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Kevin Durant Slams “Clown” Stephen A Smith Amid Leadership Criticism

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Kevin Durant slammed Stephen A. Smith during an interview with The Athletic published on Sunday night, labeling the ESPN pundit a “clown.” Smith has been critical of Durant over the years, but recent comments about his abilities as a leader have particularly irked the Suns star.

“Yeah, Stephen A., I don’t understand how people even listen to Stephen A.,” he told the outlet. “I’ve been in the league for 18 years, I’ve never seen Stephen A. at a practice, or a film session, or a shoot-around. I’ve never seen him anywhere but on TV talking s— about players. … He’s a clown to me. He’s always been a clown. You can write that, too.”

Read More: Stephen A Smith Claims The Suns Are Desperate To Trade Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant During The Suns’ Win Over The Trail Blazers

Nov 2, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) and forward Kevin Durant (35) react after a time out late in the second half during a game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-Imagn Images

Addressing the criticism of his leadership specifically, Durant added: “To say that I’m just sitting here, you paint this picture of me coming into the locker room, not talking to my teammates, quiet, not talking to my coaches,” Durant said. “Like, come on, man. It’s just ridiculous.” Former Suns assistant coach Kevin Young as well as the team’s current head coach, Mike Budenholzer, both defended Durant’s leadership to the outlet. “He set the tone for us as an organization, for us as a team. And it’s not just been by leadership. It’s been his voice,” Budenholzer said. “He’s put his arms around young players, he’s put his arm around veterans. He’s put his arm around me. It’s something that’s important to us. I don’t know if he likes it or knows it, but I’m going to keep pushing him to be his best, in all ways, including as a leader.”

The interview comes as the Suns improved to 5-1 with a win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night. Durant posted 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 assists in that game. The team’s next contest will be against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night. Be on the lookout for further updates on Kevin Durant and Stephen A. Smith on HotNewHipHop.

Read More: Stephen A. Smith Says Kevin Durant Is Unhappy In Phoenix

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SOURCE SPORTS: Suns Edge Clippers in OT Thriller, Spoil Intuit Dome Debut

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 Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images

In a dramatic season opener on Wednesday night, the Phoenix Suns overcame a late deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Clippers 116-113 in overtime, spoiling the debut of LA’s new home at the Intuit Dome. Last season, the Suns struggled in the fourth quarter, but they closed regulation with a 22-12 run to force the extra period, showing early signs of improvement.

Phoenix’s star trio delivered, with Kevin Durant scoring 25 points and grabbing seven rebounds, Bradley Beal adding 24 points, including four three-pointers, and Devin Booker contributing 15 points and six assists before fouling out. The trio combined for 64 points, marking a historic first overtime game in a new arena since Charlotte’s Spectrum Arena opener in 2005.

James Harden posted an impressive near triple-double on the Clippers’ side with 29 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists. His connection with Ivica Zubac was strong, as the center tallied 21 points and nine rebounds, with half of Harden’s assists going to Zubac. Despite their combined 50-point effort, the Clippers fell short in their home debut.

As the new season kicks off, this thrilling overtime contest sets an exciting tone for both teams.

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Victor Wembanyama Scores 38 As Spurs Stun Suns Again

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Victor Wembanyama scored a career-high 38 points in the fifth game of his rookie season as the Spurs improved to 3-2 at the expense of the Suns. It was the second time this week that San Antonio has gotten the better of Phoenix. 10 of Wembanyama’s points came in the final 4:15 of the game, outscoring the entire Suns roster over that same period. Furthermore, the game marked Wembanyama’s second NBA double-double as he also notched 10 rebounds in the 132-121 win. Additionally, the French rookie knew exactly what to say when asked if he felt he was a clutch player. “It’s a requirement if we’re being ambitious,” he told reporters.

However, Wemby also showed some astute insight as he mulled the win. “Every game is different. We got our third win. Every game we try to find the spots that we need to hurt them. Today, it might have been in this way. Tomorrow, it will be someone else. That is how great teams work. If we want to be great, we need to play with everyone,” he explained. His performance comes in as the third-best performance by a rookie in history. David Robinson holds the top two spots, with 40 and 39-point performances in his 1990 rookie season.

Read More: Angel Reese And LSU Stars Name Their All-Time Basketball Starting Lineups

Spurs Roll Onward

The Spurs were also 3-2 after five games to open last season. However, their journey to the #1 pick was set in motion after a 1-14 November. But things feel different this time around – they come off back-to-back to wins against a conference contender and have one of the most exciting rookies in league history. For many Spurs fans, the benchmark will be 56 wins. That was what the team achieved in the rookie seasons of their last two #1 picks – David Robinson and Tim Duncan.

Next up on the schedule is a trip to Toronto this weekend. After all, the Spurs welcome Indiana and the Knicks to San Antonio. However, Devin Booker is already forward to the Spurs-Suns rematch in March. “He’s an unbelievable talent. Just trying to figure out what he is because we have never seen him before. We got him early in the season, and hopefully next time that we play him we can make some adjustments to make it tougher on him. But he has an advantage being 7-4 and being able to shoot over everybody. Just finding different ways to make it tough on him,” Booker said.

Read More: Team USA Qualifies For Men’s And Women’s Olympic 3×3 Basketball Tournaments

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Damian Lillard Traded To The Milwaukee Bucks: Details

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After months of rumors and uncertainty, the Damian Lillard saga is finally at an end, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN has reported that Lillard is headed to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a three-team trade that also includes the Phoenix Suns. The Bucks get Lillard while the Suns get Jusuf Nurkić, Nassir Little, Keon Johnson, and Grayson Allen. Meanwhile, the Blazers get Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, Jrue Holiday, a first-round pick in 2029 and the right to swap first-rounders in 2028 and 2030. All three picks come from the Bucks.

The trade, of course, completely leaves out Miami. The Heat had been the only team Lillard had originally been interested in joining. However, Miami was never able to offer a package that satisfied the Blazers. Instead, Giannis gets a new superstar teammate while the Blazers get a rookie starter in Scoot Henderson and a star center in Ayton. Furthermore, Woj also reported that the Blazers are looking to immediately move Holiday as they are “committed to its young group of talented guards”.

Read More: Golden State Warriors “Close” To Adding Bay Area WNBA Team

Giannis Wins The Damian Lillard Trade

If there’s a winner in this trade, it’s Giannis. Milwaukee’s star has been vocal in recent weeks about the need for the franchise to surround him with talent. Now he has a co-star who was top five in points per game last season and top ten in assists per game. Meanwhile, the Blazers could continue to recoup assets to build themselves into a contender. As mentioned, they are already looking to flip Jrue Holiday and build around their young core.

Furthermore, the Bucks immediately solidify their championship aspirations. With a healthy Giannis, Khris Middleton, and Lillard, they are far and away the best team in the East. Sadly, this means that barring a historic collapse or miracle season, the window has likely closed for the Miami Heat. Lillard was their missing puzzle piece. Now not only do they have to play without him, they will have to regularly play against him.

Read More: Angel Reese “Insulted” By ESPN’s WNBA Mock Draft

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Damian Lillard Trade Reportedly Imminent, Suns Rumored To Be Involved

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There are new rumors in the Damian Lillard saga. While the destination, Miami, remains the same, several sources are now claiming that Dame will be heading to South Beach thanks to the Phoenix Suns. Suns insider Gerald Bourget has reported that the Phoenix has become an eleventh-hour dark horse solution to the long-stalled Lillard trade. Per Bourget, the Suns have received multiple calls about star center Deandre Ayton. The possible trade being offered would see the Blazers get Ayton and draft picks, the Heat get Lillard, and the Suns getting Tyler Herro.

Furthermore, sources in Portland have confirmed that Ayton’s name has come up numerous times over the past few weeks. Additionally, Portland was eyeing Ayton as a potential addition last summer. The current starting center in Portland is veteran Jusuf Nurkić. Elsewhere, long-time Arizona radio host John Gambadoro said he’s confident that the Lillard trade is coming in the “next 24 hours”.

Read More: Damian Lillard has “pause” moment on It Is What It Is

Is The Lillard Trade Finally Happening?

The rumors have gotten the Heat fanbase very excited. South Beach has been waiting all summer for the Blazers to finally accept a deal for Lillard. Furthermore, the Lillard trade is one of two trade situations that is reportedly holding up league transactions. The other is the ongoing James Harden situation in Philadelphia. With the league essentially in a “holding pattern”, the calls for the Blazers to be more reasonable in their trade demands have only increased. Furthermore, training camps are soon to begin in the NBA, adding more pressure to finalize deals.

However, nothing is certain yet. There have been a lot of stories concerning the Lillard trade over the past few months and none have come to fruition. With no trade clause and two years left on his contract, Lillard has been at the mercy of his current team. Despite this, perhaps the Suns are about to become the heroes of South Beach. This remains a developing story and we’ll have any updates as they emerge.

Read More: Damian Lillard crashes Portland wedding, performs for the bride and groom

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SOURCE SPORTS: LeBron and Lakers Will Open NBA Season Against Denver Nuggets on Ring Night

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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?

The post SOURCE SPORTS: LeBron and Lakers Will Open NBA Season Against Denver Nuggets on Ring Night first appeared on The Source.

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NBA Season To Open With West Coast Blockbusters

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The NBA has announced that the 2023-24 season will officially begin on October 24. What’s more, they will skew tradition to open with a slate of purely Western Conference matchups. The official tip-off will occur in Denver, where the Nuggets will raise their championship banner before taking on the Los Angeles Lakers. It’s a rematch of the Western Conference Finals, in which the Nuggets swept the Lakers so hard that LeBron considered retiring.

However, that game is almost serving as a lead-in to the night’s real marquee matchup. The Phoenix Suns will take on the Golden State Warriors. This means that Chris Paul will be facing his old team on night one. Furthermore, we will get out first look at Phoenix’s new Big Three of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal.

Read More: Druski launches sports management agency

NBA Promises Hyped Opening Week

However, the fun continues over the first days of the new season. October 25 sees the new-look Celtics take on the Knicks. Meanwhile, Victor Wembanyama makes his debut in an in-state matchup against Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks. That’s followed by the Sixers taking on Milwaukee to kick off October 26, which also features LeBron taking on KD as the Lakers face the Suns. The first half of the week very much feels like it will help establish who’s legit in this year’s title races.

Furthermore, October 27 is a day dedicated to playoff rematches. The Heat, who may or may not have Damian Lillard, take on the Celtics. That is followed by the Kings taking on the Warriors. Of course, the Kings came so close to beating the Warriors in the first round of the playoffs, only to choke a 3-1 series lead. Finally, October 28 sees the Knicks back in action, this time taking on Zion Williamson and the Pelicans. Then the Suns have their third game of the week as they face the Utah Jazz. Which matchups are you looking forward to? Let us know in the comments. Follow all the latest sports news here at HotNewHipHop.

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JJ Reddick Reveals Chris Paul’s Best Championship Chances

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Chris Paul is one of the greatest players to ever grace the NBA. Drafted out of Wake Forst in 2005, Paul is a 12-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBAer, seven-time NBA All-Defensive First Team player, five-time NBA assists leader, and six-time NBA steals leader. He has gone from prospect to star to veteran leader. However, injuries derailed his 2022-23 season, his third with the Suns. The only things missing from Paul’s resume are an MVP and an NBA title.

On June 7, it was reported that Paul had met with Suns’ leadership about his future with the team. As part of those conversations, Paul was informed that he could be waived before June 28th. Paul is owed $30.8 million if he is on the roster on June 28th. He is only owed $15.8 million if the Suns cut or trade him. While it is not a done deal, many experts expect the Suns to move on from Paul.

JJ Reddick Weighs In On Chris Paul’s Next Move

Speaking on First Take, JJ Reddick shared his thoughts on where he thinks Paul should go, if Paul wants to retire with a ring. “The two best places I think for him to win a championship is Phoenix … and the Los Angeles Lakers,” Reddick said during a two-minute monologue. Both options are valid and intriguing choices. The championship window for the Suns is closing fast and this offseason could very well shut it completely. They are $79 million over the salary cap and have a lot of bloated contracts, like Paul’s on the books. The Suns went all-in to win 2023 and came up well short. While Reddick’s logic makes sense, there are a lot of balls in the desert area.

Meanwhile, the Lakers have shown what they can do at full strength, running all the way to the Western Conference Finals. There are championship aspirations, sure. However, the ability to get past teams like the Nuggets remains to be seen. Paul is 38 and doesn’t have that many years left most likely. Is he, and his contract, something the Lakers want to take on? Furthermore, where do you think Chris Paul will go? Let us know in the comments below.

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Phoenix Suns Fire Monty Williams

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The Phoenix Suns have fired head coach Monty Williams after four seasons. The move comes after the Suns were eliminated from the NBA playoffs by the Denver Nuggets. After reaching the NBA Finals in 2021, the Suns have been eliminated in the second round of the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. 2023 was meant to be the Suns’ year. They went all-in to acquire Kevin Durant in a blockbuster trade with the Nets. However, he and Devin Booker were unable to carry the team past the Nuggets.

The move was expected by many NBA experts and is potentially the first of many in the Suns’ offseason. Furthermore, previous reporting indicated that the team could be set to “aggressively” shop veteran Chris Paul and young star DeAndre Ayton. However, big moves during the season could limit what the Suns are able to do.

Suns Ownership Putting Stamp On Tenure

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – MAY 11: Head coach Monty Williams of the Phoenix Suns reacts during the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets in game six of the Western Conference Semifinal Playoffs at Footprint Center on May 11, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Monty Williams’ job was never truly safe. A holdover from the tenure of the previous owner, there was every chance that new owner Mat Ishiba could choose to replace Williams. Additionally, this appears to be the case, with sources suggesting that Ishiba, who never warmed to Williams, quickly made the decision after the Suns’ Game 6 loss. Furthermore, Ishiba also reportedly had GM James Jones, an ally and advocate of Williams, deliver the news.

The Suns become of the more intriguing teams in the head coach market. They join the Milwaukee Bucks as a team with title contention status who made the decision to move on from their head coach. However, a difficult challenge lies ahead for whoever they hire. The Suns traded away for future first-round picks to acquire Kevin Durant. Furthermore, bloated contracts and new regulations imposed by the CBA will further stymie the team’s efforts to retool or rebuild. With Williams only being notified on Saturday, no names have been linked with the job. However, the Suns will have an elite pool to choose from.

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Suns Reportedly Set To Shop CP3 And DeAndre Ayton

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The Phoenix Suns crashed out of the NBA playoffs on Thursday night with a 125-100 loss to the Denver Nuggets. After reaching the NBA Finals in 2021, the Suns have bowed out in the second round the past two seasons. However, it was supposed to be different this year, with the Suns going all-in to acquire Kevin Durant.

Now the team is faced with an offseason of tough decisions and bloated contracts. However, according to industry sources, the Suns are already making plans to try and recoup some of what they gave up to unsuccessfully win-now in 2023.

CP3 And Ayton Likely Gone From Suns

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – MAY 05: Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns watches from the bench with teammates during the second half of Game Three of the NBA Western Conference Semifinals at Footprint Center on May 05, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Nuggets 121-114. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The Suns have multiple problems that need addressing. As much as they would likely love to build around Devon Booker, that’s harder than it sounds. The Suns are in a bad place cap-wise and are set to be screwed yet further if they can’t move players quickly. The first domino is Chris Paul. Paul has been with the Clippers since a November 2020 trade. However, Paul is 38 and will be owed $30 million in June. According to ESPN‘s Tim MacMahon, the Suns are likely to “aggressively shop” Paul in hopes of moving him before that June pay hike.

Then there’s DeAndre Ayton. While the 25-year-old center is another piece the Suns would love to build around, he is also the most appealing trade asset on the roster. He’s young, extremely talented, and on a team-friendly contract. If the Suns want to move on from Paul, they might have to throw Ayton in as well. The upside is that a deal of that magnitude could some much-needed draft capital back to Phoenix. The Nets own most of the Suns’ future draft picks currently. However, it remains to be seen exactly what the Suns will do next as they contemplate their future. What do you think the Suns should do? Let us know in the comments.

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