[SGA] on if breaking the 73-win record would mean anything to him: “Absolutely. Winning matters.”
Speaking with ESPN, Victor Wembanyama was asked who the NBA’s best player is: “Jokic is the best offensive player… I don’t think he’s the best player. It’s between Giannis & Shai. When I come back to the court, it will be me.”
Steph hits insane full court shot in warmups
[Charania] San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama is likely to return for Saturday’s NBA Cup semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Las Vegas, sources tell ESPN. Final clearance will come after today’s practice for Wembanyama, who’s been sidelined since Nov. 14 due to a calf strain.
[Victor Wembanyama] on who’s the best player in the NBA: “Jokic is the best offensive player… I don’t think he’s the best player. I think it’s between Giannis and Shai. When I come back on the court, I think it’ll be me.”
Joel Embiid is done for the night: 39 PTS, 9 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, +16, 32 MIN
[ESPN] NBA teams are wary of trading multiple first-round draft picks to maximum salary players.
NBA viewership is booming
Which player would benefit the most from having himself as a partner?
ESPN Insiders rank the top 25 players under 25 years old: 1. Victor Wembanyama, 2. Anthony Edwards, 3. Cade Cunningham, 4. Jalen Williams, 5. Alperen Sengun, 6. Amen Thompson, 7. Evan Mobley, 8. Cooper Flagg, 9. Chet Holmgren, 10. Jalen Johnson
[Highlight] Victor Wembanyama on whether prize money is a motivating factor in the NBA Cup: “Poor Vic needs more money, right? … Just stacking money hasn’t really been a goal of mine.”
[Highlight] foul called on Kon Kneuppel’s game-tying 3 attempt overturned on review
[Amick] The Golden State Warriors’ open desire to acquire Trey Murphy III from the New Orleans Pelicans has put New Orleans “front and center” in the Jonathan Kuminga trade landscape.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst in the house for the EuroLeague Serbian Derby between Partizan and Crvena Zvezda: “This has been on my basketball bucket list for a really long time…”
[Afseth] In contract discussions with the Jazz, Kessler sought upwards of $120 million in total compensation for a long-term contract extension, but Utah was unwilling to commit to that price range.
[Lowlight] No one on the Clippers went to get the inbounds pass 😳
[Highlight] Alperen Sengun slowly goes behind Nicolas Batum like a cat for the sneaky steal and the fastbreak dunk
[Highlight] Embiid hits the step back three to end the quarter
Ty Lue was not available to the media following the loss last night. Clippers claim “Lue was made available postgame but no one was in the interview room.” Kelly Iko clarifies: “Couldn’t be further from the truth. I went there immediately after the final buzzer. At least four people were (cont.)”
Joel Embiid tonight: 39 pts, 9 rebounds, 3 ast on 12-23 shooting in 31 mins
[Highlight] Ja Morant Swats the Layup off the Top of the Backboard
Tonight, the Pistons became the third team in NBA history to have 12 or more players score 7+ points
“Worst contracts in the NBA” Joel Embiid and Paul George combine for 62 PTS, 14 REBS and 8 AST on 63 Ts% as the Sixers take down Indiana
[Murray] Lakers announce that Austin Reaves has a mild calf strain. He’s out at least Sunday at Phoenix and Thursday at Utah.
[Lowlight] Lonzo bricks up the open layup
UPDATED Kia MVP Ladder: 1) Jokic, 2) SGA, 3) Luka, 4) Cade, 5) Brown
[Post Game Thread] The Detroit Pistons (19-5) defeat the Atlanta Hawks (14-11), 142-115.
[Amick] The Milwaukee Bucks have recently checked in on Zach LaVine. The Washington Wizards, Phoenix Suns, and Chicago Bulls have shown significant interest in Domantas Sabonis in the past and are still believed to be on his short list of suitors.
Which player surprisingly entered into the DNP territory this season?
Windhorst on the post-Stepien Cavs: “When they sold the team to Gordon Gund, David Stern … actually gave the Cavs draft picks back. He didn’t take the picks away from the teams they traded them to, but he created extra first round picks.”
Donovan Mitchell drops a 40-piece versus Wizards: 48 PTS, 4 REB, 4 AST, 2 STL, +9, 35 MIN
In the last 4 years, LaMelo Ball has only shot over 50% from the field in 18 games out of 119 games. On the other hand, Kon Knueppel has shot over 50% from the field in 11 games out of 25 games.
[Goldsberry] The Efficiency Landscape. What jumps out?
[Highlight] An incredible sequence for the Mavs: Christie with the block. Klay with the Lob. PJ with the Jam. PJ then returns the favor by stealing the ball and hitting Klay in the corner for the triple
Kon Knueppel in a close loss to the Bulls: 33/5/9 on 12⁄21 FG, 5⁄12 3PA, 4⁄4 FTA (+8)
[Stein] “Teams are calling the Bucks, and the Bucks keep telling teams: ‘He’s not available, we’re not trading him.’ The only way there’s gonna be a Giannis sweepstakes — Giannis himself has to go to the Bucks and say ‘I want out.’ He has to firmly say it, and that has not happened.”
Keyonte George against Grizzlies: 39 PTS, 6 REB, 8 AST, 2 STL, 34MIN
Cooper Flagg in the win vs Nets: 22 PTS, 5 REB, 8 AST, 0 TOV, 1 STL, 1 BLK, +8, 34 MIN
Paul George with his season high in the WIN against the Pacers: 23 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST, +19
[Highlight] Donovan Mitchell’s clutch bucket with a minute to go caps a 48-point night and helps the Cavaliers defeat the Wizards, 130-126. Cleveland overcomes a 15-point deficit in the 4th quarter.
[Highlight] Derik Queen LOB FROM THE LOGO
VJ Edgecome (as a Point Guard): 22 pts, 4 rebs, 5 asts
[Highlight] Ja Morant Gets by George and Hits a Ridiculous Reverse Layup
The Spurs are hosting ‘Wemby’s Wonderland’ at @RockAtLaCantera on 12⁄13 from 6-10 p.m. & 12⁄14 from 2-6. It’s a holiday celebration featuring skating, sledding, cookie decorating, a toy drive, semifinals watch party, and more.
[Highlight] Kyle Kuzma to Jaylen Brown: “This is not a str3am.”
[Highlight] Keyonte George lobs to Ace Bailey for the reverse jam
Anthony Davis as the Mavs win their 5th of the past 6: 24 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks
Spurs’ Stephon Castle buys stake in Connecticut soccer teams. The former UConn guard joins the ownership group for men’s and women’s professional franchises where he starred in college