"We're going to turn this team around 360 degrees." Covering Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs & the NBA for @TheAthletic
San Antonio, TX
- Tweets 83,749
- Following 4,683
- Followers 48,624
- Likes 39,898
Pinned Tweet
1-on-1 with Wemby:
Victor Wembanyama’s blood clot threatened to take away almost everything he held dearly. It also lit a fire within him to expand his world.
Months later, he found himself standing in front of Big Red and the captains of his passion project that he hand selected, delivering the first PowerPoint presentation of his life.
From tears to puke to cheers, this is the crazy story of Wemby and the Jackals, the NBA’s first ultras fan group. Wemby wanted to build something bigger than himself. It became so much more.
New Wemby exclusive on @TheAthleticNBA
theathletic.com/6966415/2026…
13
93
617
226,682
Charles Barkley on NBA TV: "I have a question...you clearly have not made it to the barber in the bubble."
Jimmy Butler: "That's not a question."
28
1,532
22,117
Joe Mazzulla jumped out the window of his duck boat, ran through the streets hyping everyone up, then somehow jumped back into the duck boat even on a torn meniscus
229
1,905
15,757
3,033,792
Marcus Smart was asked about his foul trouble & officiating concerns and said, “I don’t know if you guys seen the Fred VanVleet thing, but that’s all I’m gonna say…I’m gonna let Fred do all the talking.”
“I don’t mind, I’ll take a fine. I don’t really care. I thought Ben Taylor was f***ing terrible tonight. On most nights, out of the 3, there’s 1 or 2 that f*** the game up.”
Fred VanVleet on tonight’s officials, and NBA officiating:
55
931
14,643
2,742,708
Kevin Durant on Celtics fans’ hostility toward Kyrie Irving: “It’s rooted in love. They once loved you…had life altering experiences coming to games watching you play. So when it gets ripped from them in a trade…it feels like a piece of them is gone too.”
388
1,104
13,205
Jimmy Butler on ESPN: "I got a phone call and text message from D Wade earlier today and he was telling me I can do this. Knee is banged up, but nobody cares. Go out there and continue to build your legacy. That meant the world to me, so appreciate you D Wade."
39
1,170
11,174
Never, ever forget that Marco Rubio looked a kid who watched his friends slaughtered in the eye and refused to say he would not take NRA money. When the kid offered to raise the money for him, he still refused. Rubio is supposed to be a moderate republican. This is pathetic.
Florida school shooting survivor Cameron Kasky challenges Sen. Marco Rubio: "Can you tell me right now that you will not accept a single donation from the NRA?" cnn.it/2sFKUXW #StudentsStandUp snpy.tv/2sLWUqX
167
3,638
9,848
This incredible game came down to a rebound Wemby could have tipped in, but Draymond boxed him out perfectly to win it.
310
570
11,344
1,762,181
Jaylen Brown: "I ain’t gonna keep commenting on the officiating.. What I saw was Grant getting his head stepped on by a 300 lbs. individual. To see that live was crazy in real time. That was probably the craziest thing I’ve seen on a basketball court."
87
481
10,445
1,883,724
Celtics put the blank banner on tonight’s Game 4 shirts ahead of what could be the last game at the Garden this season
161
738
9,443
Gregg Popovich is here at Spurs shootaround watching Victor Wembanyama get shots up.
81
566
8,608
15,434,704
Joe Mazzulla asked if he got to meet with the royal family: "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph? I’m only familiar with one royal family. I don’t know too much about them. But hopefully, they’re Celtics fans."
130
845
7,985
Jaylen Brown on why he did the ice in his veins celebration: "I didn’t know what I was doing, I’m just ready to get the fuck outta here. It’s been a long trip."
25
372
7,308
derrick white just ran through the empty media zone at 4 am screaming "FUCK YEAH!" over and over
16
345
6,690
241,247
Update: The vote has formally been scheduled. An NBA team threatened to go on strike and got a dormant police reform bill into a scheduled voting session immediately. This is the power they are wielding and continue to exercise.
As the Bucks players returned to the locker room, they turned to their owner for help to take action. He called the WI. state house as they discussed a police reform bill. By nightfall, the governor was calling for a special vote on it.
On what’s next theathletic.com/2026284/2020…
54
2,179
5,579
Tatum asked about how the Jays are putting up numbers comparable to MJ and Pippen: “Last year y’all wanted to trade one of us, now you’re saying Mike and Scottie. We’re not as bad as you said but we’re not as good as Mike and Scottie.”
26
396
5,975
476,139
Joe Mazzulla was asked if he’s going to play Giannis 48 minutes in the All-Star game: “Yes.”
38
153
5,561
469,592
Stephen Silas watching Celtics practice as Ime Udoka replaces him in Houston, this is the circle of NBA life
60
273
5,476
869,634
Bill Russell’s wife Jeannine in tears as she gets a standing ovation from the Celtics fans on her late husband’s birthday
11
206
5,387
198,630
Jaylen Brown cut his right hand picking up a glass vase he knocked over while watering his plants last night and got 5 stitches. Said he’s expected to be ready for the playoffs, but he’s pissed.
398
457
5,157
4,399,370
Jaylen Brown issued a formal apology to the city of Boston for the Celtics letting them down.
95
526
4,905
Jaylen Brown: "I always thought my first career ejection would be something a little more exciting. Guys tussling up, thrown to the ground. Not some overemotional ref who had a bad day. What I’m most upset about is that I should’ve gotten my fucking money’s worth."
33
373
4,849
281,699
Joe Mazzulla’s last words of the season: “If someone tells you good job, that’s just as dangerous as someone telling you you suck.”
23
297
4,422
225,275
Of all the things Marcus Smart did in his near-decade in Boston, one thing that truly stood out was his generosity to children with cancer.
This was my feature on how he worked to improve life for kids stuck living in the hospital: theathletic.com/3700379/2022…
26
574
4,263
313,719
Jaylen Brown: "I've been in Boston for five years, so I'm a Bostonian now...I'm trying to get more engaged with the community and see where I can help the most."
25
206
4,245
Dennis Schroder pulled up to Jaylen Brown’s store opening and immediately did a kick flip. Brand still strong.
32
244
4,102
Jaylen Brown on the Myles Turner push: "Myles is a good kid. Let's start with that. Throughout the series, he loses control of his body a little bit...I was just letting him know, 'Just watch it.'.. He feels like he's at home, his family is watching. His girl is probably watching and he had to do something. I've known Myles a long time...It's all love."
56
248
4,147
949,133
Jayson Tatum says Joe Mazzulla shows the team videos of UFC fighters getting choked out to show how they stay calm in those moments and fight back.
62
371
4,039
774,158
Celtics fans have been chanting "We want Blake!" for like 10 minutes. So Jayson Tatum tried to get up and pull him off the bench like he was Tacko, but Grant Williams yanked him back down into his seat. So Tatum put Grant in a headlock and Grant is now practicing his golf swing.
25
198
3,857
Jayson Tatum on his big shots at the end: "For 43 minutes I had to hear about how bad I was, so it felt good to see everybody getting out of their seat early."
15
211
3,805
184,943
Joe Mazzulla was asked Danilo Gallinari wanting to return from a torn ACL before the end of the season:
"I saw him jogging on the treadmill and I was like, 'I haven't seen you run much faster than that in a game.' So I thought he was playing tonight."
14
150
3,790
277,234
What went through Joe Mazzulla's mind when Derrick White hit the game-winner?
"Nothing. Game 7."
32
182
3,747
206,006
The refs clearly just broke the rules to keep Giannis in the game. That's pretty insane.
37
589
3,668
It's so loud in the Garden that my Apple watch just warned me I'm at risk for hearing loss if I don't leave
28
171
3,696
285,065
The Lakers are too big to fail. Every time they’re gonna collapse someone hands them a bailout. It’s incredible.
46
376
3,825
159,549
Luke Kornet made white chocolate covered Oreo brownie bites for the locker room and they’re legit incredible
25
103
3,640
298,161
Joe Mazzulla was asked for his inspiration for the final play that got Jayson Tatum the game-winner:
“I stole it from Brad.”
14
135
3,577
207,293
Really hope Richard Jefferson turns into the NBA’s Tony Romo and the networks realize people like it when you actually pay attention to and explain the game happening in front of them. Pair him up with DB and you’ve got the ultimate national color tandem.
34
230
3,518
Kyrie Irving says the timing is right for the Celtics to be contending and "the window is now for these guys." Praised Ime Udoka and especially Brad Stevens as the new President.
111
216
3,359
Jaylen Brown on Grant Williams: "Put his life on the line for (the game) and to see his head get smashed on the court and get up with a smile on his face, that’s Grant Williams."
4
117
3,357
139,528
What was Joe Mazzulla’s message to Jayson Tatum?
“Tell him I love him.”
That’s it?
“That’s a pretty powerful statement.
Gonna tell him that for Game 7?
“Multiple times. Over and over again. And the rest of the team.”
15
206
3,418
229,289
Jaylen Brown says he's liking the mask after tonight's game: "Yeah I need some extra protection out there. Guys are headbutting guys, maybe our whole team needs masks."
17
167
3,403
127,122
Rob Williams told Derrick White to speak his mind with the Celtics: "You’re welcome to this brotherhood. Speak up when you see something. Don’t be scared."
9
158
3,344
Kevin Garnett: "If they had load management back then, I’d still be playing. I should’ve listened to Doc’s ass. My hard-headed ass, that’s how you know I’m a Taurus."
81
349
3,236
Joe Mazzulla was asked if the Celtics were angry and frustrated coming into this game.
"Yes."
How so?
"They were angry, frustrated."
How were the last 48 hours for the Celtics?
"Angry. Pissed."
Did you like that?
"Yes."
21
152
3,300
202,382
Kristaps Porziņģis was asked if he takes the matchup with Bam Adebayo personally:
“I don’t care about him. I care about our team and what we’re trying to achieve. This isn’t one on one, me against Bam. This is Celtics vs. Heat.”
9
163
3,278
118,743
Really sad to see Stephen Jackson looping in anti-semitism into some valid criticisms of the NFL. A huge part of my childhood in a reformed jewish household was education on systemic racism & supporting its eradication for anyone oppressed. We want to be allies in this fight.
101
291
3,066
Jaylen Brown sneaks in a joke when talking about the mental health difficulties of how you can’t get away from work in the bubble:
“Sometimes you see Donovan Mitchell and you’re like, ‘Man, I don’t want to see Donovan Mitchell right now.’”
10
212
3,157
Victor Wembanyama on the basketball world wondering about his height all the time:
“I don’t say I like it. It’s more like, over the years, it’s become a non-subject to me. Because, in my opinion, there’s so many more interesting things about me.”
40
116
3,367
318,522
Marcus Smart broke Max Strus' ankles and Malik Fitts jumped out of his seat and started yanking on an invisible lasso like he wrangled a cattle
21
160
3,100
more chemistry issues as marcus smart just can’t stop fighting with his teammates. but thankfully deuce is here to save the day. crisis averted.
23
306
3,084
Derrick White’s dad always sees his son trying to fit in. But before Game 5, he told Derrick to do more.
“He can be good fitting in, but the Celtics took the leap this year because he did more than just fit in.”
Then his greatness flipped the series.
theathletic.com/4554422/2023…
28
132
3,048
262,087
Kristaps Porizngis said he feels good but they will have to take a look at his leg injury tomorrow.
But it doesn’t sound like he plans to sit Game 3.
“I will die out there.”
17
264
3,109
314,586
Caleb Martin going from Michael Jordan to Michael Kidd-Gilchrist now that the Celtics are eliminated is hilarious
33
267
3,066
200,991
After the Celtics collapsed into an 0-3 hole, Al Horford knew they didn’t need to relive their failures.
So he told Joe Mazzulla to cancel their film session & brought his team to Top Golf.
This is the story of the day they shanked their way to history:
theathletic.com/4558277/2023…
38
257
3,025
2,399,793
This flow chart for choosing an NBA team from @NBA_Reddit user u/G00dvibrati0ns deserves the grand prize at Sloan.
74
834
2,928
Drake just said “Payton Pritchard’s out there looking like a crypto scammer” on the Raptors broadcast
Probably deserves a Grammy for that one
14
174
2,973
317,654
Jaylen Brown explains why he made his own basketball sneaker: "Honestly, boredom. It would be great for it to be successful. But even if it's not, who cares? I'm just kind of tired of seeing the same old things, the deals constructed the same way. So hopefully in the next 20 years, even if this isn't like super successful, that it sparks other athletes, other creators to have the courage to start to build stuff on their own."
20
264
2,951
192,023
Q: What do you say to Jaylen after missing the 2 FTs to lose the game?
Joe Mazzulla: "I love you Jaylen."
Q: Ok but what else?
Joe: "I love you Jaylen and I believe in you."
43
171
2,890
338,567
Jayson Tatum: "Again, I wasn’t that fucking mad. Don’t put that narrative out there. I didn’t throw nothing. I said what I said. There was no magic words."
24
122
2,824
2,086,723
Jaylen Brown holding back tears: My best friend passed last night...I remember the first time I met him, I transferred schools to Wheeler high school to take his spot. The first few days I sat by myself & he told me to come over and sit with him. Since then we were best friends.
9
866
2,725
Jayson Tatum: “I talked to Joe a lot. Joe was probably the happiest person in the world that I didn’t win Finals MVP and I didn’t play in two of the games at the Olympics. That was odd. But if you know Joe, it makes sense.”
11
126
2,847
160,631
Looks like Jayson Tatum is going to finish the season leading the league with 2,225 points. He joins James Harden, LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant as the only players to score 2,200 in a season in the past decade. All former MVPs.
10
338
2,729
213,651
Tristan Thompson: "I can’t fucking wait til Sunday. 17K. Green. I’m gonna see the Leprechaun. That’s what it’s all about."
15
170
2,660
Thought it was crazy that Brunson put up 45+ points and 10 assists in a playoff game when his team scored under 100 points. Turns out that was the first time it's happened in NBA history, per @Stathead.
Jalen Brunson has 47 points, a new Knicks playoff record.
Bernard King's record of 46 stood for 40 years.
5
311
2,681
322,876
