Latest news with #Spurs'
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Spurs' Harrison Barnes cut off from answering question amid Kevin Durant trade rumors
The post Spurs' Harrison Barnes cut off from answering question amid Kevin Durant trade rumors appeared first on ClutchPoints. During a community event in Austin, Texas, San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes met with the media. Upon getting asked about his possible inclusion in a potential trade for Kevin Durant, a Spurs media relations employee shut down the question before the reporter could finish it. Advertisement 'No, we're not doing any trade talk. Sorry,' the team's staffer interrupted. It followed a question that comes in the midst of reports that Durant wants to be in San Antonio. 'How does it feel to be involved in trade talk…' Multiple reports have indicated the Spurs are willing to offer several players, including Barnes, and their 14th pick in this month's NBA Draft for Durant. Those same reports, along with speculation, suggest the Phoenix Suns are looking for more. Harrison Barnes faces trade question On behalf of the Harrison and Brittany Barnes Community Fund, the veteran forward helped unveil a newly renovated basketball court at a Boys & Girls Clubs location in the state's capital city. Austin is approximately an hour away from San Antonio by car. Advertisement When Spurs players do such events, usually in the Alamo City, it's common for them to take basketball-related questions as well. But in the rare cases that the player's name is involved in contexts the franchise would rather avoid, the Spurs media staff has limited related questions. The Spurs have been linked to Durant for several weeks now. Because San Antonio is reportedly his preferred landing spot, the organization isn't throwing the kitchen sink at the Suns in a trade proposal. Truth be told, they wouldn't even if KD hadn't reportedly stated he wants to play in the Alamo City. The future Hall-of-Famer will be 37 years old when next season starts. The Silver and Black don't have the intention of trading the second overall pick in the draft and, thus, the chance to add Dylan Harper, nor do they want to part with Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle. Harrison Barnes and Kevin Durant history At 33 years old and, admittedly, probably not part of the Spurs young core, rumblings indicate Barnes is a piece the Spurs are willing to part with in exchange for Durant. Advertisement It wouldn't mark the first time Barnes would be replaced by KD. The former North Carolina standout left the Golden State Warriors in the summer of 2016 after the Dubs signed Durant. Golden State, which won a championship with Barnes, added two more with the one-time Oklahoma City Thunder star, and there is a chance history could repeat itself this offseason. Related: Kevin Durant trade offer Spurs must make to Suns to seal deal Related: Giannis Antetokounmpo trade grades for ESPN's Spurs-Bucks proposal
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Spurs' Dylan Harper a roller-coaster ride of emotions after going No. 2
The post Spurs' Dylan Harper a roller-coaster ride of emotions after going No. 2 appeared first on ClutchPoints. San Antonio Spurs' newest guard, Dylan Harper, was emotional after being selected as the No. 2 overall pick at the 2025 NBA Draft. The Spurs added to their exciting backcourt the 19-year-old who projects to be an absolute star at the next level. Dylan, the son of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper, has succeeded everywhere he's been. In one season at Rutgers, the Franklin Lakes, New Jersey native averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.0 assists on an efficient 48% from the field. Advertisement Harper was subsequently a third-team All-Big Ten selection, showcasing his talent on a weekly basis in one of the best conferences in the country. At 6 foot 6, 215 pounds, the young guard was fired up about joining his new team. In an interview with ESPN's Monica McNutt, Harper detailed his excitement. 'I'm feeling everything. All the emotions mixed in one bucket, from crying, to laughing, to being happy. I'm excited to get ready, I'm excited…I think when you play with a bunch of great players, it just brings the best out of you. They got a great young core over there, and I'm just ready to get in there and make an impact any way I can with those guys.' Harper joins a team looking to take a huge step up in the Western Conference hierarchy during the 2025-26 season. Victor Wembanyama should at least be a top 10 player in the world this coming season, and he already has an All-Star-caliber point guard beside him in De'Aaron Fox. Next to those two is 2024-25 Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, who has the potential to be an elite wing in this league. Several other solid role players are on this roster, like Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes, and Jeremy Sochan, so Harper isn't guaranteed to start immediately. But looking ahead, it'll be interesting how the 19-year-old fits in a potential backcourt with Fox, who presumably will have the ball in his hands most of the time when it isn't in Wembanyama's. Harper has shown the potential to play off-ball before, but that wasn't his role in college. Advertisement Overall, the Spurs took the most talented player available, which is the right move for this franchise. Harper has the potential to be a cornerstone player for over a decade in San Antonio alongside Wembanyama, especially since he was considered the best pick-and-roll prospect going into Wednesday night. Should the Spurs continue their tradition of developing elite talent, they should have a championship-contending squad sooner rather than later. It's playoffs or bust for this franchise next season. Related: Why Spurs strike NBA Draft gold again with Carter Bryant Related: Victor Wembanyama calls Dylan Harper after Spurs' No. 2 pick
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Spurs' Dylan Harper shares eye-opening Giannis Antetokounmpo workout story
The post Spurs' Dylan Harper shares eye-opening Giannis Antetokounmpo workout story appeared first on ClutchPoints. Dylan Harper's workout with Giannis Antetokounmpo may have lasted just one day—but it could shape the San Antonio Spurs rookie's entire NBA career. Before even setting foot on an NBA court, Harper experienced the kind of intensity and precision that defines greatness, thanks to a grueling offseason session with the Milwaukee Bucks superstar. Advertisement The story came to light during Harper's appearance on 7PM in Brooklyn, the podcast hosted by Carmelo Anthony. When asked about his pre-draft training a day after Harper was taken No. 2 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, he recalled his jaw-dropping introduction to Antetokounmpo's workout routine. 'It kind of switched my brain… how he just approached the workout was probably the best part about it.' Harper was expecting a day of one-on-one play with the two-time NBA MVP. What he got was a masterclass in NBA discipline and detail. The session began with an unrelenting focus on repetition and precision—staying at one shooting spot for 20 minutes, refusing to move on until it was perfect. For Harper, used to quick-paced drills, it was a shock. Advertisement 'He not gonna leave the spot until it's perfect… I was trying to play 1v1 the whole time with him.' More than just a physical challenge, the workout became a mental shift. Antetokounmpo emphasized 'kill spots'—areas on the floor where an elite player can dominate, even against a Defensive Player of the Year. The lesson was clear, slow is smooth, and smooth becomes unstoppable. 'You can't be perfect, but you can get close to perfect.' That mindset fits perfectly within San Antonio's elite NBA player development model, an approach tailored for maximizing the potential of high draft picks like Harper. For Spurs rookies, disciplined focus and purposeful work have always been cornerstones of the franchise's identity, as seen in the careers of Tim Duncan, Kawhi Leonard, Victor Wembanyama, and Stephon Castle. Advertisement With back-to-back Rookie of the Year honors already secured by their top selections, Harper now sets his sights on extending the streak to a third straight season. This wasn't just a training day. It was a blueprint for success. 'He might not be going the fastest, but he's going the hardest in the gym.' That takeaway matters. Harper arrives in San Antonio with more than talent—he brings a work ethic shaped by one of the game's greats: his father, Ron Harper. The Harper era might just be getting underway in Texas, but Spurs fans can take comfort knowing their top pick already understands what it takes to reach the top. Related: Dylan Harper's mom goes viral at 2025 NBA Draft after Spurs selection Related: Why Spurs strike NBA Draft gold again with Carter Bryant
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Spurs' Victor Wembanyama-De'Aaron Fox duo gets excited take from ex-player
The post Spurs' Victor Wembanyama-De'Aaron Fox duo gets excited take from ex-player appeared first on ClutchPoints. Former San Antonio Spurs guard Danny Green cautioned biased his take when asked which Western Conference duo he most excited to watch next season. His response was the Spurs' Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox. Wembanyama's blood clot health scare ended his season, forfeiting an extended glance at San Antonio's duo after the NBA's trade deadline deal the Sacramento Kings. Then, Fox underwent season-ending surgery on his left hand. Advertisement It was the first time Fox had gone under the knife. The surgery repaired tendon damage in his left pinkie finger. Couple the Spurs' intriguing duo with young and talented complimentary players, and it's enough for Green to say the Wembanyama and Fox tandem is what he's most looking forward to in the Western Conference, per ESPN's First Take. 'I'm looking at the Spurs. I wanna see a healthy Wemby and De'Aaron Fox. We never got a chance to get them at full strength last year,' Green said. 'Obviously, everybody's interested in what KD looks like, too. For me, it's that duo and seeing how Wemby bounces back from that blood clot issue, and De'Aaron Fox from his surgery. They have a great, good core around them. They just drafted Dillon Harper. They have Stephon Castle. 'They have so many good, young pieces. Vassell. You got Keldon Johnson over there. Jeremy Sohan. They have a really great young core. I think they can be one of those teams that turns around fully and, obviously they were a lottery team this past year, but going from that to being a top six seed in the west,' Green concluded. Could this be the year the Spurs make their playoff run? The Spurs' front office may have made moves to steer them in that direction after drafting a generational talent in Wembanyama, signing a future Hall of Fame guard in Chris Paul, and trading for a fringe All-Star in Fox, who is entering his prime years. Advertisement Add the second overall pick in this year's draft, and a strong supporting role, and the Spurs do have the potential to be a top-tier team in the Western Conference. De'Aaron Fox drops stunning reality after joining Spurs Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images Before surgery, Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox discussed his excitement to play alongside All-Star Victor Wembanyama and heard nothing but good things about the rising star. 'I've heard great things. I think CP's [Chris Paul] worked with him as well,' Fox said. 'He's done great things, so I'm ready for it.' Spurs fans are in for an exciting 2025-26 campaign. Related: Spurs' Dylan Harper opens up on learning from Bronny James, Shedeur Sanders Related: Carter Bryant reveals unpopular legend he modeled his game after
The National
a day ago
- Sport
- The National
Postecoglou 'wanted' by LAFC as direct Celtic link emerges
And it would appear there is a direct Celtic link trying to make it happen. The Australian is out of football currently after he was recently sacked by Tottenham just a fortnight after he guided them to the Europa League trophy. He has been linked with various posts already since his departure from the North London club. Postecoglou, of course, left Celtic two years ago to become Spurs' head coach. Before managing in Scotland, he had experience of managing in his Aussie homeland, Japan and Greece. Now, according to the Daily Record, there is more serious interest from a club across the globe. Los Angeles FC want him to become their next boss, it is claimed. They state that former Celtic scout, Neil McGuinness, is keen to convince the 59-year-old to head to L.A. With the likes of former Arsenal, Chelsea and France international Olivier Giroud among their squad, LAFC are pushing for a play-off position in the Western Conference.
