Category: NBA Basketball

Giannis signs supermax with Milwaukee

Staff

From Eric Woodyard of ESPN: Back-to-back NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has committed to the Milwaukee Bucks long-term. Antetokounmpo agreed to sign a five-year, $228 million supermax extension with the Bucks on Tuesday, he announced on Twitter, with the terms being confirmed by agent Alex Saratsis to ESPN. The deal includes an opt out after the fourth year. Had he passed on the offer, he would have been an unrestricted free agent next summer and the biggest name to hit the market since Kevin Durant in 2016. Antetokounmpo is coming off a career year where he became…

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Lebron on load management, title defence and Lakers future

Brandon King

From Greg Beacham of the AP: LOS ANGELES (AP) — After LeBron James emerged from the longest season in NBA history with a fourth championship ring, he returned home and planned the first Christmas family vacation of his adult life. That’s when James learned that his 17th NBA offseason would be unprecedentedly short. When James was told the NBA intended to resume games on Dec. 22, just 72 days after the Lakers beat Miami to win the title, the superstar admits he reacted with a mild expletive. “Just being completely honest,…

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Rockets head coach Stephen Silas still not sure when James Harden will return to team

Brandon King

From Michael C. Wright at nba.com: Rockets coach Stephen Silas pointed out Monday his team has spent 80% of their practices focusing on defense, but 100% of that training camp time has elapsed without star guard James Harden, leading to a murky situation in Houston. Silas cited the NBA’s COVID-19 protocolsfor Harden’s absence Sunday from the team’s first training camp workout, but on Monday the coach expressed ambiguity regarding the star guard’s status. “He’s not here, and he has a reason,” Silas said. “But that’s on him to tell whoever what…

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Three members of the Raptors organisation tested positive for COVID-19

Brandon King

COVID-19 has found the Toronto Raptors. Three members of the organisation have tested positive for the virus. Here is a statement from the team regarding the matter: During the league-mandated testing period prior to training camp, three members of the Toronto Raptors organization tested positive for COVID-19. All three are, and will continue to, self-isolate away from the rest of the organization. Adherence to protocols, follow-up testing and contact tracing has so far revealed no spread to other members of the Raptors organization. We will continue to follow safety protocols,…

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NBA teams to get $30M each to help with liquidity

Staff

From espn: NBA teams will get $30 million each to help with finances and protect against any liquidity issues due to the pandemic, according to a report in the Sports Business Journal. The money comes from $900 million the league raised from notes issued by the NBA in the private placement market, SBJ reported. The publication said that market generally includes insurance companies and institutional investors. The notes are for three or four years, and will be paid back with interest from “general collective league sources,” SBJ reported, citing multiple sources…

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Trail Blazers shut down facilities amid positive COVID-19 tests

Staff

From the AP: The Portland Trail Blazers have closed their facility for deep cleaning after three positive COVID-19 tests came back in a span of four days. Sunday was to have been the first full day of training camp for the Blazers. They, along with all other NBA teams, began having players back in their facility for individual workouts last week. The team did not say if the positive tests involved players, staff or some combination of the two. Portland is scheduled to open its preseason slate at home Friday…

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DeMar DeRozan chased intruder out of his home

Brandon King

From ESPN: San Antonio Spurs guard DeMar DeRozan said “everything is good” with him and his family after an intruder entered their house while they were home over two weeks ago. TMZ reported that on Nov. 19 that DeRozan heard a commotion in a part of the family’s Los Angeles-area house that included one of his children. When DeRozan checked it out, he found the trespasser and chased the man out of his home, according to TMZ. Justin Bergquist was arrested when he returned to the gated community, with TMZ reporting that the…

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Ban on Bars and Clubs part of NBA’s 2020-21 Health and Safety Guidelines

Brandon King

From The NBA provided its teams with a 158-page health and safety guide for the upcoming 2020-21 season. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the guide bans players and staff from going to bars and clubs; live entertainment and gaming venues; and public gyms, spas and pools while in their home markets. Taking part in large indoor gatherings of 15 or more people is also prohibited. Additionally, Wojnarowski reported that while on the road, players and staff will be permitted to dine at “approved restaurants” either outdoors or in a “fully…

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NBA reveals game scheduled and nationally televised contests for the first half of the 2020-21 season

Staff

From the NBA: NEW YORK — The NBA today released its game schedule and broadcast schedules for TNT, ESPN, ABC, NBA TV and ESPN Radio for the First Half of the 2020-21 regular season (Dec. 22, 2020 – March 4, 2021), detailing the only place you can find the most drama, the biggest stars and thrilling game action. The schedule for the Second Half of the season (March 11 – May 16, 2021) will be released during the latter part of the First Half portion of the schedule. The NBA previously announced its national television…

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