Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Nets hire Jordi Fernandez as their new head coach

The Brooklyn Nets recently named Jordi Fernández as the 24th head coach in the franchise’s NBA history.

“We’re thrilled to announce Jordi Fernández as Brooklyn’s new head coach,” said General Manager Sean Marks. “As we progressed through an extensive search over the past six weeks, it became increasingly clear that Jordi is the best coach to lead our team forward. Jordi brings a diverse set of experiences and basketball knowledge gained over the course of a coaching career that has taken him around the world. Each step of the way, Jordi has consistently demonstrated the ability to implement strong processes and creative systems designed to optimize each team’s specific roster. He’s proven the ability to build genuine relationships and garner the respect of players of all levels, and we’re confident that our players will benefit greatly from his expertise. We look forward to Jordi, Kelsey and their children joining the Nets family and calling Brooklyn home.”

Fernández joins the Nets after spending the last two seasons (2022-24) as associate head coach of the Sacramento Kings. Last season, he helped lead the Kings to the 2023 Pacific Division title and the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference in Sacramento’s first postseason appearance since the 2005-06 season.

The Badalona, Spain, native also currently serves as the head coach of Canada’s Senior Men’s National Team, a position he has held since June 2023. Last summer, he led Canada to a bronze medal at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, representing Canada’s first-ever medal in the event. Under Fernández’s direction, Canada registered an overall record of 6-2, including a win over Team USA for third place.

“We are excited to welcome Jordi Fernández and his family to the Nets big family. Jordi’s character as a leader and his emphasis on structure, process and habits will instill a Nets identity that our fans will want to root for,” said Nets Governor Joe Tsai. “We look forward to working with Jordi to build a sustainable winning culture in Brooklyn.”

Tyrese Maxey wins 2023-24 NBA Most Improved Player award

Philadelphia 76ers All-Star Tyrese Maxey has been named the 2023-24 NBA Most Improved Player. Maxey becomes the second player in franchise history to earn the honor, joining Dana Barros in 1994-95.

“Congratulations, Tyrese! The Most Improved Player award is a testament to your incredible work ethic including countless early mornings in the gym perfecting your craft,” Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey said. “Your journey to All-Star in just your fourth season is inspirational to everyone who watches you play. Your dedication to continuous improvement and excellence has you on the path from MIP to MVP.”

In his fourth NBA season, Maxey’s statistical leap included becoming a top-11 scorer in the NBA as his average jumped from 20.3 in 2022-23 to 25.9 in 2023-24. Maxey also boosted his rebounding average to 3.7, assists to 6.2, and steals to 1.0, with each mark representing a career high.

Naz Reid wins 2023-24 NBA Sixth Man of the Year award

Minnesota Timberwolves center-forward Naz Reid is the recipient of the John Havlicek Trophy as the 2023-24 NBA Sixth Man of the Year.

Reid has been named the NBA’s top reserve for the first time and becomes the first player to win the award with the Timberwolves. He is also the third player to earn the honor after not being selected in the NBA Draft, joining John Starks (1996-97) and Darrell Armstrong (1998-99).

In his fifth NBA season, Reid averaged career highs of 13.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 24.2 minutes in 81 games (14 starts). He made 169 three-pointers, exceeding his total from the previous two seasons combined (132). Reid also shot a career-high 41.4% from three-point range.

Reid helped the Timberwolves (56-26) finish with the second-best record in franchise history.

Jontay Porter banned from the NBA for multiple gambling violations

The NBA announced today that Jontay Porter, a two-way player recently under contract with the Toronto Raptors, has been banned from the NBA. A league investigation found that Porter violated league rules by disclosing confidential information to sports bettors, limiting his own participation in one or more games for betting purposes, and betting on NBA games.

The league’s investigation found that prior to the Raptors’ March 20 game, Porter disclosed confidential information about his own health status to an individual he knew to be an NBA bettor. Another individual with whom Porter associated and knew to be an NBA bettor subsequently placed an $80,000 parlay proposition bet with an online sports book, to win $1.1 million, wagering that Porter would underperform in the March 20 game.

The league’s investigation also found that Porter limited his own game participation to influence the outcome of one or more bets on his performance in at least one Raptors game. In the March 20 game, Porter played only three minutes, claiming that he felt ill. Due to the unusual betting activity and actions of the player, the $80,000 proposition bet was frozen and was not paid out.

In addition, from January through March 2024, while traveling with the Raptors or Raptors 905, the Raptors’ NBA G League affiliate, Porter placed at least 13 bets on NBA games using an associate’s online betting account. These bets ranged in size from $15 to $22,000, for a total of $54,094. The total payout from these bets was $76,059, resulting in net winnings of $21,965. None of the bets involved any game in which Porter played. Three of the bets were multi-game parlay bets that included one Raptors game, in which Porter bet that the Raptors would lose. All three bets lost.

The suspicious bets involving Porter’s performance in the Raptors’ March 20 game were brought to the NBA’s attention by licensed sports betting operators and an organization that monitors legal betting markets.

These findings are based on the information available to league investigators at this time. The league’s investigation remains open and may result in further findings. The NBA has shared and will continue to share information with federal prosecutors about this matter.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said: “There is nothing more important than protecting the integrity of NBA competition for our fans, our teams and everyone associated with our sport, which is why Jontay Porter’s blatant violations of our gaming rules are being met with the most severe punishment. While legal sports betting creates transparency that helps identify suspicious or abnormal activity, this matter also raises important issues about the sufficiency of the regulatory framework currently in place, including the types of bets offered on our games and players. Working closely with all relevant stakeholders across the industry, we will continue to work diligently to safeguard our league and game.”

Pistons sign guard Jaylen Nowell

The Detroit Pistons have signed guard Jaylen Nowell to a contract.

Nowell, 6-4, 201, signed a 10-day contract with Detroit on April 3. He’s appeared in three games with the Pistons and averaged 8.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 16.7 minutes per game.

A five-year NBA veteran, Nowell previously appeared in 193 career games (four starts) for Minnesota and Memphis. The No. 43 overall pick by the Timberwolves in the 2019 NBA Draft, Nowell holds career averages of 8.9 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 0.5 steals in 17.1 minutes per game. Nowell appeared in nine games for the Grizzlies this season, averaging 5.7 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 17.1 minutes.

In 28 games this season with the Stockton Kings, the NBA’s G League affiliate of the Sacramento Kings, Nowell is averaging 17.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 27.9 minutes per game.

A native of Seattle, Nowell played collegiately at the University of Washington from 2017-19 where he was named Pac-12 Player of the Year and First-Team All-Pac-12 for the Huskies in 2019.

Sixers sign Ricky Council IV to standard NBA contract

The Philadelphia 76ers yesterday signed Ricky Council IV to a standard NBA contract.

Originally signed to a two-way contract prior to this season, Council IV has appeared in 31 games as a rookie with the 76ers, averaging 5.5 points on 48.2-percent shooting and 1.4 rebounds in 9.1 minutes per game. He has logged at least 10 minutes of action in 11 of his 31 appearances, producing 10.5 points on 54.2-percent shooting in those contests.

Council IV has tallied at least 10 points on eight occasions, including a career-best 19-point, 10-rebound performance at Washington on Feb 10. He became the seventh rookie in franchise history – and the first since Dario Šarić in 2017 – to produce at least 19 points and 10 boards off the bench.

In 27 games with Philadelphia’s G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, Council IV recorded 23.8 points on 47.3-percent shooting, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. He reached the 30-point mark on five occasions and connected on at least three triples 12 times.

Last season, Council IV appeared in 36 games (29 starts) collegiately for the University of Arkansas, where he ranked fifth in the Southeastern Conference with a team-high 16.1 points to go along with 3.6 rebounds. The All-SEC Second Team selection scored in double figures in 31 of his appearances this season.

Celtics sign center Neemias Queta

The Boston Celtics have signed center Neemias Queta to a standard contract.

Queta has appeared in 26 games with the Celtics since signing a two-way contract with the franchise on September 17, 2023. The 7-0 center is recording career-highs in his first season with Boston, averaging 4.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks in 11.4 minutes per game.

Queta scored a career-high 14 points on 4-of-7 made field goals and grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds in the Celtics’ 145-108 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Dec. 23. Queta has recorded both of his career double-doubles this season, including his 10-point, 10-rebound performance against the Golden State Warriors on Dec. 19.

The Lisbon, Portugal native has averaged 14.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.9 blocks in eight games with the Celtics’ G-League affiliate, the Maine Celtics, this season. Queta helped Maine advance to the G-League Finals for the first time in franchise history after recording 16 points and a G-League career-high 19 rebounds in their Eastern Conference Championship win over the Long Island Nets (99-77).

Queta played three years at Utah State University before being selected by the Kings with the 39th overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft, becoming the first Portuguese player in NBA history.

Grizzlies sign forward Timmy Allen to 10-day contract

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed forward Timmy Allen to a 10-day contract.

Allen (6-6, 210) appeared in 46 games (18 starts) for the Memphis Hustle during the NBA G League Showcase Cup and regular season and averaged 9.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.0 steals in 26.4 minutes.

Unselected in the 2023 NBA Draft, the 24-year-old Arizona native was named to the 2021-22 All-Big 12 Second Team as a senior at Texas.

Allen will wear jersey #0 for the Grizzlies.

Pistons sign guard Jaylen Nowell to 10-day contract

The Detroit Pistons have signed guard Jaylen Nowell to a 10-day contract.

Nowell, 6-4, 201, is a five-year NBA veteran and has appeared in 193 career games (four starts) for Minnesota and Memphis. The No. 43 overall pick by the Timberwolves in the 2019 NBA Draft, Nowell holds career averages of 8.9 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 0.5 steals in 17.1 minutes per game. Nowell appeared in nine games for the Grizzlies this season, averaging 5.7 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 17.3 minutes.

In 28 games this season with the Stockton Kings, the NBA’s G League affiliate of the Sacramento Kings, Nowell is averaging 17.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 27.9 minutes per game.

A native of Seattle, Nowell played collegiately at the University of Washington from 2017-19 where he was named Pac-12 Player of the Year and First-Team All-Pac-12 for the Huskies in 2019.