Latest news with #LarryO'BrienTrophy
USA Today
14 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Laker, 2020 NBA champion on why it's hard to play with LeBron James
Former Laker, 2020 NBA champion on why it's hard to play with LeBron James When the Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA championship during the 2019-20 season, they didn't have an overwhelmingly talented roster outside of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. But they did have a number of valuable role players who all chipped in to bring home the Larry O'Brien Trophy. One of those role players was Danny Green. The veteran wing signed as a free agent with the Lakers in the summer of 2019, and his defense and 3-point shooting were sizable keys to their championship run. But during an appearance on the "All the Smoke" podcast, Green said that playing alongside James wasn't easy. It wasn't that James himself made things difficult, but the superstar's legion of fans would be hard on him if he wasn't getting the job done (h/t Lakers Daily). 'He made the game very easy,' Green said of James. 'But…there are times where it's not as easy because there's so much pressure, even if you're wide open, to execute the play because you're playing with LeBron James. And that's more so on the outside than it is on the inside 'cause Bron ain't putting the pressure on you. 'But all the LeBron fans are like, 'Who's this bum? Why is he playing with — he can't make a damn shot.' You know what I'm saying? So, it's a gift and a curse, but he made the game easy, man. 'And it was a lot of fun learning from him early on, a lot of fun playing against him and then even better to play with him, and then it was the bubble, but winning the championship with him. It was great, man, so I couldn't ask for a better scenario.' James has many devoted fans who are unquestionably loyal to him and will go to great lengths to defend him. Some seem to feel that such fans even have the tendency to blame others when things don't go well for James or his team. In Game 5 of the 2020 NBA Finals, the Lakers led the series 3-1 over the Miami Heat and needed just one more win to wrap up the world title. They trailed 109-108 in the closing seconds, and James found Green for an open 3-pointer that Green missed, allowing Miami to win and send the series to a sixth game. Although the Lakers won Game 6 convincingly, Green received death threats after missing the shot in Game 5 that would've concluded matters. In the end, he received his third championship ring following that Game 6 victory. He had won it all the previous season with the Toronto Raptors and in 2014 with the San Antonio Spurs.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Chet Holmgren sets franchise record as Thunder clinches 2025 NBA Finals berth
The post Chet Holmgren sets franchise record as Thunder clinches 2025 NBA Finals berth appeared first on ClutchPoints. Chet Holmgren will earn his first taste of the NBA Finals. His Oklahoma City Thunder pummeled the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-94 to clinch the Western Conference title. The Thunder big man hit franchise history on his way to a Finals berth. Advertisement Holmgren dropped 22 points on the T-Wolves. He swooped up seven rebounds too. Then he turned to his long arms to block three Minnesota shot attempts. He's the youngest player to hit those marks in a WCF game, per StatMuse. Holmgren blitzed the T-Wolves right away with scoring seven of OKC's first 11 points. Including throwing down this thunderous dunk off a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assist. The towering Holmgren energized an early 26-9 first quarter lead for the home team. He showed a mix of jubilation but focus for the next step he and OKC must take. Chet Holmgren reacts to heading to NBA Finals with Thunder Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images The versatile forward-center walked into the WCF facing his hometown team. Holmgren hailed from Minnesota and called the conference final a 'full circle moment.' Advertisement He helped make quick work of the feisty T-Wolves — winning in five games. The former No. 2 overall pick from the 2022 NBA Draft earned hefty praise for leading this new Thunder run. But he chose to deflect the credit. 'We have 17 dudes on the roster who works hard every single night,' Holmgren told the crowd postgame. But is he satisfied with getting OKC back into the Larry O'Brien Trophy hunt? 'I wouldn't say it's satisfying. It's a step in the journey,' Holmgren told ESPN's Lisa Salters in front of the Paycom Center crowd. 'We still have some season to play. Never take it for granted cause I couldn't even walk for two months.' Advertisement Holmgren sat for nearly 50 games with a right iliac wing fracture (also a pelvic fracture). He sustained the ailment on November 10, 2024. The Thunder welcomed him back in Feb. 2025 — and the rest became history. Now Holmgren and the 2025 Western Conference champs await the Indiana Pacers or New York Knicks.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
NBA's cycle of superteams has been dismantled. Owners wanted parity and got it.
NBA's cycle of superteams has been dismantled. Owners wanted parity and got it. Show Caption Hide Caption Shai Gilgeous-Alexander latest player born outside USA to win MVP USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Zillgitt breaks down the MVP-caliber season had by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Sports Pulse If the impending NBA Finals matchup of the league's 23rd and 27th-ranked media markets is supposed to spell doom for the league, it is a doom the NBA's owners intentionally brought on themselves. While two glitz-free Midwestern cities in the Finals might not have the celebrity pull the NBA has largely enjoyed through its historically successful franchises, it was an inevitable outcome once the league designed a collective bargaining agreement that dismantled its traditional cycle of superteams and dynasties. Welcome to the new NBA, where championship windows are smaller, the life cycle of a roster is shorter and the number of teams that can win a title in any given year is beyond anything we've seen in our lifetimes. But rather than post memes of Adam Silver shedding tears over the Larry O'Brien Trophy because we are likely getting Indianapolis and Oklahoma City playing for it, consider adjusting your expectations going forward. Because this is the league of relative parity the NBA wanted, and it's the league they shall have for the foreseeable future. We are only in Year 2 of the current CBA, which extends through the 2029-30 season. And it's working precisely as the majority of league owners intended, flattening the field and making it remarkably difficult to keep a championship contender intact for very long. Exhibit A? The Boston Celtics, with a roster that has a projected $197 million committed next season to just five players. In order to avoid the so-called second apron, Boston will have to shed at least $20 million in salary or else face a variety of penalties that aren't merely financial but would limit their ability to make certain kinds of moves. And that's exactly how the NBA wants it: The more successful your team is, the more expensive its roster becomes, the more difficult the rules make it to continue the same course. That day is coming for Indiana as its key players cycle through their current contracts, and it's certainly coming for Oklahoma City as players like Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren come off their rookie deals, and several other veterans hit free agency in the summer of 2026. If anything, it starts to look more like an NFL model, where the teams that tend to do well have a roster oriented toward a few stars making big money and a lot of players contributing early in their careers and performing at a higher level than their contracts would suggest. But when they hit free agency and seek a significantly bigger contract, the decisions become more difficult, and the organization is tested in its ability to fill holes through the draft. Does that seem fair? No, but it wasn't designed to be fair. It was designed to redistribute talent through the league at a greater rate than we had seen previously, and it appears to be working. It is perhaps no coincidence that as the NBA will crown its seventh different champion in the last seven years, teams that were as far down as the play-in ranks this year are measuring whether a mega-trade for someone like Giannis Antetokounmpo or Kevin Durant could immediately lift them into the Finals conversation. At least on paper, the league seems that wide open, and it will no longer seem like an anomaly when two of the smaller, less-glamorous markets end up as the last teams standing. If you were an owner outside the handful of heavyweight markets that have traditionally attracted the best free agents, wouldn't you want the same thing? Though we are just a couple of years into this CBA, there's already proof of concept: If you manage your assets correctly and build elite depth through the draft, you don't need to recreate the 2010-14 Miami Heat to contend for a title. There are certainly drawbacks to this approach. If you're a good team that made a great draft pick in the teens or 20s and developed them into a quality role player, there's an argument that you should be able to both keep and reward that player for the long haul without having to fundamentally alter your team. In the old CBA, there were a few more nooks and crannies that allowed teams to work around the edges. Also, consider what's about to happen in Cleveland, where Evan Mobley winning defensive player of the year expanded the contract extension he already signed last summer by roughly $7 million next year and by $45 million over the life of the deal. That margin will directly impact how much Cleveland will be able to improve its team this summer, as the Cavaliers are projected to be in the second apron – and may even cost them a player. The real kicker to it is that Victor Wembanyama was running away with the award at the All-Star break but was shut down in February due to a blood clot and finished short of the 65-game minimum requirement for most NBA awards, making Mobley next in line. In other words, the chain reaction of an injury in San Antonio ends up limiting what a championship contender this year can do with its roster – even though nothing really changed from a basketball-value standpoint. That may not be the ideal way to run a league, but such absurdities are precisely what NBA owners signed up for with this CBA. What used to be a fairly simple way to build a dynasty – acquire a generational player in the draft, then attract other stars through trades or free agency – is now a much more complex dance with different paths to a title. Indiana and Oklahoma City have nailed it – for now. But greatness in this NBA isn't meant to be forever. So if this likely Finals matchup isn't your jam, there's a simple solution. Just wait 'til next year.
The South African
6 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
Larry O'Brien trophy visits the Sharks as NBA Finals approach
The iconic Larry O'Brien basketball NBA Championship Trophy made a special visit to Durban this month. The visit thrilled South African sports fans by dropping in on the Sharks rugby team. This marks another exciting stop on the trophy's global tour ahead of the 2025 NBA Finals, which tip off on 5 June. The Larry O'Brien Trophy, a symbol of basketball excellence. It has been captivating fans worldwide as the NBA Playoffs enter their final, nail-biting stages. The trophy itself is a masterpiece, crafted from nearly 16 pounds of sterling silver with a 24-karat gold overlay, according to the NBA. Its design is elegant yet dynamic, etched to resemble a basketball net with a regulation-size ball perched on the rim. HISTORY OF THE TROPHY The trophy's history dates back to 1978, when it replaced the Walter A. Brown Trophy. In 1984, it was renamed in honour of Larry O'Brien, the NBA commissioner from 1975 to 1984. Larry played a pivotal role in expanding the league and introducing the three-point shot. Larry O'Brien's legacy is etched not only in the trophy but also in the growth of basketball worldwide. 'Larry was a visionary who helped shape the NBA into the global phenomenon it is today,' said a spokesperson from NBA Africa. 'Having the trophy here in Durban is a testament to basketball's expanding reach. It is the passion that inspires in South Africa.' South African basketball fans have plenty to cheer for beyond the NBA Finals. The local team, Made By Basketball (MBB), is led by 1986 NBA champion Sam Vincent. The team is gearing up for the Basketball Africa League's (BAL) Nile Conference. The conference kicks off in Kigali on Saturday. MBB's journey could bring top-tier basketball to South African soil during the BAL Playoffs and Finals at SunBet Arena in Pretoria from 6 to 14 June. Tickets are available on Ticketmaster, priced affordably for local fans eager to witness high-level competition live. 'The Larry O'Brien Trophy's visit energises our players and fans alike,' said Sam Vincent. 'It's a reminder of what's possible with hard work and dedication. We hope to bring that same spirit to the BAL and make South Africa proud.' With the NBA Finals just around the corner and the BAL season heating up, basketball is firmly on the South African sports map. The Larry O'Brien Trophy tour is a celebration of basketball's growing influence and a call to fans to embrace the game's excitement. As the countdown to 5 June 5 continues, South African fans can look forward to thrilling NBA action on ESPN and NBA League Pass. The Larry O'Brien Trophy's visit to Durban is a shining example of basketball's unifying power, inspiring a new generation of players and supporters across the continent. In the words of a Sharks player who got to see the trophy up close: 'Holding the Larry O'Brien Trophy felt surreal. It's a symbol of greatness, and now it's part of our story here in South Africa.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Vancouver Sun
23-05-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
Tom Mayenknecht: Leafs and Knicks are big brands with small success
The New York Knicks and the Toronto Maple Leafs have a lot in common when it comes to their status as two of the leading heritage brands in their respective sports of basketball and hockey. In fact, they have had very similar trajectories — for better and for worse — over much of the past 50-plus years. Both franchises tug at the historical roots of the two leagues they have been synonymous with, since 1946 in the case of the Knicks and 1917 in the case of the Leafs. They represent two of the four biggest sport markets in North America, with the Knicks playing in the city that never sleeps — the biggest media market in the U.S. — and the Leafs in the dominant sports market in Canada. They play out of two of the busiest arenas in the world, with the Knicks calling the iconic Madison Square Garden home and the Leafs at Scotiabank Arena, branded with the biggest naming rights deal in the world ($40 million per annum and $800 million over 20 years). The Knicks and the Leafs have been traditionally at or near the top of the Forbes franchise valuation lists since those enterprise value estimates were first created in baseball in 1998. New York is third on the current NBA franchise valuation list at $7.7 billion US while the $3.8 billion US Maple Leafs have led NHL valuations in recent years. New York drives an estimated $543 million US in annual revenues while the Leafs reportedly grossed more than $308 million US last year. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The similarities are not limited to the dollars and cents that are central to the business of sport, with both franchises failing to consistently do as well in basketball operations on the court and in hockey operations on the ice as they have done in business. Outside of the 1950s, the early 1970s and the mid-1990s, the Knicks have had more than their share of frustration when it comes to championship-contending teams. Their championship drought dates back to 1970 and 1973. The last two times they made the eastern conference finals was in 1994 and 1999. Going into this year, all that they have had to show for the last quarter-century are division titles in 2013 and 2020. The Leafs shared the limelight with the Knicks in the mid-1990s, last making the eastern conference finals of the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs in 1994. Their last Stanley Cup victory at the end of the Original Six era in 1967 has become the stuff of legend. That was 57 years ago. And that's where the two storied teams went on divergent paths this past week. The Knicks eliminated the defending Larry O'Brien Trophy holders — the Boston Celtics — to reach this week's eastern conference finals against the Indiana Pacers. That keeps them alive for a chance to win their first championship in 52 years. And the television numbers will reflect that potential. The Leafs were in a similar position, playing against the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in an eastern conference final that saw them an overtime goal away from a 3-0 best-of-seven series lead. That's where the Leafs took a wrong turn. And yet again, they are empty-handed after another missed opportunity for the core four of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares. The Game 7 loss last Sunday night effectively closed the door on the Brendan Shanahan era and a team presidency that goes back 11 years. It isn't what the scriptwriters were looking for in the rebuild of the mid-2010s. All that's for sure is that there are more questions than answers in Toronto this week. And it's over to the Edmonton Oilers as Canada's last chance to win the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1993. Tom Mayenknecht is the host of The Sport Market on Sportsnet 650 on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Vancouver-based sport business commentator and principal in Emblematica Brand Builders provides a behind-the-scenes look at the sport business stories that matter most to fans. Follow Mayenknecht at: .
