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Tag: NBA – English

  • An NBA shake up? The hidden truth behind the league's new idea that will impact player moves

    An NBA shake up? The hidden truth behind the league's new idea that will impact player moves

    The NBA has unveiled updated salary cap projections for the 2025-26 season, setting the figure at $154.6 million, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks. This marks a $14 million increase from the current season, with the luxury-tax threshold projected to rise to $187.9 million. While these numbers reflect healthy financial growth within the league, they won’t necessarily ignite a spending spree during the summer free-agency period.

    The $154.6 million cap represents the maximum allowable increase under the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA), which stipulates that the cap can only climb by 10 percent per year. This mechanism was designed to prevent the financial chaos witnessed in 2016-17, when a massive influx of revenue from new media rights deals caused the salary cap to surge from $63 million to $94.1 million in just one season.

    A wild night! Steph Curry and Draymond Green bash Ayesha Curry’s birthday party at a Miami club

    That sudden leap resulted in many teams overspending on contracts, followed by years of fiscal recalibration that left free agents in subsequent offseasons with fewer opportunities. Learning from that experience, the NBA and the players’ union negotiated the 10 percent annual increase cap in their current CBA to ensure a smoother financial trajectory. This strategy aims to balance league-wide economic stability with the need for sustainable growth.

    This might not be exactly as people think

    Despite the cap’s increase, fans should temper their expectations for blockbuster free-agency moves this offseason. According to Spotrac’s estimates, only 11 teams are likely to have the flexibility to operate below the cap, and just three, the New Orleans Pelicans, Detroit Pistons, and Brooklyn Nets, could have $20 million or more to spend.

    This means that while certain teams might strategically make moves to strengthen their rosters, the majority will likely remain cautious, focusing instead on re-signing key players or managing existing contracts.

    The NBA’s proactive approach to financial management underscores its commitment to maintaining competitive balance while avoiding the pitfalls of past cap spikes. As the league looks ahead to the next wave of media rights negotiations, this steady and methodical cap growth could position teams for long-term success without repeating history.

    The question now is whether this carefully managed increase will lead to a more competitive offseason or simply reinforce the current power dynamics in the league. Whatever the outcome, the NBA’s financial landscape continues to evolve, proving once again that numbers off the court can be just as influential as performance on it.



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  • Miami coach Erik Spoelstra's ex-wife slams Jaime Jaquez Jr. romance rumors

    Miami coach Erik Spoelstra's ex-wife slams Jaime Jaquez Jr. romance rumors

    Nikki Spoelstra, former wife of Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, is setting the record straight. After rumors began circulating online about a possible romance between her and Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikki took to Instagram to shut them down-clearly and unapologetically.

    In a video posted to her stories, she didn’t hold back.

    Former Celtics player claims Jayson Tatum was targeted on dirty foul by Miami Heat

    “Y’all streets give me way too much power when s*** doesn’t go your way in pro sports,” she said, frustrated by the speculation. “It’s one thing to talk trash because I made a big life change. It’s another to come at me over a completely made-up story.”

    According to Nikki, the gossip started from fans misinterpreting her likes and comments on Jaquez’s Instagram posts. She explained that she reached out to both Jaquez’s girlfriend and his mom to address the situation head-on. All three of them, she said, had the same reaction: eye-rolls.

    “We’re literally over here laughing,”Nikki said.“There’s just nothing there.”

    She also clarified a separate post about dating younger men, which some took as a cryptic reference to Jaquez. Nikki said it was a joke-plain and simple-and slammed the idea that there’s any truth to the rumors.

    More Than Just a Rumor: Nikki’s Been Here Before

    This isn’t the first time Nikki’s had to deal with public speculation or criticism. After her divorce from Erik Spoelstra in November 2023-following a seven-year marriage-she became a frequent target online, especially after Erik signed a massive contract extension with the Heat.

    But she’s made it clear that her life, and her marriage, weren’t about money. In past interviews and online posts, she’s urged people to see beyond the headlines and recognize that marriages are complex, private, and often misunderstood from the outside.

    “There’s so much more to a relationship than what people assume from the outside,”she’s said.

    Meanwhile, Back on the Court…

    While Nikki’s been busy clearing the air off the court, the Miami Heat are focused on the game. With the Eastern Conference heating up, the team is staying locked in on performance, tuning out the noise, and keeping their eyes on the postseason.



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  • How Stephen Curry helped save UConn star Azzi Fudd's knee and career

    How Stephen Curry helped save UConn star Azzi Fudd's knee and career

    When Azzi Fudd went down with a knee injury 16 months ago and required surgery, her parents immediately wondered how they would navigate another grueling rehab process.

    That’s when Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry came in and dished out a most important assist: He and his team of trainers and medical professionals offered to help lead the effort to get the Connecticut guard healthy and back on the court after she tore her right anterior cruciate ligament and medial meniscus.

    They came up with a precise plan, down to the specific milestones she would need to meet each step of the way, and collaborated with the UConn training staff to get her through those tests.

    “I was cast to put together a really good group of people,” said Carl Bergstrom, Curry’s director of performance. “Doing a virtual or distant rehab is not without its challenges, so with the resources that were allocated and just the network that we have, I was able to take the time and really bring in who I thought were some of the best world leaders in ACL rehab that were in my network in North America.”

    All good, Steph? Fans react as Curry’s rare clumsy moment goes viral

    Tim and Katie Fudd aren’t sure how they would have supported their daughter without the SC30 team. Fudd partnered with Curry’s off-court organization more than three years ago and it paid for her cross-country trips to see top doctors.

    “When we were kind of throwing around ideas about how to handle it and what we were going to do to help her get back to the best version of herself, we just didn’t know what to do, and then all of a sudden we got information that Stephen was stepping up and was going to provide some resources for her to have rehab for the next 12 months,” Tim said.

    “It was jaw-dropping No. 1, and No. 2, when you got involved with the whole process, and to see how in depth everything was in terms of her workouts and how meticulous the therapists and trainers that she worked with were, we were blown away by it.”

    Fudd formally joined Curry’s SC30 brand in November 2021 to build her career through a name, image and likeness contract. Still, she had little idea how far the support would reach.

    “Not even just from this rehab standpoint, Steph has been such an amazing resource,” Fudd said. “It kind of just goes to show the kind of person he is. … Just him being so open to sharing his resources from the beginning has been incredible, but during this rehab process being with SC30 I can’t imagine what this process would have been like if I wasn’t with Steph and he wasn’t so caring and sharing and giving.”

    Fudd returned for UConn in November and the graduate student guard is gearing up for what could be her final NCAA Tournament run with the second-seeded Huskies, who face Arkansas State on Saturday.

    Special relationship

    In 2018, Fudd was one of the first women to attend Curry’s elite camp, and that’s when they initially connected.

    “She’s part of the family and when we signed her out of high school it was part of providing resources off the court that could help her figure out the business of basketball before she really got going, be a support for her and her family,” Curry said. “Injuries happen. It was just trying to make sure she had the best chance to get back. So far, so good.”

    As Fudd sat out the 2023-24 season, she made several trips to Vancouver and Calgary to work with medical experts like Bergstrom, whom they called the “quarterback” of her recovery.

    That support network named their group chat “Team Azzi,” and Curry’s folks worked closely with the UConn athletic training staff so everybody stayed on the same page.

    “They made sure I was always on track and always ready to advance to the next stage and not rushing and making sure I wasn’t overcompensating in any other areas,” Fudd said. “They made sure my recovery process was very planned and strategic. They were amazing.”

    Fudd was injured in practice on Nov. 14, 2023, and had surgery on Dec. 1 that year.

    She is grateful to every person who played a key role in her comeback, saying, “I definitely wouldn’t be where I am now.”



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  • The terrible blow Stephen Curry took: What injury did he suffer and how long will he be out for the Golden State Warriors?

    The terrible blow Stephen Curry took: What injury did he suffer and how long will he be out for the Golden State Warriors?

    Alarm bells are going off inside the Golden State Warriors. We are sure that more than one fan held their breath when they saw how Stephen Curry fall and was left lying on the court this Thursday in the game against the Toronto Raptors.

    The former NBA MVP had to leave the game that at the time was very even, but not before suffering a tremendous blow.

    Stephen Curry’s blow

    Stephen Curry took a huge blow to his tailbone, which was his prop against the floor after an unintentional collision with Toronto Raptors rookie Jonathan Mogbo.

    All good, Steph? Fans react as Curry’s rare clumsy moment goes viral

    Golden State reported Curry’s injury for the time being as a “pelvic contusion,” and he is expected to undergo tests on Friday.

    Steve Kerr committed to finding Stephen Curry a rest day, insists superstar guard is exhausted

    Normally, players with an injury of this type miss between 3 and 10 games, so it is likely that Golden State will have to make its entire next tour without its star player, it would certainly be a very important casualty for these last weeks of the Regular Phase, although at least if there is no fracture will not be at risk their presence in the Play-In or Playoffs.

    After not returning to the court, the player finished with 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting (2-of-4 from 3-point range).

    The Warriors had been one of the best teams in recent weeks since the arrival of Jimmy Butler, winning 15 of 18 games.



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  • Stephen Curry has some good advice for Draymond Green after copying and smoothing out his iconic celebration

    Stephen Curry has some good advice for Draymond Green after copying and smoothing out his iconic celebration

    Stephen Curry‘s ‘night-night’ gesture has taken the league by storm. Since introducing it during the 2022 NBA Playoffs, Curry‘s iconic move-resting his head on his hands as if going to sleep-has become a global sensation. Even international stars such as Lionel Messi have mimicked the celebration on the soccer field.

    Now, one of Curry‘s own teammates has given it a go, and the results have sparked plenty of conversation. During the Golden State Warriors‘ 97-94 victory over the New York Knicks, Draymond Green had his moment to shine.

    With under 30 seconds left in the game, Green delivered a clutch basket, putting the Warriors up by six points. As the Chase Center crowd erupted in cheers, Green confidently pulled out his version of the ‘night-night’ celebration-a moment that was both entertaining and, as Curry would later describe, much improved from his previous attempts.

    Steph Curry evaluates Green’s take on his famous move

    Following the game, Curry was asked about Green’s version of his signature move during the post-game press conference. The four-time NBA champion had plenty to say about his teammate’s execution.

    “I did know he’s evolved his version of it since the Minnesota game earlier in the year. He’s softened it a little bit,” Curry noted.

    Curry was referring to an earlier instance on December 8 when Green attempted the ‘night-night’ celebration after sealing a victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves with a late-game dunk over Rudy Gobert.

    However, his overly aggressive take on the move-complete with a dramatic sprint down the court-quickly became the subject of online memes. Even in the Warriors‘ locker room, Moses Moody jokingly dubbed it ‘the nightmare’ rather than ‘night-night’ because of how exaggerated it looked.

    This time, however, Curry acknowledged that Green had toned it down, keeping it closer to the original.

    “He’s brought it down to where a pillow is supposed to really be. I realized he does everything aggressive and with his whole body, so I’m giving that a solid A- effort on the ‘night-night’ tonight. That was beautiful,” Curry added with a smile.



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  • The destruction Jimmy Butler left behind: He continues to shine while Miami Heat wallow in despair

    The destruction Jimmy Butler left behind: He continues to shine while Miami Heat wallow in despair

    The Jimmy Butler drama with the Miami Heat was something to behold. Building up for seemingly a long time, it all finally came to head in the months leading up to the NBA Trade Deadline. Butler was suspended by the Heat on several occasions for “conduct detrimental to the team”. What started as a question about Butler’s health turned into a question of how much the Heat would stand for his behavior.

    It lasted longer than either side would have hoped, but Butler was finally traded to the Golden State Warriors in early February. When Butler was traded, the Heat were in a decent position in the Eastern Conference. They had a 25-24 record and competed hard even without Butler in the lineup. But since they shipped him off, their season has come crumbling down. That was no more apparent than in their latest loss, a 125-91 shellacking at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night.

    That escalated quickly! Jimmy Butler and Steve Kerr exchange words after a Warriors game

    Miami Heat now 4-14 since Jimmy Butler trade, Warriors 14-1 with him

    Since Butler left the team, the Heat have gone 4-14 and lost seven in a row. Meanwhile, the Warriors are 14-1 with Butler whenever he plays.

    That success for the Warriors with Butler is obviously not sustainable, but the Heat’s incompetence without him might be. Miami needed another scoring star to pair with Butler before the season even began. They didn’t get that, which in part is why Butler left.

    Surprisingly, the Heat are still in a play-in spot as things stand. That’s how bad the Eastern Conference is this year. The Warriors have climbed up to 6th place in a stacked Western Conference.



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  • LeBron James 'ignores' Doncic's great performance as he gives Stephen Curry all he deserves

    LeBron James 'ignores' Doncic's great performance as he gives Stephen Curry all he deserves

    Golden State Warriors superstar Steph Curry once again etched his name in NBA history, becoming the first player ever to drain 4,000 career three-pointers. The milestone came in a game against the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night, further cementing Curry’s legacy as the greatest shooter of all time.

    Shortly after Curry hit his record-breaking triple, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James wasted no time in showing his admiration for the historic feat. Taking to X, James celebrated Curry’s unprecedented achievement with a message of respect and appreciation.

    “4K from Trey is CRAZY!!!!! Congrats my brother!! That’s [fire emojis] @StephenCurry30,” James wrote, using Curry’s signature chef emoji to symbolize his shooting excellence.

    Though Curry had a relatively quiet game with just 11 points and two made three-pointers, his third-quarter shot that pushed him past 4,000 was met with thunderous “MVP” chants from the home crowd.

    The accomplishment adds to a long list of shooting records held by Curry, who in December 2021 surpassed Ray Allen’s 2,973 career three-pointers to become the league’s all-time leader.

    Lakers struggle without LeBron, Bucks snap skid

    While Curry was making history, the Lakers struggled in the absence of LeBron James, falling 126-106 to the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night.

    Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard led a well-rounded attack for the Bucks, snapping a three-game losing streak. Meanwhile, Luka Doncic put up a dominant 45-point performance for Los Angeles but couldn’t lift his team to victory as they slipped to a 40-24 record.

    The Lakers, who have now dropped consecutive games without James due to a groin injury, will look to bounce back when they take on the Denver Nuggets (42-24). The Bucks, on the other hand, aim for back-to-back wins as they prepare to host the Indiana Pacers (36-28).



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  • Real reason behind Jimmy Butler's explosive fallout with Miami Heat revealed as Warriors reap rewards

    Real reason behind Jimmy Butler's explosive fallout with Miami Heat revealed as Warriors reap rewards

    Jimmy Butler is no stranger to controversies. At seemingly every destination he’s been at throughout his NBA career, it has ended badly. Of course, it’s not easy to find a happy ending everywhere, but Butler’s exits from multiple teams have been shrouded in bravado and a bit of randomness.

    His exits from the Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers speak for themselves, but the end of his time with the Miami Heat was shocking. Throughout this current season, no one could decipher if Butler was ever injured or just didn’t want to play. That led to suspensions by the team, and ultimately a trade to the Golden State Warriors. Butler was clearly upset with the Heat, with many opining it was just because he wanted a new contract.

    That escalated quickly! Jimmy Butler and Steve Kerr exchange words after a Warriors game

    Jimmy Butler felt undervalued and unwanted by Miami Heat

    On Thursday, a report emerged that shed more light on Butler’s fallout with the Heat. Plugged-in NBA reporter Marc Spears published a story with quotes from Butler and some information from his own sources. Butler apparently felt undervalued and unwanted by the Heat.

    [With the Warriors] “I saw a group that wanted me to be a part of it,” Butler said. “That’s all you ever wanted to be is wanted in this life, not just in this league. In anything, you want to be wanted”… Butler wanted to be traded because he felt the Heat were moving in a direction without him in mind and he wanted to be more valued, sources said.

    No one is quite sure what Butler means by “moving in a direction without him“. Perhaps he’s talking about teammates Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo taking on more of a load offensively over the past couple of seasons, but that should have benefited Butler, who at times was a one-man army for the team.

    Even after these comments, many fans still believe Butler was only ever angling for a bigger contract. Perhaps the Heat simply didn’t want to give it to him due to his age and injury history.

    Meanwhile, Butler continues performing in an outstanding manner with the Warriors. Golden State has now won 11 straight games with Butler in the lineup, and are 13-1 when he plays.



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  • LeBron James cannot escape from Stephen A. Smith controversy as former Lakers star claims mistreatment

    LeBron James cannot escape from Stephen A. Smith controversy as former Lakers star claims mistreatment

    Throughout his legendary career, LeBron James has been called many things — Bron, LBJ, the Chosen One, even The King. He has also been called “LeGM“, a distinction that the best player of his generation (and one of the best ever) has routinely railed against.

    Central to the “LeGM” narrative is the idea that James — whether he has been in Cleveland, Miami, or Los Angeles — acts as his franchise’s de facto general manager, bringing his friends on board and “kicking out” players with whom he does not get along. One of James‘ former teammates, a star player in his own right during his prime, has made a huge allegation against him that compounds issues LeBron is already facing with ESPN‘s Stephen A. Smith.

    Dwight Howard: LeBron kicked me off the Lakers

    Former Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard has had a complicated relationship with the Lakers franchise. Initially acquired in a blockbuster trade from the Orlando Magic in 2012, Howard endured one difficult season in Los Angeles before heading to the Houston Rockets in free agency; he later rejoined the Lakers for two more stints and won his sole NBA championship with the franchise during the 2020 COVID “bubble”.

    Now, Howard is making the explosive claim that James — the star player on the 2020 championship team — effectively kicked him off the team after he used vulgarity in an attempt to convince James to get back on defense.

    “It was after we won the championship, man,” Howard explained on the “Above the Rim with DH12” podcast. “It happened on defense. I was like, ‘Yo, you gotta get back.’ And (LeBron) got mad because I said something. And I was like, ‘Yo, stop acting like a b****, man.’”

    Howard’s third and final stint with the Lakers in 2021/22 was a disappointing one; despite boasting one of the NBA’s top rosters on papers, Los Angeles finished with a mediocre 33-49 record and missed the playoffs, perhaps due to the infighting to which Howard has alluded. The five-time All-NBA first team selection and probable Basketball Hall of Fame inductee has not played in the league since; Howard has played some basketball overseas, but at 39 years old, he seems content to no longer have to deal with the rigor of an 82-game NBA schedule…while James, 40, continues to shine for the Lakers.



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  • LeBron James dubbed a hypocrite for treatment of Stephen A. Smith as Bronny James controversy refuses to go away

    LeBron James dubbed a hypocrite for treatment of Stephen A. Smith as Bronny James controversy refuses to go away

    It’s been a few days now since it happened, but the talk of the NBA is still LeBron James‘ confrontation with Stephen A. Smith. In a shocking courtside moment, James went face to face with Smith for comments the ESPN host had made in the past about Bronny James.

    The comments clearly didn’t sit well with LeBron, who felt the need to do something about it in person. It was an awkward encounter that has sent shockwaves throughout the NBA industry on social media. Smith has outspokenly defended himself, while claiming that James should have gone about it a different way.

    Ryan Clark rips LeBron James for confronting Stephen A. Smith over Bronny controversy

    Ryan Clark is on Stephen A. Smith’s side in LeBron James beef

    As Smith continues to defend himself, he needs any type of help in order to support his defense. On Tuesday, he retweeted a recent take from Ryan Clark in which the NFL analyst criticized LeBron for his antics.

    He’s there because of you. He was drafted in a place he wasn’t supposed to be because of you. Now all of a sudden, we can’t talk about him either? Imagine if LaVar Ball runs up on Stephen A., imagine if Tee Morant runs up on Stephen A. How classless we would say they are. How immature we would say they are.

    Clark says he understands why James reacted the way he did, but he believes the Lakers star went about it in the wrong way. He then wonders why he never said anything to Skip Bayless despite Smith’s former co-worker defaming James on nearly every show.

    Clark believes James just wanted to intimidate Smith in person and make a point, while also showing Bronny he has his back. But Clark gets a final dig in, claiming that James will have to “do a whole lot of damn fighting” if he confronts everyone who has questions Bronny’s basketball ability.



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