June 2025

There were 1,837 posts published in June 2025 (this is page 136 of 184).

Ex-Mavs coach Don Nelson sides with Luka Dončić, wears his shoes in ‘protest’ while accepting lifetime achievement award

Former Dallas Mavericks head coach Don Nelson made a rare trip off the island this weekend to accept the Chuck Daily Lifetime Achievement Award at the NBA Finals.

Before Game 2 between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers on Sunday night, however, Nelson made sure to take sides in the stunning Luka Dončić trade from earlier this season.

“I want everybody to know I’m wearing Luka’s shoes, his new shoes from Nike … and I’m wearing them in protest for the trade from Dallas,” Nelson said. “I think it was a tremendous mistake by the Dallas franchise to trade him. I want everybody to know that.”

The Mavericks dealt Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers ahead of the trade deadline earlier this season in what was one of the most shocking trades in league history. It prompted plenty of backlash from Mavericks fans, too, who repeatedly and loudly called for the ouster of general manager Nico Harrison. Dallas then struggled the rest of the way and finished in 10th in the Western Conference standings.

The Mavericks, who landed Anthony Davis in the deal, have since won the NBA Draft lottery. They will presumably take former Duke star Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick later this month.

Nelson, a Hall of Famer and one of the best coaches in league history, led the Mavericks from 1997-2005. He also had long runs leading both the Milwaukee Bucks and Golden State Warriors before retiring after the 2010 campaign. Nelson, who also won five titles during his time in the league as a player, was the NBA’s all-time winningest coach when he retired. Only former San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has won more.

Nelson has been living in Hawaii and largely staying away from the game ever since. His trip to Oklahoma City this weekend was the first time he’s left Hawaii in seven years.

“History has already reflected Don Nelson’s staggering contributions as a cutting-edge innovator and visionary of the NBA game,” Pacers coach and NBCA president Rick Carlisle said of Nelson, via ESPN. “Back in the ’80s and ’90s, he made teams adjust to historic pace, liberal 3-point shooting, inverted offense and disruptive defensive schemes. All this while establishing himself as one of the most compelling personalities in all of professional sports.”

While the award is well-deserved, Nelson couldn’t help but share his thoughts on one of his former teams’ decisions. With the way the Mavericks’ fan base has reacted in the months since, even with the team landing the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, it’d be hard to find many that disagree with him.

Mets fueled by homers to complete convincing sweep of Rockies

The Mets enjoyed a bright and warm Sunday afternoon at Coors Field in style, with a cool and refreshing six-pack. No, not that type of six-pack.

There was no shortage of power from the Mets’ bats in their series finale with the lowly Rockies, as they smacked six homers in a game for the first time since 2021 en route to a 13-5 win and convincing road sweep. New York is now a season-high 18 games over the .500 mark, with a 4.5-game lead in the NL East.

From top to bottom, the Mets’ lineup produced some pop. The homer barrage began in the second inning, when Jeff McNeil won a 10-pitch at-bat against Rockies starter Chase Dollander by smacking a fastball to the right-field bullpen for a solo shot. Then, in the third, Pete Alonso flaunted his muscle with a two-run blast that tied him with David Wright for second place on the franchise’s all-time homers list (242).

McNeil and Alonso were thirsty for another round. The veteran utilityman crushed his second homer in the fourth — a towering three-run shot to the right-field seats — that pushed the Mets’ lead to a comfortable 8-0. Alonso then matched that dinger in the eighth with a two-run tank to left — his 17th of the season — that made the score 12-3 and gave him sole possesion of second place on the Mets’ list.

The other two homers — delivered by Bretty Baty in the seventh and Francisco Alvarez in the ninth — capped off a stellar weekend of offense for the Mets. They tallied 17 hits on Sunday, 39 across the three-game set, and reaffirmed their league status among the haves and the Rockies’ among the have-nots.

“He’s just swinging the bat well. He’s connecting on quality pitches in the zone and that allows him to hit the ball pull-side in the air,” Alonso said of McNeil’s power surge after the win. “It’s really cool [to surpass Wright], and for me, I just want to help the team win every single chance I get.

“My game is just driving the ball, doing what I can to score guys… Very blessed to do, but I really don’t think that’s going to settle in… We’re still in the middle of a season. Right now, it’s just focused on winning. But I don’t think [the record is] going to settle in until later on.”

McNeil, who collected three extra-base hits and logged the third multi-homer game of his career, also had some kind words for Alonso. And he couldn’t help but amusingly ask reporters how far away he is from catching up to Alonso in the race for the Mets’ power crown.

The exact number is 169. So, not close. But if McNeil is only concerned with the 2025 tally, he’s trailing Alonso by a more-reachable 11.

“He’s been pretty incredible this year. Locked-in every single at-bat,” McNeil said of Alonso. “Just seems like in big situations, he’s going to do some damage. … He’s been here his entire career. He set the rookie home run record, he’s closing in on the Mets’ all-time record. … Can’t wait to see him on top. … How many am I away? Well, maybe one day. It’s fun to watch. I feel like he’s putting on a show every time he’s at the ballpark.”

Surprisingly, the Mets’ offensive explosion didn’t include contributions from everyone. Francisco Lindor was the only one to go hitless (0-for-5), and right underneath him, Brandon Nimmo finished 1-for-6. Juan Soto didn’t follow their lead, however — he actually reached base a career-high six times with three singles and walks apiece.

MLB umpire Derek Thomas gets 3rd-strike call wrong, makes matters worse with swift ejection of Cubs’ Nico Hoerner

MLB umpire Derek Thomas has a short fuse. 

Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner paid the price for it Sunday.

Thomas was working home plate for Sunday’s game between the Cubs and Detroit Tigers. He called Hoerner out on a bad called third strike. He then swiftly ejected Hoerner after Hoerner protested the call. 

The ejection took place in the top of the fifth inning. Hoerner faced a 2-2 count with a runner on second and the Cubs trailing, 2-0. Tigers starter Jack Flaherty threw a 90 mph fastball that was probably low and definitely inside. 

Hoerner called it a strike for the second out of the inning. Hoerner turned around to protest the call. Thomas immediately threw his hand in the air to signal that Hoerner was ejected.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell ran out of the dugout to share his thoughts with Thomas. The ejection wasn’t as quick, but Thomas also sent Counsell to the Cubs clubhouse. Counsell didn’t leave the field without finishing what he had to say. 

So Hoerner must have said something egregious to warrant such a quick ejection, right?

It turns out, not so much. Hoerner shared with reporters after the game what he said to get ejected.

“I don’t think it’s really that often you can verbatim say to the press afterward what got you thrown out,” Hoerner said. “I said, ‘You’re having a really bad day.'”

On-field audio verifies Hoerner’s account: 

“You’re having a really bad day so far,” Hoerner said to Thomas before Thomas promptly gave him the hook. 

Hoerner then pleaded his case with Thomas. 

“I said, ‘You’re having a really bad day so far,'” he continued, hammering home that he hadn’t said any of the magic words that are generally associated with such a swift ejection. 

Counsell took up the case from there. But their pleas were to no avail. Hoerner’s ejection was final and Counsell’s soon followed. 

The Tigers went on to a 4-0 win. And there was no accountability for Thomas for following up one bad decision with another. And fans calling for automated balls and strikes calls were provided with another shining example to make their case. 

MLB umpire Derek Thomas gets 3rd-strike call wrong, makes matters worse with swift ejection of Cubs’ Nico Hoerner

MLB umpire Derek Thomas has a short fuse. 

Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner paid the price for it Sunday.

Thomas was working home plate for Sunday’s game between the Cubs and Detroit Tigers. He called Hoerner out on a bad called third strike. He then swiftly ejected Hoerner after Hoerner protested the call. 

The ejection took place in the top of the fifth inning. Hoerner faced a 2-2 count with a runner on second and the Cubs trailing, 2-0. Tigers starter Jack Flaherty threw a 90 mph fastball that was probably low and definitely inside. 

Hoerner called it a strike for the second out of the inning. Hoerner turned around to protest the call. Thomas immediately threw his hand in the air to signal that Hoerner was ejected.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell ran out of the dugout to share his thoughts with Thomas. The ejection wasn’t as quick, but Thomas also sent Counsell to the Cubs clubhouse. Counsell didn’t leave the field without finishing what he had to say. 

So Hoerner must have said something egregious to warrant such a quick ejection, right?

It turns out, not so much. Hoerner shared with reporters after the game what he said to get ejected.

“I don’t think it’s really that often you can verbatim say to the press afterward what got you thrown out,” Hoerner said. “I said, ‘You’re having a really bad day.'”

On-field audio verifies Hoerner’s account: 

“You’re having a really bad day so far,” Hoerner said to Thomas before Thomas promptly gave him the hook. 

Hoerner then pleaded his case with Thomas. 

“I said, ‘You’re having a really bad day so far,'” he continued, hammering home that he hadn’t said any of the magic words that are generally associated with such a swift ejection. 

Counsell took up the case from there. But their pleas were to no avail. Hoerner’s ejection was final and Counsell’s soon followed. 

The Tigers went on to a 4-0 win. And there was no accountability for Thomas for following up one bad decision with another. And fans calling for automated balls and strikes calls were provided with another shining example to make their case. 

Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil smack pair of homers in Mets’ 13-5 win over Rockies to complete sweep

The Mets wrapped up their week-long road trip on a high note, sweeping the lowly Colorado Rockies with a power-packed 13-5 win on Sunday afternoon at Coors Field.

Here are the takeaways…

— New York drew first blood just five batters in, as Jeff McNeil won a 10-pitch at-bat against Rockies starter Chase Dollander by crushing a fastball into the right-field bullpen for a solo home run in the second inning. The 411-foot blast was McNeil’s fifth long ball this season, and he entered Sunday seeing an average 3.65 pitches per plate appearance, a career-high mark. After a single from Ronny Mauricio and a walk from Tyrone Taylor, the Mets bumped their lead to 2-0 with a one-out RBI single from Francisco Alvarez. Dollander simply labored, needing 38 pitches to complete the inning.

— The Mets inflicted further damage on Dollander with a three-run third. After a leadoff single from Juan Soto, who proceeded to reach second on a wild pick-off throw, Pete Alonso once again flaunted his power with a two-run homer to left-center. The 416-foot shot bumped Alonso’s season RBI total to an MLB-best 59, and he’s now tied with David Wright for second on the franchise’s all-time homers list (242). Moments later, Mauricio singled, stole second, and then scored on a double to left from Taylor.

— The Rockies didn’t allow Dollander to come back out for the fourth, but the pitching change didn’t upset the Mets. They tacked on another three runs against reliever Juan Mejia when McNeil launched his second homer of the game — a towering shot to right — to make it 8-0. The rally was sparked by Soto’s third hit of the day and Alonso’s second. Through four innings, the Mets registered 11 hits.

— While the Mets’ offense stole the spotlight early on, Tylor Megill was equally as dominant. The right-hander attacked the Rockies with relative ease, striking out the side in the first inning and retiring 12 of the first 14 batters faced without allowing a hit. But his no-hit bid ended in the fifth on a leadoff double from Sam Hilliard, and he ultimately allowed two runs on three knocks and one walk in the frame that required 29 pitches. The Mets decided five innings were enough for Megill, who struck out five across 82 pitches (51 strikes) and lowered his ERA to 3.76.

— A six-run cushion wasn’t satisfying to the Mets. They pushed the lead back to eight in the seventh, when a leadoff double from McNeil — his third extra-base hit of the day — was followed by a two-run homer to right from Brett Baty, who stepped up to the plate with a measly .103 average across his previous 29 at-bats.

— In the eighth, Alonso claimed sole possesion of second place on the Mets’ homers list with a 372-foot two-run shot to left that increased the lead to 12-3. The dinger also pushed him ahead of Daryl Strawberry — who remains the franchise’s home run king — for the most multi-homer games in Mets history. Then, in the ninth, Alvarez gave the Mets their sixth homer of the day, a mammoth 450-foot shot to dead center, that made the score 13-3.

— Paul Blackburn took over for Megill in the sixth, making his fifth-career relief appearance, and he accomplished an unusual feat. He technically recorded a four-inning save by completing the game, despite allowing three runs on seven hits and a walk. It was the Mets’ first save of the kind since 2008.

— Soto’s afternoon at the plate was subtly terrific. He reached base a career-high six times with three singles and three walks, boosting his season on-base percentage to .384. Oddly enough, the 1-2 punch of Francisco Lindor (0-for-5)and Brandon Nimmo (1-for-6) atop the order produced only one of the team’s 17 total hits. Lindor was the only starter who didn’t join the hit parade.

Game MVPs: Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil

Alonso made some more franchise history, surpassing Wright for second on the Mets’ all-time homers list, while McNeil showed off some muscle with the third multi-homer game of his career.

Highlights

What’s next

The Mets (42-24) will take Monday off and begin a six-game homestand on Tuesday night, with the first of three against the division-rival Washington Nationals. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. on SNY.

Griffin Canning (6-2, 2.90 ERA) is slated to take the mound, opposite lefty MacKenzie Gore (3-5, 2.87 ERA), who currently leads the NL in strikeouts.

SEE IT: Pete Alonso ties, then surpasses David Wright for second place on Mets’ all-time home run list

Pete Alonsocontinues to rise up the Mets’ all-time home run list.

On Sunday afternoon at Coors Field, Alonso belted a two-run home run to left-center to put the Mets ahead 4-0 on the Colorado Rockies in the top of the third inning. The blast from Alonso was No. 242, tying David Wright for second on the franchise’s all-time list and trailing only Darryl Strawberry, who logged 252 long balls in a Mets uniform.

Then, in the eighth inning, the Mets’ slugger took sole possesion of second place, crushing a two-run shot down the left field line for No. 243 to put the team up 12-3. The pair of two-run dingers also bumped Alonso’s season RBI to a league-leading 61.

While Wright wasn’t the same pure power hitter as Alonso, it’s worth nothing that Wright hit his 242nd home run in his 1,583rd career game, while Alonso accomplished the same number in just 912 career games.

Here’s a look at how the Polar Bear took another step closer to making Mets history:

Yandy Díaz powers Rays past Marlins 3-2; Rasmussen’s streak of 23 scoreless innings halted in 1st

Jun 8, 2025; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Drew Rasmussen (57) throws a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Kim Klement Neitzel/Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Yandy Díaz hit a tying two-run homer in the fifth inning and his double in the eighth led to the eventual winning run as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Miami Marlins 3-2 on Sunday.

Díaz homered off Miami reliever Valente Bellozo in the fifth, tying the game at 2. He doubled off Bellozo (1-3) with one out in the eighth and was replaced by pinch runner José Caballero, who stole third and scored on a Brandon Lowe’s sacrifice fly off Calvin Faucher to make it 3-2.

Tampa Bay’s Drew Rasmussen had his MLB-leading streak of 23 scoreless innings halted in the first. Xavier Edwards had a leadoff single and advanced two bases on a groundout by Jesús Sánchez when the Rays failed to cover third base. Otto Lopez had a streak-ending RBI single for a 1-0 lead.

Ronny Henriquez and Cade Gibson pitched a scoreless inningss following two shutout innings by Miami opener Anthony Veneziano. Bellozo walked Taylor Walls in the fifth before giving up Díaz’s ninth home run that tied it at 2.

Marlins rookie Heriberto Hernandez got the start at DH a day after he drove in the winning run with a pinch hit in the 10th inning of Miami’s 11-10 victory. He singled the first three times up. He led off the fifth with a hit off Rasmussen, took second on a two-out wild pitch and scored on a base hit by Sánchez for a 2-0 lead.

Rasmussen allowed two runs on six hits in six innings. He had won four straight starts and hadn’t surrendered a run since losing to the Brewers on May 11. Edwin Uceta (5-1) struck out three in two perfect innings for the win.

The Rays and the Marlins (24-39) split six games this season after Tampa Bay (35-30) had won the season series six straight years.

Key moment

Caballero’s steal of third base in the eighth was his 21st of the season — tying him for the lead in the American League.

Key stat

The Rays lead the majors with 90 steals, while the Marlins have allowed the most with 96.

Up next

The Rays will start RHP Shane Baz (5-3, 4.96) Monday in the first of three games in Boston. The Red Sox will start RHP Brayan Bello (2-1, 3.91).

The Marlins and Pirates have not announced starters for the first of three games in Pittsburgh beginning Monday.

Clayton Kershaw delivers exactly what the Dodgers need in win over Cardinals

Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw delivers during the first inning Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals. (Jeff Roberson / Associated Press)

The Dodgers have sent Clayton Kershaw to the mound to give a slumping team a lift countless times during his 18-year career. And they’ve rarely been disappointed.

They did it again on a sultry Sunday afternoon in St. Louis and once again Kershaw delivered, earning his first win of the season in a 7-3 victory over the Cardinals that broke a two-game losing streak and ended a slide that had seen the Dodgers lose five of their last seven.

“He’s been a stopper for many years. He’s been a staff ace for many years. He’s going to the Hall of Fame,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before the game. “So he understands. And he’s going to be prepared.”

Especially after the Cardinals picked at an old wound just before the first pitch, using the massive scoreboard facing the Dodgers’ dugout to replay video of an angry Kershaw, hands on knees and staring at the ground after giving up a series-winning home run to Matt Adams in Game 4 of the 2014 National League Division Series.

“It’s a little bush league, but I don’t expect anything less from these guys,” Kershaw said. “So it’s no worries. No problem.”

Maybe. But Kershaw pitched like he had something to prove, giving up just a run on six hits over five innings. He struck out seven, the most he’s had in a game in exactly two years, leaving him just 17 strikeouts shy of 3,000 for his career. And more importantly, he did not issue a walk for the first time in five starts.

It was his best performance of his injury-delayed season.

“The results haven’t always been there, but I feel like there’s been a little bit of progress in each [start],” he said. “Probably the biggest thing, I had a little bit better command.

“I felt like I had an idea where the ball was going. When it was going bad, I didn’t really know how to correct it. [Today] when I threw a bad one, I had some ideas on how to fix it with the next pitch. Pitching is just making the adjustment as quick as you can. It wasn’t perfect, but it’s getting better.”

Read more:Dodgers place starting pitcher Tony Gonsolin on the injured list

An effective Kershaw could help stabilize a Dodger rotation that has once again been scrambled ahead of the team’s three-game series with the Padres, which begins Monday. Right-hander Tony Gonsolin returned to the injured list Saturday with discomfort in his surgically repaired elbow, leaving the Dodgers with 14 pitchers on the IL and without a starter for Tuesday’s game in San Diego.

A scan of Gonsolin’s elbow on Saturday showed no structural damage, which was good news, as was Michael Kopech’s scoreless inning of relief in his first appearance of the season. Kopech was activated from the injured list when Gonsolin went down.

“He was fantastic. Clearly his best outing yet,” Roberts said of Kershaw. “I really didn’t feel like he was laboring trying to find something. He’s kind of back to who he is. It’s much needed.”

The left-hander hit 91.5 mph with his fastball Sunday and averaged 89.6 mph. He also had a good curve and a decent slider.

Mookie Betts runs the bases after hitting a solo home run for the Dodgers in the seventh inning Sunday. (Jeff Roberson / Associated Press)

“I felt like every once in a while I would reach back and had a little bit extra,” Kershaw said of his velocity. “It’s not going to be amazing or anything, but I think at times it’s getting a little bit of life on it, making making guys foul some pitches get jammed a little bit.”

Kershaw also became the first Dodger pitcher in the series to get some help from his offense, which scored four times in the first four innings and seven times in the game, the most runs the team has scored in a game this month.

The Dodgers, who stranded 21 baserunners while going one for 25 with runners in scoring position in the first two games in St. Louis, took their first lead of the series in the second inning when Max Muncy, Will Smith and former Cardinal Tommy Edman all singled to center ahead of Hyeseong Kim’s two-run triple to right.

They never looked back after that, with a leadoff triple by Smith and a one-out double from Edman making it 4-0 in the fourth. Mookie Betts lined a two-out drive just over the wall in left in the seventh for his first homer since May 19 before the Dodgers closed out the scoring with two runs in a sloppy eighth inning that featured a single, two walks, two batters hit by pitches, a passed ball and a sacrifice fly from Edman, who was playing his first series in St. Louis since being traded to Los Angeles in July.

Now the Dodgers move on to San Diego and their first series of the year with the Padres, who are just a game back in the NL West.

“We’re excited to play them,” said Edman, who had his first multi-hit game in June, driving in three runs. “It’s kind of weird that we’ve gotten to this point without playing them or the Giants. We’ve got a lot of lot of games against those guys coming up. So we’re excited to get at it.”

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Hall of Famer Don Nelson wins 2025 Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award from coaches association

Hall of Fame coach Don Nelson picked up another accolade on Sunday, being honored with the 2025 Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award, handed out by the National Basketball Coaches Association (NBCA).

Nelson, who retired from coaching in 2010 (after coaching Stephen Curry in his rookie season), is the only coach to have at least 250 wins with three different franchises. Nelson is second all time in wins as a coach (1,335) and games coached (2,398).

“History has already reflected Don Nelson’s staggering contributions as a cutting-edge innovator and visionary of the NBA game,” said Indiana Pacers Head Coach and NBCA President Rick Carlisle. “Back in the ’80s and ’90s, he made teams adjust to historic pace, liberal 3-point shooting, inverted offense, and disruptive defensive schemes. All this while establishing himself as one of the most compelling personalities in all of professional sports. I’m certain that Chuck Daly would agree that our beloved ‘Nellie’ is most deserving of this prestigious recognition.”

“I’m extremely grateful and humbled to receive this incredible honor and join the exclusive list of coaches who have preceded me,” said Nelson. “Chuck Daly was a dear friend of mine and someone I respected immensely due to his class, character, and of course, his coaching ability. He may not have influenced my wardrobe, but Chuck certainly had a lasting impact on my coaching philosophy, style, and most importantly, how I managed the personalities on a roster…

“To say that I’m deeply touched to receive an award that bears his name would be an understatement. This is special.”

Nelson was a five-time NBA champion as a player with the Bill Russell-era Boston Celtics who went on to coach for 31 seasons with the Bucks, Warriors, Knicks and Mavericks. He was also the coach of the USA Basketball gold medal team at the 1994 World Championships. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2012.

Mavericks reportedly have workout set with Cooper Flagg ahead of NBA Draft

The Dallas Mavericks now have a workout set with Cooper Flagg.

The Mavericks have a scheduled private visit for the former Duke star on June 17, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania and Jonathan Givony. Dallas, who owns the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft later this month, does not plan to work out any other prospects before the draft. Flagg isn’t planning any additional visits, either, and “both sides are aligned on his arrival” in Dallas, per the report.

While things can still change between now and the draft on June 25, all signs continue to point toward the Mavericks selecting Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick.

The Mavericks, just months after trading away superstar Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers, won the NBA Draft lottery for the first time in franchise history this spring. They had just a 1.8% chance to win the lottery.

Flagg has long been considered the favorite to go No. 1 in the draft this summer. The 18-year-old, who was one of the most coveted prospects in college basketball history, averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists with the Blue Devils last season while helping them reach the Final Four. The Blue Devils dominated in the ACC, where they went 19-1, and Flagg was the consensus National Player of the Year.

While the Mavericks were thrust into turmoil after the Dončić trade — the fan base immediately turned on general manager Nico Harrison after the deal, repeatedly and loudly calling for his ousting — Flagg will get to step into a roster alongside Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving, who is recovering from an ACL injury. The Mavericks, who reached the NBA Finals in 2024, went 39-43 last season and finished in 10th in the Western Conference standings.

“When you talk about [how] he’s 18 years old and won’t turn 19 until December, it’s just amazing, his maturity,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said on 1310 The Ticket last month, via the Dallas Morning News. “You look at both sides of the floor. Defensively, he’s not afraid to guard and then on the offensive end, his ability to shoot and also be able to play off the dribble. When you talk about 6-8, 6-9, to be able to do that, it becomes exciting as a coach but I think it becomes exciting as a teammate.”