Ashish Mathur Articles - Page 299

When you’re a fierce competitor like Oklahoma City Thunder star point guard Russell Westbrook, sitting on the bench and watching your team play against the defending champion Golden State Warriors on opening night has to be the worst feeling in the world. Westbrook is still recovering from his offseason knee surgery, so he wasn’t able […]

After practice on Tuesday, Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma was asked by reporters if he has a favorite player he likes to watch. Kuzma said Utah Jazz shooting guard and 2018 Rookie of the Year runner-up, Donovan Mitchell, is the guy he pays attention to when the Lakers aren’t playing, via ClutchPoints’ Ryan Ward. […]

Tuesday was a special night for Boston Celtics small forward Gordon Hayward and his family. It marked the first time Hayward played in a meaningful NBA game since fracturing his left ankle last year against the Cleveland Cavaliers on opening night. As expected, the All-Star swingman was nervous, had butterflies in his stomach, and was […]

Philadelphia 76ers star big man Joel Embiid says the team doesn’t have a rivalry with the Boston Celtics because the Celtics are always beating them. The Sixers lost to the Celtics on opening night by a final score of 105-87. Embiid told reporters postgame the Celtics are always “kicking their a**” and that’s why the […]

The bromance between Golden State Warriors big men Draymond Green and DeMarcus Cousins is going to be really fun to watch this season, and it looks like the two All-Stars are already in midseason form. When Cousins called the Warriors in the summer expressing interest in joining their already stacked roster, Green texted Cousins and […]

NBA Hall of Famer and current TNT analyst Charles Barkley has always been hard on LeBron James and the team he plays for, and that trend will apparently continue this season. Barkley says he has no idea what the Los Angeles Lakers are doing, implying that the roster Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka have surrounded […]

Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor says head coach/president Tom Thibodeau’s job is safe despite the ongoing Jimmy Butler saga. Butler reportedly told Thibodeau four days after the Timberwolves were eliminated from the 2018 playoffs by the Houston Rockets that he wanted out of Minnesota. Thibodeau, however, didn’t take any action and was intent on keeping […]

The Golden State Warriors will receive their 2018 championship rings tonight when they take on the Oklahoma City Thunder at Oracle Arena, and guard Patrick McCaw will not be in attendance, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. McCaw is still a restricted free agent after turning down a $1.7 million qualifying offer and a two-year, […]

The Phoenix Suns have been active in attempting to trade for an established point guard and tried to acquire Philadelphia 76ers reserve, T.J. McConnell. The Suns offered the Sixers a second-round pick for McConnell, and Philly declined, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Suns traded Brandon Knight to the Houston Rockets in a deal […]

It’s not an official NBA season until Minnesota Timberwolves legend Kevin Garnett curses on national television. So with that being said, the 2018-19 season has begun. On TNT’s pregame show while discussing the Jimmy Butler trade saga, Garnett said Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor “doesn’t know sh**t about basketball.” “Glen doesn’t know shit about basketball” – […]

The New York Knicks would have preferred to trade veteran big man Joakim Noah, but the organization wasn’t willing to part ways with a first-round pick. Knicks general manager Scott Perry addressed the release of Noah on Tuesday, saying the team waived and stretched him because he wasn’t a good fit for the club moving […]

The NBA season is officially back, so that means we get to see players dress up in some elaborate clothes. Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart wasted no time in showing off his clothing line. Smart signed a four-year, $52 million deal with the Celtics in July, and it looks like the rugged defender used some […]

As Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade embarks on his 16th and final season in the NBA, the future Hall of Famer says he has no butterflies in his stomach and is excited for what the year will bring. Wade re-signed with the Heat on a one-year deal worth the veteran’s minimum a week before training […]

Boston Celtics star point guard Kyrie Irving knows first-hand what it takes to beat the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. Back in 2016, Irving, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers became the first team in NBA history to erase a 3-1 series deficit in the Finals to win a championship. They did it […]

Carmelo Anthony is going to be coming off the bench this season for the Houston Rockets, ending his long streak of starting every game of his NBA career. Anthony has been a starter his whole basketball life, dating back to his AAU days. So the veteran scorer knows it’s going to be an adjustment for […]

The New York Knicks have tried to trade shooting guard Courtney Lee, but they haven’t found a suitor for the veteran guard yet, according to ESPN’s Zach Lowe. Lee has two years and $25 million left on his contract. The 33-year-old signed a four-year, $48 million free agent deal with the Knicks back in 2016. In 76 […]

Kawhi Leonard only played in nine games last season with the San Antonio Spurs due to a lingering quadriceps injury. You often hear athletes say when the game they love is taken away from them, their appreciation of the sport grows even more. Leonard, now a member of the Toronto Raptors, expressed those sentiments Tuesday […]

The Los Angeles Lakers have exercised their team options for the 2019-20 season on point guard Lonzo Ball, shooting guard Josh Hart, and small forwards Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma, the team announced in a press release Tuesday. The Lakers drafted Lonzo Ball with the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft out of […]

Chicago Bulls power forward Bobby Portis will enter restricted free agency next summer after he and the team were unable to agree upon a rookie scale contract extension. However, Portis doesn’t envision leaving Chicago. Speaking to reporters Tuesday at The Advocate Center, Portis said he has a special connection with The Windy City and Bulls […]

Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict appears to have avoided a suspension for his dirty hit on Pittsburgh Steelers star wide receiver Antonio Brown on Sunday. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Burfict is not expected to be suspended for his actions in Week 6. However, there are several plays that will be reviewed by the […]

The Boston Celtics open the 2018-19 NBA regular-season Tuesday at home against the Philadelphia 76ers, and all eyes will be on small forward Gordon Hayward. The last time we saw Hayward play in a meaningful game, the All-Star swingman suffered a gruesome left ankle injury. That was on opening night last season in Cleveland when […]

The Cleveland Browns got blown out at home during Week 6 by the Los Angeles Chargers, and wide receiver Jarvis Landry and a few of his teammates left the locker room before fulfilling media obligations, something head coach Hue Jackson wasn’t aware of until Monday. The Browns lost by a final score of 38-14. It […]

The Brooklyn Nets didn’t give rookie scale contract extensions to starting point guard D’Angelo Russell and power forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. Monday was the deadline for teams to give out rookie scale extensions, something Russell and Hollis-Jefferson apparently weren’t aware of, per Michael Scotto of The Athletic. No extensions for D'Angelo Russell and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. When asked […]

The Pittsburgh Steelers are not expecting star running back Le’Veon Bell to return to the practice facility this week, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Bell, of course, has not played this season and is away from the team. The three-time Pro Bowler is holding out for a new contract. The Steelers are on their bye week […]

Kansas City Chiefs star wide receiver Tyreek Hill wants to take action against a New England Patriots fan who threw beer at him on Sunday night, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. After Hill scored a touchdown, the NBC cameras caught New England fans giving the middle finger to Hill, while also throwing beer on his […]

The Chicago Bulls and power forward Bobby Portis won’t agree to a rookie scale contract extension, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Portis is slated to make $2.5 million this season and will become a restricted free agent in the summer of 2019. As a restricted free agent, Portis can sign an offer sheet with […]

The Oklahoma City Thunder open the 2018-19 regular-season on Tuesday against the mighty Golden State Warriors, and the team will be without the services of star point guard Russell Westbrook. Westbrook underwent surgery on his right knee on Sept. 12 and is still not doing full contact, according to Thunder head coach Billy Donovan. As of now, […]

The Phoenix Suns open the 2018-19 regular-season against the Dallas Mavericks on Oct. 17, and the team will have its best player on the floor. Star shooting guard Devin Booker will play despite undergoing surgery to repair an injury to the fifth metacarpophalangeal joint in his right hand in early September. Booker will likely wear a […]

The motor driving the Golden State Warriors, starting power forward Draymond Green, didn’t pick up a basketball for seven weeks after the 2017-18 season ended in an effort to recharge his mind and body. Green and the Warriors have played in four straight Finals, winning three of them. Playing deep into June four consecutive seasons can […]

Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Derrick Rose says the intensity and trash talking small forward Jimmy Butler has been displaying at practice has been much needed for the team. The Timberwolves looked like a soft club in the preseason without Butler, as they got bullied in the paint and didn’t display any mental toughness. Rose, who […]

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr gave a simple, short answer when asked if he thinks this season will be the last year the team’s core plays together. Kerr and the Warriors have won back-to-back championships and three of the last four Finals, but some believe money will prevent the franchise from keeping Stephen […]

Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor was at the team’s practice facility Sunday and addressed the players amid the Jimmy Butler drama, according to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. Butler was at practice as well. There is currently no deal for Butler, who requested a trade almost four weeks ago. Per Krawczynski’s report, Taylor was seen smiling […]

Washington Redskins running back Adrian Peterson is one of the toughest players in NFL history. It’s going to take a serious injury to prevent the former MVP to not play, and Peterson once again showed off his toughness in Week 6. Peterson played with a dislocated shoulder against the Carolina Panthers. The ailment was very painful […]

Oakland Raiders starting quarterback Derek Carr is battling a shoulder injury, but he is not expected to miss any games, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Oakland has a bye week next week, so Carr will be able to get extra treatment and rest. The Raiders played in London in Week 6, and got […]

Jimmy Butler and Andrew Wiggins may have some type of beef behind the scenes, but Wiggins knows the Minnesota Timberwolves are a better team when Butler is playing. After practice on Sunday, Wiggins told reporters Butler is a player you want on your side when the real games start. A four-time All-Star, Butler is one […]

New York Knicks shooting guard Courtney Lee missed the entire preseason with a neck injury, but he practiced at full speed Sunday and is ready for the regular season to start. Lee is not sure what his role is going to be on this young Knicks team. After starting 69 games last season, there’s a […]

Golden State Warriors superstar point guard Stephen Curry will avoid a suspension for stepping onto the court during the team’s preseason finale against the Los Angeles Lakers, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. DeMarcus Cousins will also avoid penalty for joining Curry on the court. Lakers guard Lance Stephenson and Warriors guard Quinn Cook got […]

The Dallas Mavericks open the 2018-19 regular season against the Phoenix Suns, and they will be without a top offensive option as small forward Harrison Barnes will not play due to a strained right hamstring. Harrison Barnes will miss at least the first game of the season Wednesday in Phoenix with a strained right hamstring. […]

Minnesota Timberwolves small forward Jimmy Butler says he doesn’t care if he’s booed at Target Center on Friday during the team’s home opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers — if he’s still on the team. Butler was back at practice Sunday and is expected to play Wednesday versus the San Antonio Spurs in the Timberwolves’ regular-season […]