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USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Lakers jersey history No. 5/No. 3 — Josh Hart
Through the 2024-25 season, the Los Angeles Lakers have had a total of 506 players suit up for them, going back to their days in Minneapolis. Some were forgettable, some were serviceable, some were good and a select few were flat-out legendary. As the Lakers approach their 80th season of existence (they were founded back in 1946 as the Detroit Gems in the National Basketball League), LeBron Wire is taking a look at each player who has worn their jersey, whether it has been a purple and gold one or the ones they donned back in the Midwest during their early years. Let's take a look at a player whom Lakers fans fondly remember from not that long ago -- Josh Hart. Hart played four seasons of college basketball at Villanova University, and by the 2015-16 season, his junior season there, Villanova had assembled a scary roster that included Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges and Donte DiVincenzo. It won the national championship that season, and the following year, Hart took home the Big East Player of the Year award. The Utah Jazz took him with the No. 30 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. The Lakers acquired his draft rights along with center Thomas Bryant in return for Tony Bradley, and it turned out to be a deft move for them. Hart spent his first two NBA seasons with the Lakers, and he averaged 7.9 points and 3.9 rebounds in 24.4 minutes a game during that time. He started to establish himself as the type of multi-faceted role player who would do whatever a team needs him to do. He can score, handle the ball in the open court, hit from 3-point range when needed and defend at an above-average level. Despite being a 6-foot-4 guard, he also demonstrated the ability to grab rebounds in bunches. Hart was sent to the New Orleans Pelicans in 2019 in the deal that brought Los Angeles Anthony Davis. Midway through the 2022-23 season, he was traded to the New York Knicks, a long-derided franchise that was finally starting to build a winning roster. As the Knicks started to become a power and gain the type of real respect they had lacked in decades, Hart raised his game. This past season, he started in each of his 77 games and averaged 13.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.5 steals a game and helped them reach the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2000. His heart (no pun intended), grit, resolve and resourcefulness seem to typify a Knicks team that could have a real shot of winning its first NBA championship since 1973. There is no doubt that Lakers fans would welcome him back with open arms in an instant, but at least for the time being, he has found a definite home in the Big Apple.
USA Today
06-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Best of new Boston Celtics wing RJ Luis Jr. in 2024-25
What should we expect from new Boston Celtics two way player RJ Luis Jr.? The newest addition to the Celtics roster joined the team as the return for vet forward Georges Niang when Boston's front office sent two second round draft picks to the Utah Jazz to use their cap space to absorb Niang's contract, Luis' inclusion making the trade legal in the collective bargaining agreement (CBA). A 22-year-old, 6-foot-7 wing who last played for St. John's at the NCAA level, Luis went undrafted in 2025, and won Big East Player of the Year in his final collegiate season. In it, he put up 18.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 43.9% from the floor overall, 33.6% from 3, and 74.7% from the free throw line. The man behind the "Tomasz Kordylewski (Timi)" YouTube channel put together a clip of his highlights last season so we can get to know his game better. Check it out below! Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on: Spotify: iTunes: YouTube:
Time of India
06-08-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Celtics reportedly trade Niang to Jazz, add Chris Boucher in frontcourt reshuffle
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The Boston Celtics have traded veteran forward Georges Niang and two second-round draft picks to the Utah Jazz in exchange for rookie swingman RJ Luis Jr. , according to an ESPN report move not only alleviates luxury tax pressure for Boston but also opens a roster spot, as Luis is on a two-way contract. The Celtics are filling that spot by signing free agent forward Chris Boucher to a one-year, $3.3 million deal, per Boucher's 32, was acquired last month from the Atlanta Hawks in a three-team deal but departs without playing a game for his hometown team. He averaged a career-best 9.9 points and 3.4 rebounds last season in 79 games between the Cavaliers and 544 career games, Niang has posted averages of 7.4 points and 2.5 rebounds while shooting just under 40% from three. He previously spent four seasons (2017–2021) as a reserve with the 22, went undrafted in June and missed Summer League with a knee injury. After a year at UMass, he transferred to St. John's, where he earned Big East Player of the Year also 32, played 50 games off the bench for the Toronto Raptors last season, averaging 10 points and 4.5 rebounds in just over 17 minutes per contest. He holds career averages of 8.9 points and 5.1 rebounds across 407 games - all but one with Toronto.
New York Post
05-08-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Celtics trade Georges Niang to Jazz for draft picks, former St. John's star RJ Luis Jr.
The Celtics traded Georges Niang to the Utah Jazz for two second-round picks and rookie RJ Luis Jr., ESPN's Shams Charania reported Tuesday. This trade appears to be a win-win for both sides, with the teams heading in different directions for the 2025-26 season. The Celtics needed to lose salary in an effort to get below the second apron, and this move achieved that, as it is another veteran player — and $8.2 million — off the books. The team also signed forward Chris Boucher on Tuesday, Charania reported. Georges Niang of the Atlanta Hawks reacts after a three-point basket against the Miami Heat during the third quarter of an NBA play-in tournament game on April 18, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. Getty Images Per Charania, even with the Boucher signing, the Celtics are now nearly $8 million below the second apron. In Luis, they will get the 2024-25 Big East Player of the Year, who starred at St. John's. Now that the Celtics are under the second apron, their tax bill has dropped significantly, which was their goal this offseason. The Celtics have been on a fire sale of players the entire offseason as they tried to get under the second apron. RJ Luis Jr. is headed to the Celtics in the trade. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post They have already seen the departures of Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kornet, JD Davison, Jrue Holiday and Al Horford. All points lead to it being a rebuilding year for the Celtics as Jayson Tatum recovers from an Achilles tear he suffered in a second-round playoff series against the Knicks last season. Utah's addition of Niang — who was originally acquired by Boston in the trade that sent Porzingis to the Hawks earlier in the offseason — gives the Jazz a veteran presence for a young team that includes No. 5 overall pick Ace Bailey. It is also a bit of a homecoming for Niang, who was on the Jazz from 2017-21. Niang, 32, averaged 9.9 points while shooting 40 percent from three for the Cavaliers and Hawks last season.
Canada News.Net
05-08-2025
- Sport
- Canada News.Net
Report: Celtics swap Georges Niang to Jazz; sign Chris Boucher
(Photo credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images) The Boston Celtics traded forward Georges Niang and two second-round draft picks to the Utah Jazz to acquire rookie forward RJ Luis Jr., ESPN reported Tuesday. In addition to helping Boston with luxury tax issues, the trade clears a roster spot for Boston because Luis is on a two-way contract. The Celtics are using that spot to sign forward Chris Boucher to a one-year, $3.3 million contract, Boucher's agent told ESPN. Niang, 32, was sent from the Atlanta Hawks to Boston in a three-team trade last month, but the Massachusetts native will not play a game for the Celtics. Niang averaged a career-best 9.9 points and 3.4 rebounds per game last season across 79 games split between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Hawks. He has posted 7.4 points and 2.5 rebounds per game while shooting 39.9 percent from 3-point range across 544 career games (32 starts) for five teams. Niang spent four seasons for the Jazz (2017-21) as a reserve forward. In Luis, the Celtics acquired a 22-year-old swingman who went undrafted in June and missed Summer League with a knee injury. Luis played one season at UMass and transferred to St. John's, where he was voted the Big East Player of the Year and an Associated Press second-team All-American. Boucher, 32, appeared in 50 games off the bench for the Toronto Raptors last season and put up 10 points and 4.5 rebounds in just 17.2 minutes per game. He has averaged 8.9 points and 5.1 rebounds across 407 career games, 406 with Toronto and one with Golden State.
