Rumors

Austin Reaves is excited about the changes Redick will bring to the Lakers (video link from Cierra Clark of THV11 in Little Rock, Arkansas). “I’ve gotten to know J.J. a little bit, going on his podcast during the middle of the year,” Reaves said. “He’s a basketball genius, I think as everybody knows. I think he’s going to make a good coach, and I can’t wait to get to work with him. … I can’t wait to put our brains together and go have a good year.”

Hoops Rumors

Bobby Portis smiled and couldn't wait for the rest of the question to be asked as his Little Rock, Arkansas, accent was holding onto the last syllable. “Awkwarrrdd,” he said with a slight laugh when the topic of seeing Jrue Holiday in Boston was broached. He looked down and adjusted his shoes under a row of chairs in Toronto. “Awkwarrrdd.” Khris Middleton smiled as he picked up the remaining items in his locker in Charlotte. “Yes, you can say weird,” he said. “Yes. It’s going to be weird.”

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Kylen Mills: Former Arkansas guard Moses Moody was given the key to the city of Little Rock today after winning an NBA championship in his rookie season. Moody led all players in scoring during 2022 summer league action, averaging 27.5ppg in Vegas. @kron4news #Razorbacks #dubnation pic.twitter.com/wr07q4g5Uz

Twitter

Former Razorback, current Milwaukee Buck, and NBA champion Bobby Portis returned to Little Rock to host the 2nd annual Bobby Portis Foundation Weekend and receive a key to the city from Mayor Frank Scott Jr. Portis greeted families at River Front Park Sunday where he hosted his 'Back-to-School Backpack Giveaway,' with classes set to begin on Monday. He also hosted a basketball camp this weekend as well.

THV11

Jason Jones: Per league sources, Ruot Monyyong (6-10, 190), the 2020 Sun Belt DPOY and two-time All-Sun Belt forward from Little Rock will workout for the Kings July 8. He averaged 11.9 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.8 blocks and 0.9 steals for Little Rock in two seasons.

Twitter

While nothing materialized because of his whopping one-year contract ($15 million), speculation centered on if he’d want a buyout to go to a title contender. Not a chance. It’s more likely the Little Rock, Ark. native would eschew sweet tea for the unsweetened kind. Portis turns 25 Monday and said there’s plenty of time for him to win a title.

New York Post

Fighting a rare form of cancer since 2008, a battle she lost in February at age 60, Joe Johnson’s mother didn’t want the hospital. She wanted to remain at her Little Rock, Arkansas, home during the final days of struggle, with her brothers and only child close. And her son was able to oblige since for the first time since 2001, when he was a first-round pick of the Boston Celtics, Joe Johnson wasn’t employed by an NBA team. Johnson, who is trying to make the Detroit Pistons roster, admits the year away from the league wasn’t by choice.

Detroit Free Press

Sean Cunningham: Likely Kings final pre-draft workout on Monday: Shamorie Ponds (G – 6’1” St. John’s), Jaylen Hands (G – 6’3” UCLA), Rayjon Tucker (F – 6’5” Little Rock), Miye Oni (F – 6’6” Yale), Daulton Hommes (F – 6’7” Point Loma), Kenny Wooten (C – 6’9” Oregon)

Twitter

Evan Daniels: Little Rock guard Rayjon Tucker declared for the NBA Draft. He had been contemplating a transfer. Averaged 20.3 PPG last season.

Twitter

Go figure this: Spaniard Ricky Rubio had a perfectly picked NCAA bracket in the Wolves' pool on Thursday's first day of March Madness. "I know a 12 seed always beat a 5 so I pick two of them," said Rubio, who missed on at least three picks Friday. "I took Little Rock because I like the name, I didn't know anybody on that team. I think it's pure luck. Most of the teams, I don't even know which state they're in. I didn't go to college here."

Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Barnes, as promised, barely glanced Fisher’s way across the Knicks-Grizzlies matchup that marked the first time the love-triangle fighters were under the same roof since October’s backyard melee. Fisher stood the whole time Barnes was in the game. Maybe Barnes is saving it for the Feb. 5 Garden rematch. The Knicks coach, who grew up 90 minutes away in Little Rock, Arkansas, got booed heavily during pregame introductions. Fisher was decked out in all black — black suit jacket, dress shirt, pants and a black corsage-like apparel — as if dressed for a funeral.

New York Post

Fisher does not associate Memphis with Barnes’ new workplace. Memphis always has special meaning for Fisher, with Arkansas right across the Mississippi River. Fisher grew up in Little Rock, Ark., 90 minutes away, and also played college ball there. “I always get to see lots of friends and family,’’ Fisher said. “This is the closest to home that a person from there can get there. It’s always great with relatives. We’re all a basketball family. We’ll see how many Knicks fans there are tonight.’’

New York Post

An Arkansas prosecutor moved to drop charges against Suns guard Archie Goodwin in relation to a May arrest outside a Little Rock skating rink. The prosecutor passed two charges to be dismissed after six months if there is no more evidence in the case, according to the Sherwood District Court in Little Rock, Ark. Goodwin, 19, plead not guilty in June in the case stemming from a May 4 arrest, in which he was booked into jail on charges of disorderly conduct and refusal to submit to arrest.

Arizona Republic

The man called Iso-Joe did not ask for the nickname, or the ball-dominating style that spawned it, or the burdens of a one-man show. The label suggests self-indulgence, and the modest, soft-speaking fellow from Little Rock, Ark., hardly fits the caricature. “I don’t know where the Iso-Joe comes from,” said Joe Johnson, sounding more bemused than annoyed.

New York Times