Shaq Lakers

“Excellence is not a singular act, but a habit. You are what you repeatedly do.” as it was once stated by one of the most famous players in the basketball industry, Shaquille O’Neal. This proves that even the best players consider that success is not an overnight process but a fruit of hardwork and patience. Shaquille Rashaun “Shaq” O’Neal, born in Newark, New Jersey on the sixth of March year 1972 which makes him forty-seven as of this year. Shaq started his urge to play basketball during his high school years for Cole High School varsity basketball team. Right after high school, he studied business and played at the same time at Louisiana State University (LSU) which made him NCAA’s men’s basketball player of the year way back in 1991. But Shaq sought for a greener pasture in the basketball industry and left LSU to pursue his career in NBA while continuing his studies.

As he continued to play for bigger leagues, it was without a doubt the reason for his career to grow. True enough that he had played for no less than six different teams all throughout the nineteen colorful years of his career. But he really made a name when he played for Los Angeles Lakers from 1996 to 2004. It was not just playing with Kobe Bryant and wearing Lakers color that made it memorable, but this was also the time that Shaq had his most dominant performances ever in his entire basketball life. Here are Shaquille O’Neal’s Top 5 Most Dominant Games with Lakers.

At spot number five. March 21, 2003, when they played against Boston Celtics, which was known to be their most recognized rival. Shaq definitely made a huge step up unlike others with his 48-point, 20-rebound efforts against Paul Pierce and gang back in 2003. What was even more impressive was how he got 19 out of 24 on this evening which made a good shooting clip of 79.2 %.

Owning the rank four. During the Game 1-Western Conference Semifinals of May 6, 2001, versus Sacramento Kings. Speaking of rivals, Sacramento Kings were always a pain in the neck for the Lakers in the early 2000. Although they have a powerful team composition, they were no match for Shaq’s dominance. Shaq’s most unforgettable feat against the Kings was in Game 1 when he burned them in scoring 44 on shaq lakers 17 out of 32 shots, 21 rebounds, and blocked their shots for seven times.

Taking the third place. Playoffs First Round, Game 1 against Sacramento Kings on April 23, 2000. This was during the very first game of the NBA Playoffs in the year 2000. Shaq made use of the first game of the playoffs to send a word not only for their versus that time, but for the rest of the NBA. he finished the game with 21 out of 33 shots making a 46 points, 17 boards, an assist, two steals, and five blocks which led the Lakers to victory.

Second to the top. Gone with the playoffs, Washington Wizards, March 23, 2001, which is one of his regular season contest. This was the moment when Shaq delivered his dominance in full display as he made 40 points on 15 out of 25 shots, 17 rebounds, eight assists, three steals, and five blocks, making Wizards quiver in defeat. In addition to that, he managed to do all this in just 38 minutes.

Finally, the rank one in our list, we saved the best of Shaq’s performance. March 6, 2000 against Los Angeles Clippers which is the most appropriate representation of how dominant this man was. Unlike other games, this had him scored the highest in his career which was 61 points as he had 24 out of 35 shot attempts, and also gripped 23 boards.

Words are not enough to discuss how this man made a noise during his life as a basketball player. He did not only played for himself, but he played to prove that he was worthy to be playing for the team. This mind-blowing performance made him ensure a spot on the Top 10 players in the history of NBA. Shaquille O’Neal and his legendary career really carved in through the history of basketball.

Russell Westbrook, born on November 12, 1988 at Long Beach, California. He is a professional American basketball player who played for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). This man with a height of six fet and three inches, and a weight of two hundred pounds, have played for Oklahoma City Thunder (OKC) before he played for Houston Rockets. He stayed at OKC from 2008 to 2019, and got traded to Houston Rockets which was officially announced on July 16, 2019. This change of team was made easy for Russell Westbrook as he was welcomed by a former teammate, James Harden and played as the point guard.

Basically, every fan of Westbrook probably knew about this. Where he came from, what’s his full name, how old he is, his birthday, his Russell Westbrook team, and all other things. But at this point, we will expose the top ten things that you may not know about Russell Westbrook.

Fun Fact No. 10-Multi Talented: He was not only a skilled basketball player but he played football, baseball and tennis as well! What a man of many talents.

Fun Fact No. 9-Number 4: 4 was always his favorite number which was what he wore when he was in his highschool days, but when he played for UCLA, Arron Afflalo wore 4 that left him with no choice in wearing 0.

Fun Fact No. 8-Early Bird: He’s never late. He was recognized for being an early bird during practice.

Fun Fact No. 7-The Ritual: Everytime he has a game, he eats sandwiches with Skippy peanut butter and strawberry jelly. He also calls his parents, his brother, and his wife before playing. Such a sweet scene before he enters the court.

Fun Fact No. 6-Power Duo: Westbrook and Durant were considered the power duo in the 2015-2016 season who produced points no other pair could do in a single season.

Fun Fact No. 5-Non-Outfit Repeater: He was known for his unique style outside the court. Wearing the same outfit combination twice was never his genre. He wears them once and gives them away. His love for math made him think that choosing an outfit is like solving math problems.

Fun Fact No. 4-Westbrook Frames: He spread his fashion presence in 2014 when “Westbrook Frames” was launched, a sunglasses company co-owned by him. The glasses produced were given names after all the cities in Los Angeles, and is planning to launch an NBA series collection.

Fun Fact No. 3-Lefty: He does everything using his left hand except in shooting a ball. He is one of those few people with an ambidexter ability.

Fun Fact No. 2-Hands Off: He makes sure that the media does not reach any member of his family.

Fun Fact No. 1-No NBA: Although he watches game films, but he never watches other teams play in the NBA.

There you have it folks! Although the great yet undiscovered things continues to grow with Russell Westbrook and the list could go on, we just handpicked the top ten. This proves what a great man he is inside and outside the court.

LeBron Raymone James Sr., who is popularly known to be LeBron James in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was born December 30, 1984 in Akron, Ohio. Right now, he wears number 23 for Los Angeles Lakers as their power forward. LeBron Finals But before he signed a pact with the Lakers, he played for several teams in the NBA. First off, he played under Cleveland Cavaliers from year 2003 to 2010, then he moved over to Miami Heat following that year until 2014. After his contract, he went back to the Cavaliers ‘til it reached 2018. He left again this team and signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. As he explored and uncovered his skills with all those three teams, comes now the five most momentous events of LeBron in NBA Finals.

Ranking 5th on our chart happened during the game 2 of 2013 NBA Finals. This was the year that he was playing for the Miami Heat and was the beginning of LeBron’s famous block. On the fourth place was during the game 6 of 2013 NBA Finals. LeBron was also recognized for his faded back hairline and his headband was his way of covering it. But in game 6, during an intense game, his headband was knocked off but this did not stop him in blocking Tim Ducan’s attempt of a dunk and still scored points for the team, putting advantage. Third on the list was when he made the big decision to leave the Cavaliers to join the Miami Heat. Down to the second one, it was when LeBron did a mind blowing move of chasing down on Iguodala for a block. This was acknowledged to be the best block he ever did all throughout his career. Now, on top of our list, number one! When LeBron entered the Cavaliers, he promised the fans that he would bring victory for the team and he did. He ended the 52 years of not getting any championship in Cleveland. This was the most victorious time in his entire career. He brought the Cavaliers’ their very first ever championship.

Surely there are more moments that are victorious when we reminisce LeBron James’ career and all fans know this. Moreover, the success he made were all written down in the history of the NBA and fans are sticking up with him, watching as he make more of it.

July 26, 2019, fans were shocked with the news of Russell Westbrook being traded to Houston Rockets from Oklahoma City Thunder. He played for the Thunder for eleven consecutive years and although this sudden change of team left people astounded, Russell Westbrook, was the kind of man who could easily pull off this change of teams. Especially when he was welcomed by James Harden which was his former team mate.

Although Russell Westbrook was widely recognized as the most stylish basketball player in the history of the NBA, he was also an undeniably great player. Speaking of which, let us try to look back at five of those greatest games of Russell Westbrook in his entire career.

Greatest Game No. 5: 58 Points Owned! This happened on March 7, 2017 when they fought against Trail Blazers. Although the game concluded with the Trail Blazers, with a score of 126, winning over the Thunder who scored 121, leaving them 5 points behind, this was still recorded to be one of his greatest games. He earned 58 points, almost half of their score, giving the Trail Blazers a hard time in winning at Chesapeake Arena.

Greatest Game No. 4: Historic Triple-Double! An overtime made them win. It was a game against the Phoenix Suns on October 28, 2016. It was his historic triple-double breakthrough. He scored 51 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. He was acknowledged to be the first player who made this, after an NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar way back 1975.

Greatest Game No. 3: Lost is Gain! On April 19, 2017, even though the Thunder lost to the Rockets by four points, it was still recorded to be one of his greatest games. He was also the first Thunder player who made the most points in a postseason game. He contributed 51 points, rebounds of 10, assisted 3 times, stole the opponent's ball by four times and blocked them.

Greatest Game No. 2: Overtime Victory! It happened on March 29, 2017 when Thunder won over Orlando Magic with 114 points. But this was not an easy victory as he forced overtime with 7.1 seconds to play. He made another historic moment in scoring 57 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists which ensured their victory spot light.

Greatest Game No. 1: Nuggets Eliminated! April 9, 2017, the Thunder vanquished the Nuggets’ chance to continue the playoffs as they scored 106 to 105, putting the Nuggets just a point away from victory. He collected 50 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists for the team. Not just that, he also scored the last eight points of the Thunder. It was the buzzer beater event of that very evening.

Now, this proved how Russell Westbrook could be so competitive and how he always made sure to get at least fifty points for his team. Although Russell Westbrook there are times that they were defeated, but they gave opponents a hard time in closing the fight. Also they made sure that the differences in scores are not by far. It only puts a thought to all players that Russell Westbrook should not be taken lightly.

Called by many players and sports analysts to be the greatest shooter in the history of the NBA. Born on March 14, 1988 at Akron, Ohio, Wardell Stephen “Steph” Curry or most popularly known as Stephen Curry. This point guard with a jersey number 30 is one of the players for the Golden State Warriors. He won three NBA Championships, named twice as the NBA Most Valuable Player, and a sixth time NBA All-Star. Since Curry is widely known for his three point shots, he also made sure that this became a part of his winning strategy. Speaking of his winning strategies, Steph Curry’s highlights in his games were his buzzer beaters.

But before unveiling Curry’s highlights, let’s know a little bit more about him. He was the son of a former NBA Player, and his older brother is also an NBA player. It looked like playing for the NBA is in their blood. During his college years, he played for a college basketball team for Davidson. During those times he set an NCAA record for the most three-points made. He was then selected with the seventh overall pick in the NBA Drafting in 2009 by the Golden State Warriors on June 25, 2009. He has played for the same team until present times.

Going back, he is undeniably one of the greatest players to have ever played in the NBA, and there is a long list of Curry’s highlights that we could choose from. Starting with his three-points shots, halfcourt shots and smooth dribbles. Surely a fan would know how he plays and how he was recognized in the NBA. Out of all his great happenings in the court, there are five buzzer beating moments that were truly outstanding.

Craziest Buzzer Beater No. 5: January 22, 2016. It was an intense game between the Pacers and the Warriors and the time was running out when Curry took a buzzer beater shot. Although he made a basket, it was not counted for the ball was released after the buzzer. But at the next quarter he made sure to make each second count as he took another buzzer beater shot, leaving Pacers stunned of the act.

Craziest Buzzer Beater No. 4: May 15, 2015. Game 6 of Western Conference Semifinals, a game versus Memphis Grizzlies. The most magical buzzer beater when he took a three-fourth court shot and released the ball just milliseconds before the buzzer sounds off. Ending the quarter eight points ahead.

Craziest Buzzer Beater No. 3: April 23, 2015. Game 3 of the NBA Playoffs’ First Round against the New Orleans Pelicans, it was the time when Curry cornered victory through an overtime. Warriors on the second lead was not complacent with their advantage and still played it in, making sure to always close in the gaps between scores. Curry highlights He first made a three leaving 11.8 seconds on the clock, but it was not enough. So when the opponents got distracted in guarding him, he made a quick slide at the side of the court, received the ball, and successfully released another three just before the sound goes off. This put them in a tied position and an overtime was demanded.

Craziest Buzzer Beater No. 2: July 23, 2018. Game 2 of the NBA Finals as Warriors faced Cleveland Cavaliers. Up against Kevin Love, Curry did not see him as a wall at all. Love was six feet and ten inches tall, but Curry was not stunned with his height at all. He took a quick swing and threw it into the air. It was invisible for a split second until it dropped down and made a basket. His continuous points put them in victory spot with 122-103.

Craziest Buzzer Beater No. 1: February 27, 2016. This time the Warriors were up against the Oklahoma City Thunder. It was not just an overtime that made them win, it was the confidence Curry had with his team and with his shots. As the game was going on, the Warriors kept on closing in the gap with the scores making sure that they were not that far left out. His continuous three-points put them in a close tie, putting them in an overtime. Again, by the last five seconds of their overtime, they tied at 118-118. Curry made a miraculous buzzer beater shot and released another three-points shot putting them at 121, bringing home victory for this game.

Curry has started his career in this industry as a mere player but he made a name that will be written down in the history of the NBA. There is still a long way to go and a bright future ahead of him, and his fans are definitely on the lookout for his crazy stunts again. He is still out there making more Steph Curry Highlights. Great moments that will go down in the history of basketball.

Draymond Green, who is formally known as Draymond Jamal Green Sr., an American born on March 4, 1990 at Saginaw, Michigan. He is known to be the power forward of the Golden State Warriors since the year 2012 until the present. But before he became one Warriors’ powerful players, Green started his basketball career when he was still in college. He played for Michigan State during his freshman year, and he was the very first person to be named Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year in the history of Michigan State. He continued to play for the same team until his senior year. This shows that even before Green was drafted in the 2012 NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors, he has already made a name in the industry. He signed a contract with Golden State Warriors that would last for three years. But because of the performance and dedication he has given to the team, the three year contract became a way for him to remain in the same team up to present days.

After his long term contract with the Warriors, word about him is circulating whether he must consider trading. Green is the very first Warriors’ star player in their current time to be given an opt-out option after his long-term contract according to Shams Charania’s post on twitter. Moreover, as it was posted by Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes, “ Golden State star Draymond Green has a fifteen percent trade kicker included with his new four year, $100 M extension.” Giving this option to Green, he might have another shot for bigger pays.

Setting that aside, the decision of trading Draymond Green does not rely on rumors and posts from sources, it would be up to the owner of what he wanted to propose for this star player. And whatever the decision may Draymond Green be, surely it would be of Green’s advantage.

At spot number five. March 21, 2003, when they played against Boston Celtics, which was known to be their most recognized rival. Shaq definitely made a huge step up unlike others with his 48-point, 20-rebound efforts against Paul Pierce and gang back in 2003. What was even more impressive was how shaq lakers he got 19 out of 24 on this evening which made a good shooting clip of 79.2 %.

Owning the rank four. During the Game 1-Western Conference Semifinals of May 6, 2001, versus Sacramento Kings. Speaking of rivals, Sacramento Kings were always a pain in the neck for the Lakers in the early 2000. Although they have a powerful team composition, they were no match for Shaq’s dominance. Shaq’s most unforgettable feat against the Kings was in Game 1 when he burned them in scoring 44 on 17 out of 32 shots, 21 rebounds, and blocked their shots for seven times.

A man born in Wurzburg, West Germany and is now currently aged 41 who weighs 245 lb and owning 7 ft in height. Dirk Werner Nowitzki, brought into existence in the year 1978, nineteenth day on the month of June. he played for Rontgen Gymnasium and DJK Wurzburg basketball club before he was chosen in the NBA 1998 draft by the Milwaukee Bucks. But he did not stay there for long as he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks where he spent the rest of his 21-year basketball career in the National Basketball Association (NBA). During his time, he owned the Most Valuable Player award in 2007, bagged the championship in 2011 NBA Finals, and was an All-Star for 14 times. Nowitzki’s basketball career was made colorful by his accomplishments, and this was even made better as he was recognized as the single player to have played for 21 2011 NBA Finals years for a single franchise.

All throughout his NBA career, he has always made sure that he was recognized by their opponents, that their team was recognized as rivals and that they were not the ones to be taken lightly. But the audience was shaken by the Nowitzki they saw in the 2011 NBA Finals, which changed his picture forever. Despite the reality that Nowitzki had retired already last 2018, let’s relive the most remarkable moment he had in his entire career. During the 2010 to 2011 season, the Dallas Mavericks concluded the game by placing third in the Western Conference and won the regular season with 57 games. Due to their consecutive blazing performance in the playoffs, this was not much of a surprise. He put the team in such great position as they won over the defending champion which was Lakers at that moment. The time came, 2011 NBA Finals, that they were to face Miami Heats, with their powerful trio-Wade, Lebron and Bosh. as it was expected, Miami took the whole first game leaving Mavs with 15 points behind. But the tables turned in Game 2, and this stirred for opinions on Nowitzki to change forever. He led the Mavs to a victorious game with a 95-93 points in their favor. Miami got back at them in the third game putting them 2 points behind. This did not startle Nowitzki a little as he guided the Dallas Mavericks to three straight wins and made a 4 to 2 2011 NBA Finals victory.

This was marked to be his most remarkable and legendary game he ever had. He ended every game owning 26 points and rebounds of 9.7, and finished the series with 45 successful shots out of 46 free throws. The Heat’s great trio were no obstacles he was not able to run over. It was like a predestined omen that Heats would fall on their knees against Mavs.

2011 NBA Finals, from that moment on, he placed himself as a future Hall of Famer and surely the best player that the Dallas Mavericks have ever had. This game changed how people looked at Dirk Nowitzki making him the most liked player of that run. He was not afraid, he was not light hearted, and he was definitely not weak as he stopped Miami Heats in their tracks. Nobody else did that, nobody but Dirk Nowitzki.

Lakers news: It seems that NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal hasn’t been following Los Angeles lately, as he doesn’t know the name of the player that the team recently signed.

TMZ recently caught up with Shaq to ask about his thoughts regarding the Lakers’ decision to bring back Dwight Howard. The Diesel acted like he doesn’t know the eight-time All-Star by saying “Who? I don’t know him.”

https://twitter.com/TMZ_Sports/status/1166119379865616385

Apparently, that wasn’t enough.

Shaq recently had a friendly beef with Kobe Bryant after the latter said that he would’ve had 12 rings if the former wasn’t lazy. O’Neal responded to this by saying that they would’ve won more championships if Bryant passed the ball more.

When Kobe cleared the air on Twitter by saying that everything’s good between him and Shaq, O’Neal had this to say.

https://twitter.com/SHAQ/status/1166762787340771329

Howard has yet to respond to any of O’Neal’s comments, but it’s unlikely for him to say anything at this point.

The Lakers signed Dwight to a one-year, non-guaranteed deal, which means that the team can waive him anytime without shedding any amount of salary, especially if he proves to be a distraction. Howard reportedly convinced team officials and players that he’s already a changed man, and starting a social media war with Shaq would prove otherwise.

Howard is focused on turning his career around and redeeming himself to the Laker fans who still hate him for leaving the team back in 2013. He’s expected to play a limited role with the team this upcoming season, but that will likely change if he proves that he can still play at an elite level.

Last season, Howard dealt with a series of injuries that caused him to play only nine games for the Washington Wizards. Dwight still averaged close to 12 points and eight rebounds per game, which means he can still make an impact with the Lakers when healthy.

The Lakers are expected to compete for an NBA championship next season, and they need everybody on the roster to be on the same page, including Howard. So far, nothing bad has been said about him since rejoining the franchise. Hopefully, it stays that way.

We don’t want the next Lakers news to be about them looking for another center yet again.

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Warriors news: Although Kevin Durant is already with the Brooklyn Nets, he’s still being linked to Warriors news stories, especially after a photo of him touring Chase Center made its rounds on social media.

In January 2017, the Warriors announced the construction Chase Center, the team’s new arena, in San Francisco. One of the promotional photos the team used featured KD a touring the arena, wearing a protective helmet and wielding a shovel. Back then, it felt like Durant would stay a Warrior until his career is over.

Unfortunately, that didn’t happen, as two years later, Durant would sign with the Nets.

So it’s no surprise that KD’s Chase Center photo would go viral, and when the two-time Finals MVP himself saw it, he knew he had to say something.

https://twitter.com/TheWarriorsTalk/status/1166058869480513538

Durant shocked the entire NBA in the summer of 2017 when he decided to join the Warriors, who were coming off a devastating loss at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals. KD made Golden State an even formidable team. His first two seasons with the team led to back-to-back championships.

However, Durant’s third year with the Warriors was filled with drama as reports of him potentially leaving the team started to gain momentum in the early stages of the 2018-19 season. Despite all the speculations, Golden State still managed to reach the NBA Finals for the fifth consecutive year. However their quest to win a third straight title was halted by the Toronto Raptors, who beat them in the championship series.

To make things worse, Durant suffered a torn Achilles in Game 5 of the Finals and he’s expected to miss the entire 2019-20 season.

But that didn’t stop KD and the Nets from agreeing to terms on a four-year deal. Brooklyn believes that Durant will be able to regain his All-Star form in the future and that he’d eventually lead the team to a championship.

As for the Warriors, losing Durant was obviously a huge blow to their championship hopes next season, but they still have the original Big 3 of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. Golden State believes that those three will keep them in the hunt for a championship for at least a couple more years.

Still, these Durant-related Warriors news would’ve been nice if he’s still with the team. Oh well, brand new beginning for both sides. We’ll just have to wait and see who’ll make it back to the Finals first.

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Celtics news: General manager Danny Ainge already had a hunch that Kyrie Irving wasn’t staying long before it was announced that he was joining the Brooklyn Nets

According to multiple reports, Ainge already knew as early as March that Kyrie Irving could leave the team, which eventually happened last month, when the All-Star guard decided to sigh with the Nets.

The Celtics had a disappointing 2018-19 season as they were severely inconsistent on both ends of the floor. There were stretches when they played like a legitimate championship contender, then it would be followed by a series of games in which they struggled to win against some of the worst teams in the league.

Irving’s frustrations started to grow in the middle of the season. After a loss to the Orlando Magic back in January, Kyrie called out some of his teammates, especially the younger guys, saying that they had no clue on how to play championship-level basketball.

Despite these remarks, Boston was able to secure the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference and they cruised to the first round of the playoffs by sweeping the Indiana Pacers. Then, it looked like they were starting to turn things around when they stunned the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1 of the conference semifinals. Unfortunately, that was the last victory they’d get as the league-leading Bucks would win the next four games, ending the Celtics’ hopes of winning a championship in a dominating fashion.

Then, speculations about Irving not wanting to re-sign with the Celtics made a ton of noise, as there were reports that he could be taking his talents to either the city of Los Angeles or New York. The Celtics obviously wanted to keep him, but after what happened last season, they knew that they had little to no chance of retaining him.

Still, the Celtics were able to recover just fine after Irving’s departure. They were able to nab another All-Star in Kemba Walker and they also added Enes Kanter, who was an integral part in the Portland Trail Blazers’ run to the Western Conference Finals last season.

Moreover, Boston was able to keep most of their young core intact. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart will be playing major roles for the team next season, as they hope to compete for a championship.

Irving had a promising start in Boston. There was even a point when he said that he’d love to stay with the Celtics if they want him. A lot of things have happened since then, and what initially looked like a fairy tale beginning between both sides has now turned into a horrible chapter that everyone involved just wants to move on from.

Now, everyone on the team just wants to make sure that the next Celtics news that will break the internet will be about the franchise winning its 19th NBA title.
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Clippers news: Last month, the entire NBA was shocked when the Los Angeles Clippers made arguably two of the biggest moves in this year’s free agency.d

First, the team landed reigning Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, who decided to leave the Toronto Raptors after just one season. Then, a few minutes after the deal was announced, news broke out that the Clips have also traded for Paul George, who’s coming off an MVP-caliber season with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Unfortunately, this didn’t sit well with a lot of fans, especially those who are supporting the Clippers’ co-tenants at Staples Center, the Los Angeles Lakers.

World-renowned rapper and entrepreneur Ice Cube, who is also a die-hard Laker fan, admitted that he was a bit disappointed when both Leonard and George joined the Clippers. He even took a shot at both in a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times’ Arash Markazi.

“I wish they would have come to the Lakers, but I guess they picked the team that they were more comfortable playing with. You got to be special to play for the Lakers. You have to be ready for all that comes with that. Those championship banners and those jerseys are looking down at you when you play for the Lakers, and it’s probably easier to play if you cover those up for some people.”

The Lakers have been trying to acquire Leonard since the summer of last year when he demanded a trade from the San Antonio Spurs. However, LA refused to include their entire young core during the discussions, which eventually led to Kawhi ending up with the Toronto Raptors, a team he would lead to a title a year later.

As for George, he had an opportunity to join the Lakers as a free agent last year, but he chose to re-sign with the Oklahoma City Thunder, as he believed that they had a chance to compete for a title, which obviously didn’t happen as they were eliminated by the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the playoffs.

Now, they’ve decided to team up with the Clippers to form one of the best defensive teams in the NBA next season. They may have no intention to initiate a rivalry with the Lakers, but it seems that people have already created that narrative. For Kawhi and PG, it’s all about winning championships. They don’t care about the history of the Purple and Gold, as they’re laser focused on writing their own.

Question now is, are they good enough to win it all next season?

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Rockets news: James Harden has cemented his legacy as one of the greatest NBA players of all-time. He’s been one of the best and most unstoppable offensive forces in league history, and a huge part of his success in that department can be credited to his signature shot, the step-back 3-pointer.

It is no secret that Harden can drive to the basket and either score on high percentage shots, but his step-back jumper has made him an even tougher matchup for opposing teams. For the former MVP, it has become a part of who he is as a player and he wants that shot to be remembered forever, per his interview with ESPN’s Tim McMahon.

“…you know how Mike [Jordan] has his fadeaway and Dirk [Nowitzki] has his one-leg and [Kareem Abdul-Jabbar] had the sky hook, I want my step-back to be one of those moves that last forever. So when I travel around the world and I see little kids that [say], ‘Hey James, I got a step-back!’ — I love to see that.”

The NBA has seen its most iconic superstars revolutionize basketball with their signature shots. And with the game becoming more focused on 3-pointers, Harden is one of the individuals who really thrived in it. And while the step-back jumper was already being used long before The Beard made it to the NBA, he’s the one who made it one of his trademarks. One could even argue that no one does it better than Harden.

And that’s always been a dream of his; to create something that he can be proud of, something that would separate him from the other greats. He wants his name to always be brought up whenever people are talking about the step-back 3.

“It’s me being a creator and me being an innovator and paving the way in basketball in my own way, doing it how I want to do it, and that’s what it’s all about. As a little kid playing in these parks, that’s what I imagined, that’s what I dreamed of. Now it’s coming to reality, so it’s pretty cool.”

Harden also plans to use the one-legged 3-pointer next season after a video of him hitting that shot in an informal scrimmage made waves on social media. However, at the end of the day, the step-back jumper will always be his go-to move.

And if can take the Rockets to a title, or even the Finals with that shot, then there is no doubt that it will be forever tagged along with his name.

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Blazers news: Every NBA team has a long list of players who stood out and became All-Stars or even Hall of Famers. Then, those who excel strive even harder to earn the reputation as the franchise’s greatest of all-time.

Damian Lillard is trying to be that guy for the Portland Trail Blazers.

Over the past couple of years, Lillard has ascended into the top of the NBA’s best guards. Last season, he led the Blazers to the Western Conference Finals, and although they were swept by the Golden State Warriors, it gave him confidence that Portland is inching closer to winning a championship and that him winning the MVP award is no longer farfetched.

In an interview with Billboard.com’s Eric Diep, Dame said that he already has the numbers to be recognized as one of the best players to ever don a Blazers jersey..

“I want to be the best Trail Blazer ever. And I think, it’s bigger than basketball to me. I think, obviously, you have to have the numbers to back it up which I am already on track for. I’m second in points. I think I am top three in assists. Free throws made, three pointers made, I’m No. 1. Like I’m up there as far as the stats.

However, Dame also understands that his legacy in Portland will be cemented if he brings a championship and an MVP trophy to the city. And that’s something that he wants to accomplish in the near future.

“I think just continue to win. We’ve had three 50-plus win seasons in my seven seasons, one that wasn’t a 50-win season was a 49-win season. I’ve been All-NBA four times. I was first team All-NBA. I’ve been on four All-Star teams. Played in the Western Conference Finals this past year. I hold the [team’s] single-game scoring record. All these records, like everything. I just think an MVP, a championship.”

In his seven seasons with the Blazers, Lillard has averaged 23.5 points, 6.3 assists, and 4.2 rebounds. He’s never missed less than 73 games during that span, which also speaks volumes about his durability as a player. But despite his impressive resume, he always falls short of leading Portland to the Finals.

Dame is already 29 years old, and while he’s still in his prime, he’s probably going to stay there for just a couple more years before we see signs of decline in his game, and that’s not a knock on him. He will still be one of the best players in the league next season, but his championship window is already closing.

Still, Lillard is optimistic about the Blazers’ chances this upcoming season, and if he becomes an even better player, Portland might just shock the world.

Follow ClutchPoints for the laters Portland Trail Blazers news and updates.

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Pacers news: Before the massive offseason of the Los Angeles Clippers which saw them land two of the best two-way players in the NBA today, All-Star forwards Kawhi Leonard and Paul George was close to teaming up with the Indiana Pacers before.

The Pacers did draft Kawhi back in 2011, but then traded him to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for George Hill. This allowed PG to be the lone superstar in Indiana, and he made the team a championship contender.

However, George admitted that he was a bit nervous when Indy used their 15th overall pick to select Leonard, per Rachel Nichols of ESPN.

“I was little nervous. Just because, you know, we play the same position. Immediately it was like aight, I need to work on something because they’re bringing in reinforcements right away.”

Given how Kawhi’s career has transpired over the first few years, PG had the right to feel that way. If Leonard evolved into the player that he is now even while playing with George, it is possible that the latter would’ve been traded, as they are playing the same positions.

It is also possible for the Pacers to have kept both, and they could’ve become the best team in the East for a long time with those two leading the way. It is unclear if Kawhi and PG were enough to prevent the rise of the Golden State Warriors, but they would’ve been able to at least stop LeBron James from making eight consecutive NBA Finals appearances.

Even George himself said that it would’ve been nice if he had the chance to play with Leonard during his days with the Pacers.

“...it would’ve been amazing to see what we could’ve did in Indiana.”

Well, PG will finally get the chance to play with Kawhi, as they begin their era with the Clippers. They are projected by many as the favorites to win next year’s NBA championship, and a lot of people believe that they will be the next dynasty in the league.

Still, it wouldn’t be an easy road for the Clippers next season, as they will have to face a lot of championship contenders from both conferences. From their Staples Center co-tenants the Los Angeles Lakers, to the Milwaukee Bucks of the East, they would be challenged on a nightly basis.

Then again, George and Leonard are ready to take center stage, and they will be willing to take out any team who will stand in their way.

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Bucks news: Before Team USA went to China to compete in the FIBA World Cup, they had a series of exhibition games held in Australia. Milwaukee Bucks’ Brook Lopez, who is a member of the American national basketball team, can’t help but be amazed by the overwhelming support that the fans have shown during their brief stay in the country.

The Americans faced the Australian Boomers twice in Marvel Studios in Melbourne on August 22 and 24 before ending their trip with a game against Canada in the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney on August 26. At least 50,000 people watched those games live, and according to Lopez, the overwhelming support of fans really impressed him and his teammates during that trip. BroLo believes that it speaks volumes as to how much basketball has grown in the country. (via ESPN).

“We were just like, ‘Wow, you know, basketball has got a chance to be a really big thing here.’ It’s grown a lot in the last decade or so. You’ve had a lot of great, talented players.”

In fact, Lopez wants the NBA should start considering playing official NBA games in Australia.

“I think it is time for the NBA to come out, play games here, preseason, regular season, whatever it is, and keep building and growing the game out here. It’s something special.”

Over the past couple of years, we’ve seen some NBA preseason and regular season games played outside of the US. From the Philippines in Asia, to London in Europe, the league has constantly expanded to allow fans from all over the world to witness some of their favorite basketball players in the flesh.

It is unclear if the NBA will entertain Lopez’s idea anytime soon, but given the amount of fans who came to watch a depleted USA side in those scrimmages, imagine how many people would flood those arenas if games featured the likes of LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and Kyrie Irving.

For now, all we can do is wait. But if ever the league will decide to allow Australia host some of its games, the country will surely not disappoint.

BroLo can vouch for them. After all, he’s already a fan-favorite there.

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Hornets news: Terry Rozier is ready to write a new chapter of his career in Charlotte. After agreeing to a four-year deal to join the Hornets in free agency, he’s already made peace with his past and is ready for what lies ahead in the future.

One of the biggest questions about Rozier heading into next season is whether or not he can fill the shoes left by All-Star guard Kemba Walker. The Hornets’ front office have been speaking highly about his potential, but Terry himself believes that there is an immense amount of pressure for him to exceed expectations next season, per Jonathan Abrams of Bleacher Report.

“I’d be lying if I told you there’s no pressure. But pressure’s part of the game. Pressure is something that I deal with on a daily basis, but I’m always finding ways to get past it. That’s not easy going in, replacing a guard like Kemba. He’s pretty damn good and the franchise’s leading scorer, like that’s crazy. But it’s something I’ve always wanted. I always live by if the opportunity come knocking, you gotta be ready to answer, and this is the opportunity for me, so I was born ready for this, and I’m not looking back.”

A lead role is something that Rozier has been wanting to have, even when he was with the Boston Celtics. However, he understood the team’s goals last season was to follow the lead of All-Star guard Kyrie Irving. But when things didn’t work out, he was also the first one to let his frustrations out.

Rozier appeared on ESPN’s First Take a couple of months ago to say that he was the one who had to sacrifice the most for the Celtics. His production was a bit down last season as he had to play as the primary backup for Irving. However, he has made it known that he has no hard feelings against his former teammate.

“A lot of people don’t know how great of a person he is. A lot of people think I hate Kyrie. And a lot of people think that me and Kyrie not cool, but we text, and I text him right before free agency. I sent him the eyes, and he sent the eyes right back, basically like you know what it’s going to be.”

Still, Rozier believes that his situation with the Celtics could’ve been handled better by the team and himself as well.

“Not liking how me being positioned and me being used as a person, player and I just feel like things could have been done better, could’ve been handled better on Boston’s end and on my end. I feel like things could’ve been a lot better, and it wasn’t.”

But Rozier isn’t letting everything from his past derail him. He has a great opportunity to prove himself to the rest of the league, and he believes that his time to shine has long been overdue.

And he’s ready to be the star with the Hornets.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Charlotte Hornets news and updates.

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Hawks news: Vince Carter will be playing his final year in the NBA next season, and even though his official retirement won’t happen until around April or May next year, he’s already thinking about life after the NBA.

And he’s interested in starting a career in the mass media industry.

In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated’s Jacob Feldman, Vinsanity said that it would be great to be in the media once his playing days in the NBA are over.

“I did Sportscaster U seven years ago. I wanted to see if I liked it—and I loved it. From there I did what I had to do, getting as many reps as I could, doing games, studio work, and sidelines.”

Carter would join the long list of ex-NBA players who’ve joined prominent media companies to become NBA analysts. Guys like Tracy McGrady, Scottie Pippen, Paul Pierce, and even Ryan Hollins have made names for themselves once they started to enter the world of sports journalism. So it wouldn’t be a surprise to see VC also taking that route.

VC has been in the NBA for a record-breaking 22 seasons, and he believes that everything that he’s learned during that span will help him no matter what career he chooses after walking away from professional basketball.

“Because of me sticking around on the basketball side, I understand the approach and what it takes. Doing it this way got me to 22 years in the NBA so why not take that approach and learn along the way, just like I did then. I didn’t know 30 years ago how to go about what I really wanted to accomplish. I studied, asked questions, and learned. I’m doing the same things now, mirroring that step-by-step approach.”

When asked about a possible coaching gig, Carter quickly squashed the idea.

“I like coaching the game but I don’t want to coach. There’s no loyalty in my opinion to coaches. But I can be a coach on air, helping viewers understand what they’re seeing or how we see it as professional players.”

Well, we’re just gonna have to wait and see what happens to Carter after he retires from the NBA. For now, let us just enjoy every moment of his swan song and see where it takes him.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Atlanta Hawks news and updates.

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Jazz news: In a summer that has been filled by news about championship aspiring teams forming superstar tandems, the Utah Jazz have managed to become one of the best teams on paper by making the right moves.

The team has acquired Mike Conley Jr., Bojan Bogdanovic, Ed Davis, Jeff Green, and Emmanuel Mudiay during the offseason. And while the Jazz may not look imposing on paper, a lot of fans and media experts have already dubbed them as one of the favorites to win the title next season.

However, Jazz head coach Quin Snyder isn’t ready to ride the bandwagon just yet. In an interview with Sam Amick of the Athletic, he said that Utah will won’t be thinking too much about their status as a championship contender, as they plan to be patient about all the adjustments that they need to make this upcoming season.

“Well, I think our players are enthusiastic about the opportunity. I think our focus, with a new mix, it’s going to be important for us to learn about each other, to begin to know each other collectively and how guys interact and how they play. And then from our standpoint as a staff, it’s what level do you want to adapt, and what areas? How can you maximize what we now have?”

Of course, the Jazz wants to win, and the offseason moves they’ve made just put them in a great position to do just that. Snyder just wants everyone on the team, players and staff, to have a better understanding of what they are trying to accomplish.

“I think we have a group that, I think, knows the importance of that and understands that can be a strength of ours and working towards that. As far as expectations and whatever the end goal is, certainly you want to win, you know? And I think we’re a team that is going to learn how to win with this group, (but) win at what level?

The Jazz have been a really good team over the past couple of years, and although their playoff runs have been relatively short, they haven’t been discouraged. Snyder said that the team’s identity and playing style won’t change despite the arrival of new players, but he also understands that it will take time before everyone gets used to playing with each other.

And right now that’s where they want to focus their attention to.

“For us, we want to maximize. I guess that’s the (goal), just to max out what we have and see where that takes us.”

The Jazz are a championship contender alright.

A patient one.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Utah Jazz news and updates.

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New York Knicks News: After spending an entire year freeing up enough cap space to sign two superstars to max deals, the Knicks were in the position to turn things around in last month’s free agency. Unfortunately, the players that were rumored to be interested in signing with them eventually joined another team, leaving them with no choice but to spend their money on mid-tier talents.

One of the Knicks’ acquisitions in the offseason is Julius Randle, who signed a three-year deal with the team. The seventh overall pick from the 2014 NBA Draft had an impressive stint with the New Orleans Pelicans last season, as he averaged 21.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. He’s expected to become one of the Knicks’ primary options on offense, but apparently, him, along with the rest of the players New York has signed, aren’t enough to convince the fans that the Knicks are worth being taken seriously.

Still, Randle believes that the Knicks are going to be good. He told Marc Berman of the NY Post that despite the fact that they are being slept on by a lot of people, he believes that the team has what it takes to be very competitive.

“It’s easy to do that because the last couple of seasons have been hard. It’s easy to underestimate us. But we’re a deep team. We’re a very deep 1-to-15 with guys who can play. If they underestimate us, I don’t care.”

The Knicks have been one of the worst teams in the league over the past couple of years. Last season, they finished with the worst record in the NBA. To make things worse for them, they were not able to get the first overall pick in the draft, which went to the New Orleans Pelicans.

Then, the misery of the free agency followed as Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving spurned them for the Brooklyn Nets. The Knicks’ biggest offseason announcement was the signing of Randle, and given that the fans expected a lot more, being pessimistic about the team next season is understandable.

But Randle isn’t the only one who’s saying that the Knicks are going to shock a lot of people. In fact, his teammates have the same mindset heading into next season. If they can work together as a cohesive unit behind head coach David Fizdale’s system, they might prove a lot of people wrong.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest New York Knicks news and updates.

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Mavericks news: Dirk Nowitzki’s legendary NBA career came to an end last season, when the future Hall of Famer decided to retire from playing professional basketball. He spent 21 years in the league, where he accomplished a lot both for himself and the franchise.

Although Nowitzki has already passed the torch to Slovenian sensation and Rookie of the Year winner Luka Doncic, he still wants to see the younger guys in the league succeed. In an interview with Alex Squadron of Slam Online, Dirk gave an advice to the NBA newcomers who want to carve a great basketball career.

“Well, I always try to see myself as a student of the game. It sounds silly, but never think that you’ve made it. Somebody else is working out in the gym. Always try to get better. Listen and learn. Watch your veterans. And just always, every summer, try to add something new to your game and never stay the same player. That’s how I always looked at it. I never wanted to be satisfied. I always wanted to be the best player I could be. It’s really all about hard work and putting the time in. To be consistently good for a long, long time takes a lot of work.”

When Nowitzki came into the NBA back in 1998, nobody thought that he’d become one of the best power forwards of all-time. He only averaged 8.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in his rookie season. But he didn’t stop working hard. He was also fortunate to have veterans AC Green and Hot Rod Williams to help him become a better player.

Dirk ended up becoming a 14-time All-Star, a league MVP, and a champion. He’s also been recognized as the greatest international player of all-time. But he didn’t achieve all of these just by sheer talent alone. He put a lot of work both on and off the court, and that’s one of the main reasons why he had a successful and lengthy NBA career.

And now, he wants to see one of today’s rising stars become the next superstar in the league.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Dallas Mavericks news and updates.

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Lakers news: Dwight Howard is ready for his second stint with the Los Angeles Lakers. After agreeing to sign a one-year non-guaranteed deal to return to the franchise, the eight-time All-Star is eager to prove himself to his teammates and to the rest of the league.

On Wednesday, Howard spoke to the media for the first time since joining the Lakers last week. He said that he’s return to the Purple and Gold is a great opportunity for him, and that his main goal is to help the team win a championship, per ClutchPoints’ Ryan Ward.

"My goal is just to win. Nothing else that matters. The only thing that matters is winning a championship."

But unlike his first go-around with the franchise, Howard will no longer be one of the best players on the team. In fact, it was made very clear by Lakers head coach Frank Vogel that he will play a limited role next season. Dwight understands this, but he also knows that the team expects him to still play at a high level, via Spectrum SportsNet.

“They just want me to be the best person I can be for this team. Defense, dominating the boards, dominating my position, you know, helping everybody out, talking. On offense, pick and roll, which is something that I think has been a misconception with a lot of people. People think I hate picking and rolling and stuff like that. But you know, whatever this team needs me to do, you know I’m willing to do it.”

Based on everything he’s been saying over the past couple of weeks, it seems that Howard is really laser focused on helping the Lakers win the title next season. However, one of the main concerns about Dwight throughout the course of his career is his tendency to become a distraction. He’s already said that he’s had time to reflect and that he’s a changed man, but how will he react to those distractions that happen off the court?

One of which is the recent friendly feud between Laker legends Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. For some reason, Howard’s name got dragged in there even though he didn’t do anything. Still, he has no plans to engage any of those two in a social media beef.

"My job is to come here and help this team win, it’s not to get into any arguments with Shaq or Kobe or anybody. I don’t plan to let anything distract me from helping this team win a championship."

Howard is still despised by a lot of fans for leaving the team back in 2013. But he has a great opportunity to win their hearts back, and the best way to do that in Los Angeles? Win championships.

It’s not going to be easy for Dwight, but if everything that he’s been saying is true, then he might just be able to redeem himself to the franchise, the city, and its fans.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Los Angeles Lakers news and updates.

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Mavericks news: The NBA has always been one of the most popular sports leagues in the United States.. However, its popularity has surged over the past couple of years, especially when its players started voicing out their opinions regarding the biggest social issues in the country. The league office has allowed them to make their stand on pressing matters, especially on social media. And Dallas Mavericks team owner Mark Cuban is in favor of what’s happening.

Cuban said that there’s no problem with the NBA empowering its players to be outspoken because the league benefits from it, per Michael Kaskey-Blomain of CBS Sports.

“Unlike every other professional sports league, we’re a talent-driven league. We get the benefits of that. Our guys have the biggest social media following, our guys have the biggest social impact when there’s issues around the country, around the world. Guys have made the effort to develop those followings, and to build themselves as brands, and the NBA is the only professional sport that has really benefited from that, and the trade-off from that is the talent has more power, and in reality that’s just real world … I don’t have a problem with it.”

Cuban, who has been a very outspoken sports figure himself, understands that players aren’t just limited to showcasing their talents on the court. At the end of the day, they are also humans who are impacted by the issues surrounding the United States. And he believes that allowing these players to air their sentiments on social and political problems has helped the NBA, especially in terms of viewership.

“The best way to judge that is from our ticket sales. Last year, there were two teams that never played to an empty seat: whatever team LeBron [James] was on or playing, and the Warriors don’t play to an empty seat anywhere in the league.”

Of course, NBA superstars LeBron James and Stephen Curry are two of the most influential players in the league. Whenever they say take to social media to talk about a political or social matter, it impacts their colleagues and the fans.

And with the internet and social networking sites becoming an important part of everybody’s lives, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see more NBA stars follow LeBron and Steph’s footsteps in the future.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Dallas Mavericks news and updates.

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Brooklyn Nets news: After landing superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving this summer, the Nets officially became a legitimate championship contender. However, in order to bring those two on board, Brooklyn had to let go of D’Angelo Russell, arguably their best player last season.

Russell made it to the All-Star team for the first time in his career last season, where he averaged 21.1 points, 7.0 assists, and 3.1 rebounds per game. He led the Nets to the playoffs as the sixth seed in the East, but they lost to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round.

A lot of people were impressed with Russell’s growth as a player, which led to some fans believing that Brooklyn made a mistake by replacing him with Irving. In an interview with Ian Begley of SNYTV, an anonymous scout thinks that D’Lo is a better fit for this Nets roster.

“I would say for this group, I thought D’Angelo was better, to be honest with you. He was younger, healthier than Kyrie. And just the way (Nets head coach) Kenny (Atkinson) wanted to play, I thought D’Angelo fit better.”

Of course, the consensus around the league is that Irving is a better player, and that’s one of the main reasons why another scout believes that the Nets adding him was indeed the right move to make.

“I think Kyrie’s a superstar. D’Angelo’s going to be a really good player. But Kyrie is just at the next level. If his head’s straight and he’s going to be all in, with the core they have, I think (the Nets) have a really bright future (with Irving)….I think (replacing Russell with Irving) is an upgrade.”

Irving had a disappointing run with the Boston Celtics last season. Although he was also able to lead them to the postseason, fans expected a lot more from him. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to co-exist with the Cs’ young players, which eventually led to him deciding to walk away from the team.

The main problem now is that the Nets also have a young squad, which means that they could also face the same problems that the Celtics had with Kyrie. However, if the one-time champion will learn to be more patient, he should have no problems fitting in with this team.

As for Russell, another great opportunity is ahead of him as he is set to join the Golden State Warriors, one of the best teams in the league over the past five years. Playing alongside Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green should make him an even better player, especially since he will also be coached by one of the NBA’s best, Steve Kerr.

Only time will tell if the Nets will thrive with Irving or not. He will have an entire season to prove doubters wrong, and if he does end up making Brooklyn better, imagine how good they will be when Durant returns from injury.

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Lakers news: After retiring from the NBA last season, Dwyane Wade and his family officially moved to Los Angeles, where they will be staying in their newly purchased home in Sherman Oaks. And although the three-time champion has repeatedly stated that he will not come out of retirement, he said he’s planning to work out with his good friend, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James throughout the course of the 2019-20 season, he said per Arash Markazi of the LA Times.

“You’re definitely going to see me out there. I’ll be there early to work out with LeBron before the game starts. I just want to stay around it and be as involved as I can.”

LeBron and D-Wade have been friends ever since they came into the league in 2003. They were also teammates with the Miami Heat from 2010-2014 where they have won two championships. They’ve been so close that they even decided to let their sons Bronny and Zaire play basketball together at Sierra Canyon Highschool.

Wade plans to stay in shape, and working out with James is one of his ways to do it? Does this mean that they could potentially play together one more time? The future Hall of Famer once again said no.

“I’m done, but my trainer is going to keep me in shape just in case something happens. I’m going to stay in shape because you never know. Never say never.”

Wade also shut down the idea of him signing with an NBA team in an official capacity. He said he’s built a good relationship with players and that he’s able to pass his knowledge to the younger generation by working out with some of them during the summer. So he doesn’t feel the need to have an official role with any franchise.

“I love the game of basketball, and any time I can get in the gym with one of these younger players, I’m going to do it no matter what.”

At this point, no one knows what’s next for Wade. He admitted that he’s still getting used to the life of a retired man, so don’t expect him to make any decisions just yet. But no matter what he does in the future, he’ll always love the game of basketball and he will always find time to help others get better.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Los Angeles Lakers news and updates.

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Pelicans news: Zion Williamson will officially begin his NBA career in a couple of weeks, and as the new cornerstone of the New Orleans Pelicans, the 19-year-old forward is expected to do a lot of great things for the franchise.

The prospect of leading a team is something that Williamson has been looking forward to ever since he was drafted first overall back in June, and now that he has that opportunity with the Pels, he’ll definitely do everything that he can to help them win games.

This is the main reason why Zion believes his situation with the Pelicans is the best for his career, per La Gazetta dello Sport.

“I couldn’t ask for a better situation. The Pelicans keep up the pace constantly, just the way I like it. I am already working with members of the technical staff and the idea of running is emphasized in each exercise. I’m sure that our offensive schemes will allow me to be lethal from the next season.”

After the Pelicans traded Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers, a lot of people thought that it was the start of a long, grueling rebuild. But the team was able to recover immediately. Aside from drafting Williamson, they also received a treasure chest of assets from LA, including former second overall picks Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram, and with Jrue Holiday still on board, New Orleans has the potential to surprise a lot of people next season.

How good can they really be? Well, if you ask Williamson, the Pels are a legitimate title contender.

“I think we can compete for a championship. Yes, I am convinced that this team can have the NBA title as a goal…I’d be lying if I said something different.”

A championship may be a realistic goal for Williamson, but the truth is, the Pelicans aren’t good enough to hang with the NBA’s elite group. Sure, they can win a game or two against the top-tier squads, but to say that they’re already one of the best is already a bit exaggerated for the rookie.

Still, the fact that Williamson is sold on the potential of this team is a testament to how much trust he has with the franchise. It may take a little bit of time for them to become contenders, but they aren’t in a hurry.

Their rise to the top of the NBA will be slow, but it will also be exciting.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest New Orleans Pelicans news and updates.

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Toronto Raptors news: Even though 22-year veteran Vince Carter won’t be able to finish his career with the Raps, the franchise and the city of Toronto still has a special place in his heart.

Last season, Carter made it known that he wanted to play one more year in the NBA, but he wanted to do it with the Raptors. Unfortunately, the team didn’t even reach out to him in free agency, which led to him deciding to re-sign with the Atlanta Hawks.

Despite their blemished past, Vinsanity still had a lot of great things to say about the Raptors and Toronto. His love for the organization can be traced back to his early days in the NBA, when he tried to recruit Shaquille O’Neal to join him.

Yep, you heard that right. Carter revealed during an interview with Sports Illustrated’s Jacob Feldman that he tried to convince The Diesel to team-up with him in with the Raptors.

“I tried to get Shaq to Toronto. I felt like it was close. It was tough at the time, just because … a lot of guys were like, What’s Canada about? It was tough to convince players that it’s a great place until they’re actually there. Even me, when I worked out for them, I didn’t really know what they had to offer until I was actually there.”

Carter didn’t say when he tried to recruit Shaq but the only possible time that he could’ve done it was in 2004, after the Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Finals. O’Neal was eventually traded to the Miami Heat while Vince himself was shipped to the New Jersey Nets during that year.

But imagine if Shaq and Vince indeed played together with the Raptors. They probably would’ve won at least one championship and they might’ve become an extremely fun tandem to watch. They wouldn’t have been better than the Shaq-Kobe duo in LA, but they would’ve done something special in Toronto.

Also, Carter would’ve retired long ago if he won a championship earlier in his career.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Toronto Raptors news and updates.

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Thunder news: For the first time in 10 years, we might not see the Oklahoma City Thunder are in rebuild mode. They lost both of their All-Stars from last season, Russell Westbrook and Paul George to trades, and while they are left with a ton of assets to shape up their future, this isn’t exactly how they pictured themselves a couple of years ago.

Now, head coach Billy Donovan is facing the tall task of making the Thunder a competitive team despite this upcoming season despite not having a bonafide superstar on the roster. On paper, OKC has a set of decent vets like Chris Paul, Danilo Gallinari, and Steven Adams, as well as a young prospect in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

However, a lot of people aren’t convinced that the Thunder will win a lot of games in their 2019-20 campaign, and for Donovan, a coach that is used to being in the playoffs, the prospect of missing it could be discouraging.

Or maybe not.

The Athletic’s Brett Dawson had a chance to talk to some of Donovan’t former colleagues in the NCAA, and they believe that he won’t be demotivated with the team’s current situation.

Tennessee Tech head coach John Pelphrey said that it isn’t in Donovan’s nature to be fazed by adversities.
“Some people may look at the thing and say, ‘Wow, Billy, what have you gotten yourself into?’” I don’t see him, quite honestly, being discouraged at all.”

Moreover, Georgia Southern coach Rob Lanier said that Donovan will not be pressured to meet anyone’s expectations.
“He won’t be motivated to prove people wrong. That’s not how he’s wired. His motivation is truly internal. This is a challenge, and he’s gonna judge himself on whether or not he meets the challenge.”

Both Pelphrey and Lanier worked as assistants to Donovan during his time with as the head coach of the University of Florida. So they probably have an idea of what adjustments he’ll make in order to make OKC a better team than what most people perceive them to be.

Since 2012, the Thunder have lost James Harden, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, and now, George and Westbrook either via trade or free agency, and that is a huge blow in what they’re trying to build all these years.

But at this point, all they can do is make good use of what they have, and it will start by competing for a playoff spot next season. After that, rebuild through the draft and see what happens from there. It is a long, grueling process, but the team has already proven that it can form a championship contender by going this route in the past.

And with a treasure chest of assets, don’t be surprised if they do it again.
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San Antonio Spurs News: A lot has been said about the Spurs as a franchise. People see them as the standards of excellence, and with good reason. Over the past two decades, San Antonio has the highest winning percentage among the 30 NBA teams, which speaks volumes about how well run, well managed, and well coached they have been during that span.

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Since 1998, the Spurs have won five NBA championships, and even in seasons when they aren’t considered as a legitimate title contender, they still finish with an impressive record. Last season, they managed to finish with a 48-34 record, good for seventh in the Western Conference, and the Denver Nuggets, who finished second, needed a full seven-game series to take them down.

They are still being led by arguably the greatest NBA coach of all-time, Gregg Popovich, and a significant part of their success can be credited to the trio of future Hall of Famers; Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili. Even now-Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard has played a key role in San Antonio’s last championship win back in 2014.

But with Duncan, Parker, Ginobili, and Leonard gone, and with Popovich at the tail-end of his coaching career, questions have started to pop up on whether or not the Spurs can maintain this level of excellence. Sure, their scouts are still able to find gems in the draft and their player development program is still one of the best in the league, but without a bonafide superstar, how good can they be in the long run?

Yes, there’s still All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge and versatile forward DeMar DeRozan to lead the charge for San Antonio, but at this point, we already know that those guys can’t lead them to a title. They will still be a pretty good team next season, but that’s about it.

So, will the Spurs remain an NBA powerhouse three to five years from now? We’ll just have to wait and see.

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Golden State Warriors news: Team owner Joe Lacob has said it on multiple occasions, and he said it again; the Warriors intend to retire the numbers of Kevin Durant and Andre Iguodala.

Durant and Iguodala were both significant parts of the Warriors franchise, as they helped transform the team into a dynasty. Golden State has made it to the Finals for five consecutive seasons, winning three championships during that span.

In an interview with The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami, Lacob said that the Warriors will always be grateful for
KD and Iggy, adding that when everything is said and done, they intend for both players’ numbers to be raised in the rafters of the team’s new arena, Chase Center.

“The intention is to retire [Durant’s] number, but we specifically said it that way, for now. Because he’s still playing, it’s kind of inappropriate to some extent to say you’re gonna retire his number when he’s still playing in the league, but that’s the intention.”
“We always wanna be gracious. I’ve said all along, he and any player like Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala, whoever it is, a free agent, it’s their choice. They earned it. They have the right to make the choice they want to make.”

Durant, who wore No. 35 during his three-year stint with the Warriors, led the team to back-to-back championship victories in 2017 and 2018, and he was hailed as the Finals MVP on both occasions. The Dubs had a chance to go for a third-straight title last season, but they were too banged up when they made it to the Finals against the Toronto Raptors. In fact, KD missed the first four games of that series, and when he returned in Game 5, he tore his Achilles. The Raps eventually won the chip in Game 6.

Iguodala was already a part of the Warriors when they were just on the rise. He was instrumental in their championship win in 2015, where he had an excellent Finals series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was able to make it difficult for LeBron James on the defensive end, and that paved the way for Golden State to succeed. He won the Finals MVP that year.

Unfortunately, the Warriors were unable to keep their championship roster intact, as Durant decided to join the Brooklyn Nets as a free agent, and they had no choice but to trade Iguodala to the Memphis Grizzlies. Golden State will look a lot different next season.

But no matter what happens, Durant and Iguodala are already a part of the Warriors’ history, and it is just fitting for the franchise to repay them by retiring their numbers. And incase you don’t know, their photos are all around Chase Center, as the team commemorates the legacy of the Hamptons Five in the new arena.

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Wizards news: Over the past couple of seasons, Isaiah Thomas has been looking for an opportunity to prove himself after recovering from a hip injury that derailed his career. That’s exactly what he got this summer, when the Washington Wizards decided to sign him to a one-year deal.

Last summer, Thomas signed a one-year deal with the Denver nuggets. Back then, he was still recovering from the hip surgery he had on his injured hip. He wasn’t ready for the start of the season, and by the time he got back, he was only able to play several games before the Nuggets decided to shut him down for the rest of the season.

It’s not that IT was still injured; the Nuggets were just riding a good wave of momentum and they feared that he might disrupt the team’s chemistry. Wizards head coach Scott Brooks told Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated that he liked what he saw from Thomas last season, despite the former All-Star’s brief time in Denver.

“There are a couple of things I look at. I watched him last year. He got healthy towards the end of season, but they were rolling, they’re like No. 1 ranked team in the West. And I watched their games. And I knew we were going to be looking for a point guard, and that guy showed so much leadership during games. He was like an assistant coach. He was standing up directing traffic, coming on the court during timeouts and talking to the guys that were playing in front of him.

“And to me that’s a sign of a winner.”

Brooks added that IT will be competing for the starting point guard spot at the start of training camp, but he said that they hope to see him play as well as he did before the injuries.

“You don’t want him late in the game, and we’re trying to get him back to that.”

But does Brooks really believe that IT still has what it takes to play at an elite level?

“...if you’re really good you’re gonna make in the mid 40s so you’re gonna miss 55 or maybe even 60 percent of them. And the guys that are like IT, Isaiah, he has that in him. He has that it factor.”

The Wizards are expected to be without John Wall for the entire 2019-20 season, which is why they decided to give Thomas a chance. And they’re hoping that the 5-foot-nine guard will be able to have a great year, not only for him to remind the league of who he once was, but also for Washington to have a serious shot of making it to the playoffs.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Washington Wizards news and updates.

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Knicks news: There is no denying that the New York Knicks had a disappointing offseason. They failed to get the superstars they wanted, which led to them using the huge cap space to settle for mid-tier players. They were able to assemble a group of young veterans who are eager to prove themselves to the rest of the league, and for point guard Dennis Smith Jr., they have the potential to surprise a lot of people this upcoming season.

Smith believes that the Knicks have a really good roster, but he also understands that in order for them to succeed, they will need to work together as a team. The former lottery pick said that their main focus should be getting better on defense.

“I know what we have to do on the offensive end, but defense is really where we have to hang our hat this year. We’ve got the toughness for it, especially with Mitch (Robinson), one of the best shot blockers in the league, already, if not the best. We’ve got to hang our hat on that end and everything else will take care of itself. And if we get in elite shape, that will be easy to do play after play after play. We’ve got to keep that up.”

The Knicks had the worst record in the league last season, and despite their failed attempt to build a superteam, their front office was still able to assemble a decent squad that should be good enough to compete for a playoff spot.

Smith is pretty confident about what he and his teammates can do not only this season, but in the years to come.

“Our team, it’s really a group of guys that wanna hoop, compete at a high level and win games. I think if we build this identity early of a real selfless team that’s gonna scrap on both ends of the court, I think we can be pretty good this year, and then build on that for years to come.”

Smith isn’t the only one who believes that the Knicks are talented team. Guys like Julius Randle, Wayne Ellington, and Mitchell Robinson have also said a lot of great things about the team’s mindset heading into this season.

The question now is, can they walk the talk?

We’ll just have to wait and see.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest New York Knicks news and updates.

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Clippers news: Doc Rivers will have another chance to win a championship after the team acquired reigning Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard in free agency. The Los Angeles Clippers are now one of the favorites to win the title next season, an idea that never came across anyone’s mind two to three months ago.

But Rivers said that even he was surprised that Leonard didn’t make things difficult for him and team owner Steve Ballmer during their offseason meetings. In an interview with Arash Markazi of the Los Angeles Times, Doc said that Kawhi made it clear that he wanted to play for him and the Clippers.

“We had a meeting with Kawhi at my house in Malibu and we felt we had the inside position. The Lakers had a meeting with Kawhi and they built this whole thing up for him to come to their new practice facility and he said, ‘No, you can come to my hotel room.’ But with us he said, ‘Yes, I’ll come to your house.’ When we heard that it felt like he was telling us he wants to come here.”

“He said, ‘I want to play for you,’ and he pointed at me. He said, ‘Mr. Ballmer, I love the things you do and what you stand for, but your team is not good enough and if you don’t change your team, I’m not coming.’”

At that point, the Clippers knew that they were a couple of moves away from finally sealing the deal with Leonard, so they showed him a list of players that they believe they can get, but they were a bit surprised when Kawhi pointed at a specific name.

Paul George.

Rivers knew that getting George would be difficult, especially since the All-Star forward just signed a four-year deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder last summer. Yet in a stunning turn of events, OKC has decided to go on a full rebuild, and the Clippers were able to trade for him.

Once the Clips successfully acquired George, it finally convinced Leonard to join them, and the franchise’s quest for their first-ever championship will now begin.

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New Orleans Pelicans news: Lonzo Ball seems to have taken a shot at the Los Angeles Lakers in one of his newest songs released on Spotify.

In the 21-year-old guard’s mixtape called 50&30, the first track was titled ‘Last Days,’ in which there was a part of the lyrics in which he said ‘LA is going to regret their decision.’ Although Ball didn’t say the specific decision that LA will regret, fans were quick to assume that it was about the blockbuster trade which took place a couple of months ago.

The Lakers traded Ball, along with Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart, to the Pelicans in exchange for All-Star forward Anthony Davis. LA already attempted to get this deal done before the trade deadline last season, but New Orleans refused to cooperate.

That speaks volumes about the Lakers already losing hope on their young core. The Purple and Gold wanted to compete for a championship as soon as possible in order to maximize LeBron James’ stay with the franchise, and after a couple of years trying to develop their lottery picks, LA decided that it was just time to move on.

Ball had career averages of 10.0 points, 6.4 assists, and 6.2 rebounds. However, he has been riddled with injuries during his first two years in the league. He has also been a horrendous shooter, especially from behind the arc, where he only shot 32.9 percent.

The Lakers once viewed Lonzo as someone who can rejuvenate ‘ShowTime’ in Los Angeles. He received a lot of comparisons to Hall of Famers Magic Johnson and Jason Kidd, and he was supposed to be the team’s point guard of the future.

However, Lonzo’s injuries and inconsistency has really forced the Lakers to move on from him. There is no doubt that he still has the potential to become an All-Star, but he will need to exert a lot of effort if he wants to take his game to the next level.

The Pelicans will be focused on developing Ball, as well as the other young players on the squad. New Orleans believes that it is in a great position to compete for a championship over the next few years, and they’re hoping that Zo will play a huge part in making that happen.

Follow ClutchPoints for more of the latest news about the New Orleans Pelicans.

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Mavericks news: There are a lot of reasons to be excited about the Dallas Mavericks heading into this season, and one of them is the tandem of Rookie of the Year winner Luka Doncic and the returning Kristaps Porzingis. These two will be the franchise’s cornerstones as they usher in the post-Dirk Nowitzki era.

Future Hall of Famer Steve Nash believes that the Mavs will be a really good team this season because of the Doncic and Porzingis. The one-time Maverick said that both guys are extremely talented and that they are capable of becoming difference makers for the team on a nightly basis.

“I think it’s a super exciting time to be a Mavericks fan and to play and work for the Mavericks. You’ve got two players that are incredible difference-makers, if they can form a bond and a chemistry and an understanding. They both fit the modern game extremely well, you have some talented players around them as well, some role players that are happy with their role and they can exceed expectations at their role and not necessarily feel like they need more, which could kill a chemistry, kill a team and its chemistry.

“It’s going to be exciting to watch them develop together this year.”

Luka and KP has drawn comparisons to Nash and Nowitzki, who played together for the Mavericks during the early 2000s. They weren’t able to lead the team to a championship, but they were really fun to watch. It is unclear how good Doncic and Porzingis will be on the court, but if they will be able to quickly build chemistry, avoid injuries, and stay with the franchise long-term, Dallas will be one of the league’s top contenders in the near future.

But the Mavs aren’t in a hurry and they aren’t putting a lot of pressure in their young stars. This season, their primary goal is to make the playoffs. It’s not going to be easy, considering that they are in the Western Conference, but with Doncic and Porzingis leading the way, the sky's the limit for this team moving forward.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Dallas Mavericks news and updates.

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Timberwolves news: This upcoming NBA season, most of the championship contending teams have at least two superstars on their roster. Then there are those teams who tried to make a big splash during the offseason, but failed; one of them is the Minnesota Timberwolves, who tried to get another All-Star to pair with Karl-Anthony Towns this summer.

The Wolves tried to sign D’Angelo Russell after the Brooklyn Nets pulled back the qualifying offer they gave him. Unfortunately, the Nets pulled off a sign-and-trade which sent him to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Kevin Durant.

And while missing out on Russell isn’t really Minny’s fault, it is also worth noting that they haven’t really gotten a top-tier talent via free agency over the past decade. Most of their best players were either drafted by or traded to them. Team president Gersson Rosas said that it’s really difficult to get a superstar in the league, especially for a small market team.

In his interview with Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, Rosas said that it’s important for a team to have a star or two in order to succeed in the NBA, but it added that acquiring them never comes at a cheap price.

“The reality is that if you want to win, you want to have success, you need high-end, special players. They’re hard to acquire. You have to pay a strong premium for them. And if you don’t have the resources, you don’t have the flexibility, you don’t have the assets, you’re not going to be in play.”

Rosas continued by saying that even if a franchise has a lot to offer the free agents, it’s not a guarantee that it would be enough to convince them to play for the team, so a front office has to have a Plan B in case their top targets decide to say no

But that’s the reason why the Timberwolves hired him as the team’s top executive, so that he can turn their fortunes around in the future. Rosas has extensive knowledge about the wheeling and dealing that’s happening during the offseason, so he was definitely one of their best signings this year.

Whether or not Rosas can succeed in Minnesota remains to be seen. For now, he’s putting his hopes on Towns’ continuous development and Andrew Wiggins finally having a breakout year. Obviously, these two are the franchise’s cornerstones, so most probably, the team will continue to build around them.

Unless an opportunity to sign a superstar comes along.

For now, Rosas will focus on helping the Timberwolves build a winning culture, because that’s usually what matters to the best players in the league.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Minnesota Timberwolves news.

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Warriors news: Klay Thompson is expected to miss the majority of the 2019-20 NBA season as he continues to recover from the ACL injury he suffered during the NBA Finals. The All-Star guard still expects to return in time before the playoffs, but Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr admits that things won't be easy for them while waiting for the return of one of their best players.

In an interview with Joe Vardon of The Athletic, Kerr said that although they have lost some key players in the offseason, Thompson’s absence will force them to make big adjustments throughout the course of the season.

“Klay being out is really the big change. Losing Kevin, Andre, Shaun, obviously, those are huge losses. Losing Klay on top of all that really changes the way we’re going to have to play at both ends. Klay was always an integral part of everything. Movement on offense, but also the guarding of the ball handler on defense, switching onto bigs. So until he gets back, we’ve got to re-imagine everything and adapt accordingly.”

The Warriors knew that they needed to get someone who can help them fill the void left by Thompson, which is why they have acquired D’Angelo Russell from the Brooklyn Nets. However, just like any newcomer, D’Lo will have to adjust to the team’s system, and that might take time.

With Thompson out, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Russell are expected to carry the bulk of the offensive load for Golden State, and these guys are highly motivated, especially since most people don’t see them as a legitimate title contender. The Dubs have been in this kind of situation before, back in 2014 when nobody thought that they were good enough to win the championship, and a year later, they’ve proven their doubters wrong.

And once Thompson returns, that’s the time that fans will see the full strength of the new-look Warriors. But until then, the team will have to work together to get as many wins as they possibly could. They aren’t good enough compared to the team that they had for the past three years, but with the team’s original Big Three still in tact, they might just shock the world once again.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Golden State Warriors news and updates.

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Lakers news: Kobe Bryant had a legendary NBA career that spanned for two decades, and during his time in the league, he has constantly drawn comparisons to Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan, the guy widely considered as the greatest of all-time.

MJ was Kobe’s childhood hero, his idol, his inspiration, and that remains true even though he’s already retired from the NBA. However, it is also true that throughout his career, Bryant has worked tirelessly to be recognized as a better player than Jordan.

In fact, Kobe admitted in an interview with The Players Tribune that he was already looking forward to proving himself to MJ as a rookie in 1996.

“It was a huge honor. It became very serious to me because I didn’t want to make it seem like I was some ‘bubblegum’ player. And the hype about going against Mike — ‘Let’s go. Show me.’ I’ve been watching you play my whole life. Show me. Everybody calling you ‘Black Jesus’ … And I went out there and we went head up. I think his respect and appreciation for me really grew that day because you saw on the biggest stage I didn’t shy away from that confrontation. I looked forward to that confrontation.”

Kobe and MJ faced each other for the first time on December 17, 1996. The Bulls survived the Lakers in a 129-123 overtime victory. Jordan finished with 30 points, nine rebounds, and three assists in 47 minutes, while Bryant only had five points, a rebound, and a block in 10 minutes of action. Chicago

While the numbers will tell how MJ dominated Kobe and the Lakers, what it didn’t tell you was the Black Mamba’s resilience in guarding the best basketball player in the world. Yes, Bryant was torched, but he never allowed himself to be intimidated, he did the best he could to stand his ground, and he never backed down.

It took Kobe a while to become a superstar in the NBA, but his first encounter with MJ paved the way for him to carve everything that he accomplished in his career.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Los Angeles Lakers news and updates.

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Rockets news: After signing a four-year, $76 million extension with the Houston Rockets, veteran guard Eric Gordon is focused on helping the team win that elusive NBA championship.

In an interview with Fox 26 Houston’s Marc Berman, Gordon said that staying with the Rockets has always been his intention. Now that he finally got what he wanted, he said it’s time for him to repay the franchise for its trust in him.

“It’s very special. It’s definitely exciting. I’m all about team success and me being a big part of that. They know my work ethic. They know my kind of leadership and what I bring to the table. Ownership wants to win.”

The Rockets have made it clear that they want to win championships while James Harden is still in his prime, and that’s one of the main reasons why they traded for another elite All-Star, Russell Westbrook. And with a roster that’s almost set, Gordon said that now is the perfect opportunity for Houston to start hoisting trophies and raising banners, per Kelly Iko of The Athletic.

“It’s a clear understanding that when you have the kind of core that we have, it’s really locking in to win. I think this is the best point of most of the guys’ careers, so we have to get to that point where we just start winning championships. We have a clear vision, and we’re going to be good for quite a while. We just want to put a championship behind it.”

But how exactly is Gordon planning to help the Rockets succeed? By becoming one of the best shooters in the league next season.

“I got a couple of goals for myself. But the No. 1 goal for sure, without a doubt, is to be one of the best 3-point shooters. I want to shoot at a very high clip this year. I would love to be in the 40s. I’ve done it before, and I just need to do it this year while staying consistent. I think for this year, for us to be really good, it’s all about being efficient. I think for me, for sure being the best 3-point marksman in the NBA and continuing being a creator.”

Last season, Gordon averaged 16.2 points on 41 percent shooting from the field, including 36 percent from 3. He’s one of six players to have hit at least 200 3-pointers over the past three years, joining Harden, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kemba Walker, and Damian Lillard in that elite list.

And while most of the attention has been on Houston’s acquisition of Westbrook, keeping Gordon equally important for the team as they officially begin their championship quest in six weeks.

But the Rockets weren't the only team that made major offseason moves. In fact, several teams have also bolstered their rosters with the hopes of winning a title this year. This is the first time in at least a decade that there is no clear-cut favorite to bring home the championship, which is why a lot of fans are pretty excited for next season.

Houston has the potential to be really good with Harden, Westbrook, Gordon, and Clint Capela as their core. Whether that is enough to help them succeed remains to be seen, but it is clear that the Rockets will have the ‘championship or bust’ mentality over the next couple of years.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Houston Rockets news and updates.

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Pistons news: Derrick Rose might be one of the biggest ‘What Could Have Beens’ in NBA history. When he came into the league back in 2008, everybody thought that he was something special, and he proved those people right. At 22 years old, he became the youngest player to ever win league MVP back in 2011. It was supposed to be the start of an illustrious career for D-Rose.

Then, things started to fall apart.

Since 2012, Rose had suffered several career-altering knee injuries which derailed him from reaching his full potential. And even though he was able to rejuvenate his career with the Minnesota Timberwolves last season, there have been discussions on whether or not he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.

When Rose himself was asked about his Hall of Fame status, the Detroit Pistons guard had a pretty straightforward answer.

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Since Rose made this statement, countless debates and discussions came out of social media, with some fans and fellow-NBA players siding with the 30-year-old guard. But there are others aren’t convinced that as great as he once was, his injuries definitely hurt his reputation. In fact, Basketball Reference gave him a 10.5 percent chance of becoming a Hall of Famer. If that’s the case, he will be the first-ever league MVP to never win the award.

The truth is, Rose has never been the same since his first injury back in 2012, and even though he was able to surprise a lot of people when he averaged 18.0 points and 4.3 assists last season, those numbers aren’t enough to elevate him to Hall of Fame status just yet.

However, D-Rose is still young, and if he stays healthy, he can play for at least five more years. If he will be able to play at a high level during that span, he will have the opportunity to strengthen his case, especially if he helps the Pistons win a championship in the future.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Detroit Pistons news and updates.

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Warriors news: Kevin Durant is no longer in Golden State, and even though the Warriors still have their original Big Three of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, the road to the Finals isn’t going to be as easy as it was over the past couple of seasons.

However, the Dubs could be planning to build yet another superteam in a couple of years, as according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, they are a big threat to land Milwaukee Bucks star and reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo once he becomes a free agent in 2021.

“The one team lurking out there — I don’t know how this would happen — but the Warriors have always been the big threat to go after Giannis.

It would be a difficult construction to make happen, but that is the one looming threat. It comes down to what kind of guy is Giannis. What does he want his legacy to be? Is he the kind of guy who stays with one team his entire career and tries to bring a championship to Milwaukee or does he pull a Kevin Durant and go join a group of super friends?”

With the Warriors committed long-term to Curry, Thompson, and Green, it is indeed going to be difficult for them to make room for Antetokounmpo, who is expected to receive a five-year, $247 contract extension offer from the Bucks. In fact, an anonymous member of Milwaukee’s front office confirmed to Sean Deveney of Heavy.com that the team isn’t really concerned about Golden State’s potential pursuit of The Greek Freak.

“Keeping Giannis, it’s a focus obviously. But fighting the Warriors is not a focus. The Warriors are not the concern in the least. They’d have a long way to go to get him to Golden State, they’d have to give away a lot. He has never given any indication that he wants to leave Milwaukee. So a lot of that stuff, it is more chatter than anything.”

Giannis will definitely headline the free agent class of 2021, which will also include guys like LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Blake Griffin, and Chris Paul. If Antetokounmpo does decide to leave the Bucks, that will cause yet another seismic shift in the balance of power in the NBA, especially if he decides to join the Warriors.

But for now, his focus is to help the Bucks win a championship next season. Milwaukee is still one of the best teams in the East, and if they win the title in 2020, that could help the Bucks keep Antetokounmpo long-term.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Milwaukee Bucks news and updates.

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Thunder news: Chris Paul will is heading to his 15th season in the NBA, and even though he’s already way past his prime, he’s still one of the best point guards in the league. His motivations for playing at a high level is the same as every other player, but there’s one more thing that drives him to be great, his competitive spirit.

In an interview with ESPN, CP3 said that he’s seen a lot of guys become contented by just having the opportunity to play in the NBA, adding that his competitiveness drives him to keep going, to keep getting better.

“My competitive nature. And my family and my team — all my homies that I grew up with and everybody who supports me. I think when I go out and play, it’s never just about me; it’s about my whole squad. I feel a lot better than I did a few years ago, and that’s just from experience, learning and never just being satisfied. I think one of the biggest issues with a lot of people is they get in this league and they get complacent, and they’re like, “Oh, I’m here. I’ll just be here.” No. There’s somebody coming to try to take your job. And for me, that’s not an option. You’re not taking my job. No.”

Last season, Paul averaged 15.6 points, 8.2 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.0 steals for the Houston Rockets, and after being traded to OKC back in July, he will have another opportunity to become an alpha male of a team for the first time since his days with then-New Orleans Hornets. He already said that he’s ‘feeling better’ at age 34, and for the Thunder fans out there, that should encourage optimism heading into next season.

Of course, one of the main concerns about CP3 at this stage of his career is his ability to stay healthy. Over the past couple of seasons, he has been riddled with injuries that had a significant impact in the Rockets’ bid to win a championship. Back in the 2018 playoffs, he was out for half of the Western Conference Finals against the Golden State Warriors because of a hamstring strain, and Houston ended up losing that series.

If Paul will be able to stay healthy for the majority of next season, OKC can be a really good team. They have enough talent in there to compete for a playoff spot, and who knows? A change in scenery might just be what CP3 needs to remind everyone that he can still be an elite point guard.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Oklahoma City Thunder news and updates.

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Lakers news: Kyle Kuzma is the only member left from the Los Angeles Lakers’ once-celebrated young core after the team decided to trade Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, and Josh Hart to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Anthony Davis. The Purple and Gold made the third-year forward untouchable during their trade talks with the Pels, and Laker legend Kobe Bryant has an idea why.

Bryant was recently a guest in Real 92.3 LA’s “The Cruz Show,” where he gave his thoughts on why the Lakers did not include Kuzma in their trade negotiations with the Pelicans.

“Probably his versatility. I think the game used to be about having specialists on the floor and think it’s gotten away from that to having guys that can play all facets of the game. That includes offensively and defensively, and defensively he has the potential to be a great defensive player, so I think that’s one things they looked at as well as his shooting ability and just his size. I think you put all that in the pot and it made him indispensable for this summer.”

Last season, Kuzma was the Lakers’ second leading scorer as he put up 18.7 points, to go along with his 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists. He was able to shine in his own spotlight despite playing with four-time MVP LeBron James, and LA has been really impressed with him over the past two years.

But keeping Kuz off-limits in trade discussions wasn’t always the plan. In fact, the Lakers were willing to ship him to the Pelicans back in February when they first began their pursuit of AD. Fortunately, New Orleans wasn’t willing to cooperate with LA back then, as the former tried to explore better trade offers from other teams.

But trade deadline passed and the Pelicans were unable to trade Davis, and from that point, the Lakers already had the leverage. Sure, they still gave up a lot of young players and picks to get Davis, but at least they were able to keep Kuzma, a young, promising young player who could become the third star in LA.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Los Angeles Lakers news and updates.

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Grizzlies news: The ‘Grit & Grind’ era is officially over and the Memphis Grizzlies are in the midst of a rebuild. They team recently hired Taylor Jenkins to be the new head coach, and the first thing that he wants to do is to establish a solid relationship with his players.

“To me, the number one thing is relationships. You talk about adversity. Well, there’s going to be plenty of success in life, and there’s going to be adversity in life.

There’s going to be both success and adversity on the court. For us, if we have strong relationships and compete together, we all focus on getting better, the relationships that you have … well, I was (recently) at breakfast with Jae Crowder. It was, ‘Let’s talk about family.’ He’s had a lot of transition in his career. Let’s talk about who you are and what your journey has been like in life. When you show that true care, and I think Popovich is the greatest at it, when you can look across the table at someone and say ‘I’ve got your back and I know about you,’ you can handle and face the ups and downs together throughout the season.”

The Grizzlies aren’t expected to have a legitimate shot in the playoffs, but they have two solid young players that they can build around in Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant, this year’s second overall pick.

Jenkins understands that coaching a rebuilding team isn’t going to be easy, especially since he can be replaced if the team fails to show a significant amount of improvement this season. Still, he believes that continuity is the key for Memphis to be successful, which is why he is focusing on building a solid bond with each and every member of the team.

“That bond can carry you throughout. Hopefully, what we’re trying to build here in Memphis is sustained success, and that’s only done through impactful relationships. In the NBA, there’s a ton of turnover and players come and go, but hopefully, as we witnessed with the previous era here in Memphis, with Marc Gasol and Mike Conley and Zach Randolph and Tony Allen, we can create that again where the community feels that.”

It might take some time for the Grizzlies to become a championship contender again, but if the management won’t rush anything, this team could become something special. Of course, it will depend significantly on how fast Morant and Jackson can improve, but having a solid foundation between the players and coaches will also play a key role in making this happen.

And Jenkins seems to be on the right track at the moment.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Memphis Grizzlies news and updates.

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Grizzlies news: Andre Iguodala is currently in a stalemate with the Memphis Grizzlies after both sides failed to reach an agreement regarding a contract buyout. The three-time NBA champion is set to make $17 million this season, and he has no plans of letting go a portion of it just so he waived and be free to join a contender. Iggy would rather wait for the team to find a suitable trade for him.

Iguodala’s current situation with the Grizzlies is something that nobody thought would happen, as he was a valuable member of the Golden State Warriors franchise. When Kevin Durant announced that he was joining the Brooklyn Nets, everyone thought that they’d be keeping Iggy, but he already knew that he could be traded to Memphis.

“I [had] a sense that something is going down; Bob Myers and I are pretty cool. We [had] our conversations, so we’re on the same page. It was, ‘It might happen, but it might not. Most likely, it will. So, we’ll see.’

So, I’m texting my wife, telling her I’ll probably get traded because I think it’s 100 percent sure, even though everyone else is saying, it’s only a chance. Then, once KD left, I’m like, ‘Yeah, I’ll probably get traded. They’re probably going to do a sign-and-trade, so they can get something back, to at least get assets for him.’ No one was thinking that. But I was thinking they’ll want to get assets back because they can’t just let him go. And they’ll probably move me as well. So, she asked me where I thought I would go. I said, ‘I don’t know, I’ll probably end up in Memphis or some s**t.’ She says, ‘For real?’ I was like, ‘Maybe. But probably not. I don’t know.’

The next day, I got the message. It was Memphis. I fell out laughing.”

Iguodala’s guess was right, as the Warriors were able to convince Durant to agree to a sign-and-trade, which allowed them to acquire D’Angelo Russell from the Nets. However, in order to accommodate D’Lo’s contract, Golden State had to make some room, which made Iggy expendable.

But Iguodala understands the importance of the trade for the Warriors and he seems pretty okay with it. After all, he still loves that franchise the same way that he did when he was still a part of it.

It is possible that Iguodala won’t be playing at least until the trade deadline. If the Grizzlies won’t find a trade partner who’s willing to give valuable assets in exchange for his services, they could decide to pay him the full amount that he’s owed this season.

We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Memphis Grizzlies news and updates.

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Magic news: After an impressive 2018-19 season that saw them barge into the playoffs for the first time since 2012, the Orlando Magic have decided not to make any major changes in the offseason. Over the past couple of months, everyone on the team, from head coach Steve Clifford to his players, have been talking about how important it is to have continuity, but that they also have to work on some things in order to improve.

In a recent interview, Clifford said that while it is good to have most of his players back from last season, the Magic need to take advantage of that familiarity and find ways to get better as a team, especially on offense.

“...being able to bring (Nikola Vucevic), (Terrence Ross), Khem (Birch) and Michael Carter-Williams back, that’s so big for us. Those are four guys who played really well for us last year.

As good as our defense was late in the year, we have to be able to score the ball better,” Clifford told John Denton of Magic.com. “We have to do similar things in terms of protecting the rim, not fouling unnecessarily, not giving up fastbreak points and being a good defensive rebounding team. By the numbers, we forced teams to take the shots that we wanted them to take last season, but we didn’t create much offense with our defense.

Orlando averaged 107.3 points per game last season, 24th in the NBA, and in order to address their issues on offense, Clifford believes that they need to have a fast-paced offense.

“We talked about this a lot last season, but when we were good offensively, the ball hit the paint. And when we weren’t (good offensively) – like in the playoffs – it didn’t. So, we need to improve our pace offensively because we were better when we played quicker and the ball has to get going toward the basket more consistently.”

The Magic is riding a good wave of momentum as they prepare for the upcoming NBA season. The team is more confident now more than ever, and that’s one of their biggest assets moving forward. Every member of the team believes in what Orlando is trying to build, and every member of the roster will definitely make the necessary adjustments in order to help the team succeed.

How far will they go this season? That depends on the improvements they’ll show on both ends of the floor, but right now, the future is bright for the Magic.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Orlando Magic news and updates.

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Nuggets news: Carmelo Anthony’s free agency saga is still one of the biggest storylines in the NBA heading into the upcoming season. A lot of fans and players have shown their support for the former scoring champion, but up to this point, he remains unsigned. There have been rumors about him possibly joining the Brooklyn Nets or the New York Knicks, but nothing has materialized up to this point.

One of the biggest reasons why teams aren’t willing to take a risk on Melo is his reluctance to accept a reduced role despite the fact that he’s no longer the star that he once was. Anthony’s stubbornness to adjust to the team that he’s in is making it difficult for him and his camp to convince teams that he suddenly has a change of heart.

Even when Chauncey Nuggets news Billups, Melo’s former teammate with the Denver Nuggets, has said that his obsession with scoring a ton of points has impacted his career negatively, he didn’t deny it.

Melo admitted that scoring indeed meant a lot to him during his recent appearance on ESPN’s First Take.

“To his comments, if I didn’t score 30, it was 40, it was 50. If I didn’t score those points, I felt like I didn’t do my job, because that was my mentality — it was to go all out at that point in time.”

Melo said that he carried that type of mentality ever since he started playing basketball in high school.

“Coming out from high school, to college, to the NBA, I had a different mentality.. It was kill or be killed. I had to go eat. I was 23, 24, I had to eat, and whatever I had to do to put us in a situation to win, I was willing to do that. I was doing that.”

Melo was once an unstoppable offensive force, especially during his final years playing for the Denver Nuggets and first few seasons with the New York Knicks. However, the playing style in the NBA has evolved since then and it’s become more focused on getting everybody else involved. Anthony, who’s an excellent individual talent, struggled and has been heavily criticized as a bad teammate.

Still, he didn’t feel bad about Billups’ comments. Just like what he said on First Take, he’s already a humbled man. He sees the words of his former teammate as a way for him to reflect on his past and become a better person and player as he hopes to end his career on a good note. However, he also admitted that he didn’t like the timing of it.

“I don’t take his comments any type of way. I take that as a learning tool and I think a lot of people out there, up-and-coming athletes should take that as a learning tool. My only issue was the timing of his comments. Because of everything that surrounded me on these comments, on this narrative around Melo, I don’t think it was the right time for him to say, “Oh, he liked scoring 30 in a loss, but he didn’t like scoring 20 in a win. I just think that narrative, that conversation, was [happening at] the wrong time.”

Billups made those remarks during the first few weeks of free agency, so it is understandable why Melo was a bit upset about it. After all, he’s trying to convince everyone that he can still play at a high level in the NBA, and those statements by Mr. Big Shot could’ve hurt his reputation even more.

Still, Anthony understands what he needs to do, and that is to just keep doing the right things as he waits for another team to give him a shot. Hopefully, he’ll get another opportunity to prove himself, whether it’s with the Knicks, the Nets, or any other team, Melo needs to remind everyone that he’s still here, and that he’s ready to silence the doubters.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Denver Nuggets news and updates.

NBA news: After years of trying to make a comeback, former Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat star announced back in February that he’s retiring from the NBA. The two-time champion said that he’s at peace with his decision and that he’s proud of everything he was able to accomplish in the league.

“The story’s there. I was able to have big moments. The proof is in the work, even if it takes time for people to understand. … If people wanna dive into it, they can. They can dissect it. I’m proud of it. It’ll live on forever.”

Bosh, the fourth overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, spent 13 and a half seasons in the league before blood clots ended his career. Despite his efforts to make a comeback, the NBA wasn’t willing to give him another shot, as his condition could get worse. It took Bosh some time to admit that his playing days are over, but he later accepted everything and he chose to finally move on.

“After a while, after a couple of years, I didn’t want to put myself out there and have that letdown again,” Bosh said. “I don’t want to be mad at the game. I don’t want to resent the game. Let me just walk away now cause I haven’t told any doctors.”

Aside from his two championships, Bosh is an 11-time All-Star, a member of the All-NBA second team back in 2007, and was a vital piece in the USA men’s national basketball team that won the Olympics in 2008.

Bosh is still just 35 years old, and if it wasn’t for his medical condition, he would still be playing in the NBA and he would’ve been a perfect fit in today’s game. He’s a player who can shoot 3s on a consistent basis and he’s also capable of defending multiple positions. Teams would’ve gone after someone as versatile as he is.

While it is unfortunate that Bosh’s career had to end the way it did, it’s also good to know that he’s already contented with where he is now.

And for someone who had to make an extremely difficult decision, finding peace is what really matters.

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Lakers news: A lot has been said about the Los Angeles Lakers’ re-tooled roster as they have surrounded LeBron James with a well-rounded team that can do damage on both ends of the floor. And although head coach Frank Vogel sees the Purple and Gold’s offensive firepower, he would also like them to put the extra effort on defense.

But Vogel isn’t contented with the Lakers playing good on that end of the floor. He wants the team to play smash mouth defense on a nightly basis.

“You’re coming to play L.A. Lakers, you’re going to get hit. You’re going to get smashed in the mouth.”

Last season, the Lakers ranked 12th in the league in defensive efficiency, and Vogel expects that to improve this season, as the team was able to acquire several defensive-minded players during the offseason, including Anthony Davis, Dwight Howard, Danny Green, and Avery Bradley. Moreover, they also re-signed JaVale McGee, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Rajon Rondo.

“I love guys hitting the floor. We’re not playing hard enough if we’re not doing that, but obviously you don’t want to see anybody getting hurt. You know we got a lot of firepower offensively. But establish that defensive mindset of playing hard and playing tenacious and being physical. And on offense, just beginning to get organized and talking about the importance of playing for each other.”

The Lakers, who missed the playoffs for the sixth straight year last season, have a legitimate chance to not only break that streak, but also to contend for a championship. LeBron, Davis, and Kyle Kuzma are expected to play big roles for the team this season, as they attempt to lead LA to its first title since 2010.

There’s no question that the Lakers have the potential to be one of the best scoring teams in the league in 2019-20, but their individual and collective effort on defense will determine how far they’ll go into the season.

The Lakers’ roster is loaded with talent, and whether or not they can use that to their advantage will be up to them. The potential to be great is there, we’ll just have to see them prove it on the court for the next 10 months.

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Mavericks news: After winning back-to-back titles with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 and 2010, Lamar Odom was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 2011, a move which would jumpstart his career’s downfall.

Odom recently wrote an article for DMagazine, where he said he never wanted to be with the Mavericks, but he did everything he could to act as a professional during his time with the team.

“I was as professional and cordial as I could possibly be, but I was already planning my escape. I simply did not want to be in Dallas.”

One of the main reasons why Odom wanted the Mavericks to send him elsewhere is because of Mark Cuban, the team’s owner. The former Sixth Man of the Year winner said that he thought of hurting Cuban on multiple occasions because of the way he treated him.

“During one homestand, I was having possibly the worst game of the season. Head coach Rick Carlisle subbed me out, and I looked for a seat near the coaches, but none were available. So I went down to the only open seat at the end of the bench. Right next to Cuban.

Cuban extended his right foot and kicked my shin. … I was stunned. This wasn’t a tap. I felt it.

In an instant I was transported back to Linden Boulevard, where the slightest act of disrespect could be fatal. As I sprang up, Vince Carter, who was sitting next to me, grabbed my arm tightly and leaned in.”

This is something that wasn’t known by the public during Odom’s playing days with the Mavs. Cuban probably felt the lack of motivation in the veteran’s part, which resulted in him treating Odom the way he did.

In the summer of 2011, the Mavs finally decided to let go of Odom, who was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. The 39-year-old ex-NBA-er called his time in Dallas the worst part of his career.

“On June 29, the Mavericks dealt me to the Clippers as part of a four-team trade. At the very least, the worst chapter of my basketball life was over. But my downward spiral would only pick up steam. I was about to spin out of control.”

However, Odom wasn’t able to rejuvenate his career, as his personal issues got the best of him. He once tried to end his life through drug overdose. Fortunately, he was saved.

If Odom had just embraced his role with the Mavs, his NBA career would’ve ended differently. Who knows? He may still be in the league up to this point if he just decided to focus on playing basketball and not anything else. Then again, what’s done is done, and all he can do right now is to make sure that he’s always on the right track.

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NBA news: The summer of 2019 will be remembered as one of the wildest offseasons in league history as it saw the likes of Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Russell Westbrook, Anthony Davis, and Paul George move from one team to another. Over the past couple of years, there has been some concerns about the recent player movements as it has paved the way for superstars to team up with one another which obviously gives the franchises they choose to play for the advantage.

However, for Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen, the increased player movement around the NBA for the past several years is actually a good thing. In a recent episode of ESPN’s The Jump, he said that the players’ freedom to choose where they want to be creates balance.

“There are going to be good teams that still exist and be able to make a run, but the player movement, the freedom to change teams — I like it. I think sometimes it does hurt that franchise, but players have gotten traded and been hurt as well having to pack up and move their families to different cities, so the pain has been felt on both sides.

I think these players are not going to be frustrated, they’ve shown that they’re going to have more power in the game and be able to play in a comfortable situation.”

Pippen does have a valid point. Guys such as LeBron James and Durant have been heavily criticized for leaving the teams that drafted them in favor of franchises with already established All-Stars, but team owners get away easy whenever they decide to waive or trade players. At least now, NBA stars have more freedom to make their own decisions, and whether or not fans agree with whatever path they choose, there’s really nothing wrong with what they’re doing.

And winning isn’t the only reason why players decide to switch teams. For example, Kyrie Irving decided to leave the Boston Celtics because of the dustups he had with some of his former teammates. Kemba Walker chose not to re-sign with the Charlotte Hornets because he felt that he was underappreciated by the franchise. Bottomline is, players are now living in an era where finding the best situation for them and their careers has become equally important as success.

So expect the unexpected two years from now, as we could see yet another crazy summer with James, Durant, Leonard, and Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo headlining the free agent class of 2021.

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Nets news: A lot of fans were surprised by Kevin Durant’s decision to join the Brooklyn Nets as a free agent this summer. The two-time Finals MVP could’ve stayed with the Golden State Warriors, where he could’ve had a better shot at winning more championships.

Instead, KD decided to join forces with Kyrie Irving as they both committed long-term to the Nets. Durant said that he and Irving didn’t plan to team up. They just thought that taking their talents to Brooklyn would be the best choice for both of them career-wise.

“It’s not like we sat down and I said, ‘Kyrie, you’re my friend.’ It just kind of happened. Anything is possible in life. We both have mutual respect for somebody. I’ve been following him since high school. I’ve tried to follow him throughout his career. It’s very rare that you get to this point and have a decision in front of us where we can control our destinies. We sat down and talked about it and what basketball meant to us as a whole, and I think this is the perfect spot for us. It was one of those things that just kind of happened organically.”

Durant is expected to miss the entire 2019-20 season as he’s still recovering from the Achilles injury he suffered in last season’s NBA Finals. Still, Nets fans are optimistic about the franchise’s future, especially since they also have a bunch of young players who are bound to have breakout seasons. Spencer Dinwiddie, Caris LeVert, and Jarrett Allen all showed great promise last season, and if they will be able to take their game to the next level, Brooklyn could become one of the best teams in the league over the next five years.

It is true that we might have to wait for at least a year before we see KD and Kyrie on the court together, but it’s worth the wait for the Nets fans. Right now they just want to see how good the team will be this season, and once Durant returns, that’s when they’ll start thinking of winning championships.

Right now, it’s all about patience for the franchise, its fans, and most importantly, its players. They are trying to build a positive culture within the Nets organization, and everyone involved wants to make sure that they get things right.

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Thunder news: Veteran center Steven Adams is expected to play an even bigger role with the Oklahoma City Thunder now that the team’s longtime star Russell Westbrook is gone.

Westbrook was traded by the Thunder to the Houston Rockets a couple of months ago in exchange for Chris Paul. OKC, who failed to win a championship despite previously drafting three NBA MVPs, has officially hit the reset button.

Adams, who has been with the Thunder since he entered the league in 2013, understands that the team has no choice but to keep going after the Westbrook trade.

“Someone was there, and now they’re not. As morbid as this may sound, [it is] similar to someone passing away. But not like that. But you get the gist.You carry on, because life goes on, but little things come up, like a parking spot.”

Adams was there when the Thunder attempted to build a superteam following Kevin Durant’s departure from the team back in 2016. OKC successfully traded for Paul George and Carmelo Anthony that year, but things didn’t go the way they expected, as the team was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs twice over the last two years.

This prompted OKC’s front office to blow the roster up and start over, and even Adams’ future with the team seems uncertain. At 26 years old, the Thunder can trade him this season in order to acquire young talent and draft picks which will help their rebuild.

But Adams isn’t thinking about anything other than helping the Thunder be competitive. Last season, he averaged 13.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists while shooting an impressive 59 percent from the field, but now that Westbrook is no longer with the team, fans are expecting those numbers to go up, especially since Adams will still be playing alongside a solid point guard in CP3.

Adams said he now has to remind himself constantly that he’ll need to rebound more this season, something that he wasn’t able to do over the past couple of years because Westbrook was usually there to collect the boards. But things are different now. If the Thunder would want to make the playoffs, everyone on the roster will need to step up.

Adams knows this, and he’s already gearing up for one of the most important seasons of his career.

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NBA news: In the wake of the controversy surrounding the NBA and China, let us not forget that both parties once had a good relationship, and one of the main reasons for that is Yao Ming. The Hall of Famer paved the way for the league to enter China’s one billion strong market, and it also created opportunities for other Chinese basketball players to gain more recognition outside their home country.

Yao played eight seasons in the NBA, and although he was forced to retire at the age of 30 due to a series of injuries, his legacy was already cemented. He was one of the best big men in the NBA during the 2000s, and he’s one of the greatest international players of all-time.

However, did you know that Yao almost never made it to the NBA? Former league commissioner David Stern revealed that China initially didn’t want Ming to go to the US.

“China wasn’t going to allow him to come out of the country to play in the NBA. I remember meeting with the president of the Shanghai Sharks. And they were all trying to get a payment from the NBA to allow Yao to come over. I said, ‘We’re not paying anything. If he wants to come, and you want him to come, he’s welcome. And if you don’t, that’s OK, too.’

“But eventually they announced that he was able to come, and sure enough he was drafted No. 1 overall in the draft. … It was a pretty exciting time, because he became a bridge [to China].”

China’s decision to allow Yao to play in the NBA was a historic moment for the country, as he became the first-ever Chinese born player to be selected first-overall in the Draft. The Houston Rockets picked him in 2003, and he immediately became a global sensation. .

This momentous event also allowed the NBA to become the first American professional sports league to play in China, as the Rockets played a couple of preseason games there since they drafted Yao. Since then, the relationship between both parties kept growing.

And current league commissioner Adam Silver wants to patch things up and save the NBA’s partnership with China, even after everything that happened recently. He will meet with Yao, who is now the chairman of the Chinese Basketball League, in order to find settle their differences and re-establish the trust on both sides.

Hopefully, both China and the NBA will be able to move on from this, and that they will be able to continue working together, not only for their mutual benefits, but also for the millions of Chinese die-hard NBA fans.

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#NBANEWS #YAOMING

NBA news: Former Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade can’t help but be disappointed about the situation of his good friend Carmelo Anthony, who still hasn’t found a way to convince any team to sign him for the upcoming 2019-20 season.

“He’s a brother of mine and a great friend and I’m just very disappointed that he’s not in the NBA because he doesn’t deserve that as a person. Melo is one of the best individual people I know and a lot of people don’t know that because things that have been said about him in the past. Hopefully he gets an opportunity to be with a team this season because he has a lot to still offer the right team in the right role and the right situation. I want him to be able to end his career the way he wants to end it. He deserves that as someone who has carried the torch for this game and done so much for the league and Team USA in the Olympics. He deserves better than this.”

Over the past couple of years, Melo has built a reputation of him not wanting to accept a reduced role. Although he’s still a very talented player at age 35, teams have distanced themselves from him because of the league-wide perception that he’s just going to be a distraction in the locker room.

Even the US men’s national basketball team, which Anthony helped win three Olympic Gold medals, refused to give him a roster spot in the recently concluded FIBA World Cup, held in China in September. That speaks volumes as to how problematic he is in the eyes of a lot of people, particularly team owners and officials.

Still, Wade believes that Melo deserves a chance to be in the NBA, but what does he really want for his Banana boat brother?

“The place that wants him. The place that’s going to allow him to be Melo and understand that he still can play the game of basketball. Definitely want to see him get back into the league. But you also want to see him get back to a place where they can allow Melo to play the game he loves the way that Melo can.”

Just like Wade, we’re all hoping that we’d get to see Melo back in court soon.

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#NBANEWS #DWYANEWADE

Team USA news: The US men’s national basketball team had a disappointing campaign in the FIBA World Cup, bowing out in the quarterfinals and ending up in the seventh place. USA Basketball executive Jerry Colangelo admits that with the success that the Americans had in the international scene over the past decade, losing in the World Cup is something that will bother him for a long time.

Now, Team USA will shift its focus on the 2020 Olympics, which will be held in Tokyo, Japan. It is expected that the NBA’s best players will compete to make the official roster, but Colangelo might not favor those who backed out from playing in the FIBA World Cup during the process of selecting the Olympic team, per his interview with NBC Sports.

“Going forward for USA Basketball, we’re going to need the cooperation of teams, agents and then there has to be communication with players 1-on-1 to solidify those commitments. I am going to be anxious to see how many players reach out early to indicate that they wish and want and desire to play. But I’ll make this statement: It’s as much about maybe who we don’t want as much as who we want.”

Some of the players who chose not to play in the FIBA World Cup despite committing to the team a few months before the tournament are Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis, Houston Rockets’ James Harden, Portland Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard, and Washington Wizards’ Bradley Beal. All of them actually had the same reason for backing out, and that is so that they can focus on their respective teams’ campaign for the 2019-20 NBA season.

If these guys end up not making the Olympic team next year, at least fans have an idea why. Still, even without these four All-Stars, Team USA is still capable of assembling a world-class team for the tournament. In fact, one player had already made it known that he wants to play for the team in 2020, and that's Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors. Over the next couple of months, expect guys like LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Russell Westbrook, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, Kyrie Irving, and Paul George to commit to Team USA as well.

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#NBANEWS #TEAMUSANEWS

Warriors news: Klay Thompson, currently recovering from the ACL injury he suffered in last season’s NBA Finals, believes that the Golden State Warriors are still going to be good this season.

The Warriors lost a lot of key players last summer as they have decided to trade Kevin Durant and Andre Iguodala. Moreover, Thompson isn’t expected to return at least until late March or early April next year. Still, Klay believes that Golden State has done enough in terms of retooling their roster, and that’s one of the reasons why he’s excited for their 2019-20 campaign.

“It’s going to be fun, and I love the dudes we got. We’ve got a young team. I’m excited for D’Angelo (Russell), for him to come to a winner. I’m excited for Willie Cauley-Stein, who is super talented and I know he’s hungry. I’m excited for Loon (Kevon Looney). He’s coming into his own. I’m seeing him in Japan running camps and stuff and that man might’ve spoken 30 words in the last four years. To see him leading drills and teaching and coming into his own, I can see the confidence he has.”

“I’m just excited, man. Obviously, we know Steph and Dray and me. Jordan (Poole) is talented. I watched him in Summer League. He’s got skills. It will be fun.”

And while Thompson admitted that he’ll miss playing with Durant, Iguodala, and even Shaun Livingston, he’s already accepted that those players are no longer with the team and that he has to focus on helping the current squad.

Klay is still in the early stages of his ACL rehab, and that he doesn’t want to rush his return. He understands how pivotal his role will be for the Warriors in the playoffs, so he wants to make sure that he’s 100 percent ready when he returns.

Most NBA mock drafts predict that the Warriors would head into the playoffs as the fifth or sixth seed, but that they wouldn’t be able to get past the second round. Thompson is well-aware that the media and the fans are already counting them out, and he’s totally cool with that, because he’s confident with what his teammates can do on both ends of the floor.

“That’s fine. That’s sports. I don’t just think we’re going to be nice this year. I think we’ve got a five-year window. We’re still so young, man. People get lost thinking, “Oh, they’re 30 now.” I feel younger than ever.”

For the first time in quite a long time, the Dubs aren’t the favorites to win the title, but for Thompson and his teammates, they can just look back at what they were able to accomplish during the 2014-15 season, when they shocked the basketball world and made an impressive championship run.

And Golden State will definitely use that as motivation to prove their doubters wrong.

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#NBANEWS #WARRIORSNEWS

Nets news: The Brooklyn Nets had arguably the biggest offseasons in the history of the franchise as they have added superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in free agency. Adding those two to the young core of Spencer Dinwiddie, Caris LeVert, and Jarrett Allen definitely makes them one of the most intriguing teams not only this season, but also in the foreseeable future.

But as promising as they are, Irving doesn’t want to give Nets fans false hope. The All-Star guard doesn’t want to promise that Brooklyn will be a championship team.

“We’re here to build. I’m not saying we’re a championship team right now, we’re not going to say this is what it’s going to be going forward. We’re just here to observe one another, care for one another and be here to enjoy playing basketball. But first and foremost is our family. I think sometimes that can get confused in this league about who we are as human beings. I’m always going to be an advocate for that, and (the Nets) are advocates that we’re humans first and then we’re basketball players.”

At first glance, this sounds discouraging, as the main reason why the Nets signed Irving and Durant is so that they can compete for a championship. But, Kyrie already knows this. He also knows the fact that KD might not play at all this season, so it’s better to set realistic expectations rather than make bold predictions that could backfire at the end of the season.

Durant is still rehabbing from the Achilles injury he suffered in last season’s NBA Finals, and while there are rumors that he could return in time before the playoffs, the best scenario for the Nets is to not allow him to play at all this season, so that he’ll have more time to recover and be prepared for Brooklyn’s multiple championship runs.

KD and Kyrie are signed with the Nets for the next four years, which means that the window of opportunity is very much wide open for them to compete for titles. At this point, Irving just wants to teach the younger guys on the team how to play elite-level basketball.

Then, once Durant returns to full strength, that’s when Irving and co. will shift their focus to the biggest prize in the NBA; the Larry O’Brien trophy.

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#NBANETS #NETSNEWS

Bulls news: Jim Boylen is entering his second season as the head coach of the Chicago Bulls, and after a horrendous 2018-19 campaign, he wants to make sure that the team will improve this season.

Boylen wants the Bulls to play better defensively, which is something they were not able to do last season. Chicago was 25th in the league in terms of defensive efficiency, and one of the reasons why is the fact that they were not able to take good care of the ball. They were 19th in the league with 14.1 per game.

The veteran coach understands that limiting their turnovers will lead to better defensive executions, which is something that they need to work on this season.

“Are we going to be a rock ‘em, sock ‘em Charles Oakley, Hakeem Olajuwon type like the (1994 Knicks and ) ’94-’95 Rockets? We are not. But we have to be better. How? Your offense dictates your defense, too. You can’t turn the ball over and have people running the other way. We can’t take plays off. Last season we had guys take plays off.”

Boylen wants the Bulls’ defense to represent the city of Chicago and the history of the franchise. He also took a shot at the LA teams for not really putting the effort to focus their attention on defense.

“I just want us to compete every play for the city, for the heritage and the history of the Bulls. People look at me when I say that like I am a complete dummy. I think it matters. I think we have to play harder for the city. We have a tough city. We’re not in LA. They don’t talk about defense in LA; they don’t. Here when you give up a layup the whole crowd is like, ‘oh.’ The air comes out.”

The Bulls have a lot of young talent on their roster, and at this point, it is safe to say that they’re not good enough to hang with the best teams in the league. However, if they will be able to play good defense all season long, they might pull upsets from time to time.

But Boylen doesn’t want to rely on luck. He wants the Bulls to work hard every night, no matter what the outcome of the games will be. He wants his players to repay the fans by giving their 100 percent whenever they’re on the court, especially when they’re playing at home.

The expectations for the Bulls might not be so high, but their fans still want to see them do their best.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Chicago Bulls news and updates.

#NBANEWS #BULLSNEWS

Rockets news: A lot of people are pessimistic about the partnership of Jamaes Harden and Russell Westbrook in Houston, with most of them saying that they wouldn’t be able to co-exist because they are both ball-dominant players. However, Brodie has made it clear that he’s willing to adjust for the benefit of the team.

Westbrook was traded to the Rockets a couple of months ago after the Oklahoma City Thunder decided that it’s finally time to hit the reset button. The former NBA MVP averaged a triple-double for the past three seasons, and that streak could be broken that that he’s about to play with Harden.

But Westbrook says he’s perfectly fine with that, as he believes that he can still help the Rockets win games even without the ball in his hands.

“I don’t have to have the ball to impact the game. I don’t have to score, I don’t have to do anything. I can defend, I can rebound, I can pass, I can lead. Our main goal, main focus, is to win. I can go be scoreless, and if we win, that’s the best thing that ever happened. That’s all I cared about, and that’s all I ever cared about.”

Westbrook added that he no longer needs to prove himself to anyone anymore, and that his main focus is helping Harden and the Rockets win a championship.

“When it comes to me and James playing together, who’s going to have the ball, who’s not going to have the ball, it really doesn’t matter. I don’t have to prove I can score 30 points. I’ve done that before. I don’t have to prove to average 10 assists. I’ve done that before. I don’t have to prove to get 10, 11 rebounds. I’ve done that before. My goal is to win a championship, so whatever it takes to do that, that’s what I’m going to do.”

With Westbrook on board, the Rockets have two of the league’s most explosive guards who can both pad the stats sheet and get their teammates involved. Brodie already played with Harden back when they were in OKC, so he probably knows how to share the ball with him.

But will Westbrook be okay with the fact that Harden is the alpha male on the team? We’ll just have to wait and see to find out.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Houston Rockets news and updates.

#NBANEWS #ROCKETSNEWS

Sixers news: Former NBA All-Star Elton Brand has done a pretty good job as the general manager of the Philadelphia 76ers. This summer, he was able to build a solid roster that’s expected to be one of the best in the league.

So he has the right to be confident about the team’s chances of winning the championship this season.

“I think what we’ve done is put in place the championship DNA, in order to be a contending team for years to come.”

The Sixers already have Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons as the franchise’s primary cornerstones, but Brand needed to surround them with players who can compete at a high level, and that’s what he was able to accomplish in the offseason. Although Philadelphia lost Jimmy Butler in a trade with the Miami Heat, they were able to acquire promising young star Josh Richardson. The team also added veteran forward Al Horford and re-signed sharpshooting big man Tobias Harris to a five-year deal.

Overall, Brand is proud of what he’s able to accomplish and that he’s excited to see how good the team will be this season.

Last season, the Sixers finished with a 51-31 record, good for third place in the Eastern Conference standings. They made quick work of the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the playoffs. Unfortunately, they lost to the eventual NBA champions Toronto Raptors in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals behind a series-clinching buzzer beater from Kawhi Leonard.

Embiid’s injuries and Harris’ struggles on the offensive end doomed the Sixers against the Raptors, but they’ve already moved on from what happened and are ready to begin the next chapter of their story.

On paper, Philly is one of the best defensive teams in the league. Their starting line-up of Embiid, Horford, Harris, Richardson, and Simmons are also projected to be one of the tallest in the NBA. If they will be able to find their rhythm early in the season, they will be a huge problem for a lot of the opposing teams.

But once again, health will play a major role in determining whether or not the Sixers will succeed this season, which is why Brand is also planning to be more involved in making medical decisions about the team’s players.

If the Sixers will remain at full strength for the majority of the season and if Simmons, Harris, and Richardson can take their game to another level, it’s hard to imagine anyone from the East beating them in a seven-game series.

Brand believes that every member of the Sixers’ roster is determined to win the title. All he wants to see now is how good they will be on the floor, and at this point, they seem to be very promising.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Philadelphia 76ers news and updates.

#NBANEWS #SIXERSNEWS

Lakers news: After trading for All-Star forward Anthony Davis back in June, the Los Angeles Lakers shifted their focus in going after Kawhi Leonard in free agency.

They were attempting to build the NBA’s next superteam, and AD himself thought that the Purple and Gold had a really good shot at landing the reigning Finals MVP.

“I don’t really know Kawhi like that — I don’t think no one really knows Kawhi like that. But obviously we were hopeful. I definitely thought that it was a possibility that we could get him… I’m not going to be a haggling guy. Especially when he came and said he didn’t really like the media [attention] and people pressuring him.

But I think there was a time where all of us felt like we were really, really close to getting Kawhi.”

Davis added that he and his teammates were already thinking of the possibilities had the Lakers signed Leonard.

“I think it [has] always been about the Big Three, We were talking like, ‘Man, we get Kawhi, man, this is what we can do. We can do it like this, this, this, this.'”

During the first week of free agency, a lot of people, including credible members of the media, believed that the Lakers were the frontrunners to sign Leonard. But everyone was stunned when he decided to join the Los Angeles Clippers, the team that was also able to trade another All-Star in Paul George.

With Kawhi and PG joining the Clippers, there has been a lot of talk about the potential LA rivalry, as they share Staples Center with the Lakers, the more prominent and beloved team in the city. Many people believe that the Clips are the favorites to win the NBA championship this season, but the Lakers aren’t going to be pushovers compared to the past six years.

The Lakers will be parading a roster led by four-time MVP LeBron James, as well as Davis, who’s starting to become one of the best basketball players in the world. At 26 years old, he’s one of the most skilled big men in the league, and with a roster filled with veterans with high basketball IQ, the Purple and Gold will be ready to go toe-to-toe with the NBA’s best.

And Davis is confident that they can succeed, even without Kawhi.

“‘We [still] got LeBron and Anthony Davis. Let’s do it.'”

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Los Angeles Lakers news and updates.

#NBANEWS #LAKERSNEWS

Cavaliers news: The 2019-20 season has officially started for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and despite their 94-85 loss to the Orlando Magic on opening night, there were still some positives takeaways from the game.

One of which is Kevin Love, who finished with 11 points and a whopping 18 rebounds. Over the past year, there has been talk about the potential of the 31-year-old being traded as the Cavs continue to rebuild. Love is aware of these rumors, but he made it clear that he wants to stay in Cleveland.

“I do want to be here. I always have. I say that knowing it’s the NBA and it’s a business. I think especially after seeing last year, the summer leading up to last year and this summer, the changeover is like unprecedented so you don’t know what is going to happen.”

Last season, Love signed a four-year, $120 million extension. Unfortunately, he only played in 22 games because of injuries. The former All-Star said that he’s fine if the front office will decide to trade him, but so far, there has been no discussions between his camp and team officials about his future.

“My time in Cleveland could eventually come,” Love said. “I know it’s been the talk every single year, but I’ve gotten — I’m not going to say comfortable because comfortable is the wrong word — but I feel comfortable here. I love where I live, I’ve embraced you guys, I’ve embraced the city and the fans, but at the end of the day, given a long-enough timeline, who you work for or somebody you work for will eventually change up and turn.

“If they decide to go completely young … and that could be the case, but it’s funny, my agent didn’t call me one time this summer to say, ‘Hey, you’re getting traded, there’s talks that this is happening.’ Of course, somehow it’s still out there and people are talking about, ‘Oh, Kevin would be great here or great there.’ I just keep it moving and try to do right by these guys because we have a good group.”

Love has embraced the role of being the veteran leader for the Cavaliers, who several young prospects on the team. He plans to continue taking them under his wing moving forward, and he will continue to do everything that he can for the franchise he once helped win a championship.

“I know whether it’s the next four, six or seven years here or whether it’s the next four months, I’m just going to be me and continue to give it all I can. I really do think, especially with (John Beilein), I can get a lot better.”

At this point, the Cavaliers can still get some significant assets if they ship Love somewhere else. He’s still capable of providing decent numbers, just like what he showed against the Magic. There will also be several teams who will be interested in acquiring him, so Cleveland has to make a decision soon.

Is Love a part of their long-term future or not?

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Cleveland Cavaliers news and updates.

#NBANEWS #CAVSNEWS

Bucks news: Reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo determined to get better as a leader for the Milwaukee Bucks this season.

After a heartbreaking loss in the 2019 Eastern Conference Finals, Giannis Antetokounmpo knows he has something to prove with the Milwaukee Bucks this season.

The Greek Freak is pretty much confident with who he is as a player. After all, he won the 2018-19 MVP award against tough competition from Houston Rockets superstar James Harden. However, he acknowledged that he has plenty of room for improvement -- especially as a leader.

“Mostly, you just gotta be more vocal. You gotta lead by example. You gotta be able to accept criticism by your coach, by your teammates, and be OK with it. That’s what a leader does,” Antetokounmpo said. “I know that my team knows who I am. They trust me. They know I’m going to put my body and everything I have on the line for this team. By doing that, everything else will take care of itself.”

Antetokounmpo added that while the Bucks’ primary goal is to win a championship, they need to focus on what they need to do right now rather than look too far in the future.

“We are going to have the same hunger, but what I want to say is: the Eastern Conference Finals, I’m not going to lie, it’s like six, seven months away from now. It’s about tomorrow. It’s about how can we get better tomorrow.”

Unlike the past five years, the NBA looks like an even playing field this season, as half of the teams in the league have a legitimate shot at winning the championship.

The Bucks are one of the top favorites to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy, but they might find it more difficult to win games this season compared to the previous one.

Most of the contenders have significantly upgraded their rosters in preparation for this campaign. The Bucks didn’t make a big splash this summer, though in reality, they didn’t have to.

Milwaukee has one of the five best players in the world in Giannis, and they have provided him with a great supporting cast as well.

In fact, they just showed everyone just how good they are in their showdown against the revamped Houston Rockets, a team that paraded two former MVPs in Harden and Russell Westbrook. The Bucks still won 117-111 behind Antetokounmpo’s triple-double of 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists.

From this point forward, every game counts, and it’s time for the Bucks to prove that last season was no fluke. It’s time for Giannis to show the rest of the opposition why he’s the reigning MVP.

So far, they’re off to a good start.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Milwaukee Bucks news and updates.

#NBANEWS #BUCKSNEWS

Nuggets news: A lot of people are expecting great things from Nikola Jokic this season. After an impressive 2018-19 campaign which saw him lead the Denver Nuggets to the second-best record in the West, he’s now widely recognized as some of the league’s best players, and to some, it is only a matter of time before he starts competing for the MVP award.

But Jokic has no intentions of going after the MVP honors, as he prefers to help the Nuggets win rather than chase an individual accolade.

“It’s not something you chase personally. I just work to get wins, that’s the most important thing.”

The seven-foot All-Star added that he’s not setting any personal goals because it creates unnecessary pressure, and he doesn’t want that kind of distraction.

“I never have goals just because I think goals, they make you feel pressure, make you feel nervous, stress, whatever, like if I don’t make it I’m going to die,” the Serbian big man said. “I just go out there and try to win it, game, practice, a set, even in the weight room.”

Although he’s starting to make a name for himself in the NBA, Jokic remains one of the humbest guys in the league. Even when he received the news of people saying that he’s the face of the Nuggets, he refused to take all the credit and said that his teammates also helped bring Denver to where it is now.

“I think the media and guys outside of basketball put me in front of the team. Denver Nuggets is team basketball. There are no individuals. We are winning and losing as a team. It’s not me or anybody in front of the team.”

The Nuggets are one of the favorites to win the NBA championship this year, and Jokic is the biggest reason behind that. As the 2019-20 season progresses, we’ll see how well the team measures up to some of the NBA’s top contenders, and we’ll see if Jokic can raise his game to yet another level.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Denver Nuggets news and updates.

#NBANEWS #NUGGETSNEWS

1Suns news: Veteran point guard Ricky Rubio is coming off an impressive stint in the FIBA World Cup wherein he successfully led the Spanish national men’s basketball team to a gold medal finish. Now, he wants to keep the momentum going as he intends to make a positive impact with the Phoenix Suns.

Rubio signed a three-year, $51 million deal to join the Suns this summer, and he confidently declared that fans will see him play at him play the best basketball years of his career over the next couple of seasons.

“I’m fully expecting to play the best game, the best play of my career in these next two or three years. I’m going to hit my prime mentally and physically and I’ve been working super hard for that.”

Even before Rubio led Spain to the World Cup title, he’s already claiming that he’s in his prime, and given his performance in the Suns’ 124-95 win against the Sacramento Kings (he put up 11 points, six rebounds, and 11 assists), there’s no reason why Suns fans shouldn’t be excited about him.

Suns assistant coach Steve Blake is a fan of the Rubio signing, and he’s excited to see how well the Spanish star will make his teammates better.

“Ricky Rubio is an ultimate point guard, pass-first guy that’s gonna create and make guys have fun when they’re on the court.”

But Rubio didn’t join the Suns just to prove himself. He also wants to help the younger guys on the team take their game to the next level, particularly Devin Booker.

“I want to see how good a scorer he is, and how good a player he has been. And if there are some areas where I can help [Booker] become an All Star, I will try to do that too.”

Rubio has had a steady NBA career, and while it is unlikely for him to become an All-Star, he’s still one of the best pure point guards in the league. Only time will tell if he will indeed have a career season in Phoenix, but his confidence alone should already tell you that he intends to help make the Suns become a better team.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Phoenix Suns news and updates.

#NBANEWS #SUNSNEWS

Clippers news: The 2018-19 season has officially begun and fans were able to get a glimpse of some of the league’s top contenders. One of the biggest storylines this year is the formation of superstar duos around the league, highlighted by the Los Angeles Clippers’ acquisition of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.

And for George, super tandems are the new dynamic for this generation’s NBA..

“Everybody was looking for a Big Three. It didn’t work for a lot of teams, so now this is a new dynamic for the new generation of this league.”

George was traded by the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Clippers this summer after the All-Star forward finally decided that he wanted to come home. And while he’s still a couple of weeks away from making his much-anticipated debut with his new team, a lot has been said about the Clips being the favorites to win the championship this year.

But it wasn’t long ago when superstars recruited two other players in the same level as they are to form a superteam. The 2008 Boston Celtics and the 2010 Miami Heat were two of the pioneers of the Big Three era, and while PG acknowledges their contributions and accomplishments, he admits that he likes the idea of teams building around two stars.

“I think what Boston did was special. I think what Miami did was special. But I think it goes back to you have two guys that are the guys and then you have a group around them that supports them to the highest level, and that foundation is around a lot of guys in this league.”

It will be interesting to see if the NBA will continue with this two-superstar-per-franchise craze or not. History shows that every decade, a superteam has always dominated the league. In fact, one could argue that a blockbuster trade could turn one of these Big Twos into a Big Three. So we’ll just have to wait and see what happens moving forward.

But for someone like George, competition matters, and playing in a league where majority of the contenders have a legitimate shot at winning the title is what will keep him motivated all season long.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Los Angeles Clippers news and updates.

#NBANEWS #CLIPPERSNEWS

Suns news: Veteran point guard Ricky Rubio is coming off an impressive stint in the FIBA World Cup wherein he successfully led the Spanish national men’s basketball team to a gold medal finish. Now, he wants to keep the momentum going as he intends to make a positive impact with the Phoenix Suns.

Rubio signed a three-year, $51 million deal to join the Suns this summer, and he confidently declared that fans will see him play at him play the best basketball years of his career over the next couple of seasons.

“I’m fully expecting to play the best game, the best play of my career in these next two or three years. I’m going to hit my prime mentally and physically and I’ve been working super hard for that.”

Even before Rubio led Spain to the World Cup title, he’s already claiming that he’s in his prime, and given his performance in the Suns’ 124-95 win against the Sacramento Kings (he put up 11 points, six rebounds, and 11 assists), there’s no reason why Suns fans shouldn’t be excited about him.

Suns assistant coach Steve Blake is a fan of the Rubio signing, and he’s excited to see how well the Spanish star will make his teammates better.

“Ricky Rubio is an ultimate point guard, pass-first guy that’s gonna create and make guys have fun when they’re on the court.”

But Rubio didn’t join the Suns just to prove himself. He also wants to help the younger guys on the team take their game to the next level, particularly Devin Booker.

“I want to see how good a scorer he is, and how good a player he has been. And if there are some areas where I can help [Booker] become an All Star, I will try to do that too.”

Rubio has had a steady NBA career, and while it is unlikely for him to become an All-Star, he’s still one of the best pure point guards in the league. Only time will tell if he will indeed have a career season in Phoenix, but his confidence alone should already tell you that he intends to help make the Suns become a better team.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Phoenix Suns news and updates.

#NBANEWS #SUNSNEWS

Spurs news: San Antonio Spurs legend Manu Ginobili has left fans with tons of memorable highlights, from fancy layups to clutch baskets that helped the franchise win four NBA titles. The future Hall of Famer decided to call it a career in 2016, and there is no denying that his number will soon be hung in the rafters of the AT&T Center.

But did you know that Ginobili almost died in 2004? Yes, the Argentinian star revealed that he was involved in a car accident that almost ended his life that year.

“In 2004… during my honeymoon, I got a car in the front of me that passed a truck on a curve. I threw myself on the shoulder and began to skid. I could have killed someone. I could have slammed against a tree. I could fallen on a cliff or hit the driver head on. There would have been no Olympic games. There was no more career. It was a flip of the coin in the air. Luck.”

The NBA has seen several careers cut short by accidents, including Drazen Petrovic, Len Bias, and Malik Sealy. Ginobili was fortunate enough to survive and he went on to have a great career with the Spurs.

Ginobili averaged 13.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 1,057 games with the Spurs. He made the All-Star team two times and won the 2008 Sixth Man of the Year Award. He’s also widely recognized as one of the greatest non-American NBA players of all-time. We were fortunate enough to see him play, whether we liked San Antonio or not.

The Spurs built their dynasty around Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Ginobili. They each had a ton of contribution in the franchise’s success. Without them, who knows how good San Antonio will be?

There’s still one icon that remains with the Spurs, and that is head coach Gregg Popovich, who recently set the record for the longest tenure in coaching one franchise. Once Pop is gone, it will officially be the end of an era in San Antonio.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest San Antonio Spurs news and updates.

Spurs news: San Antonio Spurs legend Manu Ginobili has left fans with tons of memorable highlights, from fancy layups to clutch baskets that helped the franchise win four NBA titles. The future Hall of Famer decided to call it a career in 2016, and there is no denying that his number will soon be hung in the rafters of the AT&T Center.

But did you know that Ginobili almost died in 2004? Yes, the Argentinian star revealed that he was involved in a car accident that almost ended his life that year.

“In 2004… during my honeymoon, I got a car in the front of me that passed a truck on a curve. I threw myself on the shoulder and began to skid. I could have killed someone. I could have slammed against a tree. I could fallen on a cliff or hit the driver head on. There would have been no Olympic games. There was no more career. It was a flip of the coin in the air. Luck.”

The NBA has seen several careers cut short by accidents, including Drazen Petrovic, Len Bias, and Malik Sealy. Ginobili was fortunate enough to survive and he went on to have a great career with the Spurs.

Ginobili averaged 13.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 1,057 games with the Spurs. He made the All-Star team two times and won the 2008 Sixth Man of the Year Award. He’s also widely recognized as one of the greatest non-American NBA players of all-time. We were fortunate enough to see him play, whether we liked San Antonio or not.

The Spurs built their dynasty around Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Ginobili. They each had a ton of contribution in the franchise’s success. Without them, who knows how good San Antonio will be?

There’s still one icon that remains with the Spurs, and that is head coach Gregg Popovich, who recently set the record for the longest tenure in coaching one franchise. Once Pop is gone, it will officially be the end of an era in San Antonio.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest San Antonio Spurs news and updates.

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Cavaliers news: It has only been two years since the Cleveland Cavaliers snapped their NBA Finals streak to four, as their superstar back then, LeBron James, chose to leave and join the Los Angeles Lakers. Still, they had a memorable title run back in 2016, and Kevin Durant was quick to recognize how great that team was.

Durant was asked to rank the worst losses of his career, and in his answer, he said that blowing a 3-1 lead against the 2016 Golden State Warriors team wasn’t part of his top five.

“It doesn’t rank in the top five. I mean, we lost Game 2 at home in 2012 to Miami — that was a tough loss. We lost Game 5 against Memphis at home. It was a 2-2 series, and they went up 3-2. Those are tough losses to me.”

However, KD did admit that he felt that the Oklahoma City Thunder had the momentum back in 2016, especially after they eliminated the 67-win San Antonio Spurs in the second round of the playoffs. The two-time Finals MVP thought that his Thunder had the chance to face the Cavs in the Finals, the team he dubbed as the best in the league that year.

“I really, really, really felt like we had an opportunity, we had some momentum. We were playing against a 73-win team in the Warriors and the Spurs, who were a 67-win team that year. And then the Cavs were the best team in the league — the most talented team. So I’m like, ‘Wow, an uphill climb. Let’s see what we can do.'”

The Warriors also blew a 3-1 series lead against the Cavaliers in the Finals, and after losing the title, Golden State signed Durant in the offseason. This allowed the Dubs to win two straight championships at Cleveland’s expense.

2016 was indeed a great year for the Cavaliers and the city of Cleveland. Although the team is rebuilding right now, what they’ve done during that year will forever be remembered as one of the greatest moments in the history of sports. Only time will tell if the Cavs can replicate that success in the near future. They have a couple of young pieces to build around in Colin Sexton and Darius Garland, and if both guys turn out to be superstars, they might be able to compete for a championship sooner than what most people expect.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Cleveland Cavaliers news and updates.

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Pelicans news: The deadline to re-sign players on rookie contracts to extensions has passed and one of the most notable players who didn’t get a deal done with his team is Brandon Ingram.

The former second-overall pick was part of the trade package sent by the Los Angeles Lakers to the New Orleans Pelicans this summer in exchange for All-NBA forward Anthony Davis. Ingram is coming off a career-threatening injury last season as he was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT). A blood clot was found in his shooting arm and he needed surgery to remove it. The procedure was a success and now, BI is back on the playing court.

In five games this season, BI has averaged 26.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. He’s also shooting the ball very well with a 51 percent clip from the field, including 50 percent from beyond the arc.

Given these numbers, why didn’t the Pelicans re-sign Ingram? There are several possible reasons. But the 22-year-old forward doesn’t seem too focused on thinking about his future.

“I grew up playing basketball. I never thought about how much money I was going to get in the league. “I always just said, ‘I just want to play basketball.’ I think everything is going to handle itself out. Me and Griff [David Griffin, Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations] have had conversations and I just came off a major injury that could have taken me out for the rest of my life, which was a blood clot.”

Pelicans General Manager David Griffin knows that Ingram is a special player, but he probably needed to know how well BI will play after the injury. If he can sustain these numbers for the rest of the season, he’ll definitely get a massive pay raise next summer, when he will become a restricted free agent.

The Pelicans are playing without their prized rookie Zion Williamson, who’s expected to be out for six to eight weeks with a knee injury. As unfortunate as this is, it’s also a great opportunity for Ingram to show what he can do. A lot of people believe he’s been held back during his time with the Lakers and that he’s bound for a breakout season in New Orleans.

And now is his time to shine.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest New Orleans Pelicans news and updates.

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Nets news: Kevin Durant is expected to miss the entire 2019-20 season while recovering from a torn Achilles he suffered in Game 5 of the NBA Finals last season when he was still a member of the Golden State Warriors. There have been ongoing debates on whether KD should have returned in series, especially since he was still dealing with a strained right calf which he suffered in the Western Conference semifinals against the Houston Rockets.

The two-time Finals MVP has stated on multiple occasions that no one from the Warriors pressured him to return, and he’s saying it again.

“Like I told somebody before — Rick Celebrini, it was him and I every day just working, building. It was more than just rehab with him and I, it was a tight relationship that I formed with him through that time. There was nobody else in my ear, none of my teammates said anything to me. I’m one of the best players on the team, I’m sure when we’re losing in The Finals, I’m sure in the back of their minds they’re wondering when I’m going to come back to play — but nobody said anything to me.”

The Warriors were down 3-1 to the Toronto Raptors in the Finals when KD declared that he’d return to action in Game 5. He immediately made his presence felt by scoring 11 points in the first 14 minutes of the game, but then he went down on a non-contact play. He was seen leaving Scotiabank Arena on crutches and less than 24 hours later, it was announced that he suffered a torn Achilles.

Durant then left the Warriors to join the Brooklyn Nets this offseason, ending his brief three-year run with the Warriors. There have been conflicting reports on whether he will be able to return for the Nets in the playoffs, but with what happened to him last season, it would be wise for Brooklyn to let him fully recover.

The Nets aren’t good enough to win the championship without Durant. Although Kyrie Irving is one of the best players in the league, he has yet to prove himself as someone who can carry a franchise on his own. But once KD returns next season, Brooklyn will start competing for championships.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Brooklyn Nets news and updates.

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Pelicans news: Brandon Ingram’s tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers has ended and he’s beginning a new chapter in his career with the New Orleans Pelicans. The former second-overall pick has been impressive so far this season, putting up 26.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in five games with his new team.

It wasn’t long ago when BI was being dubbed as the Lakers’ next superstar, especially when he was able to average close to 20 points per game while playing alongside four-time MVP LeBron James. The Purple and Gold actually had a nice start into the 2018-19 season, but injuries and trade rumors derailed their campaign and they ended up missing the playoffs.

Ingram shared his thoughts on what happened to the Lakers last season, and he said that a lot of their struggles happened because they were thinking of things that had nothing to do with playing basketball.

“People get caught up about thinking outside of basketball and what comes with it. L.A. wasn’t too fast for me. But we, the team, got caught up with all the extras that come with outside of basketball.”

The Lakers have always been known as a franchise that’s surrounded with drama, whether they’re competing for a championship or not. Last season was no different. A lot of people believe that the trade rumors that made it waves on social media impacted some of the players on that team, but BI said he wasn’t one of them.

“I had good people around me. I had a coach, [former Lakers assistant coach] Brian Keefe, who stayed on me all the time. I had a weight room trainer who stayed on me all the time. I just had good people around me. They would tell me to keep going. No matter what is going on, keep going.”

“I just take stuff differently. Trade rumors, whatever, I always know it is a business. To be in trade rumors, that means someone wants me in this league. I just continue to play hard. I have a routine that I meet every day. I know it was a process and I was going to get there. The process helped get me to where I wanted to be before the injury. I was on the up-and-up, I got hurt. But now I am in a good situation. Everything happens for a reason.

Ingram did keep playing until he was diagnosed with a blood clot in his shooting arm, which was removed after a successful surgery last March. After he was cleared to play, he immediately showed up and became one of the Pelicans’ best players.

But if Ingram has any takeaways during his time with the Lakers, it’s everything he learned while playing with a guy like LeBron.

“Just learning what it takes to be great. Just taking advantage of different situations on how can I be effective off the basketball. Off the ball. On the ball. Playing different positions.”
Ingram is no longer in the bright lights of LA, but he has a great opportunity to shine with the Pelicans. Now, he’s ready to take his game to a different level in New Orleans, and so far, he’s off to a good start.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest New Orleans Pelicans news and updates.

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Warriors news: Stephen Curry is highly regarded as one of the NBA’s greatest players. Not only did he successfully lead the Golden State Warriors to three championships, but he is also the main reason why the style of play in the league has changed significantly over the past five years. One could say that he revolutionized the game of basketball.

In everyone’s eyes, Curry is a sure-fire Hall of Fame.

Well, except if you ask Michael Jordan.

In a recent interview, MJ said that he believes Steph isn’t a Hall of Famer just yet, despite everything that he’s done for the NBA. Curry responded to the Jordan’s comments, saying that he has no issues with what the basketball great said.

“I love MJ. That’s my guy. He’s obviously, he’s the G.O.A.T. but I don’t know if it was a wordsmith thing or if he just kinda got in his own way but I’m sure if you ask him that question now, like straight up, does he think I’m getting in there, he probably would have a different answer. If you put the ‘…yet,’ then I’m cool with that.”

In his 11-year NBA career, Curry has averaged 23.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.6 assists in 698 games for the Warriors. He’s won the league MVP twice, and he’s third on the all-time list for 3-pointers made, trailing only Reggie Miller and Ray Allen. It’s hard to believe why someone wouldn’t consider Steph a Hall of Famer, especially with all these accomplishments, but to each his own opinion, right?

Maybe Jordan wants Curry to win the Finals MVP first. After all, that’s something that he has failed to achieve in the Warriors’ three title wins. However, accomplishing that feat may be easier said than done this season and beyond, as the Dubs are no longer as invincible as they used to.

Golden State lost two-time Finals MVP Kevin Durant, who decided to join the Brooklyn Nets. They are also expected to miss the services of Klay Thompson for the majority of the season as he’s still recovering from his ACL injury. Moreover, Curry suffered a broken hand which could sideline him for at least a month.

The Warriors may not be contenders this season, but once they get Steph and Klay back playing on the court together, a lot of things will change.

And when that time comes, Curry will remind everyone, including MJ, why he’s the greatest shooter in the history of the NBA, and why he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Golden State Warriors news and updates.

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Clippers news: After acquiring Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in free agency, the Los Angeles Clippers have emerged as the favorites to win this season’s NBA title, according to the annual GM survey.

Which team will win the 2020 NBA Finals?

1. LA Clippers — 46%

2. Milwaukee Bucks — 36%

3. Los Angeles Lakers — 11%

Also receiving votes: Golden State Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers

Last year: Golden State – 87%

Giant media network ESPN also had their own survey, and similar to the GMs, they also have the Clippers as the 2019-20 NBA champions.

1. LA Clippers: 117 points (54.5% first-place votes)

2. Milwaukee Bucks: 85 points (36.4% first-place votes)

3. Philadelphia 76ers: 38 points (6.1% first-place votes)

4. Los Angeles Lakers: 29 points

5. Golden State Warriors: 15 points (3.0% first-place votes)

It’s no surprise that the Clippers have gained such recognition. Leonard has already led two franchises to NBA titles and he’s a two-time Finals MVP. Meanwhile, PG was one of the MVP candidates last season. LA has also retained most of last season’s 48-win team, mainly Lou Williams, Patrick Beverley, and Montrezl Harrell.

Last season, the Clippers were one of the most impressive teams in the league. They reached the playoffs as the eighth seed in the Western Conference and they took the fully loaded Golden State Warriors to six games in the first round. The addition of Leonard and George to this roster will just make them a more formidable team, especially on defense.

But winning the NBA title won’t be easy, as the Clippers will have to go through several contenders, particularly their Staples Center co-tenants, the Los Angeles Lakers. The Purple and Gold have also retooled this season, boasting a roster that will be led by four-time MVP LeBron James and All-NBA forward Anthony Davis.
Moreover, there’s the Houston Rockets, who will be parading two former NBA MVPs in James Harden and Russell Westbrook. The Denver Nuggets are also expected to compete for the championship, as they will be led by Nikola Jokic. The Utah Jazz, Portland Trail Blazers Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics, and even the Dallas Mavericks could also hinder the Clippers from winning it all this season.

Will Leonard and George defy all the odds and bring the Clippers its first-ever championship? We’ll just have to wait and see.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Los Angeles Clippers news and updates.

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Pacers news: Larry Bird and Magic Johnson were the stars in one of the most iconic rivalries in the history of professional basketball. In fact, one could argue that they were the main reasons why the league became popular in the 1980s. And even though their careers have ended a long time ago, they’re still highly regarded as two individuals who had a significant impact in the rise of the NBA.

Before Bird and Johnson came into the NBA, there weren’t a lot of people who were invested in watching the games. Yes, the league had its fanbase, but it wasn’t as large as compared to when Larry Legend and Magic started playing professional basketball. People often say that they helped save the league from bankruptcy.

But Bird believes that he and Magic shouldn’t get all the credit in terms of turning the NBA’s fortunes around.

“It’s funny, all through my career they always say, ‘You helped save the NBA.’ But there’s a lot of people who helped save this NBA, it didn’t start with us. Maybe we helped in some way as far as the competition we had in college and going against one another. But I do think we brought a different aspect to the game when we came in.”

When Bird joined the Boston Celtics and Magic was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers, they instantly became the faces not only of their respective franchises, but also of the NBA in general. And while Bird acknowledges the contributions of those who came before them, he admits that he and Johnson had a significant impact in the league.

“We both liked to pass the ball. We liked to try to make other guys better. And then we were winners, there was no question about that. Not that there wasn’t a lot of winners before us. But just how we played the game and approached the game, I think, made a big impact throughout the league as far as watching the game.”

Bird added that they paved the way for the future stars of the NBA.

“You got to remember, when I came into the league they had cocaine problems. … So, there was a lot of drug use. I can remember David Stern saying in 1981 he had to give away tickets for people to come to the All-Star Game. But once ’84 hit you could tell it was a shift in the feelings of the NBA and how it was perceived. And then you got to remember Isiah [Thomas] came in, and Jordan came in, and Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley, John Stockton, Karl Malone. You can keep naming them. A group of guys that came into our league and just took it to another level.”

In the end, Bird just wants people to him and Magic as major pieces to the puzzle. They did something to improve the league, but its overall growth didn’t start and end with them.

“Well, we were first. But I don’t want to say that we changed anything. But we made people take a look at the NBA the way we played. You got to remember at that time satellite dishes were just coming out and we were getting into more homes. …

And it goes back to college. We played against one another in the finals [in college]. And they say it’s still one of the highest-rated basketball games ever. So, obviously we had an impact. But we didn’t change this league.”

Michael Jordan may be considered as the greatest player of all-time, and LeBron James may be seen as the most influential player in the history of the NBA, but no one can deny the fact that the league wouldn’t be the same without Bird and Magic.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Indiana Pacers news and updates.

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Heat news: There is no doubt that Jimmy Butler is one of the best two-way players in the NBA, and it is one of the main reasons why the Miami Heat took a risk in trading for him. The franchise believes that he could be their next star now that Dwyane Wade has officially retired.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is more than happy that the team acquired Butler. He praised the nine-year veteran’s work ethic, which he described as Hall of Fame-like.

“The thing that also is notable about that is he has a Hall of Fame work ethic. That’s not something of myth. That’s something that’s well earned and it’s real. I think he also respects that he’s walking into a gym where there’s several guys that are right there with him, step for step, in terms of work ethic.”

Butler has earned a reputation as a workhorse. After being drafted 30th overall in 2011, he worked his way up to relevancy and stardom. Now he’s one of the best players in the league.

Spoelstra also said that Butler’s dedication in playing basketball reminds him of one of his former players; four-time league MVP LeBron James.

“I think it’s really rare for a star player. In that regard, he reminds me of LeBron. He is so aware and mindful of his teammates and he wants his teammates to play well and be in rhythm, even at the expense of his own offense.

“He’s not looking at how many shot attempts he gets or how many points he’s scoring. He really just cares about the bottom line: Are we winning or not? Are we doing the right thing to put our team in position to win? And he knows, whenever it becomes go time, when we need a basket or a good look or create an opportunity for a teammate, he’s driving that action. He’ll be able to produce. He’s done that his entire career. But I think that really speaks to his level-headedness and understanding of the big picture.”

Butler is one of the main reasons why the Heat are off to a good start this season. He’s putting up 19.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 2.8 steals per game. He’s doing everything he can to contribute on both ends of the floor, and he’s one of the main reasons why Miami is the fourth-best defensive team in the league.

The question now is, can Butler lead the Heat to a championship? Only time will tell. For now, Jimmy Buckets is happy with where he is, and Miami is also glad to have him.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest Miami Heat news and updates.

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Lakers news that Dwight Howard re-signed with team gets troll treatment from Shaquille O'Neal

Warriors news that of Kevin Durant meme in Chase Center gets KD reaction

Celtics news that Kyrie Irving left wasn't news to Danny Ainge

Clippers news of Ice Cube taking a shot at Kawhi Leonard, Paul George for choosing Clippers over Lak

Rockets news of James Harden wanting his step-back 3-pointer to ‘last forever’

Blazers news on Damian Lillard saying only MVP, NBA title are lacking for him to become best Blazers

Pacers news on Paul George being 'a little nervous’ when Indiana drafted Kawhi Leonard in 2011

Bucks news: Brook Lopez says NBA should play preseason, regular season games in Australia

Hornets news: Terry Rozier's reacts to his fallout with Boston, road to redemption with Charlotte

Hawks news on Vince Carter explaining why he wants to be involved in NBA media

Jazz news: Quin Snyder isn't ready to call the Jazz a championship team

Knicks news of Julius Randle saying that the Knicks are a ‘deep team’

Mavs news on Dirk Nowitzki giving advice to the younger NBA players

Lakers news on Dwight Howard wanting to win a championship, thoughts on the Shaq-Kobe feud, and his

Mavs news on Mark Cuban seeing no problem with increasing player empowerment in the NBA

Nets news on scouts' takes as to who is a better fit for Nets; Kyrie Irving or D'Angelo Russell

Lakers news on Dwyane Wade's plan to workout with LeBron James throughout the 2019-20 season

Pelicans news Zion Williamson believes he's in a perfect situation with New Orleans.

Raptors news on Vince Carter saying that he once tried to recruit Shaquille O’Neal to join him in To

Thunder news on Billy Donovan's former NCAA colleagues saying he is not discouraged, demotivated by

Spurs news on San Antonio having the best record in NBA over the last 20 seasons.

Warriors news that Joe Lacob reiterates intention to retire Kevin Durant and Andre Iguodala's number

Wizards news: Scott Brooks optimistic about Isaiah Thomas' arrival in Washington.

Knicks news: Dennis Smith Jr says team should focus on getting better on defense this season.

Clippers news: Kawhi Leonard told Doc Rivers he'd love to play for him during free agency meeting.

Pelicans news of Lonzo Ball saying Lakers will regret trading him in one of his latest songs

Mavs news: Steve Nash likes what he sees from Luka Doncic, Kristaps Porzingis in Dallas.

Timberwolves news: Gersson Rosas explains the struggles of getting a top-tier player.

Warriors news on Steve Kerr explaining the importance of Klay Thompson.

Lakers news: Kobe Bryant shares his mindset in facing Michael Jordan as a 19-year-old.

Rockets news: Eric Gordon says it is time for Houston to start winning championships.

Pistons news on Derrick Rose saying he believes he's a Hall of Famer

Warriors news: Golden State could be a possible landing spot for Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2021.

Thunder news: Chris Paul says his competitive nature keeps his career going.

Lakers news on Kobe Bryant explaining why Kyle Kuzma was not part of AD trade talks.

Grizzlies news: Taylor Jenkins plans to build a solid relationship with all of his players.

Grizzlies news: Andre Iguodala already had a hunch that he was going to be traded to Memphis

Magic news: Steve Clifford wants Orlando to take advantage of roster continuity, be a better offensi

Nuggets news: Carmelo Anthony responds to Chauncey Billups’ criticism about his scoring mentality Nu

NBA news: Chris Bosh satisfied with his career accomplishments despite early retirement from profess

Lakers news: Frank Vogel wants LA to play smash mouth defense.

Mavs news Lamar Odom calls his time with Dallas the worst part of his career.

NBA news: Scottie Pippen believes increased player momement is good for the league.

Nets news: Kevin Durant explains why he decided to join Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn.

Thunder news: Steven Adams prepares for first season in OKC without Russell Westbrook.

NBA news: Yao Ming wasn't supposed to come to the NBA.

NBA news: Dwyane Wade disappointed that Carmelo Anthony is not in the NBA, wants 'brother' to get an

Team USA news: Jerry Colangelo has a message for those who backed out from FIBA World Cup.

Warriors news: Klay Thompson excited about the upcoming season, likes the team's underdog status.

Nets news: Kyrie Irving doesn't guarantee that Brooklyn will be a championship team.

Bulls news: Jim Boylen says that unlike LA, Chicago cares about defense

Rockets news Russell Westbrook says he doesn't need the ball to make a positive impact for Houston.

Sixers news Elton Brand believes that Philly is a championship contender.

Lakers news Anthony Davis felt LA was really close to getting Kawhi Leonard.

Cavs news: Kevin Love wants to remain in Cleveland despite constant trade rumors.

Bucks news: Giannis Antetokounmpo says he wants to become a better leader for Milwaukee this season.

Nuggets news: Nikola Jokic not using personal goals as motivation, says winning matters the most.

Suns news: Ricky Rubio says he's in his prime, ready to make a difference in Phoenix.

Clippers news: Paul George thinks superstar duos are going to be good for the NBA.

Suns news Ricky Rubio says he's in his prime, ready to make a difference in Phoenix.

Spurs news Manu Ginobili reveals that a car accident almost killed him back in 2004.

Cavs news Kevin Durant says Cleveland was the best team in the NBA back in 2016.

Pelicans news: Brandon Ingram explains why he didn't sign a contract extension with New Orleans.

Nets news: Kevin Durant reiterates he wasn't pressured by the Warriors to play in the NBA Finals.

Pelicans news: Brandon Ingram talks about what happened last season with the Lakers.

Warriors news: Steph Curry responds to Michael Jordan's comments about him not being a Hall of Famer

NBA news: Clippers voted as favorites to win the NBA championship this season.

Pacers news: Larry Bird talks about the impact he and Magic Johnson had in the NBA.

Heat news: Erik Spoelstra says Jimmy Butler reminds him of LeBron James.