Category: Basketball

Rockets exploring three-team deal to move Harden

Brandon King

From Tim Daniels of B/R: The Houston Rockets reportedly want to make a James Harden trade “sooner than later” and continue to expand discussions beyond the eight-time All-Star’s list of preferred destinations. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Friday on Get Up the Rockets have started to explore three-team deals as part their effort to “maximize value:” The Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers lead the group of contenders Harden would prefer to join, per Shams Charania of The Athletic. Harden doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract—they’ve become exceedingly rare in the…

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The entire U of Houston men’s basketball team tested COVID-19 positive

Staff

From Daniel Canova of FOX 26 (Houston) : HOUSTON – University of Houston men’s basketball coach Kelvin Sampson announced that every player on the team tested positive for the coronavirus. On Sunday, Houston is expected to play Alcorn State but the Cougars are expected to miss several players. Houston hasn’t played in a game since Dec. 5, and over the last few days, the team has been practicing with just six players. Sampson thinks two or three players will be cleared in time for Sunday’s matchup, which will give the team eight or nine players…

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NBA expands opening night rosters, retains coaches’ challenges

Brandon King

From the Associated Press: The NBA coach’s challenge is back, and here to stay. Following the recommendation from the league’s competition committee, the NBA’s board of governors voted Thursday to keep the challenge as an option for coaches going forward. It was introduced last year on a one-year trial. Coaches challenged 700 calls last season, including the playoffs. Calls were overturned 308 times, or a rate of 44%. Also approved by the board of governors Thursday: a plan to give teams the ability to expand their active roster on game…

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UF’s Keyontae Johnson alert, talked with teammates

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From Myron Medcalf of ESPN: Keyontae Johnson is talking to his family and doctors, and he even FaceTimed his team on Tuesday in a sign of remarkable progress for the Florida star, according to a statement from his parents on Tuesday. A day after the program said Johnson was “following simple commands” but remained in critical but stable condition, he appeared to take another step in his recovery. “Keyontae is in stable condition today, breathing on his own and speaking with us and with his doctors here at UF Health. He…

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Giannis signs supermax with Milwaukee

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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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UF’s Johnson out of medical coma, in stable condition

Brandon King

News out of Gainesville, Florida. University of Florida basketball star Keyontae Johnson was is in a medically induced coma Monday his grandfather, Larry Dejarrett told USA TODAY Monday. UF released a statement saying that Johnson was out of the coma and “following simple commands” From ESPN: University of Florida basketball star Keyontae Johnsonremains in critical but stable condition and is “following simple commands,” according to a statement Monday from the school. Johnson was successfully transported to UF Health in Gainesville, Florida, after spending the past two days at Tallahassee Memorial and…

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Kansas State loses at home 81-68 to D-II Fort Hayes State

Staff

From ESPN: MANHATTAN, Kan. — Jared Vitztum had 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Division II Fort Hays State shocked Kansas State 81-68 on Tuesday night without its two veteran basketball coaches. Kaleb Hammeke added 15 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four steals for Fort Hays State, which played the game as an exhibition and without coach Mark Johnson, who tested positive for COVID-19, and associate head coach Jeremy Brown, who is in quarantine as a close contact. Behind second-year assistant Todd Johnston, 29, the Tigers never trailed and led by 21, 71-50, after Hemmeke…

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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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NBL21 Free Agency: SE Melbourne signs Keifer Sykes

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From nbl.com.au: The South East Melbourne Phoenix have announced the signing of high-flying American point guard Keifer Sykes as their second import on a one-year deal. The 26-year-old Chicago native has played for a number of clubs across the world – most recently at EuroLeague giants Panathinaikos – since finishing a stellar college career at Green Bay. He’s also represented Cleveland, Golden State and Denver at the NBA Summer League, and the Austin Spurs in the NBA G-League. Sykes won two Horizon League Player of the Year awards at college,…

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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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