Happy New Year 2025

Tag: NBA

Steve Kerr says NBA prioritizes ratings over players’ health: ‘They clearly don’t care’

Steve Kerr has long been a proponent of a shorter NBA schedule, and this week was a reminder why.

Kerr’s Golden State Warriors played games on back-to-back nights, Wednesday in Dallas and Thursday in Houston.

After losing Wednesday to the Mavericks, Kerr put the NBA on blast.

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Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr watches during the first half against the Memphis Grizzlies Jan. 4, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

“It’s a tough back to back. That’s what makes this loss even more frustrating,” Kerr said Wednesday. “We got to get into Houston at 3, whatever it is, because the NBA, in its infinite wisdom, makes us play an 8:45 game. They clearly don’t care about rest or player health; it’s just ratings and all that stuff. So, I get it. Everyone’s gotta do it. The whole league’s gotta do it. It is what it is.”

It’s not uncommon for star players to sit out one end of a back-to-back. Stephen Curry sat out one of the games, but this weekend’s All-Star break probably had something to do with that.

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr gestures during the first half against the Miami Heat Jan. 7, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

However, in January 2023, Kerr rested Curry as part of the “long game” and felt for the fans who missed out.

“I feel terrible for fans who bought a ticket expecting to see someone play, and they don’t get to see that person play. It’s a brutal part of the business,” Kerr said at the time. “It’s why I’m going to continue to advocate for 72-game seasons. And I know that means less revenue but, at some point, I think there just needs to be an awareness from everybody involved in the league.

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“I think about it all the time. People are spending good money to see a team, and then someone doesn’t play? That’s not something I’m ignorant to. I know that is painful. We’ve had a lot of discussions with fans over the years who have been in that situation.”

Head Coach Steve Kerr of the USA Basketball men’s team talks to the media after a game against Canada July 10, 2024, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Mercedes Oliver/NBAE via Getty Images)

LUKA DONCIC TRADE TO LAKERS COULDN’T BE VETOED, NBA COMMISH SAYS

NBA ratings have been noticeably down this year, although the surprising Luka Dončić trade prompted lots of talk. His Lakers debut was also watched by over 2 million people, making it one of the most viewed regular-season games in recent memory.

February 14, 2025
Suns’ Kevin Durant becomes 8th player in NBA history to score 30,000 points in loss to the Grizzlies

Kevin Durant continues to etch his name into NBA history books.

Durant, 36, became the eighth player in NBA history to score 30,000 points when he hit a free throw late in the third quarter in the Phoenix Suns’ 119-122 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday.

Durant joins LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki and Wilt Chamberlain in the 30,000-point club.

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Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant salutes fans after scoring his 30,000th career point during the Memphis Grizzlies game at Footprint Center. (Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images)

Julius Erving also surpasses the 30,000-point mark when you combine his points scored in the NBA and ABA.

“It’s a true honor to be in the same category as those players who helped shape the game and pushed the game forward,” Durant said. “That’s always been my goal is to get the most out of myself every day, get the most out of my career. To be mentioned with those guys, I must be doing something right.”

The 14-time All-Star is averaging just over 27 points per game this season, shooting a fantastic 52.8% from the field and 40.4% from beyond the arc.

Durant, listed at 6-foot-11, has carved up defenses his entire 17-year career with supreme shooting ability while also dominating in the paint.

MAVERICKS FANS EJECTED OVER ‘FIRE NICO’ PROTESTS AMID GROWING ANIMOSITY OVER LUKA DONCIC TRADE

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant and Suns forward Kevin Durant shake hands after their game, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

The four-time scoring champion was drafted by the Seattle Supersonics with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft and has lived up to the hype.

In nine seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder franchise, he scored 17,566 points. In three seasons with the Golden State Warriors, he scored 5,374 points.

During three seasons with the Brooklyn Nets, he scored 3,744 points, and with the Suns he has scored 3,324 points over three seasons in Phoenix.

Durant won the MVP in 2013-2014 when he led the league in scoring, averaging 32 points per game.

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Memphis Grizzlies forward GG Jackson guards Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant at Footprint Center. (Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images)

“It’s special for everyone who’s around him every day,” Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said. “I think we’re amazed by him, the way he comes to work, the time he puts in, the attention to detail, the effort. It’s translated to 30,000 points. He’s just a special player and a special human being.”

Durant scored 34 points on 12-18 shooting in the Suns’ loss.

The Suns are 11th in the Western Conference at 26-27 and will look to turn things around when they play the Houston Rockets at 8:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Ryan Canfield is a digital production assistant for Fox News Digital.

February 13, 2025
Luka Doncic trade to Lakers couldn’t be vetoed, NBA commish says

The Dallas Mavericks trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers was so stunning, that fans have been asking NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to veto the trade.

Silver, 62, explained that he does not have the power to veto any trade during a recent appearance on Barstool Sports’ “Pardon My Take.”

“The answer is no, believe it or not. There’s some confusion people have yelled out to me for some reason in the last week or so when I’ve been at games that I should be vetoing that trade the way David Stern vetoed a trade back in the old days and there’s always some confusion there,” Silver said.

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NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks before the Paris Games 2025 NBA basketball game between the San Antonio Spurs and Indiana Pacers at Accor Arena. (Stephanie Lecocq/Reuters via Imagn Images)

Late NBA Commissioner David Stern vetoed a blockbuster three-way trade following the 2011 lockout.

The Lakers would have acquired 26-year-old superstar point guard Chris Paul to team up with Kobe Bryant from the then-New Orleans Hornets. The Lakers would have shipped out Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol. The NBA owned the Hornets at the time, and the general manager, Dell Demps, did not get Sterns’ approval for the trade.

Once Stern found out, he vetoed the trade, but he was only able to veto that blockbuster because the league owned the team, not because he was a commissioner.

Silver said regardless of the merits of the trade, he cannot veto a deal that he does not like.

“I mean the way we don’t put a thumb on the scale, so to speak, when a trade comes into the league office, what our basketball and legal folks do is they make sure that that trade works under the confines of the collective bargaining agreement, whatever rules are in place,” he said. “Then it’s up or down, it gets approved or not based on those rules. We don’t get to weigh in on what we think the merits of the trade are or should be.”

LUKA DONCIC MAKES LAKERS DEBUT AFTER BLOCKBUSTER TRADE

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic gestures as he comes back in during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

When asked if he at least thought it was cool that Doncic would be in a big market now in Los Angeles, Silver pointed out that Dallas is a large media market.

“Frankly, Dallas is a big market, and was I surprised that he was traded from that standpoint? Yeah, I’m a fan and the teams don’t necessarily give the league inside information on those kinds of things, so that trade wasn’t one that I saw coming. By the way, I love Luka. I’ve known him since the day he came into the league. He’s obviously a great player, he’s a great young man and teams make these trades for reasons that in some cases only they know,” Silver said.

Silver added he wanted both the Lakers and Mavericks to be successful following the seismic trade.

“The one thing I’ll say is having been with this league for a long time, like truly nothing is written. People who say they can predict the future generally can’t and we’ll see. I’m sort of rooting for Dallas, and I’m rooting for the Lakers. I’m rooting for Anthony Davis to recover quickly and be the All-Star, we know he can be and stay healthy for a long time and I’m definitely rooting for Luka to demonstrate to the world what a great player he is in LA.”

Davis suffered a groin injury in the Mavericks’ win over the Houston Rockets on Saturday and is expected to miss multiple weeks, per ESPN.

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Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis, #3, leaves the game against the Houston Rockets during the third quarter at the American Airlines Center. (Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)

Doncic made his Lakers debut on Monday and scored 14 points in 24 minutes in the Lakers win. It was his first game back from injury since hurting his calf on Christmas.

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Ryan Canfield is a digital production assistant for Fox News Digital.

February 13, 2025
NBA player Dennis Schroder included in reported major deal after wild ‘modern slavery’ claim

NBA guard Dennis Schroder was included in a blockbuster trade on Wednesday night that saw Jimmy Butler go from the Miami Heat to the Golden State Warriors, according to multiple reports.

Schroder will reportedly be moved to the Utah Jazz as part of a multi-team trade that also included the Detroit Pistons. The guard’s inclusion of the deal came after he compared the trade deadline to “modern slavery.”

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Golden State Warriors guard Dennis Schroder, #71, brings the ball up the court against the Utah Jazz during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

He made the eyebrow-raising remarks in an interview with NBC Sports Bay Area, lamenting the lack of the control a player has on where they’re going in such deals.

“It’s like modern slavery,” he told the network. “It’s modern slavery at the end of the day. Everybody can decide where you’re going, even if you have a contract. Yeah, of course, we make a lot of money and we can feed our families, but at the end of the day if they say, ‘You’re not coming to work tomorrow, you’re going over there,’ they can decide that. They got to change that a little bit.

“But still grateful that we’re here and that we can live this every single day. I think everybody who’s in here is blessed. But if you really think about it, it is kind of crazy that the organization can tell you, ‘We want you to be team-first, but you’re going over there.’ It’s a lot.”

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Golden State Warriors guard Dennis Schroder, #71, shoots against Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh, #28, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Schroder added that control being out of the players’ hands and left to the NBA owners is something the guard wanted the league to eventually figure out. The veteran was already traded earlier in the season from the Brooklyn Nets to the Warriors. The latest reported trade would be the sixth time he’s been traded in his career.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr suggested the trade deadline be moved to the All-Star break as his rotations were thrown off with the trade before their game.

“I think the league should consider making the trade deadline at the All-Star break just so you don’t have to face these games where guys are getting traded half an hour before a game and you’re trying to process the emotions and trying to win a game,” Kerr said. “I don’t know if it’s possible.”

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr gestures during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025 in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

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The trade deadline is at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

February 6, 2025
Warriors’ Dennis Schroder claims NBA trade deadline akin to ‘modern slavery’

Golden State Warriors guard Dennis Schroder made a wild claim about the NBA trade deadline on Tuesday following the major movement that took place in the league over the last few days.

The league saw the Los Angeles Lakers acquire Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks for Anthony Davis. Then, De’Aaron Fox was traded from the Sacramento Kings to the San Antonio Spurs in a three-team trade that saw the Chicago Bulls deal Zach LaVine to the Kings.

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Golden State Warriors guard Dennis Schroder, #71, looks on between plays against the Chicago Bulls during the second quarter at Chase Center in San Francisco on Jan. 23, 2025. (Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images)

Schroder, who the Warriors acquired earlier in the year from the Brooklyn Nets, said in a recent interview he had no angst about the trade deadline, saying his salary is going to stay the same no matter what happens and that going to a different city or town was a “luxury problem.”

He then lamented the idea to NBC Sports Bay Area that anyone could be traded at any time. He then made the comparison.

“It’s like modern slavery,” he told the network. “It’s modern slavery at the end of the day. Everybody can decide where you’re going, even if you have a contract. Yeah, of course, we make a lot of money and we can feed our families, but at the end of the day if they say, ‘You’re not coming to work tomorrow, you’re going over there,’ they can decide that. They got to change that a little bit.

Golden State Warriors guard Dennis Schröder, #71, guards Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George, #3, during the second quarter at Chase Center in San Francisco on Jan. 28, 2025. (D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images)

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“But still grateful that we’re here and that we can live this every single day. I think everybody who’s in here is blessed. But if you really think about it, it is kind of crazy that the organization can tell you, ‘We want you to be team-first, but you’re going over there.’ It’s a lot.”

Schroder added that the control being out of the players’ hands and left to the NBA owners is something the guard wanted the league to eventually figure out.

The Warriors could end up trading Schroder thanks to an exception within the league’s collective bargaining agreement, according to the network.

He said he would want to stay with Golden State but acknowledged the uncertainty.

Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis, #3, dribbles against Golden State Warriors guard Dennis Schroder, #71, during the fourth quarter at Chase Center in San Francisco on Jan. 25, 2025. (Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images)

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The veteran was averaging nearly 20 points per game with the Nets before he was traded. In 24 games with Golden State, he’s averaging 10.6 points and 4.4 assists per game.

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

February 5, 2025
Ex-Warriors investor floats theory about NBA, international league competition amid Luka Doncic trade fallout

The dust continues to settle in the days following the shocking trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers formally welcomed the 25-year-old on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Anthony Davis and Max Christie continue to settle into their new surroundings with the Mavericks.

The Slovenian basketball superstar won his first scoring title last season, before leading the Mavs to the NBA Finals. Doncic is also a five-time All-NBA selection and a five-time All-Star.

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A basketball is placed on the court next to an NBA logo during a break in the first half of a game in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Amid his reaction to the blockbuster deal, former Golden State Warriors minority owner and venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya provided some insight about his decision to sell his stake in the NBA franchise.

Palihapitiya revealed the decision partially revolved around his belief the league would soon be forced to contend with a serious competitor.

“I sold my ownership in the Warriors last year, in part, because I was pretty sure competition for the NBA was coming a la LIV Golf vs PGA,” Palihapitiya wrote in a reply on X, formerly known as Twitter, to a post from Texas-based attorney Adam Loewy.

LUKA DONCIC DETAILS LAKERS TRADE ‘SHOCK’ AT INTRODUCTORY PRESS CONFERENCE

Loewy cited Chris Kratovil, another lawyer, who offered an analysis of the monumental trade involving Doncic. The lawyer theorized that the Mavs decision to move on from Doncic was part of a hypothetical strategy to maintain enough leverage to potentially move the franchise out of Texas if the state does not eventually legalize sports gambling.

Mark Cuban sold his controlling interest in the Mavericks in 2023 to the family of Miriam Adelson. The family owns a casino company. Cuban did remain on as a minority owner, but he is no longer involved in the day-to-day basketball operations.

The Dallas Mavericks logo is pictured on a uniform against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on March 09, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

Palihapitiya also suggested LeBron James should be the preferred choice, should the speculative competitor ever materialize.

“The (speculated) antics below only reinforce the likelihood that a group of well heeled investors with $5-10B could quickly stand up a competitor to the NBA. After this trade, they may want to start with Luka and pay him his supermax and get LeBron by making him the commissioner.”

James’ trusted business partner, Maverick Carter, is pursuing $5 billion in capital from investors with the goal of launching a new basketball league outside of North America, Front Office Sports reported. James is not believed to have any involvement in the international basketball league effort.

After an influx of apparent phone calls, Palihapitiya made another post on X which outlined what an international basketball league that directly competes with the NBA could entail.

Donic reacted to the trade, saying he was initially in a state of disbelief. “You can imagine how surprised I was,” Doncic said on Tuesday. “I had to check if it was April 1. I didn’t really believe it.”

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The superstar has begun to recover after his first two days in Los Angeles, and he’s growing increasingly excited about a new chapter with James and the Lakers.

Super Bowl LIX will be streamed on Tubi. (Tubi)

“It was a big shock,” Doncic said. “(Dallas) was home, so it was really hard moments for me. … (But now) I get to play in the greatest club in the world, and I’m excited for this new journey.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

February 5, 2025
Why famed NBA coach Pat Riley will benefit from potential Chiefs ‘three-peat’

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Pat Riley might just be the biggest Kansas City Chiefs fan Sunday.

Nearly four decades ago, the famed NBA coach was ahead of the curve. After winning his second consecutive championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1988, Riley had three in a row on his mind.

But Riley’s business cap was on, and he decided to file a trademark for the term “three-peat.”

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The Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes (15) celebrates victory with the Vince Lombardi Trophy while interviewed by CBS broadcaster Jim Nantz after defeating the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas Feb. 11, 2024. (Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images / Getty Images)

A quick search of “three-peat” in the United States Patent and Trademark directory shows Riles & Company Inc. is the owner of the term.

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Riley was never able to capitalize because his Lakers fell to the Bad Boy Detroit Pistons the next season. However, when the Chicago Bulls won three titles in a row in 1993, Riley got paid a bunch. He also brought in cash when the Bulls completed another three-peat 1998 and again in 2000 when the Yankees did it.

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Jerry West and assistant coach Pat Riley during a game against the San Antonio Spurs in Inglewood, Calif. (Manny Millan /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images / Getty Images)

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No professional North American sports team has won three titles in a row since the Lakers did so with Phil Jackson, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal from 2000 to 2002. Now, the Kansas City Chiefs are looking to become the first NFL team to win three straight Super Bowls.

The Chiefs and Riley have struck a deal that allows the Chiefs to sell “three-peat” merchandise. Riley will still profit, although it is unknown what the percentage will be.

Riley would give any proceeds to the Pat Riley Family Foundation, according to cllct.

Typically, licensees pay a 10% to 15% royalty on the price of an item with a trademark used.

Travis Kelce, tight end of the Kansas City Chiefs, stands on the sideline during the national anthem before a game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium Oct. 8, 2023, in Minneapolis. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images / Getty Images)

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If Kansas City fails to three-peat, it will be the Philadelphia Eagles’ second championship after winning their first in 2018. This is the Chiefs’ fifth Super Bowl appearance in the last six seasons.

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February 4, 2025
NBA star Steph Curry’s wife closes Oakland store over safety concerns

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Sweet July, a business owned by the wife of Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry, announced on Sunday it was closing one of its California shops over safety concerns.

The store wrote on its Instagram page it was closing its storefront in Oakland.

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Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry and wife Ayesha Curry look on during the 2022 NBA All-Star Saturday Night at Rocket Mortgage Field House in Cleveland on Feb. 19, 2022. (Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports / IMAGN)

“In order to prioritize the safety of our patrons and staff, we have made the difficult decision to close our Sweet July cafe and store in Oakland,” the post read. “We have loved being a part of Oakland and are grateful for the community that has opened their arms and embraced us. It has been an honor to serve you.

“While this chapter comes to a close, Sweet July has exciting new ventures on the horizon that we can’t wait to share.”

The last day will be Feb. 9.

Ayesha Curry arrives at the Red Carpet for the 2022 ESPY at Dolby Theater in Los Angeles on July 20, 2022. (Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports / IMAGN)

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Ayesha Curry started the Sweet July brand in April 2020, starting with a magazine, product line and a store. The brick-and-mortar shop consisted of coffee, baked goods and other items. The Oakland store opened in 2021.

Crime in Oakland appeared to be a thorn in the side of the business. The shop suffered a break-in in 2022, which led to the business temporarily closing. SF Gate reported at the time that glass at the front of the store was shattered, and some items were stolen.

Curry’s brand name was inspired by the month three of her four children with the NBA star were born.

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, #30, and wife Ayesha react during the championship parade in downtown Oakland, California, on June 12, 2018. (Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports / IMAGN)

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Over the last two years, several businesses in Oakland have closed up shop, including an In-N-Out and a Denny’s.

February 4, 2025
2 NBA stars on the move in latest blockbuster deal: report

Two NBA stars are reportedly on the move Sunday, hours after the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis earlier in the day.

The Sacramento Kings, Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs were finalizing a deal involving De’Aaron Fox and Zach LaVine, ESPN reported.

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Sacramento Kings’ De’Aaron Fox calls out to teammates during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets on Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Fox was traded to the Spurs and LaVine was traded to the Kings in the deal, according to the report. The Bulls will reportedly receive Zach Collins, Tre Jones, Kevin Heurter and a 2025 draft pick.

The Kings guard is two seasons removed from his first All-Star appearance. He was averaging 25 points, 6.1 assists and five rebounds with the team before he was dealt. He has played for the Kings since the 2017-18 season.

LaVine, a two-time All-Star, had been with the Bulls since the 2017-18 season as well. He was mostly injured during the 2023-24 season but bounced back and played in 42 games this season. He’s averaging 24 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.

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San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images)

Fox will now pair up with Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs are 21-25 this season and are about three games behind the Golden State Warriors for 11th in the Western Conference.

LaVine will team up with Domantas Sabonis. The Kings are two seasons removed from their playoff run in 2023. Sacramento has seen changes this season and the Fox trade appeared to be the end of it. The team fired head coach Mike Brow and replaced him with Doug Christie.

The Kings are in 10th in the West with a record of 24-24. Chicago is in 10th in the Eastern Conference with a 21-28 record.

Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun, left, guards against Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

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San Antonio will also receive Jordan McLaughlin and the Kings will receive Sidy Cissoko, three first-round picks and three second-round picks.

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

February 3, 2025
Kevin Durant says teams aren’t held to same ‘loyalty’ expectations as players are after stunning NBA trade

Sunday morning’s Luka Dončić-Anthony Davis swap is being widely regarded as the most shocking and star-powered trade in sports history.

It’s so big that it was believed that ESPN’s Shams Charania, who broke the story, was hacked, and other reporters reached out to him to make sure his X account was secure.

But alas, the Dallas Mavericks decided to trade a 25-year-old MVP candidate just months after he carried them to an NBA Finals appearance in an attempt to improve their defense.

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Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant during the NBA playoff game against the Clippers, April 22, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Mavs traded up to the third pick in the 2018 NBA Draft to select Dončić, whose $207 million extension from 2021 is set to expire this season. Being due for a super-max deal worth $345 million, it’s apparent that it played a role in Dončić being moved five days before the NBA’s trade deadline.

Kevin Durant has been traded before – it’s slightly different, as he requested to be traded from the Brooklyn Nets to the Phoenix Suns (he also left the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Golden State Warriors, and them jumped ship to Brooklyn). But Durant called out NBA teams for their lack of loyalty to their stars, while it’s expected that players be loyal to them –

“Players are held to a different standard of loyalty and commitment to a program, but the organizations don’t get held to that same standard from the outside world, the media members, the fans. We all should be held to that same standard,” Durant said upon hearing the news.

Luka Dončić of the Mavericks handles the ball against Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers at American Airlines Center on Feb. 26, 2023, in Dallas. (Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

2024-25 NBA CHAMPIONSHIP ODDS: THUNDER FAVORED; LAKERS RISE AFTER DONČIĆ TRADE

“It’s a transactional game. There’s a lot of money involved, a lot of business involved. We shouldn’t be too shocked about trades and guys moving to different teams, coaches moving to different teams. It’s just the nature of playing basketball and us making this much money, too. It’s a pretty wild time, especially around trade deadline.”

After this megadeal, Durant says the stove could be hot in the NBA.

“You start seeing stuff like that, as an organization, you might get a little more courage to do some stuff. You see another team trade away somebody like that. This got to be the biggest trade I’ve seen since I’ve been in the league or since I’ve been watching the sport. This is insane. So yeah, every other team might get confidence and say f— it, I’ll trade a few of my top players if this ain’t working.”

It’s the first time in NBA history two reigning All-NBA players were traded for one another midseason.

The Lakers received Dončić, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris, while the Mavericks took on Davis, Max Christie and Los Angeles’ 2029 first-round pick. To settle it all out, the Utah Jazz acquired Jalen Hood-Schifino and two second-round picks.

The Slovenian led the NBA with 33.4 points per game last season and won’t turn 26 until later this month. In his career, he averages 28.6 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 8.3 assists, putting himself in the MVP conversation every year of his young career.

Mavericks guard Luka Dončić reacts after a play against the Boston Celtics during the NBA Finals, June 12, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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Davis, a defensive player of the year candidate last year, is putting up 25.7 points and 11.9 rebounds this season, both slightly better than his career averages of 24.2 and 10.7.

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February 2, 2025