Damian Lillard's present favourite gamers: 'Anthony Edwards, Ja Morant, Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo'

Damian Lillard: My favourite collab up to now, I gotta say Lil Wayne. The primary time I received with Wayne it was truly anyone reached out to me for Wayne, cuz they was like ‘you already know he wished to do one thing with you cuz you already know he likes the way you don’t attempt to rap like a rapper, he can inform you simply rapping such as you’, so we related like that and me and Wayne received so many songs collectively that ain’t even been launched like, cuz every thing I ship him, he does it and simply ship it proper again. There’s a bunch of sh*t that we haven’t put out. I truly been to the studio with him and like having the ability to see it I used to be like ‘rattling’.’ -via YouTube / August 20, 2024

Damian Lillard on commerce to Bucks: ‘It was a more durable transition than I believed for actual like similar to I stated due to my life (divorce) however then additionally like adjusting to taking part in with one other nice participant (Giannis) after which additionally taking part in with Chris (Middleton). Chris is a superb participant too however he performs a sure means too, so I’m having to get used to taking part in with two gamers and I don’t need to cease them from doing what they do, however I received to search out the best way to be one of the best model of me inside this too, so it was only a lot it, was loads of transferring components, it was tougher than I believed it might could be.’ -via YouTube / August 20, 2024

Damian Lillard on making the NBA Prime 75: ‘This ain’t like no All-Star voting, it ain’t a recognition contest, it ain’t none of that. It’s like what have you ever accomplished. That’s why it meant a lot for me cuz it was like, I may consider greater names and in the event that they needed to say 75 gamers that they could simply off the highest of the pinnacle put them in entrance of me yeah, however if you take a look at the physique of labor, it’s loads of gamers within the league that prefer it’s in all probability like James, KD, Russ, Steph, Bron, Demar, however after Chris Paul, it ain’t no one that received extra profession factors than me they usually all been within the league for 3 or extra years longer than me and I ain’t far behind. With me being within the playoffs on a vet staff and on a rebuilding staff, we began rebuilding we was proper again in there like proper again within the playoffs, eight straight years, so it’s like that was the primary time I used to be like like they made the proper determination. Like individuals ain’t going to see it proper now however after they look again at like what truly happened they going to be like ‘he needs to be in there’. -via YouTube / August 20, 2024

After averaging a career-best 32.2 factors per recreation in 2022/23, his scoring output dropped to 24.3 PPG in his first season with the Bucks. That was to be anticipated, contemplating he was teaming up with one other famous person in Giannis Antetokounmpo however his capturing share was simply 42.4%, together with 35.4% on 3-point tries, effectively beneath his profession averages. “I believe when the commerce occurred everyone was like, ‘Nicely, Milwaukee’s gonna win it,’ and I believe when it didn’t at all times look the way in which they wished it to look or thought it was gonna look, and I wasn’t trying how I appeared in Portland, it was like, oh, what’s happening with Dame? Why is Dame not doing this?” he stated. “However when for a higher a part of the season I used to be nonetheless averaging about 26 factors. Like, when you actually take into consideration that – what commonplace do y’all maintain me to if I’m scoring 26 factors and averaging seven assists and I’m not feeling nice? I’m going by loads of stuff. That’s simply the reality.” -via Hoops Rumors / August 17, 2024

StatMuse: Final gamers with 40+ PTS, 14+ REB and 65+ FG% in a recreation: Giannis Antetokounmpo Joel Embiid Anthony Davis And Kenny Lofton Jr pic.x.com/c1wuo4zdlu -via Twitter @statmuse / August 16, 2024

FIBA: All-Second Group of #Paris2024 Males’s #Basketball 🔸 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Canada 🇨🇦 🔸 Bogdan Bogdanovic, Serbia 🇷🇸 🔸 Franz Wagner, Germany 🇩🇪 🔸 Guerschon Yabusele, France 🇫🇷 🔸 Giannis Antetokounmpo, Greece 🇬🇷 -via x.com / August 10, 2024

A spectacular occasion is about to happen in Ljubljana, Slovenia, the place an enormous listing of stars are set to play on the identical courtroom. The Goran Dragic Basis is organizing a farewell occasion for Goran Dragic known as The Night time of the Dragon, the place his associates and former teammates will compete on the identical basketball courtroom. An exhaustive listing of stars who will present up on the occasion has been printed by the occasion organizers, together with Steve Nash, Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Dirk Nowitzki, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Luis Scola, Dejan Bodiroga, Predrag Danilovic, Nikola Vucevic, Rasho Nesterovic, and others. Corridor of Famer Chris Bosh may even attend the occasion, however he won’t step onto the courtroom. -via BasketNews / August 18, 2024

Sam Cassell believes that Nikola Jokić wouldn’t have the ability to cease Hakeem Olajuwon. “On the opposite finish of the ground, Jokić wouldn’t stand an opportunity. Joel Embiid provides him issues, and he wouldn’t have any hope in opposition to Hakeem. I imagine Hakeem would have a solution for no matter Jokić tried defensively,” Cassell added. -via EuroHoops.internet / August 17, 2024

“Hakeem is a beast in each sense on the ground. He’s within the Prime 10 in each NBA class—steals, rebounds, factors,” Cassell stated. He acknowledged that Jokic may rating extra factors however believed Olajuwon’s relentless strain could be decisive. “I believe Jokic would rating extra factors, however Hakeem would win as a result of he would continually strain him. Jokic wouldn’t have the ability to do injury within the put up; it merely wouldn’t occur.” -via BasketNews / August 17, 2024

When the comparability with Luka Doncic was delivered to the desk, he shared the identical opinion. “I agree. Luka [Doncic] is a killer too”, the two-time NBA Champion with the Houston Rockets commented concerning the Slovenian phenomenon. -via EuroHoops.internet / August 19, 2024

Vernon Maxwell: ‘Oh boy, Petrovic. That motherf*cker was one thing else, man. God bless you. I used t inform Rudy Tomjanovich ‘deal with this motherf*cker such as you deal with Michael Jordan.’ When he come out the sport carry my ass out the sport, when he come to the goddamn desk let me meet him on the desk. I don’t need no one else guard this motherf*cker… He was a killer. Q. They type of evaluate him with Luka Doncic. Maxwell: I agree, Luka is a killer too. -via YouTube / August 19, 2024

Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller welcomed The Athletic insider Shams Charania, with some astonishing revelations. Whereas Jazz insider Tony negated any commerce prospects for Markkanen, Mike contradicted the identical, when he stated, “I don’t suppose Golden State might be accomplished. I believe when you’re actually critical about successful, they must make an enormous transfer.” As Miller expressed his stream of ideas, Shams barged in between so as to add, “They’re attempting to get Lauri Markkanen,” balancing the chance. Nonetheless, Ja Morant’s agent quietly whispered to Shams only a second later, “I believe they’re going.” It was a shocker to The Athletic insider, as effectively, since he requested Mike Miller once more to make sure, “You suppose they’re going?” to which Mike nodded in affirmation. Because the chat proceeded, Charania requested him for security if that was a chunk of inside information. Nonetheless, Mike instantly turned issues round, additional saying, “He can’t cease working,” addressing Shams Charania’s delicate remark on The OGs. -via Basically Sports activities / August 1, 2024

Shams Charania: Mike Miller, Ja Morant’s agent: “Ja Morant is coming for all of the work this 12 months. All of it. How quickly they neglect. That’s all I’ll say: He’s about to come back for it.” -via Twitter @ShamsCharania / July 31, 2024

Logan Whaley: Ja Morant was requested by @TheAdamBWells about his well being. “If I needed to decide a quantity I’d say in all probability 75%, and I really feel like that’s nonetheless scary for whoever’s in entrance of me” Morant is in Murray internet hosting a camp forward of his HOF Induction. Extra to come back tonight at 6 & 10 on @WPSDLocal6 -via x.com / July 26, 2024

What did Group USA do to have fun getting gold? Anthony Edwards: We simply popped the Champagne, you already know, realized the best way to do the Champagne. Received collectively as a staff, instructed one another we’d miss one another and we had enjoyable.  What are different favourite recollections from the Olympics? Anthony Edwards: I dunked on Kevin Durant. The second day, I dunked on him in follow. -via Wall Road Journal / August 20, 2024

How do you suppose your technology of basketball is completely different from older generations? Anthony Edwards: I didn’t watch it again within the day so I can’t communicate on it. They are saying it was more durable again then than it’s now, however I don’t suppose anyone had ability again then. [Michael Jordan] was the one one that basically had ability, you already know what I imply? In order that’s why after they noticed Kobe [Bryant], they have been like, “Oh, my God.” However now everyone has ability.  -via Wall Road Journal / August 20, 2024

Coming off the excessive of successful a gold medal on the Paris Olympics, a trio of Group USA stars had their celebration interrupted. Throughout an look alongside star ahead Kevin Durant for Boardroom Talks at Fanatics Fest this weekend, Anthony Edwards revealed that the 2 of them have been drug examined after the Olympic last in opposition to France together with Stephen Curry. “We couldn’t even actually have fun for actual as a result of me, him and Steph needed to take like a drug take a look at or one thing,” Edwards stated -via Bleacher Report / August 20, 2024