Latest news with #RunitBack
New York Post
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Former NBA star defends Karl-Anthony Towns after Knicks loss as criticism mounts
Sweet Lou wants no more KAT attacks. Social media has been ablaze with controversy as Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns has received loads of criticism for his uneven performance during the Eastern Conference finals against the Pacers. Towns, whom the Knicks acquired shortly before training camp, has been the center of potential trade rumors as fans clamor for a big move to put the team over the top. But former three-time Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams wants fans to ease up. 'They gotta get off KAT back,' Williams said on 'Run it Back' recently. 'We also gotta stop allowing X and Instagram to be our GMs. Ain't a lot of KATs laying around where you can just get rid of him and feel like you're going to have a better opportunity to win basketball games. 'If you got an opportunity to go get a Giannis (Antetokounmpo) or somebody, sure, you take a look at everything. But other than that, that was his first season as a New York Knick and they got to the Eastern Conference finals. There's a lot of room for adjustments to be made … If it wasn't for KAT, y'all would've been sent home 72 hours earlier anyways.' 3 Karl-Anthony Towns walks off the court after being eliminated. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post Towns averaged 21.4 points per game and 11.6 rebounds in the playoffs, a steady increase from the year prior when he was a member of the Timberwolves and tallied 19.1 points and nine rebounds per game. However, this series highlighted his defensive deficiencies and some have questioned whether he and Jalen Brunson he is the co-star to work alongside Jalen Brunson. Some are calling for Towns, a 29-year-old who just made third team All-NBA, to be traded for pennies on the dollar. 3 Lou Williams says there's too much chaos surrounding the Knicks. X, @RunItBackFDTV The same can be said for coach Tom Thibodeau, who may be looking for a new job despite bringing the team to their first conference finals appearance since 2000. There had been some speculation that Towns could be included in a trade for Antetokounmpo, although it is unclear if the Bucks' star will be traded this offseason. Williams seems to believe in this group of Knicks. 'So give these guys credit and give them an opportunity to get better and grow,' Williams said. 'When you get to the Eastern Conference finals, and you feel really confident about the group you've put together and the coaching staff you have, you don't rattle the fence because it didn't go your way. You rebuild, you make adjustments and you give yourself another shot next season.' 3 Karl-Anthony Towns could be on the trade block this offseason. NBAE via Getty Images The Post's Stefan Bondy points out that if the Knicks wanted to control this situation, they could have by having media availability like every other team in the league when their seasons ends. However, the lack of comments from a front office executive opens the door for chatter about Towns' future in New York. 'This would be a good time for Leon Rose to reemerge and publicly accentuate the positives of the season while backing Towns, his former client when Rose was a power agent,' Bondy wrote. 'It'd be an opportunity to take back a narrative that's gone too far negative after a spirited run. Unfortunately, the Garden policy is no media availability when it's not mandated by the NBA.'
USA Today
30-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Laker criticizes Anthony Edwards after Minnesota's playoff loss
Former Laker criticizes Anthony Edwards after Minnesota's playoff loss After the Minnesota Timberwolves got past the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the NBA playoffs in five games, some started to believe they could make a magical run deep into the postseason. The team pushed aside the Golden State Warriors, who were without Stephen Curry for most of the second round, and reached the Western Conference finals for the second year in a row. But once there, they fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games, and it wasn't even that close. Some are criticizing budding superstar Anthony Edwards for not playing up to his standards on a consistent basis. After his Timberwolves were eliminated, Edwards didn't express any real pain and even said that the situation is "exciting" because of how young he is. The implication he gave is that he will get plenty more chances to reach the NBA Finals and win a world championship. But nothing is guaranteed, no matter how great or young one is. That's the message former Lakers guard Lou Williams had for Edwards during an appearance on "Run it Back." "I love the attitude but Ant just slightly missed the mark," Williams said. "I've been to the Eastern Conference Finals once in 17 years. That is something you don't want to take for granted. Those opportunities come few and in between." Edwards has put up some monster games in the playoffs over the last two years. But as supremely gifted as he is, he's a little too inconsistent at this point in his career. He still has room for improvement as far as being consistently effective, as well as overcoming some defensive strategies. While the Timberwolves are a good team, they aren't exactly a juggernaut. The Lakers and Golden State Warriors could be championship-caliber again next season, and a team such as the Houston Rockets, which finished second in the West, could end up landing Kevin Durant this summer. No one can safely predict right now when Edwards will be playing for a spot in the NBA Finals again.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Giannis Antetokounmpo addressed trade rumors by hilariously calling out Bobby Portis
The Milwaukee Bucks saw their season end in the first round for the third year in a row with a 4-1 series loss to the Indiana Pacers. Now, the question is whether superstar and two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo will be sticking around for the 2025-26 season. With another disappointing postseason exit, rumors have begun to circulate that Antetokounmpo could be looking for an exit strategy from Milwaukee in the form of a trade. He broke his silence on the rumors Friday, and he did so in the most hilarious way possible. Advertisement During an interview on the "Run it Back" podcast, Antetokounmpo's Bucks teammate, Bobby Portis, was asked about the former Finals MVP's future. Portis has a player option for next season and could become a free agent if he so chooses. Asked whether his decision would be influenced by a potential Antetokounmpo trade, Portis said that he would love to remain in Milwaukee but recognized that things remain "up in the air." He didn't directly address Antetokounmpo's future, but that didn't stop Antetokounmpo from jokingly responding to Portis' comments on Instagram. "Don't worry about me!" Antetokounmpo wrote. "What you doing Bobby you staying or leaving?!" Antetokounmpo is one of the NBA's biggest stars, having been named an All-Star in each of the last nine seasons and a First-Team All-NBA selection in each of the last six. Advertisement The 30-year-old won an NBA championship with the Bucks in 2021, but with his best years potentially being spent toiling on a team that's struggling to get back to those heights, he could look to move on. But that's not going to stop him from cracking jokes about it. This article originally appeared on For The Win: Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors: Bucks star called out Bobby Portis
USA Today
09-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Giannis Antetokounmpo addressed trade rumors by hilariously calling out Bobby Portis
Giannis Antetokounmpo addressed trade rumors by hilariously calling out Bobby Portis The Milwaukee Bucks saw their season end in the first round for the third year in a row with a 4-1 series loss to the Indiana Pacers. Now, the question is whether superstar and two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo will be sticking around for the 2025-26 season. With another disappointing postseason exit, rumors have begun to circulate that Antetokounmpo could be looking for an exit strategy from Milwaukee in the form of a trade. He broke his silence on the rumors Friday, and he did so in the most hilarious way possible. During an interview on the "Run it Back" podcast, Antetokounmpo's Bucks teammate, Bobby Portis, was asked about the former Finals MVP's future. Portis has a player option for next season and could become a free agent if he so chooses. Asked whether his decision would be influenced by a potential Antetokounmpo trade, Portis said that he would love to remain in Milwaukee but recognized that things remain "up in the air." He didn't directly address Antetokounmpo's future, but that didn't stop Antetokounmpo from jokingly responding to Portis' comments on Instagram. "Don't worry about me!" Antetokounmpo wrote. "What you doing Bobby you staying or leaving?!" Antetokounmpo is one of the NBA's biggest stars, having been named an All-Star in each of the last nine seasons and a First-Team All-NBA selection in each of the last six. The 30-year-old won an NBA championship with the Bucks in 2021, but with his best years potentially being spent toiling on a team that's struggling to get back to those heights, he could look to move on. But that's not going to stop him from cracking jokes about it.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nuggets Veteran Makes Major Russell Westbrook Statement After Denver's Coaching Decision
The Denver Nuggets are in the middle of a tough first-round playoff series. They hosted the LA Clippers in the first two games of the series as the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds, respectively, in the Western Conference. Advertisement Both games decided by just one bucket, the Nuggets split the first two games of the series 1-1 with the Clippers. This comes as a surprise, given the Nuggets fired their head coach and general manager in the final week of the regular season. Interim head coach David Adelman is essentially lobbying for his job in the playoffs. How the club handles a two-game trip to Los Angeles will be pivotal for Adelman and his interim tag. Many blamed Russell Westbrook for Malone's firing, claiming he was playing too much. Apr 9, 2025; Sacramento, California, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4) directs his team against the Sacramento Kings during the first quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images After Adelman has been leading the squad for some time, Westbrook remains in the lineup, and has even played some pivotal minutes in key moments -- such as coming up clutch in Denver's Game 1 victory. Advertisement One Nuggets veteran spoke up in Westbrook's support, making a statement regarding the legendary guard and Malone's firing. DeAndre Jordan makes massive Westbrook statement DeAndre Jordan -- NBA veteran and Nuggets backup big man -- took to the "Run it Back" show to open up on the matter. "It's easy to blame it's a little unfair for him to get the blame for that. It's his first year in Denver," Jordan said. As Jordan puts it, the narrative that Malone was fired because of Westbrook, simply put, isn't true. That's why Adelman has utilized Westbrook in the clutch. Advertisement The legendary guard makes winning plays, and he's rewarded when he's playing good because he can make that big of an impact. That narrative can be laid to rest, and everyone can quit spinning up rumors and using Westbrook as a scapegoat. Instead, the focus for the Nuggets is on what is next.
