Category: Basketball

Jazz’s Gobert, Mitchell, others health cleared

Brandon King

Rudy Gobert, Donovan Mitchell along with the rest of Utah Jazz players and personnel have been given a clean bill of health by the state’s Health Department, according to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps. Gobert was the first NBA player to test positive for COVID-19 and ridiculously and wrongly draw the ire of players, fans and even some media ( because apparently he purposely contracted the virus as part of some insidious plan to end the NBA season). This is good news and we hope this is a precursor for more healthy…

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Australia’s National Basketball League suspends free agency

Brandon King

From nbl.com.au: Due to COVID-19, the Hungry Jack’s National Basketball League (NBL) has agreed with the Australian Basketball Players’ Association to postpone commencement of the forthcoming free agency period. The free agency period, which was due to start on March 30, will be delayed until at least 1 May, unless the parties agreed in the meantime on a basis to commence sooner. The NBL, clubs and Australian Basketball Players’ Association (ABPA) will consult on the appropriate arrangements for the free agency period as we all continue to monitor thesituation with…

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NBA Executives to take 20% pay reduction

Brandon King

From ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski: In the midst of a shutdown for the coronavirus pandemic, the NBA is reducing base salaries by 20% for about 100 of the league office’s top-earning executives around the world, sources tell ESPN. Many of the executives and officials who are impacted work in the league’s New York headquarters, including commissioner Adam Silver and deputy commissioner Mark Tatum, sources said. These reductions will be implemented immediately and are expected to continue through the course of the coronavirus crisis, sources said. NBA spokesman Mike Bass wouldn’t confirm…

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Leon Rose reportedly “impressed” with interim Mike Miller

Brandon King

From Bleacher Report: New York Knicks president Leon Rose has reportedly had a “positive feeling” about interim head coach Mike Miller since taking over the front office in early March. Ian Begley of SNY reported Thursday that Rose was “impressed” with Miller’s work and “respected the job” he’s done since replacing David Fizdale, who was fired in December. Rose is going to lead the coaching search in the offseason, and NBA executives view former Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolveshead coach Tom Thibodeau as a “strong favorite,” per Begley. Even if Thibodeau or another high-profile coach is hired to take…

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NBL Statement on the Grand Final

Brandon King

From nbl.com.au: The NBL wishes to clarify and respond to comments made in respect to the Hungry Jack’s NBL Grand Final Series presented by MG. Given the escalating threat of COVID-19 over recent weeks, the NBL regularly consulted with both the Sydney Kings and Perth Wildcats right throughout the series. The NBL made the decision to proceed with game one as planned in Sydney on Sunday March 8. In the days leading into game two in Perth last Friday we were in constant contact with both teams. A number of…

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Two Lakers players positive for COVID-19

Brandon King

The coronavirus continues to reach its microscopic tentacles through the nba. According to The Athletic’s and Stadium’s Shams Charania, two Los Angeles Lakers players have tested positive for COVID-19. The Los Angeles Times’ Brad Turner reports that 14 Lakers players were tested Tuesday. The NBA was fairly quick to put the season on hiatus shortly after Utah Jazz Center Rudy Gobert tested positive for the virus.

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NBL cancel remaining games of Grand Final

Brandon King

It appears that the Coronavirus has halted one of the few remaining outlets of basketball, or any professional sports, Australia’s National Basketball League. Game four of the league’s championship series, the Grand Final was to be played Friday between the Sydney Kings and Perth Wildcats. However the Kings brass stated they did not want to play the game in lieu of the global circumstances surrounding COVID-19. NBL Owner and Executive Chairman Larry Kestelman had this to say in a statement: “We respect the decision in what are extraordinary times for…

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