Heat news: There is no doubt that Jimmy Butler is one of the best two-way players in the NBA, and it is one of the main reasons why the Miami Heat took a risk in trading for him. The franchise believes that he could be their next star now that Dwyane Wade has officially retired.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is more than happy that the team acquired Butler. He praised the nine-year veteran’s work ethic, which he described as Hall of Fame-like.

“The thing that also is notable about that is he has a Hall of Fame work ethic. That’s not something of myth. That’s something that’s well earned and it’s real. I think he also respects that he’s walking into a gym where there’s several guys that are right there with him, step for step, in terms of work ethic.”

Butler has earned a reputation as a workhorse. After being drafted 30th overall in 2011, he worked his way up to relevancy and stardom. Now he’s one of the best players in the league.

Spoelstra also said that Butler’s dedication in playing basketball reminds him of one of his former players; four-time league MVP LeBron James.

“I think it’s really rare for a star player. In that regard, he reminds me of LeBron. He is so aware and mindful of his teammates and he wants his teammates to play well and be in rhythm, even at the expense of his own offense.

“He’s not looking at how many shot attempts he gets or how many points he’s scoring. He really just cares about the bottom line: Are we winning or not? Are we doing the right thing to put our team in position to win? And he knows, whenever it becomes go time, when we need a basket or a good look or create an opportunity for a teammate, he’s driving that action. He’ll be able to produce. He’s done that his entire career. But I think that really speaks to his level-headedness and understanding of the big picture.”

Butler is one of the main reasons why the Heat are off to a good start this season. He’s putting up 19.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 2.8 steals per game. He’s doing everything he can to contribute on both ends of the floor, and he’s one of the main reasons why Miami is the fourth-best defensive team in the league.

The question now is, can Butler lead the Heat to a championship? Only time will tell. For now, Jimmy Buckets is happy with where he is, and Miami is also glad to have him.

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 Pacers news: Larry Bird and Magic Johnson were the stars in one of the most iconic rivalries in the history of professional basketball. In fact, one could argue that they were the main reasons why the league became popular in the 1980s. And even though their careers have ended a long time ago, they’re still highly regarded as two individuals who had a significant impact in the rise of the NBA.

Before Bird and Johnson came into the NBA, there weren’t a lot of people who were invested in watching the games. Yes, the league had its fanbase, but it wasn’t as large as compared to when Larry Legend and Magic started playing professional basketball. People often say that they helped save the league from bankruptcy.

But Bird believes that he and Magic shouldn’t get all the credit in terms of turning the NBA’s fortunes around.

“It’s funny, all through my career they always say, ‘You helped save the NBA.’ But there’s a lot of people who helped save this NBA, it didn’t start with us. Maybe we helped in some way as far as the competition we had in college and going against one another. But I do think we brought a different aspect to the game when we came in.”

When Bird joined the Boston Celtics and Magic was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers, they instantly became the faces not only of their respective franchises, but also of the NBA in general. And while Bird acknowledges the contributions of those who came before them, he admits that he and Johnson had a significant impact in the league.

“We both liked to pass the ball. We liked to try to make other guys better. And then we were winners, there was no question about that. Not that there wasn’t a lot of winners before us. But just how we played the game and approached the game, I think, made a big impact throughout the league as far as watching the game.”

Bird added that they paved the way for the future stars of the NBA.

“You got to remember, when I came into the league they had cocaine problems. … So, there was a lot of drug use. I can remember David Stern saying in 1981 he had to give away tickets for people to come to the All-Star Game. But once ’84 hit you could tell it was a shift in the feelings of the NBA and how it was perceived. And then you got to remember Isiah [Thomas] came in, and Jordan came in, and Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley, John Stockton, Karl Malone. You can keep naming them. A group of guys that came into our league and just took it to another level.”

In the end, Bird just wants people to him and Magic as major pieces to the puzzle. They did something to improve the league, but its overall growth didn’t start and end with them.

“Well, we were first. But I don’t want to say that we changed anything. But we made people take a look at the NBA the way we played. You got to remember at that time satellite dishes were just coming out and we were getting into more homes. …

And it goes back to college. We played against one another in the finals [in college]. And they say it’s still one of the highest-rated basketball games ever. So, obviously we had an impact. But we didn’t change this league.”

Michael Jordan may be considered as the greatest player of all-time, and LeBron James may be seen as the most influential player in the history of the NBA, but no one can deny the fact that the league wouldn’t be the same without Bird and Magic.

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Warriors news: Stephen Curry is highly regarded as one of the NBA’s greatest players. Not only did he successfully lead the Golden State Warriors to three championships, but he is also the main reason why the style of play in the league has changed significantly over the past five years. One could say that he revolutionized the game of basketball.

In everyone’s eyes, Curry is a sure-fire Hall of Fame.

Well, except if you ask Michael Jordan.

In a recent interview, MJ said that he believes Steph isn’t a Hall of Famer just yet, despite everything that he’s done for the NBA. Curry responded to the Jordan’s comments, saying that he has no issues with what the basketball great said.

“I love MJ. That’s my guy. He’s obviously, he’s the G.O.A.T. but I don’t know if it was a wordsmith thing or if he just kinda got in his own way but I’m sure if you ask him that question now, like straight up, does he think I’m getting in there, he probably would have a different answer. If you put the ‘…yet,’ then I’m cool with that.”

In his 11-year NBA career, Curry has averaged 23.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.6 assists in 698 games for the Warriors. He’s won the league MVP twice, and he’s third on the all-time list for 3-pointers made, trailing only Reggie Miller and Ray Allen. It’s hard to believe why someone wouldn’t consider Steph a Hall of Famer, especially with all these accomplishments, but to each his own opinion, right?

Maybe Jordan wants Curry to win the Finals MVP first. After all, that’s something that he has failed to achieve in the Warriors’ three title wins. However, accomplishing that feat may be easier said than done this season and beyond, as the Dubs are no longer as invincible as they used to.

Golden State lost two-time Finals MVP Kevin Durant, who decided to join the Brooklyn Nets. They are also expected to miss the services of Klay Thompson for the majority of the season as he’s still recovering from his ACL injury. Moreover, Curry suffered a broken hand which could sideline him for at least a month.

The Warriors may not be contenders this season, but once they get Steph and Klay back playing on the court together, a lot of things will change.

And when that time comes, Curry will remind everyone, including MJ, why he’s the greatest shooter in the history of the NBA, and why he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.

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Clippers news: After acquiring Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in free agency, the Los Angeles Clippers have emerged as the favorites to win this season’s NBA title, according to the annual GM survey.

Which team will win the 2020 NBA Finals?

1. LA Clippers — 46%

2. Milwaukee Bucks — 36%

3. Los Angeles Lakers — 11%

Also receiving votes: Golden State Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers

Last year: Golden State – 87%

Giant media network ESPN also had their own survey, and similar to the GMs, they also have the Clippers as the 2019-20 NBA champions.

1. LA Clippers: 117 points (54.5% first-place votes)

2. Milwaukee Bucks: 85 points (36.4% first-place votes)

3. Philadelphia 76ers: 38 points (6.1% first-place votes)

4. Los Angeles Lakers: 29 points

5. Golden State Warriors: 15 points (3.0% first-place votes)

It’s no surprise that the Clippers have gained such recognition. Leonard has already led two franchises to NBA titles and he’s a two-time Finals MVP. Meanwhile, PG was one of the MVP candidates last season. LA has also retained most of last season’s 48-win team, mainly Lou Williams, Patrick Beverley, and Montrezl Harrell.

Last season, the Clippers were one of the most impressive teams in the league. They reached the playoffs as the eighth seed in the Western Conference and they took the fully loaded Golden State Warriors to six games in the first round. The addition of Leonard and George to this roster will just make them a more formidable team, especially on defense.

But winning the NBA title won’t be easy, as the Clippers will have to go through several contenders, particularly their Staples Center co-tenants, the Los Angeles Lakers. The Purple and Gold have also retooled this season, boasting a roster that will be led by four-time MVP LeBron James and All-NBA forward Anthony Davis.

Moreover, there’s the Houston Rockets, who will be parading two former NBA MVPs in James Harden and Russell Westbrook. The Denver Nuggets are also expected to compete for the championship, as they will be led by Nikola Jokic. The Utah Jazz, Portland Trail Blazers Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics, and even the Dallas Mavericks could also hinder the Clippers from winning it all this season.

Will Leonard and George defy all the odds and bring the Clippers its first-ever championship? We’ll just have to wait and see.

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Nets news: Kevin Durant is expected to miss the entire 2019-20 season while recovering from a torn Achilles he suffered in Game 5 of the NBA Finals last season when he was still a member of the Golden State Warriors. There have been ongoing debates on whether KD should have returned in series, especially since he was still dealing with a strained right calf which he suffered in the Western Conference semifinals against the Houston Rockets.

The two-time Finals MVP has stated on multiple occasions that no one from the Warriors pressured him to return, and he’s saying it again.

“Like I told somebody before — Rick Celebrini, it was him and I every day just working, building. It was more than just rehab with him and I, it was a tight relationship that I formed with him through that time. There was nobody else in my ear, none of my teammates said anything to me. I’m one of the best players on the team, I’m sure when we’re losing in The Finals, I’m sure in the back of their minds they’re wondering when I’m going to come back to play — but nobody said anything to me.”

The Warriors were down 3-1 to the Toronto Raptors in the Finals when KD declared that he’d return to action in Game 5. He immediately made his presence felt by scoring 11 points in the first 14 minutes of the game, but then he went down on a non-contact play. He was seen leaving Scotiabank Arena on crutches and less than 24 hours later, it was announced that he suffered a torn Achilles.

Durant then left the Warriors to join the Brooklyn Nets this offseason, ending his brief three-year run with the Warriors. There have been conflicting reports on whether he will be able to return for the Nets in the playoffs, but with what happened to him last season, it would be wise for Brooklyn to let him fully recover.

The Nets aren’t good enough to win the championship without Durant. Although Kyrie Irving is one of the best players in the league, he has yet to prove himself as someone who can carry a franchise on his own. But once KD returns next season, Brooklyn will start competing for championships.

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Pelicans news: Brandon Ingram’s tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers has ended and he’s beginning a new chapter in his career with the New Orleans Pelicans. The former second-overall pick has been impressive so far this season, putting up 26.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in five games with his new team.

It wasn’t long ago when BI was being dubbed as the Lakers’ next superstar, especially when he was able to average close to 20 points per game while playing alongside four-time MVP LeBron James. The Purple and Gold actually had a nice start into the 2018-19 season, but injuries and trade rumors derailed their campaign and they ended up missing the playoffs.

Ingram shared his thoughts on what happened to the Lakers last season, and he said that a lot of their struggles happened because they were thinking of things that had nothing to do with playing basketball.

“People get caught up about thinking outside of basketball and what comes with it. L.A. wasn’t too fast for me. But we, the team, got caught up with all the extras that come with outside of basketball.”

The Lakers have always been known as a franchise that’s surrounded with drama, whether they’re competing for a championship or not. Last season was no different. A lot of people believe that the trade rumors that made it waves on social media impacted some of the players on that team, but BI said he wasn’t one of them.

“I had good people around me. I had a coach, [former Lakers assistant coach] Brian Keefe, who stayed on me all the time. I had a weight room trainer who stayed on me all the time. I just had good people around me. They would tell me to keep going. No matter what is going on, keep going.”

“I just take stuff differently. Trade rumors, whatever, I always know it is a business. To be in trade rumors, that means someone wants me in this league. I just continue to play hard. I have a routine that I meet every day. I know it was a process and I was going to get there. The process helped get me to where I wanted to be before the injury. I was on the up-and-up, I got hurt. But now I am in a good situation. Everything happens for a reason.

Ingram did keep playing until he was diagnosed with a blood clot in his shooting arm, which was removed after a successful surgery last March. After he was cleared to play, he immediately showed up and became one of the Pelicans’ best players.

But if Ingram has any takeaways during his time with the Lakers, it’s everything he learned while playing with a guy like LeBron.

“Just learning what it takes to be great. Just taking advantage of different situations on how can I be effective off the basketball. Off the ball. On the ball. Playing different positions.”

Ingram is no longer in the bright lights of LA, but he has a great opportunity to shine with the Pelicans. Now, he’s ready to take his game to a different level in New Orleans, and so far, he’s off to a good start.

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Pelicans news: The deadline to re-sign players on rookie contracts to extensions has passed and one of the most notable players who didn’t get a deal done with his team is Brandon Ingram.

The former second-overall pick was part of the trade package sent by the Los Angeles Lakers to the New Orleans Pelicans this summer in exchange for All-NBA forward Anthony Davis. Ingram is coming off a career-threatening injury last season as he was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT). A blood clot was found in his shooting arm and he needed surgery to remove it. The procedure was a success and now, BI is back on the playing court.

In five games this season, BI has averaged 26.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. He’s also shooting the ball very well with a 51 percent clip from the field, including 50 percent from beyond the arc.

Given these numbers, why didn’t the Pelicans re-sign Ingram? There are several possible reasons. But the 22-year-old forward doesn’t seem too focused on thinking about his future.

“I grew up playing basketball. I never thought about how much money I was going to get in the league. “I always just said, ‘I just want to play basketball.’ I think everything is going to handle itself out. Me and Griff [David Griffin, Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations] have had conversations and I just came off a major injury that could have taken me out for the rest of my life, which was a blood clot.”

Pelicans General Manager David Griffin knows that Ingram is a special player, but he probably needed to know how well BI will play after the injury. If he can sustain these numbers for the rest of the season, he’ll definitely get a massive pay raise next summer, when he will become a restricted free agent.

The Pelicans are playing without their prized rookie Zion Williamson, who’s expected to be out for six to eight weeks with a knee injury. As unfortunate as this is, it’s also a great opportunity for Ingram to show what he can do. A lot of people believe he’s been held back during his time with the Lakers and that he’s bound for a breakout season in New Orleans.

And now is his time to shine.

Follow ClutchPoints for the latest New Orleans Pelicans news and updates.

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Spurs news: San Antonio Spurs legend Manu Ginobili has left fans with tons of memorable highlights, from fancy layups to clutch baskets that helped the franchise win four NBA titles. The future Hall of Famer decided to call it a career in 2016, and there is no denying that his number will soon be hung in the rafters of the AT&T Center.

But did you know that Ginobili almost died in 2004? Yes, the Argentinian star revealed that he was involved in a car accident that almost ended his life that year.

“In 2004… during my honeymoon, I got a car in the front of me that passed a truck on a curve. I threw myself on the shoulder and began to skid. I could have killed someone. I could have slammed against a tree. I could fallen on a cliff or hit the driver head on. There would have been no Olympic games. There was no more career. It was a flip of the coin in the air. Luck.”

The NBA has seen several careers cut short by accidents, including Drazen Petrovic, Len Bias, and Malik Sealy. Ginobili was fortunate enough to survive and he went on to have a great career with the Spurs.

Ginobili averaged 13.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 1,057 games with the Spurs. He made the All-Star team two times and won the 2008 Sixth Man of the Year Award. He’s also widely recognized as one of the greatest non-American NBA players of all-time. We were fortunate enough to see him play, whether we liked San Antonio or not.

The Spurs built their dynasty around Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Ginobili. They each had a ton of contribution in the franchise’s success. Without them, who knows how good San Antonio will be?

There’s still one icon that remains with the Spurs, and that is head coach Gregg Popovich, who recently set the record for the longest tenure in coaching one franchise. Once Pop is gone, it will officially be the end of an era in San Antonio.

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Cavaliers news: It has only been two years since the Cleveland Cavaliers snapped their NBA Finals streak to four, as their superstar back then, LeBron James, chose to leave and join the Los Angeles Lakers. Still, they had a memorable title run back in 2016, and Kevin Durant was quick to recognize how great that team was.

Durant was asked to rank the worst losses of his career, and in his answer, he said that blowing a 3-1 lead against the 2016 Golden State Warriors team wasn’t part of his top five.

“It doesn’t rank in the top five. I mean, we lost Game 2 at home in 2012 to Miami — that was a tough loss. We lost Game 5 against Memphis at home. It was a 2-2 series, and they went up 3-2. Those are tough losses to me.”

However, KD did admit that he felt that the Oklahoma City Thunder had the momentum back in 2016, especially after they eliminated the 67-win San Antonio Spurs in the second round of the playoffs. The two-time Finals MVP thought that his Thunder had the chance to face the Cavs in the Finals, the team he dubbed as the best in the league that year.

“I really, really, really felt like we had an opportunity, we had some momentum. We were playing against a 73-win team in the Warriors and the Spurs, who were a 67-win team that year. And then the Cavs were the best team in the league — the most talented team. So I’m like, ‘Wow, an uphill climb. Let’s see what we can do.'”

The Warriors also blew a 3-1 series lead against the Cavaliers in the Finals, and after losing the title, Golden State signed Durant in the offseason. This allowed the Dubs to win two straight championships at Cleveland’s expense.

2016 was indeed a great year for the Cavaliers and the city of Cleveland. Although the team is rebuilding right now, what they’ve done during that year will forever be remembered as one of the greatest moments in the history of sports. Only time will tell if the Cavs can replicate that success in the near future. They have a couple of young pieces to build around in Colin Sexton and Darius Garland, and if both guys turn out to be superstars, they might be able to compete for a championship sooner than what most people expect.

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Suns news: Veteran point guard Ricky Rubio is coming off an impressive stint in the FIBA World Cup wherein he successfully led the Spanish national men’s basketball team to a gold medal finish. Now, he wants to keep the momentum going as he intends to make a positive impact with the Phoenix Suns.

Rubio signed a three-year, $51 million deal to join the Suns this summer, and he confidently declared that fans will see him play at him play the best basketball years of his career over the next couple of seasons.

“I’m fully expecting to play the best game, the best play of my career in these next two or three years. I’m going to hit my prime mentally and physically and I’ve been working super hard for that.”

Even before Rubio led Spain to the World Cup title, he’s already claiming that he’s in his prime, and given his performance in the Suns’ 124-95 win against the Sacramento Kings (he put up 11 points, six rebounds, and 11 assists), there’s no reason why Suns fans shouldn’t be excited about him.

Suns assistant coach Steve Blake is a fan of the Rubio signing, and he’s excited to see how well the Spanish star will make his teammates better.

“Ricky Rubio is an ultimate point guard, pass-first guy that’s gonna create and make guys have fun when they’re on the court.”

But Rubio didn’t join the Suns just to prove himself. He also wants to help the younger guys on the team take their game to the next level, particularly Devin Booker.

“I want to see how good a scorer he is, and how good a player he has been. And if there are some areas where I can help [Booker] become an All Star, I will try to do that too.”

Rubio has had a steady NBA career, and while it is unlikely for him to become an All-Star, he’s still one of the best pure point guards in the league. Only time will tell if he will indeed have a career season in Phoenix, but his confidence alone should already tell you that he intends to help make the Suns become a better team.

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