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USA Basketball, Fox Sports Cut TV Deal

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COLORADO SPRINGS – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – USA Basketball and FOX Sports signed a multi-year agreement that will tip off Aug. 7 when the USA Basketball Men’s National Team faces the Puerto Rican National Team live from Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena at 10 p.m. ET on FS1. Play-by-play announcer Adam Amin will be on the call alongside Emmy Award-winning analyst Bill Raftery.

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FOX Sports will distribute the 2023 USA Basketball Showcase, which includes five USA Basketball Men’s National Team exhibitions in advance of the 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cup, as part of a larger agreement that includes the 2024 USA Basketball Showcase and 2024 Nike Hoop Summit.

The USA Basketball Showcase features a series of events that help the USA Basketball Men’s and Women’s National Teams prepare for major competitions, including the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup (men) and 2024 Olympic Summer Games.

“The USA Basketball Showcase features our national teams preparing for the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2023 and the Paris Games in 2024,” said said Jim Tooley, CEO, USA Basketball. “In addition, the Nike Hoop Summit annually brings together our top young basketball talent for both men and women to compete against international all-star teams comprised of athletes from all over the world.”

USA vs. Puerto Rico caps a weeklong training camp that sees the USA begin its march to the 2023 FIBA World Cup, set for Aug. 25-Sept. 10 in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia. Led by head coach Steve Kerr (Golden State Warriors), the USA Men’s National Team features several NBA award winners and honorees.

The USA Basketball Showcase continues in Malaga, Spain, when the United States faces the national teams of Slovenia and Spain in friendlies on Aug. 12 and Aug. 13, respectively. Both games will tip off at 3:30 p.m. ET with USA vs. Slovenia airing on FS1 and USA vs. Spain on FOX with Raftery providing analysis alongside play-by-play announcer Kevin Kugler.

Finally, the USA travels to Abu Dhabi for a final training stop before arriving in Manila for the World Cup. The USA will host the national teams of Greece on Aug. 18 on FS1 followed by Germany on Aug. 20 on FOX, with both tipping off at noon ET. Additionally, FS1 will broadcast the game between Germany and Greece on Aug. 19 at noon ET. Play-by-play announcer Jason Benetti pairs with Raftery for both games.

Brown Signs Biggest Deal in NBA History

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Boston Celtics announced agreed to a contract extension with All-NBA forward Jaylen Brown. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

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Brown signed the contract at MIT’s Media Lab where he was hosting his 7uice Foundation’s Bridge program.

“I appreciate the investment and commitment from the Celtics and from the rest of the community. That investment and commitment will be felt in return from me here in Boston, on and off the floor, but also hopefully soon, around the world,” said Brown. “The Bridge program students being here is special for me today; you guys represent the next generation, you represent the future, and everything I do is try to make this world a better place.”

“Jaylen Brown brings passionate energy and excellence to whatever he does, on the court and in the community,” said Wyc Grousbeck, Boston Celtics’ team co-owner. “Jaylen is absolutely key to our relentless drive to win Banner 18. I’m very glad to be celebrating this partnership with him today.”

Brown was selected to his first All-NBA team last season when he was named to the 2022-23 Kia All-NBA Second Team after he appeared in 67 games (all starts) and made his second-consecutive All-Star game. The Georgia native averaged career-highs of 26.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists, as well as his best field goal percentage (49.1) and free-throw percentage (76.5).

“We are thrilled that Jaylen has decided to extend his contract and remain a Celtic for a long time,” said Brad Stevens, President of Basketball Operations. “In addition to his individual accolades, Jaylen has been one of the NBA’s winningest players in both the regular and postseason over the past seven years. I’ve been so impressed with how he has attacked every day with a relentless work ethic, a desire to improve, and a competitiveness to help his team win. Equally as impressive is his continued commitment to making a difference in the community.”

The seven-year NBA veteran was originally drafted by Boston with the third overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, and is the longest tenured Celtic entering this year. In 470 career games (363 starts), Brown has averaged 17.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.0 steals in 29.7 minutes per game, while shooting 47.7 percent from the field and 36.5 percent from three-point range.

Brown ranks fifth in franchise history in made three-point field goals with 883 threes and moved into 17th on the Celtics’ all-time scoring list with 8,428 points. Brown became the seventh Celtic since 1994 to reach 1,000 career assists before turning 27 years old when he dished out a season-high nine assists on March 6, 2023 (26 yrs, 133 d).

Brown has led the Celtics to the playoffs in each of his seven seasons, including five Eastern Conference Finals appearances and a trip to the 2022 NBA Finals. Brown is tied for the 14th-most playoff appearances in franchise history with 105 games and ranks 11th in scoring with 1,911 points in the postseason.

Brown’s deal was reportedly the largest financial deal in NBA history.

Jokic Sitting Out World Cup

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BELGRADE – (Staff and wire service report) – Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic will not play for Serbia at the upcoming FIBA World Cup, ESPN reported Monday.

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The two-time Most Valuable Player will instead rest up following Denver’s run to the 2022-23 NBA championship. Jokic was NBA Finals MVP.

The World Cup opens on Aug. 25 and takes place in Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Jokic, 28, previously competed for the Serbian national team at the 2016 Summer Olympics, the 2019 World Cup and EuroBasket 2022.

The 6-foot-11 center averaged 24.5 points, 11.8 rebounds and 9.8 assists in 69 starts during the regular season. He averaged 30.0 points, 13.5 boards and 9.5 assists in 20 starts in the postseason.

Nets, Cavs Will Always Have Paris

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NEW YORK – The Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers will play a regular season game in Paris next season. The game, which will be the NBA’s third regular season game in the French capital, will be played at Accor Arena on Jan. 11, 2024. The Nets previously have played in Paris, having done so in a preseason game in 2008.

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“Our players and coaches will benefit greatly from the experience of immersing themselves in Paris’s rich culture off the court,” Nets general manager Sean Marks said in a statement.

The Cavaliers will be playing their third game overseas and first in Europe. They played in China in 2007 and Brazil during the preseason in 2015.

“We are honored as an organization to showcase the Cleveland Cavaliers in Paris,” said Koby Altman, Cavs president of basketball operations. “This opportunity will provide our players, coaches, staff and families an experience into a different culture, all while creating memories both on and off the court that will last a lifetime.

“We also recognize the universal appeal basketball inspires and we take great pride in our stewardship of the game,” he said.

–Field Level Media

Celtics Sign Jay Scrubb

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Boston Celtics signed reserve guard Jay Scrubb to a two-way contract. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Scrubb, 6-5/220, has appeared in 24 career NBA games (one start) with the Los Angeles Clippers (2020-22), and Orlando Magic (2022-23) and owns career averages of 4.0 points and 1.5 rebounds in 9.8 minutes per game.

The Louisville, Kentucky native appeared in two games for the Magic last season and averaged 6.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in 15.0 minutes per game. He also appeared in 28 games (25 starts) with the Lakeland Magic of the NBA G League, where he finished sixth in the league in total points scored (625) and ranked eighth in scoring with 22.3 points per game and averaged 5.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 31.0 minutes.

Scrubb was selected with the 55th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and became the first Junior College player selected in the NBA Draft since 2004. Scrubb earned First-Team NJCAA All-American honors in each of his two years at John A. Logan College and was named the 2019-20 National Junior College Athletic Association Player of the Year. He started in 55 of his 59 games played, and averaged 21.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists from 2018-20.

Basketball Hall Names Presenters

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SPRINGFIELD – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the list of Hall of Famers scheduled to present the Class of 2023 at the Enshrinement Ceremony to be held Saturday, August 12, at Symphony Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts, the “Birthplace of Basketball.”

Organizers expect 45 Hall of Famers are to be in attendance for the ceremony, including all presenters.

Members of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2023 were asked to select previous inductees to accompany and present them to their peers. The choice is solely the decision of the incoming Hall of Famers or their family members if recognized posthumously.

The 2023 Hall of Fame Inductees and Presenters:

  • 1976 Women’s Olympic Basketball Team, presented by Ann Meyers (Class of 1993), Nancy Lieberman (‘96)
  • Becky Hammon, presented by Sheryl Swoopes (‘16), Teresa Weatherspoon (‘19)
  • David Hixon, presented by Jim Calhoun (‘05), John Calipari (‘15)
  • Dirk Nowitzki, presented by Jason Kidd (‘18), Steve Nash (‘18)
  • Dwyane Wade, presented by Allen Iverson (‘16)
  • Gary Blair, presented by Teresa Weatherspoon (‘19), Van Chancellor (‘07)
  • Gene Bess, presented by Chris Bosh (‘21), John Calipari (‘15), Roy Williams (‘07)
  • Gene Keady, presented by Jerry Colangelo (‘04), Tom Izzo (‘16)
  • Gregg Popovich, presented by David Robinson (‘09), Manu Ginobili (‘22), Tim Duncan (‘20), Tony Parker (‘23)
  • Jim Valvano, presented by John Calipari (‘15)
  • Pau Gasol, presented by Toni Kukoč (‘21)
  • Tony Parker, presented by Manu Ginobili (‘22), Tim Duncan (‘20)

NBA: Silver Opines on Wealth Funds

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LAS VEGAS – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – With sovereign wealth funds starting to shovel money into sports teams and leagues across the country, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Monday that he does not see any state-owned investment groups becoming the controlling owner of an NBA franchise anytime soon.

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Per the NBA’s investment rules, the controlling owner of an NBA franchise must own at least 15 percent of the franchise.

If a sovereign wealth fund wants to get involved, it must have a passive investment in the organization that is worth no more than five percent. A prime example of this is the Qatar sovereign wealth fund, which last month agreed to purchase a five-percent stake in Monumental Sports and Entertainment, the controlling owner of the Washington Wizards, the WNBA’s Washington Mystics and the NHL’s Washington Capitals.

Silver wants to make sure that individuals are the ones that are primarily governing teams, though.

“I don’t want to say what could ever happen, but there’s no contemplation right now,” Silver said in Las Vegas. “I mean, it’s very important to us, putting aside sovereign wealth funds that individuals are in a position to control our teams, be responsible to the fans, be responsible to their partners and to the players.

“It’s very important to us that there be a person (in charge), and this is independent of sovereign wealth funds. I think that in terms of the connection with the community, the connection with the players and their other partners in the league.”

One of the most notable sovereign wealth funds as it relates to the sports is Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which funds LIV Golf. The PGA Tour created shockwaves across the golf world last month when it announced it planned to enter a merger with LIV.

–Field Level Media

USA Basketball Names World Cup Team

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Celtics Sign Walsh and Brissett

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Boston Celtics signed forwards Jordan Walsh and Oshae Brissett to contracts. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Walsh, 6-7/205, is expected to make his Celtics debut at the NBA 2K24 Summer League in Las Vegas. At Arkansas, Walsh tied the program record for most games played by a freshman with 36 appearances in his lone collegiate season. He averaged 7.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 24.4 minutes per game while shooting 43.3 percent from the field.

The Dallas native helped the Razorbacks advance to the Sweet 16 of the 2023 NCAA Tournament. Walsh was ranked the No. 11 prospect by ESPN in the Class of 2022 after being named to the 2022 McDonald’s High School All-American Game and a Jordan Brand Classic participant. Walsh was selected with the 38th overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft.

Brissett, 6-7/210, has appeared in 172 career NBA games (43 starts) in four seasons with the Toronto Raptors (2019-20) and Indiana Pacers (2021-23). He owns career averages of 7.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in 19.2 minutes per game. Last season, he played in 65 games (two starts) with the Pacers and averaged 6.1 points and 3.4 rebounds in 16.7 minutes per game. He scored a season-high 18 points against Orlando on Nov. 21, including a season-high-tying four three pointers.

The Toronto, Ontario native has also made 42 appearances and 31 starts over two seasons in the NBA G League and earned All G League Second Team honors in 2020-21 with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants when he averaged 18.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. Brissett originally signed with Toronto as a free agent on July 23, 2019, and appeared in 19 games during his rookie campaign with the Raptors.

Celtics: Grant Williams Signed/Traded

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BOSTON -(Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Dallas Mavericks agreed to a four-year, $53 million deal with restricted free agent Grant Williams as part of a three-team sign-and-trade agreement that includes the Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs.

The Spurs will receive forward Reggie Bullock and an unprotected first-round pick swap in 2030 from the Mavericks. The Celtics and Mavericks will each receive two second-round draft choices.

Williams, 24, spent four seasons with the Celtics since being a first-round pick in 2019 out of Tennessee. He averaged 8.1 points and 4.6 rebounds in 79 games (23 starts) last season.

Williams has career averages of 6.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in 288 games (58 starts). He underwent surgery on his left hand last month and is expected to be fine before the start of training camp.

Williams is the second key player Boston has traded this offseason. The team previously dealt guard Marcus Smart, the NBA Defensive Player of the Year for 2021-22, to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Teams officially can’t sign free agents or formally announce trades until Thursday.

Bullock, 32, spent the past two seasons of his 10-year NBA with the Mavericks. He averaged 7.2 points and 3.6 rebounds in 78 games (55 starts) last season.

Bullock made 151 3-pointers last season, second most in his career behind the 163 he made for the New York Knicks in the 2020-21 campaign. He has made 852 career treys in 512 games (294 starts) with six teams.

–Field Level Media