Grizzlies star Ja Morant boasts he'd "cook" Michael Jordan one-on-one, Griner acknowledged as honorary All-Star starter, Lakers could retire Pau Gasol's No. 16 Jersey, Curry and Green key to DiVincenzo signing, and more.
Grizzlies star Ja Morant boasts he'd "cook" Michael Jordan one-on-one
Confidence can go a long way, but Grizzlies star Ja Morant is courting controversy with a recent statement he made in comparing himself to Michael Jordan. Ja Morant boasted that, if he had played in Michael Jordan's era, the G.O.A.T. would have been no match for him. The comments came during an interview with The Bleacher Report, perSports Illustrated.
"I wish I would’ve played in his generation, though," Morant said about Jordan. "Just how he go about the game, that mindset he had."
"I would like to play against him," Morant continued. "I would've cooked him, too."
"Nobody got more confidence than 12," Morant added. "I'm never going say nobody gon’ beat me in one-on-one or anything."
Griner acknowledged as honorary All-Star starter
At Sunday's 2022 WNBA All-Star game in Chicago, the league honored former MVP Brittney Griner as an honorary starter. All 20 WNBA All-Stars sported warm-up shirts bearing Griner's name and her No. 42 on the back, Sports Illustrated reported.
Griner has spent nearly five months in custody in Russia after a vaping cartridge with cannabis oil was discovered in her luggage. Griner faces up to 10 years in jail if convicted. Her trial resumes in early August.
Lakers could retire Pau Gasol's No. 16 Jersey
The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly considering retiring the No. 16 Jersey of former power forward Pau Gasol, according to the Bleacher Report.
In his 18-year NBA career, Gasol, a native of Spain, spent more than six seasons in Los Angeles and was effectively the No. 2 option behind Kobe Bryant, helping lead the team to back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010.
Curry and Green key to DiVincenzo signing
Reports say that Steph Curry and Draymond Green were key in signing the newest Warrior, Donte DiVincenzo, who played for both the Milwaukee Bucks and Sacramento Kings in the 2022 season. Apparently, the pair convinced DiVincenzo Golden State was where he belonged as a player, NBC Sports reported.
DiVincenzo wants to help the Warriors bring another championship to the bay area. He already became an NBA champion with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021.
"Once I had the conversation with Steph and Draymond, everything kind of slowed down for me a little bit because I got away from the numbers, the dollar signs and everything," DiVincenzo said. "I was more so focused on what is best for Donte and what is best for me going forward."
"With that culture and environment, it's something that I want to be a part of and it's something of who I am," DiVincenzo added. "I don't have to change who I am. I can just totally fit in and become a Warrior."