During a discussion with The Athletic, the Warriors center provided a glimpse into the competitive mindset of the 20-year-old. Reflecting on the earlier scrimmages during the mini-camps, the 28-year-old highlighted the ultra-ambitious nature of the point guard. Following that, Looney shared his views on the 6ft 4″ youngster’s declaration to average triple-doubles, stating, “That’s pretty bold”.

Yet, the desire of the 2023 draft pick failed to surprise the 3x champion as he revealed the underlying reason behind it. “I know most Wisconsin guards have that crazy confidence to them. [Jordan] Poole. Tyler Herro. He has got a delusion to him that makes him good,” the 6ft 9″ star proclaimed.

“He’s got a delusion to him that makes him good.”- Loon on Podz pic.twitter.com/fAgfGx8e2q

— warriorsworld (@warriorsworld) February 20, 2024

The interaction captured the Warriors center’s faith in the rising talent while simultaneously respecting his gameplay. Being from Wisconsin, Looney has come across several such backcourt facilitators throughout his journey. That’s why, the fearless approach could not shock the 2015 draft pick. Rather the latter only further validated it by drawing its parallels with his contemporaries.

The confidence of Brandin Podziemski has started paying its dividends

During the pre-season, the newcomer defeated two NBA icons in the form of Stephen Curry and Chris Paul in a King of the Court contest. The Warriors rookie took things up by a notch as he taunted the veterans throughout the process. In fact, soon after securing the triumph, “He did the Tiger (Woods) fist-pump,” as per CP3 to assert dominance.

Brandin Podziemski is a winner through and through pic.twitter.com/clxupSOosm

— What are NBA Celebs Upto? (@NBACelebsUpdate) February 21, 2024

Alongside the guards, Podz has built a unique rapport with the team’s forward, Draymond Green. His repeated mocking threats towards the 4x champion had already been subjected to warnings. Yet, the courageous displays sustained as the Wisconsin-born made fun of the 33-year-old by sharing the latter’s old photos. “I still gotta popcorn his car,” the 6ft 6″ star eventually declared to respond to the callouts.

pic.twitter.com/xIS21QRKPT

— warriorsworld (@warriorsworld) February 20, 2024

Amidst the expressive nature, the meticulous and methodical approach of the youngster has received praise from his seniors. It has already resulted in six double-doubles this season, the most by a Warriors player this season. Because of this, the 20-year-old has maintained his position in the top 5 of the rookie rankings as the franchise remains hopeful of his progress in the coming seasons.

The post “Most Wisconsin Guards Have That Crazy Confidence”: Brandin Podziemski’s ‘Boldness’ Left Warriors Vet in Awe appeared first on The SportsRush.

In The Athletic’s recent feature on Brandin Podziemski, Anthony Slater narrated several stories from the youngster’s rookie campaign. As detailed by Slater, the 6ft 5” guard proved his worth during the preseason camp by defeating two of the greatest point guards of all time – Stephen Curry and Chris Paul – ever in a “King of the Court” style one-on-one contest.

Slater detailed how Podziemski was also chirping at the two future Hall-Of-Famers. While CP3 remembered the Tiger Woods-style fist-pump that the 20-year-old did, Steph recollected how the latter was not afraid to taunt the veterans. Anthony Slater wrote:

The rookie was giving it to two of the greatest to ever do it at the point guard position and alerting anyone within earshot of the damage.

“He did the Tiger (Woods) fist-pump,” Paul said, shaking his head.

“‘Let’s f—g go!’” Curry remembers him taunting. “That was hilarious.”

Brandin Podziemski is a winner through and through pic.twitter.com/clxupSOosm

— What are NBA Celebs Upto? (@NBACelebsUpdate) February 21, 2024

Despite being the youngest player on the Golden State Warriors roster, the Southpaw plays with a tremendous amount of courage, putting his body on the line on every single play. Having a fearless mentality and not being afraid to call out his teammates is something that the Warriors have appreciated and benefitted from massively this season. ‘Podz’ is now a key member of the Warriors’ rotation, and is even started by head coach Steve Kerr on occasion. And it’s hard not to give credit to his unyielding confidence for the same.

Brandin Podziemski called out Draymond Green for a turnover

Draymond Green is the leader of the Golden State Warriors, who often gives his piece of mind to players when he feels fit. However, Green was on the receiving end when Brandin Podziemski was frustrated with the defensive specialist’s costly turnover.

During a scrimmage, Podz’s side lost a game due to Dray’s mistake. Despite being a rookie, the combo guard decided to speak up and call the four-time champ out.

“We can’t have a turnover for game!” Podziemski told Green. “You cannot turn the ball over for game.”

Since taking on the leadership role for the Bay Area side, Green hasn’t had any player, let alone a rookie, address him that way. However, the four-time All-Star wasn’t hurt. Instead, he appreciated Brandin and asked him to speak up “all the time”.

“I was like, ‘OK, cool, you got it. No problem,’” Green said. “Here we are playing a pick-up game, a game to get me ready and he’s yelling at me. That to me said a whole lot. I was like, ‘You know what? No problem. But make sure you speak up like that all the time.’”

Podz getting at Dray over a turnover during scrimmage

Via @anthonyVslater

Link: https://t.co/rl1RDS11IU pic.twitter.com/a3XrGr8qyx

— warriorsworld (@warriorsworld) February 20, 2024

Brandin Podziemski has proven to be a crucial player for Steve Kerr. After taking a few months to find his rhythm, averaging 6 points, 2.1 assists, and 5.9 rebounds in October and November, Kerr increased the youngster’s minutes from December onwards.

He’s even started 14 games this season and has been an asset on both ends of the floor. For the season, he’s averaging a staggering 9.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. Even after Chris Paul makes his return to the lineup from injury, Podz gives the Warriors the luxury of having three playmaking guards on the roster.

Brandin Podziemski will play a crucial role in the remainder of the season as the Warriors make a playoff push.

The post “Did the Tiger Woods Fist Pump!”: Chris Paul and Stephen Curry Recall Rookie Brandin Podziemski Beating Them in ‘King of the Court’ appeared first on The SportsRush.

The East All-Stars, led by Damian Lillard and Tyrese Haliburton have already made history, tying the highest-scoring first half. And judging by the way these players are knocking down threes, the 200-point mark does not seem far away.

The East ties the All-Star record for points in a half

Lillard: 22 PTS | 6 threes
Haliburton: 18 PTS | 6 threes pic.twitter.com/iQo6dIU790

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 19, 2024

The East All-Stars only need another 96 points in 24 minutes of playing time to set a new record tonight. The 2024 East All-Stars tied the 2016 Western All-Stars for scoring 104 points in two quarters of regulation.

However, by the end of the game, the 2016 Western All-Stars missed the 200-point mark by just 4 points, finishing the game with a total of 196 points. No team has even been able to reach the coveted 200-point mark in ASG history.

The 2016 Western All-Stars had five players who scored more than 20 points, and nine players in double-digits. The West defeated the East with a 196-173 final score as Russell Westbrook led the way with a 31-point performance. 

Chris Paul was the only player in the West to finish the game with a 14-point-16-assist double-double. As for the East, Paul George’s 41-point performance ended up being overshadowed by the West’s total score after the final buzzer. Andre Drummond came off the bench and had a 16-point-13-rebound double-double as well.

Will this be the 200-point NBA All-Star Game?

With the 2024 NBA All-Star Game on the verge of becoming the highest-scoring ASG in league history, let’s take a trip down memory lane and have a look at the top three All-Star Game matchups with the most points combined.

In first place comes the 2017 NBA All-Star Game where the West defeated the East with a 192-182 final score. The combined total came up to 374 points where Anthony Davis put up an absolute showcase, ending the night with 52 points and 10 rebounds to go along with it.

The second place goes to the 2016 NBA All-Star Game where the West were the closest to the 200-point mark. The total of the 196-173 final score came up to 369 points and Westbrook went home with MVP honors.

The third-highest-scoring All-Star Game was the battle between Team LeBron and Team Giannis back in 2019. The King’s team prevailed with a 178-164 final score in the end with their total coming up to 342 points.

Now, all eyes are on the two All-Star teams for this year. Can they rewrite history by reaching the 200-point mark or ending the night by being the highest-scoring All-Star Game? Stay tuned to find out.

UPDATE

This All-Star Weekend, fans saw the Eastern Conference All-Stars cross 200 points in the 2024 All-Star Game with 211 points as they defeated the West All-Stars with a 211-186 final score. Karl Anthony-Towns led the night in scoring with a 50-point game, paired with 7 rebounds, and 3 assists.

Damian Lillard is the first player in NBA history to win the 3PT contest and the All-Star game MVP in the same season. pic.twitter.com/zGJA8d3HAE

— StatMamba (@StatMamba) February 19, 2024

However, it was Damian Lillard going home with the All-Star Game MVP award as he led the East in scoring with a 39-point performance, while also diming 6 assists and nabbing 3 rebounds for the game.

The post Has An NBA All-Star Team Ever Scored 200 Points In A Game? What Is The Highest Scoring Game In All-Star History? appeared first on The SportsRush.

While their no-look passes have stunned the crowd, it is their alley-oops that have dazzled the audience the most. Based on this aspect, these NBA greats have etched their names in the event’s history. By delving deeper into the aspect, we discover five names who have mesmerized the spectators with their playmaking skills in the All-Star games.

1. Chris Paul

Chris Paul leads the chart for the most assists in the event’s history with a total of 128. The Point God has achieved this remarkable feat in a mere 12 All-Star appearances, further highlighting his game-reading ability. His average of 11.6 assists per All-Star game therefore puts him in a league of his own as he stands alone at the top.

The North Carolina-born interestingly holds the record for fourth-most assists in a single All-Star appearance, with 16. In 2016, the 2006 ROTY made the headlines after registering this stat line in just over 19 minutes. The 6″ point guard impressively repeated this feat five years later as his endeavors aided his team win the matchup.

2. Magic Johnson

The 6ft 9″ guard remains on the list as a close second with 127 assists in 12 All-Star matches. The 5x champion’s playmaking quality was a particular area of interest for NBA fans in the 1980s. He justified it by averaging 11.5 assists per game during his appearances in the event.

On this day in 1992, Magic Johnson returned. Iconic performance.

– Retired three months earlier (HIV)
– Voted into All-Star starting lineup
– Thought it’d be his last game ever
– Dropped 25 PTS and 9 AST
– Battled MJ and Isiah
– MVP pic.twitter.com/cc8pn5taK1

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 10, 2019

In 1984, the Los Angeles Lakers icon provided a glimpse into his greatness as he registered 22 assists in 37 minutes. To this day, the record stands alone as the most assists provided in a single All-Star game. Four years later, the 3x MVP cemented his name as the second-place holder in the list with 19 assists in the 1988 event.

3. LeBron James

The King continues to make his presence felt in each possible aspect of the All-Star games. With a total of 110 assists in 19 games till now, the Akron-born has solidified his spot as the third-rank holder on the list. Averaging 5.78 assists per game, the name of the 39-year-old has become synchronous with the event since his debut appearance in 2005.

Despite the outstanding achievement, the 4x champion has registered double digits in assists only once in his All-Star career. In 2011, the small forward recorded 10 assists in a single game while scoring a triple-double for the Eastern Conference. This added further volume to the importance of consistency in competitive sports ahead of his 20th appearance.

4. Isiah Thomas

The Detroit Pistons icon Isiah Thomas ranks fourth on the table with a total of 97 assists in All-Star events. The Chicago-born reached this milestone in a mere 12 All-Star matches during his 13-year-long NBA playing career. In this stretch, the 2x champion averaged 8.08 assists per game as the point guard for the Eastern Conference.

Michael Jordan, Isiah Thomas, Charles Barkley and Moses Malone have a backwards free-throw shooting contest in warm ups at the 1988 NBA All-Star game. #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/Do0XdI2Itx

— NBA History (@NBAHistory) February 8, 2022

On top of that, the 1990 Finals MVP had multiple double-digit performances in terms of assists in All-Star games. Notably, in both 1984 and 1988 events, the 6ft 1″ guard recorded 15 assists each. In the first instance particularly, the 1985 assists leader registered a remarkable double-double, displaying his basketball prowess.

5. Bob Cousy

Bob Cousy has solidified his place as the fifth-highest assist provider in the history of All-Star events with 86. The Boston Celtics legend achieved this feat in 13 appearances during the 1950s and early 1960s. With an average of 6.62 assists per game, the New York-born set a benchmark for the next generation.

The 6x champion reached this milestone through sheer consistency in his 14-year-long journey. The point guard recorded double digits only twice in the All-Star games with 13 being the highest. Eventually, Johnson and Thomas caught up decades later before surpassing him to set a new tone.

The table thus not only sheds light on the legends of the game but also captures the evolution of the league. Each stat line certainly serves as the source of motivation for basketball aspirants as it presents them with opportunities to create history.

The post Top 5 Players with Most Assists in NBA All-Star Game History Featuring LeBron James and Magic Johnson appeared first on The SportsRush.

In the latest episode of SiriusXM NBA Radio, Scalabrine raised the trade scenario citing the impact of the 26-year-old. The 45-year-old openly backed the Bay Area franchise to secure the services of the power forward, stating, “Let’s say Chris Paul to Orlando, right? Would you be interested in Jonathan Isaac if you were the Warriors?”.

“Jonathan Isaac has had some injuries but when he plays, I see him all the time guarding Jayson Tatum and he is a beast. So, I think I would take him, and somehow if I can get rid of [Andrew] Wiggins, I would do that if I was them,” the 2008 champion added. He further emphasized, “I think Jonathan Isaac would fit in with the Warriors if he could stay healthy”.

There are reports that Orlando is interested in Chris Paul or Kyle Lowry before Thursday’s Trade Deadline@Scalabrine likes it for the Warriors if they can get Jonathan Isaac in the deal pic.twitter.com/gtAdzLxN2u

— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) February 5, 2024

On paper, the statements carried an ample amount of volume as Isaac has established his status as a defensive enforcer. His coverage of the floor remains exemplary while his low-volume shot attempts result in a field goal percentage of 46.7%. On top of it, the trade would significantly reduce the Warriors’ wage bill and simultaneously provide them with a trade asset for the long term.

Amidst the upsides of the trade, it remains quite unlikely to occur anytime soon in the future. Despite the injury struggles, the Magic organization immensely values the services of the 6ft 10″ star. Alongside this, the alleged interest from the franchise to recruit a veteran guard has also cooled down in recent days decreasing the possibility even further.

What does the future hold for Chris Paul and Kyle Lowry?

Lowry has recently been traded to the Charlotte Hornets after spending about three years in Miami. The 37-year-old is yet to feature for his new employers despite being fully fit. Reportedly, the franchise only values the 2019 NBA champion as a trade piece until the deadline. That’s why, despite registering 8.2 points per game and 4 assists per game, the Philadelphia-born is yet to play for his newest organization.

As for Paul, the situation remains far worse team continues to fail to manage the expectations. The Warriors wanted the Point God to lead the second unit, but the experiment yielded a series of underperformance. Averaging 8.9 points per game and 7.2 assists per game, the 38-year-old failed to justify his salary. The scenario further deteriorated following the surgery on his left hand, resulting in a month-long absence.

Thus, the future of both facilitators remains under question marks at the twilight of their careers. Despite showcasing their pedigree time and again, the NBA franchises are currently expressing doubts before recruiting them. The sad reality of the competitive league yet again comes to the forefront as the trade market heats up.

The post Wanting To Switch Chris Paul’s $30 Million With Jonathan Isaac’s $17 Million, Celtics Legend Claims To Like The Hypothetical Trade appeared first on The SportsRush.

Gilbert Arenas dove into the Los Angeles trade that took place in 2011 during one of the episodes of Gil’s Arena. He talked about how the league intervened in the Chris Paul trade that prevented him from going to the Lakers.

“So the trade was Chris Paul was getting traded. He’s getting traded for Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom, so one player for two, right? So, Lamar Odom’s going somewhere, Pau Gasol is going somewhere. Now you have Chris Paul and Kobe. 

“On the back end, which no one really knew at the time was Bynum was being pushed for Dwight Howard. So, now you would have had Dwight Howard, Kobe, and Chris Paul. Which no one really gave a sh*t about that. The actual problem was after the trade was done, Lakers had 24 million dollars in cap space.”

“You would have had Dwight Howard, Kobe, and Chris Paul..No one really gave a sh*t about that. The actual problem was after the trade was done, Lakers had 24 million dollars in cap space.”

Gil breaks down why the CP3 trade REALLY was stopped pic.twitter.com/HgDFtwSKgO

— Gilbert Arenas (@GilsArenaShow) February 5, 2024

Gilbert Arenas went on to talk about how $24 million in cap space meant two max contracts at that time. And that would’ve been a problem for the league as the Lakers could’ve brought in more superstars from around the NBA.

While Arenas may have made a solid argument, when crunching down numbers, he might not be entirely accurate. Even if Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom left and the team brought in Chris Paul, the two players had somewhat similar contracts. Gasol’s salary for the 2011 season was $18.7 million and Paul’s contract that year had a guaranteed $16.3 million.

As for Arenas’ hypothetical take, he mentioned that the Lakers would still have $24 million in cap space left even after bringing in Dwight Howard, he isn’t quite accurate there either. After all, Howard’s salary for that year was $18.09 million for the 2011-12 season.

So, to put things in perspective, if the Lakers had gotten Chris Paul, the team would’ve been far over the cap space when paying salaries to players. In fact, the Los Angeles Lakers still ended up spending $81,659,758 in salaries while the cap was set at $58,044,000 that year.

CP3’s take on missing out on the chance to play with Kobe Bryant

The entire league did not bat an eye when the Chris Paul trade to the Los Angeles Lakers got nixed. Though, if there was someone who was deeply affected by this, it was none other than the Lakers’ fanbase.

But apart from the Lakers fanbase, Chris Paul wasn’t too happy with how things went down either. While making an appearance on The Pivot Podcast, Paul finally opened up about how he felt about the trade getting vetoed.

“One of the biggest issues and why I was mad and there was a tweet that I sent out right after the trade got nixed. I said, ‘Wow.’ And a lot of people don’t know the biggest frustration was because, at this point, it was about money.”

Paul did mention how he lost out on the chance to play with the Lakers, alongside Kobe Bryant. But the trade getting vetoed ended up messing with Paul’s bird rights which could’ve gotten him an extra year while signing a new deal with the team. CP3 did mention that there were a lot of other things that played a role then but the whole ordeal did affect Paul more than it did anyone.

The post “Lakers Had $24 Million In Cap Space”: Claiming Nobody ‘Gave A Sh*t’ About Kobe Bryant With Chris Paul, Gilbert Arenas Breaks Down The 2011 Vetoed Trade appeared first on The SportsRush.

James and Bosh are legends of the teams Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors, respectively. The two have etched legendary status for themselves within their respective draft teams with incredible prowesses. However, the legendary players abruptly deciding to leave their first NBA teams for a Big 3 combination at the Heat was unacceptable for Barkley.

Charles Barkley believes that such star players leaving their long-time teams is a huge detriment to the dynamics of such teams. Hence, Chuck blamed James and Bosh for the same, equating Cleveland and Toronto’s eventual downfall. Lashing out at Bosh and James, Barkley remarked,

“What a lot of these guys don’t understand is that if all the good players go to the same teams, we’re gonna kill the golden goose. We all make a lot of money. We all have great lives. But you look at Cleveland and Toronto—with those guys leaving, we’ve killed two franchises. “

Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony were also loyal to their teams, the New Orleans Hornets and the Denver Nuggets, respectively, when Barkley appeared for this interview. Both were drafted into these respective teams and were on the verge of establishing themselves as cornerstones of these franchises. Using their example, Chuck added, ” If Carmelo leaves Denver and Chris Paul leaves New Orleans, we kill two more [franchises].

Quite to the contrary, Chris Paul was traded the next season by the New Orleans Hornets, and so was Carmelo Anthony by the Nuggets. The two established a separate legendary identity in their new teams as well. Though their previous franchises had their moments reflecting of downfall, they were quick enough to recover from this and once again establish their foothold in the league.

Charles Barkley’s concern was valid

After Carmelo Anthony’s departure, the Denver Nuggets sunk to mediocrity, which proved Charles Barkley’s concern right. The season Melo left, the Nuggets had a 38-28 record and consecutively exited playoffs in the first round. From 2013 to 18, the Nuggets failed to qualify for a playoff spot until the arrival of Nikola Jokic. Since then, Denver has become a regular in playoffs, finally winning the championship after last season’s title.

For Chris Paul, however, the New Orleans Hornets did not face as much of a downfall as the Nuggets at that time. Following Paul’s departure, the Hornets (Pelicans) picked Anthony Davis, who was a great addition to the team. The Hornets made sporadic appearances in the playoffs over the years and have now largely turned mediocre at this current juncture.

Comparing all of the players Charles Barkley compared above, LeBron James and Chris Bosh share two rings together, while Melo and Chris Paul have unfortunately never been able to win their chase for a title in their career.

The post “If Carmelo Anthony Leaves Denver”: Charles Barkley Once Accused LeBron James and Chris Bosh of Killing Two Franchises appeared first on The SportsRush.

The Golden State Warriors gave fans a hard-fought battle as they defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in their last matchup. As per the official injury report of the league, the Golden State Warriors have listed Draymond Green as ‘probable’ for the Memphis Grizzlies game tonight. Green is listed out due to a contusion in his right knee.

Green was in action when the Warriors defeated the 76ers in their last matchup. The 6’6 forward played a total of 29 minutes, scoring 9 points along with 6 rebounds, 6 steals, and 1 block for the game.

Draymond Green recently served a month-long suspension after his altercation with Jusuf Nurkic. Since Green’s absence from the floor, the Warriors have played a total of 16 games, splitting them evenly in the middle. And even after the defensive leader of the Warriors came back on the floor, the team has only won two of its five games.

On the other hand, the Memphis Grizzlies are playing without their star point guard, Ja Morant. Yet, the Warriors were not able to seal the deal, falling short to a bottom-dwelling Grizzlies team.

Now that the Warriors will be facing Memphis for the second time this season, will Draymond Green be available in Golden State’s starting lineup?

Will Draymond Green fight through the pain?

The Golden State Warriors pulled off a great trade, acquiring Chris Paul this offseason. However, even after the addition of Paul, the team has been performing considerably worse as compared to their season last year.

The Golden State Warriors are 20-24 so far this season, placing them 12th in the West. Based on where the Warriors stand, there may be a very strong possibility that Draymond Green may suit up for the game against the Grizzlies.

Out of the Warriors core, Stephen Curry is the only one who seems to still be in his prime. And if Golden State’s front office is wise enough, the Warriors will look to make the most of Curry’s dominance before he loses a step. And the first step would be that Curry’s teammates push themselves to win games to make it to the playoffs.

The post Is Draymond Green Playing Tonight vs Grizzlies? Warriors Issue Worrying Injury Update Ahead of Feb 2 Matchup appeared first on The SportsRush.

While a majority of the players on the court tend to go off for scoring outbursts, several pass-first guards stuck true to their role of being floor generals and were the primary playmakers even during the high-scoring exhibition games. Over the years, the likes of Magic Johnson and Chris Paul have treated fans with their incredible passing abilities, making the exhibition game more entertaining. Here’s a full list of the top five players who dished out the most assists in a single All-Star Game:

1. Magic Johnson

It is unsurprising to see one of the best passers in NBA history top the list. Back in 1984, the Western Conference suffered a tough 145-154 loss against the Eastern Conference. However, Magic Johnson won the hearts of millions of Lakers fans around the world. While playing for a team-high of 37 minutes, Johnson dished out 22 assists – most in a single All-Star game.

Apart from being the only player to record a 20-assist performance in the All-Star Game, the leader of the Showtime Lakers also managed to record the 2^nd most assists in the exhibition game. In 1988, a few years after setting the record, the 6ft 9” guard lodged 19 assists in yet another losing cause.

Quite impressively, the four-time assists champion recorded 16 assists in the 1983 All-Star Game and 15 assists in the 1985 and 1986 All-Star Games.

2. John Stockton

The NBA’s all-time assists leader had to feature on this list. After Magic Johnson’s 22-assist game and 19-assist game, John Stockton holds the record for the third most assists dished out in a single All-Star Game. Back in 1989, Stockton shared the floor with some of the greatest scorers in the history of the game – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone. Hence, it wasn’t very difficult for the Utah Jazz guard as he went on to rack 17 assists, helping the Western Conference grab a 143-134 victory.

Stock also put up an impressive performance in the 1993 All-Star Game. He put up a 15-assist performance and was named co-MVP of the event alongside his teammate Karl Malone.

3. Chris Paul

Chris Paul is often regarded as the greatest floor general of the modern NBA. Staying true to the nickname awarded to him, the Point God displayed his incredible court vision by being the third player with the most assists in a single game. In the 2016 & 2021 All-Star Game, CP3 recorded 16 assists each.

However, his performance in 2016 was more impressive as the Los Angeles Clippers superstar came off the bench and reached the 16-assist mark while playing for merely 19:10 minutes – a feat that’s never been done by any other player.

Paul has also recorded 15 assists twice – the 2013 & 2015 All-Star Game, being rewarded with the ASG MVP in 2013.

4. Kyrie Irving

Kyrie Irving is probably the most shocking addition to this list. Irving is known for recording an abundance of points and being a scoring point guard. However, in 2023, Kai put his playmaking on display as well. While also recording 32 points, the 6ft 2” shifty handler dished out a total of 15 assists. Despite being the only player in history to achieve this unique 30-point, 15-assist double-double, Irving wasn’t awarded the MVP of the event. For dropping 55 points and 10 rebounds, Jayson Tatum bagged the 2023 Kobe Bryant All-Star Game MVP trophy.

5. Isiah Thomas

Isiah Thomas has recorded 15 assists on two occasions – the 1984 & 1988 All-Star Game. In 1984, The Baby-Faced Assassin became the first player to record a 20-point, 15-assist double-double. Seemed like Magic Johnson was hell-bent on achieving this same feat too. In the very next year, Johnson replicated the exact same stat line – 21 points and 15 assists (in 8 fewer minutes than IT).

The post Top 5 Players With the Most Assists in an NBA All-Star Game Featuring Magic Johnson and Kyrie Irving appeared first on The SportsRush.

On the Run It Back podcast, Charania claimed the Warriors are willing to part ways except for three players. He said,

“Everyone is on the table, except for Steph Curry. When you think about it, realistically, Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski are two guys they are high on and they want to keep long term as their core moving forward. They are going to take calls on Andrew Wiggins, Chris Paul. Could they even get interest in a guy like Klay Thompson? I think those are very much open conversations for the Warriors. They have to be open-minded.”

What moves can the Golden State Warriors make before the trade deadline? pic.twitter.com/3NpCoLD94a

— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) January 29, 2024

The Warriors’ roster is filled with old veterans who aren’t pulling their weight. The team started the season without making any significant changes to the roster except landing Chris Paul and trading away Jordan Poole. The move hasn’t helped in the short term, and the team is now looking to cut their losses and move the veteran guard.

Klay Thompson will hit free agency this offseason, and the Warriors likely won’t offer him the contract he expects. If he is to walk away at the end of the season, the team should be open to trading him if they can land a young star. The Warriors should be willing to hear any offer that comes their way, even if it means parting with franchise cornerstones if they want to win another NBA title soon. However, if they choose not to be ruthless, the time of death will have officially been marked on the Warriors’ dynasty.

Warriors’ tumultuous campaign and their future plans

The Golden State Warriors entered the 2023-24 season with an unbalanced roster. They banked on their core trio of Stephen Curry, Klay Thomspon, and Draymond Green to do the heavy lifting this season. They expected Andrew Wiggins and Chris Paul to contribute and the team’s younger stars to chip in when needed.

However, their plan has failed spectacularly. While Curry is playing at an All-NBA level, Thompson has been inconsistent and is having his worst scoring season since the 2012-13 campaign. Green has spent 17 games on the sidelines courtesy of two different suspensions and hasn’t been too effective when he has played. Wiggins and Paul have been relegated to bench roles due to their lack of contribution.

The Warriors are considering player-for-player trade offers for Andrew Wiggins, who remains the most likely member of the team to be traded, per @anthonyVslater

(Via https://t.co/fs22rzrT75 ) pic.twitter.com/dHfqhEbqgp

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 30, 2024

The Warriors are 19-24. They are nine games clear of the San Antonio Spurs, who have the second-worst record in the league, the worst in the Western Conference, and eight games behind the Phoenix Suns, who occupy the final automatic playoff qualification spot. They are banking on making some moves to climb up to a play-in spot.

Per Sports Illustrated, they could eye veteran center Nerlens Noel to boost the paint presence. However, he’s far from a game-changing acquisition. The Warriors are looking doomed to miss out on a playoff berth and undergo a massive overhaul in the offseason. They are unwilling to give up on this season. However, the writing is on the wall.

The post Warriors Trade Rumors: Chris Paul and Klay Thompson Likely the Chips GSW Will Use to Give Steph Curry Another Shot at a Championship appeared first on The SportsRush.