NBA: Kawhi Leonard named 2019 AP Male Athlete of the Year

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard has been named AP Male Athlete of the Year for 2019. He won the vote over Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tennis star Rafael Nadal, and regning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Leonard is the fifth NBA player to win the award, joining Larry Bird (1986), Michael Jordan (1991-1993), LeBron James (2013, 2016, 2018) and Stephen Curry (2015). Gymnast Simone Biles is the women's recipient for 2019.

Last season, Leonard led the Toronto Raptors to their first NBA title, defeating the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors. He averaged 30.5 points and 9.1 rebounds in the postseason.

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OPINION: The NBA G League's Ignite Program Holding Ground In Recruiting Tug Of War

Over the many years that top prep basketball players have been recruited, the vast majority chose to go the only traditional route available to them: play college basketball. Some opted to play overseas. For whatever reason, we have seen that the college route is not for every player. Knowing this, the NBA stepped through their development league. In the fall of 2018, the NBA G League announced Select Contracts of $125,000 for elite recruits, including opportunities for basketball development, life skills and academic scholarship starting with the 2019-2020 season. With all of that said, no players from the graduating class of 2019 opted to take part. So the G League set their sights on the class of 2020. As more schools across the country have been exposed in the FBI's investigation into college basketball recruiting, the G League has made their pitch: play and get paid fairly. On April 16, 2020, the G League announced a raised salary for prospects and a one-year development pro

NBA All-Star Starters, Reserves Revealed

The 2020 NBA All-Star rosters were revealed earlier this week. Here are the Eastern and Western conference starters and reserves: Eastern Conference Starters: Kemba Walker, G, Boston Celtics Trae Young, G, Atlanta Hawks Giannis Antetokounmpo, F, Milwaukee Bucks (Captain) Pascal Siakam, F, Toronto Raptors Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers Eastern Conference Reserves Bam Adebayo, F, Miami Heat Jimmy Butler, F, Miami Heat J ayson Tatum, G, Boston Celtics Kyle Lowry, G, Toronto Raptors Ben Simmons, G, Philadelphia 76ers Domantas Sabonis, F, Indiana Pacers Khris Middleton, G, Milwaukee Bucks Western Conference Starters: Luka Doncic, G, Dallas Mavericks James Harden , G, Houston Rockets LeBron James, F, Los Angeles Lakers (Captain) Anthony Davis, F, Los Angeles Lakers Kawhi Leonard, F, Los Angeles Clippers Western Conference Starters: Chris Paul , G, Oklahoma City Thunder Damian Lillard , G, Portland Trail Blazers Russell Westbrook , G, Houston Rockets Bran

NCAA Men's Basketball AP Top 25 Poll Week 7

The Associated Press updated the NCAA Men's Basketball Top 25 Poll today. The rankings have turned completely upside down this week, as Louisville fell to Texas Tech and Ohio State lost to Minnesota. Had the Buckeyes won that game, they would've been ranked No. 1. That opened the door for the 9-1 Kansas Jayhawks who are the new No. 1. The remainder of the top five is filled out by Gonzaga (11-1), Louisville (10-1), Duke (9-1), and Ohio State (9-1). Here is the complete Week 7 AP Top 25 Poll: 1. Kansas (9-1) 2. Gonzaga (11-1) 3. Louisville (10-1) 4. Duke (9-1) 5. Ohio State (9-1) 6. Kentucky (8-1) 7. Maryland (10-1) 8. Oregon (8-2) 9. Virginia (8-1) 10. Baylor (8-1) 11. Memphis (8-1) 12. Auburn (9-0) 13. Dayton (8-1) 14. Michigan (8-3) 15. Michigan State (7-3) 16. Arizona (10-2) 17. Butler (10-1) 18. Villanova (8-2) 19. Florida State (8-2) 20. San Diego State (10-0) 21. Tennessee (7-2) 22. Washington (7-2) 23. Penn State (9-2) 24. Texas Tech (6-3)

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