Category: NBA Teams

NBA teams blog

Red Claws guard Tremont Waters wins 2019-20 G League Rookie of Year award

Maine Red Claws guard Tremont Waters has been named the 2019-20 NBA G League Rookie of the Year, the G League announced today. The award, voted on by the league’s 28 head coaches and general managers, recognizes the first-year professional who most significantly contributed to his team’s success during the season.

Waters (5-10, 175, LSU), a two-way player with the Boston Celtics, averaged 18.0 points, 7.3 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.89 steals in 36 games for Maine. He ranked sixth in the NBA G League in assists per game and 14th in steals per game. Waters registered 10 games with at least 20 points and seven assists, including a season-high 33-point, seven-assist performance in a 155-131 road win over the Greensboro Swarm on Nov. 27.

Behind the 22-year-old Waters, the Red Claws finished in third place in the Eastern Conference with a 28-14 record. Waters was named the NBA G League Player of the Month for November and earned a spot on the 2019-20 Midseason All-NBA G League Team in the Eastern Conference.

Boston selected Waters in the second round (51st pick overall) of NBA Draft 2019 presented by State Farm after he averaged 15.3 points, 5.8 assists and 2.91 steals as a sophomore at LSU in the 2018-19 season. Signed to a two-way contract last July, Waters has appeared in 10 games with the Celtics this season.

Waters is the fourth Maine player to be selected as the NBA G League Rookie of the Year, joining Abdel Nader (2016-17), Tim Frazier (2014-15) and DeShawn Sims (2010-11).

Waters appeared in 36 of Maine’s 42 games this season. The NBA G League canceled the remainder of its 2019-20 season on June 4. The regular season was suspended on March 12 and had been scheduled to conclude on March 28.

Salt Lake City Stars forward Jarrell Brantley and South Bay Lakers forward Devontae Cacok finished second and third, respectively, in voting for the 2019-20 NBA G League Rookie of the Year Award.

Knicks head coaching job candidates

The Knicks need a new head coach. Whoever gets the job will be in a rebuilding situation, and presumably focused primarily on developing young talent, because that’ll be a more realistic goal than one that involves racking up lots of wins. It’s a high-profile job, regardless of the players on the roster. New York City and the Knicks will always be in a spotlight.

Here’s the New York Post:

Leon Rose and the Knicks are widening their net for prospective head coaches, adding fresh names to an experienced pool that has grown to seven known candidates.

Having already been linked to established names such as favorite Tom Thibodeau, former Nets coach Kenny Atkinson, interim coach Mike Miller and former Knicks coach Mike Woodson, they are now planning to interview a trio of assistant coaches: Ime Udoka of the 76ers, Pat Delany of the Magic and Chris Fleming of the Bulls, according to The Athletic and ESPN…

The 62-year-old Thibodeau, who previously coached the Timberwolves and the Bulls, is considered the front-runner for the job.

The Knicks this past season were led in scoring by forward Marcus Morris (19.6 PPG), forward Julius Randle (19.5 PPG) and rookie shooting guard RJ Barrett (14.3 PPG).

The team’s primary young talent is Barrett and center Mitchell Robinson.

Expect the Knicks to at least attempt big moves in the free agency department. Many of the team’s best players last season were on short-term contracts. Much of the roster is subject to change.

T.J. Parker gets head coaching job for team in France

Here’s Euroleague.net reporting that Tony Parker’s brother T.J. has been promoted to head coach for the team Tony owns in France:

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne announced that it has promoted assistant coach T.J. Parker to become the team’s newest head coach. He replaces Zvezdan Mitrovic, who was dismissed last month. Frederic Fauthoux will serve as Parker’s chief assistant coach. The younger brother of team president Tony Parker, the 36-year-old T.J. Parker has been a member of ASVEL’s coaching staff in different capacities since 2013.

Utah Jazz designate Juneteenth as annual paid company holiday

The Utah Jazz announced today its plan to designate Juneteenth as an annual paid company holiday for its employees, starting with its observance on Friday, June 19.

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, is considered the oldest national holiday commemorating emancipation from slavery in the United States.

On June 19, 1865 Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas and declared that the Civil War was over and that all those enslaved were now free.

“In the midst of the national conversation and calls for racial justice, our franchise has made the decision to pause, work to further educate ourselves, and reflect on our country’s race relations both past and present by observing Juneteenth,” said Utah Jazz President Jim Olson. “This is an important milestone in our history and another step for us to learn more about freedom for all and the fight for equality, and ideally be part of helping to create meaningful change.”

Sacramento Kings designate Juneteenth as an annual paid holiday

The Sacramento Kings today announced the designation of a company-wide annual paid holiday to observe Juneteenth on Friday, June 19, the oldest nationally celebrated holiday commemorating emancipation from slavery in the United States.

“We are proud to celebrate Juneteenth, honoring Black history and further committing ourselves to creating positive meaningful change,” said Sacramento Kings Chief Operating Officer Matina Kolokotronis. “The Kings remain dedicated to working with our community to address racial inequity through sustained action.”

Per the team, the anniversary will provide Kings members with an opportunity to reflect, learn more about addressing racial inequity and participate in civic engagement.

Christ Koumadje wins 2019-20 G League Defensive Player of the Year award

Delaware Blue Coats rookie center Christ Koumadje has been named the 2019-20 NBA G League Defensive Player of the Year, the NBA G League announced today. He earned the honor in a vote by the league’s 28 head coaches and general managers.

Koumadje (7-4, 270, Florida State) led the NBA G League in blocked shots per game (4.0) and total blocks (133) to go with 11.3 points and 10.9 rebounds in 33 games. He ranked 10th in the NBA G League in defensive rebounds per game (7.1). On Feb. 1, Koumadje recorded a triple-double with 18 points, 20 rebounds and an NBA G League season-high 12 blocks in a 111-103 road victory over the Erie BayHawks.

Behind Koumadje, the Blue Coats topped the NBA G League in blocks per game (7.3), finished second in opponents’ field goal percentage (44.0) and ranked ninth in defensive rating (107.4).

A Chad native, the 23-year-old Koumadje joined the Blue Coats after participating in NBA Summer League 2019 and the 2019 preseason with the Philadelphia 76ers. The Blue Coats are the NBA G League affiliate of the 76ers.

Koumadje appeared in 33 of Delaware’s 43 games this season. The NBA G League canceled the remainder of its 2019-20 season on June 4. The regular season was suspended on March 12 and had been scheduled to conclude on March 28.

Canton Charge guard-forward Sir’Dominic Pointer and Westchester Knicks forward Kenny Wooten finished second and third, respectively, in voting for the 2019-20 NBA G League Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver likes to use a flip phone

Here’s the Arizona Republic reporting on Phoenix Suns Managing Partner Robert Sarver’s regular use of a flip phone, as opposed to something a bit more technical and modern:

Sarver recently revealed why he chooses to use a flip phone in an interview with the Suns’ Lindsey Smith in a recent entry of the team’s video production: The Outlet.

“I know, people make fun of that,” Sarver said during the interview. “Here’s the honest reason. The honest reason is I don’t want to have a device on me that I can get on the internet and I can look at emails, because it is too distracting. And for someone like me who has a little ADD, if I am with people, I need to be with people. I can’t be constantly looking at my phone. Listen, the technology of these phones and everything are great, they do a lot of stuff, but they also sometimes can interfere with your ability to have one-on-one conversation in meetings.”

The larger point here is worth considering. Whatever your prime focus is during a given moment, whether something fun like watching basketball or serious like a business deal, it’s always effective to eliminate additional distractions.

Kyrie Irving still reportedly opposes plan to resume NBA play next month

Here’s the New York Post reporting Nets guard Kyrie Irving’s most updated views regarding the NBA’s plan to resume play next month:

A new player coalition has been formed, led by injured Nets point guard Kyrie Irving, to continue a push to derail the NBA’s Orlando restart because of concerns over taking the spotlight away from the Black Lives Matter movement.

The coalition, of which Lakers’ reserve Avery Bradley is also an organizer, is being put together to provide a voice for players who, according to ESPN, “fear retribution if they openly voice their concerns’’ about racial injustice. ESPN reported 40 players got on a conference call Monday to discuss the matter.

Irving, out after shoulder surgery and unable to play in Orlando, started the revolt in a Friday conference call among 80 players, questioning the timing of the 22-team restart with training camp set to begin around July 10.

It’s not yet clear exactly what percentage of NBA players do want play to resume next month, vs. how many do not.

Patrick Beverley says if LeBron James wants NBA to resume play, it’ll happen

Clippers guard Patrick Beverley believes in Lakers forward LeBron James. Not to beat the Clippers, of course. But in regard to LeBron’s wishes for the future of the 2019-20 NBA season and playoffs. Here’s the New York Post:

If LeBron James wants the NBA to return, then that’s what will happen. That’s Patrick Beverley’s prediction, no matter what Kyrie Irving, Dwight Howard or anyone else says.

The Clippers’ pesky defensive-minded guard went on Twitter to make that clear, writing Sunday that “Hoopers say what y’all want. If @King James said he hooping. We all hooping. Not personal only BUSINESS.”

James, who reportedly was not on the call, is believed to be in favor of the plan to return to action.

So far, the only official thing in the NBA’s possible return to action this summer has been the competitive format, including the number of teams (22) playing a limited number of games leading to what will hopefully be a complete playoffs.

Atlanta Hawks designate Juneteenth as a permanent holiday

The Atlanta Hawks will now designate Juneteenth as a permanent paid company holiday for all its employees. The decision comes as many organizations are identifying specific ways to thoughtfully recognize and honor the full experience of African Americans in the shadow of the country’s on-going racial tensions.

According to juneteenth.com, this holiday is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19 that the Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. This was more than two years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation ended slavery on January 1, 1863.

“I am proud of the decision our organization has made to recognize Juneteenth as a company holiday this year and going forward,” said Camye Mackey, Chief People, Diversity and Inclusion Officer for the Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena. “This is one of many steps we’ll take to support the positive change we need to see in society.”