Virgil Villanueva Articles - Page 61

The Portland Trail Blazers have unveiled their classic edition jerseys for the 2019-20 season. The jerseys have the exact design as that of their 1977 season — the year when they won their lone NBA title. Blazers legendary sports announcer Bill Schonley and Bill Walton, who was one of the key players of the 1977 […]

Former NBA player Gilbert Arenas says that his team — the Enemies — are the Los Angeles Lakers of the BIG3. The Enemies –a team comprised of Arenas, Perry Jones III, Royce White, Craig Smith, Frank Robinson, Derrick Byars, and head coach Rick Mahorn — is out playoff contention but is still making its presence […]

For Wayne Ellington, this year’s version of the New York Knicks is built on grit and tenacity. As such, he believes they will leave an impression on their opponents after every game — win or lose. In an interview with Alex Kennedy of Hoops Hype, Ellington gave an inside scoop on how hungry the Knicks […]

As Wayne Ellington starts his journey as a member of the New York Knicks, he asks fans for patience and promises that the team will raise some eyebrows. Over the summer, Ellington inked a deal with the Knicks. It’s his ninth team in his 11-year career. Ellington hasn’t even played a single game donning the […]

Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies threw the ceremonial first pitch during a Memphis Redbirds baseball game. Per David Cobb of the Memphis Commercial Appeal, Morant’s ceremonial first pitch on Thursday was a 70 mile per hour near-strike, according to the Redbirds’ pitcher Austin Warner who served as the catcher. Morant, the second overall pick […]

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder has identified the weak points in his game and vows to work on them as he moves forward. Per Brett Dawson of The Athletic, Gilgeous-Alexander — who’ll be entering his first season with the Thunder — shared what he believes are his weaknesses. For the 11th overall pick […]

NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith believes that Masai Ujiri made a mistake by staying with the Toronto Raptors and declining the Washington Wizards’ offer. Per the Bill Simmons podcast, Smith believes that Ujiri should’ve taken the Wizards’ lucrative offer, noting that nothing will happen to his career in Toronto. As such, Smith believes that the […]

Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons has aired his side with regard to the Australian casino racism incident. Earlier this month, the Sixers point claimed that he and his friends were racially profiled at a Melbourne casino. According to Simmons, they were asked for an identification card while their other friend, who was white, was not. […]

Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris might have passed on the opportunity to play for Team USA in the FIBA World Cup, but he remains open to representing the country in the 2020 Olympics. Harris, who inked a five-year, $180 million contract with the Sixers, noted that his decision to skip the FIBA World Cup is […]

For NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith, the biggest issue that the Los Angeles Lakers will be faced with is the LA Clippers. Smith’s answer comes as a rebuttal to Max Kellerman’s claims that the Lakers’ biggest issue is the coaching. To recall, the Lakers failed to lure in championship head coach Tyronn Lue who just […]

Last year, Brad Wanamaker of the Boston Celtics received little playing time and played just a few games. In the upcoming 2019-20 season, Wanamaker has his eyes locked on a regular spot in the rotation. Last season, the 30-year-old played averaged just 9.5 minutes per game in 36 contests. As a 6-foot-4 guard, Wanamaker was […]

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors shared the floor with some kids in a pickup game. And the two-time MVP didn’t take it easy on them. Peep the clip below posted by Chris Montano of Def Pen Hoops. You can see Curry instructing his teammates to go to their spots on defense. On offense, […]

For Houston Rockets star James Harden, the narrative that the media paint at the beginning of the season determines who wins the NBA MVP award. In a radio interview with 97.9 The Box, Harden shared his thoughts on how the media influence the MVP race. Based on his observation, once the media hype up a player at […]

Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons debuts his new stepback 3-pointer in a pick-up game. In addition to one power dunk, Simmons drained all sorts of jumpers during a pick-up game. From stepback 3-pointers to stepback perimeter shots and fade-away jumpers from the post, the Sixers point-forward seems to have added a ton to his offensive […]

Kendrick Perkins ripped Royce White in defense of Jared Dudley, noting that the veteran fits perfectly with the Los Angeles Lakers. Via Twitter, Perkins sent out a series of tweets to analyze White’s comments on Dudley. White made some pretty interesting comments on how LeBron James and the Lakers passed on Carmelo Anthony and got […]

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavedova saw the rise of Khris Middleton, and he is simply proud that how his former Milwaukee Bucks teammate has grown into a leader. Per Kane Pitman of ESPN, Dellavedova — who’ll be facing Middleton and USA Basketball in an exhibition match on August 22 and 24 — shared how Middleton […]

For San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, Derrick White’s basketball journey — which includes his inclusion in Team USA — is a great narrative. Per USA Basketball, Popovich narrated White’s journey in brief. From his humble beginnings in the NCAA Division II to being drafted in the NBA and heading to the G League, […]

Marcus Smart of the Boston Celtics recently gave an inside scoop on how Gregg Popovich is as a head coach and how much he’s learning from everyone. Via USA Basketball, Smart — who’s part of the final 12-man roster who’ll play in the FIBA World Cup — shared some of Popovich’s methods as a coach. […]

Cam Reddish of the Atlanta Hawks topped the survey among NBA rookies on who they feel will have the best career. NBA analyst Chris Broussard disagreed, calling the survey results a ‘major disrespect’ to New Orleans Pelicans’ Zion Williamson. Peep Broussard’s reaction below as posted by First Things First. .@Chris_Broussard reacts to NBA rookies survey […]

Amid criticism from Royce White, Channing Frye defended Jared Dudley of the Los Angeles Lakers by calling the latter a great teammate. Via Twitter, Frye responded to White’s comments, noting that they ‘come from a place of ignorance.’ Frye also said that Anthony — who has yet to find an NBA team — deserves another […]

For Team USA head coach Gregg Popovich, the Australian national team is capable of winning it all in the upcoming FIBA World Cup in China. Popovich believes that Australia poses a danger to the Americans and their quest to defend their title at the FIBA World Cup in China. From Popovich’s observation, the Australians are […]

Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac is excited about the 2019-20 season and is bent on helping his team go even deeper into the playoffs. Per Magic reporter John Denton, Isaac shared his hunger to rack up more wins not just for himself, but for the city of Orlando as well. From the looks of it, […]

Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics is absorbing a lot of lessons so far in his stint with Team USA. Apart from gaining more knowledge about the tactical part of the game, Tatum is learning the real definition of sacrifice. Unlike with the Boston Celtics, where the 21-year-old Tatum is developing into the team’s main […]

Over the summer, Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac has added some heft to his 6-foot-10 frame in addition to an improved shooting stroke. These advancements in his game have made him more confident. Per Magic reporter John Denton, Isaac talked briefly about his experience working out with Team USA as well what he worked on […]

Veteran forward Taj Gibson of the New York Knicks has observed that his new teammates are ‘hungry’ to prove the team’s doubters wrong. Gibson inked a deal with the Knicks over the summer and has been spending time connecting with his new teammates. From what he’s seeing, this version of the Knicks squad is hellbent […]

Anthony Davis put up buckets over former New Orleans Pelicans teammates Jrue Holiday and Jahlil Okafor in front of Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel. Peep the clip below where Davis unleashed his arsenal of offensive moves against Jahlil Okafor and Jrue Holiday. It should be noted that Davis stands 6-foot-10 yet he’s as […]

Tom Thibodeau knows a thing or two about Taj Gibson. After having spent several seasons with him in Chicago and Minnesota, Thibodeau knows that it’s Gibson’s dream to be a member of the iconic New York Knicks one day. Gibson achieved that dream when he inked a deal with the Knicks in July. Per Marc […]

Justin Anderson, the 21st overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, is currently negotiating a training camp contract with the Washington Wizards, according to Fred Katz of The Athletic. The Wizards and former first-round pick Justin Anderson are working toward a training camp contract, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA. — Fred Katz (@FredKatz) August 19, 2019 The […]

Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon admits he was hesitant to work on his post-game earlier in his career; however, upon learning that the team needed a reliable player on the block, Gordon worked on his game. Now, he’s convinced that he has improved in that area. “I’ve gotten a lot better in the post,” Gordon […]

Josh Richardson, now of the Philadelphia 76ers, believes that his new team will churn out a ‘strong season’ in 2019-20 season. Richardson was among those included in the Jimmy Butler sign-and-trade transaction that was sealed over the summer. It was the latest move by the Sixers, who made an extended effort to re-calibrate their roster […]

For Olin Simplis, trainer of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Oklahoma City Thunder, his client is the best guard in the 2018 draft class and is bound to make waves with his new team. Speaking with Brett Dawson of The Athletic, Simplis briefly recalled Gilgeous-Alexander’s stint with the Los Angeles Clippers. From Simplis’ point of view, the […]

Philadelphia 76ers swingman Josh Richardson will be focusing on two things in preparation for his fifth year in the NBA: his health and ability to knock down shots. Richardson, who spent his first four years in the league with the Miami Heat, was among those included in the sign-and-trade deal for Jimmy Butler. He had […]

For Indiana Pacers star guard Victor Oladipo, no hard feelings exist between him and his former teammates who left the team this offseason. Over the summer, several key players from the Pacers’ 2018-19 roster opted to leave Indiana. Thaddeus Young went on to sign with the Chicago Bulls, Bojan Bogdanovic joined the Utah Jazz, and […]

Atlanta Hawks legend Dominique Wilkins believes that Jabari Parker — the team’s newest addition — will ‘surprise a lot of people.’ Per WRDW News 12, Wilkins shared his thoughts on Parker — whom the Hawks signed over the summer. For Wilkins, Parker has loads of talent and Hawks fans are going to see a player […]

Charlotte Hornets guard Malik Monk is preparing for a possible increase in his playing time given that his team has a thinner backcourt rotation in the upcoming 2019-2020 season. Per Sam Perley of nba.com, Monk shared his objective for the offseason. The 11th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft noted that his workout is […]

Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey is confident that Russell Westbrook and James Harden — two former league MVPs — can power the team to a title. In an appearance on Selfmade, Morey cited some facts from recent history. According to him, when two former MVPs are on the same team, they’ve always won the […]

Bronny James, son of Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, yelled ‘Steph’ after hitting a 3-point shot from the bench while sitting down. Peep the clip posted by ballislife.com. Apart from yelling ‘Steph,’ he also did the Golden State Warriors star’s signature chest pump and pointed upwards to the sky. Bronny hits the three from […]

For Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell, having a chance to represent the country is an honor. However, apart from vying for a spot on the final 12-man roster, he’s also taking this opportunity to foster his relationship with De’Aaron Fox, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. Mitchell shared that he, Fox, Tatum and Brown go far […]

The prior experience of Harrison Barnes in the 2016 Rio Olympics will definitely be a factor in his selection to Team USA for the FIBA World Cup in China. Per Jason Jones of The Athletic, Team USA managing director Jerry Colangelo admits that Barnes’ experience in the Olympics will be taken into consideration as they […]