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Warriors have called Lakers multiple times over past year and a half to register interest in LeBron James
As long as LeBron James' future in Los Angeles remains uncertain, Golden State will undoubtedly be mentioned as a potential James suitor. I'm told that the Warriors have called the Lakers on multiple occasions over the past 18 months to see whether there is any trade pathway to pairing James with Stephen Curry, who roughly a year ago at this time was teaming with LeBron for the United States senior men's national team on its run to a gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
When Stephen Curry joined Team USA for the 2024 Paris Olympics, he knew he needed to be the team’s leader. Speaking exclusively to ClutchPoints, Curry’s former Davidson coach Bob McKillop shared the story of one Team USA practice when he visited Curry — and what Curry believed their greatest challenge was to winning the gold medal. In the summer of 2024, Curry, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and others were all still learning how to play together. Before the Olympics began, Bob McKillop went to visit his former player and good friend at a Team USA practice. McKillop immediately noticed one thing that separated Curry from his fellow All-Star teammates. “[Steph] was diligent, detailed, incredibly sharp about the way he practiced, vis-a-vis his teammates who were great talents, but didn’t have the same attention to detail that he has,” McKillop explained. “He then went and practiced by himself for 30 minutes, which he always does.”
Some sources in Dončić’s inner circle believed he was on the path toward this kind of physical transformation whether or not Dallas general manager Nico Harrison had bet against him. Dončić and his management team began working with Maček and Barrio in 2023. One year later, he helped carry the Mavericks to the NBA Finals and immediately followed that by playing for his national team in Slovenia’s failed bid to make the Paris Olympics.
The 2024 Paris Olympics left Jović with mixed emotions. He contributed as much as he could, but circumstances weren’t on his side. “How could I not feel bad? It’s kind of like… like I…” he paused. “I can’t say I was a burden to the team, but I couldn’t help enough. I managed to play a bit, but then I got sick over there and couldn’t play at all. Sometimes I even forget that I made it into the lineup coming off a broken foot. When we gathered, I arrived wearing a boot. I took it off and practically played right away. The people in Miami were the first ones who didn’t like that, but I just couldn’t skip that tournament. Now I’m healthy, and that’s the most important thing to me. Everything else will fall into place. Because, if nothing else, at least I know I can physically handle the challenges.”
“When you retire, you’re not a part of a team anymore. You’re not in a locker room like that anymore. So it’d be good,” he says of his role on the NBA on Prime crew. Wade looks forward to engaging in conversations on air with other former players whom he’s faced on the court and those who have “been in the same battle” as competitors in the NBA. The three-time NBA champion is also eager to announce games courtside, as he did at the 2024 Paris Olympics for NBC.
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Former French head coach Vincent Collet “happy” Joel Embiid chose to play for Team USA
Former French national team head coach Vincent Collet admitted he was pleased that NBA superstar Joel Embiid chose to represent Team USA instead of joining France for the 2024 Paris Olympics. "I was happy Embiid didn't come last year," Collet told BasketNews at the B8 Summit in Vilnius last week. "I think we don't need that," he added, referring to the naturalization of players on national teams.
But before his return to the court, he had been training in the weight room with his son, Lakers guard Bronny James, sources told ESPN, their first extended offseason together after last summer's Paris Olympics. And while James has considered retirement every offseason since 2023, a source familiar with James' thinking told ESPN that at this point, James is not entering next season with any certainty that it will be his last.
Maluach said Booker was very complimentary and nice to him when he visited with him a couple times during the 2024 Paris Olympics. The South Sudan center also played against Booker and Team USA in an exhibition game in London and during the Olympics last year. “We had a dinner and I went to say what’s up to him because he had his own table. He said to, ‘Go do it,’ and then I shook his hand. He told me, ‘I’ll see you in a year.’ But when he said, ‘See you in a year,’ I know he meant the NBA. Now, I’ll see you with the Phoenix Suns. I will be his teammate.”
Stephen Curry, whose epic performance in the gold-medal game at the Paris Olympics last summer was a reminder that he was still truly great, had every reason to wonder if that would be the last meaningful game he might play in his career. “We’re still trying to do it,” Curry said. “So you can tell there’s such a care factor for every guy on this team that starts with me, Draymond, (Kevon) Looney, who has been here with us, and now obviously (with) Jimmy and his playoff experience. So I had to rely on that as long as this ride continues. You know you’re figuring out the chessboard in between the series, and sticking with it, and not letting go of the rope (while) being able to turn the page from one game to the next and meet the moment. It’s so much fun out here.
Gordie Herbert named head coach of Canada national team
Canada Basketball announced Thursday that Gordie Herbert has been named the next head coach of the Senior Men’s National Team. The Penticton, B.C., native will officially assume the role in the summer of 2026. Herbert joins the program with a winning track record and a reputation as one of international basketball’s most accomplished coaches. He guided Germany to a historic FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup title in 2023 and followed it up with a fourth-place finish at the 2024 Paris Olympics. “We are proud to announce Gordie as the next head coach of our Senior Men’s National Team,” said Rowan Barrett, General Manager and Executive Vice-President, Senior Men’s Program. “His championship pedigree, command of the FIBA game, and understanding of what it takes to compete for medals on the world stage make him the ideal leader for this next chapter of Canada Basketball.”
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Cavaliers associate head coach Johnnie Bryant and Rockets assistant coach Royal Ivey are two more names to monitor, league sources say. Ivey began establishing himself as an NBA head coaching candidate by steering South Sudan's national team into last summer's Paris Olympics and presumably would have an even stronger connection to this job if the Suns decide not to trade Ivey's close friend and former college teammate Kevin Durant.
The game of basketball has taken King and White from Boulder, Colorado, to all over the world. White played for USA Basketball in the 2023 World Cup and on their gold medal winning team during the 2024 Paris Olympics. White and the Celtics also played preseason games against the Denver Nuggets at Abu Dhabi Games 2024. As for King, he had short stints with the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks and in the G League, but of late has played overseas. King currently is a guard for Egypt’s Al Ittihad who opened the 2025 BAL season with a 71-60 win over host FUS Rabat on April 5. “I haven’t talked to him about playing in Africa, but I definitely will,” White said about King. “But I just think it’s amazing that he continues to get better and continues to put so much work into the game. A lot of people that go overseas sometimes lose their love for the game. But I think he just fell more in love with the process and the things he needs to do to keep his body healthy. It’s great to see.”
Mike Budenholzer on Devin Booker game-winner: 'We should send Steve Kerr a thank you note'
Duane Rankin: "We should send Steve Kerr a thank you note." Mike Budenholzer on running same play Kerr ran for Kevin Durant coaching Team USA in Paris Olympics. Booker got shot for winner Monday vs Bucks. "It may have been ran pre-Olympics, but it definitely was run in Paris this summer." pic.x.com/HaW2CYQLzW
Alongside his Olympic commitment, Simmons strongly supported the national program’s new direction under head coach Adam Caporn. Basketball Australia announced Caporn’s appointment this week, naming the Washington Wizards assistant as the Boomers’ new leader following Brian Goorjian’s departure after the 2024 Paris Olympics. "I’ve known [Adam Caporn] for a while, I'm happy for him," Simmons said. "He's a great coach and a great person. I'm looking forward to talking to him and getting connected — continue to build our relationship going into the next Olympics."
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