Nikola Jokic on whether the Timberwolves and Nuggets are rivals: “Yes. I think they’re built to beat us. They have basically two All-Stars, two All-Defensive First Team players, and Mike Conley, who’s the most underrated player in the NBA probably. I love the guy. He’s so good.”
Knicks guard Josh Hart on playing two entire playoff games: “My Lord works in mysterious ways. Today, I felt like I didn’t have it at all. The whole game I was reciting Isaiah 40:29. The weak he renews strength. That was the biggest thing. He allows you to walk and not faint.”
LeBron James: “The cars, the jewelry, and all the other dumb shit don’t matter. It means absolutely nothing. I see a lot of these young kids get so unfocused about stuff that is so material. They can lose their focus. Worry about the game and everything will take care of itself.”
Kyrie Irving on Luka Doncic: “I’m amazed. I don’t use that word lightly either… I think he’s answered a lot of calls. When Luka first came into the league, there were a lot of questions on what he was going to turn out to be. I know a few people are eating their words. Watching him ascend into becoming an all-time great is amazing and I don’t take it for granted because I played with one of the greatest of all time, arguably the greatest of all time… I want to be supportive and continue to be an all-time great next to him, continue to show him the ropes, and let him continue to fly.”
James Harden on KD: "I know what type of player Kevin Durant is. He’s one of the best players to ever touch a basketball. It’s God-given, 7-foot, and can basically do everything. For me, it’s not trying to compete with that. It’s allowing Kevin to be the best Kevin he can be."
Carmelo Anthony on boos in Denver: “What else can they do? I don’t know what it is. I gave my all here for 7.5 years. I’ve never said anything bad about Denver, about fans, the organization, players. I never complained. I took everything on the chin even when it wasn’t my fault.”
I asked Bronny James if it’s his dream to play with his dad, LeBron James. He replied, “No, never. My dream has always just been to put my name out, make a name for myself, and get to the NBA, which is everyone’s end goal that’s here. I never thought about just playing with my dad, but of course he’s brought it up a couple of times. But yeah, I don’t think about it much.”
Joel Embiid: "You look back at my first year after the surgery. I lost my brother at that time too. Going back to Cameroon, I really wanted to stop playing basketball and retire. At that point, you just had surgery, and everybody is talking about you're not going to make it."
Sources: The Lakers, Knicks and Raptors have discussed a 3-team trade.
Lakers get Cam Reddish and Alec Burks.
Knicks get Goran Dragic and draft picks.
Raptors get Talen Horton-Tucker and Nerlens Noel.
There’s also a chance Kendrick Nunn is added to the trade as talks continue
Joel Embiid on James Harden: "Obviously, I'm sure since we got him, everybody expected the Houston James Harden, but that's not who he is anymore. He's more of a playmaker. I thought, at times, as with all of us, could've been more aggressive."
LeBron James on chasing the NBA’s all-time scoring record: “I’m going to do it. It’s just a matter of time when I’m going to do it. I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to be in this league for at least a few more years.”
Spencer Dinwiddie on being traded for Kyrie Irving: “We may not be the best trade package, but we're the best looking, and the Nets needed some help in that department." 😂
Chris Paul: “I wasn’t this phenom. I wasn’t necessarily supposed to be here. I played two years of JV basketball. It ain’t always been sweet for me. I’ve always had to grind. I like that mentality. That’s always been who I’ve been, and I'm going to stay that way.” #CP3
Michael Malone: “I think Darvin Ham is a hell of a coach. That’s not an easy job. I think Darvin does it with class. He’s a good man, good coach, and I wish him all the best. Hopefully, he’ll be around there for a long time because he deserves to be.”
Tobias Harris spoke to reporters here at the Steve Nash Showdown when Joel Embiid chimed in.
Embiid: “You gonna stay in Philly?” 😂
Harris: “My guy right here.”
Draymond Green on Andrew Wiggins: "When he first came, I'll never forget Thibs, when wasn't with the Knicks, he was like, 'You're going to love him. He competes. He defends. Jimmy loved him.' We all know how Jimmy Butler is. If you have any softness to you, Jimmy don't like you."
Lakers SG Malik Monk on Frank Vogel: "I love the man. He gave me a chance. This was the only team that called me in the offseason and gave me a chance. I have nothing bad to say about him. All praise goes to him. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have a chance to play basketball."
Kobe Bryant was a mentor and close friend to Kyrie Irving, who didn't play tonight against the Knicks following Bryant's death. Kobe shared a great story about the close bond they had.
Kevin Durant on why the trio with Kyrie Irving and James Harden didn’t win a championship with the Brooklyn Nets:
“Injuries. Covid. Us not getting on the court. I think those two were the biggest factors. A lot of people would like to say our attitudes or personalities didn’t mesh well. There are a lot of narratives going around about each individual player about our mentality as men. But once we got on the court and we actually played together, and you saw the culture we were building, it was something the fans could get behind.
That first year when James got here halfway through the season, that was some of the most incredible basketball that I’ve seen and played in…
Injuries to me, James, and Kyrie played a factor, along with Covid. That whole thing confused a lot of sh*t.”
Kyrie Irving: “Kobe Bryant. Logo. Yes. Needs to happen. I don’t care what anyone says. Black kings built the league. It’s exactly what I meant. It’s exactly where I stand.”
DeMar DeRozan on Fred VanVleet being an All-Star: "I feel like a proud father right now. I remember going to his G League games every chance I got. To see him with an All-Star jersey, being a father, it makes me feel old, but at the same time, as a friend, I'm most proud."
Lonnie Walker: “I’m on a minimum, so I carry that weight on my shoulders as far as finding a home, playing the right way, and continuing to get better.”
“Right now I’m locked in trying to find that forever home.”
Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia: “Ask the other 29 GMs, 26 of them would trade their whole team for our whole team, our draft picks, and everything as is. The house is not on fire. We’re in a great position. It’s not hard to fix.” (🎥 @CamCox12)
Luka Doncic on Dereck Lively: “He’s been amazing this season and playoffs. He took not one, not two, three steps forward. He’s a rookie. I think people still forget this sometimes. He’s doing this in the Western Conference Finals, which is insane. His ceiling is gonna be huge.”
Steph Curry on Kawhi Leonard withdrawing from Team USA before the Olympics: “I know he wanted to play... Hopefully, for the long term, he’s in a good place because the game needs him. When he’s not out there, you miss an all-time great player. We hope he’s ready for this season.”
Jason Kidd on Kyrie Irving: “We don’t see that perception of what’s been written in the past. We’re only in the present. What he’s doing is rewriting his journey. When we got him, people didn’t think he was going to fit with Luka (Doncic). That changed quickly. Now, they’re writing about him scoring 28. It’s a beautiful thing what he’s doing. I’ve know him a lot longer than most. He knows how to play the game the right way. We all have our own opinions about different things. He’s worldly, which is a beautiful thing. Most of us aren’t and we’re just stuck in our sport, but he can talk about other things. Sometimes, that scares people. I think what he’s done for us is be a leader, and he’s teaching these young men how to be pros, and that’s something we needed.”
Sources: The Lakers, Knicks and Jazz discussed a three-team trade with Donovan Mitchell landing in New York, Patrick Beverley and another key Jazz player to the Lakers, Russell Westbrook on the move, and draft picks to Utah. More details on @hoopshype. hoopshype.com/lists/nba-rumo…
Cam Johnson on Jordi Fernandez and the Brooklyn Nets: “I have so much respect for that coaching staff in Brooklyn. I really loved playing for Jordi. I think Jordi has a tremendously bright future in this league. I think Brooklyn has a bright future. Those are my guys for sure.”
Source: Wizards star Bradley Beal will decline his $36.4 million player option for the 2022-23 season and become an unrestricted free agent this summer, @hoopshype has learned. More on Beal’s future, Bobby Portis, Nicolas Batum, and others in the story. hoopshype.com/lists/nba-rumo…
Devin Booker on MSG: “I’ve said it from the beginning, this is my favorite place to play outside of Phoenix. I feel it every time I touch in the city. In the summer driving past, I think about it. I want to take advantage and respect the game and history that’s been though here.”
Zion Williamson on Knicks: I think this is RJ's team. RJ, u wanna play for the Knicks? If they draft me, I'd love to play for the Knicks. I don't really care where I go. Just the experience of being in the NBA whoever wants me & whoever sees the most in me that's where I wanna be
Dylan Harper on Ace Bailey: “From a scoring standpoint, he’s 6-10, he sees over everyone. I probably haven’t seen a scorer better than him. A young T-Mac (Tracy McGrady).”
Dylan Harper on his player comparisons: “Probably James Harden, Cade Cunningham, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.”
LeBron James on Nikola Jokic: “He’s one of the best players to ever play this game. It’s that simple. He does everything. The most important thing is he changes the way his teammates think about their own play. When you’re able to inspire your teammates to play at a level that sometimes they don’t even feel like they can play at, that’s a true testament of a great one.”
(🎥 @jovanbuha)
Joel Embiid on being a Knicks villain: “It’s not hostile. I love New York. New York is my favorite city in the world. I have a place here for the past five years. I just love New York. If I’ve got to be the punching bag and you hear a lot of ‘F Embiid,’ that’s ok. I love it.”
The Golden State Warriors have exercised the team’s fourth-year options on Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody, league sources told @hoopshype. Kuminga will earn $7.63 million and Moody will earn $5.8 million for the 2024-25 season.
The Brooklyn Nets will guarantee the contracts of Yuta Watanabe, Edmond Sumner and Markieff Morris, league sources told @hoopshype. Watanabe has become one of the top 3-point shooters in the NBA. Sumner has played solid backup point guard minutes. Morris is shooting 48.7% on 3s.
The Brooklyn Nets have agreed to a two-year deal with Drew Timme, league sources told @hoopshype. Timme recently was named G League Player of the Week, averaging 35.7 points and 12.7 rebounds. Timme also had a career-high 50 points.
Jordi Fernandez on the Kings firing Mike Brown: “He’s very good at what he does. In my opinion, one of the best. I wouldn’t be here without him. It’s sad news. I don’t like it. It’s part of the business. A year and a half ago he’s Coach of the Year and now this situation happens”
Kyrie Irving on boos in Boston: "I know it's going to be like that the rest of my career coming in here. It's like the scorned girlfriend who wants an explanation on why I left but still hoping for a text back. I'm just like it was fun while it lasted."
Update: Al Horford has a second-year player option in his two-year, $12 million deal with the Golden State Warriors, league sources told @hoopshype. Horford is expected to start at center and is eager to compete for another championship. Deal negotiated by agent Jason Glushon.
Josh Hart on Monty Williams’ Donte DiVincenzo comments: “If he didn’t want to be part of the story, he should’ve told his guys to defend better. What else there to say? We’ve got a guy that’s hot. We’re going to try to find the guy that’s hot. That’s common sense in basketball.”
Sources: The 76ers have engaged with the Spurs about potentially moving up to the No. 2 pick. For now, the Sixers have zeroed in on four NBA Draft prospects with the No. 3 pick, including a private workout last week with VJ Edgecombe and Ace Bailey visiting Philadelphia next week
Nets coach Jacque Vaughn: “I guess I was the write-in candidate in the minds of elections right now, but I’m ok with that. I said to my wife, I might not have been her first choice and we’ve been together 20 years, so it can all work out. So, off we go.”
Joel Embiid: “Second year, you get another surgery that you miss two years in a row. All the stories coming out every day. Joel is 300 pounds. Media talking down on you. It was tough. I had to go through a lot. I'm glad I kept pushing through with the help of everyone around me.”
The Miami Heat and Duncan Robinson (Michigan) have agreed to a one-year, 2-way deal, league sources told The Athletic. Robinson, who attended Williams Ephs before Michigan, will have the opportunity to become the first D-III player since Devean George to play in the NBA.
Luka Doncic on ESPN’s D grade for the Kyrie Irving trade: “D?” 😳
Kyrie: “From starting the All-Star Game to being a shit player.” 😂
Luka: “I don’t think we care. We enjoy playing with each other and this team. We don’t really care what other people have to say.”
I spoke with Cam Johnson shortly ago about his reaction to being traded by the Brooklyn Nets to the Denver Nuggets for Michael Porter Jr and an unprotected 2032 first-round pick.
Johnson told me, “I’m excited to compete for a championship. It’s a new beginning.”
Sources: The Philadelphia 76ers are expected to exercise their $2 million team option on guard Shake Milton for the 2022-23 season, @hoopshype has learned.
David Letterman is here at Barclays Center for Brooklyn Nets Media Day. He appears to have replaced Kyrie Irving, who is not expected to be available, per ESPN.
Breaking: The Philadelphia 76ers and free agent center Andre Drummond have agreed to a two-year, $10+ million deal, league sources told @hoopshype. Drummond gets a player option Year 2. During his career, Drummond has been a two-time All-Star and a four-time rebounding champion.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was upset when asked if the Bucks failed this season.
"Michael Jordan played 15 years, won 6 championships. The other 9 years were a failure?"
"50 years from 1971 to 2021 that we didn't win a championship was 50 years of failure?"
Just In: The Charlotte Hornets declined to tender Tre Mann his one-year, $6.94 million dollar qualifying offer, sources told @hoopshype. Mann becomes an unrestricted free agent after averaging 14.1 points, including 40% from 3-point range, 3.0 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 13 games
The Brooklyn Nets and Theo Pinson have agreed to a two-year deal, a league source told @TheAthleticNBA. Pinson also reunited with North Carolina coach Roy Williams earlier today before signing his deal.
Spencer Dinwiddie on Nets acquiring Dorian Finney-Smith in the Kyrie Irving trade: “When they (Nets) called and asked about him, I told them that’s not going to be a guy you want to lose. He’s a guy that defends one through five… I ain’t met a guy he can’t guard outside of me.”
BREAKING: The Houston Rockets have agreed to a one-year, $6 million deal with NBA champion Jeff Green, league sources told @hoopshype. The deal was negotiated by agent Jason Glushon of @GlushonSM.
Nikola Jokic on whether the Nuggets can win another championship as constructed: “We didn’t, so obviously we can’t. If we could, we would win it. I don’t believe in those ifs stuff. We had opportunities. We didn’t win it, so I think we can’t.”
Aaron Gordon on Nuggets coach David Adelman: “I love DA. I hope he's here next year. I hope he's our coach. I hope he gets a whole offseason and a whole training camp to figure out his philosophy. I had DA in Orlando. We have DA here. DA is great. He was excellent for us.”
Joel Embiid on Tyrese Maxey: “You’ve got a young superstar coming in and face of the franchise for his whole career in Philly.”
“He has a chance to do something special next year again. I hope he becomes All-NBA this year. I think he can be in stuff like MVP conversations.”
The Philadelphia 76ers will extend a qualifying offer to center Paul Reed, league sources told @hoopshype. Reed will become a restricted free agent after appearing in a career-high 69 regular-season games for the Sixers last season.
Donovan Mitchell on Nikola Jokic for MVP: “I don’t know if you’ve all been watching what Jokic’s been doing. It’s f****** outrageous, to be honest. I don’t know how many people have won it 3 times in a row, but he’s other worldly right now.”
He also highly praised Joel Embiid.
The Los Angeles Lakers are adding Greg St. Jean as an assistant coach to JJ Redick’s staff, league sources told @hoopshype. He won a championship as part of Frank Vogel’s Lakers staff in 2020 and has since been an assistant coach with Jason Kidd in Dallas and Vogel in Phoenix.
Kristaps Porzingis on his health: “I think my system is not perfect right now. It’s not working the way it should be. Many weird things. The best thing I might need right now is to rest, get some sun, and let system even itself out. It’s definitely a very frustrating time for me”
Jamal Murray: "You got Shaq, you got Charles (Barkley), you got Zach Lowe, Stephen A (Smith). All ya'll better start giving this team some damn respect b/c we put in the work & we've got a resilient team.. Ya'll can start changing the narrative & looking at us in a better light."
Sources: The Los Angeles Lakers brought in several free agents for workouts, including former lottery picks Shabazz Muhammad and Jeremy Lamb. Dwayne Bacon, Miye Oni and others also worked out for the Lakers, @hoopshype has learned.
Just In: The Phoenix Suns will add Mike Muscala as an assistant coach, sources told @hoopshype. After 11 NBA seasons with the Hawks, Thunder, 76ers, Wizards, Celtics, Lakers and Pistons, Muscala becomes a coach at 34. Suns new head coach Jordan Ott worked with Muscala in Atlanta.
Karl-Anthony Towns: "We got the Clutch Player of the Year and we've got one of the most clutch defenders in the NBA. It's only right that for all the talk people have done about Mikal, it's when the lights are the brightest that he gets to show his worth."
JUST IN: The Los Angeles Lakers and Nick Smith Jr. have agreed to a two-way contract, league sources told @hoopshype. The 21-year-old guard showed flashes of potential, averaging 9.9 points in 22.8 minutes while starting 27 of 60 games played for the Charlotte Hornets last season
The Philadelphia 76ers exercised the third-year $4.42 million team option on Jared McCain for the 2026-27 season, league sources told @hoopshype. McCain averaged 15.3 points shooting 46% from the field and 38.3% from 3-point range in 23 games as a rookie during the 2024-25 season
Kyrie Irving: “If I didn’t get injured versus the Bucks, do I still ask for a trade? If KD’s foot wasn’t on the 3-point line, are we talking about a different legacy here? If James (Harden) doesn’t ask for a trade? All of the woulda, coulda, shoulda.”
The New York Knicks and forward Matt Ryan have agreed to a deal, league sources told @hoopshype. Ryan shot 45.1 percent from 3-point range for the New Orleans Pelicans last season. Ryan, who was born in White Plains, New York and played for Iona Prep in New Rochelle, returns home
Jabari Parker offered public support for Caleb Swanigan at the end of his media availability today. Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard also recently offered support for Swanigan, his former teammate.
The Philadelphia 76ers will guarantee De’Anthony Melton’s $8 million salary for the 2023-24 season, league sources told @hoopshype. Melton started 58 of 77 regular-season games played and averaged 10.1 points per game with the Sixers last season.
The Milwaukee Bucks and free agent center Greg Monroe have agreed to a 10-day contract, a league source told @hoopshype. Monroe had multiple 10-day offers on the table before choosing the Bucks.
Milwaukee Bucks guard Jevon Carter will decline his $2.24 million player option for the 2023-24 season and become an unrestricted free agent, a league source told @hoopshype. Carter, a strong defender, shot 42.1 percent from 3-point range in 81 regular-season games played.
James Harden on RJ Barrett: Aggressive. I like it, especially as a rookie. Not timid at all. When ur aggressive & confident in ur game, u look good out there. Long as he continues to build his confidence, keep being aggressive & get the opportunity, which he will, he’ll be great.
Ja Morant on the NBA Top 100 list in 2047: "I do plan on being on that list. That's what I'm working for."
@JaMorant added: "Everything I do is for Memphis, so I'm always representing Memphis, and having the honor to play in this game and represent Memphis is big-time for me."
TRADE: The Oklahoma City Thunder acquired the Denver Nuggets’ 2030 second-round draft pick from the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for the Phoenix Suns’ 2029 second-round draft pick.
The Phoenix Suns signed forward Yuta Watanabe to a two-year, $5 million deal, league sources told @hoopshype. The deal includes a player option for the 2024-25 season. Watanabe shot a career-high 44.4 percent on 3-pointers last season with the Brooklyn Nets.
Sneaker News: Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner and center Moe Wagner have each signed multi-year, multi-million dollar deals with Adidas, league sources told @hoopshype.
The Boston Celtics and No. 38 overall pick Jordan Walsh have agreed to a four-year, $7.6 million deal, league sources told @hoopshype. Walsh is represented by former NBA player and current CEO/founder Ramon Sessions of @ontimeagencygrp.
The Los Angeles Lakers signed Talen Horton-Tucker, the No. 46 pick in the 2019 draft, to a two-year, $2.4 million deal, a league source told @TheAthleticNBA. The deal is fully guaranteed.
Kristaps Porzingis on the Knicks trade: “The way the trade happened I did some dumb stuff, like some cryptic tweets. The whole process was just a mess. I didn’t like the way things ended. That wasn’t how I wanted it to end if it did end.”
Josh Hart: “The future is very bright. I think there’s hope for what we’re building. I think we’ve built a foundation of a franchise that’s going to be fighting and moving in the right direction. I think we’re giving the city and Knicks fans something to hope for.”
Los Angeles Lakers forward Christian Wood has exercised his $3 million player option for the 2024–25 season, league sources told @hoopshype. Wood appeared in 50 games for the Lakers and averaged 6.9 points and 5.1 rebounds in 17.4 minutes per game.
Free agent Justin Holiday is considering interest from several teams including the Lakers, Clippers, Bulls, Raptors, Pacers, Wizards, Hornets and Cavaliers, league sources told @TheAthleticNBA. Memphis is open to a sign-and-trade with him.
Just In: The Brooklyn Nets have agreed to a deal with Fanbo Zeng, one of the best prospects in the CBA, sources told @hoopshype. The 22-year-old, 6’10” forward averaged 14.7 points on 53% from the field and 41% from 3-point range, 4.6 boards and 1.6 blocks with the Beijing Ducks.
Adam Silver on Victor Wembanyama: "I know that many of our NBA teams are salivating at the notion that potentially through our lottery, they can get him, so they should all still compete very hard next season."