Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Zion Williamson replaces Joel Embiid as starter for Team Durant in 2021 NBA All-Star Game

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson will replace Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid in the starting lineup for Team Durant in the 2021 NBA All-Star Game, which will be played tonight at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

According to NBA rules, if an All-Star Game starter is unable to participate in the game after the All-Star Draft has been conducted, the head coach of his All-Star team will name a replacement starter from that team’s group of reserves. Team Durant head coach Doc Rivers of the 76ers selected Williamson to replace Embiid, who will not play today in accordance with the NBA’s Health and Safety Protocols.

TNT’s NBA All-Star coverage will begin today at 5 p.m. ET with TNT NBA Tip-Off, followed by the Skills Challenge and 3-Point Contest starting at 6:30 p.m. ET.

NBA All-Star Game coverage will begin at 8 p.m. ET, with the Slam Dunk contest taking place at halftime. ESPN Radio will also air the All-Star game and dunk contest.

Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons will miss the 2021 NBA All-Star game

Prior to traveling to Atlanta, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons had contact with an individual (reportedly a barber) who is confirmed today to have tested positive for the coronavirus. As a result, Embiid (Team Durant) and Simmons (Team LeBron) will not play in tonight’s NBA All-Star Game.

Participation for other All-Stars and members of the 76ers coaching staff in Atlanta is not affected because they were not exposed to the individual in Philadelphia.

Mavericks recall rookies Josh Green and Tyler Bey from G League

The Dallas Mavericks have recalled rookies Josh Green and Tyler Bey from the G League’s Salt Lake City Stars.

Green (6-6, 210) was flex-assigned to Salt Lake City on Feb. 17 and appeared in six games (three starts) for the club, averaging 13.5 points (.455 FG%), 4.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.2 steals in 29.7 minutes per game. He recorded 22 points (10-19 FG), six boards, a game-high eight assists and a team-high four steals while posting a game-high plus-23 rating in the team’s 109-93 win over the Fort Wayne Mad Ants on March 2.

Bey (6-7, 216), who saw action in one G League game for the Long Island Nets before being flex-transferred to the Stars on Feb. 11, averaged 16.2 points (.497 FG%), 9.7 rebounds and 28.6 minutes in 12 games (nine starts) with Salt Lake City. He recorded five double-doubles and three 20-point efforts with the Stars, capping his G League stint with a 23-point night against the Delaware Blue Coats on March 5.

The 2020-21 NBA G League season began on Wednesday, Feb. 10, with 18 teams competing at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort.

The Mavericks’ G League affiliate, the Texas Legends, opted not to travel to the NBA G League’s campus. NBA teams without an NBA G League affiliate participating in Orlando have the opportunity to assign roster players and transfer two-way players using the league’s flexible assignment and two-way rules.

Mike Conley named NBA All-Star Game injury replacement for Devin Booker, who replaced Anthony Davis

Utah Jazz guard Mike Conley has been named by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to replace injured Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker on Team Durant in the 2021 NBA All-Star Game, which will be played on Sunday, March 7 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

In addition, Conley will replace Booker in the 2021 3-Point Contest, which will be held on March 7 before the NBA All-Star Game.

This is the first NBA All-Star selection for Conley, who is in his 14th season. He is averaging 16.1 points and 5.7 assists and shooting a career-high 42.2 percent from three-point range in 29 games this season. Conley, 33, has helped the Jazz post an NBA-best 27-9 record. He joins two Utah teammates, Team LeBron center Rudy Gobert and Team Durant guard Donovan Mitchell, in the NBA All-Star Game.

Booker is unable to play in the NBA All-Star Game or participate in the 3-Point Contest because of a left knee sprain. He was named to the NBA All-Star Game by the Commissioner as an injury replacement for Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis. Booker is averaging 24.9 points and 4.4 assists in 31 games this season.

According to NBA rules, when a player selected to the All-Star Game is unable to participate, the Commissioner shall choose a replacement from the same conference as the player who is being replaced. Booker and Conley both play for Western Conference teams.

The NBA All-Star Game and 3-Point Contest are part of NBA All-Star 2021, which will take place on one night this year.

Thunder recall forward Aleksej Pokusevski from G League

The Oklahoma City Thunder recalled forward Aleksej Pokuševski from the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA G League today.

Pokuševski appeared in 13 games (12 starts) with the Blue this season and recorded averages of 7.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.08 blocks in 25.2 minutes per contest. He logged two double-doubles in his time with the Blue, recording a 12-point, 19-rebound performance on Feb. 26 against the Austin Spurs while registering 19 points and 10 rebounds against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers on Feb. 21.

The Serbian native has appeared in 17 games with the Thunder where he is averaging 3.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.12 blocks (most among rookies) in 17.4 minutes per game.

Hawks forward De’Andre Hunter still recovering from knee surgery

Atlanta Hawks forward De’Andre Hunter (right knee surgery on Feb. 8) has increased his rehabilitation activities to include unrestricted weight room work and progressive court reloading.

The Hawks plan to review his progress on March 19.

Per AJC.com, “Hunter was averaging 17.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists before he was injured and underwent a meniscus debridement. He was selected for the Rising Stars roster after showing remarkable growth in his second NBA season.”

Pistons waive Blake Griffin as two sides reach buyout agreement

The Detroit Pistons have reached a buyout agreement with Blake Griffin and simultaneously requested waivers on the veteran forward.

Per the Detroit News, “thePistons and Griffin announced last month that he would remain out of the lineup until the two sides could come to an agreement on a trade or buyout. The trade route seemed unlikely, with Griffin’s contract for $36.6 million this season and a player option for $39 million next season.”

“Blake has been a great representative for our franchise and for the city of Detroit,” said Pistons Owner Tom Gores. “His work ethic and his approach to the game contributed a lot to our culture. He has been a consummate pro and we wish him continued success. I’m grateful for everything he did for our team and for our community.”

“As we stated from the beginning of our discussions with Blake and his representatives, our goal has been to facilitate a resolution for the future that maximizes the interests of both Blake and our team,” said Troy Weaver, General Manager for the Detroit Pistons. “We appreciate all of Blake’s efforts on and off the court in Detroit, have great respect for him as a player and a person and we wish him all the best in the future.”

“Blake’s NBA resume speaks for itself,” said Detroit Pistons Head Coach Dwane Casey. “He’s a player I’ve respected for many years from afar and it was great to have the opportunity to coach him here in Detroit. Contending teams will love to have a guy like him in their program, which is an opportunity he deserves at this point of his career, and we wish him the best.”

Per the Detroit Free Press, “Griffin wants to play for a playoff contender while the rebuilding Pistons, 10-26 and last in the conference standings, want to prioritize the development of their young players. On Feb. 15, the two sides agreed Griffin would be away from the team while they worked on a resolution, either via buyout or trade.”

During three-plus years with the Pistons (2018-21), Griffin posted averages of 20.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 33.3 minutes over 138 games (all starts). He earned All-NBA Third Team honors and his sixth NBA All-Star selection while averaging a career-best 24.5 points and leading the Pistons to the NBA Playoffs in 2018-19. Griffin joins Grant Hill as the second player in franchise history to average at least 20 points, six rebounds and five assists during his tenure in Detroit.

“I thank the Pistons organization for working together on an outcome that benefits all involved and I wish the franchise success in the future,” said Griffin.

The Oklahoma City native was acquired via trade from the L.A. Clippers on Jan. 29, 2018. Drafted first overall in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Clippers, Griffin holds averages of 21.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 34.7 minutes in 642 career NBA games (all starts).

Cassius Stanley gets Slam Dunk contest advice from Victor Oladipo

Pacers guard Cassius Stanley will be competing in this year’s Slam Dunk content. It’s always smart for young players to seek veteran advice, whether about regular basketball or throwing down dunks, and that’s reportedly what the rookie is doing. Via the Indianapolis Star:

With Cassius Stanley set to compete in his first NBA dunk contest Sunday during halftime of the All-Star Game, he sought the advice of a contest veteran: 2015 and ’18 competitor and former teammate Victor Oladipo.

“He really just told me, ‘Don’t wear yourself out before the Dunk contest,'” Stanley said of Oladipo. “Obviously, you want to go in there confident knowing the dunks you can make, but also know that if you miss some dunks in practice, your adrenaline is going to be so high that you’re going to jump higher.”

It’ll be a condensed All-Star Weekend this year, with all events taking place in a single day. Sunday should be loads of fun.

Suns enter All-Star break with 2nd best record in NBA

The Suns have been one of the best stories in the NBA over the course of the season’s first half. Via the Arizona Republic:

The Suns continue to have the winning fever as they’ll go into the NBA All-Star break on a four-game surge after beating Golden State, 120-98, Thursday night before 3,233 fans at Phoenix Suns Arena…

Winners of 16 of their last 19 games, Phoenix (24-11) has the NBA’s second-best record as it won at defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, 114-104, on Tuesday before returning home to top the Warriors (19-18) for the second time this season.

The Suns will open the the second half of the season March 11 at Portland, a team they throttled by 32 points late last month.

Heading into NBA All-Star break, the Western conference seeds are 1) Jazz, 2) Suns, 3) Lakers and 4) Clippers. Leading the Suns in scoring this season are Devin Booker at 24.9 points per game, Chris Paul at 16.0 ppg, Deandre Ayton at 14.5 ppg, and Mikal Bridges at 13.7 ppg.

The team is doing it on both ends of the floor. The Suns boast the 8th best offense and 3rd best defense through Thursday’s games.