One of the most anticipated events in this year’s NBA All-Star Weekend is the 3-Point Contest on All-Star Saturday Night, for one simple reason: the Curry Brothers are coming home and are going up against each other while eight more sharpshooters look to spoil their party and take home the trophy.

How to Watch NBA 3 Point Contest

• Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free)
• Date: Saturday, Feb. 16
• Time: 8 p.m. ET
• TV Channel: TNT
• Where: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC

Stephen and Seth Curry both grew up in Charlotte while their father, Dell Curry, was a member of the Hornets. Dell is one of the best three-point shooters in NBA history, and his two sons clearly inherited that skill. Steph and Seth are in the top 6 this season in three-point shooting percentage, and there is no doubt they’ll be looking forward to facing each other in what should be a great battle between brothers.

But it’s not just about the Curry’s. Completing the field of 10 that will participate in the contest are Dirk Nowitzki from the Mavericks, Buddy Hield from the Kings, Seth’s Blazers teammate Damian Lillard, Khris Middleton of the Bucks, Kemba Walker from the hometown Hornets, Danny Green of the Raptors, defending champion Devin Booker from the Suns, and Joe Harris from the Nets.

The ‘moneyball’ is always the key piece of the 3-point shootout, and with the quality of the field in this year’s contest, they might just decide the winner. Let the games begin, and the threes fly.

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In a deeply troubling stunt, Jimmy Fallon enticed Stephen Curry into parroting the late-night host’s non-sequitur during NBA All-Star Game media appearances. The Golden State Warriors guard dutifully worked in “Energizer Bunny,” “flipping pancakes,” and “wham, bam, can of ham” into his responses.

All this for a laugh at the expense of more serious journalists, some of them asking very important questions. Sad to think that this took away from time that could have been spent on James Harden beard treatment or ASG defensive strategy.

This type of sneaky messaging is the future of branded content. Or maybe it’s already here. Who is to know if scores of players are just slipping in buzzwords to mess with us and/or move product.

Stay woke, people.

LeBron’s Lakers missed an opportunity to gain ground in the Western Conference playoff race with another loss Monday to an inferior team, falling to the Grizzlies. Luckily for the Lakers, the Spurs lost (again) and the Kings lost, but the Clippers won, so the Lakers will fall four games back of the 7th seed, and three games back of the 8th seed.

The Lakers have 22 games left.

The idea of LeBron missing the playoffs was unfathomable before the season began. He’d been to the Finals eight straight years – four in Miami, four in Cleveland – a modern day record. In fact, LeBron’s Lakers were in great position to be a threat in the West as recently as Christmas night, when they crushed the Warriors in Oracle and were 4th in the West.

But the win came at a cost – LeBron suffered a groin injury and proceeded to miss 18 games. LA went 6-12. They now find themselves potentially missing the playoffs, which would be a massive blow to postseason TV ratings and without question it would dent his legacy a bit.

I tried to compile a list of superstars in the modern era who missed the playoffs in their prime. It’s a very short list. Here is the list of stars who never missed the playoffs in their prime*:

Michael Jordan (sorry, the Wizards at age 38 wasn’t his prime)
Magic Johnson (nope, his 32-game stint at age 36 doesn’t count)
Larry Bird
Julius Erving
Tim Duncan
Shaq
Karl Malone
John Stockton
Clyde Drexler
Kevin Durant (injured in 2015 at the age 26, played just 27 games, and the Thunder missed the postseason)
Stephen Curry (injured in 2012 at the age of 23, missed 40 games – including the last 28 due to surgery and the Warriors missed the playoffs)

I could only find five superstars who missed the playoffs in their prime, and two of them involved serious injuries:

Kobe Bryant: At age 26 in 2005, Bryant was coming off the Colorado scandal and the court case, and dealing with fallout of Phil Jackson’s book ripping him. Kobe led the NBA in scoring (27.6 ppg in 66 games) but the Lakers missed the playoffs. But this wasn’t all about the supporting cast. He did have Lamar Odom and Caron Butler. LA was the worst defensive team in the NBA. It took Kobe 2.5 years to get Pau Gasol, who helped Kobe win two more titles.

Hakeem Olajuwon: At age 29, Olajuwon missed the playoffs. It was a tumultuous year for the Rockets, as they fired their coach, but Olajuwon was terrific. He played 70 games and averaged 21 points and 12 rebounds. Two years later, he won a title.

Charles Barkley: At age 24 – some will quibble if this was really his prime, but it certainly was, as he averaged 28-11 in 80 games and was named first team All-NBA – missed playoffs. It was his 4th season in the NBA.

Dwyane Wade: At age 26, he had a nagging knee injury and missed the final 21 games of the season and got surgery. The Heat missed the playoffs.

Dirk Nowitzki: At age 34, he missed the first 27 games of the 2013 season (32% of the season) and the Mavs missed the playoffs.

LeBron James has earned all the accolades he’s received for the last eight years. One of his most impressive records is that he’s never lost in the first round of the playoffs. Hell, he’s been to the playoffs for 13 straight seasons! But he will certainly be dinged if he is unable to get the Lakers to the playoffs this season, or if he gets there and goes down in the first round.

LeBron’s averaging 26-8-7 which is at or above what he’s averaged for his career. So he’s not having a down year – outside of the longest stretch of missed games in his career. Same with his shooting numbers (51/35/67, though his free throw percentage is currently a career-low). He’s still in his prime.

He’s got 22 games to get this group to the playoffs.

* We can debate “prime” for hours and not get a definitive answer. For the purposes of this piece, it’s on a case-by-case basis.

Charles Barkley wasn’t having it with Kenny Smith’s questioning Sunday evening on Inside the NBA. Things got so heated, Barkley threatened to slap his long-time co-host. OK, so maybe it wasn’t as intense as I’m describing, but Kenny better watch his step.

Barkley was trying to give his list of the top five players currently in the NBA, and Smith wasn’t a big fan of what Sir Charles was serving up.

Watch:

Here’s the quote:

“If I don’t slap the hell out of you on national television — it’s my list. It’s my list!”

Barkley put LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, James Harden and Kawhi Leonard as his top five. That left Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, Joel Embiid and others off.

Though Barkley’s list seems pretty solid, he had to expect some questions. As usual, the Inside the NBA crew caused a hilarious and uncomfortable moment. It remains one of the best shows on television.

Ayesha Curry joined Jada Pinkett Smith on  Red Table Talk on Facebook, and the snippet above revealed that she is active in repelling groupies away from Stephen Curry.

“Stephen is very nice by nature, and he’s very talkative” she said. “Everything’s very friendly and sometimes to the point where I’m like Okay I’m a grown woman so I just insert myself and be like Hello, how are you doing?”

She continued: “I’m okay with it now and obviously you know the devil is a liar and the ladies will always be lurking, hoping for their moment and waiting, but I honestly hate it.”

This is a scenario that is foreign to many of us but all outward appearances are that the Curry’s have successfully maintained a tight-knit, loving family.

[H/T BSO]

Kevin Durant has turned himself into the best player in the NBA for two consecutive postseasons. He was playing at the same high level this year before he went down with an injury. The focal point of the Warriors’ offense is closer to his right hand than Stephen Curry’s. This, of course, is exactly what Golden State envisioned when it brought Durant in to make a superteam even more super. Fill the court with elite playmakers and watch opponents get spread too thin to defend.

But it’s tough for people to enjoy nice things. They view success too often as a zero-sum game. Durant’s ascendence had to be indicative of Curry’s descent, they thought. The more ridiculous wing actually said that the former was carrying the latter.

This morning? Well, God willing those people will keep their computers and mouths shut.

Curry has done nothing but play like the best player in the world since Durant went down. After scoring 33 second-half points in the series-clincher against Houston, the former MVP dropped 36 against the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.

Curry went 9-for-15 from behind the arc, erasing any hope with the lightning-quick flick of a wrist. He added seven assists and six rebounds. His confidence exuded through every movement. He simply looked like he was having way more fun than anyone else.

It was as if he turned back the clock ever so slightly to a time not long ago when he was The Man. His masterful performance reminded those with short memories that he’s more than capable of shouldering the load.

Curry does not need to be carried. He’s willing to let others shine. That’s not a weakness. That’s a strength.

When backs are against the wall and chips are down, the diminutive assassin steps up. He’s a cold-blooded killer who can carry a team to a championship. There are times he’s the second fiddle, but he still has the No. 1 gun.

Durant will soon be back. The two will continue to play in concert, creating beautiful music and likely breezing to a third consecutive title. They’ll share the load and the success one more time before Durant rides off into the sunset.

Then, once again, this will be Curry’s team. And anyone who thinks his shoulders have gotten weaker hasn’t been paying attention.

Draymond Green dominated Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals Thursday night, showing why he’s the glue that keeps the Golden State Warriors together. While Stephen Curry dropped 37 points, Draymond was the star around which Golden State orbited as they scored a 114-111 comeback win.

Despite trailing the Portland Trail Blazers by 17 at one point, the Warriors battled back behind Green and took a commanding 2-0 series lead. Green was outstanding, scoring 16 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, dishing out seven assists and blocking five shots. And he did most of his best work in the fourth quarter with two fouls.

Green played phenomenal defense in the pick-and-roll as he enabled the Warriors to switch almost every screen late. He was constantly a menace in the paint and on the boards defensively. He was also the open man on a few key offensive pick-and-rolls with Curry late.

Look, I complain about Green’s on-court histrionics as much as anyone, but there’s no doubting what he means to the Warriors. He was involved in almost everything Golden State did Thursday night. Yes, Curry outscored everyone, but it wouldn’t have been possible without Green’s efforts.

Green is due to hit free agency in 2020 after one more season under contract for $18.5 million during the 2019-20 campaign. The Warriors need to ensure they have the money to re-sign them. He’s makes the kinds of plays a team needs if it wants to win titles.

Colin Kaepernick is on hand for Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals Monday night. The former NFL quarterback is sitting near the Golden State Warriors’ bench in Portland for the big game.

Check it out:

Kaepernick was hanging out before the game too:

Kaepernick is catching a good game, as the hometown Portland Trail Blazers are giving the Warriors a game and we’re finally getting a legit showdown between Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard.

He also saw Curry miss his first fourth quarter free throw in the playoffs since 2015. He has made up for it by dropping a triple-double though.

The Warriors are battling Portland without Kevin Durant, DeMarcus Cousins and Andre Iguodala. Despite that, the game is tight going down to the wire.

Not that long ago, the conventional wisdom surrounding the Golden State Warriors was that they were in trouble without Kevin Durant. It all seems so silly now that Stephen Curry has regained his unstoppable form and Steve Kerr’s team has breezed into its fifth consecutive NBA Finals. But there was real concern, even as Golden State held a 3-2 series lead over Houston.

Charles Barkley’s dire prediction was reflective of that worry. Here he is after Durant went down, forecasting that Golden State would lose in 7 to the Rockets or get bounced by the winner of Portland/Denver series.

No chance, of course, is strong phrasing. I’m not sure how many people shared the opinion that the defending champions’ goose was completely cooked.

Predicting the future is hard, perhaps even impossible. That’s how those neon buildings ended up in Las Vegas. So instead of poking fun at Sir Charles, perhaps it’s best to use his words as a springboard of consideration as to how quickly the Warriors have changed public perception.

In five games they’ve turned Durant into an afterthought. Some irresponsible people are even saying the team is better without him. They are not dominating but instead finding ways to grit out tough victories in crunch time. The winning mettle is overt and undeniable.

Barkley can be forgiven for not seeing it all play out like this. All of us can.

Don’t expect to see too many pundits putting nails in the Warriors’ coffin going forward — even if Milwaukee emerges as a Finals opponent.

Stephen Curry, named the second-best player in NBA history by his teammate Andre Iguodala, is often imitated but never replicated. And while this guy Max doesn’t have a lick of Curry’s talent, he does have the mannerisms down to the smallest detail.

Yes. This is exactly what it looks like when the guard is scampering around the gym, daring defenders to keep up with him. It’s very funny until it’s your team tasked with shadowing the sharpshooter.

Drake is reveling in the Toronto Raptors’ big Game 1 win in the NBA Finals. Not only did he talk trash to Draymond Green after the game, he continued by trolling Stephen Curry on Instagram.

Check it out:

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Steph Curry hair lint for sale on my eBay right now!!! username: DraymondShouldntWear23

A post shared by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) on May 30, 2019 at 9:03pm PDT

Drake might want to calm down a bit. The worst thing he and his Raptors can do is call down the thunder of the Golden State Warriors.

Let’s be real, Toronto isn’t going to sneak up on anybody again. Pascal Siakam isn’t going to come out of nowhere to dominate Golden State every game in this series.

Stephen Curry headed to the locker room after the first quarter of tonight’s Game 2 of the NBA Finals in Toronto. ABC cameras showed him talking to the Warriors’ trainer and ultimately leaving the game. Doris Burke asked Warriors head coach Steve Kerr what was up, and he said that he didn’t know and it was her job to find out.

Curry had played the whole first quarter before heading to the locker room. He had four points, all on free throws, while shooting 0-3 from the field (all his field goal attempts were three-point field goals).

This is a developing situation and we will update this story if/when there are any new details.

UPDATE: Curry is back on the Warriors’ bench a couple minutes into the second quarter. Doris Burke said he has been low energy all night. It appears he is not feeling great.

UPDATE II: Curry has returned to the game.

If you’ve been paying any attention to social media over the past several years, NBA players have rabbit ears for any criticism and respond in kind. An example of this happened today. Bleacher Report aggregated a quote from Jackie MacMullan’s ESPN story on how athletes handle pressure, featuring an anecdote on Steph Curry in which he said that he could have ‘easily’ gotten around Kevin Love and gotten a two-pointer instead of forcing a three in the last minute of Game 7 of the 2016 Finals.

Kevin Love saw this tweet and responded:

Is Love being sarcastic or humble? We report, you decide.

Drake did it again. After his Toronto Raptors beat the Golden State Warriors in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, the rapper was back to trolling the Dubs.

After the game, he posted this photo to his Instagram story:

That’s an old photo of Klay Thompson shirtless with some women.

Obviously, Thompson didn’t play in Game 3 and that was likely a big part of the reason the Raptors were able to win 123-109. Golden State got 47 points from Stephen Curry and 17 from Draymond Green but couldn’t find anyone else to help out on offense. Thompson’s defense was also sorely missed.

This is the third game in a row where Drake had a run-in with a Golden State player. After Game 1 he was nose to nose with Green, and after Game 2 Thompson and Kevin Durant tossed shade in his direction.

We’ll be waiting to see what happens after Game 4.

The Big Lead’s PM Sports Roundup, which can’t believe Enema of the State is 20 years old. 

Kate looks great: Kate Upton posted a stunning bathing suit picture just seven months after giving birth to her daughter.

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Things are finally heating up…

A post shared by Kate Upton (@kateupton) on Jun 5, 2019 at 1:20pm PDT

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Excited to kickoff SI Swimsuit 2019 in Miami with @strong4mefit !

A post shared by Kate Upton (@kateupton) on May 10, 2019 at 7:33pm PDT

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#MaximHot100 in #Israel

A post shared by Kate Upton (@kateupton) on Jul 25, 2018 at 4:36pm PDT

Durant out: Kevin Durant will miss Game 4 of the NBA Finals. Steve Kerr says Durant hasn’t suffered a setback but his calf just isn’t ready yet.

Gasol is making an impact: Marc Gasol was washed up before joining the Raptors, now he’s making a huge impact on the NBA Finals.

Tweet of the Day:

In Case You Missed It on The Big Lead:

Dan Shaughnessy Calls Bill Simmons A ‘Cowardly Guy’

Drake Trolled Klay Thompson On Instagram After Raptors Won Game 3

Warriors Fan Who Pushed Kyle Lowry Should Face Lifetime Ban From NBA

Nicole Curran, Wife of Warriors Owner Joe Lacob, Disputes That She Was Annoying Beyoncé

Around the Sports Internet:

The players who should be kept off the MLB trade block

The biggest needs for all 30 teams in the 2019 NBA Draft

The latest rumors on where Dallas Keuchel could land

Stephen Curry’s monster night didn’t matter in Game 3

Song of the Day:

(Happy 20th, Enema of the State!)

Kevin Durant tried to give it a go during Game 5 of the NBA Finals but barely made it into the second quarter. After coming out on fire, Durant went down in a heap with 9:46 to go before the half and immediately grabbed the back of his right leg.

Check it out:

That does not look good. It appeared Durant was grabbing his Achilles, not his calf. He had to be helped off the floor to the locker room. Stephen Curry and Andre Iguodala went with him:

The Golden State Warriors were up 39-34 on the Toronto Raptors when he exited the game. Durant had 11 points and two rebounds and was 3-for-3 from 3-point range when he went down.

Raptors fans briefly cheered when Durant went down, but their own players attempted to silence them.

Durant reportedly entered the game with no minutes or usage restrictions but it’s clear that wasn’t the best idea. It didn’t take him long to re-injure himself.

We’ll update Durant’s status when we hear more, but he certainly didn’t look like someone who was going to return to the game.

This video looks really bad:

UPDATE: Warriors general manager Bob Myers claims Durant suffered an Achilles injury but they don’t know how bad it is yet.

The Warriors were down six points with 2:32 remaining the fourth quarter of an elimination game when the Splash Bros. commenced doing Splash Bros. things.

First Klay Thompson hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 103-100. Then, with 1:22 remaining, Steph Curry tied the game at 103. 25 seconds later, Klay Thompson hit another from deep as the Warriors took a 106-103 lead.

Not without drama, but that point total stood. If the Raptors have a go-from-ahead-loss in these NBA Finals they are going to be absolutely sick to their stomachs about the final minutes where they had the champs on the ropes but couldn’t land the knockout blow.

Thursday night is going to take for damn ever to get here.

Nick Nurse and the Toronto Raptors had it all going for them. They had come from behind to take a six-point lead over the Golden State Warriors and had all the momentum. Then, inexplicably, Nurse called two timeouts with 3:05 left and suddenly everything changed.

The Raptors were on a 12-2 run and had the ball after a missed Stephen Curry 3-pointer with 3:12 left. Rather than allow his team to build on its momentum while leading 103-97, Nurse called timeout, then called another, doubling it up.

The consequences were disastrous. A rabid hometown crowd was largely neutralized and the air was taken out of the building.

In his post-game comments, Nurse claimed that he wanted to get his team some rest before the final push. He would have lost those two timeouts once the clock went under three minutes anyway, so he figured he had better use them:

Boy, talk about your all-time backfires.

After that timeout, the Warriors settled down and wound up outscoring the Raptors 9-2 over the final 3:05.

Draymond Green seemed to think the timeouts helped the Warriors tremendously:

He’s right, it allowed them to settle down and refocus. And the rest is history. The Raptors blew their chance to close out the defending champs in five games in front of a home crowd. All because a first-year head coach iced his own team.

If the Raptors can’t close this series out, that decision by Nurse will be second-guessed for years.

Fred VanVleet went bananas in Game 6 against the Golden State Warriors, leading the Toronto Raptors to a series-clinching 114-110 win in the NBA Finals.

VanVleet hit a number of crazy, clutch shots, finishing with 22 points in 33 minutes on the night, while dropping 12 in the fourth quarter. He was 5-for-11 from 3-point range and played tough defense on Stephen Curry for most of the second half.

Yes, Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Lowry will get most of the credit, by VanVleet was the shot-maker the team needed late.

It was quite a rise from VanVleet who went undrafted in 2016 and wound up catching on with the Raptors thanks to the 2016 NBA Summer League. He spent time in the D-League in with the Raptors 905 as a rookie, then solidified a spot in Toronto during the 2017-18 season, becoming a breakout star.

After being nominated for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award in 2018, more was expected from the Wichita State product this season. He delivered as a key two-way bench player for the Raptors. He didn’t get the headlines of Leonard, Lowry or Pascal Siakam, but he was every bit as valuable to Toronto.

VanVleet averaged 14.0 points in the NBA Finals after being below his season average of 11.0 points during the first three rounds of the postseason.

He stepped up and delivered when Toronto needed him the most.

The end of Game 6 of the NBA Finals between the Warriors and Raptors was kind of muddled — after this possession there was a Chris Webber situation with a Draymond Green timeout Golden State didn’t have and then a long foul review, both of which came with under a second remaining when the game was effectively over.

Before that, though, Stephen Curry had a clean look off a screen at a three-pointer that it feels like we’ve seen him make thousands of times. When he shot it, how certain were you that it was going in? I was not uncertain.

And yet, it rimmed out, there was a mad scramble for the ball, and the Raptors are champions. To be sure, Toronto would’ve had about eight seconds left to tie or even win the game. And even if they hadn’t, if Klay Thompson was going to be out for Game 7 this probably just hastened the inevitable.

Still, it was damn surprising to see Stephen Curry miss that shot.

As Father’s Day arrives once more, it’s the time of the year to appreciate fatherhood throughout the United States. There’s nothing quite like the connection between a father and his child, and while athletes occupy a pantheon far above most normal people, they’re the same as us in that regard. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the best father-child athlete combinations of all-time.

Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning

Probably the most recognizable family in terms of father-son professional athletes, the Mannings boasts three NFL quarterbacks. Archie Manning played his college days at Ole Miss, where he is regarded as one of the best quarterbacks in school history. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in 1971 and spent over a decade there. On a horrendous Saints team, Manning endured nine losing seasons and was sacked a resounding 337 times.

The first Manning child to follow Archie’s footsteps in the NFL was Peyton in 1998. After enjoying a spectacular career at Tennessee, Peyton was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts. He spent fourteen seasons with the Colts, winning one Super Bowl before signing with the Denver Broncos in 2012. Peyton tacked on his second Super Bowl victory in 2015, which also marked his final game in the NFL, as he retired that offseason. The baby of the Manning family, Eli, followed his father’s footsteps and attended Ole Miss. Following a tremendous career at his father’s alma mater, Eli was drafted first overall in 2004 by the San Diego Chargers before promptly being traded to the New York Giants. In the NFL, Eli has experienced an up-and-down career filled with many highs and many lows. Not known for being a spectacular regular season quarterback, Eli has excelled in the postseason, beating Tom Brady and the New England Patriots twice in the Super Bowl.

It’s hard to find a father-son combination as successful as Archie, Peyton, and Eli, making them one of the most recognizable and successful pairings on the list. It’s a shame that the eldest brother, Cooper Manning, was forced to retire the summer before he started at Ole Miss due to spinal stenosis. He was a highly recruited wide receiver out of high school and based on the Manning track record, you can only wonder what Cooper would have accomplished at the next level.

Dell, Stephen and Seth Curry 

Dell Curry enjoyed a solid 16-year NBA career, during which he spent the majority of his years playing for the Charlotte Hornets. Dell was predominately a role player, and averaged a career-best 16.3 points per game during the 1993-1994 season, earning the NBA Sixth Man of the Year trophy in the process. What Curry was best known for was his incredible shooting ability, which has clearly been passed down to both of his sons.

Steph Curry has enjoyed an exceptional NBA career with the Golden State Warriors. A three-time NBA champion and two-time league MVP, Steph is already regarded as the greatest shooter of all-time. On the other hand, Seth Curry didn’t have nearly the same path to the NBA. After going undrafted out of Duke in 2013, Seth has bounced between the G League and NBA before finding a permanent spot in the league the past few seasons. More of a role player like his father Dell, Seth averaged almost eight points per game this year on a Portland Trail Blazers team that lost to Steph’s Warriors in the Western Conference Finals. Just like his father and brother, Seth is also known for his spectacular shooting ability.

One of the most famous families in the sport of basketball, the Curry clan is on top of the world right now. For Dell, it will be hard to find a better Father’s Day gift than having the opportunity to watch both of his sons compete in the 2019 Western Conference Finals. That’s when you know you made it.

Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr.

Ken Griffey Sr. played 19 seasons in the MLB, with the majority of his peak seasons as a member of the Cincinnati Reds. Although he’s a three-time All-Star and two-time World Series Champion, I’m sure if you ask him what his favorite moment in his entire career is, his answer will be quick: playing on the same team with his son.

In 1989, Ken Griffey Jr. was drafted by the Seattle Mariners. In 1990, Ken Griffey Sr. joined the Mariners and played alongside his son before retiring at the end of the 1991 season. The Griffey’s made history with the Mariners, becoming the only father and son to play together on the same team. In one of the coolest moments in MLB history, the Griffey family hit back-to-back home runs during a game in the 1990 season.

After Griffey Sr. retired, Griffey Jr. enjoyed a Hall of Fame career. Griffey Jr. is regarded as having one of the purest swings in baseball history and finished his career with 630 career home runs, which currently seventh on the all-time list.

Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Sr. was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010 and is regarded as one of the best auto racing drivers of all-time. His aggressive driving style helped earn him 76 Winston Cup victories throughout the course of his career. In 2000, Dale Earnhardt Jr. made his NASCAR debut driving alongside his father on the biggest auto racing stage in the world.

In 2001, tragedy struck at the Daytona 500 when Dale Earnhardt Sr. was killed in a collision on the final lap. Since his father’s death, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has surely made his father proud. Before retiring in 2017, Earnhardt Jr. was consistently one of the best NASCAR drivers throughout the duration of his career. He ultimately finished with 26 wins in the Cup Series, which puts him in the top 40 in NASCAR history.

Karl Malone and Cheryl Ford

An NBA Hall of Famer, Karl Malone will forever be remembered as one of the best basketball players in league history. With the Utah Jazz, Malone was a two-time NBA MVP, 11-time All-NBA First Team member and 14-time NBA All-Star. Although he never won an NBA title (due in large part to the dominance of Michael Jordan), the mid-to-late 1990s Jazz are regarded as one of the best teams in NBA history.

After retiring in 2004, Malone enjoyed watching his daughter, Cheryl Ford, follow his footsteps and dominate the hardwood. Ford was a member of the Detroit Shock of the WNBA from 2003-2009. During this time, she became a three-time WNBA Champion and four-time WNBA All-Star.

Finally, even if just for a brief moment, the NBA’s spotlight has shifted away from the Bay Area.

The “Strength in Numbers” dynasty that was built by the Golden State Warriors over the last five years ended in dramatic fashion Thursday night. A 114-110 loss sent Oracle Arena out on its final night with a dying roar as the Toronto Raptors won the 2019 NBA Finals in six games.

Everything that could go wrong for the Warriors went wrong throughout the series. Kevin Durant was rushed back from a calf strain to save the Warriors in Game 5 and after 11 minutes, he ruptured his Achilles tendon. He was lost, not just for the rest of the Finals, but likely for all of next season.

Klay Thompson — who also missed Game 3 with a hamstring strain — was putting in another solid, difference-making performance in Game 6 before landing awkwardly when he was fouled by Danny Green driving to the rim with just over two minutes remaining in the third quarter. He claimed he didn’t hear his knee pop at first, came back to shoot a pair of free throws, then went back to the locker room where it was later discovered he tore his ACL.

Despite losing two of their key starters, the Warriors were still in Game 6 with a chance to force a seventh game the same way an older boxer battles their his way to the 12th and final round. Stephen Curry, with seconds left on the clock, had a chance to be the hero, but his catch-and-shoot 3-pointer bounced off of the rim.

Both Curry and Draymond Green vowed to the media that they would be back in the Finals after Thursday night’s loss, that isn’t guaranteed. And Thursday night might’ve marked the end of the Warriors dynasty as we know it.

This is nowhere near the same Warriors team that won a title in 2015. That group had depth, energy and the attitude that it had nothing to lose when it won the Finals in their third-straight playoff appearance since 2013. This is a team with the expectation of reaching and winning the NBA Finals year in and year out, the same way the Chicago Bulls of the 90’s and the Lakers and Spurs of the 2000’s did.

Yes, the 2019 Warriors were banged up and, to their credit, the Finals would have been a very different series if they were healthy.

It’s going to be a tough realization, but with Durant and Thompson missing at least significant chunks of next season, the Warriors won’t make the NBA Finals next year.

Durant averaged 26.0 points per game during the regular season while Thompson averaged 21.5. Curry and DeMarcus Cousins (16.3) were the only other players to average double figures on the season (Cousins only played 30 games). Everyone else averaged fewer than eight points per game, with Green leading the way at 7.4.

Toss in that they could lose key role players off of the bench like Shaun Livingston to retirement, Andrew Bogut to Australia, and Cousins to free agency, and the Warriors will be even further diminished. Who could really step up the absence of all the guys the Warriors will be missing when 2019 starts? Can Quinn Cook step up his game even more, will Kevon Looney be healthy, and is Jordan Bell ready for more minutes? That’s a lot to ask.

If nobody within the roster can get the job done, who could the Warriors actually sign this summer, especially since they’re committed to re-signing both Durant and Thompson to max deals?

The Warriors also have trended downward in the regular season since their 73-9 record campaign in 2015-16. Since they rebounded to win the 2017 NBA title, the Warriors haven’t surpassed 60 wins in each of these last two seasons, finishing with 58 in 2018 and 57 this year. Either the West is catching up or the Warriors are slowing down.

Before the sweep over the Blazers in the Western Conference Finals, this favored Warriors team was challenged by the Clippers and pushed to the edge by the Rockets in the first two rounds of the playoffs. Each series went six games. The West is continuing to get better and is expected to improve even more over the summer. If Kawhi Leonard leaves Toronto for the Clippers, they’ll be a potential force to be dealt with, and LeBron James and the Lakers aren’t just expected to return to the playoffs next season, they’re projected as the favorites to win it all.

Then there’s one thing that stats don’t tell you: the stress and fatigue of being dominant for so long. Andre Iguodala explained to the New York Times’ Marc Stein that, “It’s more the mental strain, especially when you have success.”

“It opens your eyes a lot,” he added. “You don’t get the chance to enjoy it. It’s like, we’ll win one night, then two days later it’s right back to answering the same old questions: ‘Are you guys really this good?’ Everyone continues to doubt you. Or they say, ‘You’re about to lose this guy, so now what are you going to do?’ Or: ‘You’re not king of the NBA anymore.’ You don’t get to enjoy your success as much anymore.”

The Chicago Bulls are regarded as one of basketball’s greatest dynasties with a pair of three-peats in an eight-year span. There’s nothing wrong with not making the Finals or coming back to win it the year after losing in the finals, especially given how tough the Warriors may have it next year. Unless you’re the Warriors, moving across the Bay for the glitz and glamour of San Francisco, then not winning it all may take some of the shine off of the new billion-dollar arena.

The 2009 NBA Draft wasn’t heralded as one of the better ones of the century, but that’s how it looks in retrospect. Two of the five best players in the game today came out of this draft in the form of Stephen Curry and James Harden, and Blake Griffin certainly isn’t a slouch either. There were a handful of rotation guys who we’d come to know quite well, too, like Patrick Beverley, Danny Green, and Jrue Holiday.

But the draft didn’t have all those guys in the top 10, of course. The Grizzlies would probably like another chance after taking Hasheem Thabeet that year, while the Wolves passed on Curry no less than two times for two other point guards, Jonny Flynn and Ricky Rubio. As the 2019 NBA Draft draws near, we went back a decade and re-drafted the entire 2009 NBA Draft with the benefit of hindsight. The shockwaves are, obviously, huge, and would drastically change the league as we know it. It’s impossible to project just how far the reach would be, but we do our best. Here’s the 2009 NBA draft, re-done.

1. Los Angeles Clippers
Original Pick: Blake Griffin
New Pick: Steph Curry

Obviously, right? It took Curry about five years to become the player he is today after he struggled with ankle injuries early on, but the Clippers would be just fine with that. Curry would’ve made for a fine pick-and-roll partner with DeAndre Jordan, bringing on an early version of Lob City, and his backcourt mate Eric Gordon would’ve made for Splash Bros Lite. With Curry on the roster, they never trade for Chris Paul, and perhaps flip the script as the Lakers’ little brother sooner than expected. A core of Gordon, Curry, and Jordan is good enough to be a title contender and attract marquee free agents, and the Clippers get a generational talent.

2. Memphis Grizzlies
Original Pick: Hasheem Thabeet
New Pick: James Harden

Almost anyone else would give the Grizzlies more value than Thabeet did, and Harden accomplishes that and more. Similar to Curry, he was a late bloomer who started out as a Sixth Man of the Year before becoming a premier offensive force in the league starting around 2013. A core of Mike Conley, Marc Gasol, and Harden is as well-rounded as it gets, with Harden providing the scoring output that the Grit ‘n Grind Grizzlies always lacked at their peak. Similar to Harden, Gasol and Conley really came into their own between 2012 and 2014. They’d be able to make a lot of noise in the playoffs and compete for a title. A combo of Harden, O.J. Mayo, and Rudy Gay would be redundant and might cause some issues, but overall it’s hard to imagine a better fit for Harden than with a smart, pass-first point guard and a defensive stalwart and passing expert down low.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder
Original Pick: James Harden
New Pick: Blake Griffin

Griffin stays in Oklahoma as the Thunder become the first team to suffer from the re-draft… sort of. Oklahoma City infamously traded away Harden in 2012 to stay under the luxury tax for one more year and later pay Serge Ibaka, but would they be more willing to pay for a guy who’s a much better fit with two ball-dominant scorers in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook? They just might. While Griffin wasn’t the all-around offensive force with shooting touch he is now, he was an elite athlete coming out of college who would form one of the greatest dunking duos in NBA history with Westbrook. The year following this draft Durant really came into his own, and while Griffin missed the first year of his career with a torn ACL, he’d play a beautiful complementary piece in the years following. He probably wouldn’t push the team over the edge to win a title in the 2012 Finals, but a Big 3 of Griffin, Durant, and Westbrook would absolutely be good enough to regularly compete for a title, even if Griffin doesn’t develop into the same player he is today with two other elite scorers by his side.

4. Sacramento Kings
Original Pick: Tyreke Evans
New Pick: DeMar DeRozan

Evans had a stellar first year in SacTown, but dramatically flamed out. The Kings choose to take more than one year of productivity with DeRozan. It took about three years before DeRozan became the midrange scoring artist we know him as today, which means he would still lead the Kings as a rookie to a poor enough record that they still end up with DeMarcus Cousins in 2010. A combo of Cousins and DeRozan isn’t exactly an elite duo, but they’d provide quite the scoring punch and could bludgeon teams in the post like few others. By themselves, they aren’t title contenders, but who knows how a stable sidekick to Cousins would change his view of the organization? It might become easier to recruit guys to Sacramento, and Cousins might never leave. The Kings are in a good spot now, but they were in a very bad spot for a long time, and picking DeRozan in this draft may have granted stability to a notably shaky franchise.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves
Original Pick: Johnny Flynn
New Pick: Jrue Holiday

Similar to the Grizzlies, the Wolves blew this pick so badly that picking almost anyone else would have given them more value than Flynn. In this version, they pick up a different point guard in Holiday, who has become one of the best two-way point guards in the game. It took him around five years to find his offensive groove, but his defense has always been better than most. He’d make for a good complement to the scoring and rebounding machine that Kevin Love would eventually become.

After losing the 2019 NBA Finals to the Toronto Raptors in Game 6, the Golden State Warriors didn’t sulk, they celebrated.

In a recent interview with Complex Sports, Warriors star Steph Curry revealed that the team came over to his house and shared stories and laughs about the 2018-2019 season over bottles of wine.

After missing a wide-open three-point look to give the Warriors the lead with under ten seconds left in the game, it appears that Curry has moved on relatively quickly.

In the mind of the Warriors, reaching Game 6 of the NBA Finals with their injured roster was a win itself. However, for a team that’s dominated the NBA over the past five years, it’s weird that a loss on the games biggest stage warranted celebration rather than disappointment.

Celebrating the journey rather than the result is not how championship teams behave. Instead of congratulating themselves on reaching the big stage, championship teams use the motivation of losing towards their benefit the next season. When LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers lost to the Warriors in the 2017 NBA Finals, James posted a video in the gym just days after. Rather than moping or celebrating, he simply got back to work. James is admittedly borderline superhuman when it comes to his endurance and body, but his competitive drive never stops.

One of the most dominant dynasties in league history, the Warriors have reached the NBA Finals the past five years and won three titles. This year, the Warriors lost both Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson in the Finals to devastating injuries. According to Curry, this year’s run to the NBA Finals was the most difficult both physically and emotionally. Curry went on to say that, “there’s really no reason other than our sheer fighting ability and competitiveness that we were within a possession to get to Game 7.”

Whether it was a team therapy session or true celebration of their success this past season, it’s bizarre to see one of the best teams in league history content with being the runner-up. With a chance to win their third straight title, the Warriors should have been devastated that they couldn’t add their name to the history books of NBA teams to accomplish a three-peat. They should have been upset that the Raptors celebrated winning a title on their home floor, in the last game ever at Oracle Arena. Instead, they celebrated the fact that they made it to Game 6 of the NBA Finals.

There are no consolation prizes in sports, and it looks like the Warriors failed to receive that message.

Klay Thompson isn’t going anywhere. The five-time All-Star and the Golden State Warriors are expected to agree to a max contract as soon as Sunday night.

Thompson will get a five-year, $190 million max deal, but he missed out on a super-max contract by not making an All-NBA team this season.

Thompson has been a key member of Golden State’s last three NBA championships and the franchise’s run to five straight Western Conference titles. He tore his ACL during the 2019 NBA Finals and is expected to miss a significant chunk of the 2019-20 season, if not all of it.

Despite the injury, Thompson’s value to the franchise is huge. He is one of the original “Splash Brothers” along with Stephen Curry and he’s invaluable as a two-way player.

This past season, Thompson averaged 21.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 34.0 minutes per game. He also shot 40.2 percent from 3-point range.

Obviously this was a deal everyone expected to get done. The Warriors were going to remain loyal to Thompson despite his injury, and he was never going to leave.

D'Angelo Russell is reportedly heading to the Golden State Warriors. The 23-year-old guard will be part of a sign-and-trade between the Warriors and the Brooklyn Nets. He’ll receive a four-year, $117 million deal.

While this deal has been agreed to, the Warriors couldn’t complete it until they unloaded some salary.

So they did that, by shipping Andre Iguodala to the Memphis Grizzlies along with a few first-round picks:

If this deal is completed it will bring another scoring guard to the Warriors, but it could be an awkward fit.

Russell is a ball-dominant guard in an offense that runs through Stephen Curry. While Curry can play off-the-ball, he’s better when the offense runs through him. Klay Thompson works better off-the-ball, and Russell needs the ball in his hands to be effective.

Yes, Steve Kerr could find a way to make this work, but it’s not going to be an easy plug-and-play like adding Kevin Durant was.

Russell had a career-best season during the 2018-19 campaign. He set career-highs in points (21.1), assists (7.0), rebounds (3.9) and minutes (30.2) per game. He also hit a career-high 36.9 percent from 3-point range.

NBA free agency opened with a crazy first day on Sunday. Huge contracts were handed out left and right and a ton of big names were taken off the board. More than $3 billion was spent in just a few hours.

Here’s a look at the biggest losers from the first day of 2019’s NBA free agency extravaganza.

Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

New York Knicks

I mean, come on. The last few months have been packed with losses for the New York Knicks. On Sunday, it got even worse.

The Knicks tanked during the 2018-19 season hoping to win the draft lottery and land Zion Williamson. They failed. Then they traded Kristaps Porzingis to open up enough room to go after top free agents this summer. They failed. Yes, on Sunday the Knicks struck out on all of their top targets.

Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving signed with the Brooklyn Nets. Meanwhile, Jimmy Butler, Kawhi Leonard and others aren’t interested in playing at Madison Square Garden.

While missing on those guys, the Knicks instead gave Julius Randle $63 million over three years, Bobby Portis $31 million over two years and agreed to a two-year, $20 million deal with Taj Gibson. I’m sure Knicks fans will be just fine with those signings, right?

On top of everything, the Knicks will now play second-fiddle in their own town as the Nets become the dominant franchise in New York.

D'Angelo Russell knows his time with the Golden State Warriors may not last long. Rumors suggest the Warriors might move the All-Star guard if they can get a solid return.

Russell had the following to say when asked about potentially being moved eventually:

Russell has a great attitude about his situation. He knows he may not be the best fit for what Golden State wants to do in the backcourt. Let’s be real, the Warriors worked out the sign-and-trade for Russell because they wanted to get something in return for losing Kevin Durant to the Brooklyn Nets.

Long-term it’s hard to see how the Warriors keep Russell on a max contract alongside Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. That’s an insanely imbalanced roster financially.

We’ll see how this plays out.

Basketball didn’t end with Stephen Curry’s memorable miss that sent Canada into hysterics. In fact, in some ways, it had only just begun.

The WNBA is engaged in one of its most memorable seasons yet. Names have been made, shots have been swished, memories have been etched. The league’s 23rd season is set to resume after enjoying an eventful All-Star break at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. Second half action will commence on Tuesday night.

With ratings rising and women’s sports enjoying a renaissance, the WNBA is in the midst of a promising turning point. If you’ve missed out on the action so far, shame on you, but TBL is more than happy to assist. Here’s what you need to know as the league enters its second half slate.

Madame Commissioner

The WNBA went through four presidents before naming its first commissioner in May. To call the newly minted Cathy Engelbert experienced is perhaps the understatement of the basketball season. The former CEO of Deloitte made tremendous strides for women in the workplace, including becoming the first female American CEO of a “Big Four” accounting firm. Engelbert made her public debut as commissioner during the All-Star festivities in Las Vegas.

“We are going to take the W to the next level,” Engelbert said in her introductory press conference. “I truly believe that we are at an inflection point in society where women’s sports and quite frankly women’s leadership are at the forefront, and honestly, it’s time we give these elite athletes the recognition they deserve.”

Youth in Revolt

The WNBA’s 2019 draft class has featured heroines from every part of the country. Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier went to her first All-Star Game. Top first-year scorer Arike Ogunbowale is turning into the new face of Dallas basketball. Teaira McCown is topping not only Indiana’s rebounding charts, but inching toward the top of the W as a whole. Asia Durr is partaking in an improbable playoff push in New York.

2018 draftees A’ja Wilson, Diamond DeShields, and Kia Nurse were likewise named to their respective first All-Star squads. Wilson was even named a captain based on fan vote.

Sports fans routinely spend their summers demanding MLB to “let the kids play”. The WNBA is allowing that and then some, as the league ventures into a future in the hands of reliable young talents. 2018 draftees A’ja Wilson, Diamond DeShields, and Kia Nurse were likewise named to their respective first All-Star squads. Wilson was even named a captain based on a fan vote.

Bye, Bye

The WNBA’s unconventional playoff system invites eight of their dozen squads to the postseason. The bottom four of that group square off against each other in single-game madness before taking on the rested third and fourth-ranked squads…also a single-game process.

Meanwhile, the top two teams watch the chaos unfold while preparing for a three-game semifinal arrangement. The current holders of these golden tickets hail from Connecticut and Las Vegas. Their situation, however, is anything but stable. Entering Tuesday’s games, the top nine teams are separated by only five games. Seven of those teams are within two and a half games of the elusive top seeds. Thus, every night will be crucial down the stretch. A team could well go from hosting a second-round playoff game to missing the playoffs entirely in the span of one slate of games.

SuperStorm Seattle

After winning last season’s WNBA title, the Seattle Storm became Murphy’s Law personified. They were evicted from their KeyArena home while the building undergoes renovations (they’re set to return in 2021). Reigning WNBA and Finals MVP Breanna Stewart tore her Achillies overseas. Knee surgery sidelined 11-time All-Star Sue Bird indefinitely. Head coach Dan Hughes was diagnosed with cancer. Jewel Loyd and Jordin Canada have likewise missed time due to injury. All-Star Natasha Howard has been accused of domestic violence in an ongoing situation.

But the Storm rage on.

Seattle sits at 12-9, good for sixth in the league. Loyd and Howard have picked up the slack, and each was rewarded with invites to Las Vegas. They continue an unlikely playoff trek in a 2018 Finals rematch on Friday night against Washington on NBA TV.

“We’ve gone through more changes and ups and downs than anyone expected and we’re still right in the mix of things,” Loyd said to Percy Allen of the Seattle Times. “That just shows how deep this team is and how hard we fight. No matter who’s in there, you see that effort.”

Aces!

The WNBA may have hit the jackpot when it comes to Las Vegas. The Entertainment Capital of the World has had professional basketball for less than two years, but it has already become a hotbed. Rave reviews were bestowed upon the city for its All-Star weekend.

Even though the All-Stars have left town, three Aces remain behind, including the injured Wilson. Multi-talented Liz Cambage and outside threat Kayla McBride have shown they are more than capable of picking up the slack. The addition of Cambage, who set a WNBA record with a 53-point game with Dallas last season, as well as the drafting of Jackie Young with the top overall pick, created what some saw as a rare WNBA superteam. At 13-6 (6-1 in their past seven), it’s safe to say the experiment has worked thus far.

“From the outside looking in, (a deep playoff run) has always been expected for our team,” veteran reserve Tamera Young told Sam Gordon of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “If we play together and keep pushing together, then great things will happen.”

The Championship dEED

One of the most curious cases of the WNBA may be Elena Delle Donne of the Washington Mystics. Washington (12-6) is less than one game out of both the top seed and the double-byes. They were seen as preseason champions by many upon the return of Delle Donne.

Her resume has it all: Six All-Star Games (including captaincy in Vegas), three WNBA first-team nominations, a scoring title, an Olympic gold medal…but no championship ring just yet.

A prime opportunity came last season against the Storm, but a knee injury just before the Seattle matchup derailed  her and her team’s chances. More adversity struck her down when she broke her nose earlier this summer while averaging 17.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. Needing protection when she came back, the masked version of Delle Donne has become a bit of a legend in Beltway basketball.

All that’s missing is an elusive WNBA title. Is this finally her year?

The NBA offseason took an unexpected twist this weekend as a member of the Dallas Mavericks married the daughter of the coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, forever linking the two franchises. Seth Curry married Callie Rivers in Malibu on Saturday. Charlotte Hornets broadcaster Dell Curry, Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, and Houston Rockets guard Austin Rivers were also in attendance.

Even without seeing an official seating chart, it’s probably safe to say no one from the New York Knicks was invited.

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@callierivers @sdotcurry say I do! Flowers @nisiesenchanted bride wears @galialahav groom wears literally the perfect very very pale blush jacket @itsgoodeclothing

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@johnandjoseph captured this great pic right before their grand entrance! @callierivers @sdotcurry @nisiesenchanted @daylight_lighting @revelryedgar @tacer_losangeles

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Steph and Ayesha dancing at @callierivers @sdotcurry wedding! They’re so cute #currymedowntheaisle

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