DESSTA STREET

LiAngelo Ball could see the floor in G League action during the 2021-22 season. View the original article to see embedded media. LiAngelo Ball has signed a G League contract and will enter the league's draft on Oct. 23, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania .  Ball, 22, could be selected by the Greensboro Swarm, the G League affiliate of the Hornets, per Charania. Ball played for the Hornets during Summer League, averaging 9.6 points per game.  Ball signed with the Oklahoma City Blue of the G League during the 2019-20 season, but he did not play due to the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. He did not make the Pistons's roster for the 2020-21 season despite signing a training camp deal.  LaMelo Ball won Rookie of the Year in 2020-21 as he shined at point guard for the Hornets. Lonzo Ball is entering his fifth NBA season this year after signing a four-year, $85 million deal with the Bulls this offseason.  More NBA Coverage: • Luka Dončić Is...

The seven-time All-Star point guard has been cleared to join the team for practices at the HSS Training Center in Brooklyn. View the original article to see embedded media. Nets guard Kyrie Irving will be allowed to participate in the Brooklyn's home practices because New York City has determined that the team's practice facility—HSS Training Center—is a private office building,  according to The Athletic 's Shams Charania .  An official from NYC's city hall made the declaration that the team's practice facility is indeed a private building. While the Nets held practices in San Diego during the first week of training camp, Irving participated. When the team returned to Brooklyn, the seven-time All-Star point guard was unable to participate in team activities. While the NBA preseason has begun for Brooklyn, the Nets are still preparing for the possibility of Irving being a part-time player this season. In August, NYC mayor Bill de Blasio made a public plea ur...

The Mailbag, Bradley Beal vs. Trae young, NBA's top rebuilds and more. In today's episode, Michael and Rohan open up the mailbag and wonder if the Trail Blazers are better than everybody thinks they'll be, discuss which team would be the best if every player on it were in their prime, debate Trae Young vs. Bradley Beal, and rank the NBA's current rebuilds. The following transcript is an excerpt from the Open Floor podcast. Listen to the full episode on podcast players everywhere or on SI.com . Michael Pina: Are we under rating or undervaluing or sleeping on the Portland Trail Blazers? The narrative is just very negative, I feel because of the trade rumors—there was the offseason debacle with their head coach search. But you look at this roster, you dig into some of the lineup data from last season, particularly after they got Norman Powell. And it's like this team was good and they have Dame. And if Dame's committed, if C.J. is healthy, if everybody...

Per Canada's Quarantine Act, breaching quarantine could lead to up to six months in prison and/or $750,000 in fines. View the original article to see embedded media. Unvaccinated NBA players will face fines or jail time if they violate the quarantine restrictions while in Toronto, according to The Athletic 's Shams Charania . Per Canada's Quarantine Act, breaking quarantine could lead to up to six months in prison and/or $750,000 in fines. Unvaccinated players are only allowed to leave the hotel for team activities.  According to the NBA's health and safety protocols for this upcoming season, players must pass a PCR test before traveling to Toronto, regardless of vaccination status.  The news comes as notable players across the league say they won't get vaccinated for COVID-19, including Nets guard Kyrie Irving  He could miss half the season (or more) due to his COVID-19 vaccine status, resulting in a hefty financial blow due to local vaccine restrictions. ...

After originally hoping Irving would agree to get vaccinated, the Nets are now preparing for the scenario of Irving being unavailable for home games and practices. View the original article to see embedded media. With the NBA preseason underway and the team's regular season opener fast approaching, the Nets are preparing for the possibility of All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving being a part-time player this season. Irving's continued resistance to getting the COVID-19 vaccine has the Nets "unclear" on his future plans, and the team's hope for Irving to eventually get the vaccine is waning, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski . While the team was once optimistic that Irving would eventually change his stance, Brooklyn is now readying itself for Irving to be unavailable for home games and practices for the foreseeable future. At the team's media day last week , Irving declined to divulge whether or not he planned to receive a vaccination ahead of the...

NBA Media day, Vaccine mandates, holdouts, trades and everything in between Chris Mannix and Howard Beck run through the top stories from the NBA’s Media Day, from Kyrie Irving’s vaccination status—and how the vaccine holdouts will be impacted this season —the Sixers brass’s response to Ben Simmons, Damian Lillard’s future in Portland, Zion’s injury, Porzingis at power forward and more. The following transcript is an excerpt from The Crossover NBA podcast. Listen to the full episode on podcast players everywhere or on SI.com . Chris Mannix: So I've talked to a few people within the league and within the Nets, and there's some optimism I would say, that Kyrie is going to get the vaccine. And the Nets have a little bit of a runway here to get him set up because they're in San Diego right now for the start of their training camp, there is no vaccine mandate in California, they play their first exhibition game in Los Angeles on October 3rd, Kyrie can play in that game...

NBA’s head of officiating, Monty McCutchen breaks down the new rules for the upcoming season On the Friday edition, Howard Beck welcomes the NBA’s head of officiating, Monty McCutchen, to discuss all the rules tweaks for the 2021–22 season. The biggest change? A crackdown on offensive players drawing cheap fouls—with leg kicks, sideways leaps and other shenanigans. The following transcript is an excerpt from the Open Floor podcast. Listen to the full episode on podcast players everywhere or on SI.com . Howard Beck: The new NBA season is nearly upon us folks. And a new season, of course, means some new rules or interpretations or various tweaks and adjustments and points of emphasis for the game referees. The biggest one this season, a crackdown on offensive players drawing fouls in various cheap and nefarious ways. You know, the leg kicks and the side leg kicks and the sideways leaps and the forward leaps and the back flips and all these other forms of trickery and shenaniga...

Assane Drame, 26, had worked with the Clippers digital content group since 2019, when he joined the organization as an intern. View the original article to see embedded media. On Wednesday, the Clippers announced that video assistant Assane Drame was killed in a car accident on Monday. He was 26 years old. In a statement, the team praised Drame for his work ethic and kind-hearted nature. Drame had made a lasting impression on the organization since joining the digital team as an intern in 2019. “The Clippers organization mourns the loss of Assane Drame, a dedicated employee, a talented videographer and a loyal friend," the statement read. "Assane came to the Clippers in 2019 as a video intern in our digital content group and ascended to video assistant. He was a hard worker and a gentle soul, passionate about his craft and kind to his colleagues, earning the respect and admiration of players, coaches and staff.” Drame had attended the team's groundbreaking cerem...

New York City's mayor urged the Nets star to get vaccinated before the season starts. View the original article to see embedded media. New York City mayor Bill de Blasio made a public statement on Wednesday urging Nets star Kyrie Irving to receive the COVID-19 vaccinated. "I’m a fan of Kyrie," the mayor said on CNN. "I would just appeal to him—get vaccinated. “Your fans want to see you. We all want you back. Your teammates want you back. Look, there are teams now that are 100% vaccinated. That’s a great example to everybody else.” While de Blasio wants to see Irving on the court, the seven-time NBA All-Star declined to comment on his vaccination status on Monday during the Nets Media Day via Zoom saying that he wants to "keep that stuff private." Irving did not attend Brooklyn's media day in person due to New York City's health and safety protocols. In addition, Irving's status to play in home games is uncertain as the city is requiring...

The league's protocols for unvaccinated players will be very similar to what the entire league operated under last season, before vaccines were available. View the original article to see embedded media. In a memo sent on Tuesday, the NBA reportedly informed teams that is was close to finalizing and agreement with the National Basketball Players Association on health and safety protocols for the upcoming season, according to ESPN's Tim Bontemps . Unvaccinated players will be subject to many of the same regulations the entire league operated under last season, before COVID-19 vaccines became available. Players who have been vaccinated will have much more lax restrictions, including no daily testing. This also applies to Tier 1 personnel, which includes coaches, referees and anyone working within 15 feet of players on a regular basis. Unvaccinated players must undergo daily testing before entering a team facility, participating in team-organized activities, or interacting ...

Michael Pina and Rohan Nadkarni break down SI's Top 100 list. In today's episode, Rohan and Michael introduce the first 70 players on Sports Illustrated's Top 100! They explain how the list was put together, break down snubs and players they wish were higher or lower, debate which fanbase will be the most upset, and so much more. The following transcript is an excerpt from the Open Floor podcast. Listen to the full episode on podcast players everywhere or on SI.com . Michael Pina: Yeah, so let's get into what we value when we were putting this list together. Because you know there are particular skill sets, there are particular roles, there are positions, there are just different player types. It's like your favorite flavor of ice cream—everyone's different, it's all wonderful, everyone loves ice cream, but I like mint chocolate chip, you like ... What's your favorite flavor of ice cream, Rohan? Rohan Nadkarni: Oh, God. MP: Am I really put...

Wiggins will not be able to play in Warriors home games until he fulfills the city's vaccination requirements. View the original article to see embedded media. The NBA denied Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins's request to get a religious exemption for the COVID-19 vaccine. "The NBA has reviewed and denied Andrew Wiggins request for religious exemption from the San Francisco Department of Public Health's order requiring COVID-19 vaccination for all participants age 12 and older at large indoor events," the league said in a statement. The San Francisco Department of Public Health ruled Friday that those who are unvaccinated cannot enter the Chase Center, even if they have a religious or medical exemption.  "At large and mega indoor events, all patrons 12 and older must be vaccinated at this time," the health department's statement read. "Under the current order, if unvaccinated, they cannot enter indoor areas regardless of the reason they are...

The longtime sideline reporter says the the new venture is a "full circle" moment for her. View the original article to see embedded media. Holly Rowe, the longtime ESPN sideline reporter, is returning home to a familiar place. She will begin a new venture as an analyst for the Jazz's game night broadcast team this season. Rowe told NBA.com that coming home to Utah is "personal" and a "full circle moment" for her. "This is personal and like coming home for me," Rowe said. "For over 20 years I’ve worked in one capacity or another at different times with the Jazz—pulling cables, stage manager, done jobs in the TV truck, every possible job for them, I’ve done it.” The Utah native went to college at BYU and served as a news anchor for the campus TV station, KBYU-TV. She later graduated from the University of Utah in 1991 with a degree in broadcast journalism.  Rowe was shocked when Bart Sharp, chief marketing officer for the Jazz, r...

Tremaglio will replace Michele Roberts after serving as a lawyer at Deloitte. Roberts is retiring at the end of 2021. View the original article to see embedded media. On Wednesday, the National Basketball Players Association announced its next executive director would be Tamika Tremaglio, replacing outgoing executive director Michele Roberts. Roberts, who has held the position since 2014. Tremaglio will take over the role after serving as managing principal of Deloitte’s Greater Washington practice, where she has worked as an advisor and consultant to the NBPA since 2012. “Tamika has been by our side for many years, advising us on the best practices and policies needed for our organization to operate more like a successful business," NBPA president and Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum said in a statement . "Given Michele’s strong leadership and guidance that have brought us to where we are today, we were looking for a next-generation leader, who has the skills, vision, a...

The league fined Lacob $50k for breaking its anti-tampering rule after making comments about the 76ers player, who reportedly isn't attending camp. View the original article to see embedded media. The NBA announced it fined Warriors owner Joe Lacob $50,000 due to breaking the anti-tampering rule following comments he made regarding Ben Simmons earlier this week.  In a recent interview with the San Francisco Chronicle , Lacob discussed the  76ers player, who requested a trade in an August meeting , but referenced him as a "Defensive Player of the Year candidate in Philadelphia." The owner essentially cast doubt on the possibility of acquiring him.  "In some ways, it doesn't really fit what we're doing," Lacob told the Chronicle. "He makes a lot of money. And, can he finish games? I don't know," Lacob said. "He's very talented. The problem is: We have Draymond. Draymond and him are very similar in the sense that neither one re...

SI alum Jack McCallum debates the 75 best players in NBA history—and how to attack the question itself. On the Friday edition, Howard Beck welcomes SI alum Jack McCallum to discuss their ballots for the NBA’s 75th-anniversary team. How do we define the all-time greatest? Should we keep everyone from the 50th-anniversary list? Is there enough room for all the greats of the last 25 years? There are only two certainties: There will be a lot of tough omissions. And we’ll be debating the results for years. The following transcript is an excerpt from The Crossover NBA podcast . Listen to the full episode on podcast players everywhere or on SI.com . Howard Beck: So philosophical question to frame this from the top, which is this: When we talk about the 75th-anniversary list, 75 players for the NBA's first 75 years, is it the greatest 75 players, like these are the best 75 to ever play the game in the NBA, or is it 75 players who represented the best of their individual eras and...

Ben Simmons updates, HOF reaction and the NBA’s involvement with Mexico City Mannix and Beck dive into the evolving Ben Simmons situation in Philadelphia, Portland’s role in it, plus reactions to the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Mannix’s Paul Pierce story, the NBA’s dipping its toe into Mexico City and more.  The following transcript is an excerpt from The Crossover NBA podcast . Listen to the full episode on podcast players everywhere or on SI.com . Chris Mannix: We should begin with Simmons, because that seems to be the topic du jour at the moment as we are weeks away from Ben Simmons maybe, possibly reporting to training camp, at the latest. It does certainly seem like Ben Simmons wants out of Philadelphia. It does seem like the Sixers want to find a new home for him, but they understand that just giving him away doesn't bring them any closer to a championship. And Daryl Morey, one of the biggest star hunters out there, has to keep his eye on some of these teams t...

Ben Simmons updates, HOF reaction and the NBA’s involvement with Mexico City Mannix and Beck dive into the evolving Ben Simmons situation in Philadelphia, Portland’s role in it, plus reactions to the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Mannix’s Paul Pierce story, the NBA’s dipping its toe into Mexico City and more.  The following transcript is an excerpt from The Crossover NBA podcast . Listen to the full episode on podcast players everywhere or on SI.com . Chris Mannix: We should begin with Simmons, because that seems to be the topic du jour at the moment as we are weeks away from Ben Simmons maybe, possibly reporting to training camp, at the latest. It does certainly seem like Ben Simmons wants out of Philadelphia. It does seem like the Sixers want to find a new home for him, but they understand that just giving him away doesn't bring them any closer to a championship. And Daryl Morey, one of the biggest star hunters out there, has to keep his eye on some of these teams t...

The reporter continues to break barriers as the first full-time female play-by-play announcer for a major American men's sports team. View the original article to see embedded media. Lisa Byington is breaking barriers—again—as the Bucks hire her as a play-by-play announcer for games on Bally Sports Wisconsin.  She's now the first female full-time TV play-by-play announcer for a major U.S. men’s professional sports team.  "...I understand the groundbreaking nature of this hire, and I appreciate the fact that during this process that aspect was addressed, but never made a primary focus," Byington said in the team announcement . "In fact, I applaud the Bucks for taking the first steps toward making hires like this more of the norm in the NBA. Because it’s time.” But this isn't her "first." Per Milwaukee, Byington was the first female play-by-play voice for a Big Ten Network football broadcast in 2017. Then in March, she was the first female p...

The bane of NBA fans' existence is coming to an end. View the original article to see embedded media. The NBA altered its pace-of-play policies on Monday afternoon, eliminating automatic reviews on all out-of-bounds plays in the final two minutes, per The Athletic 's Shams Charania .  Coach's challenges will now be the only method to review out-of-bounds calls, per Charania . Teams are currently permitted one challenge per game, a rule that has been in place since 2019.  The elimination of automatic reviews wasn't the only alteration discussed by the league's competition committee on Monday. The NBA is also reportedly considering an in-season tournament, with players potentially earning up to $1 million in prize money. No vote has been taken on any potential tournament as of Monday. The 2021-22 NBA season will begin on Oct. 19 . The Bucks will host the Nets before the Lakers host the Warriors.  More NBA Coverage: •  How the NBA Plans to Expand in ...