Per Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) on X: LeBron James gave Giannis a signed Lakers’ No. 23 jersey. Giannis was gushing to teammates about it and even put it on.

ESPN Article with Giannis Quotes:

https://www.espn.com.au/nba/story/_/id/47567548/giannis-antetokounmpo-seals-bucks-win-vs-lakers-block-steal-lebron-james

"You never know," Antetokounmpo said. "Might be our last game against one another."

"It means a lot to me. I think he's a blueprint for every athlete, not just basketball athlete. Being able to be consistent for 23 years. Available. Be a winner, lead by example. It's incredible. And any opportunity I have to be around greatness and compete against greatness, I will always take it. I never take it for granted.

"I have the utmost respect for him and his family and the way he's carried himself for 23 years. And as I said, I miss going against him. I think he brings the best out of me as a player and he's one of the guys that I definitely look up to on the court and off the court."

Proof that Giannis Asked for the Jersey:

In a TikTok video posted by the Bucks' official account:

At 00:51, the reporter asks, "How'd you get his jersey", and Giannis replies, "I just asked for it...he was like 'yeah that's yours'"

https://www.tiktok.com/@bucks/video/7593652459332046135?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

https://andscape.com/features/trae-young-believes-in-trade-to-washington-wizards-the-city-can-revive-me-as-much-as-i-can-revive-it/

“It hit me driving to the arena in Atlanta,” Young told Andscape on Friday night from Capital One Arena prior to the Wizards’ game against the Pelicans. “I figured it was going to happen that night or at some point that day just from talking to my agent. I literally started crying on my way to the arena, just knowing it’s my last drive probably, because they’re [Hawks] going on the West Coast anyway.

“So, whether it happened that day or whatever, that was the only time I even cried throughout the whole thing was on my drive to the arena. That was the only time it was really emotional. Just knowing that it was my last time driving to the arena, that’s why I went out and shot. Nobody probably expected me to go out there. I didn’t go to shootaround. So, I went out there and that was my way of being able to say it’s over and I’m good with it.”

When you got on the Wizards team plane to Washington on Thursday morning, you’re flying away from Atlanta to Washington, D.C. You get on the jet and Wizards general manager Will Dawkins is there and Travis Schlenk. Tell me your emotions being on that plane when it departs Atlanta?

I had some bittersweet emotions. It was exciting. It was sad because, obviously, when I got drafted, I didn’t plan on ever having to leave. Growing up in Oklahoma where I’m from, you got to be loyal. And so, I wanted to always be there [in Atlanta]. And then it felt like with [Schlenk] picking me up, it was just natural. It felt like it was supposed to be this way, to be honest with you. Travis being the one that’s there picking me up, you know what I’m saying? It was only right. So, it was good though.

When did you realize it was probably time to part with the Hawks?

To be honest with you, I wanted to be able to help both sides. And to be honest, I didn’t even want to get it to my player option this summer to do that because that could end up leaving Atlanta with nothing. As much as people wanted to say [otherwise], I didn’t even want to put that in the air.

So, I wanted to give the first half of the season of chance. And me and [Hawks forward] Kristaps [Porzingis] being injured and stuff, it just felt like the right time. And [Hawks forward] Jalen [Johnson] has been balling and I was always helping and wanting to get him the ball, too. So, I just felt like it was time. And I always wanted to leave on the right note, too.

You put out an interesting statement on your social media posts reflecting on your exit from the Hawks. What was your thought process in writing it and what did you feel was important to get out in that?

I wanted to get that out so I didn’t have to address it later on after I was done and actually officially here. I wanted to let that chapter be its chapter and then move on and then be here. So, that’s why I got that out before everything else. I just wanted to end that chapter.

Did it upset or disappoint you that the Hawks never offered you a contract extension?

It was more disappointing, but that’s part of it. It didn’t make me mad. It did make me sad. It was more disappointing. You wish it could have worked out and stuff, but that’s life. Maybe that not working out could be the blessing in disguise.

Obviously, AD is quite infamous for his injury history, so I was wondering how deep his bag was for injuries, and after looking at Fox Sports' AD injury log, I found the following:

Over his career, AD has had 51 unique injuries and 296 in total

1. Foot (55x)
2. Ankle (24x)
3. Achilles (20x)
4. Back (20x)
5. Adductor (18x)
6. Knee (18x)
7. Calf (16x)
8. Shoulder (14x)
9. Plantar (9x)
10. Thumb (8x)
11. Wrist (7x)
12. Groin (7x)
13. Elbow (7x)
14. Eye (6x)
15. Finger (6x)
16. Illness (5x)
17. Adductor/Hip (4x)
18. Thigh (4x)
19. Achilles/Hip (3x)
20. Right Calf (3x)
21. Hip (2x)
22. Right Knee (2x)
23. Head (2x)
24. Quad (2x)
25. Right ankle (2x)
26. Rib (2x)
27. Heel (2x)
28. Gluteus Maximus (2x)
29. Right Shoulder (2x)
30. Glute (2x)
31. Sore ankle (2x)
32. Right Adductor
33. Toe
34. Right heel
35. Sore Right Shoulder
36. Ribs/Shoulder
37. Personal
38. Back Spasms
39. Rest
40. Left knee swelling
41. Concussion
42. Strained left groin
43. Sore groin
44. Elbow Sprain
45. Right Elbow Sprain
46. Right Hip Strain
47. Left Index Finger
48. Right Quad
49. Abdomen
50. Leg
51. Hand

In my opinion, his creativity is unmatched, but he's been reusing the foot injury too frequently. What y'all think tho?

Full quote:

"It made me laugh, for real. Honestly, let's address it.

I drive the most in the league, I'm very physical, I don't shy away from contact. I'm going downhill. I don't care who's in front of me, I'm going straight through him.

I don't play for those fouls, but I'm going to get fouled. It's a part of the game. I can't control it.

I'm very aggressive. I initiate the contact, and that's my game. I'm just saying, if it's hard to stop, you've got to own it or do something else. But I'm very humble, I work hard and I make the right play every time.

I wouldn't say it was an excuse, it was just ... [Eason] was emotional after the game, so I didn't take it like that. I've been emotional after losses, too, so I get it. But it's fun that we overcame it."



Dallas Mavericks star Anthony Davis has sustained ligament damage in his left hand, sources tell ESPN. Depending on second opinion and if surgery is required, Davis could miss a number of months.

https://www.espn.com/contributor/shams-charania/16b012547a83b

With footage from both the 76ers and Magic broadcasts

Porzingis keeps the door open to a EuroLeague return

The Latvian doesn't rule out returning to Europe to stay for good and continue his professional career once he finishes his business in the NBA.

"Who knows? I always keep that open, obviously. I love European basketball, I love EuroLeague," Porzingis told BasketNews in an extensive conversation when the Hawks were visiting Toronto.

The Hawks center brought up the NBA Europe discussion and named some cities when asked about preferred destinations.

"I've heard that there's going to be an NBA in Europe. I don't know how that's going to look, but there are definitely interesting things on the horizon. And who knows? Why not? There's nothing better than living in Europe, in my opinion, in cities like Athens, Barcelona, Madrid, to name a few," Porzingis said.

"There are so many great places to live and have a great life outside of basketball and playing in front of some of the best fans. Partizan in Belgrade, Crvena Zvezda – it's a beautiful city, the fans are crazy. You never know, we'll see," added the veteran center

Full article: https://basketnews.com/news-238501-kristaps-porzingis-potential-return-to-europe.html