Ashish Mathur Articles - Page 181

Sacramento Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox believes his decision-making and perimeter shooting are two aspects of his game which have improved since he entered the NBA. Fox, arguably the fastest player in the NBA, says he understands the pro game a lot better now compared to when he was a rookie. “I think my decision-making […]

Boston Celtics point guard Kemba Walker is enjoying being around new teammates Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart at Team USA. Since Walker is the new point guard of the Celtics, he’s using this Team USA experience to develop chemistry with Tatum, Brown and Smart — both on and off the court. So far, […]

The Milwaukee Bucks are projected to win the Eastern Conference next season based on ESPN’s real plus-minus projections. Surprisingly, the real plus-minus projections have the Boston Celtics ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers. Most people believe the Sixers, after signing All-Star big man Al Horford and acquiring combo guard Josh Richardson, are the second-best team in […]

Boston Celtics combo guard Marcus Smart says point guard Kemba Walker is “actually a really good defensive player.” Smart says he didn’t know Walker could play high-level defense, but admits the three-time All-Star wasn’t able to with the Charlotte Hornets since he had to use so much energy on offense to keep the Hornets in […]

De’Aaron Fox says new Sacramento Kings head coach Luke Walton pushed him to make the Team USA World Cup roster. It looks like Fox took Walton’s challenge seriously, as the youngster is a virtual lock to make the team after dominating the first week of training camp in Las Vegas. Team USA is taking 12 […]

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has enjoyed his time around Sacramento Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox with Team USA. Fox was the standout player at Team USA training camp in Las Vegas last week and is a virtual lock to make the 12-man roster which will compete at the FIBA World Cup in […]

Milwaukee Bucks small forward Khris Middleton says Team USA has “the group text going already” as they work on bonding. Team USA will take 12 players to China to compete in the FIBA World Cup. Since the majority of the players on the roster have no experience playing with each other, Middleton says it’s important […]

Bobby Portis is looking forward to playing for New York Knicks head coach David Fizdale next season. Portis says the Knicks head coach is built the same way he is: a passionate and fierce competitor. “Since my interview process, he’ll text me everyday,” Portis told Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson of Heavy. “He’s a fierce coach, […]

There’s nothing to Carmelo Anthony working out with Brooklyn Nets players in Los Angeles, as it’s just friends playing pick-up basketball, according to Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Nets star point guard Kyrie Irving organized a mini-camp for Brooklyn players in Los Angeles. Anthony is joining the Nets players who are working out, […]

Draymond Green reveals he agreed to his contract extension with the Golden State Warriors after checking into his hotel in Toronto for Drake’s OVO Fest. Green says he had no idea it was going to happen that morning despite knowing his agent and the Warriors were talking about a possible extension. “Absolutely. You know, it’s […]

Golden State Warriors power forward Draymond Green is looking forward to playing with D’Angelo Russell, Willie Cauley-Stein and Kevon Looney next season. Russell and Cauley-Stein are the newcomers on the Warriors, while Looney has been in Golden State for the past four years. Green says Russell, Cauley-Stein and Looney are “coming in with something to […]

Draymond Green could have waited to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2020 to get a more lucrative deal with the Golden State Warriors, but he decided to sign a four-year, $100 million extension with the Dubs this summer. Green says testing the open market doesn’t always work in your favor. The […]

Draymond Green still can’t believe he signed a $100 million contract extension with the Golden State Warriors. Green agreed to the deal this summer, and he knows how blessed he is. “There’s been several points where I’ve sat back and said, ‘Wow, hey, I signed for $100 million.’ Like, that’s not your normal thing for […]

Golden State Warriors power forward Draymond Green says his new $100 million contract proves those who thought he wouldn’t make it in the NBA were wrong. Green was a second round pick back in the 2012 NBA Draft. However, he turned himself into an All-Star player and won three championships with the Warriors. Now, the […]

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green is “excited” about the uncertainty that the 2019-20 season brings. For the first time in years, the Warriors aren’t the favorites to win the championship after losing two-time Finals MVP Kevin Durant in free agency. It didn’t help that shooting guard Klay Thompson tore his ACL in Game 6 […]

Golden State Warriors All-Star power forward Draymond Green says he “found out when everybody else found out” in regards to star Kevin Durant signing with the Brooklyn Nets in free agency. Durant announced on his “Boardroom” Instagram page he was leaving the Warriors to sign with the Nets. Green had no problem with how Durant […]

Golden State Warriors power forward Draymond Green says he’s excited to be “the underdog” again. The Warriors lost Kevin Durant and Andre Iguodala this summer and will be without Klay Thompson for the majority of next season as he recovers from an ACL tear. As a result, for the first time in years, the Warriors […]

Sacramento Kings small forward Harrison Barnes is the lone holdover from the USA team which won gold at the Olympics back in 2016. Barnes is one of the leaders of the current USA Team which will compete at the FIBA World Cup in China. The swingman is embracing his leadership role and will look to […]

Chicago Bulls power forward Lauri Markkanen is already picking on his new rookie, point guard Coby White. White had his back turned to Markkanen, so the Bulls big man decided to have some fun with the youngster by dunking all over him: Well…that’s one way to welcome @CobyWhite to the team, @MarkkanenLauri 🤣 pic.twitter.com/8WaYXCyteL — […]

Golden State Warriors power forward Draymond Green says he’s happy for superstar small forward Kevin Durant, who signed with the Brooklyn Nets this summer after playing three seasons in Golden State. Green says Durant is his “brother” and deserved the right to choose where he wanted to play next after winning two championships with the […]

Golden State Warriors power forward Draymond Green says he has heard some people are saying the Warriors won’t make the playoffs next season. Green says it’s “crazy” to hear stuff like that: Draymond Green on those saying the Warriors won't make the playoffs: "That's crazy to me" pic.twitter.com/4Us6sa4Edp — Chris Montano (@gswchris) August 14, 2019 […]

Carmelo Anthony has been participating in informal team workouts and scrimmages with Brooklyn Nets players in Los Angeles recently, according to Anthony Puccio and Ian Begley of SNY. Anthony is an unrestricted free agent. He hasn’t played in an NBA game since November. Ten-time All-Star and free agent forward Carmelo Anthony has been participating in informal team […]

Utah Jazz shooting guard Donovan Mitchell is ready for Joe Ingles’ antics when Team USA and Australia meet next week. USA and Australia meet next week for a FIBA World Cup exhibition game. Via Peter Mitchell of 7news.com.au: Mitchell is prepared for plenty of Ingles’ legendary trash talk and cheeky play. “He’s always grabbing at […]

Los Angeles Lakers small forward Kyle Kuzma has been enjoying his time with Team USA. Kuzma, the lone Laker with Team USA, says it’s been fun “playing the right way” under head coach Gregg Popovich and with all the star power on the USA team. “We’ve got a deep team. When you play with an […]

An NBA scout would bet on the Miami Heat being a “lower seed” playoff team next season. The Heat acquired four-time All-Star Jimmy Butler from the Philadelphia 76ers in a sign-and-trade deal this offseason. Miami traded Josh Richardson to the Sixers for Butler and also moved Hassan Whiteside to the Portland Trail Blazers for Meyers […]

Elfrid Payton’s dad says his son chose the New York Knicks in free agency “because of the fit.” Payton signed a two-year, $16 million deal with the Knicks in July. The second season is a team option. “He chose New York because of the fit,” Payton Sr. told Marc Berman of the New York Post. […]

The San Antonio Spurs expect DeMar DeRozan’s second year in their system to be even better. San Antonio is getting starting point guard Dejounte Murray back next season, which means DeRozan will get to focus on scoring the ball even more in 2019-20. Murray missed the entire 2018-19 campaign with an ACL injury. Via Jabari […]

Miami Heat power forward Kelly Olynyk will be unable to compete for Canada in the 2019 FIBA World Cup, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Olynyk suffered a bone bruise in his knee against Nigeria after slipping on what appeared to be a wet spot on the court. The Heat forward, however, is expected to […]

Atlanta Hawks veteran small forward Vince Carter says a retirement tour is “not something I’m seeking out.” The 2019-20 campaign will be Carter’s final season in the NBA. The Hawks forward, though, isn’t looking for a retirement tour, something Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki got last season. “I’m good. I’ll pass. It’s just not my […]

Miami Heat big man Kelly Olynyk is back in Miami being evaluated by team doctors after suffering a bone bruise in his knee in Canada’s exhibition game last week. Olynyk suffered the injury against Nigeria after slipping on what seemed to be a wet spot on the court. Kelly Olynyk is in Miami being evaluated […]

Chicago Bulls legend and NBA Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen thinks the Milwaukee Bucks will come out on top of the Eastern Conference next season. The Bucks had the best record in the league in 2018-19, but they lost to the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals in six games. Now that Kawhi Leonard […]

The New York Knicks have the worst record in the NBA over the last 20 seasons. The Knicks are just 672-952 over the last 20 seasons. Worst NBA teams by record over the last 20 seasons: Bulls: 745-879 (.459)Kings: 743-881 (.458)Sixers: 741-883 (.456)Grizzlies: 736-888 (.453)Hawks: 725-899 (.446)Nets: 705-919 (.434)Timberwolves: 699-925 (.430)Wizards: 690-934 (.425)Knicks: 672-952 (.414) […]

Denver Nuggets rookie Bol Bol says Los Angeles Lakers superstar small forward LeBron James was his favorite player growing up. Bol also says he watches Kevin Durant, Kristaps Porzingis and Kyrie Irving a lot. “Actually, LeBron was my favorite player growing up,” Bol told Bryan Kalbrosky of Hoops Hype. “Kevin Durant is changing basketball with […]

Former NBA player and current radio analyst Rick Mahorn says Los Angeles Clippers small forward Kawhi Leonard is going to get cheered when he returns to Scotiabank Arena next season to face the Toronto Raptors. Leonard had a magical one-year run with the Raptors last season, guiding Toronto to its first-ever NBA championship. Even though […]

Last week, Shaquille O’Neal said he would put Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain over himself when ranking the best Los Angeles Lakers centers. Abdul-Jabbar says he appreciates the kind words by Shaq, but admits it’s hard to compare players from different eras. “It’s nice that Shaq would say that but I’ve always felt you can’t […]

The Houston Rockets are conducting a mini-camp this week in Los Angeles at the campus of UCLA. The purpose of the mini-camp is for the players to get accustomed to one another. Rockets stars James Harden and Russell Westbrook are in attendance: Clemons has really impressed the #Rockets coaching staff from Summer League, to workouts […]

Philadelphia 76ers combo guard Josh Richardson believes the Sixers have “a good chance to come out of the East” next season. The Sixers acquired Richardson from the Miami Heat in the Jimmy Butler sign-and-trade deal. Philly also signed All-Star big man Al Horford and re-signed small forward Tobias Harris this summer. Nothing is set in […]

Former Phoenix Suns general manager Ryan McDonough expects Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving to get booed all night long when he returns to Boston to face the Celtics next season. Before the 2018-19 season started, Irving told Celtics fans at the TD Garden he was planning to re-sign with Boston. Fast-forward to today, and […]

Last week, Marc Stein of The New York Times reported Houston Rockets star point guard Russell Westbrook agreed to amend the pay schedule on his contract to make payouts more team-friendly and less front-loaded. Stein provided more details in his latest newsletter: Russell Westbrook is owed $171.1 million over the final four years of his […]