Tag: NBA

Welcome back, Kevon Looney

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @NBCSWarriors

By: Ana Kieu

League sources told ESPN on Tuesday that free agent forward Kevon Looney has reached an agreement to re-sign with the Golden State Warriors on a one-year, minimum deal.

This move obviously won’t make national headlines, but this is a great move for the Warriors. Looney started in Game 1 before being replaced by JaVale McGee, who is now a Los Angeles Laker, in Game 2. Looney played 39 minutes in those four games, but just three minutes in the last two after Andre Iguodala returned to the court.

Looney stands at 6’9″ and has a wingspan of 7’4″. He a competent small-ball center who can guard at all five positions. Also, his length allows him to defend and switch guards when necessary. In addition, his ability to defend the rim is pretty good.

Looney grew up in Milwaukee, where he played high school basketball at Alexander Hamilton High School. He went on to play college basketball at UCLA from 2014-15. He was originally selected 30th overall by Golden State in the 2015 NBA Draft. He spent the 2016-17 season with Golden State’s G League team in Santa Cruz, Calif.

Warriors shake up lineup; DeMarcus Cousins agrees to 1-year, $5.3 million deal

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @NBAonTNT

By: Ana Kieu

The Los Angeles Lakers might’ve took the basketball world by storm in the past few days, but the Golden State Warriors showed the Southern California team that they were going to make some shocking moves of their own.

League sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that center DeMarcus Cousins, also known as “Boogie,” has agreed to a one-year, $5.3 million deal with the Warriors. The 27-year-old last played for the New Orleans Pelicans from 2017-18.

Cousins began his NBA career in 2010 when the Sacramento Kings selected him with the fifth overall pick in the NBA Draft. The four-time NBA All-Star played for the Kings from 2010-17.

Cousins played just one season at the University of Kentucky from 2009-10, where the Wildcats men’s basketball team made it to the Elite Eight of the 2010 NCAA Tournament, before he forwent the remaining three years of college eligibility to enter the 2010 NBA Draft.

The Warriors now have a fifth star in Cousins. Although Warriors star Steph Curry has lightheartedly joked about Cousins as the “3rd Splash Brother” on Twitter, it’s too early to tell if Cousins will make a significant splash in Oakland. After all, Cousins is still going through his continuous recovery following a season-ending surgery for a torn left Achilles sustained on January 28th.

JaVale McGee to join the L.A. Lakers’ madness

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @LakersNation

By: Ana Kieu

As if the addition of LeBron James wasn’t enough, the Los Angeles Lakers continued to fill out a new supporting cast around the Akron, Ohio, native with free agent center JaVale McGee, who reportedly agreed to a one-year, $2.4 million minimum deal, according to league sources who told ESPN’s Chris Haynes.

McGee last played for the Golden State Warriors, where he won two back-to-back championships in 2017 and 2018. Before joining the winning squad, the Flint, Mich., native played for the Dallas Mavericks from 2015-16, Philadelphia 76ers in 2015, Denver Nuggets from 2012-15 and Washington Wizards from 2008-2012.

McGee was initially drafted 18th overall by the Wizards in the 2008 NBA Draft. He played college basketball at the University of Nevada, Reno, from 2006-08.

LeBron takes his talents to the Southland; Signs with Lakers for four years and $154 million

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

nba.com photo: LeBron James as a Laker in painted form is up for a four year stint with the Lakers

By Joe Hawkes Beamon and Jerry Feitelberg

The much anticipated moment is over as predicted LeBron James has signed a four-year, $154 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers as the Lakers try to light the fuse on a franchise that has lagged since superstar Kobe Bryant retired. The Lakers have not been in the playoffs since 2013.

James, who has played most of his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, will leave the team for the second time the first time was when he left for the Miami Heat. LeBron will be entering his 16th NBA season with three NBA Championship rings and four MVPs under his belt. LeBron is confident he can help establish some headway with the Lakers to make them great again.

After this last season’s Championship Final against Golden State, James looked to cry “Uncle” and wanted a change of scenery and looks at the Lakers as an organization that will build toward an NBA Championship Finals team. James makes L.A. his offseason home.

The Lakers are a young team the average player’s age is 25, James (33) will almost be like a player-coach with the young guys on the floor but he will seek assurances from the Lakers organization to get two or three veterans to make that extra push to get the Lakers to be a deep playoff team.

With the signing of James, Kawhi Leonard has expressed interest in joining the Lakers after he said he was no longer going to play for the San Antonio Spurs. Leonard could very well be one of the key building blocks the Lakers are looking towards in getting some experience on their roster.

Joe Hawkes Beamon and Jerry Feitelberg cover the NBA for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Warriors coach Steve Kerr to become one of the NBA’s highest paid coaches

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @gswdubnation_

By: Ana Kieu

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is reportedly finalizing a lucrative contract extension.

Kerr is entering the final season of the five-year, $25 million deal that he originally signed in May 2014. He led the Warriors to the NBA Finals every season during his tenure thus far. He delivered three out of four NBA championships.

When Kerr was initially hired, he told NBA.com that going to the Warriors “just felt like the right move on many levels.” That was the correct feeling as Kerr has been at the center of what many would describe as a new dynasty in the Bay Area.

Over the past four years, the Warriors have averaged 66 wins per season, seen two Kia MVP seasons from Stephen Curry, utilized a successful system that landed Kevin Durant in 2016, produced several individual NBA All-Star appearances and three NBA championship trophies.

Kerr currently has a 265-63 regular season record and a 63-20 postseason record, the best marks among NBA coaches since he joined the Warriors.

That’s Amaury’s Podcast, News and Commentary: Rizzo leads Cubs to first place in 5-run 11th inning; D-Backs trying to make a comeback with 9 unanswered runs; plus more runs

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: nydailynews.com

On the That’s Amaury’s Podcast:

#1 The Chicago Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo launched the Cubs into a five-run 11th inning that put the Cubs in first place.

#2 The Arizona Diamondbacks, who struggled to hold onto first place, scored nine unanswered runs after a hit by pitch.

#3 The Seattle Mariners’ Nelson Cruz hit two home runs and Wade LeBlanc went five solid innings in the M’s win over the Los Angles Angels 5-3 Monday night.

#4 The Boston Red Sox’s Mookie Betts is back from the DL and pitcher Steven Wright, who continued his scoreless pitching streak at 22 2/3, as the Red Sox defeated the Baltimore Orioles 2-0.

#5 Finally, in basketball, the Golden State Warriors are hosting the World Championship parade in downtown Oakland.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the MLB Hispanic Heritage Museum, the Spanish radio voice for the Oakland A’s, and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Kevin Durant will re-sign with the Warriors this summer

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: deadspin.com

By: Ana Kieu

As basketball fans wait for the Friday night tipoff for Game 4 of the NBA Finals, Golden State Warriors fans got some good news as All-Star forward Kevin Durant confirmed in an interview with Rachel Nichols of ESPN that he’ll re-sign with Oakland this summer.

Right now, Durant is wrapping up his first year of a two-year, $51 million contract with the Warriors that includes an opt-out clause for the 2018-19 NBA season.

Durant told ESPN, “I’m planning on staying with the Warriors, and we’ll figure the rest out.”

Durant accepted $10 million less than what he could’ve earned in a maximum salary during the 2017-18 NBA season. There weren’t any incentives for Durant to take a reduction in pay, but he took it anyways.

Durant has been the difference maker on the Warriors. Well, at least in Game 3 anyway. In case you missed it, the 29-year-old recorded 43 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists. 12 of those 43 points came from three-pointers from 30-plus feet.

Even LeBron James had something good to say about Durant’s stellar performance on Wednesday night.

James told ESPN, “Kevin Durant is one of the best players I’ve ever played against, that this league has ever seen.”

Durant and his business partner Rich Kleiman are expected to go over the possible contract scenarios at the end of the Warriors’ postseason run.

Headline Sports with Tony Renteria: Warriors can very well sweep in four games; Curry could have an night off and W’s still win

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

@warriors photo: Golden State Warriors Kevin Durant takes the jumper who piled on 43 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena Wednesday night in game 4

Headline Sports podcast with Tony:

#1 The Warriors Stephen Curry had a off night with just 11 points and it was like one hand tied behind the Warriors back and they still were able to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night in game 3 110-102 at Quicken Loans Arena to take a 3-0 series lead.

#2 With Curry having an 11 point night the rest of the team’s starters Kevin Durant 43 points, seven assists, and 13 rebounds, Draymond Green, JaVale McGee and Klay Thompson each scored 10 points

#3 The Cavaliers who fell eight points short in the loss just couldn’t get over the hump at home past the Warriors. LeBron James scored 33 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds Kevin Love scored 20 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, and Rodney Hood contributed 15 points off the Cavs’ bench.

#4 From Tony’s point of view when it comes down to it for game four on Friday night does Tony see the Warriors getting a sweep past the Cavs in Cleveland to end the finals.

#5 Green passed former LA Laker Wilt Chamberlain’s for rebounds for 923 rebounds in 100 games as Chamberlain had the 922 mark.

Tony does Headline Sports each Thursday at http://www.sportsadioservice.com

Golden State Warriors podcast with David Zizmor: Have the Cavs really lost all hope?; Will the Warriors sweep in Cleveland?

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @awfulannouncing

On the Warriors podcast with David:

To illustrate the frustration of the Cleveland Cavaliers in this year’s finals, two of their players have already walked out on pressers. The Cavs’ Tristan Thompson walked out when he was asked if the team has lost all hope, remarking “That’s f—– up” said an unhappy Thompson. Then, there was LeBron James when he asked about JR Smith and did he know what the score was in Game 1 when time ran out for the Cavs’ first loss.

Game 3 is Wednesday night. Can the Warriors sweep the rest of the way?

David Zizmor does the Warrior podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Dwight Clark will be forever remembered for the catch; Can the Warriors sweep or split in Cleveland?

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @SBNation

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

*He will forever be remembered for “The Catch” in the 1981 NFC Championship that launched the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl. Dwight Clark, who passed away at age 61, was not only remembered for his great days in football, but also as a family man and friend. Clark’s wife Kelly made the announcement on Monday. Clark was surrounded by friends, family, and many fans, who paid visits to the 49ers superstar.

*The Bay Area is surrounded by many pro and college teams, but a recent survey by many pro teams and college teams that came out Monday, 46% of Bay Area residents said they would like to move because of the high cost of housing and the bad traffic. In the survey, residents said they would move in the next few years.

*Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors continues Wednesday. The Warriors are up 2-0. Could Golden State take the next two games in Cleveland or will they split?

* The Oakland A’s, after finishing up on the road on Wednesday, start a 10-game homestand against Kansas City, Houston, and the Los Angeles Angels. They had a rough time last homestand. Can the A’s go above .500 this coming homestand?

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s Spanish play by play announcer, does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com