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Courtney Williams may have found a home with the Minnesota Lynx

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Courtney Williams was walking on the streets of New York when her phone rang.

It was June 2016, and Williams had played just 14 games in her rookie season with the Phoenix Mercury. Two months earlier, in April, she was the No. 8 pick in the WNBA draft, an attractive two-point guard out of the University of South Florida who UConn head coach Geno Auriemma described as one in every of the hardest defenders in the AAC to defend.

For the Mercury, Williams has yet to make her mark, appearing in only six games and averaging just 4 minutes a game. In New York, she got a call from then-Phoenix coach Sandy Brondello.

Williams was traded to the Connecticut Sun.

“I didn’t know anything about anything… I’m a kid,” Williams said. “I’m wondering, ‘Will I come to the game tomorrow?’ “

The news got here as a surprise to Williams, who believed she would start her profession in Phoenix. This can be the first of several unexpected departures from the franchise.

Now in his ninth season, Williams continues to search for a long-term franchise home. However, she may have landed in Minnesota, her fifth WNBA team. After signing with the Lynx in February, Williams became a core member of a team that quickly emerged as a title contender.

“My first year was amazing,” Williams said.

With the Sun leading the Minnesota Lynx 1-0 in the WNBA semifinals heading into Game 2 on Tuesday (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2) with a probability to win the league championship, Williams enjoyed every little bit of her final WNBA break, hoping it will be her last time.

Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams throws the ball onto the court during a playoff game on September 29.

Images by Matt Krohn/Imagn

This yr’s Lynx team, which finished the regular season with the second-best record in the WNBA and most wins in franchise history, offers Williams the best potential path to a WNBA championship since 2019. That season, Williams played for Connecticut, when she reached the finals against the Washington Mystics, but lost in the fifth and final game of the series.

“It will stay with you forever,” Williams said. “You do not get points only for getting there. You have to win this. I’m sure you have that thought in your mind: “I need to buy something now.” “

Four months later, in February 2020, Williams, who felt she had found a core group with which she was able to make a comeback, was traded to the Atlanta Dream. After the trade was announced, then-Sun general manager and head coach Curt Miller said Williams not desired to be in Connecticut, a claim Williams disputed at the time. Williams maintains she never wanted to depart the Sun, but has modified her perspective on the matter.

“Now that I look back and I’m older, I think I was so connected to that group and became so emotionally invested… I got rid of the business aspect of it,” Williams said. “I believe when it got here time to barter… when it got here time to do business, I let my emotions get the higher of me when it got here all the way down to it. We are all learning. We all grow. But yeah, I definitely didn’t want to depart, man. (They were) all my people. ”

Williams thought she had found her ultimate WNBA goal with the Dream. She returned to her home state of Georgia and had the opportunity to play for coach Nicki Collen, who was an assistant coach for Sun.

“It was like, ‘Okay, my people can come visit me.’ I can go home. So at first I definitely thought so (it was Atlanta).”

But it didn’t work out in Atlanta either. Despite excelling with the Dream and earning All-Star honors during the 2021 season, Williams’ involvement in a non-WNBA fight involving other Dream players led to Atlanta selecting to not re-sign her. Williams then entered free agency.

Over the next two seasons, Williams would spend one other yr with Connecticut in 2022 and one yr with the Chicago Sky in 2023. When Williams entered free agency in January, she was not only on the lookout for a company to play for, but in addition on the lookout for a long-term home.

“That was my biggest thing in free agency,” Williams said. “When I talked to all the teams, I said I used to be at a point in my profession where I didn’t wish to bounce back anymore. If you may offer me more of being a part of the core group than when you see me being a part of a franchise, that is where I would like to be. Minnesota got here and matched my energy.

“It was something Courtney and I talked about. “Courtney’s back in the conversation as one of the best defenders in the league is where she belongs,” Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said after a Sept. 1 regular-season victory over Chicago. “We are committed to doing this.”

Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams (left) passes the ball against Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi during the WNBA playoffs on September 25 at the Target Center in Minneapolis.

David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images

During her time in the WNBA, Williams’ identity in the league became synonymous with midfield scoring. As many as 57.5% of Williams’ points this season got here from the middle. The WNBA player who was second on this category (for players who logged a minimum of 20 minutes per game) was Atlanta Dream forward Tina Charles with 22%.

“(The diameter is) something of a lost art in the game. For most players in the league, including the NBA, it’s usually not a high percentage shot,” said Lynx guard Bridget Carleton. “It’s a shot that defenses expect from offensive teams. It’s a break for Courtney and teams don’t desire her to take it.

Williams led the league in mid-range shots per game (6.9) while posting a career-best shooting percentage (46.2), passing Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson (46.3) for the best shooting percentage in the league amongst players with a minimum of 4 attempts per game from the level.

“It’s a lot of fun, he can give it his all,” Carleton said. “She’s really good and extremely efficient, and when she can achieve that, it’s really nice. It can’t be stopped.”

Williams credits the Lynx coaching staff with setting her up on the court to achieve success. Minnesota assistant coach Elaine Powell played with two exceptional midfield talents in Katie Smith, now also the Lynx’s associate head coach, and Deanna “Tweety” Nolan.

“Courtney is able to get to her place. He knows when he gets to his spot he’s going to do one of his mid-range pull-ups,” said Powell, who won three championships as a defenseman with the Detroit Shock. “When you have someone like Courtney, it’s easier for her to do pins or get (Alanna Smith) to screen drag or whatever so she can get to her favorite thing, which is the pull-up jumper.”

Williams says she has had the most fun playing Lynx basketball in years. Teammates say Williams brings a veteran presence to the Lynx locker room and an energy as big and brilliant as the blonde hair he currently sports on the court.

“Every time Courtney is in the room, you’re going to laugh,” Carleton said. “You’ll have fun.”

Williams is in the second yr of the biggest transition of his profession, moving from a two-guard position to a point guard. As a Sky player in 2023, Williams was asked to attain for the first time, to which she reluctantly agreed. Despite her reluctance, Williams achieved her goal, rating fourth in the WNBA in assists per game (6.3).

As the Lynx point guard in 2024, Williams continued to showcase her skills as Minnesota’s leading defender. The Lynx led the league in assists during the regular season, and Williams averaged 5.5 per game, the most on the team.

“Most people know Courtney as a great mid-range shooter, but now she penetrates the hole and gets to the hole and makes it easier to get the ball where it needs to be,” Powell said. “Now she’s really pulling more out of the bag she already had.”

Williams committed herself to development in her recent position. Whenever she could, she watched other games to see how other top quarterbacks viewed the game and the way they handled it. He is consistently on the lookout for “gems” from the Lynx coaching staff. Sometimes they’re easy reminders, like putting more emphasis on clock management or ensuring he can see the entire court while he’s working.

“He’s not afraid to ask questions and he’s not afraid to say, ‘Hey, show me again because I don’t understand,’” Powell said. “She is open and wants to learn.”

As Williams continues to learn, Carleton said she already has a few of the traits of a point guard.

“Her decision making on ball screens. Her ability to deal with pressure, recover from balls and read correctly. He always reads well,” Carleton said.

“I think people have to make a decision,” Williams said. When I get out of the pick and roll, will you step forward? Are you going to make use of hard hedging? Whatever they select, I have a decision I can agree with.

Connecticut Sun center Jonquel Jones (left) and defenseman Courtney Williams (center) wait for his or her game against the Chicago Sky on July 30, 2019 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

New York Liberty forward Jonquel Jones, who played for Williams on the Sun, is joyful to see her flourish in Minnesota, where he considers Williams’ role to be ideal. Now, as Williams and the Lynx’s opponent, Jones said that given the variety of offensive threats the Lynx have on their roster, from 2024 Defensive Player of the Year Napheesa Collier to 2 of the best three-point shooters in the league, Kayla McBride and Carleton, Williams’ protection becomes rather more difficult.

“The one-on-ones are very important because as soon as you help, you pay for it with the shooters they have,” Jones said. “Courtney has always been great in one-on-one games, so stopping her is even more difficult.”

As Williams continued to reflect on her recent finals appearance with The Sun, one aspect of her performance in Connecticut stood out.

“We had a great group,” Williams said. “I believe that is what got me to where we at the moment are. We’ve got a great group, man. They’re just a selfless group and I believe that is the most vital thing that involves my mind after I take into consideration attending to the finals – it’s the locker room.

After the Lynx cruised to a victory late in one in every of the final games of the regular season, Williams was interviewed by Terrice Foster-Brasby of NBC Sports Boston. Williams, buoyed by the victory, gushed about her team and teammates, indicative of the impact the Lynx organization had on the ever-adapting and developing league veteran. Williams has his sights set on bringing the title to Minnesota. She’s willing to do whatever it takes to get into the franchise that offered her the home she was on the lookout for.

Williams said at the end of one in every of her post-game answers, “I love being here.”

Sean Hurd is a author for Andscape, primarily covering women’s basketball. The pinnacle of his athletic development got here at the age of 10, when he was voted camper of the week at Josh Childress’ basketball camp.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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Michael Jordan buys a private jet, the price is $65 million

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Michael Jordan, medical clinic


Being a billionaire means that you can enjoy making purchases that small countries cannot afford, and Michael Jordan proves it along with his latest purchase. The NBA Hall of Famer reportedly bought himself a private jet for $65 million.

According to , Jordan now owns a latest private jet, a Gulfstream G650ER worthwhile for about $65 million. The recognizable Jumpman logo is clearly visible on the rear of the jet and depicts the tail number, N236MJ. The plane was last seen in Florida’s Palm Beach International Airport, with people viewing it on the tarmac on social media. The plane is reportedly registered under the company name MJ Air LLC.

@seanpalmbeach Michael Jordan’s latest jet is a Gulfstream G650ER, registered on October 1, 2014 #goat #pj #michaeljordan #fyp ♬ M83 Solitude – Grace

The media outlet detailed that the private jet’s custom paint job totaled around $500,000 and might accommodate as much as 19 people, with the possibility of as much as 10 passengers having the ability to sleep comfortably. It also has a maximum range of 8,630 miles.

reported that Jordan is not alone possession Gulfstream G650ER. Other elite billionaires who own one include Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg. Jordan’s newest aircraft is an improvement on his previous model, the Gulfstream G550.

Jordan can actually afford to purchase the plane, nevertheless it recently filed an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR. He and one other automobile owner, Front Row Motorsports, are suing the sports organization and CEO Jim France, claiming it used anti-competitive practices to stop fair competition in the sport. According to the lawsuit claims that NASCAR and France operate without transparency and in a way that doesn’t profit team owners, drivers, sponsors, partners and fans.

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports disagree that NASCAR controls all facets of the business, including purchasing racetracks exclusively for its races and allegedly forcing teams to buy supplies from suppliers chosen by NASCAR from a single source. Another point of contention is the ban on teams from participating in other stock automobile races.


This article was originally published on : www.blackenterprise.com
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For Chauncey Billups, Minnesota was a turning point in his Hall of Fame career

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Former Minnesota Timberwolves forward Sam Mitchell is thrilled that Chauncey Billups will enter the Basketball Hall of Fame on Sunday. Mitchell also used strong words for individuals who “nearly ruined this man’s career” before he rose to turn out to be a star and NBA champion.

“When they let you down, they blame you,” Mitchell told Andscape. “In my opinion, every coach until Chauncey got to Minnesota let him down. And then they turned around and as an alternative of saying, “We let him down,” they said, “He can’t play.” Explain to me how someone who’s the third pick in the draft cannot play but is now on the point of enter the Hall of Fame? Explain this to me, because I do know the reality. I was there. I do know what Chauncey told me. I saw what happened in Boston. I saw what happened in Orlando.

“So explain to me how a loser who cannot play the position now finally ends up in the Hall of Fame? … I might love to listen to what they must say because I’m drained of writing about all these great (expletive) coaches who let people down. And then these guys turned out to be good. And nobody says a word. By saying that, they almost ruined this man’s career.

While the Timberwolves can be the springboard, Billups’ Hall of Fame biography is highlighted by his time with the Detroit Pistons. The five-time NBA All-Star was the point guard who, with the assistance of fellow Hall of Famer Ben Wallace, led the team to 5 straight conference finals, two NBA Finals appearances and one championship. The 2004 NBA Finals MVP also earned the nickname “Mr. Big Shot” in Detroit for making clutch shots and have become an all-around defender. The Pistons also retired his No. 1 jersey in 2016.

But before landing in Detroit, Billups went from being the third overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft to being viewed as a failure in just three seasons. The former University of Colorado star was traded during his first three seasons by the Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors and his hometown Denver Nuggets. He never played for the Orlando Magic as he was traded through the 1999-2000 season as a consequence of a shoulder injury. Billups averaged 11.3 points, 3.8 assists and a pair of.3 rebounds over his first 4 non-playoff seasons, a far cry from what was projected for him when he entered the NBA.

“You come in as a third-round pick with your aspirations,” said Billups, now the top coach of the Portland Trail Blazers. If I play like I’m going to be an All-Star. I’m going to take it to the subsequent level. And then you definitely fall completely, identical to I did. I actually have to prove that I belong in this league…

“I needed one other likelihood to prove that I actually belong in this league. And once I’ve done that, I’ll return to my repeatedly scheduled program. I’m going to point out them. And so after that short time in Orlando, I was a free agent and ended up signing with Minnesota.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Chauncey Billups throws the ball onto the court on November 24, 2000, at Staples Center Arena in Los Angeles.

David Sherman/NBAE/Getty Images

In 2000, Billups was an unrestricted free agent with the grieving Timberwolves and several other other teams. The Timberwolves needed a defenseman in 2000 as a consequence of the death of Malik Sealy.

Sealy averaged 10.1 points and three.2 rebounds in the NBA from 1992 to 2000, including his final two seasons in Minnesota. Former star of St. John’s University died tragically in the early morning hours of May 20, 2000, when his SUV was struck by a drunken wrong-way pickup driver.

Mitchell’s plans for an early golf outing immediately modified when Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders called him with the news of Sealy’s death.

“I will never forget this as long as I live,” Mitchell said. “I’ll always remember what a time it was. When Flip called me that morning, I never forgot what I was alleged to do. “I will never forget visiting (Sealy’s) house because I was the one who went to his house and told the police his wife.”

The Timberwolves honored Sealy’s life during their first home game of the 2000–01 season and retired his No. 2 jersey, however the team needed to recruit one other defender. Saunders and Timberwolves vice chairman of basketball operations Kevin McHale strongly considered signing Billups. But Mitchell said Saunders was concerned by rumors he had heard that the free agent was too offensive, couldn’t play the point guard position and lacked work ethic.

Mitchell said Saunders was near signing Billups and sought advice from Timberwolves players similar to Mitchell, point guard Terrell Brandon and All-Star Kevin Garnett. Mitchell, Brandon and Garnett were confident the rookie would do well in Minneapolis, and Billups and Garnett were close friends dating back to their AAU days. The Timberwolves signed Billups to a three-year, salary-cap contract, paying $2.25 million in the primary 12 months.

“Flip replied, ‘They say he’s selfish. They say it’s this one, they are saying it’s that one,” Mitchell recalled. “And I said, ‘Flip, I do not know him. But why don’t you give him a likelihood? So when he came, Chauncey told me that when he was in Boston, Toronto and Denver, they gave up on him as a point guard and principally told him to only come in and take a look at to attain. So that is what he did.

“And then when he came to Minnesota, I said, ‘Man, if you really want to learn how to play this position and if you really want to change how people think about you, you see this guy over there, Terrell Brandon, watch everything he does and talk with him. He’s a pure point guard…” Chauncey told me, “I need to play that position. No one ever taught me this position. “

Andy Miller, who was Billups’ agent on the time, said his client’s top offer was Minnesota. Miller said the 24-year-old Billups was perceived as an inconsistent and injury-plagued player on the time (Billups had played a total of 58 games in the previous two seasons). Miller added that McHale and Saunders were interested in adding Billups as insurance in case Brandon was injured.

“Chauncey obviously jumps,” Miller said. “He showed some flashes before, but not enough. And if he did not have respect in the league because he was such a precious person, he would probably be a minimum player at this point and wander a bit to search out his way. He had a certain level of talent that hadn’t been uncorked yet, and there was a certain level of respect when the Minnesota thing happened. This was actually a conversation that Kevin McHale, Flip and I had while trying to find a comboguard…

“They saw him as a safety valve who could still learn a position that may keep them young. And it wasn’t often because of the connection Garnett had with him. I do not remember there ever being a problem with selfishness or the rest. I believed it had more to do with his erratic play.

Left to right: Minnesota Timberwolves forward Sam Mitchell with teammates Dean Garrett and Chauncey Billups on the bench during a game on April 30, 2001.

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

In addition to the pressure of joining one other team, Billups felt pressure to switch Sealy. In these difficult circumstances, the Timberwolves needed Billups not only as a player, but additionally as a positive person.

“I always loved Malik’s game, mainly because he was one of those guys that everyone respected,” Billups said. “I knew it could be difficult to switch him on and off the court. So the perfect thing I did was to not try.

“We had a lot going on, man,” Mitchell said, “and when Chauncey joined our team after what happened with Malik and stuff, it was a blessing for us. Malik was such a good dude and such a good teammate. And then when Chauncey got here in, he almost hit the nail on the top, being such a good guy, being funny. KG and all of us in this team needed someone like that. It’s like God sent us Chauncey.”

Billups had a breakout, healthy 2000-01 season with the Timberwolves and credited much of his turnaround to Brandon and Mitchell. He continued to enhance through the 2001-02 season, averaging 12.5 points and 5.5 assists in 54 games while learning to play the point guard position and familiarizing himself with the NBA’s operations on and off the court.

“Those two guys changed my life, man,” Billups said of Brandon and Mitchell. “Simply put, Terrell taught me how to be a quarterback and everything that comes with it. How to learn my opponents, how to learn my teammates, what to do myself, when to shoot, when to make everything easier. And Sam taught me how to be a professional.”

Miller said what fueled Billups as a free agent was his play through the 2001-02 playoffs for the Timberwolves. With Brandon sidelined, Billups averaged 22 points, 5.7 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.0 steal in three games against the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks defeated the Timberwolves in a best-of-seven series, but Billups proved he was able to be an NBA point guard.

“At that point, he was ready to begin being a real point guard who was going to make an impact in the league. We also couldn’t take half a step back by waiting for Terrell to grow old or be traded,” Miller said.

The Timberwolves, Pistons and Miami Heat were interested in Billups as a free agent. With the Timberwolves committing Brandon at point guard, Billups missed the chance to begin. Detroit was the place when he signed a five-year, $35 million contract with the Pistons on July 17, 2002. Detroit was Billups’ sixth team in six years.

“When my time in Minnesota got here to an end, I never looked back. I went to Detroit and all of it ended,” Billups said.

Detroit Pistons guard Chauncey Billups drives to the basket during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on May 22, 2004, at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Detroit Pistons guard Chauncey Billups is called NBA Finals MVP after playing against the Los Angeles Lakers in Auburn Hills, Michigan on June 15, 2004.

Bob Rosato/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images

Wallace and former Pistons coach Larry Brown, each Hall of Famers, will introduce Billups on stage Sunday evening during his induction speech. Given Billups’ success in Detroit, expect a lot of talk concerning the Pistons. Expect the Timberwolves to get some love as well for laying the groundwork for his path to the Hall of Fame.

“Minnesota put him on the right track,” Mitchell said. “I do not think Minnesota made him a Hall of Famer. His years in Detroit made him a member of the Hall of Fame. The years spent in Minnesota were full of development, learning the sport, leading the team and so forth.

“I don’t know if you could cut the pie into pieces,” Miller said, “but I would say Minnesota was a huge piece of Chauncey going into the Hall of Fame because there wasn’t a level of stability up to that point.”

Marc J. Spears is Andscape’s senior NBA author. He used to give you the option to dunk on you, but he hasn’t been in a position to do it for years and his knees still hurt.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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Former NFL quarterback Cam Newton joins ESPN’s “First Take.”

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Cam Newton, Atlanta, youth group, youth camp


Former NFL quarterback Cam Newton, who’s the host, has added additional duties as host of the ESPN show.

The network announced there can be a color commentator connecting the team of Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim on a top-rated sports program. His first performance as a part of the band is scheduled for October 11. The band might be filmed at Tennessee State University IN Nashville for the latest school to be featured on First Take on The Road.

In a written statement, Newton said: “I at all times put passion and energy into the whole lot I do, and that won’t change at ESPN. I’m looking forward to the chance to share my perspective and challenge the most effective within the industry. Fans can expect the identical intensity that I delivered to the pitch, together with real conversations, daring shots and fun.

Newton is the most recent personality to grace the ESPN broadcast booth, together with Shannon Sharpe, Sirius XM’s Chris “Mad Dog” Russo and lots of others giving their opinions on the most recent sports news.

“Cam Newton added to First shot brings an electrifying presence, strengthening the lineup of top personalities,” David Roberts, executive vice chairman and managing editor of Sports News and Entertainment at ESPN, said in a written statement. “His dynamic charisma combined with his high-profile debates with Stephen A. Smith will make for compelling television that fans will have to watch.”

This announcement was made ahead of ESPN aired WNBA 2024 finals, which can feature the 2 best teams within the league – No. 1 seed New York Liberty and No. 2 seed Minnesota Lynx. The series begins October 10 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN on the Barclays Center. The participants try to do what they didn’t do during last 12 months’s championship, which is to win the title.

First shot airs weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on ESPN.


This article was originally published on : www.blackenterprise.com
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