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Kyrie Irving first Nets player with 30 points, five assists in five straight games in NBA season

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Kyrie Irving is the first Brooklyn Nets player with 30 points and five assists in five straight games in a single NBA season. The eight-time All-Star is the first Net with such a streak since Stephon Marbury accomplished the same feat while playing for the New Jersey Nets from April 30 to Nov. 2, 1999.

Irving set this record in Brooklyn’s 130-122 loss against the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night. The 12-year veteran ended his outing with 40 points, five rebounds, six assists, two steals, and two blocks in 39 minutes of action. Plus, he shot 14-of-27 (51.9%) from the floor and 6-of-12 (50%) outside the arc.

Per a few NBA betting sites, Kyrie Irving and the Nets have third-shortest odds to win the championship. Some sportsbooks are giving the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks better odds.

Additionally, Kyrie Irving joined Marbury, John Williamson, and Kevin Durant as the only Nets players to record 30-plus points in five consecutive games in franchise history. Durant logged 30 or more points in five straight contests from Dec. 10 to Dec. 30, 2021.

However, Brooklyn’s loss overshadowed Irving’s historical night. Detroit outscored the Nets 43-31 on 65% shooting in the third quarter. Saddiq Bey led the Pistons in scoring with 25 points. It was Detroit’s first win in Brooklyn since April 1, 2018. Brooklyn has now lost back-to-back games. The Nets are 4-6 in their last 10 contests.

Kyrie Irving joins Stephon Marbury, John Williamson, and Kevin Durant as the only Nets players to record 30 or more points in five consecutive games in franchise history

“They have a tendency to come out in the third quarter and try to win that,” the Nets guard said afterwards. “We came out and we were flat. When you do that and you are reacting to everything, every possession, it makes it difficult.”

Moreover, Kyrie Irving logged 30-plus points in five straight games with the Celtics in March 2019. Through 37 starts this season, the Nets guard is averaging 27.2 points, 5.1 boards, 5.2 assists, and 1.0 steal per game. He’s also shooting 48.8% from the field and 37.6% from 3-point range.

In other news, Kyrie Irving was named starter for the 2023 NBA All-Star Game on Friday. “I’m just grateful for the people at home. I would not be here without y’all. Y’all voted me in, and I’m ready to give a show,” the 30-year-old said.

Last Friday, Brooklyn’s 117-106 win versus the Utah Jazz, the 2016 NBA champ scored a season-high 48 points in 39 minutes played. Along with amassing 11 rebounds, six assists, and four steals, Irving 18-of-29 (62.1%) from the floor and 8-of-15 (53.3%) beyond the arc.





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Victor Wembanyama 2nd NBA rookie with 300+ combined stls, blks

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San Antonio Spurs forward/center Victor Wembanyama is the first NBA rookie to record 300 or more combined blocks and steals in a season since Shaquille O’Neal in 1992-93.

Wembanyama, 20, has amassed 222 blocks and 79 steals through 64 games, totaling 301. O’Neal logged 286 blocks and 60 steals in 81 games, combining for 346 in his rookie season.

Per multiple NBA betting sites, Wembanyama is the odds-on favorite to win NBA Rookie of the Year. Sportsbooks are still showing great odds for Oklahoma City Thunder’s Chet Holmgren.

In San Antonio’s 118-111 win over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night, Wembanyama posted 19 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and five blocks in 30 minutes of action.

It was his 21st game with five or more blocks, the most by an NBA player before age 21. O’Neal ranks second on the all-time list with 19 games, followed by Anthony Davis (14), Josh Smith (13), and Kevin Garnett (10).

The 7-foot-4 big man also finished 7-of-15 (46.7%) shooting from the floor, 1-of-4 (25%) beyond the arc, and 4-of-7 (57.1%) at the foul line.

San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama leads NBA in blocks, recorded a career-high 10 blocks

Through 63 games (all starts), San Antonio’s No. 1 pick in last year’s draft is averaging 20.7 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, an NBA-leading 3.4 blocks, 1.3 steals, and 29 minutes per game.

Wemby also leads the league with 217 blocks. He ranks 10th in total rebounds (662), eighth in defensive rebounds (519), 20th in steals, third in defensive box plus/minus (3.0), second in defensive rating (106.7), and sixth in usage percentage (31.8%).

Moreover, in San Antonio’s 122-99 loss against the Toronto Raptors on Feb. 12, Wemby notched 27 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a career-high 10 blocks in 28 minutes played.

He became the fifth NBA player since 1990 to register a triple-double with at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 blocks in a single game.

It was also the first triple-double with blocks since Clint Capela had 13 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 blocks for the Atlanta Hawks against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Jan. 22, 2021.

NBA sportsbooks show Wembanyama with second-best odds to win NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert is the front-runner with 10 games left of the regular season.





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Draymond Green’s first-quarter ejection among fastest in the past decade

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Draymond Green is at it again and has now received his fourth ejection of the campaign. It seems that no matter how much his team has asked him to control his emotions on the NBA floor, he finds a way to impact the game negatively with his low tolerance and aggressive nature. 

This time around, he was thrown out of the match with less than four minutes played on the clock into Golden State‘s clash against Orlando on Wednesday night. It was the forward’s first ejection since his 16-game suspension, which was a special punishment made by the NBA after he hit rival Jusuf Nurkic in the face.

With 8:24 still on the first quarter’s clock, the four-time champ started to argue with referee Ron Acosta after a foul was called on Andrew Wiggins. “It’s unfortunate. He deserved it,” his coach Steve Kerr said after beating the Magic 101-93. “And he’ll bounce back.”

Draymond was called for two technical fouls in a matter of seconds, and earned his ejection. “After a prolonged diatribe, Green directed egregious profane language towards a game official,” explained crew chief Mitchell Irvin, who then said this had nothing to do with the player’s history of misconduct.

Just as the veteran was seen walking to the locker room, his teammate Stephen Curry was visibly frustrated at the situation. Once the contest was over, he recognised how badly they need him on the floor. “We need him. He knows that. We all know that, so whatever it takes to keep him on the floor, for him to be available, that’s what’s got to happen, especially at this time of year,” he said. “I’ve talked to him plenty of times about it, even tonight, and I’ll continue to talk to him as a teammate and a friend.”

Nevertheless, the 36-year-old praised his team for the way they handled themselves on the court and conquered the game. “But it was a beautiful team effort to respond the way we did,” Curry expressed. “We went and took it, and that’s a good sign for us.”

Green didn’t attend the press after the match, but did share his excitement on social media by showing appreciation to his squad. “Great DUB!! Appreciate my dawgs holding it down! On to the next one! BOUNCE BACK!” he wrote on X.

Forward Andrew Wiggins led the Warriors in Draymond’s absence and was recognised by his locker room

Despite Green’s on-court antics earning him an ejection, Andrew Wiggins stayed calm and inspired his team to victory. Just in the first half, the forward dropped 13 points. By the end of the contest, he earned a team-high 23 points, plus 6 rebounds and two blocks over 35 minutes of play.

“Just trying to stay aggressive, trying to do whatever I can to get over the hump and get this win,” he told the press after the win. “We’re desperate. We need every win we can get.”

“He won us the game tonight – plain and simple,” Curry added. “I’m just proud of the way he took that challenge on, that he was assertive and aggressive. Whether he makes or misses shots, I could (not) care less. It’s just the ability for him to just be aggressive and take the shots that he knows he can take, put the pressure on the room, he’s knocking down 3s. Like everything. He had the whole bag working tonight.”

Their coach acknowledged how Golden State came back from a difficult situation. “It was a gutsy effort in tough circumstances, back-to-back, losing Draymond early” coach Steve Kerr shared. “And the guys just competed for 48 (minutes). Obviously, we need every game we could get right now so that’s why everybody was pretty emotional.”





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How International Players Are Shaping the Future of the NBA

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Initially, the NBA was predominantly composed of American-born players since its establishment on June 6, 1946, as the Basketball Association of America (BAA). However, there was a turnaround with the arrival of international talents after the 1992 Olympics. This raises the league’s standard and attracts a diverse fan base from all corners of the world. As a result, the NBA has become a premier professional basketball stage for all cultures, skills, and investors. This article will explore how overseas players influence the National Basketball Association and its future.

Early International Players and Their Impact on The NBA

The American Dream Team proved what it takes to have high expectations and laid the foundations for the globalization of basketball. These attracted several reputable investors and sports booking platforms to include gaming options in their offers. Some of these game providers accept deposits as low as $1 and were reviewed in the rundown of the best offers by Wagering Advisors to ensure Canadians have access to safe staking on basketball events. This enables fans to show their passion and support for the sport, breaking the bank. The following are some of the early international players and their impact on the NBA.

Yao Ming (China)

Born on the 12th of Sept, 1980, the former professional Chinese basketball player is one of the top international players to ever grace the NBA. He brought a breakthrough to the sport in China, triggering the game’s popularity in Asia. He was in the NBA All-Star eight times during his career and won other awards, like being part of the NBA All-Rookie first team in 2003.

Two decades later, no one else has attained his feet in the Chinese Basketball Federation. His legacy continues to influence the league and as a result, he is currently the 6th President of the Chinese Basketball Association. Here are some of the notable decorations Yao Ming received while playing in the NBA.

  • He got his jersey (number 11) retired by the Houston Rockets.
  • All-NBA Second Team twice within 3 years, 2007 and 2009.
Dirk Nowitzki (Germany)

Not everyone is born with the sport flowing through their veins. But Dirk Nowitzki was an exception. He was born to a full athletic family on June 19, 1978. His mother was a professional basketball player (Helga Nowitzki), and his father was a handball player representing Germany internationally (Jörg-Werner).

After 21 years of playing passionately in the spotlight, Dirk Nowitzki is arguably the best European basketball player to participate in the competition. With his height and skill, the German player fundamentally transformed how teams defend the pick-and-roll. In 2011, he led his team, the Dallas Mavericks, to the NBA title over the Miami Heat and was named the finals MVP. As a result of his impact at the international level, he was awarded Germany’s highest honor for sport by the then president of Germany, Christian Wulff. The following are some awards Dirk Nowitzki won as one of the most decorated players in the NBA.

  • NBA All-Star 11 times consecutively from 2002 to 2012 and then went on to win in 2014, 2015, and 2019.
  • NBA Most Valuable Player in 2007
  • He got his number (41) retired by the Dallas Mavericks.
Hakeem Olajuwon (Nigeria)

Born on the 21st of January 1963 in Lagos, Nigeria, Hakeem Olajuwon was popularly known as “the dream.” He dominated the NBA for 18 years as one of the greatest centers in the league’s history. He was the most valuable player in the competition in 1994 and the NBA Finals most valuable player in 1995. To show that Hakeem Olajuwon is a force to reckon with in the league, he is the last player to win the NCAA Tournament Player of the Year award from a losing team. Meanwhile, this happened in 1983.

As his name implies, he was a nightmare to opponents and is arguably the best basketball player to come out of Africa. Here are some awards that will show you how exceptional Hakeem Olajuwon is.

  • Best NBA Player ESPY Award in 1995 and 1996
  • NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award 1993 and 1994
  • In 2022, the NBA renamed the Annual Defensive Player of the Year award after him.
Influence on the Global Popularity of the NBA

The memorable moments of the Dream Team in the Barcelona 1992 Summer Olympics facilitated lucrative broadcasting deals in various regions. These expanded the NBA’s global reach and visibility, making it suitable for various brands and organizations to partner with the league. Aside from the gold, they secured the hearts of several fans across the world, thereby rapidly increasing the viewership. These make it easy for gamers to follow their games and stake affordable amounts at minimum deposit casinos to show their love and passion for the game. The foreign internationals playing in the league also increase global acceptance and popularity. As these players gather influence in the NBA, they attract fans from their home countries and regions to the league.

The Establishment of Global Talent

The NBA pioneered a network of elite basketball training centers globally to provide top young prospects with opportunities to develop their skills. By doing so, the league has produced numerous promising talents who have gone on to earn scholarships to the United States. Some of these include Africa, China, India, Mexico, and Australia.

Conclusion

The impact of international basketball players on the NBA cannot be overemphasized. They reshaped what it takes to grace the hardwood and leave an indelible mark on the game. Foreign talents like Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Nikola Jokic made several people fall in love with the sport across the world.

Their exceptional skills, unique playing styles, and success stories keep inspiring a new generation of basketball players from around the world. Looking ahead, the influence of international players will continually be a driving force in the evolution of the league. It will keep defining the NBA’s diversity, competitiveness, and inter-connectivity in the sport.



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