NEW YORK, April 5, 2024 – The NBA announced today that the Philadelphia 76ers have been fined $100,000 for violating league injury reporting rules.
The 76ers failed to accurately disclose the game availability status of Joel Embiid prior to their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 2. Embiid was listed as “Out” in Philadelphia’s initial injury report and subsequently played in the game. The fine takes into account the 76ers’ prior history of fines for violating injury reporting rules.
NBA AND KENDALL-JACKSON WINERY ANNOUNCE MULTIYEAR PARTNERSHIP
- La Crema Named Official Wine Partner of the WNBA -
- Kendall-Jackson and La Crema Named Official Wine Partners of USA Basketball’s Men’s and Women’s Teams -
NEW YORK, April 4, 2024 - The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Kendall-Jackson Winery today announced a multiyear partnership, making Kendall-Jackson the Official Wine of the NBA and USA Basketball and La Crema the Official Wine of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). Kendall-Jackson and La Crema have also been named the Official Wine Partners of USA Basketball’s men’s and women’s national teams, respectively. The multiyear agreement marks the leagues’ first-ever official winery partnerships.
The NBA’s collaboration with Kendall-Jackson, the family-owned winery based in California, officially links the worlds of fine wine and basketball, celebrating the brands’ shared commitments to excellence and community. Kendall-Jackson will have a presence at league marquee events including through elevated experiences, wine tastings and opportunities for players, coaches and fans to learn about and appreciate wine in new and engaging ways.
Kendall-Jackson will serve as the presenting partner of the NBA Experiences Dinner Series, an exclusive, ticketed fan opportunity offered at marquee NBA events. The brand will also become an associate partner for the second-annual NBA Con, the league’s immersive fan event held this summer alongside NBA 2K Summer League, showcasing a commitment to blend the world of wine with the excitement of basketball. Both experiences will provide attendees an opportunity to explore wine through pop-up tasting rooms. The brand will also collaborate with the league to host additional tastings and experiential showcases at NBA All-Star and will have the opportunity to produce commemorative wine bottles and gift product to NBA players.
“We are thrilled to welcome Kendall-Jackson to the family as the NBA’s official wine partner and look forward to future collaborations across the broad portfolio of Jackson Family Wines brands,” said Julie Morris, NBA Senior Vice President of Commercial Development and Media. “This collaboration recognizes the dynamic interests of our players and fans and uniquely blends the culture of wine with the excitement of the game.”
“Our partnership with the NBA is a natural extension of our shared values and our commitment to embracing the evolving landscape of culture and taste,” said Chris Jackson, Co-Proprietor for Kendall-Jackson. “It’s about enriching the fan experience by blending the passion for the game with the artistry of winemaking. As we embark on this exciting journey together, we are setting the stage for a future where wine converges in unexpected and exhilarating ways.”
The origin of the partnership dates to 2020 during the NBA Restart at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, FL. During the pandemic when players, coaches, and staff completed the 2020-21 season inside the “Bubble”, Kendall-Jackson recognized the league’s expanding interest in wine and conducted virtual wine tastings and educational sessions to reaffirm the importance of community and shared experiences.
Additionally, Kendall-Jackson will be the exclusive wine of USA Basketball’s 50th Anniversary event. The winery’s first vines were planted in 1974, the year USA Basketball was founded.
Kendall-Jackson is part of Jackson Family Wines, a global wine portfolio that spans California, Oregon, Washington, and Canada in North America as well as Italy, France, South Africa, Chile, and Australia and includes acclaimed wineries like La Crema, Penner-Ash, Freemark Abbey, Stonestreet and Vérité. In addition to Kendall-Jackson’s partnership with the NBA and USA Basketball, the Jackson Family’s La Crema winery, located in Russian River Valley, the heart of Sonoma County, will be the official wine of the WNBA, celebrating a shared dedication to fostering inclusivity and recognizing the achievements of women.
For more information on the WNBA partnership with La Crema, click here. Learn more about Kendall-Jackson at www.kj.com/NBA and follow Kendall-Jackson on all social platforms with handle @KJWines.
SPURS’ VICTOR WEMBANYAMA FINED
NEW YORK, Mar. 31, 2024 – San Antonio Spurs forward-center Victor Wembanyama has been fined $25,000 for throwing the game ball into the spectator stands, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations.
The incident occurred following the conclusion of the Spurs’ 130-126 overtime victory over the New York Knicks on March 29 at Frost Bank Center.
To view the incident, click here.
76ERS’ NICK NURSE AND KELLY OUBRE JR. FINED
NEW YORK, Mar. 29, 2024 – Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse has been fined $50,000 for aggressively pursuing and verbally abusing game officials, and 76ers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. has been fined $50,000 for verbally abusing and directing an obscene gesture toward game officials, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations.
The incident occurred at the conclusion of the 76ers’ 108-107 loss to the LA Clippers on March 27 at Wells Fargo Center.
LA CLIPPERS’ TERANCE MANN NAMED NBA CARES BOB LANIER COMMUNITY ASSIST AWARD FEBRUARY WINNER
– NBA to donate $10,000 to Terance Mann Complete Player Foundation –
– Mann is being recognized for supporting youth mentorship and community engagement –
NEW YORK, March 25, 2024 – The NBA today announced LA Clippers guard Terance Mann as the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner for the month of February. Mann is being recognized for his efforts in promoting youth mentorship and community engagement through his foundation, the Terance Mann Complete Player Foundation. Mann will receive the David Robinson trophy and the NBA will donate $10,000 to the Terance Mann Complete Player Foundation.
Earlier this year, the Terance Mann Complete Player Foundation and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles (BBBSLA) announced a partnership focused on mentorship and community engagement. As part of the partnership, Mann helps recruit volunteer mentors for BBBSLA and addresses the critical need to have strong role models for young individuals in the community. The partnership is the first for BBBSLA with an NBA player and includes basketball camps and clinics, VIP experiences at LA Clippers games and more.
“I started the Terance Mann Complete Player Foundation last summer because I know personally what support and positive influence can do to help children,” said Mann. “When I was a kid, I told myself that if I had the opportunity to help change families’ lives like others did for me, I would. Being an NBA player is about much more than making a difference for my team on the court. It’s my job to help the kids who will come after me achieve success off the court too.”
In addition to his partnership with BBBSLA, Mann and his foundation hosted youth basketball clinics in Los Angeles, Pittsburgh and his home state of Massachusetts, along with backpack and school supply distributions and academic fairs, furthering his commitment to support the youth in the communities in which he has been a part of. The Terance Mann Complete Player Foundation and Skechers also hosted a fundraiser event in Los Angeles with all donations from the event going directly to the Terance Mann Scholarship Program, which helps provide students with resources and support to be successful.
Mann will be recognized in-arena as the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner during pre-game of the Mar. 25 Pacers-Clippers game. LA Clippers Chairman Steve Ballmer and Halo Sports and Entertainment CEO and LA Clippers President of Business Operations Gillian Zucker will present him with the award.
The NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award honors Bob Lanier, an NBA League Office executive and NBA Cares Ambassador for more than 30 years. He had an enormous influence on the NBA family and young people globally, traveling the world to teach the values of the game and making a positive impact through his kindness and generosity. The legacy he built will continue to live on through the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award recognition, which honors the next generation of players’ commitment to positively impacting their community throughout the NBA season. Each monthly winner receives the David Robinson trophy and the NBA makes a donation to the charity or foundation of the player’s choice. To learn more, please visit https://communityassist.nba.
UTAH’S DUNN AND HOUSTON’S SMITH JR. SUSPENDED
NEW YORK, Mar. 24, 2024 – Utah Jazz guard Kris Dunn has been suspended two games without pay for initiating an altercation and throwing a punch at Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr., who has been suspended one game for fighting with Dunn, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations.
The incident, which for which both Dunn and Smith Jr. were assessed technical fouls and ejected, occurred with 11:55 remaining in the second quarter of the Rockets 147-119 win over the Jazz at the Toyota Center on Saturday, March 23.
Dunn will begin to serve his suspension on Monday, March 25 when the Jazz host the Dallas Mavericks. Smith Jr. will serve his suspension that night when the Rockets host the Portland Trail Blazers.
To view the incident, click here.
NBA G LEAGUE IGNITE TO CONCLUDE ITS FINAL SEASON
– Program Ends Amid Changes to Youth and Collegiate Basketball –
NEW YORK, March 21, 2024 – NBA G League Ignite, the league’s owned-and-operated team focused on developing NBA prospects, is concluding its final season, NBA G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim announced today. The decision to end the program comes amid the changing basketball landscape, including the NCAA’s Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) policy and the advent of collectives and the transfer portal.
Launched in April 2020, G League Ignite has provided a first-of-its-kind development pathway for NBA Draft prospects to hone their skills, learn the professional game and receive a salary and endorsement income ahead of their NBA Draft eligibility. In Ignite’s first three seasons, the team developed 10 players who were selected in the NBA Draft, including four players taken in the top 10 of their classes. Ignite also offered a platform for top prospects to showcase their talents in the NBA G League Fall Invitational, which featured premier NBA Draft prospects and international teams such as Victor Wembanyama and the Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92 (2022) and Alexandre Sarr and the Perth Wildcats (2023).
“Four years ago, we started Ignite to fill a void in the basketball landscape, and I’m proud of the contributions we were able to make to that ecosystem,” said Abdur-Rahim. “With the changing environment across youth and collegiate basketball, now is the right time to take this step. I want to extend my sincere gratitude to general manager Anthony McClish, head coach Jason Hart and their staff and to each player who wore an Ignite jersey. As ever, the G League’s commitment to developing top NBA talent and helping players achieve their NBA dreams is unwavering.”
The 2023-24 Ignite roster features McDonald’s All-Americans and projected top NBA Draft picks Matas Buzelis and Ron Holland. The team will play its final game on March 28 against the Ontario Clippers. Nine Ignite veterans are currently in the NBA, including key contributors Dyson Daniels (New Orleans Pelicans), Jalen Green (Houston Rockets), Scoot Henderson (Portland Trail Blazers) and 2022 NBA champion Jonathan Kuminga (Golden State Warriors).
