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Golden State Warriors guard Chris Paul isn’t retiring, but his future is uncertain

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Golden State Warriors guard Chris Paul ended his nineteenth NBA season in disappointing fashion, two weeks before his thirty ninth birthday. While the NBA’s third-oldest player is currently a reserve and sure past his All-Star prime, he is not expected to retire.

“It’s not even up for discussion,” Paul said of his future after the Warriors’ 118-94 season-ending loss to the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night within the play-in tournament. “I just want to get back into the game.”

Where he’ll play next season is in query as a result of his uncertain contract status with the Warriors.

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Golden State has committed to paying $174 million next season. The Warriors’ biggest free agent is guard Klay Thompson. Dario Šarić, striker, is a free agent. Gary Payton II has the alternative to just accept a $9.1 million salary for the 2024-25 season or decline the choice and turn out to be a free agent. All-Star guard Stephen Curry, forward Jonathan Kuminga and defenseman Moses Moody are eligible for contract extensions.

In 58 games, mainly as an alternative, Paul averaged 9.2 points, a team-high 6.8 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 26.4 minutes. Paul led all NBA reserves in assists and was twelfth within the league overall. The Warriors have until June 28 to make your mind up whether to exercise their $30 million team option for next season or opt out of it.

While Golden State could attempt to re-sign the 12-time All-Star as a free agent, there is a risk he signs elsewhere in what could be his first stint in free agency. By using Paul’s contract, they might keep him and likewise attempt to trade him. Ultimately, Paul’s fate will probably be decided by Warriors owner and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr.

“I loved being there this year,” Paul said. “Of course, when the dust settles, we are going to talk. I would like to see what Mike and the others think.

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Golden State Warriors guard Chris Paul is introduced before their game against the Portland Trail Blazers on the Moda Center on April 11 in Portland, Oregon.

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Paul told Andscape that he really enjoyed fidgeting with longtime Warriors stars Curry, Thompson and forward Draymond Green. Paul also seemed comfortable as he recently cruised the waters of San Francisco Bay in Thompson’s boat. San Francisco is also near Los Angeles, where Paul’s wife and two children live.

The Warriors, who’ve won 4 NBA titles since 2015, missed the playoffs for the third time within the last five seasons. It was “weird” for Paul because he missed the postseason for the primary time since 2010. He has appeared in 15 postseason games in his profession and played within the 2021 NBA Finals.

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“It feels amazing,” Paul said. “During the 2009-10 season, I tore my meniscus in New Orleans. That was the last time I missed the playoffs. This is weird now. I’m going to be a dad sooner than usual. This is difficult. That’s life on this league. You return to work and wonder what next (season) will seem like…

“But playing with Steph, Draymond and Klay is something I will never forget. I’m glad I got this opportunity.”

If the Warriors’ goal is to avoid wasting on salary, keeping Paul on the team at a $30 million salary could possibly be counterproductive. But in terms of his value to the Warriors, coach Steve Kerr and a number of other players – Curry, Green, Kuminga and rookie Brandin Pod Ziemia – raved about Paul.

Kerr was impressed by Paul’s leadership, mentoring of young players and professionalism as he got here on the bench for the primary time in his profession. Kerr, who has coached the Warriors for 10 seasons and played within the NBA for 15, added that Paul was certainly one of the “greatest professionals” he has ever encountered.

“It’s a difficult situation for him and he handled it brilliantly,” Kerr said. “He was all the time the purpose guard on his team. But you have a look at our team, we’re pretty small, and though he’s certainly one of our greatest players – if we wish to throw our greatest players on the market, and he’s certainly one of them – you begin adding Chris, Steph and Klay. It’s not an excellent lineup for (Paul), but he was unbelievable for us because he became our backup point guard. As I actually have said again and again, our minutes without starts were one of the best ever because of Chris’ leadership…

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“But the way he handled it this year was extremely professional. (Paul is) a great mentor to the younger guys, one of the greatest professionals I’ve ever been around… just because of his approach, attitude and dedication. I love coaching Chris and I really hope we get him back next year. It’s a long off-season. We’ll have to see how it all works out.”

Curry said he ultimately enjoyed fidgeting with Paul and hopes his “friend” returns to San Francisco. The two-time MVP and Paul, each natives of North Carolina, went from Western Conference rivals this season, when Paul played for the LA Clippers and Houston Rockets, to teammates.

“He’s a professional who just approaches everything the right way,” Curry told Andscape. “It’s a rim head that is all the time fun to play with. You can all the time talk basketball and figure it out. I appreciated playing against him in one of the best period of his profession. I all the time loved being in the identical locker room (as him) because that is how I used to be built.

“As a friend, he was my guy from day one. We had a little situation with the enemy. I just understand how he approaches everything. He was fun to play with all year round.”

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Golden State Warriors guard Chris Paul (left) and forward Draymond Green (right) after the top of their game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on March 1 in Toronto.

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The only Warriors player who might be as fiery as Green is Paul. Green received his share of technical fouls and was suspended by the NBA for 12 games this season after punching Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic within the face on December 12, 2023. However, within the latter a part of the season, it was not unusual to see Paul play the large brother role with Green and helped him calm down.

“Chris was great,” Green said. “I’m grateful, honored and completely satisfied as hell that I had the chance to play with him this yr, that all of us had the chance to be teammates with Chris. This is something I’ve said 1,000,000 times in 1,000,000 years that I never could have even imagined. Apart from the victory (championship), it couldn’t have been higher.

“I learned a lot from him. I’ve built a relationship that can transcend whether he’s here next yr or not, whether I’m here next yr or not. I have never met many players like that on this league. It’s just an honor to play with him. As a teammate, I hope we will proceed to do what we do in these uniforms. I hope and pray he comes back and I do since it’s an honor to have him as a teammate. The way he competes makes you like fighting a man like that.

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While the Warriors’ roster is mostly made up of veterans, there have been several young players who made an impact within the 46-36 season, including Kuminga and rookies Pod Ziemia and Trayce Jackson-Davis. Paul has a repute as a mentor to young players, and Kuminga and Pod Ziemia were grateful for what they learned from him.

“I learned the pace of the game,” Kuminga told Andscape. “CP is one of the guys who is very well prepared to play. He brings a lot of knowledge and just life to the court.”

Pod Ziemia told Andscape: “CP is great. It breaks every part all the way down to such a basic level that anyone can understand it. I feel like my IQ was quite high for a novice. So the conversations we have had about basketball, things that might help me within the future – little things like 2-on-1 and 3-on-2, tendencies – all those sorts of things that he’s instilled in me this yr will probably be there to assist me go ahead.”

Paul, a future Hall of Famer, played for the New Orleans Hornets, Clippers, Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Suns and Warriors. Time will soon tell whether Paul will placed on a Warriors jersey again or move elsewhere in hopes of winning his first NBA title.

While he waits for the Warriors’ verdict, Paul said he’ll enjoy some unexpected time with his family in Los Angeles while keeping an open mind about returning to the Golden State.

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“I liked everything about being here,” Paul said. – But I suppose I would like to see what it looks like.

Marc J. Spears is Andscape’s senior NBA author. He used to have the opportunity to dunk on you, but he hasn’t been capable of do it for years and his knees still hurt.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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Coach San Antonio Spurs Gregg Popovich leaves the legacy of expressing injustice

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Gregg Popovich, the most important coach of San Antonio Spurs Gregg Popovich, won the highest and maybe the largest coach in NBA history outside the side line. It also disappeared, but actually not forgotten, Popovich used his platform to talk against racial, social and political injustice.

“He was probably one of the first trainers of the modern generation, who really spoke about politics and social injustice,” said coach Golden State Warriors Steve Kerr, a former guard of Spurs near Popuvich. “One of my favorite trainers is (former basketball coach of men from the University of North Karolina) Dean Smith. Dean Smith in the 1960s. He helped break the racial barriers in the south, refusing to take his team in some places for staying or eating. Coaches who really distinguish me. “

Spurs announced the retirement of Popovich from coaching on May 2 after 33 years as the most important trainer. Naismith Hall of Famer is the NBA leader in the field of coaching victories with 1422 wins in the regular season. The three -time NBA coach led Spurs to 5 championships. The 76-year-old also took third place in winning the playoffs.

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Popovich trained the Spurs dynasty, which included the NBA championships in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014, Hall of Famers David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Future Hall of Famer Kawhi Leonard. With the NBA All-Star Center Victor Wembanyama, in its composition, Popovich trained only five matches this season, after which he suffered a stroke in a team facility on November 2, 2024. He never returned out of bord.

Popovich will remain in Spurs as the president of basketball operations and was replaced by Mitch Johnson, who was a short lived team of the team this season.

“It’s a sad day. It’s also an encouraging day,” said Kerr on May 2. “This is a natural transition for him organizationally to go to the next role. He also gives him space and time that he must regain after health problems.

“So I got a lot of mixed emotions … mainly my love for pop. My empathy for what has gone through with the Spurs organization. All of the above. This is a very emotional day for everyone involved. Thank you, pop.”

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Coach Houston Rockets, Ime Udoka, former guard of Spurs and assistant coach near Popowicz, said on May 2: “This is a sweet -bitter day, of course, for all of us. But I am glad that he is in the good place. And I am glad that he is good with his family. A special day. A special person. One of the best for it. I am happy that I have a chance to work with him and call him.”

Coach Golden State Warriors Steve Kerr (on the left) and coach San Antonio Spurs Gregg Popovich (on the right) meet after the match at the Chase Center on November 1, 2019.

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Popovich also had an impact on the world, undeniably using his platform to speak about injustice. What made his openness much more unique was that he was a white man who spoke about marginalized individuals who didn’t seem like him.

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Former San Antonio Spurs Forward Lamarcus Aldridge once described Popovich as “color blindness” to Andcape. Popovich was also known that he normally had an inventory with international talent.

“When you meet him, color doesn’t matter to him,” Aldridge said about Popovich. “It can refer. People can say that he and Stephen Jackson are really close. Stephen Jackson is the opposite of being from Europe. It doesn’t matter who you are. He connects with all people … He is so open to everything.”

Popovich once expressed respect for the playmaker San Francisco 49ers Colin Kapernicka and his national protest. These were the words of a person who attended the American Air Force Academy and obtained a bachelor’s degree in the field of Soviet studies. He served five years of the required lively service in the Air Force and once considered a profession in the CIA.

“A quite good group of people immediately thought that they did not respect the army,” said Popovich once. “It had nothing to do with his protest. In fact, he was able to do what he did because of what the army was doing for us. Most people think about it, but there will always be an element that wants to jump on fashion and this is unfortunate in our country.”

Popovich once took Spurs to the private screening of the film “Chi-raq” with the famous film director Spike Lee. Popovich had a former John Carlos track star, who joined Tommie Smith to get a controversial salut of black power on the podium medal during the Olympic Games in Mexico in 1968, confer with his team. Popovich gave his players the book “Between the world and me” by Tahisi Coates, who was written as a letter to the writer’s teenage son about reality, emotions and symbolism of being an African American in the United States. Popovich also took his team for the show “The Birth of the Nation”, the film Parker invested about Nat Turner, who managed the historic riot of slaves in 1831 and see the famous art of “Hamilton” in New York.

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“It is obvious that the domestic plane of slavery still penetrates our social system in this country,” said Popovich once. “People want to ignore it, they don’t want to talk about it because it is uncomfortable.”

Popovich also described the race in America as “elephant in peace.” He believed that the White Americans didn’t understand the pain and stress related to being an African American. Popovich remembered listening to the black assistants of trainers about how that they had to confer with children about the best way to cope with the police in the event that they were confronted. He said it was something that as a white man never had in common together with his two children.

“It’s easier for white people because we haven’t experienced this experience. For many white people it is difficult to understand the everyday feeling with which many black people are dealing with,” Popovich once said. “I did not talk to my children about how to behave in front of a policeman when you stop. I did not have to do it. All my black friends did it. There is something that is wrong in it and we all know it.”

From left to right: coach San Antonio Spurs, Gregg Popovich and former players of Spurs David Robinson and Tim Duncan during Tony Parker’s pension ceremony on November 11, 2019.

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Popovich also also talked about what he thinks were injustices in the American government, particularly against President Donald Trump. During October 27, 2024, a press conferencePopovich described Trump as “pathetic” and accused him of supporting the culture of racism and division in America. Popovich also added that he believes that Trump has confirmed racism, which normalized and legitimized discrimination on this process.

Popovich recurrently talked about the control of weapons. In 2023, Popovich gave an unnecessary, nine -minute lobbying lobbying for the laws of weapon control in America and criticizing “cowardly legislators who are selfish” before the match in Dallas. Popovich criticized republican legislators in Texas and Tennessee, and in addition expressed contempt for the expedition of representatives in 2023 Justin Jones and Justin Pearson from the Chamber of Representatives in Tennessee. Two black democrats were demonstrating weapons control on the floor of the chamber after a shooting in Nashville. Popovich called the provisions on the resistance of weapon control, an try and “clog all these things (in) the myth of the second amendment.”

“I was wondering because we have a governor and governor governor and prosecutor general, who made it easier to have more weapons,” Popovich said, referring to politicians from Texas. “It was a response to the murder of our children. I just thought it was a bit strange decision. But it’s just me.”

So how did Popovich develop into so conscious, caring and vocal?

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The son of a Croatian father and Serbian mother organized naturally about other cultures, growing up in a racially diverse eastern Chicago in Indiana, 18 miles from the Chicago center. According to the universal census of the United States of 2010, Eastern Chicago had 42.9% black, 35.5% white and 19.1% of other races. Popovich attributed his military origin for making him aware of the world. He also learned about the world when he played basketball for the American Basketball Team of the Armed Forces in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union.

“When you meet him and learn about his upbringing and his origin, raised in (suburbs) Gary, Indian, in a multicultural district …”-said Udoka. “He all the time talked about the neighbors he had – an Italian family, a Jewish family, a black family. Everything around him was immigrants and his.

“This is the core of who it is. It is appropriate, regardless of whether you are black, white or different.”

Kerr also spoke about social injustice, racism, violence with weapons and political problems during the training of warriors. He recognized Popovich for uplifting him to make use of his platform to talk.

“I was 100% inspired by pop for the courage to speak and take the hits you do,” said Kerr. “I met POP after I signed a contract with Spurs in 1999 during the blockade. You can see the sacrifice for his country. A proud air force graduate. From the first national anthem (played in the game Spurs) I saw how he stood on an unusual American flut.

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“This is a belief together with, say, the Shenanigans of this country politically – in actual fact all BS began at the moment, at the turn of the century … between social media and Buffoners politically, on this era, wherein everyone screams against one another.

Marc J. Spears is a senior NBA author for Andcape. Once he was capable of immerse himself at you, but he was unable for years, and his knees still hurt.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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Why America still makes the black fathers of sports villains

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In the sports industry value a billion dollars there isn’t any image more quietly threatening to the system than a robust, engaged black father.

We see it time and again.
Lavar Ball is known as boastful.
Deion Sanders is known as selfish.

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Richard Williams was crazy long before the world learned the names Venus and Serena.
Lebron James is in some way criticized for being too publicly supporting his son Brony.
Earl Woods was presented as a controlling character, even when he raised one of the biggest golfers he had ever seen.

Cecil Newton Sr. He met with public control simply following his son CAM.

The plan is evident: when the black father stands at the center of his child’s success – leading, protecting, moving away from exploitation – the media paint him as an issue.
As Egomaniak.
As someone “bothers”.

Why?
Because strong black fathers disturb the narrative.

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The system is just not only invested in the talent of black athletes – it invests in controlling them.
A young black athlete without suggestions is less complicated to control. Easier to pay. Easier to face against others. Easier to the brand, profit and reject when it’s comfortable.

A powerful black father changes the terms of the contract.

Requires higher contracts.
He asks about coaching decisions.
It protects the mental health of your child from the franchise.
He reminds the world that his son or daughter is just not only an asset – but a human being along with his family, dreams and dignity.

And that is where real fear lies.

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The image of a united black family – not broken, absent, not broken – a challenge of deeply rooted stereotypes on which American society has long been about the justification of inequalities.
A powerful black man standing next to his child and says that he is just not perceived as an act of love, but as an act of revolt.

It is less complicated to submit a father than to confess that the system is designed to make use of athletes, while they’re young, sensitive and isolated.
It is less complicated to make fun of yourself than to confront the truth:
Black families who stick together support one another and are fiercely in favor of their very own, are irrefutable, not a threat.

The experience of NFL Sanders Sanders shows what black men know too well - confidence is a threat

When Deion Sanders tells his sons that they’re kings, not goods, it worries the old order.
When Richard Williams insists that his daughters are larger than tennis, he prescribes the rules.
When Lavar Ball dreams loudly for his sons, he scares a system that prefers black athletes to be grateful and quiet.

But let’s be clear:
It is just not their trust that threatens the sports industry.
It’s their love.
Their refusal to permission to their children used and rejected to the side.
Their impudence is consider that they deserve sitting at the table – and pull up the chair without not asking for permission.

Black fathers in sport should not villains.
They are architects.
They are defenders.
These are a shield between industries value a billion dollars and kids, otherwise they consumed.

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Or possibly this can be a real story that America doesn’t wish to tell.


Jonathan Conyers

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This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Ball Up Top: Lakers, Fakers, Quakers … Wolves in 5

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“Ball Up Top” is a weekly NBA video series in which David Dennis Jr. With AndScape he talks about hot topics in the league and popular culture with special guests in addition to personalities and sejds.

In episode 8, David is joined by a senior author Justin Tinsley to debate Los Angeles Lakers, who was rejected from Playoffs and what to do next. In addition, a really exciting opera clip that David cannot stop enthusiastic about.


Episode 8, 2 May 2025
Host: David Dennis Jr.
Guests: Justin Tinsley
Manufacturers: Charles Abankwa, Ryan Cortes, Rodney Davis, Chris Gavin, Charles Peach

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Archives

Episode 1 (March 7, 2025): Quentin Richardson on Phoenix Suns, his moment “Welcome to the NBA” and beef with “Nad edge”

Episode 2 (March 14, 2025): Plus/Minus! Nikola Jokic (not) MVP, whose Knicks and Lakers don’t need to see, asks Cooper Flagg

Episode 3 (March 21, 2025): Danny Green evaluates his pretenders to the Western Conference, members of the Abrevocal Team

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Episode 4 (March 28, 2025): Talking Heat Culture after the outbreak of warriors, more plus/minus

Episode 5 (April 4, 2025): The most vital games left in the NBA schedule

Episode 6 (April 17, 2025): Kazeem Famuyide talks NBA Playoffs, Wrestlemania 41, Army X

Episode 7 (April 24, 2025): Which NBA Playoffs teams are cooked/not cooked?

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David Dennis Jr. He is an older author in Andcape and the creator of the award -winning book “The Ruch Made Us: A Father, son and the Legacy of a Freedom Ride”. David is a graduate of Davidson College.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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