Tag: Frivolities

Ranking: The players with the most nicknames in NBA history

There are many things we like about Basketball Reference, but one of our favorites is the work they put into compiling nicknames (some popular, some very obscure) for NBA players throughout history. We investigated which ones have the most. At No. 1 …

There are many things we like about Basketball Reference, but one of our favorites is the work they put into compiling nicknames (some popular, some very obscure) for NBA players throughout history.

We investigated which ones have the most.

At No. 1 on the list, you will see Sixers legend Darryl Dawkins, though he kind of cheated by creating many of his nicknames himself. Among active players, LeBron James leads with nine nicknames. Ben Simmons follows closely behind with eight.

LOOK: NBA mascots dunking. That’s all

Mascots in the NBA serve as the league’s court jesters, spicing up games with their acrobatics and humor. Whether it’s Slamson of the Kings or Benny the Bull of the Bulls, these furry performers bring a touch of levity to the hardwood. They provide a needed respite from the intensity of the game and keep fans engaged with their comedic skits and high-flying dunks.

For some very cool pictures of the former, just take a look below.

Devin Booker, Kendall Jenner break up

Kendall Jenner and Devin Booker are dunzo – the model and NBA superstar reportedly split up recently … and it’s all due to their hectic schedules . KJ and D-Book first went public with their love on Valentine’s Day in 2021 … but as TMZ Sports …

Kendall Jenner and Devin Booker are dunzo — the model and NBA superstar reportedly split up recently … and it’s all due to their hectic schedules. KJ and D-Book first went public with their love on Valentine’s Day in 2021 … but as TMZ Sports previously reported, they became an item after spending a ton of time quarantining together in 2020.

Source: TMZ Staff @ TMZ.com

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Kerry Eggers @kerryeggers
Broadcasting legend Bill Schonely will be on hand to autograph copies of his new book, “Wherever You May Be … Now — the Bill Schonely Story,” before and during halftime of @Portland Trail Blazers vs. Pacers game at Moda Center Sunday, Dec. 4.
#RipCity – 5:56 PM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Devin Booker (30.3 PPG, 6.8 APG, 5.8 RPG, 1.0 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 48.3 FG%, 37.9 3P%, 96.3 FT%, 2-2 record) was nominated for Western Conference Player of the Week.
De’Aaron Fox (25.0 PPG, 8.0 APG, 3.7 RPG, 60.0 FG%, 41.7 3P%, 88.9 FT%, 3-0 record) won it. – 3:40 PM
NBA Math @NBA_Math
Western All-Stars, determined by RPR MVP score:
STARTERS
Luka Doncic
Stephen Curry
Lauri Markkanen
Anthony Davis
Nikola Jokic
BENCH
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Devin Booker
Karl-Anthony Towns
Domantas Sabonis
Mikal Bridges
Ja Morant
De’Aaron Fox
ALTERNATE
Paul George pic.twitter.com/kirsfYCLiC – 11:44 AM

Julia Poe @byjuliapoe
it is so hard for a non-fiction book to achieve the same type of plot twist as fiction but I legitimately screamed out loud when I hit page 313 of ‘Unmask Alice’ by @RickEmerson, holy hell what an incredible piece of storytelling – 9:31 PM
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
“Typically when we go into a game with one thing on our mind, we typically do it.”
“Getting out in transition.”
“He’s getting better and better each game.”
Devin Booker after #Suns 116-95 win vs. #Knicks. pic.twitter.com/kDY2JA9EnP – 7:18 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Devin Booker postgame. #Suns pic.twitter.com/LE3feEOBmX – 7:11 PM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Devin Booker was talking about the Suns starters all being in double figures and trusting his, so I asked him how enjoyable it is to have that trust when he’s doubled knowing they can make a play.
He said with a smile: “It’s the best feeling. The best feeling.” – 6:18 PM
Fred Katz @FredKatz
Final: Suns 116, Knicks 95.
Knicks fall to 8-9 on the season.
• Brunson 27-3-3
• Barrett 12 pts, 3-11 FGs
• Grimes 10-5-8
• Payne 21-7-9
• Booker 20-5-3
Knicks conclude their five-game road trip tomorrow in OKC. They’re 2-2 on it so far. – 5:46 PM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Final: PHX 116, NYK 95
Booker: 20 Pts, 5 Reb, 7-17 FG, 5-8 3P
Payne: 21 Pts, 9 Ast, 7 Reb, 7-14 FG
Ayton: 13 Pts, 11 Reb, 4 Ast
Lee: 15-4-4
Brunson: 27 Pts, 11-21 FG – 5:44 PM
Fred Katz @FredKatz
Through three quarters, the Suns lead the Knicks 90-75.
• Brunson 24-3-3
• Barrett 12 pts, 3-9 FGs
• Grimes 9-5-7
• Booker 20-5-3
• Ayton 13-11-4 – 5:15 PM
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Booker wondering where was the foul as he hit the back post of the basket hard on the defensive end.
On the other end, Washington Jr. for 3.
#Suns had a 11-0 run in building a 15-point lead going into the 4th. – 5:14 PM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
End of 3Q: PHX 90, NYK 75
Booker: 20 Pts, 5 Reb, 7-17 FG, 5-8 3P
Ayton: 13 Pts, 11 Reb, 4 Ast, 6-9 FG
Craig: 14-4-3
Brunson: 24 Pts, 9-19 FG – 5:14 PM
Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
Suns are crashing the offensive glass even more. Must have been something they saw on film with the Knicks. Never seen Booker do it this much. They’re up to 15 second-chance points. – 5:10 PM
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Booker 3.
Booker finds Ayton, with Brunson on hip, for two.
#Suns up 11. Timeout #Knicks midway through 3rd.
Biggest lead for #Suns: 11 – 5:02 PM
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
#Suns 55 #Knicks 53 Half
PHX: Payne 10, Booker 9. Team: 6-of-18 from 3.
NYK: Brunson 13. Team: 5-of-13. – 4:39 PM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Halftime: PHX 55, NYK 53
Payne: 10 Pts, 2-5 FG, 5-5 FT
Booker: 9 Pts, 4 Reb, 3-10 FG
Craig: 9-3-3, 3-6 FG
Brunson: 13 Pts, 5-12 FG – 4:36 PM
Fred Katz @FredKatz
Through one quarter, the Suns lead the Knicks 28-22.
• Grimes 5 pts
• Randle 4 & 3
• Payne 10 & 2
• Booker 7 & 4 – 4:06 PM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
End of 1Q: PHX 28, NYK 22
Payne: 10 Pts, 2-3 FG, 5-5 FT
Booker: 7 Pts, 4 Reb, 2-7 FG
Bridges: 4 Pts
Grimes: 5 Pts, 3 Ast – 4:05 PM
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Booker 3. Fouled by Mitchell Robinson. #Suns up 18-9. – 3:50 PM
Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
The Knicks keep fouling 3-point shooters. Suns up 9 and Booker has a chance to make it 10 with a 4-point play. – 3:50 PM
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
#Suns force turnover, get to line and Booker hits 3.
Phoenix up 5-2. – 3:43 PM
Austin Krell @NBAKrell
Eagles WRs need to take a page out of Clark from Benchwarmers’ book on this drive. Get the tape out, fellas. pic.twitter.com/c9pmoe8FPD – 3:36 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
“He’s a nut.”
Monty Williams on Devin Booker’s competitiveness. #Suns pic.twitter.com/SlnR09BUrn – 1:55 PM

Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
Monty Williams said he doesn’t want Booker and Bridges having high minute totals this early in the season to become a consistent thing. Trying to balance how much everyone wants to compete. – 1:49 PM
Adam Wexler @AdamJWexler
#Texans inactives vs Commanders: TE Jordan, WR Rodgers, RB Benjamin, DB Stingler Jr, LB Hewitt, DL Booker, OL Deculus. (Both waiver additions are inactive) – 11:35 AM
NBA Math @NBA_Math
Nov. 20 RPR MVP standings:
1. Luka Doncic: 16.6
2. Jayson Tatum: 16.2
3. Stephen Curry: 15.9
4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 15.5
5. Kevin Durant: 15.0
6. Joel Embiid: 14.6
7. Donovan Mitchell: 13.1
8. Devin Booker: 12.6
9. Lauri Markkanen: 12.3
10. Dejounte Murray: 11.7 pic.twitter.com/UIw2ghbbgm – 10:55 AM

Josh Lewenberg @JLew1050
Fred VanVleet is 1-for-11 from 3 tonight, meaning he’s a lock to hit the game-winner. Book it. – 8:33 PM
Ralph Lawler @Ohmeomy
Signing Box after box of my book: “Bingo Forty Years in the NBA” this AM. I’ll sign more tonight before Clippers~Spurs game https://t.co/cIbQtf9bVm arena from 6pm til Tip-off TeamLA store. Hope to see you there. pic.twitter.com/1h4jiCMIN5 – 11:32 AM

Eric Walden @tribjazz
Utah Jazz coach Will Hardy’s lineup experimentation paid dividends in Friday’s win, as his gamble to sacrifice size and rebounding late in order to maximize defensive switchability vs. Devin Booker and to utilize Malik Beasley’s floor-spacing paid off. sltrib.com/sports/jazz/20… – 10:05 AM
Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Watch Devin Booker drop 49, not enough against Markkanen (38) as Jazz win nba.nbcsports.com/2022/11/19/wat… – 9:36 AM

More on this storyline

Kendall Jenner and Devin Booker have called it quits. Several sources confirmed to PEOPLE that the Kardashians star and Phoenix Suns forward ended their relationship last month due to their demanding jobs. “Both have incredibly busy schedules right now with their careers and they’ve decided to make that a priority,” a source tells PEOPLE. For Jenner, 27, that includes her 818 tequila line and her booming modeling career, and for Booker, 26, it’s his involvement with the NBA. -via People / November 21, 2022
Another source adds, “They have a lot of love and respect for each other and wish only the best.” An insider also revealed that the decision to end their romantic relationship was mutual and just came down to timing, though Jenner and Booker do plan to stay in touch. -via People / November 21, 2022
Duane Rankin: “We’re going to have to see.” Devin Booker on FT issues. #Suns pic.twitter.com/86AabF2lLb -via Twitter @DuaneRankin / November 16, 2022

Kyle Lowry on Jimmy Butler’s hair: That s— is trash

Brendan Tobin: What do you think of Jimmy Butler’s hair? Kyle Lowry: That s-‘s trash. Source: Twitter What’s the buzz on Twitter? Ira Winderman @ IraHeatBeat Spoelstra on Lowry, “I love where Kyle is right now.” Downplays conditioning while calling …

Brendan Tobin: What do you think of Jimmy Butler’s hair? Kyle Lowry: That s—‘s trash.

Source: Twitter

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Spoelstra on Lowry, “I love where Kyle is right now.” Downplays conditioning while calling Lowry his “Hall of Fame quarterback.” – 12:14 PM
Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
Erik Spoelstra says he loves where Kyle Lowry is physically and calls him a “Hall of Fame quarterback.” – 12:13 PM
Shandel Richardson @ShandelRich
Are we seeing the best of Jimmy Butler? #miamiheat si.com/nba/heat/miami… – 9:30 AM
Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Heat’s Jimmy Butler, at 33, says he is in his prime. sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-h… Who you calling old? Butler says the time is now. – 9:22 AM
Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Is Heat’s Kyle Lowry sending a message about Pat Riley’s message? Latest “Ask Ira” at sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-h… plus more. – 8:06 AM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
Thinking about a random non-trade: Daryl Morey offered four 1sts to Minnesota for Jimmy Butler in 2018. Minny turned him down and took RoCo+Saric.
Houston might’ve won the title with Butler. Minny got a package with no picks. The blockbuster landscape has done a complete 180. – 1:39 PM
Ethan J. Skolnick @EthanJSkolnick
Jimmy Butler: “yes, I feel I’m in my prime.” @5ReasonsSports
youtu.be/DcS1EC5aqU4 – 12:40 PM
Barry Jackson @flasportsbuzz
From PM: Lowry still dealing with private, serious family issue that caused him to miss games last season. And more from the Heat’s point guard: miamiherald.com/sports/spt-col… – 9:14 AM
Barry Jackson @flasportsbuzz
Lowry addresses several issues and shrugs off Riley’s comment about needing to be in better shape, says conditioning not a problem for him: ‘He has his opinion’: miamiherald.com/sports/spt-col… – 8:12 PM
Barry Jackson @flasportsbuzz
If you’re just getting home, here was our live blog from Heat media day, with lots of notable stuff from Butler, Bam, Herro, Lowry, Strus, Martin: miamiherald.com/sports/spt-col… – 7:40 PM
Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
From @Barry Jackson on Heat media day: Kyle Lowry shrugs off Pat Riley’s comment and discusses his offseason miamiherald.com/sports/spt-col… – 7:36 PM
Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
From earlier — Heat’s Kyle Lowry on Pat Riley’s conditioning concerns, ‘It’s whatever . . . everyone has their opinion’ sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-h… – 5:55 PM
Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
From earlier — Heat’s Jimmy Butler shoots down playing power forward (and shows off new hairstyle); Herro downplays starting role, extension. sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-h… – 5:54 PM
Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Heat’s Kyle Lowry on Pat Riley’s conditioning concerns, ‘It’s whatever . . . everyone has their opinion’ sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-h… – 3:15 PM
Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Heat’s Jimmy Butler shoots down playing power forward (and shows off new hairstyle); Herro downplays starting role, extension. sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-h… – 3:14 PM
NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
Reggie Bullock is a big fan of Jimmy Butler’s new hairstyle 😂
(via @NBA)
pic.twitter.com/CMPspEXAha – 2:34 PM

Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Heat’s Kyle Lowry on Pat Riley’s conditioning concerns, “It’s whatever . . . everyone has their opinion.” sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-h… Veteran point guard says he is in shape and good to go. – 1:22 PM
Barry Jackson @flasportsbuzz
Fascinating that prideful Lowry didn’t give an inch publicly after Riley said he needs to be better shape: “Honestly, he has his opinion. Right? Everyone has their opinion and it doesn’t do anything for me.” But he’s a pro & will be in shape. miamiherald.com/sports/spt-col… – 1:11 PM
Barry Jackson @flasportsbuzz
NEW: Lowry shrugs off Riley’s comment about needing to be in better shape: “He has his opinion”.. Interesting stuff today from Heat’s prideful point guard: miamiherald.com/sports/spt-col… – 1:03 PM
Barry Jackson @flasportsbuzz
Lowry shrugged off Riley’s May challenge for him to be in better shape, saying he never heard the comment initially, saying Riley is entitled to his opinion and said he doesn’t know if he’s at same weight and body fat as the end of last year. – 12:33 PM
Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Kyle Lowry:
“I feel fantastic.” – 12:27 PM
Michael Lee @MrMichaelLee
I’m too busy staring at Jimmy Butler’s hair to hear what he has to say 😒 🤔 pic.twitter.com/bBARb16FrT – 10:19 AM
Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
Our Heat media day live blog, with comments from Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. Tyler Herro currently speaking miamiherald.com/sports/spt-col… – 10:16 AM
Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Heat’s Jimmy Butler shoots down notion of casting him at power forward. sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-h… Hair today, gone tomorrow? He’s not saying yet. – 9:58 AM
Wes Goldberg @wcgoldberg
Biggest takeaways from Jimmy Butler’s media day appearance:
– Doesn’t plan to play PF and doesn’t sound like the staff has brought it up.
– Hair for the regular season TBD – 9:47 AM
Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Jimmy Butler on Bam Adebayo’s scoring aggression:
“He can do it, and he’s going to.”
“He always is and always will be the engine, the key part on both ends of the floor.”
“We’re going where Bam takes us.” – 9:42 AM
Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Jimmy Butler says he still is weighing whether to keep his extensions for the season. pic.twitter.com/ikF7m5MHvh – 9:40 AM

Wes Goldberg @wcgoldberg
Jimmy Butler says it’s still up for debate if he’s gonna keep the hair. – 9:39 AM
Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Jimmy Butler:
“I don’t have in extensions. I don’t know what you’re talking about.” pic.twitter.com/71GgmgxSBf – 9:39 AM

Wes Goldberg @wcgoldberg
Jimmy Butler looking noticeably slimmer. – 9:38 AM
Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
Jimmy Butler says he could play power forward if the Heat “absolutely needs” him to. Doesn’t seem like he is too interested in filling that hole in the starting lineup. – 9:36 AM
Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds
BREAKING: Jimmy Butler now calls soccer “futbol.”
“The correct term,” he said. – 9:36 AM
Wes Goldberg @wcgoldberg
Jimmy Butler asked if he’ll take more 3, says his focus is getting into the paint. pic.twitter.com/0yK3MDeCvh – 9:36 AM

Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Jimmy Butler on losing PJ Tucker:
“He’s a traitor. I tell him everyday.” – 9:35 AM
Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Jimmy Butler on possibly playing the 4:
“I could play the 4, yes if they absolutely need me to play the 4. If they absolutely want me to play the 4, yes. But I’m not playing the 4,” as he laughs – 9:35 AM
Wes Goldberg @wcgoldberg
“I don’t play the 4.” – Jimmy Butler – 9:34 AM
Wes Goldberg @wcgoldberg
Jimmy Butler extensions, adjusted but still here. pic.twitter.com/wDN9gFF1mu – 9:34 AM

Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Heat announce that Kyle Lowry will be a late arrival to media day because of having to complete his physical in advance of team leaving for Bahamas later today. – 9:32 AM
Jeff Eisenband @JeffEisenband
2023 Ryder Cup Session 1 projections:
🇺🇸 JT/Spieth vs. 🇪🇺 Rory/Lowry
🇺🇸 Cantlay/Xander vs. 🇪🇺 Rahm/Vik
🇺🇸 Burns/Scottie vs. 🇪🇺 Tommy/Fitz
🇺🇸 Collin/Willy Z vs. 🇪🇺 Højgaard/Højgaard – 5:46 PM

More on this storyline

Anthony Chiang: Jimmy Butler continues to call Bam Adebayo the Heat’s “engine” and says he’s confident that Adebayo can take on a bigger scoring role this season. -via Twitter @Anthony_Chiang / September 26, 2022
Marc J. Spears: Chris Paul said himself, CJ McCollum and Kyle Lowry talked to Adam Silver about Robert Sarver. Stephen Curry has said he did the same. -via Twitter @MarcJSpears / September 26, 2022
At some point, probably before the February trade deadline, the Heat might need to add a helpful rotation piece instead of clinging to all its first-round draft inventory like a squirrel clenching acorns. Now is not the time to do it, not for Jae Crowder, Myles Turner or Bojan Bogdanovic. But at some point, if we get to January and the Heat looks clearly behind the Celtics and Bucks — and anybody else — it will be time to temporarily ditch the hoarding-picks-for-a-star strategy if there’s the opportunity to trade a first-rounder for a high-quality rotation piece. So yearn if you wish. But the waiting for a star seems more wishful thinking than plausible strategy at this point. If you’re going to yearn, yearn for Kyle Lowry and Victor Oladipo to return to their 2019 All-Star form. That seems more realistic, at this point, than hoping a star tries to force his team to trade him to Miami. -via Miami Herald / September 15, 2022
CJ Fogler: Some NBA players at the WNBA Finals -via Twitter / September 11, 2022

John Collins birthday cake has picture of him dunking on Joel Embiid on it

Clutch Points: John Collins’ birthday cake features a picture of him baptizing Joel Embiid in the playoffs  (via @Jaryd Wilson) pic.twitter.com/evKsyYormF Source: Twitter @ClutchPointsApp What’s the buzz on Twitter? StatMuse @ statmuse Top 10 …

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

StatMuse @statmuse
Top 10 players of 2022 based on PPG + RPG + APG + SPG + BPG:
1. Jokic
2. Giannis
3. Embiid
4. Doncic
5. LeBron
6. Durant
7. Young
8. Harden
9. Morant
10. Dejounte pic.twitter.com/vUTlu1uSBC – 5:13 PM

Lauren L. Williams @WilliamsLaurenL
John Collins said that his finger and his foot are both feeling great. He added that his finger won’t be pretty but as far as functionality, it won’t stop him basketball-wise. – 2:03 PM
Kevin Chouinard @KLChouinard
John Collins said his finger and foot feel good. Feels like the foot is completely healed. For the finger, “it’s not going to be too pretty” but doesn’t feel like it impacts its functionality. – 2:03 PM
Rich Hoffman @rich_hofmann
Here is the final part of the 15 questions heading into Sixers training camp: On Tobias Harris’ new connector role, how Doc handles the increased depth, and some potential load management for non-Embiid players: theathletic.com/3622042/2022/0… – 11:13 AM
Lauren L. Williams @WilliamsLaurenL
Landry Fields said that in conversations w/ John Collins, it comes down to constant communication with the organization. He said on his part it’s understanding where Collins is coming from and understanding the humanity before the player. – 10:17 AM
Justin Kubatko @jkubatko
🎂 Happy 25th birthday to John Collins!
📊 293 GP, 16.5 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 1.6 APG
🎯 55.9 FG%, 37.6 3P%, 77.9 FT%
Collins is the only player in NBA history to record shooting percentages of at least 55/35/80 in consecutive seasons (2019-20 and 2020-21). pic.twitter.com/w1K9siDqO8 – 10:01 AM

Dionysis Aravantinos @AravantinosDA
According to @ESPN, the Top 3 players in the world are from Europe:
1: Giannis Antetokounmpo 🇬🇷
2: Nikola Jokic 🇷🇸
3: Luka Doncic 🇸🇮
Joel Embiid (4) and Stephen Curry (5) conclude the Top 5. – 9:19 AM
Mike Curtis @MikeACurtis2
ESPN has released the league’s top five players to conclude its #NBARank list.
5. Stephen Curry
4. Joel Embiid
3. Luka Doncic
2. Nikola Jokic
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo – 9:05 AM
StatMuse @statmuse
Highest usage rate by active players:
35.0 — Luka
34.4 — Embiid
32.5 — Trae
32.1 — Russ
31.5 — LeBron, Mitchell pic.twitter.com/bO8pfMXbYc – 8:20 AM

Austin Krell @NBAKrell
Lineups featuring Joel Embiid and James Harden scored 122.7 pts per 100 possessions in 603 regular-season minutes in 2022, good for 5th amongst 42 duos to log at least 500 mins together after the All-Star break.
More on the Sixers’ offense in 2022-23:
https://t.co/rVyXZUFhSb pic.twitter.com/rEfOJznerp – 5:27 PM

More on this storyline

Joel Embiid has received French citizenship and shall be eligible to potentially play for the national team in the 2023 World Cup. That’s also the hope of French national team manager Boris Diaw. “He doesn’t have the FIBA license yet. But it would be nice if he could have this license and play for the France team,” Diaw, a former longtime said to RMC Sport. “We know that he has become French so why not, we try to have as many good players as possible and then make a team that holds its own and plays well together.” -via EuroHoops.net / September 20, 2022
Daryl Morey on James Harden: “Look, between the money he gave up and his commitment to the franchise from Day 1 to do what (head coach Doc Rivers) wants … I’m someone who looks at data quite a bit. All the players on the team’s shooting percentages went way up off passes from him. Our team overall was elevated after he came. Joel and James were the No. 1 pick-and-roll combo — really (in) years; it wasn’t just last season. It just shows the overall impact and how he’s lifting the whole team to help us win a title.” -via NBC Sports / September 13, 2022
“I’m not being negative about those guys,’’ Van Gundy said. “Randle made an All-Star team, Barrett they hope continues to become a more efficient player. Jalen is in that category of fringe All-Star. “That being said, if you’re going to make a significant jump in the Eastern Conference — when you have [Boston’s Jayson] Tatum, [Jaylen] Brown, [Brooklyn’s Kevin] Durant, [Milwaukee’s Giannis] Antetokounmpo , [Miami’s Jimmy] Butler, and [James] Harden and [Joel] Embiid in Philly, you need a top-20 player in the league. That’s what you build around. They’re still searching for that.” -via New York Post / September 7, 2022
Multiple members of Brooklyn’s front office have been admirers of Atlanta’s John Collins from afar for years, league sources told HoopsHype. However, Collins wasn’t enough to be the headline player in a trade package with the Hawks for Durant. -via HoopsHype / August 24, 2022
The New Orleans Pelicans inquired with the Nets on June 30 as well but deemed All-Star Brandon Ingram as untouchable, sources said. Also in the past month, the Atlanta Hawks offered John Collins, De’Andre Hunter and a draft pick for Durant, according to sources. -via The Athletic / August 22, 2022
Atlanta Hawks: ATL in the building @thecrawsover (@shobasketball ) -via Twitter @ATLHawks / July 31, 2022

“Y’all trying to play some golf?” Lee …

Speaking on Bleacher Report’s “Open …

Speaking on Bleacher Report’s “Open Run” podcast Wednesday, the new Lakers coach told a story about his playing days with Bryant. “I remember one time my rookie year, I came in a little — uh, (Bryant) and Shaq like to do this as, I think it was just rookies, but any young guy — I probably had too much to drink the night before, so I came in, I was a rookie, I felt good, and they could smell some alcohol on me. And Kobe informed the rest of the team that no one was allowed to help me on defense, and that I had to guard him the entire practice.