NBA: NBA Championship star Kyrie Irving has made the stunning omission that he would be open to playing for the Australian Boomers.
NBA 2024: The biggest storylines to watch in the NBA this year, Bronny James pre-season stats, Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, Jamal Murray injuryAnother NBA season is almost here and while the 55th overall pick from this year’s draft is in the headlines, there are plenty of other intriguing storylines worth following on the court.foxsports.com.auHOW DO THE LAKERS DEAL WITH POTENTIAL BRONNY ‘CIRCUS’?
It capped off what has been a mixed start to the 20-year-old’s NBA career, although perhaps the biggest winner from the Bronny circus is Jalen Hood-Schifino, who is struggling even more and was selected by the Lakers not 55th butThe difference in coverage of James and Hood-Schifino is a microcosm of what you can come to expect this season, regardless of whether Bronny plays much in the NBA or not.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Bronny could make his NBA debut “as soon as opening night”, which makes sense given the Lakers would likely rather get it out of the way so as to not have to deal with questions on when the moment could come all season long. If anything is clear from the pre-season, it is that Bronny is his own player and that as much as his last name will continue to follow him around, LeBron is doing his best to make sure people know it too.“That’s a grown man. Ask him how he’s handling it. And then we go from there. But he’s a grown man. He’s a professional. He can handle all this pressure himself. But we know why — good or bad why — the attention is here.
When asked by one reporter if Rui Hachimura could take “that next step” for the Lakers, Redick turned the spotlight back on that journalist, asking what that would look like. In fact, general manager Rob Pelinka said at the time that Redick was drawing up plays for Knecht on the whiteboard in the Lakers’ draft room.
Because while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s absence and the added pressure on young guard Christian Bruan will be a story worth monitoring this year, the Nuggets will only go as far as Murray can take them. But the last thing Nuggets fans wanted to hear was comments from coach Michael Malone after their pre-season game against the Suns that Murray, having played 18 minutes in the first half before sitting out the rest of the game, had a “funny” feeling in his knee.
“I think if you’re a Denver fan you probably have a little bit of PTSD from Michael Porter when he signed an extension in the pre-season... and then shortly after needed another back surgery,” Windhorst said.Or, perhaps more directly, could another disappointing season lead to significant changes in Milwaukee?
Free agents Gary Trent Jr., Taurean Prince and Delon Wright are the new additions with Malik Beasley, Jae Crowder and Patrick Beverley moving on. The whole league is watching, even if Antetokounmpo agreed to a three-year, $186 million contract extension with the Bucks back in 2023. Things can change fast in the NBA.In fact, an article by The Athletic’s Sam Amick earlier in the month recounted one interaction between the eight-time All-Star and a Bucks worker.“Do you have it in the back of your mind, like, ‘ if this year doesn’t go well?’ Yeah, if we don’t win a championship, I might get traded. Yeah, this is the job we live.
“What happens if the Bucks, for a third consecutive year, have a disappointing end to the season?” asked Windhorst.Horror injury luck continues for Exum | 00:20This is one that could change before the trade deadline but for now it sounds like the Pelicans are going to be rolling with 6-foot-8 Herb Jones as their starting center.
They are just trying to make the best of a bad situation and with the arrival of Dejounte Murray, Ingram’s future at New Orleans still very much remains a question mark.If there is anyone that deserves a little bit of luck it is Lonzo Ball. “I couldn’t even put it into words how it felt being out there ... it was definitely a moment I’ll never forget,” Ball said.
It is obviously only early but there were good signs in Ball’s first hit-out. He shot the ball well, defended better than expected and if he continues to improve and get minutes under his belt, maybe his expiring contract could actually make him an intriguing trade piece for a playoff team? But time and time again, when the Sixers have relied on Joel Embiid to produce when it matters most, he has either been injured or too worn down. That is about to change.
“As soon as we lost last year, I just texted Morey and I was like, ‘We got to do whatever it takes to make sure that in the postseason I’m healthy.’Given how strong both Boston and New York look this season, the Sixers will need a fit and firing Embiid to be any chance of toppling either of those two teams in the playoffs — although it sounds like guard Tyrese Maxey is ready to take another step, which would only further lift Philadelphia’s ceiling on offence.
“Nothing changes. That’s for you guys,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said when asked about the expectations. “And possibilities are things that we feel could happen, but we have a lot of respect for how hard it is for those things to take place. We don’t think we’re entitled to start on third base.” But even in the pre-season, ESPN insider Brian Windhorst said he has noticed the Thunder seem to almost be making a concerted effort to limit the outside noise after playing just four games, including one against the New Zealand Breakers.
But we all remember the hype there was for prized French phenom Victor Wembanyama and you can expect a similar experience this year with Duke freshman Cooper Flagg. However, the Thunder control the next three Clippers’ first-round picks. Surely the best team in the Western Conference couldn’t be in a position to also win the race for the Duke star?As for how good Flagg is, one source told ESPN’s Jonathan Givony that “his brain, processing speed, awareness and basketball instincts are ridiculous”.Source: Getty ImagesLots of dunks off Chris Paul lobs if the pre-season is anything to go by.
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