Latest news with #KevinPritchard
Forbes
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Bulked-Up Pacers Wing Johnny Furphy Attacking Basket, Growth In Summer
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 11: Johnny Furphy #12 of the Indiana Pacers attempts a shot in the ... More third quarter against the Orlando Magic at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on April 11, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by) LAS VEGAS – 21 seconds into the Indiana Pacers first 2025 summer league game, young wing Johnny Furphy took the ball and drove the cup. He finished in the lane and opened the scoring in a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Furphy contiued to attack early in that outing and was putting together a solid performance before getting elbowed in the eye. He exited with just over nine minutes of play acummulated before Quenton Jackson stole the show. Yet in less than 10 minutes, the 20-year old Pacers wing showed more pop and strength than he displayed as a rookie. Furphy's growth, both in skill and size, was obvious. His added bulk was revealed by President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard last week. 'Our second-round pick Furphy, he's gained 20 pounds,' Pritchard said. 'He's been the best player out on our practice [floor]The Kansas product used that added size to get to the cup early in summer league play. His agility and awareness helped him get to the rim last year, but now Furphy is overwhelming defenders in his offseason exhibitions. It's a new skill made possible because of his growing body. Indiana selected Furphy with the 35th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. They sent assets to the San Antonio Spurs in order to get the Australian wing because they believed in his potential. As a rookie, Furphy played in 50 games for the Pacers and averaged 2.1 points per game. Now, entering year two, the youngster may feature more prominently in the nightly plans of the blue and gold. He currently projects to be just outside of the team's rotation, but injuries or transactions should give Furphy more total playing time in his second campaign. And if he's going to play, he needs to be stronger. What has Johnny Furphy shown for the Pacers in summer league so far? So far, so good as he's shown in summer league. 'He was keeping us afloat,' Pacers summer league head coach Isaac Yacob said of Furphy's limited minutes in that first outing against Cleveland. Two days later, Furphy had another chance to show off his improved ability to attack the basket, and how his size will be beneficial. With the Pacers taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday, the young wing was back in the lineup and eager to make an impact. He was focused during warmups and at the start of the action. After getting into the paint a few times early in the game, Furphy's loudest success came halfway through the first quarter. In that instance, he pulled in a rebound and gave the ball up. Furphy then raced up the floor and was given a pass from rookie Taelon Peter. Now armed with momentum and space, Furphy dribbled behind his back around a defender, then threw down a strong dunk that sent the Pacers bench to their feet in celebration. Indiana Pacers' Johnny Furphy (12) shoots over Brooklyn Nets' Dennis Schroder during the second half ... More of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) It was his third points of the game at the time, and the first one came off of a foul shot after getting hacked on a drive. The Thunder couldn't keep Furphy from the basket early. 'Just trying to be as aggressive as possible,' Furphy said of his summer league approach. 'I think it's a really good opportunity for me to kind of have the ball in my hands a little bit more and just be aggressive.' In his second outing, a loss vs the Thunder, Furphy made five of his six two-point shots and earned a trip to the foul line. He had multiple assists that came after getting into the paint, too. His jumper wasn't falling – he went 0/6 on threes – but he still found ways to impact the game with that aforementioned aggression. He finished with 11 points, six rebounds, and four assists. 'Definitely how much time he's putting into his game and his body. Like I said in camp, he's one of the strongest, most athletic dudes on our team and improved since the day he stepped into our organization,' Yacob said of Furphy's year-over-year development. 'He's a worker, he's a workaholic. Comes in early in the morning, works, stays late. So just the growth, he keeps growing and is going to continue to grow.' Every shot Furphy made against OKC was from nine feet away or closer. He's emerging as more than an finesse player, and that is both due to his mentality and added weight. He can get by defenders using both athleticism and strength in a way that he couldn't during summer league last year. Through two summer league games, with one of them abbreviated due to injury, Furphy is averaging 9.5 points per game on 50% shooting. He's sprinkled in 3.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists per night, tidy across the board numbers for a guy currently posting just 19 minutes per contest. Furphy has been trying to add bulk for a while since he was a late developer. He wants to fill out his body and has been in the weight room constantly. With the Pacers in the playoffs in recent months, the two-year pro focused on things he could control – the amount of time he spent in the gym, his development, and his diet – in order to get better. He wants to continue growing, which is more than possible at his age. So far, the added size hasn't changed Furphy's play at all. It's been purely additive, which Yacob appreciates. 'The rare part that's good that Furphy has done – those 20 pounds, he's become more athletic with them,' he said. 'Jump testing and all the stuff we do. He does a great job with our strength coach, Eric (Huddleston), who works him out, but. That's the hard part. People gain weight and are not the same player. It's enhanced [Furphy]. Great rebounder, finisher at the rim, and stuff like that.' Furphy needs to knock down some jump shots, and his defense (like every Pacers player in summer league so far) has been a mixed bag. He's coughed the ball up five times in two games. There's still plenty for the youngster to focus on. But he feels like he's just scratching the surface of his potential, and his newfound bulk already appears to be paying off. For the Pacers, the next step is bringing those improvements from the summer league floor to the NBA court. 'I think I'm very far away from where I will be in a few years time,' Furphy said. 'I've just gotta keep working.'
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pacers' front office breaks silence on ‘challenging' Myles Turner decision
The post Pacers' front office breaks silence on 'challenging' Myles Turner decision appeared first on ClutchPoints. It was no doubt a shocking move to see former Indiana Pacers star Myles Turner sign with the Milwaukee Bucks after negotiations with his former squad, leading to questions about how dedicated the team was to retaining the big man. While some could label Turner's leaving as a big mistake for the Pacers, the team's president of basketball operations, Kevin Pritchard, spoke about the negotiations and the 'challenging' aspect of it. Advertisement First, Pritchard would say to the media that the team was 'fully prepared to go deep into the tax' to retain Turner, according to WISH-TV News. 'I don't want to get into the specifics of Myles, because the truth is, he gave 10 great years here, I loved having him be here, I hope I'm friends with him for a long time,' Pritchard said. I know this, that Herb Simon and Steven Rales, and the Simon family were fully prepared to go deep into the tax to keep him, and we really wanted to do that. And we were negotiating in good faith, but what happens in this league is sometimes you're negotiating, but because a guy is unrestricted, he has the right to say, 'That's the offer I want, I'm going to take it, and that's best for my family.' And again, we were in good-faith negotiations.' Pacers' Kevin Pritchard on 'challenging' Myles Turner situation Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images As fans wonder what the final offer the Pacers gave Turner was, he is now a part of the Bucks after 10 seasons with the team that drafted him in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft. Prichard would speak about the 'challenging' aspects of the business, which are the sudden turn of events that can take place. Advertisement 'It was a little surprising that you know how Milwaukee created that. I don't know if you know, we always say in our conference room, there are cap teams that have cap space, and there are shadow teams that have cap space,' Pritchard said. 'You can go get but it becomes very challenging by buying out or making trades, and a hat tip to Milwaukee to do that. So I think the most important thing is, we were deep in conversations with Myles, and then, and then we saw that he'd accepted an offer with Milwaukee.' 'Again, that's part of this business that is challenging,' Pritchard continued. 'I can tell you this also, that there are two kinds of things that I believe that it was kind of fundamental to the league right now, and that is, change is inevitable, and expect the unexpected.' At any rate, Indiana will look elsewhere to improve their team after making the NBA Finals. Related: Pacers reuniting with James Wiseman after Myles Turner's Bucks departure Advertisement Related: Bucks' Myles Turner signing becomes official with no Pacers sign-and-trade
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
When NBA Stars Fall, Teams Get Help Paying Their Mega-Salaries
Indiana Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard confirmed this week that star point guard Tyrese Haliburton will miss the entire 2025-26 season after he tore his Achilles tendon during the NBA Finals. It's a devastating on-court blow for the Eastern Conference champs, who must also adjust to the departure of free agent center Myles Turner. One consolation: Insurance will cover up to $18.2 million of Haliburton's $45.6 million guaranteed salary for 2025-26. Advertisement More from The NBA oversees a temporary total disability (TTD) insurance program for the benefit of individual teams. Each club insures a minimum of four of its highest-paid players, as defined by either the current season salary or total remaining salary. Teams have the option to insure additional players. The policy pays out after players miss 41 consecutive regular-season games, which can span two seasons. The benefit is either 50% or 80% of the player's salary, depending on the 'tier' of coverage selected by the team—the higher tier requires a higher annual premium. Last season, the max payout was roughly $492,000 per game. The $18.2 million potential benefit for the Pacers for Haliburton is based on the higher tier, which pays 80%. Teams are responsible for the balance of the salary. Prior versions of the NBA's TTD program covered five players on each club, and the maximum payout was $175,000 per game, and then raised to $275,000 per game as salaries climbed. Advertisement All-NBA star Jayson Tatum is also likely to be sidelined for most, if not all, of the season after he tore his Achilles tendon during the Boston Celtics' loss to the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals—his $54.1 million salary for 2025-26 ranks tied for fourth in the NBA. The Celtics will collect just over $20 million based on maximum coverage. Other high-priced stars likely to miss a chunk of next season recovering from injuries include Kyrie Irving ($36.6 million salary) and Dejounte Murray ($26.8 million salary). Irving missed the Mavericks' last 20 games of the 2024-25 season after tearing his ACL, while Murray was sidelined for the New Orleans Pelicans' final 33 games after rupturing his Achilles in January. Damian Lillard, who suffered his own Achilles injury during the 2025 playoffs, was waived by the Milwaukee Bucks, who 'stretched' the remaining $112.6 million left on his contract over five years. It is unclear whether insurance will cover any of his deal. A representative for the Bucks declined to comment on the matter. The league has a separate program for injured players for salary cap purposes. The disabled player exception (DPE) allows a team to sign one replacement player after someone suffers a season-ending injury or illness. The salary is capped at the lesser of 50% of the injured player's salary or the non-tax mid-level exemption, which is $14.1 million for the 2025-26 season. They can also acquire a player in a trade under the same salary rules, plus $100,000. Advertisement Best of Sign up for Sportico's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Indiana Pacers 宣佈 Tyrese Haliburton 因跟腱撕裂將缺席 2025-26 NBA 賽季
為了確保 Tyrese Haliburton 的長期健康，球隊不會讓他急於明年復出，杜絕任何不切實際的期待。 Indiana Pacers 王牌控衛 Tyrese Haliburton 因右腳跟腱撕裂，將缺席整個 2025-26 NBA 球季。 傷勢發生於剛落幕的總決賽 Game 7，當時 Pacers 不敵 Oklahoma City Thunder。 Indiana Pacers 近日正式宣佈其明星控衛 Tyrese Haliburton 因右腳跟腱撕裂，將缺席整個 2025-26 NBA 賽季。溜馬籃球運營總裁 Kevin Pritchard 明確表示為了確保 Haliburton 的長期健康，球隊不會讓他於明年復出，杜絕任何不切實際的期待。 這場毀滅性的傷病發生在最近 NBA 總決賽第七場的第一節，當時溜馬不敵 Oklahoma City Thunder。核磁共振檢查證實了跟腱撕裂的診斷，這位 25 歲的球星隨即接受手術。雖然手術順利，但球隊選擇採取謹慎的復健策略，優先考慮他的完全康復。Pritchard 強調：「他明年不會上場，我們絕不會拿他的健康冒險。」 Tyrese Haliburton 從醫院病床上透過 X 向球迷發表了一則感性貼文，為讓球迷失望致歉，並承諾「會全力以赴回到這個位置」。他的缺陣加上 Myles Turner 的離隊，讓溜馬在即將到來的賽季面臨重大挑戰，失去兩位核心先發的他們勢必進入重建階段。球迷對這位年輕球星的回歸充滿期待，但目前球隊的重心將放在穩健的未來規劃上。 相關報導 > Chris Paul 直言或將於 2025-26 賽季後高掛球鞋退休 > 走進 Jordan Brand 一對一籃球錦標賽「THE ONE」台北站 > Nike Basketball 率先預覽 SNKRS 2025-2026 最新發售鞋款
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton confirmed to miss 2025-26 season with Achilles injury
The post Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton confirmed to miss 2025-26 season with Achilles injury appeared first on ClutchPoints. Tyrese Haliburton suffered a brutal Achilles injury in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. It was a bitter ending for the star point guard and the Indiana Pacers as the franchise lost the championship while Haliburton had to come back from a serious injury. On Monday, reports confirmed he'll be out for the entire 2025-26 season. Advertisement The plan is for the 25-year-old point guard to return after the 2025-26 season. Pacers' president of basketball operations, Kevin Pritchard, confirmed that Tyrese Haliburton will not play next season, while talking with WISH-TV News. Indiana wants to allow Haliburton to fully recover from the injury and will not rush him back onto the court. 'I have no doubt that he will be back better than ever,' said Pritchard. 'The surgery went well… He will not play next year, though. We would not jeopardize that now. Don't get any hopes up that [Haliburton] will play.' This is the news Pacers fans were expecting all along, as Achilles tears typically take a full year to recover from. The good news is that Tyrese Haliburton is still young and should be able to bounce back without a hiccup once he does return. But he'll be sidelined for quite some time before then. Advertisement Tyrese Haliburton's Achilles injury puts Indiana in a weird spot. Coming off a Finals appearance, the franchise must now find a way to address the roster for next season while also thinking about Haliburton's return. The Pacers already lost center Myles Turner in free agency to the Milwaukee Bucks, so it's possible the front office focuses on youth and development next season. That would give Indiana a chance to have a mini-rebuild while Tyrese Haliburton nurses his injury. The franchise could be in a situation where it acquires a talented prospect in next year's NBA Draft while also being in a position to sign an exciting free agent or two this time next year. It might be a long year next season. However, the long-term outlook for the Pacers is still fantastic, especially if Tyrese Haliburton can return to form, as he was one of the most clutch performers in the 2024-25 playoffs. Related: Celtics offered Pacers help after Tyrese Haliburton injury Advertisement Related: Myles Turner's new Bucks contract is more than initially reported
