Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Recent NBA player Tony Snell diagnosed with autism

Via Boston.com:

Tony Snell has always “felt different,” but he couldn’t pinpoint why.

When his son, Karter, was diagnosed with autism, the 2022-23 Maine Celtic guard Snell’s mind started racing.

Snell, 31, built up the courage to get tested himself. He wasn’t surprised to learn that he was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

“I was just relieved. Like, ‘Oh, this is why I am the way I am,’” Snell told TODAY’s Craig Melvin. “It just made my whole life, everything about my life, make so much sense. It was like a clarity, like, putting some 3-D glasses on.”

Michael Jordan has reached an agreement to sell his majority ownership stake in the Charlotte Hornets

Hornets Sports & Entertainment (HSE) announced today that Chairman Michael Jordan has reached an agreement to sell his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets to a group (“the Buyer Group”) led by Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall.

Plotkin, who acquired a minority stake in the Hornets in 2019, has been an alternate governor on the NBA Board of Governors since 2019 and is the founder and chief investment officer of Tallwoods Capital LLC. Schnall is co-president of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice LLC, where he has worked for 27 years, and has been a significant minority owner of the Atlanta Hawks and an alternate governor on the NBA Board of Governors since 2015. Schnall is in the process of selling his investment in the Hawks, which is expected to be completed in the next several weeks.

The Buyer Group will also include Chris Shumway, Dan Sundheim, Ian Loring, Dyal HomeCourt Partners, North Carolina natives recording artist J. Cole and country music singer-songwriter Eric Church, and several local Charlotte investors, including Amy Levine Dawson and Damian Mills.

As part of the transaction, Jordan will retain a minority ownership share of the team. The transaction is subject to the approval of the NBA Board of Governors. Along with the Hornets, HSE ownership includes the Greensboro Swarm (NBA G League) and Hornets Venom GT (NBA 2K League), as well as managing and operating Spectrum Center, each of which is included as part of the sale.

Grizzlies guard Ja Morant suspended 25 games by the NBA

The NBA announced today that Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant has been suspended 25 games without pay for conduct detrimental to the league.

PER THE LEAGUE:

Morant posed with a firearm in a car during a live-streamed video on May 13, less than two months after he was suspended eight games without pay for the live streaming of a video on March 4 in which he displayed a firearm while in an intoxicated state at a Denver area nightclub.

The league office found that, on May 13, Morant intentionally and prominently displayed a gun while in a car with several other individuals as they were leaving a social gathering in Memphis. Morant wielded the firearm while knowing that he was being recorded and that the recording was being live streamed on Instagram Live, despite having made commitments to the NBA and public statements that he would not repeat the conduct for which he was previously disciplined. On May 16, Morant issued a statement taking full accountability for his actions.

Morant’s suspension begins immediately and will remain in effect through the first 25 games of the 2023-24 NBA regular season for which he is otherwise eligible and able to play. He will also be required to meet certain conditions before he returns to play and will be ineligible to participate in any public league or team activities, including preseason games, during the course of his suspension.

“Ja Morant’s decision to once again wield a firearm on social media is alarming and disconcerting given his similar conduct in March for which he was already suspended eight games,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “The potential for other young people to emulate Ja’s conduct is particularly concerning. Under these circumstances, we believe a suspension of 25 games is appropriate and makes clear that engaging in reckless and irresponsible behavior with guns will not be tolerated.

“For Ja, basketball needs to take a back seat at this time. Prior to his return to play, he will be required to formulate and fulfill a program with the league that directly addresses the circumstances that led him to repeat this destructive behavior.”

Golden State Warriors promote Mike Dunleavy Jr. to general manager

The Warriors have promoted Mike Dunleavy Jr. to general manager.

Warriors President of Basketball Operations / General Manager Bob Myers previously announced that he will step down from his role effective June 30.

Dunleavy Jr., 42, enters his sixth season in the Warriors front office, serving as vice president, basketball operations for the past two seasons after two years as assistant general manager. He originally joined the front office in 2018-19 as a pro scout following a 15-year playing career in the NBA that included four-plus seasons with the Warriors (2002-07).

Per the San Francisco Chronicle, “now officially anointed, Dunleavy has major moves to make. Trade rumors about Jonathan Kuminga are swirling, the NBA draft is next week, and Draymond Green’s deadline for his player option is June 29. (At his departure press conference, Myers joked that he would help Dunleavy with Green if the need arose.)”

“We think Mike is the perfect fit to lead our basketball operations department,” said Warriors Co-Executive Chairman & CEO Joe Lacob. “He has a wealth of basketball knowledge, stemming from his family upbringing, a 15-year NBA playing career and five seasons serving under Bob Myers in our front office. He’s young and energetic, has established numerous relationships around the league and communicates well with players and coaches—all important traits in this business. Mike’s ready for this challenge and responsibility.”

Dunleavy Jr. was selected by the Warriors with the third overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft and posted career averages of 11.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 27.7 minutes over 986 regular season games with the Warriors, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks.

Prior to the NBA, Dunleavy Jr. spent three seasons playing under legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski at Duke University, where he was named Second Team All-American as a junior in 2001-02 and helped the Blue Devils to a national title in 2000-01. Duke posted a record of 95-13 (.880) in his three collegiate seasons, with Dunleavy Jr. compiling career averages of 13.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.60 steals in 104 games.

Denver Nuggets 2023 NBA championship parade highlights

Denver Nuggets 2023 NBA championship parade highlights:

Latest rumors on the Suns and Chris Paul

Via the Arizona Republic:

Sources informed The Republic this week the Suns are still exploring options regarding Paul, who is in the third year of his four-year, $120-million contract.

The third year is partially guaranteed as the remaining $15 million of the $30.8 million becomes fully guaranteed on June 28.

The Suns could waive him before then, trade him or keep him. Paul currently is in Los Angeles.

Some Heat possibilities for 2023 NBA free agency

Via the Miami Herald:

The big priority of this Heat offseason is adding a star player who can take some of the scoring load off Jimmy Butler.

But what if the Heat could add two?

There is a path to the Heat acquiring both Portland’s Damian Lillard and Washington’s Bradley Beal, but it would require the cooperation of the Trail Blazers and the Wizards, as well as the two stars pushing their way to Miami.

Lillard hasn’t asked for a trade but has said the Heat would appeal to him if he does. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said this week that it seems like Portland will keep Lillard and that nothing is percolating on the trade front. But Lillard has left open the possibility of asking for a trade if the Blazers do not build their roster into a contender.

Toronto Raptors hire Darko Rajakovic as their new head coach

The Toronto Raptors announced Tuesday they have named Darko Rajaković as head coach.

Rajaković becomes the 10th head coach in franchise history, after spending the past three seasons as an assistant coach with the Memphis Grizzlies.

“We’re entering a new era – one where we are embracing new ideas, a new attitude, and now a new head coach – but our goals remain the same. A championship. Winning,” Raptors Vice-Chairman and President Masai Ujiri said. “Darko shares those goals, and our belief in culture, professionalism, and hard work. His commitment to both learning and teaching our game is elite, and we are all very excited to welcome him to the Raptors family.”

A native of Serbia, Rajaković was an assistant coach with the Phoenix Suns for one season (2019-20) following seven years (2012-19) with the Oklahoma City Thunder organization, where he served as an assistant coach for five seasons (2014-19). The Thunder averaged 49 wins during his five years on the coaching staff, with four playoff appearances – including a trip to the 2016 Western Conference Finals.

Rajaković joined the Thunder in 2012 as head coach of the team’s then G League affiliate, the Tulsa 66ers, becoming the first head coach born outside North America in league history. In two seasons (2012-14) at the helm of the 66ers, the team posted a 51-49 record (.510) and reached the G League semifinals in 2013. While serving as Tulsa’s head coach, he was also included as one of the Thunder’s assistant coaches at the 2014 NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans.

“To join and to lead an elite organization like the Raptors is what I have been working for my entire professional life,” Rajaković said. “This is an amazing opportunity, to join a franchise with a supportive ownership group, fantastic front office and fanbase, and elite players. I’m looking forward to the journey ahead as we work together to achieve our goals: development, playoffs, championships.”

Prior to joining Oklahoma City, Rajaković was the head coach of Espacio Torrelodones in Spain for three successful seasons (2009-12), where he led the team to the championship of the Primera Division de Baloncesto in Madrid in his first year. From 2004-11, he also served as European scouting consultant and NBA Summer League assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs.

Rajaković began his coaching career at the age of 16, with the Borac Cacak Youth Team in his hometown of Cacak, Serbia. After three seasons (1996-99) with Borac Cacak, he was named the head coach of the U20 and U18 teams of Red Star Belgrade and led Red Star to two Serbian Youth championships during his eight-year tenure (1999-2007).

On the international stage, Rajaković was as an assistant coach for Serbia at the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China, helping his country to a fifth place finish at the tournament, which included a win over the United States in the classification round.

Rajaković, 44, received a basketball coaching degree from the Belgrade Basketball Academy in 2004 and a degree in sports management from Alfa BK University in Belgrade in 2006. He and his wife Gaga have a son, Luka, who is five.

Nikola Jokic wins 2023 NBA Finals MVP

Via the Denver Post:

Jokic is now a winner of two NBA MVPs, a Finals MVP and a Western Conference Finals MVP to supplement the Larry O’Brien Trophy he and his teammates hoisted Monday night at Ball Arena. During the course of the five-game series, the Nuggets hung up posters in their locker room with a variety of motivational quotes, including Jokic’s own go-to phrase about the pursuit of a championship: “We have a chance to do something nice.”

Jokic averaged 30.2 points, 14.0 rebounds and 7.2 assists during the Finals while registering his ninth and 10th triple-doubles of the playoffs. He had already passed Wilt Chamberlain’s record for triple-doubles in a single postseason by Game 3, when he became the first player ever to amass a 30-point, 20-rebound, 10-assist game in the NBA Finals.

Denver Nuggets win 2023 NBA championship

Via ESPN.com:

In the biggest game in Denver Nuggets history, veteran DeAndre Jordan had a second-half message for Jamal Murray during a timeout.

“Go win this game,” Jordan was heard saying on the broadcast. “Twelve minutes bro and you in history.

“Immortal.”

Murray, Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets heeded the call for history, doing what they have done this entire magical postseason and adapting to any obstacle or defensive wrinkle thrown their way.

After opening Monday night’s Game 5 of the NBA Finals missing an abysmal 20 of their first 22 3-point attempts, the Nuggets came up with championship-winning plays in the final minutes.

From Jokic’s basket inside with 2:24 left to Bruce Brown’s putback with 1:31 to go, to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s steal off a Jimmy Butler pass with 27.1 seconds left, the Nuggets came up with all the big plays to win their first-ever NBA championship with a hard-fought 94-89 win over the Miami Heat at an overjoyed Ball Arena.

Via ESPN.com:

Nikola Jokic might not have won this third straight Most Valuable Player award this season, but he still ended up with an MVP trophy after all.

In addition to finally getting the championship he has coveted, Jokic was named NBA Finals MVP after the Denver Nuggets eliminated the Miami Heat, 94-89, in Game 5 at Ball Arena.

Jokic closed out Miami with 28 points, 16 rebounds and four assists to help the Nuggets win the franchise’s first-ever NBA title. Like each opponent the Nuggets faced this postseason, the Heat had very little answers for Jokic.

When asked how it feels to be an NBA champion, Jokic told ESPN’s Lisa Salters on the court: “It’s good. It’s good. The job is done, and we can go home now.”

Prior to this championship run, Jokic, 28, was already considered one of the best players of his generation. But now that he has won a championship and a Finals MVP, one NBA Hall of Famer says this catapults the Serbian big man into a different stratosphere.