Latest news with #SC30SelectCamp
Time of India
2 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
"He's an icon" - NBA legend Magic Johnson pops big names for his dream team plan
NBA legend Magic Johnson pops big names for his dream team plan (Image Source: Getty Images) Magic Johnson appeared on ESPN's show Get Up and talked heartily about his dream team squad. He revealed his penchant for Stephen Curry, calling him an icon and a player loved by fans of all ages. Stephen Curry's influence beyond the court through youth-centric player development programs and other ventures has earned him a huge fan following. Not only the NBA legends and critics, but also the innocent kids are included in his fan base. Magic Johnson shared his dream team roster with big names NBA legend Magic Johnson poured his heart out while talking about Stephen Curry's growing legacy on the Get Up show at ESPN. He had very kind words for Stephen Curry. While elaborating on the achievements made by Curry, he also hinted at his dream team composition and shared his idols fit for that roster. He said, praising Curry: 'He's an icon, and it's only a few icons. He's beloved. There's only a few athletes that's ever been beloved... He's definitely on my dream team as the greatest that's ever played this game. Him and LeBron's legacy will live on forever." Johnson praised Stephen Curry, making a bold claim about him and said: 'He's one of the greatest of all time. Then, he changed the game forever... Nobody we've seen ever with the ability of Steph Curry to shoot that basketball. The greatest shooter we've ever seen in history... He also brought in fans that we didn't have in the NBA before. He brought in kids." (18:09 onwards) Magic Johnson joins Get Up! 👏 His message to Luka Doncic 🗣️ 'IN LA, WE EXPECT CHAMPIONSHIPS!' 🏆 Johnson is quite right in his thoughts about Stephen Curry, whose impact goes beyond the court. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Curry, along with his wife, donated $700,000 in December 2024 to ensure meals and groceries for the underprivileged. They also pledged $25 million to promote child literacy by establishing libraries. His player development programs, like Masterclass and SC30 Select Camp, are already popular among budding talents. Magic Johnson had earlier snubbed Stephen Curry while naming All-time NBA superstars The recent proclamation about Stephen Curry coming from Magic Johnson is indeed a surprise. He picked his 5 superstars, when Stephen A. Smith outlined the definition of a superstar for him. His list didn't have LeBron James or Stephen Curry. Smith said, 'A person who can go on a road and sell the building. Simple. I'm going to see that person.' The changed stance seemed to be his attempt to cover up the previous snub. Earlier, in 2023, while speaking on The Dan Patrick Show, Johnson had said: 'We've got to celebrate both guys. Michael is the best, and we should celebrate him and celebrate LeBron. The guy [Jordan] is just unbelievable. LeBron is special too in his own right, and people shouldn't forget that either. But when it's all said and done, if you come at me and ask me, that's who I am going to with, and it's MJ.' Also Read: 'You gotta be box office' — Magic Johnson defines NBA superstardom with examples like Larry Bird, Shaquille O'Neal, and Charles Barkley' Magic Johnson's U-turn from his previous statements speaks about the soaring popularity of Stephen Curry. The Warriors' star had four championships to his credit so far (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022). He also bagged the MVP title with the 2022 championship.
USA Today
04-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Azzi Fudd injury history: UConn guard suffered several setbacks on road to Final Four
Azzi Fudd injury history: UConn guard suffered several setbacks on road to Final Four Show Caption Hide Caption Which celebrities would make players nervous sitting courtside? The women's Final Four will surely be well-attended by top celebrities so we asked players who would make them nervous if they were sitting courtside. Sports Seriously The UConn women's basketball team will make the trip to Tampa this week for the Final Four of the 2025 NCAA Tournament in a familiar position. The Huskies have been the sport's dominant program for the past 30 years, with 11 national championships and 23 Final Fours since 1995. Despite being the lone non-No. 1 seed in this year's Final Four, they're the favorite to leave Amalie Arena with a title heading into Friday night's semifinal matchup with No. 1 overall seed UCLA. Coach Geno Auriemma's team has gotten to the biggest stage in its sport behind a deep and talented roster, one that features, among others, three-time first-team All-American Paige Bueckers and national freshman of the year Sarah Strong. REQUIRED READING: Why UCLA coach Cori Close got emotional talking about star Lauren Betts, UConn's Azzi Fudd Then there's Azzi Fudd. The No. 1 recruit nationally in the 2021 class has taken a longer road to get to the Final Four than many. While she's excelling now for the Huskies, ranking third on the team in scoring, she has endured several setbacks over the course of her career, particularly when it comes to major injuries. As UConn looks to add to the program's already robust trophy case, here's a closer look at Fudd and her injury history: Azzi Fudd injury history Fudd's injury woes began years before she first stepped on a college court. As a high-schooler, Fudd was one of the most heralded prospects in recent memory. She was one of the first girls to attend Steph Curry's SC30 Select Camp and once there, she was awarded a trophy by Curry himself for being the best shooter there. She became the first sophomore ever to win Gatorade National Player of the Year, with two-time WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne handing her the trophy for the honor. ESPN described her as 'the best high school talent the game has seen in decades.' That rapid ascent, however, soon encountered an obstacle. While competing at the USA Basketball 3-on-3 U18 nationals in April 2019, Fudd's knee buckled when she came down from a contested layup attempt. An MRI confirmed the worst fears — she had torn her ACL and MCL. After surgery and months of intensive rehab, she attempted returning to play in August of that year at Curry's camp in the Bay Area, where she had a star-making showing the previous year. Her knee began to swell, though, limiting what she could do there. "All she wanted to do was hoop," Curry said to ESPN in 2021. "And honestly, she wasn't ready. We had to, like, pull her off the court. With that impatience, you could tell how much the game meant to her." Upon getting to UConn, Fudd's injury woes continued. She missed 11 games as a freshman due to a foot injury, though she still turned in an impressive debut season, averaging 12.1 points per game and shooting 43% from 3-point range. As a sophomore in 2022-23, she missed 22 games due to a knee injury she suffered in a December game against Notre Dame, when a teammate fell on her knee. She returned after about five weeks, but reaggravated it, causing her to miss more time. Prior to her injury, Fudd had turned in one of the best performances of her career, scoring 32 points in a win against Texas. It tied Diana Taurasi for the most points ever by a UConn player against a top-five opponent. Perhaps her most devastating injury in her time in college came last year, when she tore her ACL and medial meniscus in her right knee in a practice in November. The non-contact injury limited her to just two games. "We're all just so upset for Azzi," Auriemma said in a statement. "She worked hard to be healthy for this season, and it's unfortunate when you put in a lot of hard work and have a setback like this. Azzi loves the game and works tirelessly. I'm confident she'll rehab with the same work ethic and come back better than ever. We'll obviously miss her presence on the court, but Azzi will continue to be a great teammate and important part of this team this season. Our program will support Azzi through her recovery however we can." This season has offered a welcome absence of bad injury luck for Fudd. She has played in a career-high 32 games for the Huskies and performed well, averaging 13.1 points in 25.9 minutes per game. She's not done, either. On March 25, Fudd announced that she'll be returning to UConn next season despite being eligible for the WNBA Draft. Azzi Fudd stats This season, Fudd's averaging 13.1 points, two rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.3 steals per game for UConn while shooting 46.8% from the field and 44.1% from 3-point range. Her 3-point percentage ranks her 14th among all Division I players. Here's a look at Fudd's year-by-year stats: 2021-22 : 25 games, 12.1 points per game, 2.7 rebounds per game, 1 assist per game, 1 steal per game, 45.7% on field goals, 43% on 3s : 25 games, 12.1 points per game, 2.7 rebounds per game, 1 assist per game, 1 steal per game, 45.7% on field goals, 43% on 3s 2022-23 : 15 games, 15.1 points per game, 1.9 rebounds per game, 1.9 assists per game, 1.3 steal per game, 45.6% on field goals, 34% on 3s : 15 games, 15.1 points per game, 1.9 rebounds per game, 1.9 assists per game, 1.3 steal per game, 45.6% on field goals, 34% on 3s 2023-24 : 2 games, 11 points per game, 2.5 rebounds per game, 2.5 assists per game, 1 steal per game, 32% on field goals, 28.6% on 3s : 2 games, 11 points per game, 2.5 rebounds per game, 2.5 assists per game, 1 steal per game, 32% on field goals, 28.6% on 3s 2024-25: 32 games, 13.1 points per game, 2 rebounds per game, 1.8 assists per game, 1.3 steals per game, 46.8% on field goals, 44.1% on 3s REQUIRED READING: March Madness 2025: AI predicts women's Final Four, national championship winners How tall is Azzi Fudd? Fudd is listed at 5-foot-11 on the official UConn roster. Azzi Fudd parents Fudd is the daughter of Katie and Tim Fudd. Both of her parents played college basketball — her mother at NC State and Georgetown, and her father at American. According to her official UConn bio, Fudd is named in honor of Jennifer Azzi, a former national college player of the year in 1990 who went on to play in the WNBA. Azzi, who is currently the chief business development officer for the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces, was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.
