The FIBA World Cup just ended a few days ago, which means that the NBA is just around the corner.
It can be noted that the NBA-laden Spanish team took advantage by winning the gold against the Luis Scola-led Argentina squad in their final game, especially when Team USA was eliminated by France in the earlier rounds.
The Spanish duo of Marc Gasol and Ricky Rubio have capped off an unforgettable summer after bringing home multiple awards in the said tournament, while making their country proud in the process.
Other active players such as Rudy Gobert, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Evan Fournier, and Frank Ntilikina are also going home with some hardware and they’re back to the drawing board as they prepare with their respective NBA teams for the long season ahead.
The crazy offseason continues in the association and SBOBET is here to give you a roundup on some of the league updates.
What a summer for Marc Gasol
The Toronto Raptors center had quite a memorable summer for 2019. After winning his first NBA championship playing for the team up until June, he suited up for Spain after being called upon by Coach Sergio Scariolo.
Despite getting up there with age, the younger Gasol brother showed no signs of slowing down. The 34-year-old behemoth averaged 14.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per contest in the World Cup. While his statistics weren’t really eye-popping, his intangibles and leadership have been instrumental for Spain.
Gasol anchored a Spanish defence that proved to be too much for their opponents. He was tasked to guard the likes of Nikola Jokic and Luis Scola in the tournament’s key stages and he managed to slow them down considerably. His best offencive game of the tourney was when he erupted for 33 points in their thrilling double-overtime win against Australia in the semi-finals.
By winning his first NBA title and FIBA World Cup gold, he joins Lamar Odom to be the only NBA players who have won those awards in the same year. He is expected to return to the Toronto Raptors, especially after he exercised his $25.6 million player option during the offseason.
Despite having low NBA 2019 odds of repeating for next season, expect Gasol and his team to bring their A-game even without the services of superstar Kawhi Leonard.
Joe Johnson returns after successful BIG3 stint
Joe Johnson is set to return to the NBA fresh from his MVP season in the BIG3 where his team, the Triplets, have won their first championship. He has agreed to a one-year deal to play for the Detroit Pistons next season, as per NBA 2019 news.
Aptly named as “Iso Joe”, Johnson provided some of the league’s best highlights thanks to his incredible shot-making and ball handling. He scored 175 points across eight games – which was the league record – and he also led the league in total assists with 31.
The 18-year veteran last played in the league during the 2018 season with the Houston Rockets. He is a six-time NBA All-Star that has played for teams like the Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat, and the Utah Jazz.
Johnson is expected to add scoring depth for the Dwane Casey-coached squad that has the core of Andre Drummond, Blake Griffin, Derrick Rose, Reggie Jackson, and 15th overall pick Sekou Doumbouya. The Pistons are aiming to build off from their brief playoff run last season where they lost in the first round against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Shaun Livingston retires after 15 seasons
Shaun Livingston wasn’t expected to have a long career, especially with the horrific knee injury that he suffered during his third year in the league playing for the Los Angeles Clippers.
On his Instagram post a few days ago, the lanky floor general has officially announced his retirement in the NBA after 15 years. He played for the Clippers, Heat, Thunder, Wizards, Bobcats, Bucks, Cavaliers, Nets, and with the Warriors.
It was his five-year stint with the Golden State Warriors to where he got his three NBA championships. Livingston played a key role off the bench and served as a backup point guard to Steph Curry. More importantly, he was a valued voice in the locker room with his basketball IQ and veteran leadership.
With the reputation that he has built over the years, for sure NBA fans will miss Livingston with his contributions on and off the court.
“No words will describe my appreciation for his guy and what he means to me and the success this franchise. He is the ultimate warrior,” said Steph Curry.
“What an amazing combination of talent, grace and character. I will miss his presence, passing, and his turnaround jumpers in the post,” added head coach Steve Kerr.
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