Latest news with #Grizzlies
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Memphis Grizzlies sign PJ Hall, former Clemson basketball star, to NBA two-way contract
Former Clemson basketball star PJ Hall has an NBA contract again. The Memphis Grizzlies signed Hall to a two-way contract July 20. A two-way contract allows a team to have up to three players (in addition to their 15-man roster) who can split time between the NBA and its G League affiliate. Hall, 23, is back in the NBA after going undrafted in the 2024 NBA Draft and signing a two-way deal with the Denver Nuggets. He played in 19 games with the Nuggets last season, averaging 1.7 points and 1.2 rebounds in 3.5 minutes as a rookie. The Nuggets released him this offseason, and he played for the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA Las Vegas Summer League when the Grizzlies signed him. He averaged 9.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, one assist and 1.6 blocks in 13.7 minutes. Hall started all 20 of his Showcase Cup and regular-season appearances with the G League's Grand Rapids Gold last season, averaging 18.9 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 blocks in 32 minutes. He averages increased to 19.2 points, 12.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 31.5 minutes in 13 games during the regular season. Hall attended Clemson for four seasons and helped it make to the Elite Eight for the first time in 44 years in 2024. He earned first-team All-ACC honors and finished third in ACC Player of the Year voting in his final season. Before Clemson, Hall played at Dorman in Spartanburg, helping the Cavaliers to two Class AAAAA state championships. He was rated the state's No. 1 recruit by 247Sports and was selected the Gatorade South Carolina Player of the Year as a senior. Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@ and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00 This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Former Clemson basketball star P.J. Hall signs with Memphis Grizzlies
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Warriors' Stephen Curry Doesn't Hold Back About Ja Morant
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The NBA has a lot of dynamic guards. Two of the best in the business right now are Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry and Memphis Grizzlies' young star Ja Morant. Curry has been among the NBA's elite for years and is now 37 years old. He's heading into what will be his 17th season in 2025-26. To this point, he has shown no signs of falling off. Morant, on the other hand, is just 25 years old. He has seen his career hampered by injury issues, but has remained a legitimate star. His next step will be leading the Grizzlies to being a serious championship contender. Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies guards Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors during the first half at FedExForum on April 01, 2025 in Memphis, Tennessee. Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies guards Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors during the first half at FedExForum on April 01, 2025 in Memphis, Tennessee. Photo byBoth players bring extreme entertainment to the court. Curry is a pure shooter, while Morant is extremely athletic and is elite at attacking the rim. Read more: Knicks' Jalen Brunson Calls Out Myles Turner Over Free Agency Decision Recently, Curry spoke out about Morant and did not hold back his thoughts on the Memphis star. During an appearance, Curry made it clear that he believes Morant is the most athletic player in the NBA. "Ja Morant," Curry said. "I think pound for pound, he's the most athletic player in the league. Russell Westbrook when he was in his full prime. John Wall. We always talk about those guys as being the most athletic in the league." It's hard to argue against Curry's statement. A healthy Morant is nearly unstoppable when attacking the rim due to his speed and jumping ability. However, he needs to stay healthy and he needs to win at the highest level to truly enter the "superstar" category of NBA players. Read more: Trae Young's NBA Future Has Become a Focus Around the League Throughout his career thus far with the Grizzlies, Morant has played in 307 games. He has career averages of 22.6 points, 7.4 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and a steal per game, while shooting 46.9 percent from the floor and 31.6 percent from three-point range. Curry, on the other hand, has put together a 1,026-game career to date. He has averaged 24.7 points, 6.4 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game and has shot 47.1 percent from the floor and connected on 42.3 percent of his three-point attempts. Heading into the 2025-26 NBA season, it will be interesting to see what Morant is able to do with Memphis. The Grizzlies added Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Ty Jerome, and Cedric Coward this offseason, while trading Desmond Bane away to the Orlando Magic. For more on the Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies, and general NBA news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ja Morant, Nike dropping graffiti-inspired Nike Ja 3
The post Ja Morant, Nike dropping graffiti-inspired Nike Ja 3 appeared first on ClutchPoints. With Memphis Grizzlies' star Ja Morant patiently waiting in the wings for another opportunity at making the Playoffs and contending for an NBA Championship, he'll also take the offseason to relax and do some sightseeing around the world. In preparation for Morant's 'Make Them Watch Tour,' sponsor Nike will debut city-inspired Nike Ja 3 colorways throughout each stop of the journey. Check our Sneakers news for more upcoming releases and breaking content! In promoting his newest signature Nike Ja 3 sneakers, Ja Morant will go on international tour through July and August 2025. His first stop will be Augusta, Georgia for the Nike EYBL Peach Jam tournament. Then, Morant will head to New York City, China, Tokyo, and his final stop being Manila, Philippines. To coincide with a number of stops, Nike plans to release graffiti-inspired colorways of the Nike Ja 3 paying homage to important stops on the tour. The three-shoe pack is expected to drop throughout July and August as Ja Morant makes his way in front of a global audience. Nike Ja 3 x 'Make Them Watch Tour' The first 'EYBL' colorway will come in the form of a light orange/pink hue to represent Georgia's Peach Jam. The shoes are contrasted by a soft neutral grey, alternating sides throughout the textured ripples of the shoes. The vertical Nike Swoosh is done in hot pink and neon blue, flanked by a graffiti-style 'A' in yellow and pink, combining with the Swoosh to spell 'JA.' The 'NY vs NY' colorway will honor Morant's New York City stop with a primarily black colorway to contrast the previous release. Unlike the other colorway, this one will be monochromatic with black aspects all throughout. The Nike Swoosh will be metallic yellow and orange, while the graffiti 'A' is done in orange and blue. The final 'Light Show' colorway will serve as the shoe for the China stop, releasing exclusively in the country via Nike platforms. This edition features alternating white and grey ripples, accented by blue/pink on the Swoosh and orange/purple on the 'A.' All in all, the three colorways are all vibrant looks of the Ja 3 and it's exciting to see the thematic nuances behind the colorways. The Nike Ja 3 is set to land on July 22, 2025. While one pair will be a Chinese exclusive, the other pairs will drop via Nike SNKRS app and select Nike platforms for a retail tag of $135. The Nike Ja 3 will see wider releases in the coming months following the conclusion of the 'Make Them Watch Tour.' Related: Bronny James rocks the Nike LeBron 20 at NBA Summer League Related: Kevin Durant's newest Nike KD 18 honors the Seattle SuperSonics
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Writer proposes Lakers trade for former Defensive Player of the Year
The Los Angeles Lakers need a little more help in order to become championship contenders, and they know it. They reportedly want to improve their backcourt defense, and they may have to make a trade in order to do so, as they lack flexibility under the first apron of the NBA's salary cap. One report indicated that they have had some preliminary trade talks to inquire about the availability of Marcus Smart, a veteran guard who won the Defensive Player of the Year award for the 2021-22 season. Smart is 31 years of age and has been injury-prone, but he could be the type of suffocating defender L.A. needs, and he could also serve as a secondary ball-handler and facilitator. Jedd Pagaduan of ClutchPoints proposed that the team send guard Gabe Vincent, big man Maxi Kleber and a 2032 second-round draft pick to the Washington Wizards for Smart. Via ClutchPoints: "What made Vincent valuable for the Lakers last season was that he showed up for the majority of the season, suiting up in 72 games and providing some much-needed backcourt versatility for the Purple and Gold," Pagaduan wrote. "Giving him up for Smart requires the Lakers to take a risk and have faith that the 2022 DPOY isn't damaged goods quite yet. "That requires a lot of positive thinking, as the Grizzlies, the team that acquired Smart to be their de facto Dillon Brooks replacement, had to give up a first-rounder just so they could get his contract off the books. Smart hasn't been at his best physically over the past few seasons, picking up a knock here and there which added up to a ton of missed time "... There is a chance that the 31-year-old won't be able to return to his DPOY form, although even then, he would represent an upgrade over Vincent. ... But at the very least, Smart showed that he can still play solid basketball for stretches. His shooting percentages improved towards the end of last season when he was with the Wizards, and in LA, he won't be tasked to do much of anything other than to defend, hit open shots, and ruffle opponents' feathers. "The expectation for Smart should the Lakers trade for him would be for him to play at least 65 games, play 20 minutes a night, and act as a key piece of a Purple and Gold squad that aims to recapture the defensive heights they reached last year." Los Angeles is in a situation where it may not be able to be picky about the player upgrades it pursues on the trade market, given its limited trade assets. Smart has appeared in just 54 games over the last two seasons, but as long as he's available for the entirety of the playoffs, he may be a good player for the team to go after. This past season, he averaged 9.0 points, 3.2 assists and 1.1 steals in 20.0 minutes a game. He shot 34.8% from 3-point range, which was his highest figure in that department since the 2018-19 season. After spending his first nine seasons with the Boston Celtics, Smart has plenty of playoff experience, which includes five trips to the Eastern Conference Finals and one appearance in the NBA Finals. That wouldn't exactly hurt a Lakers team that has gotten younger lately. This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Writer proposes Lakers trade for former Defensive Player of the Year
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
3 takeaways from Memphis Grizzlies' Las Vegas Summer League debut, loss to Boston Celtics
LAS VEGAS — A packed Cox Pavilion tuned in as the Memphis Grizzlies and Boston Celtics made their Las Vegas Summer League debuts on July 11. This was the fourth overall summer league game for the Grizzlies after three in Utah, but they didn't look like the more experienced team. Advertisement The Celtics controlled most of the game. Neither team shot well, but Boston capitalized on more misses by winning the offensive rebounding battle and forcing turnovers. There were too many mistakes for the Grizzlies in a 92-78 loss. Four Memphis starters scored in double figures, led by GG Jackson's 16 points. Here are three takeaways from the loss. Three rookies missing in action Rookies Cedric Coward, Jahmai Mashack and Javon Small all missed the game against the Celtics. Coward hasn't been with the Grizzlies in Salt Lake City or Las Vegas while he continues to get back to full strength recovering from a shoulder injury. Advertisement Small has a groin injury that has kept him out of the past three games. Mashack showed signs of progression in his first two appearances, but he missed the July 11 game due to a hamstring injury. Of the three absences, Small's was the most noticeable on the floor. Memphis is using mostly non-traditional players at point guard, with Small inactive. This led to sloppy ball movement and offensive possessions at times without a catalyst. The Grizzlies finished with 19 turnovers. A balanced day Memphis got a lot of balanced production from many of its starters. No one stood out as having a great game, but Armando Bacot, Jaylen Wells, Cam Spencer and Jackson were all solid for the most part. Advertisement With Small out and Boston's defense pressuring the Grizzlies, Memphis used Bacot to start a lot of offense. Each of the five starters finished with at least two assists. Older Grizzlies players showing support Zach Edey, John Konchar, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Scotty Pippen Jr. were among the Grizzlies players in attendance supporting their teammates. They sat courtside on a row that included Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman and vice president of basketball affairs Tayshaun Prince. Edey was sporting a boot on his left ankle after having surgery earlier this summer. He and Pippen signed autographs for kids before the game and during halftime. Advertisement Grizzlies players have made a habit of going to summer league, supporting and working out with teammates. It's unclear if more will be in attendance during the next week. What's next Memphis will be back in action on July 12 against the Portland Trail Blazers (9:30 p.m. CT, ESPN2). If the Grizzlies hope to have a chance at winning a summer league title, they would need to win out and beat teams comfortably. Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies summer league highlights, stats vs Boston Celtics
