Latest news with #ChrisMannix
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
SI's Chris Mannix sees Rockets as most invested Giannis Antetokounmpo trade suitor
SI's Chris Mannix sees Rockets as most invested Giannis Antetokounmpo trade suitor 'I think Houston would be the most interested and invested in going to get him,' Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix says of potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade suitors. On a newly released episode of Open Floor: Sports Illustrated's NBA podcast, veteran league insider Chris Mannix said he believes the Houston Rockets will be the most interested trade suitor for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. 'I think Houston would be the most interested and invested in going to get him,' said Mannix, who has ties with Rockets head coach Ime Udoka dating back to his Boston head coaching stint (where Mannix is based). Regarding what a potential Bucks-Rockets deal might look like, Mannix said on SI's show: Everything not named Amen Thompson, and just do it. Jalen Green's contract… I think they'd probably like to hold on to Alperen Sengun, but they could put together a deal that would probably appeal to Milwaukee. Other rumored suitors have included teams such as the San Antonio Spurs, Brooklyn Nets, and Toronto Raptors. At 52-30, Houston had by far the best record among that group in the recently completed 2024-25 season — which could present the most appeal to Antetokounmpo (if the 30-year-old, as believed, wants to contend for an NBA title) and perhaps give the Rockets the most incentive to get a deal done. Operating as a 6-foot-11 power forward, Antetokounmpo averaged 30.4 points (60.1% FG), 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game in the 2024-25 season. A two-time Most Valuable Player (MVP), the 'Greek Freak' is a nine-time NBA All-Star and a perennial MVP candidate. 'We think Houston probably has the most they can offer,' added co-host Rachel Nichols, who also has extensive experience covering the NBA. Of course, it isn't yet confirmed that the 2024-25 MVP finalist wants to leave. A recent report indicated that a meeting between Antetokounmpo and the Bucks would be held in late May, at which point the player's desires might become known. But it's now June, and there has been no confirmation of whether such a meeting has yet taken place. Stay tuned! More: As Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors swirl, Bucks schedule key meeting for this week
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Chris Mannix: In trade pursuits, Ime Udoka ‘a real asset' for Rockets
Entering the 2025-26 season, the Houston Rockets have the foundation of a relatively young and improving team that finished 2024-25 with the NBA's fourth-best record (52-30, No. 2 in the Western Conference). That's led many to speculate that Houston could be very desirable to any star players who might come available on the offseason trade market. Advertisement But there's another potential reason for that desirability. On Friday's The Rich Eisen Show, NBA insider Chris Mannix (of Sports Illustrated) made the case: Every player in the league loves (head coach) Ime Udoka. Every player wants to play for Ime Udoka. That's a real asset that the Rockets have. Mannix went on to name Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics, and Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns as All-Star-level players who could be targets. Brown and Durant each have previous experience playing for Udoka, with Durant's stint coming when Udoka was an assistant with the Brooklyn Nets. 'The team that I'm still watching the closest is going to be Houston,' Mannix said of his offseason outlook. 'Can Houston make a play for Giannis? I'm sure they would love to.' More: Fact or fiction: Do the Rockets have the best assets to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo? This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Chris Mannix: In trade pursuits, Ime Udoka 'a real asset' for Rockets
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Chris Mannix: In trade pursuits, Ime Udoka ‘a real asset' for Rockets
Chris Mannix: In trade pursuits, Ime Udoka 'a real asset' for Rockets Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix on the NBA's 2025 offseason trade market: 'Every player wants to play for Ime Udoka. That's a real asset that the Rockets have.' Entering the 2025-26 season, the Houston Rockets have the foundation of a relatively young and improving team that finished 2024-25 with the NBA's fourth-best record (52-30, No. 2 in the Western Conference). That's led many to speculate that Houston could be very desirable to any star players who might come available on the offseason trade market. But there's another potential reason for that desirability. On Friday's The Rich Eisen Show, NBA insider Chris Mannix (of Sports Illustrated) made the case: Every player in the league loves (head coach) Ime Udoka. Every player wants to play for Ime Udoka. That's a real asset that the Rockets have. Mannix went on to name Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics, and Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns as All-Star-level players who could be targets. Brown and Durant each have previous experience playing for Udoka, with Durant's stint coming when Udoka was an assistant with the Brooklyn Nets. Udoka was a finalist for the NBA's 2024-25 Coach of the Year award. 'The team that I'm still watching the closest is going to be Houston,' Mannix said of his offseason outlook. 'Can Houston make a play for Giannis? I'm sure they would love to.' More: Fact or fiction: Do the Rockets have the best assets to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo?
Fox News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
The NBA's New World Order: Parity, Windows Over Dynasties, and Cooper Flagg's Future Basketball Domination (ft. Chris Mannix)
On this edition of The Will Cain Show's Friday sports episode, Will is joined by 'Sports Illustrated' Senior Writer and NBA Analyst, Chris Mannix to break down the evolving landscape of the NBA, the rise of parity, and whether the Oklahoma City Thunder are building a quiet dynasty. Will and Mannix also dive into the Mavericks' shocking lottery win and what Cooper Flagg's arrival could mean for Dallas's future. They debate the long-term ceiling of Flagg, whether he'd be worth trading for a proven star like Giannis Antetokounmpo, and how today's NBA front offices are starting to think in windows, not dynasties. They finish it all off with an expert level NBA trivia quiz that will have you questioning your knowledge of the Association. Can you do better than Will and Mannix? Tell Will what you thought about this podcast by emailing WillCainShow@ Subscribe to The Will Cain Show on YouTube here: Watch The Will Cain Show! Follow Will on Twitter: @WillCain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
"Saw the downside of an analytics ending" - Chris Mannix says OKC's reliance on analytics cost them Game 1 vs. Denver
The use of analytics in the NBA has drawn criticism from the game's purists. For example, teams shooting tons of three-pointers in today's era is a product of analytics. Many say that the approach has led to a boring game and has resulted in poor TV ratings for the league. On Monday night, veteran sports writer Chris Mannix criticized analytics, tweeting that they cost the Oklahoma City Thunder Game 1 of their best-of-seven second-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets. Advertisement "Saw the downside of an analytics ending. OKC played the numbers, and didn't give Denver a shot at a game-tying three. But it also kept the Nuggets in it. Chet misses both, scramble ensues, Russ makes a great pass, Gordon makes a monster shot, and another home team goes down in Game 1," wrote Mannix on social media. OKC left too much time on the clock by fouling immediately two times The Thunder looked like they were going to survive the stubborn Nuggets in Game 1 after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander canned two free throws with 13.9 seconds left in the fourth quarter to put his team ahead 117-114. But after Denver called a timeout, OKC opted to foul Nikola Jokic immediately after he caught the inbounds pass rather than allow a possible three-pointer. "The Joker" made both foul shots to cut the lead to a point. On the ensuing play, SGA broke loose from the Nuggets' inbounds defense and scored on a quick layup to put the Thunder back up by three points at 119-116 with 11.1 seconds left in the game. Surprisingly, OKC gave up another immediate foul on Aaron Gordon, who was still in the backcourt, and with Denver no longer having any timeouts. AG made both free throws to slice the deficit to one, again. Advertisement After Mark Daigneault called his final timeout, the Nuggets responded by putting Chet Holmgren to the foul line. A career 78 percent free-throw shooter, Holmgren missed both free throws. Although Denver didn't have any timeouts left, the Thunder twice fouled up three without letting a few seconds run out. The clock left too much time for the "Mile High City" squad to set up a play, as they did not want to go to overtime. Related: "Everything the people in Dallas said about him is true" - Sam Mitchell believes Luka needs to improve his conditioning if he wants to prove his worth You have to be in single digits to make it worthwhile After the game, Daigneault refused to blame the strategy for the defeat, saying they had been using it successfully all season long. But while you can't argue with a coach whose team finished with a regular season record of 68-14, the best in the league this year, perhaps Mark should have heeded the advice of University of Virginia alumnus and "The Athletic" senior NBA columnist John Hollinger, who is considered one of the originators of basketball analytics. Advertisement "I'm a big advocate of fouling when up by three in late-game situations, especially when the opponent is out of timeouts, but generally you need to be in single digits on the clock to make it worthwhile. Stan Van Gundy said his own rule of thumb was six seconds, while Jackson said his was five; regardless, it sure as heck isn't 11," said Hollinger. The Thunder first fouled "The Joker" with 12.9 seconds left, when he wasn't even ready to shoot. The next time around, they put AG at the foul line while he was on the opposite court, with 10.7 seconds left. They paid the price. Sure, the loss needed two conditions to happen: Chet missing two foul shots and the Nuggets hitting a three-pointer on the other end, and both don't happen every day. However, perhaps the Thunder should've waited a couple of seconds both times before fouling. Or maybe Daigneault should have trusted his team's defense, which ranked first in defensive rating during the regular season. Mark didn't, so OKC gave away the home court advantage in the series opener. Related: "Jamal Murray has to go nuclear" - Q says Denver's best chance of beating OKC is if the superstar version of Murray shows up
