Latest news with #TrailBlazers
USA Today
29-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
What Montana guard Money Williams learned after testing the NBA draft process
What Montana guard Money Williams learned after testing the NBA draft process Williams worked out with the Rockets and Trail Blazers before the early entry withdrawal deadline on Wednesday. Money Williams wanted to test the 2025 NBA draft to gain valuable feedback to further develop his game, and the Montana sophomore received that and more over the past month. Williams was an All-Big Sky second-team selection, averaging 13.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.1 steals on 34.1% shooting from 3-point range. He paced the Grizzlies in scoring, leading them to their first conference title and appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2019. The 6-foot-4 guard finished in double figures 17 times this past season, including two 30-point performances. He reached that mark on Nov. 13 in a loss against No. 11 Tennessee, becoming the first Big Sky player to score at least 30 points against an SEC opponent since 1999. "I'm just testing the waters to see where I'm at," Williams said Tuesday after working out with the Portland Trail Blazers. "I feel good where I'm at. Obviously, I need some more work, but next year, I'm pretty sure I'll be more confident to enter my name into the draft." Williams began his sophomore campaign by starting the first 20 games of the season for head coach Travis DeCuire. After a 12-8 start to the season, DeCuire elected to move Williams to the bench to shake things up and provide a jolt in the second unit. The team responded by going 13-2 to finish the season, including a loss to Wisconsin in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Williams was named the Big Sky Sixth Man of the Year for his play in that role, which served as a reminder of sorts for him. "If you want to be on the court, you have to be consistent," Williams said. "All of the guys that play in the NBA are consistent at what they do. This is their job; this is their profession." Williams declared for the draft following the season while maintaining his remaining eligibility. In addition to working out with the Trail Blazers, Williams also completed a visit with the Houston Rockets before withdrawing from the draft ahead of the deadline on Wednesday. The 20-year-old had the opportunity to compete against his peers in those two workouts, while receiving intel from coaches and executives about his strengths and weaknesses. He understands what it takes to advance to the next level and will keep that with him throughout his junior year. "There are a lot of guys that want to be here," Williams said. "I'm pretty sure there are only 500 guys that get drafted to the NBA out of the whole world, so to be one of those guys, you have to separate yourself. Having that great experience, it opened my mind even more."
NBC Sports
25-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Could Mario Hezonja return to NBA? Multiple teams reportedly interested.
The last time we saw Mario Hezonja on an NBA court was in the bubble, when the former No. 5 pick was coming off the bench for the Trail Blazers. Since then, he has been in Europe playing in Greece and Russia before spending the past few seasons with Real Madrid. Just last summer he inked a five-year contract with the Spanish powerhouse, but the contract has an NBA out clause. And there is interest from several NBA teams, reports Donatas Urbonas of Hezonja, 30, spent five seasons in the NBA after being drafted by the Magic, but the 6'8" forward's game never rounded out as hoped. He didn't space the floor well from 3, and his offense was more straight-line drives than anything else. That growth in his game may have come in Europe. He shot 39.2% from 3 last season for Real Madrid, averaging 13.6 points and 4.9 assists a game this past season. Hezonja also averaged 30.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and a couple of steals a game for Croatia in the 2025 EuroBasket qualifiers (Croatia did not make the cut). It's something to watch. Hezonja's NBA buyout clause is for around $850,000, Urbonas reports, which is about the going rate for an NBA buyout in Europe.
The Hindu
15-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Nike co-founder Phil Knight says he's no longer interested in buying the Portland Trail Blazers
Nike co-founder Phil Knight said Wednesday he is not interested in buying the Portland Trail Blazers, which is up for sale. Paul Allen's estate said Tuesday it has begun the process of finding a new owner for the team. Allen, the billionaire cofounder of Microsoft who died in 2018, stipulated the eventual sale of his sports properties in his will. There was speculation Knight, the chairman emeritus of Beaverton, Oregon-based Nike Inc., might step in to buy the Blazers because he had expressed interest a few years back. 'Five years ago, when I was a younger man, I had a great interest in being a part of the Portland Trail Blazers franchise. However, at my current age, I can confirm that I no longer have interest in acquiring the team,' Knight said in a statement via Nike. Allen owned the Trail Blazers, the NFL's Seattle Seahawks and a stake in Major League Soccer's Seattle Sounders before his death at age 65 from complications of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Since then, his sister, Jody Allen, has served as chair of the Blazers and the Seahawks and trustee of the Paul G. Allen Trust. Allen's estate said in its announcement that the sale of the Blazers is consistent with Allen's 'directive to eventually sell his sports holdings and direct all estate proceeds to philanthropy.' Neither the Seahawks nor the Sounders are currently for sale. Jody Allen reportedly rebuffed Knight's offer to buy the Blazers for more than $2 billion in 2022. At that time, there were no ongoing discussions about the sale of the teams, she said in a rare statement. 'A time will come when that changes given Paul's plans to dedicate the vast majority of his wealth to philanthropy, but estates of this size and complexity can take 10 to 20 years to wind down,' she said. 'There is no pre-ordained timeline by which the teams must be sold.' The estate has hired the New York investment firm Allen & Company and the law firm Hogan Lovells to lead the sales process, which is expected to continue into the next NBA season. U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden on Wednesday wrote NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, urging the NBA to make sure the Blazers stay in Portland, where the team has been since 1970. He noted the team's NBA championship in 1977, and the 'Blazermania' that captured the city and made heroes out of players including Bill Walton and Maurice Lucas. CNBC earlier this year valued the Trail Blazers at $3.65 billion. In March, the Boston Celtics sold for $6.1 billion. The Trail Blazers finished 36-46 this season and missed out on the playoffs for the fourth straight year. They have the 11th pick in the next month's NBA draft.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Summer camp fun at River Bend Nature Center
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — River Bend Nature Center has some exciting events for the kids this summer break! The RBNC Summer camps will occur throughout the summer, encouraging kids to participate for fun and education. Camps are half a day from 8:30 a.m. to noon, and the cost is $110 for non-members, $100 for members. Spots are available for ages 6-11, and spots are filled for ages 4-5 year olds, but can be put on a wait list if you call (940) 767-0843. Insectopia: June 9-13 Trail Blazers: June 23-27 Mad Science Lab: July 7-11 Wild Critter: July 21-25 Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hamilton Spectator
14-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Phil Knight says he's no longer interested in buying the Portland Trail Blazers
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Nike co-founder Phil Knight said Wednesday he is not interested in buying the Portland Trail Blazers, who are up for sale. Paul Allen's estate said Tuesday it has begun the process of finding a new owner for the team. Allen, the billionaire cofounder of Microsoft who died in 2018, stipulated the eventual sale of his sports properties in his will. There was speculation Knight, the chairman emeritus of Beaverton, Oregon-based Nike Inc., might step in to buy the Blazers because he had expressed interest a few years back. 'Five years ago, when I was a younger man, I had a great interest in being a part of the Portland Trail Blazers franchise. However, at my current age, I can confirm that I no longer have interest in acquiring the team,' Knight said in a statement via Nike. Allen owned the Trail Blazers, the NFL's Seattle Seahawks and a stake in Major League Soccer's Seattle Sounders before his death at age 65 from complications of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Since then, his sister, Jody Allen, has served as chair of the Blazers and the Seahawks and trustee of the Paul G. Allen Trust. Allen's estate said in its announcement that the sale of the Blazers is consistent with Allen's 'directive to eventually sell his sports holdings and direct all estate proceeds to philanthropy.' Neither the Seahawks nor the Sounders are currently for sale. Jody Allen reportedly rebuffed Knight's offer to buy the Blazers for more than $2 billion in 2022. At that time, there were no ongoing discussions about the sale of the teams, she said in a rare statement. 'A time will come when that changes given Paul's plans to dedicate the vast majority of his wealth to philanthropy, but estates of this size and complexity can take 10 to 20 years to wind down,' she said. 'There is no pre-ordained timeline by which the teams must be sold.' The estate has hired the New York investment firm Allen & Company and the law firm Hogan Lovells to lead the sales process, which is expected to continue into the next NBA season. U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden on Wednesday wrote NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, urging the NBA to make sure the Blazers stay in Portland, where the team has been since 1970. He noted the team's NBA championship in 1977, and the 'Blazermania' that captured the city and made heroes out of players including Bill Walton and Maurice Lucas. CNBC earlier this year valued the Trail Blazers at $3.65 billion. In March, the Boston Celtics sold for $6.1 billion . The Trail Blazers finished 36-46 this season and missed out on the playoffs for the fourth straight year. They have the 11th pick in the next month's NBA draft. ___ AP NBA:
