Jack Winter Articles - Page 3

The influence Dikembe Mutombo had on fellow Democratic of Congo native Jonathan Kuminga far transcends the NBA. As the Golden State Warriors’ budding star embarks on what could be a truly transformation season, though, rest assured he’s still holding some sage basketball advice from the late, great Mutombo close to his chest, too. “The last […]

The Golden State Warriors remain fully committed to Jonathan Kuminga. Though focus centered on the their refusal to include Brandin Podziemski in prospective win-now trade proposals for both Paul George and Lauri Markkanen, the Dubs also elected against making Kuminga available, further evidence there’s steadfast belief in his ability to become the organization’s next star. […]

So much for Stephen Curry’s lone Olympics being forgettable. The Golden State Warriors superstar firmly put weeks-long struggles with Team USA behind him when it mattered most on Saturday, leading the Americans to a 98-87 win over France for Olympic gold Olympic gold with one of the most ridiculous late-game shot-making displays of his career. […]

Steph Curry forced open the floodgates when Team USA needed him most, erupting for 36 points and a record nine three-pointers while leading the Americans to an instant-classic 95-91 win over Serbia in the Olympic semifinal. The four-time NBA champion came out scorching hot on Thursday, scoring 14 of the United States’ first 15 points […]

Team USA put together one of its most complete performances of the summer on Tuesday, blowing out Brazil 122-87 in the Olympic quarterfinals. The only team left standing between the Americans and the gold-medal game? Nikola Jokic and old friend Serbia, which the United States has beaten by 26 points twice—first in an Abu Dhabi […]

Add Lauri Markkanen to the increasingly long list of stars the Golden State Warriors failed to acquire via trade. The Finnisher will reportedly agree to re-negotiate and extend his contract with the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, making him ineligible to be traded for the entirety of 2024-25. Markkanen, like Paul George before him, won’t be […]

So much for the Golden State Warriors’ good problem of sussing out a rotational numbers crunch on the wing and interior after trading for Lauri Markkanen. The Finnish star is reportedly unlikely to sign an extension with the Utah Jazz when he becomes eligible for a new deal on August 6th.  As a result, Markkanen […]

All Brandin Podziemski needed to prove he was too good for Summer League was two games. The Golden State Warriors’ sophomore guard averaged 18.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists in Las Vegas, shooting 50% from both the field and three-point range—especially impressive efficiency considering Podziemski was moonlighting as the Dubs’ No. 1 option offensively. […]

It’s no secret why the Golden State Warriors envision Brandin Podziemski as a fixture of their immediate present and long-term future. During an appearance on the Tim Kawakami Show in late July, owner Joe Lacob revealed “everyone” with the Dubs is confident Podziemski has what it takes to become an NBA All-Star. “I do believe […]

Steve Kerr benched Joel Embiid for Team USA’s 103-86 victory over South Sudan on Wednesday, leaving Stephen Curry and LeBron James as the only players to start every game on the Americans’ path for Olympic gold. It’s hardly shocking that Curry and James’ place on the floor for tipoff is ironclad. They’re living legends, still […]

Zach Edey’s range is wide leading up to the 2024 NBA Draft, one of the reasons why the former Purdue star refused an invitation to the green room at Barclays Center. As June 26th fast approaches, though, Edey and his camp have at least developed a good idea of his draft-night floor. The 7’4 giant […]

So much for Bronny James only playing for the Los Angeles Lakers or Phoenix Suns. Though the son of four-time NBA champion LeBron James has only conducted workouts with the Suns and Lakers, three other teams have apparently shown interest in Bronny leading up to the June 24th NBA Draft. In addition to Los Angeles […]

The Boston Celtics dominated the Dallas Mavericks 106-88 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday night, winning the franchise’s long-awaited 18th championship. Their first time since being the last team standing since 2008, the Celtics now own one more title than the Los Angeles Lakers, sitting alone atop the league’s all-time hierarchy once […]

So much for the Dallas Mavericks making NBA history. Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and company were thoroughly out-classed by the Boston Celtics in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, their dream postseason run coming to an end with a 106-88 beatdown at TD Garden. Dallas’ hopes of a long-shot comeback against Boston with a title […]

The Boston Celtics blew out the Dallas Mavericks 106-88 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, winning the franchise’s record-breaking 18th championship. Who did they pass in the league’s all-time hierarchy of banners? The rival Los Angeles Lakers, of course, a reality hardly lost on purple-and-gold legend Magic Johnson. As Boston began celebrating its coronation […]

Klay Thompson will soon don a jersey that doesn’t bear the name of the only NBA franchise for which he’s ever played. Don’t fret too much right now about his future in the Bay Area, though, Dub Nation. As the Golden State Warriors star prepares to enter free agency come June 30th, he’s reportedly elected […]

The Dallas Mavericks are three more wins from making NBA history. As they fight to not only be the first team ever to come back from an 0-3 hole but also raise the Larry O’Brien Trophy, though, Jason Kidd is making sure the Mavs keep their focus on the immediate task at hand ahead of […]

The Boston Celtics had the chance to raise the Larry O’Brien Trophy on Friday night. Instead of winning the storied franchise’s 18th championship, though, Joe Mazzulla’s team was absolutely dominated by the desperate Dallas Mavericks in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, falling to Luka Doncic and company 122-84. Before the game, Philadelphia 76ers superstar […]

Don’t fret if you were forced to miss Game 4 of the NBA Finals. Not only did Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks keep their championship hopes alive with a historic beatdown of the Boston Celtics, but Magic Johnson’s typically succinct, simple breakdown of the matchup is really all you need to see anyway. After […]

Angel Reese’s cultural import off the floor was always bound to make her a WNBA star. Just one month into her highly anticipated rookie season, it’s abundantly clear the Chicago Sky forward would’ve been bound for that label due to her play on the hardwood, too. Reese entered rarified basketball air in Chicago’s hard-fought 83-81 […]

The start of free agency is still just over two weeks away. As the NBA Finals come to a close and the league’s focus shifts squarely to the offseason, though, Klay Thompson’s future with the Golden State Warriors seems more tenuous than ever. Dub Nation was abuzz on Friday after fans noticed the four-time champion […]

The Atlanta Hawks are still undecided at the very top of the 2024 NBA Draft. As general manager Landry Fields and company continue analyzing prospects leading up to June 26th, though, one player has already emerged a front office favorite. Whether Atlanta will take Donovan Clingan at all let alone select him at No. 1 […]

Add Grant Hill to the long list of analysts, former players and fans calling for Luka Doncic to show more maturity on the floor. During his Friday appearance on The Rich Eisen Show before Game 4 of the NBA Finals, Hill stressed the need for the Dallas Mavericks’ franchise player to “grow up” with regard to […]

The Kansas City Chiefs could become the first team to win three straight championships since Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers in the mid-1960s this season by running back the same playbook that helped them beat the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII. As the team shuts its doors on mandatory minicamp, though, coach Andy […]

Draymond Green picked the Dallas Mavericks to win the NBA Finals. After the Boston Celtics survived a furious fourth quarter comeback to take Game 3 106-99 and come within just one more victory of raising championship banner No. 18, though, the Golden State Warriors star made their ultimate triumph seem inevitable. On the latest edition […]

The Boston Celtics survived a furious late-game comeback Wednesday night as Luka Doncic could only watch from the bench, holding on to beat the Dallas Mavericks 106-99 at American Airlines Center. Joe Mazzulla’s team now leads the NBA Finals 3-0, a massive advantage from which no team in league history has ever recovered. Jaylen Brown […]

Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss has released a statement on the passing of franchise icon and NBA Hall-of-Famer Jerry West. “Today is a difficult day for all Laker fans,” she wrote on Instagram. “I know that if my father were here, he would say that Jerry West was at the heart of all that […]

Mandatory minicamp isn’t even finished, but Hollywood Brown is already thrilled with the role he’s set to play for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024. Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, the two-time defending Super Bowl champions’ most prized free agent acquisition expressed excitement about the varied role Andy Reid envisions for him in Kansas City’s […]

Lonzo Ball once ranked among the most impactful perimeter defenders in all of basketball. The Chicago Bulls, you’ve no doubt heard by now, sat atop the Eastern Conference standings in early January 2022, taking the NBA by storm largely due to the league-best backcourt defensive tandem of Ball and Alex Caruso. The former UCLA star […]

Brittney Griner will soon play for a third Olympic gold medal with Team USA. As the 2024 Games approach later this summer, the Phoenix Mercury star is clearly more invested in continuing the global supremacy of American women’s basketball than litigating Caitlin Clark’s omission from the roster for Paris. Asked about the Indiana Fever rookie’s […]

So much for Kristaps Porzingis’ latest injury not affecting his status for the NBA Finals. The Boston Celtics announced Tuesday that the sweet-shooting, shot-blocking big man suffered a lower left leg injury during his team’s Game 2 win over the Dallas Mavericks, potentially sidelining him for Wednesday’s crucial Game 3 at American Airlines Center. Porzingis’ […]

Travis Kelce’s star has never shone brighter. The future Hall-of-Famer not only continues staking his claim as the greatest tight end ever while leading the Kansas City Chiefs’ ongoing dynasty alongside Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes, but also emerged as a global celebrity in the past calendar due to his relationship with pop icon Taylor […]

Warner Bros. Discovery lost the massive bidding war in the NBA’s next television rights deal, ceding the way to NBC and Amazon as the league’s broadcast partner alongside Disney. It’s not the loss of TNT’s in-game NBA coverage and presentation that has fans across the globe wringing their hands in frustration, though. With TNT no […]

Ignore the misguided and ill-informed hand-wringing about Rudy Gobert’s isolation defense on the perimeter and overall impact in the Western Conference Finals. It’s not Luka Doncic’s instant-classic game-winning triple over the outstretched arms of the four-time Defensive Player of the Year nor defense at all that has the Minnesota Timberwolves in an 0-2 hole against […]

The Boston Celtics’ long, arduous comeback in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals was finally complete when Jrue Holiday cut off Andrew Nembhard’s drive in the open floor and ripped his dribble with three seconds remaining, preventing the Indiana Pacers from pulling out a win just before the final buzzer. Holiday calmly walked to […]

The Eastern Conference Finals shifts to Indianapolis with the underdog Indiana Pacers stuck in an 0-2 hole. The Boston Celtics excised series-opening demons to put together their best offensive performance of the playoffs in Game 2, racking up a 134.0 offensive rating en route to blowout victory. Tyrese Haliburton’s status is in doubt for Game […]

Tyrese Haliburton was forced to leave Thursday’s Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals early with a left leg injury. The Indiana Pacers star was subbed out with 3:44 remaining in the third quarter after tweaking his left leg while guarding Jayson Tatum in pick-and-roll, the Boston Celtics again leading his team by double-digits. Shortly […]

Bam Adebayo is no stranger to earning All-Defense honors. The Miami Heat star was named All-Defense for the fifth time in his career on Tuesday, a stretch of consecutive selections that dates all the way back to 2020, the first season he was entrenched as the Heat’s franchise starting center. This season’s recognition is extra […]

Don’t lose sight of the forest through the trees. Falling to Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and the revamped Dallas Mavericks in a hard-fought Western Conference Semifinals is still an extremely encouraging sign of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s present and future despite knee-jerk disappointment. It wasn’t even two weeks ago that Oklahoma City absolutely dominated the […]