Category: Basketball

Bronny James stood with his back to the wall with both hands buried in his workout shorts, his practice with the Lakers summer league team complete, his voice sounding more confident now that he’s entering his second season in the NBA.

He had to endure the outsized pressure and criticism of playing last season with his superstar father, LeBron James, a season in which Bronny and his dad made history by becoming the first father-son duo to play together in an NBA game.

Now, Bronny is more assured about his talents and he’ll get to showcase what he’s worked on when the Lakers play the Golden State Warriors in the California Classic on Saturday in San Francisco.

The Lakers will play three games there and then head to Las Vegas for the NBA Summer League.

That is where the most anticipated summer game could take place because the Lakers open the action against Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the June draft, and the Dallas Mavericks on July 10.

Like all last season, James knows a lot of people will pay attention to that game — to him, still, and to Flagg.

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

“Last year it was a crazy environment for me to step in and produce right off the rip, like being nervous too,” Bronny said. “So, I feel like this year, I'll be able to go out and play freely and know what I'm gonna go out and do for me and my teammates. So, yeah, I'm just really excited to be able to play nervous-free.”

Dalton Knecht got some extra shots up after practice Wednesday, his stroke looking just as impressive as it did last season when he shot 37.6% from three-point range during his rookie season with the Lakers.

Knecht, too, is especially looking forward to playing in Las Vegas.

“Vegas, I mean, I feel like all of us didn’t care who we played [last summer],” Knecht said. “It was just go out there and play. Our fans always show up. We go out there all the time and it’s pretty much Laker fans that sell out that arena and show us so much love. We’re just trying to go out there and try to put on a show no matter who we are playing.”

Lakers rookie Adou Thiero, their second-round pick (36th overall) out of Arkansas whom they acquired in a trade with the Timberwolves, is dealing with a left knee injury and will not play this summer. The Lakers said Thiero is in the final stages of his return to play and expected to be fully cleared for training camp.

For James, one year of playing in the NBA has made a difference as he approaches this summer.

He appeared in 27 games last season, starting once, and averaged 2.3 points per game on 31.3% shooting, 28.1% from three-point range.

“Yeah, it's definitely some more excitement than nervousness, for sure,” James said. “I'm just ready to go out there and play and be better than I was the last time I was playing. Just having that mindset of being ready to play and ready for whatever's thrown at me, no matter the role, what I gotta do on defense, offense, everything. Being a good teammate for my new summer league team, stuff like that.”

Besides skill work, James said his plan for the summer is to be in “elite condition” and to “be disruptive on the defensive end.”

“So that's my main focus, probably why I'm getting a little leaner,” he said. “But I still got 215 [pounds] on me still. So, I'm just running a lot, getting a lot of conditioning in. And then just staying on top of my diet, eating healthy, being a professional. It's just Year 2, so I gotta lock in on the things that I didn't know before my rookie year and being better and excel with that. Yeah, my main focus is this year, or this summer, has been being in elite condition. That's what I've been talking to my coaches about.”

Knecht played in 78 games last season, averaging 9.1 points over 19.2 minutes per game.

As the season progressed, Knecht said the game slowed down for him and that allowed him to improve.

When the Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs by the Timberwolves, Knecht said he went to work right away. In his eyes, there was no time to waste.

“Right after the [playoff] loss, I pretty much started right away. Didn’t take much time off,” he said. “So I was getting in the gym, starting at 6 a.m., going with the guys at 10 and then coming back later at night just to get as many shots as I can, just working on my game and my cuts.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Report: Wizards entering mix for Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga in NBA free agency originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Jonathan Kuminga situation still has no resolution in the early hours of the fifth day of NBA free agency.

As expected, the Warriors are exploring all options, and it appears a new potential suitor has entered the mix.

The Washington Wizards have shown interest in the last 24 hours, The Athletic’s Anthony Slater reported Thursday night, citing league sources, adding that the idea of Kuminga as a possible fit in Washington’s rebuild has “gained real momentum.”

Washington, which finished last in the Eastern Conference with just 18 wins on the 2024-25 season, is prioritizing the development of its young core around Bub Carrington, Bilal Coulibaly and Alex Sarr. The Wizards also traded for CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton this offseason.

The Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets also have expressed “varying levels of interest” in the 22-year-old forward, Slater wrote, citing league sources.

Slater also notes the Kings’ offer for Kuminga, which was reported by NBC Sports California on Wednesday, of a three-team sign-and-trade being discussed that would send Kuminga to Sacramento and Devin Carter, Dario Šarić and two second-round draft picks to Golden State. The offer was balked at what the Warriors believe was a “buy-low” attempt, Slater reported, citing sources.

As for the Warriors’ asking price for Kuminga, Slater reported they are seeking “a promising young player plus a first-round pick.”

Kuminga, who was selected No. 7 overall in the 2021 NBA Draft, is seeking a situation where he can be a consistent contributor and the future of a franchise that backs and believes in him. That hasn’t been the case for Kuminga in Golden State over the last four years.

As of now, all things remain on the table — including Kuminga’s return to the team that drafted him.

Only time will tell.

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A few notes on the Knicks’ offseason entering the July 4 weekend...

The Knicks are hard-capped at the second apron this season ($207,824,000). They are currently close to the second apron. But they should have enough money to sign another veteran free agent.

I don’t know if there is a specific focus for that final roster spot. But the Knicks have been in touch with multiple backup guards on the market.

Dante Exum considered the Knicks as a possible destination before he agreed to a deal with Dallas on Wednesday (per ESPN). As noted earlier, the Knicks touched base with free agent Ben Simmons this week. So it seems like the Knicks are at least keeping an eye on the market for a backup guard.

He's obviously not on their radar now, but the Knicks also did some background work on Deandre Ayton. Some decision makers viewed Ayton as a good fit next to Karl-Anthony Towns. Part of their background work included talking to the Trail Blazers about Ayton. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Blazers gave good feedback on Ayton to teams that called on him, which runs contrary to recent reports painting Ayton in a negative light. The Knicks received similar positive feedback from Portland about Ayton’s leadership with some of the younger Blazers.

I assume if the Knicks paired Ayton and Towns, Mitchell Robinson would have been the club’s backup center. Ayton reportedly signed a two-year, $16.6 million deal with the Lakers. Ayton chose the Lakers over his other suitors because he viewed Los Angeles as the best basketball fit.

IMPRESSED BY NORI

He didn’t get the job, but Timberwolves assistant coach Micah Nori impressed the Knicks during the interview process. According to people in touch with the team, Nori’s insight on workload/player production stood out during the Knicks’ interview process. Mike Brown, Nori, Taylor Jenkins, James Borrego and Dawn Staley were the known interviewees for the Knicks opening. The Knicks were always leaning toward hiring a head coach with NBA experience, but Nori’s interview certainly gave them something to think about.

The Lakers and free-agent center Jaxson Hayes have agreed up on a one-year contract for him to return to the team, according to people not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

With Hayes, the Lakers now have a backup center after they agreed to a two-year deal with Deandre Ayton.

Hayes became the Lakers’ starting center when Anthony Davis was part of a trade that sent him to the Dallas Mavericks for Luka Doncic.

Despite shooting a career-high 72.2% from the field as a lob threat for the Lakers during the regular season, he struggled in the playoffs. He started the first four games against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first-round series but was so ineffective that he didn’t play more than 10 minutes in any game as the Lakers lost 4-1. He did not play at all in Game 5.

In 56 games during the regular season, Hayes averaged 6.8 points and 4.8 rebounds.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Report: Warriors balked at Kings' initial trade offer for Jonathan Kuminga originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

While the Jonathan Kuminga saga awaits a resolution, there still is plenty of buzz surrounding the impending future of the young Warriors forward.

NBC Sports California’s Tristi Rodriguez reported Wednesday that the Kings, Warriors and Detroit Pistons were discussing a blockbuster three-team trade that would send Kuminga to Sacramento.

Rodriguez reported that the framework of the deal would revolve around Golden State receiving 2024 first-round pick Devin Carter and former Warriors big man Dario Šarić and two second-round draft picks, while Sacramento would send Malik Monk to Detroit, clearing a path for Kuminga to land in California’s capital.

The Warriors balked at the Kings’ offer for Kuminga, feeling the proposal was a buy-low attempt, The Athletic’s Anthony Slater reported Thursday, citing league sources.

Golden State extended a $7.9 million qualifying offer to Kuminga last weekend, kickstarting a restricted free agency that faces similar issues as players in comparable situations league-wide due to the lack of teams possessing a wealth of salary-cap space.

Kuminga has averaged 12.5 points on 50.7 percent shooting from the field in four NBA seasons since being selecyted by the Warriors No. 7 overall in the 2021 draft.

While it remains to be seen what compensation the Warriors would be comfortable receiving to part with Kuminga, it’s clear the Kings’ initial offer still has a ways to go before any deal materializes between the two Northern California franchises.

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Report: Sixers agree to add Jabari Walker on 2-way contract  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers have reportedly filled their third and final two-way contract slot. 

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Thursday night that the team has agreed to a two-way deal with Jabari Walker. Hunter Sallis and Alex Reese are their two other players on two-way contracts, which generally involve players splitting time between an NBA team and its G League affiliate. 

Walker was an unrestricted free agent after the Trail Blazers did not extend a qualifying offer. Portland picked Walker at No. 57 overall in the 2022 NBA draft out of Colorado and he spent his first three professional seasons with the franchise.

The 22-year-old forward was officially listed at 6-foot-7, 237 pounds last year. He logged 12.5 minutes per game and averaged 5.2 points and 3.5 rebounds.

Walker had his best NBA year from three-point range by a wide margin, hitting 38.9 percent of his shots beyond the arc (28 of 72). He made of all six of his long-distance attempts in a March 5 game against the Celtics. 

Walker’s father is Samaki Walker, who played a decade in the NBA and won a championship with the 2001-02 Lakers.

Why Gary Washburn is ‘all in' on Damian Lillard coming to Boston originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics suddenly have a golden opportunity to add another superstar to their roster.

On Tuesday, the Milwaukee Bucks shockingly waived superstar guard Damian Lillard and will pay the remainder of his contract over the next five years. The Celtics — along with the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors — are “known to be among the many teams” eyeing Lillard on the free-agent market, per The Athletic.

Lillard is 34 years old and likely to miss the 2025-26 season after suffering a torn Achilles in the NBA playoffs. Still, he’s an intriguing option for a Celtics team that’s seemingly punting on next season with its sights set on 2026-27.

During Thursday’s Early Edition, Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe explained why he’s “all in” on the Celtics bringing in Lillard.

“It’s cheap. $5.6 million mid-level, two years, because he’s already getting paid by the Bucks. So money is not an issue,” Washburn said. ” You sit him for this year. You let him rehab his Achilles, whether it’s part-time to go to Portland and back to Boston, kind of let him do it because he wants to be close to his family. He bonds with (Jayson )Tatum in the rehab, he gets himself healthy, and then in 2026-27, now you compete.

“You have two All-NBA players coming back along with Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, and then whoever’s center. Two All-NBA players, three All-Stars, and a Defensive Player of the Year candidate in you’re starting five, and you come back to try to win another title in ’26-’27. You can’t take two or three years off. You can’t bank that guys are gonna be ready in ’29 or ’30. You gotta win now. You take next year off, let him rest, then bring him back with Tatum, and you’ve got a chance to win a ‘chip.”

Lillard and Jayson Tatum are longtime friends, which could increase Boston’s odds of signing the nine-time All-Star. If the Celtics land Lillard, the superstar tandem could spend the 2025-26 season rehabbing their Achilles injuries and return to lead a championship contender in 2026-27.

Of course, signing Lillard comes with obvious risk, even if it’s on an affordable contract. He’ll be 36 years old at the start of the 2026-27 season, and there’s no guarantee he’ll return to All-Star form after an Achilles surgery and a scary blood clot issue. Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens must weigh the risk and potential reward as his team enters unfamiliar territory as an Eastern Conference underdog.

Next season, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White are expected to co-star on a Celtics squad that parted ways with Jrue Holiday (trade), Kristaps Porzingis (trade) and Luke Kornet (free agency) this offseason. Veteran big man Al Horford could be next to leave via free agency, leaving Boston with a thin frontcourt.

More moves are coming for the C’s as they look to get back below the second apron of the luxury tax. They moved back above the threshold after signing center Luka Garza and forward Josh Minott as depth pieces.

New Sixer Watford ‘still in shock' about teaming up with close friend Maxey originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Trendon Watford and Tyrese Maxey won’t need to make so many long-distance calls now.

As Watford detailed Thursday at his first Sixers press conference, he’s grown close with Maxey over the years and gotten accustomed to facing him.

“We were at a high school camp together in I think 9th grade,” Watford said from the lobby of the Sixers’ training complex in Camden, New Jersey. “He claims that the group of guys I was with weren’t really talking to him because he wasn’t highly ranked yet or whatever. We locked in from that point on. My family knows his family. We ended up being roommates for I think the McDonald’s (All-American) Game. 

“We ended up just kicking it off, man. I know his sister, his uncle, his brother, everybody in the family. … I was able to talk some trash to him when we got the win here last year … and (in Brooklyn).  And now we’re teammates, so I’m excited.” 

Watford did not take a straightforward route to his free-agent deal with the Sixers.

The 24-year-old forward played two seasons at LSU, went undrafted, joined the Trail Blazers and signed a two-way contract. He’s since established himself in the NBA and had his most productive season last year, averaging 10.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists for the Nets. 

“It’s extremely helpful,” Watford said of his relationship with Maxey. “I remember talking to him my second year in college, which was his rookie year. And just talking to him about some of the stuff he was dealing with, I already had a good idea of what I was coming into. 

“Man, it’s great. We can’t believe it, honestly. We’re still in shock. He called me right before this and was like, ‘Man, I can’t believe you’re in Philly and going to go to the facility.’ It’s crazy. It’s crazy to be on the team right now.”

Watford’s calling card is versatility. He noted Thursday that he “came in as probably a small-ball five with Portland and sort of transitioned to playing backup point guard the last two years, point forward the last two years.” 

According to Watford, his father is to thank for honing his passing and ball handling skills as a kid (and never allowing coaches to just stick him in the post). Older brother Christian Watford helped shape him in terms of toughness and willingness to talk trash. 

“It’s always been a part of my game, man,” Watford said. “Growing up, having an older brother 10 years older than me that played in college (at Indiana) and professionally, it wasn’t easy. I had to get it, so I think that’s just what’s in me … being that guy that mixes it up and isn’t afraid to take it to wherever we’ve got to take it to.” 

The Sixers obviously won’t mind that edge at all.

Like Maxey, they hope Watford keeps developing in Philadelphia.

“Just continuing to sharpen everything,” he said. “Continue to become better defensively. Even after having a solid defensive year, continue to become better. … I’m not trying to focus on just one thing, but continuing to sharpen my shooting, my passing, my IQ, watching film and just learning how to play off of these guys.”

Ex-NBA lottery pick Ben McLemore found guilty of rape originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Former NBA player Ben McLemore has been found guilty of raping a 21-year-old woman during a lake house party attended by many of his then-teammates from the Portland Trail Blazers, a jury ruled Thursday.

The jury in Clackamas County, located directly south of Portland, found McLemore, 32, guilty of rape, unlawful sexual penetration and one count of sexual abuse. He was found not guilty on another count of sexual abuse, Portland television station KGW reported.

Sentencing was scheduled for Wednesday.

“We recognize there are those who fear individuals with celebrity status or a position of prominence can avoid prosecution. Not in Clackamas County. This case demonstrates my office prosecutes criminal acts regardless of the offender’s community status,” District Attorney John Wentworth said in a statement.

The charges stemmed from a party Oct. 3, 2021, at the Lake Oswego home owned by his Trail Blazers teammate Robert Covington.

Prosecutors claimed during the trial that the sexual encounter was rape, while McLemore’s attorney countered it was consensual sex.

The woman said she was incapacitated after a night of heavy drinking and was unable to give consent. Prosecutors submitted photos of the woman hovering over a toilet and then passed out on a couch, The Oregonian/Oregon Live earlier reported.

She said she woke up at one point during the rape and froze in terror.

“I don’t know who this person is,” she testified. “This is a random person that is doing something like this to me.” The Associated Press generally does not identify victims of sexual assault.

At one point, she said she let her body slide to the floor in an effort to stop the assault. The woman testified McLemore pulled her back onto the couch and continued.

Covington earlier testified he saw the woman flirting with McLemore while they sat on a couch.

McLemore testified he was also drinking but claimed the sex was consensual. He also said he and the woman did not have a conversation before, during or after the act, after which he immediately left the home.

One of his attorneys, Kris Winemiller, said McLemore left after receiving an angry message from this then-wife, who tracked him and wanted to know why he wasn’t in their own Lake Oswego home.

Clackamas County prosecutor Scott Healy said there was no confusion. “When you look at all the surrounding circumstances and you assess the evidence in this case, I submit to you that the defendant is guilty,” he said during closing arguments Tuesday.

Another defense attorney, Lisa Maxfield, argued for McLemore’s acquittal.

“The only reasonable verdict in a case where two people get drunk and have sex and the man is drunker than the woman, the only reasonable verdict in a case like that is not guilty,” she said.

The woman said she did not hire an attorney to sue McLemore and didn’t seek money from him. Instead she pursued the criminal case because “you can’t do that to somebody, let alone somebody that you don’t know.”

McLemore, who played college at Kansas, was the seventh pick in the 2013 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings. He also played for Memphis, Houston and the Los Angeles Lakers before his last NBA season with Portland in 2021-2022.

Since then, he has played in Europe and China. Last August he signed with a team in Turkey.

Resources for victims of sexual assault are available through the National Sexual Violence Resources Center and the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800-656-4673.

Kings rookie Maxime Raynaud excited to play with NBA idol Domantas Sabonis originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SACRAMENTO – During a press conference Thursday morning introducing the team’s two picks from the 2025 NBA Draft, first-year Kings general manager Scott Perry referred to second-rounder Maxime Raynaud as a “double-double machine.”

It’s a label that has been bestowed upon Domantas Sabonis for several years. The Kings’ 6-foot-10 big man puts up double-doubles like most people drink water – smooth and refreshingly easy. He had 61 such games during the 2024 season, one year after he compiled a streak of 61 consecutive double-doubles, the seventh-longest streak in NBA history.

Raynaud’s NBA career has yet to get off the ground, but Perry sees the 7-foot Frenchman having the abilities to make an immediate impact in Sacramento.

“Max possesses a very unique combination of size, skill and ability that really mirrors a lot of the big players in today’s game,” Perry said. “He’s a double-double machine. We think he has a lot of growth and development in front of him.”

If Raynaud, the No. 42 overall pick in the draft, can be one-tenth the player Sabonis has been in the NBA, then it will be viewed as a great pick by Perry.

Playing in college about 90 minutes south of Sacramento at Stanford, Raynaud blossomed into a fantastic prospect in the paint who also can shoot the rock very well from the perimeter.

He was chosen to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference first-team member during his final season at Stanford after averaging 20.2 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.4 blocks.

Raynaud was the only college player last season to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds a game, the first Power 4 conference player to hit those marks while nailing at least 50 3-pointers since Kevin Durant did it nearly two decades ago.

“Max’s talents speak for themselves/,” Kings coach Doug Christie said when asked about the prospect of playing Raynaud and Sabonis together. “Rebounding is never something you don’t need enough of. His size (and) his skill set, I think with Domas can mix in a big way. Just watching him play, he can shoot, pump-fakes, puts the ball on the deck. So now you have play-makers in all the positions.”

Raynaud will get his first taste of NBA action at the Summer League in Las Vegas. After that he’ll take a break and get some rest before beginning training camp when he’ll get the chance to line up alongside Sabonis.
Sabonis is clearly looking forward to it.

On the night of the draft, he went on X and had this to say to the Kings’ two draft picks: “Welcome to the Sacramento Kings, Rooks. Let’s work.”

Raynaud smiled at the thought.

“Someone I’ve looked up to the past couple of years,” Raynaud said. “I know at Stanford, especially my sophomore year, we based our offense a lot around the Kings and the split-action they used to have. So in that regard, he’s been a big inspiration for me.”

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Warriors need Jonathan Kuminga more than he needs them, Tim Legler believes originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors’ tug-of-war leverage battle with restricted free-agent forward Jonathan Kuminga is on. And ESPN’s Tim Legler explained why Golden State needs the 22-year-old swingman more than he needs it on Wednesday’s edition of “NBA Today.”

“I think personally, at this point, the Warriors need Jonathan Kuminga more than he needs them,” Legler said. “Where are the athletes on this team? He does represent an athletic wing. The guy does have something, from a skill standpoint and a physical standpoint, [that] they don’t have on their roster.”

Kuminga is that youthful high-flyer that Golden State doesn’t have, as it sports one of the league’s older rosters centered around 37-year-old Steph Curry, 35-year-old Jimmy Butler and 35-year-old Draymond Green. But at the same time, the shaky Kuminga experiment would be entering a fifth season if the Warriors were to strike a deal with their No. 7 overall selection from the 2021 NBA Draft, and so far, it’s been rough.

At the end of the 2024-25 NBA season, Kuminga’s averages fell to 20.8 minutes, 12.2 points and 3.9 rebounds over the 15 regular-season games he played in coach Steve Kerr’s rotation after Butler’s arrival. The six-time NBA All-Star forward doesn’t appear to be going anywhere, making Kuminga — an inconsistent shooter as of now — an odd fit in the Bay.

“I understand … they wish he was a little bit more locked in defensively with his concentration; they wish he was a little bit more consistent with his rebounding effort. I get all of that,” Legler said. “The guy has played almost 6,000 minutes for the Golden State Warriors, and he’s still auditioning. 

“I think, at some point, you need to come to the realization that it’s not going to happen for him in Golden State. And guess what? It might not happen somewhere else, either. But I think, Jonathan Kuminga, to find out, I think he needs to go somewhere where he doesn’t have such cynicism looking at him all the time, waiting for the bad habits … so he can go back to the bench.”

Kuminga definitely has played under heavy pressure from the Warriors organization and Dub Nation. Tensions only are heightened as the clock ticks on the aging franchise’s championship window, especially after Golden State appeared to be a serious contender before Curry’s hamstring injury against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the 2025 Western Conference playoffs.

What the Warriors and Kuminga decide to do is unknown. But at the very least, their dynamic is awkward. A change of scenery might be best for Kuminga’s career and Golden State’s future. Or not.

Legler reiterated that the end game between the two parties remains complex. 

“They need him. They need the physical specimen that he is,” Legler said. “He needs a fresh start somewhere else to see what this guy could actually become in this league.”

It is no surprise that the Warriors are engaged in sign-and-trade talks over deals involving Kuminga, as reported by NBC Sports Bay Area’s Tristi Rodriguez.

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Nique Clifford's two-way versatility, ability to play point guard enamored Kings originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SACRAMENTO – Nique Clifford’s versatility on both ends of the court and his ability to play multiple positions were primary factors behind the Kings’ decision to trade into the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft to select the 6-foot-5 guard with the No. 24 overall pick.

That includes running the offense as a point guard, not necessarily the position Sacramento drafted Clifford to play, but one they might have to use him at out of sheer necessity.

With free agency looming around the corner, the Kings still have a pressing need to find a full-time point guard. Veteran Dennis Schroder reportedly intends to sign a three-year, $45 million contract with Sacramento. Though the deal can’t be made official until Sunday, during Thursday’s press conference at Golden 1 Center, Clifford unknowingly made it sound like a deal between the sides is done.

Regardless, Sacramento’s newest prized rookie says he’s more than willing to play the point if that’s what is necessary.

“Whatever my role is, whatever coach sees me as and throws me into, I feel like I can go do it at a high level,” Clifford said Thursday during his introductory press conference at Golden 1 Center. “I want to contribute to winning, that’s my ultimate goal. Whatever that looks like, [I] just have to approach every single day as an opportunity to get better and learn from all of the knowledge and guys I have around me.”

Clifford played point guard for much of his early years in basketball before, according to his mother Angel, he underwent a growth spurt that altered how teams used him.

At Colorado State, Clifford polished his skills while developing into one of the country’s top two-way players.

He was the nation’s 13th-best rebounder last season, averaging 9.6 boards a game despite often being out-sized in the paint by 4-5 inches. Offensively, Clifford put up averages of 18.9 points and 4.4 assists.

“Nique is a very talented and versatile basketball player. That’s what attracted us to him,” First-year Kings general manager Scott Perry said. “He can play multiple positions in this game on the perimeter, not only on the offensive end, but he gives you that defensive versatility too. We really believe he’s going to be able to match up just about anywhere on the perimeter from a defensive standpoint.

“He has improved each year that he’s been in college basketball. That is an important trait that we look for when we evaluate talent coming out of (the) collegiate ranks.”

Clifford and the Kings’ 2025 second-round draft pick, center Maxime Raynaud, were formally introduced during Thursday’s press conference. The event was attended by friends and family members of the two newcomers, along with several team employees who frequently cheered and made the event more light-hearted.

Beyond the iced-out “Clifford the Big Red Dog” pendant that dangled from his neck, Clifford seemed to be in a more serious mood.

He might even have tipped the Kings’ plans for the upcoming free agency period.

“Just excited for the opportunity to learn from even guys coming in, like Dennis Schroeder and different teammates that I’m going to have,” Clifford said. “I’m going to be able to learn from those guys and get more comfortable in every position.

“It’s just finding my way, finding any way, to impact the game, whether that’s defense, rebounding, knocking down shots when I get them. Just trying to be impactful every time I step on the court.”

Even if he has to play point guard every now and then.

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Jonathan Kuminga, Warriors simply not good on-court fit, Udonis Haslem believes originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Jonathan Kuminga’s future with the Warriors is complicated and uncertain, but Udonis Haslem believes the solution actually is quite simple.

The three-time NBA champion and ESPN analyst, like the rest of the NBA world, discussed Kuminga’s situation with Golden State on Wednesday’s edition of “NBA Today.” Haslem was asked what Kuminga, who is a restricted free agent, should want as he emerges into uncharted territory.

“He should want to go be his best version, and I don’t think that’s going to happen in Golden State,” Haslem said. “And it’s nothing against Golden State, it’s nothing against Kuminga. It’s just not a good fit. Especially when you got a guy like Jimmy Butler. Jimmy Butler’s a damn good basketball player. He needs the ball in his hands. He’s going to make other guys better. He’s going to defend on the other end. His basketball IQ is out of the roof.”

When the Warriors first acquired Butler at the trade deadline in February, they had hoped the six-time All-Star and Kuminga would thrive off of each other on the court together.

But it never quite worked the way Golden State had hoped, as Haslem further explained.

“And I think that’s where [Butler] gets the edge with Kuminga,” Haslem said. “If you put him in the game, you put him with Steph [Curry], you put him with those other guys and you don’t miss a beat. You put Kuminga in and it’s a little bit of a standstill offensively. He gets the ball in his hands, he wants to do his thing. So, Jonathan Kuminga should look for a situation or opportunity to be his best version. It is his time, and he should not feel bad about that at all.

“Oftentimes, we make guys feel bad for wanting to step into that light and be their best version. I don’t think he should feel bad about this. He’s played the game. He’s been in Golden State long enough. He’s a damn good basketball player. It’s his time to shine and he wants his opportunity, and I don’t blame him.”

The Warriors extended a $7.9 million qualifying offer to Kuminga, making him a restricted free agent. This means if he receives an offer from another team, the Warriors can either choose to match that offer and retain him or decline to match it and let him sign with the other team.

They also can explore a sign-and-trade scenario, which a source confirmed to NBC Sports California on Wednesday is being discussed with the Kings and Pistons that would send second-year guard Devin Carter and big man Dario Saric to Golden State, Kuminga to Sacramento and high-flying guard Malik Monk to Detroit.

The possibilities are limitless, but it appears more and more likely that Kuminga’s time in the Bay is nearing an end.

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