Here’s the catch-up post. Aside from Anthony Slater of The Athletic telling us that Stephen Curry and Chris Paul will miss tonight’s game (due to, essentially, load management), we’ll start first with the LA Lakers postgame.
Good to see Jonathan Kuminga kind of dispel the rumors that he was ever upset at the coaching staff or front office, telling Ramona Shelburne of ESPN (meaning there might be an article on JK from The Worldwide Leader at some point) that he’s “always smiling”.
The fact that Kuminga kind of speaks with a thick accent might make his responses less clip-able for social media imo, so word won’t get out as much that he says he’s growing with more maturity and confidence — essentially that all young players (JK generalized it to him being a “human being”) go through those emotions including frustration with playing time. He seems to be on the same page with Steve Kerr and he seems to have been on the same page this whole time.
The other cool nuance from the Laker game was that Trayce Jackson-Davis told CJ Holmes of the SF Chronicle, whom we had check in from the arena late postgame on our livestream, that Rudy Gay told him how to guard Anthony Davis: “You’re not guarding AD right now, you’re guarding a basketball player. And so get up into him.”
We all saw Chris Paul and Draymond Green talking strategy on the bench on the TV broadcast late in the game when Jackson-Davis was in, and TJD mentioned that they gave him advice as well. Everyone seems engaged and the vets appear to be super-proactive with their tutelage of the young guys. That might be the biggest take from preseason so far.
As far as the game vs the Sacramento Kings tonight, check out the notes from their practice yesterday below the transcript — Chris Duarte is gonna get the start over Kevin Huerter and it should be fun to see a gritty player like that go up against… Brandin Podziemski, starting point guard?
Our favorite newbie (see boat article) Donovan Williams posted another Instagram story yesterday with the UCLA campus in it, but I’m not sure if the team went back there for a practice, “get what you need” day, or if Williams was just posting an extra pic from Friday morning shootaround. In any case, the team did not arrive at the team hotel in Sacramento until the early evening Saturday.
Okay, enough of my commentary, here are the transcripts from Friday night at Crypto and then all the other news tidbits and posts out there…
0:00 Jonathan Kuminga on his thumb injury: “I’d say mostly turnovers, take care of the ball. I wasn’t really playing physical at the beginning. And I feel like in the fourth quarter we kind of elevate our pace. And that’s how we ended up getting this win but it was just those turnover early on. That’s pretty much what killed us.”
0:42 on how much more confident he is in Year Three: “Some turnover, that they’re gonna speak about it, and I’m trying to work on those things every day… every single day trying to be as much as I can be a sponge… I feel like that kind of helping me to kind of be well suited to it and be more comfortable on the floor and just playing every day. Coach always say, especially for young guys, I’m still a young guy, it’s more about how many reps you get and throughout the summer, being in the Bay, getting more reps where everybody that used to come in that kind of helping me even watch the game and see the floor even way better. And kinda kept my pace to one speed instead of just being all over and not knowing what I’m supposed to be doing.
1:57 on being more confident with the 3 than last year: “I’m definitely confident. I remember last year, mostly people are used to doing the Lakers used to backup and let me shoot I mean, I was confident but I wasn’t as much as I am this year because I feel like seeing somebody backup and when I shoot. It makes me overthink but lately it’s like you do that you gotta pay for it so and I’m still working on catch-and-shoot and just being more of a shooter because the way we play and it comes with space, so still working on my shot and being more confident being able to knock the shot, wide open shot.”
2:44 on playing with joy: “I mean, I’m always a happy person. It’s just a lot of things that people from the outside didn’t really know about me. But if you ask pretty much a lot of people that be around me, they know I’m always smiling. I’m always a happy person. I mean, like I say, like I said before, we’re human beings, sometimes I go through emotions and it’s hard to control it because at the end of the day we’re human beings. But like I say, I’m always a happy person and I’m even working harder every single day to stay positive. No matter what the circumstances.”
3:37 on being frustrated not being able to translate it on the court: “It’s never been about translating it on the court. I will say it’s just I’ve been more mature. Just that maturity is different when you come to the league knowing that you are supposed to be playing and you’re not playing and that’s why — I’m still young, but that’s what I’ve been trying to explain. People come into the league, that your moment gonna be there. It just a matter of being patient, a matter of time because a lot of people a lot of team, they’re gonna test you. They’re gonna see what you’re about the first couple years and I’m still I’m still a bay like I’m still a young player. They’re still trying to see how I’m gonna react to certain things. And like I grew up on being around basketball every single day, being around people. I’m learning every single day. Because we’re human being, we always have a lot of space to learn and to grow. So it was a challenge, just seeing I wasn’t playing as much as I think I was gonna play. But as I go back me and AV sit down and just talk about basketball, talk about certain things in life that kind of helped me go through those moments and just go and just looking back from now so like, I see why people get mad, but that’s not even the case. I feel like coming into the league, you always gotta be patient, because things will switch faster. A lot of things happen. Like I say it’s just a matter of time and growing every single day. Because coming out of high school, college or G League, you still don’t know the game as much as you think you know. So that was the case.”
5:34 Steve Kerr on the young guys pulling out a win: “Yeah, that was the highlight of the game was the fourth quarter of you know those guys doing a lot of good things to help us win the game. You know, some good possessions, some offensive boards, then having to feel that that game pressure and and coming through great effort by that group down the stretch.
6:02 on JK’s improvement: “He’s just more at peace with himself and you know, embracing the coaching more and, and this is, I think natural and your third year to be more comfortable with your surroundings and expectations and he’s just doing a good job of staying poised and playing through his mistakes. And you know, he’s he’s really been aggressive and you know we need his pop his athleticism and and he’s having a great camp so exciting.”
6:45 on JK having more confidence in his 3s: “Yeah, he’s definitely shot the ball with confidence, you know, in camp and I think you know, the biggest thing is he just he just needs to wrap something he needs to play. He was relatively inexperienced, you know, coming into the NBA and there’s a lot to soak in. And I think his first two years were frustrating at times for him, but but he has taken that experience and applied it to what he’s doing now and getting better and better.”
7:23 on Chris Paul: “Well, we had some great possessions, you know, he, it feels like he’s, he’s, you know, he was really trying to sort of fit into everything we do. And and it’s a little different, you know, then some of the offense is he has run and in the past few years, obviously we play a little faster, a little more movement. He’s more off the ball at times and so he’s just getting used to that, but he’s such a smart player that the fit is pretty, pretty easy. I think now it’s more a matter of him. Just you know, getting getting in enough reps with our other guys to feel that movement and feel the difference in the patterns that we that we run but he’s just he’s one of the smartest players I’ve ever been around and he’s so intent and purposeful you know, with each possession like he just he knows the game so well. So it’s really exciting to have him and I think he’ll just get better and better… he’s he’s a lot like Draymond and that, you know, he’s really picking the game apart strategically, constantly. You know, thinking about what’s coming next. And he communicates all that and it’s great because when guys communicate it’s just easier to to move forward because you know, what everybody’s thinking and, and so he’s really soaking it all in and, you know, we were so lucky to have him because we need his his organizational skills and, you know, we’ve talked a lot about cutting back our turnovers and he’s gonna help us dramatically. I know he had some tonight but not worried about that, you know, he’s got one of the best career assistant turnover ratios of any point guard. And we’ve talked a lot about improving our transition efficiency. I know he’s going to help us in that regard. So now it’s really about getting reps in and playing him with different combinations and and going from there.
9:42 on getting back to being a Top Ten defense: “Not much to like to this point. We’re not anywhere close to being a top 10 defense. You know, I think at halftime, all the key areas that we’ve talked about in camp of improving, we didn’t hit any of them. I think they shot 21 free throws. I think we had 11 turnovers like we hadn’t one offensive board. So all those areas where we were looking to improve we we hadn’t gotten to yet I think we did in the fourth quarter. So our young guys did a nice job, but we have a lot of improvement to make the fouling was just too much and the turnovers were you know, some of them unforced and we got to we got to clean up those areas.”
10:34 on Podziemski running the offense: “Brandin is just a basketball player just he knows the game, you know, we’re playing him at point we didn’t really know what position he was when we drafted him really. But he’s just a basketball player. He feels the game and he’s fearless and makes winning plays over and over again. We’re really excited about this guy.”
11:03 on the off-court aspects of bonding with CP3: “We’re watching film as as a team and he’s very active and vocal in the film sessions. And either asking questions or pointing stuff out to young guys. So he’s a really active participant and that’s exciting because we we need that we have a pretty quiet team. Overall. You said it, I didn’t know we need we need Chris’s vocal leadership. And it’s it’s fun to have… Chris loves the game. I mean, he’s one of those guys who’s just obsessed with the game. And so when you get to a new situation, it’s kind of fun. You know, it’s a new environment, new teammates, new way to play. I think he’s really enjoying it. And I know we’re enjoying having him part of it.”
12:14 on Trayce Jackson-Davis: “We wanted to give him some minutes with the starters. And he picked up the four fouls against Davis, which was not surprising. They didn’t look egregious and I’ll look at him on film, but he’s a rookie and you know, that’s Anthony Davis. So got into quick foul trouble but did some great things made the big play down the stretch after you know the was initially called a foul that was changed. So Trayce is a good player. He feels the game pretty well and active and make some good plays in the paint.”
12:54 on why he went with Dario Saric to start the second half: “We wanted to see that lineup. I told (Looney) today before the game that he wouldn’t play in the second half. That we know everything that Loon brings. And we wanted to give both Dario and Trayce some minutes tonight with the other starters.”
13:13 Trayce Jackson-Davis on if he had a roller coaster of emotions for the up-and-down performance: “At the end of the day, it’s always next play mentality. I mean after probably failed them twice. Two of them were kind of questionable but it is what it is. I’m a rookie, so wasn’t sweating. I got to the bench and Coach was like, ‘They’re screwing you right now and just play through it.’ And that’s what I did… mentality going into the fourth. Knowing I have four foul, not to foul and then just trying to help my team win.”
13:58 on the young guys having a strong game: “Just builds confidence honestly just getting to play with each other on the court. Getting to know the guys, doing stuff of that nature but overall, was really fun out there was really fun to play with them and had a blast.”
14:19 on his matchup vs Anthony Davis for about a six-minute stretch: “I’m just seeing Steph. AD kind of went to the ball. So I just gotta curl or cut to the rim. And then he gave me a great pass and then just finishing through contact and then the other end of the floor, I probably got him twice … But it is what it is. And then the last one kind of was questionable too. He kind of went into me. I was straight up but you’re a rookie. So some calls don’t go your way. So just playing through it.”
14:56 on if there’s any trick moves he can learn: “When I got back to the bench, Chris, Rudy and Dray were always giving me pointers on how to guard guys and what to do… I know Rudy was like, ‘You’re not guarding AD right now, you’re guarding a basketball player. And so get up into him and do these things. We know he is a great player. But at the end of the day, you got to treat him like a regular basketball player. You got to get up into him and do stuff like that. He said I was giving him too much respect in a respectful way.”
JOHN PODZIEMSKI
Brandin’s dad John Podziemski chimed in after his son’s great game: “PODZ-itively a Warrior teammate and great preseason win for Dub Nation.”
John also DM’ed me to say he really appreciated having Dustin Van Lieu, BPodz’ trainer, on our livestream last Wednesday:
FROM SACRAMENTO KINGS PRACTICE
• At Sacramento Kings practice Saturday, Mike Brown talked about the plan to insert Duarte into the starting five in place of Huerter for Sunday’s exhibition contest against the Warriors, seeing Golden State so frequently in the first month of the NBA schedule & the little changes he’s making to Sacramento’s offense. (Sean Cunningham)
• The last player to leave the court for the Sacramento Kings was Duarte. (Mark Haynes)
EL ALFA EL JEFE
Dominican rapper El Alfa El Jefe, who has 11.5 million followers on Instagram, met postgame with Lester Quinones, DR national team small forward — that’s right, Quinones played wing for that team which started a couple very solid guards and so it was definitely an adjustment for him, not having the usual usage rate as he did last year with the G League Warriors.
STEPH x FORTNITE
From Sportskeeda and referencing Steph’s tweet on Saturday:
Steph Curry surprised everyone by sending his regards to participants in the Fortnite Champion Series (FNCS) and hinted at an upcoming project he has planned for them. The FNCS Global Championship will run from Oct. 13-15.
Curry wished the participants good luck via a post on X.
STEVE AT MORNING SHOOTAROUND
Anthony Slater 0:00
Are you planning to play all your main guys?
Steve Kerr 0:01
Yeah, JK is questionable. Everybody else. Obviously Draymond is out but everybody else is getting
Anthony Slater 0:10
wise do you plan to kind of eat them up a
Steve Kerr 0:12
little bit? Yeah, probably 2020 or so.
Anthony Slater 0:16
I don’t pass three seasons you’ve usually picked one game that kind of sick guys. Still the plan or because it’s only five.
Steve Kerr 0:24
We’re kind of just taking it day by day there’s a good chance. Some of our vets won’t play one of the games but we haven’t made that decision now.
Unknown 0:33
Opportunity on the road today in preseason. What’s the tone this team needs to set on the road?
Steve Kerr 0:39
Well, I think you know, we started out so slowly last year, you know, I think oh, one five on that first road trip and so we know it’s going to be important to to get out to a better start the season especially on the road but preseason doesn’t really enter my mind. You know, I mean, this is basically like a practice for us. We’re just trying to get better. I’m not really that concerned with the results to be honest, I want to more more concerned with the process. I want to play well want to see our guys handling the things that we’re trying to get better at and just get a little bit better before we get back to practice. Steve, how
Unknown 1:23
do you see wigs kind of approaching this training camp now that he had the offseason, obviously heal from his injury and have to recover from that lengthy absences?
Steve Kerr 1:33
Yeah, weeks is in great shape. Good spirits. You know, he’s a guy who until last year, or they ever missed a game in his career. So last year, obviously there were a lot of circumstances that made it a difficult time for him. But, you know, he’s in good shape, good spirits, playing well, so I would expect Whigs to get back to being that Iron Man that he’s always been.
Anthony Slater 2:02
The league kind of increasingly is cracking down on this leg load management thing, or at least putting out that they just they want to curve a little bit this year. I know we’ve talked to you a little bit about it. What’s your kind of overarching feeling on what the league is doing and how we think it might impact you guys?
Steve Kerr 2:18
I don’t think anything’s that different. You know, I think I know the league, you know, put out that’s that. The statement and and, you know, they’ve put in a set of rules that aren’t that different from the past. I think, you know, the way I look at it is if, if our guys can comply, they’re gonna play you know, if, if they’re banged up, then we got to we got to set up and we’ll we’ll do everything we can to follow the lease protocol and at the same time, keep keep our guys healthy. I know there have been
Anthony Slater 2:53
points in the schedule in the past where you guys are like, even before the season or like yeah, that’s pretty much probably gonna be a rest day for some of the main guys do you have to not do that this year? And just go kind of as you get closer to it,
Steve Kerr 3:04
I think the main thing is just take it day by day even even in the past when we’ve sort of, you know circled dates that might be you know, a time where, you know, somebody’s worn down because of the schedule. It all changes based on circumstances. So all of that stuff is just speculative. So we just take it day by day see where guys are and and make decisions accordingly.
Unknown 3:28
Steph ever had a conversation about why he pronounces his name the way that he does versus yours.
Steve Kerr 3:33
And it’s a great question and no, the answer is no, I I’ve never asked him
Unknown 3:40
about this connection then. He was voted tops for without the ball. What’s most impressive, I guess, about that moving without the ball, especially as an older player.
Steve Kerr 3:50
What’s most impressive in that regard is that he’s also a brilliant pick and roll player and there’s just so few players who have ever been so good at both you know, most guys are one or the other, you know, on ball dominant or, you know, Reggie Miller type come off screens Klay Thompson and Steph both and that’s what makes him unique.
Unknown 4:12
Steve, it’s obviously early training camp. Well, what’s been kind of your, your early takeaways that leave you pretty hopeful that you and the whole group can bring out the best and Chris and vice versa?
Steve Kerr 4:25
Well, Chris is a really really smart player, one of the smartest players I’ve ever seen, you know, both had as an opponent over the years and now this year during camp you just see his intelligence. He’s so thoughtful. He’s so particular about every possession. Smart players tend to figure things out quickly, especially when they’re playing with other smart players. So I have no doubt it’s gonna be a great
Unknown 4:49
voice call voicemail on room complimenting other leaders like Steph Dre.
Steve Kerr 4:53
Chris is very vocal and in a great way you know, we we need that. I think most of our team is quiet other than Draymond. But I think frankly, Draymond needs another voice in that locker room. I think, you know, we’ve been at our best over the years when we’ve had, you know, veteran guys who, you know, guys like David West, Zaza Shaun Livingston, whose voice has really carried well in the locker room, and they’re all different, you know, some, Shawn was was quiet but vocal when he needed to be, you know, said very important things when he had something to say. And same with David West. David was more and more than anything, just his presence was so powerful. And so every everybody’s different, but Chris is very vocal, very smart. constantly asking questions about what we’re doing and this case or that case, and I think this team can use that at this stage.
Anthony Slater 5:58
You’ve talked about him mattering in the non Steph minutes in the opener if you weren’t able to play him and non stop. Yes. Do you want us? I mean, you have limited minutes in the preseason, but do you want to get him out? You know, with the second unit?
Steve Kerr 6:11
Yeah, we will. And, you know, we’ve been doing that in scrimmages a little bit, too. So, Chris, will we’ll be out there with the second unit. Maybe not tonight. But, you know, going forward, we’ll definitely start to mix and match some of the combinations.
Unknown 6:30
You’re playing the Lakers. So what stood out to you about what’s most memorable to you about Austin Reeves having the chance to coach
Steve Kerr 6:37
a great player. He’s, he is a really talented, skilled guy way more athletic than people give him credit for. You know, watching him with Team USA. He, he wants the big shots. He wants the big moments, braces, all of that and really smart you know, he sees the angles he understands how the defense is, is guarding and he always has a counter for everything and just to great, great player
Unknown 7:13
doesn’t have the pedigree of some other players in his position. Why was he able to Why do you think he’s been able to overcome that?
Steve Kerr 7:20
Well, he’s skilled and talented. So I mean, I don’t know that. The question is, why he’s been able to overcome it as much as Why did 30 teams pass on him in the draft? You know, and it shows you how hard this is. We got a lot of smart people all across the league. But evaluating talent, talent is such an inexact science and you know, from what I gather, you know, he didn’t shoot the three particularly well in college and I think a lot of people saw him as a, you know, as a three point shooter, and now he’s shooting the three lights out. So that’s where maybe the disconnect came if he had made more threes in college. I know a lot of people liked him but but nobody liked him enough to draft him. And, and here he is now, you know, I think he’s one of the one of the for sure. One of the one the Lakers best players and they, you know, maybe their most important player, you know, given given where they are as a team
THIBAUT COURTOIS
Steph sent Thibaut Courtois (ACL injury) a ‘get well soon’ jersey. Curry wrote, “To Thibaut, from one Warrior to another… come back strong! This is your Warrior season. Get well soon champ!”
KLAY AND SHANAHAN ARE BUDDIES
From Tim Kawakami of The Athletic, who’s doing a superb job covering the San Francisco 49ers, on Klay Thompson and Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan, which was mainly an article about Shanahan and John Lynch’s relationship with Warriors brass in Bob Myers, Mike Dunleavy, Jr. and Kerr:
“John and I actually talked about (James Wiseman and Trey Lance), comparing notes on high draft picks, who probably need some runway, need a little bit of time to grow and develop,” Dunleavy said. “And you’ve got a really good roster around them and all of a sudden you realize you should probably have a better way to do this and there’s something better for the player. There’s a lot of comparable notes that we shared. I think it’s a good learning lesson for both sides.”
…
Klay and Shanahan might not have talked to each other at all, but they were both at Miller & Lux at Chase Center after a recent playoff game and somehow, the two are buddies now.
…
“I couldn’t believe he’s a head football coach, ’cause he’s so young,” Klay said last week. “And he’s really personable. And his son was great, too. Same with John. I mean, I grew up watching John Lynch on those Bucs teams and playing him in ‘NFL Blitz’ and all that.
“I’ve got friends on the Niners, obviously George, Sam Darnold, we’re from the same area. I see him all the time in the offseason. I just love when the local teams do well. It’s just good for the whole Bay Area, the morale.”
MARC SPEARS WITH RUDY GAY
Marc Spears of Andscape/ESPN with Gay (and Kerr):
“The Warriors are just showing me respect [with the nameplate on the locker],” Gay said to Andscape.
…
“I’ve been humbled so many times in my career, so it wasn’t nothing,” said Gay about agreeing to a make-good contract. “This is the first time. Hopefully, the last. But it’s one of those things that you come in there and show my work. At the end of the day, throw some s— at the wall and see if it sticks.
“I know I still got a lot to give and I can help a team in this situation. I feel like it’s a pretty good situation.”
Said Warriors coach Steve Kerr to Andscape: “He loves the game. When guys really love the game, it shows because they don’t want to give it up. They still want to play as long as they can. And that only comes if you truly love the game.”
…
“I’m not the oldest person on a team for once,” said Gay with a smile after practice Oct. 5. “To actually got into a locker room where I can hear some music that I can actually understand is refreshing. Today was Throwback Thursday. So, it was all my stuff. When you think of Throwback Thursday, we don’t think about Mary J. Blige, Usher. But, here, that’s what it is, man.
“I see why they’ve had so much success. Everybody knows their role. Everybody knows their position, down to the music. It’s refreshing… I knew this is a team that already had things figured out. So [I] just sit there, being ready for your turn and make the best of your opportunity at the end of the day. This is something I can teach my kids. I’ve been in every situation the league can offer. So, this is part of my story.”
…
“There have been no promises, but he is here to try to make the team,” Kerr said. “He’s had a really good first few days of camp. He’s a good player. Big to have a guy that size, that skilled. He’s impressive …
“I’ve always felt is just really let the three weeks play out before you have to make the decision. You can start jumping to conclusions and then you change your mind a week later. So, we just play it out. But he’s doing a really good job.”
…
“We got Rudy Gay now and we got [Chris Paul],” Kuminga said after the Lakers game. “Those two people always come talk to me every single day. I’m trying to create that relationship that can stay forever and throughout my career, I want them to be there every single day helping me. And so far, I’ve been having Rudy and CP talking to me, that I need to do this, this is what I need to do to get better, and I feel like it’s been working.
“They’ve been around this league for, CP for 19 years and Rudy, it’s his 18th year. So, just gaining knowledge from those guys every single day is helping me.”
…
“If you’re not competing for a championship 18 years in, what are you playing for?” Gay said. “I train my body all summer. The season is long. A lot of flights. You’re away from your family. You got to do it for something, especially at this point in my life.”
SLATER WITH KLAY ON PLAYING THE 4
Slater with Klay after practice Monday:
Practice wrapped around 1 p.m. At just past 3 p.m., Thompson finally sat down with The Athletic for an interview on this pivotal point of his career. Several subjects were discussed. His contract situation was the hottest topic.
“It’s not going to be a thing,” Thompson said. “The fact that I’m going into my 13th season — that alone — it gives me such peace of mind. Granted, I’ve made money, I’ve been able to take care of my family, myself, the people I love. But when I started playing this game, I never once thought I’m playing the game because I’m going to be rich and famous. Never did.
“I played this game because my dad played. I idolized him. My favorite athletes were hoopers. Kobe (Bryant). Clyde Drexler and Rasheed Wallace, guys I was able to watch growing up. Reggie Miller. I just wanted to do something I loved for a living. It happened to be basketball. The fact I’m doing it for a 13th straight season is amazing.
“I don’t need to go into this year and … I know if I just do my job and I’m in shape and I compete at my highest level, I’m going to make money in this league for a long time. So I don’t worry about it. I’m blessed beyond measure. Obviously you want to make the most in the window you have as an athlete. But I’m not going to let that get in the way of winning a championship. When you win, everything else will be taken care of.”
…
“I’ll be better in the upcoming postseason when that time comes,” Thompson said. “But no regrets (about last season). I played my absolute hardest, and at times, it was the most elite I’d ever been. Especially that stretch after the new year. I was on fire. Hopefully I can have a similar start to the season. I’m in such a great spot right now. I’m in good shape. Come opening night, I’ll be in the best shape possible.”
NBA NEWS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN
• Here’s the first workout by Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. The Warriors, of course, face the Phoenix Suns on Opening Night on Tue 10/22.
• From Nick DePaula for Boardroom:
NBA icon Shaquille O’Neal is being named President of Reebok Basketball — ahead of category re-launch in early 2025.
Along with Shaq’s role as President, Reebok is also appointing Allen Iverson as VP of Basketball.
“We’re bringing two of our legacy athletes together & having them be in real management positions,” says Reebok CEO Todd Krinsky. “These guys deserve to be in the executive ranks of our company.”
Shaq on being named President of Reebok Basketball: “A big part of my role will be leveraging my network to build bridges, connect the brand with players, and help those players develop through their partnership with Reebok.”
• Joe Vardon and Sam Amick of The Athletic on the NBA’s new player participation rules:
The League says data no longer supports ‘load management’ — a huge break from virtually everything previously said about why players miss so many games.
• HoopsRumors has the punitive examples of the second tax apron and why it definitely needs to be avoided.
MORE WARRIORS TIDBITS
• Andrew Wiggins’ daughter Amayah’s fifth birthday pics tweeted out by his wife Mychal.
• From the WCC network: Did Herb Sendek (Santa Clara head coach) know what he was getting with Brandin Podziemski?
“He was acclaimed coming out of high school, but didn’t play as a freshman at Illinois, and came here for a new beginning. We knew he was gonna be a good player. I’ve never been around a kid who wanted it more. Just driven. Always in the gym. And the results speak for themselves.”
• Kerr on Kuminga (had more on his evening news sports segment), via Jason Dumas of KRON4:
“The more times on the menu, the harder it is to pick out what you want to eat.”
• Podziemski, TJD, and Gui Santos at Santa Cruz Warriors fan fest Sat 10/21 1p-3p at Kaiser Permanente Arena, via SCW.
• Warriors tie for most players in ESPN’s top 100, but only one inside top 40, via CJ Holmes.
• Report: Part of North Carolina freeway could be renamed after Stephen Curry, via 95.7 The Game.
TIDBITS RE FORMER WARRIORS
• From Friday, Juan Toscano-Anderson: “Being Dad>>>>” …not sure if this pic is from Mexico, where he’s playing, or an old one.
• Knicks guard Donte DiVicenzo has signed a shoe deal with ANTA. He will headline the brand’s upcoming ZAP 1 sneaker in his own PE editions. Via Nick DePaula of ESPN.
• NBA vets Dwyane Bacon, Quinndary Weatherspoon will play for Israeli club Maccabi Ra’anana during team’s three-game preseason stint beginning with Brooklyn Nets tonight, agent Daniel Hazan says. Both hoping to sign with NBA team at conclusion. Via Chris Haynes.
• James Wiseman: 20 points, 10 rebounds, 8-8 from the floor. He had 17 in the 2nd half, via Omari Sankofa.
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