All 30 teams will compete in this year’s Las Vegas NBA Summer League. The annual event has become a big hit with fans. The Lakers’ Lonzo Ball was last year’s top player. Jayson Tatum of the Celtics was one of last year’s standouts. The 76ers’ Markelle Fultz was the No. 1 overall draft pick.
In 1992, the Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Lakers played an NBA playoff game in Las Vegas. Game 4 of the Western Conference first round was originally set for the Los Angeles Forum. It was moved to the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas at short notice amid the Rodney King riots. The Trail Blazers won 102-76, eliminating the Lakers 3 games to 1. Clyde Drexler scored 26 points for Portland while Danny Ainge added 19. It was the last playoff game of the four major sports to be played in Las Vegas before the Golden Knights beat the Los Angeles Kings 1-0 on Wednesday.
Loyola Chicago’s Sister Jean Says God Likes the NCAA Better than the NBA The nun delivered the burn during her scheduled time with the media on Friday. One of the questions Sister Jean answered was: Is God a basketball fan? “He probably is. And he’s probably more of a basketball fan of the NCAA than the NBA.” “I’ll wager that your viewer audience is very large this time and that if you compare it to the NBA when they’re playing, it’ll be different.” “I say that because these young players are playing with their hearts and not for any financial assistance.” Loyola Chicago’s 98-year-old chaplain has now become an international sensation after her school’s Cinderella run to the NCAA Final Four. 11-seed Loyola Chicago will take on 3-seed Michigan on Saturday on TBS at 6:09 p.m. EST.
Brandon McCoy was expected to be a one-and-done player when he committed to UNLV. McCoy was named the Mountain West’s Freshman of the Year, setting conference freshman records for scoring (16.9 points per game) and rebounding (10.3) He finished third in the nation among freshmen and 11th overall with 18 double-doubles, which led the league. He averaged 1.7 blocks and made 55 percent of his shots for a UNLV team that finished 20-13, ending its season with a loss to UNR in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament.
NBA G League Player Zeke Upshaw Dies After Collapsing on Court Upshaw collapsed on the court near the end of Saturday’s game pitting the Grand Rapids Drive against the Long Island Nets and was taken off the court on a stretcher. Zeke Upshaw’s mother Zeke Upshaw’s mother Upshaw, 26, was a standout player from Chicago before attending Illinois State and later transferring to Hofstra. He played for two seasons overseas before he was drafted by the Drive in the 2016 draft. The Drive family is mourning the tragic loss of Zeke Upshaw. He had a warm personality and was a tremendous representative of our organization both on and off the court. Our thoughts are with all of Zeke’s family and friends during this difficult time.
UNLV will face a few challenges next season UNLV will have to move on without its starting guards Amauri Hardy and Tervell Beck are key returning players for UNLV Brandon McCoy is expected to say goodbye to UNLV and opt for the NBA UNLV faces an improved Mountain West with Gonzaga possibly joining And San Diego State should again contend for conference title
Cleveland Cavalier’s Coach Tyronn Lue to Temporarily Step Away from Coaching The team announced the news on Monday morning, citing health issues as the reason for the leave of absence. After many conversations with our doctors and [General Manager Koby Altman] and much thought given to what is best for the team and my health… …I need to step back from coaching for the time being and focus on trying to establish a stronger and healthier foundation from which to coach for the rest of the season. According to TNT’s David Aldridge, Lue only plans to be gone from the team for a week. Assistant coach Larry Drew will coach in his stead. This is Lue’s third season in charge of the team, with each of the previous two seasons resulting in a trip to the NBA Finals.
Kentucky, Duke Now Implicated in FBI’s NCAA Corruption Probe The FBI’s investigation into corruption and bribery in college basketball has grown to include stars and universities like Miles Bridges, current NBA rookies Dennis Smith Jr., Markelle Fultz, as well as colleges Duke and Kentucky. Yahoo obtained the documents, which were released Friday, that reveal “an underground recruiting operation” involving at least 20 Division I programs and more than 25 players. Mark Emmert, NCAA president Mark Emmert, NCAA president The case has already lead to notable firings, including Louisville letting go of head coach Rick Pitino and athletic director Tom Jurich.
Dallas Mavericks Reportedly Have Hostile Work Environment Filled With Sexual Misconduct A bombshell report from Sports Illustrated details years of sexual misconduct and predatory behavior. Part of the article focuses on the team’s former CEO Terdema Ussery, who is accused of repeatedly requesting sexual favors from employees before he left in 2015. The article also says that Earl Sneed, a beat writer for the team’s website, exhibited violent behavior towards women on more than one occasion. Sneed was even arrested and charged with domestic assault in 2011 but was allowed to remain with the team when charges were dropped. Mavericks’ Human Resources director Buddy Pittman is also featured in the article for reportedly covering up multiple sexual misconduct charges. Dallas Mavericks said in a statement The NBA said in a statement The NBA said in a statement
Fergie’s Performance Draws Mixed Reactions at NBA All-Star Game The star’s rendition of the national anthem drew some laughs from the crowd. Even some of the all-stars themselves were shocked…
If a federal ban on sports betting is lifted in the coming months, the NBA wants sports books to pay the league 1 percent of the money wagered on its games as an “integrity fee.” An NBA official, assistant general counsel Dan Spillane, made the request in written testimony submitted Wednesday in support of the passage of a sports betting bill at New York’s Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee hearing. For sports books, the “integrity fee” could be costly. The 1 percent fee amounts to more than 20 percent of sports book revenues, William Hill sports book CEO Joe Asher told the committee. “It’s a red herring when you call it an integrity fee. They want to be partners but they don’t want to appear to be partners. They’re saying they want to protect the integrity of the game by not having bookmaking. Now they want to be part of it. It doesn’t work both ways.” – Vic Salerno, a Las Vegas sports betting pioneer. Prices of straight bets could also be increased in order for sports books to turn a profit. The price on straight bets from the traditional $11 to make $10 could jump to $12 or $13 to make $10. “It has to go up or they can’t make money. I don’t know if they’ll be successful,” he said. “If the tax rate is on the handle, forget it. Kentucky wants 20 percent of the handle. We don’t hold 20 percent. It’s a very thin margin.” – Vic Salerno, a Las Vegas sports betting pioneer.
The Golden Knights were the talk of the NHL during the first half of the season.
Russell Westbrook will be staying put in Oklahoma City for a bit longer after he agreed to a 5-year, $205 million contract extension with the Thunder. Westbrook is coming off a record-setting, MVP season in which he averaged a triple-double. The trio of Westbrook, Paul George and Carmelo Anthony will begin their quest to the NBA Finals on Oct. 19 against the Knicks.
The Los Angeles Lakers and the Portland Trail Blazers will face off Monday, July 17, 2017, in the NBA Summer League championship game at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Entrevista con Jorge Gutierrez, jugador para los Portland Trailblazers.
Review-Journal reporter Jonathan Saxon previews the seventh day of the NBA Summer League. (Ashton Ferguson/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Review-Journal reporter Sam Gordon previews the sixth day of the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. With pool play over, the tournament begins Wednesday.
Not sure on what to follow for Day 3 of NBA Summer League? Review-Journal sports reporter Sam Gordon gives you a preview. (Gabriella Benavidez/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Boston Celtics guard Jayson Tatum shared his thoughts on the game with media, and what it was like playing against Lonzo Ball. (Gabriella Benavidez/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Sports columnist Ed Graney reflects on the Lakers-Celtics game, and how the rivalry still continues to this day between the teams. (Gabriella Benavidez/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
NBA fans share who they’re favorite teams and players are, and why they root for their favorites. (Gabriella Benavidez/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Despite not playing his best against the Los Angeles Clippers, Lonzo Ball of the Los Angeles Lakers says he has nowhere else to go but up in his upcoming games in the NBA Summer League. (Gabriella Benavidez/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Las Vegas Review-Journal sports betting columnist Matt Youmans predicts which teams will advance to the NBA finals.
