Happy New Year 2025

Tag: NBA

Hawks’ Trae Young reacts to NBA All-Star selection snub: ‘It’s getting “Traed” at this point’

Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young has arguably put together the most productive first half of an NBA season in his career.

But Young’s NBA-leading 11.4 assists per game were not enough to land the 26-year-old guard an All-Star nod.

Last week, the NBA revealed the starters for its revamped annual showcase of its 24 star players. While the list of starters did not feature a lot of surprises, the reserves raised some eyebrows.

Young’s name was noticeably missing when the 2025 NBA All-Star Game reserves were revealed Thursday.

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Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young reacts after a foul was called during the first half of Game 4 of a first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics April 23, 2023, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

The omission sparked some spirited posts on social media about Young and other players who received a cold shoulder from voters. Young summed up his circumstances by putting a unique twist on his name.

“It’s getting ‘Traed’ at this point,” the former Oklahoma basketball standout wrote on X. He then offered an apology to his fans and took a more measured approach, saying, “Sorry to my fans.. it’ll change eventually! All right, talk soon!”

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Young has been an All-Star three times before, but his numbers do seem to back up the argument that he is one of this year’s top 24 players. Aside from his assist average, Young is averaging 22.5 points per game.

NBA coaches pick the All-Star reserves. Hawks coach Quin Snyder made it clear he believes the players who made the All-Star roster are deserving.

Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks after Game 5 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the Boston Celtics April 25, 2023, at the TD Garden in Boston. (Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

“That also doesn’t preclude me from feeling the way I do about Trae,” Snyder said. “I haven’t coached him for that long, but I feel like he’s had the best year of his career. … No disrespect to anyone that has made it, but as Trae’s coach, I am allowed to feel disappointment for him not making it. And that’s unfortunate.”

Young hasn’t been voted into the game since 2022. He was an injury replacement selected by Commissioner Adam Silver for last year’s All-Star Game.

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and four-time All-Star, is another notable player who did not receive an All-Star selection.

Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns during Game 3 of the 2023 NBA Western Conference semifinals against the Denver Nuggets May 5, 2023, at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Ariz. (Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)

“Obviously, something that I wanted to be a part of,” Booker said Friday. “But definitely not going to complain about taking a week to regroup with the family.”

Fan voting accounts for 50% of the formula for deciding which players start the game, and the Hornets’ LaMelo Ball was the backcourt player who got the most votes from fans in the Eastern Conference by a wide margin.

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However, he narrowly missed being a starter after finishing third in the East backcourt voting by players and seventh in the media balloting. Ball then missed out on being a reserve because he didn’t get listed on enough coaches’ ballots.

Ball ranks fourth in the league with 28.2 points per game. He is the first player under the current voting format to win the fan vote at his position but not get picked for the All-Star Game.

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Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

February 1, 2025
NBA legend Dwyane Wade opens up about kidney surgery, cancer diagnosis: ‘Weakest point I’ve ever felt’

During the latest episode of his podcast, three-time NBA champion Dwyane Wade revealed some details about a health scare he faced more than a year ago.

Wade underwent surgery in December 2023 that removed 40% of a kidney. The surgery was followed by what Wade described as a “shocking” cancer diagnosis.

A full body scan confirmed the presence of a “cyst/tumor” on one of Wade’s kidneys.

“And the doctor was like, ‘You need to have kidney surgery,’” the 43-year-old retired basketball star noted on Thursday’s edition of “The Why with Dwyane Wade” podcast.

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Dwyane Wade at a men’s basketball quarterfinal game between France and Canada during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena. (Kyle Terada/USA Today Sports)

Wade admitted he largely avoided seeing a doctor over the years for a physical, but he eventually made an appointment once he began experiencing stomach issues, cramps and trouble urinating.

NBA LEGEND DWYANE WADE REACTS TO BOTCHED STATUE OF HIMSELF: ‘A COMPLICATED PROCESS’

“On the process of checking, like, ‘Why is my [urine] coming out slow, why is my stream ain’t powerful? Why is it a little weak?’ ” Wade recalled. After removing a considerable portion of his left kidney, doctors concluded the tumor was cancerous, Wade said.

Wade said the health scare left him weakened.

Miami Heat great Dwyane Wade at Kaseya Center. (Jasen Vinlove/USA Today Sports)

“I think it was the first time my family, my dad, my kids, they saw me weak,” he said. “That moment was probably the weakest point I’ve ever felt in my life. … I was struggling, dog. Struggling.

“And one thing you never want to do as a man is you never want your family to see you as weak. You don’t want to be perceived weak, and you don’t want to be seen in your weak moments. But I had to.”

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Wade’s father, Dwyane Wade Sr., also had a battle with prostate cancer. The former Miami Heat star said experiencing the health scare helped him realize the importance of family.

“What I saw in the midst of me going through my illness, I saw my family that may not always talk, may not always agree. I saw everybody show up for me and be there for me and in that process, in my weakness, I found strength in my family.”

Wade did not reveal details about his current health.

Wade retired from the NBA after the 2018-19 season. He is the Heat’s all-time leader in points, assists and steals. He was named the NBA Finals MVP in 2006.

He bought an ownership stake in the Utah Jazz in 2021. Wade also joined the Chicago Sky ownership group in 2023 when he became one of the WNBA franchise’s minority investors.

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Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

January 31, 2025
NBA player investigated for allegedly manipulating his playing performance to aid illegal gambling scheme

Miami Heat player Terry Rozier is currently under investigation by federal prosecutors over suspicions of an illegal betting scheme, the NBA confirmed Thursday.

The investigators are working to determine whether Rozier manipulated his performance in two games in March 2023, allegedly in conspiracy with Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter.

It is part of the same probe that led to the lifetime ban of Porter in July.

Porter’s ban came after a similar investigation into his performance and “prop bets” – wagers where bettors can choose whether a player will reach a certain statistical standard or not during a game. Last April, the NBA banned Porter for life after a league probe found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors and wagered on games, even betting on his team to lose.

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Jontay Porter of the Toronto Raptors warms up before the game against the Trail Blazers at the Moda Center on March 9, 2024, in Portland, Oregon. (Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

The Porter investigation started once the league learned from “licensed sports betting operators and an organization that monitors legal betting markets” about unusual gambling patterns surrounding Porter’s performance in a game on March 20, 2024, against Sacramento.

The league determined that Porter gave a bettor information about his own health status prior to that game and said another individual – known to be an NBA bettor – placed an $80,000 bet that Porter would not hit the numbers set for him in parlays through an online sports book. That bet would have won $1.1 million.

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Charlotte Hornets guard Terry Rozier shoots during the Wizards game, Nov. 22, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Authorities believe some of the people who arranged for Porter to fix his performance in two games last season had inside information that prompted them to bet large sums of money against Rozier a year earlier.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the latest investigation, noting that Rozier – who played for the Hornets on the date in question, and now plays for the Miami Heat – has not been charged with a crime, nor has he been accused of wrongdoing.

The NBA said it looked into the matter at the time and did not find that any league rules were broken.

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Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker drives to the basket past Charlotte Hornets guard Terry Rozier during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

“In March 2023, the NBA was alerted to unusual betting activity related to Terry Rozier’s performance in a game between Charlotte and New Orleans,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass said in a statement, first released to The Wall Street Journal and subsequently released to The Associated Press and other outlets. “The league conducted an investigation and did not find a violation of NBA rules. We are now aware of an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York related to this matter and have been cooperating with that investigation.”

The game involving Rozier that is in question was played March 23, 2023, a matchup between the Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans. Rozier played the first 9 minutes, 36 seconds of that game – and not only did not return that night, citing a foot issue, but did not play again that season. Charlotte had eight games remaining and was not in playoff contention, so it did not seem particularly unusual that Rozier was shut down for the season’s final games.

In that March 23 game, Rozier finished with five points, four rebounds and two assists in that opening period – a productive quarter, but well below his usual total output for a full game.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Miami Heat and Rozier’s representatives for comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.

January 30, 2025
NBA Commish Adam Silver says he supports the idea of switching to ‘four, 10-minute quarters’

Just over half of the NBA season has passed, and Commissioner Adam Silver’s search for ways to improve the league appears in full swing.

This week, Silver floated a drastic rule change for the length of quarters during NBA games.

The NBA plays 12-minute quarters. If the NBA were to adopt a Silver proposal, those periods would be reduced by two minutes. Ten-minute quarters would take eight minutes off the game clock.

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NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks at a press conference before a game between Los Angeles Lakers and Indiana Pacers at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Dec. 9, 2023. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Silver noted that the reduction could create a more “consistent” presentation for basketball fans who watch games on TV.

“I am a fan of four, 10-minute quarters,” Silver told “The Dan Patrick Show” when asked about the more drastic ideas the NBA has considered.

“I’m not sure that many others are … putting aside what it means for records and things like that. I think that a two-hour format for a game is more consistent with modern television habits. People in arenas aren’t asking us to shorten the game, but … as a television program, Olympic basketball is two hours. College basketball is 40 minutes.”

At one point, Silver cited the length of games played in other leagues around the world.

“The NBA is the only (basketball) league that plays 48 minutes. … It’s such a dramatic change to the game. … Something like that would have to be talked more about over time.”

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During the Summer Olympics, basketball games last 40 minutes. College basketball games in the U.S. are divided into 20-minute halves.

“Because this game is so global, one of the things we’d like to see over time is creating a more consistent set of rules globally around the game,” Silver said.

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

Silver noted that shaving two minutes off quarters could reduce the wear and tear on players over a 82-game season, while potentially helping the league combat its “load management” issue.

“Incidentally, if you went to a 40-minute game — with the issues around load management and resting — it would be the equivalent of … taking like 15 games off the season,” Silver said.

Silver made it clear the ideas he mentioned during the exchange with Patrick had merely been discussed, but they are nowhere near being adopted.

“It’s not quite at that level,” he said.

The NBA logo on a backboard before a game between the Houston Rockets and the Miami Heat at Toyota Center in Houston April 5, 2024. (Troy Taormina/USA Today Sports)

Silver also praised Major League Baseball for adding a pitch clock. He argued the change helped “speed up the game,” while also keeping traditional aspects of the game in place.

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“I’m a baseball fan, and I think some of those changes have really increased sort of the engagement … the entertainment value of the game, and so I’m paying a lot of attention to that,” Silver said.

“And, in fact, I’ve used the pitch clock … in meetings at the NBA to say … we shouldn’t be afraid to look at changes.”

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Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

January 30, 2025
NBA players Rudy Gobert, Mouhamed Gueye nearly hit by falling debris during game

Minnesota Timberwolves star Rudy Gobert and Atlanta Hawks big man Mouhamed Gueye narrowly avoided serious injury on Monday night at the Target Center in Minneapolis.

The two men were walking off the court at the end of the first quarter when a piece of debris fell from the jumbotron high above the court. Gobert seemingly felt the piece drop past his head as he walked off the floor. His Timberwolves teammates seemed to be in awe.

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Minnesota Timberwolves mascot Crunch holds an umbrella over center Rudy Gobert during his interview after a game with the Atlanta Hawks at Target Center in Minneapolis, Jan. 27, 2025. (Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images)

The center talked about the incident after the game.

“It (happened) right in front of me. I don’t know if that’s good or bad,” he told reporters, via FOX 9.

Neither player was injured in the incident.

Minnesota was able to build upon the eight-point lead it had after the first quarter and win the game, 100-92. Gobert had 18 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks. Anthony Edwards led the team with 23 points, five rebounds and four assists.

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Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert responds during an interview after the Atlanta Hawks game, Jan. 27, 2025, in Minneapolis. (Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images)

Gueye had four points and four rebounds in 19 minutes of action. De’Andre Hunter had 35 points off the bench for the Hawks. Clint Capela added 10 points and 15 rebounds.

Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch wasn’t exactly happy with how his team won. Atlanta got back into the game after outscoring Minnesota 31-20 in the third quarter.

“That was a totally unacceptable second half of basketball. If we’re trying to be a team, we’re trying to go where we’re trying to go, that’s not good enough,” Finch said.

Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert dunks against the Atlanta Hawks, Jan. 27, 2025. (Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images)

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Minnesota improved to 25-20 with the win but are just 12-10 at home. Atlanta fell to 22-24 and 11-14 on the road.

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

January 29, 2025
‘Inside the NBA’ has spirited debate over Heat star Jimmy Butler’s drama, latest suspension

Jimmy Butler’s sixth season with the Miami Heat has been turbulent.

The team recently suspended the six-time All-Star for the second time in three weeks — a decision that further fueled the belief that Butler has already played his final game for the franchise.

Butler drew the latest suspension for what the team in a statement Wednesday called a “continued pattern of disregard of team rules, insubordinate conduct and conduct detrimental to the team,” including missing the Heat’s flight to Milwaukee earlier in the day. The Heat were scheduled to play the Bucks on Thursday, before traveling to New York for a matchup with the Brooklyn Nets on Jan. 25.

During Thursday’s edition of TNT’s long-running “Inside the NBA,” Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, and Kenny Smith discussed the drama surrounding Butler.

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Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) walks off the court after the game against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. (Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images)

O’Neal argued it is “human nature” for Butler to want to land with another team when his contract situation is taken into consideration.

“I just think in this situation, it’s more about human nature,” O’Neal noted. “I know exactly how Jimmy feels, I’ve been in this situation many times. All that I’ve done for you, and you don’t want to give me what I want, so human nature kicks in. . . . The part I hate about this business of basketball thing, it always has to be somebody’s fault.”

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Butler, 34, has one year remaining on his deal and has a $52 million player option for the 2025–26 season. He is eligible for a two-year, $113 million extension. However, it does not appear that the Heat extended such an offer to Butler, largely because he’s missed about 25 percent of the team’s games since he arrived in 2019.

Nevertheless, Johnson, Barkley and Smith all expressed view points that opposed O’Neal’s thoughts.

The TNT NBA Tip-Off presented by CarMax broadcasts live before the game on October 24, 2023, at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. (Jamie Schwaberow/NBAE via Getty Images)

“You can’t just not show up to work,” Barkley responded.

“You took the $50 [million] for this year and next year,” Smith added.

While Johnson typically acts as a referee when the trio of NBA players engage in spirited exchanges on the show, he challenged O’Neal after the four-time NBA player doubled down on his position.

“You don’t feel a responsibility when you are under contract this season to play this season?” Johnson asked.

Jimmy Butler, #22 of the Miami Heat, prepares to shoot a free throw against the Washington Wizards on February 2, 2024 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. (Kenny Giarla/NBAE via Getty Images)

Barkley also suggested that Butler owed it to the fans and his teammates to put his feelings about the contract situation aside and do his part to help the Heat win games.

“You can get mad at the Miami Heat organization, but the fans of Miami and those guys in that locker room have nothing to do with you wanting a contract extension.”

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Butler was banished for seven games earlier this month, costing him about $2.4 million in salary.

Money may not be the only factor contributing to Butler’s unhappiness. Butler has made it no secret that he’s not pleased with what he says is his new role within the Heat offense. He didn’t participate in his usual way during the introduction of the Heat starters in a recent game, and he has sat by himself at times during timeouts while not engaging in the huddle.

Butler told the Heat in recent weeks that he wants a trade, according to multiple reports. The demand has not been made publicly, because NBA rules do not allow players to do so. The NBA’s trade deadline is Feb. 6.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

January 25, 2025
NBA postpones Bucks-Pelicans game due to historic snowstorm in New Orleans

The NBA has postponed the New Orleans Pelicans and Milwaukee Bucks game on Wednesday due to the historic snowstorm that has impacted the area.

With the storm dropping about a foot of snow, it made travel difficult as the typically warm city was not prepared to deal with the elements.

The Bucks flew into town on Monday to beat the snowstorm, a day earlier than they usually would have flown in for a matchup against the Pelicans.

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Snow falls on Super Bowl LIX signage outside of Caesars Superdome on Jan. 21, 2025 in New Orleans. (Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)

But with temperatures remaining in the 30s on Wednesday, many main highways in the metro areas were closed by authorities and surface roads throughout town were still coated in ice.

Schools and businesses throughout the area remained closed on Wednesday, along with Louis Armstrong International Airport canceling all commercial departures due to the weather. With those factors taken into consideration, the NBA postponed the game, with no date currently set for the game to be made up.

Schools and businesses throughout the area remained closed on Wednesday.

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New Orleans Pelicans head coach Willie Green during the Utah Jazz game at Smoothie King Center. (Stephen Lew-Imagn Images)

The Bucks’ next game is against the Miami Heat back in Milwaukee on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Following that game against the Heat, the Bucks go on a West Coast road trip, beginning on Saturday, and don’t have another home game until Feb. 2.

The Bucks are scheduled to next play the Pelicans toward the end of the regular season at home on April 9.

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Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo drives to the basket against Philadelphia 76ers center Adem Bona in the first half at Fiserv Forum. (Michael McLoone-Imagn Images)

The Pelicans, on the other hand, are scheduled to play on both Friday and Saturday, making it difficult for the NBA to schedule the postponed game soon.

The Pelicans have struggled this season as they are 12-32, the second-worst team in the Western Conference.

The Bucks have enjoyed much more success than the Pelicans, and are 24-17, good for fourth place in the Eastern Conference.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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

January 23, 2025