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NBA

Russian court finds WNBA star Brittney Griner guilty on drug charges

WASHINGTON – A Russian court on Thursday found Brittney Griner guilty on drug charges, as the U.S. government scrambles to secure the WNBA star's release. During closing arguments, Russian prosecutors asked the court to sentence her to nine-and-a-half years in prison. Last month, Griner pleaded guilty to the charges but said that she had unintentionally packed the cannabis canisters in her suitcase because she was in a hurry. "We put a substantial proposal on the table weeks ago," Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters last week. "This is delicate work," National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters during a White House press briefing.

cnbc.com

'Szechuan Chef Curry': Little Chinese boy's basketball skills could make him the next Stephen Curry

A video of a Chinese child basketball player showcasing his skills has gone viral, with netizens drawing comparisons between the young baller and NBA superstar Stephen Curry. Throughout the clip, which has over 57,000 likes since being uploaded to Twitter on Wednesday, it is clear that the Chinese youngster modeled his game after Stephen Curry’s deadly offensive arsenal, displaying everything from underhand floaters to shifty step-back jump shots. The video has garnered various reactions from basketball fans, with many commenting on the player’s Curry-esque skills and one even hailing him as the “Szechuan Chef Curry.”

news.yahoo.com

RGV Vipers stars host “Champ Camp” in Edinburg

EDINBURG — Anthony Lamb, Daishen Nix and Trevelin Queen played pivotal roles for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers during their run to the 2021-22 NBA G League Championship, the team’s fourth title in its history. Lamb, Nix, Queen and the RGV Vipers hosted Day 1 of a three-day basketball “Champ Camp” on Monday at the Vipers Practice Facility in Edinburg. Queen was named the 2022 NBA G League Most Valuable Player and Finals MVP, in addition earning a spot on the All-NBA G League first team and All-Defensive Team. Lamb was a NBA G-League third-team member, and Daishen Nix is under contract with the Houston Rockets. Now, RGV Vipers players like Lamb, Nix and Queen hope they can help inspire the next generation of basketball players in the Valley while creating similar paths as Payton at the NBA level.

myrgv.com

Rockets guard Jalen Green partners with new Asian league

Before Jalen Green joined the Houston Rockets, becoming the highest-drafted Asian American player in the NBA, he'd already experienced close up how passionate the people of the Philippines were about the game he loved to play. The eight-team, pan-regional league will launch in October and feature the winners and runners-up from the Japanese, South Korean and Philippines leagues as well as the Taiwanese champions and the Bay Area Dragons, a roster of players from across greater China based in Manil a for Season 1. Green, who grew up in California with his Filipino mother, Bree Purganan, already had a big following before he was selected second overall in the draft and made the NBA's All-Rookie team for 2021-22.

news.yahoo.com

7'2" prospect Kai Sotto to work out with Knicks in hopes of becoming first Philippine-born NBA player

Filipino NBA prospect Kai Sotto is set to work out with the New York Knicks and at least 11 other teams during this year’s NBA draft. Despite carrying the dream of “millions of Filipinos” back home on his shoulders, the 7-foot-2-inch center told Lakers Nation that he does not “really feel pressure anymore” since he loves what he is doing. “Ever since I’ve played basketball a lot of people have been watching me, especially from the Philippines back home,” Sotto was quoted as saying.

news.yahoo.com

The Real Jordan vs. LeBron Debate: Who's Happier?

In 1984, the NBA’s Chicago Bulls drafted a player by the name of Michael Jordan. The North Carolina Tar Heels alumnus was only picked third overall, an almost comical piece of trivia given the level of dominance he would impose on the game and the recognition he would gain on a global scale. LeBron James, in contrast, was a first pick right out of high school in 2003. But LZ and Will don’t want to retread a tired conversation about which athlete is better. Instead they discuss Jordan and James as men first and athletes second. The biggest difference between Jordan and James is that LeBron generally looks happy. Rather, it's that Michael Jordan, according to many portraits drawn by sports reporters (and by the Jordan-approved miniseries, The Last Dance) appears miserable. LeBron is socially engaged with the world around him. Jordan is consumed by a never-ending desire to win. LZ and Will talk about whether Michael Jordan may be the unhappiest superstar of them all.

news.yahoo.com