Damian Lillard's present favourite gamers: 'Anthony Edwards, Ja Morant, Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo'

Damian Lillard: If [Lamarcus Aldridge] would have by no means went to San Antonio, we’d have received at the least as soon as already. I’d have got here into my very own however he was that good -via YouTube / August 20, 2024

Damian Lillard on making the NBA Prime 75: ‘This ain’t like no All-Star voting, it ain’t a recognition contest, it ain’t none of that. It’s like what have you ever completed. That’s why it meant a lot for me cuz it was like, I may consider larger names and in the event that they needed to say 75 gamers that they could simply off the highest of the pinnacle put them in entrance of me yeah, however while you take a look at the physique of labor, it’s quite a lot of gamers within the league that prefer it’s most likely like James, KD, Russ, Steph, Bron, Demar, however after Chris Paul, it ain’t no person that acquired extra profession factors than me and so they all been within the league for 3 or extra years longer than me and I ain’t far behind. With me being within the playoffs on a vet crew and on a rebuilding crew, we began rebuilding we was proper again in there like proper again within the playoffs, eight straight years, so it’s like that was the primary time I used to be like like they made the correct choice. Like folks ain’t going to see it proper now however once they look again at like what truly befell they going to be like ‘he needs to be in there’. -via YouTube / August 20, 2024

Damian Lillard on Michael Jordan at NBA Prime 75 occasion: ‘All people was there however when Jordan walked up that’s after I was like ‘this man is like not even an actual particular person. There was most likely 80 cameras surrounding like the opposite 74 gamers. When he walked up it was most likely his personal set of 60 cameras and he walked up and it was like, you can see straight away he ain’t like, we a part of the highest 75 however he’s the one. Like he part of his personal group. That was when it was the obvious to me. Seeing him stroll up once they referred to as his identify out it was like… we may all go away now. Let him go up there by himself, that’s how loud it was. That sh*t wasn’t actual. -via YouTube / August 20, 2024

After averaging a career-best 32.2 factors per recreation in 2022/23, his scoring output dropped to 24.3 PPG in his first season with the Bucks. That was to be anticipated, contemplating he was teaming up with one other celebrity in Giannis Antetokounmpo however his capturing share was simply 42.4%, together with 35.4% on 3-point tries, nicely under his profession averages. “I feel when the commerce occurred everyone was like, ‘Effectively, Milwaukee’s gonna win it,’ and I feel when it didn’t all the time look the best way they needed it to look or thought it was gonna look, and I wasn’t wanting how I seemed in Portland, it was like, oh, what’s occurring with Dame? Why is Dame not doing this?” he stated. “However when for a better a part of the season I used to be nonetheless averaging about 26 factors. Like, in the event you actually take into consideration that – what normal do y’all maintain me to if I’m scoring 26 factors and averaging seven assists and I’m not feeling nice? I’m going via quite a lot of stuff. That’s simply the reality.” -via Hoops Rumors / August 17, 2024

StatMuse: Final gamers with 40+ PTS, 14+ REB and 65+ FG% in a recreation: Giannis Antetokounmpo Joel Embiid Anthony Davis And Kenny Lofton Jr pic.x.com/c1wuo4zdlu -via Twitter @statmuse / August 16, 2024

FIBA: All-Second Staff of #Paris2024 Males’s #Basketball 🔸 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Canada 🇨🇦 🔸 Bogdan Bogdanovic, Serbia 🇷🇸 🔸 Franz Wagner, Germany 🇩🇪 🔸 Guerschon Yabusele, France 🇫🇷 🔸 Giannis Antetokounmpo, Greece 🇬🇷 -via x.com / August 10, 2024

A spectacular occasion is ready to happen in Ljubljana, Slovenia, the place an enormous record of stars are set to play on the identical courtroom. The Goran Dragic Basis is organizing a farewell occasion for Goran Dragic referred to as The Evening of the Dragon, the place his mates and former teammates will compete on the identical basketball courtroom. An exhaustive record of stars who will present up on the occasion has been revealed by the occasion organizers, together with Steve Nash, Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Dirk Nowitzki, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Luis Scola, Dejan Bodiroga, Predrag Danilovic, Nikola Vucevic, Rasho Nesterovic, and others. Corridor of Famer Chris Bosh may also attend the occasion, however he won’t step onto the courtroom. -via BasketNews / August 18, 2024

Sam Cassell believes that Nikola Jokić wouldn’t be capable of cease Hakeem Olajuwon. “On the opposite finish of the ground, Jokić wouldn’t stand an opportunity. Joel Embiid offers him issues, and he wouldn’t have any hope towards Hakeem. I consider Hakeem would have a solution for no matter Jokić tried defensively,” Cassell added. -via EuroHoops.internet / August 17, 2024

“Hakeem is a beast in each sense on the ground. He’s within the Prime 10 in each NBA class—steals, rebounds, factors,” Cassell stated. He acknowledged that Jokic may rating extra factors however believed Olajuwon’s relentless stress could be decisive. “I feel Jokic would rating extra factors, however Hakeem would win as a result of he would continuously stress him. Jokic wouldn’t be capable of do harm within the put up; it merely wouldn’t occur.” -via BasketNews / August 17, 2024

When the comparability with Luka Doncic was dropped at the desk, he shared the identical opinion. “I agree. Luka [Doncic] is a killer too”, the two-time NBA Champion with the Houston Rockets commented in regards to the Slovenian phenomenon. -via EuroHoops.internet / August 19, 2024

Vernon Maxwell: ‘Oh boy, Petrovic. That motherf*cker was one thing else, man. God bless you. I used t inform Rudy Tomjanovich ‘deal with this motherf*cker such as you deal with Michael Jordan.’ When he come out the sport carry my ass out the sport, when he come to the goddamn desk let me meet him on the desk. I don’t need no person else guard this motherf*cker… He was a killer. Q. They sort of examine him with Luka Doncic. Maxwell: I agree, Luka is a killer too. -via YouTube / August 19, 2024

Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller welcomed The Athletic insider Shams Charania, with some astonishing revelations. Whereas Jazz insider Tony negated any commerce prospects for Markkanen, Mike contradicted the identical, when he stated, “I don’t suppose Golden State could be completed. I feel in the event you’re actually severe about successful, they must make an enormous transfer.” As Miller expressed his stream of ideas, Shams barged in between so as to add, “They’re making an attempt to get Lauri Markkanen,” balancing the likelihood. Nonetheless, Ja Morant’s agent quietly whispered to Shams only a second later, “I feel they’re going.” It was a shocker to The Athletic insider, as nicely, since he requested Mike Miller once more to make sure, “You suppose they’re going?” to which Mike nodded in affirmation. Because the chat proceeded, Charania requested him for security if that was a bit of inside information. Nonetheless, Mike instantly turned issues round, additional saying, “He can’t cease working,” addressing Shams Charania’s refined statement on The OGs. -via Basically Sports activities / August 1, 2024

Shams Charania: Mike Miller, Ja Morant’s agent: “Ja Morant is coming for all of the work this 12 months. All of it. How quickly they overlook. That’s all I’ll say: He’s about to return for it.” -via Twitter @ShamsCharania / July 31, 2024

Logan Whaley: Ja Morant was requested by @TheAdamBWells about his well being. “If I needed to choose a quantity I’d say most likely 75%, and I really feel like that’s nonetheless scary for whoever’s in entrance of me” Morant is in Murray internet hosting a camp forward of his HOF Induction. Extra to return tonight at 6 & 10 on @WPSDLocal6 -via x.com / July 26, 2024

What did Staff USA do to have a good time getting gold? Anthony Edwards: We simply popped the Champagne, you already know, discovered how you can do the Champagne. Obtained collectively as a crew, advised one another we’d miss one another and we had enjoyable.  What are different favourite recollections from the Olympics? Anthony Edwards: I dunked on Kevin Durant. The second day, I dunked on him in follow. -via Wall Road Journal / August 20, 2024

How do you suppose your technology of basketball is totally different from older generations? Anthony Edwards: I didn’t watch it again within the day so I can’t communicate on it. They are saying it was more durable again then than it’s now, however I don’t suppose anyone had ability again then. [Michael Jordan] was the one one that basically had ability, you already know what I imply? In order that’s why once they noticed Kobe [Bryant], they have been like, “Oh, my God.” However now everyone has ability.  -via Wall Road Journal / August 20, 2024

Coming off the excessive of successful a gold medal on the Paris Olympics, a trio of Staff USA stars had their celebration interrupted. Throughout an look alongside star ahead Kevin Durant for Boardroom Talks at Fanatics Fest this weekend, Anthony Edwards revealed that the 2 of them have been drug examined after the Olympic last towards France together with Stephen Curry. “We couldn’t even actually have a good time for actual as a result of me, him and Steph needed to take like a drug check or one thing,” Edwards stated -via Bleacher Report / August 20, 2024