Warner Bros. Discovery is suing the NBA after being excluded from the brand new broadcast rights package deal, however Kenny Smith isn’t anxious about how which may have an effect on what’s going to doubtless be the ultimate yr of “Contained in the NBA,” writes Greg Rajan of The Houston Chronicle. Smith, who has been with the community since his enjoying profession resulted in 1998, insists that nothing will change contained in the studio.
“No, as a result of we do our jobs,” he stated. “Our job is to speak (about) the sport and provides perception and in addition provide you with perception about what’s happening behind the scenes with TNT. Like, ‘Hey, we’re not joyful.’ That’s a part of what makes us totally different. I don’t suppose every other community would permit or need their expertise to speak about issues like that. We’re going to do it, it doesn’t matter what occurs. However once more, we’ve had an awesome run. If it continues, it’ll be nice. But additionally, there are large alternatives for the 4 of us — once more, to create possession alternatives to ensure our administrators, producers, make-up, stats and audio persons are nonetheless a part of one of many best exhibits in sports activities TV historical past.”
Smith views the attainable finish of the community’s affiliation with the NBA as a chance for the present to succeed in out into different areas. He compares it to what Adam Sandler or Peyton and Eli Manning are doing with their corporations, offering an opportunity to create a brand new model in sports activities tv.
There’s extra from across the basketball world:
- Extra particulars on the 2024/25 NBA schedule proceed to leak out forward of the official announcement at 3pm ET Thursday. The Nuggets will host the Thunder October 24 within the season opener for each groups, in accordance with Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter hyperlink). It will likely be a matchup of the highest two seeds within the West final season. After dealing with the Clippers October 23 within the first recreation on the new Inuit Dome, the Suns will keep in Los Angeles to tackle the Lakers October 25 earlier than internet hosting the Mavericks of their house opener an evening later, tweets Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. The Kings could have two six-game street journeys through the season, sources inform James Ham of Kings Beat (Twitter hyperlink). One in January could have them face the Nuggets, Knicks, Nets, Sixers, Thunder and Timberwolves, and one other from March 29 to April 7 will function video games in opposition to the Magic, Pacers, Wizards, Hornets, Cavaliers and Pistons.
- Former NBA gamers Charlie Brown Jr. and Deonte Burton will characterize the G League in a pair of September exhibition video games, the league introduced (Twitter hyperlinks).
- Duke and Rutgers would be the high locations for NBA scouts when the faculty basketball season begins, observes Adam Zagoria of NJ.com. The Blue Devils have the projected No. 1 choose, Cooper Flagg, together with Khaman Maluach, a possible lottery choice who performed for South Sudan within the Olympics. The Scarlet Knights’ Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper are additionally in competition for the highest spot.
