NBA Blog: The NBA basketball news blog section of Inside Hoops
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant has been fined $75,000 for twice making an inappropriate gesture on the playing court, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations. Morant was previously warned by the league office that this gesture could be interpreted in a negative light.
The gestures were made by Morant during the Grizzlies’110-108 victory over the Miami Heat on April 3 at Kaseya Center.
The New Orleans Pelicans have signed center Kylor Kelley to a 10-day contract.
Kelley, 7-0, 230, appeared in eight games (one start) for Dallas this season in which he averaged 3.0 points and 2.6 rebounds in 8.4 minutes per contest. Kelley also appeared in 32 games during the 2024-25 season with the G League’s South Bay Lakers, averaging 11.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 2.5 blocks per game.
The Gervais, Oregon, native was named to the NBA G League All-Defensive Team in 2023-24 after leading the G League in blocks per game (2.86) and total blocks (83) last season, and was named to the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team in each of his two collegiate seasons at Oregon State (2019, 2020).
The Pelicans roster now stands at 19, including three two-way players.
Austin Spurs head coach Scott King has been named the 2025 NBA G League Coach of the Year.
In his first season, King led Austin to the NBA G League playoffs as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, finishing the regular season 22-12 (32-18 overall) tying with the Stockton Kings for the best record in the Western Conference.
Austin ended the regular season ranked first in defensive rating (102.3), third in steals per game (10.1), and fourth in both blocks per game (6.6) and rebounds per game (48.4). The Spurs also set a league record this season, posting the highest margin of victory in league history (+23.5).
This season marks the Spurs first Western Conference Semifinals appearance since 2018, when they won the NBA G League Championship against the Raptors 905.
The Philadelphia 76ers have signed Colin Castleton to a 10-day contract.
Castleton joins Philadelphia after appearing in 20 combined games (four starts) between Memphis and Toronto this season, averaging 4.2 points and 4.2 rebounds. The second-year pro hauled in a career-best 14 rebounds against Philadelphia on March 12 and tallied a career-high 13 points the very next game at Utah on March 14.
Originally signed to a two-way contract by the Los Angeles Lakers in July 2023, Castleton has produced 3.0 points on 45.8-percent shooting and 2.6 rebounds in 36 career games with the Lakers, Grizzlies, and Raptors.
Castleton competed in 19 regular-season G League games for Raptors 905, the Osceola Magic, and the Memphis Hustle in 2024-25, boasting averages of 18.2 points (59.1% FG), 10.5 rebounds, and 1.1 blocked shots.
The Washington Wizards will celebrate and show their appreciation to their loyal, dedicated, and passionate fanbase on Fan Appreciation Night on Wednesday, April 9, at 7:00 p.m. when the Philadelphia 76ers come to Capital One Arena.
To celebrate the night, hip-hop duo Ying Yang Twins will entertain the crowd at halftime with hits “Salt Shaker,” “Get Low,” “Say I Yi Yi,” and “Halftime.” The Wizards Entertainers and G-Wiz will also be featured throughout the performance.
Prior to the game, fans can attend the Fan Appreciation Night Block Party at District E Powered by Ticketmaster beginning at 5:00 p.m. Fans will enjoy giveaways, a virtual reality activation, custom trading card photobooth, free appetizers while supplies last, and District Bites drink specials.
All fans in attendance at the game will take home a Wizards City Edition DMV t-shirt (photo attached). Bilal Coulibaly will address the crowd before the start of the game and the team will present the 2024-25 Dr. E.B. Henderson Award during a pregame ceremony. The team award, introduced during the 2021-22 season, recognizes a Wizards player for their work in the community.
Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks has been suspended one game without pay for receiving his 16th technical foul of the 2024-25 season, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations.
Under NBA rules, a player or coach is automatically suspended without pay for one game once he receives his 16th technical foul during a regular season. For every two additional technical fouls received during that regular season, the player or coach will be automatically suspended without pay for an additional game.
Brooks received his most recent technical foul with 7:12 remaining in the first quarter of the Rockets’ 143-105 victory over the Utah Jazz on April 2 at Toyota Center. Brooks will serve his suspension tomorrow when the Rockets host the Oklahoma City Thunder at Toyota Center.
The New York Knicks have signed P.J. Tucker for the remainder of the season.
Tucker, 39-years-old (6-5, 245-pounds), returns to New York after signing consecutive 10-Day contracts with the Knicks. He appeared in one game for the Knicks this season. Last season Tucker appeared in 31 games (10 starts) with the 76ers and Clippers, recording 1.7 points (37.1% 3PT%) and 2.7 rebounds over 15.7 minutes. Tucker, over his 13-year career, has made at least 50 three-pointers and recorded at least 50 steals nine times each. He holds career averages of 6.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals over 28.2 minutes in 884 games (666 starts) for the Raptors, Suns, Rockets, Bucks, Heat, 76ers and Clippers.
The New Orleans Pelicans have signed guard Elfrid Payton to a second 10-day contract.
Payton, 6-4, 202, has appeared in 517 NBA games (400 starts) across nine seasons with Orlando, Phoenix, New Orleans, New York and Charlotte. Selected 10th overall in the 2014 NBA Draft, Payton holds career averages of 9.9 points, 5.7 assists and 4.0 rebounds in 26.6 minutes per contest.
This season, Payton has appeared in 17 games (five starts) with New Orleans and Charlotte, averaging 3.8 points, 5.8 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 20.4 minutes per contest.
The Brooklyn Nets have signed forward Drew Timme to a multi-year contract.
Timme (6’10”, 235) has appeared in 29 regular season games (28 starts) this season with Brooklyn’s NBA G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, registering averages of 23.9 points (eighth in the league) on 57.0 percent shooting from the field, 38.5 percent shooting from 3-point range and 73.1 percent shooting from the free-throw line, 10.3 rebounds (fourth in the league), 4.1 assists and 1.0 steals in 35.6 minutes per game.
The 24-year-old is the only player in the NBA G League this season to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds per game and has tallied 17 double-doubles. The reigning NBA G League Player of the Week, Timme earned the recognition for games played from March 17 through March 23, recording averages of 35.7 points on 68.4 percent shooting from the field and 63.6 percent shooting from distance, 12.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals in 35.7 minutes per contest while leading Long Island to a 2-1 record.
The Memphis Grizzlies today announced the team has named Tuomas Iisalo interim head coach for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.
Iisalo joined the Grizzlies as lead assistant coach prior to the start of the 2024-25 season following serving as a head coach in Europe with Paris Basketball (2023-24), Telekom Baskets Bonn (2021-23) and Crailsheim Merlins (2016-21).