Category: Basketball

Mike Dunleavy, Warriors focused on improving with team's current roster originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors sit at an even 15-15 two nights before Christmas, a disappointing record for everyone from top to bottom.

Golden State’s general manager, Mike Dunleavy, joined Bonta Hill, Chris Mullin and Festus Ezeli on “Warriors Pregame Live” prior to the Warriors’ win over the Orlando Magic on Monday at Chase Center and discussed whether he envisions another blockbuster trade happening before the NBA’s Feb. 5 trade deadline.

“We’ll look to do stuff that makes our team better, Dunleavy said. “But I wouldn’t bank on that type of move. To get a guy like Jimmy Butler, to have the improvement that we did … that’d be pretty unrealistic.”

The Warriors made a splash minutes before the trade deadline last year, landing Butler, which completely turned their season around.

After acquiring Butler, the Warriors ended the season 23-8 with momentum heading into the postseason. An injury to Steph Curry in the Western Conference semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves halted the run, but there’s no excuse for why things haven’t clicked so far this season.

“I think the key, frankly, with this team right now is improving it from within, Dunleavy continued. “The biggest area we know is turnovers.”

The Warriors currently have the fifth-most turnovers per game at 16.2. Only the Trail Blazers, Rockets, Clippers, and Hornets average more.

“We’ve got to start taking care of the ball, Dunleavy stated. “We’re doing some really good stuff defensively. People talk a lot about our size, between Quinten and Draymond, when those two are in the game our rim protection is fantastic. When Steph’s off the court, and Jimmy’s on with the group. Our offense is pretty good.”

The Warriors still lack a consistent scoring big on their roster. Al Horford was signed during the offseason in an effort to fill the void, but the move hasn’t panned out so far.

“This has become a possession game in the NBA with the rebounding, the steals, taking care of the ball,” Dunleavy concluded. “I think we’re all frustrated, we know what the issue is, and we’ve just got to go solve it.”

The frustrations have been loud. From Steve Kerr and Draymond Green getting into it on the sidelines to Jonathan Kuminga receiving multiple DNPs. This team is searching for consistency and has found nothing but distractions.

Golden State currently sits at the eighth seed in the Western Conference as the group looks to build on a two-game win streak against the Dallas Mavericks on Christmas Day.

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Warriors' Draymond Green must stay true to his word that problem won't linger originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Instead of focusing on the first-half performance of Jimmy Butler, the second-half showing of Steph Curry, the overall impact Brandin Podziemski and a long list of players had contributing to a 23-point Warriors win Monday night, all talk has been consumed by Draymond Green and coach Steve Kerr’s public heated argument during a third-quarter timeout. 

The voice that stood out the most following the incident wasn’t Green or Kerr. A dejected Curry spoke to the bigger picture at hand, a problem that can grow if not taken care of immediately. 

“It’s unfortunate that we’re up here after considering where we’ve been, two-game win streak and protecting our home court, that the vibes of the questions are a little bit more negative than they should be,” Curry said. “I get why you’re asking them.”

Curry did not want to answer questions about the incident. He knew he’d have to. Curry was looking at the box score when first asked about it and requested the reporter to repeat the question. 

“Just having a good conversation,” he sarcastically answered. 

“That’s kind of for them to talk about, not me,” Curry continued. 

There lies the problem. Curry was a perfect 6 of 6 from the field and 3 of 3 from 3-point range in the third quarter after missing all six of his threes in the first half to help him get to 26 points while also leading the team with six assists. Butler was aggressively in control in the first half as Curry struggled and efficiently reached 21 points on 7-of-9 shooting with six free throws. Moses Moody gave the Warriors three 20-point scorers in a game where he was 8 of 11 from the field and went 3 of 6 on threes. 

Off the bench, Podziemski was one of the best players on the floor for either team as a plus-36 that met the eye test. Gary Payton II provided constant energy in 10 minutes, as did Gui Santos in his 10. 

And then for Green himself, he was mostly solid in his 18 minutes with nine points, seven rebounds, two assists and one turnover. But he also was one of two Warriors (Will Richard) with a negative plus/minus. None of those numbers will be remembered. Him going back and forth at Kerr and eventually deciding on his own to leave the bench and go to the Warriors’ locker room is all that will be remembered. 

The decision to leave the bench solely was on Green. Once he decided to do so, Kerr wasn’t going to let him play again, beginning at the 8:31 mark of the third quarter. 

Both of Green and Kerr, as well others who spoke after the game, said the issue won’t linger. 

“We’re good. We’ll move forward. We’ll be all right,” Green said. 

History is why Green is confident this won’t spill over to a larger problem.

“Because none of the other ones ever have,” Green said. “We still keep winning, so we’ll be all right.” 

But is this just a blip in the road, or an insight into something bigger? 

Green was ejected the previous game, a 119-116 win against the Phoenix Suns, for giving a profanity-laced argument at a referee. Moody, 23, was the one trying to hold Green back during his ejection. Moody also was the one physically holding onto Green on the bench Monday night and got in between Green and Kerr before assistant coach Anthony Vereen escorted him down the tunnel. 

The decision to remove himself from the situation can be taken multiple ways. Some might feel like Green quit on his team out of selfish emotions in the middle of a game while trailing. There also can be some maturity seen in Green feeling like the smartest decision was to cool himself down away from Kerr. 

“I just felt like it was best for me, and everybody,” Green said. “You stay in a hot situation, there’s no way to stop it. So I just wanted to remove myself.”

The basketball of all this also has to be spoken about. The Warriors were a plus-16 after Green’s ejection Saturday night. They were even better without him Monday, outscoring the Magic 54-26 the rest of the game.

“It means we’ve got guys on the bench who are dying to play,” Kerr said. “This is the NBA, and all these guys have their careers at stake. They want to win, they want to play. So when their opportunity comes up, they’re ready to play.”

Green is turning the ball over more than ever before, and the Warriors still are at their best when he’s at his best – physically and emotionally. 

On a night where there was so much positive to focus on from a game where the Warriors earned their second straight win to get back to .500 (15-15), and the entire Chase Center crowd sang “Happy Birthday” for Draymond’s son DJ on his ninth birthday, the lasting image can’t be him losing his cool and having to take himself out. 

Even if this isn’t the last clash between Green and Kerr – and it likely won’t be – the problem can’t become public, and it can’t linger. Not now, not again. These Warriors can’t afford it, and neither can Green.

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Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel became the fastest player to score 100 three-pointers in the NBA during a 139-132 defeat at the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The 20-year-old, the fourth pick at the 2025 draft, reached the landmark in only 29 games when he scored in the first quarter at Rocket Arena.

Utah Jazz's Lauri Markkanen held the previous record of 41 games, while playing for the Chicago Bulls in 2017-18.

Knueppel scored five of the nine three-pointers he attempted against the Cavaliers to finish with 20 points, while LaMelo Ball contributed 23 and Brandon Miller 20 for the Hornets.

But Donovan Mitchell racked up 30 points, DeAndre Hunter 27 and Darius Garland 27 with 10 assists for the Cavaliers.

The Cavaliers are seventh in the Eastern Conference and the Hornets 12th.

• NBA scores & fixtures

How the Mamba stole Christmas: The origins of Kobe's ‘Grinch' sneakers originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Black Mamba went green for Christmas and changed the sneaker game forever.

Kobe Bryant’s Nike partnership produced some of the most iconic signature shoes of all time, but nothing compares to the heat he brought to Staples Center on Dec. 25, 2010. The Los Angeles Lakers legend stepped onto the floor and introduced bright green shoes that are seen to this day.

The Lakers will be back on the Christmas stage this year when they face the Houston Rockets, and Bryant’s kicks are sure to be seen across the five-game NBA slate on Thursday. What exactly are the green shoes, and how are they attainable?

Here’s a look back at the quintessential Christmas kicks:

Nike Kobe 6 Grinch origin

Originally dubbed “Green Mamba,” both the name and design played off Bryant’s nickname, as the shoe featured two-toned green scales.

The red logo on the tongue gave the shoe a Christmas look. That holiday combo, along with the particular shade of green, led people to nickname the shoe after the Grinch.

When did Kobe Bryant first wear Grinch sneakers?

Bryant sported the Grinch kicks for the first time on a fitting occasion.

The defending NBA champion Lakers welcomed the newly formed Miami Heat Big 3 of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to Staples Center for a Christmas Day showdown in 2010. Between the Lakers wearing their white uniforms, the Heat going with road red and the green sneakers worn by Bryant and other Lakers, the colors on the court matched the holiday spirit.

While the game is remembered for the shoe’s debut, it was an underwhelming afternoon for Bryant and the Lakers. He was held to 17 points as the Heat picked up a 96-80 win.

The Heat weren’t the only ones to leave Staples Center happy. Fans who had courtside seats for the game received a gift bag that included the now-iconic shoes.

How much did Kobe 6 Grinch sneakers cost?

The kicks were sold for an initial price of $130 and hit retail the same day as the game.

When did Nike relaunch Kobe 6 Grinch?

Nike relaunched the Kobe 6 Protro Grinch on Dec. 24, 2020, at $180.

The Grinch wasn’t the only Kobe 6 colorway to get a re-release. The Kobe 6 All-Star got a Protro re-launch in March 2021 at $190, the Kobe 6 White Del Sol got a Protro re-launch in June 2021 at $180 and the Kobe 6 Protro Reverse — which inverted the color scheme of the original Grinch shoes — released in December 2023 at $190.

In 2024, Nike released Kobe Grinch football cleats and a mismatched set — one green and one red — at $230.

How much do Kobe 6 Grinch sneakers cost now?

The kicks have more than tripled in price over the last five years, with a pair fetching an asking price between $600-$1,500 on most retail sites. 

Does Nike still sell Kobe sneakers?

Kobe’s wife, Vanessa Bryant, announced a new partnership with Nike in March 2022 after she previously called out the company for a tribute shoe for Kobe and their daughter, Gigi, that went online without her permission. As part of the deal, all proceeds for Gigi’s shoes will be donated to the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation.

After dropping a career-high 40 points in the G League on Monday afternoon, the Nets are recalling rookie Ben Saraf.

Saraf, one of Brooklyn's five first-round picks in the 2025 NBA Draft (No. 26 overall), was dominant for the Long Island Nets in their 116-97 win over the Oklahoma City Blue in the NBA G League Winter Showcase. 

The point guard shot 54 percent in the scoring outburst, going 14-for-26 from the field, including 6-for-10 from three. He also added in six rebounds, four assists, and a steal.

Saraf does have a right ankle sprain, but is being listed as probable for Tuesday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers.

The rookie has played in just 12 NBA games so far with five starts. In those limited minutes (16.9 per game), he's averaging 5.4 points, 2.8 assists, and 1.6 rebounds per game.

With Cam Thomas still sidelined due to a hamstring injury, Saraf will look to make the most of his opportunities and hope his scoring can translate to the association.

First 40-Point Game for Ben 🙌 pic.twitter.com/wCVn0azWlQ

— Long Island Nets (@LongIslandNets) December 22, 2025

Latest Draymond-Kerr spat overshadows heroic Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler efforts originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – From the roster through the coaching staff and all the way up to the front office, the Warriors have longed for the kind of tag-team performance delivered Monday night by Jimmy Butler III and Stephen Curry.

They were terrific and timely, the baton going from one to the other, and it led directly to a 120-97 victory over the Orlando Magic.

Unfortunately for the Warriors, Butler, Curry and their dual glories had to share the spotlight with an inglorious moment in the third quarter between Draymond Green and coach Steve Kerr.

“We got into it, obviously,” Kerr said. “And I took the timeout because I thought we lost our focus there a little bit. And we had it out a little bit. And he made his decision to go back to the locker room to cool off.”

Steve Kerr describes his heated interaction with Draymond Green in the third quarter

Green didn't play the rest of the game pic.twitter.com/uKFpzxuiNk

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) December 23, 2025

It was during the timeout with 8:31 left in the third quarter that matters reached a boiling point. Kerr was facing the bench, within a couple feet of Draymond, and it became clear their blowup was escalating. Green left his seat on the bench and headed into the locker room, with player development coach Anthony Vereen on his heels.

“Tempers spilled over,” Green said. “And I thought it was best that get out of there. I didn’t think it was a situation where it was going to get better. So, it was best to remove myself.”

Though this was not the first or second or third time that Kerr and Green have clashed in their 11-plus years together, this was the most public display. Once Draymond went to the locker room, Kerr basically considered him done for the night.

“Well, he left, he went back to the locker room,” Kerr said. “We moved forward, and the guys played great. They helped win with a really good second half, and I’m very proud of the team.”

Both Kerr and Green insisted that the raw emotions will not linger, and maybe they won’t. They have, again, a history of tempestuous moments and have continued to be supportive of each other.

“We’ve been at this now for a long time,” Green said. “So, sometimes when you’re with people for a long time, there’s a level of comfort, and s–t happens. We move forward.”

"Tempers spilled over, and I just thought it was best that I get out of there."

Draymond Green shares his side of his tense exchange with Steve Kerr on the Warriors' bench pic.twitter.com/4wm9OucW0z

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) December 23, 2025

What can’t be ignored is that this is the second consecutive game Golden State has flourished without Green. After he was ejected in the second quarter Saturday against Phoenix, the Warriors flipped a 10-point deficit into a six-point win. This time, the team’s response was even more emphatic, as they outscored the Magic 54-26 after Green left the game.

“There’s a sense of urgency when he’s not out there because our margin for error goes down without his presence,” Curry said. “So that’s the frustrating part about this whole thing. Being 15-15, we feel like we’re playing better than your record shows because we can respond. We were resilient.

“You know, being able to respond like we have these last two games doesn’t mean anything long term. I don’t know, but it makes it fun, because you have adversity, whether it’s from the other team or something self-inflicted and you’re able to respond the way that you need to, to get a win because it matters. And nobody’s letting go of the rope.

It was Curry and Butler who had the tightest grip on this night. As Curry struggled through an abysmal first half, Butler’s obscene efficiency kept the Warriors afloat against the lengthy and pesky Orlando Magic. He took six shots and turned them into 16 points.

When Curry – who scored eight points on 13 field-goal attempts in the first – came out of halftime with a 15-point third quarter on 6-of-6 shooting, including 3-of-3 from deep. Butler subtly slid over so the franchise player could open the door to a 120-97 victory that put the Warriors back at .500 (15-15).

It was as if Butler and Curry had swapped capes at halftime.

“Two of the best players in the league when we got Jimmy last year, that’s what it looked like,” Kerr said. “Two stars, carrying the team. Draymond at center, holding down the defense. We go 23-8 and win a round in the playoffs. We’ve seen this. It’s just that here in the early part of this season, we haven’t been able to capture that same momentum.

“But I’ve been saying this for weeks. I’m very confident in this group, and I think we’re going to we’re going to find it. And I think you saw, you know what, what that can look like tonight.”

There is a hitch in the comparison to last season’s late surge. Draymond played fewer than 18 minutes, and the Warriors did their best work without him. On a night when Kerr and Green were snapping at each other, Butler and Curry held it down. It worked splendidly in this game. If only that would assure that the next few days and games will be free of drama.

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