Tag: betting bonus

Gilas Pilipinas loses to Turkey in tune-up ahead of Fiba OQT

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Gilas Pilipinas’ June Mar Fajardo and Justin Brownlee flank as Turkey player during a tune-up game in Istanbul ahead of the Fiba OQT. –TURKEY BASKETBALL FEDERATION

Gilas Pilipinas sputtered when it mattered most on Friday, bowing to Turkey, 84-73, in the second tune-up game geared towards the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OTQ).

The Nationals, led by Justin Brownlee valiantly fought for most of the contest at Besiktas Akatlar Culture and Sports Complex in Istanbul but had to settle with the loss with young cornerstone Kai Sotto saddled with fouls and shooting abandoning Gilas just as it was trying to mount a comeback.

Brownlee, Gilas’ naturalized ace, delivered 21 points and five rebounds while June Mar Fajardo added 17 and 11 for the Tim Cone-mentored squad priming for the OQT in Riga, Latvia next week.

READ: Gilas Pilipinas flies to Turkiye hoping to show readiness for OQT

“It was a tough loss against Turkey. We had our first taste of the type of opposition we will be facing in the OQT,” Gilas assistant coach and team manager Richard del Rosario said in a bulletin posted by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas a few hours after the contest held early morning in Manila.

The Philippines pulled within two, 42-40, heading into the intermission. Gilas again trimmed the Turkish lead to five, 78-73, on a Brownlee slam with 1:44 remaining, just before Gilas’ offense conked out.

The Filipinos hit only five threes as the Turks converted 14 of their 41 attempts from downtown.

Sotto had seven points before fouling out with 2:35 left in the clash that had Gilas going 1-1 in its preparations for the Riga meet. Cone and his charges defeated the Taiwan Mustangs at PhilSports Arena last Sunday.

READ: Gilas Pilipinas beats Taiwan Mustangs in tune-up before OQT

Host Latvia, Gilas’ first assignment in OQT, crushed Egypt, 84-63, in a friendly late Thursday. Georgia, another Group A opponent, stumbled against Cameroon, 67-66.

Multi-time local league champion Tarik Biberovic led the way for Turkey with 23 points built on a 5-for-9 shooting from deep. Can Kormaz chipped in 12 more for the Turks who are also in their own buildup.

The Dev Adam, who are ranked 24th in the global leaderboard, are preparing for the EuroLeague and are playing a series of friendlies which includes Olympics host France.

Gilas will be wrapping up its buildup against the World No. 15 Poland on Saturday (early Sunday morning in Manila) before plunging into one of the four OQTs, which will complete the Summer Olympic Games field.

Gilas Pilipinas scores:

Turkey (84) — Biberovic 23, Korkmaz 12, Sanli 9, Sipahi 9, Osmani 8, Ozdemiroglu 7, Haltali 6, Kabaca 3, Yilmaz 3, Bas 2, Yasar 2, Ilyasoglu 0.

Philippines (73) — Brownlee 21, Fajardo 17, Sotto 7, Tamayo 7, Newsome 5, Ramos 4, Aguilar 4, Perez 3, Oftana 3, Quiambao 2, Amos 0.



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Quarterscores: 24-21; 42-40; 64-56; 84-73.

Creamline’s Jema Galanza likely out of Reinforced tilt

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Creamline’s Jema Galanza is set to play for Alas Pilipinas and will likely miss the PVL Reinforced Conference.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines —Creamline is preparing for the possibility that its go-to-scorer Jema Galanza won’t be joining the Cool Smashers in the upcoming 2024 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference.

Galanza is one of the PVL players who are likely to miss the midseason conference due to their commitment to Alas Pilipinas, which will compete in the FIVB Challenger Cup next week against Vietnam and in the SEA V.League in August.

READ: Returning Jema Galanza ready for challenge with Alas Pilipinas

Although the PVL has aligned its calendar to the national team period to lend players to the Philippine National Volleyball Federation, most of the club teams are still hoping to have their players even late in the conference. 

“We don’t have the final decision yet, but based on what we know, she won’t be able to play with us. However, it’s not final yet so we are also waiting for the decision,” said Meneses on Wednesday in the PVL Rookie Draft Combine at GameVille Ball Park in Mandaluyong.

Tots Carlos was part of the training pool but Alas coach Jorge Souza De Brito has already ruled out the star opposite spiker at least for the Challenger Cup.

READ: Tots Carlos out for Alas Pilipinas, says coach Jorge de Brito

Meneses will be banking on American outside spiker Erica Staunton and their mainstays Alyssa Valdez and Bernadeth Pons in case they miss the reigning All-Filipino Finals MVP Galanza.

Draft strategy

Creamline Coach Sherwin Meneses during the PVL Draft Combine.

Creamline Coach Sherwin Meneses during the PVL Draft Combine. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

“As of now, it’s okay because only time will tell. Our import is very young so they can easily adapt to the system,” said the Creamline coach.

Aside from their import, Meneses has a chance to add more players as they hold the 12th pick in the first-ever Rookie Draft on July 8. 

He has specific targets but it will depend on the picks of the first 11 teams.

“In every position, we have a strategy, but it depends on who the top 11 players are because we’re number 12. It’s very difficult to specify just one position,” he said.

“The Draft Combine is a big help because everyone has a chance to showcase their skills, even those who aren’t well-known have opportunities.”



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Creamline is hoping to end a six-year title drought in the Reinforced Conference as it settled for bronze in the import-laden tournament two years ago.

76ers, Knicks make additions with eye on champion Celtics

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The Celtics were far and away the pride of the Eastern Conference, bulldozing their way to the franchise’s 18th NBA championship with a talented roster built around perimeter scoring and lockdown defense.

The race to prevent Boston from becoming the first team since the 2018 Golden State Warriors to repeat as champs began with the draft Wednesday night. While it was just the start of what figures to be an active offseason around the league, Day 1 made it clear that some of the Celtics’ top chasers next season may come from their own division.

Two of those teams — the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers — both made picks with an eye toward competing sooner rather than later.

LIST: 2024 NBA Rookie Draft first round picks

Philadelphia entered the offseason with basically a blank slate and lots of salary cap room to build out a roster around stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. The 76ers began that process by picking up a shooter in former Duke guard Jared McCain.

Even before draft night opened, the Knicks were one of the NBA’s most active teams, acquiring Mikal Bridges in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday. They followed that up Wednesday by signing OG Anunoby to a new contract worth more than $210 million, setting them up with two of the league’s top wing defenders to play alongside star Jalen Brunson.

Joining that mix will be a France’s Pacome Dadiet, a 3-and-D wing out of France.

The Nets were the only one of Boston’s Atlantic Division-mates without any first round picks.

Boston Celtics

Team needs: Depth. Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens made it clear earlier in the week that any player selected during the draft would have a difficult time cracking their current rotation. It’s a great position to be in for a team expected to spend the balance of the offseason simply tweaking the bottom of its roster

Who did the Celtics draft: Creighton G Baylor Scheierman. A lefty with great range from the outside, he scored more than 2,000 points in college. He won’t wow you with his athleticism and his ability to improve defensively will dictate how well he translates to the next level.

Player comparison: Orlando Magic F Joe Ingles.

New York Knicks

Pacome Dadiet, right, poses for a photo with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected 25th by the New York Knicks during the first round of the NBA basketball draft, Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Team needs: Not much from the draft, after agreeing to a deal to acquire Bridges from the Nets and getting Anunoby to agree on his long-term pact to stay in New York in the 24 hours beforehand.

READ: NBA: Knicks to acquire Mikal Bridges in trade from Nets

Who did the Knicks draft: France F Pacome Dadiet. The final of four French players selected in a historic night for the country, Dadiet is just 18 years old with a lot of room to develop. He’s good with the ball in his hands and has a multitude of ways to attack defenses.

Player comparison: Maybe someday Anunoby or Bridges, with an ability to guard multiple wing positions. But the Knicks have the real things now so may not even bring him over from France this season.

Philadelphia 76ers

Jared McCain NBA Draft Philadelphia 76ers

Jared McCain poses for a photo with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected 16th by the Philadelphia 76ers during the first round of the NBA basketball draft, Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Team needs: Just about everything. Almost the entire team — players such as Kelly Oubre Jr., Kyle Lowry and Nic Batum — ended the season with an expired contract. Team president Daryl Morey has about $65 million in salary cap space, a max contract topping $200 million to offer Maxey and plenty of questions to solve on how to finally, truly build an NBA championship contender around Embiid.

Who did the 76ers draft: McCain. One-and-done player who rapidly became the Blue Devils’ toughest competitor. Made 41% of 3s and 89% of free throws. Had two 30-point showings in the NCAA Tournament. He had two 30-point games in the NCAA Tournament to lead Duke to the Elite Eight.

Player comparison: Knicks G Jalen Brunson. McCain is roughly the same size and the Knicks All-Star and enters the league about two years younger than the former Villanova star when he was drafted.

Toronto Raptors

Team needs: Any promising player to line up alongside newly-extended All-Star forward Scottie Barnes on a talent-starved squad that traded away Anunoby and Pascal Siakam last season before slumping to a 25-57 finish and missing the play-in tournament.

Who did the Raptors draft: With the first-round pick it acquired in the Siakam trade, Toronto drafted 6-foot-4 Baylor guard Ja’Kobe Walter. Baylor’s top scorer in his lone season with the Bears, the 19-year-old Walter was also named Big 12 Freshman of the Year after averaging 14.5 points and 4.4 rebounds.



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Player comparison: A promising shooter, determined driver and aggressive rebounder, Walter is also considered a versatile defender. With that mix of qualities, he’s comparable to Clippers guard Terance Mann.

Gorayab relishes ‘good options’ for Capital1’s No. 2 pick

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Capital1 Solar Spikers Roger Gorayeb during the PVL Rookie Draft combine. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Capital1 coach Roger Gorayab is happy to have a number of “good options” with the Solar Spikers holding the No. 2 pick in the inaugural PVL Rookie Draft set for July 8.

Gorayeb knows exactly what he is looking for in a player who could potentially change the fate of the Solar Spikers, who joined the PVL just earlier in the year.

“Of course, I’m happy because I have good options. I’m thankful we got lucky with the second pick.” said Gorayeb, who attended the final day of the combine on Wednesday at GameVille Ball Park. “

LIST: Applicants for the first ever PVL Rookie Draft

“I’m looking at the height, the one who could fit into my system, the one I think can adjust easily, that’s what’s good.

With Thea Gagate emerging as the presumptive No.1 pick of ZUS Coffee, Gorayeb has two players in mind for the second pick but he didn’t disclose them to avoid preempting the draft he has high hopes for the aspirant, who will be part of his team.

“We have [target player], but we need to discuss first. I will study which one will benefit us more. It’s a secret for now.,” he said.  “I see a big help this player can give us, and I will train her well. I already have someone in mind.”

Gorayeb is also eyeing to add more players to their young roster in the succeeding rounds, looking to add a middle blocker and a libero. 

READ: PVL: Set for No. 2 pick, Capital1 also parades Russian spiker

“We’re focusing now on the second round. What should we pick, a middle or a libero? We’re a bit short in that area. The middle position is very important,” the veteran coach said.

“We need an immediate threat in the middle so our outside hitters can have space. Without a threat in the middle and just focusing on outside sets, our attackers will be blocked often.”

Even before the PVL Draft, Gorayeb signed Shola Alvarez and Julia Ipac from Galeries as well as veteran setter Iris Tolenada as they look to rise from a 1-10 record in the All-Filipino Conference.

“Shola is a big factor, especially since I’m used to her from when she was my player before. She’s comfortable with me, and Jorelle, her former teammates, are still there. Shola is a huge asset offensively. Even defensively, she’s solid. Our team’s composition is really coming together nicely,” the Capital1 coach said.

“I really expect us to elevate our game by two to three levels.”

Gorayeb is also pleased with Russian import Marina Tushova’s connection to her teammates, especially to setter Tolenada.

“Marina easily jelled with us because she’s almost the same age as the younger players. Our bond with her became really good. She also blends well with the players like a local. She’s not picky,” he said.



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“She fits in perfectly because Iris [Tolenada] is a huge asset. Her leadership and experience bring a lot to the team.”

New coach Charles Lee out to turn around struggling Hornets

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New Charlotte Hornets NBA basketball team head coach Charles Lee, left, is introduced by Charlotte Hornets general manager Jeff Peterson during a news conference Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Steve Reed)

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — Charles Lee joked that his wife thought he was a little crazy when he decided to step away from his job as a single stock equity trader on Wall Street to become a full-time basketball coach.

Turns out it was a pretty good career move.

Since walking away from Bank of America in 2012 to coach at Bucknell, Lee has gone on to win two NBA championships as an assistant coach, including last week with the Boston Celtics following 2021 with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Now, at age 39, he gets his first crack at being a head coach at any level with the Charlotte Hornets, a perennially disappointing franchise that hasn’t been to the postseason in eight years — the longest active drought in the NBA — and hasn’t won a playoff series in nearly a quarter century.

But like leaving Wall Street, Lee isn’t scared of a new challenge.

READ: NBA: Steve Clifford ends tenure as Hornets’ winningest coach

He feels with the support of his wife Lindsey and a strong family structure behind him, he can conquer just about anything.

He called the Hornets a “talent-rich group” with plenty of unrealized potential, even though they won just 21 games last season.

“We have a very, very good team here,” Lee said. “We’ve been snakebit with some injuries. … But this group is focused on the right things. The expectations are that we are going to compete every night, whether it’s a home game, road game or whoever is playing. This is going to be a group that is together offensively and defensively, no matter who is on the floor.”

Lee’s introductory news conference on Tuesday came nearly seven weeks after being hired to replace Steve Clifford, who announced late last season he was stepping away from coaching.

Lee has been busy pulling double duty since, helping Jayson Tatum and the Celtics reach the ultimate goal while also spending time developing relationships with his new players in Charlotte, as well as evaluating personnel ahead of this week’s NBA draft and the upcoming free agency signing period.

READ: NBA: Hornets shut down LaMelo Ball for rest of season

Hornets general manager Jeff Peterson said he was “blown away” by Lee during his interview and after talking with members of the Bucks and Celtics organization about him.

“He’s an excellent communicator,” Peterson said. “He’s competitive. He’s constantly trying to figure out ways to get better. I know that at night he goes to sleep thinking, ‘how can I make the Charlotte Hornets better?’ And, he’s a winner.”

Hornets forward Grant Williams was one of about a dozen players to attend the news conference, joining LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller.

Williams believes Lee’s winning pedigree has already got the attention of his teammates.

“It definitely carries some weight, some respect, because he knows what it takes to win it all,” Williams said. “He was the associate head coach on both championship teams, so he had a direct impact in the development and style of play. He’s been around a lot of greats and he will do wonders for guys like LaMelo and Brandon, who are trying to be special.”

Lee’s addition completes some dramatic changes in the Hornets organization over the past 12 months.

Since Michael Jordan sold the team to Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin last August, the Hornets have hired a new general manager, a new head coach and traded several of their veteran players, including Terry Rozier, Gordon Hayward and P.J. Washington.

They drafted Miller, who has shown star potential.

There are also major renovations underway at the Spectrum Center, which forced the news conference to be moved to a rented building in Charlotte less than a mile from where they play home games.

Lee offered no guarantees on when the Hornets might return to the playoffs, but he likes the attitudes of the players he has met and senses they’re willing to “buy in” and do anything to get things turned around.

“What I can say to the fans is that when I went through the interview process, Gabe, Rick and Jeff made it clear they want this to be one of the NBA’s premier franchises,” Lee said. “… The things that we can promise from this team is that they’re going to be very competitive, they are going to be focused on what we can control with our daily progress, process and effort.”

Williams, for one, said he believes the Hornets are about to turn things around.



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“The energy is shifting here. You can just feel the vibe,” Williams said. “And I think people are going to be really shocked here by how soon it is going to happen.”

Olympic medalist, golfers hike PH team count to 20

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Kayla Noelle Sanchez of the Philippines is seen during the 19th Asian Games Women’s 400m Freestyle Swimming Final held at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Aquatic Sports Arena in Hangzhou, China. Sanchez finished with a time of 54.69 seconds. (Photo by Luis Veniegra / SOPA Images/Sipa USA)No Use Germany.

Double Olympic medalist Kayla Sanchez will bring more prestige to a Philippine delegation brimming with potential podium finishers like her in the grandest sports showpiece on earth.

Sanchez, a silver and bronze performer in the swimming relay events of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics while carrying the Canadian colors, now represents the Philippines and will showcase her worth in the women’s 100-meter freestyle while Jarod Hatch, bronze medalist in the men’s 50-m butterfly of the Southeast Asian Games last year, likewise made it to the glitzy French capital.

They both qualified through universality with Hatch seeing action in the 100-m butterfly.

“[W]e’re expecting more. We’re chasing history and we’re setting the ante higher,’’ said Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, whose goal is to surpass or match the nation’s one-gold, two-silver and one-bronze medal output in Tokyo.

The latest batch of Olympic qualifiers brings to 20 the number of Filipinos who will compete in Paris. And while Sanchez represents a foreign ace flying back to represents her roots, the Olympic roster will also feature two Filipinos who were once members of the national team but are now representing other countries.

Golfer Yuka Saso, a two-Major winner who played for the Philippines in the Tokyo Olympics, qualified for Japan this time while fencer Maxine Esteban, a multi-World Cup medalist for the country who was once the highest-rated Filipino in the world rankings, will compete in the French capital representing Ivory Coast.

In Saso’s place, two Filipino golfers will vie for medals in Paris, Bianca Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina.

The two standouts were part of the names released by the international golf federation as the official qualifiers for women’s golf, along with Saso.

Two-time judo Olympian Kiyomi Watanabe was also added to the Philippine roster after qualifying through the continental quota.

The Filipino-Japanese from Mandaue, Cebu, secured one of the two Asian quotas in the women’s -63-kg division after ranking No. 92 in the world.

Meanwhile, in athletics, at least three to four tracksters could join pole vaulter EJ Obiena in the biggest track and field spectacle in the world. INQ



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‘Watch out for me,’ Petecio says as last gold chance looms

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Nesthy Petecio (right) may not be announcing it to the world, but gold is the goal of every athlete in the Olympics. —AFP

In what could be Nesthy Petecio’s last time to represent the country in the Olympics, the Tokyo 2020 silver medalist will be looking to do things a little different than the way she handled her Summer Games debut.

“If you’re asking me how I will be [in the Paris Olympics], I will just be chill with everything that I will do,” Petecio said in Filipino during a send- off event for the country’s bets in Makati City last week.

Chill means never needing to brandish her target for everyone to see. But even as Petecio isn’t vocal about what medal she will be chasing in Paris next month, she also knows she isn’t kidding anyone.

“All of us athletes are aiming for the gold medal; no one is thinking of not getting that and we are all working hard in training,” Petecio said. “But I don’t want to be the kind of person who says what color of medal I want to get, what I want is for all of you to watch out for me in every fight.”

“Whatever pressure I will encounter, I already know about that because us athletes are always accompanied by pressure … we should just focus on what we can handle and what I can handle is how I will perform,” she added.

Petecio ended the country’s Olympic medal drought in boxing when she landed a silver medal three years ago in the Japanese capital.

After two flawless preliminary bouts, the Davao del Sur native advanced to the quarterfinals to beat Yeni Arias of Colombia and assure herself of a medal in the inaugural women’s featherweight event.

Asian Games target

In the semifinals, Petecio carved out a majority decision win against Italian Irma Testa but fell short to the also debuting hometown bet Sena Iria via a unanimous decision.

“Imagine, I was going to sleep before my fight the next day and when I lifted my blanket I saw the Japanese flag—that’s how intense the pressure I felt was because it was my first time to reach this high level,” Petecio said.

“It was really different so I prayed ‘Lord, remove this pressure that I am feeling,’ because it was really hard to fight when even while sleeping I was seeing the Japanese flag,” she added.

With Father Time catching up, the first female Filipino Olympic boxing medalist might be looking at her last shot for the elusive gold. Petecio is 32 years old and because of politics surrounding the sport, boxing could lose its spot in Los Angeles in 2028.

If that pushes through, Petecio would be shifting her focus to the Asian Games.



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“I am getting older, but I am still raring to get a medal in the Asian Games because I have come up always zero in that so I still need to push one last time,” Petecio said. INQ

Almonte aims to redeem self in PVL after down year with Adamson

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Lucille Almonte, center, during the PVL Rookie Draft combine.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Lucille Almonte is raring to redeem herself after a subpar final year with Adamson in the UAAP as she hopes to prove her worth in PVL.

Almonte, who had a reduced playing time when Adamson missed the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball Final Four, may not have the best exit in her collegiate career but she’s hoping to move forward and regain her lethal offensive form in the pros.

“My mindset is to work harder because the games here in the pros have a different intensity. So I have to continue striving and making sacrifices,” Almonte, who is among the 46 aspirants in the upcoming PVL Rookie Draft on July 8 at Novotel, told the reporters in Filipino after the first day of the combine at GameVille Ball Park in Mandaluyong City.

READ: Unheralded player from Marinduque chases PVL dream

The former Adamson captain said her coaches, led by JP Yude, encouraged her to turn pro for a chance to take her game to the next level.

“My coaches told me that I have to turn pro.  So I can spread my wings in the PVL. And I also need to come out of my comfort zone,” said Almonte, who played three seasons in the UAAP.

Her batchmates Louie Romero, Rizza Cruz, and Kate Santiago as well as one-and-done star Trisha Tubu are already in the pros after they left Adamson last year following a bronze medal finish in the UAAP Season 85.

READ: Julia Coronel shines in PVL Rookie Draft combine

Almonte chose to stay with her teammates and showed her loyalty to the school. But now, she’s moving on to the next chapter of her career with her fellow Lady Falcons AA Adolfo, Ishie Lalongisip, Nikka Yandoc, Angge Alcantara, Karen Verdeflor, and Sharya Ancheta.

After a tiring first day at the combine, the reality of being a pro player has sunk into Almonte’s mind and she’s up for the challenge of competing with her fellow aspirants for a PVL roster spot.

“This draft combine may be tiring but this is the reality of being a pro player. This will boost our confidence since this is the biggest volleyball league in the country,” Almonte said. “I hope everyone gets a chance and opportunity to play for the PVL teams.”



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Timberwolves coach Chris Finch gets contract extension

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Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch listens during a news conference after Game 2 of the NBA basketball Western Conference finals, Friday, May 24, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

The Minnesota Timberwolves took care of one bit of business before the NBA draft and free agency begin by signing coach Chris Finch to a four-year extension that will run through the 2027-28 season.

It marks the third contract Finch has signed since becoming head coach in February 2021. On Finch’s watch, the Wolves have made the playoffs in three consecutive seasons and are coming off their first appearance in the NBA Western Conference finals since 2004.

Financial terms were not disclosed. The NBA draft is Wednesday and Thursday before free agency negotiations start this weekend.

“I’d like to thank [owner] Glen [Taylor], Becky [Taylor], and the entire organization for their continued support and commitment to me and the team,” Finch said in a statement. “I’m proud of the way we’ve been able to establish a great culture here with the Timberwolves and I look forward to continuing to lead this organization and make our fans proud.”

Finch is the second-winningest coach in franchise history, behind Flip Saunders, with a record of 160-127. His winning percentage of .557 is the best of any coach in franchise history.

READ: Timberwolves advancing further in NBA playoffs comes with cost

He previously signed an extension toward the end of the 2021-22 season. Finch finished third in this season’s Coach of the Year voting as the Wolves finished third in the Western Conference, and he has made an unconventional frontcourt of both Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert work while overseeing Anthony Edwards’ ascension into an All-NBA player. Finch also coached the Western Conference in this season’s All-Star Game.

Finch coached the last two rounds of this season’s playoffs after rupturing his patellar tendon in Game 4 of the team’s first-round series against Phoenix when point guard Mike Conley collided with him on the sidelines. Finch sat behind the bench or off to the side as assistant Micah Nori, who has interviewed for multiple head coaching jobs this offseason, roamed the sidelines.

Finch developed his reputation as a great offensive assistant coach in Houston and New Orleans before Gersson Rosas hired him to succeed Ryan Saunders in February 2021. But Finch oversaw the league’s No. 1 defense this season.

Finch has worked in unusual circumstances in his first four seasons as coach, as he has had three different bosses running basketball operations for the Wolves during his tenure — Rosas; executive vice president Sachin Gupta, who was the interim president after Rosas’ firing, and President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly for the past two seasons. Connelly and Finch previously worked together in Denver, where Finch was an assistant.

READ: NBA: Timberwolves coach Chris Finch to have knee surgery

Despite criticism last season as the Wolves struggled in the first season after the Gobert trade, Connelly never wavered in his commitment to Finch and often referred to him as an “elite” coach.

“Chris is a wonderful coach, and an even better person,” Connelly said in a statement. “We are thrilled that he is being rewarded with a well-earned extension. Under his guidance the team has improved every year, he’s the perfect leader for our organization.”

Connelly recently restructured his deal to push back a buyout in his contract until after next season as the ownership situation between Taylor and Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore plays out in arbitration over the next few months.



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JJ Redick confirmed as new Lakers coach

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Former NBA player JJ Redick  (Getty Images via AFP)

LOS ANGELES – Former NBA player-turned-pundit J.J. Redick says he is ready for the challenge of taking the Los Angeles Lakers back to the pinnacle of the NBA after being confirmed as the new head coach of the 17-time champions.

Redick, who spent 15 years in the NBA as a player before joining ESPN in 2021 as an analyst, was formally unveiled on Monday as the successor to Darvin Ham, who was fired following the Lakers’ first-round playoff defeat to Denver.

Redick’s appointment to such a high-profile position, which was first reported last week, has raised eyebrows across the NBA given his lack of coaching experience.

The 40-year-old analyst acknowledged those concerns in remarks to reporters on Monday, admitting his emergence as a contender for the Lakers job had been “surreal.”

“This process has been surreal to say the least,” Redick said, before thanking the Lakers for “entrusting me in this position.”

“I take this responsibility very seriously,” Redick said. “I have never coached in the NBA before. I don’t know if you guys have heard that.”

The Lakers finished the regular season with a 47-35 record but were unable to threaten Denver in the opening round of the playoffs.

Redick said he was under no illusions about the scale of the rebuilding task before him.

“I know what the expectations are,” Redick said. “Lakers fans have some of the most passionate fans around the world. And the expectation is a championship.

“So that’s my job. It’s our staff’s job … It’s on all of us to to deliver a championship-caliber team.”

Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said Redick had been appointed after a “thoughtful and thorough search process.”

“J.J. is a fierce competitor and has an extraordinary basketball IQ and understanding of the modern game that will energize players and excite fans,” Pelinka said.

“He brings an intense dedication to innovation, advancing the game and staying at the forefront of an ever-evolving league…this is an exciting time for Lakers basketball.”

Media reports say Redick has been appointed on a four-year deal.

It came after the Lakers were rejected by highly rated University of Connecticut coach Dan Hurley, who opted to remain in college basketball.

Redick has a close relationship with Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, with whom he co-hosts a podcast, and the Lakers are clearly hoping that bond will help turn the team back into title contenders.



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During his NBA playing career, Redick averaged 12.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists a game over 940 contests from 2006-2021 with Orlando, Milwaukee, the Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia and New Orleans.