David Yapkowitz Articles - Page 50

The New York Knicks pulled off one of the biggest moves of the offseason in acquiring wing Mikal Bridges in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets. The trade reunites Bridges with his former Villanova teammates in Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, and Josh Hart. And speaking of former teammates, Bridges recently appeared on an episode of […]

The Los Angeles Sparks announced on Friday that veteran guard Layshia Clarendon will head off to retirement, closing the chapter on an 11-year WNBA career.  Clarendon had recently been away from the Sparks due to mental health reasons for the majority of the second half of the season. With the announcement, Layshia Clarendon issued a […]

To say the 2024 WNBA season was a tough one for the Los Angeles Sparks would be an understatement. The Sparks struggled to find wins while being hit with a wave of absences and injuries. It was a season unlike anything Sparks head coach Curt Miller has seen during his ten-year WNBA coaching career. But […]

With one more day left of the WNBA regular season, the Atlanta Dream are still fighting for a playoff spot. They are attempting to do so short-handed as well. They are currently without Cheyenne Parker-Tyus and Aerial Powers, both of whom are out due to injury. To help shore up their roster, the Dream signed […]

LOS ANGELES – Throughout this season, Los Angeles Sparks coach Curt Miller has continuously referred to this season as a build. Building culture and cultivating key habits towards ultimately becoming a winning team. To that end, the Sparks have seen key growth from several young players. But one player in particular who has not seen […]

LOS ANGELES – The Phoenix Mercury social media team created quite a frenzy this past week when they suggested that their final regular season games might be Diana Taurasi’s last. While Taurasi herself has remained non-committal in terms of her future, many of her peers have used this opportunity to reflect on her career. Following […]

The Los Angeles Sparks have been trying to finish out the 2024 season strong despite already being mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. They battled the Seattle Storm all the way down to the wire on Sunday before ultimately bowing out, 90-87. Despite the Sparks’ loss to the Storm, veteran point guard Odyssey Sims spoke postgame […]

At this point in the offseason, most NBA teams are gearing up for training camp and filling out their camp rosters with hopeful invitees. There are a few quality NBA veterans available though and the Minnesota Timberwolves added two of them to their training camp roster this week as per Michael Scotto of Hoopshype.com. The […]

The Ole Miss Rebels have been one of the better programs in the Southeastern Conference over the past couple of years. Under head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin, the Rebels have posted a winning season in four consecutive years, improving each year she’s been there. On the recruiting trail, Ole Miss secured a major commitment this weekend, […]

The Los Angeles Sparks have not had much to smile about this season as they are at the bottom of the WNBA standings record-wise. But one bright spot for the Sparks has been Rickea Jackson as she navigates her rookie season in the WNBA. Against the Seattle Storm on Sunday, Jackson reached the 500 career […]

After quite a few seasons of mediocrity and disappointment, former NBA player Mark Madsen has been tasked with building the Cal Golden Bears basketball team back up again. Madsen has done well on the recruiting trail for the class of 2025, having secured the commitment of 4-star wing Jovani Ruff. Madsen was at it again […]

The New York Knicks appear to be headed towards a training camp battle for their final roster spot. Last week, the Knicks agreed to a non-guaranteed camp deal with veteran wing Landry Shamet. And on Sunday, the Knicks continued to add to their camp roster with the singing of veteran forward Marcus Morris Sr. as […]

The Los Angeles Lakers are sure to be under the microscope this upcoming season as they usher in the JJ Redick era. There’s always eyes on a LeBron James team, but that’s not the only reason why fans will be tuning in. The Lakers are preparing for the debut of Bronny James’ rookie season, and […]

Since Victor Wembanyama arrived in the NBA, there’s been an increase in awareness towards long, lanky 7-foot players with versatile skill-sets. Phoenix Suns center Bol Bol possesses a similar frame to Wembanyama, and former NBA star Ralph Sampson recently dropped high praise for him as per Dana Scott of the Arizona Republic. “Bol Bol is […]

The Los Angeles Sparks are mired in a rebuild and one of the most important things a young team can have is veteran leadership. For that, the Sparks have turned to a pair of players in Dearica Hamby and Azurá Stevens this WNBA season to help lead the team. For Stevens in particular, it’s been […]

The Portland Trail Blazers are fully immersed in a rebuild with intriguing young players in Scoot Henderson, Deandre Ayton, Anfernee Simons, and Shaedon Sharpe, among others. Part of a rebuild is hitting on the margins and finding quality two-way contract talent to develop. The Blazers added to their roster on Friday with the signing of […]

During his NBA career as a player, Earl Watson was the epitome of a role player. He was never a star but he was a dependable backup point guard who never strayed from his role. Following his retirement, he went into coaching. He’s coached in the NBA and the G League, but he’s got a […]

There’s no denying the impact that Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark has had this season. From sold-out arenas to the increase in popularity and viewership to the WNBA, Clark has taken the league by storm. While her debut has come with a strong dose of controversy, overall Clark has been good for the WNBA. But […]

Carmelo Anthony is not eligible for the Basketball Hall of Fame until 2026, but he is without a doubt a first-ballot selection. One of the greatest players to ever play the game, the only thing that eluded Anthony during his career is an NBA championship. During a recent episode of Dwyane Wade’s podcast, ‘The Why […]

The NBA world suffered a tragic loss on Friday with the death of former NBA player Mitchell Wiggins. He was 64 years old. Mitchell Wiggins was the father of current Golden State Warriors wing Andrew Wiggins. The NBA Alumni social media account published a post with Mitchell’s photo and the words: “The basketball community has […]

This late in the NBA offseason, most teams already have their rosters finalized and camp invites done. It’s rare for a major NBA free agency signing at this point, but it can happen with surprising roster cuts in camp or veterans holding out for an offer. One such veteran yet to be signed in NBA […]

The 1992 Olympics Dream Team is widely considered the most dominant men’s basketball team ever put together. With multiple Hall of Famers including Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, it’s hard to argue against that. But the 2024 iteration of Team USA has also drawn takes of being a dominant Olympics men’s basketball team. […]

It’s become a tradition in today’s age for NBA stars to be commemorated with a statue outside their home arena following their retirement. The most recent player to have that honor bestowed upon him is Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade. Following the news, Dwyane Wade’s former Heat teammate and current friend LeBron James took to […]

During a recent interview with CNBC, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert was asked about the increase of racial and sexual harassment infiltrating WNBA social media spaces in the wake of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese hitting the WNBA. Engelbert’s response fell short prompting reactions from across the league. Indiana Fever star Aliyah Boston was one of […]

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Sparks have been eliminated from playoff contention, but with back-to-back games against the Connecticut Sun followed by back-to-back games against the Seattle Storm, they’ve treated these games as if they were a playoff series. During their 90-82 loss to the Storm on Wednesday, the Sparks saw Odyssey Sims leave […]

Last season was a strong year for Kelvin Sampson and the Houston Cougars. They earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament and reached the Sweet 16 before being eliminated. With Jamal Shead off to the NBA, the Cougars are still expecting a strong roster for 2024-25. Houston added to that roster this […]

LOS ANGELES – The WNBA has seen a surge in growth and popularity this season, but with that has also come darker undertones. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert was recently asked about the racism and hatred that was permeated WNBA social media circles and she gave an answer that left a lot to be desired. She […]

When the Los Angeles Sparks signed Stephanie Talbot as a free agent ahead of the 2023 WNBA season, they knew they were getting a player capable of doing multiple things on the court. She was coming off a pair of career seasons with the Seattle Storm and was one of the top free agents on […]

With the start of the 2024-25 NBA season rapidly approaching, the Orlando Magic will be a team that NBA fans and media alike will be keeping an eye on. They were one of the surprise teams of last year, ending their playoff drought and finishing with a top-five seed in the Eastern Conference. Ahead of […]

The Las Vegas Aces suffered a blow recently when leading MVP candidate A’ja Wilson was forced to miss their loss to the New York Liberty on Sunday due to a foot injury. While Wilson’s status against the Indiana Fever on Wednesday is still unknown, the Aces helped fortify their roster on Monday by signing backup […]

LOS ANGELES – With a young team this season comprised of rookies and second and third year players, the Los Angeles Sparks have relied heavily on Dearica Hamby to help steady and lead the team. Hamby has done an outstanding job in that sense throughout the season. But following the Sparks’ 79-67 loss to the […]

With training camp set to open next month, a lot of eyes will be on the Denver Nuggets this NBA season as they try and regroup from a disappointing 2024 playoff exit. The Nuggets were eliminated in seven games in the Western Conference Semifinals by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Ahead of the start of the regular […]

Throughout the years, New York Knicks fans have made it clear their disdain for team owner James Dolan. And to be honest, a lot of it may be warranted. In recent years, Dolan has seemingly made himself a thorn in the NBA’s side on purpose. He’s also had dust-ups with some of the most revered […]

With the 2024-25 NBA season scheuled release, a lot of NBA eyes are going to be on the Phoenix Suns as the enter their first year under head coach Mike Budenholzer. With training camp set to open at the end of the month, we’ll be making our Suns bold predictions, including a big one about […]

The Sacramento Kings proved they were serious about contending in the Western Conference with their sign and trade acquisition of DeMar DeRozan this offseason. Continuing to build a real contending roster requires quality depth and hitting on the margins. The Kings latest roster signing of reserve guard Terry Taylor, as per NBA Insider Chris Haynes, […]

When the Chicago Bulls traded DeMar DeRozan to the Sacramento Kings in a sign and trade deal, and also traded Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder, it signaled a shift towards a rebuild. As part of a rebuild, finding cheap, untapped talent is important. The Bulls latest roster signing in reserve guard E.J. Liddell, […]

Amid a roster chock full of young players, a combination of rookies and second and third year players, the Los Angeles Sparks have leaned heavily on their veterans to help keep them together and connected. One of the vets the Sparks have looked towards as a leader this season has been Dearica Hamby. Following the […]

With their 92-78 loss to the Chicago Sky on Friday, the Los Angeles Sparks were officially mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. But despite their fourth straight season of missing the playoffs, the Sparks can take comfort in the fact that they have rookie wing Rickea Jackson on their team. As the season has progressed, Jackson […]

When the Los Angeles Sparks added Odyssey Sims via a 7-day contract signing last month, it was a bit surprising that she was even available this late in the WNBA season. After all, she was coming off averaging a little over 17 points per game for the Dallas Wings. What was even more shocking was […]