J-Speaks: Statement Victory In A Historic Shootout By The Boys From Sactown

Currently in the stacked Western Conference all five teams in the Pacific Division are in Playoff Contention. For nearly the entire season, especially after the Feb. 9 NBA trade deadline, the boys from the “Valley of the Sun;” Both squads that call L.A. home and the defending champs from the “Bay Area” have been in the headlines through the good, bad, and ugly moments they have faced this season. The team from capital city of California that has played consistently this season and on Friday night made a major statement to not just L.A. other team but the entire NBA.

In their second game post All-Star break, the Sacramento Kings (34-25) won at the Los Angeles Clippers (33-30) 176-175 in double-overtime in the second-highest total scoring game of 351 points in NBA history. The 370 total points in triple-overtime between the Detroit Pistons and Denver Nuggets, which the Pistons won 186-184 on Dec. 13, 1983 tops the contest between the Kings and Clippers as the highest scoring total game in NBA history.

The Kings at the Clippers was just the second time in NBA history (76 seasons) where both teams scored at least 170 points. The Kings and Clippers represented just the sixth and seven teams in NBA history to score 170 points in a regular season game. The combined 44 made three-pointers by the Kings (18/41 3-Pt.) and Clippers (26/45 3-Pt.) most in a game in NBA history.

“From a fan’s standpoint, I can see how this game would have been a lot of fun to watch,” Kings first-year head coach Mike Brown said after the win. “There was unbelievable shot making and great defense. There was high-level talent that was on display. Kudos to our players.”

To put into higher context how impressive the Kings, who have won four more games than they did a season ago (30-52), this was their second win of the season at the Clippers in the first three meetings, winning the first meeting 111-109 on Oct. 22, 2022 at Crypto.com Arena. They increased their lead to 3.5 games over the No. 5 Seeded Clippers in the Pacific Division. They lead the reigning Pacific Division champion Phoenix Suns (33-29) by three games.

The highest scoring game in Kings history was in large part to the former University of Kentucky Wildcat teammates in Malik Monk and De’Aaron Fox.

Monk scored a career-high 45 points off the bench with six assists on 15/24 shooting, including 6/12 from three-point range and 9/10 at the foul line off the bench. The former Charlotte Hornet and Los Angeles Lakers guard’s 45 points tied fifth most off the bench in a game in NBA history.

Fox had his 10^th double-double on the season with 42 points and 12 assists with five boards on 17/27 from the field with five steals.

Domantas Sabonis, who earned his third career All-Star selection this season had 20 points and 10 rebounds on 8/14 shooting for his 38^th double-double in his last four games and his league-leading 47^th double-double on the season. Rookie Keegan Murray chipped in with 15 points while veteran forward Harrison Barnes had 11 points, six rebounds and two steals while Kevin Huerter also had 11 points and two steals on 3/7 from three-point range.

On this night that featured the Clippers debut of perennial All-Star and 2017 Kia MVP Russell Westbrook, who was dealt to the Utah Jazz from the Los Angeles Lakers at the trade deadline and then bought out of his deal, days later, it was the Kings that stole the show, particularly in the closing moments of the fourth quarter and in the two overtime sessions.  

The Kings overcame a 14-point deficit with 4:25 left in the final period and were down 11 points with three minutes left forced four Clippers turnovers on five possessions that was capped by a corner three-pointer by Monk with 01.1 seconds left.

In the first overtime, the Clippers led 162-158 with 2:54 left and scores by Monk on a dunk and a jumper by Fox tied it at 162-162. Monk hit a pair of free throws that tied it at 164-164 with 20.4 seconds left in the first overtime. The potential game-winner by Clippers perennial All-Star Paul George at the end of the first OT was short at the buzzer.

The Clippers jumped ahead in the second overtime 173-169 with 2:17 left and jumped ahead 175-169 behind a pair of free throws by reserve wing Norman Powell. The Kings after Westbrook fouled out late in the second overtime, the Kings scored what would be the final seven points of second overtime capped by the eventual game-winning 19-foot jumper by Fox that put the Kings ahead 176-175 with 36.5 seconds left.

That jumper capped a stellar night by Fox and Monk, who became the first Kings teammates to score 40 in a game. The Kings became the third team in NBA history to have a 40-point scorer from a starter and from a reserve.

“We just stuck with it. We got down  12 at one point but just had our heads up,” Monk said after the win. “We knew they were going to let us back in.”

Fox became the 12 player since 1973-74 NBA season with 40 points, 10 assists, and five steals in a game, when steals became an official stat. The last to go 40/10/5 was 76ers perennial All-Star and 2018 Kia MVP James Harden in 2019 with Houston Rockets.

Fox and Monk are the second pair of teammates this NBA season to have two players score 40 in same game. The other tandem to do it was All-Star Donovan Mitchell and reserve guard/forward Caris LeVert of the Cleveland Cavaliers (39-25).

The Kings needed every bit of the production they got from their star trio of Monk, Fox, and Sabonis to overcome the Clippers 60.2 percent shooting (59/98 FGs), aforementioned 26/45 from three-point range and 31/36 at the foul line with 39 assists on 59 made shots. 

Perennial All-Star and two-time Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard scored a season-high 44 points on 16/22 from the floor, including 6/9 from three with three steals and two block shots. Leonard scored 21 of his 44 points in the third quarter, which tied a career-high for points in a quarter.

George had his seventh double-double on the season with 34 points, 10 boards and five assists on 9/18 from the field, including 5/8 from three and 11/14 and the foul line. Powell had 24 points on 5/8 from three and 7/8 at the foul line. Nicolas Batum had 19 points and eight rebounds going 5/10 on his triple tries. Westbrook in his Clippers debut had his 18^th double-double on the season with 17 points, 14 assists and five rebounds. Mason Plumlee, who was acquired at the trade deadline from the Charlotte Hornets also had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Terance Mann also had 10 points off the bench.

The Kings shot 58.6 percent from the floor (65/111 FGs) and were 28/35 at the charity stripe, registering 33 assists on 65 made shots. Outscored the Clippers 41-17 in fast break points and 88-48 points in the paint.

What was the difference is the Kings had 18 steals and forced 25 Clippers turnovers that led to 42 Kings’ points.

“Truth be told, there was defense being played. But there was tough shots being made. But there was tough shots being made,” Fox said in his postgame presser about the Clippers hot shooting night. “Obviously, a lot of it has to do with letting people get in a rhythm. But I feel like we made just about every shot tough for Kawhi. He missed six shots out of 22. So, like there’s not much you about that.”

“We just had to grind this game out. We’re on the second night of a back-to-back. But it is what it is. We have a younger team than them.”  

The Kings compared to the Clippers, the Los Angeles Lakers (29-32), Golden State Warriors, and Phoenix Suns did not make any moves at the trade deadline.

Their big moves came last season and in the summer of 2022. At last season’s trade deadline, the Kings made a shocking move in trading now All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton in exchange for Sabonis. In that offseason, the Kings hired Brown to be their new head coach and in free agency signed Monk and acquired Huerter from Hawks.

These three moves are a big reason why the Kings are in prime position to snap the longest playoff drought in NBA history at 16.

Coach Brown has brought stability, leadership and accountability to a team that has since an eight-year run with Hall of Famer Rick Adelman as their sideline leader (1998-2006) saw them go through 11 different head coaches.

The acquisition of Sabonis provided another scorer to go alongside Fox but another playmaker who also has provided a consistent presence in the interior, especially on the glass. Monk and Huerter have provided perimeter shooting for the Kings.

The addition of Monk at first raised some eyebrows because even though he did have a solid year in 2021-22 with Lakers where he averaged a career-highs 13.8 points on 47.3 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from three was very inconsistent in his first four seasons with the Hornets, who selected him No. 11 overall in 2017 out of previously mentioned University of Kentucky.

There were times that Monk was frustrated in how things went for him to start his career with the Hornets. What helped him during that time is now Kings assistant coach Jay Triano was a sounding board that kept Monk focused and he matured and has been a major contributor off the bench for the Kings and his connection with Fox on the hardwood is as connected as ever like it was during their collegiate days with Wildcats’ head coach John Calipari.

“It’s lovely, man. It feels just like we’re in college again,” Monk said after the win to NBC Sports California’s Kyle Draper and Kenny Thomas. “It’s just fun. Everybody feeds off us and we’re playing. It ain’t like we’re shooting bad shots. We’re getting everybody involved, man. And it’s fun basketball.”

For much of this season, the other teams in the Pacific Division have been getting a lot of the attention in the aforementioned Clippers, Lakers, Suns, and Warriors because of their past success of being playoff perennials and having either competed in The Finals in recent years or having won titles in the case of the Lakers and Warriors.

The Kings as mentioned earlier have not made the Playoffs since 2006, when this blogger was just one year removed from graduating from Howard University in Washington, D.C.

They have had high draft picks that never lived up to their billing. They as mentioned earlier hired one coach after another seeing who can be that sideline leader that can have the kind of success Adelman did in turning the Kings from a perennial failure to a one that came within one game of being in The Finals in 2002, where they lost to Hall of Fame duo Shaquille O’Neal and the late Kobe Bryant and Lakers.

Kings nation finally has a team where the coach and the players have clicked and they are in the mix to be playing basketball in the spring for the first time in 16 seasons.

Kings’ fever has hit the capital city of California so much that after each Kings’ win so far this season, there is a light beam that is shot to the sky from Golden 1 Center.

Coming out of the All-Star break, the Kings have made it clear winning three in a row that they have earned their place as the third best team record wise in the rugged Western Conference behind the No. 2 Seeded Memphis Grizzlies (36-23) and the No. 1 Seeded Denver Nuggets (43-19).

The Kings backup their exceptional win at the Clippers with a 124-115 win at the surprising Oklahoma City Thunder (28-32) on Sunday night.

“On the road. They’ve got three Hall of Famers, man, and we’re a young team and we’re just out here competing every single game, man and letting the league know we’re here,” Monk said to Draper and Thomas about beating the Clippers and their dynamic trio Leonard, George, and Westbrook.

Throughout this season, the defending champion Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, and Phoenix Suns have been the talk of the Pacific Division and each has a chance of making the Playoffs this spring, even though the Lakers are on the outside of the postseason picture at the moment.

One team that is in prime position to be playing postseason hoops is the Sacramento Kings, who have as mentioned missed the Playoffs for an NBA-record 16 straight seasons.

They are in this position because of the moves they made last season with the acquisition of Domantas Sabonis in Feb. 2022. Their offseason moves of hiring Mike Brown, signing Malik Monk in free agency, and acquiring Kevin Huerter from the Atlanta Hawks.

On Friday night, the Kings said very loudly that they will be in the thick of postseason race in the rugged Western Conference and if they are the No. 3 Seed this spring will make their first postseason appearance having home court advantage in the opening-round.

Information, statistics, and quotations are courtesy of 2/24/2023 12:30 a.m. “Kings Postgame Live,” NBC Sports California, presented by Toyota With Kyle Draper and Kenny Thomas; 2/25/2023 1:30 a.m. ESPN’s “Sportscenter” from Los Angeles, CA With Neil Everett and Stan Verrett; 2/25/2023 2 a.m. NBATV’s “Gametime,” presented by State Farm With Kristen Ledlow, Steve Smith, and Greg Anthony; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/Malik_Monk; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Sacaremento_Kings_head_coaches; https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/gameid/401469057; and www.espn.com/nba/standings.        

J-Speaks: History Made At 2023 NBA All-Star Weekend

Host of the NBA All-Star Game for the first time in 30 years, the 2023 NBA All-Star Game in Salt Lake City, UT saw history made from start to finish.

The history making got underway on Friday night at the NBA Jordan Rising Stars, which was won by Team Pau Gasol led by the game’s MVP in reserve guard of the New Orleans Pelicans Jose Alvarado.

Alvarado hit the game-winning right-wing three-pointer to decide the Jordan Rising Stars title over Team Joakim Noah for the 25-20 victory, which he called that he would do as NBA on TNT’s Stephanie Ready pointed out during the postgame interview as Alvarado was being award the game’s MVP trophy.

“The confidence these boys behind me gave and you know, they were rolling with me the whole game, you know,” Alvarado said to Ready. “They were rolling with me the whole game. Just come out here and play, and enjoy this atmosphere, you know. We’re at here at All-Star weekend and we’re enjoying it. So, I can’t complain.”

Team Pau reached the championship game by taking down Team Deron Williams in Semifinals 40-25, where Alvarado led the way with 13 points on 6/10 shooting.

“Amazing,” Alvarado said to NBA on TNT’s Adam Lefkoe, Candace Parker, and Jamal Crawford during the “NBA on TNT’s Postgame.” “You know, you say stuff and you want to go for stuff but you just want to have fun with the game. I really wasn’t chasing it. It just came to me and my teammates did a lovely job with me. It was just a great put together and it came out falling in my lap.”  

The person that Alvarado told that he would hit the game-winning triple was All-Star guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers Donovan Mitchell, who was sitting courtside at the game at Vivint Arena. By hitting that shot as a bet, Alvarado said to Ready that “D-Mitch owes” him dinner.

“That’s just confidence and the work that you put in,” Alvarado said of that moment. “This is the environment that you always live for, you know, when you’re a kid. So, I knew when if I touched the ball, I got it, you know. And if just something that, it felt good. I felt it the whole time.”

Atlanta Hawks All-Star guard Trae Young tweeted @TheTraeYoung about that moment, “Hahaha GRAND THEFT!! That’s [fire emojis]! You gotta love that. Give him MVP!”

The historic moment was not just the fact that Alvarado hit the game-winner as mentioned, he wore a wireless microphone during the game and carried a conversation with Lefkoe, Parker, and Crawford during the semifinal contest versus Team Deron.

“It was good,” Alvarado said of the moment and added. “But that’s just me though. I’m going to talk with guy. Sometimes I talk too much, you know. But that’s just my game and I’m glad to be the first person and I hope it went well.”

The game and what unfolded introduced Alvarado to the nation. He was a star amongst first and second-year players who were drafted high in the NBA draft over the last two seasons and who are headliners on their respective squads like No. 1 overall pick of the 2022 NBA Draft Paolo Banchero of the Orlando Magic and his teammate in second-year guard and forward Franz Wagner. Cavaliers second-year sensation Evan Mobley. Sacramento Kings’ rookie forward Keegan Murray to name a few.  

Alvarado, who played at Georgia Tech (2017-21) went undrafted after winning ACC Defensive Player of the Year and making Second-Team All-ACC in 2021. In August 2021, he signed a two-way deal with the Pelicans, splitting time with them and the NBA G League affiliate the Birmingham Squadron.

On Jan. 25, 2022 during the Pelicans tilt against the Philadelphia 76ers, Alvarado received a technical foul after getting into a verbal exchange with six-time All-Star center Joel Embiid. The incident got press coverage after Embiid praised Alvarado and paid the NBA his $2,000 fine.”

Alvarado’s play off the bench earned him praise from the Pelicans front office and on Mar. 28, 2022 converted his two-way deal into a four-year, $6.5 million standard contract, which made him eligible to make the 2022 postseason roster.  

In the Pelicans First-Round tilt against the No. 1 Western Conference seeded Phoenix Suns, Alvarado impacted the series by consistently putting defensive pressure in the backcourt on 11-time All-Star guard Chris Paul, which helped the Pelicans even the series after four games. They ultimately fell to the Suns in six games.

Alvarado this season has continued to be a sparkplug off the bench for the Pelicans. He scored a career-high 38 points in the team’s 121-106 win over the current No. 1 Seed in the Western Conference in the Denver Nuggets.

“It’s hard to put into words,” Alvarado said about his dream of playing and succeeding in the NBA so far. “This is just something that you can’t write. You could wish for.”

“I’m not 6’5.’’ I’m not athletic. I don’t have the crazy wingspan. But I got heart you can’t measure. If you bring that and be yourself at all times, I think a lot of things will just come your way.”

One person that Alvarado made an impression on not just during the Jordan Rising Star Game but during his time at Georgia Tech was perennial WNBA All-Star, two-time WNBA champion and Turner Sports analyst Candace Parker.

Parker said during NBA on TNT Postgame show following the game that from how hard he plays, which is all out makes him someone that “we are all rooting for Jose Alvarado.”

“And I think just watching him and the type of teammate he is on the Pelicans but to see it carry over here at NBA All-Star, you want to play with a guy like that.”

Jamal Crawford, a three-time Kia Sixth Man of the Year added the spirt and passion that Alvarado plays in a lot of basketball courts and gymnasiums around the U.S. and possibly the world.

“So, when he’s out here on the biggest stage, he’s representing all of them,” Crawford added. “He’s playing with so much passion like he would give anything to be in the NBA and he’s taking advantage of an opportunity. You love to see it and that’s why we all root for him.”

What also made this moment special for Alvarado was that he got to share this moment with his daughter holding the MVP trophy.

Alvarado said to Lefkoe, Parker, and Crawford that his daughter and his family is the reason he reached the point he has in his NBA.

“They’re the reason why I go. They’re the reason why I even I have hope in my life,” he said. “So, having them here for this special moment when they grow up with all this technology and pictures, I can’t wait to show them and say their dad did something.”

Another so-called underdog who made a name for himself on the NBA All-Star stage was 2023 NBA G League Rookie of the Year and newest Philadelphia 76ers’ guard Mac McClung, who won the AT&T Slam Dunk Competition during 2023 NBA All-Star Saturday Night. 

Over the past few seasons, the Slam Dunk contest has been underwhelming unlike years past compared to what it was in the late 1980s specifically when Hall of Famers Michael Jordan (1987, 1988) and Dominique Wilkins, both two-time winners of this event were going dunk-for-dunk. Then we had just a few years ago when now Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon and now Chicago Bulls All-Star guard Zach LaVine were going dunk-for-dunk in the Slam Dunk competition a couple of seasons back.

Last Saturday night, McClung whose NBA career consisted of just two games with the Lakers and Bulls a season ago put on a show with his dunks as he defeated the Pelicans Trey Murphy III in the finals of the competition, while taking down second-year center Jericho Sims of the New York Knicks, and Kenyon Martin, Jr. of the Houston Rockets in the preliminary round.

McClung who came to fame as dunker from his highlight reels shown on YouTube from his high school days at Gate City High School in Gate City, VA produced perfect scores of 50 on three of his four dunks. One of those perfect scores came on his first dunk where he threw it down over two friends while tapping the backboard along the way.

He also registered a 50 on his final dunk which was a 360-degree reverse dunk in his Gate City High jersey.

After that final dunk, McClung was greeted by some of the NBA’s top players in Utah Jazz starting guard Collin Sexton, Boston Celtics’ forward Grant Williams, All-Star center from Miami Heat Bam Adebayo, New Orleans Pelicans starting guard CJ McCollum.

McClung also earned props from future Hall of Famer, three-time NBA champion Dwyane Wade, who is now a member of the governorship group of Jazz.

McClung even had the star of the upcoming “Creed III” Jonathan Majors jaw drop and was caught saying “WOW!” twice on camera.

“IT IS OVER LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! IT IS OVER LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!” were the words of NBA on TNT’s Kenny Smith, a two-time NBA champion in the 1990s with the Rockets after McClung’s final dunk. “It is a wrap. It is a wrap.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, we have witnessed a star being born tonight. A star has been born tonight. An NBA has been born tonight. His name will be realm throughout the country for 48 hours.”  

Hall of Famer and three-time All-Star in 18 seasons with the Indiana Pacers said that McClung’s performance “saved the dunk contest.”

Not only did McClung get a standing ovation from the NBA on TNT crew of Miller, Smith, All-Star forward of reigning NBA champion Golden State Warriors Draymond, Green, and Kevin Harlan, the judges of the contest in two-time Slam Dunk champs (1985-1990) in nine-time All-Star in Wilkins and fellow two-time Slam Dunk winner in Harold Miner, who won when the contest was last in Utah in 1993. WNBA legend, champion, eight-time All-Star and fellow Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie. Fellow Hall of Famer and legend of the Utah Jazz Karl Malone, who was a 14-time All-Star selections and Crawford gave him and standing ovation.

The ironic part of this experience for McClung was the fact that he received the Dunk Contest championship trophy from Hall of Famer, NBA champion and 76ers legend Julius “Dr. J.” Erving, who won the first NBA Dunk Contest in 1976.

“It’s great man,” McClung said to Lefkoe about winning the Dunk contest and love he received by current and former NBA players for his performance. “I’m truly blessed and grateful for the NBA for giving me this opportunity. I think the biggest thing is manifestation, you know. I don’t get surprised by things like this. But I’m very appreciative.”  

Back at the 2021 NBA Combine in preparing for that year’s draft, McClung recorded a 43 ½-inch vertical leap. He earned as mentioned 2021-22 NBA G League Rookie of the Year behind averages of 19.1 points and 4,7 assists on 50 percent from three-point range. 

On Saturday night, he etched his name alongside former Slam Dunk in aforementioned LaVine (won twice 2015 and 2016), Bulls Derrick Jones, Jr. (2020), Celtics Blake Griffin (2008), Nate Robinson (2006), Jason Richardson (twice: 2002, 2003), current ESPN NBA analyst Vince Carter (2000), the late great Hall of Famer and five-time NBA champion with Lakers Kobe Bryant (1997), Cedric Ceballos (1992), Dee Brown (1991), Kenny Walker (1989), Anthony “Spud” Webb (1986), and the first winner of this event Larry Nance, Sr. (1984).

In his postgame presser with the media after the contest, McClung when asked who were some of his dunk idols and some of his favorite NBA dunks contest growing up said that he “loved” Carter and the dunk duels between LaVine and Gordon was something that he “enjoyed” a great deal and that if he were to be a part of this one day that he wanted to have the same impact they did.

“I think just getting that first dunk down lifted a lot of the pressure off and I heard the crowd kind of for me. That kind of gave me a lot of confidence,” McClung said about how he was able to perform.

It is one thing to have a moment like this and deliver. It’s another thing to try and do it again. When Lefkoe asked McClung if would make a commitment to participating in the Dunk Contest in 2024, McClung said, “I got you. If you guys will have me, I’ll be back.”

The history making concluded with the main event of 2023 NBA All-Star Weekend with the 72^nd NBA All-Star Game With Team LeBron, playing for charity for “Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah” versus Team Giannis, who played for “Raise the Future.”

The festivities began with the first NBA All-Star Live Draft before the game where 19-time All-Star LeBron James and six-time All-Star of the Milwaukee Bucks in two-time Kia MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo picked their squads amongst the reserves first and the starters in a pickup at the park format.

That was followed by the call of the game on TNT With Brian Anderson, Reggie Miller, and Candace Parker, who made history as the first woman to call the NBA’s unofficial midseason classic.

Miller before the broadcast said that he woke up to greatness each morning growing up across the hall from his older sister and fellow Hall of Famer and former Turner Sports analyst and sideline reporter Cheryl Miller, the first to woman to call an NBA game for the network back in 1996-97 season.

“And I’m sitting next to that same greatness right here. Congratulations to you Candace,” Miller said at the top of the broadcast.

In response, Parker said that she was “humbled” and understood that there have been so many other women that have come before her that laid the “foundation” and “ground” for this moment like Ready, Lesley Visser, Nancy Lieberman, and Hannah Storm.

“I just say thank you and I promise to do my part. But also, representation and opportunity matters,” Parker, who will be continuing her WNBA career this summer of the defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces added.

On a stage with a plethora of star players, one All-Star stood out on Sunday night and that was Jayson Tatum, who at age 23 became the youngest player in the storied 76-year history of the 17-time NBA champions to earn four All-Star selections.

“I’m just excited,” Tatum said before the game with TNT’s Dennis Scott about his fourth All-Star appearance. “Never take this for granted being an All-Star. Something that I’ve dreamed about since I was a kid.”

“It’s always fun being out here with the crowd and my family and some of the best players in the world.”

On this night that featured six first time All-Stars in Anthony Edwards, the No. 1 overall pick in 2020 by the Minnesota Timberwolves out of the University of Georgia; De’Aaron Fox of the Sacramento Kings; Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from the Oklahoma City Thunder,; Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers; Jaren Jackson, Jr. of the Memphis Grizzlies and Lauri Markkanen of the Jazz, Tatum who is No. 6 in the league in scoring through the unofficial first part of the 2022-23 NBA campaign with eight 40-plus point games registered scored an All-Star Game record 55 points on a night with nine rebounds and six assists on 22/31 shooting, including 20/18 from three point range in in leading Team Giannis to 184-175 win over Team LeBron, thanks to the game-clinching three-pointer by seven-time All-Star lead guard Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers, who became the first player in his team’s history to capture the Starry Three-Point Contest on Saturday night.

Tatum earned the Kobe Bryant Award for All-Star Game MVP. He scored an All-Star Game record with 27 of those 55 points in the third quarter, surpassing the previous mark of 52 points set by current Lakers big man Anthony Davis in the 2017 All-Star Game.

“It means the world,” Tatum said to Johnson after the MVP trophy presentation about become record holder for points in NBA All-Star Game, “You think of all the legends and great players that’s played in this game and in all honesty, records are made to be broken. So, I’ll hold it for as long as I can. But I’m certain somebody will come along in a couple of years and try to break it.”

Tatum is the first Celtic to win All-Star Game MVP since Hall of Famer and three-time NBA champion in the 1980s Larry Bird in 1982. He also the first player in NBA history to register a 50-point game in the regular season (five times), the postseason, and All-Star Game.  

When asked by ESPN’s Malika Andrews after the game when he knew that he was going to have a record setting night, Tatum said that “he really didn’t know.”

“Someway midway through the fourth quarter Dame [Damian Lillard of Portland Trail Blazers] was like, ‘Yo the record was 52.’ I had 49 and then I was like it kind of hit me like breaking history in the moment is a cool thing

Tatum had his history making night that he debut his signature “The Tatum 1” from Jordan Brand.

Tatum’s new signature shoe as he told NBA on TNT’s Chris Haynes comes in four styles in four different colorways stems from things that stem from things that the Celtics four-time All-Star has lived and cares about.

The pink format stems from his love for pink lemonade, the drink that he orders every time he goes out to dinner.

The second colorway is the stripes scheme that represents the barbershop. The third colorway represents Tatum’s hometown of St. Louis, MS, which also produced All-Star guard of the Washington Wizards Bradley Beal. The fourth colorway of black and red for “Welcome to the Zoo,” that reflects Tatum’s relationship with his son Deuce’s love for animals.

“So, just little things that are, you know, super organic to me,” Tatum told Haynes about the inspirations for his signature shoe.

Tatum also said that he challenged the Jordan Brand team to create a kid’s specific design for his shoe because he told Haynes that idea came from the idea that kids are the future of our nation and that he wanted to take this moment to create something that can “inspire” the youth.

“I want them to feel a sense of connectivity to me right,” Tatum said. “When I was younger and I put on my favorite player Kobe Bryant. When I put on his shoes, whether I was six or 16, I felt like in that moment or in that game that we were on in the same. And that inspired me. That inspired me to get to the level I am today.”

Team LeBron earned $200,000 for Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Utah, while Team Giannis wining the final three quarters earning $550,000 for “Raise The Future.”

The 2023 All-Star Weekend saw history being made. The Jordan Rising Stars Game introduced us to the first MVP of that contest that went undrafted in Jose Alvarado of the New Orleans Pelicans. On All-Star Saturday night, we saw NBA G Leaguer in Mac McClung show out and win the AT&T Slam Dunk Contest joining the likes of Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Zach LaVine of the Chicago Bulls, Aaron Gordon of the Denver Nuggets, and Anthony “Spud” Webb. On Sunday at the 72^nd Annual NBA All-Star Game, Jayson Tatum one of the league’s current stars and who will carry the torch in years to come became the first Celtic since Larry Bird in the 1980s to win All-Star Game MVP while setting the scoring record in the game that was commented on television by the first woman in Candace Parker.

The future of the NBA was on full display during 2023 All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City, UT both on the court and the broadcast booth. What lies ahead remains to be scene. But if it continues to resemble what we saw over the weekend, the game of basketball is going to grow even more.  

Information, statistics, and quotations are courtesy of 2/17/2023 9 p.m. “NBA Jordan Rising Stars Game,” presented by Jordan Brand on TNT With Adam Lefkoe, Candace Parker, Jamal Crawford, Stephanie Ready. 2/17/2023 11:30 p.m. “NBA on TNT Postgame Show,” presented by Kia With Adam Lefkoe, Candace Parker, and Jamal Crawford; 2/18/2023 www.nba.com story, “Team Pau Wins Jordan Rising Stars; Jose Alvarado Named MVP;” 2/18/2023 8 p.m. “NBA All-Star Saturday Night,” presented by State Farm on TNT with Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller, Kenny Smith, Golden State Warriors, Draymond Green, and Adam Lefkoe; 2/19/2022 6 p.m. “NBA All-Star Tip-Off” TNT,” presented by Carmax With Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Adam Lefkoe, Candace Parker, Jamal Crawford, Chris Haynes, and Dennis Scott; 2/19/2023 8:30 p.m. “72^nd NBA All-Star Game on TNT,” presented by Kia With Brian Anderson, Reggie Miller, Candace Parker, Dennis Scott, Adam Lefkoe, and Grant Hill; 2/19/2023 www.nba.com story, “Mac McClung Steals The Show, Soars To 2023 AT&T Slam Dunk Title,” By Shaun Powell; 2/20/2023 10 a.m. ESPN’s “First Take” with Molly Querim, Stephen A. Smith, Brian Windhorst, and Kendrick Perkins; and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_McClung. 

J-Speaks: The End Of The Irving Experiment In Brooklyn

 

A little over three years ago, the Brooklyn Nets signed a perennial All-Star guard in hopes he along with a former NBA league MVP to help them in the pursuit of their first NBA title in franchise history. But after a number of injuries. A plethora of missed games because he did not want to get COVID-19 vaccination a season ago. A mysterious and unexplained absence the season prior. A tweet promoting anti-sematic themes back in November 2022,  and two trade request, including one at the start of this past weekend, the Nets decided now was the time to move on from the controversial half of their star duo. 

In the middle of Sunday afternoon, a little after 3 p.m. Eastern, ESPN’s Senior NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski dropped a major “Woj bomb” tweeting @wojespn that the Nets dealt now eight-time All-Star guard Kyrie Irving along with veteran forward Markieff Morris to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for guard Spencer Dinwiddie and versatile forward Dorian Finney-Smith, a 2027 Second-Round pick, 2029 First-round pick and 2029 Second-Round pick. The deal was also tweeted out by NBA on TNT and Bleacher Reports’ Chris Haynes and “The Stadium’s” Shams Charania.

“Thank you NetsWorld fans and supporters for the love on and off the court,” Irving tweeted in the early part of Monday morning. “I will be forever be grateful I got to live out my dream I had as a Kid with y’all. It will always be Love.”

The departure of the now eight-time All-Star, who was named MVP of the 2014 All-Star game out of Brooklyn, via trade came just 48 hours after the former Cleveland Cavalier and Boston Celtic requested to be traded ahead of this Thursday’s trade deadline after talks of a new contract broke down late last week. That was when Irving asked to be dealt elsewhere. There were also reports that Irving was prepared to sit out the rest of the season before leaving as an unrestricted free agent this summer.  

Irving, a three-time All-NBA selection was a late scratch for his now former team in their comeback 125-123 win versus the Washington Wizards (24-28), overcoming a 28-point deficit, their largest comeback win on the season in sweeping the four-game set with the boys from the District of Columbia. The Nets (32-20) said that Irving, who was out of action due to injury, was not even at Barclays Center on Saturday night. The Nets were also without Kevin Durant whose missed the last 12 games because of a MCL sprain in his left knee Ben Simmons, who too is on the mend recently because of knee soreness.

Before the game on Saturday evening, head coach Jacque Vaughn, who has been the Nets sideline leader since Nov. 1, 2022 and became their new head coach on Nov. 9, 2022 address made it clear that no matter is going on outside their locker room that everyone from him to the coaching staff to the players on the roster has the obligation and responsibility to be ready on game day.

“I think you have a responsibility as a basketball player like I do as a coach,” Vaughn said. “I show up. I do my job every single day. That’s what I signed up for. And that’s my expectations for [players] 1-17.”

Vaughn added about his message to the team, “Focus on today. That doesn't change. We’ve been really good at just locking in and doing our jobs. Don’t forget that piece of it. Continue to show up. And if you do have some sort of lack of clarity, come to me.”

The departure of Kyrie Irving coupled with Durant as mentioned still on the shelf, that leaves a major scoring void for the Nets. For a night second-year reserve guard filled that void at least for one evening scoring 19 of his career-high 44 points in the fourth quarter on 16/23 from the field and 4/5 from three-point range.

The Nets hope in the short term that Dinwiddie, whose career came to life in his five seasons with the Nets (2016-21) when they were trying to build themselves into a serious contender under now assistant coach of the Warriors Kenny Atkinson.

Dinwiddie, who signed with the Nets out of the NBAs G League’s Dec. 8, 2016 averaged 14.3 points in 274 career games in his five seasons with Nets. He was dealt to the Wizards in a sign-and-trade in a five-team deal in August 2021. The Mavericks acquired Dinwiddie in the deal for current Wizards player Kristaps Porzingis from Mavericks on Feb. 10, 2022

Irving stint with the Nets did have a plethora of spectacular scoring nights. Only Vince Carter, current television NBA analyst for ESPN as well as color analyst for the Atlanta Hawks on Bally Sports South and Southeast had more 40-plus point games in Nets history with 17 than the 13 such games by Irving. Irving had more career 45-plus point games as Net with seven to the five by Carter.

But Irving’s time with the Nets also consisted of him missing a dozens of games because of injuries, suspension, and multiple other controversies. In the end, the Nets are as WABC 7 “Eyewitness News” Sports Anchor Ryan Field put it the Nets are “happy” to move on from Irving.

                                      Kyrie Irving’s Timeline With Nets                                                          

2019-20: Underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in March 2020, missing 62 games in total. The Nets finished No. 7 in Eastern Conference and were swept by the Toronto Raptors in the opening round of the 2020 Playoffs 4-0.

2020-21: Durant, Irving, and Harden were formed. But the three totaled 14 games together. They took down the Celtics 4-1 in First Round of 2021 Playoffs. Irving sprained his ankle in Game 4 of 2021 East Semis at the Milwaukee Bucks. He missed the remainder of the series, which the Nets lost in seven games. The began that postseason 5-1.

2021-22: Irving missed the first 35 games because of New York City’s Vaccine Mandate. He returned as a part-time player in December 2021, then as a full-time player in late March 2022 playing in 29 total games that regular season. Lost as No. 7 seed again in the opening round, getting swept by the Celtics 4-0.

June 2022: Opted into the final year of his contract at $36.5 million.

Oct. 2022: Tweeted link to anti-sematic film, which led to him being suspended by the Nets for eight games in November 2022.

Feb. 2023: reportedly requested to be traded before the Feb 9 trade

The reported deal to the Mavericks concludes what was a roller coaster of highs and lows with the Nets that only netted one postseason series win, over the Celtics in the First-round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs 4-1.

Irving a New Jersey native, signed with the Nets in 2019, teaming with Kevin Durant in the hopes of winning a title.

While Irving was exceptional on the hardwood, the problem is that he did was not on the floor consistently because of both injury and his ability to constantly get distracted or impose on himself one self-inflicted wound after another.

There was his refusal to get vaccinated under the New York City imposed mandate last season by NYC Mayor Eric Adams (D) that held Irving out for nearly the entire Nets home schedule last season, which was lifted in late March. In the 2022 portion of this season, the Nets suspended Irving for a minimum of five games, missing eight games in total because of his Twitter post to an anti-sematic movie.

Those various issues along with in injuries limited Irving to (including the Playoffs) to 157 out of 299 games (143 out of 291 games in regular season). That included just 74 games in which Irving and Durant, who joined the Nets as mentioned in the summer of 2019. Irving joined the Nets as a free agent, while Durant came over via sign-and-trade from the Warriors after leading them to two championships in three seasons.  

Irving’s inability to put the focus squarely on basketball is why James Harden, who the Nets dealt the likes of Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen, and a great deal of their draft capital to the Cavaliers in a deal two seasons back wanted out and was dealt at last season’s February 2022 trade deadline to the Philadelphia 76ers for three-time All-Star Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, while also acquiring a First-Round pick.

The trio of Durant, Irving, and Harden totaled just 14 games together in their 1-plus seasons with the Nets.  

“They were ready to be done with this Kyrie Irving situation,” Wojnarowski said on the late Sunday evening edition of ESPN’s “Sportscenter.” “They got back what they hoped they would. And now for Brooklyn, they want to get back to work.”

“They’ve got three Draft picks they got in this trade. They have a future Philadelphia First-Round pick. And they’ll be aggressive with those picks to go out between now and Thursday’s trade deadline to try to get more help around Kevin Durant.”

Per Haynes via Twitter @ChrisBHaynes, Irving said he was “ecstatic” about being traded to the Mavericks and is “looking forward” to teaming up with their superstar guard and now three-time All-Star Luka Doncic.

The Nets did have other offers from other teams, according to Haynes. The Los Angeles Lakers (25-29) had a package that included First-Round picks in 2027 and 2029. The Suns offered a trade package that, according to Hayes included sending veteran lead guard Chris Paul, Jae Crowder, plus draft picks.

Haynes reported on NBATV’s late night addition of “Gametime” to host Kristen Ledlow that the Nets chose what the Mavericks were offering because they are attempting to keep 2014 Kia MVP Kevin Durant happy, their other prized signing three seasons back.

“Quite honestly, this is an organization that wants Kevin Durant to stay committed. To stay the course with this reshaping of the [Nets] roster.”

It is not clear whether Irving will make his Mavericks’ debut. The Mavericks play at the Utah Jazz (27-27) on Monday night, who hold the No. 10 and final Play-In spot in Western Conference.

Per Wojnarowski, Irving is expected to make his Mavericks debut, pending on if his physical goes well at the Los Angeles Clippers (30-26) at 10 p.m. on ESPN.

With the addition of Irving, who averaged 27.1 points, 5.3 assists and 5.1 rebounds in 40 games with Nets alongside Doncic, who is averaging a league-leading 33.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 8.9 rebounds per contest they immediately become one of the top duos in the NBA, particularly scoring wise and make the Mavericks a much stronger contender to do damage in the very stacked Western Conference.

More than anything, the addition of Irving brings in a player that has been somewhere the Mavericks want to be hopefully by the end of the season or in the not too distant future, to be an NBA champion.   

There is a great deal of risk with the Mavericks acquiring Irving because at the end of this season he will be an unrestricted free agent.

According to Wojnarowski, the Mavericks have given no indications of signing Irving to a long-term deal. With him being dealt to the Mavericks, if Irving wanted to sign an extension before June 30 to remain in “Big D,” it would only be for two years.

If Irving wants a long-term extension to stay with the Mavericks, it would have to be done this offseason.  

For the Mavericks, this was a very expensive risk because they not only said goodbye to a future First-Round pick and two solid players in Dinwiddie, who really complimented Doncic and Finney-Smith, who affectionately is called Do-Do, who went undrafted out of the University of Florida in 2016 who spent his entire career of 6-plus seasons in “Big D,” where he made himself into a versatile defender who made himself into a solid three-point shooter. 

Dorian Finney-Smith’s         434 Career Games Played: 15^th Mavericks History
career with Mavericks          637 Made Three-Pointers:   8^th Mavericks History
                                                Increased Points and Three-Point Percentage In
                                                Each of His First Six Seasons

“It was hard because when you talk about Do, he was raised by the Mavs,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said about having to deal Finney-Smith to get Irving before the Mavericks tilt at the Jazz on Monday night to Bally Sports Southwest’s Mark Followill.

“He was given an opportunity. He was so thankful. He worked extremely hard. He was a big part of our success.”

Coach Kidd added about Dinwiddie that he played at a high level in his year-plus in “Big D.”

“So to go to their rooms today yesterday and tell them that they were traded. But to just talk to them and thank them for everything they did was hard,” Coach Kidd said. “But understanding that it’s a business. They got that and we wish them the best and they’re going to be successful in Brooklyn.”  

On top of that there is no guarantee that Irving and Doncic, two ball dominant guards will click together on the hardwood.

On paper, Irving is one of the best players that the Mavericks have acquired, who has averaged 23.3 points and 5.7 assists on 47.1 percent from the field in his 12 NBA seasons with the Cavaliers, Celtics and Nets. The 2011-12 Kia Rookie of the Year and 2011-12 All-Rookie selection.

Kyrie Irving’s            Six Seasons   With Cavaliers: 21.6 points, 38 3-Pt.%, 5.5 assists
Career Splits              Two Seasons With Celtics:     24.1 points, 40 3-Pt.%, 6.1 assists
                                    Four Seasons With Nets:        27.1 points, 40 3-Pt.%, 5.8 assists

Also, the Mavericks with this trade now have the best first quarter scorer in the league on the season at 11.6 points per game in Doncic and the best fourth quarter scorer in the league in Irving at 9.3, which is tied with Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Three things that are in the Mavericks favor as they begin this experiment is that the Mavericks ran this past Doncic before they made the decision to pull the trigger on acquiring Irving.

Third, the Mavericks (28-26) are in a Western Conference playoff race where Seeds 4-13 are separated by just five games. 

The Lakers (25-29), who sit currently at No. 13 in the Western Conference, just two games out of the No. 10 and final Play-In spot, currently occupied the surprising Utah Jazz (27-27) were one of the few teams interested in acquiring Irving. It would have reunited him with LeBron James, with whom he helped lead the Cavaliers to four straight Finals appearances as the representative for the Eastern Conference. They led the Cavs to the title in 2016 taking down the then and current defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors.

Reports late last night said that Nets’ Governor Joe Tsai made it very clear that he was willing to deal Irving to any team except for the Lakers, which was Irving’s preferred destination.

The other thing the Mavericks have going in bringing in Irving is he reunites with now Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison, who was with Nike as an executive before joining the Mavericks front office as their GM two years ago.

Growing up, Irving has made it no secret that when now Mavericks head coach and Hall of Famer Jason Kidd was his favorite player when he was playing with the Nets in the early 2000s.

Longtime NBA Inside Marc Stein said on the “Mavericks Live” on Monday night that when Kidd was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018, Irving through a mutual friend of his and Kidd’s in former longtime trainer for the Phoenix Suns Robin Pound made that happen.

Harrison worked closely with Irving and his agent in his stepmom Shetellia Riley Irving at Nike.

When Mavericks owner Mark Cuban brought Kidd and Harrison into the Mavericks fold last season it was for this moment. To bring in a player in Irving that is not the easiest person coach or be a teammate of that because of the respect they have for each other that they can bring the best out of Irving from the standpoint that he can be the best he can both on the court as well as off of it.

“On paper it give us scoring, a champion, an All-Star. Someone whose basketball IQ is extremely high,” Kidd said of Irving’s addition. “And so, it give us another weapon to put alongside Luka.”

Kidd added that Irving’s addition is exciting opportunity for the Mavericks. While it is “easy” to look at all the negatives that have occurred in Irving’s career, most of which he has brought on himself. But this is a time to look at the positive that Irving has done both on and off the floor, which is how Kidd and the Mavericks are approaching this.

“We have a relationship,” Kidd said of him and Irving. “He’s all about basketball. He wants to win. He wants to be coached. And this is a great opportunity to have someone like this to help. To split my time between those two [Irving and Doncic] and the rest of the team. It’s a great challenge and it should be fun.” 

Kyrie Irving’s stay with the Brooklyn Nets lasted only 3 ½ years, for a lot of Nets fans and the organization it felt like an eternity from how his erratic behavior and polarizing way of thinking off the court outweighed his excellence and brilliant play on the hardwood. 

On Sunday, the Nets ended their relationship with Irving in granting his wish in dealing him to the Dallas Mavericks after negotiations on a new deal were never reached, which led Irving’s camp to ask that their client be dealt out from the Nets.  

Irving is now with the Mavericks and hopefully he can fit well alongside Luka Doncic and get the Mavericks back to the Western Conference Finals this spring which will allow Irving to be best positioned to possibly get a new long-term contract and position the Mavericks to be a title contender for seasons to come.

For the Nets, they hope that this trade is the first step in putting better more complimentary and cohesive talent around Kevin Durant who for the second straight season has seen two All-Star players who he thought could help him deliver a championship to the Nets be dealt.

While the prospects of how this trade will affect both the Nets and Mavericks moving forward remains to be seen. But one thing can be certain, there will be a lot of anticipation to see how it all plays out.

Information, statistics, and quotations are courtesy of www.nba.com, Statmuse.com, 1/20/2023 8:30 p.m. “Brooklyn Nets Pregame” Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network (YES), presented by Fanduel Sportsbook With Chris Shearn, Frank Isola, Meghan Triplett; 1/23/2023 9 p.m. “Nets vs. Jazz” YES With Ryan Ruocco, Sarah Kustok, Meghan Triplett; 2/5/2023 6 p.m. WNBC “New 4 NY at 6” With Gilma Avalos, Matt Brickman with Weather and Bruce Beck with Sports; 2/6/2023 5 a.m. WABC 7 “Eyewitness News This Morning” With Shirleen Allicot, Michelle Charlesworth, Sam Champion With Weather, Heather O’Rourke With Traffic, with Sports report from Ryan Field; 2/6/2023 7:30 p.m. “Los Angeles Clippers vs. Brooklyn Nets” on YES with Ian Eagle, Sarah Kustok, Meghan Triplett; 2/6/20223 8:30 p.m. “Mavericks Live” Bally Sports Southwest, presented by Smoothie King With Dana Larsen, Marc Stein, Brian Damaris, and Devin Harris; 2/6/2023 www.nba.com story, “Nets Officially Trade Kyrie Irving To Mavericks;” and 2/6/2023 9 p.m. “Dallas Mavericks vs. Utah Jazz,” Bally Sports Southwest with Mark Followill and Derek Harper.