In an appearance on “All The Smoke” with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, NBA Hall of Famer Allen Iverson said he wants MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to join the Warriors.
When asked about a current player he would like to play with, “The Answer” replied with the reigning back-to-back Most Valuable Player. Former Warrior turned Brooklyn Net Kevin Durant also got a mention as a player Iverson would like to play alongside.
Jackson followed the conversation with a comment about Antetokounmpo leaving Milwaukee for the Bay Area. The 11-time All-Star agreed with Jackson, saying he wants Antetokounmpo to go to the Golden State Warriors.
Watch the exchange between Barnes, Jackson and Antetokounmpo via @warriorsworld on Twitter:
Watch Iverson’s full episode on All The Smoke via YouTube (Barnes, Jackson and Iverson begin discussing Antetokounmpo and the Warriors at the 1:41:45 mark).
While there’s been no indication Antetokounmpo has plans to request a trade out of Milwaukee, the NBA’s transaction wire is known to bring a handful of surprises. Until Antetokounmpo officially signs the dotted line with the Bucks, the fans of Dub Nation will continue to monitor his situation in Milwaukee with hopes of him landing at Chase Center.
ESPN’s Matt Barnes says the Philadelphia 76ers need to cater to the needs of Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid.
The Philadelphia 76ers made a couple of gambles in the 2019 offseason letting key contributors JJ Redick and Jimmy Butler slip away in free agency. They then replaced those players with Al Horford and Josh Richardson and the team struggled on offense.
That is mostly due to the fact that Horford and Richardson were not able to make up for the shooting lost from Redick and Butler. The Sixers were not able to space the floor properly for Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid and that was a key factor in their struggles this season, especially in a 3-point happy NBA.
As the team continues to pick up the pieces and figure out what the next step is, general manager Elton Brand has stated that he will not trade Simmons nor Embiid. He wants to complement them better and ESPN’s Matt Barnes agrees that that is what Brand should do.
Barnes:
I put a lot of onus on Elton. I think they’ve taken a step back as far as what they surrounded then with. I think they were heading in the right direction a few years ago when they put shooting around Ben. You had JJ, you had (Ersan) Ilyasova, you had Jimmy, and a handful of guys that could play off Ben well and Embiid was Embiid…I definitely think they need to add to the roster because I agree, those are two generational talents, very talented young players and I think Ben Simmons is starting to come of age. I think he’s starting to get the fear of just shooting, you’re gonna miss. Everyone misses Steph misses but you have to be able to shoot it… I agree with Elton. You keep your two centerpieces, but you have to do a better job of surrounding them with guys that fit them.
There has always been a debate about whether the Sixers should break up the star duo, but now that there appears to be a clear solution to the problems that were present this season, they should grab more shooters around them. A sharpshooter will be paramount for their success in the future. [lawrence-related id=37474,37470,37467]
Although it’s been three years, Matt Barnes finally received his 2017 NBA Championship ring during an appearance on ESPN’s “The Jump.”
Although Golden State isn’t included in the 2020 postseason dance, one former member of the Warriors is bringing home some hardware.
Following their 2017 run to the NBA Finals, the Golden State Warriors presented Matt Barnes with his championship ring. However, three years later and his piece of championship jewelry was still in the Bay Area.
On Tuesday, the Warriors were able to reunite Barnes with his ring. In an appearance on ESPN’s “The Jump,” the Warriors had a courier drive the piece of NBA history to the Los Angeles studio where Barnes was located.
Along with his ring, Barnes got a message from Golden State head coach Steve Kerr.
Hey, Matt. Congratulations — about time you took this ring. We’ve been trying to get it to you for about three years, so. No, in all seriousness, I just want to say this was well-deserved. You played a big role on our team in 2017, especially when KD [Kevin Durant] went down, and you were a great leader. You were fantastic to coach, one of the most competitive people I’ve ever been around and you brought Warriors fans a lot of thrills over the years going back to the ‘We Believe’ era. So, thank you for everything you’ve done for our organization. Enjoy the ring. You are an NBA champion forever, and don’t ever forget that.
Barnes explained that after being presented with his ring in a special ceremony, he didn’t want to sit with it boxed up in the stands during the game. Instead, he left the ring in a room that was locked when he was ready to leave. Barnes thanked Warriors VP of Communication Raymond Ridder for holding onto the ring for him.
When starting forward Kevin Durant was on the sidelines due to injury, Barnes played a crucial role down the stretch for the Warriors. After joining Golden State in 2017, Barnes logged 20 regular-season games with the Warriors, averaging 5.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 20.5 minutes per contest.
Barnes suffered an ankle injury late in the year, impacting his role in the postseason. In 12 playoff appearances in 2017, the UCLA product averaged 5.1 minutes per game.
Matt Barnes heard there’s more to the reason why Kyrie Irving doesn’t want the NBA to resume 2019-20 than what’s been put out.
NBA players, both current and ex, have expressed they don’t agree with Kyrie Irving’s idea that the 2019-20 season should remain on hold while the Black Lives Matter movement has traction. But, the Nets point guard has not been alone with his approach.
However, his Brooklyn teammate, Garrett Temple, thinks players should want the season to resume. He believes it will help the movement, as do others. And while that’s been the main focus of those who oppose Irving, Matt Barnes has a different issue with Irving.
The retired NBA forward explained what he’s heard to Stephen Jackson on Instagram Live on Monday:
Kyrie needs to quit [expletive]. Because what I heard was Kyrie wanted to go to Orlando to support his team, they didn’t let him, so then he flipped the script on him talking about how ‘I’d give up everything.’ Bro, you can give up everything and go the Maya Moore [expletive] if you really want to. But at the same time, sitting out without a cause or a purpose defeats the purpose, and then it also divides us. They all gotta get on the same page, open up that communication and understand that the moment — and I understand that the top of the people understand it, but everybody else has to buy-in.
The “We Believe” Warriors could be getting treatment similar to “The Last Dance.”
Since the first episode of “The Last Dance,” the 10-part documentary has dominated hoops headlines. Now that the ESPN 30 for 30 series has come to a close, the question is — who’s next?
As for the Golden State Warriors, the recent championship run of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant and Draymond Green could jump to the front of the list for a documentary. However, another Warriors squad could make for a must-watch series.
After eliminating the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks in the 2007 NBA playoffs, the “We Believe” Warriors etched their names into Golden State lore.
The underdog band of Warriors could be getting treatment similar to The Last Dance. Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes recently joined The Bill Simmons Podcast to talk about the 2006-07 Warriors. While the rest of the details are still unclear, Barnes mentioned a documentary about the We Believe group could be on the way.
We’re in the midst of getting a ‘We Believe’ documentary together.
Despite losing to the Utah Jazz in the second round, endless storylines surround the We Believe Warriors.
The attitude of Barnes and Jackson, “Roaracle Arena” arriving at the national stage and Dirk Nowitzki’s poor series during an MVP campaign are just small pieces to the puzzle that makes the We Believe team worthy of a documentary.
From Don Nelson drawing up plays on the sideline to Baron Davis and Jason Richardson dunking their way through the playoffs, the We Believe team has the makings of a compelling documentary.
Matt Barnes said he didn’t get the court time to feel he deserves the 2017 Warriors championship ring. Tracy McGrady understands through his time with the Spurs.
Matt Barnes won a championship ring with the Golden State Warriors in 2017.
He doesn’t have the ring. He doesn’t want it. He feels he didn’t do anything to deserve it.
On the “All The Smoke” episode with former NBA star Tracy McGrady that aired Thursday, Barnes said his ring is in the office of Warriors vice president of communications Raymond Ridder.
When McGrady shared detail about his final NBA season with the San Antonio Spurs, he and Barnes expressed similar emotions about the playoff runs in their respective final seasons
The day before the final game of the 2013 Spurs regular season, McGrady signed to help fill in for injured players. He had recently finished playing in China and now says he was mentally checked out of basketball, but out of respect to Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, he rejoined the NBA.
McGrady didn’t play in the regular season. He didn’t see action until Game 4 of the first round against the Los Angeles Lakers, in which he played five minutes in a blowout win to complete the sweep.
In the second round the Spurs faced the Warriors. Popovich told McGrady he didn’t want the veteran to be “chasing” the young team around, but that he’d play in the next series if they got there. Again, McGrady said about five total minutes of action against Golden State.
The Western Conference Finals came against the Memphis Grizzlies.
“(Popovich) takes me on the bus, like, ‘You ready?’ McGrady said. “I was like, ‘Bruh, I’ve been waiting for this my whole career.'”
He played 6 minutes, 45 seconds in the first game and didn’t see the court for the rest of the series. He knew he wasn’t in a position to complain about it.
“You can’t say nothing,” McGrady said. “I am Tracy. I ain’t T-Mac. I can’t say nothing.”
McGrady played twice in the Finals: Game Two was for 7 minutes, 43 seconds in a 19-point loss. Game Three was for 6 minutes, 39 seconds in a 36-point win.
The Spurs lost the series to the Miami Heat in seven games. McGrady said they flew back to San Antonio, he thanked Popovich, and then he left the NBA for good.
“Listen man, if they would’ve won that championship, I know I was on the team,” McGrady said before pausing, struggling to phrase his feelings properly.
“I’m a competitor, bro. I can’t go through that journey and have satisfaction with that. It would’ve been cool for them to get that ring, but it was hard for me to even accept if we had won that. I gotta go through the journey. The journey is what makes that fulfilling.”
Stephen Jackson, who co-hosts the podcast with Barnes, tried to argue it would have been nice to have that piece of hardware, but McGrady was unmoved.
Barnes backed McGrady up with personal experience.
“I got a free ride, I got a free ring,” Barnes said. “I don’t count myself as an NBA champ for the exact same reason you said.”
Barnes was on the 2017 Warriors championship team, but he only played 20 regular season games and received few playoff minutes.
“Obviously I wasn’t at the standpoint of who you were, but the culmination of my career, when people say you won a ring, I don’t count that for the exact same reason you said,” Barnes said.
“I was playing good leading up — I came in when (Kevin Durant) went down. Played consistent, 20, 25 minutes a game.”
Durant missed 19 games from March 2 through April 5. Barnes played in each, starting five and averaging 21.5 minutes per game.
In the third-to-final game of the regular season, Durant returned. Barnes got injured.
“Worst ankle sprain of my life. I’m not healthy until the end of the second round when they’re already 8-0,” Barnes said. “So me being a vet, knowing they’re not going to change the rotation, I don’t expect them to change the rotation. I’m just gonna sit here and be a super vet and cheer these (expletives) on, talk to people when they need to be talked to, and just enjoy the ride.”
Barnes returned in round two, recording five minutes combined in Games 1 and 2 against the Utah Jazz and then played 13 minutes in the blowout Game 4 to complete the second-round sweep.
He played 10 minutes in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the Spurs and almost 15 minutes in Game 2, but didn’t get more than five minutes in another game that year.
“It’s amazing to hear you say it, because I don’t count that ring,” Barnes said. “I didn’t sweat, I wasn’t in the (expletive) dog hole with these dudes, I didn’t get to guard LeBron … I feel you, it’s interesting to hear you say that.”
Instead, Barnes appreciates that championship for his kids.
“The best part about it was the twins they got to enjoy the ride. You couldn’t tell my (expletive) kids they weren’t on the court,” Barnes said. “They were right up there with Steph and KD trying to grab the trophy. My boys got their rings. That was the absolute best part.”
Boston Celtics All-Star swingman Jayson Tatum shared how he nearly backed out of the workout that sold Danny Ainge on drafting him and more in a new interview.
Boston Celtics All-Star swingman Jayson Tatum appeared on the popular podcast “All the Smoke” Monday, and gave a wide-ranging interview to former NBAers-turned-podcast-hosts Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson.
As one might imagine, life in pandemic was a necessary prelude, but the trio spent little time speaking on quotidian issues early.
Salient points by now quite familiar to Celtics fans were addressed, from working out at home to getting a hoop to shoot on to waiting for test results were discussed as they have been several times now.
But soon things got interesting.
Barnes revealed the extent of Tatum and childhood friend and Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal’s food drive for Boston and St. Louis, Missouri — Beal and Tatum’s hometown — which raised nearly $300,000 to help feed locals struggling through the pandemic.
“I was sitting here with my mom, we was thinking of a way that we could help and give back to where I’m from,” began the Missourian forward.
“And, you know, for me, that’s all I’m always thinking about what can I do for the people back home in St. Louis, because — for those that don’t know, St. Louis, it’s not like any other one of those big cities, a lot of people from St. Louis, we don’t come from much, we don’t have a lot and growing up, we all kind of grew up in the same area.”
So, Brad [Beal] is another person that really helps and gives back to St. Louis, and he’s like my big brother,” Tatum added.
Beal was very much on board, ready to help the local population struggling to make ends meet as they are in much of the U.S. these days.
On the topic of the 2020 Naismith Hall of Fame class including Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Tamika Catchings, the Duke product related it to “The Last Dance” — perhaps unsurprising given the ubiquity of the ESPN documentary in basketball culture at the moment.
“For me, especially watching this [Michael] Jordan documentary and hearing people like around you guys age and older, how my dad talked about Jordan really made me realize … that was Kobe for me. Kobe was my Jordan and he was the reason I started playing basketball.”
I had all the jerseys, all the shoes I wanted to be just like him so, Kobe was Jordan for me,” he finished.
Garnett talks Kobe, Wolves, banners and more in Hall of Fame interview https://t.co/2a7oIlimDC
Tatum’s father Justin was evidently more a fan of another member of this year’s Hall of Fame class, though.
“Kevin Garnett was my dad’s favorite player. So I remember anytime anytime the Celtics played the Suns and him and Mr. Stoudamire matched up, my pops would call me like. ‘Yo, turn on TV — there’s two animals playing against each other.”
Tatum also discussed becoming a Jordan Brand player, which his agent arranged in 2019. After the details were settled, there was a Jordan Brand group trip to France, and Tatum described getting to know the man himself at a dinner.
They had exchanged words briefly earlier in the day at media events, but didn’t really have a chance to talk much.
In the evening, however, Jordan Brand athletes convened for a dinner in a more conversational environment, and Tatum related how he made an impression on the basketball legend.
“Melo [Anthony] was there. Blake [Griffin] was there. Russ [Westbrook], Spike Lee … everybody was there,” he related. “So … I’m still nervous, right?”
“I walk in, and MJ is sitting down, his wife [was] next to him and Spike next to her. So I walk in, and I was going go say what’s up before I sit down … Then, I walk over to him and like my hands are sweating. And I was like, ‘What’s up, Mike?’; when I went to go shake his hand, I knocked over his wine glass on the table and it broke.”
Tatum is not, of course, the first person to get nerves upon meeting the NBA icon, and probably is far from being the last. But the revelation drew chuckles from Barnes and Jackson just the same.
Discussion shifted to the Duke product’s college days under coach Mike Krzyzewski, touching on everything from the Cameron Crazies camping out for weeks just to get home tickets to home games to Tatum’s feelings about recent NCAA debates on allowing students to profit off of their likenesses.
“I think you should be able to make money off your likeness,” offered the St. Louis native.
“If I was at Duke and I want to say ‘Hey, I want to host the autograph session on Saturday for three hours and $50-25 a signature, I feel like you should be able to do that,” he added.
It might surprise Boston fans to hear that during the draft process, the former Blue Devil was sold on living in Arizona after thinking he’d be drafted by the Phoenix Suns, and had to be coaxed by coach K to make it to a workout with the Celtics, though.
Noting it was mostly a foregone conclusion that guard Markelle Fultz would go No. 1 overall, Tatum also didn’t bother working out with the Los Angeles Lakers, with that franchise making it clear they planned to draft point guard Lonzo Ball.
But after meeting coach Earl Watson and touring the greater Phoenix area, he fell hard for the city and had already started thinking about getting a home there with his mother.
Afterwards, Tatum returned home to St. Louis briefly before heading to New York for the draft, and his agent called, saying “Danny Ainge called and said they’re gonna trade their pick,” according to Tatum. “They’re going to go to three and they want you to come to Boston in the next day to work out.”
There was plenty of fascinating #Celtics stuff coming out of #SSAC18 this weekend. First up on @TheCelticsWire, Director of Player Personnel Austin Ainge shed some light on to the team’s decision making process behind drafting Jaylen Brown & Jayson Tatum. https://t.co/TzoOYy0ACs
“I’m like, ‘Nah, I don’t want to go to Boston — I like it out here in Phoenix; it’s cool. The weather’s nice. I get a big house. I get a pool … he’s like ‘Brad Stevens is a great young coach, and they’ve got a great history,'” he said.
“I’m like, ‘I’m not trying to hear it. I want to go to Phoenix.’ My agent’s like, ‘Just think about it.’ And then, we hang up. I’m like, I’m not going to this workout. Like, I’m cool. Then, Coach K called me right after my agent did. He’s like ‘Jayson, the Celtics called; they want you to come work out. I think Brad Stevens is a great coach and it’s a great place to be. You’ll learn a lot.'”
“So, I go,” he added.
Tatum would workout with the Celtics, and Ainge and the rest of the office became convinced he was their guy as a result. They took the Duke product with the third overall pick of course, and the rest is history.
“When I finally heard my name called, it was by far the best day of my life, because this is what I’ve been working for for 16 years,” he explained.
“But [there] was a part of me that didn’t really want to go to Boston, because they just was the number one team in the East. They had Isaiah Thomas, Al Horford, [Marcus] Smart, [Jaylen Brown], Jae Crowder. I was like, ´’I’m not going to play — I’m trying to get buckets.”
How does he feel about that now, though?
“Everything worked out,” he said with a laugh.
The interview is over an hour long, and full of far too many gems to list here; listen for yourself in the episode embedded above, or subscribe via however you usually listen to podcasts — for Celtics fans, this episode is a must-listen.
On the anniversary of the “We Believe” Warriors eliminating the Dallas Mavericks in the 2007 playoffs, Jason Richardson gave a shoutout to “Dub Nation.”
Thirteen years later, the Golden State Warriors playoff win over the Dallas Mavericks still holds a special place in NBA history.
In 2007, Don Nelson’s Warriors squad tore through the final quarter of the season to earn the last playoff bid in the Western Conference. The Warriors won nine of their final 10 games for a chance to play the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks to start the 2007 playoffs.
Led by Most Valuable Player candidate Dirk Nowitzki, the Mavericks streaked to the best record in the association with 67 victories. However, the Golden State Warriors started their postseason run playing the role of spoiler.
Baron Davis set the tone in the opening game, racking up 33 points and 14 rebounds. Stephen Jackson landed the final blow in game six with 33 points on 7-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc. The Warriors put an exclamation point on their upset bid, eliminating the Mavericks with a 111-86 victory in Oakland for game six.
The Warriors became just the third eighth-seeded squad in NBA playoff history to knock out the top seed.
On the anniversary of the Warriors’ underdog postseason win, a vital figure of the “We Believe” run chimed in on social media. Jason Richardson gave a shout-out to “Dub Nation” on Twitter.
Against the Mavericks in the playoffs, Richardson tallied 19.5 points in 51.1% shooting with 6.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 40 minutes per game. “J-Rich” led the Warriors to a game three win at Oracle Arena with 30 points and eight rebounds.
Despite being eliminated in the next round by the Utah Jazz, Richardson and the rest of the cast from the We Believe Warriors cemented their place in Golden State lore.
The “We Believe” Warriors deserve a documentary series of their own.
With the success of ESPN’s 30 for 30 series “The Last Dance,” which Golden State Warriors team should get documentary-style treatment?
While a documentary on the current championship teams or the “Run TMC” era would be entertaining, one Golden State squad should be at the front of the list.
After going on a tear through the final 20 games in the 2006-2007 season to earn a playoff bid, the “We Believe” Warriors were born.
The gritty combination of Baron Davis, Jason Richardson, Monta Ellis, Stephen Jackson, Matt Barnes, Al Harrington and Andris Biedrins formed a memorable underdog streak in Golden State Warriors history.
The first round of the 2007 NBA playoffs was the crown jewel in the “We Believe” run.
May 3, 2007
After squeaking into the postseason, the Warriors suited up with the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
The Warriors burst out of the gate hot, surprising the Mavericks with a pair of 30 point performances from Davis. After four games, the eighth-seeded Warriors were in the driver seat with a 3-1 lead heading into Dallas.
Facing elimination, the 2007 Most Valuable Player Dirk Nowitzki responded with 30 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Mavericks to another game. With the chance to close out the Mavs in Oakland, Golden State didn’t miss.
After a tight first half, the Warriors blasted the Mavericks in the third quarter outscoring Dallas 36-15 to set the Bay Area crowd into a celebration frenzy. Jackson dropped 33 points on 10-of-19 shooting from the field with seven triples from beyond the arc. Nowitzki was held to only eight points on 2-of-13 shooting. Davis, Barnes and Biedrins each added double-doubles in Golden State’s shocking 111-86 series-clinching victory at Oracle Arena.
Watch highlights from the Warriors improbable win in game six via YouTube:
The Warriors became the third eighth seed in NBA history to knock off the top seed in the first round of the playoffs.
Against the Mavericks, Davis averaged 25.0 points with 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.0 steals per contest. Jackson added 22.8 points per game, with 47.5% shooting from long distance.
Despite being eliminated by the Utah Jazz in the second round, Golden State’s “We Believe” run is still celebrated 13 years later.
Errol Spence Jr., who had teeth knocked out in his car accident, must get posts replaced with permanent teeth before he can spar.
Errol Spence Jr. has said he feels like he did before his horrific, car-flipping accident in October. He has only one more obstacle to overcome: his dental situation.
The welterweight titleholder lost teeth in the accident, which required three posts to be implanted in his mouth. He won’t be cleared to spar until the posts are replaced with permanent teeth.
“I have no restrictions in my training except sparring,” Spence said on the “All The Smoke” podcast, which is available on Showtime Sports’ YouTube channel. “I can’t spar yet because I got my teeth knocked out. And they put two posts in my mouth, well, three posts in my mouth. And I’m waiting on them to heal.
“And once they heal, then I’ll get my permanent teeth. And then I’ll be able to spar.”
Spence told podcast hosts Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson that the shutdown of boxing because of the coronavirus pandemic will have allowed him time to ease back into his normal routine.
“In all actuality, this pandemic has really been helping me out a lot, yeah, basically [with] recovery and just taking my time to get back,” Spence said. “But I’m already back. I’m 100 percent. I went to a facility in Cleveland, where they checked me out, checked my brain, gave me MRIs and things like that, and everything went well.
“So, everything’s been going good. I think I’m 100 percent healthy and in shape.”
Spence doesn’t know who or when he’ll fight next. Manny Pacquiao reportedly is a viable option but, as arguably the top 147-pounder, he has a number of good options in a deep division.
