Latest news with #SteveNash
Vancouver Sun
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Vancouver has been pre-season perfection for the Toronto Raptors
Vancouver is pining for an NBA team. And if the Toronto Raptors were smart, they'd pull up stakes and relocate to the West Coast, the best coast. Why? Well, since 2010, the Raptors have played in Vancouver seven times — and won every single game. They took down the 2016 Golden State Warriors, who would go on to win their fifth dynasty-clinching league title. They beat Steve Nash AND Vince Carter in 2010, back when the Garage, a.k.a. GM Place, had just changed its name to Rogers Arena . They toppled Kings (2023, 2014) and Lob City Clippers (2015), and snuffed out the Blazers (2018). Next up: the Denver Nuggets. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Sure, all those games were pre-season — like the Oct. 6 date at Rogers Arena against Canadian Jamal Murray and perennial MVP contender Nikola Jokić — but a win is a win. Tickets for the game will go on sale Aug. 27. Fans can register their interest in tickets and gain access to exclusive presale information by visiting 'This will be the seventh time we've started our year with a pre-season game in Vancouver and we're really excited to be back to tip off 2025-26,' said Raptors general manager Bobby Webster, whose team returns to Vancouver for the first time since 2023. 'We love the vibe, the city, the arena and especially the fans. Part of the experience is seeing the players on our young team realize how much support the Raptors have across Canada. It's awesome — the realization that they play for a country, not just a city, is an important moment. It's also really fun. We're looking forward to being back.' While Toronto held training camp in Vancouver in 2023, this time it will be at the University of Calgary for the first time in team history, starting Sept. 30-Oct. 2 at Jack Simpson Gym. All those sessions are closed to the public, but the Raptors will hold a practice open to the public on Oct. 3. The game is part of the Canada Series, featuring NBA pre-season games in Canada, which officially got its name in 2012. But the NBA has had exhibition games in Canada since 1990, when the Indiana Pacers played three games against the Bullets and Rockets in St. John's, Halifax and Kitchener. Murray, the Nuggets superlative shooting guard, wasn't born in Kitchener until seven years after that game. 'It's always an honour and a pleasure to get to return home to play basketball in Canada,' said Murray. 'I'm excited for the opportunity for myself and my team to face off against the Raptors in front of the basketball-hungry fans of Vancouver, it's going to be a lot of fun.' The Canada Series has seen 16 different teams playing 19 pre-season games — 14 of which featured the Raptors — in front of nearly 360,000 fans in six Canadian cities. Also part of the Canada Series was a 2019 game in Vancouver, where Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks downed freshly former Raptor Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers 102-87. This pre-season, the Raptors travel to face the Kings in Sacramento on Oct. 8, host the Boston Celtics on Oct. 10 at Scotiabank Arena and before visiting the Wizards in Washington on Oct. 12. Toronto hits the road again to take on the Celtics in Boston on Oct. 15, then close out the pre-season at home against the Brooklyn Nets on Oct. 17. The current roster features all-stars in Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram, 2025 No. 9 overall pick Collin Murray-Boyles, and Canadians RJ Barrett and A.J. Lawson, whom have both represented Canada internationally.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kevin Durant singing different tune on Steve Nash years after demanding Nets firing: ‘So much bulls–t around us'
Kevin Durant and Steve Nash likely have their opinions on what went wrong in Brooklyn. The pair actually discussed just that Tuesday on a podcast, with the former breaking down why the Nets Big 3 broke up. Advertisement Nets general manager Sean Marks built a superteam with Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden that lost in Game 7 of the 2021 Eastern Conference semifinals when Durant's toe was on the line for a potential game-winning 3-pointer, and the latter two were hurt. Nash was famously dumped by the Nets in November 2022, after Durant demanded his firing. Durant requested a trade the following February. Now, Nash — who co-hosts the 'Mind The Game' podcast with LeBron James — asked his former star what he recalled about that time. 'We had this conversation in Portland I think right before a game, and I'm like, 'Who am I spending my next five years with?' ' Durant said. 'I had just signed that deal, you had just signed a deal. It felt like we were secure, but everything else around us was going to s–t. Advertisement 'Not in a bad way, we've got GMs going to other teams, we've got coaches going to other teams, we've got players forcing trades, we've got bringing Ben Simmons, he's back [Durant pointed to his back while saying this line]. There was so much bulls–t around us. I felt like we were locked in on the same page and understanding we were trying to do something special here, but … and I feel like your hands were tied a lot because as a coach you had to deal with so much.' Steve Nash (l) and Kevin Durant (r) in 2021. for the NY POST Nash dealt with Irving's refusal to adhere to New York's COVID-19 vaccine mandate, which made him ineligible for home games in 2021-22. Then Harden passive-aggressively forced his way out that February, not telling the Nets he wanted a deal until two days before the trade deadline, leaving them to swap him for the chronically injured Simmons. Kevin Durant on the 'Mind The Game' podcast. @MindTheGamePodcast/YouTube And, of course, Nets fans are as familiar with 'Ben Simmons is back' as Durant is — the point guard's start-stop recovery from back woes having been a constant issue. Advertisement It was noteworthy that Nash interrupted Durant, interjecting, 'I didn't get to coach as much as I wanted to.' That could be a double entendre. Did Nash mean that the Big 3 logged just 16 games together? Or that his tenure was abruptly cut short by Durant requesting his ouster? Or that he spent more time putting out fires than coaching? 'That's what it was. I didn't feel like we got the full Steve Nash like I wanted, like you probably wanted. I feel like it was just too many distractions in a way, and you know you can't win that way,' Durant said. 'But I felt like we had great intentions though. I feel like we cared enough. I feel like every day we were trying to push toward winning a championship. It was a great vibe in there. Advertisement 'It's some of the best times I've had. That first year, that's why I signed that deal. That first year, man, most fun ball I had. Some of the most fun ball I had playing in my life. I enjoyed it. I enjoyed playing in Brooklyn a lot. I loved playing for Brooklyn. But it's just so much around the guys who were committed to the situation. I felt like we were committed, but everybody else wasn't. It just was weird.' Durant did not mention Irving's absences or Harden by name, but he alluded to Harden demanding a trade (Irving did so the following season, finally forcing Durant to be the last star out the door). Steve Nash during the episode. @MindTheGamePodcast/YouTube For his part, Nash — who hasn't coached since — said he struggles with how to view his Nets tenure, and admits he feels like he failed Brooklyn. But he also acknowledges that there were many things out of his hands. Advertisement However, Durant — who recently told the crowd at Fanatics Fest that he was a 'Net for life' — freed Nash of any blame. LeBron James (l), Durant (c) and Nash (r) on the show. @MindTheGamePodcast/YouTube 'Hell, no. Come on, man,' Durant said. 'I just think your hands were tied too many times. You had to be a super, a principal more so than anything. … You just couldn't like inject your basketball. … Just everything that you have basketball, I didn't feel like you could inject that into everybody in the way that we all envisioned just because of the distractions.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
"Steve Nash came to me and was very disappointed" - Kevin Garnett on why he turned down going to the Phoenix Suns before being traded to the Boston Celtics
"Steve Nash came to me and was very disappointed" - Kevin Garnett on why he turned down going to the Phoenix Suns before being traded to the Boston Celtics originally appeared on Basketball Network. In the summer of 2007, Kevin Garnett stood at a crossroads. One eye was still on his loyalty to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the other staring into the future, which seemed more uncertain than ever. It's easy to draw a straight line from his eventual championship with the Boston Celtics to that period of reflection and quiet strategy, but in real time, the choices were neither clear nor easy. There were no guarantees; it was just franchises trying to sell a dream and one of the game's fiercest competitors trying to protect what remained of his prime. After twelve seasons with the Timberwolves, seasons filled with MVP-caliber performances, grueling playoff exits and a franchise that could never seem to find the second star, Garnett finally reached the conclusion that the window in Minnesota was sealed shut. Phoenix's pitch Teams began to circle, offering promises, rosters and visions of championship gold; three franchises stood out in his mind, the Celtics, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns. For a moment, the Suns looked promising as they had the flash, but not the foundation. Garnett recalled that even before conversations got deep, there were cracks in the pitch as they were financially hesitant. "Steve Nash came to me and was very disappointed," Garnett said. "He also apologized on behalf of Phoenix and ownership and he was very, very, very deliberate about how much he wanted to play with me." The intent from Nash was real. But the call revealed the truth that Phoenix didn't want to admit out loud. The Suns of that era were basketball's version of a high-speed symphony. With Nash orchestrating one of the most explosive offenses the league had ever seen, Phoenix had become the darling of the mid-2000s, a team that ran, gunned and dazzled. On paper, pairing Garnett's defensive dominance and veteran grit with Nash's precision playmaking seemed like a dream. But beneath the surface, the structure wasn't as stable as it appeared. Garnett, in the final stretch of his peak, wasn't just looking for a new team; he was looking for assurance. The Suns, under then-owner Robert Sarver, couldn't provide that. Nash had to deliver the news himself; not only would the former MVP have to take a pay cut to make things work in Phoenix, but the core pieces he wanted around him, players that would allow him to contend immediately, wouldn't be retained. It was a no-win scenario. That left Garnett with a decision that required more than just basketball logic. It was legacy arithmetic. There was no need to go to Phoenix if he got there and the roster had been gutted and there was no point in changing jerseys if the result was another season carrying too much on his Boston With Phoenix fading from the picture, the focus shifted. The Lakers had Kobe Bryant, still in his prime, and they too were in pursuit. It would've been the fusion of two generational forces, Bryant and Garnett, both burning with the same relentless hunger for validation through rings. But complications on that front stalled and talks didn't advance the way many expected. Boston, on the other hand, came armed with a plan. Danny Ainge, then the team's president of basketball operation had already begun reshaping the Celtics, orchestrating a move for Ray Allen and setting the table for a new era. What separated the franchise was opportunity and preparation. They weren't offering Garnett a chance to figure it out once he arrived. They were presenting a complete package. Paul Pierce was already in place. Allen had joined. And they were willing to give up nearly everything else to make sure Garnett completed the trifecta. The Timberwolves had to accept that Garnett, with free agency looming, had control. He'd done too much for Minnesota to be discarded like a disposable asset. He'd earned the right to guide his exit, and he knew it. The Wolves could either send him where he wanted or watch him walk for nothing. That leverage wasn't used recklessly; it was wielded with precision. Boston, knowing what was at stake, offered a rare clarity. They were all in. There would be no half-measures. Garnett didn't have to wonder about ownership commitment, front-office vision, or roster depth. The pieces were there. The strategy was real. And most importantly, he believed in the fabric of the team being built. They ended up winning the championship in Garnett's first season, his only story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
"He's one of the greatest simple early-passers I've ever seen" – Steve Nash on Tyrese Haliburton's pass that's leaving defenses clueless
"He's one of the greatest simple early-passers I've ever seen" – Steve Nash on Tyrese Haliburton's pass that's leaving defenses clueless originally appeared on Basketball Network. Bounce pass, pocket pass, no-look pass, behind-the-back pass, bullet pass, full-court pass — Steve Nash had them all. One of the greatest point guards of all time and a player who used his passing to lift fans out of their seats night after night, Nash is definitely someone who knows a thing or two about playmaking. And even though it feels like old-school floor generals like him are slowly disappearing, replaced by scoring-dominant combo guards, Tyrese Haliburton won't let us forget them so easily. He came from the shadow, just like Nash once did, but quickly won over NBA fans with his flashy passes and incredible basketball IQ. Speaking on the Mind the Game podcast, Nash himself zeroed in on one specific aspect of Haliburton's passing that fascinates him most. 'I would say this about Tyrese — I think he's one of the greatest simple early-passers I've ever seen,' he said. 'Sometimes you have great vision like Tyrese and you want to hold it to make that killer pass. You think, 'I can get something better,' and you might hold it for a second. But sometimes he just gets rid of it. And what that does — it makes defenses unsettled,' Nash concluded. Read-and-react basketball That exact style of play defined the Indiana Pacers throughout this year's playoffs. Under Rick Carlisle, they implemented an unconventional system — not overly schematic, but based on read-and-react basketball, creating chaos on the court with their relentless pace. Kevin Durant highlighted this underrated aspect of Haliburton's game that made the Pacers' offense so dangerous. 'What I love about Indy too, and what I think is an underrated factor—like, Tyrese kicks the ball ahead,' the new Houston Rockets forward pointed out. 'He doesn't dribble across halfcourt every time… The center hands him the ball, he's kicking it ahead no matter who it is.' Haliburton implemented that frantic rhythm that caught defenses off guard The Pacers ranked third in pace during the regular season. They averaged 98.5 possessions per game, right around league average, but Haliburton was the man behind that frantic rhythm that caught defenses off guard. That early pass Nash talks about constantly puts opponents in tough spots before they can even set up in defense. Last season, the Pacers ignited a trend of chaotic pace that left opposing defenses clueless — and unfortunately, in the upcoming season, we'll likely miss that madness that carried them all the way to the NBA Finals. Let's just hope Haliburton's Achilles injury doesn't slow him down. He truly is a unique story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Fall in love with the process'- LeBron James reveals favorite part of his 22-year-old NBA career
LeBron James, Image via Getty Los Angeles Lakers icon LeBron James and former NBA coach Steve Nash recently witnessed a phenomenal gala finale of the widely watched podcast Mind the Game. During the last episode of fifth season of Mind the Game, the popular basketball duo spoke about various aspects of NBA. In between the conversation with Steve Nash, the Los Angeles Lakers star went on to talk about one of his favorite parts of two-decade-long NBA career. LeBron James talks about favorite part of his two-decade long NBA career With the buzz around Los Angeles Lakers' star LeBron James' exit from NBA, the 40-year-old recently revealed his favorite part about basketball career. While talking about trying to make the most out of one's routine, body, and game, Steve Nash went on to ask about his favorite thing about NBA in over a decade-long career. LeBron James said, 'I mean the process is the only thing that matters to me. You know, I think when you fall in love with the process of what you want to do, and that's with anything, that's not just basketball. That's what you guys are aspiring to do. You have to fall in love with the process. The end result will happen organically, and it'll make it so much more worth your while when you fall in love with the process.' He further mentioned, 'Like, don't cheat the process, don't cut corners, fall in love with the process, and everything else will take care of itself. So that's what I've been able to do for my career. So that's my word of advice to all you guys. The process, and that goes for everything. That's not just basketball. That's life, man. Whatever you want to do in life, that's a fulfilling, inspiring way to live. So all you kids out there, like, really try to think about that. Like, what does that mean for you? Like maybe you haven't found your thing yet, but practice it at school, at sports, in music, or whatever it is; practice it. Try to get closer to your process. What is a good process system? He's mastered it, right?' For LeBron James it was never about proving anything to anyone. The 40-year-old believes in pushing himself every day to witness the better version of himself. After being active for 22 seasons in the NBA, he truly believes that hard work and dedication towards one's goal can make everything possible. Also Read: 'It means the world'- LeBron James' son Bronny James shares an emotional message about his family for their support and love Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
