Latest news with #DallasMavericks
Wall Street Journal
14 hours ago
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
An NBA Legend on How to Get Through a Mess
The second act of Rick Welts' career started with a meltdown. In January, the decorated sports executive came out of retirement to take the reins as chief executive of the Dallas Mavericks. The next month, the franchise shocked fans by trading star Luca Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers. His decades of experience in the business, Welts said, helped him steer the Mavs through the outrage. 'There are two things that cure everything: that's time and winning,' he said at The Wall Street Journal's Future of Everything event this past week.
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Luka Doncic donates $5,000 to restore vandalized Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant mural in downtown Los Angeles
Luka Doncic showed his support by spending $5,000 to restore a vandalized mural. The mural, 'Mambas Forever,' at 14th and Main streets in downtown Los Angeles was spoiled with graffiti and Doncic expressed his anger and had the artwork repaired quickly. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The donation not only paid for the restoration but also showed how much he respects Bryant and wants to help the Los Angeles community. Luka Doncic's donation restores defaced 'Mambas Forever' mural The "Mambas Forever" mural, crafted by artist Louie Palsino (known as Sloe Motions) back in 2020, became a beloved homage after the tragic passing of Kobe and Gianna Bryant in a helicopter crash. The piece illustrated Kobe in his Lakers uniform, tenderly holding Gianna, who was grasping a basketball, with the words "Mambas Forever" painted in purple and gold. The mural had been left alone until it was recently marred by black and white graffiti, covering much of the original design. In response, Palsino initiated a GoFundMe campaign to raise $5,000 for its restoration. Doncic's quick donation took care of the entire sum, allowing restoration efforts to kick off immediately. Having joined the Lakers less than three months ago from the Dallas Mavericks, Doncic voiced his strong admiration for Bryant. "Kobe is L.A. He and Gigi mean so much to this city, to the Lakers organization, and to me personally," Doncic stated. "I'm happy to do anything to help make sure he and his daughter are honored." Artist Louie Palsino showed appreciation for Doncic's backing, saying, "I'd like to say thank you to Luka, and I'm proud he is a Laker now and representing Los Angeles. I know Kobe is proud." Also Read: Donating to fix the 'Mambas Forever' mural, Luka Doncic shows both his respect for Kobe and Gianna Bryant and his dedication to helping LA. Because of his commitment, this tribute lives on for fans, connecting him even more closely with people in LA who treasure the Bryants' impact.
CNN
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
Analysis: The Indiana Pacers could be this year's team of destiny, even with Game 5 loss
When the 2025 NBA playoffs began, the Indiana Pacers were given 50-to-1 odds to win the title. Ten teams had better chances and most analysts didn't even mention them in championship conversations. But sometimes in the NBA, fate doesn't care about odds. Sometimes, it's just your time. We've seen it before. In 2011, the Dallas Mavericks stunned the world, sweeping Kobe Bryant and the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, outlasting the young and hungry Oklahoma City Thunder led by Kevin Durant, and then conquering the seemingly unbeatable Miami Heat trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. I covered that team. I saw it unfold in real time – and no one saw it coming. Then came 2019. Kawhi Leonard's Toronto Raptors embarked on a similarly improbable journey. They survived a Game 7 thriller against the Philadelphia 76ers thanks to Leonard's four-bounce buzzer-beater, outmuscled Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks, and capitalized on key injuries to Durant and Klay Thompson in the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors. The result: a championship no one predicted, but one they absolutely earned. Now, in 2025, the Pacers are building a case that they might be next even if their dominant lead in the Eastern Conference Finals was shrunk to 3-2 by the New York Knicks on Thursday night. They go home to Indianapolis on Saturday night for Game 6 with a chance to clinch a trip to the NBA Finals. You can't call a team a 'team of destiny' without at least one miracle. The Pacers have had three. Since 1997, NBA teams trailing by seven or more points in the final 50 seconds of regulation or overtime are a combined 4-1,702. The Pacers account for three of those wins, and they've all come during this playoff run: Game 5 vs. the Bucks in the first round Game 2 vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round Game 1 vs. the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals That last one, against New York, will go down in Garden infamy. With just 2:50 left, the Knicks held a 14-point lead. Before that game, teams leading by 14 or more in the final 2:50 of a playoff game were 977-0. They're now 977-1 thanks to an epic three-point barrage by Aaron Nesmith that stunned the Madison Square Garden crowd into silence. Every team of destiny has one thing in common: a superstar who raises his game to an all-time level. Dirk Nowitzki did it in 2011. Kawhi did it in 2019. Now, it's Tyrese Haliburton taking on that role. The 25-year-old from Oshkosh, Wisconsin – already an All-Star and Olympic gold medalist – has taken his game into the stratosphere. He's been at the center of every improbable comeback, orchestrating the chaos with poise, vision and confidence. In Game 4 against the Knicks, Haliburton delivered one of the greatest playoff performances ever by a point guard: 32 points, 15 assists, 12 rebounds – and zero turnovers. Read that again. A 30-point triple-double with 15 assists and no turnovers had never been done in the playoffs. Not by Magic Johnson. Not by LeBron James. Not by Chris Paul. Not by anyone – until now. Pacers forward Pascal Siakam said it best: 'He makes our team go. Playing with him and knowing that he cares about putting us all in position to be successful is what makes him special.' That was certainly true on Thursday; when Haliburton had a down night, the Pacers were dominated by the Knicks in a 111-94 defeat. Head coach Rick Carlisle – who led Nowitzki's Mavs during their 2011 miracle run – put it in historic perspective. 'To not turn it over in any of those situations is remarkable. That's become his thing. There might be a stat category named after him someday – him and Chris Paul, guys like that,' Carlisle said. 'Stockton didn't turn it over much. LeBron didn't either. Tyrese takes pride in that. It's a motivating factor.' Haliburton, ever steady, simply said: 'I take pride in taking care of the ball. The more we take care of the ball as a team, the more shots we get, and the better our chances to win. … I'd rather do really anything else on a basketball court than turn the ball over.' If the Pacers truly are a team of destiny and clinch a Finals berth, then their final exam may come in the form of the league's most dominant team: the Oklahoma City Thunder. OKC has been historically great this season, going 68-14 in the regular season. They haven't lost four in a seven game span all year – and that, of course, is what it would take to lift the Larry O'Brien Trophy. They clinched an opportunity to play for the championship on Wednesday with a 124-94 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, ending the Western Conference Finals in five games. But that's the thing about destiny: it doesn't care what's supposed to happen. The Pacers have already done the improbable. Three times. They've got a superstar playing perfect basketball. They're tough, unselfish, fearless – and they never think they're out of a game, even when everyone else does. So, are the Indiana Pacers a team of destiny? We'll find out soon enough.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
NBA star Klay Thompson suffers heartbreaking personal loss
NBA star Klay Thompson has suffered a heartbreaking personal loss after his team failed to make it to the postseason. The 35-year-old's beloved dog, Rocco, who has been by his side throughout his entire NBA career, has passed away at age 13. Thompson's father, Mychal, announced the devastating news of the English bulldog's death during an appearance on the 'Mason & Ireland' radio show Wednesday. 'As Mase and Ireland always say, when someone dear has departed, "Hail fellow well met,"' Thompson said. 'We had to put Rocco, Klay's dog, down over the weekend.' Mychal shared that Rocco was put down on Saturday but insisted that 'it was time.' 'We were all sad, but Rocco had a great, long life,' he added. 'So today's game is dedicated to the memory of our service men and women, and to Rocco.' Rocco shared his own slice of the limelight over the years as his owner rocketed to NBA stardom after Thompson adopted him in his rookie year. Thompson, who spent his first 13 seasons in the league with the Golden State Warriors before joining the Dallas Mavericks in 2024, even referred to the pet as his 'son.' Rocco had his own Instagram page, which featured several snaps of the pup and the four-time NBA champion. 'My first memory of Rocco is picking him up from the breeder at the time in the valley. And he was just a little puppy,' Thompson told last year. Now, he's a big all grown bulldog and great companion. He loves me unconditionally and I feel the same about him.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Report: Dallas Mavericks could pursue a trade for Jrue Holiday this offseason
Report: Dallas Mavericks could pursue a trade for Jrue Holiday this offseason There are early reports that the Boston Celtics could be busy in the offseason in making several roster changes, and one of the hottest rumors is a trade involving point guard Jrue Holiday. After one recent report suggested that the Los Angeles Clippers could be potential suitors for Holiday, another team has entered the rumor mill mix, the Dallas Mavericks. Earlier this week, Chris Forsberg and Kayla Burton of NBC Sports Boston discussed the rumor of Holiday being traded to Dallas, and how a return could include big man Daniel Gafford. Holiday is likely going to be the most speculated player on the roster, as the Celtics will work to put together a roster that will be without Jayson Tatum for an extended period of time. In the speculated deal, the discussion revolves around the Celtics receiving Gafford, who has been a formidable force in the paint for the Mavericks over the past two seasons. During his time with Dallas, Gafford has averaged career highs in points and rebounds, including 12.3 points and 6.8 rebounds in the 2024-25 season. After the Mavericks made a blockbuster trade to acquire superstar Anthony Davis, a big man like Gafford could be more expendable to move, especially in search for a point guard after they lost Kyrie Irving to a torn ACL in March. Watch the video above to hear the full discussion about a potential trade between the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics, two franchises who will be looking to retool their roster after losing a superstar late this past season. Trading Holiday would open up more opportunities for Derrick White and Payton Pritchard to run the point guard position if Boston were to move the veteran guard.
