Lance Stephenson's top five players: 'Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Tim Duncan and Shaquille O’Neal'

To his recollection, Bryant was persistent and made sure that Devean George re-signed with the purple and gold after his deal expired in 2002. “My contract was up after my third year. He was there fighting for my contract. He called me every day [telling me], ‘Did they get the numbers right?’ [I said] ‘Nope, not yet.’ [Kobe replied] ‘Okay, I’ll be in there tomorrow working out,’” the 2-time MIAC Player of the Year said on “Forgotten Seasons.” -via Basketball Network / February 24, 2024

Somewhere over the Grand Canyon, the Spurs’ coach finally fired up the iPad and began the promised video tutorial, a film study featuring the greatest hits of some of the league’s all-time greats. There was Michael Jordan and his rocker step. There was Tim Duncan and his drop step. There was Kobe Bryant stubbornly maneuvering space to get off a fadeaway jumper, Hakeem Olajuwon dream shaking, Kevin McHale post-moving opponents into oblivion. To the 20-year-old Wembanyama, all of this might as well have been black-and-white footage of the moon landing. “It’s not tape I’ve had a chance to watch,” he said, “because it’s not from my generation.” -via San Antonio Express-News / February 23, 2024

To the 75-year-old Popovich, there was a purpose to the in-flight history lesson. “Not to make him them,” Popovich said, “but for him to see really solid footwork and movement by really fundamentally sound players. We’re trying to get that into him.” -via San Antonio Express-News / February 23, 2024

You’ve been killing it in the G League. What has your mentality been like coming into this season? Lance Stephenson: My mentality coming into the G League was to actually help the young guys get better. Show them all the things I learned as being a vet. Trying to show them the ropes, telling them what it’s like, showing them how to play defense, showing them how to get to the hole, learning the game as quickly as possible. But, my goal is to get back up there with NBA teams. I’m actually going hard, trying to win games, and just trying to have fun out there. -via HoopsHype / February 25, 2024

If you could talk to NBA teams right now, what would you tell them about what you could bring to their NBA team? Lance Stephenson: Leadership. Definitely, helping young guys. Winning mentality, just that edge on the defensive end. A lot of teams need help with defense, especially during the playoffs. Tough guys that can play defense and lock down and win games. I can bring any edge that a coach needs. -via HoopsHype / February 25, 2024

Do you feel like every team should have their own Udonis Haslem on their team? LS: Yes. At least two or three veterans, that can actually still play, but any veterans that can help the guys. Show them how to play defense, how to move off the court. There’s a lot of situations off the court that guys don’t even know that be hitting them, and they don’t got nobody to talk to. You be in the locker room and just having so much talks about life situations, and it’s always good to have a veteran over there. Air hustling like, “Nah, don’t do it that way young fella, do it this way.” -via HoopsHype / February 25, 2024

Jovan Buha: Lakers’ injury report vs. Phoenix: — LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Cam Reddish are questionable. — Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent and Christian Wood are out. — Jalen Hood-Schifino and Maxwell Lewis are with the South Bay Lakers. -via Twitter @jovanbuha / February 24, 2024

LeBron James: Love you Pop!! -via Twitter @KingJames / February 24, 2024

Justin Kubatko: The @LAClippers Russell Westbrook became the 24th player in NBA history to reach 9,000 field goals made. Westbrook, Oscar Robertson, and LeBron James are the only players to both make and assist on 9,000 field goals. Check out today’s free game notes: statitudes.com/p/nba-game-not… pic.twitter.com/eLyWqGGW7G -via Twitter @jkubatko / February 24, 2024

Heading into Friday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena, the 7-foot-3 Wembanyama was averaging 20.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, 1.2 steals and an NBA-best 3.2 blocks per game. Eventually, Wembanyama will figure out what the heck he is doing, and then the league will really be in trouble. “This whole season has been an education in the sense that he’s learning the league,” Popovich said. “He’s understanding the ability of players, the physicality.” -via San Antonio Express-News / February 23, 2024

When you were growing up, did you play with trading cards? Lance Stephenson: Actually, I didn’t, but my friends did, so they used to always give me different cards. You know, I’m a basketball player and a super fan. My first couple of cards that I got were Stephon Marbury, Ray Allen, Shaquille O’Neal. I actually got the craziest card, a holographic Michael Jordan card. I wish I still had it to this day because I was so hyped. I was like ‘Ma, I got this card, Michael Jordan holographic. She’s like boy, go put them cards away.’ So yeah, I had a couple cards when I was young. -via HoopsHype / February 25, 2024

Victor Wembanyama took questions at the podium sitting in front of a San Antonio Spurs banner and was told about the statistical feat he had just pulled off Friday night against the Los Angeles Lakers Wembanyama joined Jamaal Tinsley (2001) as the only NBA rookies to have a 5×5 game — posting at least 5 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals and 5 blocks in a game — and also became just the second player to have 5 blocks and 5 steals in consecutive games, joining Michael Jordan. Wembanyama paused to consider Jordan’s feat and then asked, “I wonder if he did it in wins.” -via ESPN / February 24, 2024