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You’re a spokesperson for FanDuel, the online sports-gambling site. Why? Kenny Smith: For a long time, I had been asked to do gambling sites, and then, when the N.B.A. said that gambling was legal and part of their thing, that’s when I said, “O.K. If you’re saying it’s O.K., then it’s O.K.” You don’t feel a tension between being an N.B.A. analyst and a sports-wagering spokesperson? Kenny Smith: KS: I’ve never looked at a spread of a game in my life. Well, the only time I look at the spread of the game is when I’m sitting next to Charles during March Madness, because we bet on teams. We don’t know anything about Drexel versus Georgia State, so we do the line. Fifty a game.
Drexel big man Amari Williams has declared for the 2024 NBA Draft, but will be retaining his college eligibility as he also announced he will enter the transfer portal.
In the 1980s, billions in drug proceeds made their way through a chain of BCCI-related entities to some of the biggest banks in the world. Did they also find their way to Drexel? There’s evidence at least two BCCI-related projects—Capcom and, as discussed in an earlier post, Centrust—did business with Drexel. There may be many others. Drexel’s investors ended up controlling some of the biggest companies on earth. Often the true source of their funds was tough to sort out. I think about this when I hear people saying, cryptically, that Drexel operated in a gray area.
“We are excited to be adding two key people with multifaceted skill sets for two key roles at the NBA,” Spruell told The Undefeated. “We believe the NBA and our teams in turn will derive great benefits in drawing on the collective playing, coaching, scouting and front-office experience of Malik and David.” Rose joins the league office following a recent two-year stint as the Detroit Pistons’ assistant general manager. The 13-year NBA veteran was also the general manager of the NBA G League Erie Bayhawks from 2015 to 2018. The Philadelphia native averaged 6.2 points and 4.1 rebounds in 813 games while playing for the Charlotte Hornets, San Antonio Spurs, New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder from 1996 to 2009, and won NBA championships with the Spurs in 1999 and 2003. The former Drexel University star also earned a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems and a master’s degree in sports management.
There were a reported 1,481 fans at Drexel's Daskalakis Athletic Center on Saturday. Incredibly, the Philadelphia 76ers' Ben Simmons and Kendall Jenner — who have been reported to be dating for some time — were among those who took in the Dragons' game against Robert Morris. Their attendance in the bleachers at the Philadelphia university gym was spotted by cameras during Drexel's 82-69 win. That came one night after Jenner was spotted courtside at the 76ers' game against the Washington Wizards sitting next to Ben Simmons' mother. It was also reported that T.J. McConnell was in attendance at the game. The Pittsburgh native's brother, Matty McConnell, plays for Robert Morris, located near the Steel City.
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Playing to a score appeals to the sport's pickup roots. "The games gained way more excitement," says Jake Lerner, a four-year player at Drexel University who coached in last year's TBT. "It adds a streetball element. Any player would rather play pickup to 7 than a timed game." (For what it's worth: Lerner is not 100 percent behind the concept. As a coach, he missed the strategic clock-related machinations of crunch time -- such as diagramming quick 2s and seeking 2-for-1s.) Mark Cuban and Daryl Morey are among NBA luminaries excited to see Elam's idea play out in games of consequence. "This idea would address the number one viewer issue I see in NBA games -- the endless trips to the free throw line and timeouts at the end of games," Morey, Houston's GM, told ESPN.com last year.
Van Gundy recently commented on Wall's game and limitations. The evaluation, captured here, lumped the NBC Sports analyst in with those other naysayers, though Van Gundy does not believe his opinion of Wall's overall game is a negative one. "I said this: John Wall is a talented guy, a very good player. I don't think he's good enough that you can build a franchise around him," Van Gundy said after serving as television analyst for George Mason's home game against Drexel last Thursday night. "I don't think he can be your best player, certainly not clearly your best player. You need one guy better than him or a couple of guys at his talent level for them to win.
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