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☆ The Brooklyn Nets Trade Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Robert O'Connell | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The Brooklyn Nets have agreed to a blockbuster trade sending All-NBA forward Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns, completing the near-overnight teardown of the failed superteam that it built hoping to dominate the NBA for years. The deal, coming just days after Brooklyn traded Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks, shakes up the league hours ahead of Thursday afternoon’s trade deadline. The Suns are sending Brooklyn a trio of forwards in return—Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder and dynamic defender Mikal Bridges—in addition to four first-round picks and a pick swap in 2028. The Suns also receive forward T.J. Warren. The trade was first reported by ESPN and The Athletic.

☆ Suns acquire Kevin Durant from Nets, say media reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Suns add Durant to an underachieving squad that sits at 30-26, tied for fourth place in the Western Conference. The NBA trade deadline is Thursday. In 39 games this season, Durant is averaging 29.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists. He averaged 9.5 points and 2.8 rebounds for Brooklyn, well below his career norms of 15.1 points and four rebounds. As he heads to the eighth team in his NBA career, he has averages of 9.6 points and 4.3 rebounds.

☆ Nets forward Durant traded to Suns - reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 9 (Reuters) - The Brooklyn Nets have traded All-Star forward Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns in a swap deal that includes four other players and future first-round picks, American media reported on Thursday. While Harden was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers, Irving moved to the Dallas Mavericks earlier this week, bringing the curtains down on Brooklyn's 'Big Three' experiment. Durant, 34, won back-to-back championships with the Golden State Warriors where he was also named NBA Finals MVP in both title-winning seasons. Both the Nets and the Suns are fifth in their respective conferences. ET on ThursdayReporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; editing by Pritha SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ This college dropout sold his first company for six figures at 21. Here's his recipe for success
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Goh Chiew Tong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

When Kevin Kim dropped out of college at 21 to become an entrepreneur, it seemed like a huge gamble. Kim had just sold his first company — which he started when he was just 18 — for "six figures." His e-commerce company imported streetwear from South Korea and sold it all over North America, he told CNBC Make It. The importance of company culture cannot be underestimated, Kim stressed, if one wants to build an "iconic long-term company." Kevin Kim Co-founder and CEO, Stadium Live

☆ Brooklyn's Kyrie Irving is going to the Dallas Mavericks
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The Mavericks and Brooklyn Nets agreed Sunday on a blockbuster trade: Irving — the super-talented and often-enigmatic eight-time All-Star point guard — heads to Dallas, ending the pairing with Kevin Durant that never really had a chance to click. It was not immediately clear when Irving would make his debut with Dallas. And I think for Dallas, they got a big-time star to go with the one they've got." The trade does again pair Irving with Dallas general manager Nico Harrison, who was a Nike executive before taking over the Mavericks in 2021. After the Nets lost to Dallas at home in overtime in October, Irving said he saw traits of the Mavericks being "a great team."

☆ Nets trade All-Star guard Kyrie Irving to Mavericks, reports say
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 5 (Reuters) - The Brooklyn Nets have traded All-Star guard Kyrie Irving, whose tenure with the club included dozens of missed games due in part to his refusal to get the COVID-19 vaccine, to the Dallas Mavericks, according to reports on Sunday. Prior to his apology, the Nets suspended Irving for at least five games, saying that despite holding two news conferences, he had refused to disavow anti-Semitism. That followed a 2021-22 season during which Irving played only 29 of the Nets' 82 regular season games as he refused to comply with New York City's COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Irving was selected with the first overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he spent six seasons before being traded to the Boston Celtics. Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto Editing by Toby DavisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ NBA roundup: Mavs win game but lose Luka Doncic
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Knicks 120, Celtics 117 (OT)Julius Randle scored 37 points and Jalen Brunson added 29 as New York came back to win in overtime in Boston. Brunson added four rebounds, seven assists and two blocks, rejecting Malcolm Brogdon's potential game-tying 3 at the buzzer. Jayson Tatum had 35 points and 14 rebounds while Jaylen Brown added 22 points in Boston's third straight loss. Zach LaVine had 18 points and nine rebounds, Patrick Williams posted 15 points in his hometown, and Nikola Vucevic (nine rebounds) and Ayo Dosunmu each had 12 points. Norman Powell added 15 points for Los Angeles, with Robert Covington scoring 13 and Reggie Jackson and Ivica Zubac contributing 12 and 11 points, respectively.

☆ NBA roundup: Damian Lillard scores 60, moves up 3-pointer list
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Jerami Grant added 19 points and Anfernee Simons had 16 points and nine assists, which won its second game in a row. 76ers 137, Nets 133Tyrese Maxey scored 27 points, Joel Embiid added 26 points and 10 rebounds and host Philadelphia defeated Brooklyn. Rui Hachimura scored 12 points in his Lakers debut after he was acquired in a trade with the Washington Wizards on Monday. Pat Connaughton had 19 points and 12 rebounds and Khris Middleton added 10 points for the Bucks. Mathurin went for a game-high 26 points, but Banchero's Magic came out on top thanks to a strong start.

☆ NBA roundup: Lakers rally, end Grizzlies' 11-game win streak
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Ja Morant scored 22 points while Brandon Clarke and Tyus Jones added 20 points each for the Grizzlies. Paul George chipped in 16 points and 12 assists, Marcus Morris Sr. scored 15 points and Ivica Zubac racked up 12 points and 16 rebounds. Murray finished with 29, going 14-for-25 from the field and adding 12 assists to record his sixth double-double of the season. Domantas Sabonis contributed 18 points, 14 assists and 14 rebounds as Sacramento notched its sixth straight victory, one shy of its season high. Gilgeous-Alexander also had seven assists but couldn't prevent the end of the Thunder's four-game winning streak.

Fanatics is in discussions to acquire the BetParx sportsbook, as the sports merchandising company looks to take a bigger position in sports betting, according to people familiar with the matter. Representatives for Fanatics and BetParx declined to comment. Fanatics has been seeking a deal in the sports betting space for some time. The company is opening Fanatics Sportsbook at FedExField, the stadium of the NFL's Washington Commanders. Last year, Fanatics' billionaire executive chairman Michael Rubin sold his 10% stake in Harris Blitzer Sports Entertainment, the owner of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils, allowing Fanatics to enter the gambling space.

☆ NBA roundup: Nuggets best Blazers on Nikola Jokic's triple-double
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Damian Lillard scored 44 points -- the third time in four games he put up 40 or more -- for the Trail Blazers, who have lost eight straight road games. The Sixers topped 110 points for the 15th consecutive game, doing so even with James Harden limited to six points on 1-of-6 shooting. Terance Mann and Ivica Zubac each scored 12 points for the Clippers, who finished 2-3 in a run of five consecutive home games. Bobby Portis recorded his 27th double-double of the campaign with 12 points and 12 rebounds for Milwaukee, which played its fourth consecutive game without Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee). Brooklyn took its third straight loss despite getting a triple-double -- 10 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists -- from Ben Simmons.

☆ NBA roundup: Luka Doncic, Mavs survive 2OT battle with Lakers
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Another reserve, Jordan Nwora added 16 points, hitting 4 of 8 from long range. Malcolm Brogdon added 16 points while Derrick White added 15 as Boston shot 47.7 percent and began surging ahead while Tatum rested early in the fourth. James Harden added 24 points, 15 assists and six rebounds, and Tyrese Maxey scored 17 points. Anunoby had 15 points and four steals and Fred VanVleet contributed 11 points and eight assists. Terry Rozier added 21 points and Mason Plumlee had 16 points and 15 rebounds.

☆ Pitch Decks That Advertising Tech Startups Used to Raise Millions
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Business Insider | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +19 min

Check out these pitch decks that they've used to sell their vision and raise millions from private equity and VC investors. Blocking ad fraudAdtech startup Lunio, announced a $15 million Series A funding round in September 2022. In May 2022, the software-as-a-service startup raised a $30 million Series B round, led by Insight Partners. Marketing in the metaverseAnima, an augmented-reality startup, raised a $3 million funding round from investors in Janury. He raised $50 million in Series D after closing a $34 million Series C last year, bringing its total raised to $100 million.

☆ Draymond Green Sets Us Straight on the Real N.B.A.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( David Marchese | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +20 min

Mamadi Doumbouya for The New York Times Talk Draymond Green Sets Us Straight on the Real N.B.A. Celtics have a die-hard fan base that’s going to root hard for the Celtics. But when I’ve listened to it, it’s not as if you’re saying things that are all that far away from what pundits or analysts are saying. I don’t think it affected who I was, who I am, because my mom never allowed it to. So when I say what he said is irrelevant, I’m saying that from the standpoint of, Let me not deflect.

☆ NBA roundup: Nets sneak by Heat in final seconds
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

The Nets, who have won 14 of their past 15 games, also got 13 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks from Nic Claxton. 76ers 123, Pistons 111James Harden delivered a triple-double with 20 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, Tyrese Maxey had 23 points and visiting Philadelphia rolled past Detroit. Gary Trent Jr. had 19 points, Fred VanVleet had 14 points and seven assists and O.G. Anfernee Simons added 22 points, Josh Hart had 18 points, Jusuf Nurkic had 14 points and 18 rebounds and Jerami Grant also scored 14 points for Portland. Luguentz Dort added 18 points for the Thunder.

☆ NBA roundup: Hornets come out firing, blow out Bucks
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 26 points and Tobias Harris had 22 points and 11 rebounds. Romeo Langford added 15 points for San Antonio, with Malaki Branham hitting for 14 and Jeremy Sochan 10. Daniel Gafford had 15 points and nine rebounds, and Kristaps Porzingas added 14 points and 10 rebounds. John Wall had 14 points and eight assists, and Moses Brown produced 14 points and 11 rebounds. Bam Adebayo recorded 21 points and 11 rebounds and Jimmy Butler added 20 points and six assists for the Heat.

☆ Pickleball popularity explodes, with more than 36 million playing
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The latest numbers unveiled in the 2023 APP Pickleball Participation report, via a study conducted by YouGov, shows that 14% of Americans played pickleball at least once in that 12-month period. The real dillAcross the country, tennis courts and being replaced, and pickleball courts are moving in as other investors are shoring up big money. Since 2022, Life Time has constructed indoor and outdoor pickleball courts at a rate of five new permanent courts each week. "Pickleball participation [at Life Time] in a given month has risen from about 16,000 people to like 160,000. Major League Pickleball and the Professional Pickleball Association took notice and they have partnered with Life Time to host multiple tournaments across the country this year.

☆ NBA roundup: Luka Doncic posts 51 in win over Spurs
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

Keldon Johnson led the Spurs with 30 points, while Sochan added 20. Markkanen led the Jazz with 29 points and 14 rebounds, and Clarkson netted 22 points in Utah's fourth consecutive loss. Kevin Love added 20 points and nine rebounds for the Cavaliers, who survived a rough night from star Donovan Mitchell. Randle added 12 rebounds and six assists for the Knicks, who were without starters Jalen Brunson and RJ Barrett. LaMelo Ball's 23 points and 11 assists and Mason Plumlee's 22 points and 10 rebounds led the Hornets.

☆ The Brooklyn Nets Have Gotten Boring—and Brilliant
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Robert O'Connell | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Just before Christmas, the Brooklyn Nets’ Kevin Durant was asked about his team’s absence from the NBA’s holiday slate of games. Under normal circumstances, a club with two A-list stars and title aspirations would be a no-brainer inclusion. Durant acknowledged that the abnormality of the Nets’ last few months, and specifically his offseason trade request, likely had something to do with it. “I probably [am] responsible for us not playing on Christmas, with what went on this summer,” Durant said with a grin. We play on the 26th, that’s close enough.”

☆ The Brooklyn Nets Have Gotten Boring—And Brilliant
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Robert O'Connell | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ NBA roundup: Nets sink Cavs for 9th straight win
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

While Garland made 14 of 20 shots and finished with his fourth 40-point game of his career, Donovan Mitchell was held to 15 points. Kevin Durant scored 32 points but fouled out for the sixth time in his career when he bumped Garland with 1:54 remaining. Isaiah Stewart had 21 points, Killian Hayes tossed in 18 with 10 assists and Jalen Duren added 15 points and 12 rebounds. Bennedict Mathurin put up 15 points and Myles Turner scored 14 to lead the Pacers, who finished a 2-1 road trip. Lauri Markkanen led the Jazz with 32 points and 12 rebounds.

☆ NBA roundup: Nikola Jokic's 27 boards help Nuggets dispatch Hornets
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The only other player in NBA history to have at least 37 points, 27 rebounds and 10 assists in a single game was Wilt Chamberlain. Charlotte got within two on Washington's dunk with 13.5 seconds left but Jokic sealed it with two free throws. A steal by Killian Hayes and a 3-pointer by Bogdanovic with 40 seconds left cut Brooklyn's lead to one. JaMychal Green contributed 15 points and Kevon Looney had 11 points and 11 rebounds. Malcolm Brogdon's corner trey with 56.2 seconds left brought the Celtics within 93-92.

☆ 24 top sports managers and agents helping athletes from LeBron James to the Cavinder twins build successful careers as content creators
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Colin Salao | Ashley Rodriguez | Elaine Low | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Stars like LeBron James and Kevin Durant have shown that athletes can build lucrative media businesses. Meet the people helping athletes tell their stories and build their brands off the field or court. Many of these athletes are driven by the behind-the-scenes work of their talent managers and agents. Insider is highlighting for the first time those talent managers and agents who are guiding athletes as they build successful careers in entertainment and content creation. These people are helping athletes elevate their social content, strike brand deals, launch podcasts, or break into TV and film.

☆ Nike basketball sales aren't expected to suffer after cutting ties with Kyrie Irving as anticipation builds for a Ja Morant signature shoe
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Matthew Kish | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant is expected to get the next Nike signature shoe. "When his signature shoe starts selling, it has the potential to be what Kyrie's was the first three years." Still, Burns noted Nike basketball is on the upswing, and Morant has a strong reputation. The shoe is nearly sold out on Nike's website, suggesting strong demand for performance basketball shoes and room in the market for a new signature shoe. "Nike basketball has rebounded," Burns said, citing the popularity of the GT Cut.

☆ Fanatics valuation hits $31 billion after $700 million investment round
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Michael Rubin's sports platform company Fanatics has raised $700 million in fresh capital, pushing its value to $31 billion, according to people familiar with the matter. In March, the company raised $1.5 billion led by Fidelity and Blackrock and Michael Dell's MSD Partners. This summer, Fanatics ventured deeper into collegiate sports, signing a long-term deal with Nike to manufacture college sports fan apparel. Rubin now has his eyes on the sports gaming market. Revenue for Fanatics, including its Lids segment, will be approximately $8 billion in 2023, according to company estimates.

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