NBA announces joint interview with Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Stephen Curry

Duane Rankin: “It’s pretty sweet.” Kevin Durant on nomination for 2024 USA Basketball male athlete of the year. Won it twice (2021, 2010), shared with Carmelo Anthony (2016). On Suns current state: “Keep focusing on what’s in front of us.” 11th in West, but just 1.5 games from 5th. #Suns pic.x.com/8E4ef1SYFg -via Twitter @DuaneRankin / December 23, 2024

Duane Rankin: “It’s professional sports. Nobody is going to feel sorry for us, especially the opposing team.” Kevin Durant as Suns down Devin Booker, Grayson Allen and Bol Bol. On turnovers: “It’s a little easier to control the ball when you’re not fighting uphill in the 1st quarter.” #Suns pic.x.com/bksuaumHPG -via Twitter @DuaneRankin / December 23, 2024

Gerald Bourguet: Mike Budenholzer on his 3Q exchange with Kevin Durant: “In games, there’s things that happen, and he’s the best. He’s a pro, he’s coachable. If you don’t have a few of those, there’s probably something wrong with your team….He wants to be coached, and I love being around him” -via Bluesky / December 22, 2024

BALLIN HQ: 2024-25 Top 10 Most Viewed NBA Players: 1. LeBron James – 623M 2. Ja Morant – 538M 3. Victor Wembanyama- 402M 4. Stephen Curry – 350M 5. LaMelo Ball – 237M 6. Giannis Antetokounmpo – 227M 7. Klay Thompson – 189M 8. Nikola Jokic – 182M 9. Jayson Tatum – 175M 10. Anthony Davis – 169M -via x.com / December 23, 2024

Dave McMenamin: The Lakers hold on to beat the Kings, 103-99, winning for the 4th time in their last 5 games. LeBron James 32p on 12-for-24 (1-for-8 from 3) 7r 6a 4s; D’Angelo Russell 20p on 7-for-13 5a 4r; Austin Reaves 16p 5a 4r; Anthony Davis 10p 15r 5a 3b; Rui Hachimura 9p 11r. LAL returns home to host DET on Monday before SF for Xmas -via x.com / December 21, 2024

Khobi Price: Lakers say Rui Hachimura (left tibial contusion) has been upgraded to available for today at Sacramento. LeBron James (left foot injury management) was upgraded to probable earlier in the afternoon. -via Twitter @khobi_price / December 21, 2024

“Just trying to bring joy to the kids in a lot of different ways, not only with the resources that they get, the take homes that they get, the books that they get, but just for them to have just a fun oasis for however long they get to spend going to all the different stations and just for them to get immersed in it and be present,” Stephen Curry said. “So, we’ve seen the joy and the smiles and the laughter, the sounds from the kids, the feedback from the teachers on how much this means for their kids to be able to express themselves that way, the volunteers to come to actually see their person and the work that they put in and what it means for that reaction from all the kids. All of it matters. And it’s just joy through the holiday season for sure. And it’s the 12th year doing it. So, we want to keep going… “Then for the results to kind of show up — with all the places that we’ve been able to refurbish, the goals even for next year, the amount of schools we’ve been able to touch, the amount of books we’ve been able to put in kids’ hands, the amount of meals that’ve been able to go out the door — all of it is truly powerful. And you feel the love from people who have been touched by it.” -via Andscape / December 23, 2024

A young girl from Madison Park Academy approached Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry’s wife, eager to offer appreciation during the 12th annual “Christmas with the Currys” event “Are you Ayesha Curry?” the young girl asked. “I was like, ‘yes.’ And she was like, ‘I ate your meals at my soccer program,’ ” Ayesha Curry told Andscape. “And I was like, ‘Oh.’ She’s like, ‘I really like the burritos.’ And just the fact that she had the awareness of where the food was coming from and just the thought to be a kid and be like, ‘Hey, thank you,’ … one, it’s a very heartwarming, appreciated. But also, I hate the thought of a child having to have that wherewithal or that knowledge of the fact that they needed to get a meal to go to soccer. But we do encounter that all the time… “I would say it happens more often than I think we realized it would happen. Whether it’s a family that went to a particular school that we touched, or a teacher who says that we impacted her classroom in the way that he or she is able to go about their curriculum and teach their students. Or we’ve even run into some people who are on staff at some of the schools and they’re like, ‘I went to school there and I went through the program and I graduated and I came back and I see the change. So, thank you.’ So that’s been interesting as well. And then today was really cool, heartwarming, but also, it’s what always adds fuel to my fire of wanting to do more.” -via Andscape / December 23, 2024

Through their Eat. Learn. Play. program, the Currys stunned more than 200 Oakland students at Madison Park Academy with their presence at a holiday celebration that included painting, a petting zoo, food, a bounce house and an appearance by the Warriors girls and their deejay D-Sharp. During the event, Eat. Learn. Play. announced its newest initiative to renovate elementary school libraries throughout Oakland Unified School District, beginning in 2025 with Madison Park Academy. The program is also renovating the playground at the elementary school. -via Andscape / December 23, 2024