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Can Celtics find a roster spot for Summer League star Charles Bassey?

Can Celtics find a roster spot for Summer League star Charles Bassey? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics watched an entire stable of championship big men depart this offseason with the losses of Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kornet, and (presumably soon) Al Horford. Even the most ardent fans of Luka Garza, Neemias Queta, and Xavier Tillman would admit there’s a pretty noticeable void at the big-man spot.

The Celtics needed someone — anyone with height — to emerge as a potential future prospect at the NBA Summer League in Vegas, and the most intriguing prospect might have been a last-minute addition.

Charles Bassey, a former second-round pick (53rd overall, 2021) of the Philadelphia 76ers who spent the past three seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, didn’t even make Boston’s initial summer roster. But that hasn’t stopped him from posting a pair of double-doubles to start the team’s desert stay.

The 24-year-old Bassey has a very obvious skill set. He uses a 7-foot-3 wing span to disrupt shot attempts and is a rebounding fiend. He can subsist on putbacks and has excellent finishing ability around the basket.

As Bassey reintroduces himself to the NBA world in Vegas, the question is whether the Celtics might be able to extend this look at him.

The Celtics already have a fully stocked 15-man roster and Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said last week that the team is comfortable carrying this group into the 2025-26 season. There is some flexibility, however, as players like Queta and JD Davison are on non-guaranteed deals.

The Celtics still have some maneuvering to do to get back off the second apron after signing Garza and Josh Minott to minimum deals this offseason. That maneuvering could open another spot to add a player to the parent roster before the season tips.

Bassey should be intrigued by the potential for opportunity in Boston. The question is whether another team, alerted by his summer performance, might swoop in with the sort of guaranteed spot that the Celtics cannot immediately offer.

Bassey feels like the type of player whom Boston should want to take a swing on with hopes that he might blossom in a new setting, much like Queta did (and Kornet before him).

Asked about the state of the center position last week, Stevens noted, “That group will not be the group that people will single out — based on paper, on what they’ve done with their careers thus far — as our strongest position. But it’s up to them to prove it otherwise.”

Bassey has appeared in 113 games over his four NBA seasons, including 36 games (and one start) with the Spurs last season. His numbers in San Antonio don’t exactly leap off the page — 4.7 points, 4.3 rebounds over 12.1 minutes per game — but his advanced numbers are intriguing. Last season, opponents shot 6 percent below expected output on all shots inside six feet when defended by Bassey, per NBA tracking data.

Bassey blocked 30 shots in 376 total minutes last season. His block rate of 4.1 percent ranked in the 98th percentile among big men, per Cleaning the Glass data. Bassey rebounded 15.6 percent of his team’s missed shots while on the court, which also ranked in the 98th percentile among all big men.

Injuries have hindered his basketball development. The joke here would be that injuries have rarely deterred the Celtics from rolling the dice on big men (see: Robert Williams III and Porzingis).

It’s also important not to overreact to a small sample, particularly at Summer League. And given his four years of NBA experience, it’s probably not a big surprise that Bassey has put up eye-catching numbers against a collection of rookies and roster hopefuls.

But the Celtics do need to uncover some gems. They might have to roll the dice on players who haven’t fully tapped into their potential, or have been limited by injury or opportunity. Garza and Minott will get every chance to show what they can do in a new setting. Queta played important minutes in each of the past two seasons. Tillman, if he survives any roster tinkering, is going to invariably play more than he did last season.

Bassey is an intriguing option. Whether his Celtics stay extends beyond Vegas ultimately might hinge on the interest he’s created for himself outside the Celtics organization.

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Knicks' offense sputters in blowout loss to Celtics at NBA Summer League

The Knicks dropped to 0-2 on Sunday evening, losing another blowout thanks to an uninspired offense, this time to the Boston Celtics, 94-81, in NBA Summer League action. Leading the way for New York was Kevin McCullar Jr. with 30 points and two steals on 10-for-15 shooting from the field. 

Ariel Hukporti scored nine points, corralled 13 rebounds and swatted three shots in a strong effort. Pacome Dadiet had seven points and six rebounds on 3-11 shooting, while Mohamed Diawara and Dink Pate contributed off the bench with five points each and three combined steals. 

Tyler Kolek had a nightmare game with 1-for-13 shooting and four turnovers. The New York offense once again came out flat and never fully recovered.

Boston got a big night from center Charles Bassey, who put up 22 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks on 8-for-12 shooting from the field, dominating the Knicks on lob after lob to lead the way. Jalen Bridges, Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh and Kendall Brown put up 15, 13, 13 and 11 points, respectively. 

New York’s offensive struggles from their first game carried over in the early minutes of this one as they trailed 15-4 out of the gates. They committed seven turnovers as a team in the opening period, once again looking flummoxed in the halfcourt. 

Boston took advantage, as Scheierman racked up seven points, three assists and three steals in the first ten minutes. Going into the second, the Celtics led 27-18.

Dadiet had a strong drive to his left for the finish to try and spur things midway through the second, one of his pro-level moves early in this Summer League. He hit a three late in the quarter for New York’s second of the night, out of 20 attempts.

The Celtics had better luck from deep and forced another seven turnovers, though the Knicks didn’t succumb to any large runs. Boston led going into halftime 42-30, behind a balanced team scoring effort. 

McCullar Jr., the Knicks' primary source of offense in the first half, kept aggressively attacking the basket in the third, converting some inside buckets. The guard play was still a step behind as Kolek really struggled to get anything going out of the pick and roll.

Meanwhile, Boston started racking up the free throws in the paint, led by Walsh and his takes. New York pared down on their turnovers, limiting themselves to only six this frame, as they lagged 71-53 after three. 

The Knicks made some big plays in the fourth, getting out in transition, a three and a dunk from McCullar Jr., but it wasn’t enough. Boston continually had an answer, never getting within single digits and cruising to victory. 

One fun bright spot? Yudai Baba, the29-year-old deep reserve, got in late and scored a bucket, leading to an eruption from Knicks fans.

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Mavericks reportedly shut down Cooper Flagg for remainder of Summer League

LAS VEGAS — In his second game in Las Vegas, Cooper Flagg showed he was too good for Summer League, dropping 31.

The Mavericks agree and are going to shut Flagg down for the remainder of Summer League, reports Marc Stein.

This isn't a surprise, top picks who perform well (or, sometimes even when they don't) only tend to play a couple of Summer League games. For teams, the risk of injury to their new multi-million-dollar investment outweighs what they might learn in what can be a chaotic, relatively unstructured game. Expect a few more of these announcements.

Flagg struggled with his shot in his opener against the Lakers, shooting 5-of-21. That's the concern heading into the season for him, the consistency of his ability to create space and knock down jumpers against NBA defenders. He looked better against the Nets, despite being hounded by a quality defender in Carter Bryant, and finished the game with 31 points on 10-of-21 shooting and 13 trips to the free throw line.

Flagg got better game-to-game, and that's what the Mavericks wanted to see. And they have seen enough.

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While buzz about LeBron's relationship with Lakers, trade rumors make headlines, action remains distant

LAS VEGAS — LeBron James created quite a buzz when he walked into the Thomas & Mack Center to watch his son Bronny play at Summer League for the Lakers (and Bronny is looking pretty good).

However, despite the vibes fans may get from headlines and social media, LeBron is not generating much buzz in Las Vegas about his potential trade or exit from the Lakers as one might think. It's a topic, but one that often relatively quickly turns to shrugs. That's because the dynamics are understood, and there is no clear endgame. Here's where things stand.

• The Lakers are looking past LeBron now to their Luka Doncic future, but believe they can contend with that duo this season. LeBron understands the Lakers' focus but also understandably may not be happy about it. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst wrote about this recently:

James understood the Lakers taking advantage of an opportunity to pivot to the younger superstar. But from James' perspective, sources said, nuance was sometimes lost during the transition. Doncic had never asked to be a Laker. James, for his part, had chosen L.A., coming in 2018 when the team had missed the playoffs five consecutive seasons, the worst run for the franchise since it moved from Minneapolis. Two years later, James had helped deliver a 17th championship.

[LeBron's agent Rich] Paul also had to formally inform the Lakers that James intended to pick up the final year of his contract after the team did not engage in any substantial discussions about extending him by a year or two, sources said, as they had done twice previously during James' Lakers' tenure.

• LeBron would have to request a trade to make it happen (he has a no-trade clause) and has not done so. What's more, Paul "hasn't even discussed the possibility of wanting a trade in the future" with the Lakers, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin said during the broadcast of the Lakers’ Sunday Summer League game. Because he has a no-trade clause, LeBron would have leverage and complete control over any trade process.

• Four teams did reach out to Paul to at least kick the tires on a LeBron trade, McMenamin added.

• The challenge in finding a trade is that LeBron wants to contend and be in a city and with a franchise of his choosing. He could stay in the Western Conference, but then he would still have to beat out Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Oklahoma City, Kevin Durant and Houston, Nikola Jokić and an improved Denver roster, Anthony Edwards and Minnesota, and the list goes on and on. He could try and force a trade to the East, but the deals to New York or Cleveland or wherever would gut those rosters of depth and make those teams considerably older with a very short window (for example, the Cavaliers Darius Garland for LeBron swap makes them 15 years older and it's debatable how much better, if at all).

What sparked all this was Paul's statement to ESPN's Shams Charania when LeBron exercised his player option for this season.

"LeBron wants to compete for a championship. He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we've had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.

"We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future. We do want to evaluate what's best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career. He wants to make every season he has left count, and the Lakers understand that, are supportive and want what's best for him."

Ultimately, what's best for him this season, where he potentially can contend, may very well be staying with the Lakers. This is a 50-win team that comes together for a full training camp and now has a center in Deandre Ayton, the Lakers are going to be good (if they can get enough stops).

That's not going to stop the headlines, however.

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Where Warriors star Steph Curry finished at American Century Championship

Where Warriors star Steph Curry finished at American Century Championship originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors star Steph Curry came up short during the American Century Championship’s final round on Sunday in South Lake Tahoe.

The 2023 ACC champion won’t be hoisting the trophy again after finishing with a score of 58, good enough for fifth place. San Jose Sharks legend Joe Pavelski was the victor, posting 73 points for his first ACC win in nine tries after second-place finishes in 2022 and 2024.

It wasn’t a bad day for Curry on the course, however, as the four-time NBA champion entered the day tied for ninth and finished the round having scored 23 points under the tournament’s Modified Stableford scoring method, with four birdies and a double bogey on the final hole.

Curry scored 21 points with four birdies and five bogies in Round 1 on Friday, then tallied 14 points with two birdies, two bogies and two double bogies in Round 2 on Saturday.

Curry approached the 18th hole on Sunday trailing first place by just a few points, but he needed some Chef magic to pull off the comeback. He warmed up on his way to the hole with his first sport.

The swish didn’t rub off on Curry’s golf game, however, as he hit his tee shot out of bounds and eventually ended up in the water trap before finishing the tournament’s final hole with a double bogey.

Known for his competitive fire, Curry certainly wanted to win the ACC again after a one-year absence chasing Olympic gold last summer. But now he can focus on bringing the Larry O’Brien Trophy home to the Bay this upcoming NBA season.

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NBA Summer League Day 3: Bronny James showing improvement, everyone loves Yuki Kawamura

LAS VEGAS —Two courts, eight games, there is a lot to see the first weekend of the 2025 NBA Summer League Las Vegas. Here are a few notes and the highlights we saw.

Bronny James showing improvement

The hype around Bronny James has not subsided. As evidence, for the marquee game of opening night of the Las Vegas Summer League, the NBA chose to match the second-year player and No. 55 draft pick against No. 1 pick and rising star Cooper Flagg. The league saw that as its biggest draw (and it was right, the game was the fourth-highest-rated Summer League game ESPN has ever shown).

Ignore the hype. On the court, Summer League serves as a measuring stick for players. Their first year sets a baseline, but when they return, the question becomes: Do we see the improvement?

We do with Bronny James. He looks considerably improved.

Bronny has looked strong in transition, but the most noticeable improvements are in the half court. His handle has improved, and with that has come some confidence. His court vision and decision-making may be what has made the biggest leap.

"His passing out of the pick and rolls and really seeing," Lakers Summer League coach Lindsey Harding said of Bronny's improvement. "And it's not just the pass to the big rolling, it's if the low man comes over, he sees the man in the corner. Right? It's the whole floor. And I think it's easy to see one read, but, like, he's developing everything else. Understanding where everyone else is on the floor and where their defenders are coming from."

There is still work to be done if Bronny wants to become part of the Lakers' rotation, with the biggest being that his shot needs to improve. In Saturday's game against the Pelicans, Bronny got inside and was 4-of-6 shooting in the paint, but was 1-of-5 on 3-pointers. That follows a trend, through all of Summer League Bronny is 4-of-18 from 3.

What the Lakers are trying to do with Summer League is get Bronny more reps, especially in higher-pressure moments.

"We want him to play on the ball. We want him to play off the ball. Especially in tight moments," Harding said. "I like the ball in his hands and I want him to make those decisions. You can go through as many drills as you want, but nothing beats live. So, when you're live, you make your decisions, and then you also learn by film."

Bronny is learning, he is improving, and it shows on the court.

Fan favorite in Vegas? Yuki Kawamura

Cooper who? Bronny, are you kidding?

The fan favorite at Summer League is Yuki Kawamura, the 5'8" Japanese star who is playing for the Bulls in Las Vegas — and making plays that light up the crowd.

Kawamura was the shortest person with an NBA contract last season (a two-way with the Grizzlies) and he got in 22 games for Memphis. Before that, fans might remember him playing for Japan in the Paris Olympics, where he averaged 20.3 points and 7.7 assists per game.

He's playing all out and putting on a show in Vegas, trying to earn another shot in the NBA.

Other notes from around Summer League

• Check out Noah Rubin’s story from the battle of the No. 1 and No. 2 picks, Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper. It was a good day for Flagg — and Carter Bryant.

• Jeremiah Fears is fun to watch. Jeremiah Fears' buckets are entertaining.

His misses are also entertaining — and there were a lot of them. Through two games in Las Vegas, Fears is 9-of-33 shooting (27.3%). He plays without, well, fear and will take he hard shots, but he looks a little sped up at Summer League. The efficiency should come with time.

• Maxime Raynaud will be heard. Maxime Raynaud wins the award for most vocal player at Summer League. The 7-foot French center who played last season at Stanford was a second-round pick of the Kings, is constantly calling out opponent plays on defense, trying to alert his teammates to what is coming — and he is not quiet about it. This is a good thing. Raynaud signed a three-year, $5.9 million contract with Sacramento. He will be there in the fall, and fans will hear him.

• Edgecombe still out. The 76ers VJ Edgecombe has yet to make his Las Vegas Summer League debut due to a thumb injury. Will we see him, or will the 76ers just shut him down for the remainder of Summer League?

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Jimmy Butler shows up to support Warriors teammate Steph Curry at ACC tournament

Jimmy Butler shows up to support Warriors teammate Steph Curry at ACC tournament originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Programming note: The American Century Championship is airing locally on NBC Bay Area (KNTV) on Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. PT.

Jimmy Butler knows a thing or two about a high-stakes sports atmosphere, so who better to show Steph Curry some support during the final round of the American Century Championship on Sunday in South Lake Tahoe.

The Warriors forward showed up to cheer on his teammate as Curry battles for another ACC title on the celebrity golf tournament’s final day — certainly a welcome sight for the four-time NBA champion, who started the day tied for ninth and had pushed into the top five by the time he greeted Butler.

Butler and Curry were on the court together two months ago as Golden State played against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference semifinals, but the Warriors’ NBA playoff run was cut short after their Game 5 loss on May 14.

After their postseason push, it looks like Butler is still a bit too tired to walk from hole to hole in Tahoe.

As Curry looks to reclaim his ACC crown following a one-year absence from the tournament, perhaps Playoff Jimmy’s presence will help him lock in even more than he already has. Butler’s 2025 NBA trade deadline arrival paid dividends for the Warriors, and in the fall they’ll begin their first full campaign together after forging a bond in just a few short months last season.

Time will tell if Curry adds another ACC title to his mantle before he and Butler begin their path to the Larry O’Brien Trophy come October.

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Plaschke: Kobe Bryant has one more lesson for LeBron James — how to retire

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA JANUARY 5, 2020-Lakers LeBron James listens to the National Anthem before a game against the Pistons at the Staples Center Sunday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angerles Times)
Lakers star LeBron James. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

The news seemed routine.

The ramifications could be resounding.

Late last month, LeBron James exercised his $52.6 million player option with the Lakers for next season. It was an expected transaction that, at first weary glance, appeared to be no big deal.

Of course he would take the guaranteed money, more than anyone else in the league besides Brooklyn could give him.

Of course he would stay in Los Angeles, where son Bronny sits on the bench and his home sits on a hill and his myriad businesses are sitting pretty.

Of course, of course, of course … but …

Lakers guard Bronny James, front, leave the court ahead of his father after a victory over Minnesota in last season's opener.
Bronny James (9) leaves the court ahead of father LeBron after a win over Minnesota, during which they became the first father and son to play together in the NBA on Oct. 20, 2024. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Wait a minute. There was a catch.

For the first time since James arrived here seven years ago, there was no second or third or fourth year attached to his contract.

The Lakers didn’t offer him an extension. They refused to guarantee him a spot here after next spring.

For the first time in his Laker career — actually, the first time in his entire 23-year career — James will thus play this season on an expiring contract.

In NBA speak, that means two words.

Trade bait.

Except James has a no-trade clause, and it’s unimaginable he would agree to go to another team that would have to gut their roster to match his salary.

So for the first time, the wiley, elusive, flexible LeBron James is stuck.

He’s stuck on a team clearly catering to the needs of a different superstar in Luka Doncic.

Read more:Hernández: Can LeBron James help maddening Deandre Ayton transform into a reliable center?

He’s stuck on a team that might be viewing his contract not as an asset but an albatross.

He’s stuck on a team that might be looking to get rid of him but can’t.

He’s stuck on a team where he said he wants to end his career, but where that ending might eventually be out of his control.

He could perhaps free himself by thinking about Nov. 29, 2015.

That is the date that Kobe Bryant, a month into his 20th season, officially announced his retirement.

You remember it, right? What happened next was the most surprisingly delightful farewell season-long tour in the history of sports.

“I thought everybody hated me,” Bryant said at the time. “It’s really cool, man.”

Hate him? America loved him, and showed him that love in every NBA arena across the country, standing ovations from coast to coast as he cruised his way toward that stunning 60-point career finale.

The Lakers were generally terrible, the hobbled Bryant was mostly awful, but the nights were wholly magical, the stone-faced bad guy opening himself up to a national respect and admiration that he never knew existed. It was important that he saw this before he retired. It became infinitely more important that he saw this before he died.

LeBron James flexes for the crowd during a game against the Hornets.
LeBron James flexes for the crowd during a game against the Hornets. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

At the end of the tour I wrote, “... a final act that, in typical Kobe Bryant fashion, was unlike any other in the history of American sports. Opening up to a world he never trusted, becoming accessible and embraceable after years of stony intensity, Bryant used the last five months to flip the narrative on his life and career, erasing the darkness of a villain and crystallizing the glow of a hero.”

Bryant had said before the season that he would never do a farewell tour, that he didn’t want to be lauded like baseball fans lauded the prolonged retirement journey of the New York Yankees’ Derek Jeter.

"We're completely different people; I couldn't do that," he said.

Yet saddled with an expiring contract just like James, Bryant ultimately wanted to do something that James might consider, giving the organization a head start at rebuilding while controlling his own narrative.

Before Bryant’s decision could be leaked, he announced it himself in an open letter to basketball that was so touching it became an Oscar-winning film. He even arranged for a copy of the letter, sealed in an envelope embossed with gold, to be placed on the seat of every fan attending that night’s game at then-Staples Center against the Indiana Pacers.

Not exactly a T-shirt, huh? It was elegant, it was classy, it was perfect, just like the tour, initially criticized in this space as being selfish before your humbled correspondent finally realized that Bryant was right, it was really, really cool.

"It's fun. I've been enjoying it," Bryant said. "It's been great to kind of go from city to city and say thank you to all the fans and be able to feel that in return."

You hear that, LeBron?

This is not a call for James to retire, but a call for James to begin considering how that will happen, and how the classy Lakers would nail it if it happened here.

Lakers star LeBron James, right, and Nuggets center Nikola Jokic entangle their arms while battling for rebound position.
Lakers star LeBron James battles three-time MVP Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets for rebounding position during a playoff game in Denver. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Granted, the James and Bryant situations are not comparable. Even though James is 40, and Bryant was 37, James is still one of the league’s best players while Bryant was statistically one of its worst. And while James is still physically powerful, Bryant never fully recovered from his torn Achilles and was battered and broken.

James might have more gas in the tank while Bryant was clearly done.

But James himself has indicated that he probably has, at most, two years left. And every season his injuries become more insistent and debilitating.

And now that the Lakers are under new ownership with no ties to James, and now that current management has already given this team to Doncic, James doesn’t have much of a future here.

He has made noise about going back to Cleveland, and maybe after this season he’ll want to return to where his career started.

But if he’s even thinking about retirement after this year — a legitimate option for the first time — he shouldn’t wait to do so while walking off the court following an early-round loss by a mediocre Laker team.

Nobody does retirement tours like the Lakers. And nobody has ever done one like Kobe Bryant.

Decidedly in the twilight of his career, LeBron James can learn from both.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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With LeBron James instructing him courtside, Bronny puts on a Summer League show

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 12: Bronny James #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives.
Lakers guard Bronny James drives to the basket during L.A.'s 94-81 win over the New Orleans Pelicans in NBA Summer League play in New Orleans on Saturday. (Ryan Stetz / NBAE via Getty Images)

The crowd inside the Thomas & Mack Center began to stir a few seconds before the Lakers took the court, the buzz caused by LeBron James strolling into the arena to see his son play.

The elder James took a baseline seat as Bronny James and the rest of the Lakers took the court for warmups ahead of Saturday night’s NBA Summer League game against the New Orleans Pelicans.

There was a point early in the second half when LeBron James began to offer advice to Bronny — the kind of encouragement that helped Bronny put up a solid performance during the Lakers’ 94-81 win.

Read more:Bronny James and Lakers come up short against Cooper Flagg and Mavericks

He had 14 points on five-for-11 shooting. He made one of four three-point attempts and also had three assists and two steals.

Bronny's defense was solid as well.

“Yeah, we want him to play on the ball,” said Lindsey Harding, Lakers assistant coach and Summer League coach. “Especially in tight moments, I like the ball in his hands and I want him to make those decisions. You can go through as many drills as you want, but nothing beats live.

Lakers star LeBron James sits courtside during the team's NBA Summer League game in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Lakers star LeBron James sits courtside during the team's NBA Summer League game in Las Vegas on Saturday. (Ethan Miller / Getty Images)

"So even after this, he will sit with his coach and watch his reads. Some are great, some can be better. ... But it comes with confidence and even this game, whether he made the shot or not, that’s not what it’s about. It’s about making the right read.”

A few possessions after Bronny got the crowd cheering by driving the length of the court and scoring on a left-handed layup, LeBron started instructing him.

“More. More. Get downhill more,” LeBron told him.

On his next play, Bronny did just that, driving in for a layup.

Early in the fourth quarter, Bronny drove baseline and threw a pass that was tipped out of bounds.

“Pull-up,” LeBron told him. “Going right, that’s a pull-up.”

When a pass was thrown ahead to Bronny in front of the Lakers' bench in the fourth quarter, LeBron yelled, “Knock it down!”

Bronny did, drilling a three-pointer. He did this despite nursing a sore hip after falling hard to the court earlier in the quarter.

Having coached up his son enough, LeBron left with about five minutes remaining.

Late in the first quarter, Darius Bazley blocked a shot and took off down court.

“Go Baz,” LeBron James uttered. “Go Baz.”

And Bazley did, finishing with a dunk.

Bazley had a complete night, producing a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. He also had five blocked shots.

Read more:Dodgers unveil Kobe Bryant bobblehead to be given away Aug. 8 at Chavez Ravine

“I guess I would show all my shows are on the defensive end,” Bazley said. “I’m trying to prove that I can switch one through five. I can be in the right spots, protect the rim, all that type of stuff. Offensively, just doing what’s asked — offensive rebounding. Like you said, being a screener, creating advantages for other guys.”

Even with a sore ankle that was taped after the game (Harding said he would be fine), Bazley left an impression.

“Bazley is an amazing defender,” Harding said. “He can guard on-ball. He can guard the point guard. He can guard the center. He does a great job off the ball. Sometimes defenders are great on-ball and not on-ball and vice versa, but he can do everything. He’s long. We need him for every position and they were huge blocks.”

Etc.

Dalton Knecht, who said he suffered cramps in both his legs during Thursday night’s game against the Mavericks, didn’t play Saturday.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Fred VanVleet elected president of National Basketball Players Association

It's been a good summer for Fred VanVleet. The veteran point guard got a new two-year, $50 million contract with the Houston Rockets, a team that has loaded up and will enter next season as a title contender.

Now he has also been elected the new president of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA, the players' union).

"It's truly an honor to be elected as President of the NBPA by my peers and I look forward to continuing to advocate for the best interest of all the members," said VanVleet. "With a deep appreciation for the complexities and challenges players face on all levels of their NBA journeys, I am committed to approaching this role with the passion, dignity, and dedication every player deserves."

VanVleet takes over for CJ McCollum, who guided the NBPA through the last CBA negotiation with the league.

VanVleet is the kind of respected veteran player who is well-suited to lead the union —a level-headed person who can push back against the league when necessary. It wasn't just VanVleet who was elected, so was the full board. Here are the other officers:

• Grant Williams, First Vice President
• Mason Plumlee, Secretary-Treasurer
• Jaylen Brown, Vice President
• Jaren Jackson Jr, Vice President
• Donovan Mitchell, Vice President
• Garrett Temple, Vice President
• Karl Anthony Towns, Vice President
• Gabe Vincent, Vice President

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Cooper Flagg scores 31 in duel with Dylan Harper, Carter Bryant

LAS VEGAS- In a battle that featured three 2025 lottery picks, the anticipation didn’t outweigh the on-court production.

The No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg played much better than he did against the Lakers on Thursday, which was a welcomed sight for Dallas fans. He finished with a game-high 31 points in the Mavericks' 76-69 loss to the Spurs on Saturday. Flagg continued to facilitate well, but he only ended up with one assist after having four against the Lakers, and he was once again impactful on the defensive end.

Despite a dramatic jump in scoring, it never felt like Flagg was forcing shots, which Mavericks coach Josh Broghamer was complimentary of.

"I think he just continues to make the right plays,” Broghamer said. “Whether it's drive by the guy who's pressuring him or, we used him a little bit more as a roller and off the ball a couple of times, just to kind of get him some easier catches... But again, he just continues to make the right plays and do the right things."

Flagg’s two-way impact was on full display at the end of the third quarter. He drove through the middle of the paint and dunked the ball with a few seconds left and followed that up by blocking a last-second three-point attempt.

Though Flagg shot far more efficiently, life still wasn’t easy for him, especially early on. Carter Bryant, who San Antonio selected with the No. 14 pick in the draft, was a big reason for that. He matched up with Flagg almost every single time they were both on the floor, and his defensive ability that made him a lottery pick was evident.

When Flagg wasn’t on the floor, Bryant spent a few possessions guarding Ryan Nembhard. There is a huge difference between guarding an undrafted, six-foot guard and a 6’9” forward that was taken with the first pick, but Bryant was effective in both roles. He has the upside to be an elite defender in the NBA from day one, though he does tend to find himself in foul trouble. He had four fouls in 27 minutes against Dallas, and he averaged 4.3 fouls per 36 minutes as a freshman at Arizona last season.

Bryant didn’t have much success on the other end, missing all seven of his shot attempts. However, he wasn’t bothered by his poor shooting performance.

“The shot’s gonna fall, and the shot’s not gonna fall,” Bryant said. “At the end of the day, I’ve been shooting the basketball the same exact way since I’ve been four or five years old. It’s gonna fall, I believe I’m gonna be one of the best shooters in this league. You know, an 0-for-7 performance, I think I shot like 1-for-6 in the last game, like that’s not gonna define what I am as a basketball player. So, being able to have other things to fall back on, to be able to affect the game positively outside of making shots and scoring the basketball is just my main focus.”

Of course, Dylan Harper, who San Antonio added with the second pick last month, made his Summer League debut after missing their first four games with a minor groin injury. He played a little less than 20 minutes, which was by design. There was no reason to make him play heavy minutes in an exhibition game.

During his time on the floor, he was effective on both ends. Harper finished with 16 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block in the win. He displayed the ability to create shots for both himself and others, which was why he was drafted so early. However, his defensive production stood out.

"I think if you don't play defense, you're not going to be able to play on the court,” Harper said. “So, just trying my best, just learning new stuff, how to go over screens, guard the ball, stuff like that. It's definitely an area I look to grow and just keep on getting better at."

Bryant was complimentary of Harper’s block, saying “he looked like me a little bit.”

The future combination of Harper and Bryant on the perimeter is scary enough, but having Victor Wembanyama sitting behind them as well is going to make this team quite difficult to score on, especially in the playoffs.

Harper also was effective as the primary ball handler and in an off-ball role. On a team that also has De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle, it’s encouraging to see Harper make an impact in a role that he could play a lot during his rookie year.

The best part of this for fans is that the Mavericks and Spurs will face off at least four times every season, so this entertaining matchup could develop into one of the best divisional rivalries in the league over the next few years.

"It was a good game,” Harped said about his matchup with Flagg. “I had a good game. We kind of just showed the NBA world what we're about... I mean, we're going to play him a lot this year. So, I mean, the future battles are going to be great."

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3 observations after Sixers come back vs. Hornets but fall just short of summer win

3 observations after Sixers come back vs. Hornets but fall just short of summer win  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers stormed back into the game but couldn’t secure a first Las Vegas summer league victory on Saturday night. 

Despite the Sixers’ comeback effort, the Hornets pulled out a 96-94 win.  

Judah Mintz had 24 points, five rebounds and four assists. Dominick Barlow put up 19 points, nine rebounds and three steals. 

VJ Edgecombe (left thumb sprain) remained out. The rookie is “progressing in his recovery and will continue his on-court workouts over the next two days,” a Sixers official said. 

Now 0-2 in Las Vegas, the Sixers will play the Wizards on Tuesday night. Here are observations on their loss to the Hornets: 

Pros and cons from Bona 

Adem Bona faced off with rookie Charlotte center Ryan Kalkbrenner and was especially active in his first stint. Overall, Bona brought exceptional energy and effort as usual. 

He made a great defensive play early when he smothered Kalkbrenner on the perimeter and ripped the ball from his hands. A minute or so later, Bona leapt high to reject Sion James at the rim. 

The 22-year-old was not at all mistake-free, though. He committed three first-quarter turnovers, including a travel in the post and a moving screen. Bona has progressed considerably on offense since becoming a Sixer, but it’s clear he still needs to work on polishing his fundamentals. Regardless of role, it’s always important to be reliable with the basics. 

Bona ended the night with eight points, six rebounds, three blocks, two steals and two assists in 21 minutes.

Discovering some offense

Rookie shooting guard Hunter Sallis posted eight points, four rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks in his first summer start. He had multiple shots blocked and has unsurprisingly seemed to be early in the process of adjusting to professional size and physicality. 

As a team, the Sixers again had a rough time trying to generate offense early without Edgecombe. They fell behind 12-3 on a Tidjane Salaun and-one layup and trailed by 15 points late in the first quarter. 

The Sixers eventually found regular baskets.

Barlow had a bright stretch in the second quarter, converting a couple of put-back buckets and turning a steal into a fast-break slam. Mintz was in the middle of a Sixers run late in the second, nailing a corner three-pointer and hitting a mid-range jumper that cut the Hornets’ lead to 48-38. 

Sixers make Hornets sweat

Justin Edwards’ cold shooting persisted. After going 2 for 6 from the floor in the Sixers’ Vegas opener, Edwards missed his first six field goals Saturday.

Even with Edwards misfiring, the Sixers managed to make a serious comeback and competed well. Johni Broome drained two pick-and-pop threes in the third quarter. 

Edwards finally got a jumper to drop in the third and also threw down an and-one dunk off of a slick give and go with Bona. 

The Sixers sustained their comeback in the fourth quarter and Barlow played a key part. He cut sharply to the hoop and jammed home an alley-oop dunk courtesy of a Broome dish. Barlow’s three gave the Sixers an 80-79 edge.

Charlotte regained the lead on a KJ Simpson jumper with 1:03 left and just about held off the Sixers.

After Liam McNeeley split two free throws with 4.4 seconds to go, Mintz raced up the floor in search of a game-tying hoop. Kalkbrenner denied him, blocking Mintz’s pull-up attempt and ensuring the Hornets didn’t need overtime.

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3 observations after Sixers come back vs. Hornets but fall just short of summer win

3 observations after Sixers come back vs. Hornets but fall just short of summer win  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers stormed back into the game but couldn’t secure a first Las Vegas summer league victory on Saturday night. 

Despite the Sixers’ comeback effort, the Hornets pulled out a 96-94 win.  

Judah Mintz had 24 points, five rebounds and four assists. Dominick Barlow put up 19 points, nine rebounds and three steals. 

VJ Edgecombe (left thumb sprain) remained out. The rookie is “progressing in his recovery and will continue his on-court workouts over the next two days,” a Sixers official said. 

Now 0-2 in Las Vegas, the Sixers will play the Wizards on Tuesday night. Here are observations on their loss to the Hornets: 

Pros and cons from Bona 

Adem Bona faced off with rookie Charlotte center Ryan Kalkbrenner and was especially active in his first stint. Overall, Bona brought exceptional energy and effort as usual. 

He made a great defensive play early when he smothered Kalkbrenner on the perimeter and ripped the ball from his hands. A minute or so later, Bona leapt high to reject Sion James at the rim. 

The 22-year-old was not at all mistake-free, though. He committed three first-quarter turnovers, including a travel in the post and a moving screen. Bona has progressed considerably on offense since becoming a Sixer, but it’s clear he still needs to work on polishing his fundamentals. Regardless of role, it’s always important to be reliable with the basics. 

Bona ended the night with eight points, six rebounds, three blocks, two steals and two assists in 21 minutes.

Discovering some offense

Rookie shooting guard Hunter Sallis posted eight points, four rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks in his first summer start. He had multiple shots blocked and has unsurprisingly seemed to be early in the process of adjusting to professional size and physicality. 

As a team, the Sixers again had a rough time trying to generate offense early without Edgecombe. They fell behind 12-3 on a Tidjane Salaun and-one layup and trailed by 15 points late in the first quarter. 

The Sixers eventually found regular baskets.

Barlow had a bright stretch in the second quarter, converting a couple of put-back buckets and turning a steal into a fast-break slam. Mintz was in the middle of a Sixers run late in the second, nailing a corner three-pointer and hitting a mid-range jumper that cut the Hornets’ lead to 48-38. 

Sixers make Hornets sweat

Justin Edwards’ cold shooting persisted. After going 2 for 6 from the floor in the Sixers’ Vegas opener, Edwards missed his first six field goals Saturday.

Even with Edwards misfiring, the Sixers managed to make a serious comeback and competed well. Johni Broome drained two pick-and-pop threes in the third quarter. 

Edwards finally got a jumper to drop in the third and also threw down an and-one dunk off of a slick give and go with Bona. 

The Sixers sustained their comeback in the fourth quarter and Barlow played a key part. He cut sharply to the hoop and jammed home an alley-oop dunk courtesy of a Broome dish. Barlow’s three gave the Sixers an 80-79 edge.

Charlotte regained the lead on a KJ Simpson jumper with 1:03 left and just about held off the Sixers.

After Liam McNeeley split two free throws with 4.4 seconds to go, Mintz raced up the floor in search of a game-tying hoop. Kalkbrenner denied him, blocking Mintz’s pull-up attempt and ensuring the Hornets didn’t need overtime.

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Myles Turner on joining Bucks: 'Ultimately it was about just staying competitive'

LAS VEGAS — Myles Turner signing with the Bucks was the biggest surprise of the NBA offseason. Turner was considered a lock to re-sign in Indiana (especially after their Finals run), and Milwaukee didn't have the cap space to chase him. Then, the Pacers' ownership balked at paying the luxury tax and lowballed Turner, while the Bucks were historically aggressive, waiving and stretching Damian Lillard to create cap space to get their man.

For Turner, the reason to sign with the Bucks was more about competitiveness than just money.

"Ultimately, it was about just staying competitive," Turner said at an introductory press conference in Las Vegas on Friday. "Two years ago, [the Pacers] got to the Eastern Conference Finals. Obviously, last year we got to the NBA Finals. But being there, being part of it, winning basketball has just changed my entire perspective on this league, and I saw a chance to remain competitive here. Jon [Horst], even Doc [Rivers] has assured me that winning is a top priority here, and we just align with our visions."

Turner wanted to be paid at the level of other quality centers in the NBA — Isaiah Hartenstein at $29 million a year average on his contract, Jarrett Allen $30.2 million, Nic Claxton $24.3 million, as examples — and the Bucks stepped up with a four-year, $107 million contract.

Last season, he averaged 15.6 points per game while shooting 39.6% on 3-pointers, plus adding 6.5 rebounds and two blocks per game.

For Milwaukee, Turner is an upgrade over where Brook Lopez is at this point in his career. For Turner, the chance to compete alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, rather than against him, was part of the draw.

"I was tired of taking damned shoulders and elbows to the chest all the time," Turner said with a laugh. "It's a rarity to be alongside him. He's a generational player, arguably one of the greatest players to play this game. I'm sure we're going to talk here in the weeks to come. I've played against Giannis for quite some time now. Very familiar with his game and what he's capable of. I do see a seamless fit. He's someone that is able to push the ball, get out in transition, create for people. He's developed a jumper. Defensively, his intangibles are there. I think our fit is going to be a pretty cohesive fit."

It's more than just Antetokounmpo, Turner sees a chance to compete for more in a down Eastern Conference next season.

"I just look at this roster and I've competed against these guys. There's a respect from afar of just how they go about their business. There's a reason why guys are there. Gary Trent just signed. Bobby Portis just signed. Taurean Prince just signed. Ryan Rollins just signed. Everybody sees the vision. They didn't sign just to do it. I just think that there's a real belief in this organization. I've aligned myself with that."

The one thing that could end the Bucks' postseason dreams would be Antetokounmpo asking for a trade, although that seems increasingly unlikely to happen. Most importantly, Antetokounmpo said he was “probably” staying in Milwaukee. Bucks coach Doc Rivers, sitting next to Turner, also threw cold water on the trade rumors.

"Giannis came to me the day after the season and we were talking about next season already," Rivers said. "So, there's far more talk outside of Milwaukee than there is inside of Milwaukee. Giannis loves Milwaukee. We love Giannis, and it's been a great relationship... So, we are communicating a lot. It's about next year, and it's about winning."

That winning is aided by having Turner in Milwaukee.

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Watch Warriors star Steph Curry make wild accidental trick shot at ACC tourney

Watch Warriors star Steph Curry make wild accidental trick shot at ACC tourney originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Programming note: The American Century Championship’s final round will air locally Sunday, July 13, on NBC Bay Area (KNTV) from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. PT.

Steph Curry might not be able to do this again if he tried.

The Warriors superstar is known for making some incredible trick shots, but he did something he wasn’t even attempting to do while shooting hoops backwards during the American Century Championship on Saturday in South Lake Tahoe.

It’s hard for Curry to shock himself, but even he couldn’t believe he wedged the ball far left of the hoop set up at the Edgewood Tahoe Resort’s golf course.

The crowd went wild for the chance occurrence, which was more impressive than if Curry actually had made the shot.

Through two rounds of ACC play, Curry is tied for ninth place entering Sunday. What will the Chef do next?

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