As momentum picks up for the NBA to return, players around the league are growing anxious to finally get back onto the court.
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As momentum picks up for the NBA to return later this summer, players around the league are becoming anxious to finally get back onto the court and play basketball again.
The NBA confirmed on Saturday that it is engaged with the Walt Disney Company about restarting the 2019-20 season at the Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. The discussions are still in the exploratory phase but the expectation is an agreement will soon be reached.
With Orlando emerging as the favorite to host NBA games, the timeline for players to return to their home markets could begin as soon as the beginning of June. Teams would then participate in a second training camp in order to prepare for gameplay.
As a return to play appears to be imminent, players have expressed their opinions on the season resuming as a pair of Memphis Grizzlies teammates are ready to play again.
The NBA season could return as soon as the middle of July but what that will look like remains to be seen. The league office is considering several options for what a return to play will look like with the details of the format still to be worked out.
The NBA launched a global social engagement campaign to provide the latest health and safety information during the coronavirus outbreak.
Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. helped the NBA launch “NBA Together” on Friday, a global community outreach and social engagement campaign to provide fans with the latest health and safety information during the coronavirus outbreak.
The league will call upon several NBA and WNBA players over the next several weeks to help promote the program to all fans across the globe. Jackson assisted in introducing a component of the program called “Jr. NBA at Home,” an interactive contest series.
The series will provide basketball skills and drills featuring NBA and WNBA players that can be completed individually and in limited space to help young players around the world stay active and develop their game in a safe and healthy way.
The initiative will include a series of daily posts on Jr. NBA social channels and NBA digital properties around the world that provide drills, activities and instruction to promote skill development, physical activity and character development.
LeBron James could return to the floor tonight when the Los Angeles Lakers visit the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Los Angeles Lakers are back on Saturday night as they continue on a three-game road trip in Memphis as they will face a slumping Grizzlies team that has lost five straight games and is hanging onto the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference by a thread. The Lakers may also get LeBron James back on the court, as he is considered questionable for tonight’s game against the Grizzlies after sitting out Thursday’s win at Golden State with a sore groin.
The Grizzlies, while they are losing, are also quite banged up. Starting forward Jaren Jackson Jr. is out for a couple of weeks and shortly after Jackson got hurt, talented reserve forward Brandon Clarke also got injured. Without those two, rookie guard Ja Morant, Dillon Brooks, and Jonas Valanciunas have had to do a whole lot more.
The Grizzlies are still a talented group but right now, injuries and the league’s toughest post-All-Star break schedule is catching up with them.
The Los Angeles Lakers are back from break and back to winning again after beating the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.
The Los Angeles Lakers led from end-to-end as they defeated the Memphis Grizzlies in what may be a preview of their eventual first round series, beating the plucky Grizzlies on Friday night, 117-105.
The Lakers led from the very beginning of the night, jumping out to a 9-2 run and they essentially never looked back. LeBron James led the way with 32 points and six assists while Anthony Davis had 27 points,13 rebounds, and seven blocks but the Lakers shot below 30% from the 3-point line on the evening. The Lakers now move to 42-12 as they continue to extend their lead for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
As for the Grizzlies, they played without forward Jaren Jackson Jr. in the second half and reclamation project Josh Jackson led the team in scoring on the second night of a back-to-back with 20 points.
Up next for the Laker is a matinee at Staples Center against the Boston Celtics, who have plenty of experience when it comes to facing LeBron James under the lights.
The Los Angeles Lakers had an injury scare early on in their game on Friday against the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Los Angeles Lakers returned to the court on Friday night but they lost one of their most important pieces early on in their game against the Memphis Grizzlies, as star forward Anthony Davis was forced to go to the locker room after catching a knee to the back of his left leg.
The Lakers began their final stretch of the season tonight against the Grizzlies as L.A. is looking to keep their vice-like grip on the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. However, the Davis injury has made things considerably more complicated for a Lakers team that has found strength through their two major stars.
There is no official word yet on whether Davis will return but given the contact he received and the road ahead for L.A., it would be tough to expect Davis returns tonight.
The Lakers have a strong lead for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and although tonight could be a playoff preview against Memphis, there is absolutely no need to stretch Anthony Davis on a mostly meaningless February night.
The duo has led the Grizzlies to eighth place in the Western Conference with a 28-26 record at the All-Star break.
Memphis Grizzlies teammates Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant have emerged two of the yop, young players in the NBA and it may not come as a surprise that they have developed a strong friendship on and off the court.
Jackson and Morant each represented the United States in the NBA Rising Stars Game on Friday during All-Star Weekend and helped lead their squad to a 151-131 win over the World Team. Jackson tallied 12 points and seven rebounds while Morant had 10 points, six assists and five rebounds.
During the festivities in Chicago, Jackson sat down with Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype to discuss a variety of topics, including how his friendship with Morant first kicked off.
Our chemistry really started off the court because we weren’t really playing in Summer League, so we really had that whole time to just hang out. From there, it was a very smooth transition once we got on the court together just because we were already so cool with each other. We were just able to mesh really well.
Combined together, the two have led the Grizzlies to an impressive first-half of the season as Memphis is currently in eighth place in the Western Conference with a 28-26 record. Morant leads the Grizzlies with 17.6 points per game while Jackson is second with 17.1 points per game.
As noted by Chris Herrington of the Daily Memphian, if the Grizzlies make the playoffs this season, they would become the first team in NBA history to have their two-top scorers aged 20 years or younger. The next closest in scoring on the Grizzlies is Dillon Brooks at 15.7 points, respectively.
With Jackson and Morant leading the way, the Grizzlies have become a must-watch team this season and they could be on their way to a postseason appearance.
Jaren Jackson Jr. talks to HoopsHype about the Grizzlies’ success, his chemistry with Ja Morant, his upbringing, his development and more.
Memphis Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr. is just 20, but you’d never know it based on his production or how he carries himself. The sophomore is averaging career-highs across the board including 17.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.5 threes and 1.7 blocks. He and Ja Morant have formed a terrific one-two punch in Memphis, which is a big reason why the Grizzlies have the eighth-best record in the Western Conference (despite being projected as bottom-feeders in the preseason).
HoopsHype sat down with Jackson at MTN DEW’s Courtside Studios in Chicago to discuss the Grizzlies’ success, his chemistry with Morant, his upbringing, the All-Star festivities, his development and much more.
You come from a basketball family – your father played in the NBA and your mother was involved on the business side (with the NCAA and now the Women’s National Basketball Players Association). How much has their insight helped you over the years?
Jaren Jackson Jr.: I think the fact that they did those things just added to the level of knowledge that I had in my bank. From a young age, I was given all of the secrets and the ins and outs of this. They didn’t push me into basketball; they let me do it on my own. But they always had the answers, so if I had any questions, I could come to them – with my mom knowing the business side so well and with my dad playing at all three levels.
Like your father, you’re a very good defender. What were some of the biggest lessons that you learned from your father and how did he influence your game?
JJJ: Just his heart for the game and his tenacity. We’re definitely both defensive-minded. You have to be able to shoot and you have to be able to play defense because you don’t want to be a liability out there. At the end of the day, my dad did all of that and he won a ring doing it [with the 1999 San Antonio Spurs]. I can take so much away from him.
I know your family used to call you “String Bean” before your huge growth spurt.
JJJ: Ha, yeah!
When did you hit your growth spurt and take that next step as a player?
JJJ: I probably hit my growth spurt during freshman year or toward the end of freshman year. It was probably because, I don’t know, I was eating a lot of broccoli or something (laughs). Then, I just grew. I was about 6-foot-5 and then I became 6-foot-10 real quick, so I had to figure out how not to trip over myself all the time (laughs). Once I got all of that together, I was good!
You made an immediate impact as a rookie, but there’s no question that you’ve made huge strides over the last year and a half. How much do you feel you’ve improved from your first day in the NBA to now?
JJJ: I think a lot. I’m just getting more comfortable with the game and things are really slowing down for me. I’m better at my decision-making and better at little things like my shot prep and getting my shot off. At the end of the day, I love to compete, so that’s going to carry me. I’m still getting better and I’m nowhere near where I want to be at all. But it’s been a good start for me.
This Grizzlies team is currently in the eighth seed out West and there’s a real chance that you guys could make the playoffs this year. How motivating was it to have everyone count you guys out prior to the season and how nice is it to silence those doubters now?
JJJ: It was definitely motivating because nobody really thought that we’d be in this position at this point. People just said to us, “Oh, you have time. Don’t worry about it! You’re young!” We kind of were just like, “We don’t care.” That’s how we play and how we are – we just don’t care. When we go out there, you have to put five on the court just like we have to put five on the court. It don’t matter if you’re young or old. There’s only one basketball. You have to literally beat us down if you want to win this game against us because we like to compete. We’ll have off nights, for sure. But at the end of the day, we’re going to play hard.
Photo by Brandon Dill/Getty Images
You’ve formed an excellent duo with Ja Morant. Chris Herrington of the Daily Memphian wrote something interesting: If the Grizzlies make the postseason, this would be the first time in NBA history that a playoff team’s top-two scorers are both 20 years old or younger. What has it been like teaming up with Ja and developing alongside each other?
JJJ: It’s been crazy, man. Our chemistry really started off the court because we weren’t really playing in Summer League, so we really had that whole time to just hang out. From there, it was a very smooth transition once we got on the court together just because we were already so cool with each other. We were just able to mesh really well.
I’ve talked to Tony Allen about how Grit-and-Grind basketball really resonated with the fans since Memphis is a blue-collar city. You’re defensive-minded and you have a great work ethic, so do you feel like your style of play vibes nicely with Memphis too?
JJJ: Yeah, I was there for some of the Grit-and-Grind stuff last year and that’s a staple. It’s just that now it’s next-gen so it’s little bit different, but it’s still the same sort of mentality. We definitely take defense really seriously and that’s our staple. And when you make that your staple, you usually win.
Who were some of the veterans who have helped you the most – on or off the court – since you’ve entered the NBA?
JJJ: Last year, it was guys like Mike Conley, Marc Gasol, Garrett Temple and Shelvin Mack. As far as guys who are on my team now, it’s Kyle Anderson and Jonas Valanciunas. Honestly, everyone loves to share information and everyone loves to give you advice (even if they’re on a different team). It’s a brotherhood, man. This is our league and we want to protect it.
I saw the video of you surprising Marc Gasol at the NBA Finals. It was cool to see you guys reconnect after the trade.
JJJ: Yeah, Marc is my guy!
We’re here at MTN DEW’s Courtside Studios. Did you get a chance to look at all three floors and what do you think of this event?
JJJ: The set-up is just incredible – the way they used the space and the way they were able to incorporate the fans. Getting involved with MTN DEW Courtside Studios has been great. It gives you a chance to connect with everyone, gives you a chance to have some lighthearted fun and gives fans a different side of the game of basketball – just showing the human side of it.
I feel you and Ja Morant are both on track to become All-Stars. After being around the All-Star Weekend festivities, are you even more motivated to reach that level?
JJJ: Oh, definitely. I’m motivated all year to get to that point, but being around great pedigree and great players, it definitely makes you want to play on that day. That’s what you keep striving for.
The Grizzlies forward doesn’t think the Rookie of the Year race is particularly close at the moment, either.
The Rookie of the Year race is not close, at least in the eyes of Jaren Jackson Jr.
Unsurprisingly, the Memphis Grizzlies forward named teammate Ja Morant as the ROY this season during his media availability on Friday ahead of the NBA Rising Stars Game.
The two have grown close this season and have often had each other’s backs but friendship aside, Morant has been the top rookie to this point of the season.
Of course, the arrival of Zion Williamson may make it difficult for voters at the end of the season but Morant has appeared in 38 more games than Williamson and has often dominated with the Grizzlies.
Morant is averaging 17.6 points, 7.1 assists, 3.5 rebounds and one steal in 48 games this season. He missed six games due to back spasms early in the season but still leads all rookies in scoring, assists and field goals made.
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The second overall pick recently finished just two points shy of setting the Grizzlies record for highest-scoring triple-double, which was the first by a rookie this season.
With Morant and Jackson leading the way, the Grizzlies are two games above .500 this season for the first time and are in eighth place in the Western Conference.
The Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers have former agents running their front offices. The New York Knicks may follow that model.
The Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers have former agents running their front offices. The New York Knicks may follow that model.
Golden State hired Wasserman Media Group’s Bob Myers back in 2011 while Los Angeles brought on Landmark Sports founder Rob Pelinka in 2017. Both have since been promoted to become president of basketball operations for those marquee franchises.
New York moved on from their president of basketball operations Steve Mills on Tuesday morning, per reports. Mills began working with the Knicks in 2003 and took over as their president of basketball operations in July 2017.
ESPN Sources with @ramonashelburne: Knicks owner Jim Dolan is already considering a front office model that is working with Golden State (Bob Myers) and the Lakers (Rob Pelinka): Hiring a top basketball executive out of the player agent ranks.
General manager Scott Perry will take over his role in the interim, per several reports. But according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne, the Knicks’ ownership group is considering replacing Mills with an NBPA certified agent.
SNY’s Ian Begley reported that CAA’s Austin Brown (co-head of basketball for the company) is one of the agents being considered for the position.
Brown currently represents last year’s No. 1 pick ZionWilliamson. Other clients include former NBA All-Star D’Angelo Russell (who has been linked to New York in recent trade rumors), Donovan Mitchell, Jaren Jackson Jr., Kyle Kuzma and various other prominent players.
This would follow a trend for the Knicks, who were known to be swayed by the agency when Carmelo Anthony (represented by CAA’s Leon Rose) was the star player for the team.
Here is what Kurt Helin wrote about the connections to the agency at the time (via NBC Sports):
“If you listen to the scuttlebutt around the league, Andrea Bargnani is a Knick because he is a CAA/Leon Rose client just like ‘Melo (why else would you take on that contract?). Why did the Knicks give a roster spot to Chris Smith, JR’s brother? CAA. That’s just the tip of the rumor iceberg.”
Before 13-time NBA champion Phil Jackson took over basketball operations for the Knicks in 2014, he “vowed to relinquish the team’s close ties” with the prominent agency.
Phil, on the team's CAA ties: "Those won't hold weight with me."
Their former head coach Mike Woodson, who was represented by CAA, was fired by the organization just a few weeks after the comments by Jackson. JR Smith, a former CAA client, was traded by the Knicks to the Cleveland Cavaliers a few months later. Bargnani played just one more season for New York under Jackson’s leadership.
While the team publicly distanced themselves from CAA’s influence over the past few years, it is no surprise to see them considering Brown or another agent, considering Myers and Pelinka have had success in their current roles.
For what it is worth: Across town and in a different league back in October 2018, the New York Mets hired former CAA Co-Head of Baseball Brodie Van Wagenen as their general manager back in 2018. Before joining the franchise, he represented several players (e.g. Yoenis Cespedes, Jacob DeGrom, Robinson Cano and even minor leaguer Tim Tebow) on the team.
LeBron James believes the fans in Memphis pulled out some extra stops to distract the Los Angeles Lakers before Saturday’s game.
Memphis may not get enough credit when it comes to being a tough place to play, even now as the team is at the bottom of the Western Conference. Because to see what LeBron James said on Saturday afternoon, it looks like Grizzlies fans are bringing postseason energy to their disruption of the visitors.
The Lakers are in Memphis to play the second game of a back-to-back on Saturday night and after getting in after last night’s game in Oklahoma City, so LeBron tried to get a customary road trip afternoon nap before facing off against the Grizzlies later Saturday night. But James was unable to get to sleep as he tweeted about a marching band playing outside of their hotel since 9 a.m.
Literally trying to sleep/rest up for the game this evening and there’s a full out concert going on outside our hotel since around 10am. 🤦🏾♂️! Ok I see what y’all trying to do. Cool cool 👍🏾😤
The Lakers are on their first extended road trip of the season and tonight will be their first road back-to-back, but you have to wonder if the Grizzlies fans poked the bear on a night that he may not have otherwise gotten up for. If they did, grab your popcorn, Saturday night should be show.
