It’s that basketball time of the offseason that makes in-season “slow news Sundays” look like the busiest time of the year.
Good for yall basketball nuts, Eurobasket tips off in 24 hours. Gotta make the most of it, with French Captain Yabusele leading his nation this summer.
Here’s some of the latest we’ve heard here and there.
Guerschon Yabusele
On the Knicks’ recent chemistry and why he joined the team:
“First of all, you can tell that they have a special bonding between each other. When they go on the court together, it’s like they try to kill the other team. They know each other pretty well. They made it so far this year in the playoffs, but year after year, you can just see their progress. So, for me, it was just natural, because I wanted to be part of this. It’s one of the toughest crowds, people know it. So, to be able to go there and be part of this is just something special.”
On what made his NBA comeback successful:
“I would say, first of all, the energy. People love the energy that I bring on the court – ‘dying’ for the ball, diving for the ball. Just fight through it for 48 minutes. It doesn’t matter who win or lose, just keep the same motivation and make people enjoy the game.”
On choosing to buy himself out of Real Madrid to rejoin the NBA:
“As a young kid, going to the NBA was a dream. So, I wanted to go back and make sure I had a chance to explore and play.”
On chasing gold with the French national team at the upcoming Eurobasket:
“A gold medal with France would be special. I’ve been playing with the team for years, and every time we get silver. So I think gold would be the next goal for us. But, of course, winning an NBA championship is also something special. I’ve never been part of something like that. Both would feel great.”
Jordan Clarkson
On the pride and energy of playing in New York:
“I just think the energy in the arena, this is a place that everybody wakes up and wants to play, wants to be a part of it. So I think being a Knick in that sense, you have a sense of pride. You know it’s love around the city always for the Knicks.”
On mindset and motivation heading into the season:
“I think when you go out there, be confident and show love and really play for the city and embrace it and wear that on your skin when you’re out there on the floor and play with pride and know it’s bigger than yourself and his team. I feel like that’s when you really are engaged and want to take it to the next level. And I’m ready for it all and super excited, and ready to get to it.”
Blake Griffin (Former NBA Player)
On his prediction for the 2026 NBA Finals:
“I think Denver got better this summer. Denver took Oklahoma City to seven games. I think Denver gets to the Finals in the West. And I mean, I think it’s New York or Cleveland in the East. I’ll take New York. Maybe they learn from some mistakes, they make a few tweaks.”
Donte DiVincenzo (Former Knicks Player)
On defending Tom Thibodeau to his new Timberwolves teammates:
“You motherfers better not say Tom Thibodeau (is the worst NBA coach). He’s the f*ing best.”
Allan Houston (Former NBA Player)
On the 90s boasting the best shooting guards in NBA history, notably MJ and Tracy McGrady:
“In our era of the 90s, I think I’m biased, but I don’t know if there’s a better era for the two guard. You have your obvious, your Michael, Tracy McGrady was probably the one that kind of stands out besides Michael.”
On other prolific 1990s shooting guards:
“You can go down the line from Vince Carter to Stackhouse, Ray Allen. I mean, even when I was younger, Joe Dumars and Doug West, Ricky Pierce.”
On the scoring intensity of the 1990s era:
“I mean, you go throughout the 90s, and you can just look at every team in the 90s that position, they were assassins, and they knew that. You knew that that’s every night, there was going to be some heat. I think it was harder to score in the 90s.”
Eric Musselman (USC Head Coach)
On Mike Brown’s preparation and coaching style:
“He is super-detailed, super-organized. That year with the Lakers, his playbook, he wants to make sure it’s color-coded properly. He got a little bit of an NFL, detail-oriented mindset. … Training camp, the drills and the precision … that was real detailed as well.”
On Brown’s experience having him ready for the Knicks job:
“I just think his experience of being in Cleveland and who he coached there (LeBron James) and then I think the fact that he coached in L.A. and it’s the Lakers. And with the media market in the Bay Area (with the Warriors), even though he was just an assistant, you can kind of sit back and watch how Coach (Steve Kerr) handles pressure and coaching in playoff situations. And he’s at a perfect age. He has a lot of things going for him.”
