Category: Basketball

The Chicago Bulls are actively looking into potential trades for Zach LaVine. The Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers are anticipated to express interest in acquiring LaVine.

Both the Lakers, who must wait until January 15 for some players to become eligible for trade and the Sixers are taking a patient approach, allowing the trade market to unfold.

Due to inflammation in his right foot, LaVine is expected to be sidelined for three to four weeks. Teams are monitoring his recovery and return to the game before considering any potential trade discussions with the Bulls guard.

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Lakers, Sixers Expected To Be Trade Suitors For Zach LaVine https://t.co/e6zgBYxSB0

— RealGM (@RealGM) December 11, 2023

Coming back from cardiac arrest with the backing of loved ones, Bronny James debuted for USC on Sunday. Despite coming off the bench, he contributed four points, making 1 out of 3 three-pointers and 1 out of 2 free throws.

In a 17-minute appearance, he grabbed three rebounds, two steals, two assists, and one block. Unfortunately, Long Beach State thwarted his debut with an overtime victory of 84-79 in Los Angeles.

“I just want to say I am thankful for everything,” he expressed the intention to abandon a more carefree attitude and redirect his efforts toward putting his career back on course. “I just want to thank everyone who helped me through this.”

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Bronny James is here and debuts with his father in attendance #NCAA

“I just want to thank everyone who helped me through this,”https://t.co/xwKe4LMgml

— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) December 11, 2023

With a 14-7 record and upcoming matchups against some of the league’s weaker teams, including two games against the struggling Detroit Pistons, the Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse is optimistic about the team’s performance.

He sees overall positive play but anticipates improvement in defense as the second quarter of the season unfolds, as reported by Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Nurse notes that while the team is doing many things right, there’s room for enhancement, particularly in finishing off possessions, which he highlights as a priority.

“We are doing a lot of things well. … We’re just not finishing off possessions,” Nurse said. “Things like that would be at the top of my list.”

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Sixers Notes: Embiid, Rotation, Record, Arena, Bazley https://t.co/PaxQ1B8Vvf pic.twitter.com/QuxclkRgN7

— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) December 11, 2023

Zalgiris Kaunas, facing injuries, continues to strengthen its roster with the addition of American guard Austin Hollins, following the recent signing of Edmond Sumner.

Hollins, a familiar face to EuroLeague fans, will undergo a three-week trial period with Zalgiris, who will decide on his stay until the season’s end.

The 32-year-old guard has EuroLeague experience, previously playing for Zenit St. Petersburg, Crvena Zvezda Belgrade, and Maccabi Tel-Aviv.

Hollins was with Maccabi last season, but a knee injury cut it short, making him a free agent in the summer. In his EuroLeague peak, Hollins averaged 10.4 points per game.

Before his EuroLeague stints, Hollins played for various teams in France, Finland, and Germany, following an undrafted entry into the professional scene after college at Minnesota in 2014.

Zalgiris is currently dealing without Arnas Butkevicius, Brady Manek and Lukas Lekavicius. With five wins and eight losses, the Lithuanian champions sit in 14th place in the EuroLeague.

In a sold-out arena with LeBron James in attendance, Bronny James, making his collegiate debut just months after a cardiac arrest, took the court for USC.

Fresh from winning the NBA In-Season Tournament, LeBron watched as Bronny, under a minutes restriction, contributed 4 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals in 17 minutes.

Despite a narrow loss to Long Beach State, the Galen Center erupted in a standing ovation as Bronny checked in.

LeBron, expressing his emotions on Instagram, wrote, “Can’t even tell y’all how EMOTIONAL today was for me! I’m literally drained… @bronny you’re simply INCREDIBLE!! Proud of you kid and today you’ve given me more life! Thank you and I love you.”

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New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau provided a positive update on star player Jalen Brunson, assuring fans that the point guard is ready to hit the court against the Toronto Raptors after sustaining an ankle injury in the game against the Boston Celtics.

Thibodeau’s announcement, shared by Fred Katz on X, states, “Jalen Brunson is ‘good’ with the ankle, Tom Thibodeau says. He is good to go for tomorrow.”

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Jalen Brunson is “good” with the ankle, Tom Thibodeau says. He is good to go for tomorrow.

— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) December 10, 2023

This season, the 27-year-old Brunson has been a key contributor, showcasing impressive stats with an average of 24.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 5.5 assists in 35.4 minutes per game.

Just weeks shy of turning 39, LeBron James remains a force in the league, pivotal in the Lakers’ In-Season Tournament triumph.

Free agent Austin Rivers underlined James’ centrality, stating, “We’re still relying on LeBron to be the face of the league. We don’t have anybody else… Jokic doesn’t want it and he doesn’t have the game for it, in terms of style and flash, and just overall fanfare.”

Rivers lamented the absence of a player with LeBron, Jordan, or Kobe’s awe-inspiring impact, emphasizing the lack of a current generational talent capable of reshaping the NBA.

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“We’re still relying on LeBron [James] to be the face of the league… There are things that LeBron, Michael Jordan, and Kobe Bryant could do, just from an ‘awe’ standpoint, that we don’t have.”

— Austin Rivers 👀

(via “Off Guard”, @ringer)pic.twitter.com/zH0W8B6ckO

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 10, 2023

Following his father’s triumph in the NBA In-Season Tournament, Bronny James is poised to make his USC debut against Long Beach State today.

This marks a significant return to the court for Bronny, who faced a health setback on July 24, 2023, experiencing cardiac arrest due to a congenital heart defect at the Galen Center, University of Southern California.

The highly anticipated debut aligns with the James family’s basketball legacy, with Bronny aiming to contribute to USC’s success after overcoming health challenges.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is scheduled to have a meeting with Ja Morant, the standout player for the Memphis Grizzlies, as Morant approaches the conclusion of his suspension.

Morant faced a suspension of at least 25 games in June due to a second instance of displaying a firearm in public.

Silver, when announcing the suspension, mentioned his intention to evaluate Morant’s preparedness for a comeback before lifting the suspension.

As of Saturday, Silver suggested that the two-time All-Star is making positive progress.

“I have been monitoring this situation closely,” Silver told reporters before the in-season tournament finale in Las Vegas.

“We together laid out a program for him over the last several weeks, and to the best of my knowledge, he’s complied with everything he’s been asked to do.”

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Adam Silver To Meet With Ja Morant About Suspension https://t.co/iDkrkFfAh0 pic.twitter.com/JJHYLuxz8k

— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) December 10, 2023

Last month, tensions flared as Golden State Warriors guard Chris Paul was ejected after a heated exchange with referee Scott Foster in a game against the Phoenix Suns.

In a cryptic postgame comment, Paul hinted at a personal history with Foster, citing a past situation involving his son.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver recently weighed in on the feud, emphasizing the need for professionalism between two respected figures.

“Scott Foster is one of the best, the most highly rated referees in this league, and obviously Chris’s (Paul) record stands for itself. They are two people that I have enormous respect for, and they need to be professional about this,” Silver said, per Adam Spolane.

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Adam Silver today: “I would only say that Scott Foster is one of the best, the most highly rated referees in this league, and obviously Chris’s (Paul) record stands for itself. They are two people that I have enormous respect for, and they need to be professional about this.”

— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) December 10, 2023