However, after the addition of Jalen Brunson this past summer and the expected progression of key young pieces, the Knicks hoped to drastically improve from their non-playoff finish. The Knicks begin a five-game round trip out West on Tuesday, starting with a contest against the Utah Jazz.

According to Newsday’s Steve Popper, Julius Randle called a pivotal players-only meeting before the trip to “stress accountability” and make sure they can maximize their performance. 

The meeting was called by Julius Randle — players who spoke this morning stressed it was positive, bonding as a group.

— Steve Popper (@StevePopper) November 15, 2022

The meeting was held in Utah following their embarrassing 145-135 loss in Madison Square Garden to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday afternoon. Sunday’s game was amongst the leakiest, least inspired defensive performances by the Knicks all season; the Thunder had 122 points through three quarters.

This is especially disheartening because the Knicks had one of their best offensive games of the season, scoring a franchise-record 48 points in the first quarter. The Knicks are giving up 116.8 points per game this season, good for 25th in the NBA, with a 113.5 defensive rating, good for 24th. 

MASTERPIECE pic.twitter.com/8DAXD1FUpg

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) November 13, 2022

Players-only meetings have historically had mixed results, but the Knicks are desperate to find consistency sooner rather than later. Their first chance to see if their dinner will yield positive results will be Tuesday in Utah at 9:00 PM EST. 

The post Julius Randle Calls Players-Only Meeting to ‘Stress Accountability’ appeared first on SLAM.

Toppin is going into his third season with the Knicks and has become a consistent producer for the team off the bench. So far this season, Toppin’s averages across all statistical categories have gone up compared to last year. Toppin is averaging 9.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game while shooting 57.1 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from deep.

The Knicks likely re-signed Toppin due to his durability; the former Dayton Flyer has missed 30 games over his three-year career. He missed 20 games as a rookie due to a calf strain and 10 games last season due to various injuries.

New York made a few key moves this summer, highlighting a great deal of urgency within the organization to make the playoffs again.

It’s also clear that they have faith in their young talent to develop and are looking to build a team centered around free agent acquisition Jalen Brunson and young, athletic, two-way studs. Another move they made this summer was re-signing RJ Barrett to a four-year rookie extension that’ll pay Barrett approximately $120 million. Then finally, this past January, the Knicks went out and got a sharpshooter and one of Barrett’s best friends Cam Reddish from the Atlanta Hawks before the All-Star break.

Just looking at what the Knicks’ did, making sure their young talent sticks together and combining it with the veteran leadership of Derrick Rose, Julius Randle, Evan Fournier, and Coach Thibodeau, this team most definitely has a shot at being a playoff contender at the end of the season.

With all these positive developments, definitely make sure you keep a keen eye on how the Knicks perform as the season progresses.

The post REPORT: New York Knicks Pick Up Obi Toppin’s Fourth-Year Option appeared first on SLAM.

Preparation Award: LeBron James 

LeBron is LeBron because of his insane work ethic. This summer, if a workout was scheduled for 10 AM, LBJ would walk in early at 9:15 AM. He’d then do a workout routine that included stretching, balance, and core for about 40 minutes. Once he was done with that, he’d go back to his post workout routine—stretching, some cool down and then balance exercises. For a player going into his 20th season, his body sure doesn’t look like it but he moves on the court like he’s 31, not 37.

Early Bird Award: Jimmy Butler 

Jimmy and I travelled the world this summer. From time zone to time zone, we worked out in New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Miami, the Hamptons, Switzerland, Paris…the list goes on. No matter where we were, we would always start our workouts at 6 AM—I’m not going to lie, but sometimes, depending on the time, I would be super tired when my alarm rang at 5 in the morning. But it was always a great feeling to be done with his first workout by 7:30 AM. In Europe, we even did double sessions. Jimmy had a great summer and I’m excited for him to show off his work this season. 

Biggest Black Ops Surprise (Non-NBA Player): Ian Jackson 

Over the years, I’ve had many elite high school players play in the summer Black Ops Runs: Donovan Mitchell, Obi Toppin, Cole Anthony, Adrian Griffin to name a few. But no high school player had a summer like Cardinal Hayes’ Ian Jackson. His first Black Ops Run was a learning lesson—the pace of the game was very fast for him and he struggled. However, he did come back the next day and played great and had eight threes and a series of nice dunks and passes. After that day, he was comfortable and he surprised NBA players all summer.

The Record Holder: CJ McCollum

There are a few drills each summer that I keep track of, specifically the player shooting 50 threes off the dribble or 100 threes off of the move. Well, CJ McCollum holds the record in almost all of them. He has an incredible work ethic and a very consistent jump shot. He made 92 out of 100 threes in one of the drills and also broke a few other records. 

Viral Sneaker Moment: LeBron James 

LeBron came to a workout one time with a light brown box in his hand. But there was no writing on the box. It wasn’t until after he did his pre-workout stretching routine that he laced up his sneakers and revealed that they were the LeBron 20s. It was the first time anyone had seen them. Within minutes of me posting a picture of them, the photo was everywhere and the top story on every sneaker blog across the world. Definitely a special moment. 

Breakout Season: Dre Hunter 

Dre Hunter worked out with me for the first time this summer and he was hungry! He learned very quickly and always pushed himself. I was very impressed with his professionalism and his skill level, too, and I think this year will be a huge year for Dre. 

Best 1 Day Performance in a Black Ops Run: Jaylen Brown

Jaylen Brown came to NYC during Fashion Week and pulled up to a Black Ops run. He dominated the run offensively and defensively, even hitting a series of game winners. He couldn’t be stopped and the entire gym saw how talented he was that day. On top of dominating the game, he had asked me to put Ian Jackson on his team so he could mentor him. He’s truly a great leader. 

What People Don’t Know: Drake’s Jumpshot

Everyone knows about Drake’s new gym at his house in Toronto but not everyone knows about how he’s improved his jumpshot. His form looked completely different from when I saw him last—he even played in a run at the Summit and hit 13 threes. The video went viral. 

Most Focused: Ty Jerome 

Ty Jerome’s work ethic this summer was on 1,000. He came to the gym all summer long to workout; he would jump into others players workouts to learn and he really improved. Every player that came to the gym consistently improved their games but Ty improved the most. I’m excited that he has landed on the Warriors. I think that’s a great fit for him. 

Efficiency Award: Kevin Love 

Kevin Love had a very productive offseason. Coming off of getting runner up for Sixth Man of the Year, he had an extra pep in his step this summer. We would shoot 100 threes after each workout and Kev would never get below 75; he’d average between 80 and 85. That is what I call efficient shooting. 

Best Conditioned: Julius Randle 

By the end of the offseason, Julius would come to the gym and workout for 90 minutes straight with no water break and free throws. He would ask me to push him as much as possible and most of the drills would be full court, too. He has to be one of the best conditioned athletes in all of the NBA. 

Biggest Surprise in a Black Ops Run: Paolo Banchero

Paolo came to a run after he was drafted No. 1 and people didn’t know what to expect at first. Well, when they left that day, they knew that Paolo was going to be a very special player. He scored in a number of ways: slashing to the hoop, mid post, offensive rebounds and threes. Funny part about his performance was that after the first game, I went up to him and said, “Can you please be aggressive!” He definitely listened and after a slow start, he stringed off about eight great games. 

Viral Moment: Donovan Mitchell’s Dunk

The angle of the video did not do the dunk justice, but when Donovan blew by his opponent and raised up for a two-hand dunk, he dunked it so hard that the entire backboard shifted. We had to stop the game and shift it back into center. The video went viral and the funny part was that one of the players had yelled out to Paolo Banchero, “Welcome to the NBA.” Unfortunately, Paolo was the one Donovan had blown by.

King of the Hill Award: Kevin Porter Jr.

During the course of the summer, one of my favorite things to do is have the players play 1-on-1. Kevin Porter Jr. was unstoppable in that setting and it didn’t matter if there was a three dribble limit or a single dribble limit. Kevin won every 1-on-1 matchup that summer.

Point God Award: Darius Garland and Cole Anthony

We’ve had some incredible performances by point guards this summer, but both Darius Garland and Cole Anthony played tremendously. The game looked so easy for them: not only do they make their teammates better, but they can get to anywhere they want on the court and make tough shots. Both of those guys have bright futures in the NBA.

Watch Out For: Kiyan Anthony 

Kiyan Anthony, who will be a sophomore at Christ the King, had one of those summers where you say, Man he got so much better! Not only did he grow about four inches this summer, but his game has really developed. He already has a handful of Division I offers and he’s nationally ranked.

The post The 2022 Black Ops Basketball Summer Recap and Awards appeared first on SLAM.

In a recent press conference, RJ Barrett shared why he feels the Knicks are ‘disrespected’ across the League.

“Besides the fans, which we do have a lot of fans, everybody else really doesn’t like us,” Barrett said, per the New York Post. “…But that’s fine. All the guys that they want to put in front of me or whatever, I’m in their heads, so it doesn’t really matter.”

Barrett responds to today’s GM Survey release that features predictions on who will be the next superstar and where teams will rank.

“I’ve gotten respect, but at the same time, there’s also a lot of disrespect. But that’s fine. All the guys that they want to put in front of me or whatever, I’m in their heads, so it doesn’t really matter.”

His recent extension signing with the Knicks keeps him in the squad for another four years, and it looked to be an easy decision for him, as he claims he just wanted to ‘lock in’ the deal and remain in New York.

A promising season is ahead for the team as newly acquired Jalen Brunson looks to make a productive run at point with Evan Fournier as his companion in the backcourt. Meanwhile, Barrett and Julius Randle will hold down the forward slots with a lot riding on how the team will perform this season.

The post RJ Barrett Shares Why He Thinks There’s ‘Disrespect’ Towards the Knicks appeared first on SLAM.

He starts by announcing Evan Fournier as a ‘front-runner’ to be a starter for a second straight season.

The team announced their training camp roster on Tuesday, appearing to be a substantial variety of guard play. Many speculated that the team would look to aim for a younger backcourt to pair up with Jalen Brunson and RJ Barrett. Names like Quentin Grimes, their first-round pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, showed a glimpse of becoming a shooting phenom last season as he dropped seven three-pointers on the Milwaukee Bucks last December.

However, his play was not as impressive to coach Thibodeau as he did finish with a season average of just 6.1 points. Though he may love his young guns, Fournier’s veteran experience and leadership ability may take this team into contention in the East.

“With Jalen, with RJ, with Julius (Randle), we need shooting (at shooting guard),” Thibodeau said.

Fournier averaged 14.1 points per game while shooting 38.9 percent from downtown. He made a career-high 241 made threes (fourth best in the League). Fournier plays alongside a quality young talent for the Knick faithful, and Thibodeau seems to believe Fournier can expand his game beyond shooting.

The post Tom Thibodeau Calls Evan Fournier a ‘Front-Runner’ to Start For the Knicks appeared first on SLAM.

The Lakers’ side of things is where they would be willing to take on Randle if they cannot move Westbrook for Kyrie Irving. Randle would be a player the Lakers would value as a complementary piece next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Randle’s salary for 2022-23 is set to be $23.76 million, $23.3 million less than what Westbrook will make this upcoming year.

Randle is two years removed from his lone year as an All-Star, All-NBA Second Team selection, and a Most Improved Player of the Year award.

The Lakers have been linked to Irving in recent weeks and may need the help of other teams to move Westbrook to take on Irving. Irving has also been involved in trade rumors following Kevin Durant’s trade request away from the Brooklyn Nets.

This hinders the development of the Knicks and Jazz’s talks to scoop Mitchell. The Lakers have also been searching for a third team if they were to deal away Westbrook. San Antonio was rumored to be the third team at one point, and now the Knicks have been identified as the other potential third suitor.

The post REPORT: Knicks to Explore Trading Julius Randle if They Land Donovan Mitchell appeared first on SLAM.

During a shootaround last Friday before the Knicks faced the Heat, Knicks Coach Tom Thibodeau told Knicks reporters that Rose has made the next step in his recovery from ankle surgery he underwent in December. According to the New York Post, Rose was peddling on a stationary bike in the hallway before the Knicks blew out the Hornets on Wednesday. He also joined the Knicks for morning shootaround and got shots up afterward.

“He did some in practice today,” Thibodeau said. “He’s in the next phase right now. He still hasn’t taken contact.”

The same goes for Randle, who was seen stretching to improve his sore knee before he missed his second straight game. Both the John Calipari disciples are attempting to return to the Knicks lineup before the Knicks play their regular-season finale on April 10 against the Raptors.

Thibs said it’s important for vets like Rose and Randle to return and bring their leadership to the younger Knicks on the roster despite the team being out of playoff contention. Rose has two years left on his contract and has produced well enough to make the Knicks believe he can contribute as a backup point guard when next season begins.

Unless League insiders report otherwise, Rose will miss his 45th straight game on Thursday once the Knicks and Heat play.

The post Derrick Rose and Julius Randle Hopeful to Return to Court Before Season Ends appeared first on SLAM.

There have been 5 Julius Randle-related fines this season.

• $15K to Randle for kicking ball in the stands
• $25K to Randle for cursing in presser
• $25K to NYK not talking to media
• $50K to him for Cam Johnson incident
• 40K to him for Jazz one

That’s $155K of fines.

— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) March 22, 2022

Randle’s latest infraction has cost him $40,000. The Kentucky product was most recently fined $50k for an on-court altercation with Cam Johnson and made contact with a game official while attempting to get at Johnson. The League fined Randle again when he didn’t cooperate with the NBA during their investigation into the incident.

Randle has also been fined for not speaking with the media and using profane language during a press conference in January. He also received a fine for kicking a ball in the stands. Randle has been fined an additional $29k after racking up 11 technical fouls this season.

The Knicks (30-42) are 12th in the Eastern Conference and are six games behind Atlanta for the 10th and final spot for the year’s play-in tournament. Their 117-111 loss to the Hawks on Tuesday guarantees they won’t’ finish the season at .500 anymore.

The post NBA Hands Julius $40,000 After Confrontation With Referee appeared first on SLAM.

Julius Randle was boxing out Cam Johnson for a rebound in the third quarter. Randle took exception to Johnson pushing him in the back, and an altercation happened.

Both players received double technical fouls for the incident. However, when Randle shoved the referee to get at Johnson, he received yet another technical and was ejected. It couldn’t have been a worse time for the reigning Most Improved Player because he was on fire with 25 points, seven rebounds, and four assists in only 28 minutes.

At that point, the former Tar Heel went into a zone and did not come out. After Randle’s exit, his hot three-point shooting helped the Phoenix Suns erase a 86-76 New York lead.

Johnson went on to score a career-high 38 points, including a career-high 21 points in the fourth quarter, to lead the Suns to a 115-114 victory over the Knicks and sent the Phoenix fans home in a frenzy with a 30 footer at the buzzer to win it.

CAM JOHNSON CALLED GAME WITH HIS 9TH THREE OF THE NIGHT. (via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/RdQvzmcjeu

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) March 5, 2022

The shot was the last of six three-point attempts in the fourth quarter for Johnson to help power Phoenix to their League-best 51st victory of the season. They are currently on a two-game winning streak without their starting backcourt, Chris Paul (thumb fracture), and Devin Booker (NBA’s Health and Safety protocols).

Phoenix gets to face the Milwaukee Bucks next on the road Sunday.

The post Cam Johnson Has A Career Night After Dustup With Julius Randle appeared first on SLAM.

ESPN’s NBA insider Brian Windhorst had some insight on the rumored news Friday on The Hoop Collective podcast.

“This has been reported elsewhere, but I’ve heard as well that the Knicks have shown some interest in De’Aaron Fox,” Windhorst said. “The player that makes the most sense in that swap is Julius Randle.”

Sacramento, who recently took themselves out of the running for a potential Ben Simmons deal last week, still hasn’t officially taken Fox off the trading block due to a crowded backcourt that includes Tyrese Haliburton, Davion Mitchell, and Buddy Hield, to name a few.

Fox has been out since January 19 with an ankle injury but has been solid when healthy for the Kings. Fox averages 21.0 points, 5.2 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 2021-22.

Since Randle was voted the NBA’s Most Improved Player last season, he has struggled mightily not only with his play but with his relationship with the Knicks fanbase. His thumbs-down gesture caused a controversy that Randle apologized for shortly afterward. His scoring average of 18.5 points is far lower than the 24.1 points per game he scored last season. Randle also averages 9.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game.

What makes the trade intriguing is that the contracts match up with Fox in the first season of a five-year, $163 million deal, while Randle’s four-year, $117 million extension kicks in next season. With both teams looking to shake up their rosters and two players possibly looking for new scenery, look for this rumor to last up to the deadline.

The post REPORT: New York Knicks Interested in DeAaron Fox-Julius Randle Deal appeared first on SLAM.

RJ BARRETT BEATS THE CELTICS AT THE BUZZER pic.twitter.com/PAlHvoratT

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 7, 2022

However, the story shifted quickly to one of the players that made that shot possible in Julius Randle. Randle, known for playing with his heart on his sleeve, was seen giving the sellout crowd a thumbs down while he ran back down the court after making a tough layup inside over Al Horford in the fourth quarter.

After the game, Randle made it clear that the gesture was not for his opponent but Knicks fans via ESPN.

“Shut the f— up,” he said.

It seems that Randle’s frustrations are growing by the day after beat reporters asked him about ongoing fan criticism. The 2021 All-Star subsequently responded with harsh words after practice on Thursday.

“I really don’t give a f— what anybody has to say, to be honest,” Randle said. “I’m out there playing. Nobody knows the game out there better than I do, compared to what everybody has to say.

“So I really don’t give a s—. I just go out there and play.”

The Inside the NBA crew weighed in on the matter, and the entire panel said that Randle was wrong to do that to the fans.

“They’re there to cheer or to boo. There’s only two things you can do as a fan.”

The @NBAonTNT crew discuss Julius Randle’s “thumbs down” gesture at MSG pic.twitter.com/5FOvdOghXe

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 7, 2022

Last season, the Knicks snuck up on everyone by making the playoffs. However, the Knicks have struggled to regain that magic from last season this season. Randle’s production has dipped (19.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per game) after an All-Star and All-NBA level campaign, and his jump-shot isn’t falling either (32.4 percent from three-point territory).

Julius Randle and the Knicks (19-20) run it back against the Boston Celtics (18-21) on Saturday night.

The post Julius Randle Explains Who His Thumbs Down Sign Was For appeared first on SLAM.

Head coach Tom Thibodeau was so unhappy with the starters’ performance that he benched them for the entire fourth quarter of the game.

After the game, Thibodeau ripped into his starters and condemned the excuse that the team just needs more time to jell.

The Knicks starting five were benched in the fourth when the team trailed 82-66 to the Bucks.

Thibodeau has a reputation for playing his starters more than any other coach in the league. That holds up this season as the starting five of Julius Randle, Kemba Walker, Evan Fournier, Mitchell Robinson, and RJ Barrett have played the most minutes in the league of any five-player lineup.

The Knicks have had an up and down start to the season, currently sitting seventh in the Eastern Conference with a record of 7-5. They’ll have a chance to correct course on Friday when the Knicks take on the Charlotte Hornets.

The post Knicks Coach Tom Thibodeau Goes Off on Starters Needing More Time to ‘Jell’ appeared first on SLAM.

Randle recently told ESPN that signing the contract extension was about more than just money. He wanted to “lock in something long term” and continue to help build the franchise.

“The money was one thing, but for me, it was more about the situation as far as my happiness, the basketball situation, my family, just being stable and being in New York and really just continuing to build this thing up,” Randle said Friday. “When I signed here two years ago, this was my vision, to be able to lock in something long term and build something from the ground up. That’s what we’re doing. All hands on deck.”

Randle is coming off one of the best seasons in his career thus far, averaging a career-high of 24.1 points per game, to go along with 10.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists. The NBA All-Star helped lead the Knicks to their first playoff berth since 2013 and was named the 2021 NBA Most Improved Player of the Year.

His love for New York runs deep, and back in May, he said on the Victory Podcast that he wanted to “retire” as a Knick (per CBS Sports). 

“And for me, I truly enjoy showing up to my job every day, whether it was practice, whether it was flying, whether it was playing a game, whatever it was. I truly enjoy it, and I’m happy being a Knick…I don’t think there’s a better place to win a championship than here,” Randle also told ESPN. “I wanted to be a part of that, and I felt like I could help be a part of that. And I thought with me signing that extension, it could help [Knicks president Leon Rose] and those other guys get pieces and continue to build the team so we could have that opportunity.”

The post Julius Randle Signs Four-Year Contract Extension: ‘I’m Happy Being a Knick’ appeared first on SLAM.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the New York Knicks star forward has agreed to a four-year, $117 million contract extension after a stellar 2020-21 campaign.

In his second season with the Knicks, Randle would go on to averaged 24.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game, winning the NBA’s Most Improved Player award while being nominated to the second-team All-NBA and leading New York to the fourth seed in the East after an almost decade-long drought from the playoffs

This extension now increases Randle’s overall contract to five years and $140 million.

If Randle can maintain his caliber of play from last season, this contract is undoubtedly a steal. Of all players who qualified for the First or Second All-NBA team last season, Randle has the cheapest annual salary at $27.3 million, over $2 million less than the next player. 

Average annual salaries for players that made the First or Second Team All-NBA last season:

Giannis: $45.6 million
Lillard: $44.0 million
LeBron: 42.8 million
Harden: $42.8M
Embiid: $29.5M
Jokic: $29.5M
Chris Paul: $30M
Steph: $40.2M
Durant: $41.0 M

Julius Randle: $27.3 million

— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) August 5, 2021

Randle could have postponed signing this extension until the end of next season, and potentially received an offer worth over $200 million. However, agreeing to this extension affords New York a great deal of financial flexibility in order to build a roster around Randle for the future, showing impressive foresight from both parties.

The Knicks have already begun that process this offseason; they have signed guards Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker and resigned much of the core that helped lead the Knicks to the playoffs last year — including Nerlens Noel, Taj Gibson and Alec Burks.

Now, with Randle signed for the foreseeable future, the Knicks will likely see their eyes on more than just a playoff bid.

The post REPORT: Julius Randle Agrees to $117 Million Extension with Knicks appeared first on SLAM.

In what’s become one of the most arduous processes, with so much talent at every position and only 15 spots to fill, debates have raged about players thought to have been snubbed. Nonetheless, most would be hard pressed not to agree with the honorees.

All-NBA First Team

The 2020-21 All-NBA First Team:

Giannis Antetokounmpo
Stephen Curry
Luka Dončić
Nikola Jokić
Kawhi Leonard pic.twitter.com/WYSz2le2Be

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) June 16, 2021

The recently crowned Kia NBA Most Valuable Player, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić (99 votes); Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (100 votes); and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (98 votes) dominated the 2020-21 All-NBA First Team voting.

Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic and Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard rounded out the top five players on the All-NBA First Team.

All-NBA Second Team

The 2020-21 All-NBA Second Team:

Joel Embiid
LeBron James
Damian Lillard
Chris Paul
Julius Randle pic.twitter.com/t5iZu1MahA

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) June 16, 2021

With his second team selection, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James added to his record for most All-NBA Team selections with 17, including: 13 First Team selections (also a record), three Second Team selections and one Third Team selection. Friend and Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul collected his 10th All-NBA Team selection, which ranks second among active players behind LeBron.

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid and New York Knicks power forward Julius Randle—the 2020-21 Most Improved Player—rounded out the Second Team.

All-NBA Third Team

The 2020-21 All-NBA Third Team:

Bradley Beal
Jimmy Butler
Paul George
Rudy Gobert
Kyrie Irving pic.twitter.com/s4aEK3ivcs

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) June 16, 2021

With his selection, Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal made his first All-NBA team after battling Curry for the NBA’s 2020-21 scoring title. Los Angeles Clippers wing Paul George made his All-NBA sixth team while three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert and Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler each notched their fourth selections.

Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving made his third All-NBA team.

The All-NBA teams were voted in by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Voters select two guards, two forwards and one center for each team.

The post All-NBA Teams Announced for 2020-21 Season appeared first on SLAM.

Randle has been named the 2020-21 Kia NBA Most Improved Player this season. In one of the more heartwarming scenes, Randle was presented his award by his young son, Kyden.

Who better to present Julius with the award than the only and only, Kyden! pic.twitter.com/bM2jlQGYEh

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 25, 2021

Randle became the first New York player to win the Kia NBA Most Improved Player Award with 98 first-place votes, totaling 493 total points. Detroit Pistons forward, Jerami Grant was the only other player to receive a first-place vote (2) finishing second with 140 points.  Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. finished in third place with 138 points. 

Randle set career highs for averages in points and assists with 24.1 points and 6.0 assists while matching his career-high in rebounds with 10.2.  

The 6-9 power forward is only the sixth player in NBA history to average at least 24.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists in a season, joining Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, Nikola Jokić (who did so this season), Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook.

Before signing as a free agent with New York back in 2019, Julius played four seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers and one season with the New Orleans Pelicans. Randle has career averages of 17.4 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists.

This award was designed to honor up-and-coming players who has made significant progress over the previous season or extended career.

The New York Knicks are counting on award winning numbers from Julius Randle to even their first round series with the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night.

The post Knicks’ Julius Randle Wins 2020-21 Kia NBA Most Improved Player Award appeared first on SLAM.

According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Knicks general manager Scott Perry could have an extension coming his way in the not-so-distant future.

“I hear Scott Perry is going to be around the Knicks longer,” Windhorst said on The Hoop Collective podcast Tuesday. “I hear it’s all going to be worked out.”

Perry was brought on as general manager for the Knicks in 2017 after a stint with the Sacramento Kings. The Knicks even traded away a 2019 second-round pick for his services.

Perry has been an instrumental part in various moves for the Knicks, including trading for Derrick Rose, signing All-Star Julius Randle and drafting sophomore sensation RJ Barrett.

The Knicks have had their best season since 2012-13, going 41-31 and claiming the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. They match up against the fifth-seeded Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the NBA Playoffs later this week.

The post Knicks GM Scott Perry Rumored to be Receiving Contract Extension appeared first on SLAM.

After the Boston Celtics lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, 102-94, the New Yorks Knicks officially clinched its first playoff-berth since 2013 as the No.6 seed in the Eastern Conference.

The last time the Knicks made an appearance in the postseason was seven years ago during the 2012-13 season. Led by Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks faced a tough Indiana Pacers team equipped with Paul George, Roy Hibbert, and Lance Stephenson. New York went on to lose the series, 2-4.

Now, years later, a newfound sense of hope has shined over Madison Square Garden. The Knicks have proved the doubters and naysayers wrong all year, even starting the season off with a 5-3 record. Although it may be a small and easily overlook achievement, these dubs were against some powerhouse teams like the Utah Jazz, Milwaukee Bucks, and the Indiana Pacers.

Although the franchise’s success can be attributed to the entire roster, one key component has been none other than Randle. The NBA All-Star has popped off this season, averaging a career-high 24.0 points per game, as well as 5.9 assists and 10.3 rebounds. Playing alongside RJ Barrett, rookies Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley, and NBA vets like Derrick Rose and Taj Gibson, the Knicks have found their rhythm this season and succeeded, despite doubts.

They truly are bringing toughness back to MSG.

The New York Knicks will host the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night at 7:30 pm.

The post The New York Knicks are Headed to the Playoffs For the First Time Since 2013 appeared first on SLAM.

So, if game does speak for itself, let’s look at their past two matchups:

The Houston Rockets simply had no answer for the New York Knicks in Sunday’s game. The Knicks went on to start the beginning of each quarter with a lead following the previous one, while the Rockets struggled to contain them.

Despite the effort given by Christian Wood, who scored team-high with 19 points 8 rebounds, and 3 assists, it wasn’t enough. Randle continued to fill the stat sheet, scoring 31 points in three quarters with 7 rebounds and 6 assists, giving the Knicks what they needed to overthrow a skilled Houston Rockets team. 

His teammates also went on to score double digits, including Barrett who dropped 21 points, and NBA Vet Derrick Rose, who finished with 24 points and six rebounds. Rookie Immanuel Quickly had 13 points, while Reggie Bullock scored 11. The Knicks defeated the Rockets, 122-97.

Former MVP things

24 PTS | 6 REB | 4 AST off the bench pic.twitter.com/zWKaD8Wk5H

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 3, 2021

With the way the Knicks have been playing lately, there’s no doubt much more success will be in their future—especially with the win they pulled off against the well-rounded Memphis Grizzlies. Randle continued to put on another great performance, racking up 28 points, while D-Rose added another 25 points to help solidify the 118-104 win.

Julius Randle. Really good at basketball. And that's facts.

28 PTS | 6 REB | 6 AST pic.twitter.com/wruxaYjvuN

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 4, 2021

The Knicks will look to continue their two-game winning streak into Wednesday’s matchup against the Denver Nuggets. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies have lost four out of the last five games.

The post The Post Up: New York Knicks are Shining Brighter Than Ever appeared first on SLAM.

It is in this moment that 19-year-old rookie RJ Barrett, in a scenario very similar to a high school freshman entering the cafeteria for lunch for the very first time, finds himself looking around the plane for a place to sit. He eventually turns to Julius Randle, who is entering his sixth year in the NBA and therefore is already sitting in his preferred spot, and asks if he could join him.     

“He didn’t really know where to sit. He came and was like, Is it cool if I sit right here? And I was like, Hell no! Nah, I’m joking. I was like, Yeah, of course, man. I’ve always sat on the same place on the plane my whole career. He sat next to me and it’s just kind of been our thing…First day, and ever since then, hasn’t changed,” says Randle. “They have the table where the guys play cards. I’ve always sat to the left of the table—directly there. I sit there and [RJ] sits by the window.”

Julius, who knew exactly what it was like to be a top draft pick headed to a big city with tons of expectations and very little patience after being selected with the seventh pick in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, became the perfect mentor for Barrett. Whether fate or just pure coincidence, it’s impossible to trace back the grand return of the New York Knicks to relevance this season without looking at how Randle and Barrett sprouted in The Garden by developing a strong chemistry that extends beyond the hardwood. One that seems to have started on (or at the very least facilitated by) an October flight in 2019.

“We’ve been sitting beside each other since day one. Just cracking jokes…We can play cards, we listen to music, we do all that at the front of the plane. It kind of just happened and we just stuck with it,” says Barrett. “We’ve always just had an understanding with each other. Sitting together at the beginning kind of helped me because I was the rookie coming in. So, it was like [a] big brother just helping me out. We even watch film together on the plane, showing me little things.”

That plane seating decision may have not seemed like a big deal at the time, but it helped pave the way for the creation of the most important Knicks duo in recent memory. The Knicks are back. The most valued franchise in the NBA is making noise again. A real foundation is now in place, with Randle and Barrett at the center of it.

Order your copy of SLAM 232 featuring Julius Randle and RJ Barrett now.

It’s a Thursday afternoon in late April and RJ Barrett is sitting in his home office in White Plains, NY. The team is enjoying a day off, 16 hours after winning at home in overtime against the Atlanta Hawks in the second game of a back-to-back. Randle dropped 40. The Knicks extended their winning streak to eight—their longest streak in seven years. The team has moved up to sole possession of the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference on this day. With less than a month to go in the regular season, the thought of the Knicks being in the playoffs for the first time since 2013 seems like a real possibility. It’s been eight years. The city is buzzing.

There’s a lot to be excited about, and RJ is cheesing hard when he joins us via Zoom from his home.

“I feel like we were the only ones that kind of believed in ourselves. No one thought we were going to be here,” says Barrett. “No one thought we were going to be in this position except for us. Even making the playoffs, we’re very excited for that. It’s not just about making the playoffs. We want to go far. We want to try to win championships. That’s what we’re about.”

“From the media’s standpoint, I could certainly understand how we would be ahead of schedule,” says Randle. “For me—unless you’re, like, the Lakers or Brooklyn [where] it’s championship or bust in their minds, probably—I came to this season with an open mind. We had a new front office. Guys I was really familiar with were Wes [William Wesley] and Leon [Rose]. New coaching staff, different players. So, it’s hard to really put a cap on what you can be. I just tried to come into the season with an open mind. I wanted to improve as a player and really put my best foot forward as far as how I could help the team. Quickly, as the season started in training camp and as the season went on, I could tell things were a lot different [and that] we had a chance to be good if we just trust in each other, believe in each other and follow Thibs’ lead.”

It was in July of 2017 when Barrett first caught the attention of Randle. At the time, Randle had just completed his third year in the League and was enjoying his offseason in L.A. when one day he decided to tune in to the U19 FIBA World Cup in Egypt. The real draw for the former Kentucky star was that his former head coach John Calipari was coaching the American team. As a true Big Blue Nation supporter and overall student of the game, Randle tuned it to root for his guy. It was the tourney’s semifinals and Team USA was facing off against Canada. Barrett, only 17 years old at the time, ended up dropping 38 points, 13 rebounds and 5 rebounds while leading Canada to a shocking 99-87 upset victory over the United States.

It marked the first time that an American team of any age group had lost a game in international competition in six years, while also being the first time ever that a Canadian men’s basketball team had claimed gold at any level. Randle vividly remembers his thoughts after watching that contest.

“I watched that game. He went crazy. I remember he got a 30-ball,” recalls Randle. “I was like, That kid is going to be special! I could tell right away. You don’t just see that happening.”

Beyond the career-high production from Randle and the second-year leap from Barrett, there’s a visible overall culture shift with this team, one that everyone has bought in on. Head coach Tom Thibodeau’s teams have always been known for their hard-nosed defense and grittiness. As of late April, the team ranks No. 1 in the NBA in fewest points allowed (104.7 per game) as well as No. 1 in fewest made field goals by opponents (38.0 per game). For reference, the franchise ranked 17th in points allowed last season (112.3 ppg). In their largest margin blowout win in 25 years—by 44 points against the Detroit Pistons on the road—in early April, the orange and blue didn’t allow a single field goal to the Pistons starters in the first quarter; that hasn’t happened in 22 years.

“We’re a team that we go back to the gym at night. Almost every night. We’re always working before practice, after practice. Come back again at night. We land somewhere, we all go to the gym now. We’re always in the gym. That’s been showing out there on the court…This is a very special team. And I feel like we’re the start of something good in New York Knicks basketball again,” says Barrett. “I think our team describes New York. I think we’re tough, gritty, resilient. And we go in with our hard hat and work hard every day.”

Adds Randle, “After the first game of preseason, honestly, I saw it was different. And then I think the third game of the preseason, when we played Cleveland back-to-back, I was like, Oh, nah, we got a chance to do something or surprise people! We went to Indiana, played them tough—should’ve won the game. And from that point on, I’m like, Yo, just keep building! I really wasn’t focused on the wins and losses. We were just trying to focus on building our identity of who we were as a team. Confidence for a team is everything. That’s really what happened with us. Game by game, our confidence just grew to where every game we come in [and] we expect to win the game.”   

For Randle, the journey has taken him from four rebuilding years with the Lakers (tough years where the team finished 30 or more games under .500 in three of those) to then one season in New Orleans, where he enjoyed some of the best numbers of his career but nonetheless missed the playoffs. He opted out of the second year of a two-year deal with the Pelicans in the summer of 2019 and ultimately took a leap of faith in signing with the rebuilding Knicks. After a tough first season as a team in New York, Randle is now averaging career highs in points (24.2) and rebounds (10.3) as of press time. He’s been filling up the stat sheet, becoming the first Knick in over three decades to record multiple triple-doubles in a season. He got his first All-Star nod in March and is now gearing up for some playoff action—the first of his career.

“I had never seen [Julius] in person before, so when I [first] saw him I actually was like, This dude is 6-9, 250!” says Barrett while bursting out laughing. “My favorite stories are just him working hard. Us landing somewhere and [he’s] always going to the gym. He just became an All-Star, and he was in New York working after the All-Star Game before anybody even got back….As soon as he gets to the arena, he has his headphones on. He’s kind of just in a zone. He doesn’t really speak until we get on the court.”

For RJ, who’s still only 20 years old, his first 18+ months in the League have been a rollercoaster. As the third pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, which became the Knicks’ highest draft pick since Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing went number one in 1985, he saw his share of ups and downs as a rookie. The team was losing. A lot. The head coach was fired. The team president was fired. Although many jumped at the opportunity to critique his shooting numbers, he still showed glimpses of what could be. There were a couple of 27-point performances. He became the first Knicks rookie in 40 years to post a 15-15-5 stat line. He was third (behind only Zion Williamson and Ja Morant) in scoring among all rookies—and yet somehow was absurdly snubbed from the NBA All-Rookie Team.

Not only are his averages and shooting percentages up across the board this season (posting 17.6 points and 5.8 boards as of press time), there’s an aura and swagger to him. He’s become a fan favorite in the Big Apple.

“This year he’s just a complete—I wouldn’t say 180 [degrees], but as far as his mentality, he doesn’t let things affect him,” says Randle of Barrett. “He’s very steady, confident and knows who he is as a player, and he’s just been proving it.”

A few days after our Zoom calls with both guys, the Knicks winning streak came to an end following a loss to Phoenix at home. The streak topped off at nine—the team’s second best stretch in 25 years. The vibe in the city remained unchanged, though. This time it just feels different.

Yes, the Carmelo Anthony-led 2012-13 team did indeed make it to the second round of the playoffs, but that squad never had a sustainable young core to build a future around. Therefore, that era came and went so fast, still leaving the franchise with the worst record in the League over a 20-year span when Randle joined in 2019. This team, though, hasn’t even scratched the surface. From Immanuel Quickley having one of the best rookie seasons in the Association, to Mitchell Robinson and Nerlens Noel becoming major defensive forces in the paint, it’s been a well-balanced mix to complement vets like Derrick Rose, Reggie Bullock, Alec Burks, Elfrid Payton and Taj Gibson.

Players on other teams, from LeBron James to Marcus Morris, have taken to Twitter to acknowledge the resurgence of the team. “And the league is simply better off when the Knicks are winning,” LeBron tweeted on April 22. Yet, being patient and realistic is very important here—one thing that Randle and Barrett constantly preached during our call.

“We’re aware of [the excitement]. We hear it. You can’t really escape it. We hear it but that’s not where our focus is. We have a game-to-game focus. Thibs does an amazing job of preparing us from game to game,” says Randle. “Our game to game attention to detail and focus, it’s different than any team I’ve ever been on.”

“[Thibs] came in and he was just very honest from the beginning. He told us, We have a long way to go but we’re going to try to turn this around. And that’s exactly what we’ve done,” says Barrett. “Honestly, I’m not really surprised. We worked too hard. We work so hard and we have no egos. I feel like we deserve everything that is happening right now but we know that we have a long way to go.”

—

Action photos credits via Getty.

Portraits by Niko Rodriguez and Kevin Clark at the New York Knicks. Follow Niko on Instagram @technicalbasis, and Kevin on Insta @kevin_clarkk.

The post Julius Randle and RJ Barrett are Bringing Toughness Back to MSG appeared first on SLAM.

Sabonis would defeat Randle and Doncic head-to-head in the first round and semifinal round respectively, before knocking out Vucevic in the final round. Winning his first piece of hardware, Sabonis’ victory also raised an additional $75,000 for the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), which finished with $250,000 in fundraising.

A challenge that tests players’ agility, ball-handling ability, passing ability and shooting touch from both inside the restricted area and outside of the arc, the Skills Challenge has been a staple of All-Star Weekend since 2003. Sabonis is the sixth big man to win the event since 2015-16, a testament to the evolution of the league and the multi-dimensionality of frontcourt players.

A two-time All-Star, Sabonis has averaged 20.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.0 steal per game this season, while shooting .525 percent from the field and .333 percent from 3-point range.

The post Domantas Sabonis Wins 2021 NBA All-Star Skills Challenge appeared first on SLAM.

The three-point contest will be headlined by two former champions of the event, the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry and Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker. The remainder of the three-point contest will be made up by the Chicago Bulls’ Zach LaVine, Utah Jazz’s Donovan Mitchell and Boston Celtics’ duo of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. All six of the players competing in the three-point contest will also be playing in the All-Star Game.

The NBA skills challenge will have a first-time winner, as all six entrants have yet to win the event. Five of the six players competing will be playing in the All-Star Game, those are the Suns’ Chris Paul, Dallas Mavericks’ guard Luka Doncic, Indiana Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis, New York Knicks’ forward Julius Randle and Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic. Portland Trailblazers’ forward Robert Covington is the lone participant in the skills challenge who will not feature in the All-Star Game.

That is in sharp contrast to the dunk contest participants, none of whom will be playing in the All-Star game and all of whom will be participating for the first time. The dunk contest features just three players this year, two rookies in Pacers’ Cassius Stanley and Knicks’ Obi Toppin, and the Trailblazers’ Anfernee Simons. The dunk contest has a star-studded cast of judges, all of which are former winners. Dominique Wilkins, Dee Brown, Spud Webb, Josh Smith and Jason Richardson will be the five judging the event.

These events will take place on the same day as the All-Star Game, Sunday, March 7. The skills challenge and three-point contest will occur before the game, with the dunk contest being performed at halftime.

The post NBA Announces Participants For All-Star Skills Challenge, Three-Point And Dunk Contest appeared first on SLAM.

These 14 reserves will join the starters (10 in total) that were named last week — a list headlined by team captains LeBron James and Kevin Durant (of the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets, respectively).

Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul leads the way in All-Star appearances among this group, playing in his 11^th All-Star Game this year. Paul is only one of three players in this year’s event with at least 10 All-Star appearances, the other two being LeBron and Durant.

Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden has the next highest mark among the reserves. The Beard is playing his ninth All-Star game but his first representing the Eastern Conference thanks his well-publicized trade from the Houston Rockets.

Harden is one of three Nets in the All-Star Game alongside starters Durant and Irving.

Los Angeles Lakers big man Anthony Davis is an All-Star for not just the eighth time in his career but the eighth time in a row. Davis has been an All-Star every season of his career, with the only exception being his rookie season in 2012-13.

Another veteran of the All-Star Game, Los Angeles Clippers wing Paul George, makes his return to the All-Star Game for the seventh time after missing last year’s festivities.

Right behind him, Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard finds himself in his sixth All-Star Game.

Dame Dolla has the highest scoring average of the All-Star reserves, averaging 29.6 points per game, the fourth-highest number in the league. Lillard will also participate in the All-Star 3-Point Contest.

On the flip side, Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons is averaging just 15.7 points per game but is making his third All-Star Game because of his excellent playmaking – 7.9 assists per game – and defense for the Sixers.

Nikola Vucevic, Rudy Gobert, Donovan Mitchell and Jayson Tatum will all be making their second appearances.

Four players from the reserves will be playing in their first-ever All-Star Games. Julius Randle, Zach LaVine, Jaylen Brown and Zion Williamson will make their first All-Star appearances.

The post NBA Announces 2021 All-Star Game Reserves appeared first on SLAM.

Last season, Brandon Ingram won the NBA Most Improved Player Award with his breakout year. Now, a new set of players will have the opportinty to win the award with the improvements they’ve shown from last season.

At the quarter mark of the 2020-21 season, we broke down our top five Most Improved Player candidates.

Chris Boucher (Toronto Raptors)

2019-20 Stats: 6.6 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.0 BPG, .322 3P%

2020-21 Stats: 13.3 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.0 BPG, .432 3P%

Boucher will be in consideration for both NBA Sixth Man of the Year as well as Most Improved Player. Although he was solid over the first few years of his career, he’s made an enormous jump off the bench this season. 

Boucher has done it all for the Raptors this season, giving them a scoring punch off the bench, while also being the team’s second-best rebounder. Even at the forward position, his three-point shooting has been excellent during his early 2020-21 campaign. 

Jeremi Grant (Detroit Pistons)

2019-20 Stats: 12.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 1.2 APG, .750 FT%

2020-21 Stats: 23.6 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 2.9 APG, .866 FT%

Grant’s evolution has been so fun to watch over the last few years, but especially so this season. Stepping into the role of being the best player on an NBA roster, he’s proven worthy. 

After earning a huge payday this summer, Grant has doubled his production in quite a few categories. In just one offseason, he’s completely changed the trajectory of his career. 

Julius Randle (New York Knicks)

2019-20 Stats: 19.5 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 3.1 APG, .277 3P%

2020-21 Stats: 22.4 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 6.0 APG, .375 3P%

The Knicks have been a pleasant surprise this season, showing how competitive they can be and proving they could make a run at the playoffs. Their best player thus far has been Randle, who has made a huge jump in both rebounding and assists this season. 

To make things even better, he’s looked like a different player when it comes to three-point shooting. This has completely opened up the rest of his game, as well as New York’s offense. 

Collin Sexton (Cleveland Cavaliers)

2019-20 Stats: 20.8 PPG, 3.0 APG, .472 FG%, .380 3P%

2020-21 Stats: 24.0 PPG, 4.1 APG, .504 FG%, 431 3P%

Sexton’s improvement this season has shown both on the stat sheet as well as the eye test. He’s had some incredible performances this season, including a 42-point performance where he scored 20 straight for the Cavs to beat the Nets. 

Additionally, he’s looked like a leader that Cleveland can lean on going forward. Sexton has emerged as an absolute star this season. 

Christian Wood (Houston Rockets)

2019-20 Stats: 13.1 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 0.9 BPG, 0.9 3PM

2020-21 Stats: 23.6 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 1.6 BPG, 1.8 3PM

The Rockets took somewhat of a gamble on Wood this summer, signing him to a large contract even with a limited sample size of high-level play in his career. It’s paid off tremendously, as he’s looked like one of the best bigs in the league this season. 

In nearly every statistical category, Wood has blown away his numbers from last season. When it comes to stacking up against his teammates, he leads everyone in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots. 

The post NBA Award Watch: 2021 Most Improved Player appeared first on SLAM.

Potential trades discussed within the Knicks organization have involved Julius Randle and Kevin Knox, per Macri.

Paul, 35, has two years and $85.6 million left on his contract, which was negotiated by Paul’s former agent and current Knicks president Leon Rose. Paul had a resurgent season in OKC, leading a young Thunder team to the playoffs.

The Knicks believe Paul could have a positive effect on their core group of young players, while helping build a winning culture in New York, per SNY’s Ian Begley.

The Knicks, however, are reportedly not the only organization interested in Paul. Should CP3 decide that he wants to play for a championship contender next season, New York could be out of the running.

The post Report: Knicks Preparing Trade Offer for Chris Paul appeared first on SLAM.

Randle will arrive in New York fresh off a campaign in which he averaged 21.4 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. The big man, who also possesses above average passing abilities has filled the stat sheet at every opportunity throughout his five-year career.

While Randle has always been a productive force when given significant minutes, however, he hasn’t always gotten them. The 2018-19 campaign was Randle’s first averaging more than 30 minutes per game.

The post Knicks To Sign Julius Randle To Three-Year, $63M Deal appeared first on SLAM.

The Randle decision comes one day after it was revealed that New Orleans had finally agreed to trade Anthony Davis. On their way to the Pelicans will be several of Randle’s former Lakers teammates.

The 24-year-old had a brilliant year with the Pels last season, stepping up admirably as one of the team’s premier weapons when called upon to shoulder more of the offensive load late in the season. He averaged 21.4 points and 8.7 rebounds per game in 2018-19.

The fact that Randle is choosing not to sign on for another year at $9 million should surprise nobody. The forward has long been an efficient producer but had to prove himself with a new franchise after his role stagnated in Los Angeles.

Whether Randle ends up back in New Orleans or gets a substantial offer from another suitor, of which there will be several, he’s a likely bet to land a significant pay raise.

Since Randle only played one season in New Orleans, the Pelicans won’t have the Bird rights necessary to go over the cap to sign him. They’ll have cap space to potentially make a reunion possible but the club would also have to consider fit.

This new-look Pels team will have plenty of new cogs in its core, primarily projected first-overall pick Zion Williamson whose skill set as a staggeringly nimble runaway train overlaps to some extent with Randle’s.

The post Julius Randle Will Not Pick Up 2019-20 Player Option appeared first on SLAM.

In a game with big playoff implications, Orlando completely dominated from start to finish. The Magic were up by 35 points at halftime and the lead seldom dropped below 30 during the second half.

Nikola Vucevic dropped 17 points with 11 boards, 4 dimes and a +16 plus/minus. Terrence Ross, aka the Human Torch, scored a game-high 21 points off the bench, including one dope reverse dunk that brought back memories of 2013.

With Orlando riding a five-game winning streak, could the Magic be the hottest team in the League heading into the All-Star break?

They call him the HUMAN TORCH @TFlight31

(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/Qw5HgPMX5C

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 15, 2019

Knicks 106 (11-47), Hawks 91 (19-39)

New York outscored the Hawks by 12 in the second half to snap a franchise-worst 18-game losing streak.

Dennis Smith Jr led the team with 19 points and 7 dimes.

Thunder 122 (37-20), Pelicans 131 (26-33)

At the end of the second quarter, Anthony Davis injured his left shoulder and would later leave the arena with agent Rich Paul. But the Pelicans came out strong in the second half, outscoring OKC by 9 in the third quarter.

Despite a 44-point triple-double by Russell Westbrook, New Orleans was able to hold on to the lead in the fourth.

Jrue Holiday dropped 32 points with 7 dimes, 3 blocks and 2 steals while Julius Randle had a team-high 33 points with 11 boards and 6 dimes.

The post Post Up: Pelicans Rally Without AD to Defeat Thunder 💪🏽 appeared first on SLAM.

Separate from all things Anthony Davis, New Orleans continues to explore trades for Julius Randle and Nikola Mirotic in advance of Thursday's 3 PM deadline, league sources say

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 6, 2019

This season, Randle, 24, is averaging 19.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per game and Mirotic, 27, is averaging 16.7 points and 8.3 rebounds.

The post Report: New Orleans to Explore Trades for Julius Randle and Nikola Mirotic appeared first on SLAM.

And yet, none of those things can erase one fundamental truth of life: moving stinks. Because for as great as Julius Randle’s summer was, and for excited as he is to start fresh in a new city, there was no escaping this most unenviable chore.

“Moving and packing up stuff sucks,” Randle says, laughing into his cell phone.

Today, about a week before his official introduction at Pelicans Media Day, he’s back in Los Angeles, grabbing the last of his prized possessions from his previous home before returning to his new one in New Orleans for good, along with his wife and infant son. “Putting stuff in boxes, putting it on the truck and finding the company to ship the cars and your stuff, that’s the part that sucks. Other than that, it’s exciting for us to have a new journey, a new start and to finally get there. It’s just the process of actually moving that sucks.”

During a summer full of headline-splashing signings, Randle’s move flew under the radar. After spending his first four NBA seasons with the Lakers, the 23-year-old signed a two-year, $18 million deal with a player option to join the Pels (he can choose to become an unrestricted free agent next summer).

Randle was caught right in the middle of a wild game of NBA musical chairs this offseason. The Lakers renounced his restricted free agent rights one day after LeBron James announced he was heading to Los Angeles, allowing Randle to sign with New Orleans. Rajon Rondo, who ran point for the Pelicans last season, joined LeBron in L.A. Meanwhile, All-Star big man DeMarcus Cousins was leaving New Orleans to ink with the world champion Warriors, despite facing a long road back from injury. Charting player movement this summer—even just between Hollywood and The Big Easy alone—was like that Zach Galifianakis math GIF IRL.

Once the dust settled, though, and the bigger names had landed in new locales, it was clear that Randle was highly (albeit perhaps quietly) sought-after around the League for his unique blend of skills. ESPN’s Marc Spears reported last week that at least 25 teams showed interest in Randle before he signed with the Pelicans.

So why did Randle land on New Orleans?

“It was a complete basketball decision,” he tells SLAM. “It had nothing to do with anything else. It was about me the basketball player, and where I see myself fitting long-term, to bring the best out of me as a player—and where I can win. They were building something pretty special before I got here. It was a complete basketball decision and that’s all I was really focused on.”

He’s right. When Boogie went down with an Achilles injury in late January, the Pelicans went all-in on running and spacing the floor, finishing the 2017-18 regular season as the NBA’s No. 1 team in Pace. After a surprising sweep of Portland in the first round of the 2018 Playoffs, New Orleans lost in five games to the Warriors, but along the way, Golden State shooting guard Klay Thompson called playing against the Pelicans “tiring” and “kind of like playing ourselves.” Of course, the Pelicans are not the Warriors. But the up-and-down style is one that Randle feels he can flourish in—and his new head coach agrees.

“We’re excited about Julius because he can do some of the things as far as playmaking that DeMarcus could do. I think he can push the basketball,” New Orleans head man Alvin Gentry told reporters at Pelicans Media Day. “The pace is not going to be a problem. Obviously [Lakers head coach] Luke [Walton] is kind of from the same school I am, from a pace standpoint and [being recent assistant coaches at] Golden State. We’ll give [Randle] an opportunity to continue to play in the open court. I think that was the thing that was most attractive to him.”

Indeed, the 6-9, 250-pound forward’s full arsenal was on display on Sunday night in Chicago, as he racked up 15 points, five boards, five dimes and a blocked shot in 25 minutes of preseason action against the Bulls. “I think people sleep on his passing,” added Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday at Media Day, himself the beneficiary of a nifty Randle assist on Sunday. “I think it’ll be big for us. He’s an athletic big who likes to run.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrnzlbVXdow

For Randle, who averaged a career-high 16.1 points and 8.0 rebounds as the only Laker to play in all 82 games during 2017-18, seeking out a new team was a chance to pinpoint a system that suits his skills.

“Seeing the style of play, how they play fast—I feel like that really just fits my style and how I want to play basketball,” says Randle, citing the Pelicans’ top-3 finish in team assists last season. “Coach Gentry gives you a lot of freedom, lets you go and play. It says a lot when a coach gives you that kind of freedom but guys still play extremely unselfish and play winning basketball. That said it all to me.”

Holiday and Davis are the franchise cornerstones, and with Nikola Mirotic raining threes as a stretch-four, Randle bringing his versatility to both ends, and tons of depth in the form of E’Twaun Moore, Elfrid Payton, Ian Clark, Solomon Hill and others, the Pelicans look primed to ratchet things up a notch this season, determined to make themselves known as serious contenders in the West.

X’s and O’s aside, there was one other factor that may have swayed Randle during his brief free agency: A phone conversation he had with Davis, a fellow Kentucky alum who he’s known for a while now.

“That was the first person I called,” says Randle. What exactly was said during that phone call he won’t disclose, but Randle categorizes both he and AD as dynamic bigs. “So being able to get up and down the floor, play with speed and pace, and our skillsets, I feel like it’ll be a dangerous thing for opposing teams this year.”

Davis—one of the most dominant forces in the game right now—is happy to have Randle on board, too. “He’s very competitive,” Davis said at Media Day. “He doesn’t stop, so I’m excited about playing alongside him this year.”

For all the excitement about joining the Pelicans, it’s admittedly still a little bittersweet for Randle to leave Los Angeles. The Dallas, TX native spent the bulk of the summer there even after signing with New Orleans, flying back and forth for weeks at a time to get his new crib in order. And in doing so, he had time to think about the friendships built on what was a Lakers roster in flux—Randle spent his first two seasons playing alongside Kobe Bryant in his final years, and his last two on a squad treated as a total rebuilding project.

“When you go to war with guys, you establish relationships and bonds, friendships that are beyond basketball,” Randle says now of his former Laker teammates.

As for what it’ll feel like to return to Staples Center as a visitor, it’s clear he hasn’t thought that far ahead, because he breaks into laughter when the subject’s introduced. “It’s going to be fun,” is all he can muster after the laughs, sounding as if he genuinely hasn’t yet played that moment out in his mind.

It’s at once a charming, disarming response, but also sort of an unintentionally ominous one—fitting for a Black Mamba pupil, perhaps. Though what Randle learned most from No. 24 was how to approach his game preparation when no one’s watching.  Which is why he has, since the Lakers made him a top-10 draft pick back in 2014, always gone hard in the lab during the offseason.

“My summers I always try to make harder than my seasons,” Randle explains. “Every year, I work as if I want to be an All-Star—as if I know I’m going to be an All-Star. So coming off the season that I had with L.A., I feel like I’m really establishing myself, my game and my confidence. I’m excited to get this thing rolling, man.”

Randle wants to make one of the NBA’s All-Defensive Teams in 2018-19 and be up for Most Improved Player—an award he says he’s always wanted to win. For a guy who doesn’t turn 24 years old until November, coming off his best season to date with a little new money and a lot of new motivation, accomplishing those goals feels well within reach.

As for what new elements of his game we might see this year to get him there, Randle quips, “I can’t give you all the secrets.” Then he laughs. He mentions Gentry and emphasizes the word “freedom” again. He pauses. And then simply says, “You’ll see when the season comes.”

—

Abe Schwadron is the Managing Editor at numberFire and a former Senior Editor at SLAM. Follow him on Twitter @abe_squad.

Photos via Getty Images.

The post On The Rise: Julius Randle Is Ready to Shine in The Big Easy 💪 appeared first on SLAM.

Randle, 23, says he’s “excited about the future” in New Orleans.

Mannnnnnnnn tooooo excited!! Excited about the future. Let’s get to work! @PelicansNBA

— Julius Randle (@J30_RANDLE) July 3, 2018

The Los Angeles Lakers renounced Randle’s rights Monday, making him an unrestricted free agent.

ESPN story on Julius Randle agreeing on a two-year deal with the New Orleans Pelicans. https://t.co/4wXsSwxWxE

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 3, 2018

Per ESPN:

Free-agent center Julius Randle, fresh off a career season with the Los Angeles Lakers, agreed to a two-year, $18 million deal to join the New Orleans Pelicans, league sources tell ESPN.

It includes a player option on the second year, which can allow Randle, 23, to return into unrestricted free agency in a much looser financial market in 2019.

Randle, a forward-center, will sign the midlevel exception with the Pelicans, who can pair him with All-NBA forward Anthony Davis.

Related
Report: Lakers Renounce Julius Randle, Add Rondo

The post Julius Randle Inks Two-Year, $18 Million Deal With Pelicans appeared first on SLAM.

The decision gives Los Angeles more financial flexibility to continue to re-shape their roster.

After renouncing Randle, the Lakers agreed to a one-year, $9 million deal with Rajon Rondo, per Yahoo’s Shams Charania.

Rondo, 32, will be entering his 13th NBA season in the fall.

The Lakers have renounced Julius Randle, making him an unrestricted free agent, league source tells ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 2, 2018

RELATED:
Julius Randle’s Agent Says Lakers’ Priorities Remain Unclear

The post Report: Lakers Renounce Julius Randle, Add Rondo appeared first on SLAM.

With LeBron James now in tow, the Purple and Gold must now re-focus all energies on convincing the San Antonio Spurs to part ways with the disgruntled superstar.

On LeBron's decision to sign with the @Lakers, its potential impact on his legacy, and next domino to fall: Kawhi Leonard. @ringer https://t.co/RDMhZvyJHM

— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) July 2, 2018

The Spurs and Lakers recently started up trade negotations for the second time this summer.

Per the Ringer:

With LeBron officially agreeing to sign with the Lakers, it’ll be fascinating to monitor what type of leverage the Spurs can create for Kawhi Leonard, who still desires to play for the Lakers, according to multiple league sources—all of whom say offers to the Spurs have been underwhelming.

One executive said the proposed packages have gotten worse with each round of negotiations, while another said they’re flat-out unacceptable.

That might change if the Lakers are determined to add their second star now. Multiple league sources suggest the Lakers could send a package to the Spurs featuring Ingram, multiple first-round picks, a sign-and-trade involving Randle, and possibly Josh Hart.

Related
Report: Lakers Haven’t Offered Brandon Ingram in Potential Trades

The post Report: Lakers Trade Offers for Kawhi Leonard ‘Unacceptable’ appeared first on SLAM.

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O’Connor writes that “multiple league sources” expect Dallas to pursue DeAndre Jordan, DeMarcus Cousins and Julius Randle.

There have also been rumblings that the Dallas front office will look to make additions this summer that can put the team back on a winning track.

The Mavericks can create space to sign a max free agent, and multiple league sources expect them to pursue a trio of big men: DeAndre Jordan, DeMarcus Cousins, and restricted free agent Julius Randle.

RELATED:
Boogie on Unfollowing The Pelicans: ‘I’m Grown’

The post Report: Mavs Expected To Pursue Trio of Big Men appeared first on SLAM.

As he’s done all year, PJ Tucker made sure to rock some heat in Houston’s finale as he brought out the Air Jordan II Retro QF “Varsity Red” model from the 2010 “Candy Pack” collection. Chris Paul did his best to outshine the League’s sneaker king as he donned an exclusive pair of Air Jordan III Retros.

Montrezl Harrell was down with the Jordan theme as he brought two pairs of the Air Jordan V, going with the red suede “Raging Bull” and the “Independence Day” colorways. Julius Randle went the vintage Kobe route as he donned an OG Nike Zoom Kobe 1 while Josh Hart finished the season strong with a 3o point performance in the “Carpe Diem” Nike Kobe XI.

It’s been a fantastic year in NBA kicks and hopefully the upcoming playoffs treats us to even more fire.

Peep our final NBA kicks recap of the regular season right below.

Photos via Getty Images

The post NBA Kicks of the Night appeared first on SLAM.

Randle benefitted from playing alonside Kobe Bryant, and thinks being James’ teammate would only help his own burgeoning game.

Julius Randle may have to go this summer to clear cap. But he’s impressed others around NBA. Erik Spoelstra: ‘He's that hybrid forward position that 5-6 years ago, there wasn't necessarily a place for him… now everybody is trying to find a guy like that” https://t.co/wSbX6oFFZi

— Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) March 15, 2018

Ironically, the Lakers would likely have to get rid of the 23-year-old to clear enough cap space to go after the likes of LeBron and Paul George.

Per ESPN:

Yes, the guy who is supposed to be one of the two critical financial maneuvers needed to secure $70 million in cap space to lure James and George — along with stretching the remaining two years and $36.8 million on Luol Deng’s contract — wonders what it would be like to stay and play alongside a superstar like James.

“It would definitely be interesting because we are building something. We really see our young core developing, so it would definitely be something interesting,” Randle said recently of playing with James only after insisting he has his mind focused on finishing the season strong for his team. “I played with [Kobe Bryant]. … What you learn from Bean as far as mentality and just the little things, his work ethic, I would love to play with Bron and learn the same things.

“[Learning and soaking in] what makes him so great, what does he do that makes him so great and how does he make everybody else so great. He has made a living off of making teammates better. So you have a guy like that, it makes a lot of things easier, I would say.”

The post Julius Randle ‘Would Love to Play’ With LeBron James appeared first on SLAM.

Thomas and Randle both downplayed the incident as a case of miscommunication following a 117-106 road loss to the Golden State Warriors.

Julius Randle described incident with Isaiah Thomas in third quarter as "just communicating, man." Says they "expect a lot out of each other" and "There’s nobody I’d rather go to war with than I.T."

— Bill Oram (@billoram) March 15, 2018

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton told reporters that he loved the episode, and that he wants his guys voicing their frustrations and growing from them.

Per the OC Register:

Randle said they were “just communicating.” Thomas said it was “two basketball players competing.” Walton said: “I love it.”

The incident, which quickly spread on social media, brought to mind a similar incident last week in Denver, when Thomas and Kyle Kuzma were caught on camera arguing after a miscommunication on a defensive switch.

“I’m a leader,” Thomas said. “It’s not me getting after anybody, it’s just me leading. If I see something I’m going to say something that goes vice versa, if they see something they should say something.”

Randle’s frustration was still evident when he addressed reporters after the loss, though he no longer seemed upset with Thomas. “There’s nobody I’d rather go to war with than I.T.” he said. “So it’s nothing personal, we’re just trying to get the best out of each other and win the game.”

The post Isaiah Thomas and Julius Randle Downplay Fiery Exchange appeared first on SLAM.

After what he felt was a dirty play by Jokic, Randle confronted the Nuggets center during the closing minute of the Lakers’ 112-103 win.

After the game, Randle told reporters that Jokic tried to “pull my shoulder out of place.”

“He was coming down flailing. Flopping his arms and stuff. That’s fine. That’s his game.

But when you hook my arm and try to pull my shoulder out of place, I don’t like that.”

RELATED:
Luke Walton Calls Julius Randle Best One-on-One Defender in NBA

The post Julius Randle Says Nikola Jokic Tried To Dislocate His Shoulder appeared first on SLAM.

During the third quarter of the Lakers’ 127-113 win over Cleveland on Sunday, a mic’d-up Walton told Randle that he’s “the best one-on-one defender in this league.”

https://twitter.com/TheRenderNBA/status/973085313659682816

Randle not only defended LeBron James well, he finished with one of his best offensive performances of his career.

In 38 minutes, the 23-year-old had 36 points on 14-18 FG with 14 boards and 7 dimes.

https://youtu.be/Y2T6RkKqwVY

The post Luke Walton Calls Julius Randle Best One-on-One Defender in NBA appeared first on SLAM.

Thomas says he remains close to many of his former Cavs teammates and that he’s ready to move on.

Julius Randle had a career-high 36 points and 14 boards as the Purple and Gold snapped a seven-game losing streak to Cleveland.

Per Cleveland.com:

“I only played 15 games with the Cavs, so it wasn’t like it was a revenge game,” Thomas said. “I keep saying the world knows what I bring, so I don’t got to play so good just to show them what they gave away. It’s nothing like that. I have really close friends on that team, and those guys are great guys, they just made a business decision, and I’m trying to move on … for the most part.”

Thomas scored 14 in the second half and shot 7-of-16 for the game with nine assists and five boards.

“If given the opportunity, I can play like that every night,” Thomas said. “It’s no surprise, I’ve done that before.”

The post Isaiah Thomas Leads Lakers in Blowout of Cavs appeared first on SLAM.

Ball criticized Lakers head coach Luke Walton for stopping the clock late in regulation, and forward Julius Randle for over-dribbling instead of dishing the rock to his son, Lonzo.

(Brandon Ingram missed a driving layup—the would-be game-winner—after Walton’s timeout with 5.3 seconds left, and the game went into the extra session.)

Here's the play LaVar Ball highlighted as the "crucial point" in the Lakers missing an opportunity to knock off the Warriors: not kicking the ball ahead off KD's late miss + calling timeout. pic.twitter.com/7zBiKoZ3DT

— Dan Devine (@YourManDevine) November 30, 2017

“I’ll tell you the crucial point,” LaVar Ball told ESPN’s Chris Haynes.

 

“When Julius got that ball at the end, he should’ve threw it forward. Lonzo had a wide-open layup! Or a 3-pointer! That’s game! You wouldn’t have went to overtime. That was game.

 

“Julius tried to take too many dribbles, and then they fouled him, or they called timeout. But if he would’ve threw the ball ahead? The coach wouldn’t have called timeout. Even if he did, he can’t call it, because the ball’s in the air. Lonzo was running the lane. Game over. That’s the best time to score, when it’s nine seconds left and your coach don’t call timeout!

 

“Every time they score two 3-pointers — it’s a game of runs — don’t call timeout because that’s means you’re scared. You make two 3-pointers on me, I got two more to come. … Do the Big Baller move, don’t call no timeouts!”

Related
LaVar Ball Unhappy With Lonzo Ball’s Playing Time

The post LaVar Ball Critical of Luke Walton and Julius Randle After Loss to Warriors appeared first on SLAM.

But his most impressive, and disrespectful, move of the half was when he caught a deep pass from Jerian Grant on the fastbreak, took a few dribbles and dunked over the outstretched hand of Julius Randle. He then stared down Randle for a little, and was called for a technical. It was worth it.

The Slam and the Stare (via @chicagobulls) pic.twitter.com/5Qi8b6uMoa

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) November 22, 2017

It wasn’t a full poster — Randle didn’t get fully in front of Blakeney — but for a rookie on a two-way deal, that was enough. Props to him for having the confidence to show up a big dude like Randle on the road…in the second quarter.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

The post Antonio Blakeney Dunks On Julius Randle, Gets T’d Up appeared first on SLAM.

A restricted free agent after this season, Randle may be the odd man out as the Lakers prepare to sign a couple max players in 2018.

Here’s more from Woj:

“One player whose future is very unlikely to continue with the Lakers is Julius Randle, their third-year forward.

 

“Rob Pelinka, their general manager, and Magic Johnson, their president, will be faced with this question: Do they look to trade Randle between now and the February trade deadline and get back potentially a first-round draft pick for him, or do they roll the dice and wait until summer when he’s a restricted free agent?”

RELATED:
Lonzo Ball: Shooting Woes ‘Just in My Head’

The post Report: Julius Randle ‘Very Unlikely’ To Remain With Lakers Long-Term appeared first on SLAM.

Harden finished with 45 points, helping LA Unified eliminate Young (34 points) and the Most Hated Players squad.

Final:

91-82, LAUNFD

LAU will take on Hometown Favorites next week! Better luck next year, MHP!#TheDrew

— Drew League (@DrewLeague) August 7, 2017

Swaggy P also hooped alongside Julius Randle and JaVale McGee.

The post James Harden Outduels Nick Young in Drew League Playoffs appeared first on SLAM.

It wasn’t the best look for the trio, who struggled to pull away until the second half. There were a bunch of missed layups, messed-up dunks and even a poster —Chris Garcia on Randle —for the pros, who finally turned it around to get the W.

DeRozan and Young, both L.A. natives, have been regulars at the Drew for years while Randle—set to enter his fourth year with the Lakers—just started playing this summer. The 22-year-old dominated the game, dropping 29 points and 17 rebounds while looking as explosive and athletic as he has since leaving Kentucky after his freshman season. Check out the video above for all the highlights.

Video courtesy of Ballislife

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James Harden, Brandon Jennings And Nick Young Put On A Show At The Drew League
Julius Randle Makes 2017 Drew League Debut

The post DeMar DeRozan, Nick Young and Julius Randle Avoid Drew League Upset appeared first on SLAM.

Davis’ squad played real tough in this one but they could not match up with the size of Randle and the sweet stroke of Young to pull this one out.

Courtesy of Ballislife 

The post Julius Randle Makes 2017 Drew League Debut appeared first on SLAM.

While working with “transformation specialist” Amoila Jamil Cesar, Randle has gotten himself into noticeably better shape in just over three weeks.

Here’s an inside look at some of Randle’s recent offseason training, compiled by twitter user @Carrastealth:

Julius Randle Putting in the Work during the summer!! @LakerFilmRoom pic.twitter.com/GcV0mLSEec

— Carrastealth (@Carrastealth) May 17, 2017

Julius Randle's body transformation/conditioning continues. Trainer Amoila Cesar is a marvel. @LakerFilmRoom pic.twitter.com/bYom6VpyVH

— Carrastealth (@Carrastealth) May 24, 2017

RELATED:
Dion Waiters Shows Weight Loss Since Signing With Heat

The post Julius Randle Shows Off 3-Week Body Transformation appeared first on SLAM.

Randle threw elbows to the head of both Clint Capela and Ryan Anderson in rapid succession.

Julius Randle takes out two Rockets on one play. pic.twitter.com/LhO4EBYWpb

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) March 16, 2017

Randle finished the game with a career-high 32 points on 13-17 shooting with 8 rebounds.

RELATED:
Draymond Green: Julius Randle ‘Has the Potential to Be Better’ Than Him

The post WATCH: Julius Randle Takes Out 2 Rockets on One Play appeared first on SLAM.

Three years ago, he was pushing for the Lakers to openly and shamelessly tank.

.@MagicJohnson doesn't want to use Lakers' youth as an excuse. But he's more patient than usual https://t.co/GON8pLLrkk

— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) January 18, 2017

The Hall of Famer wants second-year point guard D’Angelo Russell to take on a bigger leadership role, and praised Nick Young for playing inspired ball on both ends of the court (praise that delighted Swaggy P):

“Fans have to be encouraged, but Lakers fans are tired of losing,” Johnson told Southern California News Group. “We’re trying as Lakers fans to still be patient. But it’s hard. We have to wait some more?”

 

Johnson suspects the 20-year-old Russell has become somewhat hesitant with that responsibility out of respect for the team’s veterans and for the teammates who are in his age range. Russell agreed. […] “It’s hard; it’s not easy,” Russell said. “I’m trying to communicate and talk with guys as much as possible. I’m trying to figure out how to talk to guys. We’re all young. Figuring it out for everybody is key.”

 

“It’s the best I’ve ever seen him play,” Johnson said of the nine-year NBA veteran. “He’s played both ends of the court and has played smart. He’s played for the team.” […] “Magic Johnson? The Magic Johnson? For real?” said Young, a Los Angeles native who starred at USC. “To hear that from the top three greatest player of all time, that’s a confidence booster. I’ve always looked up to Showtime and Magic. For him to even notice that is a blessing.”

Related
Lakers Remove Magic Johnson’s Honorary Vice President Title

The post Magic Johnson: ‘Lakers Fans are Tired of Losing’ appeared first on SLAM.

The Lakers certainly didn’t play like a 12-25 team in Tuesday’s match-up. Nick Young drained six 3-pointers to score a team-high 20 points while Julius Randle recorded a triple-double (19p, 14r, 11a). It was an off-night for the Grizzlies, who shot a combined 38% from the field despite 20-plus point performances from Mike Conley and Marc Gasol.

Can we get Nick Young in the 3 point contest, please @NBA?

— Trevor Lane (@Trevor_Lane) January 4, 2017

76ers 93 (9-24), Timberwolves 91 (11-24)

Robert Covington was hearing it from the crowd throughout yesterday’s game- shooting 4-of-14 from the floor- but he came through when it counted, scoring the game-winning bucket with 1.6 seconds left in regulation. Joel Embiid helped the cause with 25 points, eight boards and a pair of blocks. Karl-Anthony Towns and Zach LaVine were stellar, but Andrew Wiggins was held to just eight points in the loss.

Your nightly Wiggins defensive highlight. pic.twitter.com/dxPLwskYmR

— Nate Duncan (@NateDuncanNBA) January 4, 2017

Celtics 115 (21-14), Jazz 104 (22-14)

Gordon Hayward scored 23 points on 50% shooting, but this one was otherwise the Isaiah Thomas show. Thomas, who entered Tuesday averaging 33.9 points over his last seven games, tallied 29 points with 15 dimes. His highlights, particularly when maneuvering around the 7’1” Rudy Gobert, are a sight to be seen.

https://youtu.be/5scnhnOri80

In an awkward subplot, Jae Crowder voiced his grievances with Celtics fans after the game. Disturbed that fans cheered for Gordon Hayward (thought to be a potential free agent signing of the Celtics), Crowder welcomed the idea of finding a new team.

Jae Crowder has no problem leaving the Boston Celtics. pic.twitter.com/SDSchLzdPs

— NBA SKITS (@NBA_Skits) January 4, 2017

Pacers 121 (18-18), Pistons 116 (16-21)

The Pacers won a significant road match-up at the Palace behind 32 points from Paul George and 17 apiece from Jeff Teague and Myles Turner. Despite a team-high 22 points from Tobias Harris, the Pistons dropped to 2-8 over their last 10 games. Stan Van Gundy was characteristically blunt after the defeat.

“Our starters didn’t guard anyone, and neither did our bench,” Van Gundy said. “I’ve got to figure out who to play and when to play them, but they aren’t making it easy on us.”

Mavericks 113 (11-24), Wizards 105 (16-18)

New year, same Wizards. John Wall, the most recent Eastern Conference Player of the Week, scored 27 points with eight dimes in Washington’s second straight loss. Harrison Barnes led the Mavs with 26 points and Deron Williams added 21.

Spurs 110 (28-7), Raptors 82 (23-11)

Fatigue was clearly a factor in Toronto’s lopsided loss at the AT&T Center, as the team completed its sixth straight road game in 12 days. Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge scored 25 and 23 points, respectively, while Tony Parker scored 15 points with eight dimes. The Raptors, who shot a combined 37% from the field in Tuesday’s loss, will receive a night off before returning home against the Jazz on Thursday.

Kings 120 (15-19), Nuggets 113 (14-21)

The Kings are tough to beat when DeMarcus Cousins has help on the offensive end. Boogie scored 31 points, Darren Collison added 26, and Kosta Koufos/Arron Afflalo combined for 37 in Sacramento’s fifth win in their last seven games. Nuggets coach Mike Malone didn’t mince words after the game:

“Offense sells tickets; defense wins championships. Right now our defense is the worst in the NBA. That is the bottom line. It is embarrassing how we go out and attempt to defend every night. That is something that we have to try and fix as soon as possible, because it’s at an all-time low right now, and that is a huge concern of mine.”

Suns 99 (11-25), Heat 90 (10-26)

Willie Reed performed admirably in Hassan Whiteside’s absence- scoring 22 points with 18 boards- but Miami had no answers for Devin Booker, who turned in a stellar 27-point night. The Heat will be hard-pressed to compete without Whiteside, Tyler Johnson, Dion Waiters, Justise Winslow, James Johnson or Josh McRoberts.

https://twitter.com/SunsBballComm/status/816498102282514434

The post Post Up: Randle is Rolling appeared first on SLAM.

James Harden posted a 34-point line, sinking 12 of 12 free throws, in Houston’s second straight W. While the game’s outcome never appeared in doubt, a verbal low-blow from Mavs center Salah Mejri left a sour taste within the Rockets’ locker room. According to Houston Chronicle reporter Jonathan Feigen, Mejri insulted Trevor Ariza’s wife and children during the game. Ariza, who was restrained by security guards after the game, was backed by his teammates.

 James Harden after the Rockets routed the Mavs: “That other team was trippin’ tonight, just disrespectful, unprofessional, players and coaches. I don’t know what was their problem, but I think that got us going. They wanted to throw a little cheap shot and just woke us up a little bit and it was over from there.”

What we experienced today as a team. Was the upmost disrespect. And total disrespect to Us and the GAME OF BASKETBALL…Still got the W tho

— Patrick Beverley (@patbev21) December 28, 2016

Celtics 113 (19-13), Grizzlies 103 (20-14)

How good is Isaiah Thomas? Per ESPN’s Chris Forsberg, Thomas is the NBA’s only player to score 20+ points in 16 consecutive games. Boston also received solid performances from Avery Bradley (23 points, seven boards) and Gerald Green, whose career has been rejuvenated after a disappointing 2015-16 season in Miami.

https://youtu.be/hRexUbLimFo

Thunder 106 (20-12), Heat 94 (10-22)

Russell Westbrook continued his elite play, dropping his 15th triple-double of the season in just three quarters.

.@russwest44 needed just three quarters to record his 15th triple-double of the season. his highlights here: https://t.co/jrfkCwK6mO pic.twitter.com/JSB8w2Ba9g

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 28, 2016

Josh Richardson provided solid offense for the Heat – tallying 22 points with five boards and three dimes – but Miami otherwise had no answers for OKC. Enes Kanter scored 19 points off the bench, while the Thunder shot a cumulative 51.2 percent from the field.

Jazz 102 (19-13), Lakers 100 (12-23)

The Lakers have had a rough go of it, now dropping five of their last six in a competitive match-up against Gordon Hayward (31 points, nine boards) and the Jazz. Largely known as a sharp-shooter, Hayward showed off his hops toward the end of regulation.

GET UP, @gordonhayward! https://t.co/ateLOHqa5I

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 28, 2016

Julius Randle and Lou Williams had 25 and 22 points, respectively. The win is a nice coup for Utah, who entered the game without Dante Exum or George Hill.

https://youtu.be/cttIax8uelk

The post Post Up: Grudge Match appeared first on SLAM.

The young Lakers built a 21-point lead in the third quarter and hung on to shock the Warriors at Staples Center for the third consecutive season.

D'Angelo Russell on the postgame locker room: "There were a lot of 'I love basketball' chants."

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) November 5, 2016

In addition to Randle and Russell, the Lakers got double-figure scoring outputs from Brandon Ingram, Lou Williams, Larry Nance and Nick Young.

More from the L.A. Times:

In the postgame locker room, they shouted “I love basketball,” a mantra introduced by their most veteran player, Metta World Peace. They laughed, they felt the joy that comes with winning — that feeling with which Walton wants them to become familiar.

 

They didn’t talk about the thing nagging at Walton’s mind — the overconfidence this kind of win can breed.

 

“Not yet,” Lakers guard Lou Williams said, laughing. “No buzz kills tonight.”

RELATED:
Larry Nance Jr. Posterizes David West
Draymond Green: Julius Randle ‘Has the Potential to Be Better’ Than Him

The post WATCH: Los Angeles Lakers Dominate in 117-97 Win Over Warriors appeared first on SLAM.

Green credits Randle’s physical gifts for his potential.

The Los Angeles Lakers selected the 21-year-old seventh overall in the 2014 NBA Draft.

Per the OC Register:

Green believes Randle “can be real special,” raving about his length, athleticism and playmaking. Green also said he considers the comparisons between him and Randle “cool.” […] Those comparisons have been drawn more frequently with Randle’s expected emergence under new Lakers coach Luke Walton, who spent the previous two seasons as a Golden State assistant.

 

Will Randle validate those comparisons? […] “I think he can. I also think he has the potential to be better,” Green said. “With the God-given gifts he has, he has the potential to be better. I’ll continue to grow. I’ll never stop working and I’ll continue to get better. But what is he, 21? That’s a lot of time to continue to grow.”

 

Walton said he “absolutely” saw Randle and Green as a “good comparison” before praising their athleticism and playmaking. He then pointed out Green’s superior jump shooting before complimenting Randle for his offseason efforts to improve in that area. Walton then added, “that could be someone you compare to down the road.”

Related
Julius Randle Says Draymond Green Can’t Guard Him (VIDEO)

The post Draymond Green: Julius Randle ‘Has the Potential to Be Better’ Than Him appeared first on SLAM.

Julius Randle has been slapped with a $15K fine for making an “obscene gesture” after making a game-winner earlier this week.

Randle’s spinning floater gave the Los Angeles Lakers an improbable 102-100 overtime win against the visiting Miami Heat.

From the press release:

Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle has been fined $15,000 for making an obscene gesture, it was announced today by Kiki VanDeWeghe, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

 

Randle’s actions occurred with 1.9 seconds remaining in overtime of the Lakers’ 102-100 victory over the Miami Heat on March 30 at Staples Center.

The post Julius Randle Fined $15K for ‘Obscene Gesture’ appeared first on SLAM.

Photos via Getty Images

Previously:
Week of March 19 – March 25
Week of March 12 – March 18

The post NBA Photos of the Week appeared first on SLAM.

After hitting the shot over Luol Deng, Randle celebrated with Sam Cassell’s “Big Balls” dance, and like so many others before him, Randle can expect a fine from the League for this.

The post WATCH: Julius Randle Hits Game-Winner, Does Big Balls Dance appeared first on SLAM.

The T-Wolves haven’t been able to produce a successful 2015-16 campaign on the whole, but the team’s young talent played to their potential in a back-and-forth 2OT victory over Washington. Karl-Anthony Towns and Zach LaVine combined for 52 points, while Gorgui Dieng hit a game-tying trey in a win that bumped the Wizards to 3.5 games behind the eighth seed of the Eastern Conference.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKM_rnjJINI&ab_channel=NBAHighlights

Despite an impressive 22-point, 16-assist night from John Wall, and 26 points from Bradley Beal, this may be remembered as the loss that (unofficially) eliminated the Wizards from playoff contention.

“Pretty devastating,” Wall said of the loss. “We know how important it was. Probably the game of the year.”

“It’s a horrible loss, just plain and simple,” Beal said. “There’s no explanation about it. We shouldn’t have lost that game.”

Mavericks 120 (35-37), Warriors 128 (65-7)

Stephen Curry and the Warriors presented David Lee with his 2014-15 championship ring before the game, showing respect to the role player who averaged 7.9 points with 5.2 rebounds last season in Golden State.

Congrats to @Dlee042 on getting his #DALatGSWhttps://t.co/rg4wznXYS5

— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) March 26, 2016

Once the game started, however, it was business as usual for the Warriors, as Klay Thompson lit up Dallas for 40 points while Steph Curry (33 points, eight rebounds, eight assists) did Steph Curry things. With the W, Golden State has now set the all-time NBA record for most three-pointers (934) in a season.

Stephen Curry at the buzzer https://t.co/3LGfyme237

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) March 26, 2016

Nuggets 116 (31-42), Lakers 105 (15-57)

The Lakers weren’t without moral victories in Friday’s defeat. Julius Randle posted an improbable triple-double, recording 13 points with 18 boards and 10 dimes. What’s more, Kobe Bryant looked his old self, adding 28 points on 45.4 percent shooting. The Nuggets’ second unit poured it on, however, as Will Barton, Jusuf Nurkic, and D.J. Augustin combined for 54 points in Denver’s second consecutive W. D’Angelo Russell, who departed the game with an apparent ankle injury, may not miss time due to the ailment.

D’Angelo Russell has a moderate sprain of his right ankle. X-Rays were negative. He’s out for tonight, will be re-evaluated tomorrow.

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) March 26, 2016

Hornets 105 (41-31), Pistons 112 (39-34)

The Pistons maintained their grasp on the eighth seed of the Eastern Conference, riding Marcus Morris and KCP’s combined 41 points to their fifth-straight W. Forgoing a conventional rotation, Charlotte head coach Steve Clifford gave minutes to each of his 13 players, yielding mixed results. Kemba Walker dropped 29 points, but the team shot 39.8 percent overall while getting out-rebounded 62-42.

Fun tidbit from Detroit coach Stan Van Gundy:

(Stanley ill-advised jumper)
Fan: "Get him outta there Stan!"
SVG: "He's comin out."#Pistons up 23 5:23 to go

— Jake Chapman (@JakeChapmanOM) March 26, 2016

Magic 97 (29-43), Heat 108 (42-30)

Goran Dragic completed his first dunk as a member of the Heat, capturing the imagination of those in attendance at the AmericanAirlines Arena. Meanwhile, Hassan Whiteside continues to make a case for a max contract, as the big man notched 26 points with 12 boards off the bench, helping Miami improve to a 3-1 mark over their last four games.

Bucks 90 (30-43), Hawks 101 (43-40)

The Hawks were seemingly dunking at will against the scuffling Bucks, as Milwaukee fell to a dismal 9-29 on the road this season. Jeff Teague’s 12 fourth quarter points helped solidify Atlanta’s second straight victory.

Mike Scott dropping the hammer on this one-handed slam!https://t.co/p3x9m6JsHo

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) March 26, 2016

Raptors 109 (48-23), Rockets 112 (36-37)

NBA officials showed birthday boy Kyle Lowry no love, ejecting the two-time All-Star in the final moments of the fourth quarter. The Rockets narrowly held on to victory despite a triple-double from James Harden and a 21-point showing from Michael Beasley.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O31LqmSNk_Q&ab_channel=DownToBuck

Grizzlies 104 (41-32), Spurs 110 (61-11)

Another night, another Spurs victory at home. Coach Gregg Popovich’s squad remained perfect at the AT&T Center despite 20 points from JaMychal Green and 17 from Lance Stephenson. With Patty Mills and Danny Green each receiving nights of rest, Kyle Anderson and Kevin Martin each received extended looks.

33-year-old Kevin Martin is the youngest player on the court right now for the Spurs.

— Jeff McDonald (@JMcDonald_SAEN) March 26, 2016

Suns 94 (20-52), Kings 116 (28-44)

DeMarcus Cousins led the way in Sacramento’s rout of the Suns, as Boogie totaled 29 points with 11 boards while Willie Cauley-Stein pitched in with a career-high 26 points. Seth Curry scored 12 points, including this smooth floater early on:

Seth Curry with the smooth floater: https://t.co/I7UGWdBGLH

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) March 26, 2016

Alan Williams, a 23-year-old undrafted rookie who signed a multi-year deal with Phoenix, recorded his first NBA field goal after making four previous appearances for the Suns. Congrats, Alan!

Great to see @alantwilliams get his first FG for the team he grew up watching. #SunsAtKings

— Matt Petersen (@TheMattPetersen) March 26, 2016

The post Post Up: Hungry Wolves appeared first on SLAM.

With the shot clock running down, Julius Randle collected ball near halfcourt after a broken play. He had one option—take it to the rim all by himself.

He beat his Kyrie Irving off the dribble and took off with a full head of steam at Tristan Thompson. Boom!

The post WATCH: Julius Randle Dunks on Tristan Thompson appeared first on SLAM.

General manager Mitch Kupchak basically admits that he has his hands tied when it comes to The Black Mamba—the Lakers say they want Kobe to keep playing heavy minutes in his 20th and final campaign, and that they’ll worry about developing the young guys next season.

Kupchak continues to hold out hope that the Lakers will fare better during free agency this summer than they have in the last few years.

Per ESPN:

“Under normal circumstances [in a season like this], at some point, you would probably concentrate on just developing all your young players,” Kupchak said Tuesday. “But we can’t do that right now. This [season] is really a justified farewell to perhaps the best player in franchise history. And, God-willing, he’s going to want to play every game and he’s going to want to play a lot of minutes in every game, because that’s just the way he is. And as long as that continues, which it should, then that’s 30-35 minutes that you might give to a young player that you can’t. How do you get a feel for your team going forward when you know that your best player is not going to be there next year? So it’s really hard to go forward until he’s no longer here. That’s not a bad thing. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing at all. It’s something that I think is a good thing. In some regards, there’s a silver lining. Our younger players can make mistakes, and it can kind of go under the radar because Kobe garnishes so much attention. Every game, it’s about Kobe. Even when he doesn’t play, it’s about Kobe. So in a lot of regards, there’s a silver lining that our guys can develop under the radar and maybe make a mistake or make two mistakes and it not be a big deal.”

 

Meanwhile, the 37-year-old Bryant has been a focus, with Lakers coach Byron Scott adamantly supporting his former teammate at every turn, even saying at one point that he would “never, never, never” bench the star no matter how much he struggles. […] “I was hoping that our young players, in conjunction with the veterans that we added, and Kobe at full health, would lead to a better record than what we have today,” Kupchak said. “I didn’t have any visions that we’d win 50 games or 45. Could we have won 45 or 40? I guess it’s possible. In fact, it still is possible. But where we stand today, it looks like we’re not going to meet that benchmark. So, in some regards, I’m disappointed with where we are today, but it is what it is. Kobe’s made a decision. He can’t play every game. He wants to play every game. We have to figure out a way when he does play to play with him, get him the minutes that he wants, get him ready for the next game, hope he plays the next game, and if he doesn’t, we have to get our lineup in such a way that we can compete and develop the young players. It’s not a perfect scenario, but there’s no way to plan this. There just isn’t.”

 

“I think we’ll see enough [from the younger players],” Kupchak said. “Yeah, I think we’ll see enough. I do. Kobe has been really good lately. He looks like he’s trying to fit in and play the right way. Yeah, I think we’ll see enough. Is it going to come as quick as you want? I mean, D’Angelo (Russell) is going to be 20. They all want it now, but it’s just going to take a year or two or three. But it’s certainly going to be a lot more attractive than what we had to offer last summer.”

Related
Lakers GM: ‘We Cannot Move on as a Team Until Kobe Leaves’

Lakers May Retire Both of Kobe Bryant’s Jersey Numbers

The post Lakers GM: ‘Every Game, It’s About Kobe’ appeared first on SLAM.

A day later, Scott was still going at the young fella through the media, accusing him of immaturity and advising him to quickly grow up.

Julius Randle wasn't exactly a team player last night. "Bottom line is, like I told home before, you've gotta grow up," Byron said.

— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) January 4, 2016

Byron on Randle: "The main thing I don’t like is when you take him out of games, how he reacts sometimes." Byron called it "immaturity."

— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) January 4, 2016

Randle, 21, says he was mad about his limited playing time against the visiting Phoenix Suns.

Per the LA Daily News:

“I played 15 minutes yesterday,” said Randle, who didn’t speak to reporters after Sunday’s game but was made available after Monday’s practice. “I was frustrated when I went out on the court. Simple.” […] With the Lakers’ reserves coughing up a 38-point lead in the fourth quarter against Phoenix, Lakers coach Byron Scott phased his starters back in the game. When Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr entered the game with 4:43 remaining, Randle looked extremely irritated as he went to the bench. Afterwards, Scott said he told Randle in front of the team to “guard your man” after also overshadowing his 12 rebounds and three assists with two points on 0-of-4 shooting in 15 minutes.

 

“I don’t think there was defense on the court at all in the fourth quarter,” Randle said. “He singled me out but I think it was a team thing.” […] Scott emphasized he had also addressed the Lakers’ entire reserve unit. Scott had talked about Randle individually following Sunday’s win because Scott was specifically asked about Randle’s frustration. But Scott offered a new message to Randle, who has spent the last month as a reserve despite representing the Lakers’ seventh pick of the 2014 NBA Draft.

 

“He probably took it the worst and he’s going to have to learn from it. He’s got to grow up. Simple as that.” Scott said of Randle. “I think the main thing I don’t like is when you take him out of games, how he reacts sometimes. I chalk it up to immaturity and just being inexperienced in this level. It’s going to happen again. I’m going to take him out of other games that he’s not going to like.” […] Scott described Randle’s attitude in Monday’s practice as “okay.” Scott then stressed Randle has “another chance” when the Lakers (8-27) host the Golden State Warriors (31-2) on Tuesday at Staples Center. Yet, Randle suggested handling his frustrations might become easier said than done.

The post Byron Scott Says Immature Julius Randle Must Grow Up appeared first on SLAM.

Scott has already stated that he feels that the front-office has his back, and despite the fanbase’s anger, there’s been no indication that the Lakers are looking to make a change on the bench anytime soon.

Lord Byron has two years remaining on his current deal with the team.

Per the LA Daily News:

He has also overseen the Lakers’ worst start in franchise history, a 123-122 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday at Target Center marking the team’s fourth consecutive loss as the Western Conference’s worst team. […] But Byron Scott still has enough support from Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak and vice president of player personnel Jim Buss that he is expected to coach through the rest of the 2015-16 season, according to team sources familiar with the situation. With Scott signing a four-year, $17 million deal last summer, the Lakers plan to evaluate his future once the 2015-16 season ends, according to a team source.

 

The Lakers are not happy with the persistent losing, obviously. But Kupchak and Buss sympathize with Scott on handling what one team source called “a no-win situation.”

 

On one hand, Scott has felt pressure to handle Bryant’s workload in his 20th and final NBA season. Scott remains mindful of Bryant’s struggles, averaging 15.9 points per game average on 30.9-percent shooting in 30.6 minutes per game. […] But out of respect for Bryant’s extensive accomplishments that have spanned five NBA championships and his current retirement tour, the Lakers have understood Scott’s tendency to lean on him heavily. They are also mindful of the challenge it takes to manage Bryant’s competitive nature.

The post Report: Lakers Won’t Fire Byron Scott This Season appeared first on SLAM.

The Black Mamba decided to let the youngsters take the Lakers home, and lo and behold, D’Angelo Russell and Julius Randle damn near did it.

Kobe did not play after 3:56 of third quarter because he told Byron, "Let them go." He was talking about Lakers young players.

— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) December 10, 2015

No Kobe in the 4th could be pattern as season progress. Byron: "Eventually, it's going to be like this anyway. Just so these guys can grow."

— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) December 10, 2015

D'Angelo said "it's an honor" Kobe told Byron to keep him in: "He easily could’ve told coach he wanted that shot to add to his collection"

— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) December 10, 2015

Despite the heartbreaking 123-122 overtime loss, Kobe was extremely pleased with the kids’ play down the stretch.

Per the LA Times:

Fans clamored for Kobe Bryant in the final minutes of the fourth quarter, chanting his name authoritatively at Target Center, but Coach Byron Scott did not put the ever-aging star back into the game. […] In the latest twist to a season filled with them, Bryant supported letting the young players finish the game.

 

“He said, ‘Coach, let ’em go. Let’s see what they do,’” Scott said.

 

It was a loss, like everything else this season, 123-122 in overtime to the Minnesota Timberwolves, but D’Angelo Russell had 23 points and Julius Randle had 20 points and 12 rebounds two days after they lost their starting jobs. […] “I know the fans wanted to see [Bryant] even more,” Scott said. “But it was great to have a guy like that say, ‘Hey coach, let them go.'”

The post Kobe Bryant Benched Himself at Crunch Time appeared first on SLAM.

D'Angelo Russell and Julius Randle will come off the bench tonight, Byron says.

— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) December 7, 2015

Byron says he's hoping for more energy from starters…something had to change w/ 3-17 record. Lou Williams and Larry Nance will start.

— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) December 7, 2015

The lineup shift didn’t change the Lakers’ fortunes—they were beaten 103-92 by the Toronto Raptors.

Both Russell and Randle were disappointed by the demotion, but quickly discovered that things aren’t so bad on the second unit.

Russell on 2nd unit: "There's just more ball movement. No disrespect to Kobe, but you know you have more opportunity because of who he is."

— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) December 8, 2015

Per the LA Times:

Neither player was excited about the switch, which Scott planned to re-evaluate in five to 10 games. […] “I have no idea [why]. I’m just going along with it,” said Russell, the No. 2 overall selection in this year’s draft. “I finally was starting to figure it out and then this happened. … I’ve never been in the [backup] position so I don’t know how it’s going to affect myself. I didn’t expect it to happen like that, so if I was the problem, or if I was the change that needed to happen to better the team, then I guess it was worth it.”

 

Randle answered the first two questions from reporters with “It is what it is.” Then he opened up, but only a bit. […] “You’re never going to be thrilled about it as a competitor but it’s not in our control. Our control is to go out there and play hard, like we’ve been doing, and just keep getting better,” said Randle, who was drafted seventh overall in 2014.

 

Russell, 19, started painfully slowly but has been better in recent games. He said he hadn’t come off the bench since his sophomore year in high school. […] “Everybody has a story at the end of the day, as far as what they’ve been through to get to where they want to be. Hopefully I can look back at this and laugh at it,” he said.

The post Lakers Move Julius Randle and D’Angelo Russell to the Bench appeared first on SLAM.

Scott admits that he’s quickly losing patience with the youngsters on his roster—two Laker starters are rookies—and that he may start trimming their minutes.

Byron said his threshold for patience has lowered. Same lineup tonight but he said he'd make changes soon if struggles continue

— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) November 6, 2015

Byron Scott said it's possible Larry Nance Jr. & Metta will play tonight. Byron suggested his bench rotation will be different tonight

— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) November 6, 2015

The winless Lakers kick off a five-game road trip Friday night in Brooklyn.

Per the OC Register:

“I’m going to put guys out there that’s going to bust their butts,” Scott said following shoot around at Barclays Center on Friday, “because all those things we’ve been doing the last six weeks, you’ve got to start getting that and it can’t just be in practice. […] So I told them, pretty much a challenge to them that if it’s not being done I’ll start playing other guys.”

 

Scott did not get specific about what players could see their playing time reduced if things don’t get better, but his strongest words came for the Lakers young players: Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson and D’Angelo Russell. […] “Our young guys got to continue to develop and they will,” he said. “They got to get it a little bit quicker and as a coach you want them to get it now. But you also have to be realistic and understand you have a 19 (year-old) and a 20-year-old in your starting lineup that played one year of college basketball. So, it’s going to take those guys some time. Like I said I just got to continue to be patient. But like I told them, I’m not going to be patient for long. I expect guys to get it on both ends of the floor in a relatively quick manner.”

 

In order to win games on a consistent basis, the Lakers are going to need better performances from 37-year-old Kobe Bryant. Bryant is shooting just 32.3 percent from the field, and is on pace to shoot more significantly more 3-pointers than in any other season. […] “It’s not a challenge to get Kobe right,” he said. “The challenge is to get the young guys right. I’m not worried about him. He’s the last thing I’m worried about on our team.”

The post Byron Scott Won’t Be ‘Patient for Long’ With Young Lakers appeared first on SLAM.

The post Julius Randle Punches Reverse Jam Over Kenneth Faried (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

The 20-year-old saw right through KG’s all-too-familiar antics.

Wake up old man https://t.co/8NAIBlwEse https://t.co/lV2nnTOR9f

— Silver Screen & Roll (@LakersSBN) October 29, 2015

Julius doesn't back down from anyone pic.twitter.com/B3IE8kq059

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 29, 2015

Randle says no one intimidates him once they step between the lines.

The second-year big man finished with 15 points and 11 boards in the T-Wolves’ 112-111 win.

Per the LA Daily News:

“I’m not scared of anybody,” said Randle, who posted 15 points on 5-of-13 shooting and 11 rebounds in 30 minutes. “The main thing is we know that’s his thing. That’s what he does, try to get in people’s heads. I’ve been watching him my whole life so I knew what to expect.”

 

But did Garnett know what to expect from Randle? Less than two minutes after Garnett picked up a technical, Randle was about to inbound the ball before noticing that Garnett looked the other way. So, the 20-year-old Randle bounced the ball off the back of the 39-year-old Garnett and basically passed the ball to himself. […] “It was good to go up against him,” said Randle, who only has performed the inbound stunt in practice. “I always have confidence in my game. I don’t care who it is.”

 

“It’s KG,” Randle said. “I liked that, though. It gets me going.”

The post Julius Randle on Kevin Garnett: ‘I’m Not Scared of Anybody’ appeared first on SLAM.

After Randle drew a foul on Green while driving to the basket, Randle let everyone know what he thinks of last year’s Defensive Player of the Year runner-up, yelling, “He can’t guard me!”

Randle may not be Lamar Odom in Zach Randolph’s body, as Kobe said, but he’s pretty tough to guard. Just check his highlights from last night:

https://youtu.be/ny_fjjQPfls

The post Julius Randle Says Draymond Green Can’t Guard Him (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

Kobe has already said he’s willing to play small forward—something he points out that he’s done throughout his storied career—and thinks not having the ball in his hands so much will allow him to focus on more catch-and-shoot action within the offense.

Kobe didn't touch the ball when we saw him scrimmage. Kobe: "I don't think it matters, man. I don't have to handle the ball at all."

— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) October 1, 2015

Bryant, 37, has been going hard during the first two days of the Lakers’ training camp in Honolulu, but claims that his offseason workouts were much more challenging.

Per the OC Register:

“I think the more those guys can play together, the better,” Scott said. “I’m going to try that out this first week, see how it goes and then I’ll start mixing and matching a little bit more. It looked good.”

 

Bryant at small forward was not so much a surprise as it was strange to see. Scott has frequently discussed giving Bryant time on the wing, which in theory could reduce the amount of strain required for him to get open shots. […] “I don’t have to handle the ball really at all,” Bryant said. “Gives me more time to catch and shoot.”

 

He said having Russell and Clarkson on the court makes his job simpler. […] “These guys can handle the ball and make incredible decisions and make plays,” he said. “Makes it a lot easier.”

The post Kobe Bryant Plans to Be More of a ‘Catch and Shoot’ Player appeared first on SLAM.

Randle, 20, has been working out with potential future teammate Metta World Peace—and holding his own—and says he anticipates putting up double figures in points and rebounds in 2015-16.

The big fella says that he suffered a bone bruise on the same leg he fractured during training camp by bumping into a bed post.

Per the LA Daily News:

“That’s when I really lost it,” said Los Angeles Lakers head athletic trainer Gary Vitti, who has overseen the Lakers miss a combined 827 games because of injuries the past three seasons. […] “I felt that it was my fault. Everyone has told me it wasn’t my fault. But I have carried that for a while.”

 

Vitti ranked Randle’s injury as his second-most devastating experience entering his 32nd and final season with the Lakers, the incident paling only to when Magic Johnson announced in 1991 he had tested positive for HIV. […] “It wasn’t GV’s fault at all,” said Randle, who also absolved blame on the rest of the Lakers’ trainers. “He wished he could have done more. But there’s nothing else he could have done … I felt bad. I wondered if there’s something else I could have done to warn him. But it was nobody’s fault.”

 

Randle does not face any workload restrictions when training camp starts Sept. 29 in Hawaii. Yet, the Lakers plan to proceed with caution if any setbacks emerge. […] Lakers coach Byron Scott may also favor starting veteran Brandon Bass at power forward. Though Randle “absolutely” sees himself averaging a double-double, Randle maintained, “I’m just going to do what’s best for the team and whatever I can do to help the team win.”

The post Julius Randle ‘Absolutely’ Expects to Average a Double-Double This Season appeared first on SLAM.

Randle has been trying to shake off the rust while on a tight 20-minute restriction, and yesterday’s performance seems like the confidence-booster the former lottery pick needed.

The post Julius Randle Drops 17 Points in 21 Minutes in Summer League (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

Julius Randle wasn’t even 2 years old yet when the Lakers made a Draft-day trade for a high schooler named Kobe Bryant. He was 5 when Kobe and Shaquille O’Neal won their first title in Los Angeles. And in the next 14 years, as he grew from little kid to Lottery lock, much in the NBA changed. Kobe though, he didn’t.

Randle watched older generations retire and newer ones supplant them. He was 8 when LeBron James went first overall to the Cavs, 12 when the Seattle SuperSonics got Kevin Durant. This was how things went. Kerry Kittles retired, Stephon Marbury went to China, Allen Iverson finally retired.

But Kobe just kept going, eventually joined by fellow Class of ’96 member Steve Nash. Dwight Howard got pushed out of town. It didn’t seem like the old timers wanted to make room for the next generation. But there was Randle on the board at No. 7, and the Lakers were on the clock, and that was that. So in his first pre-season game, Julius had a decision to make. Would he step aside as so many Lakers had done before, or would he step up? It was really no choice at all.

The post Slamadamonth, SLAM #183: Julius Randle appeared first on SLAM.

The exception, representing half of Randle’s 3 million salary, can be used to sign a free agent or claim a player off waivers.

Per the LA Daily News:

The Lakers could also trade for a player that makes up to $1.6 million. Whichever move the Lakers might make, that player could not stay beyond the 2014-15 season. The Lakers filed for the exception shortly after Randle fractured his right tibia in the Lakers season-opening loss two weeks ago against Houston. Although the Lakers expected Randle would miss the season after having surgery the next day, the NBA needed to look at the paperwork surrounding Randle’s surgery.

 

The Lakers have also filed a disabled player exception for Steve Nash worth $4.9 million, which represents half of his $9.8 million salary. But the NBA has not approved that exception yet, though Nash is also expected to miss the entire 2014-15 season.

 

It is unclear if the Lakers will use their current disabled players exceptions. They have a league-maximum 15 players on their roster, including 13 with fully guaranteed contracts. Guards Ronnie Price and Wayne Ellington have partial guarantees, meaning either or both players would have to be waived to make room.

The post Lakers Granted Disabled Player Exception for Julius Randle appeared first on SLAM.

Julius Randle’s rookie season came to an end during his first game, and he was understandably down in the dumps thereafter.

Kobe, not exactly the cuddliest of teammates, re-assured Randle that he can emerge an even better player after this crushing setback.

From the Lakers’ team website:

“It was just a regular play. Just drove right. When I went up, it felt like somebody kicked me. I haven’t really looked at it – the detail of what happened or the play. But it felt like somebody kicked me.

 

“It was just like a ‘pop’ sound, basically. I didn’t even think it was my leg because I didn’t feel it. So I heard a pop sound, but I didn’t feel it. But once I got back down on the ground, I didn’t even try to get up. My leg was just too weak. It wasn’t any pain or anything. I was in discomfort, but I really wasn’t in any pain. There really wasn’t any pain until I got on the x-ray table. It was more shock, just (being) upset, because I knew, as soon as I did it, what it was, and I told Gary Vitti. […] He’s like, ‘What happened?’ I said, ‘I broke my leg.’ I knew exactly what it was. It was more just being upset about what was gonna come, but I’m fine.”

 

“I do have an attack plan. I do. Like I said, more than anything, I’m just motivated. So I do have an attack plan. […] Right now it’s just to get out of the pain. Once I get out of that, hopefully in about six weeks I’ll be able to walk with just once crutch. We’ll see from there. I don’t want to give you guys too much (of a) timetable. I want to go at my own speed; make sure I’m comfortable (with) what I’m doing. Hopefully, (in) six weeks I can walk a little bit better, start to put more pressure on it.”

 

Q: On if he will focus on the mental aspect of the game during his rehab year, like Kobe Bryant did when he missed extended time. […] Randle: “Yeah … The night I had broken (my leg), (Bryant) texted me. And we were talking, and he was one of the main people that helped me really get out of my pity party, saying, ‘It’s happened to players before. You’re not the first, and you’re gonna have a great comeback.’ He was like: ‘Your rehabilitation and your mindset starts now.’ And it did. I’ve struggled (some) days, but at the end of the day I’ll be fine.”

The post Kobe Bryant Helped Julius Randle Stop Feeling Sorry for Himself appeared first on SLAM.

Randle’s rookie year lasted all of one game, as he registered two points on one-for-three shooting in 13 minutes against the Houston Rockets Tuesday night prior to the devastating injury.

Per the LA Times:

Julius Randle underwent surgery this morning and is expected to make a full recovery from his broken leg. He won’t return this season.

— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) October 29, 2014

With veteran guard Steve Nash already out for the season because of chronic back problems, the Lakers could file another disabled-player exception with the NBA that would give them an additional $1.5 million in spending power. They would receive about $4.9 million to spend on a free agent or a player via trade if they were granted a disabled-player exception for Nash.

 

If the Lakers experience one more extended injury in addition to Nash, Randle and Nick Young, they could ask the NBA to extend their roster to 16 players via the rarely used “hardship” rule. […] When Young returns from a torn thumb ligament, the Lakers would have to go back to 15 players. He is expected to return near the end of November.

The post Julius Randle Undergoes Season-Ending Leg Surgery appeared first on SLAM.

Rookie big man Julius Randle broke the tibia in his right leg, and could be out for the rest of the year.

Per the Lakers’ team website and LA Times:

Lakers forward Julius Randle left tonight’s game against the Houston Rockets in the fourth quarter with an injury to his right leg. The initial diagnosis by team doctors at the arena is a fractured tibia. […] Randle will undergo further evaluation (Wednesday), and an update on his status will be given at that time.

 

Randle, the seventh overall pick in the draft, is expected to have surgery as early as Wednesday and will probably miss the entire season. He had two points on one-for-three shooting in 13 minutes when he left the game.

 

“I just told him, ‘Keep your spirits up,'” the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant said, adding that an injury like that would be hard enough to stomach for a veteran, let alone a 19-year-old like Randle. […] “We’ll help him through this,” Bryant said. “He’ll come back a better basketball player. That’s the goal, is to try to find the silver lining.”

The post Julius Randle Could Miss the Season With Fractured Tibia appeared first on SLAM.

Spurs 101 – Mavericks 100

Is there a better way to begin the season? A ring ceremony concluding with the revelation of your fifth Championship banner, followed by a win in a down-to-the-wire game against a division rival. Yeah, no. It doesn’t get much better.

Fans witnessed typical Spurs basketball in San Antonio last night—finding the open man to shoot efficiently (53 percent from the field), a solid Timmy Duncan double-double (14 points and 13 boards), an explosive Manu Ginobili off the bench (20 points), and a clutch Tony Parker whose 3-pointer with just over a minute left in the 4Q sealed the Spurs’ win. ‘Twas a nice time for the Spurs and their fans.

The new-look Mavs team wasn’t too shabby either. Nowitzki finished with 18 and Ellis with 26 points, 6 assists and 4 boards. They almost had the game when Dirk sank a three…but Tony answered back with his triple, and Chandler Parsons’ shot attempt to win it in the final seconds fell short.

Pelicans 101 – Magic 84

Hello, Anthony Davis! Stat line easily goes to the 21-year-old star, who had a near triple-double on opening night. With 26 points, 17 rebounds and 9 blocks (not to mention 3 steals), he became one of three players (the other two being Shaq and Tim Duncan) since 1985 to record 20+ points, 15+ boards and 8+ blocks before the ripe age of 22. We’re witnessing history here, people!

Newly acquired Pelican, Omer Asik, finished with his own double-double of 14 points and 17 rebounds. And to think these two guys weren’t even the game leaders in boards—the Magic’s Nikola Vucevic snagged 23 of them rebounds.

Orlando kept the game close with guys like Tobias Harris putting up 25 points, before New Orleans pulled away for good in the fourth.

Rockets 108 – Lakers 90

One man back, another man gone.

In Kobe Bryant’s return to the basketball court last night, the Houston Rockets blew out his Lakers in their own house. What made it worse—L.A.’s lottery pick, Julius Randle, suffered a broken leg and had to be rolled off the court.

The Black Mamba put up 19 points, 3 boards and 2 assists in his first game back, but James Harden and the Rockets stole the show. Harden had the game-high 32 points to go along with 6 assists. Needless to say, there were a number of #BeardAlert tweets sent out last night.

Terrence Jones, Trevor Ariza and Dwight Howard all contributed double digits for the Rockets as well, resulting in a smooth and satisfying road victory.

Games almost every night from here on out. Basketball is back!

The post Post Up: Opening Night appeared first on SLAM.

Having dazzled Laker fans with his floor game in the team’s 94-86 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, Randle reminded everyone that his childhood dream (despite his size) was to play like a certain superstar teammate.

Kobe Bryant and Lakers head coach Byron Scott are more than happy to keep the pressure on the rook, in order for him to reach his potential.

Per the LA Daily News:

“People used to tell me I’m going to be the next Shaq,” said Randle, the 6-9, 250 pound forward growing in height and strength at an early age. “I said, ‘I don’t want to be the next Shaq. I want to be the next Kobe.’ I always dribbled the ball everywhere I went.”

 

So will Randle eventually showcase a patented fadeaway jumper that Bryant has perfected? […] “I don’t know,” Randle said, laughing. “I guess. You’ll see.”

 

But as Randle dazzled the Lakers and their fans as he marched up and down the floor, it only validated Scott’s recent conversation he and Bryant recently had with Randle. […] “I told him, ‘As long as I’m standing on you or [Kobe’s] standing on you, it means that we care about you and love you and want you to do well,” Scott said. “When I stop talking to you, that’s when you should be worried.”

The post Julius Randle Says ‘I want to be the next Kobe’ appeared first on SLAM.

No pressure, rook!

(Bryant also made sure to continue his war with a certain media behemoth):

Kobe on Julius Randle having him and Byron Scott as mentors: "It means he can't f— it up. If you f— this up you're a really big idiot."

— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) October 20, 2014

Kobe: "ESPN are idiots but you're a really big idiot if you manage to f— this up."

— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) October 20, 2014

The post Kobe Bryant Says Julius Randle Can’t ‘F*ck Up’ Playing With Him appeared first on SLAM.

Rookie Julius Randle had a solid preseason debut Monday night — 10 points and eight rebounds in the Lakers’ 98-95 victory over the Denver Nuggets — but Scott thinks Randle still has a ways to go with his conditioning.

Scott wants the first-round draft pick (and the whole team) to be in phenomenal shape for the regular season.

Per the LA Times:

“He’s got to do a better job of setting screens,” said Scott. “He’s got to do a better job of getting up and down the floor. He does that in spurts.

 

“The biggest thing with him right now is that he has to get in better shape. He’s in good shape but he has to get in great shape.”

 

Scott has held a vigorous training camp, pushing his players to try to make the Lakers one of the best-conditioned teams in league. […] “When you’re not in great shape and you get tired, you lose focus, it’s that simple,” said Scott. “It’s just a matter of getting him in great shape.”

The post Lakers Coach Byron Scott Wants Julius Randle in Better Shape appeared first on SLAM.

Photos via Getty Images

Previously:
Week of July 18 – July 24
Week of July 11 – July 17

The post NBA Photos Of The Week appeared first on SLAM.

The Lakers sent freshly minted draft pick Julius Randle to Indiana for a Wednesday appointment with renowned foot specialist Dr. David Porter, who determined that Randle does not need surgery on his foot.

 

Randle has been cleared for all basketball activity, and is expected to play for L.A.’s Summer League team in Las Vegas.

The post Lakers Say Rookie Julius Randle Doesn’t Need Foot Surgery appeared first on SLAM.

“We don’t expect that there’d be any kind of preemptive surgery.” — Kupchak on Randle

— Bill Oram (@bill_oram) June 27, 2014

The post Lakers Don’t Think Julius Randle Will Need Foot Surgery appeared first on SLAM.

Look for teams to use this opportunity to trade existing assets to get younger (and cap lighter) as well as to trade down.

Here are the top players in the Draft (it doesn’t mean they will be taken at these picks) in what is one of the deepest draft boards in years.

Images via Getty and USA Today

The post NBA Draft Index, Vol. VII appeared first on SLAM.

I never do this but it was brought to me and it’s crazy how people put stories out there and have no clue what they are talking about.

— Julius Randle (@J30_RANDLE) June 12, 2014

No disrespect but check with the actual source next time before you put something like that out there @WojYahooNBA

— Julius Randle (@J30_RANDLE) June 12, 2014

What Wojnarowski says will happen usually happens in the NBA, so this story is far from over. Additionally, ESPN.com confirmed Woj’s report later in the day.

According to several team executives, the 6-foot-9 Kentucky forward’s broken right foot hasn’t healed correctly — and sources confirmed a Yahoo! Sports report that Randle may need surgery after the June 26 NBA draft that will keep him out of summer league.

 

“This is an issue,” one executive told ESPN.com. “It didn’t heal right.”

 

The post Julius Randle Refutes Reports About Upcoming Foot Surgery appeared first on SLAM.

The procedure is expected to keep Randle out six to eight weeks this summer, sources said, but there’s a strong expectation within front offices that he’ll be cleared for the start of training camp in the fall. In this scenario, Randle would miss rookie summer league in July.

 

Randle, who is 6-foot-9, is still planning workouts with teams, including Boston on Friday, league sources said.

 

As a high school senior in Texas two years ago, Randle missed three months with a fractured right foot. There was a screw placed into his foot that needs to be removed as a precautionary procedure, sources said. Randle hasn’t experienced pain in the foot, nor did he miss any games because of it in an All-America freshman season at Kentucky.

 

His draft stock isn’t expected to be impacted because of the surgery, league executives said. Several executives said they considered this a minor issue. 

The post Julius Randle May Need Surgery On Right Foot appeared first on SLAM.

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In the least surprising news of the day, Kentucky’s star freshman Julius Randle has declared for the NBA Draft.

The forward announced today that he will forgo his final three years of eligibility and declare for this year’s NBA Draft. He joins several other star freshman to make this announcement, including Kansas’s Joel Embiid and Andrew Wiggins and Duke’s Jabari Parker.

Randle helped carry Kentucky to the National Championship game as an 8 seed during the NCAA Tournament, where the Wildcats fell to UConn.

Via Lex18:

In his statement, Randle thanked UK fans and said he had the best coaching staff in the country that prepared him for this next step.

With five days left before the deadline for underclassmen to declare, the 6-foot-9 Dallas native announced the decision many expected even before he arrived as part of Kentucky’s best recruiting class ever. Projected as a lottery pick from the outset, Randle solidified his draft stock by leading Kentucky (29-11) to the NCAA final behind a string of double-doubles despite being double- and triple-teamed.

Randle averaged 15.0 points and 10.4 rebounds for the Wildcats this year, and is the No. 5 prospect in the draft, according to ESPN’s Chad Ford.

The post Kentucky’s Julius Randle Declares for NBA Draft appeared first on SLAM.

by Nick Rotunno

On Saturday in Arlington, TX, inside a massive 80,000-seat stadium normally occupied by the Dallas Cowboys, four excellent basketball teams will compete in the national semifinals of the NCAA Tournament.

They are nominally the best teams in the country right now. UConn, Florida, Kentucky and Wisconsin are the last men standing; they have survived a brutal single-elimination tournament and all the madness of March. They have played their best basketball when it matters most.

And now these four teams will compete for a shot at a national title, the biggest game on the NCAA’s grandest stage: Monday Night.

First we have No. 1 Florida versus No. 7 UConn—the muscular interior play and sturdy defense of the Gators against the quicksilver guards of the Huskies’ backcourt, the nation’s best. Then the nightcap: No. 2 Wisconsin versus No. 8 Kentucky, a matchup of two very different coaching styles—Kentucky and its NBA-ready freshmen, all the talent in the world, will look to slow down Wisconsin’s finely-tuned offensive machine.

We can expect the usual circus in North Texas.

There will be pageantry, net-cutting and a finely-rehearsed production. The media hordes will cover Arlington like a plague. There will be endless commercials during timeout breaks. In all likelihood there will be poor shooting –especially in the first halves—because it’s damn hard to shoot baskets in a drafty football arena when you’re accustomed to a gym.

That’s all fine, though. It’s just part of the experience, the exclamation point at the end of a marathon season. Might as well go out with a bang.

Yet beyond all the money and marketing, the Final Four is ultimately, and rightly, about the players involved. The coaches are great, to be sure, the public faces of the sport—but fans always remember the players.

Names are made here. Legacies are secured.

Who will be the man this year? Who’s going to score 30, or hit that legendary game-winning jumper? I have no idea, but I can’t wait to find out.

No. 1 Florida (36-2) vs No. 7 UConn (30-8)

AT&T Stadium, Saturday, 6:09 p.m. EST

How They Got Here

Top-seeded Florida was an odds-on favorite to reach the Final Four, and the Gators didn’t disappoint. They struggled to find their best form against Albany in the second round but still won easily, 67-55. They cruised by Pitt, a familiar rival, then bounced a very good UCLA team 79-68 in the Sweet 16, setting up a date with tournament darling Dayton. The 11-seeded Flyers had already knocked off Ohio State and Syracuse, so they didn’t fear Florida. But the Gators came to play. Center Patric Young controlled the block, point guard Scottie Wilbekin scored 23 points and the Gators knocked out the Flyers 62-52.

UConn’s run was much less predictable. The Huskies squeaked by St. Joseph’s in overtime, bested 2-seed Villanova 77-65, and defeated a very talented Iowa State squad in the Sweet 16. Last weekend UConn faced 4-seed Michigan State, a team many experts picked to win the whole thing. The Huskies had other ideas—slippery point guard Shabazz Napier cranked out 25 points, forward DeAndre Daniels went for 12 and 8, and Connecticut punched its ticket to the Final Four. The Huskies were 21-22 from the free throw stripe in that game, by the way.

Go-To Guys*

Florida

Patric Young – The 6-9, 240-pound senior is built like a piece of steel, with long arms and skills to boot. His size, experience and rebounding ability give Florida a big edge in the low post. Averaging 10.8 points and 6.2 boards per contest this season, Young has stepped up his game in the NCAA Tournament. Young’s looming presence on the low block last weekend helped Florida get past Dayton and into the Final Four.

Casey Prather – Another big-time forward in the Gators’ frontcourt, Prather is the team’s leading scorer at 13.8 ppg. Efficiency and high-percentage shots are Prather’s trademark—he’s shooting around 60 percent from the field this year.

Scottie Wilbekin – As Wilbekin goes, so go the Gators. The 6-2 senior runs the show on offense, averaging more than 13 points and 3.7 assists per game this season. He was brilliant against Dayton, running the floor, dissecting the Flyers’ defense. With sneaky handles and vision for miles, he’s the man to watch when the Gators have the ball.

UConn

Shabazz Napier – UConn’s senior point guard might be small in stature—6-1 (generously), 180 pounds—but nobody has a bigger heart. The Roxbury, MA, native has that tough city-style game—the silky dribbling skills, the lightning-quick drives to the rim, the range from deep. He can break down a defender one-on-one or hit the step-back jumper. With four years of college ball on his resume, he’s learned to draw fouls like nobody else in the tournament. And, probably most importantly, he can make all the right reads off the high ball screens that UConn runs so well, often finding his teammates with beautiful cross-court skip passes.

‘Bazz averages about 18 points per game, and he’s exploded over the past two weeks—24 against St. Joe’s, 25 against Villanova, 25 versus Michigan State on Sunday. Napier’s play has drawn comparisons to Kemba Walker’s incendiary performance in the 2011 tournament. He’s the leader of these Huskies, without a doubt. But can he follow in Kemba’s footsteps and bring a title back to Storrs? (For more on ‘Bazz, check out this great piece from SLAM’s Peter Walsh.)

DeAndre Daniels – A crucial piece of the Huskies’ lineup, Daniels provides some size and skill in the UConn frontcourt. He will have to keep pace with Florida’s talented bigs if UConn hopes to win Saturday. Daniels should be up to the task—the 6-9 junior has been terrific in this tournament. His best game was March 28 versus Iowa State, when he posted a 27-point, 10-rebound double-double.

What To Watch For

Florida is long, strong, fast and deep. They have a coach in Billy Donovan who knows how to win National Championships. It’s very hard to score on the Gators, and they have plenty of big bodies that can crash the boards.

But UConn is playing with an edge. Napier is all but unstoppable right now, the Huskies don’t miss free throws, and coach Kevin Ollie has this team swarming the ball on the defensive end of the floor. The backcourt matchups should be fascinating, especially the Wilbekin-Napier contest, a battle between two of the most competitive kids in the country.

This should be an excellent game between two experienced, well-coached clubs. My gut says Florida wins this thing; I think it’s the better team from top to bottom. If Shabazz gets going, though, and if UConn gets some additional scoring from Daniels, guard Ryan Boatright or 6-7 swingman Niels Giffey, the Huskies could very well pull off the “upset.”

One more juicy note: With an overall record of 36-2, Florida hasn’t dropped a game since Dec. 2—a 65-64 loss to UConn.

Bold Prediction: Florida 56, UConn 50

***

No. 2 Wisconsin (30-7) vs No. 8 Kentucky (28-10)

AT&T Stadium, Saturday, 8:49 p.m. EST

How They Got Here

Wisconsin’s road to the Final Four was a bumpy one. It struggled against a sharpshooting Oregon team in the third round (but rallied); stomped Baylor in one of the more impressive offensive showings of the entire Tournament; and beat Arizona 64-63 in the Elite Eight, in somewhat controversial fashion. Big Frank Kaminsky was brilliant against the Wildcats, scoring 28 points and tracking down 11 rebounds.

Kentucky, somehow, transformed itself over the last month or so. It became the team we all thought it would be at the beginning of the season, when the Wildcats were ranked No. 1 in the polls. Come NCAA Tournament time, Kentucky was ready to dispatch Kansas State, undefeated Wichita State and Louisville, the defending national champs. In the Elite Eight, young Aaron Harrison knocked down a three-pointer with just a few seconds left in the game to beat Michigan 75-72.

Go-To Guys*

Kentucky

Julius Randle – This young man is a future NBA lottery pick, and for good reason. The 6-9, 250-pound freshman is arguably the finest forward in the country, averaging 15.1 points and 10.7 rebounds per game this season. He’s a one-and-done, an elite physical specimen, but it’s his skill set that sets Randle above the rest. Ball-handling, shooting, interior footwork, passing—he can do it all, with the strength and physicality of a pro.

It’s fun to watch him work on the block. He beats defenders with quick spins, short jumpers or simple hard work. And boy, does he crash the glass for those all-important rebounds.

If Randle’s game is on, good luck beating Kentucky.

Alex Poythress – On this team, sophomores are the old men on the roster. Poythress is 6-8, 239 pounds, and he will be a critical player as the Wildcats look to contain Wisconsin’s multi-talented big men. Poythress doesn’t score a ton of points, but his size, experience and rebounding skills will be much-needed in this game.

Aaron Harrison – A big (6-6), talented guard, Aaron is one-half of Kentucky’s vaunted Harrison twins combo. He’s been extremely clutch of late, hitting big shots when the Wildcats need them most. None was bigger than the last-second three-pointer he knocked down against Michigan, the shot over a defender’s outstretched hand that sent Kentucky to the Final Four. Harrison is a big-time scorer, playmaker and long-distance shooter. If Kentucky needs a bucket late, look for him to take the shot.

Wisconsin

Frank Kaminsky – With every big shot, the legend of “Frank the Tank” continues to grow. Earlier this season, I thought Kaminsky was merely a nice piece of Bo Ryan’s offense, while Sam Dekker or Ben Brust would be the real scoring threats. I did not foresee—who did?—the ascendance of Frank Kaminsky.

At 7-0, 234 pounds, averaging 14.1 points and 6.4 boards per game, Big Frank is a walking matchup problem. The junior is a stretch-5, if such a position actually exists. He shoots the three-ball with devastating accuracy, passes extremely well and commands double-teams on the low block. To watch him work in the post is to watch a man with nearly limitless options—up-and-under, drop step left or right, shot-fake-and-drive, jump hook, etc., etc. Kaminsky scored 28 points on Saturday against Arizona; he dropped 19 on Baylor in Sweet 16. When the big man is flowing, the Wisconsin offense is all but un-guardable.

Sam Dekker – Wisconsin’s second-most dangerous player has been a little quiet in the Tournament, but don’t let his numbers fool you. Dekker is a tall, versatile forward with a surplus of skill; a guy who can stretch the floor or finish near the rim. He’s only scored 7 points in his last two games, largely deferring to Kaminsky and others, but he’s due for an offensive explosion.

Traevon Jackson – Perhaps the most important player on this Badgers team, Jackson is Wisconsin’s only true ball-handling guard, and he makes the offense go. Turnovers just aren’t his thing—he’s always in control, finding the open man, initiating Bo Ryan’s intricate sets. The savvy junior is a clutch late-game scorer, but he’s most effective spearheading the offense and getting his shooters good looks at the rim.

What To Watch For

Two very different coaches with very different philosophies will square off in North Texas. John Calipari is the one-and-done guy, the master recruiter who hordes All-Americans and wins National Championships with them. His teams are always long on talent and short on experience, and this year’s Kentucky squad is no exception.

Bo Ryan is all about the Wisconsin system, the ongoing development of a player from freshman to sophomore to junior. Most of his kids aren’t going to the NBA, and that’s fine with Bo. They stick around for three or four years and, like Frank Kaminsky, sometimes develop into a special kind of player.

Stylistically, Kentucky leans on its superior athleticism, its ability to break down defenders and its rebounding. Randle is a beast. Wisconsin plays pretty good defense, no doubt, but it’s the offensive end where the Badgers really shine. They’re an excellent passing team, good screeners, deadly with the shot fake. Kaminsky toys with defenders.

My questions for this game: Can Wisconsin defend the powerful Wildcats, particularly Randle and the Harrisons? And can Kentucky find any solution for Kaminsky and Badgers’ offense?

We’ll just have to wait and see.

Bold Prediction: Wisconsin 72, Kentucky 68

*Statistics per ESPN.com

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by Leigh Klein / @leighalanklein

The 2014 NBA Draft has been seen as the Holy Grail with a dozen impact players who can elevate a franchise. The projected top-five picks have the potential to be All-Stars in their inaugural season. This is an especially tremendous number when it is also considered that typical Drafts have five to 10 rotational players and this Draft could have 15 to 20 depending on development. With the NBA Draft Index, we will track the top players throughout the rest of the college season.

1) Jabari Parker, 6-8, G/F, Duke

The skill package is just too impressive to pass up for the top spot. Return of his bounce and acceleration from last season’s leg injury has surprised scouts. Must become a better perimeter defender or will slide down. Assist/turnover ratio disappointing, must show more trust in teammates.

2) Andrew Wiggins, 6-8, G/F, Kansas

The “wow” factor in this Draft. Has shown incredible bounce and quickness. He’s still continuing to develop as a basketball player. Excels in transition. Has good shooting mechanics, look for continued development of his handle. Should become a better distributor as season goes on. Athletism is in the top one-tenth percentile in the world.

3) Marcus Smart, 6-4, G, Oklahoma State

Consummate winner who has excelled at the point on the collegiate level. New defensive rules make Smart unguardable. Strength, quickness and passing ability impress while three-point consistency remains a question. Fierce competitor, but the Memphis game exposed that he makes errors by forcing the issue.

4) Joel Embiid, 7-0, C, Kansas

Late-blooming skilled 4/5. Has 7-5 wingspan. Terrific touch and face-up skills. Needs to become more assertive in post. Former soccer star has only been playing for three years. His long-term potential is immense. As the season progresses, his confidence will rise and so will his dominance.

5) Julius Randle, 6-9, F, Kentucky

Southpaw has the power and quickness to dominate the game. Most comfortable 15 feet and in, will be tested with NBA defender’s size and length. Tunnel vision has led to over 3 turnovers per game average. Shows consistent motor, good footwork and great balance. Underrated athlete and competitor, averages nearly 9 free-throw attempts per game.

6) James Young, 6-6, G/F, Kentucky

Athletic lefty is Kentucky’s most complete talent possessing deep three-point range to go along with good ability to finish at the rim. Low shooting percentage is more an indicator of lack of time with the basketball as he fights for touches with talented Wildcat cast. Game will translate to the next level at the shooting guard position.

7) Noah Vonleh, 6-10, F, Indiana

Double-double machine has great length and athleticism as he is just starting to unlock his offensive talent. Game has the ability to expand with sneaky perimeter skills including ability to hit three-point shot. 7-4 wingspan needs to add strength and lose tweener label.

8) Aaron Gordon, 6-8, F, Arizona

Understands and is willing to play his role for the top-seeded Arizona Wildcats. Dynamic athlete with quality ball skills. Has really impressed with his passing ability. Efficient player who must improve perimeter shot. Currently projects as a 4 on the next level. Wingspan is 6-11.

9) Montrezl Harrell, 6-8, F/C, Louisville

Lacks refined offensive game, but the long and bouncy above-the-rim performer has room to grow. Terrific motor, “manimalistic” on the glass with a mid-range game. 7-4 wingspan makes up for being a bit undersized for the next level.

10) Rodney Hood, 6-8, G/F, Duke

Prospective 2-guard excels in catch and shoot situations. Scorching this season over 45 percent from behind the arc and over 61 percent on two-point shots. Capable of doing more than score, needs to show ability to distribute the basketball as well as rebound at a higher level. Not an above-the-rim player, will be tested defending the perimeter on the next level.

11) Jerami Grant, 6-8, F, Syracuse

Rising talent is son of former NBA and Clemson standout Harvey Grant. Looks to follow track of former DeMatha Stag, Victor Oladipo. Backing up strong summer with tripling his output for surprising Orange. Explosive, athletic and long with a high motor. Must gain consistency with perimeter shot and extend shooting range.

12) Gary Harris, 6-4, G, Michigan State

Terrific scorer with a fantastic mid-range game but durability is a concern. Harris continues to fight the injury bug. Quality finisher with an array moves around the basket to complement three-point ability. Will need to refine ball-handling skills to progress.

THE NEXT TIER

Andrew Harrison, 6-5, G, Kentucky

Oozes with talent but continues to battle with not being the top option at Kentucky. Can get separation, score at the basket and hit the deep three. Looks to be a better pro if he can lose the selfishness and poor body language. Brother Aaron is quickly closing the gap between the siblings.

Zach LaVine, 6-5, G, UCLA

Freshman scorer doesn’t get the press his game deserves. Talented on the perimeter and even better athlete. Long, thin, has flaws, but this late bloomer is a potential lottery pick.

Brandon Ashley, 6-9, F, Arizona

Has been the unsung hero for the ‘Cats in the early part of the season. Quality scoring option who has become a match-up nightmare for opponents. Does all the little things when it counts. Impressive perimeter skills, looking more and more like a pro each game.

ALL-RIP VAN WINKLE TEAM (Players who have suddenly woken up this season to be valuable for their team)

Casey Prather, 6-5, F, Florida, SR

Has become the Gator’s top gun, tripling his scoring and improving across the board in his contributions.

Perry Ellis, 6-8, F, Kansas, SO

Former McDonald’s All American looked like a bust last season, has quietly been the most consistent Jayhawk.

Brice Johnson, 6-9, F, North Carolina, SO

Confident scorer has been a big part of three notable early season Tar Heel victories. Averaging double-figures in only 20 minutes per game.

Leigh Klein was formerly on staff at Texas and Rhode Island and is a popular guest on radio. He now owns Five-Star Basketball Camps, the nation’s top basketball camp. He contributes to SLAMonline and its coverage of college basketball and the NBA Draft. Klein can be followed at @LeighAlanKlein.

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Like everyone else in the hoops world this week, Kevin Durant was glued to his TV and riveted by the Andrew Wiggins/Jabari Parker showdown. Durant loves both kids’ games, and thinks Wiggins — who has tried to deflect comparisons to superstars like Durant — has an extremely high ceiling once he makes it to the NBA. Per Yahoo! Sports: “He’s raw, but his ceiling is high. He can be like a Hall of Famer, All-Star, for sure. He’s good,’ said Durant before the Thunder’s loss to the Golden State Warriors. Durant said he watched closely on television as Wiggins and Kansas defeated Duke on Tuesday night. Duke features another talented true freshman forward in Jabari Parker, whom Durant also thinks highly of after working with him at his basketball camp last summer. Some NBA general managers and scouts aren’t convinced Wiggins is the clear No. 1 overall pick, with Parker, Kentucky freshman forward Julius Randle, Oklahoma State guard Marcus Smart and Australian guard Dante Exum in the running. ‘That [Parker] kid is amazing,’ Durant said. ‘I think he is the best player in the country. Him and Wiggins are like ‘1A’ and ‘1B.’ Those guys are going to do the one-and-done thing, do it early. They are going to do really well in college and lead their teams to, I think, the Final Four. That’s kind of like, ‘Close your eyes and pick one.’ You’re good with either one of those guys. I love Jabari’s game. He’s so skilled. He has it all right now. Wiggins is on another level with God-given ability. You look at him, you can tell he’s going to be really big and fill out a lot. He’s really athletic.’ Durant said the next generation of basketball players are ahead of the curve in large part because of technology.”

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by Bill DiFilippo / @bflip33

College basketball’s biggest night certainly lived up to the substantial amount of hype.

At the third annual State Farm Champions Classic in Chicago on Tuesday night, basketball fans saw the game’s future stars face off and shine, as No. 2 Michigan State defeated No. 1 Kentucky, 78-74, and No. 5 Kansas beat No. 4 Duke, 94-83.

The tournament’s first game was fantastic, and featured a matchup of the country’s top two teams for the first time since 2008. Like in ’08, the No. 2 team defeated the John Calipari-led No. 1 team on Tuesday night in what will go down as one of college basketball’s best games of the season.

The Spartans were led by its dynamic backcourt of Keith Appling and Gary Harris. The duo combined for 42 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists and 7 steals, and constantly frustrated Kentucky’s inexperienced guards. Michigan State jumped out to an early 10-0 lead and never looked back, despite Kentucky fighting valiantly, particularly star freshman Julius Randle. The Dallas native showed why he’s a contender to be the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft with a 27-point, 13-rebound performance.

While the Wildcats were able to make things very interesting, even tying the game with 4:48 left to go, they were unable to overcome their early deficit, and by the time the polls are released next week, Michigan State will almost certainly be the No. 1 team in America.

The second game of the night was just as wild, with Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker both exploding onto the national scene. While Parker had the better night—he had 27 points and 9 rebounds compared to 22 points and 8 rebounds for Wiggins—it was Wiggins’ Jayhawks coming away with the win.

The game was much closer than the score indicated. Much of the game was spent with neither team leading by more than five points until the very end, when Duke needed to start fouling in an attempt to keep the game close. However, behind Wiggins and a 24-point, 9-rebound performance from sophomore forward Perry Ellis, the Jayhawks came out on top.

Both games were fantastic, and college basketball fans should cross their fingers that we see these teams cross paths again sometime later this season.

Related: NBA Players React to Kansas’ Win Over Duke

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Three of the most sought-after NBA draft picks in the 2014 class were on display last night, playing in front of a national TV audience as NBA GMs salivated. According to Coach K, no team would ever dream of tanking for the chance to nab Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker or Julius Randle next summer. No, sir: “If that is happening, shame on whoever is doing it,’ Coach K said in response to a question following No. 5 Kansas’ 94-83 victory over No. 4 Duke in the Champions Classic. Then he jokingly asked a reporter, ‘Are you doing it?’ At least one NBA GM told ESPN.com that he was effectively tanking. ‘Our team isn’t good enough to win and we know it … Sometimes my job is to understand the value of losing,’ he said. And an NBA executive told SNY.tv he believes as many as six NBA teams are doing something similar because they have ‘unqualified GMs’ who are using this loaded draft as an excuse. ‘They are [tanking] but they shouldn’t,’ that NBA executive added at the Champions Classic. ‘They are tanking to save their jobs from their own inadequacies not because Julius Randle can score around the basket and [Andrew] Wiggins can catch lobs.’ For a guy like Coach K, it’s just hard to ‘fathom’ that any NBA team would do such a thing. ‘As an American I wouldn’t like to think that an American team would [ever] want to lose or create situations where you would want to lose,’ he said. ‘I can’t even fathom. I can’t go there. I can’t believe that that would happen. Maybe I’m naive and I’m going to go ready a fairytale after this.’ […] No matter how you rank them, one thing is clear: All three are special talents who might be worth tanking for. Or at least, if you end up with a top 3 or 4 pick, you certainly have a lot to look forward to. ‘I don’t think anybody’s tanking,’ Kansas coach Bill Self said. ‘I know that guys that like to play, compete and I guess you can make sure that you don’t play certain guys, which I don’t think has happened. But I think that those three all have a chance to be special.'”

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