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Ja Morant on crowded baseline area: ‘I just think player safety should be first and foremost’

SAN FRANCISCO —  Ja Morant, the Memphis Grizzlies’ sensational rookie, made his return Monday night against the Golden State Warriors after missing four games with back spasms stemming from a collision two weeks ago with a cameraman along the baseline.

Morant, the Rookie of the Year favorite, led his team to a 110-102 victory and finished with a game-high 26 points and seven assists. The explosive guard even had a few thunderous dunks and a two-handed rim-rattler in traffic that put the Grizzlies up eight with a minute left to seal the win.

Following the contest, Morant acknowledged that instead of solely focusing on being the best version of himself, he occasionally found himself thinking about the proximity of camera operators while driving in the paint.

“It’s tough because I know I just have to do more controlled jumps now,” Morant told Yahoo Sports. “But at the same time, I’m just trying not to think about it and still try to play my game. It’s just a tough situation all the way around, honestly.”

He hasn’t wavered from that stance.

"They probably can get a [good] video from the parking lot with those cameras, man,” he told Yahoo Sports.

“I just think player safety should be first and foremost. How I play and where I end up, [cameramen] are right there. Personally, I like to attack the rack, and I feel like that injury came from me attacking the rack and it was just nowhere to land for me.”

Warriors coach Steve Kerr weighed in on the topic before the game.

“I worry about that, the proximity of the camera people and the vulnerability of sitting underneath the basket with a lot of contact over there, bodies falling, they’re holding a big camera,” he said. “It feels like a lot of things could go wrong. So, I do worry about that. I’m not sure what needs to happen, but I would think the league, especially if players are getting injured, would be considering their options.”

In 2014, the NBA mandated teams to add an additional foot of space on both sides of the basket stanchion, expanding the area to four feet in length, and the league decreased the number of cameramen from 40 to 20.

But the baseline is still a crowded area. With the speed and athleticism of today’s players, such collisions are still bound to occur from time to time.

“When it happened, my back just kind of locked up and it started feeling tight and like a spasm,” Morant told Yahoo Sports. “It was just tough for me to move. And then it caused me to not be able to go out there and play with my teammates. I feel like everybody who knows me, knows I like to compete and do whatever I can. Just sitting out there knowing I couldn’t be out there with them really hurt. And it was the way I got hurt that was disappointing.”

Memphis (7-16) went 1-3 in Morant’s absence.

“It was a positive and a negative for me not being able to play,” Morant told Yahoo Sports. “I got to learn my teammates even more on how they like to play, and then I was able to see what really we’re capable of.”

Morant doesn’t plan to talk to the league anytime soon on the matter of baseline space, but when he does, he’ll express his concerns about player safety and seek to gather a better understanding of camera placement.

But he also wanted to make it clear that he doesn’t have anything against the league’s camera operators.

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Posted Up: CJ McCollum on the Blazers slow start, adding Melo and constant trade rumors

In the season two premiere of Posted Up, Chris Haynes sits down with Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum for a conversation about his life, his career, the Blazers' slow start to the 2019 season and adding Carmelo Anthony.

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Melo on Player of the Week criticism: ‘I’ve come too far to start listening to that bull----'

LOS ANGELES — The feel-good storyline to start off the week was Portland Trail Blazers forward Carmelo Anthony being named Western Conference Player of the Week following his sixth game of the season after being out of the league for over a year.

But the honor didn’t come without scorn, with many contending that Houston Rockets star James Harden and Dallas Mavericks young star Luka Doncic were more deserving candidates.

“I’ve seen the chatter, but I won’t allow myself to pay attention to that because I’ve come too far to start listening to that bull----, to be honest with you,” Anthony told Yahoo Sports. “I won’t allow that negativity to creep in. I’ve worked so hard to get to that point mentally and emotionally. I won’t even let it happen.”

Anthony averaged 22.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, shot 57.4 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from 3-point range while helping the Trail Blazers to a 3-0 record last week. The Trail Blazers had lost four straight before snapping the streak.

Harden averaged 47 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and shot 53.1 percent from the field and 48.3 percent from beyond the arc to lead his team to a 2-0 record. His week was highlighted by a 60-point performance in three quarters against the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.

Doncic averaged 30.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, nine assists, and shot 42.6 percent from the floor and 24.1 percent from long distance as the Mavs went 2-1 last week. He had a 42-point outing at Phoenix on Friday and was twice a rebound shy of securing a triple-double.

The league office decides its weekly honorees based on games from Monday to Sunday. So Harden was only credited with two games last week because he faced the Mavs on the previous week’s Sunday, which is why he wasn’t the top candidate, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

The league seldom awards a player who played in just two games for the week, a league source told Yahoo Sports.

Portland’s 3-0 week is what gave Anthony the edge over Doncic, sources told Yahoo Sports.

“I’m very honored to have won the award,” Anthony told Yahoo Sports. “It just speaks to the hard work I put in to stay ready for this moment. I have nothing but respect for [Harden and Doncic]. I didn’t make the decision, but I’m grateful that I won the award.”

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Russell Westbrook’s brother escorted out of arena after confrontation with Clippers’ Montrezl Harrell

LOS ANGELES — The brother of Houston Rockets star Russell Westbrook was escorted out of Staples Center because of his role in a heated verbal confrontation with Los Angeles Clippers forward Montrezl Harrell and for “rushing the court” at the end of Friday night’s game, security officials told Yahoo Sports.

“He rushed the court,” a security official told Yahoo Sports. “He was in clear violation”

The incident took place after the final buzzer of the Clippers’ 122-119 victory over the Rockets.

Raynard Westbrook, the younger brother of the Rockets’ star, and Harrell participated in an intense back and forth as both teams were headed to the locker room.

There was some distance between the two until Raynard stepped on the court to continue the banter, and arena security cut off his path and directed him off the court.

While continuing the verbal sparring, Raynard was moved along the seats behind the basket closest to the Clippers’ bench before being asked to exit the arena. Raynard complied and walked out with the assistance of security personnel with no further incident.

Some fans recognized who he was and one fan shouted, “That’s Russ’ brother!”

“I ride for my team and my city,” Harrell told Yahoo Sports about the incident. “All I care about is who’s on my team. And we won. That’s all that matters.”

Harrell finished the game with 18 points and seven rebounds.

https://sports.yahoo.com/russell-westbrooks-brother-escorted-out-of-arena-after-confrontation-with-clippers-montrezl-harrell-075103364.html

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Carmelo Anthony on Jared Dudley: ‘You can’t blame him for what I went through’

MILWAUKEE — While Carmelo Anthony was without an NBA job for over a year, Los Angeles Lakers forward Jared Dudley caught the relentless ire of current players, former players, and fans who felt his talent was not deserving of a roster spot over a player who will eventually be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Dudley, a serviceable role player and a career 39.4 percent 3-point shooter in his 13-year career, was frequently insulted and turned into a talking point whenever discussion centered on why Anthony wasn’t with an NBA team.  

Dudley’s skill set and physical condition were unfairly called into question. And at times, clearly frustrated with being inserted in to the matter, Dudley took to Twitter to defend himself from the attacks.

Now that the Portland Trail Blazers have added the 17-year veteran and 10-time All-Star, Anthony can now weigh in on how Dudley became linked to his hiatus from the league.

“I and Jared Dudley had some issues in the past, man, but I started feeling bad for him a little bit,” Anthony told Yahoo Sports. “I mean, not feeling bad, but it’s just like, ‘Leave that man alone.’ It’s not his fault. Teams that wanted him, they wanted a specific role, and that's why they picked him up. I had to tell some guys to lay off. He wasn’t keeping a roster spot from me. That wasn’t the case. The [treatment] he received wasn’t right.”

Anthony expounded on the issues he had with Dudley.

“Man, it was just some game s--- in [competition],” he told Yahoo Sports. “S--- that happened on the court. Nothing serious. We don’t have any problems.”

The Trail Blazers are in the midst of a three-game losing skid. On Thursday night, the Milwaukee Bucks (12-3) defeated the injury-plagued Blazers 137-129 at the Fiserv Forum.

Anthony went for 18 points on 6-of-15 shooting to go with seven rebounds and four assists in 28 minutes with Damian Lillard sidelined for a second consecutive game because of back spasms. Portland (5-11) now has the second-worst record in the Western Conference. 

Many thought the Lakers would be the team to sign Anthony in the offseason because of their need for depth and floor spacing. That speculation also arose because of Anthony’s close friendship with superstar LeBron James.

Anthony had the blessing of James, league sources told Yahoo Sports, but the front office chose to go in a different direction. 

The 6-foot-8 forward said he understood that his extended absence from the league had very little to do with what he was capable of doing on the court.

“Honestly, I think it was more of, not intimidation, but it was more so teams not wanting to put themselves in that situation of having to deal with what role I was going to accept and questioning if I was going to accept my role and the media [attention] that's behind it all,” Anthony told Yahoo Sports. “Just everything that comes along with bringing me in. Nobody knew where I was at, as far as what I was thinking. I think it was more so of everything else outside of basketball. I don't think anybody thought, ‘Oh, he can't play anymore. He can't do this.’ It was everything that had to do with outside of basketball.”

Life Time Athletic at Sky, a posh gym in New York where Anthony participated in summer pickup games that generated viral highlight clips, wasn’t always his place of refuge.

Not knowing if he would ever get another NBA shot, the closest Anthony could get to the association was by playing in open runs hosted by NBA trainer Chris Brickley. 

Those games are where Anthony confirmed he could still be a force, but they also made it more difficult for the one-time scoring champ to cope with the realities of his situation.

“Having success in those games, that was hard, man,” Anthony told Yahoo Sports. “It was one point in time, I was like, ‘I don't even want to go.’ Man, honestly. I felt embarrassed, you know what I'm saying? So, I had to get over that, and once I got over that and the guys were like, ‘I'm playing [great] and it’s OK.’ Once I'm in the gym, I’m in the gym. That’s second nature. So I was just like, ‘Let me just get back in the gym,’ and all the guys were in there. I treated that almost like it was a season for me, like training camp the way that I went in and approached it. And I think guys saw that. Guys saw my level of focus at that point.”

https://sports.yahoo.com/carmelo-anthony-on-jared-dudley-you-cant-blame-him-for-what-i-went-through-154715777.html

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Posted Up Podcast: Damian Lillard on not 'selling out' for a championship, All-Star Weekend & more

Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard joins Yahoo Sports NBA Insider Chris Haynes on the All-Star edition of Posted Up.

The four-time NBA All-Star talks about his stint as a news-breaking reporter (2:00);

Thoughts on Anthony Davis requesting a trade and what he expects to see out of it (10:00)

What it’s been like being in Portland his entire career and how he helps recruit free agents (15:00)

How the late Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen helped him get his album recorded (20:00):

The importance of not ‘selling out’ for a championship (26:00);

And much more.

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Posted Up Podcast: Hawks' Trae Young says he's the NBA Rookie of the Year, talks Steph Curry comparisons & more

Atlanta Hawks rookie guard Trae Young joins Yahoo Sports NBA Insider Chris Haynes on the latest episode of Posted Up.

He talks about being forever connected to Luka Dončić, his time at Oklahoma, comparisons to Steph Curry and being in contention for rookie of the year.

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Warriors star DeMarcus Cousins opens up about fan interaction, reveals he's been called racial slur

OAKLAND, Calif. — Golden State Warriors star DeMarcus Cousins is never one to shy away from tough topics and recently revealed to Yahoo Sports the worst obscenity fans have ever shouted at him during an NBA game.

“Oh, I’ve been called n-----,” he told Yahoo Sports in the latest Posted Up video podcast that will be released this week. “And it’s crazy because this has happened to me on a few occasions. I reported it to the league, and, you know, I may have said whatever I said back and I was still punished for it. But obviously it became a bigger issue when it was Russ [Westbrook], and he was still fined for it. I don’t really understand it. We’re the product. We push this league, so I don’t understand. When does our safety, when does it become important?”

When asked which cities he heard racial slurs, the nine-year veteran and four-time All-Star declined to answer. However, league sources told Yahoo Sports one of the incidents occurred in Sacramento.

“I don’t really want to [name cities or teams], because I’m not really trying to put a label on an entire fan base,” Cousins told Yahoo Sports. “There are ignorant individuals in every city. I’ll just put it like that. … [The league] tells you to ignore it, or whatever the case may be, but how many times am I supposed to ignore that. Me coming from where I come from [Mobile, Alabama], they lucky all they got was a response.”

When contacted for a comment, the NBA released the following statement: "While it would not be appropriate for us to address any specific conversations we have with individual players, we review all situations involving alleged fan misconduct. If we confirm the misconduct, appropriate measures are taken directly with the fan in question."

In February 2017, Cousins, while a member of the Sacramento Kings, was fined $25,000 following an upset win over the Warriors at Golden 1 Center for flipping off a few Warriors fans and shouting, “F--- Golden State!”

It is unclear if racial slurs were involved in this incident, but Cousins mentioned it as an example of how players are routinely targeted and how the abusers often go unpunished.

“It’s crazy. I remember the whole incident with the whole ‘F--- Golden State’ thing,” Cousins told Yahoo Sports. “I remember specifically those fans talking crazy to me the entire game, and then I come out the game and it’s those same exact fans. And I knew they were Golden State fans, so I said what I said. I talked to the league. I’m like, ‘Such and such and such was said. I was getting called bitches and all this other stuff, punk boys, whatever.’ But they was like, ‘All right, but you flipped them off.’ I’m pretty sure them dudes are still enjoying games [today]. So it’s like I’m the bad guy because I react?”

The conversation on the negative aspects of player-fan interaction was ignited recently when Westbrook reacted to some degrading comments made by a Utah Jazz fan in Salt Lake City.

Westbrook was fined $25,000 for his part, and the Jazz banned the fan for life and issued the same penalty to another fan who was caught on video shouting, “Boy!” to the Oklahoma City Thunder star a year prior.

Athletes have always dealt with nasty taunts, but Cousins said the way Westbrook’s ordeal was captured on video forced the situation to be discussed and addressed.

“I think it kind of went viral with the whole Russ thing,” Cousins told Yahoo Sports. “I’m sure that played a part in it. He’s had multiple instances in that same city. You even got the one clip of the guy flipping Russ off. Like, when does the game get that serious for a fan? Why are you that angry? This dude is literally out there putting a ball through a hoop. How do you get that angry?

https://sports.yahoo.com/warriors-star-de-marcus-cousins-opens-up-about-playerfan-interaction-reveals-hes-been-called-racial-slur-165250248.html

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Posted Up Podcast: Boogie Cousins explains why he 'doesn't care for' the media, his love-hate relationship with fans & more

Golden State Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins joins Yahoo Sports NBA Insider Chris Haynes on the latest edition of Posted Up.

Boogie talks about returning from injury, playing on a new team and argues that he can play in any style of the game. (2:00)

He explains why he doesn't "care for the media" (5:00) and his love-hate relationship with fans (10:00)

Does Boogie think he's the best center in the game? (20:00)

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It’s a new era with Anthony Davis on the Lakers

After months of intrigue, the Los Angeles Lakers acquired star forward Anthony Davis and appear to be back in the championship mix.

On Saturday afternoon a blockbuster trade was agreed to, sending Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and three first-round picks, including the No. 4 pick in the June 20 draft, league sources confirmed to Yahoo Sports.

Davis’ No. 1 preference was always to be traded to the Lakers to play alongside LeBron James, sources said.

And although it has been a rocky five-month journey since Davis went public with his trade request, the All-Star forward is getting what he desired.

David Griffin, the newly appointed president of basketball operations for the Pelicans, acquired young assets who will fit with Zion Williamson, whom the franchise is expected to select with the No. 1 overall pick on Thursday.

It’s a win-win for both parties, although the deal will not be finalized until July 1.

Griffin and Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka were seen having a lengthy, private conversation at the Chicago draft combine last month.

Davis is expected to sign a long-term extension with the Lakers and be the franchise’s anchor after James, league sources said.

Davis’ reputation with the New Orleans community never recovered when the franchise was forced to scale back his minutes after the All-Star break because a trade couldn’t be consummated.

It was important for Griffin to get a deal done before the draft to transition Williamson, the expected top selection, into a healthy environment free of discontent, sources said.

The Boston Celtics entertained pursuing Davis, but with agent Rich Paul recently stating that it would be a one-year rental if they acquired him, the Celtics were reluctant to include Jayson Tatum in any trade scenarios.

For the Lakers, they were able to hold on to coveted young forward Kyle Kuzma and now are positioned to be contenders.

With James and Davis as the cornerstones of the franchise, the Lakers still have room to add one more star in free agency.

Charlotte guard Kemba Walker and Philadelphia forward Jimmy Butler are top priorities, sources said.

Golden State might be forced to punt its championship aspirations for next season with pending free agents Kevin Durant (Achilles rupture) and Klay Thompson (ACL tear) expected to be lost for much or all of next season.

The Lakers were a laughingstock for much of the 2018-19 campaign, but after landing Davis and the possibility of adding more talent in the near future, the organization appears to be back.

https://sports.yahoo.com/its-a-new-era-with-anthony-davis-on-the-lakers-004250981.html

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Rockets owner: This is our window to win NBA championship ... 'or we won't win in next 10 years'

Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta is banking on two talented childhood friends to help deliver the franchise a championship. He also understands the urgency to win a title has increased exponentially and a failure to do so could set the organization back for the foreseeable future.

"I think we put ourselves in the position that if we don't win it in the next three or four years, we probably aren't going to win one in the next 10 years," Fertitta told Yahoo Sports in an interview to promote his debut book titled “Shut Up And Listen,” which hits all major bookstores on Tuesday. "This is our window, and we need to seize the opportunity."

This aggressive outlook stems from the blockbuster trade orchestrated by general manager Daryl Morey this summer that sent Chris Paul to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Russell Westbrook.

To sweeten the deal for the Thunder, the Rockets sent their 2024 and ‘26 first-round picks along with the right to swap first-round picks in 2021 and 2025. It's unlikely a swap would occur in 2021 because it's based on who has the better record and the Thunder could be headed for a lengthy rebuild. The 2025 pick is top-10 protected.

The Texas billionaire, who is also sole owner of Fertitta Entertainment, the restaurant giant Landry's and the Golden Nugget Casinos and Hotels, is running his NBA team in the same manner as his other business ventures: audaciously and unwavering.

"This is the time," Fertitta told Yahoo Sports. "I just re-signed Eric Gordon who is 30 and I've got Russell and James and Eric and Clint Capela for the next four years. P.J. [Tucker] is 34 and our two stars are 30. So this is their window. Let's seize the opportunity."

Fertitta says he was never concerned about bringing in another ball-dominant guard to pair with Harden.

"No, because I can remember watching Russell Westbrook against us a couple of times last year and I saw how he ran up and down that court and how his athleticism was so superior," he told Yahoo Sports. "And I think it's one of the things that we were a little short on."

The Rockets were able to get a glimpse of how well Harden could coexist with another ball-dominant guard during the two-year Paul tenure. Overall, the run was favorable as they came within one game from advancing to the 2018 NBA Finals. Last season, they were again eliminated by the Golden State Warriors — this time in six games in the second round.

Widely chronicled tension between Paul and Harden prevented the two from reaching their full potential. Fertitta believes Harden and Westbrook will get along fine.

"It's so important to have the right chemistry," Fertitta told Yahoo Sports. "These are two guys that grew up in L.A. together and have known each other most of their lives. And they can talk to each other. You can say things to each other and the other would not get offended because you're lifelong buddies. And so I think the chemistry's going to be great this year.

"I wasn't in the locker room myself last year. But, I would watch Chris on the court and it appeared to me that they got along well. I think it's stressful situations. Teammates talk and chat with each other positively and negatively because everybody wants to win. Nobody wants to win more than Chris Paul and James Harden. I think this is gonna be a great fit for Chris in Oklahoma City. I think Oklahoma City is going to surprise people with how good they are. I think there's a lot left in Chris Paul's tank. I think Chris Paul's gonna surprise people with how good he is and I think it's going to surprise people with how good Westbrook fits in with James Harden."

Fertitta has a 95-5 philosophy that has resonated with some of the top entrepreneurs in the world — which he touches on this in his upcoming book. He believes 95 percent of everything is right, and in order to achieve maximum success, one should identify the five percent that is wrong and enhance it.

He was asked to define the five percent that's been plaguing the Rockets in recent years.

"The five percent is hitting the key shot at the right time, making and playing the right defense at the right time at the end of a game," he explained to Yahoo Sports. "And that's really it. Can you hit the key shot when you need it? And some teams hit them, and some don't. And sometimes we hit them, and we haven't hit them when we've had the opportunity to knock them out, we didn't come with the knockout punch. And that's just the way it is."

Over the past few years, the Rockets have been fixated on beating the Warriors. From ownership, to management, to the players, they've collectively made their positions public on numerous occasions.

With Kevin Durant exiting the Bay Area for Brooklyn, and Klay Thompson recovering from an ACL tear, the Warriors won't be entering the season as the championship favorites.

"I can honestly tell you this: Now we're hunting the Clippers, the Lakers, the Jazz, the Trail Blazers, the Nuggets and the Warriors," Fertitta told Yahoo Sports. "It's going to be exciting. Let's be honest, it's really going to be who doesn't have the injuries and who's healthy. And you know, it's going to be good. I think that we realize we've got to have a team that's pretty deep in all areas because you're going to have to beat — there's no telling who you're going to have to play. There's no telling who you're going to have to play from the East. Are you going to be playing Toronto again or Boston or Philly or, you know, Brooklyn? Who knows?"

Mike D’Antoni returns in his fourth season as the Rockets’ coach. He’s stepping into the final year of his contract after extension talks broke down over the summer.

"I think Mike D'Antoni's going to be coaching here for a long time," Fertitta told Yahoo Sports.

But right now, one of his main priorities is his book.

"HarperCollins Publishers called me and said, why don't we write a book," he recalled. "They came in and saw me, and they said, we don't want a life story book. We want to know how you do it. And they had seen my 'Billion Dollar Buyer' show and just saw how I kind of focus in on certain things, the 95-5 rule. There are no spare customers. Take the word ‘no’ out of your vocabulary. And they just thought it would be a great book. And so here we are. And 18 months later, it's coming out now."

Fertitta loves how business can help an individual grow and prosper. It's the same empowerment NBA players have used to chart their own futures — and find new teams — in the league.

Most owners and executives view tampering as something players consistently violate, while the rules are forcefully upheld with them. In showcasing his sense of humor, Fertitta took a hard pass on the matter.

"I'm just an owner," he responded. "I didn't even know that kind of stuff went on."

https://sports.yahoo.com/rockets-owner-this-is-our-window-to-win-championship-or-we-wont-win-in-next-10-years-211007586.html

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Kawhi Leonard: 'I want to make history this year'

https://sports.yahoo.com/kawhi-leonard-i-want-to-make-history-this-year-024726396.html

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Clippers new superstar Kawhi Leonard has a rare opportunity to accomplish a feat that has never been done by a star player: guiding a third franchise to an NBA championship.

Robert Horry and John Salley are the only players in history to have been a part of three different championship teams, but they were in supporting roles. Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is also in the hunt, being that he led the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers to a championship.

The Clippers hosted media day on Sunday to introduce a roster superiorly bolstered from an offseason jackpot of securing Leonard and Paul George.

And while much of the day’s theme was on tempering expectations, Leonard explained in an interview with Yahoo Sports on how memorable it would be to bring the Larry O’Brien to his hometown and make history by leading the transfer of a title to three different teams.

“That would be a great accomplishment,” Leonard told Yahoo Sports. “That feat would be something to talk about once I’m done playing, and being able to do that in my hometown would be amazing. Growing up, [Staples Center] was one of the first NBA arenas I ever went to. So to do all of that here would be special. But we have work to do first.”

That work starts Monday with the opening day of training camp.

“We ain’t changing nothing,” said forward Montrezl Harrell regarding the team’s blue-collar approach that captivated fans last season.

Leonard will be in camp on a full-time basis as the lone star, while George — who will be held out of contact drills, telling ESPN his return to action is slated for “November-ish” — continues to rehab from two offseason shoulder surgeries.

Leonard is noted as the dynasty killer for his role in taking down the Heat and Golden State Warriors, and subsequently James and Kevin Durant departed those losing teams soon after.

He speaks in baritone pitch that doesn’t cover a lot of ground, but his growling appetite to win is deafening. Similar to the stance of the rival team in the city, Leonard made it clear to stress that the day-the-day process can’t be ignored en route to chasing a title.

“Like any other year, I want to win just as bad as I did with any other team, but it’s just more excitement behind this situation and it’s more of a story that people want to cover if I do win it this season,” Leonard told Yahoo Sports. “Every year I come in and I want to win, I want to make history this year, but it’s always have fun, play hard, play the season out and let the results be what they are. That’s all you can do.”

The Clippers understand that championship expectations terminates being able to fly under the radar. The attendance at media day still paled in comparison to the contingent the Lakers held last Friday, but the Los Angeles Rams hosting the Tampa Buccaneers at the same time on Sunday largely contributed to the Clippers’ turnout.

“It will be hard this year, of course,” Patrick Beverley said of the 2019-20 season. “We’re not the surprising Clippers as we were last year. People know exactly who we are. The target is on our backs. … Now it’s just time to get to work.”

And the Clippers still refuse to rouse up the the basketball world by declaring war on the Lakers.

“It’s not a head-to-head battle of L.A.,” George said. “We've got to come out, we’ve got to play and we have to do what we have to do the same way the 29 other teams have to do.”

Defensively is where they figure to cause havoc.

“It’s going to be scary with myself, Trez, Kawhi, [Pat Beverley], [Landry Shamet], Moe [Harkless], Rodney [McGruder],” George said. “I mean, we really got a chance to do something special on the defensive end and I think it’s going to be an energetic thing watching Pat get out there and picking somebody up 94 feet. That’s going to get me going and it’s going to get Kawhi going and it’s just going to become contagious on a nightly basis. I honestly think for the first time, people are going to be excited to watch the defensive side as opposed to watching the offensive teams. It’s going to be fun.”

The Clippers will now embark on a new chapter, one with endless potential and excitement galore. Sunday was the official beginning of their new NBA year, but Monday on the court is where it really starts.

That’s the platform Leonard is most comfortable at.

“It’s time for us to get to work,” Leonard told Yahoo Sports. “We’ll see what happens this season.”

https://sports.yahoo.com/kawhi-leonard-i-want-to-make-history-this-year-024726396.html

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Trae Young: ‘I have a chance to be an All-Star this year’

Trae Young isn’t who you think he is. The Atlanta Hawks’ franchise point guard is a charming, soft-spoken and considerate young man who plays the game with grace and pizzazz.

But don’t let the baby-faced emerging star fool you into thinking he doesn’t possess an edge and a long memory about his detractors.

He admits that it’s not the healthiest approach to fueling his fire and silencing the critics, but it’s propelled him to the brink of a potential breakout sophomore season for the young Hawks.

“I remember coming into high school, coming into college, they were saying, ‘He’s too small.’ Coming into the league, ‘He’s too small. He has bust potential.’ The whole trade with Luka Doncic. I don’t know that there’s just one [slight],” Young told Yahoo Sports. “And whenever they stop talking just about me, they start talking about the organization and talking about how they made the worst decision and how it could be the worst trade in NBA history. That all motivates me, for sure. There are little things that stick with me. You know my family and how we roll. I’m out to prove people wrong. I’ve got screenshots on my phone of negative tweets. It’s little things like that I still have on my mind and it motivates me every time. They’ll see.”

In 81 games last season, the NBA Rookie of the Year runner-up averaged 19.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 8.1 assists. Young was fourth in the league in assists, an aspect of his game that places him already among the elite so early in his career.

“It’s definitely not surprising to me,” Young told Yahoo Sports. “I know the people close to me don’t necessarily think that’s surprising either. I’ve always been a really good passer. I think my scoring and my long-range shooting has been what’s stood out to most people, and so it’s easy to overlook my passing ability. Passing isn’t always the most sexiest thing to watch. So, I think people look past that and focus more on my shooting and the ball going into the basket. But I feel like my passing ability has been my best attribute growing up throughout high school, college and now the NBA. I’m just going to continue getting better.”

In the third game of his NBA career, Young — at 20 — became the youngest player to post more than 35 points and 10 assists in a game since 21-year-old LeBron James did it Jan. 16, 2005. The Hawks hadn’t had a rookie score 35 or more since John Drew in 1975.

Young said he enjoyed some of the milestones he reached during his rookie campaign, but he has more lofty goals for the upcoming season.

“I believe I have a chance to be an All-Star this year,” Young told Yahoo Sports. “I think if we win as many games as I feel like we can and at least be in playoff contention, I think I have a good chance. The more we win, the better my odds are of getting into the All-Star Game and that’s my main focus: winning. I know my numbers will be there. I’m not worried about my numbers. I feel like the way we play, the fast pace we play, my numbers will be there. For me, it’s all about winning. If we’re winning, I have a really good chance of being in that All-Star game.”

To best position himself and his team for a major improvement from a 29-win season, Young said he’s gained 11 pounds of muscle.

“I don’t want to just settle for 82 games,” Young told Yahoo Sports. “Gaining muscle was something I knew I needed to focus on if I wanted to be able to play another 82 games. I want to be able to play and play at a high level for a long time.”

Young also, for the first time, worked out in Los Angeles over the summer with Hall of Fame point guard Steve Nash, whom he called “my idol.”

“I know I got on his nerves,” Young said laughing. “I asked him a lot of questions. I had to. I needed to know what he saw when he came off pick-and-rolls, how he set his man up going into pick-and-rolls, how he was able to finish around the rim in traffic around all the bigs, what his warmup routine was. I just needed answers.”

https://sports.yahoo.com/trae-young-i-have-a-chance-to-be-an-all-star-this-year-134350601.html

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Sources: Raptors’ Pascal Siakam seeking rookie-scale max, but picture not so clear for others in draft class

LOS ANGELES — It’s almost a certainty that emerging star Pascal Siakam and the Toronto Raptors will come to terms on an extension before Monday’s deadline for rookie-scale extension candidates.

The Cameroon native is the only player remaining from the 2016 NBA draft class considered to be a virtual lock to get a deal completed before the deadline, which is quite an accomplishment for the No. 27 overall pick.

However, in order to finalize the agreement between the two sides, a maximum contract offer will be required, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

Philadelphia’s Ben Simmons and Denver’s Jamal Murray are the only players from the 2016 draft class who already have received five-year, $170 million max extensions.

As the new centerpiece of the organization, Siakam is poised for another breakout year that should include a hefty raise.

The other extension candidates aren’t so clear.

Sharpshooter Buddy Hield — the sixth pick in 2016 — and the Sacramento Kings appear to be operating under a more strenuous discourse.

The 6-foot-4 guard, who scored a career-high 20.7 points per game last season while shooting 42.7 percent from beyond the arc, recently expressed a level of frustration with how negotiations are going.

"As a player, you want to have that trust that the franchise has your back, and we're just waiting for them to make a move and come to an agreement," Hield told the Sacramento Bee last week. "They're talking, but nothing is moving yet. Nothing has moved. I'm ready to make things happen, man. I want to make Sacramento my home. I'm ready to get this s--- done. I want to be here and if it doesn't happen, then things can go the other way."

The Kings have an offer for Hield on the table for four years and $90 million, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Hield and his agent, Brandon Rosenthal, are seeking a number closer to $110 million, sources said.

With the 2020 free-agent class expected to be weak in terms of star power, sources said Hield is prepared to bet on himself and play out the season to test the market as a restricted free agent next summer if Monday’s deadline passes without a deal in place.

The Kings re-signed forward Harrison Barnes in the offseason to a four-year, $85 million deal and franchise point guard De’Aaron Fox will command a max rookie-scale extension July 1. According to The Bee, the Kings also have reportedly offered swingman Bogdan Bogdanovic a max extension of four years and $51.4 million. He has until June 30 to sign or become a restricted free agent.

As the team’s leading scorer last season, Hield’s representation is encouraging management to open up the checkbook to keep a relatively young core together.

If a deal doesn’t happen by Monday, it could still happen nine months from now, but the Kings wouldn’t be the only team making an offer.

Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics are on similar footing.

During the first portion of negotiations, the No. 3 pick in the 2016 draft led his extension talks.

Brown never signed with an agent after being drafted from the University of California. He has since hired Jason Glushon, a veteran agent who represents Philadelphia forward Al Horford and New Orleans guard Jrue Holiday.

As Marc Stein of the New York Times noted in his latest newsletter, the Celtics rarely issue extensions to their rookies, with Rajon Rondo being the last to receive one in 2009.

But even with history not on Brown’s side, the Celtics have extended the 6-foot-7 swingman an offer of four years and $80 million, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

But Brown believes in his ability to one day be a star and is pursuing a bigger offer, sources said. Next season the Celtics will have another major decision: figuring out if Jayson Tatum is worth the rookie-scale max.

Should the 22-year-old Brown go the restricted free-agency route, he could end up being one of the top players on the market in July. Whatever he decides to do, he seems content and at peace.

“It’s really not overwhelming me or ruling my thoughts,” he told the New York Times. “I know what type of talent I have. I’m confident in myself. I’m confident in my ability. It’s not something that’s keeping me up at night.”

https://sports.yahoo.com/sources-raptors-pascal-siakam-seeking-rookiescale-max-but-picture-not-so-clear-for-others-in-draft-class-180147606.html

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Why Jimmy Butler views reaction to his free-agent decision as disrespect

When Jimmy Butler chose to sign with the Miami Heat on the first day of free agency last June, it caught some basketball enthusiasts by surprise.

Instead of joining a team with another star and forming a title contender, the four-time All-Star elected to relocate to South Florida for a four-year, $142 million contract.

It was a move largely perceived as abandoning championship aspirations in favor of basking in the sun with little to no pressure of winning.

“I tried to get to Miami earlier than June, if you remember me coming out of Minnesota,” Butler told Yahoo Sports, referring to his trade request last season. “So, people are overlooking all the facts.”

Four months later, Butler and the Heat are off to a 5-1 start and only his former team — the 5-0 Philadelphia 76ers — has a better record.

The Heat had their most impressive win of the season Sunday night at American Airlines Arena, routing James Harden, Russell Westbrook and the Houston Rockets 129-100. Butler was a force on both ends with 18 points, seven rebounds, nine assists and four steals in 27 minutes.

Butler views the reaction to his free-agency decision as disrespect, and he’s now relishing in the team’s early success.

“Mother------s act like I’m not a good basketball player,” Butler told Yahoo Sports. “Like for real. Just think about that. Like I can’t come in and make a huge difference. I’m not going to say ‘carry a team’ because nobody can do it by themselves and I mean that. I’m not putting it all on myself, but I know what I’m capable of. I know what I bring to any and all situations, and the group of guys that we have is the group of guys that I want to play with.

“When I look down the line and as we're talking about it as an organization on this roster, I know what these guys are capable of. These guys are built like me. We’re one in the same and so they’re only going to get better and they’re not going to get complacent. This is me. I see myself in every one of these guys around this locker room.”

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is getting valuable contributions from rookies Kendrick Nunn and Tyler Herro as well as young veterans Bam Adebayo and Duncan Robinson.

The Heat are developing young talent while also sustaining some success, which often doesn’t go hand in hand.

Butler recognized the potential in Herro well before the No. 13 overall pick from Kentucky erupted for 29 points on Oct. 29 against the Atlanta Hawks, hitting 12-of-16 free throws in his third NBA game.

In the offseason, Butler flew the rookie to Chicago to work out with him and trainer Stanley Remy, and Butler learned Herro’s tough demeanor mirrored his.

Butler is also impressed with the Heat’s other breakout rookie.

“Look at the mother-----r K-Nunn. Look at him. He’s got so much of me in him that it’s scary because his confidence continues to grow,” Butler told Yahoo Sports. “The same thing with our rook Tyler Herro and [second-year player] Duncan. Come on, man. Just because you don’t know these guys like that, don’t make the mistake of looking past them. They’re going to make sure you do know them pretty, pretty soon.”

Last season the Sixers acquired Butler in a trade with the Timberwolves in exchange for Robert Covington, Dario Saric, Jerryd Bayless and a 2022 second-round pick. Bringing in a pending free agent at that cost placed the franchise in a difficult spot.

Initially, all signs pointed to an extended partnership with Butler. But in the days leading up to free agency, it was made clear within league circles that Butler wasn’t returning.

The 6-foot-7 forward says something went down behind the scenes that led to his departure, but he wouldn’t elaborate on the subject.

“Stuff just don’t work out. Nobody knows what really went on in Philly and we’re going to leave it that way,” Butler told Yahoo Sports. “But it was a great opportunity for me.”

https://sports.yahoo.com/why-jimmy-butler-views-reaction-to-his-freeagent-decision-as-disrespect-180921044.html

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Giannis Antetokounmpo isn't about that load-management life

LOS ANGELES — A significant share of coaching is done before the tip and after the final buzzer. That’s when there’s an aspect of Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer’s job that he doesn’t exactly look forward to: when he requests to meet with his superstar, Giannis Antetokounmpo, about the subject of rest.

It’s that point of the season when Budenholzer must inform the star of his decision and hold fast to the game plan.

“It’s not usually my favorite topic or my favorite chore, but he’s pretty good about it,” Budenholzer told Yahoo Sports. “He’ll fight me a little bit, but he’s very respectful and great to coach.”

Antetokounmpo gives him that look. This is the combative side that is seldom seen publicly.

“I say I don’t want to hear it,” Antetokounmpo told Yahoo Sports about those conversations with his coach. “I’m trying to get better. I try to talk him out of it.”

Last season — his first year with the Bucks organization — Budenholzer, a Gregg Popovich coaching tree disciple, found out how daunting of a task it was to get Antetokounmpo to buy into the concept of taking a night off here and there.

“You have to approach him the right way,” Budenholzer told Yahoo Sports. “Explain why you’re doing it and hopefully he gets it.”

In the load-management era, with Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard serving as the poster child, resting stars has become a controversial issue for the league. Leonard was widely criticized for sitting out of Wednesday night’s 129-124 loss to the Bucks in which Antetokounmpo was dominant with 38 points, 16 rebounds, nine assists, two steals and two blocks in 36 minutes.

With Budenholzer at the helm, Antetokounmpo is registering the fewest minutes he’s played since his second year in the league. The results have been fruitful, as the 6-foot-11 reigning MVP is averaging career highs in points (29), rebounds (14.3) and assists (7.6).

The Bucks do not have a single player who has cracked the top 50 in minutes averaged this season. Antetokounmpo is the team’s leader at 32.3 minutes per game.

“I can’t speak to what other teams or what other players do. I want to play,” the three-time All-Star told Yahoo Sports.

For the benefit of the franchise’s long-term success, there are periods in which Budenholzer has to tell his star player to stop doing what made him a superstar — at least for a day.

And that might involve not suiting up for a game or staying out of the practice facility for a day, something that irks Antetokounmpo because he has a strict routine of going to the facility at night and getting in extra shots on practice days.

“If I don’t get my work in, I don’t feel good,” Antetokounmpo told Yahoo Sports. “Like Michael Jordan said, hard work eliminates fear. If you don’t harvest your technique, you don’t feel good. You’re not getting a rhythm.

“So, I always like going back at night and getting some extra shots. It’s a battle. I’m trying to get in the gym, I’m trying to get better. I’ve got a lot of room to grow.”

Once Antetokounmpo reluctantly accepts his coach’s decision about rest, the battle isn’t over.

On one particular occasion last season, Antetokounmpo felt — in the heat of the moment — that he wasn’t at his best in his first game back from resting and blamed it on being given the night off, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

“Giannis is so competitive. He wants to be on the court all the time,” Budenholzer told Yahoo Sports. “But I think after a year together and fairly early in the season last year, he started to appreciate just how important his body is and how important his health is. There’s a big picture and we want to be playing deep into the playoffs and we need him to be fresh and healthy. For the most part, he’s done a nice job at trusting the coaching staff and we’ll hopefully put him in great positions to be great when he plays and give him a little bit of time off to take care of himself.”

https://sports.yahoo.com/giannis-antetokounmpo-isnt-about-that-loadmanagement-life-150317379.html

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