Lance Stephenson's top five players: 'Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Tim Duncan and Shaquille O’Neal'

To his recollection, Bryant was persistent and made positive that Devean George re-signed with the purple and gold after his deal expired in 2002. “My contract was up after my third 12 months. He was there preventing for my contract. He referred to as me each day [telling me], ‘Did they get the numbers proper?’ [I said] ‘Nope, not but.’ [Kobe replied] ‘Okay, I’ll be in there tomorrow understanding,’” the 2-time MIAC Participant of the 12 months mentioned on “Forgotten Seasons.” -via Basketball Community / February 24, 2024

Someplace over the Grand Canyon, the Spurs’ coach lastly fired up the iPad and started the promised video tutorial, a movie examine that includes the best hits of among the league’s all-time greats. There was Michael Jordan and his rocker step. There was Tim Duncan and his drop step. There was Kobe Bryant stubbornly maneuvering area to get off a fadeaway jumper, Hakeem Olajuwon dream shaking, Kevin McHale post-moving opponents into oblivion. To the 20-year-old Wembanyama, all of this would possibly as properly have been black-and-white footage of the moon touchdown. “It’s not tape I’ve had an opportunity to observe,” he mentioned, “as a result of it’s not from my era.” -via San Antonio Categorical-Information / February 23, 2024

To the 75-year-old Popovich, there was a function to the in-flight historical past lesson. “To not make him them,” Popovich mentioned, “however for him to see actually stable footwork and motion by actually essentially sound gamers. We’re attempting to get that into him.” -via San Antonio Categorical-Information / February 23, 2024

You’ve been killing it within the G League. What has your mentality been like coming into this season? Lance Stephenson: My mentality coming into the G League was to truly assist the younger guys get higher. Present all of them the issues I realized as being a vet. Making an attempt to point out them the ropes, telling them what it’s like, exhibiting them easy methods to play protection, exhibiting them easy methods to get to the outlet, studying the sport as rapidly as attainable. However, my purpose is to get again up there with NBA groups. I’m truly going arduous, attempting to win video games, and simply attempting to have enjoyable on the market. -via HoopsHype / February 25, 2024

For those who may speak to NBA groups proper now, what would you inform them about what you might deliver to their NBA workforce? Lance Stephenson: Management. Undoubtedly, serving to younger guys. Successful mentality, simply that edge on the defensive finish. A number of groups need assistance with protection, particularly through the playoffs. Robust guys that may play protection and lock down and win video games. I can deliver any edge {that a} coach wants. -via HoopsHype / February 25, 2024

Do you are feeling like each workforce ought to have their very own Udonis Haslem on their workforce? LS: Sure. At the least two or three veterans, that may truly nonetheless play, however any veterans that may assist the blokes. Present them easy methods to play protection, easy methods to transfer off the court docket. There’s a number of conditions off the court docket that guys don’t even know that be hitting them, and so they don’t received no person to speak to. You be within the locker room and simply having a lot talks about life conditions, and it’s all the time good to have a veteran over there. Air hustling like, “Nah, don’t do it that method younger fella, do it this manner.” -via HoopsHype / February 25, 2024

Jovan Buha: Lakers’ harm report vs. Phoenix: — LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Cam Reddish are questionable. — Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent and Christian Wooden are out. — Jalen Hood-Schifino and Maxwell Lewis are with the South Bay Lakers. -via Twitter @jovanbuha / February 24, 2024

LeBron James: Love you Pop!! -via Twitter @KingJames / February 24, 2024

Justin Kubatko: The @LAClippers Russell Westbrook grew to become the twenty fourth participant in NBA historical past to achieve 9,000 area objectives made. Westbrook, Oscar Robertson, and LeBron James are the one gamers to each make and help on 9,000 area objectives. Try right now’s free sport notes: statitudes.com/p/nba-game-not… pic.twitter.com/eLyWqGGW7G -via Twitter @jkubatko / February 24, 2024

Heading into Friday’s sport in opposition to the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Enviornment, the 7-foot-3 Wembanyama was averaging 20.5 factors, 10.1 rebounds, 1.2 steals and an NBA-best 3.2 blocks per sport. Finally, Wembanyama will work out what the heck he’s doing, after which the league will actually be in bother. “This entire season has been an training within the sense that he’s studying the league,” Popovich mentioned. “He’s understanding the flexibility of gamers, the physicality.” -via San Antonio Categorical-Information / February 23, 2024

Once you have been rising up, did you play with buying and selling playing cards? Lance Stephenson: Truly, I didn’t, however my associates did, in order that they used to all the time give me completely different playing cards. You realize, I’m a basketball participant and a brilliant fan. My first couple of playing cards that I received have been Stephon Marbury, Ray Allen, Shaquille O’Neal. I truly received the craziest card, a holographic Michael Jordan card. I want I nonetheless had it to at the present time as a result of I used to be so hyped. I used to be like ‘Ma, I received this card, Michael Jordan holographic. She’s like boy, go put them playing cards away.’ So yeah, I had a pair playing cards once I was younger. -via HoopsHype / February 25, 2024

Victor Wembanyama took questions on the podium sitting in entrance of a San Antonio Spurs banner and was informed concerning the statistical feat he had simply pulled off Friday evening in opposition to the Los Angeles Lakers Wembanyama joined Jamaal Tinsley (2001) as the one NBA rookies to have a 5×5 sport — posting a minimum of 5 factors, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals and 5 blocks in a sport — and likewise grew to become simply the second participant to have 5 blocks and 5 steals in consecutive video games, becoming a member of Michael Jordan. Wembanyama paused to contemplate Jordan’s feat after which requested, “I’m wondering if he did it in wins.” -via ESPN / February 24, 2024