Basketball

LeBron-stronger punishment needed for Phoenix

Published

2 years ago

September 16, 2022

LeBron James and Chris Paul have called for harsher punishment for Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver for using racist and sexist behaviour and bullying.

Sarver was recently banned from the NBA for one year and fined $10m following an investigation into allegations over workplace misconduct.

“Our league definitely got this wrong. I don’t need to explain why,” said four-time NBA champion and Los Angeles Lakers star James on Twitter.

“Y’all read the stories and decide for yourself. I said it before and I’m gonna say it again, there is no place in this league for that kind of behavior.

Suns and Mercury owner Sarver banned from NBA for a year

“I love this league and I deeply respect our leadership. But this isn’t right. There is no place for misogyny, sexism, and racism in any workplace. Don’t matter if you own the team or play for the team. We hold our league up as an example of our values and this aint it.”

The 60-year-old has since released a statement in which he disagreed with some parts of the report while issuing an apology for the words and actions that offended employees.

The NBA investigation collected interviews from 320 individuals including current and former employees that worked with Sarver during his 18-year term as Managing Partner of the Suns and the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, as well as gathering information from more than 80,000 documents and other materials including emails, texts and videos.

The league found that Sarver “engaged in conduct that clearly violated common workplace standards, as reflected in team and League rules and policies”, which included “the use of racially insensitive language; unequal treatment of female employees; sex-related statements and conduct; and harsh treatment of employees that on occasion constituted bullying”.

Suns player Paul echoed James in suggesting stricter punishment was required.

“Like many others, I reviewed the report. I was and am horrified and disappointed by what I read,” Paul wrote.

“This conduct especially towards women is unacceptable and must never be repeated.

“I am of the view that the sanctions fell short in truly addressing what we can all agree was atrocious behaviour. My heart goes out to all of the people that were affected.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver told reporters on Wednesday that Sarver did not receive more severe punishment due to the investigation finding his comments were not motivated by ‘racial or gender-based’.

“It was relevant,” Silver said. “I think if they had made findings that, in fact, his conduct was motivated by racial animus, absolutely that would have had an impact on the ultimate outcome here. But that’s not what they found.”

Reports /TrainViral/

Basketball

Curry injured as G State Warriors lose again

Published

2 years ago

December 15, 2022

Stephen Curry suffered a shoulder injury as NBA champions the Golden State Warriors’ indifferent season continued with a 125-119 defeat away to the Indiana Pacers.

Curry had a game-high 38 points when he was hurt attempting a steal in the third quarter.

Curry will have a scan on the injury on Thursday, said coach Steve Kerr.

“Maybe it’s going to get tougher if Steph is out for a little while,” added Kerr after a 15th defeat in 29 games.

The Warriors, who are seeking a fifth title in nine season, lie 10th in the Western Conference.

“My message to the group was it’s about competing, it’s about weathering the storm,” Kerr added. “This has been a tough start to the season. We’re in a tough stretch.”

The Warriors were trailing 93-80 when Curry, who has averaged 30 points this season, departed the court.

A pair of Donte DiVincenzo three-pointers pulled them back to within 122-119 with a little over a minute to play.

But ultimately the Pacers, for whom Tyrese Haliburton top-scored with 29 points, held on.

Elsewhere, two-time reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic scored 43 points to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 141-128 win over the Washington Wizards.

Paul George managed a triple double of 17 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists to help the Los Angeles Clippers to a 99-88 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Writes /BBC/

Reports /TrainViral/

Basketball

LeBron James passes Magic Johnson on all-time

Published

2 years ago

December 3, 2022

LeBron James passed Magic Johnson on the NBA’s all-time assists list as the Los Angeles Lakers battled to a 133-129 win against the Milwaukee Bucks.

James took his assists tally to 10,144, with his 11 against the Bucks moving him past Johnson (10,141) into sixth.

Former Utah Jazz point guard John Stockton, who retired in 2003, tops the list with 15,806 assists in his career.

James scored 28 points as the Lakers – led by Anthony Davis with 44 points – held off a late Bucks surge.

Giannis Antetokounmpo top scored for Milwaukee with 40 points, but his side missed key chances as Grayson Allen and Jrue Holiday both failed with three-pointers in the last seconds of the game.

In Boston, Jimmy Butler returned from a seven-game injury absence to help the Miami Heat to a 120-116 overtime victory over Eastern Conference leaders the Celtics.

Jalen Brown scored 37 points for the Celtics, including a three-pointer that forced overtime.

Tied with little more than a minute left on the clock, Butler landed a jump shot that proved the clincher, the defeat ending Boston’s 10-game home winning streak.

The leaders of the Western Conference also lost as the Phoenix Suns were narrowly beaten 122-121 by the Houston Rockets.

In San Francisco, NBA champions the Golden State Warriors beat the Chicago Bulls 119-111, while the Brooklyn Nets made it four wins in succession with a 114-105 victory against the Toronto Raptors.

Writes /BBC/

Reports /TrainViral/

Basketball

Celtics beat Miami Heat in front of Prince

Published

2 years ago

December 1, 2022

The Boston Celtics extended their winning streak to five games with a 134-121 victory over the Miami Heat in front of the visiting Prince and Princess of Wales.

Jayson Tatum scored a season-high 49 points and had a game-high 11 rebounds, with Jaylen Brown adding 26 points.

The Celtics are now unbeaten in their last 10 home games.

Prince William and Catherine are in Boston to hand out awards for their Earthshot Prize.

In Arizona, the Phoenix Suns won their sixth game in succession by beating the Chicago Bulls 132-113.

Devin Booker scored a season-high 51 points, with Deandre Ayton also recording a season best of 30.

Elsewhere, the Milwaukee Bucks held off the New York Knicks for a 109-103 win, while the Minnesota Timberwolves edged the Memphis Grizzlies 109-101.

LeBron James’ 31 points led the Los Angeles Lakers to a 128-109 win over the visiting Portland Trail Blazers, while the Lakers’ city rivals the Los Angeles Clippers lost 125-112 as the Utah Jazz ended a five-game losing streak.

Kevin Durant scored 39 points for the Brooklyn Nets in a 113-107 win over the Washington Wizards, improving the Nets’ record to 12-11 for the season.

There were wins elsewhere for the Cleveland Cavaliers, the New Orleans Pelicans, the Atlanta Hawks, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Sacramento Kings and the Denver Nuggets.

Reports /TrainViral/