Wishing his “older brother” Kobe Bryant could be there by his side, Pau Gasol finally put an end to a basketball career that went “way beyond my dreams and expectations.”
Gasol announced his retirement from basketball on Tuesday after a career that lasted more than two decades and earned him two NBA titles and a world championship gold with Spain’s national team.
The Raptors finally returned home to Toronto on the night Kyle Lowry got going in Miami.
The longtime star north of the border is now running the point in South Florida.
The first full night of NBA preseason action started with the Raptors playing in their own arena for the first time since Feb. 28, 2020. They beat the Philadelphia 76ers 123-107 on Monday in a game without the familiar starting point guards for either team.
Inilatag ang tila 'mala-super human' na ratsadang inilalarawan ng kanilang coach, giniba ng TNT Tropang Giga - minus lead center Kelly Williams - ang San Miguel Beermen, 89-88, sa opener ng kanilang PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven semifinals sa DHVSU Gym sa Bacolor, Pampanga, Linggo.
Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins has received his COVID-19 vaccine and will be eligible to play in all games.
The Warriors said coach Steve Kerr made the announcement to reporters Sunday after practice before the team traveled to Portland to play its first preseason game.
LeBron James and Russell Westbrook were on one side. Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving sat on the other.
Safe to say there won’t be a better collection of benchwarmers in an NBA game this season.
Brooklyn and the Los Angeles Lakers kicked off the league’s preseason schedule Sunday, though did so largely without their biggest names in the Nets’ 123-97 victory.
Giannis Antetokounmpo says he feels fine as he prepares for the Milwaukee Bucks’ title defense but will be careful with the left knee that he hyperextended during the championship run.
Antetokounmpo missed the final two games of the Eastern Conference finals after hurting his knee but returned to earn MVP honors in the NBA Finals. He scored 50 points in a title-clinching Game 6 victory over the Phoenix Suns.
The joke Karl-Anthony Towns made last week was the ultimate jinx, casually noting what had been a rare absence of turnover and tumult for the Timberwolves to that point.
“I was like, ‘Man, it’s been a real quiet offseason for Minnesota. It’s very different,’” Towns said.
The next day came the “boom,” as star center put it, the firing of president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas just six days before the start of training camp.
The first practices of the season in the NBA are here, with teams set to hit the floor on Tuesday to formally begin getting ready for the 2021-22 campaign.
A six-pack of things to watch as things get started:
THE CHAMPS
Milwaukee is running it back.
Sharpshooting forward Michael Porter Jr. has agreed to a five-year maximum extension with the Denver Nuggets that could be worth up to $207 million.
His agent, Mark Bartelstein, confirmed the deal to The Associated Press on Monday. ESPN first reported the deal.
Porter’s agreement would be worth at least $173 million over five years and could rise to the supermax level of $207 million over that span if he reaches certain criteria this season.
Utah center Rudy Gobert revealed that after much deliberation, he decided to become vaccinated. San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich has gotten his booster shot already. Boston coach Ime Udoka had his shots and tested positive for COVID-19 anyway.
And Brooklyn guard Kyrie Irving is keeping everyone guessing.
As the Houston Rockets attempt to find a trade destination for John Wall, he’s focused on helping the team any way he can.
My job here is to be a mentor,” Wall said.
The veteran isn’t expected to play for the Rockets while they search for a trade for the guard. General manager Rafael Stone said they aren’t looking to buy out Wall’s contract but want to find a suitable trade.
