Draymond Green on ESPN's Under 25 list: 'What justifies Tyrese Haliburton being in front of Jalen Williams?'

Everything remains extremely fluid for the Warriors. Green might be back in the starting lineup within the week and almost certainly will be starting at the more pressing moments of this evolving season, perhaps at center next to Kuminga. But this still felt like a monumental night in this transition phase of the franchise. “He played extremely well last night,” Green said. “You want to give that another look or two or three or four or however long. If it works, continue with it. So, yeah, that’s kind of my rationale for me. I am a product of my vet willing to take a back seat for me. So, you got to give back what came to you. That’s what it’s about.” -via New York Times / December 7, 2024

At least for the near future, Kuminga is now the Warriors’ starting power forward as Draymond Green moves to the bench, opening a clearer runway for Kuminga to get more minutes and a higher-usage offensive role to see what exactly they have in the fourth-year wing. “A lot of people in this organization, including myself, think he’s next,” Green said. “So, if he’s next, at some point, we gotta see it. For him to do that, he needs the opportunity. If the opportunity falls on you — being me — then, that’s what it is. You gotta figure it out. He’s earned the right to get that opportunity.” -via New York Times / December 7, 2024

Green was once behind David Lee in the Warriors’ pecking order. Lee got hurt. Green entered the starting lineup. He played so well that Lee never grabbed his spot back. Green referenced that while accepting his reassignment on Friday night. “I have been one of JK’s biggest fans since he’s been here,” Green said. “So, if he has an opportunity to start, you can’t be hypocritical if they’re like ‘Yo, we want him to start, but it will be for you.’ You can’t be like, ‘It’s not for me. That doesn’t work.’ If his opportunity goes through me, then it is what it is. That’s his opportunity. He earned the opportunity. That’s kind of how I view it.” -via New York Times / December 7, 2024

Tony East: Final: Pacers 132, Bulls 123. Pacers are still unbeaten when they reach 122 this year and 5-1 when they hit 120 on the scoareboard. They were rolling on offense tonight. Tyrese Haliburton: 23 points, 8 assists. 21 points and 7 rebounds for Pascal Siakam. Pacers are 10-14. -via Twitter @TonyREast / December 6, 2024

Michael Scotto: Tyrese Haliburton on his assessment of the season for him and the Pacers: “Not good necessarily. We haven’t won a road game in over a month. I think as a group, I’ve got to be better. I think it’s testing us right now. I can’t really give you a ton of positives. Maybe that’s a negative way of viewing it right now. I just feel like as a group we can get better in every aspect. The great thing is there are 82 games and we have about 60 more games to figure it out, but there’s got to be a sense of urgency. You can only say that so many times. As a group, I think we’ve got a lot of growing up to do. If we don’t do that, the league is going to (pause). There are times like right now where the league could either bury you or you can dig yourself out of a hole.” -via Twitter @MikeAScotto / December 5, 2024

“I mean, listen, we’re 9-13 right now. We can act like the world is falling apart, and that’s not the case,” Haliburton said. “But there also needs to be a sense of urgency. Everybody can say, ‘Oh, it’s four games, we’ll be back to 500.’ It ain’t that easy. “It starts with me. I have to be a better leader. I got to do everything better and harder because I’m not ready to piss away a year of my career, or this organization’s — this team’s — season.” -via New York Times / December 4, 2024

Royce Young: Thunder beat the Raptors 129-92. – SGA: 30-4-5 + 2 steals – Dub: 20-7-2 – Joe: 16 and 4 rebounds (4-6 from 3) – Hartenstein: 16 rebounds and 6 assists – Wallace: 9 points, 4 blocks, 2 steals OKC: 14 steals to 6 turnovers -via Twitter @royceyoung / December 5, 2024

Williams made 2-for-5 from deep, a facet of his game that’s evolved in 2024-25. “I think a lot of my game, too, this year, has been shooting a lot more of the open threes,” Williams added. “And that’s been opening up the mid-range. It’s just something I work on. Something where, like I said, like the way our offense is, somewhere I’m ending up a lot. It’s something I’ve tried to perfect over time and figure out different ways to get to those spots. This year, I’ve been shooting a lot more on the right side of the floor. Just kind of how teams are guarding me and understanding that.” -via Clutch Points / November 30, 2024

After entering halftime 1-for-2 from the free-throw line, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and the Oklahoma City Thunder finished 12-for-16 in their 101-93 NBA Cup victory against the Los Angeles Lakers. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault mentioned the free-throw shooting disparity leading up to his game against the Lakers and during his halftime interview with ESPN. And without being asked directly, the topic unexpectedly appeared during Williams’ postgame media availability. After scoring 19 points, including 6-for-14 from inside the 3-point arc, a reporter asked Jalen about his mid-range touch after Friday’s win. “I don’t really go to the free-throw line a lot. A lot of that was predicated on trying to get other shots. That’s an aspect of my game I’m still trying to figure out,” Williams said. “So, it’s just somewhere where I got comfortable. I think whenever you perfect any shot, no matter statistically, you can be really good at it. And that’s just something that I kind of found myself within our offense, being at a lot. “So, I thought I might as well get good at shooting at. I know analytically it’s probably not the best shot, but for me it is,” he concluded. -via Clutch Points / November 30, 2024