Tag: D-Lo

Report: Warriors and 76ers communicating on ways to honor Kobe Bryant

The Philadelphia 76ers and the Golden State Warriors have been in communication on ways to honor Kobe Bryant in his hometown following his tragic death.

Since the sudden death of basketball legend Kobe Bryant in a fatal helicopter accident that included his daughter Gianna and seven others, there has been a tidal wave of emotion pouring over the NBA. Games scheduled have featured honors like chants of “Kobe” and 24-second violations as tributes to the late NBA star.

For the Golden State Warriors, the team has yet to play a game since the passing of Bryant. However, when the team does take the court for the first time since the tragedy, it will take place in Bryant’s hometown.

On Tuesday, the Warriors will start a five-game road trip in Philadelphia against the 76ers, the first home game in Bryant’s hometown since his death.

According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, both teams have already been in contact regarding ways to honor Bryant during the game.

Off the court, members from both the 76ers and Warriors have paid their respect to Bryant via social media. Draymond Green, D’Angelo Russell and Stephen Curry have all posted messages regarding the loss of Bryant.

View this post on Instagram

I’ve waited and waited with hope that this bad dream would end and I never had to make this post. Hoping that someone would report that it wasn’t You in that helicopter like they initially thought. I went to sleep on the couch yesterday while they talked about you on TV. I thought I’d wake up and the story would be gone. Only to wake up to more details of you being GONE. Kobe, I thank you for being the person that you were, the big brother that you were. Not only to myself but to many others. You left a legacy that’ll NEVER be forgotten. We lost one of the good guys. I’ll continue to pray for the Bryant family as well as all the other families affected by this horrific tragedy! RIP BEAN #GoneTooSoon

A post shared by Draymond Green (@money23green) on

For the 76ers, Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris and Ben Simmons have each checked in with their tributes to the Philadelphia native. Tuesday, both teams will get their chance to honor Bryant on the court.

Bryant, a product of Lower Merion High School in Philadelphia and a noted Philadelphia Eagles fan, will rightfully have a significant presence during the Warriors tilt against 76ers, on Tuesday.

After Golden State ends their five-game road swing, they’ll host Bryant’s former team, the Los Angeles Lakers in the Warriors’ first game back in the Bay Area.

D’Angelo Russell reacts to loss of former Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant

D’Angelo Russell uses Instagram to react to the loss of his former teammate Kobe Bryant.

Long before D’Angelo Russell suited up in his No. 0 Golden State Warriors white and blue jersey, the Ohio State product was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the second overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft. Los Angeles legend, Kobe Bryant was one of Russell’s first teammates in the NBA.

Before Bryant’s retirement from the NBA, he spent one season alongside the newest Golden State Warrior, Russell. Russell, with only one year of college basketball experience, was playing alongside a five-time champion in his first season in the NBA.

Earlier in the 2019-20 season, Russell credited Bryant’s lessons from his rookie season after closing out a much-needed win for Golden State against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Bryant tragically passed away in a fatal helicopter crash alongside his daughter Gianna, and seven others in Calabasas, California, on Sunday.

One day later, the devastating news is still rippling through NBA circles. Bryant’s impact has been felt across the league with games starting with 24-second violations to honor the fallen All-Star.

Players around the world have weighed in on the loss of Bryant, with several Warriors players, including both Draymond Green and Stephen Curry each paying tribute.

In response to the devastating news of Bryant’s death, Russell went to Instagram to pay tribute to his fallen teammate.

Watched you closer than ever man, learned more than I could in such a short time, asked you more questions than ever. True Role ModeI. I find myself hearing every bit of advice you ever gave me. #legendary #mambamentality

The entire Golden State team will be able to honor Bryant on Tuesday when they travel to Philadelphia for their first game since his death. Following Golden State’s five-game road trip, the Warriors will host Bryant’s team in their first game back in the Bay Area on February 8.

D’Angelo Russell sports Packers jersey prior to 49ers NFC Championship

Before the 49ers play the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship, D’Angelo Russell broke out his Aaron Rodgers Packers jersey at a press conference.

Against the Orlando Magic, everything was going in the Golden State Warriors direction to snap their season-high 10-game losing streak. Struggling rookie, Jordan Poole was impressive, Stephen Curry was along the sideline broadcasting the game and Klay Thompson got his college jersey retired earlier in the day — what more could the Warriors fanbase want?

Well, if you’re a fan of not just the Warriors, but all teams in the Bay Area, things might have soured when Golden State’s press conference started.

Although the Warriors sealed a victory, the team has struggled mightily in the 2019-20 season, just in time for their Bay Area neighbor, the San Francisco 49ers, to step up and take the baton.

The 49ers are one win away from punching their ticket to a Super Bowl appearance, but to get there, they will have to go through former Most Valuable Player, Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.

When the NFC Championship kicks-off, one member of the Golden State Warriors will be rooting against the Bay Area home team. During Golden State’s Orlando Magic victory press conference, D’Angelo Russell pulled out a jersey of his favorite NFL team, that may ruffle the feathers of some Warriors fans that pull for the 49ers as well.

Russell was sporting a green Rodgers No. 12 jersey on the eve of the 49ers-Packers NFC Championship tilt.

Russell, a noted Packers fan, has worked out with Rodgers in the past and the two sports stars are friends, according to Connor Letourneau of the San Francisco Chronicle.

During the Packers NFC Divisional round battle against the Seattle Seahawks, Russell cheered on Green Bay from his Twitter.

When the All-Star played for the Brooklyn Nets, Russell received a signed No. 12 Packers jersey from Rodgers himself.

Russell’s new rivalry with Golden State Warriors fans, doubling as San Francisco 49ers supporters will get settled during the NFL’s Championship Sunday. The 49ers kickoff against the Green Bay Packers at 3:40 PM PST on Sunday in Santa Clara, California.

All-Star Update: Warriors duo in top-10 of Western Conference voting

Regardless of record, the Warriors fanbase is still “dubbing the vote,” landing both Stephen Curry and D’Angelo Russell in the top-10 of Western Conference voting.

While the wins may not be rolling in at a rate Golden State Warriors fans are used to, “Dub Nation” is still showing up when it comes to All-Star voting. In the latest NBA All-Star voting update, the Warriors had two guards rank in the top-10 in Western Conference voting.

Both Stephen Curry and D’Angelo Russell were named in the top-10 in the second round of the Western Conference guard voting. Both guards were called to the top-10 when the first round was announced on January 2.

Curry, who’s only played four games all season ranked fourth behind Luka Doncic (Mavericks), James Harden (Rockets) and Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers) with 595, 913 votes. Curry’s broken hand will take him out of All-Star consideration. However, he is progressing through his injury, entering the shooting stages.

After Curry, the order proceeds with Russell Westbrook (Rockets), Alex Caruso (Lakers), Donovan Mitchell (Utah) and Devin Booker (Suns). Following Booker, is the Warriors’ second representative, Russell.

Russell ranks sixth in the standings with 365,730 fan votes. Memphis Grizzlies rookie, Ja Morant rounds out the top-10 in Western Conference voting.

Russell has played well when healthy but has dealt with injuries to start the 2020 new year. Prior to missing six straight games, Russell was playing at a level worthy of an All-Star nod. The 23-year-old scored 30 or more points in three of his last four games before the injury.

The Ohio State product returned from his shoulder when the Warriors went to Memphis for his first game in the new 2020 decade, just in time to receive more All-Star votes. NBA All-Star voting closes on January 20, with starters announced Thursday, January 23.

D’Angelo Russell shows no rust in return after six game injury absence

D’Angelo Russell scored 34 points after missing the Golden State Warriors’ previous six games due to a shoulder injury.

Injuries have turned the Golden State Warriors 2019-20 season upside down. Each night the Warriors have had to deal with replacing a new player out due to different ailments. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Kevon Looney have been the most consistent figures popping up on the Warriors injury report each night.

Following the trio of injured Warriors is D’Angelo Russell. Russell has had three different stints where injuries ruled him out for a stretch of games. The 23-year-old has been dealing with a shoulder injury that took him out of the Warriors’ last six games.

There’s no coincidence that Golden State has dropped all six contests with Russell out of the lineup. When the team traveled to Memphis on the final games of their quick two-game road trip, Louisville, Kentucky native, made his first appearance of the 2020 new year.

It took one quarter for Russell to shake the dust off, only scoring one point in the opening quarter against the Grizzlies, but after that, he turned it on.

Russell added 17 points in the second period, rallying the Warriors to only a one-point deficit heading into halftime. Russell ended his night in Memphis with 34 points. However, a third-quarter outburst from the Grizzlies spoiled his return with the Warriors falling for their eighth consecutive contest.

Although during the loss, Russell proved his shoulder is feeling fine, shooting 12-of-24 from the field, including 5-of-9 from beyond the arc. Russell added seven rebounds and four assists against Ja Morant and the Grizzlies.

Russell has now had 30 or more points in four of his last five games. The Ohio State product is shooting 47.7 % from the field in that time while going 43.4 % from beyond the arc.

If the Warriors can break their losing streak anytime soon, Russell will need to be a significant factor. Golden State’s schedule doesn’t get any easier while they’re struggling, Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks are next on the docket, followed by the Western Conference playoff hopeful, Denver Nuggets.