Basketball News

Some odds and ends, sights and sounds that caught our attention at Toronto's long-awaited Raptors championship parade: Kyle Lowry said he had been holding onto the Larry O'Brien nearly non-stop since... Thursday night because of his long wait. "That’s why I'm holding it so long, exactly why," Lowry said. Had he said anything to Kawhi […]

Boston Celtics big man Al Horford has turned down his 2019-20 player option and will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports. Horford hitting the open market... doesn’t preclude the center from returning to Boston. He could still technically leave money on the table in 2019-20 but land a […] The post Al Horford Turns Down 2019-20 Player Option, Will Become Free Agent appeared first on SLAM.

Kawhi Leonard and the city of Toronto held a wild, championship celebration Monday afternoon--which was marred by gun violence--while his upcoming free agency loomed over the festivities. Leonard, 27,... says he is “going to take the right time” before making a decision about where to play next season. Kawhi enjoyed a “great experience” after being […] The post Kawhi Leonard ‘Going to Take the Right Time’ in Free Agency appeared first on SLAM.

"Get down!" the policeman screamed, and as Larry Tanenbaum spoke from stage at City Hall on a championship celebration we should have remembered forever, that was all that I heard. "Get down!" The... voice repeated itself louder and more officiously as bodies were crunching together below the cement wall on the elevated catwalk at Nathan […]

The New Orleans Pelicans have exercised their team option on head coach Alvin Gentry’s contract, the team announced in a press release. Gentry will now hold his post through the 2020-21 season.... Since taking the reins in 2015, Gentry has overseen the franchise through several rebuilding stages, winning .442 percent of games in the process. […] The post Pelicans Exercise Team Option On Coach Alvin Gentry appeared first on SLAM.

Stay in Toronto, Kawhi! Hundreds of thousands of overjoyed Raptors fans endured long waits to cheer on their championship team at Monday’s parade which slowly meandered from Exhibition Place to... Nathan Phillips Square. But the wait wasn’t the only thing making some fans anxious. The fate of Raptors star Kawhi Leonard — a free agent […]

Obviously this is a condensed version. Far more than 15 events happened to get the Toronto Raptors to the pinnacle of the NBA. But, in the interest of brevity, we've chopped it down to these 15... moments over the past 10 years. Each was pivotal in making the run to the title this season possible. […]

Raptors hero Kawhi Leonard is reportedly ready to head home and focused on signing with the Los Angeles Clippers. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski dispelled reports that Leonard might be interested in... joining the Los Angeles Lakers, who will add Anthony Davis when trades can become official next month. Per Wojnarowski’s report, it’s the Clippers that Leonard […]

Chris Paul has not requested a trade, according to Rockets general manager Daryl Morey. Houston’s front-office, however, acknowledges the reported tension between CP3 and co-star James Harden,... “two high-level competitors.” H-Town’s tumultuous offseason has also exposed additional “messiness” regarding head coach Mike D’Antoni‘s contract negotiation, but team owner Tilman Fertitta says he simply wants to […] The post Rockets GM: Chris Paul Has Not Asked for Trade appeared first on SLAM.

If this is it for Kawhi Leonard, one season of mystery, magic and memories in Toronto, one year and one unexpected and exhilarating NBA championship, then, really, all you can say is thanks. Thanks... and you'll never be forgotten. Thanks and you pulled off what no one saw coming, maybe even yourself, a regular season […]

If this was it for Kawhi Leonard in Toronto -- and the millions of fans who watched Monday's championship parade on television or in person sure hope it wasn't -- the superstar forward got the last... laugh, literally. Leonard had told the world he was "a fun guy" way back on media day in September […]

ROUND 3 EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. 2 Toronto Raptors It was no surprise who was waiting for the Raptors at this stage. The Bucks had been the best team in the NBA... throughout the regular season and the Raptors fully expected to have to go through them to get to […]

NBA FINALS No. 2 (E) Toronto Raptors vs. No. 1 Golden State Warriors (Toronto has home court based on better regular-season record) The suggestion was made in multiple journals and periodicals that... the rest of the NBA in 2018-19 might just as well admit defeat early. No one was supposed to beat the two-time defending […]

EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS No. 2 Toronto Raptors vs. No 3 Philadelphia 76ers If the Orlando Magic were a little frightening with their length and their hot play of late, the 76ers posed an even... greater threat with their own overall size and front-end talent. The Sixers were the only team in the East that could […]

A look back at three decades worth of No. 2 picks, and how, outside of the 1990s, they have mostly resulted in disappointment.

EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINAL No. 2 Toronto Raptors vs. No. 7 Orlando Magic It wasn't the draw the Raptors wanted, that was for sure. The Orlando Magic, under coach Steve Clifford, was one of the... more battle-tested teams over the final month-and-a-half of the season. Clifford's stout defence, the fact that the Magic had shooting and […]