Free-agent star Griffin to join Harden, Nets
NEW YORK — Blake Griffin has agreed to sign with the Brooklyn Nets, a person with knowledge of the details said Sunday.
Griffin became a free agent Friday when the former All-Star completed a buyout agreement with the Detroit Pistons. He cleared waivers Sunday and was eligible to sign with any team.
He decided to join AllStars Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and former Rockets star James Harden in Brooklyn, the person told the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because there was no announcement.
ESPN first reported Griffin’s plans.
The 31-year-old Griffin is a six-time All-Star who has averaged 21.4 points and 8.7 rebounds since being the No. 1 pick in the 2009 draft.
Curry among trio to earn skills win
Stephen Curry shot his way to another 3-point title and Domantas Sabonis made sure the Skills Challenge still belongs to the bigs.
Then Portland’s Anfernee Simons sealed his final, winning dunk with a kiss. Well, almost.
Curry, the Golden State Warriors superstar, provided a dramatic preview for his seventh All-Star Game appearance when he sank his final 3-pointer to edge Utah’s Mike Conley for the title on Sunday night. Curry also won the 3-point contest in 2015.
Conley had the lead with 27 points before Curry was the final shooter of the contest. Curry had 26 points before sinking his final shot from the corner for 28 points and the win.
After a runner-up finish to 2020 Skills Challenge winner and fellow big man Bam Adebayo of Miami, Indiana’s Sabonis returned to win the title.
The 6-foot-11 Sabonis did not miss a pass or 3-point shot in elimination wins over Julius Randle of the New York Knicks and Luka Doncic of Dallas in the test of passing, ball-handling
and shooting ability. Doncic fell behind by missing in his first two tests of his passing accuracy.
Sabonis beat Orlando’s 7-foot Nikola Vucevic in the matchup of big men for the skills title. Each missed two 3-point shots before Sabonis sank his third attempt and then clinched his fist in victory.
Curry had 31 points in the first round to lead the contest. Also advancing were Jayson Tatum with 25 points and Conley with 28.
Simons showed off his leaping ability and creativity to beat New York’s Obi Toppin and Indiana’s Cassius Stanley in the tworound dunk contest that started off with Stanley’s spectacular slam that received a surprisingly low score.
The 6-foot-3 Simons soared, almost kissing the rim, on a powerful righthanded jam to beat Toppin in the final. Simons puckered his lips as if kissing the rim, even though he was a few inches away.
Simons also paid tribute to a former star by wearing Tracy McGrady’s jersey on a jam that earned a score of 49 to earn his spot in the final.
The contest was judged by five former dunk champions: Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins (1985, 1990), Spud Webb (1986), Dee Brown (1991), Jason Richardson (2002, 2003) and former Rockets player Josh Smith (2005).
Leonard wants to play in Games
Kawhi Leonard is planning to play for Gregg Popovich again and chase a gold medal.
Leonard said Sunday at the All-Star Game in Atlanta that he is planning to compete with USA Basketball this summer at the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics — which would reunite him with Popovich.
Leonard spent his first seven seasons in the NBA with Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs before moving on to the Toronto Raptors and now the Los Angeles Clippers. Popovich will serve as head coach at the Olympics for the first time.
The Olympics could be a tight squeeze schedulewise for Leonard. The Clippers likely will be one of contenders to win the Western Conference finals and play in the NBA Finals — which, if they go the full seven games, are currently scheduled to end July 22. The Tokyo Olympics begin July 23, and the U.S. plays its first game July 25 against France.
USA Basketball is expected to finalize a player pool of about 60 names soon. From there, a team will be picked, and the current plan is to bring that group to Las Vegas around July 1 to begin training camp and a series of exhibition games against other national teams.