Latest news with #NaismithMemorialBasketballHallofFame
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
San Diego nonprofit starts Walton legacy project on first anniversary of his death
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — On the one-year anniversary of the passing of San Diego native and NBA champion Bill Walton, San Diego Sport Innovators (SDSI) announced it will pay homage to its former Chairman with the announcement of the Walton Innovation Network (WIN). The two-time NBA champion, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member and San Diego native died in San Diego on May 27, 2024, at the age of 71 after a prolonged battle with colon cancer. The announcement was made on the one-year anniversary of his death — May 27, 2025. SDSI is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the development of the San Diego lifestyle industry. One of the products of their association is a business group accelerator to help mentor people creating businesses. Walton served as Executive Chairman at SDSI for 14 years up until his passing. Bill Walton's iconic basketball collection up for auction in June 2025 Phase one of the Bill Walton Legacy Project, the Walton Innovation Network will be an expansion of SDSI's current mentoring programs that will support entrepreneurs, innovators, athletes and dreamers, SDSI's Executive Director said. 'The Walton Innovation Network (WIN) will be an expansion of SDSI's current mentoring programs — dear to Bill's heart — into a network of programs dedicated to his legacy of uplifting others, hard work and giveback,' explained SDSI Executive Director Bob Rief. 'WIN will support the entrepreneurs, innovators, athletes, and dreamers — in all stages of business from ideation, scale, through funding – who are changing the future of our industry.' Bill Walton honored at San Diego Gulls game with bobblehead giveaway, specialty jerseys SDSI said its business mentoring programs were built on Walton's mantra 'the best way to get to where you are going, is to ask someone who is on their way back.' 'SDSI is community, and community is people,' added SDSI Board member Mike Irwin. 'What SDSI does best is equip people for success. Bill's inherent curiosity about people is what made him such a natural helper. And with the announcement of WIN, we are just getting started and when it comes to preserving Bill's legacy, the future is full of possibilities.' Helix honors Bill Walton and teammates from 1969-1970 CIF Championship teams With the help of more than 100 volunteer executive mentors, SDSI mentor programs have helped to scale more than 150 businesses, 78% of which are still active or have been acquired, the nonprofit said. Anyone running a new company who is looking for information on the business group accelerator program or those interested in providing leadership can visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
05-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
‘I've got to be better': After subpar playoffs, Jalen Green vows to attack 2025 offseason
'I've got to be better': After subpar playoffs, Jalen Green vows to attack 2025 offseason 'We made it a focal point to try to take him out of this series,' Warriors star Draymond Green said of defending Houston's Jalen Green. 'We know what they are capable of when he is scoring.' HOUSTON -- As Rockets guard Jalen Green waited in the home locker room at Toyota Center for teammate Tari Eason to finish his press conference, he paced back and forth. He shook his head in disgust, as if he was replaying his time on the court in six out of the seven playoff games versusthe Golden State Warriors. When he finally finished pacing, he looked at me and said the words he had often repeated after each bad performance throughout the series. 'I have got to be better,' Green said. 'And I will be.' Green, 23, has been through peaks and valleys with the Rockets since being the No. 2 overall selection in the first round of the 2021 NBA draft. Along with center Alperen Sengun, Green was drafted to help rebuild a franchise that had lost a future first-ballot Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame player, James Harden. Green's first three seasons ended without a playoff appearance, and this one finished after Sunday's Game 7 loss in the first round. Still, this one had a special feel after Houston won 52 regular-season games to capture the Southwest Division title and secure the No. 2 overall seed in the Western Conference. After leading his team in scoring at 21 points per game, Green looked as if he was ready to show the rest of the basketball world that he had arrived. But the Warriors put a stop to that by devising a defensive scheme designed to get the ball out of his hands while challenging others to beat them. 'We made it a focal point to try to take him out of this series,' Warriors forward Draymond Green said. 'We know what they are capable of when he is scoring. So, we really wanted to take him out of the series.' The Warriors sent multiple defenders and consistently had help in the lane when Green wanted to use his quick and powerful first step to beat defenders off the dribble. All the attention frustrated him, and it showed in his performance. He failed to score in double digits in four games and scored over 12 points only once in the other three games. That included his 38-point outburst in Game 2, where he shot better than 50% from the field. Green combined to make just 16 shots over the final five games of the series, finishing with a meager 37.2% shooting clip and 29.5% from 3-point range. 'Besides that one game, s---,' said Green about his first playoff performance. 'Straight s---. I got to be better. First playoffs isn't an excuse. Yeah, I've got to be better.' The blame for Houston's demise against the Warriors does not all fall on Green. There were opportunities to win games that they let slip away by consistently missing shots near the rim and free-throw attempts. Despite being a big man and facing more single coverage, Sengun's true-shooting percentage (49.1%) in the series was barely better than that of Green (48.2%). But when you are regarded as one of the faces of the franchise, specific responsibilities come with that. Those can make the spotlight shine just a little brighter, especially in the playoffs. For Green, he will need to use that putrid feeling he had after Game 7 to fuel him throughout the offseason. 'I know what I need to do,' Green said of attacking his 2025 offseason. 'Get in the gym and working and preparing for next season.' More: Failure to launch: Rockets' half-court offense exposed in Game 7 loss to Warriors
Forbes
26-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Jason Kidd Joins Everton Ownership Group Increasing American Influence
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 31: Head coach Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks reacts against ... More the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first quarter at Target Center on January 31, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by) Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd has become part of the ownership group at English Premier League club Everton FC, increasing the American influence on the club at the ownership level. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame point guard has joined Roundhouse Capital Holdings, which owns the club as part of The Friedkin Group. Led by chairman and CEO Dan Friedkin, the Friedkin Group completed its takeover of Everton in December 2024, buying out Farhad Moshiri's majority and eventually taking a 99.5% stake in the club via Roundhouse Capital Holdings. It marks a new era of ownership for the storied English club, which is one of only six teams to have been ever-present in the country's top division (from which teams can be relegated to the second-tier EFL Championship) in the Premier League era. 'I'm honoured to be joining Everton's ownership at such an important moment,' said Kidd. 'With a new stadium on the horizon and a bright future ahead, it's a great moment to come on board.' Professional Basketball Player Jason Kidd plays in the Showdown in Chinatown celebrity soccer match ... More at the Nike Field in Sara D. Roosevelt Park on June 25, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/FilmMagic) As Kidd alludes to, the club is moving into a brand new waterfront stadium for the 2025/26 season. The facility on the banks of the River Mersey is one of the few positives to emerge from the previous ownership's stewardship of the club prior to the Friedkin takeover, though the club and the fans will miss its historic current stadium, Goodison Park. As the club looks to return to a more stable financial footing, the new stadium should offer some additional income and help move the club into a new era. The new investment is part of that, and Kidd's involvement will also help raise the club's profile in the United States. 'On behalf of The Friedkin Group and the Everton Board of Directors, I am pleased to welcome Jason to our ownership group,' said Roundhouse Capital Holdings director and Everton executive chairman, Marc Watts. 'As one of the NBA's greatest players and now a successful coach, his knowledge and winning mentality will be an incredible resource for Everton. 'He is a respected leader and household name for many sports fans and will bring a deeper understanding of high performance as we collectively strive to build a brighter future for this storied club.' LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MARCH 25: Aerial view of Everton FC's new stadium with the city of Liverpool in ... More the distance at Bramley Moore Dock on March 25, 2025 in Liverpool, England. Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium in Vauxhall, Liverpool, will become the home ground for Everton FC ahead of the 2025–26 season, replacing Goodison Park. (Photo by) The move comes on the back of the news last week that American billionaire Christopher Sarofim has also invested in Roundhouse Capital Holdings. The ownership group hopes Sarofim's involvement will help further stabilize the club's financial footing. 'Christopher Sarofim is someone I have known and respected for many years,' said Friedkin. 'He brings experience, sound judgment, and wisdom that will be valuable as we continue to drive the club forward in all areas.' The use of Roundhouse Capital Holdings as the club's ownership and investment vehicle will allow for the involvement of figures like Sarofim and Kidd at various levels of investment. The club will now look to build from a firmer financial footing, helped by the new stadium, before taking the next, difficult, step of converting this into sporting success. The Premier League is increasingly competitive in mid-table as well as at the top. Several clubs have combined the financial experience of their owners, which has become increasingly necessary at this level of football, with savvy sporting decisions and the use of data and analytics. Everton is looking to break into this group but is at a disadvantage due to a period of financial and sporting uncertainty under its previous ownership, which led to points deductions during the 2022/23 season. During this time, the club managed to avoid relegation from the Premier League, often against the odds, and has enjoyed a promising period towards the end of the 2024/25 season under returning manager David Moyes, who previously managed the club between 2002 and 2013. It is now playing its final games at Goodison Park amid a wave of emotion, which includes sadness that the club is leaving its historic, storied home, but also optimism about the future. The recent news of further investment will not be of interest to fans unless it converts into a more positive outlook on the field, and at least a promise of some sporting success further down the line. Kidd's involvement will add some sporting experience on top of his financial investment.
CNN
15-04-2025
- Sport
- CNN
The towering legacy of Dikembe Mutombo
He may be known for his fierce defense on the basketball court, and the iconic finger wag he gave opponents after blocking their shot, but giving back was NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo's true calling card. The Democratic Republic of Congo native was considered one of the greatest defensive players in NBA history. For 18 seasons, Mutombo played for six NBA teams, earning four Defensive Player of the Year awards, eight All-Star selections, and the title of second all-time leader in blocked shots. In 2015, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. But beyond basketball, Mutumbo was best known for his extensive humanitarian work. The late center, who lost his battle with brain cancer in September of 2024, was a man whose influence transcended basketball. 'I always say he was a Hall of Fame humanitarian that just happened to end up being a Hall of Fame basketball player,' Steve Smith, former Atlanta Hawks teammate and friend of Mutombo, told CNN. 'I think he had a global impact,' said retired NBA star Matt Barnes. 'The work he did off the court, I think, was just as big, if not bigger.' NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced at the NBA Africa All-Star Luncheon on February 15 a new annual NBA Africa Dikembe Mutombo Humanitarian Award, which will recognize individuals or organizations working to advance health, education, or economic opportunity across Africa. 'Dikembe devoted his life to helping others and brought joy to so many people across Africa and around the world,' said Silver at the event. Silver also revealed that NBA Africa will donate 55 basketball courts to communities across the continent in honor of Mutombo and his iconic jersey number, beginning in his native Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. 'This new award and the basketball courts built in his name will honor Dikembe's extraordinary legacy as a global humanitarian,' Silver added. Throughout his career, Mutombo was hugely important in the development of basketball in Africa. As Nigerian American Charlotte Hornet Josh Okogie recalls, Mutombo 'paved the way for African players in the NBA, giving us a sense of pride.' 'It felt like when he played, it made other African players feel seen in some way,' said Okogie. Mutombo was appointed the NBA's first global ambassador in 2009 and invested in African athletic talent before it was popular. When the NBA launched its first Basketball Without Borders camp in Africa in 2003, Mutumbo played a key role as a coach and behind-the-scenes organizer. As the NBA expanded its presence in Africa, particularly with the development of the Basketball Africa League in 2019, Mutombo remained deeply involved until his passing. 'I think part of his legacy is his contribution to making sure that talented young players from the continent have access to the game he didn't have growing up,' said Basketball Africa League President Amadou Gallo Fall. Mutombo's journey from the Democratic Republic of Congo to NBA superstardom defied the odds. He arrived in the United States on an academic scholarship to become a doctor. Still, he found himself drawn to basketball under the mentorship of Hall of Fame coach John Thompson at Georgetown University. The Denver Nuggets drafted Mutumbo in the 1991 NBA Draft. The 7-footer made an immediate impact, averaging a double-double, more than 10 points in shots and rebounds per game, in his rookie season. But it was his defensive skills that made him an icon on the hardwood. 'He always waited till the guy jumped,' said Smith. 'He always jumped second and blocked more shots than he got dunked on.' 'His superpower was defense on the defensive end, and we had to change our whole game plan just because he was in the game,' said Kenny Smith, retired NBA player and commentator for TNT's Inside the NBA. Off the court, Mutombo's humanitarian efforts were just as impactful. HIs charitable work touched countless lives, particularly in Africa. His dedication to healthcare led to the establishment of the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital in Kinshasa. He also established the Samuel Mutombo Institute for Science & Entrepreneurship, a tuition-free school named after his father, which opened in 2021. Masai Ujiri, the president of the Toronto Raptors, recalled a powerful moment when Mutombo met Nelson Mandela that sums up the NBA legend's impact. Ujiri told CNN that the former South African president told Mutombo, 'What a great thing you are doing for your people in Africa. Don't ever stop.'
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dwight Howard has been voted into the Hall of Fame
All of the members of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2025 have now been announced, and it includes two men who used to play for the Los Angeles Lakers. News leaked on Wednesday that Carmelo Anthony, who spent his final season with the Lakers, had gotten the nod. But another former member of the team who was also voted in is Dwight Howard. Advertisement Howard spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Orlando Magic after he was the No. 1 pick in the 2004 NBA Draft. He was then traded to the Lakers in the summer of 2012 in a blockbuster trade, but he left after one season amidst a strained relationship with Kobe Bryant. He returned for the 2019-20 season, and at that point, his reputation was at a low point. But he embraced a reduced role off the bench and played a key role in the team winning the world championship that year. Howard even had a third stint with the Purple and Gold during the 2021-22 season, but by then, it was clear that he had very little left in his tank. The following season, he played for the Taoyuan Leopards of the T1 League in Taiwan. Advertisement He ended up playing 18 seasons in the NBA and won three straight Defensive Player of the Year awards while getting eight All-Star game selections and winning five rebounding titles. He has wanted to come back to the Lakers for yet another stint since, but the team doesn't seem to have any interest in him. This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Dwight Howard has been voted into the Hall of Fame
