March 2023 Basketball Wiretap

Giannis Antetokounmpo Admits He Cares About MVP But Priority Is Championship

Mar 30, 2023 2:52 PM

Although Giannis Antetokounmpo is widely regarded as the best player in the NBA and is having a historic season on the team with the best record in the league, he only placed third in ESPN's final MVP straw poll. It has been suggested that Antetokounmpo may not be as concerned about winning the MVP award this season since he has already won two MVP awards and a championship.

“That’s a lie,” Antetokounmpo told Yahoo Sports recently. “I won’t say I don’t care. I want to compete. If you say I don’t care, it’s a lie. Do I think it’s a priority for me? No. The priority for me is to get better, to help my team win a championship, to get that feeling again.

“If God can bless me with an MVP again, I’ll take it.”

Antetokounmpo knows the conversation revolves more around Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid, to which he says, “That’s OK.” 

While Antetokounmpo is not apathetic about the MVP, winning another championship remains the priority.

“I want a championship,” Antetokounmpo said. “It’s the truth. The truth is the only thing that exists. I want … to win … a championship. More.”

Vincent Goodwill/Yahoo Sports

Tags: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks, NBA, NBA Award, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Anthony Davis: I Think We've Got Everything We Need, We Can Definitely Make A Run

Mar 30, 2023 12:59 PM

Anthony Davis has faith in what the Los Angeles Lakers can accomplish in the playoffs if they qualify.

"I think we've got everything we need. It's just about going out and applying it," said Davis after putting up 38 points and 10 rebounds in L.A.'s 121-110 win over the Chicago Bulls. "We can definitely make a run. We've got all the right pieces from top to bottom."

Davis was joined by LeBron James, D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves and Jarred Vanderbilt in the starting lineup, which was the 38th combination to start for the Lakers this season.

"I think the No. 1 thing is we have multiple ball handlers," James said of the starting group. "So no one has to feel stressed handling the ball every possession. We got shot makers in that starting lineup. And we have a lot of length."

Dave McMenamin/ESPN

Tags: Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Kevin Durant: I Don't Care About Legacy Anymore

Mar 30, 2023 11:28 AM

Kevin Durant is on his fourth NBA team and trying to win his third championship, but his first outside the Golden State Warriors. Durant's initial trade request came soon after the Warriors won the 2022 championship.

“I don’t care about legacy,” Durant told The Athletic. “I used to. I used to want to carve out a lane or space in this game for myself that people can remember, but it’s become too much of a thing now. It just becomes too much of a focus on other people. What’s he done, what’s he done? Comparisons. Before, when we wasn’t doing all this debating, I cared about it … I’m about to be in the same breath as these top guys. It was big.

“Nowadays, I truly, truly don’t care. I truly just want to go out there and produce, be the best that I could be, go home, hang with my family, that’s it.”

When Durant left the Oklahoma City Thunder to sign with the Warriors, he had a realization that it would be impossible for many people to view his career in a logical way since it was the type of path never taken by another superstar.

“Once I left to go to the Warriors (in 2016), I figured any logical thing, when it comes to me it’s out of the window,” Durant said. “When it comes to me, people are not going to think in a logical way or simply look at what I’ve done and say that’s it. They gotta add a narrative to it, they gotta push something to discredit me. Once I left to go to the Warriors, it’s been the gymnastics on how to discredit me every step of the way. It’s like, damn, that’s not even fun no more like engaging with people because y’all aren’t even being truthful. You move the goalpost every time, you expect the most out of me and if I don’t reach it I’m a failure. It’s like, what’s the problem?

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Tags: Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Alex Rodriguez, Marc Lore Close Second $290M Payment Towards Wolves, Lynx Ownership

Mar 29, 2023 1:08 AM

Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore closed a second, $290 million payment towards full ownership of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx, sources told Shams Charania and Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.

They both now own 40% of each franchise.

Lore and Rodriguez recruited other investors to join Purple Buyers Holdings LLC, who are limited partners of the Timberwolves.

Lore and Rodriguez will now need to purchase another 40% of the team by December 31. 

Shams Charania & Jon Krawczynski/The Athletic

Tags: Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Steve Kerr: 'There's Hope' Andrew Wiggins Returns This Season

Mar 29, 2023 1:00 AM

Steve Kerr said he was hopeful for Andrew Wiggins' return to the Golden State Warriors lineup this season, though he had no specific timeline.

"There's hope but it's I guess indefinite, it's also appropriate because we don't know," said Kerr on Tuesday.

Wiggins has missed 20 straight games due to a private family matter.

Kerr added that Wiggins, who has been working out by himself, will still need to be evaluated by the Warriors' training staff once he returns.

"Once he's back our training staff will be able to get with him and see where he is," added Kerr. 

ESPN

Tags: Golden State Warriors, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Nic Batum To Start For Clippers At Power Forward

Mar 28, 2023 1:47 AM

Nic Batum will start for the Los Angeles Clippers at power forward, confirmed Ty Lue.

Batum is set to replace Marcus Morris in the lineup. 

Batum hit eight 3s on Monday in his new role, playing 31 minutes.

Law Murray/The Athletic

Tags: Nicolas Batum, Los Angeles Clippers, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Mavs Set To File Formal Protest Following Loss To Warriors

Mar 23, 2023 1:41 AM

The Dallas Mavericks will file a formal protest following a 127-125 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night, sources told Shams Charania and Tim Cato of The Athletic.

The play in question was an alleged referee mistake that lead to a Warriors basket late in the third quarter (the play can be viewed here).

"For those wondering about the play with 1:54 to go on the 3rd, let me explain what happened. The ref called Mavs ball. The announcer announced it. Then there was a timeout. During the time out the official changed the call and never told us. Then when they saw us line up as if it were our ball, he just gave the ball to the warriors. Never said a word to us They got an easy basketball. Crazy that it would matter in a 2 point game. Worst officiating non call mistake possibly in the history of the NBA. All they had to do was tell us and they didn't," tweeted Mark Cuban after the game. 

Cuban told The Athletic that the protest would focus on the "referees failure to correct an obvious moment of confusion."

The Mavs must also pay a $10,000 protest fee that will be refunded should it be successful. 

With the win, the Warriors now own the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Mavs. 

Shams Charania & Tim Cato/The Athletic

Tags: Dallas Mavericks, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Blazers Haven't Considered Firing Chauncey Billups

Mar 19, 2023 10:57 PM

Chauncey Billups said he doesn't have any fear over losing his job as the Portland Trail Blazers head coach after the team's struggles this season.

“I don’t worry about that, at all. We have our talks and everything, and that will remain between us, but I don’t worry about that at all," said Billups about his relationship with general manager Joe Cronin.

Billups is 58-94 during his time as the Blazers head coach. 

Billups has drawn key endorsements from Damian Lillard, Anfernee Simons, and Jerami Grant.

A source within the Blazers front office added that there have been no discussions over firing Billups, saying that the idea “hasn’t even crossed our minds.” 

Jason Quick/The Athletic

Tags: Portland Trail Blazers, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Suns Hire Gerald Madkins As Assistant General Manager, Vice President Of Personnel Evaluation

Mar 16, 2023 12:56 AM

The Phoenix Suns hired Gerald Madkins as assistant general manager and vice president of personnel evaluation on Wednesday.

Madkins worked for the Clippers in multiple roles before becoming the assistant general manager for the Knicks from 2017-2020.

The 53-year-old will report to James Jones and “lead the team’s approach and efforts in evaluating player personnel," according to the Suns. 

Duane Rankin/Arizona Republic

Tags: Phoenix Suns, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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NBA Teams Strongly Considering Brandon Miller Over Scoot Henderson At No. 2

Mar 15, 2023 11:57 AM

Brandon Miller has emerged with the potential to go No. 2 in the 2023 NBA draft ahead of Scoot Henderson. Miller is a 6'9 multi-dimensional wing while Henderson is a 6'2 super athletic combo guard. 

"NBA teams are telling me he is firmly in the mix at No. 2," said ESPN's Jonathan Givony on NBA Today.

"I talked to a veteran executive just in the last week and he told me he currently has Brandon Miller No. 2 on his board," said Brian Windhorst on his podcast on Wednesday. "So it is a thing."

Sam Veccine of The Athletic shared a similar sentiment this week as well.

"It is not a foregone conclusion that Henderson will be picked at No. 2. I’ve talked with a number of lead front-office executives as well as high-level scouts who either think the margin between Miller and Henderson is razor thin or just have Miller ahead at this point," wrote Veccine.

While the No. 2 pick is a subject of debate, Victor Wembanyama remains the consensus option at No. 1. 

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Brandon Miller, Scoot Henderson, Alabama Crimson Tide, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Bally Sports' Parent Company Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Daniel Kaplan/The Athletic

Nets 'Pleasantly Surprised' By How Mikal Bridges Has Elevated Game

Brian Lewis/New York Post

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NBA Rescinds Rebound To Deny Giannis Antetokounmpo Triple-Double

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Taylor Jenkins Gives No Timetable For Ja Morant Return

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Ja Morant Releases Statement: 'I'm Going To Take Some Time Away To Get Help' On Well-Being

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NBA Investigating Ja Morant Social Media Post

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Giannis Antetokounmpo Buys Stake In Nashville SC Of MLS

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Percentage Of NBA Players In Their Thirties Dramatically Lower Than 20+ Years Ago

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Lakers-Mavs Averages 3.5M Viewers On ABC

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