Hello everyone, but especially to…
THE NBA ALL-STAR RESERVES
After the announcement of the starters last week, the reserves for the NBA All-Star Game arrived. Here is who completes the list of participants:
- Guards: Jrue Holiday, Jaylen Brown, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Ja Morant
- Front yard: Joel Embiid, Julius Randle, Bam Adebayo, Domantas Sabonis, Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr.
- Wildcard: DeMar DeRozan, Tyrese Haliburton, Damian Lillard, Paul George
Here are some additional notes:
- Haliburton, Jackson, Gilgeous-Alexander and Markkanen are all selected for the first time.
- The Bucks, Nets, Celtics and Grizzlies are the only teams with multiple selections.
- Holiday waited a decade between her first selection and her second. He made his All-Star Game debut in 2013 as a member of the 76ers.
It should also be noted the lists are probably not quite still settled. Starters Kevin Durant and Sion Williamson may not play due to injury. Commissioner Adam Silver appoint replacements, if necessary.
Captains — james lebron and Giannis Antetokounmpo – will choose their teams on match day, February 19.
Honorable Mentions
And not such a good morning for…
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NBA ALL-STAR GAME SNUBS
Listen, the All-Star Game selection process is never perfect. It is not possible. There are bound to be rebuffs, and This year was no exception. And it starts with Knickswho I have a selection… but not the right onesays our Brad Botkin.
- Botkin: “Randle has been very good. It’s not a knock on him or the season he has. It’s about how much Jalen Brunson changed this Knicks team. Brunson is one of only two players to average at least 22 points and six assists on at least 39 percent shooting from 3 points. The other is an All-Star starter, and his name is Stephen Curry. … For my money, I would have also taken Brunson over Holiday and DeRozan.“
Brunson only added to his case Thursday night as the Knicks barely held for a win above Heat, writes our Sam Quinn. As for another clutch leader who got snubbed, De’Aaron Fox do not do it could have been even worsewrites Brad.
- Botkin: “It’s glaring. Fox has been so good all season. Not by his own past standards; by almost everyone else. To suggest he hasn’t been a top 12 player in the conference this season is nothing more than a confirmation that you haven’t been watching.”
To see all our snubs, Click here.
Not so honorable mentions
Dolphins hire Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator 🏈
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After a dramatic courtship by several teams, Vic Fangio has finally decided on his next destination: defensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins.
- Last week, reports surfaced that Fangio, 64, was set to take the job in Miami. However, he said he was still talking to other teams, including the Falcons and Panthers.
- Fangio is a bit of a defensive mastermind, with 10 top 10 defenses to his name. Even though he only went 19-30 as head coach of the Broncoshis teams had top-10 defenses in two of his three seasons.
- Fangio is currently a consultant for the Eagleswho finished second in total defense and eighth in scoring defense this year.
Miami, meanwhile, is coming off a disappointing year defensively, despite investing heavily in that side of the ball. Fangio should be able to pick up the piecesand his hiring could be the Dolphins’ biggest decision this offseasonwrites our Cody Benjamin.
- Benjamin: “If anyone can elevate the ‘D’ for the Dolphins, it’s Fangio. … The top rushers are Jaelan Phillipswho is just 23 with 15.5 sacks and 41 quarterback hits in two years, and Bradley Chubb, a Fangio alumnus who is just 26 with an All-Pro cap. The interior is anchored by Christian Wilkin, 27, one of the most stable and enduring in the NFL. And the secondary, damaged by injuries in 2022, has a proven cover man in Xavier Howard as well as an excellent duo of young security in jevon holland and brandon jones.”
Breanna Stewart and Brittney Griner leading huge change in WNBA ✈️
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Two of the WNBA’s biggest stars could be the reason for a big change in the league soon.
This off-season, Breanna Stewart capped off a whirlwind free agency by joining them Freedomand Britney Griner finally returned home after months of Russian detention then announced she plans to play this season for the Mercury.
Here is where the problem arises: Griner may need to fly private for security reasons. If the entire team were to steal privately, it would violate WNBA Competitive Balance Rules – the same rules freedom violated last season when the owners Joe and Clara Wu Tsai provided charter flights. They were fined a record $500,000.
This is where Stewart also came in. During his well-watched free agency, Stewart tweeted, “I would love to be part of a deal that helps subsidize charter travel for the entire WNBA.” NBA stars such as Ja Morant and Kyrie Irving also expressed their support, as did UConn Star Paige Bucker.
The problem, of course, is money. Our Isabel Gonzalez explored this complex problem – and the potential solutions – here.
Brevin Galloway turns NSFW injury into NIL deal 😬
Last week, Clemson keep Brevin Galloway suffered a very unfortunate injury. I won’t go into too much detail… he did it himself, in a very NSFW way, if you must know — but the medical term is “testicular torsion.” He went to the hospital for emergency surgery, and things were somewhat back to normal.
Now he’s getting help in his recovery from an unexpected source: Galloway has signed a NIL deal with men’s underwear brand Shinesty. The the press release is hilarious. Whenever someone tells you that NIL is bad, tell that exact story. And who knows? If Galloway can come back soon and keep the Tigers in the NCAA Tournament field, it will have been worth it for both parties.
What we’re watching this weekend 📺
🏈 We’re watching the Pro Bowl Games.
🏒 We watch the NHL All-Star Game.
⚽ We watch Serie A on Paramount+.
Friday
🏀 Suns at the Celtics7:30 p.m. on NBA TV
🏀 Boise State at No. 22 San Diego State9 p.m. on FS1
Saturday
🏀 No. 8 Kansas to No. 13 Iowa StateNoon on ESPN
🏀 No. 25 Auburn at No. 2 Tennessee2 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 No. 1 Purdue at No. 21 Indiana4 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 No. 10 Texas at No. 7 Kansas State4 p.m. on ESPN2
🏀 Lakers at Pelicans6 p.m. on ESPN2
🏀 North Carolina at Duke6:30 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 Mavericks at Warriors8:30 p.m. on ABC
🏀 No. 12 Gonzaga at No. 18 Saint Mary’s10:30 p.m. on ESPN
Sunday
🏀 No. 1 South Carolina at No. 5 UConnNoon on FOX
🏀 No. 10 Ohio State at No. 8 Maryland4 p.m. on ESPN2
🏀 76ers at Knicks6 p.m. on ESPN