The Cleveland Cavaliers are adding some more veterans to an enticing young core of talent. But, they are not just adding any free agent on the market. Koby Altman has done a very nice job running the front office for the past few years now. Drafting Darius Garland, trading for Donovan Mitchell, acquiring Jarrett Allen, selecting Evan Mobley, this list goes on. The roster now grows even deeper by bringing back a fan favorite, Tristan Thompson. These reports come from Uproxx and NBA insider for The Athletic, Shams Charania.
Double T, as Cavs fans like to call him, began his NBA journey back when he was picked fourth overall in the 2011 draft out of Texas. A key cog in the system during the squad’s run to four consecutive NBA Finals appearances and one championship, Thompson always brought energy and rebounding night in and night out. He was as steady as you can get as he rarely got injured. But as time went on, he made trips to play for Sacramento, Boston, Chicago, Indiana, and most recently, the Lakers.
Shams Charania Says Tristan Thompson Is Headed Back To The Land
C/F Tristan Thompson is finalizing a deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers, CEO of Klutch Sports Rich Paul told @TheAthletic@Stadium. Thompson is set to return to Cleveland where he was part of 2016 NBA title, four Finals runs, now gives Cavs leadership and some frontcourt depth. pic.twitter.com/ayKEu3JOj1
After a rough return to the playoffs for Cleveland last season against a physical New York Knicks team, they are looking to beef up the rim protection. Tristan brings just that, as well as his knack for tracking down boards. Allen and Mobley, including the rest of the roster, shrunk in that first-round series. They hope he can bring veteran leadership and toughness back to the blue-collar city of Cleveland.
What are your initial thoughts on Tristan Thompson going back to the Cleveland Cavaliers? Do you think this is a good move for the team, considering how the Cavs’ big men performed in the postseason? What role do you believe Tristan will have for the team? We want to hear what you have to say about all of this. With that in mind, be sure to leave all of your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest breaking news around Tristan Thompson, as well as the rest of the sports world.
LeBron James will get a chance for revenge when his Los Angeles Lakers open the NBA season by taking on the reigning champion Denver Nuggets on their ring night. The 2023-24 NBA season will tip off at Ball Arena moments after the Nuggets raise their championship banner. It will be the 21st NBA season for LeBron James.
Game 2 of the season-opening double-header will see the Phoenix Suns’ new trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal take on the new-look Golden State Warriors, who have added former Sun Chris Paul to Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson.
The rest of the opening week matchups are below. What are you excited to see?
Save the date!
The 2023-24 regular season tips off on Tuesday, October 24. #KiaTipOff23
ESPN has officially named Doc Rivers and Doris Burke as new members of ESPN on ABC’s top broadcast team. Burke will be the first woman to be a game analyst for a championship game in the four major pro-U.S. leagues.
According to ESPN, Rivers, and Burke will join longstanding Mike Breen. Previously, Burke was on ESPN radio for the NBA Finals. Rivers was the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers this past season but previously called games during the 2003–04 season.
The new duo replaced Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson, who sat alongside Breen for 15 years.
Additionally, ESPN announced the hire of Former Golden State Warriors GM and president of basketball operations Bob Myers as a studio analyst and will also call games. Myers previously did an ESPN feature with J. Cole.
Malika Andrews will be hosting NBA Countdown while maintaining her spot on NBA Today.
The second team for the sports giant is Ryan Ruocco, JJ Redick, and Richard Jefferson.
Christmas has come exceptionally early for NBA fans as the Shams Charania revealed the 2023 Christmas Day match-ups. As is tradition, the league will play five marquee games on December 25, providing a solid string of bangers to get you through presents, dinner, and the eventual food coma. The day begins at MSG, where the Knicks will host the Bucks. The hype-ness of this matchup will entirely depend on whether the Knicks are good this season. However, the second game of the day will be a certified banger. The Sixers travel to South Beach to take on the Heat. Hopefully, this game will match Joel Embiid against Damian Lillard. However, both teams in this match-up are dealing with their own respective trade dramas.
The midday game is the only inter-conference matchup and sees the Celtics travel to LA. Like the first game of the day, the quality of this game will be determined by whether the Lakers are a contender this season. If LeBron and AD are performing well, great. However, it’s probably a game to have on in the background if the Lakers start the 2023-24 season like they did the 2022-23 campaign.
The final two games of the day are both Western Conference beatdowns. The Kyrie Irving-Luka Dončić Mavericks travel to face the newly assembled Big Three of the Phoenix Suns. Depending on whether the Mavericks are good this year, this could be a pivotal matchup for those higher seedings. Finally, the defending champion Nuggets will host the Warriors, now boasting Chris Paul, in the night game. Overall, it’s a solid slate that does suffer a little from a handful of teams needing to execute big trades or have hot starts to the season.
Of course, the NBA must now compete with the NFL for Christmas Day viewership. While the Raiders-Chiefs game won’t draw many viewers away from the early games, the NFL’s other two fixtures on December 25 could be a ratings concern for the NBA. Eagles-Giants could be a really fun matchup, especially if the Giants don’t immediately regress after last season. With that game set for 4:30PM ET, it explains why the Sixers are playing so early in the day. Meanwhile, the Warriors-Nuggets game will have to compete with the Niners-Ravens nightcap, which could also be a fun game if both teams come out hot this season. What do you think of the Christmas slate? Let us know in the comments.
Minnesota Timberwolves shooting guard Anthony Edwards has been fined $50,000 for throwing a chair that hit two bystanders during the NBA playoffs. The incident occurred in the moments after the Timberwolves’ season had come to an end at the hands of the Denver Nuggets. Despite the incident occurring in April, the NBA has had to wait on punishing Edwards. This was due to a criminal investigation into the incident, which was dismissed last month.
Despite the hefty fine, Edwards will not miss any games in the 2023-24 season. Edwards, the first-overall pick in the 2020 draft, had a big year for the Timberwolves last season. He put up 24.6 points per game, best for 16th in the league. He also had 5.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game across 79 games played. However, Edwards also missed a game-tying three at the end of regulation in Game 5, sealing the Timberwolves’ fate.
Edwards is currently with Team USA preparing for the FIBA World Cup, which is being hosted in Southeast and East Asia later this month. While $50,000 feels like a lot of money, many people feel that Edwards got off lightly. Furthermore, as mentioned, Edwards will be fully available for the start of the season. This is in contrast to the 25-game suspension that Ja Morant will serve at the start of the season. In light of the fine news, many people have made jokes surrounding viral footage of a fight at a jetty in Alabama. One participant in the fight can be seen using a chair.
Edwards signed a max rookie extension (5 years, $260M) with the Timberwolves in what was their biggest move of the offseason. Overall, Minnesota primarily focused on adding depth, seeming to believe that they already have a contender-level roster. However, they did sign Troy Brown Jr. and Shake Milton. Both players were brought in on 2-year, $10 million contracts. The Timberwolves were also lucky in that they only lost one player to free agency. Taurean Prince left to join the Lakers on a one-year deal. In the draft, Minnesota picked up UCLA shooting guard Jaylen Clark in the second round as their own rookie acquisition.
The prestigious NBA league is the most coveted and competitive in basketball, and Jalen Green is set to make his mark. The rising youngster has proven to be a wonderkid, quickly dominating the sport. Furthermore, he’s reigniting the thrill of the classic rookie come-up. With the world ahead of him, Green is currently killing it.
Green recently made headlines after being seen with media personality Draya Michele. Naturally, this has caused a bit of an uproar online due to their 17-year age difference. However, this doesn’t take away from the star’s shine, as his skills on the court are exceptional.
Background & Ascent
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 14: Jalen Green #0 of the Houston Rockets poses for a portrait during the 2021 NBA rookie photo shoot on August 14, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images)
Born on February 9, 2022, in Merced, California, Jalen Green is a rising basketball prodigy and one to watch. Known for his scoring prowess and exceptional athleticism, the basketball player gained popularity as a top high school recruit. Now, the 21-year-old is regarded by many as having the potential to become a future NBA superstar. Thankfully, and most importantly, his track record since being drafted supports this claim.
His career can be traced back to high school, where he played various sports but quickly gained recognition for his more-than-average basketball skills. He solely focused on basketball afterward. While in school, he participated in numerous national title basketball tournaments and showcases. There, he never passed on the opportunity to exhibit his scoring ability and versatility on the court. It was also during this that he started gaining the attention of scouts.
As a sophomore, Jalen Green helped lead his high school to a state championship in 2018. Furthermore, his exceptional performance earned him MVP honors. All in all, he was ranked as one of the top high school basketball prospects in the country. Due to his stature, position, and playing style, Green has been compared to his idol, basketball legend Kobe Bryant.
NBA G League & Professional Career
TORONTO, ON – APRIL 8: Jalen Green #0 of the Houston Rockets dribbles against the Toronto Raptors. During the first half of their basketball game at the Scotiabank Arena on April 8, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
Following his ranking as a top high school basketball prospect, and the prominence of the title, Jalen Green received various offers from many basketball programs. When he was 18, he was ranked the top shooting guard in the recruiting class of 2020. In April 2020, Green decided to bypass college basketball, despite the numerous offers. He instead joined the NBA G League Ignite team. The team was founded in 2020, and on the same day the program was announced, Green became its first member.
His time spent in the G League proved highly effective. The program served as a pathway for Green and other elite prospects to develop their skills and prepare for the NBA Draft while receiving professional coaching. Former NBA player Brian Shaw was the head coach of the Ignite team. Green’s time with the G League showcased his undeniable talent and potential even more. The player regularly displayed his impressive skill set and scoring ability against the competition. This further solidified his status as a top prospect for the 2021 NBA Draft.
After entering the 2021 NBA Draft, Green was selected as the second overall pick by the Houston Rockets, a very impressive accomplishment. His selection marked a significant milestone in the young star’s career, as he successfully transitioned from being a lauded prospect to a bona fide professional NBA player.
HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 07: Jalen Green #4 of the Houston Rockets dunks the ball against the Toronto Raptors during the first half at Toyota Center on October 07, 2022 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
The charismatic and confident player already establishes himself as a force to be reckoned with in the league. He has maintained impressive career statistics since he joined the Rockets in 2021, contributing significantly to the team’s victories. He also does not seem to be stepping on the brakes. On the contrary, Green’s future in the NBA holds immense promise, and the star is on a trajectory to become one of the greats.
Gilbert Arenas says that the current roster for the United States national team for the 2023 FIBA World Cup is a “sorry-ass group.” He discussed his disappointment in the roster while speaking with Trae Young during a recent episode of Gil’s Arenas.
“You see that list he [Steve Kerr] got? A sorry-ass group,” Arenas remarked. The 12-man team boasts Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic), Mikal Bridges (Brooklyn Nets), Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks), Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers), Josh Hart (Knicks), Brandon Ingram (New Orleans Pelicans), Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies), Cameron Johnson (Brooklyn Nets), Walker Kessler (Utah Jazz), Bobby Portis (Milwaukee Bucks) and Austin Reaves (Los Angeles Lakers).
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 06: Cam Johnson (L) #6 and Mikal Bridges #5 of the 2023 USA Basketball Men’s National Team are interviewed at a practice session during the team’s training camp at the Mendenhall Center at UNLV as the team gets ready for the FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup on August 06, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Arenas continued: “I’m happy for the people who make it. It’s cool, it’s cool for some of the guys who got there that I don’t know, some of them probably don’t even start on their team. I don’t know, I don’t wanna look at it, cause it’s embarrassing sometimes where you have star players who’s really stars that do wanna participate, and you just automatically just say, yeah, he’s not gonna fit our style.” Arenas also theorized that Nike plays a role in keeping players affiliated with other brands off the roster.
Gilbert Arenas On Team USA
Trae Young on Team USA: “I would love to play with guys & show off my passing…not have to go out & score a lot…just be there if they need me…”
Gilbert Arenas: “…You see that list?…Sorry ass group…I’m happy for the people who make it…some of them probably don’t even start… pic.twitter.com/BZawMzyo0l
The conversation arose while discussing Trae Young not making the team. “I definitely want to… It’s up to them if they want me to,” the Atlanta Hawks star said on the show. Despite not making the cut, Young is arguably one of the top players in the NBA. At just 24 years old, he’s a two-time NBA All-Star, while averaging over 25 points and nine assists for his career.
Terrence Williams, the 11th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for “masterminding” a plan to defraud the NBA’s Health and Welfare Benefit Plan. Williams, who played for the Nets, Rockets, Kings, and Celtics, used fraudulent medical invoices to claim money from the program designed to provide health benefits to current and former NBA players. Williams is one of 18 former players charged in the case. 13 have pled guilty, with Williams the first to be given a penal sentence.
“You were yet another player who frittered away substantial earnings from the period of time when you were playing basketball professionally,” Judge Valerie E. Caproni told Williams during sentencing. “You should have had enough money to be set for life, but you don’t.” While many of the former players in the case were journeymen, their career earnings still totaled $343 million. “I one million percent take full accountability for my role in this case,” Williams said, choking up as he blamed the scheme on “stupidity and greed.” However, Judge Caproni was unsympathetic, stating that Williams used his big personality to “lure” friends and family into the scheme.
However, a 10-year prison sentence is not the only punishment that Williams will face. Williams must forfeit $650,000 in personal wealth as well as pay $2.5 million in restitution. Furthermore, Caprino ordered Williams to participate in a money management course. Williams has been incarcerated since May 2022. Prosecutors alleged that Williams had engaged in witness tampering by sending threatening texts to potential witnesses.
During sentencing, Williams said he was “humbled and humiliated” by the proceedings. However, he also blamed his criminal activity on an opioid addiction he reportedly developed from painkiller use to manage pain from lingering injuries. It’s unclear where or when Williams, who resides in Seattle, will serve his time. Williams has six children, two of whom are above the age of 18. He said that he regretted that his prison sentence will separate him from his family. However, Judge Capriano said his behavior was “extortionate and aggressive” while his motivation “was greed.”
The NBA has exciting news for Canadian basketball fans as they announced the return of the NBA Canada Series presented by Bell with two preseason games in October 2023. On Oct. 8, the Toronto Raptors, led by Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes, will face the Sacramento Kings at Vancouver’s Rogers Arena. The Kings boast a talented roster, including Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox, under the coaching of Mike Brown, the unanimous 2022-23 NBA Coach of the Year.
On Oct. 12, the Oklahoma City Thunder, featuring Canadians Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Montréal native Luguentz Dort, will take on the Detroit Pistons at Montréal’s Bell Centre. The Pistons showcase promising players like Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey, making the matchup thrilling for basketball enthusiasts.
Tickets for these games will be available for sale soon, and fans can register for exclusive presale access on NBA.com/CanadaSeries. Get ready for some high-flying NBA action in Canada!
The @SacramentoKings and @Raptors are coming to VANCOUVER on October 8… Register your interest now!
Wardell Stephen Curry II, popularly known as Steph Curry, is a name that resonates with basketball fans worldwide. The Golden State Warriors point guard has not only revolutionized the game with his exceptional shooting skills but also amassed significant wealth in the process. As of 2023, Steph Curry’s net worth is estimated to be around $160 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth, making him one of the wealthiest athletes in the NBA.
Born on March 14, 1988, in Akron, Ohio, Curry’s journey to becoming an NBA superstar was not a typical one. Despite his father, Dell Curry, being a former NBA player, Steph had to overcome numerous challenges and doubters to reach the pinnacle of the sport. His unique playing style, characterized by long-range shooting and exceptional ball-handling skills, has revolutionized the game and earned him the title of the best shooter in NBA history.
DALLAS, TEXAS – MAY 22: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts to a play during the second quarter against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Three of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Finals at American Airlines Center on May 22, 2022 in Dallas, Texas. The Golden State Warriors won 109-100. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Steph Curry’s substantial net worth is primarily a result of his successful NBA career. He was drafted with the 7th overall pick in the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors. His impact on the team was immediate, leading them to NBA Championships in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022.
In 2017, Curry signed a five-year contract with the Warriors worth $201.2 million, making him the first player in NBA history to earn more than $40 million per season. This record was later surpassed by other players, but it marked a significant milestone in Curry’s career. In 2021, he signed a four-year extension worth $215 million, further solidifying his position as one of the highest-paid players in the league.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 10: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates a three point basket in the third quarter against the Boston Celtics during Game Four of the 2022 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 10, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
In addition to his NBA salary, Curry earns a substantial amount from endorsements. Early in his career, he didn’t have any notable endorsement contracts, earning around $3 million a year. However, as his popularity grew, so did his endorsement deals. Today, he is one of the highest-paid celebrities globally, earning an additional $30-40 million per year from endorsements.
He has partnered with brands such as Under Armour, Nike, and TCL’s line of “Palm” phones. In terms of the Palm device, Curry is not just an endorser but also a leading investor involved in testing and development.
Steph Curry’s net worth of $160 million in 2023 is a testament to his hard work, talent, and business acumen. His journey from a doubted college player to an NBA superstar and one of the wealthiest athletes in the world is truly inspiring. As he continues to play at an elite level and expand his business ventures, there’s no doubt that Curry’s net worth will continue to rise.
Bucks @ Knicks
