The 2021–22 NBA season is just around the corner with almost every team holding its Media Day activities on Monday. A lot has happened since the Bucks defeated the Suns in the NBA Finals. Russell Westbrook is now a Laker (as are a number of other veterans, including Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard and DeAndre Jordan). Kyle Lowry left the Raptors for the Heat. His former Toronto teammate, DeMar DeRozan, is now a member of the revamped Bulls. And uncertainty is very much still swirling about Ben Simmons’s future with the 76ers.
The NBA’s first preseason game is Sunday, Oct. 3 at 3:30 p.m. ET as Kevin Durant and the Nets travel to the Staples Center to face LeBron James and the Lakers. The regular season then opens Oct. 19 with those very same Nets traveling to the defending-champion Bucks.
But before any of that can get underway, players and coaches will face the media. We’re keeping track of the highlights:
Kyrie Irving Declines to Comment on Vaccination Status, Preferring to ‘Keep That Stuff Private’
Nets guard Kyrie Irving declined to comment on his vaccination status on Monday during Nets Media Day saying that he “prefers to keep that stuff private.”
Irving did not attend Nets media day in person Monday due to New York City health and safety protocols, according to Sports Illustrated‘s Chris Mannix. However, according to ESPN’s Zach Lowe and Brian Windhorst, Irving will accompany the team to training camp in San Diego.
Instead, he addressed reporters virtually on Monday.
“Living in this public sphere, there’s a lot of questions about what’s going on in the world of Kyrie, and I would love to just keep that private and handle that the right way with my team and go forward with a plan,” Irving said, via Zoom.
He added, “I’m not able to be present there today but it doesn’t mean I’m putting any limits on the future.”
When asked, though, about what not “putting any limits on the future” meant for his upcoming availability, Irving again declined to elaborate, citing his desire to keep his vaccination status private.
Irving’s vaccination status has not been officially confirmed, though Fox Sports’ Yaron Weitzman reported last week that Irving is unvaccinated. A story from Rolling Stone over the weekend noted Irving’s distrust of the coronavirus vaccine, reporting that Irving started to like Instagram posts and follow an account that claims “secret societies” are implanting vaccines in a plot to connect Black people to a master computer for “a plan of Satan.”
Irving’s status for home games has also come into question as the jurisdiction New York City, along with San Francisco, is requiring proof of vaccination to enter large indoor events, including basketball games, unless a player obtains an exemption of some kind.
“There are so many other players outside of him who are opting out; I would like to think they would make a way,” Irving’s aunt Tyki Irving, who runs his family foundation and is one of his advisers, told Rolling Stone. “It could be like every third game. So it still gives you a full season of being interactive and being on the court, but with the limitations that they’re, of course, oppressing upon you. There can be some sort of formula where the NBA and the players can come to some sort of agreement.”
Kevin Durant declined to comment on Irving’s vaccination status when asked about it Monday.
KD Not Concerned About Kyrie’s Availability This Season:
David Letterman Makes His Presence Felt at Nets Media Day
A certain “Dave from Basketball Digest” peppered Kevin Durant with a series of hard-hitting questions, including asking why people call the Nets star “KD,” and what percentage he plans on giving this season.
Devin Booker to Miss Media Day After After Entering Health and Safety Protocols
The Suns announced Sunday that two-time All-Star Devin Booker will miss Monday’s Media Day and won’t be available for the start of training camp on Tuesday after entering the league’s health and safety protocols.
It is not known whether Booker is vaccinated, but he confirmed on his Twitch channel that he has tested positive for COVID-19. He said that he feels well but has no sense of taste or smell.
Ben Simmons’s Status Hovering Over 76ers
The Athletic reported over the weekend that while Philadelphia players wanted to travel to Los Angeles to meet with Simmons, in hopes of getting the All-Star to remain with the team, Simmons told them not to come and that he would not change his mind about wanting to be traded.
That report came after 76ers coach Doc Rivers spoke publicly about the Simmons trade rumors last week and confirmed that the three-time All-Star requested a trade during an August meeting. However, Rivers told ESPN’s First Take that he wants the guard back in Philadelphia.
“We’re going to go through it,” Rivers said last week. “We’re going to always do what’s best for the team, but I can tell you up front we would love to get Ben back. And if we can, we’re going to try to do that.”
Certainly much will get asked—and perhaps answered—about Simmons on Monday.
Morey ‘Disappointed’ Simmons Not at Media Day
Daryl Morey confirmed Monday at 76ers Media Day that Ben Simmons asked for a trade from the franchise, saying, in part, “We are disappointed he’s not here.” Morey added that he is excited about the players on the roster and said that whatever the team does or doesn’t do about Simmons will be in what he believes is the best interest of the franchise.
He also appeared not to rule out Simmons’s return to the team.
Embiid Says ‘Of Course We Want’ Simmons Back
76ers center Joel Embiid echoed a similar sentiment to coach Doc Rivers and president Daryl Morey on Monday saying that he still hopes Simmons returns to Philadelphia.
“Of course we want him back, he’s a big piece of what we’ve been building the past few years,” Embiid said.
The team’s star center also confirmed that he was among the members of the organization who tried to see Simmons in California, but was rebuffed by the All-Star guard.
A Number of Teams Are at 100% Vaccination
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich addressed his team’s vaccination status, saying that the entire team has been vaccinated.
Rockets general manager Rafael Stone also said Monday that his team is 100% vaccinated as did Jazz general manager Justin Zanik when speaking about his team.
Knicks general manager Scott Perry recently said the entire New York roster is vaccinated. Yahoo Sports’ Vincent Goodwill reported on Friday that the Pistons are also fully vaccinated.
Kemba Excited to Get Going at ‘Home’
Kemba Walker seems to be enjoying being a member of the Knicks. “I’m from here. Born and raised. And it feels like it. Getting a lot of love from the fans everywhere I go. Really just embracing me.”
Kyle Lowry Rocking His New Heat Uniform, and Already Poking Fun at His Teammates
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Zion Not Expected to Miss Time After Offseason Foot Surgery
Pelicans star Zion Williamson had surgery this offseason to repair a fractured right foot, executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffen said at Media Day.
Per Griffen, the injury occurred before NBA Summer League while Williamson was working out.
Griffen noted, however, that Williamson should be ready for the start of the regular season and that his recovery has been in “lockstep” with the team.
“I think I was overdoing it when I was training because I felt like I had this whole chip on my shoulder, this huge boulder that I was just getting after it, overly, every day,” Williamson said.
Despite entering just his third season, Williamson has dealt with multiple injuries throughout his career, including having surgery on his meniscus in the fall of 2019 and having a fracture in a finger on his shooting hand last May.
Meanwhile, Williamson also re-iterated his passion for the city of New Orlenas.
Horford Returns to Boston With ‘Bigger Appreciation’
After spending the past two seasons on the 76ers and Thunder, respectively, Celtics big Al Horford is grateful to be back in Boston.
“For me, it’s a bigger appreciation of being here,” Horford said. “I’m so happy to be back in Boston. I appreciate even more what it means to be a Celtics and to represent Boston. And looking at the group we have here, I’m even more excited.”
Horford spent three seasons in Boston before leaving via free agency ahead of the 2019-20 year.
Celtics Coach Ime Udoka Conducting Media Day Virtually After Positive COVID-19 Test
Celtics first-year coach Ime Udoka is conducting Media Day virtually after testing positive for COVID-19.
The team said Udoka, who is vaccinated, tested positive for coronavirus 10 days ago and is currently in isolation. He has been asymptomatic at least four days, per the team, and is expected to return to in-person workouts on Tuesday.
Udoka took over for Brad Stevens— who replaced Danny Ainge in Boston’s front office—as head coach in June. He previously was an assistant coach with the Nets, 76ers and Spurs.
LaMelo Ball Says Wearing ‘No. 2 Don’t Feel Right’
LaMelo Ball has not had any success in getting the NBA to change his number. The Hornets guard and reigning Rookie of the Year missed the deadline last year to submit a number change request to the league that would allow him to switch from the No. 2 that he currently wears to the No. 1 that he prefers. (Malik Monk wore No. 1 last year for the Hornets.)
“Man, I feel No. 1 is just me,” Ball said at the Hornets media day. “And I just want to be me out there. Playing in No. 2 just doesn’t feel right. Last year was cool because [Lonzo], I said I would be No. 2 for him. …But [No. 2] don’t feel right.”
Klay Thompson to Have ‘Patient Ramp Up,’ GM Says
Warriors wing Klay Thompson will have a “patient ramp up” back to action as he recovers from an Achilles injury, general manager Bob Myers said Monday.
Myers said that Thompson can do a lot in training camp, but not contact and five-on-five. Myers mentioned Thompson being involved in high intensinity G League practices and other scrimmaging and alluded to January as a possible return date for Thompson.
Thompson tore his Achilles in November and missed his second consecutive season. He had missed all of the 2020 season after suffering a left ACL tear during the 2019 NBA finals against the Toronto Raptors.
Clippers Not Rushing Kawhi Leonard Back to Action
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue didn’t want to put an exact timeline on when the team’s star forward Kawhi Leonard could return to action.
“We don’t want to force him or put any pressure on him. We want to make sure he’s rehabbing and doing everything he can to get back as soon as possible,” Lue said. “If that’s next season, it’s next season.”
In July, Leonard underwent surgery to repair a partial tear in his right anterior cruciate ligament. While he opted out of his past contract with Los Angeles, Leonard signed a new four-year deal that includes a player-option this offseason.
Wizards Star Bradley Beal Currently Unvaccinated For ‘Personal Reasons’
Wizards guard Bradley Beal told reporters Monday that he is unvaccinated for COVID-19, citing “personal reasons.” Beal did not elaborate further on his status.
Beal was supposed to play in the Tokyo Olympics for Team USA but did not make the trip after being put in USA Basketball’s health and safety protocols. At the time, it had not been publicly confirmed whether he had tested positive for COVID-19. But Beal said Monday he tested positive for COVID-19 prior to the Olympics.
Beal averaged 31.3 points per game this season with the Wizards and was set to make his Olympic debut this summer.
Now, back with the Wizards, he is losing to lead the franchise to the postseason for the second consecutive season.
Jason Kidd Compares Luka to a ‘Young Picasso’
New Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd had some high praise for his star guard Luka Dončić on Monday, calling him “a young Picasso.”
“I don’t know if anybody ever told Picasso that he had to use all the paints, but I just want to remind him that he can rely on his teammates, that his teammates will be there to help him,” Kidd said.
Dončić and the Mavericks agreed to a five-year, $207 million supermax rookie extension this offseason. He was the first player to ever be eligible for a supermax rookie extension because he’s already been selected first-team All-NBA twice.
Last season, he averaged 27.7 points, eight rebounds and 7.7 assists and 34.3 minutes per game.
Jalen Green Ready For Rookie of the Year Battle
Jalen Green, the No. 2 pick in last summer’s NBA draft, is ready for the season, and prepared to be in the Rookie of the Year conversation.
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