Category: Interviews

Rockets GM Rafael Stone sees throwback point guard in Daishen Nix

Rockets general manager Rafael Stone: “We’re really excited about Daishen (Nix). He’s kind of an old school, throwback point guard. He pushes pace. He sees the court really well.”

From a statistical standpoint, one of the biggest differences in Houston’s loss in Thursday’s summer league opener and a win by the Rockets on Saturday was the performance of second-year guard Daishen Nix.

In game one against the Magic, Nix registered just 4 points and 4 assists in 19 minutes played, going 1-of-4 from the field (25.0% FG) and 0-of-2 on 3-pointers. But in game two versus the Thunder, Nix had 16 points and a team-high 6 assists in 26 minutes, making 6-of-9 shots from the field (66.7% FG) and 3-of-5 on 3-pointers (60.0%).

Nix’s showing versus Oklahoma City brought back memories of his special 2021-22 rookie season in the NBA G League. That’s what the Rockets would love to see at the NBA level in the coming years, and in a mid-game interview during Saturday’s ESPN broadcast, general manager Rafael Stone explained his optimism on Nix. His comments:

We’re really excited about Daishen. He’s kind of an old school, throwback point guard. He pushes pace. He sees the court really well. His basketball IQ is really high, and he’s in this enormous body. I’m excited about Daishen.

Nix and the Rockets will look to build on their summer league momentum in Las Vegas this week, with games set for Monday night versus San Antonio and Thursday night versus Portland (schedule).

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‘I still think about it every day,’ says Boston’s Jayson Tatum on coming up short in Finals, prepping for 2022-23

The Celtics star got a taste of the league’s biggest stage, and it’s only made him hungrier.

The Boston Celtics have had themselves one of the better offseasons in the league so far after signing veteran forward Danilo Gallinari and trading for point guard Malcolm Brogdon, and star Celtics forward Jayson Tatum has already reached out to his new teammates. “I sent them a text message,” said Tatum at Las Vegas Summer League Saturday. “‘Happy to have you, if you need anything, reach out, looking forward to getting in the gym.'”

The St. Louis native shared team president Brad Stevens had given him the heads-up these moves might be coming while the team worked out the details to make them happen. “He told me some options they were looking at,” explained Tatum. “Things they were keeping an eye on.”

He also admitted that the way last season ended in a Finals loss is impacting his own approach to the offseason. “I still think about it every day,” he offered.

“Probably until the season’s started, until we get back to the championship, I guess, what happened in the Finals shaped the way you’re going to approach this offseason,” Tatum said. “To know how hard it is to get there, how much harder it is to get over that hump.”

“I have got to be better coming in next year, we’re obviously trying to get back (to the Finals).

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire.

Follow us on Facebook and check out the Celtics Lab podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

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Takeaways: In defensive battle, Jabari Smith Jr. rallies Rockets past Chet Holmgren, Thunder

Jabari Smith Jr. and Chet Holmgren had similar games Saturday, with each defending well while struggling to finish on offense. But Smith made more key plays late, leading to Houston’s win.

Saturday’s summer league showdown between the Rockets and Thunder featured a clash of two of the top-three rookies in the NBA’s 2022 draft class: Houston’s Jabari Smith Jr. and Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren.

Both prospects struggled to finish on offense, with Smith and Holmgren scoring 12 points apiece on 26.6% and 30.0% shooting, respectively. But each made a clear mark on defense, with Holmgren recording 8 rebounds and 4 blocks while Smith had 9 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 blocks — with the latter two categories leading the summer Rockets.

Most notably, Smith saved his best for last. The Auburn product drilled a 3-pointer and a turnaround jumper in the final five minutes to put the Rockets back in front, and he collected a steal and a crucial late stop as Houston held on for a 90-88 win (box score). The final stop was massive, since Smith defended without fouling and used his length to force talented second-year guard Josh Giddey into a miss as time expired.

Smith wasn’t the only impressive rookie. Tari Eason had an efficient night with 14 points and 11 rebounds on 5-of-10 shooting (50.0%), while TyTy Washington added 9 points in 22 minutes off the bench — including a floater with under 30 seconds left that put Houston ahead to stay.

Second-year guards Josh Christopher and Daishen Nix led the Rockets in scoring with 19 and 16 points, respectively. Christopher added 9 rebounds and 5 assists, while Nix dished out a team-high 6 dimes.

Our Brian Barefield is on the scene in Las Vegas and will have more postgame content on Sunday, which is when the Rockets will practice as they gear up for their next summer league game on Monday versus San Antonio (schedule). For now, here’s a look at Saturday’s highlights and immediate reaction by players, coaches, media members, and fans.

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Ronnie 2K on NBA 2K23, the future of the game and more

In an exclusive interview with Rookie Wire, Ronnie 2K discusses the launch of NBA 2K23, the state of the game and more.

The newest edition of NBA 2K23 has finally been revealed, with Devin Booker gracing the cover of the iconic game. Booker joins Michael Jordan, as well as Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird as the cover athletes this year.

The 2K franchise has grown massively over the past few years and has become part of the NBA canon. It brings together fans of basketball, video games, sneakers, fashion, music and more. Year after year, the platform has grown in importance and depth.

In an exclusive interview, Rookie Wire caught up with Ronnie Singh, affectionately known as Ronnie 2K, to ask him about the launch of NBA 2K23.

Passion for the game drove Singh early on. He went from managing the early 2K forums to something of a cultural icon. As he explained it, he became something of an early influencer.

Check out the entire conversation below:

This conversation has been lightly edited for clarity.

Former Boston Celtics center Aron Baynes’ agent Daniel Moldovan on All of Australia’s comeback bid

The former Celtics center is looking svelte and mobile after a freak accident nearly ended his career.

Whether he ends up returning to the Boston Celtics, latching on to another team, or ends up heading overseas to play in Australia’s NBA or beyond, the simple fact that Celtics alum Aron Baynes is even playing basketball at all is something of a minor miracle. Baynes is trying to work his way back to the NBA after a freak accident at the 2020 Olympics nearly left him paralyzed.

After more than a year working his way back to walking and more complicated maneuvers, All of Australia is looking good and working out for teams at this year’s Las Vegas Summer League. And it isn’t just a courtesy call for the scouts scoping out the 35-year-old’s game — there is real interest in Baynes and a belief among some he can help an NBA team.

The Celtics have a need for a bruiser with the skills Baynes has, and his outside shot looks as good as it ever has, but until we learn more about his fate, here’s an interview with his agent, Daniel Moldovan of Octagon Basketball, talking about the big man’s hard road back to the game.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire.

Follow us on Facebook and check out the Celtics Lab podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

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Suns’ Devin Booker on splitting up Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, his and Tatum’s shared Kobe Bryant fandom

The Phoenix star shed some light on some touchy issues for Boston fans.

Sometimes, the best window into the state of a team is from the outside, the eye of an opposing player giving a new perspective to the echo chamber-like coverage one often sees within a team’s sphere of coverage.

To that end, our own Cameron Tabatabaie got the goods on the Boston Celtics after their 2022 Finals run and build up to the looming 2022-23 season from Phoenix Suns star guard Devin Booker. The 2k23 cover star sat down with Tabatabaie to talk about everything from the newest iteration of the game his image now graces to the next car he plans to buy, but there was plenty of talk about the Celtics as well.

Booker, in particular, had plenty to say about Boston’s top-rated defense.

Lauded for his passing, Sin City Celtics big man Trevion Williams getting increasing buzz ahead of Las Vegas Summer League

The undrafted big man could play his way onto Boston’s roster if his play translates well in Las Vegas.

There is growing buzz that undrafted big man Trevion Williams could make the Boston Celtics‘ roster for the coming 2022-23 NBA season with the team needing a sturdy presence in the paint to help eat minutes for veterans Al Horford and Robert Williams III in the regular season.

The Purdue product has been turning heads with his ability to move the rock, with Celtics assistant and Las Vegas Summer League head coach Ben Sullivan recently relating that “the first thing that stood out is his passing.” Describing the Purdue product as “a willing passer” with the vision to “see the whole floor with his size and touch and feel,” Sullivan was impressed with Williams.

That sentiment was echoed by Sin City teammate Sam Hauser, who said that since he arrived in Boston, he’s “made his teammates better” with his passing.

“There were a couple of times he was looking the other way and threw it to a different guy that he wasn’t looking at, right in the shooting pocket for the 3,” Hauser added. “He’s going to have a real impact in these games coming up.”

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire.

Follow us on Facebook and check out the Celtics Lab podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

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Exclusive: Chatting 1-on-1 with Devin Booker about NBA 2K, Kobe Bryant and more

Catch an exclusive interview with Phoenix Suns superstar Devin Booker from the launch of NBA 2K23.

Devin Booker is having himself quite a summer.

He just inked a four-year super max contract extension with the Phoenix Suns, he re-upped his partnership with Nike and landed on the cover of NBA 2K23. He joins Michael Jordan, Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird as the cover athletes for the latest installments of the iconic game.

The 25-year-old Booker earned All-NBA first-team honors in ’21-22, arguably his best season as a pro to date. Off the court, he collects cars and loves music, and sometimes rubs elbows with some of the world’s biggest celebrities. Simply put: Booker is a dynamic guy.

Rookie Wire caught up with Booker at the launch of NBA 2K23 in Las Vegas. Our Cameron Tabatabaie chatted with the three-time All-Star about the game, the NBA and much more.

This conversation has been lightly edited for clarity.

Takeaways: Jabari Smith Jr. shows progress in summer league opener versus Paolo Banchero, Magic

Jabari Smith Jr. (10 points, 7 rebounds) improved as the game went along in Houston’s summer league loss to Paolo Banchero and the Magic. We’ve got postgame reaction and key takeaways.

Thursday’s NBA summer league opener in Las Vegas was billed as a nationally televised showdown between two of the top rookies from the 2022 draft — No. 1 overall choice Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic versus No. 3 pick Jabari Smith Jr. and the Houston Rockets.

Smith held his own and showed flashes as the game progressed, but fellow rookie Caleb Houstan stole the show for the Magic with 20 points in 28 minutes off the bench on 5-of-9 from 3-point range (55.6%), leading to Orlando’s 91-77 win (box score) at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Smith finished with 10 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists in 29 minutes for the Rockets (0-1), and he was as impactful as advertised on defense — particularly on switches against Magic guards. Meanwhile, Banchero had 17 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds for Orlando (1-0).

Houston was short-handed on the interior, with projected starting center Usman Garuba unavailable due to a left ankle sprain. He could return when the Rockets resume their summer league schedule on Saturday versus No. 2 draft pick Chet Holmgren and Oklahoma City.

Tari Eason was the highest usage rookie for the Rockets, collecting 14 points and 13 rebounds while playing tough defense over 24 minutes. However, he struggled with his jump shot, shooting just 6-of-17 (35.3%) and 2-of-9 on 3-pointers (22.2%). Second-year guard Josh Christopher led the way in scoring with 22 points on 7-of-18 shooting (38.9%).

Our Brian Barefield is on the scene in Las Vegas and will have more postgame content on Friday. Until then, here’s a look at highlights and immediate reaction by players, coaches, media members, and fans.

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‘I’m just going to show what I can do best,’ says Celtics forward Sam Hauser of his plans for Las Vegas Summer League

Las Vegas and the coming NBA season after it will be an opportunity for the Virginia product to showcase his skills.

As it stands now, Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser will be the most senior player on the team’s roster slated to play in the Celtics’ Las Vegas Summer League roster, and the only one on a full regular season contract after coming to terms with the Celtics earlier this week on a multi-season deal.

Asked by the press what his primary goal in Nevada and in the coming season after securing a contract from Boston, Hauser kept it simple. “Just to show that I belong,” he explained. “I just want to prove that I belong, and hopefully work my way into the rotation somehow, someway.”

“I’m just going to show what I can do best,” added the Virginia product.

After a season shooting almost exactly 42% from deep whether with the parent team or on spot assignments with the Maine Celtics (Boston’s Portland-based G League affiliate), it’s safe to say that shooting is on that list.

But Hauser needs to defend at an NBA level to stay on the floor next season, and he’s about to have a shot to show what he’s learned in the last season.

“I think this year, I’m going to be more comfortable out there, knowing what to expect,” shared Hauser.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire.

Follow us on Facebook and check out the Celtics Lab podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

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