Suns rookie Ty Jerome played just his second game of the season on Wednesday after missing significant time due to an ankle injury.
ORLANDO, Fla. — As Phoenix Suns rookie Ty Jerome was forced to sit for the first month of the season, the first-round pick would often learn by watching the game from the sidelines.
But there is no substitution for actual, game experience.
Jerome suffered a sprained right ankle during practice just two days before the start of the regular season, forcing him to miss the first 18 games for the Suns. He eventually was ready to return to the court to play in a pair of rehab games in the G League before re-joining the Suns.
“It was definitely frustrating,” Jerome told Rookie Wire. “Two days before our first game with that happening it was really just unfortunate and frustrating but I had to focus on the rehab.”
In 12 minutes off of the bench, Jerome recorded four points, four assists, three rebounds and three steals in a win over the Charlotte Hornets. He was active on defense and helped assist his teammates with some flashy passes.
“It felt great, something I waited on for a while, obviously,” Jerome said. “Just working hard in the rehab process and try to study the game while I was out so I didn’t miss too much.”
Jerome got his second crack at playing on Wednesday against the Orlando Magic.
The rookie was among the first players off of the bench for head coach Monty Williams as he tries to get Jerome up to speed quickly. Jerome tallied five points, seven rebounds and one assist but struggled in other areas during the 128-114 loss.
Jerome piled up five turnovers in the contest and had a number of passes fall short of its intended target, causing several deflections for the Magic throughout the game. Orlando scored 18 points off of forced turnovers in the contest.
Williams took responsibility for getting his rookie up to speed.
Tonight, he had [five turnovers]. He’s gotta see the floor better and he’s gotta understand the athlete that he is playing against. They got hands on balls tonight with his passes but I have to develop him. I gotta show him on film, show him where the open guy is or where the shot is. It’s on me to develop him.
After missing so much time, the transition for Jerome to the NBA will likely have some bumps along the way. Jerome is still adjusting to his teammates and making the right reads on certain plays.
As is the case for every rookie, Jerome will have some learning curves to deal with this season but unlike most of his peers, his will come much later after missing extended time.
Next up for the Suns: A road matchup Thursday vs. the Pelicans.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Danny Green sat down with USA TODAY’s LeBron Wire to discuss an amazing start to the season for their team.
Few understand the ins and outs of the NBA better than Los Angeles Lakers guard Danny Green.
He started on the fringes of the league and saw a glimpse of LeBron James’ first run in Cleveland, before winning championships with San Antonio and Toronto in his career, on his way to becoming one of the league’s most dependable two-way wings. But he’s currently on a run he’s never experienced before as his Los Angeles Lakers have jumped out to a 17-3 start, one that he called ‘special’ on and off the court.
Green sat down with USA TODAY’s LeBron Wire on Monday morning to discuss a promotion with the Lakers and Delta Airlines, but we managed to touch on some other topics such as how the China trip brought the team together and how LeBron’s ability to take criticism has set the tone for the entire Lakers team.
LeBron Wire: 20 games in, 17-3, where would you say you are at? Your goals are bigger than a good record, are you in good position for your bigger goals?
Danny Green, Los Angeles Lakers: I think we are. We recognize obviously we’re ahead of where we expected to be. But we know we can potentially do so much more. Not so much more, but we have a ways to go. That’s what’s so exciting about it. Our best games, we still haven’t played our best basketball. We still have a good amount of room to grow and get better. We also still haven’t been focused for a full 48 minutes this season.
LW: Going back to Cleveland with LeBron, is there anything with his leadership that you notice is different? Is he more vocal than he used to be?
DG: He’s always been vocal. He’s just got that championship DNA right now. He’s matured over the years not only as a player but as a person. He does more things off the court with teammates. We bond, we have a group that’s in-tune and he knows how important that is for us to be clicking on the court. And it’s the most surprising thing to me at this point in his career is he’s a guy that’s accepting criticism to learn and will actually listen to his teammates to let them push him. You don’t see guys who are superstars, or even guys that are the greatest player to ever play or the greatest of his era, willing to openly be accepting of criticism. Actually listening to teammates. Not just giving orders but taking orders. Yes, he’s been a great leader not just to win but he cares about the group and the bigger picture.
LW: Any stories of LeBron taking criticism recently? Any examples of him taking criticism for the betterment of the team?
DG: There’s so many, there’s not just one. He’ll take ownership when he does mess up. In a film session he will say that’s my box-out, that’s my x-out, that guy there was a miss. And we will tell him, ‘Bron you need to do this, we need to you be more aggressive, we need you to pass more, he’ll listen. He’ll actually take that with a positive attitude and actually apply it to the game to help our team.
LW: So you’re taking to me because of this Delta collaboration with the Lakers for the Showtime Seat Exchange, what’s the deal?
DG: It’s an amazing, amazing collaboration. I was very excited for this one. It’s no shock as to why, it’s an exceptional collaboration with a great airline like Delta. I think it’s amazing to give people an opportunity to exchange tickets for seats and how quickly it happens. The first few days it filled out and they will give people another opportunity to do it again in the New Year. It’s pretty cool for people to donate their game tickets and then you get the opportunity to fly anywhere. It’s great that they give people a chance to see the game and if you have tickets leftover, you have a chance to fly anywhere in the world.
LW: Cool. How big of a factor is Anthony Davis in instilling the attitude on defense?
DG: He’s been the Defensive Player of the Year. Hands down. He’s led by his actions, by his vocal, by his communication. His standards for everybody and for ‘Bron. He’s the reason why you see ‘Bron out there scrambling and hustling, doing all the things that he’s been doing. He’s been pushing him on that end of the floor. We all have, but those two have a special relationship. AD has been leading by example and with his words and what he’s done vocally. That’s why our defense has been so great thus far. We want to try and be better for the full 48, but he’s the foundation of our defense.
LW: Big road trip but you have the Christmas game against the Clippers, can you look at it as a chance for redemption for opening night?
DG: We look forward to every chance to play against everybody. Not just the Clippers but we lost to Toronto and we lost to Dallas. We’ve played Dallas twice, we beat them in a close one before, those are teams that will be marked on our calendar. There’s a lot of great teams in the West and the East, above-.500 teams. We have a helluva road trip coming up with Denver, Utah and Portland. It’s going to be interesting and fun at the same time. But of course the Clippers, how good of a team they are and how good they are playing, it’s a real good challenge for us to take head on.
LW: How special has this start to the season been compared to some of the other experiences in your career?
DG: I mean, I don’t think I’ve ever started this well record-wise. I’ve been on some pretty special teams but more so than anything, which is more important than record, it’s the bonding, the chemistry. I’ve been a part of some real good teams where the chemistry on the court was unbelievable but I’ve never been a part of a team where the chemistry has been…I think the China trip really helped us. It’s been unbelievable off the court. We talk to each other, we talk to each other in our group chat, we hang out off the court, we plan things together. I think the China trip is what really helped us. I’ve never been part of a group that clicked this early, everybody hanging out with everybody, this early in the season. Yeah, that’s what makes it special for me. We’re having a lot of fun off the court together, that’s something I’ll never forget. I think these are memories that guys will keep close to them and hold them because of the group we have and how special it’s been off the court.
LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers don’t want to sell themselves short this year even after Sunday’s loss.
Despite the fact that the Los Angeles Lakers are set to begin a brutal stretch of games away from the Staples Center against good teams and they lost one of their two home games over the next 10 on Sunday, they still have quite the goal for their games ahead: not to lose two games in a row.
Both LeBron James and Anthony Davis vocalized that goal to the media on Sunday afternoon following the Sunday’s second-half collapse against the Mavericks, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
“You don’t know until you [strive for it],” James said of the goal to avoid a two-game losing streak all season, which he says the team has eyed since opening night.
“Realistic is the mindset. It’s not about [accepting that] sometimes you lose games in a row. Just having that mindset and that approach.”
After the loss, the Lakers are now tied with the Milwaukee Bucks for the NBA’s best record at 17-3 through the first 20 games. But the Lakers will need that special mindset to get through what will be the toughest stretch of their season so far.
As mentioned above, Sunday’s game was one of two games in a stretch of 10 where the Lakers play eight games on the road. That includes what should be a competitive road trip this weekend against teams in the Northwest Division, starting with a Western Conference showdown against the No. 2 Denver Nuggets team who are 13-4 and also have one of the league’s best defenses on Tuesday night in the Mile High City.
During an interview with Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times, Kyle Kuzma talked about his new role on a better Los Angeles Lakers team.
Kyle Kuzma has had a few big finishes for the Los Angeles Lakers this season and although he may not play in Sunday afternoon’s game against the Dallas Mavericks, Kuzma is still adjusting to a role of coming off the bench after finishing the last two seasons as a starter.
The subject of Kuzma in a new role was the focus of a new column from Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times, where they discussed Kuzma adjusting to being a role player on a team with championship aspirations. During the interview, Kuzma credited the team he is on and the teammates he has for helping him catch himself when he gets frustrated about not being featured more.
“That’s just part of sacrifice and trying to be on a winning team,” he said. “Obviously, it’s hard sometimes when you’re a young player wanting to continue to establish yourself and see you measure up across the league. In certain situations, you have the opportunities to just play. It’s hard sometimes — naturally.
“But I’ve got good vets around me, keep things in perspective. I have an opportunity to win a ring in my third year. Sometimes, I just have to catch myself, realize.”
Kuzma has had a few big breakout moments throughout the season like his first big game against Chicago with 11 fourth quarter points or his big shots against the Pelicans on Wednesday to help the Lakers comeback.
Kuzma has eclipsed 20 points only twice this season and he hasn’t reached that mark for over two weeks. Still, that’s not as important as him accepting a role with fewer field goal attempts and focusing on becoming a better defender to be able to play in big moments alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. If he’s able to do those little things, the opportunities for big shots will continue to come.
Check out Draft Wire’s exclusive interview with Auburn offensive tackle Prince Tega Wanogho
Every NFL team needs a franchise left tackle who can shut down the league’s top pass rushers with a combination of athleticism, technique and strength.
Auburn’s Prince Tega Wanogho has all the tools to be that player at the next level after testing his mettle against some of college football’s most talented defensive linemen.
One of the top offensive tackle prospects in the 2020 NFL draft class, Tega Wanogho recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about growing up in Nigeria, making the transition from basketball to football, and why he prefers Messi to Ronaldo.
JM: What was life like growing up in Nigeria?
PTW: I would say that it wasn’t terrible. It definitely wasn’t easy either. I grew up in a very big family. I have seven sisters and a brother. My brother was the oldest. He was always busy working. He wasn’t around much. I spent most of my time with my seven sisters. I grew up playing sports. I played a lot of futbol, or soccer as you’d probably call it (laughs). I played a lot of basketball as well. It wasn’t so bad. We didn’t have everything growing up, but we had what we needed. My parents were able to provide for us. Education and religion were big for us.
JM: When you came to the United States, what was your first “wow” moment? The first time you really experienced some form of culture shock?
PTW: I would say the way people talk. Especially in the south. Growing up in Nigeria, I watched a lot of American movies of course. I guess I had some pre-conceived notions of what people sound like. The accents in the south definitely surprised me (laughs). It’s just a little bit different. Everything was so different. The food especially. The people were different. It was a lot to take in at first. I got used to it, though.
Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports
JM: You came here for basketball originally, but eventually transitioned to football. How did you experience with basketball make for a smoother transition to football?
PTW: It all starts with my feet. To be successful in basketball, you really have to be good with your feet. You have to be able to move your feet with a purpose. The transition wasn’t as bad as I originally feared to be honest. Football is a totally different sport from an understanding perspective of course. I won’t debate that. Everything that actually goes on, your understanding of the game has to be on a different level from basketball.
My coaches made it easier for me. I played defense first. I was told to go get the quarterback. Go tackle whoever has the ball. The first thing I learned was to follow the ball. That made it way easier for me. They showed me where to line up. They taught me how to get into a three-point stance. That was pretty rough (laughs). I’m not gonna lie, I struggled with the three-point stance. They made the defense simple for me. Does the quarterback have the ball? Go get him. If the running back has the ball, go tackle him. I didn’t even know the difference between a quarterback and running back at first. I was just chasing down the ball. That’s all I did.
I played tight end on offense. My coaches helped me with that transition as well. They told me to run straight for 10 yards and go left or right (laughs). That’s what I did every time. I did that and they’d throw me the ball. I just had to catch it. I also played on kickoffs. I was on the hands team. My coaches did everything in their power to make the transition smooth for me. I’ll forever be thankful to those guys. They didn’t throw me too much too fast.
JM: As you said, you originally started out on defense. You’re now dominating at offensive tackle for Auburn, and that’s where you’ll likely play in the NFL next season. What was that transition like?
PTW: It wasn’t so bad. I didn’t really know much about the position when I first arrived at Auburn. My coaches were very helpful with it all. They originally just approached me and asked me about it. It was very casual and comfortable. I approached it with an open mind. I didn’t really know much about the game. I wasn’t in a position to say no to anything (laughs). I was just open to learning. It started out by watching some film on right tackles. We all sat together in the film room and did that. They told me what to do. They taught me what to look for. They had a lot of patience with me. We took things slowly. I started to understand the right techniques. I started to understand how to block. We started with the basics. It honestly wasn’t as bad as I thought. It went back to my basketball days and understanding how to move my feet. It was about grasping those fundamentals and applying them.
JM: You decided to return for your senior season despite already being on the NFL radar. Why did you make that decision?
PTW: I just felt like coming back for another year was gonna help me out in the long run. At the end of the day, the NFL is still gonna be there. Coming back, I felt like we had some unfinished business here. I wanted to compete for another year here. I want to compete for a National Championship. We have such a good team. The atmosphere in the locker room is fantastic. We really are brothers and we operate as one unit. We have a lot to offer. I’ve enjoyed being with my brothers for one final run. This year will be beneficial to me in the long run.
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
JM: I wanna get into your skill set a little bit. How do you handle speed differently from power?
PTW: With speed, I’ve always said that I’m quick to recover. I have the feet for that. I’m also strong enough to handle any bull rush anyone can throw at me. I’m strong enough to fend that off. I can get into my stance and handle that. Going back to my soccer and basketball days, I’ve been good with my feet my whole life. I’ve always been a natural in this department. My footwork is exactly where it should be right now. It’s not where I want it to be ultimately because I’m still making the transition. I should be playing left tackle at this point. With the basketball skill set in my back pocket, I’m able to use my feet to recover against speed.
JM: Do you think you’re more refined in pass protection or as a run blocker at this point?
PTW: I would say pass protection. I’m a work in progress in the run game. I’ve come a long way though. I’m definitely more refined in pass protection right now. For me, it just comes easier. I don’t know if it’s mental or what, but pass protection comes easy to me. It’s me against them and I have to protect the quarterback. It’s that simple. I need more work in the run game. I’m working hard to get better in that department. I’ve seen a lot of self improvement in the run game this year.
JM: What’s your favorite way to demoralize your opponent?
PTW: I can achieve this by getting my hands on you first. If I can do that, it’s gonna terminate everything you had in mind for this play. It’s already over. I’ve killed your plan by doing that. If I can get hands on you first before you get your hands on me, I’ve already demoralized you.
JM: Who are some of the best defensive linemen you’ve gone up against?
PTW: Carl Lawson was the first one that ever stood out to me. I was new to the game and new to the position. He’s very sneaky (laughs). Going up against him in practice was big for my development. Thinking about someone that wasn’t a teammate of mine, Clelin Ferrell from Clemson comes to mind. He was drafted very early by the Oakland Raiders this year. That was the second big game I ever played in. I was fresh meat (laughs). The crowd and the noise, I’m not gonna lie, I let the atmosphere get to me a little bit. Sometimes I think about what it would look like now. If I got another chance at him now, I believe it would be different. I’ve gotten way better since then. I know he’s in the NFL now and he’s gotten better as well, but I’d love to get another crack at him. He’s definitely one of the best I’ve ever gone up against.
JM: What are some of your hobbies outside of football?
PTW: Nothing really. Most of the time, I’m just in my room hanging out. I might play some video games. I love getting my sleep. I make sure I get all of my assignments done in a timely fashion. I don’t really do much. I like going to the movies sometimes.
John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
JM: Who’s your soccer club? Who do you support?
PTW: I’m a big Messi fan.
JM: Oh, here we go.
PTW: Why?
JM: I’m more of a Cristiano Ronaldo fan, since he’s the best player in the world and all.
PTW: I like him, too! (laughs). But I don’t know, man. Between Ronaldo and Messi, I like Messi better. He’s humble.
JM: That’s fair.
PTW: Ronaldo is a pretty boy. Messi is the chilled, more laid back one.
JM: To be fair though, if I looked like Cristiano Ronaldo, I wouldn’t be all that humble either.
PTW: You’re not wrong! (laughs). I can see that, too. I understand that (laughs).
JM: I’ve appreciated your time today, Prince. Best of luck to you going forward.
PTW: Thank you for your time, sir. I appreciate the kind words. You’ll be hearing from me again soon.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis believes that his shoulder is getting better even though he’s dealt with some discomfort.
The Los Angeles Lakers are back on the court Tuesday night as they’ll face off against Chris Paul and the Oklahoma City Thunder who are playing on the second night of a back-to-back following last night’s loss to the L.A. Clippers. But a potentially beleaguered Thunder team wasn’t one of the only positives to come out prior to Tuesday’s match-up. It appears one of their stars was feeling even better at Lakers shoot around on Tuesday morning.
Anthony Davis says that his shoulder his ‘recovering’ and that he’s getting “closer to 100%,” according to Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times. Davis injured his right shoulder earlier in the season coming up short on a dunk attempt and appeared to tweak it in a game a few weeks later.
While it’s impossible to know how connected the two are, Davis having an issue with the shoulder connected to his shooting hand has coincided with a drop in his shooting efficiency. Davis has gone on the record to say that he doesn’t care about getting shots and cares more about winning games, but his shoulder feeling better could be a sign of an improvement to come for Davis when it comes to shooting the ball.
Considering the Lakers already have an NBA-best 11-2 record and the best defense in the NBA, that prospect is a scary one for the rest of the league.
LeBron James had another amazing night as he continues to do the heavy lifting for the Los Angeles Lakers on both ends.
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There aren’t too many people in the NBA that are still coaching that have as good of an understanding of the greatness of LeBron James as Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel.
Vogel is closer than he’s ever been before, but he also had to prepare game plans in three consecutive postseasons for his old Indiana Pacers teams to try and slowdown LeBron James and his Miami Heat teams from the earlier part of the decade. After another monster performance of 33 points and 12 assists, including zero turnovers and six 3-pointers, Vogel told reporters that he believes LeBron is playing as well as he’s ever seen him.
Frank Vogel on LeBron James: “0 turnovers. 12 assists. Are you kidding me? … He’s playing as good as I’ve seen him.”
Although James told Anthony Davis that the Lakers would play through him and the Lakers have, James is still ultimately in control of the offense and there will be nights like last night where he has it going and Davis struggled from the field.
But the Davis addition has given LeBron a new life on the court as he has an efficient scoring option to go to on basically every possession, which is resulting in the highest assist totals of his career and the best start to a season for his team since 2016 (12-2).
LeBron James was asked if he thought about the end of his career and compared himself 42-year old New England Patriots star Tom Brady.
The Los Angeles Lakers have raced to a 9-2 record thanks to their defense and in particular, a revived LeBron James on the defensive end, who said that he’s much healthier this season. Now that he’s healthy once again and leading the NBA in assists for the first time in his career, he doesn’t see an end in sight for his NBA career, seeing himself like a basketball version of Tom Brady.
James made the Brady comparison during Friday’s Lakers shoot around ahead of their game later this evening against the Sacramento Kings. James was asked if he could envision the end of his career, spurred by last night’s news that Carmelo Anthony would sign with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Video via Kyle Goon of the Southern California News Group
LeBron says of considering retirement: "Me and Tom Brady are one and the same. We're gonna play until we can't walk no more."
He says he wants to play until he physically can't, or until he mentally is checking out. But says LeBron: "I'm not at the end of my story." pic.twitter.com/i00feTicrL
Last season was the first time we saw James seriously injured in his career as he missed 17 straight games. But after the longest offseason of his career, which included filming Space Jam 2, James is also enjoying major help on both ends from superstar Anthony Davis. If he can continue to get support from Davis, as well as the other Lakers role players like Danny Green, that can only help LeBron’s hopes to play at a high level into his 40s.
Check out Draft Wire’s exclusive interview with Kentucky edge defender Jamar “Boogie” Watson
Last year, the NFL draft featured a talented edge rusher by the name of Josh Allen. In 2020, another pass-rushing Wildcat could make waves at the next level.
A versatile prospect who can get after opposing quarterbacks and shut down ball-carriers in the backfield, Watson recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about the skill set he brings to the table, how playing at Kentucky has prepared him for the next level, and what fans can expect from him the rest of this season.
JM: How would you describe your skill set?
JBW: I’m a very athletic edge rusher. I can play off the edge as a rusher and I can drop in coverage a little bit as well. I’m a savvy player and I have a high football I.Q. as well.
JM: What’s your favorite part about playing linebacker?
JBW: I love having the ability to effect the game on a snap-by-snap basis. I play in the middle of the defense and we get to be involved on every single play. I have a role to play on every single defensive snap. I love that. That gives me a chance to be a high impact player.
JM: I heard that you’re a tap dancer. How did you get into that?
JBW: My high school basketball coach recommended that I get into tap dancing. I needed an extra credit and it was a pretty easy class, if I’m being honest (laughs). I gave it a shot and I’ve actually kept it going since high school. I really ended up liking it.
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
JM: Your dream job outside of being an NFL player is to become a police offer. Why is that?
JBW: It started off with me watching lots of law enforcement shows. Those were my favorite types of shows growing up.CSI, Law & Order, shows like that. As I got older, my interest in law enforcement became more serious and I started doing some research. If I wasn’t playing football, that would be my dream career. That’s what I’m studying right now in school. That’s my top desire aside from football. My goal is to play in the NFL, first and foremost, but a career as an officer of the law after football definitely intrigues me.
JM: What’s your favorite cop show of all time?
JBW: That’s a great question. If I had to go all time, I would probably say “Person of Interest.” It’s on Netflix now, and it has about five seasons. It’s about this I.T. nerd guy who has the ability to predict future crimes and he has this badass friend who’s the muscle of the group. He sends him out on these missions to stop these crimes before they happen. That’s probably my favorite show of all time.
JM: Who do you think is the best NCAA player you’ve ever gone up against?
JBW: I would probably go with Sony Michel or Deebo Samuel. Those guys stood out for obvious reasons. I can’t forget about Lamar Jackson. He’s as dynamic as they come. Those are definitely my top three.
JM: Is there an NFL running back or tight end you’re looking forward to tackling or covering?
JBW: I would probably say Ezekiel Elliott. He’s received so much publicity over the last couple of years. He’s a superstar running back and I’d love to test out my abilities against a guy like that.
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
JM: Coach Brad White did a great job with Josh Allen last year. He also has six years NFL experience with the Indianapolis Colts. How has he helped elevate your game?
JBW: He’s definitely taken my game to another level. He has an incredible feel for the game. He understands the role of a linebacker well beyond pass rushing. He’s helped me in every faucet of my game. His attention to detail is tremendous. It’s the small things that he’s taught me that helped me become a better player. He’s really made a difference in my life. Josh Allen will tell you himself, we as a linebacker group give a ton of credit to coach White. He puts a huge emphasis on having us reach for the ball. Try to strip it out and create turnovers. It’s the small technique stuff that he’s really helped me out a lot.
JM: How has Kentucky helped prepare you for what’s next?
JBW: The weight staff is one of the best in the country. We have some veteran guys around this program. The coaching staff has a ton of experience. The training staff is top notch as well. They keep us right throughout the summer and throughout the season as well. Our coaches have had success at multiple levels. Having these guys at my disposal has been huge for me.
JM: What can Kentucky fans expect from you for the rest of this season?
JBW: They can expect me to be continue being a productive member of this defense. My team needs me to be productive. I’m working hard to improve every single day. I’m definitely focused and locked in right now.
