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Kyle Neptune joins Hornets as assistant coach
Michael Scotto: Just In: The Charlotte Hornets are hiring Kyle Neptune as an assistant coach, league sources told @hoopshype. Neptune was previously a head coach at Fordham and Villanova University.
“I’m used to coming off the bench now. My mind is good. I feel great. I’m so into the game and I’m ready to go as soon as I pop off the bench. Before, we wanted to kind of keep myself warm, but now I’m at the point where it’s about mental. It’s about being ready to go. And I’m ready to go as soon as they put me out there.” So how did Lowry learn this humility? Lowry said it came from growing up in an underprivileged and tough neighborhood in North Philadelphia. The former Villanova University star added that the biggest challenge of his youth was worrying about being a victim of gun violence daily. Lowry credits his older brother, Lonnie Lowry Jr., for keeping him away from street life and the wrong crowd. Life is certainly much grander thanks to basketball for the married father of two sons who has netted nearly $250 million in his NBA career.
Rubin, who briefly attended Villanova University before building his businesses, made myriad powerful connections in and outside of sports during his career, which serve to bolster Fanatics’ growth. One is Dallas Mavericks owner and longtime entrepreneur Mark Cuban, who has become an admirer of what Rubin has done with Fanatics. “Michael has done an amazing job building Fanatics. He is on a mission to remake and take everything related to sports branding and he is well on his way to doing so,” Cuban said via email. “He has the drive, EQ, brains and focus to do it. He is an amazing entrepreneur.”
The in-state rivalry between URI and Providence is as intense as it gets. Among the student body, it can feel like the Friars’ biggest rivalry outside of Villanova University. The atmosphere is electric, and all eyes in the state are on that game. The magnitude of this game was emphasized with the surprise court-side spectators: Miami Heat all-stars Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry.
USA Basketball replacing Gregg Popovich as Team USA coach
Popovich’s coaching staff in Tokyo included Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, Indiana Pacers assistant coach Lloyd Pierce and Villanova University men’s head basketball coach Jay Wright. Hill told The Undefeated that he hopes to hire a new coach for USA Basketball before the 2021-22 NBA season begins on Oct. 19. A source told The Undefeated a current NBA coach with previous USA Basketball experience would likely be hired as the next coach of the team. Other possible candidates with USA Basketball coaching experience include the Philadelphia 76ers’ Doc Rivers, Atlanta Hawks’ Nate McMillan, Phoenix Suns’ Monty Williams, New York Knicks’ Tom Thibodeau and Miami Heat’s Erik Spoelstra. Another potential candidate is former NBA coach Jeff Van Gundy, who has coached USA Basketball in qualifying play in recent years.
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Though plenty of teams are looking to add a wing player or two in this year's draft, there are some valuable big men to consider, with Villanova University Omari Spellman in the mix. League sources told the Express-News the Spurs are targeting Spellman for a second workout before next Thursday's NBA Draft. The freshman forward averaged 10.9 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in his only season at Villanova, helping the Wildcats capture their second NCAA men's basketball championship in three years while also being named Big East Rookie of the Year.
The Detroit Pistons announced today that the team has signed rookie guard Darrun Hilliard to a contract. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed. Hilliard, a 6-6 guard from Villanova University, was selected 38th overall in the 2015 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons. He averaged 9.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 1.2 steals in the recently concluded NBA Orlando Summer League.
Casey will be on the shortlist of candidates for coach-of-the-year for helping the Raptors pull out of what looked like a fatal nosedive early in the year and earn the Raptors home court in the first round. A big factor was his ability to connect with Lowry, of course the Raptors point guard had to be willing after clashing with coaches at Villanova University, the Memphis Grizzlies and Houston Rockets and even last season under Casey at times. ”I was a young kid, a stubborn kid, a hard-headed kid, very closed, never opened up to anybody, a kid who never thought he needed help from anyone,” said Lowry, who turned 28 last month. “And I was wrong. I grew up.”
Dante Cunningham, a former basketball player from Villanova University, pleaded guilty Tuesday in Radnor to equipment violations but had more serious charges dropped. Radnor police arrested Cunningham, 24, who now plays in the NBA, in April. When they arrested him, police said, there was a strong odor of marijuana coming from the open window of his car. A Tupperware container with a green vegetable matter was found under a fold-down center console next to the driver’s seat. There was also a silver grinder with the same green vegetable matter inside, police said. A purple ceramic smoking pipe, a partially smoked blunt and a loaded black BB gun were also found by police.
With hopes of making it in the world of business and finance, several NBA players have earned an MBA, like former New Jersey Nets guard Kerry Kittles and former New York Knick Charles Smith, who received their MBAs from Villanova University and Seton Hall University, respectively.
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The Chicago Bulls announced today that Ed Pinckney has been hired as an assistant coach on Tom Thibodeau’s coaching staff. In accordance with club policy, terms of the contracts were not announced. Pinckney, 47, spent last season as the television analyst for the Philadelphia 76ers. Prior to that, he spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves (2007-2009) and four seasons as an assistant at his alma mater, Villanova University (2003-2007). He also served as a member of the Miami Heat radio and television broadcasting team after his retirement in 1997.
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