NBA Click & Roll: What you need to know about the Dallas Mavericks' scandal
Welcome to Paste BN Sports' NBA Click & Roll newsletter.
This is where we bring you exclusive content from Paste BN's NBA reporters Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt, including updates on all their exploits on the NBA beat. Plus, we catch you up on the *biggest* moments, quotes and news from the week.
QUICK DISH: THINGS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
- So much for some down time after All-Star weekend. A Sports Illustrated story describing the shocking allegations against former Mavericks team president and CEO Terdema Ussery, as well as two domestic assault incidents involving former Mavs.com writer Earl K. Sneed, was published Tuesday night. The story detailed a work culture that one former team employee called ''a real-life Animal House.'' Here's what you need to know.
- Dirk Nowitzki called the allegations "disgusting," "disappointing" and "heartbreaking."
- How much responsibility should Mark Cuban take? He should have, and must have, known about some of this, Sam Amick writes.
- Separately, Cuban was fined $600,000 on Wednesday for making public statements detrimental to the NBA. He said it's in his team's best interests to lose on purpose for the remainder of the season to better position themselves for the draft lottery.
- The All-Star Game happened. And it was competitive! We love this new format. So do the fans and the players. That being the case, Adam Silver acknowledged the league may televise the All-Star draft from here on out.
- LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook were all together on the court again. As teammates. And it was nothing but sunshine and rainbows.
- As great as the All-Star game itself was, the off-the-court story lines were more significant. Chief among them? LeBron and Paul George in Los Angeles. LeBron raved about the All-Star experience. Could he have eyes for LA?
- What about Houston as a landing spot for James? New Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta said he'd be willing to go into the luxury tax.
- The legend of Giannis Antetokounmpo is growing, along with his game. A profile on your favorite player's favorite player.
- A Charles Barkley Q&A, because, why not?
- Fergie's national anthem performance before the All-Star Game was ... interesting. Players and celebrities were caught laughing. It was remixed (and quite well, we might add). She was roasted. But at the end of the day, all she did was try something different. She took a risk. And for that — as Wiz Khalifa pointed out on Twitter — she shouldn't be criticized.
- Video circulated of JJ Redick appearing to use a racial slur while wishing Chinese fans a happy new year. Redick said he was "tongue tied" and later issued an apology. Jeremy Lin, who's of Chinese descent, publicly supported Redick amidst the widespread criticism.
Paste BN NBA EXCLUSIVES
While social media was still buzzing about Laura Ingraham’s segment on Fox News, where the host told LeBron James and Kevin Durant to “shut up and dribble," people across Los Angeles were benefitting from NBA athletes who took part in nine charity events during All-Star weekend.
Sam spoke with Durant — during a charity event, no less — about Ingraham's commentary, which Durant described as "racist." Full Q&A here.
So, what if LeBron had just shut up and dribbled? Jeff spoke with James and Michele Campbell, the executive director of the LeBron James Family Foundation, to find out.
“Without LeBron James outside of basketball, I’m going to tell you we would have had children who dropped out of school,” Campbell said. “We have 1,200 kids who are behind in school, but because of LeBron James they are catching up and believe they belong on a college campus and believe they can be educated. They believe they can be anything. If it was just basketball for him, what a waste that would be.”
ALL-STAR WEEKEND: BEST OF THE REST
- Jaylen Brown spoke out about Ingraham's comments as well: "That's the kind of notion that's been occurring over the last 10, 15 years, and I think in this generation, we're trying to change that."
- LeBron's response? "We will definitely not shut up and dribble."
- And the best teammate award goes to: Anthony Davis, who started the All-Star Game wearing DeMarcus Cousins' jersey.
- LeBron won his third All-Star Game MVP, tying Michael Jordan for the most ever.
- Donovan Mitchell won his first Dunk Contest and paid homage to Vince Carter in the process. He did so by replicating his famous 360 windmill dunk — in a Carter jersey from his Raptors days, no less — to claim the title over Larry Nance Jr.
- But was Nance Jr. robbed? His double-tap dunk may have been the best moment of the whole event.
- The Rising Stars Challenge featured ... well, rising stars. Why the future of the NBA is in good — and international — hands.
- Devin Booker won the Three-Point Contest and set a record in the process.
- The star-studded Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2018 finalists were announced, and Jason Kidd, Ray Allen and Steve Nash headline the list.
- A collection of the best quotes from NBA All-Star media day.
- Kevin Garnett shares his favorite All-Star weekend memories.
REPORT CARD TIME
Where does each team stand after All-Star weekend? Does any team deserve an F? How about an A+? Our post All-Star break grades.
Check back next week for everything that went down in the Association.