Latest news with #TimDuncan
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
"I wanted it to happen because I was coming to a fabulous team" – Shaquille O'Neal looked forward to helping the Suns in 2008, despite Father Time catching up
"I wanted it to happen because I was coming to a fabulous team" – Shaquille O'Neal looked forward to helping the Suns in 2008, despite Father Time catching up originally appeared on Basketball Network. Even when he reached his mid-30s, Shaquille O'Neal was a player who could help any team. However, "The Diesel" needed to be healthy and suited up for it to happen. Advertisement Although he had a memorable run with the Miami Heat in 2006, winning his fourth and final NBA title, there were already signs of decline. With the LSU product struggling to stay healthy, the South Beach squad shipped him to the Phoenix Suns in 2007. O'Neal welcomed the move, alleging he could help the team reach the next level. "I'm very excited to be here. I just want to fit in with a damn good team," O'Neal said at a news conference via UPI. "I'm just here to make everyone else better. I wanted it to happen because I was coming to a fabulous team. Helping them get to the next level will be exciting." Suns needed someone to stop the Spurs One area the Suns desperately needed to shore up was the center position. To make a real playoff push, they had to find someone capable of matching up with Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs. Advertisement Back then, Mike D'Antoni was at the helm, leaning heavily on his fast-paced, small-ball system. It worked wonders in the regular season, but every time Phoenix ran into San Antonio, that approach came up short. The Suns lost to the Spurs in the 2005 Western Conference Finals in D'Antoni's first year at the helm. The Texas squad would do the same in the 2007 postseason, eliminating Phoenix in the WC semifinals. The Shaq experiment failed Even with the acquisition of the top pick of the 1992 Draft, the Suns still fell to the Spurs that season. Both teams faced off in the first round, with San Antonio booting out Phoenix 4-1. Advertisement This put then-general manager Steve Kerr in a tough position. He had been the driving force behind the Shaquille trade, a move he later acknowledged was aimed at addressing the glaring hole in the paint. Looking back, Kerr admitted he could've handled the situation more effectively including improving communication and alignment with the respected head coach, who wasn't fully on board with the direction the team was headed. "I have some regrets. I think we had a few differences that I probably didn't handle very well as a GM that I could've probably handled better, especially given that we really like each other and have a lot of similar viewpoints on the game," Kerr stated in 2018. Related: "There's a lot of things I hate about it" - Tim Duncan admits he can't stand some things about today's NBA Shaq had nothing more to prove Although he remained tough to stop, Shaq's numbers show that his playing days were coming to an end. From the monstrous performances he had with the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Lakers, his production dropped considerably. Advertisement O'Neal's most productive stint with the Suns came in his second season, where he put up 17.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.4 blocks across 75 games. Little did the 7-foot-1 behemoth realize that it would be his last good run in the NBA. He got shipped to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2009 and made his final stop with the Boston Celtics in 2010. Try as he might, "The Big Aristotle" had to accept the fact that his game was on the decline. Injuries prevented him from being his usual self and his unavailability was a huge problem for teams. O'Neal came to that realization in June 2011, ending his 19-year run. While the final chapter of his career may not have gone as hoped, Shaq's NBA journey was nothing short of legendary. Advertisement With four championship rings and a league MVP to his name, the big man's resume is stacked with accolades most players can only dream of. Related: LeBron James reveals which NFL players resemble him the most: "We have that same stature, as far as the build goes" This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on May 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA／21次入選最佳陣容再創歷史紀錄 40歲詹姆斯：有點瘋狂
在今天官方公布的年度最佳陣容中，湖人當家球星詹姆斯（LeBron James）一如預期入選年度最佳第二隊，這是他自2004-05年賽季以來連續21次入選最佳陣容，持續推高聯盟紀錄，同時也以40歲又125天的年齡，樹立自己保持的「高齡障礙」。 在詹姆斯之後，歷史上所有巨星也只有賈霸（Kareem Abdul-Jabbar）、鄧肯（Tim Duncan）與布萊恩（Kobe Bryant）等3人可以累積15次入選最佳陣容，詹姆斯可說是斷層式的遙遙領先。 詹姆斯21次最佳陣容中，有13次第一隊，第二隊和第三隊各4次，13次第一隊也是史上第一。 不過很多球迷還是忍不住為「詹皇」抱屈，如果沒有出現腹股溝傷勢，以詹姆斯場均24.4分8.2助攻7.8籃板的成績，甚至有望進入年度第一隊。 「對一個40歲的人來說，這種表現簡直不可思議。」、「居然有人認為湖人沒有詹皇會更好」、「如果他沒有腹股溝傷病，很難想像他會排在前5名之外，」、「瘋狂的是，在他受傷之前還是MVP前3名的人選」、「詹姆斯應該取代米契爾進第一隊」。 ALL NBA at 40!! Low key crazy to me right now! Sitting here watching the playoffs just thinking about it. Blessed beyond I can even imagine.👑🙏🏾 — LeBron James (@KingJames) 2025年5月24日 針對自己再度刷新紀錄，詹姆斯也滿懷感恩在社群上寫道：「40歲再次入選年度最佳陣容！！此刻對我來說簡直有點瘋狂！坐在這裡看季後賽，一邊思考這一切。我所擁有的，遠比我能想像的還要幸運與感恩。」 從投票分布來看，詹姆斯一共獲得17張第一名選票，僅次於年度第一隊的5名球星，不過他在第二名選票中只有拿到61張，遠低於愛德華（Anthony Edwards）的87張，也讓他的總分289略低於愛德華的318分。 A global media panel of 100 voters selected the 2024-25 Kia All-NBA selected five players for the First Team, five players for the Second Team and five players for the Third Team at any voting results ⬇️ — NBA Communications (@NBAPR) 2025年5月23日 更多udn報導 中職／老是病急亂投醫 富邦悍將還找不著屬於自己「球隊文化」 中職／孫易磊高中就很有魅力 桃猿教頭看新庄超勇調度：信任選手 中職／走過關節唇損傷重返一軍 王尉永哽咽感謝老婆一句話讓他轉念 NBA／交易前柯爾認為勇士沒救了 曝熱火主帥有說巴特勒好話
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
AEW's Jamie Hayter is seizing her moment: 'I have more at stake than Mercedes' Moné
The city of San Antonio has four large indoor sports and event venues, three with its own signature, legendary San Antonio Spur who provided incredible moments and enduring memories. The Frost Bank Center saw Tim Duncan at the helm of the Spurs' dynasty, winning four NBA championships since its opening in 2002. The Alamodome, a tank of an arena in the heart of downtown, had "The Admiral" at the controls, with David Robinson establishing franchise record after franchise record in its hallowed halls. But the start of it all was at the Hemisfair Arena, with 'The Iceman' George Gervin finger-rolling his way into the NBA Hall of Fame, one smooth drive after another. The fourth space, the Freeman Coliseum, doesn't have a silver and black deity in its rafters, but it does have the distinction hosting one of AEW's greatest matches to date: 2022's Women's World Title match between challenger Hikaru Shida and then-champion, now Owen Hart Cup finalist Jamie Hayter. Advertisement As she looks to once again climb that mountain and sit alone atop the AEW Women's division, at Double or Nothing, Hayter's out to show the world that setbacks can't stop what hard work has put into motion. Best-of lists drive conversation and spark outrage, but there's just something different about two focused combatants choosing to go out and kick each other's asses for divisional supremacy. Even in preparation, Hayter's interest is in whatever physique grants her the best opportunity to beat the hell out of whoever stands across from her. 'I like to have a bit of meat on my bones, to be honest," she says. "I like to be a bit more stockier. I don't really care about having abs so much. I just like to be a bit big. As big as I physically can.' Hayter and Shida went to war without having the same weapons of strategy, something Hayter appreciates across AEW's Women's division. There's variance in size and style, but the most important thing is being able to bring the pain to your opponent whenever called upon. 'That's the wonderful thing about wrestling, isn't it?" she says. "It really is for anybody. I don't really think it necessarily matters your body size or shape. I think if you can go in the ring, you go in the ring. Let that do the speaking for you. There'll be plenty of naysayers that will be like, 'Well, I actually think this about this body type, or I don't think they should look like this and that.' But it's just like, 'Well, f*** them.' That's what I say. Let your in-ring do the talking.' Advertisement That focus on force, regardless of physique, helped Hayter retain her title with a deliberate, decapitating ripcord lariat finisher, appropriately titled 'Hayterade.' Yet the contest's importance was twofold: It was for the AEW Women's World Championship, but it was also one of AEW's rare televised women's main events. 'I'd never main-evented a 'Dynamite' before,' Hayter reflects. 'This is pressure, because the main event of a show, you want to send everyone home happy and entertain them. You don't want it to be bad, and you're thinking about all these factors that go into it, and you want to put on a great show. "I'd never wrestled her before. I don't even know if we had really done much in the ring together. ... In general, I think it's definitely maybe my favorite match or my second-favorite match ever.' Hayter originally won the title in an interim fashion from Toni Storm at 2022's Full Gear pay-per-view, and carried it until 2023's Double or Nothing, where she gave way to the now-megastar and current AEW Women's World Champion Storm prior to Storm's transition into her 'Timeless' persona. Outside of the ring, the two were very close, both having honed their crafts in World Wrestling Stardom. They lived together during the pandemic and spent their time watching every piece of professional wrestling media they could find, regardless of participant, era or location. 'What else was there really to do?" Hayter says. Advertisement "We would watch pretty much anything. YouTube is such a great hub for finding so many random bits of wrestling. … All Japan [Pro Wrestling], women's wrestling, or I'll watch some World of Sport or some random French wrestling from the '50s or something like that. Then [Will] Ospreay really enjoyed putting on some backyarding stuff, which I hadn't really watched so much of. "I think it obviously kept our wrestling brains intact, because not doing it for so long, you almost feel like you're going to forget how to do it. I kept having dreams that I didn't know how to run the ropes anymore, so certain I'd wake up in a hot sweat like, 'Oh my God!'' Joining AEW during its infancy in 2019 then enduring the global layoff was one thing, but Hayter still had her wits, her time and the space to improve. She had a second drought of sorts, this time due to a nagging injury that finally hit home. Hayter took time off due to two herniated discs in her back that were so severe, she almost gave up wrestling entirely. With the pandemic, she could go from her bed to the couch to soak in all forms of her chosen passion, but the injury grounded her to the point that stimuli outside of the bare necessities was almost impossible. 'I'd be at work, and my God, it was unbearable," Hayter says. "I'd be crying all the time. I couldn't even walk properly or anything like that. I would never wish it on my worst enemy because it was really, really horrific. Jamie Hayter has torn up the ring since returning to action. (Photo via AEW) (Lee South) "I couldn't even laugh because I'd be in that much pain. … Just laying in bed, I don't know if you've ever bed-rotted for a while or been in that situation where you're in bed and you're like, 'God, well, this is my life now.'' Advertisement Whoever Hayter prays to clearly holds her in their favor, as her life finally returned to normal in the fall of 2024. With AEW All In emanating from her native England, she ripped through Sayara's friends and family to confront her, stunning and satisfying the crowd of over 45,000 fans. She also began to form her new signature look, a strong 1970's vibe inspired by The Doors frontman Jim Morrison and fellow Englishwoman Kate Bush. 'I wanted to dress [in what] was more my style," she says, "and outside of wrestling … I enjoy doing more things on my hair and changing up my style a bit more. "I treat it like albums. I have my independent pro-wrestling album, my Japan album, when I first came to AEW and then post-injury, changing and evolving. Imagine if your favorite band did the same thing every single time, didn't change anything up, and it was just the same. I think that's boring, personally. I think, why not experiment and see how it goes?' Since then, it's been a slow burn back to prominence, but comes Sunday, Hayter is jockeying for pole position with Mercedes Moné, who has yet to suffer a singles loss in AEW. The two Owen Hart Cup finalists have both experienced massive success in AEW, and while they both have individual goals, they both want to solidify the AEW women's division as the best in the world. They have a chance to sway opinion once more with their tournament final matchup. 'We want to make this the best women's division, the deepest woman's division, the most interesting woman's division that we can," Hayter says. "I really do think, given the opportunity, every single woman has something to offer. ... Even though we're not shouting and screaming it from the rooftops for everyone else to hear, it's almost like an inside mission. It's something that we all want to achieve, because we all believe in the division. Advertisement "We want to live up to the, 'Where the best wrestle,' tagline. ... We're going to get there, and I think we're definitely on that path.' Jamie Hayter will vault into a world title shot if she emerges victorious Sunday. (Photo via AEW) For Hayter, the best way to serve the masses would be to serve herself. Defeating Moné, then going on to face and conquer 'Timeless' Toni Storm at July's All In: Texas showcase would go a long way in reaffirming her as the division's best. She's already a San Antonio legend, but Dallas, with its emphasis on size and stature, would be a different beast to conquer. '[Winning the Owen Hart Cup] really does mean a lot to me. I'm not going to lie," Hayter says. "I think I have more at stake than Mercedes does. "I haven't really done anything [since I came back]. This is the first thing I've done of note, and I've been back since August 2024. Hey, that's just how it goes. But this is my opportunity to really show people, maybe I look a little bit different or whatever, but I'm still the same person in the ring. I'm still aggressive. I can still go. Advertisement "That fire gets lit in you and you're like, 'No, I think I'm starting to believe in myself more again,'" Hayter continues. "I want to show people that I never left and I can go, and I can be at that level that so many women now have gotten to that level. Toni Storm and Willow [Nightingale] and Kris Statlander — all these girls have been smashing it since I've been gone as well. They're really at the top of our division. I want to join them.' While others have staked their claims in Hayter's absence, there's still that night at the Freeman Coliseum, that David Robinson-esque quintuple double in the "AEW Dynamite" main event that has yet to be duplicated, replicated, or even truly imitated. But it's a finals performance that Hayter wants to put on tape to show that she's not only all the way back, she's all the way in as the division's best. 'Winning the Owen Hart Cup would be great because it's a fantastic tournament," she says. "It honors Owen Hart. It's great for honoring his legacy. I also will give Mercedes Moné her first loss in AEW, which, I think that'd be pretty cool. I think that's a little brownie point for me. Then going to All In, potentially facing Toni Storm, I think that would be interesting because we haven't stepped in the ring together for quite some time. She beat me the first time for the belt, then I beat her, then she beat me again. I almost feel like I could do it — I really could go all the way.' Hayter has the frame, the fervor and the fight to once more sit atop AEW's women's division, and she's ready and willing to run through anyone blocking her path.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
"People say, 'Mother Teresa, Jesus and the Dalai Lama" - Gregg Popovich would rather have a dinner with Tim Duncan than other famous people
Tim Duncan dedicated his entire NBA career to the San Antonio Spurs, where he thrived under the mentorship of Coach Gregg Popovich. Over the years, the two developed a profound and enduring bond that significantly influenced both their lives and careers. In 2016, when Duncan officially announced his retirement, Popovich took the opportunity to express his deep admiration for the legendary power forward. During a media scrum, Pop reflected on the unique nature of his relationship with "The Big Fundamental" and dropped an epic yet heartfelt comment. Advertisement While many might choose to have a dinner with someone famous or iconic, Popovich made it clear that, for him, there was no one he would rather share that experience with than Timmy. "You know, if you have one night and you could go to dinner, go to lunch with so-and-so, who would you like to do it with?" Popovich told a group of reporters in 2016. "People say, 'Mother Teresa, Jesus. and the Dalai Lama.' And okay, I get it but… I can honestly tell you, my dinner would be with Timmy." "And it would be because he was the most real, consistent, true person I have ever met in my life," the coach added of Duncan. "He was so genuine that it blows your mind… To spend time with Timmy is really sublime." What Popovich liked the most about Duncan Renowned for his extraordinary skill set, Duncan has rightfully earned his place among the greatest players in NBA history. His pivotal contributions were instrumental in securing five NBA championships for the Spurs, solidifying his legacy as one of the most successful athletes in the sport. In fact, many even consider Timmy the greatest power forward to have ever played in the NBA. Advertisement However, what truly sets Duncan apart is not just his impressive accolades or basketball prowess, but his remarkable humility. Throughout his illustrious career, the retired big man remained grounded despite his numerous achievements. His incredible humility is precisely what resonated with Popovich, who deeply appreciated Tim's ability to stay modest and focused, even in the face of immense success. "The most important comment I can make about TD is that I can honestly say, to Mr. and Mrs. Duncan, who have passed, is that man right there is exactly the same person now as he was when he walked in the door," Pop once said of Duncan. Related: "When you get somebody with that kind of potential and they're white and you are in America, you keep that dude" - Stephen A. Smith claims Dallas must draft and keep Cooper Flagg Pop and Timmy built the Spurs dynasty Gregg and Tim are the two most respected names in the Spurs franchise. Their partnership is not just a story of individual talent but a remarkable tale of collaboration that transformed a small-market team into a dynasty. Advertisement At the core of Popovich and Duncan's success is their shared values and goals. Both individuals prioritized teamwork, discipline, and a strong work ethic. As the head coach, Pop emphasized the importance of fundamentals and a team-oriented approach. "The Big Fundamental," meanwhile, embodied these principles on the court. His ability to lead by example inspired his teammates, fostering a culture of accountability and mutual respect. All told, the partnership between two basketball icons is a powerful example of leadership, dedication, and the pursuit of excellence. Their legacy will forever be remembered in the annals of Spurs history, reminding fans of the profound impact that long-lasting collaboration can have in achieving greatness. Related: David West on playing under Gregg Popovich in San Antonio: "Like going to basketball college"
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA》Popovich教練為聖安東尼奧貢獻良多 市議員提案機場以他為名
在聖安東尼奧馬刺隊連續擔任29個NBA賽季總教練的帕波維奇(Gregg Popovich)，日前宣佈因為健康因素卸下職位，為了表揚這個為當地城市帶來無數榮耀的偉大教練，聖安東尼奧議員日前正式提案將當地國際機場以帕波維奇為名。 A City council member has filed a request to rename the San Antonio International Airport after Spurs president Gregg Popovich, calling his impact on the city "immeasurable." 👏 — NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 16, 2025 聖城議員培拉茲(Manny Pelaez)在提案中表示，波總對聖安東尼奧的影響力是難以估算的，將機場這個重要門戶以他為名，算是「恰如其分且具有永恆意義的致敬」。此外，還有議員提案將帕波維奇的生日1月28日訂為聖安東尼奧的「波總日(Coach Pop Day)」。 帕波維奇從1988年就成為馬刺隊助理教練，並於1996年正式接掌總教練，展開他長達29年的執教生涯，帕波維奇除了成為聯盟史上在單一球隊在位最久的總教練，例行賽累積1422勝也高居歷史之冠，馬刺隊在這段期間打下了5座總冠軍。 現年76歲的帕波維奇，在去年11月驚傳輕度中風，休養多月後在日前正式宣佈退位馬刺總教練，轉任球隊籃球營運總裁，日前他特別出席新任總教練強森(Mitch Johnson)的上任記者會，昔日子弟兵鄧肯(Tim Duncan)和吉諾比利(Manu Ginobili)也隨伺在惻，雖然帕波維奇的行動和言語不如以往俐落，還是不改幽默的表示：「我不再是球隊教練了，而是老大！」 'I'm no longer coach, I'm El Jefe'Señor Popovich, flanked by Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, passing the torch to Mitch Johnson today at the Rock #PorVida — Matt Roy (@MattRoy_TV) May 5, 2025
