him from that company entirely and establish an individual defensive legacy that may stand for a generation.</p>
<p>The case is not built solely on narrative. Minnesota's defensive rating with Gobert on the floor sits at 113.7. Without him, that number deteriorates to 121.8, an eight-point swing that tells the full story without requiring any additional context. Coach Chris Finch has been unambiguous about what that data means for how the Wolves use their center: Gobert now plays through almost everything. The era of coaching him off the floor to avoid matchup problems is over. His ability to cover mistakes, protect weaker defenders, and anchor an entire defensive scheme regardless of personnel has made him too valuable to sit.</p>
<p><em>"He can anchor a defense regardless of whether there are good or bad defenders out there all by himself." &mdash; Timberwolves coach Chris Finch, via RG.org</em></p>
<p>The DPOY race this season is genuinely competitive, and Gobert is aware of who is pushing him. But his argument is rooted in the same place it has always been, not in individual plays or highlight blocks, but in the sustained, nightly transformation of a defense that becomes measurably worse the moment he is not present. That is the standard for the award, and he is meeting it.</p>
<h2><strong>Wembanyama: A Rival Built From a Friendship</strong></h2>
<p>The name that comes up most often in discussions of Gobert's DPOY competition is Victor Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs center who arrived in the league as a generational defensive prospect and has delivered on nearly every expectation attached to that label. What makes this particular rivalry different from most award races is the relationship underneath it.</p>
<p>Gobert and Wembanyama are not strangers. They are teammates, or at least they have been, representing France at the international level, sharing a locker room and a national team identity that creates a specific kind of bond. Gobert has spoken about Wembanyama with genuine affection and respect, the kind that comes from watching someone develop up close and understanding the full scope of what they are capable of. None of that changes the fact that one of them will win the award and the other will not.</p>
<p>What Gobert brings to this race that Wembanyama cannot yet match is sustained excellence across a full body of work, not just this season, but across a career that has consistently demonstrated the same principles at the highest level, season after season, in the most demanding conference in the sport. Wembanyama's ceiling is a different and genuinely exciting conversation. But the DPOY award is about what you have done, not only what you will do. On that measure, Gobert's case remains the strongest in the room.</p>
<h2><strong>Anthony Edwards: The Ceiling Is Still Open</strong></h2>
<p>If you want to understand what Rudy Gobert values in a basketball player, listen to how he talks about Anthony Edwards. The Wolves' 24-year-old star has grown into one of the most electric offensive presences in the NBA across six seasons, and Gobert has had a front-row seat to every chapter of that development. His assessment of what Edwards can still become is the kind of observation that only comes from someone who has spent real time thinking about the difference between greatness and maximized greatness.</p>
<p>Edwards already has the gifts. The athleticism, the confidence, the shot-making ability, and the competitive edge are all there in abundance. What Gobert's broader comments throughout this difficult stretch of the season suggest is that the next level,&nbsp; for Edwards, for the Wolves, for anyone operating in this environment, is unlocked through the habits that exist between the big moments. The preparation before tip-off. The focus on every possession when the game is not going your way. The daily approach that makes the special moments possible.</p>
<p>For Minnesota, the path from a sixth seed with question marks to a legitimate championship contender runs directly through two conversations happening simultaneously: Gobert earning his fifth DPOY by anchoring the most reliable defense in a fractured roster, and Edwards becoming the kind of player who does not need the game to be going well in order to compete at an elite level. Those two evolutions are not separate stories. They are the same one, and how it ends will define this era of Timberwolves basketball.</p>

After back-to-back blowout losses, Rudy Gobert is not looking for excuses. He is looking for the Timberwolves version that shows up when it matters, and he has a clear idea of what it takes to get there.

Rudy Gobert Talks DPOY, Wembanyama & Timberwolves Growth

<div>Every February, LeBron James has been wondering why he didn't participate in the Slam Dunk Contest for more than two decades, one of the NBA's great what-ifs. Fans have debated the topic in barbershops, on sports radio, and across social media.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Brandon 'Scoop B' Robinson's recent interview with former <a href="https://bookmaker-ratings.ru/tip/sport-types/tip-nba-tips/">NBA </a>forward and 1992 dunk champion Cedric Ceballos has given new life to the conversation, even though some parts of the past need to be addressed.</div>
<div>Ceballos didn't just suggest that LeBron skipped the contest because he wasn't interested.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>He defined it as something deeper: the preservation of the brand.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&ldquo;He had a chance his rookie year and he didn&rsquo;t,&rdquo; <a href="https://scoopb.com/2026/02/cedric-ceballos-talks-vince-carters-springs-anthony-edwards-rise-and-why-lebron-james-skipped-the-dunk-contest/">Ceballos told Robinson</a>. &ldquo;After that rookie year, anything after that would damage his credibility and his career. It&rsquo;s not really if he wins it &mdash; because he&rsquo;s supposed to win it &mdash; it&rsquo;s that if he loses it.&rdquo;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>
<div>According to Ceballos, the risk outweighed the reward. LeBron had already become too big, too famous, and too accustomed to dominating. Winning would be the standard operating procedure.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Losing would be a headline that would follow him forever.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>To reinforce his point, Ceballos referenced LeBron's high school years.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>
<p data-start="1229" data-end="1478">&ldquo;He lost in the McDonald&rsquo;s All-American Game,&rdquo; Ceballos said, claiming that a then lesser-known Shannon Brown outshined LeBron in the dunk contest. &ldquo;Shannon Brown beat him, but he was a little bit not as famous as LeBron and they gave it to LeBron.&rdquo;</p>
<p data-start="1480" data-end="1599">The story fits neatly into Ceballos&rsquo; narrative: LeBron experiencing early proof that even one loss could dent his aura.</p>
<p data-start="1601" data-end="1646">The problem? It didn&rsquo;t quite happen that way.</p>
<p data-start="1601" data-end="1646">&nbsp;</p>
<h2 data-start="1601" data-end="1646">What Ceballos Was Really Arguing</h2>
<p data-start="1480" data-end="1599">Ceballos' fundamental basketball critique was evident, even though his memory was spotty. According to him, LeBron is a powerful power dunker - one of the best in live action - but not a specialist in dunk contests.</p>
<p data-start="1480" data-end="1599">&ldquo;LeBron dunks on a lot of people,&rdquo; Ceballos implied, &ldquo;but trickery, suaveness &mdash; no.&rdquo;</p>
<div>LeBron's remarkable abilities are attributed to his speed, strength, timing, and rim violence, not to his choreographed creativity. In the past, the Dunk Contest has awarded both flair and force equally.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>The basketball argument is fair. Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Vince Carter, and Zach LaVine were legends of the contest, blending athleticism and innovation.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Windmills, free-throw line glides, props, timing, and theatrical moments all play significant roles.LeBron's game has always been about efficiency and dominance, not pre-planned artistry.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<h2>The McDonald&rsquo;s Contest Reality</h2>
<p data-start="2532" data-end="2682">Officially, LeBron James won the 2003 McDonald&rsquo;s All-American Slam Dunk Contest in Cleveland. The other finalists were Shannon Brown and J.R. Giddens.</p>
<p data-start="2684" data-end="2712">However, the nuance matters.</p>
<p data-start="2714" data-end="2997">Many recaps from that night noted that LeBron&rsquo;s dunks were solid but relatively basic &mdash; powerful, clean, but not jaw-dropping. Brown, on the other hand, pulled off one of the most impressive single dunks of the event but missed multiple attempts afterward, hurting his overall score.</p>
<p data-start="2999" data-end="3072">LeBron benefitted from consistency, hometown energy, and others&rsquo; miscues.</p>
<p data-start="3074" data-end="3211">So while Ceballos is wrong that LeBron &ldquo;lost,&rdquo; he&rsquo;s not wrong that the perception afterward was more complicated than a dominant victory.</p>
<p data-start="3213" data-end="3356">Even as a teenager, LeBron was learning something crucial: when you&rsquo;re the most famous player in the building, expectations distort everything.</p>
<h2 data-start="3213" data-end="3356">The Real Risk for Superstars</h2>
<p data-start="3392" data-end="3462">This is where Ceballos&rsquo; brand argument actually lines up with reality.</p>
<p data-start="3464" data-end="3560">For a player like LeBron James, the Dunk Contest was always a high-risk, low-reward proposition.</p>
<p data-start="3562" data-end="3617">If he won? Fans would shrug and say he was supposed to.</p>
<p data-start="3619" data-end="3810">If he lost &mdash; especially to a smaller, less famous, more creative dunker like Nate Robinson, Gerald Green, or Zach LaVine &mdash; it would instantly become a meme, a punchline, a permanent footnote.</p>
<p data-start="3812" data-end="4018">History backs this up. Dwight Howard&rsquo;s loss to Nate Robinson still gets referenced. Aaron Gordon losing twice despite incredible dunks became a running joke about being &ldquo;robbed.&rdquo; The contest doesn&rsquo;t forget.</p>
<p data-start="4020" data-end="4096">And LeBron has essentially acknowledged this dynamic himself over the years.</p>
<p data-start="4098" data-end="4298">He&rsquo;s said repeatedly that if he ever did the Dunk Contest, he&rsquo;d &ldquo;have to win&rdquo; &mdash; otherwise it wouldn&rsquo;t be worth it. That mindset alone shows how much pressure and perception factored into the decision.</p>
<h2 data-start="4098" data-end="4298">LeBron&rsquo;s Own Explanation</h2>
<p data-start="4330" data-end="4423">Publicly, LeBron has always framed his absence in basketball terms rather than branding ones.</p>
<p data-start="4425" data-end="4538">He&rsquo;s emphasized that his goals <a href="https://x.com/ScoopB/status/1668247108309118977">were championships</a>, MVPs, Defensive Player of the Year awards &mdash; not dunk trophies.</p>
<p data-start="4540" data-end="4786">He&rsquo;s also consistently called himself an &ldquo;in-game dunker,&rdquo; explaining that he doesn&rsquo;t enjoy planning or practicing set-piece dunks. For him, dunking is about reacting in real time, attacking defenders, and finishing with force &mdash; not choreography.</p>
<p data-start="4788" data-end="4851">That explanation fits his personality and play style perfectly.</p>
<p data-start="4853" data-end="4901">But it doesn&rsquo;t exclude the brand reality either.</p>
<p data-start="4853" data-end="4901"><video controls="controls" width="300" height="150">
<source src="https://x.com/ScoopB/status/1668247108309118977?s=20" /></video></p>
<h2 data-start="5066" data-end="5370">So Was Ceballos Right?</h2>
<p data-start="4931" data-end="5008">Factually, no &mdash; LeBron didn&rsquo;t lose that high-school contest to Shannon Brown.</p>
<p data-start="5010" data-end="5064">Conceptually? He was tapping into something very real.</p>
<p data-start="5066" data-end="5370">From the moment LeBron entered the league as &ldquo;<a href="https://rg.org/news/basketball/phil-handy-jordan-kobe-lebron-goat-debate">The Chosen One</a>,&rdquo; every appearance became a referendum on greatness. The Dunk Contest, meant to be fun and experimental, would&rsquo;ve placed him in a situation where creativity mattered more than dominance &mdash; and where a single off night could live forever online.</p>
<p data-start="5372" data-end="5479">For a generational superstar with nothing to gain and everything to lose, skipping it made strategic sense.</p>
<p data-start="5481" data-end="5659">In that light, LeBron&rsquo;s absence doesn&rsquo;t look like fear or lack of interest alone. It looks like a calculated understanding of modern sports culture, expectations, and reputation.</p>
<h2 data-start="5481" data-end="5659">The Middle Ground</h2>
<div>LeBron James' Dunk Contest absence was not only framed as a branding decision by Cedric Ceballos, but also by an associate of James' <a href="https://landonbuford-com-488060.hostingersite.com/lakers-lebron-james-associate-reveals-real-reason-he-skipped-dunk-contest/">Rob MC in the Walklikeus room</a> a few years back.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>They said it did not fit LeBron's image at the time and pointed out that the contest was less exciting after the best players stopped participating in the early 2000s.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>He answered those who questioned LeBron's drive by citing his famous 3-1 Finals comeback, and also reminded everyone that many great players skipped the contest.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>LeBron stayed out of the Dunk Contest, not because he was scared, but because he thought it could hurt his reputation more than it could help, choosing his long-term legacy over a show, according to their comments.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><video controls="controls" width="300" height="150">
<source src="https://x.com/LandonBuford/status/1359669118643941376?s=20" /></video></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<p data-start="4853" data-end="4901">&nbsp;</p>
</div>
</div>
<p>
<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</p>

Cedric Ceballos explains how branding, risk, and legacy factored into LeBron James's decision not to enter the NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

Ex-Laker Cedric Ceballos Weighs-In on Why LeBron Skipped the Dunk Contest

<div>Cole Anthony&rsquo;s introduction to New York City basketball was anything but gradual.<a href="https://scoopb.com/2026/01/the-mecca-and-the-legacy-a-conversation-with-cole-anthony/"> In an interview with Brandon 'Scoop B' Robinson,</a> he talked about the first time he felt the intensity and pressure that make the city&rsquo;s hoops scene unique.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>His friend Joe Toussaint, who played at Cardinal Hayes before going on to Iowa and West Virginia, took him to Dyckman Park when he was in seventh or eighth grade.</div>
<div>Playing against older and stronger players in a group where anyone could join, Anthony felt like he was not as good as the others.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>He said he did not play well that day, but the experience mattered more than his numbers. It was the first time he really felt like he did not belong, stepping into the tough place that has shaped many New York guards. That moment was when he started to understand what NYC basketball is really about.</div>
<h2><strong>Why New York Point Guards Are Different</strong></h2>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div>Anthony didn't hesitate when asked about point guards from the city. He made it clear that New York breeds a special type of floor general. According to him, NYC point guards have an advantage that sets them apart from everyone else.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Sebastian Telfair and Kemba Walker were the top picks when it came to naming his favorites. Anthony praised Walker, calling him a 'big Kemba believer' and expressing deep respect for what he accomplished.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>He also expressed love for Kenny Smith and Kenny Anderson, two legendary Archbishop Molloy alumni, noting that the list of elite New York guards could go on forever.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Anthony believes that the city's unforgiving basketball scene demands toughness, confidence, and the ability to command the game.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<h2>Lessons From His Father and Finding His Own Path</h2>
<p>Cole Anthony is known for his association with New York basketball, but his father, Greg Anthony, provided a different perspective. Greg Anthony, a Las Vegas native and West Coast guard by nature, was not a typical 'New York PG' despite his time playing for the Knicks in the NBA.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Cole stated that his father didn't give him much advice about New York when he decided to go to North Carolina. Instead of telling him what to do, he gave him space to make his own decisions, form his own support network, and define himself as a player.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Anthony's development was heavily influenced by the freedom he had with his mother. Anthony continues to make an effort to reconnect with kids in the city, as he says. He acknowledges that New York may not be producing as many stars as in past eras, but he remains confident that the talent is still there. He still sees New York as the basketball Mecca, but it needs to invest more in and believe in its basketball players.</p>
<h2>Growing Up a Knicks Fan&mdash;Until Reality Hit</h2>
<div>
<div>Anthony was born in Portland, but he really got into basketball in New York. Like a lot of kids there, he became a big Knicks fan. That loyalty did not last long. When he was about seven or eight, Anthony watched the Knicks lose to the Pistons by almost 40 points.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>That tough loss stayed with him. He remembers feeling upset and 'tight,' as he put it, and that was the end of his time as a Knicks fan. It was an early lesson in how hard it can be to be a basketball fan, and a reminder that even future NBA players go through the same highs and lows as everyone else.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<h2>A Reflection of New York&rsquo;s Basketball Spirit</h2>
<p>Cole Anthony's stories were a vivid depiction of New York basketball: intimidating, proud, demanding, and deeply personal.</p>
<p>Anthony's journey, which includes feeling overwhelmed at Dyckman and idolizing city legends, depicts the complex relationship many players have with the game in New York. The culture is challenging from the start, but if you manage to survive it, it will stay with you forever.</p>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
</div>

Cole Anthony reflects on New York City basketball culture, Dyckman Park, and legendary NYC point guards in an interview with Scoop B Radio.

Cole Anthony on His First Taste of New York City Basketball

<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">This article is from a press release by FIBA and the NBA</span></em></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The NBA and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) announced today that they will move forward in January with the next phase of their joint exploration into creating a new professional men&rsquo;s basketball league in Europe, signaling a significant step toward reshaping the continent&rsquo;s basketball landscape.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to the announcement, the NBA and FIBA will begin formally engaging prospective teams and ownership groups interested in joining the proposed pan-European league. The initiative is envisioned as a collaborative project that blends the NBA&rsquo;s global reach with FIBA&rsquo;s deep-rooted presence in European basketball, while respecting the continent&rsquo;s long-standing club and domestic league structures.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A key pillar of the proposed league is its merit-based access model. In addition to permanent franchise spots, every team competing in a FIBA-affiliated domestic league would have an annual pathway to qualify, either through the Basketball Champions League (BCL) or an end-of-season qualifying tournament. That approach aligns with traditional European sports principles, where promotion is earned on the court rather than secured exclusively through closed memberships.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The league is also expected to align its calendar with existing domestic league and national team schedules. This would allow players to continue representing both their clubs and their national teams year-round&mdash;an issue that has long been a point of tension in international basketball. By avoiding scheduling conflicts, the NBA and FIBA aim to create a structure that complements, rather than disrupts, the broader European basketball ecosystem.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Beyond competition, the NBA and FIBA plan to commit financial support and resources toward grassroots and long-term development across Europe. That includes investment in domestic leagues, club academies, and existing NBA and FIBA programs designed to develop players, coaches, and referees at all levels of the game. The goal, according to both organizations, is to create a sustainable ecosystem that benefits not just elite clubs, but the sport&rsquo;s full development pipeline.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;Advancing further this joint NBA-FIBA project is great news for the European basketball community,&rdquo; FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis said. &ldquo;The format of the league respects European sport model principles by offering any ambitious club in the continent a fair pathway to the top. The project is conceived in a way that will improve the sustainability of the entire European basketball ecosystem.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">NBA Commissioner Adam Silver echoed that sentiment, citing strong interest from stakeholders across Europe. &ldquo;Our conversations with various stakeholders in Europe have reinforced our belief that an enormous opportunity exists around the creation of a new league on the continent,&rdquo; Silver said. &ldquo;Together with FIBA, we look forward to engaging prospective clubs and ownership groups that share our vision for the game&rsquo;s potential in Europe.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The NBA and FIBA said additional details and updates will be shared in the coming months as discussions with clubs and investors progress, but the announcement alone marks one of the most ambitious efforts yet to unify and elevate professional basketball across Europe.</span></p>

The NBA and FIBA announced that they will move forward with the next phase into creating a new professional league in Europe.

NBA, FIBA to Engage European Clubs on Potential New Pan-European League

<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">This article is from a press release by the NBA</span></em></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The NBA and the global basketball community are set to mark World Basketball Day on Dec. 21 with a wide-ranging celebration aimed at engaging hundreds of millions of fans and youth across the world, highlighting basketball&rsquo;s roots, reach and enduring social impact.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Now in its third year, World Basketball Day commemorates the date in 1891 when Dr. James Naismith first introduced the game of basketball at a YMCA in Springfield, Massachusetts. Established by the United Nations in 2023, the annual celebration recognizes basketball as a unifying force across cultures and continents&mdash;an idea the NBA is embracing through clinics, community programs, digital campaigns and in-arena activations worldwide.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This year&rsquo;s observance carries added significance as it coincides with the 175th anniversary of the YMCA, widely regarded as the birthplace of the sport. In recognition of that milestone, the NBA and YMCA announced a year-long collaboration focused on youth basketball and community development, extending a long-standing partnership that will support millions of young people and families across the United States.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The initiative will include youth-focused programming and renovations of select YMCA facilities nationwide, directly benefiting the more than six million youth the YMCA serves annually. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver emphasized the historical importance of the moment, noting that World Basketball Day in 2025 serves as both a celebration of the game&rsquo;s origins and a reflection of its global influence more than a century later.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;World Basketball Day takes on a special meaning this year as we commemorate the 175th anniversary of the YMCA, where the sport was first invented 134 years ago,&rdquo; Silver said. &ldquo;We are thrilled to join our many friends in the basketball community to celebrate the game&rsquo;s impact and influence around the world.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The NBA&rsquo;s digital footprint will play a central role in the celebration. Across its global and localized social platforms, the league will feature NBA players sharing what World Basketball Day means to them, alongside highlights from events taking place in different regions. Fans are encouraged to participate by tagging @nba, @nbacares and @jrnba on social media using the hashtag </span><strong>#WorldBasketballDay</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On the grassroots level, the Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA programs, along with NBA Basketball School initiatives that reach tens of millions of youth and coaches globally, will gain access to a special playbook containing exclusive training and educational content designed to promote skill development and values such as teamwork and leadership.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">World Basketball Day will also intersect with the NBA&rsquo;s competitive calendar. Dec. 21 will serve as a &ldquo;3-for-1 Day&rdquo; in NBA All-Star Voting, allowing fans with an NBA ID to submit one ballot per day via the NBA App or NBA.com, with each vote counting triple toward All-Star selections.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Across the United States, numerous NBA franchises&mdash;including the Lakers, Celtics, Heat, Bucks, Mavericks and Warriors&mdash;will celebrate through localized events and in-arena activities. Several player-led initiatives will headline the festivities, including youth clinics hosted by former and current NBA players such as Taj Gibson and Michael Carter-Williams. In St. Louis, the Gateway Region YMCA recently hosted a youth clinic attended by Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum, who also announced upcoming YMCA renovations supported by NBA Cares and The Jayson Tatum Foundation.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Internationally, the scope of World Basketball Day underscores the NBA&rsquo;s global reach. FIBA will announce the inductees for its 2026 Hall of Fame class, while NBA Africa and the Basketball Africa League will deploy 19 coaches to conduct clinics across 13 African nations, reaching more than 600 coaches as part of a long-term effort to develop the sport on the continent.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Philippines, one of the NBA&rsquo;s most passionate international markets, will play a visible role in the celebration. Local basketball players and content creators from the country will be featured across the NBA&rsquo;s localized channels, while NBA Stores in the Philippines will host World Basketball Day scavenger hunts offering fans the chance to win merchandise and exclusive discounts. Beginning on Dec. 21, fans who purchase official NBA merchandise at participating stores will also receive a complimentary World Basketball Day T-shirt while supplies last.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">NBA champion Jayson Tatum highlighted the personal significance of the day, pointing to basketball&rsquo;s role in shaping lives beyond the court. &ldquo;World Basketball Day is a chance to celebrate the game and the impact it has on people everywhere,&rdquo; Tatum said. &ldquo;Basketball has had such a positive influence on my life, and I hope I can pass along the joy and skills I&rsquo;ve learned to the next generation.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert echoed those sentiments, emphasizing the sport&rsquo;s ability to open doors for girls and women worldwide. Leaders from FIBA, USA Basketball, the NCAA, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, the NBCA and the NFHS also underscored basketball&rsquo;s educational, cultural and community value, reinforcing the idea that the game&rsquo;s influence stretches far beyond professional leagues.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As basketball continues to grow as the world&rsquo;s fastest-rising sport and the second most popular globally, World Basketball Day stands as both a tribute to its humble beginnings and a celebration of its future. From neighborhood gyms to global arenas, Dec. 21 will once again spotlight how a simple game invented more than a century ago continues to connect communities, inspire youth and bring the world together through a shared love for basketball.</span></p>

The NBA and the global basketball community are set to mark World Basketball Day on Dec. 21 with a wide-ranging celebration.

NBA, Global Basketball Community Unite for World Basketball Day Celebration

<p>Bailey is a prominent figure in Utah's youth movement. At 19 years old and 6-foot-9 tall, the Jazz's No. 5 overall pick has quickly grabbed attention, not only from fans eager to see the future, but from a veteran who understands that kind of spotlight all too well.</p>
<p>Kevin Love was once among the top-five teenage options. In the locker next to him, he discovers a story unfolding that he recognizes.</p>
<h2>A Mentor with Firsthand Experience</h2>
<p>Love's approach is not about overloading Bailey with advice. Instead, the emphasis is on being present, having perspective, and being patient. He knows the NBA hits young players fast, with expectations, critiques, and the constant push to become what everyone believes you should be.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Embrace the challenge,&rdquo; <a href="https://rg.org/news/basketball/kevin-love-mentor-role-jazz-ace-bailey">Love has told him</a>. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s going to be a steep learning curve. A lot of voices, a lot coming at you&mdash;so find balance.&rdquo;</p>
<p>That's not just language used by veterans. Their lockers are side by side. Their conversations occur naturally, between practices, after games, and during the season's grind.</p>
<h2>Big Moments Already Arriving</h2>
<p>Bailey's production is already visible on the scoreboard, so it's not just an idea. His back-to-back 20-point performances have shown him to be more than just a long-term project in the league. He has become a contributor. A 152-128 win over Indiana was where his first 20-point night happened. His first start came soon after. Love regards these as mere signs of what's to come, not milestones to settle on.</p>
<p>&ldquo;One thing we know,&rdquo; Love says, &ldquo;he&rsquo;s only scratching the surface of what he can be.&rdquo;</p>
<h2>&ldquo;P5&rdquo;: A Bond Rooted in Shared Pressure</h2>
<p>Their nickname is P5. Pick Five. A reference to the starting point of their NBA journeys. While a draft position may not define a career, it can shape expectations. Love has experienced that reality, and he's helping Bailey navigate it before the pressure builds up too much.</p>
<p>&ldquo;I really see ways that I can help him,&rdquo; Love says. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want too many cooks in the kitchen right now.&rdquo;</p>
<p>The message? When a young player displays real star potential, guidance should be focused and intentional.</p>
<h2>The Jazz&rsquo;s Investment Looks Promising</h2>
<p>Bailey's frame or athleticism were not the only reasons why Utah selected him. They observed a wing with multiple layers that has the potential to become a cornerstone. Early indications indicate that they were correct. Bailey is already experiencing a slowdown in the game. He&rsquo;s building confidence. He&rsquo;s making plays. He's paying attention to the right people. Love's belief isn't about flattery; it's about projection. He has witnessed how careers can develop at this level.</p>
<p>When he voices his belief that Bailey has the potential to become exceptional, it's a voice worth listening to. The Jazz wanted a franchise piece. They may have found an ideal mentor to guide him on his journey.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

Kevin Love praises Jazz rookie Bailey’s early impact and shares how he’s guiding the 19-year-old No. 5 pick through his first NBA season.

Kevin Love Mentors Jazz Rookie Bailey’s Rapid Rise

<p>Cam Whitmore brought with him the electrifying potential that had followed him from Villanova to Houston and then to Washington via trade. A rebuilding team should invest in him because he's young, explosive, and has a lot of upside potential.</p>
<p>Currently, the Wizards' locker room is not solely focused on upside. Outside observers have been trying to figure out what's going wrong as Whitmore's minutes disappear from the rotation and his box score entries shift to 'DNP - coach's decision'.</p>
<p>Theories can cover everything from defensive inconsistencies to shot-hunting on offense to the body language displayed on the court. Yet, those are only the symptoms, not the cause. <a href="https://rg.org/news/basketball/practice-habits-center-cam-whitmore-shrinking-role-wizards">RG is being told by multiple individuals</a> close to the organization that the actual problem lies deeper, specifically in the everyday work.</p>
<h2>Building a Culture, Not a Highlight Reel</h2>
<p>Washington's 3&ndash;19 start has set them up for development, but that doesn't mean chaos. Head coach Brian Keefe and the front office have spent the opening stretch of the season drawing thick lines around expectations, ones that apply to every young player trying to carve out a future.</p>
<p>&ldquo;If you&rsquo;re trying to establish yourself in the NBA, you need to show up to practice,&rdquo; one team source told RG.</p>
<p>The comment doesn't pertain to attendance in a literal sense. Engagement means competing in drills, embracing coaching, absorbing schemes, and demonstrating reliability that will translate when the lights turn on. In a season where wins are scarce, accountability can be a form of progress. According to sources, Whitmore has not consistently met those internal benchmarks.</p>
<h2>Keefe&rsquo;s Message: Earn the Opportunity</h2>
<p>During the public discussion about Whitmore's shrinking role, Keefe did not mention any turnovers or defensive breakdowns. He subtly directed the conversation towards internal standards instead.</p>
<p>&ldquo;We have certain standards that we have for our team,&rdquo; Keefe said. &ldquo;He has to live up to those&hellip; And he&rsquo;ll have a chance here, but that&rsquo;s gonna be up to him when that time comes.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Keefe didn't elaborate, and he didn't need to. His stance mirrored what was happening behind closed doors: no shortcuts, no exceptions. Not even for the talented wing with a first-round background.</p>
<h2>The Fine Line Between Patience and Progress</h2>
<p>The Wizards must handle Whitmore's development properly as the franchise is in dire need of star-level talent. They cannot afford to allow any player, especially a young one, to set a lower standard than the organization is striving to achieve. Washington still has plans for Whitmore. The chance is still available; it's just not guaranteed. His next move will be about the Wizards' consistency, not one big game or viral dunk. The way he responds to this moment could determine how quickly his next NBA chapter gets started. The Wizards have given a clear message: potential can open a door, but daily habits determine who walks through it.</p>

Cam Whitmore’s reduced role with the Washington Wizards stems from concerns over practice habits and accountability, not just on-court performance.

Why Cam Whitmore Isn’t Playing for the Wizards

<p>The 2025-26 NBA season marks the end of Chris Paul's career. Paul's influence went beyond the court, not only as one of the league's most skilled point guards but also as a communicator for nearly two decades. Statistics or accolades were not the only focus of the response to his announcement.</p>
<p>Mark Cuban was among the first to speak, and his reaction was like that of someone who had known Paul for more than just handshakes before the game. Paul and Cuban have gotten to know each other through charity events, conversations, and podcast appearances. In his reflection, he displayed that familiarity.</p>
<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been a big fan forever,&rdquo; <a href="https://r.org/2025/11/25/mark-cuban-reacts-to-chris-pauls-retirement-announcement/">Cuban told R.org</a>. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s been an amazing career&hellip; the 2005 class, right? That leaves LeBron as the last. But yeah, I mean, obviously he&rsquo;s a Hall of Famer and deserves all the accolades he gets.&rdquo;</p>
<p>His mid-range jumper or surgical pick-and-roll reads had a significant impact on his legacy, as well as his relationships. LeBron James' response was deeper and showed professionalism, while Cuban's response reflected professionalism. Highlight montages are not the only way to understand the significance of James and Paul in basketball history. Both physically and metaphorically, their experience of the sport was shared by them.</p>
<p>Their connection has spanned more than 20 years, from early AAU battles to Olympic runs, to summers spent pushing each other in empty gyms.</p>
<p>Paul's memory tends to be associated with rivalries and playoff failures, but Cuban's remarks suggest something more important. Paul established relationships with people who are involved in the NBA ecosystem, such as top players, owners, and media outlets, who all praised his meticulous attention and consistent professionalism.</p>
<p>James shared a picture of Paul holding an Olympic gold medal, with a <a href="https://www.beinsports.com/en-us/basketball/articles/los-angeles-lakers-lebron-james-reacts-to-chris-paul-s-retirement-2025-11-25">simple caption</a>:</p>
<p>&ldquo;POINT GOD!!! Been a helluva ride.&rdquo;</p>
<p>James sees Paul's departure as more than just another retirement. It serves as a reminder of time itself. LeBron is the only active player in the 2000s era, which was one of the most influential groups of modern basketball. Paul's departure reduces the number of peers who understand what it was like to enter the league before social media, pace-and-space, and the modern era fully restructured the game.</p>
<p>Paul's retirement brings to mind a moment of reflection about the early-to-mid 2000s generation, which was known for its fierce competitiveness but also for its deep and genuine friendships. Since Paul first donned a Hornets uniform, the league has undergone a significant change, and many of the players who played a role in that era have already transitioned to new lives, new careers, or quieter roles. His departure marks the end of a phase that encompasses both his fans and those who journeyed with him. Cuban saluted the professional. James honored the friend. Chris Paul's reactions show that he wasn't only a great player &mdash; he was also a force, a presence, and a connection point for a basketball era that is now fading into history.</p>

Chris Paul’s retirement after the 2025–26 season sparks heartfelt reactions from Mark Cuban and LeBron James, highlighting his impact on a generation of NBA stars.

Mark Cuban, LeBron React to Chris Paul’s Retirement Announcement

<div>
<div class="x78zum5 xdt5ytf" data-virtualized="false">
<div class="x9f619 x1n2onr6 x1ja2u2z">
<div>
<div>
<div class="__fb-light-mode x1n2onr6" role="row">
<div>
<div class="x78zum5 xdt5ytf x1n2onr6" tabindex="0" role="gridcell" data-release-focus-from="CLICK" data-scope="messages_table">
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x78zum5 x15zctf7">
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl xeuugli x1vjfegm">
<div>
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x78zum5 xh8yej3" role="presentation">
<div class="x78zum5 xdt5ytf x193iq5w x1n2onr6 x1kxipp6 xuk3077">
<div class="x78zum5 xh8yej3" role="none">
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x6ikm8r x10wlt62">
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x14ctfv x13sv91t x6ikm8r x10wlt62 xerhiuh x1pn3fxy x10zy8in xm9bcq3 x1n2onr6 x1vjfegm x1k4qllp x1mzt3pk x13faqbe x11jlvup xpmdkuv xrmkrer x12z03op x9wyiwl x13fuv20 x18b5jzi x1q0q8m5 x1t7ytsu x12lizq0 x1nrdd72 x1ybe9c6 xx487zo xaymx6s x1lu5o8o x1ou5ly4 xofb2d2" role="presentation">
<div class="html-div xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1gslohp x14z9mp x12nagc x1lziwak x1yc453h x126k92a xyk4ms5" dir="auto">Lenny Wilkens, a genuine pioneer whose impact extended beyond the court, was recently recognized and praised by the basketball world. Basketball Hall of Famer and current head of the Dallas Mavericks Jason Kidd conveyed a profound respect and personal connection. Kidd recently spoke with<a href="https://r.org/2025/11/13/doc-rivers-jason-kidd-reflect-on-lenny-wilkens-impact-on-basketball-after-passing/"> R.Org</a>, and stressed the importance of Wilkens' achievements and the legacy he leaves behind.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1h91t0o xkh2ocl x78zum5 xdt5ytf x13a6bvl x193iq5w x1c4vz4f x1eb86dx" role="presentation">
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="x78zum5 xdt5ytf" data-virtualized="false">
<div class="x9f619 x1n2onr6 x1ja2u2z">
<div>
<div>
<div class="__fb-light-mode x1n2onr6" role="row">
<div>
<div class="x78zum5 xdt5ytf x1n2onr6" tabindex="-1" role="gridcell" data-release-focus-from="CLICK" data-scope="messages_table">
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x78zum5 x15zctf7">
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl xeuugli x1vjfegm">
<div>
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x78zum5 xh8yej3" role="presentation">
<div class="x78zum5 xdt5ytf x193iq5w x1n2onr6 x1kxipp6 xuk3077">
<div class="x78zum5 xh8yej3" role="none">
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1h91t0o xkh2ocl x78zum5 xdt5ytf x13a6bvl x193iq5w x1iyjqo2 x1eb86dx" role="presentation">
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1r8uery x1iyjqo2" role="presentation">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x6ikm8r x10wlt62">
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x14ctfv x13sv91t x6ikm8r x10wlt62 xerhiuh x1pn3fxy x10zy8in xm9bcq3 x1n2onr6 x1vjfegm x1k4qllp x1mzt3pk x13faqbe x11jlvup xpmdkuv xrmkrer x12z03op x9wyiwl x13fuv20 x18b5jzi x1q0q8m5 x1t7ytsu x12lizq0 x1nrdd72 x1ybe9c6 xx487zo xaymx6s x1lu5o8o x1ou5ly4 xofb2d2" role="presentation">
<div class="html-div xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1gslohp x14z9mp x12nagc x1lziwak x1yc453h x126k92a xyk4ms5" dir="auto">&ldquo;Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Wilkens family,&rdquo; Kidd began, acknowledging the loss felt throughout the basketball community. &ldquo;When you talk about a pioneer, a legend &mdash; someone who&rsquo;s in the Hall of Fame three times &mdash; that says everything.&rdquo;</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1h91t0o xkh2ocl x78zum5 xdt5ytf x13a6bvl x193iq5w x1c4vz4f x1eb86dx" role="presentation">
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="x78zum5 xdt5ytf" data-virtualized="false">
<div class="x9f619 x1n2onr6 x1ja2u2z">
<div>
<div>
<div class="__fb-light-mode x1n2onr6" role="row">
<div>
<div class="x78zum5 xdt5ytf x1n2onr6" tabindex="-1" role="gridcell" data-release-focus-from="CLICK" data-scope="messages_table">
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x78zum5 x15zctf7">
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl xeuugli x1vjfegm">
<div>
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x78zum5 xh8yej3" role="presentation">
<div class="x78zum5 xdt5ytf x193iq5w x1n2onr6 x1kxipp6 xuk3077">
<div class="x78zum5 xh8yej3" role="none">
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1h91t0o xkh2ocl x78zum5 xdt5ytf x13a6bvl x193iq5w x1iyjqo2 x1eb86dx" role="presentation">
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1r8uery x1iyjqo2" role="presentation">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x6ikm8r x10wlt62">
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x14ctfv x13sv91t x6ikm8r x10wlt62 xerhiuh x1pn3fxy x10zy8in xm9bcq3 x1n2onr6 x1vjfegm x1k4qllp x1mzt3pk x13faqbe x11jlvup xpmdkuv xrmkrer x12z03op x9wyiwl x13fuv20 x18b5jzi x1q0q8m5 x1t7ytsu x12lizq0 x1nrdd72 x1ybe9c6 xx487zo xaymx6s x1lu5o8o x1ou5ly4 xofb2d2" role="presentation">
<div class="html-div xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1gslohp x14z9mp x12nagc x1lziwak x1yc453h x126k92a xyk4ms5" dir="auto">Wilkens had an amazing career. Despite his success as an NBA player, he also built a remarkable coaching career that earned him recognition in both fields. Kidd cited Wilkens' unique time as a player-coach in Seattle as crucial in leading the <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/lenny-wilkens-leaves-basketball-better-than-than-the-way-he-found-it-in-hall-of-fame-life">Supersonics to their sole NBA title</a> and enduringly impacting Seattle's sports legacy.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1eb86dx x78zum5 x13a6bvl">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="x78zum5 xdt5ytf" data-virtualized="false">
<div class="x9f619 x1n2onr6 x1ja2u2z">
<div class="__fb-light-mode x1n2onr6" role="row">
<div class="x78zum5 xdt5ytf x1n2onr6" tabindex="-1" role="gridcell" data-release-focus-from="CLICK" data-scope="messages_table">
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x78zum5 x15zctf7">
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl xeuugli x1vjfegm">
<div>
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x78zum5 xh8yej3" role="presentation">
<div class="x78zum5 xdt5ytf x193iq5w x1n2onr6 x1kxipp6 xuk3077">
<div class="x78zum5 xh8yej3" role="none">
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1h91t0o xkh2ocl x78zum5 xdt5ytf x13a6bvl x193iq5w x1iyjqo2 x1eb86dx" role="presentation">
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1r8uery x1iyjqo2" role="presentation">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x6ikm8r x10wlt62">
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x14ctfv x13sv91t x6ikm8r x10wlt62 xerhiuh x1pn3fxy x10zy8in xm9bcq3 x1n2onr6 x1vjfegm x1k4qllp x1mzt3pk x13faqbe x11jlvup xpmdkuv xrmkrer x12z03op x9wyiwl x13fuv20 x18b5jzi x1q0q8m5 x1t7ytsu x12lizq0 x1nrdd72 x1ybe9c6 xx487zo xaymx6s x1lu5o8o x1ou5ly4 xofb2d2" role="presentation">
<div class="html-div xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1gslohp x14z9mp x12nagc x1lziwak x1yc453h x126k92a xyk4ms5" dir="auto">&ldquo;He was a player-coach in Seattle and helped bring the city a championship,&rdquo; Kidd said, highlighting the rarity and significance of that accomplishment. But beyond the trophies and titles, Wilkens&rsquo; influence was deeply personal for Kidd and many others who came through Providence College. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s been a role model for all of us coming out of Providence &mdash; just a true winner who&rsquo;ll be dearly missed,&rdquo; Kidd added.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1h91t0o xkh2ocl x78zum5 xdt5ytf x13a6bvl x193iq5w x1c4vz4f x1eb86dx" role="presentation">
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="x78zum5 xdt5ytf" data-virtualized="false">
<div class="x9f619 x1n2onr6 x1ja2u2z">
<div class="__fb-light-mode x1n2onr6" role="row">
<div class="x78zum5 xdt5ytf x1n2onr6" tabindex="-1" role="gridcell" data-release-focus-from="CLICK" data-scope="messages_table">
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x78zum5 x15zctf7">
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl xeuugli x1vjfegm">
<div>
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x78zum5 xh8yej3" role="presentation">
<div class="x78zum5 xdt5ytf x193iq5w x1n2onr6 x1kxipp6 xuk3077">
<div class="x78zum5 xh8yej3" role="none">
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1h91t0o xkh2ocl x78zum5 xdt5ytf x13a6bvl x193iq5w x1iyjqo2 x1eb86dx" role="presentation">
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1r8uery x1iyjqo2" role="presentation">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x6ikm8r x10wlt62">
<div class="html-div xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x14ctfv x13sv91t x6ikm8r x10wlt62 xerhiuh x1pn3fxy x10zy8in xm9bcq3 x1n2onr6 x1vjfegm x1k4qllp x1mzt3pk x13faqbe x11jlvup xpmdkuv xrmkrer x12z03op x9wyiwl x13fuv20 x18b5jzi x1q0q8m5 x1t7ytsu x12lizq0 x1nrdd72 x1ybe9c6 xx487zo xaymx6s x1lu5o8o x1ou5ly4 xofb2d2" role="presentation">
<div class="html-div xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1gslohp x14z9mp x12nagc x1lziwak x1yc453h x126k92a xyk4ms5" dir="auto">Jason Kidd regards Wilkens' legacy as more than just accolades; it is an embodiment of leadership, perseverance, and humility. Wilkens was one of Providence's most recognizable basketball players, setting a precedent for his successors and inspiring generations with his dedication both on and off the court. Although Wilkens' passing is the end of an era, his story will still resonate, particularly for those who, like Kidd, share the Providence connection and pass on the lessons of a man who transformed what it means to be a champion.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>

Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd, pays tribute to Lenny Wilkens, celebrating his Hall of Fame legacy and impact as a player-coach and role model.

Jason Kidd Honors Lenny Wilkens' Legacy

Four-time NBA champion John Salley defends former teammate Chauncey Billups, saying the Portland coach was framed amid game-fixing allegations.

John Salley Says Chauncey Billups Was “Framed by the Mob”

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has officially unveiled its Class of 2025, and it&rsquo;s a star-studded group featuring NBA greats, WNBA legends, a championship-winning coach, a respected referee, and an iconic Olympic team.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">From Carmelo Anthony&rsquo;s scoring brilliance to Sue Bird&rsquo;s unmatched leadership and the dominance of Dwight Howard in the paint, this year&rsquo;s class captures the diversity and global reach of basketball excellence.</span></p>
<p><strong>NBA and WNBA legends take center stage</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Headlining the inductees are Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard, two of the defining players of their generation. Anthony, a 10-time All-Star and NCAA champion, retires as one of the most prolific scorers in league history and a member of the NBA&rsquo;s 75th Anniversary Team. Howard, meanwhile, dominated as a defensive anchor with three Defensive Player of the Year awards, eight All-Star nods, and an NBA championship to his name.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Joining them is a historic trio from the women&rsquo;s game: Sue Bird, Maya Moore, and Sylvia Fowles. Bird, widely considered one of the greatest point guards ever, built a legacy of championships at every level, from UConn to the WNBA to Team USA. Moore&rsquo;s four WNBA titles and two NCAA championships are matched only by her profound impact off the court as a social justice advocate. Fowles, a two-time WNBA champion and league MVP, cemented her status as one of the most dominant bigs in women&rsquo;s basketball.</span></p>
<p><strong>Coaching, Officiating, and Leadership honored</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The class also features Billy Donovan, who etched his name in college basketball history with back-to-back NCAA titles at Florida before transitioning to a successful NBA coaching career. On the officiating side, Danny Crawford earns enshrinement after three decades as one of the league&rsquo;s most respected referees, including 23 consecutive NBA Finals appearances.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recognizing the contributions of executives, Micky Arison, longtime owner of the Miami Heat, was also inducted for his role in building one of the NBA&rsquo;s most successful franchises.</span></p>
<p><strong>The Redeem Team joins the Hall</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Adding to the star power, the 2008 U.S. Men&rsquo;s Olympic &ldquo;Redeem Team&rdquo; was enshrined as a unit. Led by Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and several of this year&rsquo;s inductees, the team restored American dominance on the international stage by capturing gold in Beijing, leaving a lasting impact on global basketball.</span></p>
<p><strong>Full List of 2025 Inductees</strong></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Carmelo Anthony (Player)</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dwight Howard (Player)</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sue Bird (Player)</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Maya Moore (Player)</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sylvia Fowles (Player)</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Billy Donovan (Coach)</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Danny Crawford (Referee)</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">2008 U.S. Men&rsquo;s Olympic Team (Team)</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Micky Arison (Contributor/Executive)</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This year&rsquo;s enshrinement showcases the full spectrum of basketball greatness &ndash; scoring icons, defensive stalwarts, groundbreaking women&rsquo;s stars, and figures who shaped the game from the sidelines and beyond. </span></p>

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has officially unveiled its Class of 2025, and it features a star-studded group.

Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard headline 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame class

<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 first round of the 2025 NBA Draft has been completed, and the second round will tip off on Thursday, June 26 (8 ET, ESPN) at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. This will be the second time in NBA history that the draft will be held over two days, following its introduction over a year ago.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here are all the first-round selections courtesy of the NBA: (</span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">article to be updated with the second-round picks)</span></em></p>
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/cooper-flagg"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cooper Flagg</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Duke) to the Dallas Mavericks</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/dylan-harper"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dylan Harper</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Rutgers) to the San Antonio Spurs</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/vj-edgecombe"><span style="font-weight: 400;">VJ Edgecombe</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Baylor) to the Philadelphia 76ers</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/kon-knueppel"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kon Knueppel</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Duke) to the Charlotte Hornets</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/ace-bailey"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ace Bailey</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Rutgers) to the Utah Jazz</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/tre-johnson"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tre Johnson</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">(Texas) to the Washington Wizards</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/jeremiah-fears"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jeremiah Fears</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Oklahoma) to the New Orleans Pelicans</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/egor-demin"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Egor Demin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (BYU) to the Brooklyn Nets</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/collin-murray-boyles"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Collin Murray-Boyles</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (South Carolina) to the Toronto Raptors</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/khaman-maluach"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Khaman Maluach</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">(Duke) to the Houston Rockets &ndash; </span><a href="https://www.nba.com/news/suns-rockets-trade-kevin-durant"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Traded to Suns</span></a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/cedric-coward"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cedric Coward</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Washington State) to the Portland Trail Blazers &ndash; </span><a href="https://x.com/memgrizz/status/1938089198935834700"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Traded to Grizzlies</span></a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/noa-essengue"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Noa Essengue</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Ratiopharm Ulm) to the Chicago Bulls</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/derik-queen"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Derik Queen</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Maryland) to the Atlanta Hawks &ndash; </span><a href="https://www.nba.com/pelicans/news/derik-queen-nba-draft-trade-forward-center-maryland-new-orleans-pelicans-atlanta-hawks-first-round-draft-pick-13"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Traded to Pelicans</span></a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/carter-bryant"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Carter Bryant</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Arizona) to the San Antonio Spurs</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/thomas-sorber"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Thomas Sorber</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Georgetown) to the Oklahoma City Thunder</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/hansen-yang"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Yang Hansen</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Qingdao) to the Memphis Grizzlies &ndash;</span><strong> </strong><a href="https://www.nba.com/blazers/news/trail-blazers-acquire-draft-rights-to-yang-hansen"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Traded to Trail Blazers</span></a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/joan-beringer"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Joan Beringer</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Cedevita Olimpija) to the Minnesota Timberwolves</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/walter-clayton-jr"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Walter Clayton Jr.</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Florida) to the Washington Wizards &ndash; </span><a href="https://x.com/utahjazz/status/1938070621159616606"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Traded to Jazz</span></a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/nolan-traore"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nolan Traor&eacute;</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Saint-Quentin BB) to the Brooklyn Nets</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/kasparas-jakucionis"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kasparas Jakučionis</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Illinois) to the Miami Heat</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/will-riley"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Will Riley</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Illinois) to the Utah Jazz &ndash; </span><a href="https://x.com/WashWizards/status/1938082193785397462"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Traded to Wizards</span></a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/drake-powell"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Drake Powell</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (North Carolina) to the Atlanta Hawks &ndash; </span><a href="https://x.com/BrooklynNets/status/1938071333008482655"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Traded to Nets</span></a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/asa-newell"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Asa Newell</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Georgia) to the New Orleans Pelicans &ndash; </span><a href="https://www.nba.com/hawks/news/atlanta-hawks-acquire-the-draft-rights-of-asa-newell-the-no-23-pick-in-the-2025-nba-draft"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Traded to Hawks</span></a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/nique-clifford"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nique Clifford</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Colorado State) to the Oklahoma City Thunder &ndash; </span><a href="https://www.nba.com/kings/news/kings-acquire-draft-rights-to-nique-clifford"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Traded to Kings</span></a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/jase-richardson"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jase Richardson</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Michigan State) to the Orlando Magic</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/ben-saraf"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ben Saraf</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Ratiopharm Ulm) to the Brooklyn Nets</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/danny-wolf"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Danny Wolf</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Michigan) to the Brooklyn Nets</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/hugo-gonzalez"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hugo Gonz&aacute;lez</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Real Madrid) to the Boston Celtics</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/liam-mcneeley"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Liam McNeeley</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Connecticut) to the Phoenix Suns &ndash; </span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://www.nba.com/hornets/news/charlotte-hornets-agree-in-principle-to-acquire-the-draft-rights-to-liam-mcneeley">Traded to Hornets</a></span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/yanic-konan-niederhauser"><span>Yanic Konan Niederhauser</span></a><span> (Penn State) to the Los Angeles Clippers</span></li>
</ol>

The first round of the 2025 NBA Draft has been completed, and the second round will tip off on Thursday, June 26, still in Brooklyn.

2025 NBA Draft: Full results

<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">This article is from the official press release of EASL</span></em></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Los Angeles / Hong Kong, June 16, 2025 &ndash; The BIG3 &ndash; the premier global 3-on-3 basketball league &ndash; and East Asia Super League (EASL) &ndash; the Champions League of Asian basketball &ndash; today announced the beginning of a wide-reaching and first-of-its-kind strategic partnership to bring the best in global 3-on-3 basketball to fans across Asia in 2026.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The partnership marks a new chapter for both organizations, combining BIG3&rsquo;s world-renowned 3-on-3 format and entertainment-first approach with EASL&rsquo;s deep connections to Asia&rsquo;s professional basketball leagues, teams, and fan communities.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Beyond the competition, this collaboration is about cultural exchange. In addition to the pace, defense, and creativity that define the game, BIG3 integrates a level of entertainment not seen in other leagues, providing fans and players across Asia with a new way to experience basketball.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Known for its speed, physicality, and non-stop action, BIG3 has built a strong following in the United States and is now expanding its reach. Featuring current and former NBA players, the Hall of Fame coaches, and top talent from the international 3-on-3 circuit, the BIG3 fosters the highest level of competition, and this showcase will deliver a new experience and raise the bar for 3-on-3 basketball across the region.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;BIG3 was built to change how people experience basketball,&rdquo; BIG3 Co-CEO Ice Cube said. &ldquo;Through this landmark partnership with EASL, we&rsquo;re taking that mission to Asia and inviting millions more to be part of it. The EASL has done an incredible job elevating the gameplay across Asia and, specifically, growing its popularity with young sports fans. This partnership will set the stage for the future of the BIG3, and we can&rsquo;t wait to bring our game there next year.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This announcement follows the debut of the BIG3&rsquo;s eighth season live in Chicago on June 14, 2025. The highly successful league debuted in 2017 to much renown and has cultivated an incredibly diverse, engaged, and active fanbase with audiences rivaling and topping that of NWSL, NHL, MLS, and MLB.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The league has previously brought its brand of basketball to fans around the world, with international matchups held in Nassau, Toronto, and London, where the 2023 BIG3 Champion was crowned at the O2 Arena in front of a sold-out crowd. Earlier this year, the BIG3 also entered into a partnership with the NaKonal Basketball League (NBL) in Australia to bring the BIG3 game to Australian Basketball fans in Fall 2025.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Since its founding, EASL has focused on raising the standard of competition in Asia by bringing together the top teams from the continent&rsquo;s leading domesKc leagues. This partnership with BIG3 marks the next step in EASL&rsquo;s growth, introducing a new style of basketball and creating additional connections between Asia and the global basketball community.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;We&rsquo;re here to push limits,&rdquo; EASL Chief Executive Officer Henry Kerins said. &ldquo;BIG3 brings a different level, a different style, and a different energy to basketball. Taking it to Asia with EASL shows how far the game can go. Fans are going to see something fresh and something real, and it&rsquo;s only the beginning.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">EASL and BIG3 will continue to collaborate on event planning, fan engagement, and media rollout in the lead-up to 2026, with more announcements regarding sites and schedules to come.</span></p>

The BIG3 and East Asia Super League today announced the beginning of a wide-reaching and strategic partnership set in 2026.

BIG3 and EASL Announce Partnership to Bring League to Asia in 2026

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a postseason filled with emotion, grit, and resolve, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has stood at the center of it all &ndash; he&rsquo;s calm, composed, and unrelenting. Now, two games into his first NBA Finals appearance, the Oklahoma City Thunder&rsquo;s All-NBA superstar is putting the finishing touches on a masterpiece of a season, one that could go down as one of the greatest individual campaigns in league history.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With 34 points in Game 2 of the 2025 NBA Finals, following up a 38-point performance in the series opener, Gilgeous-Alexander has the Thunder in a great position to win a title, and he has cemented his place in rarified air. His 72 combined points are the most ever in a player&rsquo;s first two NBA Finals games, eclipsing a mark previously associated with some of the game&rsquo;s all-time greats.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And he&rsquo;s not done just yet.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Elite company, historic pace</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the postseason, every possession carries weight, and every moment is magnified. But for Gilgeous-Alexander, these moments don&rsquo;t appear to faze him. He&rsquo;s not just rising to the occasion &ndash; he&rsquo;s controlling it.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Game 2's 34-point outing marked his ninth consecutive home playoff game with 30 points or more, joining only Wilt Chamberlain in NBA history to accomplish that feat. In doing so, he also notched his 11th playoff game with at least 30 points and five assists, a stat line that only LeBron James and Michael Jordan have reached in multiple postseason runs.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">LeBron did it in three separate years. MJ did it in two. Shai&rsquo;s doing it this year.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">His consistent brilliance has propelled him to the top of the 2025 playoff scoring leaderboard. With 516 total points, he recently passed Jalen Brunson (514) for the most points scored in this year&rsquo;s postseason. He&rsquo;s doing it efficiently, artistically &ndash; and with the kind of poise that makes it clear: this is his moment.</span></p>
<h3><strong>The MVP is carrying like an MVP</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Thunder have been one of the NBA&rsquo;s most compelling stories all year &ndash; a young, unselfish team loaded with talent, built through the draft, and molded into a contender. But in the crucible of the playoffs, every great team needs that singular force &ndash; that player who can tilt the court, break a defense, and change the game&rsquo;s emotional temperature.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is that force for Oklahoma City.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After leading the league in scoring during the regular season and earning All-NBA First Team honors, he was named the 2025 NBA MVP &mdash; a recognition of his two-way dominance and night-to-night consistency. And now, as the lights burn brighter, he&rsquo;s gone from award-winner to tone-setter.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He&rsquo;s playing with a purpose that goes beyond personal accolades. He&rsquo;s the heartbeat of a team chasing history, and he&rsquo;s doing it in the most demanding stage of all.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What&rsquo;s perhaps most impressive is how SGA has handled each phase of the journey with equal parts humility and hunger. His playoff run has been defined not just by numbers, but by moments &ndash; dagger shots, crafty finishes, fourth-quarter takeovers, and calm in chaos. He hasn't just been great &ndash; he's been inevitable.</span></p>
<h3><strong>A season for the ages</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Gilgeous-Alexander&rsquo;s latest performance gave him over 3,000 total points on the season &ndash; combining regular-season and playoff scoring &ndash; another milestone in a campaign already overflowing with them.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">To put this into perspective: he could complete the kind of six-for-six checklist that only a handful of players in NBA history have even dreamed of &ndash; league scoring champion, regular-season MVP, All-NBA First Team, Western Conference Finals MVP, NBA champion, and Finals MVP &ndash; all in a single season.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Each of those achievements alone is significant. Together, they form a portrait of a transcendent season &ndash; the kind of year that defines legacies and reshapes the league&rsquo;s power structure.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Thunder&rsquo;s rise from rebuilding team to Finals frontrunner has been sudden to some, but internally, it&rsquo;s been calculated and patient. Still, without Gilgeous-Alexander, their timeline likely looks different. He&rsquo;s the player who made their future arrive early &ndash; and now, he might be the one who delivers their first title since the franchise moved to Oklahoma City.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Beyond the numbers</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What sets Gilgeous-Alexander apart, especially in this Finals run, is not just what he&rsquo;s doing &ndash; it&rsquo;s how he&rsquo;s doing it.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">His game is quiet but surgical. He doesn&rsquo;t overpower defenders with brute strength or dazzle with deep threes. Instead, he picks his spots, manipulates angles, and imposes his rhythm. There&rsquo;s a jazz-like quality to his game &ndash; unpredictable, fluid, yet meticulously controlled.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In clutch time, he&rsquo;s been near automatic. Whether it&rsquo;s using his footwork to dance into mid-range jumpers or drawing contact for crucial free throws, SGA has been the ultimate closer for a Thunder team that continues to rise to every challenge.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It&rsquo;s that unselfishness, combined with his relentless work ethic and stoic demeanor, that has endeared him to teammates and fans alike. There&rsquo;s an old soul quality to SGA&rsquo;s approach &ndash; a maturity that belies his age and a leadership style rooted in accountability, not noise.</span></p>
<h3><strong>The final step</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Now just three wins away from basketball immortality, Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder find themselves on the brink of a championship. But the job&rsquo;s not finished.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The NBA Finals will shift to the opposing city for Games 3 and 4, where the pressure will mount, the crowd will roar louder, and the resistance will tighten. The margins will be razor-thin. But if this postseason has shown anything, it&rsquo;s that Gilgeous-Alexander has the heart, the game, and the will to push through.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This run has already carved his name into the record books. What comes next could define the start of SGA and the Thunder&rsquo;s era.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And for a Thunder team guided by youth and galvanized by Shai&rsquo;s leadership, the future isn&rsquo;t just bright &mdash; it&rsquo;s arriving right now.</span></p>

SGA is delivering one of the greatest playoff runs in NBA history, leading the Thunder while making MVP-level history along the way.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivers MVP-level heroics in first NBA Finals trip

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has officially announced its Class of 2025, with NBA luminaries Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard leading a distinguished group of inductees. The enshrinement ceremony is scheduled for September 5&ndash;6, 2025, at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut and the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Carmelo Anthony, a ten-time NBA All-Star, concluded his illustrious career ranked ninth on the NBA's all-time scoring list, amassing over 28,000 points. His journey began with the Denver Nuggets, followed by impactful stints with the New York Knicks and the Portland Trail Blazers. Internationally, Anthony secured three Olympic gold medals and one bronze with Team USA. Reflecting on this honor, Anthony expressed profound gratitude, stating, "This is it. It don't get no better than this."</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dwight Howard, an eight-time NBA All-Star, is celebrated for his dominance as a center, particularly during his tenure with the Orlando Magic, where he led the team to the 2009 NBA Finals. Howard's accolades include three NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards and a pivotal role in the Los Angeles Lakers' 2020 championship run. His defensive prowess and rebounding excellence have left an indelible mark on the league. ​</span></p>
<p><strong>2008 U.S. Olympic 'Redeem Team' Recognition</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Both Anthony and Howard will also be enshrined as members of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Men's Basketball Team, famously known as the "Redeem Team." This squad, featuring legends like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade, reclaimed Olympic gold in Beijing, reinstating USA Basketball's global dominance.</span></p>
<p><strong>Celebrated Women's Basketball Icons</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Class of 2025 also honors WNBA legends Sue Bird, Maya Moore, and Sylvia Fowles. Bird, a five-time Olympic gold medalist, is renowned for her leadership with the Seattle Storm. Moore's exceptional career includes four WNBA championships with the Minnesota Lynx, while Fowles, also a key figure in the Lynx's success, holds the WNBA's all-time rebounding record.</span></p>
<p><strong>Contributors and Officials</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Additional inductees include Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan, Miami Heat managing partner Micky Arison, and esteemed NBA referee Danny Crawford, each recognized for their significant contributions to the sport.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The enshrinement festivities will commence with the Tip-Off Celebration and Awards Gala on September 5, followed by the official ceremony on September 6. Tickets and VIP packages are available through the Hall of Fame's official website.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This year's class epitomizes excellence across playing, coaching, and executive roles, reflecting the diverse and profound impact these individuals have had on basketball.​</span></p>

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has announced its Class of 2025, led by Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard.

Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard headline 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame Inductees

<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

<div>
<p>In the first few days of his second presidential term, Donald Trump signed a number of executive orders that will have an impact on the healthcare industry, some issuing new policies and some rescinding policies set forth by prior administrations. This has had a devastating impact on the American people.</p>
<p>While the country is on pins and needles awaiting the next bomb (both literally and figuratively) to drop from the Trump administration, Michael Jordan has figured out a way to actively combat one of the casualties (U.S. Health Care) of Trump&rsquo;s plan for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants and extended tax cuts for the upper echelon of the American population.&nbsp;</p>
</div>
<div>From an <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/01/republicans-medicaid-cuts">article in The Guardian titled:&nbsp;&ldquo;Medicaid recipients fear &lsquo;buzzsaw cuts&rsquo; for Trump&rsquo;s agenda&rdquo;</a>, it reads&nbsp;</div>
<div>&ldquo;Republicans are considering a rollback of the federal social safety net, particularly Medicaid, which has nearly 80 million enrollees in all 50 states. The budget plan proposes an $880bn reduction in funding for the insurance over the next 10 years, an amount that experts warn would hollow out the program and have ripple effects across the entire American healthcare system.&rdquo;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>From an <a href="https://www.maynardnexsen.com/publication-president-trumps-latest-executive-orders-impacting-health-care">article in the MaynardNexsen titled &ldquo;President Trump&rsquo;s Latest Executive Orders Impacting Healthcare&rdquo;</a> it reads &ldquo;President Trump rescinded former President Joe Biden&rsquo;s order that extended the enrollment periods for Affordable Care Act (Obama Care) plans in most states, and granted additional funding for third parties aiding enrollment in ACA insurance. While ACA enrollment nearly doubled under the Biden administration to about 24 million people, those gains are attributed primarily to government subsidies that lowered the cost of ACA premiums. The effect this rescission will have on enrollment trends is one thing to watch in the coming years&rdquo;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>While all this is happening in real-time, Michael Jordan opened his fourth health clinic in North Carolina on February 19 in Wilmington. This new clinic, established in collaboration with Novant Health, focuses on providing care to uninsured and underinsured patients.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/michael-jordan-etan-thomas-2_690w.jpeg" alt="" width="740" height="492" /></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>MJ has spoken publicly exhibiting a tremendous amount of sincerity and passion about how important these clinics are and how many people they will help. He has addressed the growing issue of healthcare disparities and affirmed his dedication to providing healthcare to all people regardless of their income or economic status in particular in his hometown of North Carolina.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Many people are pleasantly surprised to see this side of MJ, but it goes along with what I witnessed as his teammate for the Washington Wizards.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>I recall one time in particular when I was sitting in the training room getting treatment and he was getting his knee drained, which fans didn&rsquo;t know at the time he had to often do in order to continue playing. MJ asked me about a book (Soul On Ice by Eldridge Cleaver) he saw me reading on the plane and we engaged in a deep conversation about race, politics, the community, and much more.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
<p>Sitting in earshot was his bodyguard, George, who chimed in and said jokingly, &ldquo;Yeah Michael doesn&rsquo;t like to tell anybody the things he does, so people don&rsquo;t think he does anything&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
</div>
<div>He then proceeded to tell me a story of when MJ was all set to have this big event at an exclusive golf resort in Georgia back in the day, and he found out that they were still keeping an old tradition of not allowing Black People to join the club, but of course, they would let MJ participate. Well, long story short, right before the event, MJ informed the organizers that he was going to cancel everything if they didn&rsquo;t change their policy and of course, they capitulated to his demands.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/michael-jordan-etan-thomas-4_690w.jpeg" alt="" width="743" height="563" /></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>I remember responding saying, &ldquo;That&rsquo;s a great story that people need to hear. Why wouldn&rsquo;t you tell people that ?&rdquo; And MJ looked at me and said, &ldquo;No, I don&rsquo;t do it for that.&rdquo; I remember looking at George and him saying, &ldquo;See, he doesn&rsquo;t want to tell anybody anything&rdquo;&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>I tell this story for this reason. Playing with MJ for two years with the Wizards, I saw him do a lot of things quietly that nobody knew about. And from time to time I would whisper to him, &ldquo;You&rsquo;re not gonna tell anyone about this either huh?&rdquo; And he would just smile and shake his head. In fact, he didn&rsquo;t even tell anyone that he donated his entire salary to the victims of 9-11. I remember being in the locker room when he was watching the coverage on TV and made the decision. Nobody found out until later that he did that.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Now, for years I have been on panels and programs talking about activism and athletes and they would always bring up MJ as the antithesis to the activist athlete and his infamous statement &ldquo;Republicans Buy Shoes Too&rdquo;. They would always paint MJ as the athlete who doesn&rsquo;t care about the community or really anything outside of himself and I would always push back on that because that&rsquo;s just not what I saw when I was his teammate. Now, did he lend his voice to causes or speak out on political issues that directly impact the Black Community? No, he didn&rsquo;t. But did he do nothing behind the scenes and have no interest or care for the community? I can&rsquo;t say that because that&rsquo;s not what I saw.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>People don&rsquo;t know about MJ&rsquo;s community impact platform, known as the Black Community Commitment (BCC), which is a 10-year, $100 million initiative focused on creating equitable futures for Black Americans through education, economic justice, narrative change, and social justice.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>They also don&rsquo;t know about him funding nonprofit institutional grantees and grassroots organizations across the country through his Open Call Community Grants program.&nbsp;They don&rsquo;t know about his Jordan Brand Wings Scholars Program which has sent hundreds of kids to college on full scholarships. But like George told me in the training room, he doesn&rsquo;t tell anyone so people assume he does nothing in the community.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Now, going back to MJ&rsquo;s 4th healthcare clinic.&nbsp;There is indeed currently a national healthcare crisis in the United States.&nbsp;In 2025, an estimated 27.1 million Americans of all ages are projected to be uninsured, representing an uninsured rate of 8.2%, according to data from the National Health Interview Survey. MJ&rsquo;s efforts have helped thousands of uninsured Americans actually receive care.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/michael-jordan-etan-thomas-3_690w.jpeg" alt="" width="741" height="494" /></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Furthermore, as many Americans have found out the hard way, being insured does not guarantee full coverage. There is a large percentage of working-class Americans who are currently drowning in medical expenses, faced with increased costs of medications (thanks to the Trump administration), and higher co-pays all while having limited access to essential treatments.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>An article by Vishwesha Kumar of Fadeaway World, described Jordan&rsquo;s Health Clinic as,&nbsp;&ldquo;After witnessing the positive impact of these centers, Jordan donated $10 million to Novant Health to expand the project, leading to additional clinics being built in Wilmington. His efforts have helped thousands of patients receive their first-ever primary care visits, reinforcing his dedication to improving healthcare access.</div>
<div>
<p>The new Wilmington facility spans 7,300 square feet and includes 12 patient rooms, offering comprehensive medical services to uninsured and underinsured individuals. In addition to primary care physicians, the clinic will have a community health worker to connect patients with essential local resources. The facility will be open on weekdays, aiming to serve as a lifeline for many who struggle to access consistent coverage.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Micheal Jordan doesn&rsquo;t have to do any of this. He could ride off into the sunset and not care about what anyone thinks about him. He doesn&rsquo;t need any additional notoriety. He already has all the fame a man could possibly have. He doesn&rsquo;t need pats on the back or nods of approval from anyone. He does this because he genuinely cares.&nbsp;</p>
</div>
<div>&ldquo;Michael Jordan gives back but you didn't know it. Like LeBron does, but it's just seldom they show it.&rdquo;~Nas</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>

While all this is happening in real-time, Michael Jordan opened his fourth health clinic in North Carolina.

In This Trump Era, Michael Jordan’s Free Health Clinics Are Very Much Needed

<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">This article is from BasketballNews.com&rsquo;s Q&amp;A session relayed by NBA PR Kevin Alonzo, with Leah MacNab, NBA Senior Vice President, Head of International Strategy. In this conversation, she shares insights into the NBA's globalization efforts, the significance of the NBA Paris Games, and the league's long-term international ambitions.</span></em></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">-- -- --</span></p>
<p><strong>Q: How would you describe the role of international games, like the NBA Paris Games, in driving the league&rsquo;s globalization efforts?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Leah MacNab:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> &ldquo;International games like The NBA Paris Games are a key component of our year-round efforts to grow the game globally and engage fans around the world. We have a large and passionate global fanbase, including in France and throughout Europe, and this is a rare opportunity for them to experience the excitement of an NBA game up close and in-person. In addition to the games in Paris this week, the league, both teams and our nine marketing partners are engaging tens of thousands of fans and youth from France, across Europe and beyond through exciting activations, events and programming that will serve as a catalyst for the continued growth of the game here.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><strong>Q: What strategies have been most effective in establishing the NBA&rsquo;s footprint across more than 200 countries and territories?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Leah MacNab:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> &ldquo;We have a three-pronged strategy to grow basketball and engage our fans around the world throughout the year. This includes creating opportunities for young people to learn, play and develop on the court through programs like the Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA, bringing the NBA experience to fans through events like the games this week in Paris, and making live games, programming and localized content as widely accessible as possible to fans no matter where they are in the world.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><strong>Q: What role do international players, such as Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, and Giannis Antetokounmpo, play in driving interest and engagement in their home countries?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Leah MacNab:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> &ldquo;Basketball is a truly global sport, and the international makeup of the NBA is a key differentiator for the league. The record-tying 125 international players on rosters at the start of this season, including the last six MVP Award winners, drive incredible interest in their home countries and regions and serve as global ambassadors for our game. For example, Victor Wembanyama not only drives interest in his native France and across Europe, but globally. As a rookie, Victor generated 1.3 billion views on NBA social media channels, becoming the fastest player ever to 1 billion views and the most-viewed rookie of all time.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><strong>Q: Could you share insights on how the NBA selects international venues and how those decisions align with the league&rsquo;s global growth goals?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Leah MacNab:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> &ldquo;Staging international games involves a long planning process and we look at several factors, including the availability of arenas with the capacity to host these games, markets that have an affinity for basketball, cities and countries where we can grow the game, and destinations that our teams and players want to go to. There&rsquo;s tremendous demand to host Global Games from fans, cities and partners around the world, but ultimately due to the density of our schedule we can only play a limited number of these games each year.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><strong>Q: With record-breaking global viewership in recent years, what are the NBA&rsquo;s long-term goals for international expansion?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Leah MacNab:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> &ldquo;In addition to finding new and creative ways to engage fans in markets where there is already a strong affinity for basketball and the NBA, we&rsquo;re also focused on regions of the world where we think there is tremendous growth potential for the league and the game. Africa, for instance, is home to one of the world&rsquo;s youngest and fastest-growing populations with a strong sporting culture and incredible basketball talent. That&rsquo;s one of the reasons we launched the Basketball Africa League. Having a professional basketball league in Africa supported by the NBA and FIBA expands and strengthens the basketball ecosystem, drives socioeconomic development, and inspires more African youth to play the game.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><strong>Q: Do you foresee the establishment of permanent international NBA franchises or an increased number of games played abroad in the future?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Leah MacNab:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> &ldquo;Right now, we&rsquo;re in the very early stages at the league office of evaluating the potential of expansion and what that process could look like. There are many cities and many ownership groups &ndash; both inside and outside the U.S. &ndash; who have expressed interest in an expansion franchise. As far as NBA franchises in Europe, the density of our schedule and the time it takes to travel here would make that challenging. But we continue to study the prospect of being more involved on the ground here on a year-round basis, which we&rsquo;re having conversations about this week with a variety of stakeholders who are in town for these games.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">-- -- --</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stay tuned to BBN for more exclusive interviews and coverage of everything about the NBA. </span></p>

NBA Senior Vice President, Head of International Strategy Leah MacNab shares insights into the NBA and its globalization efforts.