Category: NBA Teams

NBA teams blog

Nets swingman Joe Harris undergoes ankle surgery

Brooklyn Nets guard/forward Joe Harris underwent arthroscopic surgery today on his left ankle.

The procedure, performed by Dr. Martin O’Malley at the Hospital for Special Surgery, involved the removal of a loose body. Harris has missed the past six games since injuring the ankle on Nov. 14 at Oklahoma City.

An estimate return date for Harris isn’t known yet.

Harris currently ranks second in the NBA in 3-point shooting (.466) while averaging 11.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 30.2 minutes per contest in 14 games this season.

Hawks injury updates on Bogdan Bogdanovic and Cam Reddish

Atlanta Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic, who left during the second quarter of last night’s game vs. New York with an ankle injury, underwent an MRI earlier today at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex. The MRI confirmed a right ankle sprain. Following a period of rest and rehabilitation, his status will be updated in approximately two weeks.

Hawks forward Cam Reddish, who also left last night’s contest vs. New York in the second quarter with a wrist injury, underwent an MRI earlier today at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex, which confirmed a left wrist sprain. His status will be determined by his response to daily treatment.

Enes Kanter will reportedly change his name to Enes Kanter Freedom

NBA player name-changes don’t happen too often. The latest to do so will reportedly be Enes Kanter. Via ESPN.com:

Boston Celtics center Enes Kanter is changing his name to Enes Kanter Freedom.

The decision comes ahead of the Turkish-born Kanter becoming a United States citizen on Monday. His agent told The Associated Press that Kanter will make his name change official after completing the citizenship process.

Pelicans forward Zion Williamson cleared to participate in full team activities

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson has been cleared to participate in full team activities. Williamson, who underwent imaging on his fractured right foot on Wednesday (Nov. 24), was medically cleared by Dr. Richard Ferkel of Southern California Orthopedic Institute and Dr. Scott Montgomery of Ochsner Health.

Williamson played 4-on-4 full court today and will continue his progression towards returning to play. An estimated date to return to game action has not been determined.

Knicks begin very tough stretch of games

The upcoming New York Knicks schedule is looking very unfriendly. It’ll be quite the extended test. Via New York Newsday:

If you’re looking for a bright spot as you stare at the Knicks upcoming schedule, consider this: They have played their worst games against the worst of the opponents. Oddly, they play up and down to the level of the competition.

The Knicks will need something to create some optimism because their play on the court has not done that. The team struggled against two of the league’s worst teams in recent days, losing to Orlando and needing a fourth-quarter flurry to overcome the Houston Rockets. On Sunday night they competed against the surging Chicago Bulls, the start of a brutal gauntlet through an assortment of last year’s playoff teams and this year’s surprising front-runners…

Starting with the loss in Chicago, the Knicks host Los Angeles and the red-hot Phoenix Suns before flying to Atlanta for the second half of a back-to-back set. On to Brooklyn to face Nets and then hosting Chicago and Denver before three games in four nights on the road. They then return home for Milwaukee and Golden State.

The Knicks are 9-8 so far this season, which through Sunday’s games puts them in a five-way tie for the sixth best record in the Eastern conference.

Their leading scorers so far in 2021-22 are Julius Randle at 20.4 points per game, RJ Barrett at 14.9 ppg, Evan Fournier at 12.1 ppg, Derrick Rose at 12.0 ppg, and Kemba Walker at 11.7 ppg.

LeBron James and Isaiah Stewart suspended for altercation

Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart has been suspended two games without pay for escalating an on-court altercation by repeatedly and aggressively pursuing Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James in an unsportsmanlike manner, and James has been suspended one game without pay for recklessly hitting Stewart in the face and initiating an on-court altercation, it was announced today by Byron Spruell, President, League Operations.

Stewart was assessed two technical fouls, James was assessed a Flagrant Foul Penalty 2, and both players were ejected. The incident began with a loose ball foul on Stewart with 9:18 remaining in the third quarter of the Pistons’ 121-116 loss to the Lakers on Nov. 21 at Little Caesars Arena.

Per the Detroit News, “in his repeated attempts to get to James, Stewart had to be restrained by several teammates, coaches and security personnel. He looked to be calm for a moment, then raced toward the middle of the court again to try to get to James.”

Stewart will serve his suspensions Tuesday, Nov. 23 when the Pistons host the Miami Heat at Little Caesars Arena and Wednesday, Nov. 24 when Detroit faces the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum.

James will serve his suspension Tuesday, Nov. 23 when the Lakers visit the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

Jaylen Brown returns to action for Celtics

The Celtics tonight welcome a very important player back in action. Via ESPN.com:

The Boston Celtics had forward Jaylen Brown back in the lineup for the first time in two weeks Monday against the Houston Rockets after he missed the prior eight games with a right hamstring strain.

“He’ll be on limited minutes,” Celtics coach Ime Udoka said before the game. “[We’ll] try to keep him around 24 minutes — probably four six-minute stints. Keep it lower, keep him away from fatigue.

“We’ll monitor that, just see how he feels.”

Sacramento Kings fire head coach Luke Walton

Today, Sacramento Kings General Manager Monte McNair announced that Luke Walton has been relieved of his duties as head coach of the team and Alvin Gentry has been named interim head coach.

“After a thorough evaluation of the season thus far, I decided to make a change to the head coach position,” said Kings General Manager Monte McNair. “I want to thank Luke for his efforts and contributions to our team.”

Per the Sacramento Bee, “the Kings went 5-4 to start the season despite playing the most difficult early schedule in the NBA, but they have lost seven of their last eight games to fall to 6-11. “Fire Luke Walton” chants were heard inside Golden 1 Center on Friday and Saturday during blowout losses to the Toronto Raptors and Utah Jazz. Kings owner Vivek Ranadive sat in his usual courtside seat during both games, flanked by President of Business Operations John Rinehart and Chief Operating Officer Matina Kolokotronis. Ranadive was seen peering over at the Sacramento bench at times, even when the Kings had the ball at the other end of the court.”

Gentry brings more than 35 years of experience to the Sacramento bench. Prior to the Kings, Gentry most recently served as head coach for the New Orleans Pelicans (2015-20). Gentry also has head coaching stops with the Miami Heat (1995), Detroit Pistons (1997-2000), Los Angeles Clippers (2000-2003) and Phoenix Suns (2008-2013). In 1,105 games, Gentry has garnered a career record of 510-595 (.462).

Walton was named head coach of the Kings in April 2019 after spending three years as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. During his time with the Kings, he coached the team to a record of 68-93 (.422).

Cavaliers guard Collin Sexton suffers season-ending knee injury

Cavaliers guard Collin Sexton sustained a season-ending left knee injury on Sunday, Nov. 7th at New York, later confirmed on Nov. 8 after an MRI administered at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health.

Sexton underwent surgery on November 17th to repair a meniscus tear after additional evaluation over the past week determined that surgery was the best course of action to treat the affected area. The procedure was performed by Dr. Kyle Hammond at Emory University Sports Medicine Center in Atlanta.

Per Cleveland.com, “after failing to agree on a contract extension with the Cavaliers prior to the season opener, Sexton was hoping a fourth straight productive year would lead to lucrative offers this summer — an offseason where he’s set to become a restricted free agent. Instead, his season is over after just 11 games. The decision to undergo surgery now rather than rush a recovery was not only considered the best long-term option but it allows him to get back to full strength ahead of the 2022-23 season.”

Rajon Rondo on the Lakers versus Celtics rivalry

Veteran Lakers guard Rajon Rondo has seen some things. And knows the Lakers versus Celtics rivalry quite well. Via the OC Register:

Rajon Rondo’s best memory in T.D. Garden is June 17, 2008. Kevin Garnett screamed how anything was possible, and green-and-white confetti sprayed from the ceiling as the franchise won its 17th NBA championship. But as Trevor Ariza and the Lakers left, already shattered to have lost the Finals, they faced a very different reception: a rowdy crowd of Celtics fans literally beating on them, then rocking their bus back and forth as they left the arena.

“Yeah, that was a good ole Bostonian ass-whooping,” Rondo said on Friday morning, wearing the Lakers logo across his chest while thinking back on his nine seasons as a Celtic.

These are, by comparison, fallow years for the cross-coastal rivalry which has defined so much of NBA history and is often rough around the fringe. Lakers-Celtics always does have an extra edge to it, but it’s not quite the feeling of when both teams are unquestioned leaders in their respective conference. In fact, this latest installment finds both the Lakers (8-8) and Celtics (7-8) both in need of some wins to get back on track.

Rondo said the most intense part of the rivalry has been “buried” because the two franchises haven’t met in the playoffs since 2010. Growing up in Louisville, Ky., he said he didn’t understand how much power the rivalry held until he was in the thick of it.

Rondo has stories to tell. I look forward to hearing their extended versions after his NBA career wraps up.