“I’m able to channel it because it’s real joy,” Tyrese Maxey told For The Win.
Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey is enjoying his best professional season yet and just made his first appearance in the NBA All-Star Game.
The 23-year-old former Kentucky standout is having a breakout season and has emerged as a second star alongside Joel Embiid for Philadelphia. He was chosen to represent the Eastern Conference after averaging a career-high 25.7 points and 6.4 assists per game.
While he was in Indiana for the festivities, Maxey received deserved praise from many around the league, including Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant, who said the guard could eventually become one of the faces of the NBA.
For The Win chatted with Maxey on Saturday to discuss his time at All-Star Weekend, his goals for the remainder of the season and more.
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
Kenny Smith says he was advocating for Sabrina Ionescu, but nobody is entitled to believe him.
Kenny Smith’s All-Star Weekend comments on Sabrina Ionescu have the internet buzzing, but he’s not backing down. He recently told Stephen A. Smith that he was advocating for Sabrina when he suggested she should have shot from the WNBA line against Stephen Curry.
The first-ever NBA vs. WNBA 3-point contest was nearly soured by comments made by TNT analyst Kenny Smith. Kenny surmised that Sabrina Ionescu should have shot from the WNBA line against Stephen Curry to make things “fair.” He also compared the contest to why gender-specific tees are used in golf.
Basketball fans immediately roasted him, but Kenny argued that he was advocating for Sabrina during a recent appearance on the Stephen A. Smith show. (See the clip below and the 23:03 mark of the YouTube video.)
Kenny Smith on criticism of his Sabrina Ionescu comments:
"Much ado about nothing honestly. Most people who know basketball understood…I was advocating for her more than anything else… … "My…track record speaks for itself"
“I think it’s much ado about nothing, Stephen. Most people who know basketball understood what I was talking about. Actually, I was advocating for her more than anything else.“
Kenny tells Stephen A. that basketball is muscle memory and that if you are not shooting from where you practice, it will mess with your accuracy. He admits that both players could have made other adjustments but re-emphasizes that muscle memory is at one line.
What stands out most about his new comments is that Kenny quips, “Most people just don’t check the tape. They want just to check the bait.” (24:56 mark of the above video) The irony is that if he had bothered to check the tape on Sabrina, he would have known she didn’t shoot from the WNBA line. When she tweeted that she would shoot from the NBA line, it was because that was already her normal range.
For example, during an August 2023 game, Sabrina made six three-pointers well beyond the WNBA line. At the 1:14 mark of the video below, the broadcast can be heard saying, “Look at how deep she is, and that is normal range for her.” She likely couldn’t shoot as many 3-pointers as Steph Curry during the contest because she isn’t shooting that kind of high volume regularly (over 15 consecutive shots), not because she isn’t capable.
Sabrina earned the same amount of points during her shootout with Steph as Damian Lillard, Karl-Anthony Towns, Trae Young, and Tyrese Haliburton did from the same NBA line. How quickly people forget that Sabrina owns the 3-point contest record for both the WNBA and NBA. Steph Curry does not hold that record despite being the greatest shooter ever. So, Sabrina almost taking down the metaphorical Thanos of basketball on her first try should speak volumes about her abilities.
Find someone who looks at you the way Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic look at each other.
Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic’s NBA All-Star experience should be studied and documented for future generations. If you’re going to be at the All-Star game, it’s better to do it with your best bud.
This article is not about me hyping up the NBA All-Star game. (After that bewildering and disappointing 200-point display on Sunday, the best moment was Stephen Curry vs. Sabrina Ionescu.) But, something I definitely want to shine a light on is the absolutely precious bond between Dallas Mavs star Luka Doncic and his brother from another mother, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic.
There were multiple moments during All-Star Weekend when the pair was captured having the time of their lives hanging out with each other, and somebody needs to see it! (For goodness’ sake, if it isn’t horses, Jokic doesn’t get excited about much. This is huge.)
After winning the 2024 NBA 3-point contest, Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard had the highlight of the night in the All-Star Game.
The eight-time All-Star, who was named to the All-Star starting lineup during his first season playing in the Eastern Conference, was outstanding during his time in Indiana.
Lillard, who is known for his limitless range as a 3-point shooter, proved it once again during the All-Star Game by casually pulling up for a shot from halfcourt. He made it look too easy.
How is this the first time that Jayson Tatum and Larry Bird ever met?!
The 2024 NBA All-Star Game was an especially special night for Jayson Tatum because he got a chance to meet Larry Bird for the first time.
Even though Tatum has played for the Celtics since he was drafted by the team back in 2017, the five-time All-Star forward apparently had never had a chance to meet perhaps the greatest player in franchise history.
Tatum was drafted by the Celtics nearly seven years ago. But on Saturday in Indiana, where Bird was born and raised, this was the first time that the two forwards ever crossed paths.
With the culmination of the festivities on Sunday with the All-Star Game, here’s a list of all the major celebrities that attended the 2024 NBA All-Star weekend.
When he arrived for the actual All-Star Game on Sunday, however, he made a bold fashion decision that caused some waves. (Note: This is not the first time that his outfits have made waves of late.)
Tyrese Haliburton receives his #NBAAllStar ring from one of his biggest fans 🫶💍
The 23-year-old shared a heartwarming moment with a fan when he arrived.
Haliburton was wearing a nice suit and tie but fans couldn’t ignore the blue fabric on his blazer and pants that resembled the “fur” associated with Cookie Monster from Sesame Street:
Here’s who’s calling the 2024 NBA All-Star Game on TNT and truTV.
That’s right, it’s time to watch some of the biggest names in the NBA — the superstars and young studs — have a blast playing hoops together. It’s the 2024 NBA All-Star Game, coming to you live from Indianapolis.
TNT, TBS and truTV will be carrying the action that starts at 8 p.m. ET. And if you’re here, you may be wondering: Who are the voices you’re hearing calling all the action from Gainbridge Fieldhouse?
Fear not! We have the answers for you: On TNT and TBS, it’ll be Brian Anderson, Reggie Miller, Candace Parker and Allie LaForce on the mics. On truTV, it’ll be Taylor Rooks, Charles Barkley, Draymond Green and Jamal Crawford.
Mac McClung has officially made history, winning the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in back-to-back seasons.
Mac McClung has officially made history, winning the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in back-to-back seasons.
The high-flying G League guard took home the honors after an impressive performance, which included dunking over Shaquille O’Neal, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indiana. McClung beat out Celtics forward Jaylen Brown, Heat rookie Jamie Jaquez Jr. and Knicks forward Jacob Toppin.
Here were the best photos of the night in which McClung was once again crowned champ:
It was his first dunk of the night and one of the most anticipated moments of the evening at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Yet somehow, TNT’s TV broadcast missed Brown’s dunk as it happened because they were too focused on filming the LED court.
If you're going to broadcast the dunk contest, showing the dunks feels like it should be a priority. pic.twitter.com/YX4UCO9BLZ
