We’re just as happy it’s Friday as you are. Shout-out to Al Horford and Joe Mazzulla.

Today’s Lineup

Hoops News Update

Warriors not interested in giving Jonathan Kuminga max extension

After rumors flew around about Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga’s desire to earn a max contract when the time came for Golden State to extend his contract, The Athletic’s Warriors writer Anthony Slater reported that the team will not look to pay Kuminga as much as the Magic paid Franz Wagner or “anything that stretches too close” to Wagner’s almost-$45 million average annual salary.

Kuminga had a great year in 2023-24, ending the season averaging 16.1 points and posting career-highs in field goal and free throw percentage. He and the Warriors have until October 21st (the day before the season starts) to agree on an extension—otherwise, the former G League Igniter will hit restricted free agency next summer.

Cedi Osman signs with 2024 EuroLeague champs Panathinaikos

After a season with the San Antonio Spurs and a report that he turned down a training camp deal with the Lakers (which turned out to be false!), former Cleveland Cavalier Cedi Osman is headed to Europe! Osman signed a deal with Panathinaikos B.C., a Greek club that won the 2024 EuroLeague championship.

In case you were curious, Panathinaikos’s head coach is Ergin Ataman. Don’t know that name? The only reason you would is that he’s the head coach of the Turkish national team, which is (not so coincidentally) the team Osman plays for on the international stage…

2020 6MOY Montrezl Harrell inks deal with NBL’s Adelaide 36ers

All Hail Harrell! The former Los Angeles Clipper and 2020 Sixth Man of the Year is signing a contract with the Adelaide 36ers of the Australian NBL.

Harrell isn’t guaranteed to be with Adelaide for very long, as his contract with the 36ers is a version of the NBA’s temporary hardship deal. But we’re hoping this is just the jumpstart he needs to get his basketball career back up and running! Best of luck to Trezz.

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Is Expansion… Not Happening?

Rumors that the NBA will be adding one (or two) new team to the league have been swirling around hoops circles for the better part of the last five years, with commissioner Adam Silver periodically chiming and making expansion seem more and more likely. But recently, the commish made a comment that clued the basketball world into what exactly is going on.

After a meeting of the NBA Board of Governors, Silver said at a press conference that the governors are “certainly interest[ed] in the process” but that there was very little discussion among the board at the meeting with regards to expansion. “It was something that we told our board we plan to address this season, and we’re not quite ready yet,” Silver added, noting that the board hasn’t made any decisions about which markets the NBA would expand into or even whether the league will expand in the first place.

So are everyone’s dreams of NBA teams in Seattle, Las Vegas and Mexico City dead? No. But we might have to be a little patient.

Basketball? Football? They Can Do Both.

Football fans are lucky—they get a month and half of their favorite sport before we get to see NBA regular season action. But in the spirit of inter-sport cooperation, let’s take a look at some of the best basketball players who made an impact on the gridiron… or vice versa!

Tony Gonzalez

Not only is Tony Gonzalez maybe the greatest tight end in the history of the NFL, but he had a pretty successful college basketball career as well! Before being drafted to play football for the Kansas City Chiefs, Gonzalez played both college football and basketball for the Cal Bears. He played 28 games in Cal’s 1996-97 basketball season, averaging 6.8 points and 5.4 rebounds as the Bears made it all the way to the Sweet Sixteen!

Nate Robinson

At just 5’9”, Robinson made an impact on the court by being a crafty, quick point guard who could dribble in and out of defenses around the league. But before he became a 3X Slam Dunk Contest champion, Robinson was a standout high school football player in Washington state and went on to play wide receiver and defensive back for the Huskies.

Julius Peppers

Peppers was a HOF defensive lineman and one of the cornerstones of the late 2000s-early 2010s NFL. But did you know he also played basketball at North Carolina before being drafted by the Carolina Panthers? He averaged 6 points and 4 rebounds over two seasons playing for the Tar Heels.

Ben Wallace

Okay, so the four-time NBA DPOY didn’t ever actually play professional or college football. But he was an all-around freak athlete in high school, playing basketball and football and running track, and his abilities on the field garnered him a scholarship to play college football at Auburn. Could you imagine?

Three in the Key

Signing Off

Thanks for being with us on this fine Friday. As summer fades away, be sure to soak up that last little bit of sun this weekend before another week of hard work starts. Luckily, we’ll be right there with you on Monday when it does. Peace! ✌️

Austin Zeglis