Good morning, sadly Paul George’s injury was not just a nightmare
That and much more in Monday’s link-filled NBA newsletter.
Good morning. Let’s basketball.
NO, PAUL GEORGE. NO: The leg snap heard ‘round the world struck the Pacers star during the ultimately meaningless Team USA scrimmage on ESPN Friday night. George had immediate surgery and is expected to miss the season. The outpouring of sympathy was immense.
In the aftermath I wrote that injuries can happen anywhere and owners shouldn’t use this injury to wrestle their stars out of playing in international competition. Mark Cuban, a longtime critic of FIBA, argued otherwise. Somewhat surprisingly, both the Pacers and Adam Silver have publicly subscribed to the “it could have happened anywhere” argument, and it seems like there is no major move toward restricting players’ participation. On this topic, nothing beats Lee Jenkins’ essay on what Paul George owes to summer basketball.
Candace Buckner talked to Paul George Sr. about the injury. Woj’s sources weighed in on the FIBA debate. Nate Silver argues that the Pacers are still in good shape moving forward.
MEANWHILE ... Derrick Rose looked really great in the scrimmage after glowing reports about his efforts in practice all week.
SPURSING IT UP: San Antonio quietly keeps Tony Parker around on a three-year extension worth $43 million.
LOVE AFFAIR: Glen Taylor, who owns the Timberwolves, now says a Kevin Love trade is “likely.” Meanwhile ...
THEY DON’T TEACH THIS AT KANSAS: Andrew Wiggins has to navigate a minefield interview about trade rumors.
ROOKIE PHOTO SHOOT! Seth Rosenthal hands out superlatives.
MITCH MCGARY FOR U.S. GYMNASTICS TEAM: I ... I just don’t even know, man.
WHY LEBRON FOOLED ME: I never thought LeBron would return to Cleveland. Here’s why.
HUH: The Spurs, Nets, Pacers and Nuggets just settled a lawsuit over retirement benefits with former ABA players. It will affect a couple hundred former players or their heirs. Per former ABA All-Star Mack Calvin, “They’re making things right, and in about 90 days guys are going to start to get some money, some of them more than they made in their playing careers.”
OH: A 22-year-old bought Brooklyn’s ABA team, and is paying it off in $250 monthly installments. Why not? (Via D-Kharp.)
BOSTON RACISM IN CONTEXT: Satch Sanders and Cedric Maxwell talked to a gathering of black journalists this weekend about racism in Boston and elsewhere during their playing days. Bill Russell’s autobiography Second Wind is still, to me, the definitive text on this subject. Read it if you’re interested. (Hell, read it in any case. It’s enthralling.)
See you next time, friends.
