Category: NBA

Suns All-Star Devin Booker favorite to win ‘NBA 2K’ Tournament

Posted on by Ashley Ferris

Although NBA players can’t take the court due to the coronavirus outbreak, 16 players will compete in a live “NBA 2K” Tournament airing on ESPN. The NBA announced the tournament on Tuesday, and the winner will receive a $100,000 donation to a coronavirus-related relief effort of his choice.

Players are seeded according to their “2K” player ratings, so Kevin Durant (96 overall) and Derrick Jones Jr. (78 overall) will face off in the first game on Friday night.

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By Erin Walsh | Last updated 4/1/20

Jeff Van Gundy believes NBA will cancel season

Posted on by Ashley Ferris

There have been rumblings that the NBA is hoping to resume play in early June after its season was suspended last month due to the coronavirus pandemic, but Jeff Van Gundy is among those who believe there will be no more basketball in the United States this season.

Van Gundy shared some of his thoughts on the progression of the coronavirus outbreak during an appearance on 750 The Game in Portland on Monday, and the legendary coach and broadcaster said he expects the NBA season to be canceled. He also predicts that there will be no 2020 MLB season and that football will have a delayed start.

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Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports By Steve DelVecchio | Last updated 3/30/20

Stephon Marbury arranged deal to get 10M masks to New York amid coronavirus outbreak

Posted on by Ashley Ferris

The state of New York is in serious need of medical supplies due to the coronavirus outbreak there, and a native son is trying to step up and help fill that void.

Former Knicks star Stephon Marbury, now a coach in the Chinese Basketball Association, is using his connections in China to get 10 million N95 masks sent to New York “at cost.” Marbury told Rich Calder of the New York Post:

“At the end of the day, I am from Brooklyn. This is something that is close and dear to my heart as far as being able to help New York.

“I have family there in Coney Island, a lot of family … who are affected by this, so I know how important it is for people to have masks during this time.”

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Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated 3/29/20

NBA urging players who recovered from COVID-19 to help with medical research

Posted on by Ashley Ferris

The NBA caught several positive cases of the coronavirus among its players early, and those players are recovering or have recovered already. Now, they may be able to provide significant help for medical researchers working to treat the virus.

The NBA’s “NBA Together” program is encouraging players and staff who have recovered from COVID-19 to consider donating plasma to a national program looking into potential treatments for the disease, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

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Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated 3/29/20

Don’t expect John Wall to return for Wizards if NBA season resumes

Posted on by Ashley Ferris

John Wall is in the process of rehabbing from an Achilles tendon injury, and although he’s been making significant strides, he probably won’t return to action this season. 

“We’ve said all along that we can’t wait until John plays next season, and I think that will still be our attitude and our stance,” Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard said, according to The Washington Post’s Candace Buckner. “We’re very anxious to see John Wall in uniform next year. I don’t think any of this changes that.”

It takes about 11-15 months for an Achilles tendon injury to heal, but the Wizards knew he would be out longer than that. Even with the coronavirus postponing the NBA season, Wall probably won’t be ready to return for the current suspended season.

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By Erin Walsh | Last updated 3/25/20

Fall basketball? NBA season could stretch into September

Posted on by Ashley Ferris

The NBA season could be extended into September in order to determine a winner, rather than canceling it, several ESPN analysts suggest.

While there’s been talk the league could play into August, this is the first time we’ve heard of potentially playing to the end of summer or even the start of fall.

Appearing on Outside the Lines, Ramona Shelburne declares the league will do all it can to have a team hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy (Video link).

“This is a general sense among owners and players that no matter what they want to salvage the season, if that’s in July, if that’s in August, if that’s in September, so be it,” she said. “I don’t think anyone wants to start a new season without crowning a champion from this season.”

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Originally posted on Hoops Rumors | By Dana Gauruder | Last updated 3/23/20

Anthony Edwards declaring for 2020 NBA Draft

Posted on by Ashley Ferris

Freshman Georgia guard and potential top pick Anthony Edwards is entering the 2020 NBA draft class, he tells Evan Daniels of 247Sports. Edwards – who has signed with Octagon agent Omar Wilkes for representation, according to Daniels – said that he believes he should be the No. 1 selection this year.

“I think I should go number one, no doubt,” Edwards told 247Sports. “That’s the only place I think I should go.”

While it remains to be seen whether the NBA team that gets the No. 1 pick will agree with Edwards’ assessment, the 6’5″ guard is widely viewed by draft experts as the top player on the board. Edwards currently ranks first on ESPN’s big board, and topped the most recent mock draft published by Sam Vecenie of The Athletic.

“I think he has to be a realistic option for No. 1,” an NBA scout told Daniels. “He has size and strength for position with ability to make shots and create for others. He’s shown glimpses defensively and can impact both sides of the ball. The potential is there to be a future superstar.”

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Originally posted on Hoops Rumors | By Luke Adams | Last updated 3/20/20

Marcus Smart tests positive for coronavirus

Posted on by Ashley Ferris

A Celtics player has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to a team press release (Twitter link). Guard Marcus Smart has announced he is the player who tested positive, Shams Charania of The Athletic tweets.

According to the statement,  “The Boston Celtics learned today that a player has tested positive for COVID-19. Testing was initiated because of exposure to a known positive case. The Celtics player, who is not exhibiting symptoms, has been in isolation for several days and will continue to do so while being monitored by team medical staff. The team is awaiting further testing results and will communicate them as appropriate. Taking steps to maintain the health and safety of everyone in our organization and across the NBA remains our top priority, and we will continue to work closely with health officials and the league in addressing this situation.”

This bring the total of NBA players and personnel who have tested positive to 14. That group includes at least 10 players: The Jazz duo of Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, Pistons big man Christian Wood, former MVP Kevin Durant and three other unidentified Nets players, two unnamed Lakers players and Smart. In addition, three members of the Sixers organization and a member of the Nuggets organization have tested positive.

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Originally posted on Hoops Rumors | By Dana Gauruder | Last updated 3/19/20

Thunder announce all players, staff test negative for COVID-19

Posted on by Ashley Ferris

The Oklahoma City Thunder shared some good news on Wednesday.

The team said all players and staff who might have been exposed to the coronavirus were tested. All tests have come back negative. The Thunder also said they did not use the state resources for testing, suggesting they went private.

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Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Larry Brown | Last updated 3/18/2