Tag Archives: NBA

Law & Crime reports: Federal authorities investigating individuals involved in the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol received an assist from an unlikely source this week, with employees of the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder helping investigators identify a woman accused of entering the Capitol Complex unlawfully. Danielle Nicole Doyle — who was previously employed by the Thunder — this …

NPR reports: The NBA says every team – including the Dallas Mavericks – must play the national anthem in their arenas, after news emerged that team owner Mark Cuban had ordered the Mavericks to discontinue the long-held practice. “With NBA teams now in the process of welcoming fans back into their arenas, all teams will play the national anthem in …

CBS News reports: The Miami Heat are bringing back some fans, with help from some dogs. The Heat will use coronavirus-sniffing dogs at American Airlines Arena to screen fans who want to attend their games. They’ve been working on the plan for months, and the highly trained dogs have been in place for some games this season where the team …

The NBA has issued a three-point plan: 1. The NBA and its players have agreed to immediately establish a social justice coalition, with representatives from players, coaches and governors, that will be focused on a broad range of issues, including increasing access to voting, promoting civic engagement, and advocating for meaningful police and criminal justice reform. 2. In every city …

ESPN reports: NBA players have decided to resume the playoffs, a source tells ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Thursday’s three playoff games are postponed, the league announced. Demanding societal change and ending racial injustice has been a major part of the NBA’s restart at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. The phrase “Black Lives Matter” is painted on the arena courts, …

The Washington Post reports: Days after the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis., the Milwaukee Bucks did not take the court as scheduled for Game 5 of their first-round playoff series with the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. Bucks guard George Hill was among multiple NBA players to question whether games should continue in light of ongoing social justice …

Fox Sports reports: In an interview on Fox Sports Radio Tuesday, the president was asked by host Clay Travis whether he believes it’s hypocritical for NBA players to attack him and protest during the national anthem while keeping silent on human rights violations in China — a nation with which the league does big business. “I haven’t noticed them sending …

Yahoo Sports reports: Oklahoma City Thunder players did not heed a lawmaker’s threat about kneeling during the national anthem. All the Thunder players knelt on Saturday alongside Utah Jazz players during their NBA bubble debut. The social justice protest arrived a day after an Oklahoma state lawmaker attempted to pressure Thunder players to his will. Rep. Sean Roberts (R-Hominy) issued …

ESPN reports: The NBA is going to Disney World. The NBA board of governors voted Thursday to approve a 22-team format to restart the 2019-20 season in Orlando, Florida, the league announced. Sources told ESPN that the vote was 29-1, with the Portland Trail Blazers voting against the proposal. Under the plan, 13 Western Conference teams and nine Eastern Conference …

Metro Weekly reports: Former NBA star Jason Collins, the first openly gay professional basketball player in the United States, has tested positive for COVID-19. The 41-year-old former center believes he contracted the virus earlier this month during a trip to New York City for the Brooklyn Nets’ pride night game on March 4. Seven days later, Collins developed a “terrible …

The New York Times reports: The N.B.A. will suspend its season after a Utah Jazz player was found to have tested positive for the coronavirus, the league announced on Wednesday. The league said the suspension would take effect after the completion of Wednesday’s schedule. BREAKING: NBA suspends season until further notice. #COVIDー19 pic.twitter.com/wuqVfchpLF — David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) March 12, 2020 …

NBC Sports reports: San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced Wednesday that mass gatherings of over 1,000 have been canceled for at least the next two weeks. In response to the news, the Warriors will play their upcoming home game Thursday against the Brooklyn Nets at Chase Center without any fans in attendance. The Santa Cruz Warriors’ game Saturday, originally scheduled …

Variety reports: It takes a lot to make a performance of “The Star Spangled Banner” before the NBA All-Star Game trend higher on social media than the game itself, but Chaka Khan has managed what Fergie was able to two years ago, with a unique rendering of the National Anthem that threatened to render anything that followed an afterthought. In …

The Associated Press reports: The helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant and eight others that crashed into a rugged hillside outside Los Angeles was flying in foggy conditions considered dangerous enough that local police agencies grounded their choppers. The helicopter plunged into a steep hillside at about 9:45 a.m. Sunday with an impact that scattered debris over an area the size of …

The New York Post reports: Legendary NBA player Kobe Bryant has died in a California helicopter crash. He was 41. Bryant was among at least four people traveling in his private helicopter over Calabasas when a fire broke out, sending the chopper spiraling from the sky, according to TMZ Sports. There were no survivors, and the cause of the crash …

Deadspin reports: A day after NBA commissioner Adam Silver released a statement wondering whether everyone couldn’t just get along and enjoy some hoops, eight members of Congress, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ted Cruz, signed a letter to Silver condemning the the NBA’s response to the controversy over Daryl Morey’s tweet supporting Hong Kong protestors. Perhaps basketball can bring everyone together. …

CNN reports: Several Chinese businesses are suspending ties with the Houston Rockets after the American basketball team’s general manager expressed support for Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests. Daryl Morey [photo] set off a firestorm in China over the weekend when he posted an image on Twitter that read, “Fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong.” Tensions between Hong Kong and Beijing, …

CNN reports: Meredith Watson, who has accused Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax of rape, also says she was raped by former Duke University basketball player Corey Maggette, according to her attorney. Maggette, who went on to play 14 seasons in the NBA and is now a freelance basketball analyst on Fox Sports West, denied the allegation in a statement to …

He’s just your average Joe Sixpack, folks! The Hill reports: Mitt Romney (R) was spotted courtside at Monday night’s Utah Jazz playoff game taunting Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook. Romney, who is running for Senate in Utah, was shown on camera calling out to Westbrook after the Oklahoma City star picked up his fourth foul of the game late …

The Detroit Free Press reports: Despite the less-than-sellout crowd — the arena was probably two-thirds full — those who arrived to christen the joint for basketball helped fill it with buzz. The atmosphere was helped by a slick, Pistons-colored light show and an unexpected showing from Eminem. The rapper took the microphone briefly and worked the crowd into a frenzy. …