Rumors

In addition to Harris, Austin’s proposal was supported by NBA superstar Kevin Durant (who starred one year at the University of Texas), former Milwaukee Bucks owner Marc Lasry and PEAK6 founder Jenny Just. All big names, but none with active control of an NBA team.

Sportico

University of Texas guard Tre Johnson went through a predraft workout with the Utah Jazz last week, according to league sources. Johnson, 19, is widely expected to be a top-5 pick, but could go as high at No. 3 in the June 25 draft.

deseret.com

Nick DePaula: Kevin Durant debuts the “Longhorns” KD 18 PE back at UT. 🤘 pic.x.com/I8cyn5KW9e

Twitter

The Suns will face San Antonio Feb. 20 in their first game after the break at Moody Center in Austin, where Durant starred for the University of Texas for a one-and-done season. “Hopefully everybody gets their minds clear, enjoy their break with their families, get their bodies right and then come back and put our foot on the gas and try to get this thing turned around,” Durant said. “I know we’re losing games. That’s an exciting part of the NBA. Seeing how you can try to turn the season around and try to be better,'' he said. "We know we can be better. I’m excited about how we’re going to come in as far as mindset. I know a week off from the game, guys will be fiending to get back. I can’t wait.”

Arizona Republic

A group trying to bring a team to the city has filed a formal bid with the WNBA, three sources briefed on the matter told The Athletic. Former Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry is the lead investor in the group trying to bring another team to Texas, through his investment firm, Avenue Capital, while perennial NBA All-Star Kevin Durant and former University of Texas star and Houston Comets player Fran Harris are both involved with the bid, according to a person briefed on the bid. The team would likely play at the Moody Center, where the Longhorns compete. The group plans to build a practice facility for the prospective team if it wins the bid.

New York Times

Kevin Durant could be part of an Austin, Texas, ownership group pursuing a WNBA expansion team, SBJ has learned, becoming the latest NBA player to leverage the league’s collective bargaining agreement that allows active players to buy up to 4% of an independent W franchise. Almost two weeks ago, Jayson Tatum’s name surfaced as a potential partner with a separate group looking to bring a WNBA expansion team to St. Louis, Tatum’s hometown. Sources said Durant is in similar discussions with his own burgeoning group in Austin, where he attended the University of Texas for one season.

Sports Business Journal

The Austin group is represented by former WNBA champion Fran Harris, who is leading the city’s capital raise but has not yet disclosed her lead investor. She would also neither confirm nor deny that Durant will be a minority partner. "I have a team of people who are assisting in the cap raise," Harris told SBJ. "We are at this point, putting together some strategic people in Austin, because sometimes when you're putting a raise together, it's not just about getting one big fish. It's about who are the other people who are around the table…You kind of round it out with some usual suspects of people who might have attended the University of Texas and play in the NBA."

Sports Business Journal

On Thursday, Feb. 20, TNT will present San Antonio’s home game against Phoenix at the Moody Center on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin, where 14-time NBA All-Star Kevin Durant of the Suns was a college standout with the Longhorns (9:30 p.m. ET).

NBA.com

Rockets assistant coach Royal Ivey will interview for the vacant head-coaching position with the Charlotte Hornets, two individuals with knowledge of the process said. Ivey, a former University of Texas player and 10-year NBA veteran, was a Brooklyn Nets assistant for three seasons before joining coach Ime Udoka with the Rockets. Ivey, 42, was also an assistant with the Oklahoma City Thunder and New York Knicks after beginning his coaching career as the head coach of the Oklahoma City Blue in the G League.

Houston Chronicle

Noah Weber: Greg Brown III on former UT teammate and current Hornets big, Kai Jones: “Kai has always been like that…People just have never seen the real Kai. Kai is really just showing the real Kai right now.” Brown III said he’s checked in on Kai, and said “he says he’s doing great.”

Twitter

Tiffany Jackson, a former standout at the University of Texas who was the No. 5 pick in the WNBA draft in 2007 and played nine years in the league, has died of cancer, the school announced. She was 37. Jackson, who was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, died Monday. She was hired as head coach at Wiley College in April.  Jackson graduated from Dallas Lincoln High School. She was a three-time All-Big 12 selection and was voted the national freshman of the year by the U.S Basketball Writers Association in 2004. She finished her Texas career ranked in the top five in career points, rebounds and steals. She is the only Longhorns player to reach 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 300 steals and 150 blocks in a career.

fox4news.com

During the 2006-07 season, his only one at UT, Durant earned first-team All-Big 12 and unanimous All-American honors. He was also the unanimous National Player of the Year. His No. 35 has already been retired by the university, and now he will have a chance to be immortalized in the Hall of Honor.

The Spun

For this night at least, Turner and frontcourt mate Domantas Sabonis were adversaries, as Saturday's matchup pitted Turner's University of Texas against Sabonis' Gonzaga University. Turner was paired with fellow Longhorn and Orlando Magic center Mo Bamba. They competed against recent Gonzaga stars Jalen Suggs and Joel Ayayi, both of whom are entrants into the 2021 NBA Draft.

NBA.com

In a recent conversation with former Euless Trinity, University of Texas and current Indiana Pacers forward Myles Turner, he offered nothing but pragmatism about the return, and the priority, of the game. “You need at least a month,” he said. “The NBA is such a rhythm-based game. I mean, we played damn near the whole season out.”

Fort Worth Star-Telegram