Category: Basketball

Butler's agent sends cryptic message about Warriors star's health originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors’ season could be at risk with Jimmy Butler’s status up in the air after suffering a pelvis contusion on a hard fall Wednesday night in Game 2 of their first-round Western Conference playoff matchup with the Houston Rockets.

But a recent text from the star forward’s agent could be a sign of optimism.

“There is some hope, though,” NBA insider Marc Spears shared Thursday on ESPN’s “NBA Today.” “Bernie Lee, Jimmy Butler’s agent, texted me saying, ‘Pray for the bear.’ That tells me that’s some optimism for Jimmy.”

"Bernie Lee, Jimmy Butler's agent texts me saying, 'Pray for the bear.'"@MarcJSpears says Jonathan Kuminga needs to be ready for Warriors-Rockets Game 3, but has "optimism" for Butler's injury status 👀 pic.twitter.com/YvZbLL4gQS

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 24, 2025

The coded message could be interpreted in several ways, but Spears views it positively.

Butler is expected to undergo an MRI at some point Thursday, as Dub Nation patiently waits for the Warriors to share those results.

The 35-year-old hit the ground hard after going up for a rebound and being undercut by Amen Thompson late in the first quarter of Wednesday’s 109-94 loss. He remained on the floor for a while before getting up and walking to the other end of the floor to shoot free throws.

Jimmy Butler hit the ground hard after being undercut by Amen Thompson 😳 pic.twitter.com/Icd2wBF50U

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 24, 2025

Butler remained in the game for a few possessions before heading to the locker room and ultimately being ruled out for the rest of the contest.

He sustained a similar injury during the 2023 Eastern Conference playoffs when he was a member of the Miami Heat. And as one fan pointed out on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, Butler finished that series against the Milwaukee Bucks with 56 points in Game 4 and 42 in Game 5 to win the series. Oh, the Heat also went to the NBA Finals that year.

The Warriors have two days off before Game 3 on Saturday. Game 4 is set for Monday.

Golden State became a new team when Butler was traded to the Warriors in early February. It’s evident they’ll need their six-time NBA All-Star in the mix of things to keep their championship aspirations alive. And Lee’s text message could signal some hope.

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VanVleet had eerie five-word message for Draymond in heated exchange originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Fred VanVleet touched on a concern a lot of Warriors fans might have right about now.

The Rockets guard got into a feisty exchange with Warriors forward Draymond Green at the end of Houston’s 109-94 win over Golden State on Wednesday at Toyota Center before both teams had to be separated on the court.

Fred VanVleet and Draymond Green exchange words during the timeout, and both teams had to be separated pic.twitter.com/srnV45YFqI

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 24, 2025

The San Francisco Standard’s Tim Kawakami shared on the latest episode of the “Warriors Plus/Minus” podcast what he heard VanVleet told Green in the viral exchange.

“I did hear that the VanVleet-Draymond thing was VanVleet telling Draymond, ‘You better pray Jimmy [Butler’s] back.’ There were a lot of other words in there,” Kawakami said.

VanVleet, of course, is referencing the pelvic injury Butler sustained late in the first quarter that sidelined him for the remainder of the game and will put his status for the remainder of the series in question as the Warriors await the results of his MRI on Thursday in San Francisco.

Butler, almost single-handedly, has transformed the Warriors into a potential title contender since he arrived in a blockbuster trade on Feb. 5 and is a crucial piece to any deep playoff run Golden State hopes to make.

It’s unclear if Butler will miss any time, but if he does miss Game 3 on Saturday, or perhaps longer, the Warriors certainly could be in trouble.

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Why Stephen A won't rule out Warriors beating Rockets without Butler originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Stephen A. Smith believes the Warriors can beat the Houston Rockets even if Jimmy Butler misses time with the pelvis injury he sustained in Game 2 of the Western Conference playoffs.

The ESPN analyst explained why Golden State could win its first-round matchup against Houston without Butler.

“Well, I think that it’s going to be very tough for them to beat Houston [without Butler],” Smith said Thursday on ESPN’s “First Take.” “I wouldn’t say definitively that they’re done because Houston can be very sporadic offensively. Defensively, they’ll bring it, but offensively, it’s problematic for them to score at times.

“And any time that’s an issue for you, you can get beat. So, I wouldn’t say it’s a foregone conclusion without Butler that [the Rockets] would win this series. But I would elevate them to favorites to win the series if Butler can’t go, which I believe, ultimately, he will be able to go.”

The Rockets are a force on defense but have struggled offensively this season, which leaves the door open for the Warriors to win the series. Still, Golden State was overmatched in Game 2 after Butler was forced out after a hard fall on his tailbone in the first quarter. Houston’s swarming defense bottled up Steph Curry and the rest of Golden State’s shooters in a 109-94 victory.

While Smith is optimistic about the Warriors defeating the Rockets, he is far less upbeat about Golden State’s chances after the first round.

“Here’s what I would tell you if Butler was gone,” Smith explained. “Even if Golden State did get past the first round, you’re going home next round. You ain’t beating the [Los Angeles Lakers] or the [Minnesota Timberwolves] without Jimmy Butler if you’re the Golden State Warriors.

“I would tell you with Jimmy Butler, you could be going to the conference finals. Without him, you could be going home in the first round, but you’re definitely going home in the semifinals.”

After making a trade deadline deal for Butler, the Warriors again looked like contenders in the Western Conference. The 35-year-old was playing some of his best basketball of the season before the injury, with his explosive 25-point outburst in Game 1 keying a Warriors victory.

Without Butler, Golden State’s offense becomes one-dimensional and too reliant on Steph Curry being the primary scorer. Houston took full advantage of this in Game 2, double-teaming Curry at every chance and disrupting his shots.

With the series now shifting to Chase Center for Game 3, all eyes will be on Butler, as his status still is up in the air. Coach Steve Kerr will have to alter the game plan if Butler cannot play, so Jonathan Kuminga and the rest of Golden State’s bench will need to come through in a big way.

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Kuminga ‘stayed ready' for potential increased Warriors playoff role originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Jonathan Kuminga waited patiently for his number to be called, and when the Warriors needed him most, it finally did.

After receiving three consecutive DNPs (Did Not Play) in Golden State’s previous three regular- and postseason games, Kuminga finally saw action in the Warriors’ 109-94 Game 2 loss to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday at Toyota Center.

After star forward Jimmy Butler left the game in the first quarter with a pelvis contusion, Warriors coach Steve Kerr turned to the 22-year-old, who scored 11 points with three rebounds and two assists in 26 minutes off the bench while shooting 4 of 12 from the field and 2 of 5 from 3-point range.

Although it was a mixed bag for Kuminga off the bench, Warriors superstar Steph Curry was impressed with the energy the young forward showed and expressed his trust in his young teammate, regardless of when and how often he plays moving forward.

“I thought he played aggressive, I know he probably wants to play better and knock the rust off, but as soon as Jimmy went down, I actually saw him on the bench and gave him a little love and knew he was going to get his number called pretty quickly,” Curry said of Kuminga. “And that is the nature of this league.

“For him to come out and play with energy and aggressiveness and just understand he can impact the game and he’s going to have a huge part in what we do. I think whether Jimmy’s out there or not, it could swing a different way. And that’s the challenge and it’s always been for him to see the pictures, understand the intensity that’s out there, try to be in the right spots defensively and when he was opportunities to be aggressive on the offensive end, take them. We trust him when he has the ball in his hands, however many minutes he’s out there, and be ready to play.”

The yo-yoing between the bench and the court is nothing new for Kuminga, who has shown immense potential in his four seasons with the Warriors, but has yet to establish — and hold on to — a consistent role in Kerr’s rotations.

“I kind of grew into it,” Kuminga told reporters after the game. “I’ve been here for four years, and throughout these four years, there were times I didn’t play, and it messes with my head sometimes as a very young player, but I kind of grew into it.

“So, it’s just something I feel like I’m getting better at and I’m still [learning] in controlling those types of [emotions], conversations, moments and situations knowing that no matter what I’m doing, when they tell me things like that, [I’m no longer affected].”

It’s unclear what Kuminga’s role will be moving forward in the series. That all depends on the severity of Butler’s injury. If the 35-year-old were to miss time, Kuminga would be a likely candidate to play big minutes at the position.

“He stayed ready and got some minutes, and it’s good, because we may need him and he needed to develop a little rhythm after missing the last few games,” Kerr said of Kuminga.

Kerr, however, was noncommittal about Kuminga sliding into Butler’s spot in the lineup and said the Warriors will have to “re-think everything” if Butler were to miss time.

Regardless of what his role might be in this series, and in the future, Kuminga will be prepared.

“You gotta stay ready,” Kuminga added. “It is tough [to get DNPs]. For any player it’s gonna be tough, but what am I gonna do about it? You just gotta stay ready. Whenever your moment happens, it’s going to happen… I just try to stay ready and not really think about why I’m not playing.”

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Parsons states Kuminga should hope he's not on Warriors next season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Under desperate circumstances, Jonathan Kuminga finally cracked Steve Kerr’s rotation in Game 2 of the Western Conference playoffs between the Warriors and Houston Rockets on Wednesday night at Toyota Center.

But former NBA forward Chandler Parsons doesn’t believe it should have taken so long — or so much adversity — for Kuminga to get some playing time.

“The other 29 teams know Jonathan Kuminga is a player,” Parsons said on FanDuel TV’s “Run It Back” on Thursday morning. “He’s 22 years old, averaging 15 points in the NBA in a season. He obviously needs to work on his 3-point shooting, but he does so much stuff good that there’s got to be a way to find minutes — even with Jimmy Butler on the floor, in my opinion. I don’t know how you go from playing all year long to up and down, it feels like there’s something else there.

“I don’t care, we’re talking about matchups or fit or style. You can find minutes for Kuminga if you’re finding minutes for [Gui] Santos and these other guys that play. So that doesn’t make sense to me.”

With Butler’s early exit after a hard fall in the second quarter and Brandin Podziemski battling an illness, Kerr turned to Kuminga, who was a DNP-CD (Did Not Play, Coach’s Decision) in Golden State’s previous three games.

In 26 minutes off the bench, Kuminga finished with 11 points on 4-of-12 shooting from the field and 2 of 5 from 3-point range, with three rebounds, two assists and one block in a 109-94 loss. Santos, who has been big for the Warriors in limited minutes, finished with a minus-8 plus/minus, which was the worst among Warriors reserves.

After the game, Kuminga told reporters he is focused on staying positive despite all the chatter about his minutes.

“I hope he doesn’t get too mentally beaten down and allow it to affect his game because he’s got a huge payday coming this summer, regardless,” Parsons said. “I think he probably hopes he’s not in Golden State next year after the way his up-and-down career has gone there.

He has a great opportunity to showcase himself more to these other teams that are going to bid on him being a restricted free agent this summer.”

"Steve Kerr can find minutes for Jonathan Kuminga if he's finding minutes for Gui Santos. … Kuminga probably hopes he's not in Golden State next year."@ChandlerParsons is perplexed by the Warriors, so he expects another team to give Kuminga the BAG this summer 🤑 pic.twitter.com/XdxaxD730S

— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) April 24, 2025

Kuminga and the Warriors attempted to work out an extension entering the 2024-25 season, but both sides weren’t able to reach an agreement before last October’s deadline. In 47 regular-season contests (10 starts) this season, the 22-year-old averaged 15.3 points on 45.4 percent shooting, with 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 24.3 minutes.

As Parsons noted, Kuminga will be a restricted free agent this summer, meaning Golden State will have the opportunity to match any offer the forward receives in free agency.

Teams are expected to show interest in the former No. 7 overall draft pick, with the Brooklyn Nets reportedly already trending as a potential sign-and-trade destination.

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Mazzulla shares update on Tatum's ‘severe' bone bruise ahead of Game 3 originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics successfully navigated Jayson Tatum’s first-ever missed playoff game Wednesday night, fending off the Orlando Magic in a 109-100 win that gives them a 2-0 lead in their first-round NBA playoff series.

But will we see Tatum back on the court Friday when the series shifts to Orlando for Game 3?

Head coach Joe Mazzulla joined 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Zolak & Bertrand on Thursday to share the latest on Tatum’s right wrist injury, which he sustained in Game 1 on Sunday.

“Yeah, there will definitely be a chance,” Mazzulla said when asked about the possibility of Tatum playing in Game 3. “Again, he’s dealing with a severe bone bruise. He’s day-to-day, and he’s progressively gotten a little bit better each day.”

Mazzulla played coy Wednesday night when asked about Tatum, saying he had “no idea” when he found out the Celtics star wouldn’t play in Game 2. He was a bit more forthcoming Thursday, however, revealing that Tatum made every effort to play before being ruled out shortly before tip-off.

“He went through all the protocols and did everything he could possibly do up until the last moment to try and play, and just wasn’t able to do it,” Mazzulla said. “But he’ll go back at it again today, and he’s in that day-to-day process right now.

“At the end of the day, I know he’ll do whatever it takes to put himself in a position to play and put our team in position to win. It’s just kind of who he is, and we’re just trusting that.”

The good news for the Celtics is that Tatum doesn’t appear to have structural damage in his wrist, and that his bone bruise is more of a pain management and flexibility issue. Whether the four days between Sunday’s Game 1 and Friday’s Game 3 are enough recovery time for Tatum remains to be seen, but Mazzulla said the All-Star forward is attacking his rehab.

“He’s doing whatever he can, every minute of the 24 hours, to put him(self) in position to try and be out there on the court,” Mazzulla said. “I trust his process. I trust his mindset, trust the people around him that helped put him in position, and that’s all we can do.”

And as for that viral moment in Game 1 when Mazzulla yelled at Tatum to “Get up!” while Tatum writhed on the floor in pain following his injury? Mazzulla explained that’s just an example of the dynamic between the head coach and his star player.

“I think it’s just love — the love of the relationship that we have, the understanding of the moment, understanding of our environment,” Mazzulla said. “Just grateful for the relationship that we have, the relationship we have with our players knowing that we can push each other.

“He pushes me, I try to push him, and we try to do that for each other.”

Tip-off for Game 3 is set for 7 p.m. ET on Friday, with NBC Sports Boston’s coverage beginning at 6 p.m. ET with Celtics Pregame Live.

Sixers to play 2 preseason games vs. Knicks in Abu Dhabi  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The 2025-26 Sixers’ preseason will feature an overseas journey.

The NBA announced Thursday that the Sixers will play two preseason games against the Knicks in Abu Dhabi.

The games are set for Oct. 2 and Oct. 4 at Etihad Arena on Yas Island. The remainder of the Sixers’ preseason schedule should be released well down the line.

“Bringing the Philadelphia 76ers to Abu Dhabi is an incredible opportunity to connect with new fans in a dynamic and growing region,” Sixers managing partner Josh Harris said in a press release. “As an organization, we’re committed to creating unforgettable experiences for our fans throughout the world. 

“We’re proud to be part of the NBA’s efforts to grow the game internationally and look forward to representing the city of Philadelphia while engaging with the vibrant community in the UAE.”

The trip will be the Sixers’ first international action since they played two 2018 preseason games in China.

The Sixers lost all four games of their 2024-25 regular-season series vs. the Knicks.

New York split the first two games of its first-round playoff series with the Pistons. The Sixers are in the early stages of the offseason after a 24-58 campaign that president of basketball operations Daryl Morey called the toughest of his career.

Sixers to play 2 preseason games vs. Knicks in Abu Dhabi  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The 2025-26 Sixers’ preseason will feature an overseas journey.

The NBA announced Tuesday that the Sixers will play two preseason games against the Knicks in Abu Dhabi.

The games are set for Oct. 2 and Oct. 4 at Etihad Arena on Yas Island. The remainder of the Sixers’ preseason schedule should be released well down the line.

“Bringing the Philadelphia 76ers to Abu Dhabi is an incredible opportunity to connect with new fans in a dynamic and growing region,” Sixers managing partner Josh Harris said in a press release. “As an organization, we’re committed to creating unforgettable experiences for our fans throughout the world. 

“We’re proud to be part of the NBA’s efforts to grow the game internationally and look forward to representing the city of Philadelphia while engaging with the vibrant community in the UAE.”

The trip will be the Sixers’ first international action since they played two 2018 preseason games in China.

The Sixers lost all four games of their 2024-25 regular-season series vs. the Knicks.

New York split the first two games of its first-round playoff series with the Pistons. The Sixers are in the early stages of the offseason after a 24-58 campaign that president of basketball operations Daryl Morey called the toughest of his career.

Report: Ishbia, Suns ‘pushing hard' to land ex-Warriors GM Myers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Phoenix Suns are in desperate need of an organizational shift, and they appear to have their eye on a man who knows a thing or two about championship basketball.

Suns owner Mat Ishbia has been “pushing hard” to add former Warriors general manager Bob Myers to his front office staff, The Arizona Republic’s Duane Rankin reported Thursday, citing sources.

Rankin added, citing sources, that Phoenix is looking to potentially add someone to its front office staff this offseason after another underwhelming season.

NBA contributor Marc Stein also reported Wednesday that the Suns were interested in trying to lure Myers back to a front office role.

Phoenix currently has James Jones as its general manager and president of basketball operations, and Josh Bartelstein as its CEO and team president, who both collaborate with Ishbia on personnel decisions.

But after missing the playoffs with just 36 wins during the 2024-25 NBA season, even with the trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, it’s clear that change is needed.

Myers stepped down as Golden State’s general manager in May 2023 after spending more than a decade with the organization and being the orchestrator behind the Warriors’ dynasty that made six NBA Finals appearances and won four championships.

He joined ESPN as an analyst in 2023 and also became a consultant for the Washington Commanders in January 2024.

If anyone can help fix the dumpster fire that has been the Suns over the last few seasons, it’s Myers. But is he up for the challenge?

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Watch Udoka tell Rockets refs won't call fouls on them vs. Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Adam Silver made the call. The script has been leaked.

All jokes aside, there was one interesting moment caught on camera during the Warriors’ 109-94 loss to the Houston Rockets in Game 2 of the Western Conference first-round playoff series that jump-started some NBA fans’ conspiratorial minds.

During a timeout, Rockets coach Ime Udoka, who was mic’d up on the TNT broadcast, was heard relaying a message to his team on the bench about their physicality.

Ime Udoka knows something and we don’t or what? @NBA@OfficialNBARefs? pic.twitter.com/cTdm2MsaSf

— Dreux (@RaiderIsThaName) April 24, 2025

“Keep playing through the contact. Physicality. Don’t worry, they’re not going to call anything, play through it,” Udoka told his team on the bench. “Don’t get caught up in that.”

It’s almost as if he knows …

Again, just kidding.

The refs called 17 total fouls on the Rockets and 18 on the Warriors in Game 2. Golden State had 18 free-throw attempts, while Houston had 20. While the stat sheet showed a relatively balanced foul distribution, it was the non-calls in the game that had Warriors fans up in arms, particularly the aggressive defense against superstar point guard Steph Curry.

Warriors star forward Jimmy Butler also was on the receiving end of Houston’s physicality, and he left the game late in the first quarter after falling straight onto his lower back in a collision with Rockets forward Amen Thompson on a defensive rebound attempt.

Jimmy Butler hit the ground hard after being undercut by Amen Thompson 😳 pic.twitter.com/Icd2wBF50U

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 24, 2025

Butler was ruled out with a pelvis contusion and will receive an MRI on Thursday in San Francisco. Thompson was assessed a standard personal foul, while many fans thought the foul should have been upgraded to at least a Flagrant 1 or possibly a Flagrant 2.

While the refs did call a foul on that play, perhaps Udoka had a point in his assessment of the officials’ view of the Rockets’ physicality.

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Kings GM Perry addresses his past criticism of LaVine originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

New Kings general manager Scott Perry discussed his past comments about Sacramento star Zach LaVine during his introductory press conference on Wednesday. 

“I’ve had the chance to speak with Zach,” Perry told reporters. “I knew Zach a little bit, well before I took this job. When he was a young player at UCLA who was coming out, I was scouting him and watching him a lot – terrific talent, athletic, career 40-percent 3-point shooter. And he and I, like I said, had a good conversation. My job now [is] to help put pieces around him and others to enhance his ability to start winning. 

“And that is what you’re getting with the comment that I made, because it was a reflection on him not having won as much. It’s nothing personal.”

Scott Perry's response to his Zach LaVine's assessment from a few years ago on a podcast pic.twitter.com/kI3O2J1y13

— Leo Beas (@beasleo) April 23, 2025

Perry, Sacramento’s fifth general manager in 12 years, was referring to a clip from November 2023 in which he described his skepticism toward LaVine’s ability to impact winning. When appearing on “The Hoops Genius Podcast” with Mo Mooncey and BJ Armstrong, Perry suggested LaVine wasn’t worth his pricey contracts.

“No question that Zach LaVine can score the basketball,” Perry said. “Does he impact winning? Zach LaVine has been to one playoff series in nine years. He’s played a total of four playoff basketball games. I’m looking at $40-, 43, 46 & 49 million for a guy who – to this point – has not impacted winning to the level that his money says he should impact.”

Former Knicks GM Scott Perry on HoopGenius: “No question that Zach LaVine can score the basketball…Does he impact winning? Zach LaVine has been to 1 playoff series in 9 years. He's played a total of 4 playoff basketball games…I'm looking at $40, $43, $46 & $49 million for a guy… pic.twitter.com/fEl40O8pK6

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) November 21, 2023

LaVine has made $209.62 million over his 11-year NBA career with three different franchises – the Minnesota Timberwolves, Chicago Bulls and the Kings. He still has one playoff victory, which came in a 2022 Eastern Conference first-round playoff series, when the Bulls were eliminated in five games by the Milwaukee Bucks.

LaVine’s numbers are strong across the board. Over 32 regular-season games with Sacramento, he averaged 22.4 points, 3.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds and shot 44.6 percent on triples. Yet, the Kings didn’t make it past the NBA play-in tournament, putting Perry’s old claim into consideration once again. 

Perry, a longtime NBA executive with the Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks, doesn’t shy away from giving his players tough love.

“What I enjoy in my relationships with all players – and that’s why so many of them reached out to me – is because they know, ‘OK, I might not always agree with him, but he’s going to shoot me straight,’” Perry told reporters. “And they know I’m going to provide radical candor surrounded by radical love. And those [are] coming from a good place.”

Perry’s comments about LaVine might be old news, but they might serve as a precursor to what Kings fans can expect in their new general manager’s leadership style.

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