NBA suspends Magic's Mo Bamba 4 games, Timberwolves' Austin Rivers 3 games for roles in brawl
The NBA has suspended Orlando Magic center Mo Bamba four games and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Austin Rivers three games for their roles in instigating a wild brawl on Friday, the league announced Saturday. Magic guard Jalen Suggs has also been suspended one game and Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels has been fined $20,000. The following was released by the NBA: pic.twitter.com/ViRlfqh31l — NBA Communications (@NBAPR) February 5, 2023This story will be updated with more information.
wftv.comNets' Kyrie Irving won't play due to calf soreness after trade request near deadline
NBA free agency was awakened into frenzy after Kyrie Irving asked for a trade from the Brooklyn Nets, according to multiple reports Saturday. One day later, the team announced that Irving will not play in Saturday's game against the Washington Wizards due to right calf soreness. In the appearances Irving has made for the Nets this season, he is averaging 27.1 points, 5.3 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game. According to Yahoo Sports' Vince Goodwill, those teams now have space for hope that he could become available like Irving. The Mavericks' front office has connections to Irving and was previously interested in Irving, ESPN's Wojnarowski and Tim MacMahon said.
wftv.comLakers still exploring ways to improve with potential Russell Westbrook deal
The Lakers, Mavericks and Suns are particularly expected to pursue Irving, league sources told Yahoo Sports. The Pistons are expected to explore signing Burks to a new contract, league sources told Yahoo Sports, just as Detroit did with Bogdanovic earlier in the season. Utah’s carousel of optionsOne of the possible trade destinations for Westbrook, Utah, also remains a major catalyst ahead of the deadline. Nickeil Alexander-Walker has also been included in several trade frameworks alongside Beasley and Vanderbilt, sources said. Reserve big-man marketVanderbilt’s name has also appeared amid the trade deadline conversation surrounding reserve big men, most notably with the Philadelphia 76ers, sources told Yahoo Sports.
wftv.comWild brawl in Magic-Timberwolves leads to 5 player ejections
Another day, another wild brawl in the NBA. This time, the melee came late in the third quarter of Friday's game between the Orlando Magic and Minnesota Timberwolves and resulted in five players being ejected. Soon, the two were grappling as several teammates jumped in to either break up the fight or give their side some back-up. The Magic, up 10 at the time of the brawl, eventually won 127-120. That fight, instigated by Brooks throwing a punch at Mitchell's groin from the floor, led to Brooks being suspended one game and Mitchell fined $20,000 on Friday.
wftv.comDillon Brooks suspended, Donovan Mitchell fined $20k after brawl in Cavaliers win over Grizzlies
Dillon Brooks has been suspended one game by the NBA for striking Donovan Mitchell in the groin before a brawl ensued in the Cavaliers win over the Grizzlies, according to a release from the NBA Friday. Mitchell will be fined $20,000 for his role in the altercation. This story will be updated
wftv.comKareem Abdul-Jabbar to be at Lakers games as LeBron James nears scoring record despite rocky relationship
James is rapidly approaching Abdul-Jabbar's record that he set back in 1984, several months before James was even born. James, who put up 26 points on Thursday night against the Indiana Pacers , is just 63 points away from the record. James and Abdul-Jabbar have had a rocky relationship — or no relationship at all, depending on who you ask — in recent years. Abdul-Jabbar has criticized James multiple times in public in recent years, largely over the COVID-19 pandemic. When asked if he had a relationship with Abdul-Jabbar and what he thought about potentially breaking the record this season, James was very clear.
wftv.comHouston police officer turns Shaq’s speeding ticket into ‘NBA on TNT’ promo
HOUSTON — NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal has done his time as a reserve police officer, but the Houston Police Department had some fun at the Hall of Famer’s expense. You’re watching the ‘NBA on TNT.’”O’Neal can be seen standing next to Miles, shaking his head. O’Neal, a four-time NBA champion and a 15-time All-Star, is part of the “NBA on TNT” show that features highlights, analysis and some humor. O’Neal trades barbs with fellow Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, while host Ernie Johnson and former NBA star Kenny Smith try to maintain order. But this time, it was Miles calling the shots, creating a promo that was a slam-dunk.
wftv.com2023 NBA All-Star Game: James Harden, Jimmy Butler, Anthony Edwards headline list of deserving snubs
You can set your watch to it: Every year, a number of excellent NBA players with legitimate cases for making the All-Star Game end up spending that mid-February weekend at home. It's an unavoidable inevitability when each conference only gets 12 spots and there are way more than 24 very good players. This season, Garland is averaging … 21.8 points on .582 true shooting, 8.1 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 35.6 minutes per game. 1 option in KAT's absence, averaging 26.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game on 47/39/78 shooting splits over his last 33 games. If there's a silver lining to the gray cloud of the disappointing news that he didn't make the All-Star Game, maybe it's this: The bet here is that, starting next year, he won't miss another for a while.
wftv.comJoel Embiid, Ja Morant lead 2023 NBA All-Star reserves
The initial rosters for the 2023 NBA All-Star game are set after the league announced the game's reserves on Thursday. Joining the All-Star starters, already announced last week, are a collection of some of the league's biggest names and a few rising stars, starting with the player who just missed out on the initial wave. While those players are separated by conference, they won't be when the time for the actual game arrives. This season, the NBA is having its All-Star captains, James and Antetokounmpo, pick the teams playground-style right before tip-off. The 2023 NBA All-Star Game is scheduled for 8 p.m.
wftv.comNBA trade rumors: What players might be on the move at the deadline?
The NBA trade deadline is less than a week away, but only two trades have been completed so far. When is the 2023 NBA trade deadline? The trade deadline is 3 p.m. Yahoo Sports will track all the trade rumors, news, players and teams to watch leading up to the deadline. NBA trade deadline rumor tracker
wftv.comPelicans arrive in Dallas less than 7 hours before facing Mavericks due to weather issues
The recent winter weather that accosted Texas has upended part of the NBA's schedule, and the New Orleans Pelicans are experiencing what that's like first hand. The Pels, who lost to the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday, are scheduled to face the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night at 8:30 p.m. EST. However, due to the weather, they weren't able to fly out of Denver until early Thursday. — Andrew Lopez (@_Andrew_Lopez) February 2, 2023At least two Pelicans players were frustrated enough to tweet about their ongoing travel drama. Pelicans need travel tips from WNBA playersWhile the Pelicans (or McCollum and Nance, at least) are seemingly stressed about their transportation situation, they are unwittingly spending a day in a WNBA player's shoes.
wftv.comWho deserves the honor of being a 2023 All-Star Game reserve?
The NBA announced the 10 players who'd been voted in as starters for the 2023 All-Star Game last Thursday. Kyrie … well, he's starting, so the other stuff , at this point, is irrelevant. The fourth-year lightning bolt sits just outside the top 10 in scoring at 27.3 points per game and fifth in assists , dishing out 8.2 a night. Since Towns strained his calf in late November, Edwards has averaged 26.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game on 47/40/78 shooting. No other Eastern forward or center had a prayer of scratching out a starting spot with Durant, Tatum, Embiid and Antetokounmpo all at the front of the line.
wftv.comNBA All-Star Weekend: League reveals player pool for Rising Stars tournament
The NBA’s “Rising Stars” tournament now has its official roster of players. The league announced 28 players who earned spots in the Rising Stars tournament at All-Star Weekend next month in Salt Lake City on Tuesday afternoon. The player pool consists of 11 NBA rookies, 10 second-year NBA players and seven NBA G League players. The 21 NBA players will be drafted onto three teams of seven, and the G League players will make up the fourth team. All-Star Weekend will kick off on Feb. 17 at Vivint Arena in Utah with the Rising Stars tournament and celebrity game.
wftv.com2023 NBA Mock Draft 5.0: First-round risers and full 2-round predictions
: 6-7, 205 pounds | Class: Freshman | VillanovaWhitmore is a high-volume shooter who can get a shot off from anywhere on the court. : 6-4, 185 pounds | Class: Freshman | BaylorGeorge continues to showcase his scoring ability at all three levels against tough competition and big games in the Big 12. : 7-0, 230 pounds | Class: Freshman | Duke27. : 7-2, 215 pounds | Class: Freshman | Duke32. : 6-7, 205 pounds | Class: Freshman | Arkansas56.
wftv.comLeBron James posts 41 points vs. Celtics in pursuit of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's NBA scoring record
James entered Saturday night’s game against the Boston Celtics needing just 158 points to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time scoring leader. LeBron James breaking scoring record is just a matter of timeJames is rapidly closing in on the scoring record, and he’s still playing incredible basketball while doing it. James averaged 20.9 points per game as a rookie and hasn't dipped below that pace since. Abdul-Jabbar reached his tally of 38,387 points in 1,560 games; the Lakers' game against the Spurs was the 1,405th of James' career. Here's the upcoming slate of Lakers games as James pursues one of the last great milestones of his basketball career.
wftv.comGrizzlies, other NBA teams speak out on Tyre Nichols' death
Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins watched a televised interview on Friday of Tyre Nichols’ mother speaking about the loss of her son, and lost control of his emotions. “The senseless loss of life for Tyre Nichols has really hit us hard,” Jenkins told Bally Sports, the Grizzlies’ broadcast partner, in a pregame interview from Minnesota. “We are outraged by the deadly beating that Tyre Nichols received from five Memphis police officers,” the Bucks said in their statement. “The images of Tyre Nichols' life needlessly cut short are horrifying,” the league said. “I want to continue to encourage people to put their arms around each other, put their arms around the Nichols family, the Wells family to remember a beautiful life in Tyre Nichols — who I did not know, but I’m learning about."
wftv.comNBA fines Joel Embiid $25K for triple crotch-chop gesture during Sixers-Nets
The NBA didn't appreciate Joel Embiid going for the full Triple H. Or the full Hingle McCringleberry, if that's more your speed. More specifically, Embiid was fined for doing a triple crotch chop after scoring an and-1 during the third quarter of a 137-133 Sixers win. Joel Embiid gesture pic.twitter.com/lPb6BQvqTv — That's a highlight (@ClipIt_NBA) January 26, 2023In addition to the NBA, one person who didn't like the gesture was injured Nets star Kevin Durant, who tweeted "Trash celebration" at the All-Star center during the game. Embiid finished the game with 26 points, 10 rebounds and three assists while shooting 6-of-18 from the field. Nic Claxton also chipped in 25 points on a highly efficient 11-of-12 shooting plus 11 rebounds.
wftv.comWarriors star Stephen Curry fined $25K after throwing mouthguard before ejection vs. Grizzlies
Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry was fined $25,000 for throwing his mouthguard into the stands in their 122-120 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, which led to his ejection from the game, the NBA announced on Friday night. Curry was ejected with just 73 seconds left in Wednesday's game at the Chase Center after he got mad at teammate Jordan Poole. Curry wanted to attempt a shot from the logo and signaled to Poole that he was open, but Poole opted to shoot himself instead. Poole missed the shot, and Curry snapped a bit as he ran down the court to get back on defense. Curry ripped his mouthguard out and threw it into the stands — which prompted a quick ejection.
wftv.comNBA second generation: Boozer twins, Bronny James and others carving their own paths
Yahoo Sports takes a look at 10 current high school players who come from an NBA family and how they're playing this high school season. Cameron is a 6-foot-9 forward who is the best high school basketball player in the country, regardless of class. "Just with training, diet, different drills, how the NBA game is played, he's definitely helped us understand the game better." He has continued to score at every level in his final high school season. A 6-4 guard, his shot has improved after working out with his dad and trainer, Chris Brickley, last summer and throughout the high school season.
wftv.comLeBron James' record-tying 19th selection headlines 2023 NBA All-Star Game starters
Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James' record-tying 19th selection to the NBA All-Star Game headlined Thursday's announcement of the starters for the exhibition in Salt Lake City on Feb. 19. Fan voting determines the captain from each conference, and Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo will captain the Eastern Conference. The 38-year-old James has started every All-Star Game since 2005 and served as a captain every season since the NBA implemented the draft format in 2018. Fans, who began voting on Dec. 20, accounted for 50% of the final vote for All-Star starters, choosing three frontcourt players and two guards from each conference. Your starters for the 2023 NBA All-Star Game in Utah.
wftv.comKareem Abdul-Jabbar congratulates Breanna Stewart for calling attention to WNBA travel issues
Top free agent Breanna Stewart's proposition to subsidize charter flights for WNBA players was met with support from all over the league and beyond. Today'sNBA players never had to deal with the effects of commercial travel on their bodies," Abdul-Jabbar wrote. Today’s @NBA players never had to deal with the effects of commercial travel on their bodies. I’m all for @WNBA players getting equal rights. In a way, Abul-Jabbar’s co-sign is unique because it comes from someone who experienced the NBA’s commercial travel era.
wftv.comMat Ishbia expected to become owner of Suns and Mercury before NBA trade deadline
The NBA owners will reportedly ratify Ishbia's purchase during a vote in early February, which puts Ishbia on track to assume control of team operations before the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 9. Ishbia reportedly finalized the purchase of both teams from ousted owner Robert Sarver a month ago at a $4 billion valuation. At 43 years old, Ishbia will be the youngest owner in the NBA – narrowly beating out 44-year-old Memphis Grizzlies owner Robert Pera. Suns head coach Monty Williams told reporters he spoke with the team's new owner after Ishbia attended Phoenix's first home game this past Friday. Williams called it "great for the team, the organization and the community to have someone like Mat in place."
wftv.comNew York's AG says MSG lawyer ban may violate anti-bias laws
New York’s attorney general says Madison Square Garden may be violating anti-bias laws with its practice of barring lawyers from firms involved in litigation against MSG from its venues including Radio City Music Hall and the Garden itself.
LeBron James scores 46 against Clippers as he closes in on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's scoring record
The Los Angeles Lakers star entered Tuesday needing 224 points to surpass Kareem-Abdul Jabbar as the NBA's all-time scoring leader. LeBron James breaking NBA scoring record is just a matter of timeJames isn't pursuing the record on the late-stage fumes of his remarkable career. His 29.8-point scoring average through 37 games would stand as the fourth-highest scoring rate of his 20 NBA seasons. Here's the upcoming slate of Lakers games as James pursues one of the last great milestones of his basketball career. ET (NBA TV)Jan. 31: at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m.
wftv.comFormer top recruit Emoni Bates scores 29 straight points, gets love from LeBron James
Bates, now suiting up for Eastern Michigan, showed off his potential on Tuesday by posting 29 straight points for the Eagles in a conference game against Toledo. THAT'S INSANE https://t.co/z5AyDKJyj2 — LeBron James (@KingJames) January 25, 2023James isn't the only NBA star to take note of Bates, as he has also drawn attention from Kevin Durant since transferring over from Memphis. In a freshman year limited by injuries, he averaged 9.7 points per game while shooting a rough 38.6% from the field. That season ended with Bates entering the transfer portal and heading to Eastern Michigan, located in his hometown of Ypsilanti, Michigan. He entered Tuesday averaging a team-high 19.3 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 34.4% from deep.
wftv.comNBA All-Star captains will pick teams playground style, just before tipoff
The NBA is taking its updated All-Star format to the next level. The pregame draft is an update to the All-Star format the league adopted in 2018. Starting in 2018, the highest vote-getter in each conference was elected captain, and the captains then picked the teams. He's also built a 5-0 record with the teams he's selected He was the overwhelming vote-getter in the Western Conference over Stephen Curry in the latest round of voting announced on Jan. 19. NBA players and a media panel account for 25% each.
wftv.comIsaac makes NBA return after 904 days
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac played his first NBA game in over 900 days Monday night against the Boston Celtics. Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley said Isaac would play 8-10 minutes and he played almost ten minutes. It was his first game at the Amway Center since December of 2019. The Magic return to action January 25 at home against the Indiana Pacers. Hear from @JJudahIsaac and Jamahl Mosley following tonight's Magic return after 904 days.
wftv.comLakers trade for Rui Hachimura, send Kendrick Nunn, 3 second-round picks to Wizards
It looks like NBA trade season is starting in earnest. The Los Angeles Lakers traded for Washington Wizards forward Rui Hachimura. In return, the Lakers are sending Kendrick Nunn and three second-round draft picks to Washington, the teams announced Monday. [ Jake Fischer: Lakers' acquisition of Rui Hachimura could limit free-agent flexibility ]The Wizards' loss is the Lakers' gain. When asked about the possibility of being traded last weekend, Hachimura seemed pretty sanguine about the whole thing.
wftv.comLakers reportedly trade for Rui Hachimura, send Kendrick Nunn, 3 second-round picks to Wizards
It looks like NBA trade season is starting in earnest. According to ESPN's Adrian Wojanrowski, the Los Angeles Lakers have traded for Washington Wizards forward Rui Hachimura. In return, the Lakers are reportedly sending back Kendrick Nunn and three second-round draft picks. Finalized deal: Rui Hachimura for Kendrick Nunn, 2023 second via Chicago, 2029 LA second and and less favorable of 2028 Washington/LA seconds, sources tell ESPN. In what was his final game for the Wizards, Hachimura put up 30 points in a win over the Orlando Magic.
wftv.comFACT FOCUS: 5 full-court shots a stretch even for Curry
Stephen Curry is known for scoring deep 3-point shots and buzzer-beaters from half-court but even the celebrated Warriors guard didn’t sink five consecutive full-court baskets, despite a convincingly edited video that swept social media this week.