Category: Basketball

Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II and Oklahoma City Thunder power forward Chet Holmgren are two rookies who have made an immediate impact on their respective NBA teams.

The two players will face off in the Western Conference semifinals, with Game 1 taking place at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City tomorrow.

Ahead of the game, Lively was asked about Holmgren, who is among the three finalists to win the Rookie of the Year award.

Continue reading Dereck Lively II on facing Chet Holmgren at TalkBasket.net.

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Sports analyst Stephen A. Smith has a favorite in the Eastern Conference semifinals series between the defending champions, the Denver Nuggets, and Minnesota Timberwolves.

Smith picked the Wolves to win the series because of Anthony Edwards, who has just dropped 43 points in Game 1 win.

“I got Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves winning this series. I’ve seen enough,” Smith said on ESPN’s NBA Countdown. “This brother, he is so sensational it is hard to put into words.

Continue reading Stephen A. Smith has Timberwolves beating Nuggets at TalkBasket.net.

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Hall of Famer Charles Barkley thinks that Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki was the greatest foreign NBA player before Nikola Jokic entered the league and turned into the player that he is.

“Dirk, up until Joker, he was the greatest foreign player ever…,” Barkley told Shannon Sharpe on Club Shay Shay. “I think [the Nuggets] going to win this thing again.”

Chuck also drew parallels between Jokic and his former teammate Jusuf Nurkic and Steph Curry and Monta Ellis.

Continue reading Barkley: Dirk Nowitzki was greatest foreigner until Nikola Jokic at TalkBasket.net.

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Donovan Mitchell went off for 39 points, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 106-94 victory over the Orlando Magic in Game 7 of their playoff series.

In a do-or-die game, the Cavs faced a daunting 18-point deficit in the first half, and were on the brink of elimination, but Mitchell’s heroic effort rallied the team to victory.

With the win, Cleveland advances to the second round of the playoffs, setting the stage for the Eastern Conference semifinals against the top-seeded Boston Celtics.

Continue reading Cavaliers close series against Magic behind Donovan Mitchell’s 39 points at TalkBasket.net.

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The Los Angeles Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal clarified his motivation behind the infamous poster dunk on Chris Dudley of the New York Knicks, citing the lack of a double-team as disrespectful.

He noted his reaction of looking back during the play, indicating his surprise at the absence of defensive pressure: “I found it disrespectful that they didn’t double me… If you look, I look back first, and I’m like, Oh, really?”

"I found it disrespectful that they didn’t double me… If you look, I look back first, and I’m like, Oh, really?"

Shaq on his reason for the poster on Chris Dudley 👀

(via @OldManAndThree)pic.twitter.com/U8mTBIx4II

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 5, 2024

Continue reading Shaq reveals the reason for the poster on Chris Dudley at TalkBasket.net.

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The Los Angeles Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal recently shed light on his criticism of Dwight Howard, explaining that he reserves commentary for players he likes.

Despite their differences, Shaq expressed a genuine fondness for Howard. He admitted to occasionally stoking controversy to gauge individuals’ reactions, suggesting it serves as a test of character.

“I have to like you to be able to say something about you. And I actually like Dwight… And sometimes I will add fuel to the fire to see what type of people they are.”

“I have to like you to be able to say something about you.

Continue reading Shaq reveals why he criticizes Dwight Howard at TalkBasket.net.

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Rival teams speculate that the Philadelphia 76ers could pursue a trade for Jimmy Butler if he seeks an extension from the Miami Heat this offseason. Butler, who missed the Heat’s recent playoff series due to a knee injury, reportedly desires an extension.

With ample cap space, the Sixers could be in a position to accommodate Butler’s salary. Butler previously played for the Sixers before joining the Heat in a sign-and-trade deal.

Rival Teams Think Sixers Could Trade For Jimmy Butler https://t.co/MK7E7USLko

— RealGM (@RealGM) May 5, 2024

Continue reading Rivals speculate Sixers could trade for Butler at TalkBasket.net.

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The Los Angeles Lakers had been eyeing former Lakers Ty Lue and Jason Kidd as potential replacements for Darvin Ham. However, the Lakers have reportedly abandoned hope of hiring either coach.

Kidd is rumored to be considering a contract extension with the Dallas Mavericks, while the LA Clippers are determined to retain Lue. Lue himself has expressed a preference for remaining with the Clippers, showing no interest in joining a new team.

Lakers Don't Anticipate Having Chance To Hire Ty Lue, Jason Kidd https://t.co/4R4hUWJim1

— RealGM (@RealGM) May 5, 2024

Continue reading Lakers unlikely to hire Ty Lue, Jason Kidd at TalkBasket.net.

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New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau responded to Jimmy Butler’s recent comments with a touch of humor ahead of their series against the Indiana Pacers.

Butler had quipped that if he were playing, the Boston Celtics and the Knicks would be “home.” Thibodeau, when asked about Butler’s remarks, had a witty retort, signaling his focus on the upcoming series.

“Who?” Thibodeau told the New York Post while smiling. “I don’t know him.

Continue reading Thibodeau’s witty response to Butler’s jab at Knicks at TalkBasket.net.

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Amid rumors of ESPN banning Patrick Beverley from guest appearances in studio, the network issued a statement denying the ban.

“There was an erroneous report that suggest Patrick Beverley was banned from appearing on ESPN. He isn’t banned and never was,” a tweet from ESPN reads.

A statement from ESPN: pic.twitter.com/ZdlyqaTYvM

— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) May 4, 2024

The alleged ban was supposedly a reaction to Beverley declining to answer questions from ESPN producer Malinda Adams, who was not subscribed to his podcast.

Continue reading ESPN denies banning Patrick Beverley at TalkBasket.net.

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