Rumors

Love’s latest Instagram post came Monday, posting photos of Heat teammate Duncan Robinson’s dunk over San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama with the caption, “The pride of New Hampshire — Duncan McBryde Robinson.” “It’s been really fun to do,” Love said. “That’s just how my brain works, as well. So when the fight [with the Rockets] first happened, that’s where it all started and I was like: ‘Oh, I can do this all the time and people love this.’ So as long as I’m not taking it too far, I can do this the right way and get the fans involved. Now, I think just picking my spots and finding ways to keep it rolling.”

Miami Herald

After his high school career between nearby Hinsdale Central, Brewster Academy in New Hampshire and Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas led to five-star prospect status and a 2023 McDonald’s All-American Game selection, Buzelis chose the now-defunct G League Ignite over a multitude of college offers. It’s an experience he’ll always be thankful for. “It was a great situation. I wish it didn't end because if you look at the numbers, there's been [six] lottery picks. It's just unfortunate that it happened, but they did an amazing job from the start when I got there to the end,” Buzelis said. “They showed me the NBA schedule you've got to follow, they showed me how to play against NBA players, they showed me how to compete, and [I had] NBA coaching and training. But they really instilled a lot of stuff in me about the NBA, so I feel like I have a slight advantage walking into my rookie year.”

Responsible Gaming

While NBA fans tried to figure out what was going on, Front Office Sports’ A.J. Perez noted that the report “did indeed come from CNN and was “fully-vetted” by the network before it was passed along to TNT,” later adding that sources assumed the news wasn’t being shared on CNN’s channels because of the New Hampshire primaries. NY Times reporter Kevin Draper shared a similar comment from CNN.

Awful Announcing

Duncan Robinson grew up in New Hampshire and was a Celtics fan throughout his childhood so it was a little surprising to see the New England native pour salt in the wound of Boston fans in Game 7. In an appearance on JJ Redick’s podcast on Monday, Robinson revealed the entertaining reason that motivated him to do the taunt.

Booth Newspapers

Russell Westbrook: “I never fold under mental pressure”- NH NIP pic.twitter.com/jE8poFICUW

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Barring anything drastic, you’ll see the Granite State’s lone NBA player when the league starts up again next month at Disney World in Orlando, Fla. “I don’t foresee anything happening that would cause that to change,” said New Castle’s Duncan Robinson, a guard/forward with the Miami Heat. “I’m very much united in the front that my teammates present or as the players’ association as a whole ultimately decides to do.”

UnionLeader.com

Barry Jackson: Duncan Robinson told the ABC affiliate in Manchester, New Hampshire that Heat workouts are "only one coach and one player at one basket. Coaches are wearing masks and gloves. It's very different but at least we're able to get back out there and try to work back into shape."

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Mike Cherry: Kyrie Irving jerseys are the only #Celtics gear on sale for 50% at Modell’s in Manchester, NH. That’s a pretty clear indicator that retailers aren’t confident in his return.

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Adrian Wojnarowski: Guard Jalen Lecque of Brewster Academy (NH) has decided against playing today at the NBA Combine based on feedback to his family, per source. Lecque’s athleticism was certainly evident for NBA executives on Thursday.

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Griffin did some homework before reaching out to noted athletic trainer Noah LaRoche. The founder of Integrity Hoops, a New Hampshire-based training facility, LaRoche has trained athletes like Russell Westbrook and Diana Taurasi. LaRoche watched film and sent Griffin some observations. The two designed offseason workout regimens designed to simulate live action. Eight to 10 guys would perform basketball actions and Griffin would have make decisions. It was more scientific than just getting up hundreds of shots or tossing up weights.

Detroit Free Press

Dubois, then 16, had been diagnosed with high-risk acute myeloid leukemia a month earlier. A softball junkie, the resident of Rindge, New Hampshire, didn't know much about Smart before his visit but had excitedly asked the nurses at Children's what she should do in the presence of a famous visitor. The nurses all told Dubois, who was undergoing an initial round of induction chemotherapy in advance of a bone marrow transplant, to relax and just be herself. So the teenager eased any awkwardness by pelting one of the NBA's most rugged defenders with rubber darts and foam balls. Marcus Smart quickly sought out his own toy weapon to return fire. In that moment, a rare bond was forged between player and patient, a bond that would only grow stronger as Smart routinely checked in on Dubois during her treatments.

ESPN

Q: What ways did you keep yourself in shape and healthy? —Terry. Matt Bonner: Staying in game shape for over six months in the White Mountains of New Hampshire at the age of 36 was quite a challenge. It took a lot of mental toughness and focus. I stayed motivated by telling myself that I could get a call from an NBA team any minute so I had to be ready. I lifted four days a week and did a lot of mobility and flexibility work. For conditioning, I basically alternated on playing the court, running in the mountains (until it started snowing), swimming in the pool and riding an Airdyne bike. I also mixed in some pickup basketball at some of the prep schools up there and even did a couple of those boot-camp-style classes with one of my childhood buddies. I think it’s important to try and keep conditioning low-impact as you get older to save your joints.

The Players' Tribune

Matt Bonner, aka “The Red Mamba,” is retiring from professional basketball after 12 seasons, and he announced the news in the funniest way possible. Bonner used a two-plus minute video, staged as a spot on New Hampshire public access television, to announce the news. It was pretty funny, and the production was actually really good. Watch Bonner eat a sandwich, walk through some of nature’s most picturesque settings and talk.

Sports Illustrated

Jeff Goodman: New Hampshire native and former Arizona big man Kaleb Tarczewski will work out for the Celtics tomorrow, per source.

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