Latest news with #NBAWesternConferenceFinals
USA Today
07-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UCLA basketball players prepare for 2025 NBA summer league journey
UCLA will be well represented in the NBA 2k26 summer league 2025. Six former Bruins have been confirmed as participants on this year's summer league rosters, with two of them being rookies. As of July 5, the former UCLA guards playing in this year's summer league are the Minnesota Timberwolves' Amari Bailey and Jaylen Clark, the Golden State Warriors' Jules Bernard, and the two rookies: the Orlando Magic's Lazar Stefanovic and the Atlanta Hawks' Kobe Johnson. The Philadelphia 76ers announced they will have their 2024 second-round pick power forward, Adem Bona, on a summer league roster. Jaylen Clark is a particularly intriguing player to watch, given that the Minnesota Timberwolves have reached the NBA Western Conference Finals the past two seasons. If Jaylen Clark can develop his game and become a more prominent role player, the T-Wolves could take the next step and reach the franchise's first-ever NBA Finals. The other player who will take center stage at the summer league is Kobe Johnson, an NBA rookie who was not drafted and needs to show the Atlanta Hawks a reasonable level of upside to justify a permanent place on the 2025-2026 roster. The Hawks made significant roster upgrades in the offseason. Kobe Johnson sticking on the Hawks would be a great story if it happens. The summer league games will be played in Las Vegas from July 10-20 and are available live on ESPN or NBA TV, according to the NBA.
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ignites fiery family feud with cousin Nickeil Alexander-Walker in 2025 West Finals
Sometimes, a game means more than just winning or losing, this was one of those times. The NBA Western Conference Finals took on an emotional turn in May 2025. The Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander went up against his cousin, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, in a game that went beyond the result on the court. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The two Canadians realized a childhood dream when they faced off on one of the league's grandest stages. It wasn't just history, or basketball, it was family and a moment fans won't forget. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nickeil Alexander-Walker share a special NBA playoff moment In May 2025, fans witnessed something you don't see every day. Two 26-year-olds from Canada, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, weren't just out there chasing a championship. They were family, tied by blood and years of memories, now standing on opposite sides of a playoff fight that ran much deeper than basketball. The Western Conference Finals weren't just another playoff round; it was personal. They grew up in Toronto, side by side. Practice in the driveway. Shoot brackets in local fitness centers. Switching jerseys, dreams and late at night about NBA. Now, years later, they were finally here, not only in the league, but against each other under the brightest light basketball has to offer. And this time it wasn't a random one-to-one in the garden. It was real. It mattered. And fans could feel it. After one of the games, Shai spoke about it. 'He got the better of me sometimes, I got the better of him,' he told The Athletic. 'It's something we've dreamt about forever. Crazy, it happened.' The family was there too. Both sides sat in the crowd, cheering loudly but proudly. It wasn't about who won each game. It was about how far they'd come. Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander show respect and emotion on the court Nickeil Alexander-Walker entered the NBA in 2019, one year after Shai. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Their paths stayed close. But this playoff series in 2025 was their biggest moment yet. Both played hard. Shai led the Thunder's offense with strong plays and calm focus. Nickeil answered back with tight defense and big shots. Even when the games got tough, they never lost respect for each other. On ESPN, one NBA analyst said, 'This was more than basketball. You could feel the emotion every minute.' As the series ended, the two cousins hugged at center court. The crowd clapped. Cameras caught it all. They didn't need words. Also Read: It wasn't just a playoff game. For Shai and Nickeil, it was family, it was heart, and it was the dream they chased since they were boys in Canada.
New York Post
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Stephen A. Smith happy to get ‘well-earned relief' from one part of his ESPN responsibilities
With 'Inside the NBA' coming to ESPN, that means that Stephen A. Smith will be on fewer NBA broadcasts, something that will not only make a segment of viewers at home happy but also Smith himself. The well-known ESPN personality expressed excitement that the beloved TNT studio show will be joining ESPN through a licensing agreement struck with the NBA. Stephen A. Smith, NBA analyst for ESPN, looks on before the Boston Celtics play the Knicks in the playoffs. Getty Images That excitement stems not just from his enjoyment of the show, but for the chance to take a step back from some of his on-air appearances. ''Inside The NBA' is coming here and nobody can be happier for that than me,' Smith told Boardroom in an interview. 'Not just because those guys are great, but it gives me what I believe to be well-earned relief. It's been a long time. I've been covering the NBA for 30 years, so I'm going to get somewhat of a reprieve to some degree in that regard in terms of an inordinate amount of assignments that I've had in the past. So, I'm happy about that.' Smith was busy during ESPN's coverage of the NBA Finals and the NBA draft, and that's without even mentioning his number of projects and appearances away from NBA coverage and sports in general. The $100 million sports commentator is expected to play a bigger role in the network's NFL coverage as part of his new deal with the Disney-owned network, and in the interview with Boardroom, he expressed excitement over some vacation time that will help him recharge for the fall. ESPN reporters Stephen A Smith, Malika Andrews and Michael Malone talk during Game 4 of the 2025 NBA Western Conference Finals on May 26, 2025. NBAE via Getty Images 'I'll have a greater appreciation for it come NFL season when I'm back,' Smith said, speaking about his duties on 'First Take.' 'Because obviously I'll be fresh, refreshed, ready to roll, and I'll have an even greater appreciation then than I do of it now.'
New York Post
28-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Naz Reid lands massive $125 million Timberwolves extension
Naz Reid is staying in Minnesota. The New Jersey native and Jelly Fam alum has reportedly agreed to a five-year, $125 million extension to remain with the Timberwolves, ESPN reported. ESPN front office insider and salary cap expert Bobby Marks noted that the T-Wolves' projected tax bill resides at $23 million, significantly lower than the $141 million tax bill last season. The deal marks a significant investment in the soon-to-be 26-year-old forward who was expected to receive interest from multiple suitors around the NBA. 3 Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11) works toward the basket during the first half of Game 5 of the Western Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Oklahoma City. AP 3 Naz Reid is going back to Minnesota. NBAE via Getty Images The Timberwolves are projected to be right at the second apron following this deal, with $206 million in team salary, just under $2 million away. This is meaningful given that Julius Randle has a player option worth around $30 million, and could opt out and enter free agency, potentially leaving Minnesota after one season. Randle, of course, arrived from New York via the Karl-Anthony Towns trade. 3 Naz Reid drives to the basket during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 4 of the 2025 NBA Western Conference Finals on May 26, 2025. NBAE via Getty Images Reid's return, while celebrated, carries roster implications for that reason. Additionally, Rudy Gobert is beginning a three-year, $105 million extension next season. With Reid securing a rich role off the bench, a higher payroll could make re-signing Randle and keeping Gobert more difficult, unless the Wolves navigate the cap in a creative way. Last season, Reid averaged a career-best 14.2 points while shooting 46.2 percent from the field and 37.9 percent from 3. Reid won NBA Sixth Man of the Year honors in 2024 and helped Minnesota reach the Western Conference finals for the second straight year in 2025 before falling to the eventual champion Thunder.
New York Post
20-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
NBA legend Vlade Divac undergoes emergency surgery after scary motorcycle accident
Vlade Divac needed emergency surgery to implant an artificial hip on Friday after falling off his motorcycle in a scary incident in Montengero. The iconic NBA center broke his hip in the Thursday accident, which came on a road near the Montenegrin Adriatic Sea coast, according to the Associated Press. 'During the day, a surgical procedure was performed,' said Ljubica Mitrovic, a spokeswoman of the hospital in the town of Risan told the outlet. 'He is in a stable general and physical condition and is under a careful supervision of the medical staff.' Kings' Vlade Divac (C) drives against Los Angeles Lakers' Robert Horry (L) and Shaquille O'Neal during Game 6 of the NBA Western Conference Finals May 31, 2002. REUTERS Injuries from the accident left Divac, 57, unable to stand, per Serbia's Informer. As one of the first wave of European players to come to the NBA, Divac introduced himself to North America in 1989 with the Lakers, earning All-Rookie honors. Over 16 NBA seasons, the 7-foot-1 big man went on to play for the Hornets and Kings before returning to the Lakers before retiring after the 2004-05 campaign — becoming the first player born and trained outside the US to play over 1,000 games in the league. acramento Kings general manager Vlade Divac looks on from the bench as his team warms up before facing the Denver Nuggets in an NBA basketball game , Oct. 21, 2017. AP In 2009, Sacramento retired his No. 21 and in 2019, he was inducted into the Basetball Hall of Fame. A post-playing career saw Divac start out as a Lakers scout before joining the Kings' front office in 2015, eventually taking the reigns as general manager, a position he held until stepping down in 2020.
