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USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Darius Bazley injury update: Lakers player taken off court in wheelchair
Los Angeles Lakers forward Darius Bazley appeared to suffer a serious leg injury Thursday night during the second quarter of an NBA Summer League game against the Boston Celtics. Bazley went down after his leg appeared to give out on him as he was driving toward the basket with two defenders on him. He was on the ground for a few minutes while he was being evaluated. He was eventually put in a wheelchair and was taken to the locker room. The severity of the injury has not been disclosed. Who is Darius Bazley? Bazley entered Summer League with five NBA seasons under his belt, for four different teams. He last played in the NBA during the 2023-24 season. He was drafted by the Utah Jazz with the 23rd overall pick in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft, before he was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He did not play college basketball, opting to play in the NBA's G League Ignite program. Bazley has averaged 8.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game during his NBA career. He has started 118 of the 237 games he's played in.
USA Today
04-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Report: Multiple teams showing interest in Warriors restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga
After a slow start to the free agency window, the Jonathan Kuminga saga with the Golden State Warriors has continued. The former lottery pick is currently a restricted free agent without a deal through the opening days of free agency. Different rumors and buzz have pointed towards multiple options regarding Kuminga, including a sign-and-trade with the Warriors and a new team or the 22-year-old wing potentially re-signing a new contract to stay in the Bay Area for the future. As the speculation continues, Anthony Slater of The Athletic reported multiple teams are showing interest in acquiring Kuminga via sign-and-trade. The Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards have been linked to the Warriors, per Slater. The Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets have "registered varying levels of interest" in the former G League Ignite product, according to Slater siting league sources. Read Slater's full update on Kuminga via The Athletic here. Kuminga is coming off an up and down season with the Warriors that included a significant ankle injury. In 47 games, Kuminga averaged 15.3 points on 45.4% shooting from the field to go along with 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists. After returning from injury and playing alongside new acquisition Jimmy Butler, Kuminga fell out of Steve Kerr's rotation at the end of the season. However, following Steph Curry's injury in the second round of the playoffs, Kuminga re-joined the rotation in impressive fashion in the postseason. In five games against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Kuminga averaged 20.8 points on 54.3% shooting from the floor, including a 30-point performance in Game 3 against the Timberwolves. Stay tuned to Warriors Wire for the latest updates on Kuminga and free agency. This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
New York Times
30-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
How Jalen Green and Devin Booker can co-exist in a Suns backcourt and reversal
PHOENIX — As the Phoenix Suns rebuild their roster, adding size, length and toughness, their success next season likely will come down to a key question: How will players wired to score like Devin Booker and Jalen Green co-exist in the same backcourt? Booker, 28, is an organizational pillar, eligible this summer for a two-year extension worth $150 million that will keep him in place through the 2030-31 season. He is Phoenix's career scoring leader and arguably a top-15 player in the league. Problem is, Booker last season was not at his best. Although he put up strong numbers, his shooting percentages were among the worst of his career. He needs to rebound. Advertisement Green, 23, is the centerpiece of a recent trade that sent superstar Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets. Once one of America's top high school prospects, the athletic 6-foot-4 guard skipped college and played a season for the G League Ignite before the Rockets selected him with the No. 2 pick of the 2021 draft. Green played in Houston for four seasons, averaging 20.1 points and 3.4 assists. To help better understand how this might work, The Athletic talked with four coaches who have worked with Green at the pro level, and a 10-year NBA veteran who works as a television analyst for the Rockets. Their experiences with Green reveal his path to this point, and it might provide a glimpse of his future. Rasheed Hazzard was an assistant coach with the Ignite. In Walnut Creek, Calif., he lived in the same apartment complex as Green during their season together in the G League. When Hazzard opened his door, Green lived to his left and Jonathan Kuminga, a forward the Golden State Warriors would select seventh in the 2021 draft, lived diagonally to his right. Hazzard often made the two future NBA players breakfast — eggs with olive oil, avocado and crushed red pepper. The first thing that jumped out to Hazzard was Green's athletic ability. The guard would throw down dunks in practice that would leave coaches shaking their heads. The second thing Hazzard noticed: Green's competitive drive. Hazzard said that, during an early Ignite workout, the coaching staff matched Green with a veteran and told them to play 1-on-1. Green made a move, drove baseline and dunked on the vet, wanting to prove a point. For the entire season, Hazzard doesn't even recall Green losing a team sprint. The jump shot needed work, but the right attitude was there. 'Had he gone to college, he would've gotten in those shooting drills that college coaches put you through, so he would've gotten his reps in,' Hazzard said. 'It would've really helped him. We didn't get to make the tweaks and changes we probably would've made had the circumstances been a little different. We spent more time just trying to make as many corrections as we could within the framework of what he was doing.' Will Weaver and John Lucas were assistant coaches with the Rockets. Weaver coached Green in the NBA Summer League not long after the 2021 draft. In their second game, the Rockets played the Detroit Pistons, which featured the draft's first overall pick in Cade Cunningham. Weaver noticed a rivalry between Green and Cunningham. Advertisement 'First play, we ran it for Jalen,' Weaver said. 'They trapped his pick-and-roll and instinctively he made a perfect pocket pass to the big, which is a very sophisticated, unselfish, veteran-type play to make in a vacuum, much less your (second) Summer League game against the guy that you're trying to prove yourself against. You would've forgiven him for just trying to split it and go dunk on somebody, which he surely has the capacity to do, but I thought that was a really salient indication of who he is at his core.' A 14-year NBA veteran and longtime coach, Lucas recalled thinking of Green as just a really talented AAU player. But the rookie proved to be a quick study. Whatever Lucas asked, Green did. Meet in the gym for extra work at 6 a.m.? Green was there. Lucas worked with Green on his jumper. He worked with him on his defense. 'We still got some work to do,' Lucas said of Green's defense. 'That's the last piece that comes for an NBA player because everybody wants to score. They don't realize until they've won a little how important the defensive side of the ball is.' Stephen Silas was Houston's head coach for Green's first NBA two seasons. These were difficult, rebuilding years for the Rockets. They won 20 games in Green's first season, 22 in his second. Green, a starter from his first game, had to grow under fire. 'The way we were constructed wasn't necessarily to win, but it was for development for those guys,' Silas said. 'Jalen understood the big picture, but it didn't make it any less rough. He learned how to deal with adversity, learned how to be the leading scorer on the team and have a lot of responsibility that comes along with that. As a young kid, he was really just trying to figure it out.' The Rockets fired Silas after the 2022-23 season and hired Ime Udoka. They also added experience, trading for defensive ace Dillon Brooks (who will also come to Phoenix as part of the Durant deal) and signing veteran point guard Fred VanVleet. Over the next two seasons, as Houston turned into a Western Conference contender, Silas noticed Green's growth. Advertisement 'He is playing winning basketball, which is understanding you have to play hard on both ends,' he said. 'Every shot isn't your shot — he's grown to be a good shot taker. With experience and having the vets around him, showing him the right way to do things, it's really helped him grow. He's much more efficient. He's much more sure of what he wants to do.' Ryan Hollins is a 10-year NBA vet and the Rockets' television analyst. He watched Green struggle this spring in his first postseason action, a first-round series Houston lost in seven games to the Golden State Warriors. The Rockets' leading scorer during the regular season, Green averaged 8 points and shot 31 percent in their four losses. Much of the public blame for the series loss fell on his shoulders. Hollins doesn't think the criticism is fair. After Green scored 38 points in Houston's Game 2 win, the analyst said the Warriors adjusted. They trapped him. They picked him up sooner. They were determined to shut Green down. Hollins saw it more as the next step in the guard's development. 'He's going to have to add more strength because in the playoffs it was a different whistle,' he said. 'They put their hands on him. And for him, someone wanting to play in space, if someone who's stronger can grab and hold, it's going to be hard for him to get loose. He's still going to learn those tricks of how to draw those fouls or how to loosen up pressure. But, yeah, he was a focal point.' Hollins said if Green shows no improvement the rest of his career, he's at worst a great sixth man, a strong scorer off the bench. But if he stays on this path, learning how to win, feeding his competitive drive, he can boost his game to a higher level. 'Superstar,' Hollins said. Phoenix has an overflow of guards and wings, a group that includes three-time All-Star Bradley Beal. While the Suns are expected to keep Green, other moves are sure to follow. To start, Green's former coaches like the potential of a Green-Booker backcourt, no matter how it unfolds. 'First off, they're really good guys,' Silas said of Green and Booker. 'They're both selfless. They both want to win. They both have seen the goods and the bads and have a really good feel for team basketball and what it takes to help you get over the top and win. It remains to be seen, but I think when you start with the base that those two guys have, it could work.' Advertisement Weaver pointed out that it's 2025. The idea that a team needs to slot players into set positions is antiquated. Look at the Indiana Pacers and their run to the NBA Finals, he said. No one was concerned about redundancy with Andrew Nembhard, Tyrese Haliburton and T.J. McConnell. It will be the same with Phoenix, he said. Plus, Weaver has great respect for new Phoenix head coach Jordan Ott. 'It might surprise people how different the Phoenix Suns look next year,' Weaver said. Hollins said Green will learn from Booker. How to be efficient. How to deal with chippiness. How to perfect a one-dribble pull-up. A two-dribble pull-up. If Green can approach matching Booker in those areas, 'now we're jumping to a whole other hemisphere,' with his game, Hollins said. Hazzard didn't appreciate the question. He said it was disrespectful to Booker, who has molded his game around different teammates throughout his career. First Chris Paul. Then Durant and Beal. He said it also ignores the progress Green made in Houston, and the motivation he'll have upon arriving in the desert. 'Jalen Green, you put a chip on his shoulder,' Hazzard said of the Rockets trading him. 'You essentially said, 'We don't think you're good enough to take us to the mountaintop.' I have all the faith in the world as to how Jalen Green will respond. I can't say it because you can't write it. But you can imagine what I'm about to say. That's what (the Suns) are going to get from Jalen.' (Top photo of Devin Booker and Jalen Green during a Suns-Rockets game last March: Kenneth Richmond / Getty Images)
NBC Sports
27-06-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
2025 NBA Draft: Hunter Sallis, Vlad Goldin among top undrafted prospects
While hearing one's name called is the heavily preferred route to the NBA, there are only so many available slots. For the 2025 edition, there were 59 picks, and many accomplished players went undrafted. Below is a quick look at the top 10 players not selected and where they're headed as undrafted free agents. 1. G Hunter Sallis, Wake Forest After playing two seasons at Gonzaga, Sallis transferred and took on a far more significant role at Wake Forest. During his final season, the 6-foot-5 guard averaged 18.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.3 three-pointers per game, shooting 45.7 percent from the field and 80.4 percent from the foul line. While Sallis did not provide much value as a three-point shooter, making 27.7 percent of his attempts in 2024-25, there's prior evidence that he can. During his first season at Wake Forest, the guard shot 40.5 percent from deep on 5.4 attempts per game. Had Sallis entered the 2024 draft, there's a strong likelihood he would have been selected. The decreased accuracy from three was likely a factor in him not being drafted on Thursday, but he agreed to a two-way deal with the 76ers shortly after the draft concluded. 2. C Vladislav Golden, Michigan Goldin enjoyed a storied collegiate run, first appearing for Texas Tech and then joining FAU, where he was part of the team's Cinderella run to the 2023 Final Four. Rather than going to the NBA, Goldin returned to college last season, following head coach Dusty May to Michigan as a grad transfer. The 7-foot, 253-pound center averaged 16.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.5 steals and 1.4 blocks while shooting 61/33/73 splits. His size gives him upside as an interior scorer and rebounder, but he can be even better on offense if he can further develop his three-point shot. Goldin has agreed to a two-way contract with the Heat, who already have Bam Adebayo and Kel'el Ware, but there may be a need for additional depth in the frontcourt. 3. G Dink Pate, Mexico City The 6-foot-8 Pate went the G League route, beginning with the 2023-24 season as part of G League Ignite. That team's disbandment led to Pate joining the Mexico City Capitanes, where he averaged 10.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 34 starts. While the Texas native boasts plus athleticism, he needs to grow as a shooter, with Pate shooting 26 percent from three and 58 percent from the foul line last season. The combination of size and athleticism makes him an attractive wing prospect, but Pate has a long way to go as a shooter. As of late Thursday night, he had not agreed to a two-way deal, but Pate may be worth the risk for a team willing to wait on his development. 4. F/C Eric Dixon, Villanova Regarding individual numbers, Dixon is one of the most productive players in Villanova program history. The 6-foot-8 forward/center led the nation in scoring as a senior, earning All-America honors and a first-team All-Big East selection. Dixon averaged 23.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 2.9 three-pointers per game while recording 45.1/40.7/81.3 shooting splits. While undersized for the NBA level, Dixon's improvements as a shooter may translate. He's agreed to a two-way contract with the Lakers, making for an intriguing option if Dixon can defend fours on the perimeter. 5. C Viktor Lakhin, Clemson The 6-foot-11, 245-pound center from Russia played three seasons at Cincinnati before transferring to Clemson ahead of the 2024-25 season. In 34 games, he recorded averages of 11.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.5 blocks and 0.7 three-pointers in 23.6 minutes, shooting 50.6 percent from the field and 69.6 percent from the foul line. Lahkin improved as a finisher and facilitator during his lone season at Clemson and was also an effective rim protector. However, he must improve his lateral mobility and strength in preparation for the NBA game. While yet to agree to a contract, it would be unsurprising if a team signed Lakhin to participate in Summer League play next month. 6. G Ryan Nembhard, Gonzaga The younger brother of Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard, Ryan spent two seasons at Creighton before following in Andrew's footsteps and transferring to Gonzaga. As a senior, the 6-foot point guard led the nation in assists, averaging 9.8 per game while also accounting for 10.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.1 three-pointers. Nembhard averaged only 2.7 three-point attempts per game this past season, but the accuracy was there, as he shot 40.4 percent from beyond the arc. While the lack of size may lead to some overlooking him, Nembhard's ability as a playmaker and improved perimeter shooter have put him on the NBA radar. He's been signed to a two-way deal by the Mavericks, which could be an interesting spot depending on how Dallas addresses the point guard position in free agency. Expecting Nembhard to crack the rotation would be unrealistic given the contract, but Kyrie Irving (knee) will miss a significant portion of the 2025-26 season. 7. G Chucky Hepburn, Louisville After spending three seasons at Wisconsin, Hepburn transferred to Louisville and was a key contributor for the Cardinals in 2024-25. He earned All-ACC honors and averaged 16.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 2.4 steals (tops in the ACC) and 1.9 three-pointers per game. Hepburn shot 43.2 percent from the field and 84.4 percent from the foul line. While the perimeter shot needs some work, Hepburn's foul shooting suggests he has room to develop. He's capable of impacting the two-man game and as a defender, but Hepburn will need to improve as a shooter and clean up the turnovers (3.0 per game in 2024-25). Hepburn agreed to a two-way deal with the Raptors, who were much-improved defensively during the second half of last season. While the defensive ability and playmaking opened the door for Hepburn, his chances of sticking will likely hinge on the perimeter shot. 8. F RJ Luis Jr., St. John's While St. John's coach Rick Pitino loaded up on transfers ahead of his second season with the program, his best player was among the few returnees. Luis, who played one season at UMass before transferring to St. John's, was one of the best players in college basketball in 2024-25. In 35 games, he averaged 18.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.6 blocks and 1.3 three-pointers, shooting 43.9 percent from the field and 74.7 percent from the foul line. In addition to being named Big East Player of the Year, the versatile Luis was a consensus All-American. Many projected him as a second-round pick, but his name was not called on Thursday. The good news for Luis is that he was able to land a two-way deal with the rebuilding Jazz. Utah did add Ace Bailey in the first round, but overall, the team has an uninspiring wing rotation. Also, the team has been willing to give two-way players and G League contributors opportunities to show what they can do during this rebuild. That may bode well for Luis. 9. G Mark Sears, Alabama After two seasons at Ohio, Sears transferred to Alabama and flourished under head coach Nate Oates. A two-time All-American, the 6-foot point guard averaged 18.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 0.9 steals and 2.4 three-pointers per game in 2024-25. Sears shot 40.3 percent from the field, a decrease of 10 percentage points compared to the 2023-24 season, and his effective field goal percentage dropped by 11 percentage points to 49.4. Along with his size, the decrease in efficiency is a concern. However, Sears can be a factor offensively, especially when put in positions where he can play downhill. The former Alabama point guard agreed to a two-way deal with the Bucks, who will play most of next season without Damian Lillard (Achilles). Also, Kevin Porter Jr. will be an unrestricted free agent. On paper, Sears is unlikely to be in a position to play rotation minutes. However, with the Giannis Antetokounmpo conversations from outside the organization, who knows what will happen once the dust settles after free agency? 10. F Grant Nelson, Alabama The 6-foot-10 Nelson played three seasons at North Dakota State before transferring to Alabama ahead of the 2023-24 campaign. He provided the Crimson Tide with offensive versatility in the frontcourt, but there is work to be done on the perimeter shot. In 37 games last season, Nelson averaged 11.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.5 steals, 1.2 blocks and 0.6 three-pointers. Nelson shot 52.2 percent from the field, 25.8 percent from three and 66.7 percent from the foul line. While a solid defender, there's still room for growth, especially in the two-man game. Nelson's ability to consistently knock down perimeter shots will be a key factor as he looks to establish himself as a pro. If he can do that, he can be a steal in this draft class. Nelson is joining the rebuilding Nets on a two-way deal, and while Brooklyn is rebuilding, they also have five first-round picks to work into the fold.
Fox Sports
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
2025 NBA Draft best available players in Round 2 including Kalkbrenner and Broome
With round 1 in the books of the NBA Draft, there's still plenty of NBA talent left in this year's draft. Here's a look at the best available players for round 2: 2025 NBA Draft Best Remaining Prospects Ryan Kalkbrenner (Creighton) Overall Rank: #23 Strengths: Strength, Rebounder, Upside Kalkbrenner could easily go in the top 20 given he's over seven-feet tall and shoots 34.4% from three. He won Big East Defensive Player of the Year four times and has the makings of a Boston Celtic written all over him. LeBron James said that Cooper Flagg is "going to be amazing". Colin Cowherd discusses Flagg's potential in the NBA and if he'll have an immediate impact with the Dallas Mavericks if they select him. Johni Broome (Auburn) Overall Rank: #25 Strengths: Scorer, Competitor The SEC Player of the Year, Broome shows up when it matters. In the Elite 8, he became the first player with 25 points and 10 rebounds on 75% shooting to send his team to the Final Four since Hakeem Olajuwon in 1984. Maxime Raynaud (Stanford) Overall Rank: #27 Strengths: Rebounder, Shooter, Strength The 7'1 Frenchman out of Stanford was the only player in Division-I to average 20 PPG and 10 RPG this year. Raynaud also shot 34.7% from three on 5.5 attempts per contest, making his size and ability to stretch the floor extremely valuable. Noah Penda (France) Overall Rank: #30 Strengths: Defender, Versatile, Upside Penda comes in at 6'8, 225 pounds and has nearly a seven-foot wingspan. He's only 20 years old and has great instincts on the defensive end of the floor. Another French product, he has the chance to be an incredible role player. Other Top Prospects Beyond the four prospects above, here's a list of some of the remaining top players: Chaz Lanier – Rank #31 (Tennessee) Kam Jones – Rank #33 (Marquette) Brice Williams – Rank #35 (Nebraska) Bogoljub Markovic – Rank #36 (G League Ignite) Tamar Bates – Rank #38 (Missouri) Micah Peavy – Rank #40 (TCU) Igor Milicic – Rank #41 (Tennessee) Tyrese Proctor – Rank #42 (Duke) Adou Thiero – Rank #43 (Arkansas) Eric Dixon – Rank #44 (Villanova) Mark Sears – Rank #45 (Alabama) Alex Toohey – Rank #46 (G League Ignite) Hunter Sallis – Rank #47 (Wake Forest) Rasheer Fleming – Rank #48 (Saint Joseph's) Sion James – Rank #49 (Duke) Kobe Sanders – Rank #50 (Nevada) Javon Small – Rank #51 (West Virginia) Koby Brea – Rank #52 (Kentucky) Jamir Watkins – Rank #53 (Florida State) Vladislav Goldin – Rank #54 (Michigan) Amari Williams – Rank #55 (Kentucky) For more, view the full list of remaining prospects. recommended Get more from National Basketball Association Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
