August 14, 2024 | 8:29 pm EDT Update
Thunder will play against Nikola Jokic in Denver to kickoff NBA season
Shams Charania: Noteworthy NBA season opener: Oklahoma City Thunder @ Denver Nuggets on TNT October 24, per sources. Matchup of the top two seeds in the Western Conference last season.
28 mins ago – via Twitter ShamsCharania
NBA Schedule, Top Rumors
Top Rumors, NBA Schedule, Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder
How surprised are you that TNT couldn’t reach a deal to keep the NBA after such a long relationship with the league? Kenny Smith: I don’t know if I’m surprised. I just think that the art of negotiation — you look at what Adam Silver has done for the NBA (during) his tenure socially, financially and the recognition, they were going to explore the best opportunities. It’s unfortunate that it’s not clean. But honestly — and I say this without any hesitation — I think this is the most unique opportunity for the four of us to create an opportunity, if we collectively move together, or stay together, to have ownership in the property and to make sure the people who helped us be this successful are still with us. That would be the first time in television history.
28 mins ago – via Houston Chronicle
Adam Silver, Business, Kenny Smith, Media, NBA, TNT, Uncategorized
Adam Silver, Business, Kenny Smith, Media, NBA, TNT
With TNT suing the NBA, is there any thought to how awkward this coming season could be for you guys on the air? Kenny Smith: No, because we do our jobs. Our job is to talk (about) the game and give insight and also give you insight about what’s going on behind the scenes with TNT. Like, “Hey, we’re not happy.” That’s part of what makes us different. I don’t think any other network would allow or want their talent to talk about things like that. We’re going to do it, no matter what happens. But again, we’ve had a great run. If it continues, it’ll be great. But also, there are massive opportunities for the four of us — again, to create ownership opportunities to make sure our directors, producers, makeup, stats and audio people are still part of one of the greatest shows in sports TV history.
28 mins ago – via Houston Chronicle
Business, Kenny Smith, Media, NBA, TNT, Uncategorized
Business, Kenny Smith, Media, NBA, TNT
Your championships were sandwiched between two Michael Jordan three-peats. Do you think those Rockets teams have gotten their proper due for what they accomplished? Kenny Smith: You can’t erase history. I don’t know if you get proper due, but you can’t erase history. Everyone always says, “Well, Michael was out.” No, he wasn’t — he was wearing No. 45 (in 1995). And everyone is saying, “Oh, he was rusty.” No one was saying he was rusty when he had 55 points at Madison Square Garden that same year. He had 55 points against the Knicks, who were arguably the best defensive team in basketball at that time. No, he was Michael Jordan. (The Bulls) just weren’t as good a basketball team. The team they lost to, the Orlando Magic, we swept. I never look at it as getting respect. You can’t erase history. And we’re here to stay. He did play that year, so there was only one year he wasn’t there. He did play (during the second title run). He was there, and we just didn’t get an opportunity to meet them.
28 mins ago – via Houston Chronicle
Kenny Smith, Madison Square Garden, Uncategorized
Kenny Smith, Madison Square Garden, Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic
Joel Embiid is adding to his medal collection — just days after winning gold at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, the NBA star was awarded the “Order of Valor” in his home country of Cameroon. The special moment happened on Wednesday in the Central African country … with the Sixers center surrounded by fans as he made his way to meet Cameroon President Paul Biya.
28 mins ago – via TMZ.com
Cameroon, Uncategorized
Cameroon, Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Sean Highkin: With one year remaining on their deal, the Blazers are parting ways with ROOT Sports, effective immediately. Sources with knowledge of their plans say they will move to an over-the-air partner to be announced. Story with more details on what it means: https://rosegardenreport.com/p/trail-blazers-parting-ways-with-root
28 mins ago – via Twitter highkin
Media, TV Rights, Uncategorized
Media, TV Rights, Portland Trail Blazers
August 14, 2024 | 6:40 pm EDT Update
Josh Bartelstein: Kevin Durant loves being here in Phoenix
We’ve seen these Kevin Durant “trade rumors” that have come up, which seem more based in conjecture than anything else, but how have the conversations been with KD? Obviously he’s eligible for a one-year contract extension, it seems like everything we’ve heard is he wants to be here and the feeling is mutual, but how have those conversations been? Josh Bartelstein: So I talk to KD all the time about how his life is, about the Olympics, a lot of time we’re doing FaceTime audios in Easton Paris, and it’s, again, the coolest thing for me, I’m talking to Kevin Durant about basketball. Again, I pinch myself. But I think everyone’s head’s in the right place. He loves it here. We talk to Rich Kleiman, who’s his partner, all the time about the vision and what we’re building, and everyone’s really happy, and I think we’re gonna have a really really good year. And Kevin’s part of all the discussions about the vision for the team, all the stuff we’re doing on the court, off the court. So the fact that we have all that dialogue, there’s equity built into it. If you do those things, everything else will take care of itself.
2 hours ago – via gophnx.com
Josh Bartelstein, Rich Kleiman, Trade, Top Rumors
Top Rumors, Josh Bartelstein, Rich Kleiman, Trade, Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns
Take us into the process of how you three at the top — you, Mat Ishbia, James Jones — and the dynamic there and how you manage the day-to-day and what you each bring. Josh Bartelstein: Yeah, it’s a great question. Mat’s awesome. I think we have a huge competitive advantage from an ownership standpoint. His age, he can connect. Having played, he understands the game of basketball, which is so important. And then resource-wise, he doesn’t bat an eye to what we’re doing. And many people wouldn’t do that. So Mat and I talk all day, every day, it’s the best thing ever. My wife jokes that he’s higher than her on the speed dial list, and he probably is right now. And James is right there, and we talk all the time too, and we have weekly calls, but we talk about everything. I think the best teams don’t have any bifurcation between business and basketball. It’s all tied together, whether it’s a budget or adding a player or a marketing plan and recruiting a player, you can’t just have one side do it. So in our structure, we’re all tied together, and James and I talk all the time about, you know, trades and signings and building our team and adding medical staff. Like, it’s all tied together, and James hears all the talk about business — ticket sales and partnerships, and he comes to pitches with us.
2 hours ago – via gophnx.com
James Jones, Josh Bartelstein, Mat Ishbia, Uncategorized
James Jones, Josh Bartelstein, Mat Ishbia, Phoenix Suns
Duane Rankin: Suns preseason sked: Oct. 6 Lakers in Greater Palm Springs area. Oct. 11 Pistons at Footprint Center. Oct. 13 at Nuggets. Oct. 17 Lakers at Footprint Center. #Suns
2 hours ago – via Twitter DuaneRankin
Schedule, Uncategorized
Schedule, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns
Ryan Ward: Lakers make it official that they’ve signed Quincy Olivari and Kylor Kelley. pic.x.com/yhyfmz87fs
2 hours ago – via Twitter RyanWardLA
Free Agency, Training camp, Uncategorized
Free Agency, Training camp, Kylor Kelley, Quincy Olivari, Los Angeles Lakers
Keith Pompey: Sixers coach Nick Nurse teaching campers the proper shooting form at the Nick Nurse Basketball Shooting Camp at Kuemper Catholic School. pic.x.com/gkejl8a21d
Sixers coach Nick Nurse teaching campers the proper shooting form at the Nick Nurse Basketball Shooting Camp at Kuemper Catholic School. pic.twitter.com/GKEjL8A21d
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) August 14, 2024
2 hours ago – via Twitter PompeyOnSixers
Nick Nurse, Uncategorized
Nick Nurse, Philadelphia 76ers
