NBA

SOURCE SPORTS: NBA Unveils New Division Winner Trophies Named After Six NBA Legends and African-American Pioneers

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The NBA revealed six new division-winning trophies Thursday, each named after an NBA hero and African-American pioneer. The awards, which will now be presented to division champions at the end of each season, honor the pioneers who helped pave the way for the NBA players who came after them.

Each of the trophies, designed by Victor Solomon, features a 200mm crystal ball with six segments representing each of the NBA’s divisions suspended in the center. Each trophy features a gold part that represents the NBA division it represents. The trophy base’s design is based on the division’s conference championship trophy. The namesake of each trophy, as well as the name of the winning team, are engraved on the front, while the division standings are engraved on the back.

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Atlantic Division – THE NAT “SWEETWATER” CLIFTON TROPHY

The first African-American to sign a contract in the NBA, Clifton played for the New York Knicks from 1950-57 and was an NBA All-Star in 1957. In his first season he helped lead the Knicks to their first NBA Finals appearance.

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Central Division – THE WAYNE EMBRY TROPHY
The first African-American to become an NBA general manager (with the Milwaukee Bucks) after a long-playing career that included five NBA All-Star appearances and an NBA Championship in 1968. Embry transitioned to the front office after his playing career and rose to become the first African-American to be named General Manager. He continued as a basketball executive with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors and was named Basketball Executive of the Year in 1992 and 1998.
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Southeast Division – THE EARL LLOYD TROPHY
The first African-American to play a game in the NBA, Lloyd played for the Washington Capitols, Syracuse Nationals and Detroit Pistons. He was an NBA champion in 1955. A veteran of the US Army, he played nine seasons.
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Southwest Division – THE WILLIS REED TROPHY
Reed, a graduate of Grambling State University, is the only HBCU graduate to be named league MVP and Finals MVP. Reed played his entire career with the New York Knicks winning two championships. A seven-time NBA All-Star and five-time All-NBA selection, Reed was Rookie of the Year in 1965 and was named to the league’s 50th and 75th Anniversary teams.
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Northwest Division – THE SAM JONES TROPHY
Jones, a graduate of North Carolina Central University, has won more championships than any HBCU graduate who has played in the NBA. He won 10 championships as a member of the Boston Celtics from 1957-69. He was a five-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA selection and a member of the league’s 25th, 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams. He was known as “The Shooter” for hitting clutch shots in the championship runs. He stood up for the rights of African-Americans in the league and in the country during a pivotal time in the 1960’s.
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Pacific Division – THE CHUCK COOPER TROPHY
The first African-American player to be drafted in the NBA, Cooper was selected with the 14th overall pick in the 1950 NBA Draft. A veteran of the US Navy, he played six seasons in the league with the Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks and Detroit Pistons.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Brooklyn Nets Secure 7th Seed Ahead of Play in Tournament

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Brooklyn Nets Secure 7th Seed Ahead of Play in Tournament

After a controversial season filled with injuries and COVID-19 mandates, the Brooklyn Nets clinched the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference. With the 7th seed secured, the Nets will host the Cleveland Cavaliers for the right to play the 2nd seeded Boston Celtics.

The loser of the Nets vs. Cavaliers game will host the winner of the Atlanta Hawks vs. Charlotte Hornets game in a win-or-go-home game Friday night, with the victor in that game entering the playoffs against the No. 8 seed and taking on the Miami Heat starting next weekend.

The Nets finished the season winning four straight games to avoid playing the play-in tournament on the road. With a win on Tuesday, the Nets will begin a quest to be the first 7th seed to reach the NBA Finals. With a healthy Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the top seeds in the Eastern Conference way do not feel secure with their seedings.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Lakers Reportedly Parting Ways With Head Coach Frank Vogel

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After Los Angeles Lakers played their regular-season finale, it was a matter of when, not if, they would let head coach Frank Vogel go. Well, it appears we have an answer.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Lakers are expected to fire Vogel as soon as Monday. The report came after their 146-141 overtime win over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday to close out the regular season.

After the Lakers’ win, Vogel talked to the media as the Wojnarowski report was Tweeted out. “I haven’t been told s— and I’m going to enjoy tonight’s game, celebrate what these young guys did in terms of scratching and clawing and getting back in this game and getting a W, and we’ll deal with tomorrow, tomorrow,” he told reporters during his postgame media availability.

The Lakers failed to make the playoffs, let alone the play in-game. The team is only two years removed from winning the 2020 NBA Championship. Since then, it was a first-round exit last season and a complete failure of a season this time around. Clearly, the organization is painting Vogel as the scapegoat when the championship roster was scrapped for older veterans who couldn’t hang all season long.

Next for the Lakers’ organization is to begin an extensive such for the team’s next head coach. That next head coach will have to find a way to get the best out of a core that includes LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Miami Heat Secure the Number 1 Seed in the Eastern Conference

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The NBA playoffs are a week away and it appears that the Miami Heat has clinched the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. After losses by the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76er, the route towards the NBA Finals must come through Miami.

The Heat came out on top of the competitive Eastern Conference despite stars Kyle Lowry, Jimmy Butler, and Bam Adebayo missing significant time throughout the season. With just two seasons removed from the team’s last NBA Finals appearance, not many have the Heat in this position.

The Heat will have to wait a few more days to see who will be their first-round opponent. As it stands right now, it could be either the Brooklyn Nets, Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, or Charlotte Hornets. The Heat’s opponent will be determined by the league’s play in tournament that is set to start on Tuesday.

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SOURCE SPORTS: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver Still Concerned About Star Players Missing Games

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Adam Silver on NYC Mandate Keeping Kyrie Irving Out of Home Games

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is still not a fan of star players sitting out games, especially with the playoffs. During a Wednesday press conference, Silver said he and the league plan to look into “a trend of star players not participating in a full complement of games.”

Silver brought up this issue when asked about the Ben Simmons and the 76ers’ ongoing arbitration. He said he would instead focus on the trend above of various star players missing big chunks of games.

“I’m not standing here saying I have a great solution,” Silver said via ESPN. “Part of the issue is injuries. One of the things we have focused on at the league office and we’re spending—we had begun to spend a lot of time on pre-pandemic—are there things we can do in terms of sharing information, resources around the league to improve best practices, rehabilitation?”

Silver also mentions that the play-in tournament is here to stay. Silver noted that the play in tournaments was also meant for players to want to have more incentive not to miss many games throughout the season.

“The other way we can get at it, in terms of player participation, is creating other incentives,” Silver said. “The Play-In Tournament, I thought, was a beginning of creating renewed incentives for teams to remain competitive and be fighting for playoff position. It may be through in-season tournaments and changes in format where we can get at it.”

While the NBA has seen its share of stars miss significant time this season, Silver and the league may need to look at better ways to limit back-to-back games and space out long road trips for teams.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Kevin Durant Believes the Thunder and Warriors Should Retire His Jersey Number

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Kevin Durant Enters Seven-Day Quarantine After COVID Exposure

Only thirteen NBA players have had their number retired from multiple teams. Kevin Durant believes he should be number fourteen.

In an interview with The Ringer, the 12-time All-Star said he thinks his jersey should be retired in Oklahoma City and San Francisco. 

“OKC has to retire my jersey,” Durant said. “It wouldn’t even be good for the game of basketball if they didn’t. The same with Golden State. I’m still doing what I’m doing here in Brooklyn, but if I continue on what I’m doing four or five years, then I’ll feel the same way about this program. I better have a home. Because I feel like I am basketball. I breathe it. This is my DNA. I put in the time and respect and love for each one of these programs on and off the floor to get that type of recognition. If I don’t do it, then it’s personal.”

Durant is an all-time great talent on the court. He is entitled to have his opinion and could be on to something here. The Golden State Warriors have already gone on record stating they will eventually retire his number. The Oklahoma City Thunder haven’t gone on records about retiring Durant’s number but should consider it. Durant won his first league MVP while with the Thunder. He helped lead the team to its last NBA Finals appearance in 2012. Will the Thunder eventually retire Durant’s number? Who knows, but the case for doing it is a solid one.

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SOURCE SPORTS: NBA Unveils the New Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Trophy for the League’s Social Justice Champion

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The Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Trophy for the league’s annual Social Justice Champion award was introduced today by the NBA. The award honors a contemporary NBA player who is committed to social justice and furthering Abdul-life Jabbar’s objective of engaging, empowering, and driving equality for historically oppressed or structurally disadvantaged people and organizations.

The trophy honors Abdul-legacy Jabbar’s and draws inspiration from his commitment to creating an equal and just society, leveling the playing field, and ensuring that every child is free to dream. It was designed by James Adams Jr., Jason Garrett, Vijay Singh, and Lacy Talley, four aspiring artists from inaugural NBA Foundation grantee Marcus Graham Project, and produced by artist Victor Solomon. The building includes a 3-D print of Abdul-hands Jabbar’s holding up these values in the shape of a basketball globe, symbolizing the power of athletes and activists to use their platforms to advance social justice around the world. The gold, six-sided base represents harmony and balance while honoring Abdul-overall Jabbar’s greatness, as seen by his six NBA championships and numerous accomplishments outside of basketball.

The trophy was awarded to the 2021 Social Justice Champion and Los Angeles Lakers forward Carmelo Anthony during a pregame ceremony and on-court presentation prior to tipoff of the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets game at Crypto.com Arena.

The winner in 2022 will be announced during the NBA playoffs and will receive a $100,000 NBA grant to a social justice group of his choice. The remaining four finalists will each choose a charity to receive a $25,000 donation on their behalf.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Throws Some Criticism Towards LeBron James

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Things aren’t good in Los Angeles concerning the Lakers, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar isn’t happy about it.

Speaking before the Lakers hosted Denver on Sunday afternoon at the unveiling of a social justice trophy bearing his name, Abdul-Jabbar again criticized LeBron James for actions he said “were beneath” James. He said the Lakers star should be “embarrassed” by some of his actions.

“Some of the things he’s done and said are really beneath him, as far as I can see,” Abdul-Jabbar said via Dave McMenamin of ESPN. “Some of the great things that he’s done, he’s standing on both sides of the fence almost, you know? It makes it hard for me to accept that when he’s committed himself to a different take on everything. It’s hard to figure out where he’s standing. You’ve got to check him out every time.”

These comments come just a few months after Abdul-Jabbar criticized James’ on-court celebrations, especially his vaccine hesitancy, calling it “a blow” to LeBron’s “worthy legacy.”

James is the second NBA all-time leader in scoring, only behind Abdul-Jabbar. It seems like Abdul-Jabbar is giving his take of James’ antics on and off the court. James is usually a buttoned-up individual. Hopefully, the two parts can talk things out rather than air each other out publicly.

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