Latest news with #NBAHustleAward
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
LeBron James Makes Strong Alex Caruso Statement Before NBA Finals
LeBron James Makes Strong Alex Caruso Statement Before NBA Finals originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The NBA finals tip off Thursday night from Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, where the hometown Thunder host the Indiana Pacers. It's a winner-take-all, best-of-seven series and both teams are chasing their first-ever NBA championship. Advertisement With a break after the conclusion of the Western and Eastern Conference finals, analysts and fans had time to dissect every matchup. Over a full series, the strategies and adjustments will be fascinating to watch. It seems every NBA finals features a wildcard who makes a game-changing impact. For Oklahoma City, that player might be someone who's already been there and done that. On the latest episode of the "Mind the Game" podcast, LeBron James made a strong statement about his former teammate, Alex Caruso. James, joined by Steve Nash, praised Caruso's versatile defensive abilities. 'Then they come off the bench with one of my favorite teammates of all time in Alex Caruso.' Advertisement When Nash chimed in and called Caruso a 'DOG,' LeBron doubled down. 'He's like the ultimate Swiss Army knife. We've seen him guard Giannis, the Joker, ANT, Julius Randle, Jamal Murray, all in this postseason.' "You check the plus/minus after the game, and AC might have five points, three rebounds, two assists and his plus/minus will be a [expletive] 17.' James added. Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9). Alonzo Adams/Imagn Images Later in the episode, James recalled one of his favorite plays from Oklahoma City's run to the finals. "AC was guarding the ball on the left wing, I think it was Anthony Edwards. Edwards got to the middle, which you try to avoid, but he's so dynamic, it's going to happen. After getting some help at the nail, AC still recovered to contest the corner 3.' James said. Advertisement 'Instead of just standing and watching after the help, he sprinted to the corner and contested the shot. That kind of hustle affects outcomes. With that kind of effort, they're going to keep winning.' Caruso entered the NBA undrafted in 2016 and eventually earned a spot on the 2020 championship Lakers alongside James. He won the NBA Hustle Award in 2024, made the NBA All-Defensive First Team in 2023, and the second team last season. In the 2024–25 season, Caruso played 54 games and averaged 7.1 points per game. Related: Boston Celtics Suffer Major Loss on Monday Related: Shaquille O'Neal Had Strong Words Amid Final Broadcasting Appearance This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Warriors' Draymond Green wins 2025 NBA Hustle Award
Draymond Green is the winner of the NBA Hustle Award for 2024-25, the league announced Friday. The Golden State Warriors forward is a first-time winner of the award, which was created in 2017 to honor players who make "effort plays that don't often appear in the traditional box score, but impact winning on a nightly basis," according to the NBA's announcement. The league tracks "hustle stats," including deflections, loose balls recovered, charges taken, screens set and shots contested to determine the winner of the award. Interestingly, Green only ranked among the top 10 in charges drawn and contested 3-pointers, while placing in the top 20 in deflections and contested 2-point shots. Looking at the hustle stats page on one might conclude that Dyson Daniels of the Atlanta Hawks or the New York Knicks' Josh Hart should have won the award. However, Green ranked among the top 40 in all nine hustle categories, which made him the winner. At 35, he's the oldest player to win the award. Previously, Green has been among the top five finishers, including runner-up in 2017 and 2023. Green is also the second former Defensive Player of the Year to win the Hustle Award, joining Marcus Smart. Green won Defensive Player of the Year in 2017 and was a finalist for the honor this season. During his 13 NBA seasons, Green has also earned All-NBA status twice and All-Defensive Team honors eight times. The winner of the 2024-25 NBA Hustle Award is... Draymond Green! #NBAAwardsThe award honors a player who makes the effort plays that do not often appear in the box score but help determine team success. — NBA (@NBA) April 25, 2025 Finishing behind Green as the top five finishers were Cason Wallace of the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Philadelphia 76ers' Guerschon Yabusele, OKC's Luguentz Dort and Daniels, according to the league. Patrick Beverley was the inaugural winner of the award in 2017. Smart won the honor in 2019, 2022 and 2023 with the Boston Celtics. Last season's winner was Alex Caruso, then with the Chicago Bulls.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Draymond Green's Brutally Honest Response on Warriors' Blowout Loss
Wednesday night at Toyota Center felt more like Game 7 than a desperate Game 5. Houston exploded from the opening tip, pouring in 40 first-quarter points, immediately putting Golden State on its heels. Advertisement By halftime, the Rockets were up 76-49, led by Alperen Şengün's near triple-double (12 pts, 6 reb, 8 ast). The third quarter was more of the same: Houston outpaced Golden State to stretch the advantage to 107–80, prompting Steve Kerr to empty his bench and regroup for Game 6. After the game, 2025 NBA Hustle Award winner Draymond Green said, "They weren't playing 'Whoop that Trick' but they may as well have been," per Anthony Slater of The Athletic. A brief Warriors run early in the fourth cut the lead, but the Rockets' starters quickly eliminated any threat. When the dust settled, the scoreboard read 131–116 in Houston's favor, and the series stood at 3–2, with the Rockets breathing new life into their season. Advertisement Key to Houston's victory was their defensive intensity and balanced attack. Şengün finished with 15 points, nine boards, and nine assists, proving too much for Golden State's frontcourt to handle. Fred VanVleet drilled four triples and scored 26 points, while Amen Thompson chipped in 25 points, six rebounds, three assists and five steals. Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23).Robert Edwards-Imagn Images Golden State, on the other hand, saw its vaunted dynasty tested. Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler combined for just 21 points on poor shooting (6-of-22 from the field), while Green mustered a mere seven points. A late ejection of Pat Spencer for head-butting Şengün added drama to a series that now turns to Game 6 on May 2, back in San Francisco. Advertisement Related: Bronny James Dealt Bad G League News Before NBA Playoffs Related: NBA Makes Major Nikola Jokic Announcement Before Playoffs
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Draymond keeps emotions in check to make Warriors' Game 4-winning play
Draymond keeps emotions in check to make Warriors' Game 4-winning play originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area SAN FRANCISCO – With five personal fouls including a Flagrant 1, not to mention yet another technical, Warriors forward Draymond Green had no intentions of slowing down his aggressive nature on defense or doing anything to alter his style on Monday night at Chase Center. Advertisement The only real issue for the former NBA Defensive Player of the Year was to avoid picking up a silly foul, which was a serious reality during a game when fouls were given out like candy. In Green's mind, it was well worth the risk of picking up his sixth and final foul rather than alter his game because of the situation. 'Just not pick up a cheap one, but I'm never going to be one of the guys that just because you got five [fouls] you don't defend,' Green said after the Warriors' 109-106 Game 4 win over the Houston Rockets. 'I feel very confident in my defensive ability to defend without fouling. In that situation, you have to make sure your fundamentals are clean. That's what I try to do.' Green kept his emotions and fouls in check long enough to make the winning play of the game. Advertisement With the Dubs clinging to a 107-106 lead and the final seconds ticking away in the fourth quarter, Rockets center Alperen Şengün got the ball above the arc and tried to drive toward the left side of the key, looking for a go-ahead bucket. Instead, he got below the free-throw line and bumped into Green, who forced the former first-round draft pick into a rushed hook shot that missed the mark with 4 seconds left to play. Houston had another chance to tie the game a few seconds later when Fred VanVleet missed a 3-point attempt, allowing Golden State to take a very comfortable 3-1 lead in the first-round NBA playoff series. 'He knows we must have Draymond on the floor in order to win,' Jimmy Butler said. 'The amount of poise he has when everything he does, it's always blown out of proportion. To stay so calm, to come out there [and] get stops … a special human being. That's why he's the hustle man of the year. Remember that.' Advertisement Green indeed was selected as the 2024-25 NBA Hustle Award winner, though he had been making a serious case – on the court and in the media – to win his second DPOY Award. When that didn't happen, Green reacted just like he did when he was in foul trouble against the Rockets. No reason to make a big fuss. Just keep it pushing. 'Draymond always walks the line, he always teeters on that line. He's an emotional force, a physical force and he just can't cross the line. He knows that,' Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. 'He's done a great job of playing through the frustrations. This is a tough series for him. The way the game is being played, they've kind of taken the ball out of his hands a little it. He's done a really good job of dealing with the frustration and competing. The last two games his fourth-quarter defense keyed everything. Advertisement 'He's the best defender I've ever seen in my life. He rises to the occasion. On top of being a great defender, he's an incredible competitor.' Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Draymond Green Snubbed for DPOY But Wins NBA Hustle Award—Wife's Reaction Says It All
Draymond Green might have missed out on the Defensive Player of the Year award, but the Golden State Warriors star still had reason to celebrate after earning the NBA Hustle Award . Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The recognition highlights his relentless effort on the court, even when it doesn't always show up in the stat sheet. The announcement sparked congratulatory messages from teammates, fans, and most notably, Green's wife, Hazel Renee, who shared a touching tribute to her husband's hard work. Draymond Green earns NBA Hustle Award for relentless play The NBA Hustle Award is given to players who consistently make effort plays that contribute to team success beyond traditional statistics. , known for his intensity and leadership, finished the 2024-25 season averaging 9.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game. While his numbers may not always jump off the page, his impact on the Warriors' defense and overall energy has been undeniable. His ability to disrupt offenses, communicate on the floor, and make key defensive stops has kept Golden State competitive. Stephwn Curry argues Draymond Green deserved Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) Shortly after the NBA announced Draymond Green's Hustle Award win, teammate voiced his opinion that the Warriors forward should have also taken home the Defensive Player of the Year honor. Curry's support underscores how highly Green is regarded within the organization, even if the league's voters didn't see it the same way. Green's defensive versatility has been a cornerstone of Golden State's success over the years, and his ability to guard multiple positions remains invaluable. Despite the snub, the NBA Hustle Award serves as validation for his non-stop motor and willingness to do the dirty work. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Hazel Renee's sweet Instagram message to her husband Draymond Green's wife react to his achievement (Image via Instagram:Hazel) While fans and players celebrated Draymond Green's achievement, his wife, Hazel Renee, made sure her voice was heard. Taking to her Instagram Stories, she posted a heartfelt message praising her husband's dedication. "One thing about two things for sure. That man be out there working hard on that court!! Congratulations Love," Renee wrote. Green, never one to shy away from showing affection, responded with a simple but loving reply: "gracias mi amor," which translates to "thanks my love." Green and Renee's long-standing relationship The couple has been married since 2022 but has been together since at least 2018, when they publicly confirmed their relationship. Renee has been a constant presence in Green's life, supporting him through the highs and lows of his NBA career. As Green continues to chase another championship with the Warriors, Renee remains his biggest cheerleader. Her public display of admiration highlights the strong bond between them, both on and off the court. With the playoffs in full swing, Green's leadership and hustle will be crucial for Golden State's title hopes. The Hustle Award serves as a reminder of his importance to the team, even if bigger individual accolades elude him. Aldso read: For now, Green can take pride in the recognition—and in the unwavering support from his wife, teammates, and fans who appreciate the hard work that doesn't always make the headlines.
