TORONTO — In the last explosive weeks in the NBA, Phoenix owner Robert Sarver and Boston coach Ime Udoka have been suspended. Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards has been reprimanded for making homophobic comments. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant were at the center of a chaotic off-season in Brooklyn.
NBA training camps began Tuesday after some of the most turbulent times the league has seen in a while.
Raptors president Masai Ujiri was asked if a league that prides itself on social awareness is slipping.
“I think we all need to rethink our cultures and the way our organizations are run and the way we work,” Ujiri said at the team’s annual media day. “Respecting the workplace is very, very important. It’s the #1 key to what we do in our organization and what (NBA Commissioner) Adam Silver preaches in this league.
“The things that deviate from that… people will make mistakes. They are human and they make mistakes. We also need to be held accountable.
“I know that in our organization, in our culture, we treat people well, we respect whatever positions we have. These cases are learning examples for us. They tell us that we need to tighten up in everything we do.”
The embattled Sarver was suspended by the NBA for a year and fined $10 million for workplace misconduct, which included racist language and hostile behavior towards employees. He said last week he intends to sell the team.
“There is no place for that kind of behavior in our league,” said Ujiri. “People will make mistakes and sometimes there are consequences for those mistakes. Luckily it ended up in the right place.”
There was much optimism among the Celtics after their surprise run to the NBA Finals, but then, after a months-long investigation that found multiple violations of team policy, which reportedly included an inappropriate relationship with a woman in the organization, Udoka was fired for the Season locked.
NO. 6 IM 6IX
The Toronto Raptors are sporting a black No. 6 patch on their jerseys this season — but it’s a nod to NBA legend Bill Russell, not a nod to Toronto’s nickname.
“Oh man, it’s amazing,” guard Raptors Fred VanVleet said. “It makes sense to us, doesn’t it? Being in the 6ix (the town’s nickname coined by Drake, a nod to the 416 area code). But just for what he meant to the world, it’s hard to find a better icon and ambassador for the game and for the humanity and the barriers he broke through and the things he had to endure with it Guys like me can even sit here in front of you today.”
Russell was at the heart of the Celtics dynasty, winning 11 championships in 13 years. He’s being honored not only for his incredible success on the pitch, but also for his commitment to civil rights off the pitch.
The NBA announced its #6 will be retiring leaguewide and every player will wear the patch this season.
Russell died on July 31 at the age of 88.
“It’s hard to put into words exactly what he meant, but he’s an incredible human being and a guy who definitely needs to be held up with the utmost respect until the end of time…an incredible journey and life and so much means so many.” people,” said VanVleet.
FROM SILVER SCREEN TO SCOTIABANK ARENA
The casual athlete or movie buff may be more familiar with Bo Cruz than Juancho Hernangomez.
The new Raptor played the lead role of Cruz, a fictional character, opposite Adam Sandler in this year’s Netflix hit film Hustle.
Hernangomez, who was signed by the Raptors in July, said his acting debut began out of boredom during the COVID-19 pandemic. Living in Charlotte with brother Willy after the NBA shut down in the early days of the pandemic, he decided to audition for the film.
“I got an interview with the director, with an acting teacher, and then an interview with Adam,” he said.
The film was directed and produced by Sandler Lebron Jamesit took two years to make and featured numerous cameos from NBA players, including former Raptors Kyle Lowry and Jose Calderon and former assistant coach Sergio Scariolo.
“It was fun. It was exhausting,” Hernangomez said. “We shot for two years, two summers, sometimes shooting 12 to 14 hours a day. But I met a lot of great people, it was a great experience that will last forever.”
Another great experience was helping Spain win the EuroBasket title just under a week ago. Hernangomez posted a team-high 27 points in the gold medal game while brother Willy was named tournament MVP.
Hernangomez said he’s heard good things about the Raptors franchise Marc GasolineCalderon and Scariolo.
The 26-year-old landed in Toronto on Sunday evening and flew to camp in Victoria on Monday, leaving him no time to explore his new home.
“When I played on other teams, I liked coming to Toronto,” he said. “Great city and lots of things to do.”
The 5’11, 214-pound Madrid native averaged 3.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 11.1 minutes in 40 appearances (nine starts) in Boston, San Antonio and Utah last season. He was selected 15th overall by Denver in the 2016 NBA draft.
NURSE SHOUTING TO CANADIAN WOMEN
Nick Nurse was impressed with Canada’s women’s team at the FIBA World Championships in Sydney, Australia.
Nurse, head coach of the Raptors and Canada’s men’s team, was up early enough on Monday morning to watch the women’s game against Australia’s No. 3 before heading to the team’s media day commitments.
And while the fourth-placed Canadians lost by three points to the Australians – their first loss of the tournament – Nurse said: “They played great.”
“They could have won that game against a strong Aussie side in Australia but man they looked good,” he said. “I think (the loss to Australia) will be a good growth game for them when it counts in the knockout stages.
“I would encourage everyone, if you’re awake, turn on your TV or get up 20 minutes earlier than usual and look at them and support them because they’re really fun to watch.”
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on September 27, 2022.
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