Unlike most trade proposals regarding Holiday, this trade did not involve him going to either Brooklyn or Denver, but instead a unique team in the Indiana Pacers. And even more uniquely, it does not include Victor Oladipo, another name that has been oft-mentioned in trade talks this off-season.
The proposed trade would send Holiday to Indianapolis for Myles Turner, Doug McDermott or Jeremy Lamb and Washington’s 2021 second-round pick. The immediate reaction is that the return for Holiday is too little, though the framework is interesting. Adding a first round pick into the deal and potentially a player like, ironically, Aaron Holiday would make the deal more intriguing for the Pelicans.
In Turner, New Orleans would get a center that could complement Zion Williamson nearly perfectly. Turner is one of the few bigs that can knock down threes (34.4% last season on 4.0 attempts per game) and defend the rim (2.1 blocks per game).
For Indiana, choosing between Turner and Domantas Sabonis has seemed like an inevitable decision looming for the franchise. In Holiday, the team would get a premier perimeter defender and a player that could both complement Oladipo and Malcolm Brogdon or make the former more expendable should he demand to leave.
If the Pelicans can net Turner, a first and another mid-tier asset, it could be the type of deal that allows them to be both competitive and line up the timelines of their roster.
In the latest NBA Mock Draft from Bleacher Report, the Warriors pulled off a blockbuster trade with the Pacers for Myles Turner and the No. 6 pick.
The end of the NBA Finals has turned the page to the sweet spot of draft season. After an extended layoff, the Golden State Warriors are just a little over a month away from being on the clock with the No. 2 overall selection in the 2020 draft.
Although the draft is nearing, there’s still little clarity on Bob Myers and Steve Kerr’s plan for the Warriors’ first pick in the top five since 2002. Does Golden State use the choice on a prospect that can contribute right away? Do they eye a prospect with high potential for the future? If there isn’t a player that fits either of these descriptions, the Warriors could opt to move the pick on draft night.
In the mock trade, the Warriors land center Myles Turner from Indiana and the No. 6 overall pick from Atlanta for the No. 2 pick, the Minnesota Timberwolves 2021 first-round pick and Andrew Wiggins. Minnesota’s 2021 pick and Wiggins end up in Atlant as part of a three-team trade.
While both Marquese Chriss and Kevon Looney have served as intriguing options for Golden State’s frontcourt in the past, Turner’s arrival gives Golden State a dynamic presence on the inside.
At only 24-years-old, the Texas Longhorns product has already recorded five seasons in the NBA. Despite Turner’s resume, his production has steadily declined after a breakout season in 2015-17. Last season, the 6-foot-11 big man averaged 12.1 points on 45.7% shooting with 6.6 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game.
There’s no doubt Turner has a skill set that can help Golden State, but if he does land in the Bay Area, it will be on Kerr and company to unlock his true potential.
After acquiring Turner, the Warriors picked up Auburn’s Isaac Okoro with the No. 6 overall pick in the Bleacher Report mock draft. According to Wasserman, the Auburn wing has a “convincing defensive profile.”
He has a convincing defensive profile with a strong, 6’6″ frame, powerful legs, quick feet and discipline. And though not a creator or reliable shooter, Okoro shot 60.7 percent inside the arc, scoring by driving, cutting and capitalizing on his strength and footwork in the post.
View the rest of Bleacher Report’s NBA mock draft here.
During his freshman season with Bruce Pearl at Auburn, the 19-year-old averaged 12.9 points on 51.4% shooting from the field with 4.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.9 blocks per contest.
In the Rookie Wire’s pre-combine NBA Draft Big Board 4.0, the Second-Team All-SEC member came in at No. 8 in the top 100. According to Bryan Kalbrosky, Okoro is an athletic “defensive wunderkind” on the perimeter.
Auburn’s Isaac Okoro is arguably the most athletic player in the 2020 NBA Draft and as a defensive wunderkind, he can guard the perimeter and the ball handler in pick-and-roll sets. He has excelled when driving to the basket as a finisher on offense, but an unproven ability to score otherwise will limit what he can be in the NBA until further developed.
If the Warriors do decide to move back in the draft, Okoro needs to be a name to consider outside the top 3. pic.twitter.com/KHliTAm3Mg
With the Warriors’ lack of athleticism paired with inconsistent options in the frontcourt, Myers and Kerr could fill two areas of need with Bleacher Report’s proposed draft-night deal.
However, the loss of Wiggins erases a scoring option for Kerr’s offense. Without Wiggins, the pressure will fall on Steph Curry and Klay Thompson to take care of a majority of scoring on the wing. If they decide to move the 2014 first overall pick, the Warriors will need to make a play for a scoring threat in free agency.
Speculation aside, Kerr and Myers will only have the next month to put the finishing touches on their highly-anticipated draft-day plan.
If the Indiana Pacers do end up moving Victor Oladipo or Myles Turner, should the Boston Celtics try to get in on the action?
With their Game 6 loss to the Miami Heat firmly in the rear-view mirror, the Boston Celtics must now turn their attention to the future, and retooling the roster.
And while it’s much too soon to probe the feelings of players like veteran forward Gordon Hayward about their plans or hopes to re-sign with the team, it’s an issue the front office will have to address in very short order.
To be clear, this is no article that will take the Indiana native to task for how much money he makes or what he did in the postseason to earn it — the former All-Star had his best season as a Celtic to date after the horrific injury that marked the start of his career in Boston.
A eulogy to an incredible Celtics season, in which they fell short of a championship, but showed what was initially called a "bridge" season was a bridge to a bright future.
And he finished it playing hurt, skipping the birth of his own child to be there for his team — if you want Hayward slander, look elsewhere.
He is a potential free agent though, meaning he could simply walk away to a team willing to pay whatever salary the Celtics might not longer-term.
Still, the uncertainty surrounding the league’s salary cap figures and general lack of space around the league suggest that outcome is a longshot, even if it came into play with big man Al Horford last summer.
If anything, Horford served as a cautionary tale with his ill fit and lack of fan support making for a rough first season in his new home with the Philadelphia 76ers.
But if Hayward does come back and doesn’t ink a new, team friendly deal longer-term, Boston may have little choice but to move him in order to retain the space above the cap to best maintain their ability to compete for a title.
‘We had our chances’, ‘didn’t take advantage,’ says Stevens on G6 loss https://t.co/t2x7p9sgAp
With guard Victor Oladipo reportedly looking to move on from the Indiana Pacers, and perhaps big man Myles Turner as well, a trade might be had that makes everyone happy with the outcome, at least within the constraints that limit their situations.
Controlling three first round picks and little space to roster them, Boston will need to do something with them this summer, and if moving up in the draft isn’t on the table, securing additional talent that will be under contract beyond next season might just be the way to go.
The NBA season will now turn to the playoffs down in Orlando. Four former Horns will be in action across the Eastern and Western Conference.
After eight games in the NBA bubble, their season will now turn to the playoffs down in Orlando, FL. Four former Longhorns will be in action across both the Eastern and Western Conference.
Starting in the East, Jarett Allen of the Brooklyn Nets, D.J. Augustin of the Orlando Magic, and Myles Turner of the Indiana Pacers will be vying for their first NBA championships.
Turner has become a star for the Pacers, averaging 12.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. However, he did miss Indiana’s finale against Miami, dealing with a wrist injury and being listed as day-to-day.
Brooklyn was supposed to feature two former Longhorns in Allen and Kevin Durant. An Achilles injury has sidelined Durant for the entire year and the duo will have to wait another year.
In the meantime, Allen has been averaging nearly a double-double, with 11.1 points and 9.6 points per game. He is the Nets’ second-leading rebounder, only behind DeAndre Jordan, who has 10.0 per game.
Finally in the East, Augustin has a tough mountain the climb against the one-seed Milwaukee Bucks. The point guard finished the regular season second on the Magic in assists, having 4.6 per game and adding 10.5 points per game.
Moving over to the West and Houston Rockets’ star P.J. Tucker. The 6-5 forward is shooting 35% from three this year, averaging 6.9 points per game. He has been a consistent player for head coach Mike Dantoni, playing 34.3 minutes per game. Houston will be playing the Oklahoma City Thunder.
View embedded content One of the league’s top shot blockers, Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner recently joined the HoopsHype podcast to discuss his life in the NBA bubble, the potential for another bubble next season, rumors surrounding Victor …
One of the league’s top shot blockers, Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner recently joined the HoopsHype podcast to discuss his life in the NBA bubble, the potential for another bubble next season, rumors surrounding Victor Oladipo’s free agency, TJ Warren’s impressive play, dating and much more. You can listen to the interview above or read a transcribed version of our chat below.
You’ve been in Orlando for a little over a month now. How would you describe life in the bubble so far?
Myles Turner: Life in the bubble is not that bad at all. I think that people outside looking in, at first it was like, oh man, the food is terrible. You have all these athletes in this bubble confined to this space, but I think the NBA, Disney, the Players Association and everybody involved did a really good job setting this up. The food is great. We’re probably in the safest place in the U.S. right now. We’re doing what we love for a living. You know, we have a national spotlight to highlight things that we want to get out, so I think it’s been good.
Knock on wood you guys continue to have success with the bubble. Always good to see each week when no one tests positive. That’s a blessing at this time in a global pandemic. I would imagine, though, you do have a decent amount of downtime. What apps and games do you, and other players, use in the bubble?
MT: I mean, you know, everybody’s playing Call of Duty right now. Warzone, that’s huge. Everybody’s been on that. Us as teams, we actually play, we play little games here and there. We go to team dinners a lot. But as far as like apps and games, I mean, everybody’s on Zoom, obviously. I mean, me personally, I put together a whole bunch of puzzles when I get bored. That kind of just helps me pass the time. As a whole, everybody kind of just does their own thing. Everybody kind of just chills out in their rooms and, you know, you practice about two, three hours a day and you have the rest of the day to do whatever you want, or you have your game. It takes up, you know, two or three hours of the day and then just chill all day.
How about social media? I mean, I would assume you guys are on Instagram and Twitter. How has social media affected your daily life as an NBA player?
MT: Well, I think it has a huge impact just because of, you know, now that we’re bored and have so much downtime, a lot of us are on Instagram and Twitter and kind of just seeing what people have to say about certain issues or certain things or ourselves. So it has as much of an impact as you let it. For some people, it can impact them negatively. For other people like myself, I just use it for entertainment purposes. I feel like you’ve got to let the chips fall where they may with that. You’ve got to control what you can control when it comes to that social media stuff.
MT: I think like I said, I use it for entertainment purposes. I think it’s funny, you know, some people get at it a little bit more than others. But, you know, for the most part, you handle your business on the court. That’s where everybody that talks their mess or says what they want to say, you let your play do the talking. Social media is cool and all, but once you get on the court, nobody can say anything to you once you’re out there doing your thing.
For you individually, you’ve got, I think over 220,000 followers on Instagram, you got about 100,000 on Twitter. Do you ever use social media to help in the dating game at all?
MT: I think my first couple of years in the league. I was heavy on that just because it was a newfound thing. Anybody with a blue check and obviously I raised a couple eyebrows. Here and there I’ll slide, but for the most part I kind of just chill, bro. If you go out there and chase it, you know more than likely it’s not for you. I personally like to be out in person and actually meet someone in person. Social media is all (pause) everybody can look good with a filter with certain angles, but if you’re out there and actually get to have an intelligent conversation with somebody and actually be around the game then it’s gonna be better for you in the long run, but Instagram is cool to look at here and there.
When you are off the court and you say like you’re trying to meet people, in person. What is it like dating as an NBA player?
MT: That’s kind of the same thing I was saying with social media. It’s what you make it. Some people really love going out there and being around multiple women all the time. Other people are just real low key with it. We’re all men and we all do what we want to do, but I think that it can be you open yourself up to so much more the more and more people you open yourself up to. So I think my first couple years in the league I was finally free. I got freedom. You know, I’m 19, 20 years old, and I had money in my pocket. So you think you’re king of the world. So yeah, I was definitely chasing a bit. I’m not gonna say like, I’m an OG or anything, I’m only 24 years old, but I kind of just don’t go for the chase as much. The chase isn’t as fun for me. You know, it’s just, if I’m out and like, I see something I like. Yeah, I’m gonna say something. But for the most part, I just don’t go out seeking it. I’ve just seen women get a lot of guys caught up in this league and in the NFL and all the other professional sports leagues. Women can be the ultimate downfall for a lot of people. I just try not to make the mistakes that some of my predecessors have.
MT: Of course, there are certain things that come with the territory of living this lifestyle. For someone like me at seven feet, even if they don’t recognize me for who I am, they’re gonna just automatically assume well he’s black and he’s tall he definitely plays basketball or he sticks out in the crowd, so you’re gonna get attention wherever you go. And that automatically makes you not a normal 24-year-old. You can’t go out there and wild out and do the things that you would normally do behind closed doors or do with your friends or act like a college kid. Say my teammate, TJ McConnell, he might get recognized by some people for the most part, he’ll be able to fit in with the crowd and he’s like six feet tall and he just kind of blends in with some people, so I don’t necessarily have that luxury. I’ve gotten used to it. I’ve gotten accustomed to it. I know I have to carry myself professionally out in public, but you know I still have my fun. I’m just smart with it.
And you talked earlier about having some downtime. You certainly have a chance to maybe watch a little bit more TV. A show that you’re a fan of, and I will admit I’m a fan too. My wife had gotten me into it years back, the Bachelor and the Bachelorette series. How do you feel about Tayshia (Adams) coming on as the Bachelorette? And could we ever see you one day try to try out for that show as the Bachelor?
MT: I would never subject myself to that public scrutiny and all that TV BS that you see on there, bro. All that s— is all scripted and you’ve got to say certain things and do certain things. I just wouldn’t subject myself to that kind of scrutiny. I think it’s just a lot of pressure to be in that position. I am a fan of the drama and the entertainment aspect of it. I think it’s funny. It’s something to do, it’s something to watch, it’s something to talk about. It’s a good conversation piece. But for the most part, this is my first season watching. I’m not too heavily ingrained with it. I’m not even sure what’s coming up next. They had a little follow your heart thing with the singing BS or whatever. I wasn’t really a fan of that. I definitely am waiting for the next season. I’m curious to see what the Bachelorette has in store. I watched the Bachelor, the dude version. I haven’t watched the girl version yet, so I’m curious to see what that’s like.
Your priority right now is trying to win a championship with the Pacers. This is going to be your fifth consecutive trip to the playoffs. You’ve been in the playoffs all five years since you entered the league. For you guys right now, TJ Warren is lighting it up like Times Square on New Year’s Eve. What’s been in your opinion the biggest difference in his game during the restart of the NBA bubble?
MT: TJ has always been a scorer. I just feel like he just hasn’t had the national exposure because he’s been in Phoenix, not necessarily a team that a lot of people are watching in the past. Even Indy, Indy’s not a huge national spotlight, but he’s doing it on a bigger stage than he has in the past. So, I think that for the most part, TJ is very locked in and very focused right now. I think that he’s playing better off the ball. He’s making better decisions with the ball as well and just putting the ball in the hoop. He’s just in a great place right now. He’s going to continue to be himself. So we’ll see what the future entails. But, I mean, I don’t see him slowing down anytime soon.
As teammates, is there different energy when a guy is lighting it up like that in such a zone as he’s been lately? He’s arguably been the MVP of the bubble.
MT: Yeah, I just think that once you find that zone and you don’t get out of it, the sky’s the limit. I personally think he’s the best player in the bubble right now. I’m obviously a little biased, but you know, I’ve seen Devin Booker. He’s playing pretty well. Obviously, LeBron (James), he’s doing what he’s doing. But as a whole, I don’t think there is anybody that’s matched what he’s done.
Going into the playoffs we’ve seen pundits and media experts have been talking a lot about the Milwaukee Bucks, the Toronto Raptors, and at times I’ve even seen the Boston Celtics as the contenders in the East. For you personally, and you guys collectively in the locker room, is there a bit of a chip on your shoulder that people are kind of counting you guys out for a deep run in the East, at least as of right now?
MT: I mean, as they should. Those are great teams and those guys have proven track records with what they’ve done in the past. I just think as a whole if you play in Indiana or you’re an Indiana fan, you’re used to having that chip on your shoulder of being underrated because that’s how it is for us every single year. We have to go out there and prove it. We’re not going to get the national love. We’re not going to get the attention that we feel we deserve. We’ve got to go out there and take it. Honestly, to say I have a chip on my shoulder is one thing, but to say I just kind of expect to be counted out is another. So I kind of think that’s more of an accurate description.
Part of the reason maybe people are not as high on Indiana is you guys are without your All-Star, Domantas Sabonis, and Victor Oladipo is continuing to round into form following his return to action. When you first heard that Sabonis was out and definitely, what went through your mind?
MT: Well, one of the first things that went through my mind was the fact that I’d be going back to playing the five. The five position is where I’ve become accustomed to being in this league. It’s where I’ve played my entire career. This year, I’ve had to play the four and spread on the perimeter a bit more. It was a little different for me because I wasn’t necessarily used to it in a sense. I could shoot the ball, but there’s a lot of other stuff that comes with playing the four position. Playing the five, you have the ball in your hands a lot more, you make a lot more decisions. You can get in more of a rhythm. I just knew I was going to have an opportunity to go back to my position and be able to step up and just play a more elevated role.
You talked about that switch. In today’s NBA, I feel like a lot of teams are going the opposite way of what you guys were trying to do for most of the year and playing two traditional big men. You see a lot more small ball. What did you think were the pros and the cons at times of having those two bigs in the lineup when it was you and Domantas Sabonis?
MT: The pros were definitely, like you said, that we were bigger, and be able to outrebound teams, out scrap teams, and we were stronger. Then, teams had to match up to us. The cons were we didn’t play as fast as we might have wanted to, and when you’re playing a small-ball team like Houston, they spread you out more, and they present different challenges defensively. But for the most part, we’ve also had a great deal of success with it, and we just continued to roll with it.
Do you think at all having one less big like that out there has maybe opened the floor up a little bit for TJ Warren to have space on offense?
MT: It opens the floor for everybody from TJ to Victor, Malcolm (Brogdon). Teams have to respect me at the five you know shooting on the perimeter, so it lifts their five out of the paint and creates driving lanes and possibilities for everybody. We’re able to get to the basket a lot more than one place.
And in the frontcourt you and Goga Bitadze are going to get more minutes. When the team drafted him in the first round, what went through your mind at that point? What have you learned about his game?
MT: I think that Goga has learned a lot just throughout the course of the year. I think that playing in Europe is one thing, but playing in the NBA is a different style of basketball. I think that he’s actually very strong. That’s one thing that people notice about him when they look at him is he’s very strong. He’s continuing to learn how to use his body and make better plays. He obviously has three-point touch. He can shoot the ball. He’s a great shot blocker. I think he played great against the Lakers. I think it was a real growing moment for him and a big opportunity going against Dwight Howard and a bigger guy and someone who’s pushing his buttons a little bit. But, you know, when we first drafted him initially, you know, I wasn’t sure what to think. I had never seen him play before. I never heard of him. But being around him every day, he’s hungry. He loves the game of basketball. He’s continuing to learn, he wants to learn, and he’s confident. I think that’s another big thing. You have to have a certain level of confidence being a rookie in this league. He’s going to continue to get better. He’s young. He has a lot of time to grow and mature in this league.
You also touched on earlier how Oladipo has gotten more space on the floor. There was a time when Victor wasn’t going to play in the restart. Then he decided to join you guys. Did you or any other players talk to him before he made his decision to come back?
MT: Not really. Victor was kind of doing his own thing and kind of rehabbing and what not away from the team. I think he was actually in a pretty good place with what he was doing. I think that Victor, for the most part, wanted to play but, you know, he wasn’t sure if he was ready. It’s an injury that it’s only happened a handful of times in professional basketball. But he wasn’t sure if he was ready and he didn’t want to come back too early and risk himself being hurt for the future. I think so far so good from that aspect. He’s continuing to rehab and get better, but I think with him playing right now it’s actually making his knee a bit stronger, so we’ll continue to see how it goes.
From your vantage point, you’ve seen him at an All-Star level. How has he looked in terms of getting back into that form?
MT: I think Victor has a little bit of a ways to go as far as getting back to the All-Star level, but he looks great. I think he’s playing well. He’s moving well. He’s continuing to make better decisions out of double teams, and he’s tending to move well. I think as a whole like he said, it’s going to take reps for him. I think the playoffs will be good for him to kind of get back in that spotlight and get back to doing what he does best, and time will tell.
Since he’s come back to you guys, there’s been some noise about him looking ahead towards his free agency. And, you know, you’ve been around the league long enough now where you see this stuff all the time, but teams like the Heat get mentioned. From your perspective, what do you make of that free agency talk a year in advance?
MT: I mean, it’s just the media doing what the media does. They have to gaslight certain situations, and you know I don’t think much of it, because like you said, it’s really a year out. Ultimately, it’s going to be up to him and the decision he wants to make, or the decision the front office wants to make. So, until then, all you can do is control what you can control and just hoop on the floor. I think if he continues to be himself, then he can kind of create his own destiny, so I don’t pay much attention to all that stuff.
When you guys are in the locker room, obviously you hear about that stuff, or you see it on Twitter. Do you guys as his teammates and as friends also do you guys talk about that stuff?
MT: Nah, man, we’re all professionals. We all know that, like I said, the media has to gaslight certain things to create a story or create a narrative. We really don’t care. We just play basketball.
For you personally, we talked about it being year five. Where do you think you are individually in terms of being the player that you want to be, and where do you want to go from here?
MT: I think I still have a ways to go. I feel like I’m very capable of being an All-Star caliber player in this league. But, one, it takes the opportunity, and then the other is it takes performance on the floor. I think that offensively I’ve added tools to my game, and I’ll continue to add tools to my game. But as a whole, I still have a ways to go just as far as the maturation and learning process. I’m getting better defensively and continuing to just try and lead this team. I think I can always get better, and I’ll continue to add more and more to my game year in and year out.
Has there been anything about the league now that you’re a younger veteran, has maybe surprised you during your journey?
MT: Yeah, just how trendy the league is. When I first got to the league everybody was playing big, or with a big per se. Then it got to the point where everybody wanted to be like the Warriors and just shoot a whole bunch of threes and play small ball. Then it went just straight to small ball with Houston, and then I think it’s going to trend back to bigs, and it’s going to keep trending that way. It’s a copycat league, and whatever works one year guys are going to keep trying to do it year in and year out. I think I was just surprised by how trendy the league is.
Anything off the court that maybe surprised you at all?
MT: Not necessarily. I think that maybe just how chill the lifestyle was. I would say that I expected it to be like a little more high gear as far as guys going out all the time and guys just constantly being out. But for the most part, it’s real chill. Guys just kind of do their own thing. Everybody has their own little personality, and you have guys here and there that just want to get to it and are party animals and stuff, but I haven’t had a lot of teammates like that, so it is what it is.
Well, some of that could be location-based in Indiana. I’m not saying Indiana is not fun because there are some fun things to do in Indiana but definitely a different pace than in New York and LA. What do you do when you have downtime for fun?
MT: Honestly, I really just stay in the house. I don’t go out at all. I have my personal chefs. There’s no need for me to go get the groceries or go to restaurants or anything like that. I have my boys with me. Maybe my first couple of years, the most fun thing I did was go to different restaurants and steakhouses. I got on the lake a lot. It’s like 30 minutes outside of downtown just fishing and just being on boats. Right now, I’m just a real homebody.
Well, that’s a good attitude to have because we saw Michele Roberts talk about the possibility of depending on where this virus is in this global pandemic by next season, they talked about the possibility of having to do the bubble again. Now, whether it’s in multiple locations and the finer details of it remain to be seen. For you, not only as a player but as a person, if there was a possibility that you had to spend a whole season in a bubble again, how would you feel about that? What do you think would be the pros and cons of it?
MT: It would suck, just being real. I don’t think anybody wants to do that. You have to do what you have to do, I guess, but none of us want to be in this bubble for an entire season. I think that it’s just an unprecedented time and that you have to just continue to do whatever it takes to keep the league going and the league afloat. But, as a whole, you know, if we have to, it’s the way we’re going to get our money and the way we’re going to keep the league afloat, everybody has to be open to it. The pros of it would be that we keep the virus out. The cons would be that this lifestyle is not for everybody. Human beings aren’t meant to be isolated like this for especially that long of a time.
You just hit the nail on the head, in my opinion, about human beings and having to deal with this. I know for me personally, I’m a social guy. I love seeing people. I love the company of people. How has it been for you, again, talking more off the court in terms of mental health and a day-to-day? You know, you almost have mind games with yourself with this global pandemic, how have you dealt with that to try to keep yourself in a positive frame of mind during such uncertain times throughout the world?
MT: From a personal standpoint, I just remember how blessed I am, how fortunate I am to be in the position that I’m in. I have my family around me to continue to support me and obviously supporting them. I just have a lot of good things in my life. I think from a humanity standpoint, just the fact that it’s a tough time right now and things could potentially get worse, but you just have to look at where you’ve come from to where you’re at now and how you’re progressing in your life. I think that for someone who’s my age who’s not in the NBA, this is a very pivotal part of your life. You either just graduated college, or you’re in the middle of the working class. What do you do from here? Are you going to give up? Are you going to continue to keep striving forward? I think that at such a pivotal point in my life that I’m just thankful that I can be where I’m at, and it’s hard for me to dwell on the negatives with all the positives I have.
And one of the positives thankfully, knock on wood, your dad has been doing well since his recovery from dealing with COVID-19. For people who haven’t maybe experienced this as much when it touches a loved one, what was that experience like and what were symptoms like for him? It seems like for everybody, you’re essentially pulling something out of a bucket. You don’t know what you’re going to get with this virus?
MT: I think my dad had it back in March when it was very fresh and he didn’t really know what’s going on with it or what to expect from it, so it was very scary for us. We certainly didn’t know what to think about it. So we continued to try to stay positive and give him the best health he could possibly get in our area. And, you know, thankfully that he came out of it alright, but it was definitely very stressful. I wouldn’t wish that on anybody.
Here are three observations found in the Philadelphia 76ers loss to the Indiana Pacers.
The Philadelphia 76ers got back at it on Saturday night when they took on the Indiana Pacers looking to get off on the right foot, but it did not work out in their favor. Indiana forced a large number of turnovers and they raced out to an early lead on their way to a 127-121 win over Philadelphia.
T.J. Warren—who has been a thorn in the side of the Sixers all season—scored 29 points in the first half on his way to 53 for the game and Philadelphia just was not able to find an answer for him at all on this night.
With that said, here are three observations that were seen in this loss for Philadelphia:
Turnovers
Coach Brett Brown was very wary of turnovers heading into this matchup due to the smaller Pacers wanting to get out and run. Philadelphia committed 14 turnovers in the first half which allowed Indiana to get out and run and in the lead at halftime. Shake Milton got off to a tough start which then led to a heated verbal exchange with Joel Embiid. He then got into foul trouble and that led to a lot of Raul Neto minutes.
In the second half, Philadelphia was able to figure out their issues and they were able to creep back into the game which then led to a lead of six after three. They only had four turnovers in the quarter mostly with Neto running things on offense. Milton then came back in and while he did not commit a turnover the rest of the way, he did not make the same impact expected of him. He finished scoreless and three assists with the three turnovers. The team finished with 21 turnovers on the night.
Double teams
As expected, Indiana sent waves of double teams and defenders towards Embiid. It was a mixed bag in terms of results as there were times when he was able to attack relentlessly and then there were times where he did not react quick enough and he had a bad turnover. He also had four assists so that is something positive he can take moving forward.
Overall, Embiid was something special on the offensive end. Indiana only had Myles Turner to throw at him and he feasted with an array of post moves and just sheer force on his way to a huge night. Without Domantas Sabonis, that was exactly what he was supposed to do in this type of game. He finished with 41 points, 21 rebounds, and three blocks with the four assists.
Tobias Harris’ versatility
Harris had a really solid night overall. There were plenty of instances where he threw the offense on his back and kept them afloat when things weren’t going so well in the first half. He was aggressive taking 29 shots on the night and taking a good amount of 3-pointers with eight to score 30 points.
Defensively, he wasn’t awful. Sure, he got torched a few times by Warren, but everybody got torched by Warren on this night. Harris had a steal and a block and he moved his feet well all night long. He took steps forward towards that two-way level Brown wants him at. [lawrence-related id=35959,35953,35945]
The NBA has approved the format for a 22-team return to action at the ESPN Wide World of Sport in Florida. But there are still concerns.
The NBA has approved the format for a 22-team return to action at the ESPN Wide World of Sport in Florida. But there are still concerns.
Of course, preventing the spread of coronavirus amidst a global pandemic is a prominent focus of these conversations. There are still tons of questions to be answered about how the league will account for social distancing while on the campus as well as who will be allowed in and out of the bubble.
However, among the issues players have been discussing before a potential return is attention shifting from systemic racism to who did what in the game last night, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Dan Woike noted this as well, explaining implications of a potential return (via LA Times):
“According to multiple players, agents and executives, the belief is that the season is not in serious peril – not yet, at least. But fueled by several concerns, perhaps most prominently that a return to play would serve as a distraction from the Black Lives Matter movement and steps toward racial equality and police reform, there are players considering the possibility of not returning when the season reconvenes.”
Meanwhile, Woj added that players have already lost around $300 million in salary and canceling the remainder of the season would forfeit an additional 25 percent, potentially raising that up to $1.2 billion in lost salary, which was echoed by ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
Reports have indicated that the NBPA determined that if a player does not want to play then they can sit out without financial loss so long as they have excused the absence with their team.
With so much at stake, it is no surprise to learn that there was a Zoom call with around 50 players on June 7 to discuss the season restart, per Taylor Rooks.
WHAT WAS THE MOST RECENT CALL ABOUT?
One call, which was led by Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving, was organized for Friday evening.
Most reporting suggests that even though Irving said he was against going to Orlando, he would “ultimately stand with the group” on their decision. This is aligned with reporting from Wojnarowski (via ESPN):
“Several players who have participated in these recent calls and conversations told ESPN that they’re still leaning toward playing in Orlando but want to keep listening and talking about a number of the factors that concern them.”
Yahoo’s Chris Haynes reported that the call elapsed somewhere around an hour and 40 minutes. Rooks added that one hour of the call was focused on social justice reform.
WHO WAS ON THE MOST RECENT CALL?
Bleacher Report’s Howard Beck estimated nearly 200 players were expected on the Friday evening call.
Charania reported that the actual figure was closer to 80 players, Haynes estimated there were “80-plus” players and Woj thinks the total was “nearly 100 players” on Friday night.
According to Charania, the following players dialed in on Friday (via The Athletic):
Chris Paul (Oklahoma City Thunder), Kevin Durant (Brooklyn Nets), Carmelo Anthony (Portland Trail Blazers), Donovan Mitchell (Utah Jazz), Malcolm Brogdon (Indiana Pacers), CJ McCollum (Portland Trail Blazers), Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers), Justin Holiday (Indiana Pacers), Rudy Gay (San Antonio Spurs), Spencer Dinwiddie (Brooklyn Nets), Harrison Barnes (Sacramento Kings), Al-Farouq Aminu (Orlando Magic), Tobias Harris (Philadelphia 76ers), Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors), Mike Conley (Utah Jazz), Zach Collins (Portland Trail Blazers), Myles Turner (Indiana Pacers).
Marc Stein added that 2017 NBA MVP Russell Westbrook was among the more prominent voices to speak out.
Los Angeles Lakers wing Danny Green, who is the player rep for the team, told USA TODAY’s Mark Medina that he tried to get on the call but was unable to join.
Woj spoke to one play who joined, who summarized a bit of what he heard (via ESPN):
“He’s trying to give players a platform to be able to have a discussion – on the bubble, racial equality and unity … It’s a good call.”
According to Charania, the second person to speak after Irving on the call was Los Angeles Lakers guard Avery Bradley. He was “vocal throughout” and urged players to take a stand.
McCollum reportedly urged his peers to remember that there may be a severe “financial dip” if they do not play and that owners could potentially rip up the collective bargaining agreement, which could lead to a lockout next season.
Some of the players who spoke about potentially not playing, per Charania, were Dwight Howard (Los Angeles Lakers), Mitchell and Anthony. Howard feared that playing would be a “distraction” from productive conversations that the country is currently having.
However, The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported that LeBron James does not feel that playing would “deter his ability” to inspire change.
Mitchell reportedly feared that NBA players would be “behind the 8-ball” if they were forced to jump back into such a competitive environment after not playing five-on-five basketball due to quarantine. Mitchell tested positive for coronavirus on March 12, 2020. He is reportedly worried about potentially injuring himself and missing an opportunity to sign a max contract extension.
According to Haynes, both Mitchell and Orlando Magic big Mo Bamba are “intimidated to voice an opinion” if it was not the same as the superstars. But this inspired Anthony to call upon the younger voices throughout the call.
As a showing of unity, which seemed to be the primary focus and takeaway, Anthony reportedly suggested that each player on the call donate $25,000 to charity.
Mitchell (as well as other top talents up for contract extensions including Jayson Tatum, De’Aaron Fox, Kyle Kuzma and Bam Adebayo) are now seeking league-financed insurance policies in case of injury, per Woj.
HoopsHype made an effort to reach out to several folks who may have been on the call. One player told HoopsHype that the players all agreed not to talk to the media.
When asked by HoopsHype if they thought the recent conversations will ultimately shut the season down, all prominent agents that spoke believed that the NBA will be back as planned.
Ultimately, the mood seems to be that cooler heads will prevail and the season will resume. There are simply too many financial barriers to jump over as a consequence if it does not.
HoopsHype’s Alex Kennedy contributed reporting to this article
USA Basketball recently announced the 44 finalists for the 2020 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball roster which includes three former Longhorns.
Three former Longhorns were announced as finalists for the 2020 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team roster today.
This particular list of 44 athletes is the first step to compiling the overall 12-man roster that will represent the United States in the Olympics. Power forward LaMarcus Aldridge, center Myles Turner, and small forward/power forward Kevin Durant all have a chance to compete in Tokyo. As the NBA season progresses, these former Texas stars will be monitored closely by USA Basketball to ultimately determine whether or not they will be among the final roster.
The 2020 Summer Olympic Games will be held July 24-Aug. 9 in Tokyo, Japan.
Aldridge is averaging 18.7 points per game with the San Antonio Spurs this season. His 7.5 rebounds per game is ranked 30th-best in the NBA.
With the Indiana Pacers, Turner’s best game thus far came against the Chicago Bulls on Jan. 10, scoring 27 points and securing 14 rebounds.
After suffering a torn achilles tendon roughly eight months ago, Durant is finally beginning to show progress. Although the New York Nets have essentially ruled out Durant for the entire season, his rehab seems to be going well.
This is the fastest I’ve seen Kevin Durant move since rupturing his Achilles.
The Oklahoma City Thunder could benefit by trading Danilo Gallinari to the Indiana Pacers in return for Myles Turner.
It’s time to put up or shut up for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Sunday, December 15 marks the start of when any player that signed a free-agent deal over the summer can finally be traded.
Since the Thunder have several players that fall into that category, it’s time for Sam Presti and company to decide if Oklahoma City is going to stay at the cusp of a postseason spot and hope they can play their way into the playoffs, or if OKC is going to go full rebuild, knowing that there’s a stable full of draft picks that can likely help in the future.
Oklahoma City has already let it be known that they are looking to trade Chris Paul, Danilo Gallinari, and Steven Adams, as reports are out there that the Thunder “made them available”.
While the consensus around the league remains that Chris Paul’s contract may prevent him from being traded, Gallinari remains an intriguing option for many teams.
Calling him “one of this season’s most intriguing trade candidates”, Bailey suggests that the Pacers should send Myles Turner to Oklahoma City for Gallinari as Indiana “might have a higher ceiling with (Domantas) Sabonis playing alongside a playmaking 4”.
Danilo Gallinari is averaging 18.3 points with a 62.4 true shooting percentage in only 30.4 minutes per game. There are only 11 players in NBA history who have at least 500 three-point attempts and match his career marks for points per 75 possessions (19.2) and true shooting percentage (59.0). He’s in the top 100 all-time in career offensive box plus/minus.
Although Turner has gotten off to a less than ideal start, Bailey argues that Turner’s age and contract are what makes him an intriguing prospect for the Thunder.
The Pacers center is off to a slow start this season, posting a career low in win shares per 48 minutes, but he’s only 23 years old. He’s also on a reasonable contract ($18 million per year) through 2023. There could be much worse starts to a reboot than a core of Turner and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
On its face, the deal makes sense for the Thunder. Gallinari is in the final year of his contract and will become an unrestricted free agent this summer. The Thunder could trade him now, and get a young player that fits their long-term timeline or wait and risk losing him after the season and getting nothing in return.
Joe Abunassar, the founder of Impact Basketball, opens up about his career training hundreds of NBA players over the last 23 years.
NBA trainer Joe Abunassar was recently a guest on The HoopsHype Podcast. Abunassar, who founded Impact Basketball, has trained hundreds of NBA players in his 23 years as a player-development expert. He’s worked with Kevin Garnett, Kawhi Leonard, Chauncey Billups, Kyle Lowry, Kristaps Porzingis, DeMarcus Cousins and many others. Here’s a condensed version of the chat. For the full interview, listen here.
For people who don’t know your background, how did you get your start coaching basketball players?
Joe Abunassar: I was a manager for Coach [Bob] Knight at Indiana starting back in ’89. My goal was definitely to be a college basketball coach. I started in ’89 as a freshman there, finished up in ’93. We had some great teams back in those days. Then, Coach Knight helped me out and I got a college coaching job at the University of Wyoming. So I actually started my career as a coach.
How did you make that shift from being an NCAA head coach to training NBA players?
JA: Well, when we were at Wyoming, we had a nice little run there. Then, after four years, I was getting ready to take another job at Bowling Green University with another Indiana assistant at the time. I wasn’t really going to start the next job until July, and around March, I got an opportunity to train a couple guys. A friend of mine that I had known from college through Lawrence Frank, who was a manager with me at Indiana, was working for an agent at the time and asked if I wanted to work out a couple players. I said, “Sure, why not?” So I went and did a little work with these guys, and I was very lucky because their names were Kevin Garnett, Chauncey Billups and Joe Smith, who was the No. 1 pick out of Maryland in ’95. I got an opportunity to be introduced to these guys, and my unique capability was that I also had a strength and conditioning and nutrition background because of my past in fitness and what I studied. So I was able to really come in and do their basketball work, and then also do their strength condition and nutrition.
People think of trainers today, and there are trainers everywhere, right? Every corner, every video, every Instagram post – everyone’s training somebody. This was back in the day when personal training, in terms of basketball development, wasn’t really a thing. There was no basketball development. Most NBA staffs at that time had, I would say, two, three, four assistant coaches, but none of them really focused on development. They were all focused on game prep and coaching the team, and then they had a trainer and a strength coach. Well, nowadays, many of these franchises have at least one coach for every player, if not more, with a huge medical staff, sports science, and the whole development [staff]. So this was back in the day when I was really, really at demand. I actually had contracts with several teams. Once I started working with those guys that I mentioned, I just kept picking up more and more players. And I said, “You know what? I don’t really need to go back to coaching, and nor do I want to, because I really enjoy doing this. I enjoy developing guys and really seeing how far I can push them, and what I could do with their bodies and their game.” From there, it just took off. I did three or four years where I was traveling everywhere, and then, I ended up going down to IMG Academy in 2001 and starting the basketball segment there where it really became kind of a development business. [Then, Joe launched Impact Basketball with locations in Las Vegas and Los Angeles].
There’s no question you’re a pioneer. There are so many trainers now. NBA training and basketball training in general has blown up. Twenty years ago, did you ever think it would be like this today?
JA: I’m definitely shocked. I definitely didn’t expect it. But when you think about it, if you ask any basketball coach, “When you’re running your plays, do you want all the players to be more athletic, stronger, fitter? Do you want all the players to shoot better, dribble better, pass better?” They’d probably all say, “Yes,” and they would have a better team, so it really does make sense. I had always argued that teams don’t put enough time [into player development]. And I actually went through it myself because coming from Coach Knight’s program at Indiana, film review was so big and game preparation was so big, which it should be and still is, but I think we spent too much time doing that kind of stuff and not enough time working with our guys. Because, at the end of the day, it’s about making shots and making plays. There’s all different kind of offenses you can run and scouting reports you can write, but if you have guys that can’t shoot the ball, or guys that can’t handle the ball or are out of shape, you’re not going to be very successful.
So, it really does make sense; that’s why it’s become so big and why the development side of things has really blown up. In the summertime, Alex, you know this from being around so much NBA stuff, coaches are all over the country tracking down their guys. It’s such a big part of the game. When I was back at Indiana, we ran at the track and just kind of got in shape the old-fashioned way (laughs). Now, there’s all the technology and tracking and devices that we have that are useful. So I am surprised, but it really does make sense. It’s become a very big industry from not only the trainer side of things, but also the device/technology side. There are things like the Noah Shooting System, the thing that measures the arc of your shot and tracks your shot. There areso many devices now that you can get to enhance your development that that’s become an industry in and of itself. So It does make sense. Why wouldn’t everyone want to get better, right?
That makes a lot of sense. With so many trainers today, it’s harder for trainers to build their roster of players. You’ve worked with hundreds of players over the years, including many superstars. How were you able to land so many clients?
JA: I mean, it’s been a long grind. I mean, look, I was very fortunate to start those whole journey with guys like Kevin Garnett and Chauncey Billups and Al Harrington and Tayshaun Prince. These guys had storied Hall-of-Fame quality careers and won Olympic gold medals. So being associated with those guys and helping those guys really started a lot for me. [Because of] Chauncey, at one point I had four or five other Pistons players. When Al was with the Pacers at one point, I had Jeff Foster, Austin Croshere, Jamaal Tinsley, Antonio Davis, Primož Brezec… I had seven or eight of the Pacers. So it’s a word of mouth thing.
I think it also really has a lot to do with our relationships with the NBA teams and the respect that they have for the work that we do and our ability to communicate with them. The way it is today, you’re not signing a guy to a two-year deal and then just shipping him off somewhere to train in the summer. It has to be a collaborative process, and I’ve built those relationships over a long time, not through anything more than just being around. I’ve been to more pregame sessions than just about anybody (laughs). We’ve really stayed focused on putting together a real program, whether it’s for a high school kid or for a pro. It’s not just training, not just workouts in a gym. It’s really just about creating a program for these guys that’s consistent, and that consists of not only the basketball piece, but the strength of conditioning and the nutrition piece. At the end of the day, the guy’s got to play. He’s got to be able to produce when he’s on the court. You can change their body, and change this and that, but if they’re not improving their basketball game, it doesn’t really matter. And that goes for a high school kid, college kid or pro.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to become a trainer or player-development coach?
JA: Stay with the basics and really make sure that you are teaching the kids, or whoever you’re training, the real moves they’ll use in a game. Don’t get caught up in being a fancy trainer. Just train basketball. A lot of people watch our workouts and they’re kind of confused/surprised by the simplicity of them. I mean, there’s really nothing fancy about it. We really, really stay focused on training the kids, or the pro players, on what they really need to do to be successful. Break them down, understand what each player needs that’s different. Insist that they do nutrition stuff and that they pay attention to their weight lifting. You can’t just have a kid come in and work out on the court and not pay attention to the rest.
I would say the biggest thing I would tell trainers as to why you’d be successful is if players buy into your system. That’s a really important piece. People can say whatever they want about concepts or techniques. If somebody doesn’t want to train with you, it doesn’t matter what you’re teaching. So, developing relationships and really caring about the athlete’s plan is important. But it’s a tough grind. There are so many trainers today, in terms of locally, but the ones that have a really good following and a really good base are the ones that have great relationships with the kids and keep it simple and just really focus on getting them better.
Kyle Lowry has trained with Impact Basketball his whole career.
You work with Kyle Lowry. I remember before the 2014-15 season when he became an All-Star for the first time, you predicted that he’d break out. You were pointing out that he had cut his honeymoon short to come back to Impact Basketball to train, he changed his diet and he was locked in. You called it. When you look back at that, what was the key for Kyle’s transformation? And can you sometimes tell which players will break out based on how they look over the summer?
JA: We really can. As a matter of fact, this year, we had a couple [breakout] guys, Troy Brown being one of them. He unfortunately had a little bit of a calf injury early in the season, but I think he’ll be back in mid-season form soon. He had a Kyle-Lowry-like summer. But what Kyle did that summer is what many guys have done. I remember the year before KG won the MVP award, his big deal was he finally bought into the nutrition piece. He was always so good, and he probably still would have been good had he eaten poorly, but I mean, he took it to that next level after years of me beating on him and saying, “You can’t be eating at midnight,” and all this stuff. For Kyle, he just said, “Look, I’m changing my body.” He got lighter, he got faster, he got healthier. He changed his nutrition. Kyle does a lot of Pilates, and we really started focusing on the Pilates and the muscle development, and those type of things because Kyle’s so thick that sometimes lifting weights will get him a little bit too big. So, the Pilates is perfect for him. And he really just made that shift.
So, yes, the answer is that we can tell. I mean, there’s always situations where it’s out of the players control, like there’s no minutes or they get traded but,for the most part, we can always tell when a guy’s going to have a really good season. It really boils down to not just the basketball work, but how focused they are on everything. Are they paying attention to their food? Are they making sure they come back again at night to stretch? Are they getting treatment at night? These are the type of things that separate players. I just left Kyle’s hotel in Los Angeles because they’re here playing the Lakers and Clippers, and he was just getting a massage on the road. And even with his broken finger, he worked out early this morning at 6:30 a.m. He did a VersaClimber class. The guy just has a different mentality. It really involves that total commitment to training.
LeBron James is one of those guys who gets it. There have been reports that he spends $1.5 million per year on his body and he prioritizes his recovery and workouts over everything. What do you make of LeBron’s longevity? Could more players be like that if they were just as serious about their body or is he kind of just a freak?
JA: I think it’s a combination. I think that he could be a freak and then not take advantage of it. He was given the great genes and the ability to be that athletic and big and fast, but then, he’s maximizing it. I don’t work with him on a daily basis, obviously. I know Mike [Mancias], his trainer, and he does such a great job with him. They’re just meticulous to the details. It’s funny, because if you were to talk with someone about investing money and you say, “If you could put in $1 million, or $1.5 million, and get back $35 million, would you do it?” You’d say, “Of course I would!” Well, that’s basically what he’s doing. He’s spending $1.5 million or whatever that number is – I don’t really have the details, but I’ve read that number before too. I’m sure with all the different things he does, that probably is about right. Then, he’s getting the return back of being paid the way he’s paid. And on top of that, you think of the endorsements and all that. But I don’t really think that’s why LeBron’s doing it, don’t get me wrong.
But yeah, from the way he eats to the way he takes care of himself to the way he recovers… Yes, he’s been gifted with some amazing opportunities. I mean, there are guys that we’ve known that have that approach, but unfortunately, they get an injury early in their career, and it’s one of those knee-type things or something where they just never get right again, and it’s not their fault. But yes, LeBron could have certainly not taken advantage of the gifts he’s been given by not doing as good of a job as he’s done with everything.
You’ve worked with a lot of stars over the years. When Al Harrington was on the podcast, we talked about how Kawhi Leonard looked during his pre-draft training since Al and I were at Impact Basketball with you guys that summer. Kawhi was so dominant, I was blown away. Kawhi obviously fell in the draft, but when you saw how gifted he was and how much potential he had, did you think, “This guy could be a superstar?”
JA: The Kawhi thing is interesting because I remember having a talk with Shareef Abdur-Rahim who, at the time, worked for the Kings. He’s now running the G League. He was in watching Kawhi and he was asking me, “What is he? Is he a two? Is he a three? Is he a four?” Because at San Diego State, he played so athletically and just kind of [roamed], and no one really thought he could shoot the ball very well. I remember telling him, “I don’t really know what he is, but this dude is good.” You could just tell. First of all, his approach to everything was different than anybody else’s. It was get there early, stay late. And usually, when we have rookies for pre-draft, they’re very much hard workers because they’re all trying to make it. Very rarely have we had a guy come for the draft and not work hard. If we ever did, they never really made it. But Kawhi was just different. The way he played, the way he interacted with everyone, the seriousness. And people who know Kawhi will tell you he’s a nice guy, talkative, but he doesn’t really have much interest in anything but business. We can tell when guys are a little different.
Troy Brown’s another guy. As an 18-year-old doing the draft training, he always came ready to go. He started in March, because he was done early at Oregon. When you’re a higher pick like that, you don’t really do all the early workout stuff, so this guy had basically two straight months of training every day, and that’s not easy. So we can tell their mentality, we can tell their skill. Of course, Kawhi had the physical tools, the length, and the way the game is played today with versatility being so important, he’s the ideal guy. He can guard big because he’s so darn strong, and he can play on the perimeter. And, look, we never thought he was a bad shooter. He shot the ball pretty darn well with us in the pre-draft, he just needed to be more reps and we knew he was going to get better shooting because of his work ethic. the experience or the maturity, but you can tell when they’re going to get it. The players that are kind of beyond their years, like Kawhi was, in terms of their maturity, you can tell they’re going to be good.
Everyone gives credit to the Spurs and Chip Engelland for fixing Kawhi’s shot, and they did do a great job once he got to San Antonio. But Kawhi started changing his shot and drastically improving his shooting at Impact. Walk me through tweaking Kawhi’s shot and, in general, what’s the key to helping a guy improve his jumper?
JA: Chip’s awesome, so those guys did do a good job in San Antonio. Remember with the draft training, we’re challenged a little bit because we don’t want to mess up his shot. So, if you’re kind of trying to rebuild it, [there’s not enough time]. But with Kawhi, he was just bringing it a little bit too far back behind his head, so it was a small adjustment to kind of keep it out in front of his forehead. And when you see the ball come off a guy’s hands and it’s got great spin, and it really looks pretty decent, but there’s just a few tweaks you need to make to it, that’s a lot different than when a guy comes in and needs to rebuild his shot. I remember I had Joakim Noah for the draft and his shot, we didn’t even change it and no one has ever changed his shot because it just is what it is. We would have had to completely reconstruct it, which we’re not going to do that in a six-to-eight week period for the draft.
But Kawhi’s tweaks were small. The spin was so nice on the ball and, remember, his hands are so big that sometimes, I think, his thumb would get on the ball and he just had to get used to shooting it. But at San Diego State, and at the college level, I don’t know [how much he was shooting]. I went down there a couple times with him at the end of the year, before he came out to Vegas, but I don’t know how many reps he put up. He was such an athletic, fast, aggressive player that he got so much of what he got at San Diego State in transition and defensively. It was just a small tweak, and then they continued it in San Antonio. And the one thing about Kawhi is that, if he was working out at 9:00, he would get there like at 8:00 just to shoot.
When you see a guy like that who’s got nice rotation and really doesn’t have a broken shot at all, just needs a couple tweaks, and who’s willing to work like that, it’s going to get better. No question. I mean, when we started working Kyle out, I remember Jerry West telling me when he was at Memphis saying, “Oh, his feet all over the place. He’s not consistent.” If you watch Kyle shoot the ball in drills now, it’s automatic. I mean, obviously he’s a little older than Kawhi, not a ton, but a little older. But the way that people can improve their jump shot through consistency and repetition is a lot different than making somebody faster. But again, all these guys we’re talking about had good forms to start with, they just needed small tweaks. There’s other guys that really have some mechanical issues that it’s not so easy just to say, “Oh, he’s going to just shoot more.” He’s got to almost break it down.
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Kristaps Porzingis is one of the guys who you’ve worked out ever since he was going through the draft process. You helped him return from his big injury. What did you work on with Kristaps this summer and what’s his development plan going forward?
JA: Well, I think this summer was really about getting him back on the court and healthy. He spends a lot of time in Latvia, too. He has Valdi (Manolo Valdivieso) as a trainer that’s been with him a long time and does his strength conditioning and those type of things. He does an amazing job with Kris and got him stronger. So, his main focus in the early part of the summer, ever since the injury, was to get his strength up. It’s funny; I joke that he over-flexes in the pictures, but people saw pictures of him and he’s definitely gained some strength. But really [we worked on] his lower body, his core, making sure the knee’s healthy. Then, once we got him back on the court, he’s a machine out there. He actually gives me flashbacks of working Garnett out, because of his intensity and his consistency with the way he shoots the ball.
It was really just getting him back in the flow, getting him back in shape, getting him comfortable moving again, getting comfortable with contact. And then, as far as the development plan, he’s still so young and we just need to continually keep him strong and healthy. If you talk about working on Kris’ jumper, he doesn’t miss much. Not that anybody can’t get better at everything, but [we’ll focus on] just making him a little more efficient and maybe teaching maybe a little more of the tricks of the game, the little moves and the bumps, and the things that a guy of his size can do. No one should ever be able to block his shot with how tall he is and the way he shoots the ball and releases the ball so high. I think his plan is really continuing to keep him strong and healthy, let him play this year to kind of get back in the swing of things and then, from there, it’s all progress. I believe that the sky’s the limit for that guy’s career. His mentality, his approach and his personality are perfect to be a star. He’s got that in him, for sure.
Another young guy who I like a lot is Myles Turner. What did you work on with him this past summer and what’s your long-term plan for him?
JA: His body’s been great. He got himself in shape two summers ago, and he’s stayed in great shape. Really, we’re just getting him more comfortable shooting the three, which he really can shoot it. Getting him more open to shoot the three. Keeping him mobile on defense. I think with Myles, there’s always this battle of, do we put a little more weight on him to get him stronger for the big guys? Or do we keep him quicker? Because we don’t want Myles to get slow on his feet, which he’s not, but we don’t want to add too much weight. It’s trying to find that median where Myles should play and which makes him most effective so he can keep being a monster on the Pacers. They believe he could be one of the most dominant defensive players in the game. And offensively, he’s so skilled. He can pass the ball, he’s got great quick second jump on the glass, he can shoot the three. Myles is not only the nicest guy in the world, but he really works his butt off. He’s a real worker for sure. I think the Team USA thing this summer really will help him. That experience was great for him.
You’ve trained DeMarcus Cousins for many years. It was so devastating when he went down with a torn ACL. What was it like being in the gym when that happened?
JA: Look, this is year 23 or 24. That was as low as it gets. To see how he worked to get back… He had brought his weight down and was doing a great job, and then that play was one of the last plays of the day. We were almost done. I was just really disappointed for him. We were all in a funk for a few days, just feeling bad for DeMarcus. And to his credit, he’s picked himself back up, he’s rehabbing. He’s actually in Vegas today. While the Lakers are on the road, he’s rehabbing with us today. He’s down here with our physical therapist.
I mean, it was tough. I told him, “There’s nothing to say, man. We’re here for you, and we’re going to help get you back again. And you’ve got to work.” What do you say? There’s nothing. “I’m sorry?” It just doesn’t… “I’m sorry to see that?” or, “I feel bad for you?” I just think for a guy who was playing at an All-Star level to first get the Achilles and then come back with this, we’re going to see the real heart of DeMarcus coming back. And he’s responded to amazingly to rehab. It’s not easy. People say, “Oh, you’re making money.” Rehab every day for two years is tough. I mean, the Achilles thing was a brutal rehab with a leg-long cast to start with; he had to go around in a wheelchair because it was too heavy to even move on crutches.
It’ tough. But look, he’s not that old. He’s got many years to play ahead of him, and I think he’s got an amazing attitude right now. He’s just trying to get as healthy as he can and then get back on that court. But yeah, that was a tough time. I don’t want to say tough for us, because we just felt very badly for DeMarcus. It was tough for him. Now, we’re all here to support him and get back him back to the highest level of play.
I wrote an article about the Impact Basketball pick-up team that no one could beat one summer. It was Alan Anderson, Jared Dudley, Tayshaun Prince, Patrick O’Bryant and Ty Lue. They dominated everyone in pick-up and Stephen Jackson, Baron Davis, Jermaine O’Neal and Kyle Lowry were assembling teams and flying guys in to try to beat them. Do you remember that team coming together and dominating?
JA: Do I remember?! Of course! I watch every day. They almost cost me my business because people were like, “Look, I’m not playing anymore if you don’t break this team up.” (laughs) So yeah, they were killing. We were getting complaints about Ty Lue. What happened is, that’s when we ended up getting shot clocks because they were saying Ty Lue was running off too many pick-and-rolls. We had to put shot clocks in place to even the playing field. But yeah, I remember. And if you think about that team, it’s interesting, because none of those guys in there, as an individual, was a huge superstar, you know?
I mean, Tayshaun obviously achieved some great things, but he was a role player, Jared’s a role player, Alan was a role-player scorer. The GM that put that team together did a nice job. Everyone kind of filled their role. But yeah, we kept trying to break them up and then they wouldn’t [budge]. They were like, “We’re not playing unless we play together.” Yeah. Guys were flying in from all over the place, putting teams together trying to beat them. Jermaine O’Neal was one of the biggest guys on one of the opposing teams that used to complain about them all the time. He said, “Yeah, there’s no shot clock!” That was a lot of fun. Lot of fun. If you talk to Chauncey Billups, he’ll tell you that that was the year he was playing USA basketball, so he will still claim to this point that, had he not been playing with Team USA, they would not have had that dominance because he would have ended the dominance with his play.
Chauncey Billups and Jared Dudley playing pick-up at Impact.
You also have a CBD company called re+PLAY that you started with Al Harrington. When Al was on the podcast, he talked about the study you guys did in conjunction with the Retired National Basketball Players Association that tests whether CBD cream helps retired NBA players with knee pain. How did re+PLAY and this study come together?
JA: Yeah, that’s correct. Al lived at my house when he was 18 years old and he’s basically my oldest son. He’s my son’s godfather and we call him my oldest son. Al and I are very close. Al has a very successful cannabis business, the THC side, called Viola. About two years ago, he wanted to start a branch off of that and start the CBD side, which his Harrington Wellness, and the first brand is re+PLAY. CBD is THC-free and, yeah, I’m part of that with Al. We’re out on the market. It’s replaycbd.com. We have a topical cream that we feel is very good. We’ve done a lot of research with it, obviously not with current players because it’s still not able to be used, but from regular people to retired players. Me and Al together know a huge group of retired players that are hurting in some way. So we met with Michele Roberts with the Players’ Association. Al’s met with Michele several times. It’s something that is obviously on their radar and we’ve been in discussions with them.
In the meantime, we’re doing a study with the retired players on knee pain and whether the topical cream is helping or not helping. The study just got started finally, about two weeks ago. We have 100 retired players that are participating in it and, basically, we’re having them do weekly journals and reports through the Internet on the level of their pain, whether they’re sleeping better, how things are working just to get some more validity [and ensure] this is something that does really help. There’s certain ailments in the knees that are probably way past a cream. If you need a knee replacement or something like that obviously. A lot of the guys are still experiencing pain just from the brutal [wear and tear]. And honestly, Al is the biggest example. Al doesn’t even ice his knees anymore, he just uses the cream on them and he still stays active and works out.
It’s a very cool study. Doctor Sandy Kunkel, who was the Pacers’ team orthopedic surgeon and is now retired, did a lot of Al’s surgeries and he’s a partner with us in the business. And Doctor Kunkel is a very big proponent that this could be something that does help eliminate some of the prescription opioids and some of the painkillers that are being and have been prescribed for such a long time. Everyone talks about CBD this, CBD that. It’s an exciting industry. I mean, there’s so much still to be determined, and there’s not a ton of studies out there. A lot of it is so anecdotal, there’s really not a whole lot of science yet behind dosages and things like that. So that’s why this study is big for us to really get the idea of whether it can be something that helps these players, these former players, in any sport.
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