Around the Association: Shaq Slams Simmons, Celtics Climbing, NBA Honors Kobe, VanVleet’s First ASG Selection, More

The Ben Simmons saga is the storyline that doesn’t quit. This time Shaq weighed in on the ordeal, and Ben Simmons was not a fan of Shaq’s opinion. The Celtics are climbing and the Eastern Conference is a dog fight and the NBA continues to honor the life and legacy of Kobe Bryant. That and much more as we take a spin around the association!

Shaq on Simmons: “He’s Acting Like a Baby”

Shaq had some things to say about disgruntled Philadelphia 76ers’ star Ben Simmons on a recent episode of The Big Podcast after Simmons slid into his DMs to complain about critical comments that Shaq made on TNT recently.

Here’s the video of Shaq’s original comments on TNT’:

Honestly, Shaq didn’t say anything out of pocket there. He said that Simmons is a bad teammate and a selfish player, and he needs to learn how to deal with criticism. That all tracks. So, instead of taking the critique of a Hall of Famer and one of the greatest ever to do it to heart and trying to reflect on it, Simmons decided to complain to O’Neal in his Twitter DM’s, once again proving that everything Shaq said about him in the first place is as accurate as can be.

I don’t like talking about the Ben Simmons holdout. I do when the news cycle necessitates it, except for today, because I feel like Shaq is spot on in his critique of Simmons, and I feel like it should be stated that if Simmons can’t take the advice of this legend, who’s advice will he take? When does this end? The 76ers don’t feel obliged to trade him, and rightfully so. They’ll never get back market value for a player of his caliber in a trade after everything that’s transpired, so they figure that they’ll sit on the asset, which they contractually have every right to do.

This isn’t close to a resolution, but I’m glad to see people like Shaq speaking the truth on the matter.

Streaking Celtics

The Boston Celtics are moving on up the Eastern Conference standings after a lackluster start to the season. They’ve now won 10 of their last 14 contests and have been putting on a clinic defensively since Christmas.

The Celtics are now three games above .500 and in the ninth spot in the Eastern Conference standings. But, even in the ninth spot, they’re only five games behind the top-seeded Chicago Bulls as the Eastern Conference playoff picture is shaping up to be one heck of a dog fight.

Jayson Tatum was named to the NBA All-Star Game on Thursday night. The fifth-year forward is averaging 25.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists this season.

NBA Honors Kobe with New ASG MVP Trophy

The NBA continues to honor the life and legacy of Kobe Bryant, this time with the introduction of the ‘Kobe Bryant Trophy awarded to the NBA All-Star Game MVP. Every little detail of the design has a unique meaning relevant to Kobe Bryant’s illustrious career. It’s really quite wild. You can check all of the elements in the tweet below:

Fred VanVleet Named to his First ASG

Fred VanVleet went from a four-star recruit from Rockford, Illinois, to an undrafted free agent out of Wichita State who keeps on betting on himself … a bet that he’s continuously cashed in on. VanVleet makes his first NBA All-Star Game appearance later this month at nearly 28-years-old.

VanVleet is averaging 21.5 points, 7.1 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per contest for the Toronto Raptors this season.

Being selected to his first NBA All-Star Game is just the latest accomplishment for the Auburn High School alumn adding to a list that already included an NBA Championship,  a D-League Championship, and a big payday with Toronto. It’s nice to see the underdog defying all the odds.

And Ones …

•   The NBA All-Star Game’s roster is set, with the reserves being named on Thursday night. The player draft will take place on February 10.

•   Anthony Edwards had to get that Micky D’s order in before the post-game presser! 😂

•   Linsanity swept the basketball world a decade ago when Lin scored 25 points for the struggling Knicks in 36 minutes of action after Lin had played just 55 minutes on the season before that night.

https://twitter.com/timelesssports_/status/1489626417415569409?s=20&t=Av6XXmcYbaaNhE5jF1S4aQ

•   The NBA released the court design for this month’s All-Star Game in Cleveland. Check it out:

•   Clippers’ head coach Ty Lue said on Thursday night that he doesn’t believe that Kawhi Leonard will play this season due to the partially torn ACL that knocked him out of the 2021 playoffs. Lue also said that he’s not sure of any timeline for Paul George who is dealing with a torn UCL in his right elbow. George hasn’t decided yet whether he will have season-ending surgery or seek alternative treatment.

•   A great read here by Zach Lowe. If you’ve got an ESPN+ subscription, I recommend you check it out.

•   NBA Rookie of the Year, Evan Mobley?

•   Scotty Pippen Jr. was balling against No. 5 Kentucky on the road:

•   A trade!

written by

Patrick grew up in Chicago's Bridgeport and Garfield Ridge neighborhoods before moving to the Western Suburbs of Chicago before eventually relocating to the Las Vegas area with his family in 2023. He started with Bleacher Nation in 2021 and has spent time as a Staff Writer and on the Chicago Blackhawks beat. He is currently a writer and editor at Bleacher Nation covering the Chicago Bears and the NFL at large and the author of the Bleacher Nation Newsletter. Patrick is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA).

more bulls news

What Would be the Best Draw for the Chicago Bulls in the Play-In Tournament?

Nine games stand between the Chicago Bulls and the Play-In Tournament. I know ... yippie! Practically locked into the No. 9 seed, this puts them in line to host the No. 10 seed at the United Center in Round 1....

Best Defense of the Season, Playing Big, Javonte Green’s Instant Impact, and Other Bulls Bullets

Lose to the 14-win Wizards one game and hold the Pacers' elite offense to their worst performance of the season the next. Your 2023-24 Chicago Bulls, everyone! As I said in last night's Enhanced Box Score, I'm now even more...

WOW: Minnesota Timberwolves Sale to Alex Rodriguez Falls Through

The Minnesota Timberwolves dropped a bomb on Thursday morning. According to a statement released by the Timberwolves and Lynx ownership group, the franchise is no longer for sale. A transition of power was thought to be in place over the...

Enhanced Box Score: Bulls 125, Pacers 99 – March 27, 2024

I got to be honest, I'm even more upset about the Washington Wizards' loss. If the Chicago Bulls played like they did tonight, they would have beaten that depleted Wizards team by 40. This was a locked-in group from the...

Javonte Green Makes Bulls Return… Immediately Does Awesome Stuff

Javonte Green has officially made his Chicago Bulls debut ... again. The 30-year-old signed with the organization via a 10-day hardship deal on March 22. Injuries to Lonzo Ball, Zach LaVine, Patrick Williams, and Julian Phillips paved the way for...

WATCH: Alex Caruso Snatches Rookie Ben Sheppard’s Ankles

Alex Caruso will always be known for his defense capabilities, but he's showing a lot more than that this season. The veteran guard is averaging double-digit points for the first time in his career. A big part of that has...

Draymond Green Ejected Less Than 4 Minutes Into Game Against Orlando

Draymond Green was at it again on Wednesday night. Out East to take on the Orlando Magic, the Golden State Warriors watched Paolo Banchero bulldoze Andrew Wiggins to the rim early in the first quarter. As Banchero high-fived his teammates...

Pre-Gamin’: Indiana Pacers at Chicago Bulls (7:00 CT), Projected Lineups, How to Watch, More

Everything was awful on Tuesday. Be Better. https://twitter.com/chicagobulls/status/1772971933161705610?s=20 Game Info Indiana Pacers (41-32) at Chicago Bulls (34-38) – 7:00 p.m. CT on NBC Sports Chicago (TV) and 670 The Score (Radio) Projected Starting Lineups Chicago Bulls Coby White Alex Caruso Ayo Dosunmu...

Around the Association: Caitlin Clark Gets Big(3) Offer, Knicks Getting Help, Lakers OT Thriller, More

It's hard to believe we have less than three weeks remaining in the NBA's regular season, and we should be in for some real drama down the stretch. The Knicks have plenty to play for in their remaining 11 games...

WHOA: NCAA Looking to Ban Prop Betting on All College Athletes

As the NCAA men's basketball tournament gears up for the Sweet Sixteen, the college sports world received some big news. On Wednesday morning, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that NCAA president Charlie Baker wants to officially ban prop betting on college...

Latest News

Diamondbacks vs. Rockies: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

In their season opener on Friday, Corbin Carroll and the Arizona Diamondbacks take on Nolan Jones and the Colorado Rockies, with first pitch scheduled for 9:40 PM ET at Chase Field.Keep reading to find out how to watch the Arizona-Colorado...

Guardians vs. Athletics: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

Logan Allen will take the mound for the Cleveland Guardians when they square off against starter Ross Stripling and the Oakland Athletics in their season opener on Friday, with first pitch at 9:40 PM ET.Find out how to watch the...

How to Watch Mariners vs. Red Sox: Live Stream or on TV

In their season opener on Friday, Julio Rodriguez and the Seattle Mariners play Rafael Devers and the Boston Red Sox, with first pitch scheduled for 9:40 PM ET at T-Mobile Park.Keep reading to see how to watch the Seattle-Boston matchup...

How to Watch Padres vs. Giants: Live Stream or on TV

On Friday, the San Diego Padres (2-1) take on Jorge Soler and the San Francisco Giants (0-1), with first pitch scheduled for 9:40 PM ET at PETCO Park.Keep reading to find out how to watch the San Diego-San Francisco matchup...

How to Watch Dodgers vs. Cardinals: Live Stream or on TV

The Los Angeles Dodgers (2-1) host Paul Goldschmidt and the St. Louis Cardinals (0-1) on Friday, with first pitch at 10:10 PM ET.Keep reading to see how to watch the Los Angeles-St. Louis matchup below.When is Dodgers vs. Cardinals and...

OMG: Michael Busch Scored the 9th Inning, GO-AHEAD Run, Because He Just Never Stopped Running

That was absolutely incredible. To all the little kids out there, when your coach tells you to never stop running, this is why. Rookie Cubs 1B Michael Busch (the guy the Cubs got from the Dodgers this offseason to be...

Astros vs. Yankees: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

The New York Yankees (1-0), led by Juan Soto, visit Kyle Tucker and the Houston Astros (0-1) at 8:10 PM ET on Friday.Find out how to watch the Houston-New York matchup below.When is Astros vs. Yankees and when does it...

How to Watch Rays vs. Blue Jays: Live Stream or on TV

The Toronto Blue Jays (1-0) visit Yandy Diaz and the Tampa Bay Rays (0-1) on Friday, with first pitch at 6:50 PM ET.Keep reading to see how to watch the Tampa Bay-Toronto matchup below.When is Rays vs. Blue Jays and...

Enhanced Box Score: Rangers 4, Cubs 3 – March 28, 2024

It took exactly one day for the Cubs' ace to sustain what may be a significant injury, for their closer to blow a save, for the umpires to significantly impact the outcome of a critical play (this time in the...

Justin Steele Injury Update: New Classification, MRI Tomorrow, IL Stint Coming? Steele and Counsell Speak

A significant update on Justin Steele came from Craig Counsell tonight after the Cubs extra innings loss in Texas. In short: Yes, a stint on the Injured List is likely for Justin Steele. But we still don't know how severe...

more bulls news