Raptors receive NBA’S biggest championship rings ever
Steve Kerr insists he isn’t ruling All-star guard Klay Thompson out for the entire season, yet the Golden State coach cautions that Thompson’s recovery from surgery July 2 for a torn ACL in his left knee is still expected to take nine to 12 months.
Thompson is “moving great” according to Kerr and certainly looked it as he’s back doing shooting work on the court.
“ACLS, generally they take nine to 12 months. Nine months takes us right to the end of the season,” said Kerr, who had recently told NBC Sports Bay Area it was unlikely Thompson would play this season.
“I wasn’t announcing anything. He’s doing great with his rehab. It’s still possible that he could play. I forgot with modern media that ‘unlikely’ is going to become on the ticker ‘out for the year’ and all that stuff, so probably my mistake for opening my mouth. It’s not the first time I’ve gotten myself in trouble for doing that. It’s an ACL, so if you just do your research with the history of ACLS, he had surgery July 2, get a calculator, do the math.”
Thompson injured his knee in a Game 6 NBA Finals loss June 13 to Toronto that gave the Raptors their first NBA title. Kerr said the Warriors
SAN FRANCISCO —
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr gestures while speaking prior to the team’s game against Minnesota. have had several internal summer recovering after he discussions about Thompson’s aggravated a cartilage fracture rehab in recent weeks in his right collarbone and “we all understand the area during Game 5 of the circumstances.” finals. He played the bulk of
“Klay’s bored more than the minutes at center during anything,” Kerr said. “He the postseason. wants to play. He loves basketball “We’re thrilled to have so much. The good Loon back,” Kerr said. “He’s thing is he’s starting to shoot so important to what we do. as you see out here. He’s He’s never going to make a starting to do more things.” huge splash in the box score,
Center Kevon Looney is he won’t be prominent in the expected to play when the highlights, but he does all Warriors open the season in the things that help us win the first official game at new and today we scrimmaged Chase Center on Thursday for a whole quarter. He made night against the Clippers. a dramatic difference with
Looney, formally listed the team he was on, setting as probable for Thursday’s screens, defending. He looked opener, scrimmaged Tuesday good. He scrimmaged two after having returned days ago, too, so it’s been a for the past four practices good few days of practice. after nursing a strained Hopeful that he will play right hamstring. He received on Thursday night.” a three-year contract this An update from the team offseason to stay with the on Willie Cauley-stein’s progress Warriors, who have reached from a foot injury is still five straight NBA Finals and planned for later this month. won back-to-back titles in Cauley-stein strained his left 2017 and ’18. foot ahead of training camp
Looney spent some of the while scrimmaging.
The Toronto Raptors received the biggest championship rings in NBA history and unfurled a banner celebrating their victory in a ceremony before their season opener against the New Orleans Pelicans.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver was on hand Tuesday night to honor the Raptors, who won the first title in team history with a six-game triumph over the Golden State Warriors last June.
The rings each contain more than 650 diamonds, as well as 16 rubies representing the number of playoff victories required to win the title.
On the face of the ring, diamonds form the Toronto skyline above the word “North” spelled out in diamonds inside a golden chevron.
After the rings were handed out, five-time All-star guard Kyle Lowry took the microphone to thank the team’s fans for their support, then gathered his teammates around him before leading a countdown to reveal the black, red and gold championship banner hanging above the home bench.
The Raptors lost NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard to the Los Angeles Clippers in free agency.
TORONTO —
Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry receives his 2019 NBA basketball championship ring from Larry Tanenbaum, chairman of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, before the Raptors played the New Orleans Pelicans in Toronto on Tuesday.
During ring presentations with creating the load for the Raptors’ staff, fans management schedule that cheered loudly for Alex Mckechnie. helped keep Leonard healthy Toronto’s Director during his lone season north of Sport Science was credited of the border.