AROUND the NBA:

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

So you're saying it was legit, even though he didn't advertise for these companies?  I don't see how that could be, because it was hidden.

insert sarcasm font

[HoosierDaddyKid]

insert sarcasm font

I didn't see one, but I digress. Hard to tell these days.  

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Former NBA player Brandon Clarke died of a lethal combination of drugs, according to officials. The County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner announced on Friday that the 29-year-old passed away from “the effects of heroin and cocaine.” It added that the manner of his passing was an accident. Clarke died inside a San Fernando Valley home on May 11, and according to the LA County DME, medical personnel first located him “unresponsive in his bedroom” at around 5 p.m. He was ultimately pronounced deceased at 5:15 p.m. Drug paraphernalia was discovered near his body and the initial investigation surrounding his passing centered on the possibility of an overdose, according to multiple reports.

New York Post

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

note to self: never try heroin

[Smitty]

@TheSteinLine
Three NBA games on Opening Night on Oct. 20:

Boston at Detroit

Philadelphia at New York

Oklahoma City at San Antonio





@TheSteinLine
The NBA’s Christmas Day schedule is headlined by LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers visiting Los Angeles to face the Luka Dončić-led Lakers and a Spurs-at-Knicks NBA Finals rematch.

The full five-game slate:

[Chicagojk]

@TheSteinLine
Three NBA games on Opening Night on Oct. 20:

Boston at Detroit

Philadelphia at New York

Oklahoma City at San Antonio





@TheSteinLine
The NBA’s Christmas Day schedule is headlined by LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers visiting Los Angeles to face the Luka Dončić-led Lakers and a Spurs-at-Knicks NBA Finals rematch.

The full five-game slate:

cant really disagree with the Mavs not playing on Christmas day.   Too many good teams.    How many years has Dallas played on Christmas day though?   To be honest, the last two Christmas day games have been trainwrecks, right?   Luka gets hurt against Minny and AD gets hurt against Golden State.

Surprised Boston is not playing the Sixers though.   Although I guess that sort of puts Miami in a tough spot of finding the right fit.   

It does look like a good lineup at the moment.   NFL will kill it in ratings, but the games look pretty fun.

[david75090]

Doesn't look like the NBA is/are Mavs-Believers. Do they not think Cooper is going to take his big Sophomore leap? No Dusty May championship hoo-doo-voo-doo? What about Kyrie being back? Best passing team in the league, all those Euro-shooters? Somewhere the ghost of Rodney Dangerfield is tugging on his tie, which is worn with a Mavs jersey, and saying, "I wanna tell ya, I don't get no respect...".

[DallasMaverick]

Doesn't look like the NBA is/are Mavs-Believers. Do they not think Cooper is going to take his big Sophomore leap? No Dusty May championship hoo-doo-voo-doo? What about Kyrie being back? Best passing team in the league, all those Euro-shooters? Somewhere the ghost of Rodney Dangerfield is tugging on his tie, which is worn with a Mavs jersey, and saying, "I wanna tell ya, I don't get no respect...".

Better to start with low expectations and exceed them, rather than crashing and burning after being hyped.

[Scott41theMavs]

Better to start with low expectations and exceed them, rather than crashing and burning after being hyped.

Agreed. Let them give the Mavs the underdog tag.

[SleepingHero]

note to self: never try heroin

[david75090]

The Mavs, could-go, all the way...(or not).

[DallasMaverick]

The Mavs, could-go, all the way...(or not).

I miss Howard!

[KillerLeft]

I miss Howard!

[david75090]

I miss Howard!

I miss his humility. According to one sportswriter, "This is a guy who changed his name, put on a toupee and tried to convince the world that he tells it like it is".

[HoosierDaddyKid]

The Big3 averaged 558,000 viewers last summer and reached a peak of 850,000 viewers during the playoffs, a 48-percent increase from 2024. This season, with games televised on CBS and BET, Big3 games are averaging 565,000 viewers, according to league representatives. How has the Big3 managed to stick around, mostly without full NBA support? Much of that involves Cube, and how he’s attracted fans via his music and movies since the 1980s. Additionally, Clyde Drexler has not only served as a Big3 coach, but he is also the current commissioner of the league, having held the position since 2018, succeeding Roger Mason Jr. Drexler defined the league with four words. “In Cube I trust,” he said. “We’re only here because of Ice Cube, so this league, this new sport that they’ve invented, has been nothing short of spectacular.”



New York Times

[DallasMaverick]

What does an NBA team do when it has players at max or almost-max contracts that no longer perform at that level?

I’m thinking about Steph Curry, and players of his ilk. Guys who’ve been loyal parts of the franchise for most, or all of their careers, who are beloved by the fans.

I remember Kobe’s last contract. He was clearly on the decline, but got paid like the superstar he had formerly been. The team was crap, and there was no money to attract helpful additions. So they were just bad.

LeBron wasn’t in that category with LA, just because he’s been such a rolling stone. Fans weren’t up in arms when the team decided not to re-sign him.

And it’s also a different story when the superstar asks for a trade or makes it clear he wants out. Giannis?

But unless the player is willing to take a pay cut (Dirk!), the GM is just screwed. If he doesn’t re-sign the player, the fan base turns on him. If he does, the team is, at best, mediocre.

[Dirknows]

Doesn't look like the NBA is/are Mavs-Believers. Do they not think Cooper is going to take his big Sophomore leap? No Dusty May championship hoo-doo-voo-doo? What about Kyrie being back? Best passing team in the league, all those Euro-shooters? Somewhere the ghost of Rodney Dangerfield is tugging on his tie, which is worn with a Mavs jersey, and saying, "I wanna tell ya, I don't get no respect...".

They won 26 games last year, and added a bunch of guys who are young with potential, but not really sure how all the pieces will fit. If Kyrie comes back as good as before, Cooper takes a big leap, we are still probably a play-in team because of how deep the west is.

[david75090]

They won 26 games last year, and added a bunch of guys who are young with potential, but not really sure how all the pieces will fit. If Kyrie comes back as good as before, Cooper takes a big leap, we are still probably a play-in team because of how deep the west is.

Wasn't all that long ago that the Mavs were in the finals with a lot of the same players on the roster. Luka is gone, Flagg is in. Cooper is not at Luka's level but Cooper should be on the upswing or the league should be selling that idea. Mavs have churned the end of the roster, at least, brought in a bunch of young sharp-shooters, at best. Cooper should be a face of the league. They used to like themselves a star of his complexion. They're not putting him on the national stage. Looks like for marketing purposes, they're missing the boat. Are the Mavs going to be worse than Golden State?

[Chicagojk]

In a shocking move the Lakers are sold again.  

https://x.com/ramonashelburne/status/208...9950797855

[SleepingHero]

@ramonashelburne
The Los Angeles Lakers are being sold to American businessman Josh Kushner and Bob Iger for a record breaking price over $12 billion, multiple sources told ESPN.

Kushner and Iger were involved in the expansion process in Las Vegas, but a stunning turn, they pivoted to make an aggressive offer to buy the Lakers from Mark Walter, who had purchased a controlling interest in the team from the Buss family last year.