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Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Nets HC Steve Nash praised by Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Former Brooklyn Nets head coach Steve Nash had quite the career in the NBA with what he did as a player after spending 18 years in the league. Nash tried to continue his legacy through coaching in Brooklyn and while that didn't work out in his favor, he still found a way to influence one of the best players in the Association today that hails from Canada. "It would be amazing (to win the championship during his MVP season). Steve, obviously, [he's] the pioneer for Canadian basketball," Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said during NBA Finals Media Day on Wednesday. Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder are looking to take on the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals on Thursday, but he gave some praise to Nash for what he did, not only for him, but for Canada as well. Advertisement "He started the whole thing, I guess you can say," Gilgeous-Alexander continued. "From the way he plays, to the way he carries himself, to his approach to the game. I learned so much from Steve being a 17-year-old kid in two weeks of time that helped me get here, for sure. The things he's done with Canada basketball in a hole and just push the culture forward, it's been amazing." Gilgeous-Alexander, 26, is not only coming off the first MVP award of his seven-year career, but he is doing that for an Oklahoma City team that is looking like a team that's here to stay thanks to their best players being in their early-to-mid 20's. As of this writing, Gilgeous-Alexander is one of 25 current NBA players in the league right now and he's the second Canadian player on the Thunder along with guard Lugentz Dort. Nash came to America to play college basketball at Santa Clara University and from there, he worked his way into being the 15th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns. Nash also spent his time in the league playing for the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers before retiring after the conclusion of the 2014-15 campaign. This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Former Nets HC Steve Nash praised by Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
USA Today
20 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Nets HC Steve Nash praised by Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Former Nets HC Steve Nash praised by Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Former Brooklyn Nets head coach Steve Nash had quite the career in the NBA with what he did as a player after spending 18 years in the league. Nash tried to continue his legacy through coaching in Brooklyn and while that didn't work out in his favor, he still found a way to influence one of the best players in the Association today that hails from Canada. "It would be amazing (to win the championship during his MVP season). Steve, obviously, [he's] the pioneer for Canadian basketball," Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said during NBA Finals Media Day on Wednesday. Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder are looking to take on the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals on Thursday, but he gave some praise to Nash for what he did, not only for him, but for Canada as well. "He started the whole thing, I guess you can say," Gilgeous-Alexander continued. "From the way he plays, to the way he carries himself, to his approach to the game. I learned so much from Steve being a 17-year-old kid in two weeks of time that helped me get here, for sure. The things he's done with Canada basketball in a hole and just push the culture forward, it's been amazing." Gilgeous-Alexander, 26, is not only coming off the first MVP award of his seven-year career, but he is doing that for an Oklahoma City team that is looking like a team that's here to stay thanks to their best players being in their early-to-mid 20's. As of this writing, Gilgeous-Alexander is one of 25 current NBA players in the league right now and he's the second Canadian player on the Thunder along with guard Lugentz Dort. Nash came to America to play college basketball at Santa Clara University and from there, he worked his way into being the 15th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns. Nash also spent his time in the league playing for the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers before retiring after the conclusion of the 2014-15 campaign.
Indianapolis Star
a day ago
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
Pacers' Aaron Nesmith says ankle ready for NBA Finals: 'I was looking forward to these days off'
Aaron Nesmith needed every kind of treatment imaginable to get his right ankle ready for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals after spraining it in Game 3. "It took a lot," Nesmith told reporters at NBA Finals Media Day on Wednesday in Oklahoma City. "It was pretty much rehab every minute of that day. It was cold tub, game-ready, hyperbaric chambers, it was red light therapy. It was manual wave, it was shock wave. Anything you could name we kinda threw it at the ankle, but there was no chance I was missing that game." Nesmith gritted through 32 minutes in Game 4 but was held to 15 minutes in Game 5 and 19 minutes in Game 6. He acknowledged his ankle was a little more stiff, and he got in foul trouble with five fouls in Game 6. But the Pacers clinching in six gave them five days to recover. Nesmith said that time was quite helpful. "I needed 'em," Nesmith said. "I was looking forward to these days off. I took 'em, and I'll be ready." Nesmith is averaging 14.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game in these playoffs. His 30-point performance in Game 1 against the Knicks was critical in the Pacers' comeback win. He's shooting 50.3% from the floor and 50% from 3-point range in the series.
Indianapolis Star
a day ago
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
Tyrese Haliburton says his dad will be allowed in OKC, Indy arenas for NBA Finals
Tyrese Haliburton told reporters at NBA Finals Media Day in Oklahoma City on Wednesday his father John will be allowed to attend games at both venues at the NBA Finals after he was effectively suspended following a confrontation with Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo after Game 5 of the first round of the playoffs. "I'm excited he's going to be in the building," Haliburton said. "The NBA has allowed him to be back in Indy, as well." John's seats for Pacers games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse have usually been on the baseline right underneath one of the baskets. When Tyrese beat the Bucks with a driving layup in Game 5 of the first round and clinched the series, John drifted onto the court with a flag with Tyrese's image, which he waved in Antetokounmpo's direction. John went back off the floor and Tyrese met with him to embrace him, but afterward Antetokounmpo confronted John. John said Antetokounmpo told him to never disrespect him again, but that he told Antetokounmpo no disrespect. Days later, John and the Pacers agreed he would not be allowed to attend games for the foreseeable future. However, in the Eastern Conference Finals, John was allowed to watch games from a suite rather than his usual seats starting with Game 4 of that series. He was not allowed to attend games in Madison Square Garden, but will be allowed to attend games in Oklahoma City. Tyrese joked after Game 4 that although the players were joking that they should "Free Pops," that "he was not in jail" and was watching games in nice accommodations even when he was banned, including Tyrese's house in Indiana. Still, he was pleased to have this phase over with. "I think the commentary around my dad got a little ridiculous," Tyrese said. "Of course, I'm going to say that. I'm his son. It got a little over the top. He was wrong. That is what it is. I don't think any of us want to be defined by our worst moments. That's just sports media. Sometimes we just take a super good thing or a super bad thing and overblow it. It is what it is. He's learned from it. It won't happen again. Love my pops dearly. Really thankful he's going to be in the building along with me on this journey." Tyrese revealed John would be allowed back in the building because he was asked about his relationship with his father. He spoke to how close they were and how much John had to work to help Tyrese reach the level he has. "He means the world to me," Haliburton said. "He's been my biggest fan may whole life. My dad doesn't think that I can do any wrong. My whole life he's always said I'm the best, I'm going to be the best. We have a very close relationship. Growing up my dad got laid off when I was in, like, elementary school. I lived down the road from the elementary and the middle school. I would make my dad drive me every day. That's how we connected. Growing up, he started working third shift. My only real time to connect with him was in the morning. We would watch SportsCenter together in the morning before he would drop me off at school and sleep for the rest of the day until he had to ref or whatever the case was." Haliburton was also asked about Indianapolis as a small market as both Indianapolis and Oklahoma City are small markets, which is expected to negatively affect television ratings for the series. Haliburton noted this is the biggest city he's lived in. He grew up in Oshkosh, Wis., played his college basketball at Iowa State in Ames then played his first two NBA seasons in Sacramento, which is just a slightly larger market than Indianapolis. "I'm from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, town of like 70,000 people," Haliburton said. "There's nothing to do. I didn't have anything to do growing up. I stayed in the house or went to the local YMCA to play basketball, went to the high school to play, went to my park at Oaklawn Elementary. Whatever it was, there wasn't a ton to do. I just think in my life, I really feel like right now in my life, I'm not talking about basketball, but in the offseason, I could live anywhere and be just fine. As long as I got my dog, my video games and a court, I'll be fine. "I just feel like being in Indy, like, it's a great place for me. Indy is a much bigger place than I'm even accustomed to. I know people say it's a small market, whatever the case is. Like, I didn't grow up somewhere where it was much bigger, have more to do. So I love being in Indy. Indy has been a great place for me and my family. My whole family lives there now. We love being there. It's a lot of fun for me. I don't need, like, the glitz and glamour of a large city or anything. I really like I think hometown, small-town feel from our fans, right?"
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Mark Daigneault explains how Thunder have navigated the glitz and glamor of NBA Finals
Mark Daigneault explains how Thunder have navigated the glitz and glamor of NBA Finals As the Oklahoma City Thunder prepare for the Indiana Pacers, the circus that typically surrounds the NBA Finals is brand new for most of the roster. Even Alex Caruso — the lone champion on their roster — had a unique experience in The Bubble. Still three days away from Game 1, the Thunder's typical setup looks vastly different now compared to even Round 1 of the playoffs. Expect national and global media to flock to OKC this week. Practices have had simultaneous media availabilities — one on Zoom and one in-person. The attention will only increase tenfold. The NBA Finals Media Day will be hosted on Wednesday. Expect hundreds of folks to overwhelm the entire roster with questions. Usually holding practice at their facility, the Thunder will hold it at Paycom Center as the all-day event will be broadcast on NBA TV. Despite all this hoopla, the Thunder have remained focused on the goal. They're four wins away from a championship and enter as heavy favorites against the Pacers. Mark Daigneault has helped navigate his group from this first-time experience. 'There are some things that are different. We're gonna practice Wednesday at the arena and there's gonna be 100 people at the last 45 minutes of practice. Trying to pretend that's the exact same would be foolish on our part," Daigneault said. "That's going to feel a lot different and we're trying to define that. We're also going to try to define what's the same. And what's the same is when the ball goes up in the air." This is the best mindset to have. All the pageantry involved with the NBA Finals becomes irrelevant once Game 1 starts. The Thunder will need to Eurostep their way through all the glitter. Especially when they're universally seen as the favorite to win the series.
