alba Page 5 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Ja Morant doesn’t have to wait until next season for redemption
Ja Morant spoke to the media Friday for the first time since the end of last season and the announcement of his 25-game suspension that ends Monday. The Memphis Grizzlies’ All-NBA guard said all of the right things while acknowledging that his behavior is critically more important than a soundbite. ...

This week in the basketball: Illinois St. coach in n-word flap; Giannis Antetokuonmpo still hasn't found his ball
What a typical response to racism from the head coach of Illinois State men’s basketball. During a home game on Saturday, Ryan Pedon got in an altercation with Norfolk State head coach Robert Jones. A situation that was none of Pedon’s business, because Jones was not even talking in the direction of...

Feeling glum about your NBA team this holiday season? Here's a wishlist that is sure to cheer you up (Maybe)
As the holidays near, it’s easy to imagine the wishlists of certain NBA teams across the league. We’ve highlighted what specific teams should be asking Santa to course-correct their season or become the contender we all expected. Let’s dive into the top 10. ...

Adam Silver shouldn't be consulting Twitter to decide Draymond Green's suspension
After a day of internet outrage by the media and fans alike, Draymond Green has been sat down for an indefinite amount of time. The NBA said he’ll have to meet certain league and team criteria before returning to the court. The punishment isn’t surprising, nor is it easy to evaluate considering it’s...

Pistons, Spurs serving as an impetus/impotence for another in-season tourney
If you ask Santa for anything this Christmas, ask for the Tanking Super Bowl. The Detroit Pistons, losers of 20 in a row, and the San Antonio Spurs, losers of 17 straight, play each other Jan. 10. That’s a little under a month away, and if both teams continue this dismal form, Detroit and San Antoni...

Adam Silver wants to improve the NBA's IST with...more colorful courts
Look forward to more colorful courts and even higher stakes during future NBA in-season tournaments. ...

Ranking the NBA's rookie class so far (And No. 1 is not who you think it is)
With all the hyperbole around Victor Wembanyama being the next generational talent, it’s fair no one expected competition against him winning Rookie of the Year Award. But after sitting all last season due to an early leg injury — Chet Holmgren has beaten the injury-prone allegations to emerge as th...

Raptors may countersue Knicks for defamation
The Toronto Raptors are exploring the possibility of countersuing the New York Knicks, according to The Athletic. ...

The NBA In-Season Tournament crowd sounded like the ones in the bubble
Adam Silver’s attempt to bring more excitement to the NBA’s regular season fell a little flat in its first attempt. It’s only the first In-Season Tournament, so there are sure to be kinks to work out, but maybe it wasn’t the best idea to have the final on a neutral court. ...

The numbers don’t lie: Steph, Klay and Dray’s Golden State Gilded Age is over
Around 2017, I realized I was behind the curve by using free Pandora. I still kept my account for another few years out of an irrational attachment to it, long after everyone else had matriculated away from Pandora digital radio towards Spotify. That’s how it feels watching Golden State try to count...

These are the holiday films certain NBA fanbases need to watch this season
Christmas is the ultimate overlap of entertainment and sports. The year’s blockbusters are typically reserved for release on Christmas Day, with a slew of big-budget and indie hits releasing all month. Christmas Day sees the league’s best rivalries matched up for primetime holiday viewing. ...

The roast of LeBron James took place on social media following the NBA Cup championship game
There’s a saying in the social media world about the internet being undefeated. So, while Father Time chases after LeBron James, the internet takes pride in tackling the King to the ground every chance it gets. This time, they’ve captured him after James and the Lakers secured a victory Saturday nig...

Shohei Ohtani will stay in SoCal after all
Baseball’s biggest star is officially staying in L.A., but he’ll be wearing a new jersey. Shohei Ohtani announced via his Instagram that he has agreed to a deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers....

This week in the NBA: Ime Udoka wrong to jaw with Lebron James; top 3 rookies are off to rough starts
Everyone who works for the NBA or one of its franchises should always behave in a professional manner. That being said, the head coach is supposed to be the person in charge of the team. A head coach is like the general manager of a store. That person may not own the place, but the person does need ...

Giannis and Zion sure sounded like they, too, didn’t take the In-Season Tournament seriously
The biggest questions facing the NBA’s In-Season Tournament were: Would people care? Would fans care? Would players care? Because if no one cares, then we’re back to square one of the Association’s conundrum and watching effortless (not the good kind) December basketball. ...

If NBA teams can raise division-title banners, they should be able to raise a banner for the In-Season Cup
The inaugural In-Season Tournament is nearing its conclusion, which can only mean one thing: How can we find a new way to dump on it? Fortunately, a contrived controversy has been delivered on cue. The winner of this weekend’s In-Season Tournament will have to navigate the thorny situation over how ...

Why is no one screaming about the NBA’s MVP race yet?
There’s one unquestioned upside to the NBA’s In-Season Tournament. The endless promos and exhausting exposure to promote Adam Silver’s baby — and debate over if it’s working or if it matters — has overshadowed the usual topic de jour as we hit the quarter-season mark: The MVP race....

Anthony Edwards is salty about being called an All-Star
The next time you’re out and about and happen to run into Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards, don’t dare refer to him as an All-Star. Even though he is indeed a one-time All-Star “selection,” he won’t acknowledge this fact. He doesn’t count it since he wasn’t a first-choice selection to the...

LeBron James wants to win the NBA Cup because Michael Jordan didn't
The NBA Cup/In-Season Tournament finally concludes in Las Vegas this week. LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers outlasted the Phoenix Suns in a scrappy game Tuesday night to advance to the semifinals. James put on a show against Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, scoring 31 points, dishing 11 dimes, ...

Tyrese Haliburton has the Pacers skipping the NBA waiting line
There are three tiers of NBA existence: Teams stuck in the mud, teams trying to fit through a championship window and future contenders waiting their turn. Prior to Tyrese Haliburton’s first full season as a Pacer, Indiana was rudderless and stuck on a road to nowhere. Aside from Haliburton, there w...