Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Kings guard De’Aaron Fox out with sprained ankle

An MRI conducted this evening in Orlando, Fla. on Kings guard De’Aaron Fox confirmed that he sustained a left ankle sprain during practice today. He will be reevaluated in 7-10 days and his status will be updated as appropriate.

A third-year guard and fifth overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft out of Kentucky, Fox is averaging 20.4 points (.475 FG%, .307 3pt%, .703 FT%), 4.0 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 1.4 steals, and 31.7 minutes per game in 45 games (43 starts) for the Kings during the 2019-20 season.

After bout with coronavirus, Nuggets center Nikola Jokic settles in at NBA Disney Campus

Nuggets star center Nikola Jokic has finally made it to the NBA season restart campus at Disney World in Florida. Here’s the Denver Post reporting:

No one could’ve blamed Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic had he been dispirited in the wake of his weeks-long ordeal following a positive coronavirus test.

Precious practice time with teammates was lost, and for weeks, team officials had to answer for his whereabouts.

Instead, speaking for the first time since his weekend arrival in the NBA’s bubble and since the season shut down in March, Jokic was jovial. He didn’t miss a beat while parrying questions and lobbing jokes at the familiar voices coming through Tuesday’s Zoom call.

“It was not difficult at all, I was home,” Jokic said when asked to describe his last three weeks. “I was quarantined for 14-15 days. We had a little private house. I was with my girlfriend, so it was actually a kind of vacation for us. I work out every day, I enjoy every day. It was actually not that bad.”

The 43-22 Nuggets have the third best record in the Western conference heading into the NBA restart, and Jokic is their centerpiece, both literally and figuratively.

Coach Martin Schiller leaves Salt Lake City Stars for job in Lithuania

Martin Schiller has been named the head coach of Lithuanian basketball club Žalgiris Kaunas, which competes in the Lithuanian Basketball League and EuroLeague, the team announced today.

Schiller, who spent the past three years as head coach of the Salt Lake City Stars (NBA G League affiliate of the Utah Jazz), compiled a 73-69 (.514) record and improved his win total each season, twice earning playoff appearances. He led the Stars to the top of the Western Conference last season with a 30-12 (.714) mark and was named the 2019-20 NBA G League Dennis Johnson Coach of the Year.

Under Schiller’s guidance, the Stars won the MGM Resorts NBA G League Winter Showcase Tournament in December in the midst of a 14-game winning streak, the longest in the NBA G League last season and tied for second-longest in a single season in league history.

Below are statements from the Jazz and Stars organization on Schiller:

Quin Snyder (Utah Jazz Head Coach): “We are truly excited, as well as proud, that Martin has accepted the opportunity to be the head coach of Žalgiris Kaunas, one of the top programs in the EuroLeague. Additionally, the coaching job he did with the Stars was recognized by his selection as G League Coach of the Year this past season. Not only did the Stars have success, but he also had a significant impact on the Jazz program with his role in the development of the team’s young players. All of us wish Martin and his family the best as he moves forward with this exciting next step.”

Bart Taylor (Utah Jazz Director of Scouting/Salt Lake City Stars Vice President of Basketball Operations): “Martin guided the Stars to marked improvement each season, culminating with his well-deserved Coach of the Year honor last month. He should be proud of what he accomplished during his tenure with the Stars, as he leaves behind a winning culture and a pronounced impact on the Jazz organization through development of players, coaches and staff. We thank him for his dedication to our program. He will be missed.”

Jonathan Rinehart (Salt Lake City Stars President): “I’ve had the privilege to witness firsthand Martin’s passion and drive touch every aspect of our organization over the past three years, from the upward trajectory of our on-court performance and increased connectivity with the Jazz to our efforts in the community. He has been a true asset to the Stars franchise, which has grown immensely during his time with us, and has become a friend to many along the way. He will always be a part of the Jazz and Stars family, and we wish him and his family nothing but the best moving forward.”

Nets sign Lance Thomas as Substitute Player for NBA restart

The Brooklyn Nets have signed forward Lance Thomas as a Substitute Player for the remainder of the 2019-20 season.

Thomas (6’8”, 235) has seen action in 392 career games (124 starts) across eight NBA seasons with New Orleans (2011-13), Oklahoma City (2014-15) and New York (2015-19), recording averages of 5.2 points and 2.6 rebounds in 18.4 minutes per game. The 32-year-old last suited up for an NBA team with the Nets in the 2019 preseason, appearing in one game prior to being waived on Oct. 18.

Thomas went undrafted in 2010 after a four-year (2006-10) collegiate career at Duke, where he earned ACC All-Defensive Team honors as a senior while helping the Blue Devils capture the 2010 NCAA National Championship.

Kings center Richaun Holmes put into 10-day quarantine

Here’s the Sacramento Bee reporting on a Kings player who made a mistake that hopefully no player will make again in the coming months:

The Kings will be without a key player over the next several days as they prepare to resume the Western Conference playoff race at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida.

Kings center Richaun Holmes said he was placed under mandatory 10-day quarantine after leaving the NBA bubble for food. Holmes issued a statement Monday, apologizing for breaking COVID-19 protocols.

“After the initial quarantine period, I briefly and accidentally crossed the NBA campus line to pick up a food delivery,” Holmes said. “I am currently in quarantine and have 8 days left. I apologize for my actions and look forward to rejoining my teammates for our playoff push.”

Bradley Beal reportedly in investor group seeking to buy the New York Mets

Wizards star shooting guard Bradley Beal is reportedly looking to make a business move in the world of baseball. Here’s NBC Sports Washington reporting:

Nationals-Mets games could take on a different meeting someday soon, as Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal is reportedly among a group of investors trying to buy the New York Mets.

Beal, 27, was listed with a large group of athletes and celebrities headlined by Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez in a report by ESPN about the investor group. Former NFL star Brian Urlacher and current Nuggets player Mason Plumlee are some of the others.

As NBA contracts continue to grow, we can only expect more players to make big moves in entertainment, sports outside of basketball, and more.

Lakers guard Rajon Rondo will miss 6-8 weeks due to thumb injury

Already without starting guard Avery Bradley, who decided to stay home and not join his team at all for the NBA restart at Disney World in Orlando, the Lakers will now also be without backup guard Rajon Rondo for the next 6-8 weeks. Here’s the Los Angeles Times:

Point guard Rajon Rondo will undergo surgery to repair a fracture in his right thumb that he suffered at practice Sunday evening in Orlando, the Lakers announced.

Rondo is expected to return to full basketball activities in six to eight weeks. The Lakers’ first game after the resumption of the NBA season will take place July 30 against the Clippers, with the playoffs beginning Aug. 17.

And here’s the O.C. Register:

He is slated to undergo surgery this week, and the team estimates he could miss six to eight weeks before returning to basketball activities, meaning he will miss at minimum all eight of the Lakers’ seeding games and likely at least one round of the playoffs. ESPN was first to report the injury.

Losing the four-time All-Star is another challenging hurdle for a team that is already without starter Avery Bradley, who elected to sit out last month. While Rondo was a bit player this season for the Lakers — averaging just 20 minutes, 7 points and 5 assists per game — he’s one of the most experienced guards on the roster and stood to gain more minutes in the restart. The Lakers already figure to slot Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in at a starting role for Bradley.

LeBron James is typically the point guard for the Lakers’ main rotation, but the team has tried to use Rondo to give James relief from ball-handling responsibilities over the last two seasons.

The team’s backcourt will be under a lot of pressure to play beyond the norm.

In EuroLeague, Toko Shengelia signs with CSKA Moscow

Here’s Euroleague.net reporting on a former NBA player signing a new deal overseas:

CSKA Moscow solidified an already-strong roster by signing one of the premier players on the continent, former All-EuroLeague First Team selection Toko Shengelia, to a three-year contract on Thursday. Shengelia (2.06 meters, 28 years old) arrives from KIROLBET Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz, where he spent the last six seasons. He averaged 15.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 28 EuroLeague games last season

Shengelia played briefly in the NBA, between 2012-14, mostly for the Nets, plus nine games for the Bulls, for a career average of 1.3 points in 5.5 minutes per game.

Nets sign Donta Hall as Substitute Player for NBA restart

The Brooklyn Nets have signed forward/center Donta Hall as a Substitute Player for the remainder of the 2019-20 NBA season.

Hall (6’9”, 229) signed two consecutive 10-day contracts as a rookie with the Detroit Pistons this season, appearing in four games and averaging 1.5 points and 3.8 rebounds in 12.0 minutes per contest. Suiting up in 38 games (37 starts) for the Grand Rapids Drive of the NBA G League in 2019-20, the Alabama native recorded averages of 15.4 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.3 blocks in 28.6 minutes per game, earning him All-NBA G League Second Team and All-Rookie Team honors.

The 22-year-old went undrafted in 2019 after a four-year (2015-19) collegiate career at the University of Alabama, appearing in 135 career games (85 starts) and averaging 7.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 20.8 minutes per contest. He was a two-time SEC All-Defensive Team honoree (2018, 2019) and became just the fifth player in Crimson Tide history to record more than 1,000 points (1,014), 800 rebounds (850) and 200 blocks (228) in a career.

Nets sign Michael Beasley as Substitute Player for NBA restart

The Brooklyn Nets have signed forward Michael Beasley as a Substitute Player for the remainder of the 2019-20 season.

Per the New York Post, “Beasley hasn’t played in the league since February 2019, spending this season in China. But he averaged 13.2 points on 50.7 percent shooting two years ago with the Knicks, and Durant wanted Beasley to join him in Golden State last season. Now he’ll get his wish.”

Beasley (6’9”, 235) has seen action in 609 career games (238 starts) across 11 NBA seasons with Miami (2008-10, 2013-14, 2015), Minnesota (2010-12), Phoenix (2012-13), Houston (2016), Milwaukee (2016-17), New York (2017-18) and the L.A. Lakers (2018-19), recording averages of 12.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 22.8 minutes per game while shooting 46.5 percent from the field, 34.9 percent from 3-point range and 75.9 percent from the free-throw line. He’s logged action in 25 career postseason games over five playoff appearances, most recently with the Bucks in 2017.

The Maryland native has also had three stints in the Chinese Basketball Association with the Shanghai Sharks (2014-15), Shandong Golden Stars (2015-16) and the Guangdong Southern Tigers (2019), helping lead the Tigers to the 2019 CBA championship. Beasley last appeared in an NBA game in February 2019 with the Lakers.

Beasley was originally selected with the second overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft by Miami and earned All-Rookie First Team honors in his inaugural season. Prior to beginning his NBA career, the 31-year-old spent one year (2007-08) at Kansas State, where he was named Big 12 Player of the Year and Big 12 Freshman of the Year and set the school’s single-season record for points scored (866), rebounds (408) and double-doubles (28) en route to becoming one of just two first team All-Americans in program history.