WARRIORS

Draymond Green Suspended Five Games For Rudy Gobert Chokehold

by

Draymond Green has received a five-game suspension after placing Rudy Gobert in a chokehold during a brawl earlier this week. According to a statement given by the NBA, Green’s suspension was a result of the Warriors veteran “escalating an on-court altercation” by “forcibly grabbing” Gobert in “an unsportsmanlike and dangerous manner.” Furthermore, the league noted that Green’s history of unsportsmanlike conduct contributed to the length of the suspension. Green has previously been suspended four times for a total of four games. However, this latest suspension nearly doubles his total number of suspended games. Green’s last suspension came earlier this year as a result of stomping on Domantas Sabonis during a playoff game.

Meanwhile, Gobert, along with Klay Thompson and Jaden McDaniels, received $25,000 fines for their role in the brawl that occurred less than two minutes into Tuesday’s game. However, none of the three will miss any time, despite Thompson and McDaniels also being ejected. Green’s five-game suspension means he will miss a doubleheader against Oklahoma City, as well as games against the Suns, Rockets, and Spurs. He will next be available to play in a road game against the Kings on November 28.

Read More: Fat Joe Roasts Gillie Da Kid For Challenging Jamal Crawford

Shaq & Antonio Brown React To Green Ejection

Furthermore, Green’s ejection elicited a variety of reactions from around the NBA and beyond. Shaq had a hilarious response to the sight of Green putting Gobert into a chokehold. The Hall of Famer’s response came during Inside The NBA‘s half-time segment. After the team had discussed Clippers-Nuggets, they turned to Shaq. The self-described “best musician in the NBA” proceeded to remix the show’s theme song (Cool J’s “Mama Said Knock You Out”) to reflect Green’s actions, instead singing “Mama Said Choke You Out”.

Meanwhile, Antonio Brown also weighed in on the situation. “Draymond Green in Antonio Brown” was the simple post that the former NFL star made on X, formerly Twitter. Brown is likely alluding to the notion that both men are/were “unfairly targeted” or demonized by their respective leagues. Brown, due to his position on the offense, was never given the label of being a dirty player. However, he does believe himself to have been essentially run out of the league for his on- and off-field antics.

Read More: Glen Davis Found Guilty In NBA Welfare Fraud Case

[via]

The post Draymond Green Suspended Five Games For Rudy Gobert Chokehold appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Draymond Green Ejected After Wild Warriors-Timberwolves Brawl

by

Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, and Jaden McDaniels were all ejected less than two minutes into Tuesday night’s in-season tournament matchup between the Warriors and Timberwolves. The brawl broke out after Thompson and McDaniels clashed in transition. McDaniels pulled on Thompson’s jersey while the latter contested for a long rebound and the pair remained tangled up amid the ensuing breakaway. The two proceeded to start fighting, leading to a game-stopping brawl. Amid the chaos, Green was seen putting Rudy Gobert in a headlock.

After the game, a tight 104-101 Timberwolves win, Gobert appeared to make light of the situation. “Every time Steph doesn’t play, [Green] doesn’t want to play without his guy Steph, so he does anything he can to get ejected,” Gobert told reporters. Furthermore, the French star referred to Green’s actions as “clown behavior” on multiple occasions through his post-game availability. However, Warriors coach Steve Kerr defended Green. “As far as the Draymond piece of it, Rudy had his hands on Klay’s neck. That’s why Draymond went after Rudy.”

Read More: Nick Young Says Draymond Green Tried To Punch Him Like Jordan Poole

Green Returns To Controversy

After Jordan Poole was traded to the Wizards in the offseason, and Green preached turning over a new leaf, Warriors fans were likely hopeful that the team could go a season without controversy. However, a cloud now hangs over the Bay Area. Last year, it was Green punching a teammate. This season, he’s now been seen putting an opposing player in a headlock. The NBA is yet to hand down a punishment to Green and the other players who were ejected from last night’s affair. However, it’s likely that Green will be suspended for at least a few games.

As for the Warriors, it’s yet another smudge on an already middling season. The addition of Chris Paul was widely hailed as a move that helped make the Warriors a major contender in the West. However, they are 6-6 and have lost four in a row. That comes after starting the season 5-1. Even with Curry expected to return from injury sooner rather than later, the team will now likely have to survive without the rest of their big three for a significant portion of their upcoming slate. Next up for Golden State is a doubleheader against the 7-4 Thunder.

Read More: Draymond Green Reportedly Beefing With Another Young Warriors Player

[via]

The post Draymond Green Ejected After Wild Warriors-Timberwolves Brawl appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Andre Iguodala Retires After 19 NBA Seasons

by

Andre Iguodala has officially retired from the NBA after 19 seasons. “Time started to get limited for me and I didn’t want to put anything in the back seat. I didn’t want to have to try to delegate time anymore. Especially with on the court, off the court with family. A lot. You want to play at a high level. But then family is a lot. My son is 16 and then two girls. So, [I’m] looking forward to seeing them grow up in those important years,” Iguodala told Marc J. Spears of Andscape.

Iguodala was drafted 9th overall by the Sixers in 2004 following two seasons of college ball at Arizona. He stayed in Philly until 2012 before being traded to the Nuggets. However, Iguodala’s most successful tenure would come in a six-year tenure with the Warriors. After signing with Golden State in 2013, Iguodala became a core member of the team’s late 2010s dynasty. He won four rings alongside Draymond Green and the Splash Brothers. He was a free agent at the time of his retirement, having been released by the Warriors after a second stint with the team between 2021 and 2023.

Read More: Andre Iguodala Claims Jordan Poole Was Lowkey Disrespected By The Warriors

Iguodala’s Retirement Confirms LeBron As League’s Oldest Active Player

With Iguodala officially out of the league, LeBron James stands as the league’s oldest active player. James will turn 39 a few months into his 21st NBA season. That makes him just the seventh player to reach his 21st season. LeBron being LeBron, he had the perfect reaction when told the news earlier this month. After being asked for his reaction to being the oldest player in the league at a Lakers practice, LeBron briefly screamed before sprinting down the court and smoothly dunking.

Furthermore, James isn’t treating this like his final year. He will most likely join Vince Carter as the only players to play 22 seasons thanks to his desire to play at least one season with his son Bronny. With Bronny eligible for the 2024 draft, LeBron will likely hit that historic milestone. However, the question will be if it happens with the Lakers or elsewhere in the NBA.

Read More: LeBron James Shares Relieving News About Bronny’s Chances To Play For USC

[via]

The post Andre Iguodala Retires After 19 NBA Seasons appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

WNBA Announces Warriors-Owned Bay Area Expansion Team

by

The WNBA will expand to 13 teams in 2025 when a new franchise operated by the Golden State Warriors will join the league. It’s the first time that the WNBA has expanded since 2008. However, at this time, there appears to be no plan to add an Eastern Conference franchise to keep the league at an even number of teams. Warriors chairman Joe Lacob, who once owned a franchise in the rival ABL, said the “full force” of the Warriors would be behind the as-yet-unnamed team. Lacob said the team will likely be referred to as “Golden State” but discussions would be had on whether the team would also use the “Warriors” moniker.

“We’re coming in here, number one, to win. Number two, we want to see this league and women’s basketball grow, and we hope to be a big part of it. We think it’s a watershed event for us to come in and commit to it in a big way. We’re going to bring all of our resources. We can put this machine to work, and we’re going to do that,” Lacob told ESPN.

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

Warriors Join Race For Aneesah Morrow

With Golden State joining the league in 2025, it sets up a fascinating possibility of the brand-new franchise getting one of the best college prospects in its first year in the league. Like most other American pro leagues, the Warriors will have an expansion draft where they will build their roster from a pool of players already on WNBA rosters. Furthermore, they will also likely be placed into the WNBA draft lottery. During the last expansion in 2008, the Dream ended up with the fourth overall pick, although they later traded it away.

That means the new franchise would be in the running for the consensus #1 pick of 2025 – Aneesah Morrow. Morrow is one of the best players in the nation as she enters her junior year. Barely getting attention out of high school, the Chicago-born player chose to attend nearby DePaul. There she was the heart of the Blue Demons team on both sides of the court. Averaging 23.5 points and 13.0 rebounds a game, Morrow played elite basketball despite rarely finding herself with anything less than a double team on her. She will play her final two years at LSU after joining the Tigers during the offseason.

Read More: Caitlin Clark Still Undecided About Declaring For WNBA Draft

[via]

The post WNBA Announces Warriors-Owned Bay Area Expansion Team appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

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

by

Sources within the Golden State Warriors have told ESPN that the organization is close to securing a WNBA expansion. While the deal is not final yet, sources said it was “expected soon”. The team would play at the Chase Center and be wholly operated by the Warriors. Previously, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has stated her desire to add two new teams to the league by 2025. However, no information has emerged about the other potential addition, which would presumably be in the Eastern Conference.

If the Warriors’ deal is finalized, it would mark the first expansion franchise in the WNBA since Atlanta joined the league in 2008. While Engelbert has talked a big game about the desire to expand, there has been little tangible progress. Most recently, the league said they had recently narrowed down a longlist of 200 potential expansion locations. This has proven incredibly frustrating to fans, who have watched sustained growth and expansion in leagues such as soccer’s NWSL. The league, founded in 2012, is due to add two teams in 2024 and another in 2026.

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

WNBA Fans Demand Expansion

At the start of the 2023 WNBA season, a number of high-profile cuts reignited the demands for expansion. Charli Collier (#1 pick in 2021), Emily Engstler (#4 in 2022), and Abby Meyers (#11 in 2023) were among the players who have been waived by their teams. The Collier, who has played 45 games over the last two seasons, waive was taken especially hard by fans.

“Another day of WNBA roster cuts, another day of needing WNBA roster expansion. Franchises need spots to develop college talent!!” Gaming Society‘s Matt Ellentuck tweeted. “Expansion is needed. However when there’s only 144 spots we have to be realistic. The gap between being a great NCAA player and a good enough #WNBA player is large. You have a few that come in ready but teams don’t have enough time to try & develop. They need you to be ready now.” argued Women’s Hoopz at the time. Hopefully, fans will be happy with the more definitive news that more teams are coming.

Read More: WNBA Teams Eye Talent In 2024 Draft Class

[via]

The post Golden State Warriors “Close” To Adding Bay Area WNBA Team appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Dwight Howard Not Being Signed By The Warriors

by

The Golden State Warriors will not be signing veteran big Dwight Howard. Howard, who spent last season playing in Taiwan, spent two days with the Warriors this week. However, Golden State opted not to sign the eight-time All-Star and former first-overall pick. “The Warriors are not expected to sign Dwight Howard or another veteran center ahead of training camp. Howard had a two-day visit with the Warriors this week that included meetings and workouts, but the Warriors are expected now to maintain flexibility to sign a potential big man later in camp or into the regular season,” reported Shams Charania.

Howard is expected to meet with other interested teams next week. Despite this, it appears to be growing increasingly unlikely that Howard will be back in the league this season. Howard’s last NBA action was as part of the Lakers back in 2021. He turns 38 in December. He averaged 6.2 points and 5.9 rebounds per game across 60 games in his last NBA season.

Read More: Dwight Howard compares the teammate vibes of LeBron and Kobe

Howard Eyes The Olympics

Despite his NBA uncertainty, Howard is eager to represent Team USA at the Paris Olympics next year. As the US looks to build a superteam, Howard made it clear that he wanted to be a part of it. Furthermore, he went as far as to say that if he wasn’t selected, he would declare for Taiwan and “drop 85” at the tournament. In the late 2000s, Howard was a go-to pick for the national team. He won Olympic gold medal at Beijing 2008 and World Cup bronze at s well as a World Cup bronze at Japan 2006.

There are just two problems with Howard’s plan. The first is that Taiwanese citizenship requires five years of residency, which Howard doesn’t have. The second is that, eligible or not, Howard would still be watching the Olympics from his home as Taiwan is not able to qualify for the Olympic tournament. Only three teams from Asia and Oceania – New Zealand, Lebanon, and the Philippines – will participate in qualifiers next year for the four remaining Olympic spots.

Read More: Dwight Howard sued by ex-butler

[via]

The post Dwight Howard Not Being Signed By The Warriors appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Andre Iguodala Claims Jordan Poole Was Lowkey Disrespected By The Warriors

by

In a recent podcast appearance with JJ Redick, Andre Iguodala spoke about Jordan Poole. Specifically, Iguodala reflected on the less-than-ideal role that Poole had to play for the Warriors. In short, Iguodala summarized that the Warriors were built around Steph, Klay, and Draymond. Poole, who would often play off the bench, was expected to play without the freedom or the eccentricities afforded to the team’s Big Three. If Draymond was having a wild night with errant passes and the like, Poole had to be perfect. If Steph was cold from three, Poole had to be hot. In Iguodala’s eyes, Poole had to play clean-up to whatever the Big Three wasn’t doing on any particular night.

Drafted in 2019 by the Warriors, Poole had four solid seasons with the team. In his final season before being traded to the Wizards, Poole had over 20 points per game. On any other team, Poole would likely have been an instant starter and first-rotation lock. However, it’s always going to be hard to get that consistent playing time with a roster like Golden State’s. Even in his 20.7 ppg season, Poole only started 43 games.

Read More: Nick Young claims Draymond tried to punch him like Jordan Poole

Draymond Green Seemingly Shades Jordan Poole

A lot of the stories over the summer after Poole was traded was the seemingly reignited beef between him and Draymond Green. While Green feuded with Poole’s father on social media, he also appeared to shade his former teammate on TikTok.

In a TikTok for Bleacher Report, Green jumped on the “roster builder challenge”. Essentially, you have to create an NBA roster using one player from five randomly-selected teams. The video started simply enough, with Green choosing Cavs PG Darius Garland and Utah F Lauri Markkanen. Then came the Wizards as Green’s third team. “Who still on Washington’s team?” Green said with a laugh before taking F Kyle Kuzma. Additionally, Green rounded out his team with Damian Lillard (Blazers) and Bam Adebayo (Heat). When asked how they would do, Green argued that “they should win. But they don’t have me, Steph, or Klay. This is an Eastern Conference team. They lose in the Finals to the Warriors.”

Read More: Jordan Poole hits Draymond with Gunna lyrics

[via]

The post Andre Iguodala Claims Jordan Poole Was Lowkey Disrespected By The Warriors appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Dwight Howard To Meet With The Golden State Warriors

by

The Golden State Warriors will meet with Dwight Howard next week, according to Shams Charania. The Warriors have spent the latter half of the offseason searching for a depth big man. Howard is 37 and has spent the last two years in Taiwan. He last played in the NBA in 2022 following his third stint on the Lakers.

Howard is an eight-time All-Star, last earning the honor in 2014. Furthermore, he has also been named to five All-NBA First Teams, the last coming in 2012. Other players the Warriors have considered adding include Blake Griffin. However, as noted by The Athletic, “Would Howard enter the situation with the correct mindset? If he doesn’t play for two straight weeks, would he be fine with that? If they tell him to rebound, remain physical but never expect a play run in his direction, would he remain content? Is there any concern he’d become a distraction on the sideline or in the locker room for a franchise that is already attempting quite the chemistry experiment bringing Chris Paul into the mix?”

Read More: Jimmy Butler links up with Morgan Wallen in Toronto

Howard Says Team USA Or Else

Elsewhere, Howard has spoken on his desire to play with Team USA at the 2024 Olympics. In the late 2000s, Howard was a go-to pick for the national team. He won a gold medal at the Beijing Games in 2008 as well as a World Cup bronze in 2006. However, he is likely on the outside looking in when it comes to 2024. Despite this, Howard is adamant that he be selected. Furthermore, he has gone as far as to say that if he isn’t selected, he will play for Taiwan and “drop 85”.

There’s just one problem with this assertion. Taiwan (or Chinese Taipei as it is referred to by the IOC) can’t qualify for the Olympics. Taiwan is not one of the 24 remaining teams that will compete for one of the four remaining Olympic spots next July. Furthermore, Howard has not lived in Taiwan for five years, meaning he cannot be naturalized as a citizen in time for the Olympics.

Read More: Kai Jones roasts his own teammates online

[via]

The post Dwight Howard To Meet With The Golden State Warriors appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

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

by
F3wVxlZaYAEn8eo

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.

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

NBA Season To Open With West Coast Blockbusters

by

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.

Read More: Enes Freedom Says He’d Put Up Ridiculous Numbers In The WNBA During Anti-Trans Rant

[via]

The post NBA Season To Open With West Coast Blockbusters appeared first on HotNewHipHop.