Tag: San Antonio Spurs

Oklahoma City Thunder, Chet Holmgren vs. San Antonio Spurs Victor Wembanyama is must-see TV

Chet Holmgren is no joke, and he and Wemby make for a budding mega-rivalry over the next half-decade onward.

While much of the NBA is understandably infatuated with the rise of second-year star San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama, he is not the only 7-foot unicorn in the league’s Western Conference to keep an eye on. Oklahoma City Thunder star big man Chet Holmgren is no joke, and he and Wemby make for a budding mega-rivalry over the next half-decade onward.

And it is not just fans and analysts of the Thunder who are getting excited about that potential recurrent battle on the hardwood out West. National analysts like the hosts of ESPN’s “NBA Today” show are also gushing about seeing the two big men battle it out in 2024-25. Cohosts Tim Legler and Malika Andrews had plenty to say about the Thunder and the Spurs colliding this coming season.

Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what the duo had to say about a reprisal of Chet vs. Wemby in the 2024-25 NBA Cup and beyond.

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NBA puts Chet Holmgren, Victor Wembanyama in national spotlight during 2024-25 season

NBA puts Chet Holmgren, Victor Wembanyama in national spotlight during 2024-25 season.

Like the previous iteration, expect an old rivalry to be renewed here in the coming years.

After examining the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 2024-25 regular season schedule, it’s painfully obvious how badly the NBA wants the San Antonio Spurs to be their primary foe.

Like Batman to Joker, the league has pushed Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama to the national spotlight all three times they match up this season.

It makes all the sense in the world for the league to push this too. Holmgren and Wembayama were top-two picks in their respective drafts and finished as the top-two last season in Rookie of the Year.

Both seven-footers have similar playstyles as elite paint protectors who can handle and shoot the ball with extraordinary ability. They headline the next generation of versatile centers that will dominate the league for the foreseeable future.

While the Thunder are a title contender and Spurs are in a rebuild, expect the latter to catch up solely from Wembanyama’s ascension as one of the league’s best players.

Playoff clashes feel inevitable between these two titans. But that likely won’t happen next season. Until then, the regular season must be enough to quench the thirst of fans who look forward to this rivalry.

The Thunder and Spurs face off three times next season. The first matchup will be early in the season and broadcast via ESPN on Oct. 30. OKC will be the host.

The second matchup features some stakes as it will be an NBA Cup group game. The Thunder travel to San Antonio on Nov. 19 and will be shown on TNT.

The final contest will be late in the season on Mar. 2. OKC once more travels to the Spurs to take it on in front of an ESPN audience.

Even if neither player publicly acknowledges it, there is a simmering rivalry brewing between Holmgren and Wembanyama. Expect that to be the case for the rest of their careers as they battle it out in the Western Conference.

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Former Texas Longhorn Kevin Durant returns to Austin for special on-campus NBA game at Moody Center

Former Texas Longhorns hoops star Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns will face San Antonio in Spurs’ annual I-35 series at Moody Center. 

Kevin Durant is going back to Austin. The former Texas Longhorns basketball star and his current team, the Phoenix Suns, will face San Antonio in the Spurs’ annual I-35 series.

According to the Austin American-Statesman, KD and the Suns take on the Spurs on Feb. 20 at 8:30 p.m. at the Moody Center on the UT campus. San Antonio will take on the Detroit Pistons the next night, Feb. 21, at 7:30 p.m.

Durant played one season for the Texas men’s team before being drafted second overall in the 2007 NBA draft. He recently became the first men’s basketball player to win his fourth Olympic gold medal after Team USA beat France in the Paris Games.

“We’re thrilled by the response we’ve enjoyed in Austin the last two seasons. We had high hopes when we decided to play regular season games in Austin and the results have far surpassed our expectations … We’re excited to continue to connect with our fans in Austin and across our region in meaningful ways during the 2024-25 season and into the future.” — Brandon James, Spurs senior vice president of strategic growth.

Tickets for the games will go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Friday with Spurs season ticket holders receiving presale access at 2 p.m. Thursday while Official Spurs Fan Club members will receive presale access at 3 p.m.

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Trey Luerssen on Twitter @TreyLuerssen.

Nick Wright gives trade proposal to pair LeBron James, Stephen Curry

Would it make sense for the Lakers to do this major trade Nick Wright proposed?

LeBron James is now the proud owner of three Olympic gold medals, and over the last handful of weeks, he also got to practice and play alongside Stephen Curry. Both superstars were outstanding during the Summer Olympics and enjoyed being teammates with each other.

It no doubt led some to wonder what it would be like if James and Curry played on the same NBA team for at least one full season.

Nick Wright gave a trade proposal on Fox Sports 1’s “First Things First” that would allow James and Curry to team up while possibly also giving them a shot at another world championship (h/t The Cold Wire).

Wright’s argument is that right now, James and Curry would get to play with Victor Wembanyama, who is already a star at age 20, as well as Chris Paul, who is a good friend of James. Wright pointed out it wouldn’t hurt the San Antonio Spurs when it comes to the salary cap because James and Curry would likely be gone by the time Wembanyama’s rookie contract ends.

For the Los Angeles Lakers, they would get to start rebuilding with the Spurs’ 2027 first-round pick and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ first-rounder in 2031, which is owned by the Spurs. They would also receive Keldon Johnson, a solid scoring wing, and Harrison Barnes, a veteran 3-and-D wing.

While this is a crazy proposal, there is no doubt some Lakers fans would accept this trade with open arms, if for no other reason than that they feel the team cannot win with James anymore.

Rockets’ Reed Sheppard selected to win Rookie of the Year by executives in ESPN poll

Rockets guard Reed Sheppard was voted the top choice to win Rookie of the Year by executives and scouts in a poll conducted by ESPN.

Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard was voted the top choice to win the NBA Rookie of the Year award by a panel of executives and scouts in a poll conducted by ESPN.

The 20 individuals polled were asked a number of questions about the incoming rookie class, such as the best player and the biggest steal of the draft. They were also asked about the draft expanding to a two-day format, which received a positive reaction.

Sheppard received seven votes from the panel, while Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey garnered four votes and San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle had three votes.

Who’s your NBA Rookie of the Year pick?

  1. Reed Sheppard, Rockets: 7 votes
  2. Zach Edey, Grizzlies: 4
  3. Stephon Castle, Spurs: 3
  4. Donovan Clingan, Trail Blazers: 2
  5. Zaccharie Risacher, Hawks: 1
  6. Ron Holland II, Pistons: 1
  7. Dalton Knecht, Lakers: 1
  8. Tristan da Silva, Orlando Magic: 1

Sheppard debuted with the Rockets in the NBA Summer League, averaging 20 points, 5.3 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 1.3 blocked shots on 50% shooting from the field in four games. He was named to the NBA All-Summer League first team and finished ninth in scoring.

The third pick is second in odds to win Rookie of the Year, narrowly trailing only Risacher. He looked to be one of the top rookies on the court in the desert and proved himself as a high draft pick in a small sample size with the Rockets.

The odds will certainly continue to fluctuate over the course of the upcoming season, which tips off on Oct. 25. However, Sheppard and the rest of the players on the list established themselves as the top players thus far and should be in store for strong rookie campaigns.

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Former UNC basketball standout Harrison Ingram signs first professional contract

The San Antonio Spurs officially signed former UNC standout Harrison Ingram on Monday afternoon.

Looking back on the 2023-2024 North Carolina Tar Heels men’s basketball season, I think we can all agree that Harrison Ingram was a valuable part of that success.

UNC entered the year in desperate need of a starting power forward, as Pete Nance used his last season of eligibility during the 2022-2023 campaign. North Carolina could’ve easily used Jae’Lyn Withers, but head coach Hubert Davis wanted to make sure his team had valuable depth.

Ingram brought the Tar Heels a rare combination of strong post presence, perimeter shooting ability and strong defense, averaging 12.2 points and 8.8 rebounds last year. There was debate whether Ingram would return for senior year, but he chose the NBA Draft, which was the right decision.

Ingram wound up being the San Antonio Spurs’ second-round selection at 44th overall. He now joins a roster with the likes of rising superstar Victor Wembanyama, former UNC star Harrison Barnes and former Wake Forest standout Chris Paul, regarded amongst the NBA’s best active point guards.

On Monday, Ingram’s dream of being a professional basketball player officially came true, as San Antonio signed him to a 2-way contract.

Inking a 2-way contract means that Ingram will split his rookie campaign between San Antonio and Austin, Texas, where the Spurs’ G-League affiliate by the same name is located. We’ve seen former North Carolina stars, such as Leaky Black, sign 2-way contracts.

Ingram’s strong NBA 2K25 Summer League statline was a strong indicator he deserves a roster spot, as he averaged 10 points, seven rebounds and two assists over three games. Ingram might not play full-time in San Antonio, but if he plays well in the G-League, several call-ups await him.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Spurs sign No. 48 pick Harrison Ingram to two-way contract

Ingram debuted with the Spurs in summer league, averaging 10 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists on 40.6% shooting from 3-point range.

Former North Carolina forward Harrison Ingram, the 48th pick in the 2024 NBA draft, signed a two-way contract with the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, the team announced.

Ingram was named to the All-ACC third team last season after averaging 12.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.4 steals as a junior. He ranked third in the conference in total rebounds (327) and registered five 20-point games, including 21 points and 13 rebounds on Feb. 3.

The 21-year-old transferred to North Carolina in 2023 after playing the first two years of his career at Stanford. He was the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year in 2022 and had a productive run with the Cardinal, averaging 10.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.4 steals in 65 games.

Ingram debuted with the Spurs in summer league, averaging 10 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists on 40.6% shooting from 3-point range in seven games between Sacramento and Las Vegas. He registered four games in double figures, including 16 points and 10 rebounds on July 9.

The 6-foot-6 forward established himself as a second-round pick, given his overall ability and versatility on defense with his size at 233 pounds and 7-foot, 1/4-inch wingspan. He displayed those traits in summer league and will have the chance to improve them next season.

Ingram will split his time between the NBA and the Austin Spurs in the G League. He is eligible to be active for up to 50 games in the NBA and will earn a flat salary equal to 50% of the minimum salary applicable to a player with zero years of service.

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Why Victor Wembanyama is an NBA cheat code

The San Antonio Spurs have a real-life cheat code in Victor Wembanyama.

At 7-foot-4, with a three-level scoring ability and an impressive handle, Victor Wembanyama made a big splash during his rookie season for the San Antonio Spurs. The 20-year-old phenom has Defensive Player of the Year upside and could potentially find himself in the MVP conversation during his prime.

It’s safe to assume that Wembanyama is the real deal and will reach the peak of becoming an NBA superstar, not only because of his immense skill but also due to his personality and work ethic. Wembanyama is already one of the most likable stars in the league. 

In a recent video on the “Hoops Empire” YouTube channel, the host explored Wembanyama’s diverse skillset before explaining why his presence on a basketball court is essentially a cheat code. The scary part is that he’s only going to keep getting better, much to the chagrin of other teams around the NBA.

You can watch the full breakdown by clicking on the embedded video above.

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Spurs second-round pick Juan NĂșñez to be stashed in Barcelona for 2024-25 season

Spurs second-round pick Juan NĂșñez will be stashed in the Spanish League next season with Barcelona after signing with the team on Friday.

San Antonio Spurs second-round pick Juan NĂșñez will be stashed in the Spanish League for the 2024-25 season with Barcelona after signing with the team on Friday.

NĂșñez joins the powerhouse after spending last season with Ratiopharm Ulm in the German Basketball League. He averaged 9.9 points, 4.9 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.7 steals on 47% shooting from the field in 54 games across all league competitions.

The 20-year-old was the 36th pick in the 2024 NBA draft after dazzling last season in Germany. He was viewed as one of the top point guards in the draft, given his court vision and ability to get others involved.

NĂșñez skipped the NBA Summer League to play with Spain in the Olympic qualifying tournament. He made two appearances with the team, which claimed its seventh straight appearance in the Olympics after finishing the qualifying tournament with a 4-0 record.

He was eventually replaced on the team by veteran Álex Abrines.

NĂșñez will now turn his attention to playing with Barcelona. Despite vast experience at the professional level, NĂșñez will spend at least another season in Europe before making the jump to the NBA.

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Nets’ Cam Johnson could draw interest from Lakers, Spurs, Warriors

Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson has been linked to plenty of teams since Mikal Bridges was traded to the New York Knicks. Here’s more.

Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson is one of the players that came to the franchise as part of the Kevin Durant trade with the Phoenix Suns that happened during the 2022-23 season. However, now that Brooklyn is pivoting in a different direction following the trade of Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks, Johnson could find himself playing for another team next season.

After Brooklyn traded Bridges to the Knicks, HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported that Johnson was considered to be one of as many as six Nets players that were on the trading block. Along with that report, there were also various reports that linked Johnson to other teams looking to frontcourt depth, such as the Toronto Raptors and the Sacramento Kings.

Now that the NBA is done with the Las Vegas Summer League, congratulations to Nets forward Jalen Wilson for winning the MVP award, fans can turn their attention to sporting events like the Olympics and what’s left of the offseason. More to the point, there seems to be more teams potentially interested Johnson as the summer goes on, according to Brian Lewis of the New York Post:

“While the Kings, Magic and Lakers are interested, one recent report claimed the Spurs, Raptors or Warriors could be a ‘dark horse.’ NBA analyst Jake Winbach suggested San Antonio could want him, dangling Keldon Johnson and draft compensation.”

Essentially, three more teams have possibly added their names in the bidding for Johnson in the Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, and Golden State Warriors. With Johnson’s ability to stretch the floor and provide positional size as either a small forward or a small-ball power forward, he could be a good fit for a number of teams.

Johnson, 28, is coming off a 2023-24 season in which he averaged 13.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game while shooting 44.6% from the field and 39.1% from three-point land. He also has three years and $68.82 million left on his current contract after re-signing with the Nets last offseason.

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