Bearcats

The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced today at NBA All-Star Weekend 2024 the selection of 14 finalists from the following committees: North American, Women&rsquo;s, Men&rsquo;s Veterans, Women&rsquo;s Veterans, International, and Contributors.
The finalists will then be put forward to the Honors Committee to be considered for election as members of the Class of 2024. The new class will be announced in Phoenix on April 6 at the NCAA Men&rsquo;s Final Four.
North American Committee Finalists (in alphabetical order):
<ul style="font-weight: 400;">
<li>Chauncey Billups</li>
<li>Vince Carter</li>
<li>Michael Cooper</li>
<li>Walter Davis</li>
<li>Bo Ryan</li>
<li>Charles Smith</li>
</ul>
Women's Committee Finalists:
<ul style="font-weight: 400;">
<li>Seimone Augustus</li>
<li>Marian Washington</li>
</ul>
Men&rsquo;s Veteran Committee Finalist:
<ul style="font-weight: 400;">
<li>Dick Barnett</li>
</ul>
Women's Veteran Committee Finalist:
<ul style="font-weight: 400;">
<li>Harley Redin</li>
</ul>
International Committee Finalist:
<ul style="font-weight: 400;">
<li>Michele Timms</li>
</ul>
Contributors Committee Finalists:
<ul style="font-weight: 400;">
<li>Doug Collins</li>
<li>Herb Simon</li>
<li>Jerry West</li>
</ul>
"Being named a Finalist for the Class of 2024 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is a testament to the highest echelons of achievement in the sport,&rdquo; said Jerry Colangelo, Chairman of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. &ldquo;It's an honor that reflects not only individual greatness but also the long-lasting impact on the game itself. From the strategic brilliance of coaches to the unmatched abilities of players and the influential roles of a coach/broadcaster, an esteemed owner, and a dynasty-building executive, each Finalist embodies the pinnacle of basketball excellence. Their inclusion underscores the diverse contributions that have shaped and enriched the sport, making this recognition truly exceptional."
The Class of 2024 will be enshrined during festivities in Springfield, Mass., on August 16-17. VIP packages for the 2024 Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend are now available. Single-event tickets will go on sale on April 6, following the 2024 Class Announcement.
North American Committee Finalists:
CHAUNCEY BILLUPS&nbsp;[Player]&nbsp;&ndash; Nicknamed "Mr. Big Shot" for his ability to deliver crucial plays in pivotal moments, Billups was a five-time NBA All-Star and the 2004 Finals MVP after leading the Detroit Pistons to their third NBA championship. During his 17-year career, Billups&rsquo; averaged 15.2 points and 5.4 assists per game, while his&nbsp; 89.4&nbsp; free throw percentage is sixth best in NBA/ABA history. Billups was drafted third overall in 1997 by the Boston Celtics after earning Second Team All-American honors at Colorado. He is the current head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers.
VINCE CARTER&nbsp;[Player]&nbsp;&ndash; Renowned for his high-flying dunks, the former North Carolina standout was an eight-time All-Star in his 22 NBA seasons (1998-2020). Carter, who won the 2000 Slam Dunk Contest, was named the 1998-99 Rookie of the Year and is the only player in NBA history to play in four different decades. Carter averaged 16.7 points per game (21.3 as a starter) and also played a pivotal role in the success of the 2000 Sydney Olympics, clinching a gold medal with the U.S. Men's Basketball Team. He currently holds the single-season franchise scoring record for the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets and Toronto Raptors.
MICHAEL COOPER&nbsp;[Player]&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;Cooper was named to eight NBA All-Defensive Teams, taking home First-Team accolades five times and winning Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1987. The former third-round draft pick (60th overall) out of the University of New Mexico spent his entire 12-year NBA career (1978-90) with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning five championships while routinely matching up with the opponent&rsquo;s top shooter. Following his playing career, Cooper entered the coaching ranks and earned WNBA Coach of the Year accolades in 2000 with the Los Angeles Sparks before winning back-to-back WNBA titles in 2001-02.
WALTER DAVIS&nbsp;[Player]&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;The all-time leading scorer in Phoenix Suns&rsquo; history was a six-time All-Star (1978-81, &lsquo;84, &lsquo;87) during his 15-year NBA career with the Suns (1977-88), Denver Nuggets (1988-92) and Portland Trail Blazers (1991). Before Phoenix chose Davis with the fifth pick in the 1977 draft, the standout player from North Carolina won a gold medal in the 1976 Summer Olympics. He then averaged 24.2 points per game in his first NBA season and was named the 1978 Rookie of the Year. The late Davis had&nbsp;his No. 6 retired by the Suns, and in 2004, he was enshrined in the team's Ring of Honor.
BO RYAN&nbsp;[Coach] &ndash;&nbsp;Ryan went 747-233 (.762) in 32 seasons as a collegiate head coach with the University of Wisconsin-Platteville (1984-89), University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (1999-2001) and University of Wisconsin (2001-15), including a 364-130 (.737) ledger in 14-plus seasons in Madison. Ryan, honored four times as the Big Ten Coach of the Year, led Wisconsin to unprecedented success, clinching four Big Ten regular-season titles, winning three Big Ten tournament championships, and making back-to-back Final Four appearances (2014-15). The four-time Division III champion (1991, &lsquo;95, &lsquo;98-99) was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.
CHARLES SMITH&nbsp;[Coach] &ndash; Smith is Louisiana's all-time winningest high school head coach, surpassing the previous mark of 1,071 in 2020. With eight state championships to his name, Smith&rsquo;s coaching tenure at Peabody Magnet High School began in 1985 after starting as a math teacher in 1975. He guided the Warhorses to a pair of perfect seasons, going 41-0 in 2004 and 2010 and earning national top-five rankings. Smith, ESPN&rsquo;s National Coach of the Year in 2010, was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2019 and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2021. In addition, Smith served as a head coach at the McDonald&rsquo;s All-American game in 2020.
Women&rsquo;s Committee Finalists:
SEIMONE AUGUSTUS&nbsp;[Player]&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;Augustus, who was selected first overall in the 2006 WNBA Draft, was a four-time champion and eight-time All-Star during her 15-year WNBA career (2006-2020). The cornerstone player for the Minnesota Lynx, where she spent 14 of her 15 seasons, averaged 15.4 points per game and was named the 2006 Rookie of the Year and 2011 Finals MVP. At LSU, Augustus led the Tigers to three straight Final Four appearances and won the Naismith College Player of the Year and Wooden Awards in back-to-back campaigns (2005-06).
MARIAN WASHINGTON&nbsp;[Coach] &ndash; Washington led the University of Kansas women&rsquo;s basketball team for 31 seasons (1973-2004) and recorded a school-record 560 wins. The Jayhawks made 11 NCAA tournament appearances under her guidance, including two trips to the Sweet 16 (1996, &lsquo;97). Washington, who also served as Kansas&rsquo; director for women&rsquo;s athletics from 1974-79, was named her conference&rsquo;s Coach of the Year on three occasions (Big Eight: 1992, &rsquo;96; Big 12: 1997). She was a pioneer on the international stage, becoming one of the first two African American women to compete in basketball internationally at the 1971 World Championships and the first black woman to coach a United States team in international play at the 1982 R. William Jones Cup. Washington, who was the first female president of the Black Coaches Association, was inducted into the Women&rsquo;s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004.
Men&rsquo;s Veteran Committee Finalist:
DICK BARNETT&nbsp;[Player] &ndash;&nbsp;Barnett first gained prominence at Tennessee A&amp;I University, where he led the Tigers to three straight NAIA national championships (1957-59), the first historically black school to claim a men&rsquo;s basketball title. The &ldquo;Skull&rdquo; played 14 NBA seasons with the Syracuse Nationals (1959-61), Los Angeles Lakers (1962-65) and New York Knicks (1965-73), winning a pair of titles in the Big Apple (1970, &lsquo;73) and making his lone All-Star team in 1968. The Knicks retired his No. 12, and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame honored his 1957&ndash;59 Tigers squad in 2019.
Women&rsquo;s Veteran Committee Finalists:
HARLEY REDIN&nbsp;[Coach]&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;Redin went 431-66 in 18 seasons leading Wayland Baptist&rsquo;s women&rsquo;s basketball program and captured six AAU National Championships. He coached the Flying Queens to two undefeated women&rsquo;s seasons (1956, &lsquo;57), 17 top-five finishes, and went 110-2 during his first four campaigns at Wayland Baptist. Redin also coached the Women&rsquo;s U.S. National Team in 1959, the 1971 Pan-American Games, and the 1963 World Tournament in Peru. He was the recipient of the Jostens-Berenson Service Award by the Women&rsquo;s Basketball Coaches Association for his lifetime of service to women&rsquo;s basketball in 1992, inducted into the Women&rsquo;s Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999, and honored with the Naismith Award for Outstanding Contribution to the game of women&rsquo;s basketball in 2000.
International Committee Finalist:
MICHELE TIMMS&nbsp;[Player]&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;A trailblazer in Australian women&rsquo;s basketball, Timms became well-known as one of the best point guards in the world, representing the Australian national team throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Timms won a pair of Olympic medals with the Opals, winning bronze in 1996 and silver in 2000, and was the first Australian, male or female, to play professional basketball internationally when she suited up for Lotus M&uuml;nchen in Germany. In addition, Timms spent five seasons with the Phoenix Mercury, guiding the team to a berth in the 1998 WNBA Finals and earning an All-Star selection in 1999. The Sport Australia Hall of Fame inducted her in 2003, the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008, and the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2016. The Mercury retired her No. 7 jersey in 2002.
Contributor Committee Finalists:
DOUG COLLINS&nbsp;[Coach/broadcaster]&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;Collins' versatile career in basketball is marked by significant achievements in roles ranging from player to coach to broadcaster, underscoring his wide-ranging impact on the sport. Following an NBA career where he was a four-time All-Star with the Philadelphia 76ers, he transitioned into coaching and accumulated over 400 wins with the Chicago Bulls (1986-89), Detroit Pistons (1995-98), Washington Wizards (2001-03) and 76ers (2010-13). Collins, who coached Hall of Famer Michael Jordan in both Chicago and Washington,&nbsp;also served as an analyst for various NBA-related broadcasts for CBS, NBC, TNT, TBS, and ABC/ESPN, along with working for NBC at the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics.
HERB SIMON&nbsp;[Owner] &ndash; Simon, the longest-tenured governor in the history of the NBA, purchased the Indiana Pacers, along with his late brother Mel, back in 1983. Under Simon&rsquo;s stewardship, the Pacers won numerous Central Division titles and made the franchise&rsquo;s first NBA Finals in 2000. Throughout his ownership period, the Pacers have been home to legendary players like Jermaine O&rsquo;Neal, Rik Smits, and Reggie Miller (Class of 2012). Beyond ownership, Simon's influence extends deeply into the heart of the Pacers&rsquo; organization, shaping its identity and impact both on and off the court through his philanthropic endeavors and civic engagement.
JERRY WEST&nbsp;[Executive] &ndash; Enshrined as a player in 1980, West then went on to establish himself off the court as one of the most successful executives in the sport&rsquo;s history. West played a pivotal role as the architect of a pair of Los Angeles Lakers&rsquo; dynasties during the 1980s and 2000s, drafting key players like Magic Johnson and James Worthy, acquiring Kobe Bryant, signing free agent Shaquille O'Neal, and hiring head coach Phil Jackson. He totaled eight NBA championships in Los Angeles (1980, &lsquo;82, &lsquo;85, &lsquo;87-88, 2000-02) and was named Executive of the Year twice (1995, 2004). Following his time in the Lakers&rsquo; front office (1979-2000), West served as GM of the Memphis Grizzlies from 2002-07 before earning two additional NBA championships as an executive with the Golden State Warriors (2015, &lsquo;17).

The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the 14 finalists for the class of 2024 including Vince Carter and Chauncey Billups.

Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announces 14 finalists in class of 2024

The joke Karl-Anthony Towns made last week was the ultimate jinx, casually noting what had been a rare absence of turnover and tumult for the Timberwolves to that point.
&ldquo;I was like, &lsquo;Man, it&rsquo;s been a real quiet offseason for Minnesota. It's very different,'&rdquo; Towns said.
The next day came the &ldquo;boom,&rdquo; as star center put it, the firing of president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas just six days before the start of training camp.
&ldquo;Just add it to the list. It&rsquo;s just the same thing every single time. It&rsquo;s something that always leads to instability,&rdquo; Towns said on Monday, taking part in the annual media day at team headquarters.
Though the dismissal of Rosas after less than 2 1/2 years on the job will rank high on the long list of dramatic turns for this oft-troubled franchise, players well-conditioned to change took a nonchalant stance toward the ill-timed shakeup of the front office during their first public interview sessions since the end of the pandemic-delayed 2020-21 season.
&ldquo;My personal reaction? I didn&rsquo;t really have one. I was on the golf course. I heard about the news, and I just tried to focus on my next shot, to be honest,&rdquo; guard D'Angelo Russell said. &ldquo;But it&rsquo;s just the world we live in, the business we live in.&rdquo;
Rosas put his stamp on the roster with several trades, headlined by the deal with Golden State to get Russell in February 2020. Of the 20 players starting training camp with the team this week, only Towns and guard Josh Okogie were around before Rosas was hired.
Though the summer was slow on transactions, with the acquisition of 10th-year NBA veteran guard Patrick Beverley the most significant, coach Chris Finch has only been around for seven months.
The 41 games Finch had last season after replacing Ryan Saunders were hardly enough for all parties to find a comfort zone in a time of COVID-19 protocols and largely empty arenas, particularly considering the rash of injuries that kept Towns, Russell, Malik Beasley &mdash; three of the top four scorers &mdash; frequently on the sideline. They missed a combined 87 games.
&ldquo;While being blessed to have so many great teammates to play with, I also didn&rsquo;t have a chance to really build any true relationships with anybody because always instability, always change,&rdquo; said Towns, who's entering his seventh year in the league.
The only place the Timberwolves have had constancy has been at the top, since Glen Taylor purchased the team in 1994. Now even their ownership is undergoing an overhaul, with the transfer of control from Taylor to Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez in motion.
The especially deliberate process, with Lore and Rodriguez on schedule to become the majority partners in two years, was designed to give Taylor an opportunity to mentor the first-time sports team owners as they catch themselves up on the inner workings of the NBA, the culture of the Timberwolves &mdash; and the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx &mdash; and the fabric of the Twin Cities market.
Lore, the e-commerce entrepreneur, and Rodriguez, the former baseball star, reached a $1.5 billion agreement near the end of last season to buy the club from Taylor. They held their introductory news conference before the players took the stage and spoke confidently of their ability to collaborate with Taylor on decisions for the direction of the organization while the 80-year-old still has a controlling stake.
&ldquo;I think it&rsquo;s important in any partnership to get people involved and get them involved as soon as possible,&rdquo; Taylor said.
That included the bold move last week to fire Rosas and elevate executive vice president Sachin Gupta to full authority over the basketball operations.
Rosas, according to multiple reports, was dismissed due to increasing internal concern about discord surrounding his relationships within the organization. Taylor, Lore, Rodriguez, Gupta and Finch all declined to comment about Rosas, mostly citing legal ramifications but also looking for an opportunity to try to paint a brighter picture after the latest dark turn for the Timberwolves.
&ldquo;This past week has been a little crazy for me,&rdquo; Gupta said.
With Lore and Rodriguez each based on the East Coast, and the Timberwolves playing in a renovated-yet-dated arena with decreased attendance before the pandemic due to their perpetual losing, fans have raised questions about how long the new owners will be committed to Minnesota. Taylor, after all, saved the Timberwolves from moving to New Orleans after a deal struck by original owners Harvey Ratner and Marv Wolfenson fell apart. Taylor bought the club instead for $88 million to keep it as a community asset.
&ldquo;We have no plans to move," Rodriguez said. "Our plan is to be right here.&rdquo;
They'll be plenty busy trying to infuse a fresh culture and needed optimism into a franchise that has made the playoffs just once in the last 17 seasons.
&ldquo;I like change. I like challenge," Taylor said, "and I think both of them are in front of us."

For the first time since the end of last season, Wolves players spoke to the media and made their stance on the franchise's direction known.

Amid latest shakeup, Timberwolves seek stability with new owners

Seven days into NBA Summer League, we continue to see young talents and NBA hopefuls make names for themselves in Las Vegas.&nbsp;
More and more teams are shutting down their top prospects due to rest or minor injuries. That means others are getting the chance to shine in featured roles. Only one or two games remain on the schedule for each team, so players have just a few more opportunities to make an impression before training camp.
As always, here are my individual observations from Saturday's slate.&nbsp;
STUDS
Bones Hyland, guard, Denver Nuggets
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
BONES BUCKETS 🦴 No. 26 pick Nah'Shon Hyland drops 28 PTS (5 3PM) to lead the <a href="https://twitter.com/nuggets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nuggets</a> to their first win of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBASummer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBASummer</a>! <a href="https://t.co/Sh9Gd6bU8T">pic.twitter.com/Sh9Gd6bU8T</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1426657381795045378?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2021</a></blockquote>

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

Box Score Stats: 28 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 9-for-17 FG, 5-for-8 3PT
The No. 26 overall pick had his breakout summer-league game in an 89-85 overtime victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Hyland is an absolute microwave, with a solid handle and an ability to get into his shot form quickly. Though he struggled finishing at the rim early, Hyland showed he could get defenders on his hip, get low and blow by them, and use his length to get to the backboard. When he gets hot, his confidence is extremely fun to watch.
Skylar Mays, guard, Atlanta Hawks
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Skylar Mays: Smooth. 📺 ESPN <a href="https://t.co/Og8f8lGMcW">pic.twitter.com/Og8f8lGMcW</a>
&mdash; LSU Basketball (@LSUBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/LSUBasketball/status/1426658762434166788?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2021</a></blockquote>

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

Box Score Stats: 26 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals, 7-for-17 FG, 2-for-6 3PT
Mays relentlessly attacked the basket and made his 6-foot-4, 205-pound frame feel like a freight train. The 23-year-old helped the Hawks get back into the game in the second quarter and led them to a 94-90 victory. In the absence of Sharife Cooper, he served as the floor general and had an excellent rapport with Jalen Johnson. Mays also did a great job of getting into passing lanes and pressuring the ball as a defender.&nbsp;
Jalen Johnson, guard, Atlanta Hawks
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Jalen Johnson corner 3 then shows the on ball defense, forcing the miss from Okpala <a href="https://t.co/aNnQx5vHW1">pic.twitter.com/aNnQx5vHW1</a>
&mdash; Aram Cannuscio (@AC__Hoops) <a href="https://twitter.com/AC__Hoops/status/1426661390538919938?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2021</a></blockquote>

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

Box Score Stats: 25 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 9-for-15 FG, 3-for-6 FG
Johnson looked smooth as silk in this contest, splashing face-up attempts and catch-and-shoot threes. He facilitated a really neat play to end the half for Atlanta; Johnson held the ball at the top of the key as Skylar Mays ran behind him, drawing defenders, and then Johnson hit Admiral Schofield off a flare screen for a three-pointer. Of course, the No. 20 overall selection also served as a highlight-reel lob threat.
Scottie Barnes, forward, Toronto Raptors
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Scottie Barnes showed out with 23 PTS against the Hornets ♨️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBASummer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBASummer</a> <a href="https://t.co/6NQ5VGTpL9">pic.twitter.com/6NQ5VGTpL9</a>
&mdash; NBA TV (@NBATV) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1426718576719798278?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2021</a></blockquote>

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

Box Score Stats: 23 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, 10-for-18 FG, 1-for-3 3PT
Barnes' defense was awesome. He legitimately guarded 1-through-5 with success, clamping opponents from James Bouknight to Kai Jones. On offense, the fourth overall pick detonated in transition to propel him to those 23 points. But Barnes also took guys off the dribble and finished acrobatically at the rim. He still needs to find a rhythm mid-range shot, but Barnes already contributes in so many areas for Toronto.
Miles McBride, guard, New York Knicks
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Miles McBride : 23 points (9-14 shooting &amp; 5-8 from 3), 4 rebounds, 5 assists &amp; 2 steals in 33 minutes <a href="https://t.co/BSXvgofksL">pic.twitter.com/BSXvgofksL</a>
&mdash; Lee Harvey (@AyeThatsLee) <a href="https://twitter.com/AyeThatsLee/status/1426772246459211776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2021</a></blockquote>

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

Box Score Stats: 23 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 9-for-14 FG, 5-for-8 3PT
Quentin Grimes led the team with 28 points, but I thought McBride was the best and most impressive player on the court in New York's 103-94 victory over Cleveland. The second-round guard took on more of a lead role with Immanuel Quickley out. Though he gave up four turnovers, McBride was fearless as a passer and creator. He frequently pulled up for long two-pointers and threes, which is a critical area to watch for him as a scoring guard. And McBride's hounding defense was present as always.
Other notable performers: Saben Lee (Pistons), Luka Garza (Pistons), Max Strus (Heat), Nate Hinton (Mavericks), Chris Duarte (Pacers), Quentin Grimes (Knicks), Obi Toppin (Knicks), Lamar Stevens (Cavaliers)
DUDS
Jaden Springer, guard, Philadelphia 76ers
Box Score Stats: 6 points, 4 rebounds, 3-for-11 FG, 0-for-2 3PT
Thursday's 100-80 loss to the Celtics was partially frustrating because the Sixers, despite sitting Tyrese Maxey, scarcely gave Springer time on the ball. They instead went with Isaiah Joe and Frank Mason as the lead guards. Springer had to do most of his work off movement and off the catch, and was unsuccessful. He also continues to struggle with gaining separation, though he has been adept at finding pockets in the defense.
Theo Maledon, guard, Oklahoma City Thunder
Box Score Stats: 0 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 0-for-7 FG, 0-for-4 3PT
Like Springer, Maledon was held back due to a cold touch and lack of burst. He still facilitated well as the point guard for OKC, but missed a few attempts at the rim as well as all of his three-point attempts. The 20-year-old is 7-for-25 from deep in summer league, but five of those makes came in a single game. He canned 33.5% of his long-range looks as a rookie.
Nick Richards, center, Charlotte Hornets
Box Score Stats: 3 points, 8 rebounds, 1-for-5 FG, 0-for-1 3PT
Richards came in for Vernon Carey Jr. and played 24 minutes for Charlotte. But the seven-footer was ineffective as an interior presence. He missed some easy buckets inside and was lost when Toronto pushed the pace late in the game. It was a strange fit with fellow paint finisher Kai Jones, and the two did not mesh particularly well.&nbsp;

Two Atlanta Hawks players showed out on the seventh day of NBA Summer League.

Studs and duds from the seventh day of NBA Summer League

LeBron James is arguably the greatest basketball player of all-time, and his son, LeBron James Jr., has some big shoes to fill.
But should he?
Commonly referred to as &ldquo;Bronny,&rdquo; the younger James seems next in line to join a special fraternity of second-generation NBA players that includes the likes of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Domantas Sabonis and Jerami Grant.
Those players have mostly managed to live up to the expectations that come with being the son of an NBA player, but there are many others who weren&rsquo;t able (or never even attempted) to fill those size-20 shoes.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Basketball Hall-of-Famer Gary Payton recently joined former No. 1 overall pick and NBA All-Star Kenyon Martin on his podcast (&ldquo;Neat &amp; Unfiltered&rdquo;) to discuss his son, Gary Payton II.
Payton and Martin, aside from being each enjoying fruitful careers in the NBA, are both NBA dads. After going undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft, Gary Payton II <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-g-league-raptors-905-gary-payton-ii-on-growing-up-in-fathers-shadow-we-have-two-different-paths" target="_blank" rel="noopener">had to take the long road to the NBA</a> &mdash; he started out in the summer league before taking his talents to the G League. He is currently on his second 10-day contract with the Golden State Warriors.
Martin&rsquo;s son, Kenyon Martin Jr. (who goes by KJ), was selected by the Sacramento Kings with the No. 52 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and is currently playing under a two-way contract for the Houston Rockets.
As one might imagine, just as being the son of an NBA player has its challenges, so does being the father of a youngster who attempts to follow in your footsteps.
&ldquo;With you having a son, too, and you going to the games and being very involved in games, you want your son to be just like you,&rdquo; Payton admitted to Martin after acknowledging that Martin&rsquo;s son is also trying to find his way as a pro.
&ldquo;But sometimes, you have to step back and say, &lsquo;He&rsquo;s not me.&rsquo; This is a different generation and things like that, but as you see this and you get to feel this and then say, &lsquo;He got it a little bit, he been hanging around me, man!' it makes you feel real good because you know how these kids make you feel sometimes.&rdquo;
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3AexCjXdICM" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
More so than many others, Martin went public with his feelings for his son realizing his dream of playing in the NBA. Prior to the 2020 NBA Draft, Martin <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-draft-2020-kenyon-martin-letter-son-kj-martin-img-academy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">penned an open letter</a> to KJ. Perhaps by design, Martin&rsquo;s message was simple: it&rsquo;s your time, son, now go do your thing.
To this point, the younger Martin has been able to heed his father&rsquo;s advice, garnering attention for a few standout performances in both the G League and NBA.
Like Payton II, the younger Martin&rsquo;s road to this point wasn&rsquo;t easy.
&ldquo;They get tired of you,&rdquo; Payton admitted when discussing his son, but being the only point guard in NBA history to win Defensive Player of the Year, Payton couldn&rsquo;t deny the fact that he took special pride in seeing his son win the G League Defensive Player of the Year Award on March 19.
&ldquo;You think they don&rsquo;t really be listening to you sometimes because they&rsquo;re in their era, but me seeing my son win this recently and [him] understanding that the defense was there and that&rsquo;s what he watched as a young kid growing up with me, it makes you feel real good,&rdquo; Payton said.
&ldquo;You&rsquo;re like, &lsquo;Yo, he was listening a little bit and he does have a little talent!' And, &lsquo;He does have something to get down with like that,&rsquo; and that&rsquo;s what it is about it. I felt great about my son and I just hope he keeps continuing to get better and better, so he can get on that next level and try to do that same thing for a basketball team.&rdquo;
Payton II spoke with BasketballNews.com in March about <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-g-league-raptors-905-gary-payton-ii-on-growing-up-in-fathers-shadow-we-have-two-different-paths" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the road he&rsquo;s traveled</a>. And it seems that, long ago, he came to terms with the fact that he&rsquo;d be somewhat the shadow of his father. But his solution was rather simple.
Stop caring. Do you.
&ldquo;You&rsquo;re probably going to be compared throughout your life,&rdquo; Payton II <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-g-league-raptors-905-gary-payton-ii-on-growing-up-in-fathers-shadow-we-have-two-different-paths" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said to BasketballNews.com&rsquo;s Kelsea O&rsquo;Brien</a>. &ldquo;Growing up, it was a problem for me, I just didn&rsquo;t know how to deal with it, but as I got older and wiser, I matured and I realized that he had his route and I have mine. And don&rsquo;t worry about what people are going to try to compare you to, because we have two different routes in two different eras. So I stopped caring about that some time ago.&rdquo;
There&rsquo;s a lot to be said when it comes to second-generation NBA players. Although we tend to look at pro athletes as somehow being superhuman, every so often, we get reminders that they&rsquo;re people, just like us.
Basketball dads like Dell Curry, Mychal Thompson, Arvydas Sabonis and Harvey Grant are among the fortunate dads who have seen their sons reach higher heights than they were able to accomplish.
Without question, Kenyon Martin Sr. and Gary Payton are pulling for their sons to continue to chart their own courses. Legacy is great, but building one's own, obviously, is even better.

Hall-of-Famer Gary Payton opens up about his son's playing career with Kenyon Martin, a fellow "NBA dad" pulling for his own.

Legacy: Gary Payton discusses being an 'NBA Dad' with Kenyon Martin

I wanted a Los Angeles Lakers vs. Los Angeles Clippers showdown in the Western Conference Finals.&nbsp;
No offense to the Denver Nuggets; Nikola Jokic is absolutely amazing to watch. He is undoubtedly one of the best (if not the best) passing big men that the NBA has ever seen. His awareness of his teammates on the court at all times is something coaches will start teaching their big men from this point on. But Lakers-Nuggets is not the series I wanted to watch.&nbsp;
Jamal Murray has been phenomenal in the bubble. Game after game, he proves to be virtually unguardable. His 50-point outing against the Utah Jazz to force a Game 7 was incredible. His one-dribble step-back three is so hard to defend, and it reminds me of how James Harden scores at will with his step-back. The way he has used the pick-and-roll and how he and Jokic have played off each other throughout these playoffs has demanded the overall respect of the NBA. But this is not the series I wanted to watch.&nbsp;
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GtCGeLb4DvQ" width="100%" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
I&rsquo;ve enjoyed watching the emergence of Jerami Grant, who I used to call &ldquo;Little Harvey&rdquo; because I literally watched him grow up. His father, Harvey Grant, would bring Jerami and his brothers to Bowie Gym to work out. I would see them in church (First Baptist Church of Glenarden). When I was on the Washington Wizards, Harvey would bring his sons to some of our games and practices. I remember watching him at my alma mater, Syracuse University, and talking to him while he was there.&nbsp;
I actually interviewed Grant on my show, The Rematch, at the beginning of the NBA restart - mainly because I saw how <a href="https://youtu.be/MdKBh8czLdw">he steered the conversation back to Breonna Taylor</a> regardless of what questions were asked during his first media availability in the bubble. I&rsquo;m so proud of the man that he has become. He went from being doubted after leaving Syracuse early to playing a key role in the Western Conference Finals. But this is not the series I wanted to watch.&nbsp;
This entire season, I wanted to watch a Clippers-Lakers showdown. I wanted to see LeBron James vs. Kawhi Leonard. This year&rsquo;s Western Conference Finals was supposed to be the &ldquo;Battle for Los Angeles.&rdquo; All year long, these two teams seemed to be on a collision course!
It was frustrating to watch the Lakers dominate Game 1 against the Nuggets. All I kept saying was, &ldquo;This is not the game I wanted to see.&rdquo; At one point, my daughter, Baby Sierra, replied, &ldquo;Then why are you watching it? We can put on my show.&rdquo; (She&rsquo;s always looking for a reason to put her shows back on). Honestly, I understand her point because I complained the entire game.&nbsp;
This was supposed to be the gleaming Lakers against the snarling Clippers. The franchise with 16 banners hanging in the rafters against their rival that&rsquo;s looking to take over L.A. It would&rsquo;ve been a drama-filled, smack-talking, players-being-separated, heated series. It was sure to be epic, and it would&rsquo;ve only intensified the rivalry between these two teams.
<img src="https://basketballnews-media.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/images/story/body/br_lg.jpg" alt="" width="747" height="375" />
The prevailing notion was that this in essence would be the NBA Finals, as the winner of this series would be heavily favored to win it all. And that&rsquo;s no disrespect to anyone in the Eastern Conference. That was just the widespread belief.
Even Magic Johnson <a href="https://twitter.com/magicjohnson/status/1304236563665022977?s=21">tweeted out</a> last Thursday night: &ldquo;I&rsquo;m so excited that I&rsquo;m going to see the Lakers vs. Clippers for the Western Conference Finals!!! The battle of the best in LA!&rdquo;
This is the series that everyone was looking forward to watching. I did enjoy seeing Dwight Howard dominate against Denver in Game 1, proving that big men are still important after the small-ball Houston Rockets rendered the Lakers&rsquo; big men obsolete in the Western Conference semifinals. Still, this was not the series I wanted to see.&nbsp;
At halftime last night, I sent a text to one of my best friends from high school, Zee Chilton, who is honestly the biggest Lakers fan I know. I told him that I was really looking forward to seeing&nbsp; the Clippers vs. the Lakers to which he replied: &ldquo;I was too, but I feel better now that we don&rsquo;t have to play them.&rdquo;
And that, in a nutshell, is the reason for my complaints. The Clippers had a legitimate chance to beat the Lakers. In fact, from top to bottom, the Clippers looked like they were poised to take over Los Angeles and everyone knew it. The Lakers were going to need to play creative, swarming defense in order to stifle the Clippers, who have one of the deepest and most talented rosters in the NBA. And, quite frankly, many doubted if the Lakers could rise to the occasion, especially on the defensive end of the floor.&nbsp;
In fact, many diehard Lakers fans (like my friend, Zee) were nervous about the potential match-up against the Clippers - even if they don&rsquo;t want to admit it. Snoop, Magic and Co. were nervous because they saw what the rest of the world saw: That the Clippers weren&rsquo;t afraid of the Lakers one bit. Sure, the Lakers&rsquo; players had a lot to say after the Clippers&rsquo; loss. But make no mistake, they were nervous too.&nbsp;
Now, the Clippers will have a long offseason, enduring all of the criticism that they have earned, especially since they made so much noise all season.&nbsp;
There will be people who question whether Kawhi Leonard should&rsquo;ve left Toronto. People like Stephen A. Smith will take public shots at Paul George. There will be media questioning if Doc Rivers should still be the coach. They&rsquo;ll point to the arguments between George and Montrezl Harrell and wonder if there&rsquo;s dissension in the locker room. They&rsquo;ll bring up Lou Williams&rsquo; visit to Magic City to point out that they weren&rsquo;t focused. And, of course, they will focus on one of the biggest trash-talkers in the game, Patrick Beverley - who had a verbal sparring match with Damian Lillard among others - having to eat his words.&nbsp;
The Clippers will have a lot to prove next year because they didn&rsquo;t live up to the expectations that were set by the entire basketball world or the expectations that they had for themselves. This should only stoke the fire in them. This season didn&rsquo;t go as planned for this organization; but, make no mistake, this rivalry definitely isn&rsquo;t over. If anything, it&rsquo;s just getting started.

After being on a collision course all season long, NBA fans were robbed of a Lakers-Clippers series, writes Etan Thomas.

Zach