Tag: Ricky Rubio

The best scoring performances ever against Team USA with NBA players

Here are the best scoring performances ever against Team USA with NBA players.

Dillon Brooks went off for 39 points and seven threes in Canada’s bronze medal game win over Team USA in the FIBA World Cup. It was the best scoring performance ever against Team USA with NBA players, and of course, it generated a lot of responses.

That said, we present the top-scoring performances ever against NBA-studded USA teams. From what you’ll see, most of the best scoring performances come from international NBA players. Only one of the twelve players listed hasn’t played a single NBA game in his career.

10 international stars (including Jamal Murray) no longer participating in the 2023 FIBA World Cup

MVP winners like Giannis and Jokic will be missed.

While there are a lot of great players who are representing their countries in the upcoming FIBA World Cup, several important players can’t make out.

Of course, for whatever reason, it’s not exactly uncommon for American stars like LeBron James to skip out on FIBA World Cup action. During the last tournament, only four Americans who made the NBA All-Star team were on the roster.

But it is a bit more unusual for an international star to not suit up during the tournament, so we decided to look at the most notable players who aren’t able to make it.

Players like Australia’s Ben Simmons (who hasn’t played for his national team in over a decade) were excluded from this list.

Joel Embiid, who has citizenship in France and the United States as well as Cameroon, was also not included because he has not played on the FIBA circuit.

Meanwhile, here are the other players who won’t be rostered when the tournament begins on August 25.

Celtics’ Grant Williams, Ricky Rubio, Jalen Rose join NBPA Foundation Board of Directors

The Boston Celtics forward will join retired NBAer and broadcaster Jalen Rose and veteran Cleveland Cavaliers floor general Ricky Rubio as new additions to the board.

Grant Williams has joined the National Basketball Players Association’s (NBPA) Foundation Board of Directors, according to a release by the player’s union. The Boston Celtics forward joins retired NBA player Jalen Rose and veteran Cleveland Cavaliers floor general Ricky Rubio as new additions to the board.

New Orleans Pelicans guard C.J. McCollum is the board president, and Tamika L. Tremaglio is the executive director. Others on the board are Golden State Warriors veteran swingman Andre Iguodala, ex-NBA Vice President for Player Development Chrysa Chin and Milwaukee Bucks big man Serge Ibaka.

“Ricky, Grant, and Jalen each bring unique experiences and perspectives, both on and off the court, which will undoubtedly enrich our board,” NBPA Foundation Executive Director Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said in the release.

“Their contributions to their communities demonstrate a commitment to positive change, aligning with our core mission. We are thrilled to have them join us in our pursuit of creating meaningful change worldwide.”

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Former Griz exec, Athletic analyst John Hollinger, Athletic writer Jay King offer Celtics 2022 offseason TPE, free agency targets

The duo shifts focus beyond the deadline for Boston in a recent article.

While there is plenty of reporting about trade rumbles at this time of the season — just a few weeks ahead of the 2022 deadline for teams to exchange players with each other — there is also no shortage of speculation about which players ought to be dealt to which teams, too.

And given the Boston Celtics are widely seen to be among the NBA’s most active franchises on the 2022 NBA trade market, it should not surprise to see plenty of such speculation. Some are even extending the window of projection beyond the deadline to include potential offseason moves.

Not all such prognostication is created equal, however, and those with an intimate knowledge of how front offices run ought to be considered a little more closely.

Should the Boston Celtics target point guard Ricky Rubio in free agency this offseason?

A Forbes analyst believes he is the sort of player the Celtics need to get on their roster.

The Boston Celtics have been dealing with issues of consistency for more than a season now, and one of the theories regarding what needs to change to get some more consistent play on the floor is related to the makeup of the roster — namely the absence of a true, pass-first high-level point guard.

While most will agree Marcus Smart has been solid in that regard, some believe the Celtics would benefit from an upgrade at that position. One such analyst making that claim is Forbes SportsMoney’s Morten Jensen, who has a specific target in mind for Boston’s front office to pursue this offseason: injured veteran Cleveland Cavaliers floor general Ricky Rubio.

Rubio, who tore his ACL and ended his season recently, might seem like an odd choice of a target for the Celtics, but Jensen has his logic.

Ricky Rubio gives former teammate Ty Jerome jersey with message after OKC win

OKC Thunder guard Ty Jerome made five 3-pointers against the Timberwolves and then got the jersey of former Suns teammate Ricky Rubio.

When Ty Jerome had his draft rights traded to the Phoenix Suns in 2019, he joined a team that was finally approaching an upward trajectory. Ten days after that draft, Phoenix signed Ricky Rubio, a respected veteran who was expected to be a part of the team for the next two to three years and help mentor younger guards including Jerome.

Rubio and Jerome played in Phoenix for one season, and Jerome appeared in only 31 games as a rookie, but it’s clear the young guard took lessons from Rubio during their time together.

The two were traded to the Thunder together as part of the package for Chris Paul. Rubio was promptly shipped to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Oklahoma City and Minnesota faced off on Monday. After the game, Rubio gave Jerome his jersey and wrote a message on the back. The second-year Thunder guard posted a photo to his Instagram story:

(Instagram photo/@tyjerome_)

On the number nine, Rubio wrote:

“To my rook Ty,

Best of luck on your long NBA career! Love you.”

This was coming off a performance in which Jerome showed off, going 5-for-5 from deep. The 15 points he scored matches the most he scored in a game for the Suns.

Jerome has been a different player this season. Playing an off-ball role, he has been a sniper from deep and looked more comfortable on the court as he focused on shooting the ball and moving the rock.

He has set a career-high of 18 points, has tripled his scoring average from 3.3 to 9.9 points per game, and has shot 45.6% from the field and 44.6% from deep, a world away from last year’s numbers of 33.6% from the field and 28.0% from 3.

Perhaps Rubio didn’t necessarily want to see his rook light up his new Timberwolves team, but he certainly isn’t upset it happened.

This post originally appeared on OKCThunderWire. Follow us on Facebook!

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Doc Rivers, Sixers blown away by Matisse Thybulle’s defense vs. Timberwolves

The Philadelphia 76ers continue to be impressed by what Matisse Thybulle brings to the team on defense.

Philadelphia 76ers guard Matisse Thybulle had a slow start to the 2020-21 season. He was hindered by an injury in training camp, he was not in coach Doc Rivers’ rotation to begin the season and now, it appears that he has found his role and his niche now.

After having a strong performance against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, Thybulle followed that up by playing strong defense again against Minnesota Timberwolves guards Ricky Rubio and D’Angelo Russell. He had three steals and two blocks and his effort and energy helped keep Philadelphia in it when the offense started slowly to help them win it 118-94.

“He had 12 deflections by himself in one quarter,” said Rivers. “Joel (Embiid) was amazing, if I was giving a game ball out, it probably would be Matisse or split it with those two. I thought he was a difference-maker. I thought he frustrated Rubio and then I thought he was phenomenal against D’Angelo Russell. He’s just a hell of a defender, he’s got his legs under him now, he knows what we expect of him, and he’s been terrific.”

Thybulle built himself a defensive reputation as a rookie and as he continues with his second season, he is continuing to show that off. His ability to really fly all over the floor and make plays defensively is what’s going to earn him more accolades for his future.

Russell shot 3-for-11 and Rubio was just 2-for-6 and Thybulle was a big part of that.

“We know what Matisse brings to the table defensively,” said Tobias Harris. “Tonight, you just saw an exhibition of how effective he is on the ball. He gets his hands on a lot of loose basketballs on the floor, his hustle, his length out there, you can put them on anybody pretty much one through five. He’s able to hold his own.”

Ben Simmons, who is an elite defender in his own right, is seeing a more mature Thybulle as the season wears on. He is stepping up when the time calls for it and he is more judicious when it comes to his thievery and jumping the passing lanes.

“He’s maturing a lot overall defensively,” Simmons explained. “He’s gotten a lot better. He picks and chooses when he’s gonna take riskier plays with steals and things like that. Tonight, you saw he was all in Rubio, getting a lot of deflections and making it tough all on the floor so he’s gonna be a huge part of this team.”

Of course, Thybulle will eventually have to start knocking shots down, but his defense has been a real difference for the Sixers whenever he is on the floor. His play in the first half against two really solid offensive players in Rubio and Russell was a huge in factor in Philadelphia taking a halftime lead despite their offensive struggles.

“That gave us a huge spark, especially with the second unit,” said Harris. “As his time continues to come in and he continues to get confident, he’s gonna start knocking down those shots, and taking advantage of different ways he can score offensively. That’s going to be key for us.”

The Sixers will now head over to the Hoosier State to take on the Indiana Pacers on Sunday.

This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Thunder announce full James Johnson trade; includes 2 draft picks

The Oklahoma City Thunder’s return for James Johnson includes two second-round draft picks along with Trevor Ariza and Justin Jackson.

If you didn’t have time to get a James Johnson jersey while he was on the Oklahoma City Thunder, it’s forgivable.

Johnson was acquired from the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Ricky Rubio deal. He was part of the Thunder for about 20 minutes before he was traded again, this time in a three-team deal involving the Dallas Mavericks and Detroit Pistons.

In return for the forward, the Thunder received Trevor Ariza from the Pistons and Justin Jackson and two second-round draft picks from the Mavericks.

One of the second-round picks will be in 2023. It will be whichever is the best between the Mavericks and the Miami Heat, both of which are owned by Dallas. The other is a 2026 Mavericks pick.

LIST: FUTURE THUNDER DRAFT PICKS

Johnson, now on the Mavericks, has one year left on his contract that will pay him $15.8 million. Ariza is also on the final year of his and is owed $12.8 million. He is also a tradable wing.

Jackson is on the final year of his deal and owed $5 million. He will be a restricted free agent next offseason.

The Pistons received Delon Wright, who has two years remaining that will pay him $9 million this season and $8.5 next.

This move indirectly adds to the haul that the Thunder received in the Chris Paul trade. That deal netted them Rubio, who was shipped to the Minnesota Timberwolves along with draft picks for the rights to No. 17 pick Aleksej Pokusevski and Johnson. Johnson, in turn, was traded for two players and a pair of second-rounders.

General manager Sam Presti continues to add to his collection.

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With Oubre and Rubio trades finalized, see full return of the Chris Paul deal

The Chris Paul trade sprouted different deals, including Kelly Oubre to the Warriors and Rubio to the Timberwolves. See OKC’s full return.

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The Kelly Oubre trade from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Golden State Warriors was finalized Sunday, and Jalen Lecque was reportedly traded to the Indiana Pacers that same evening, which means the Thunder are likely done moving pieces directly acquired from the Phoenix Suns in the Chris Paul trade for the foreseeable future.

The Oubre trade, which was originally reported to be the wing in exchange for a top-20 protected first-round 2021 pick, also includes a 2021 second-round draft pick of the Denver Nuggets that the Warriors owned.

In total, the Thunder traded Paul and wing Abdel Nader to the Phoenix Suns, along with some other pieces to other teams that we will get into below, in exchange for:

  • 2020 No. 17 pick from Minnesota, used on Aleksej Pokusevski
  • 2021 top-20 protected Warriors first-round pick
  • 2021 Nuggets second-round pick via Warriors
  • Ty Jerome
  • T.J. Leaf
  • Trevor Ariza
  • Justin Jackson
  • Future Pacers second-round draft pick
  • Draft compensation from the Detroit Pistons and/or Dallas Mavericks. The Daily Thunder reported that this could mean two second-round picks.

This also cost the team pick No. 25 and No. 28 in the 2020 draft, the latter of which came from the Dennis Schroder trade to the Los Angeles Lakers. Both picks went to the Minnesota Timberwolves, along with Rubio, for the rights to Pokusevski.

Where did Ariza, Jackson and the other draft compensation come from? The Thunder got James Johnson from the Timberwolves as part of the Rubio trade, and then sent him to Dallas as part of a three-way trade.

Lecque was reportedly traded to the Indiana Pacers for T.J. Leaf and a future Indiana Pacers second-round draft pick, according to Adrian Wojnarowski.

Extending it out a year, trading Russell Westbrook to the Rockets landed them two first-round pick swaps, four first-round picks, multiple second-round picks and four players.

Trevor Ariza could certainly be moved one more time. Justin Jackson could conceivably be as well, but it looks like the pieces from this deal are getting set. Every player directly acquired in the Paul trade has found his new home.

Now, it’s up to general manager Sam Presti and his staff to make sure they get those draft picks right.

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Report: Thunder get James Johnson as salary match in Ricky Rubio deal

As part of the Ricky Rubio trade, the Oklahoma City Thunder have acquired James Johnson from the Minnesota Timberwolves.

To match salaries, the Minnesota Timberwolves are sending forward James Johnson to the Oklahoma City Thunder as part of the Ricky Rubio trade, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

During the draft on Wednesday, the Thunder traded Rubio, the 25th pick and the 28th pick to the T-Wolves for Johnson and the No. 17 pick, which Oklahoma City used on Aleksej Pokusevski.

Johnson is opting into his $15.8 million deal for the 2020-21 season, according to Charania.

He was traded from the Miami Heat to the Timberwolves last season as part of the salary swapping that allowed Miami to acquire Andre Iguodala. In Johnson’s 14 games with Minnesota, he bumped up to the center position and averaged 12 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game while shooting 37% from 3, which would have been by far the best percentage of his career if it was a full season.

Johnson is known as one of the toughest players in the league. At 6-foot-7 and 240 pounds, he is able to play the forward positions and center.

With his salary, it’s unclear if Oklahoma City could trade him. In the past Johnson has been linked to trade rumors because his salary can help match a contracts if his own team was moving a cheaper player — similar to what happened here, though he is paid roughly a million less than Rubio — but it’s unlikely that the Thunder will be pursing a different highly paid player and need Johnson to match it.

It’s useless to speculate about where he’d fit into the roster because almost the entirety of Oklahoma City’s team could change between now and the beginning of next season, but it makes sense that he would be a backup forward and big option if the Thunder do not waive or trade him.

Johnson’s contract expires after this season, so he is not a long-term commitment for Oklahoma City.

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