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Offseason | NBA Week 26

Nike's Phil Knight cites age (87), denies he's buying Blazers

Wed May 14 6:04pm ET
Field Level Media

Nike founder and chairman emeritus Phil Knight believes it's too late in the game for him to buy an NBA franchise.

Knight, 87, issued a statement citing his age as a primary roadblock to purchasing the Portland Trail Blazers. The team is on the market and being sold by the estate of Paul Allen.

"Five years ago, when I was a younger man, I had a great interest in being a part of the Portland Trail Blazers franchise. However, at my current age, I can confirm that I no longer have interest in acquiring the team," Knight said in a statement issued by Nike.

Allen owned the Seattle Seahawks (NFL), Blazers and a 25 percent stake in the Seattle Sounders (MLS) when he died at age 65 from non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2018.


Allen bought the Blazers in 1988 for $70 million and the franchise has a valuation of more than $3.5 billion, according to Sportico. The Boston Celtics recently sold for $6.1 billion.

The Seahawks and the minority stake in the Sounders are not for sale, according to the trust's announcement of plans to sell the NBA franchise.

His sister, Jody Allen, is the acting governor of the Blazers and executor for the Paul G. Allen Trust. Jody Allen declined Knight's offer -- made in partnership with Los Angeles Dodgers minority owner Alan Smolinsky -- to buy the Blazers for more than $2 billion in 2022, according to reports.

Paul Allen's will directs the existing trust "to eventually sell his sports holdings and direct all estate proceeds to philanthropy."

Player Notes
Stephen Curry Wed May 14 5:40pm

Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (hamstring) was cleared for shooting drills and light on-court workouts on Wednesday. The team re-evaluated him on Wednesday and announced that he was "making good progress" in his recovery from the hamstring injury sustained in Game 1 of the second-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. If Golden State extends the series with a win on Wednesday, Curry will be re-evaluated again on Saturday, ahead of Sunday's Game 6 in San Francisco. The odds are certainly against the Warriors on Wednesday night, but they can draw belief from their Game 1 victory, during which Curry logged only 13 minutes. Brandin Podziemski and Buddy Hield will continue to carry the backcourt in Curry's absence.

Sam Hauser Wed May 14 5:30pm

Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser (ankle) will rejoin the lineup for Wednesday's Game 5 against the New York Knicks. He has been cleared to return after missing three games due to a right ankle sprain. Hauser has been limited to 2.7 points and 1.3 rebounds in 13.0 minutes this postseason. However, he may now have a larger role in the rotation due to Jayson Tatum's (Achilles) absence. To become impactful again, Hauser must start hitting his threes again. He has finished four of his six playoff outings without a single make from behind the arc.

Donovan Mitchell Wed May 14 9:00am

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell put up a game-high 35 points as the team's campaign ended with a 114-105 home loss to the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday. Mitchell led the Cavaliers offense but struggled massively to hit shots, finishing 8-for-25 from the field, including 4-for-13 from behind the arc. He was 15-for-21 at the charity stripe, failing to hit a single shot late in the game after he was fouled during a three-point attempt. The six-time All-Star, who played through a left ankle injury, completed his work with nine rebounds, one assist, four steals, and one block. After dominating for most of the year, the Cavaliers seemed poised for something special. Instead, they became the fourth team in NBA history to win at least 64 games in the regular season and fail to advance past the second round. The team has won only two playoff series in three years since Mitchell's arrival, and another postseason filled with trade speculation may follow.

Jamal Murray Wed May 14 8:50am

Denver Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray had his second-highest scoring game of the postseason with 28 points in Tuesday's 112-105 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Canadian star flirted with a 30-point game, although Murray struggled to score efficiently. He went 10-for-27 from the field, including 3-for-13 from outside. In 42 minutes of action, Murray added four rebounds, three assists, and one block to his tally. While Murray has averaged 21.4 points per game against the Thunder, he has shot below 40 percent from the field in three of the five games and 39.5 percent overall in the matchup. A more efficient performance is needed from him for the Nuggets to advance to the Western Conference Finals.

Tyrese Haliburton Wed May 14 8:50am

Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton led his side with 31 points on 10-for-15 shooting as the team finished off the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semifinals with a 114-105 road win. Cleveland limited Haliburton to 15 total points in Games 3 and 4, but he completely ran the show on Tuesday night, hitting 6-for-10 from downtown and dishing out eight assists. Additionally, Haliburton collected six rebounds, had one steal, and one block. Last year, Haliburton was injured during the Conference Finals, and he now gets a chance to make up for lost time. The talented playmaker has notched 17.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 9.3 assists per game in 10 postseason appearances.

Nikola Jokic Wed May 14 8:40am

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic was back to his best in Tuesday's 112-105 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder, leading all scorers with 44 points while tallying 15 rebounds, five assists, and two steals. After shooting 33.3 percent from the field over the last three games, Jokic went 17-for-25 from the field (68 percent) and was on fire from downtown with a 5-for-7 effort. However, the Nuggets failed to capitalize on their leader's incredible performance, blowing a lead in the fourth quarter to fall 3-2 behind in the series. With the Nuggets now in survival mode, Jokic will be expected to put together another monster line in Game 6 on Thursday night.

Stephen Curry Wed May 14 8:20am

Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (hamstring) has been listed as out on the official injury report for Wednesday's Game 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He is scheduled for re-evaluation on Wednesday regarding the Grade 1 hamstring strain that Curry sustained on May 6 during the series opener against Minnesota. The Warriors have lost three games in a row without Curry, and their season will be over if another defeat follows on Wednesday night. If Golden State can pull off a road win on Wednesday, Curry would have three additional days to rehab his injury, as Game 6 is not scheduled until Sunday. Jonathan Kuminga has broken into the rotation during Curry's absence and may play an important role again in Game 5. At the same time, the Warriors starters will likely get all the minutes they can handle, given that this is an elimination game.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Wed May 14 8:20am

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recorded a team-high 31 points on 12-for-23 shooting in Tuesday's 112-105 win over the Denver Nuggets. The Thunder grabbed a 3-2 series lead in the Western Conference semifinals after outscoring Denver 34-19 in the fourth quarter. Gilgeous-Alexander had 10 points in the final frame. He left his fingerprints all over the game, completing his line with six rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and two blocks, while shooting 1-for-3 from three-point land. This was Gilgeous-Alexander's third 30-point effort in the series. Although Gilgeous-Alexander has struggled to hit three-pointers, he has otherwise demonstrated why he is among the MVP candidates, averaging 28.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 1.6 steals against the Nuggets.

Nikola Jokic Wed May 14 12:30am

Nuggets' C Nikola Jokic recorded a double-double, scoring 44 points and grabbing 15 rebounds in a 105-112 loss to Oklahoma City on Tuesday, May. 13.

Sam Hauser Tue May 13 8:00pm

Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser (ankle) is expected to suit up for Wednesday's pivotal playoff showdown with the Knicks. He hasn't been on the floor since Game 1, when he tweaked his right ankle, forcing him to miss the C's previous three contests. Jayson Tatum (Achilles) is done for the remainder of the postseason and Kristaps Porzingis is still dealing with stamina issues stemming from the illness he suffered during the regular season. As such, Hauser is likely to see more than the 13 minutes he's averaged during the playoffs. There's even a chance he'll start. Either way, the 27-year-old should draw value interest from DFS managers on Wednesday evening.

Jayson Tatum Tue May 13 4:20pm

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (Achilles) suffered a torn right Achilles in Monday's loss to the Knicks. As a result, he underwent successful surgery on Tuesday. The former Duke Blue Devil had one of his best postseason showings on Monday night, amassing 42 points, eight boards, four steals, and two blocks. Unfortunately, he suffered a non-contact injury late in the contest and required assistance off the floor. It's obviously a tough blow for the C's, who are now one game away from being eliminated from the postseason. Payton Pritchard should see a bump in production for the remainder of the postseason, although the same can be said for Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Al Horford, and potentially Kristaps Porzingis. As far as Tatum is concerned, it's unknown when he'll be back on the floor, but fantasy managers should expect him to at least miss a significant portion of the 2025-26 campaign.

Jonathan Kuminga Tue May 13 7:40am

Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga was the team's top scorer with 23 points on 6-for-13 shooting in Monday's 117-110 defeat against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He registered a large chunk of his points at the charity stripe, finishing 11-for-12 with his free throws. Kuminga had a fine offensive outing, but didn't contribute elsewhere, rounding out his performance with one assist, one steal, and two turnovers. The Warriors are expected to remain without Stephen Curry (hamstring) for Game 5 on Wednesday night, which means Kuminga will likely continue to play a significant role in the rotation. Following Curry's exit from the lineup, he has averaged 23.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 30.7 minutes.

Anthony Edwards Tue May 13 7:30am

Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Anthony Edwards made a mark in Monday's 117-110 victory against the Golden State Warriors with 30 points, four rebounds, five assists, and two steals, shooting 11-for-21 from the field, including 6-for-11 from downtown. The Timberwolves superstar enjoyed his second consecutive 30-point effort and will be out to end the series on Wednesday night in Game 5 on home court. Edwards has been on fire from outside at the Target Center this postseason, sinking 44.8 percent of his attempts, while averaging 28.8 points in front of the Minnesota fans.

Julius Randle Tue May 13 7:20am

Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Julius Randle posted a game-high 31 points on 11-for-21 shooting in Monday's 117-110 win over the Golden State Warriors. The three-time All-Star finished 4-for-8 from behind the arc and recorded five rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block as Minnesota jumped to a 3-1 lead in the series. The Timberwolves are now just one win away from reaching their second consecutive Conference Finals, with Randle playing a significant role in the team's success. After a quiet performance in the series opener, which Minnesota lost 99-88 on home court, Randle has averaged 26.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 8.7 assists, and 1.3 steals over the past three games.

Mikal Bridges Tue May 13 7:10am

New York Knicks guard/forward Mikal Bridges was highly influential in Monday's 121-113 win against the Boston Celtics in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, stuffing the stat sheet in 44 minutes. He struggled to find his range from outside, finishing only 1-for-6 on his three-point attempts, but Bridges had 23 points with 11-for-21 shooting from the field and tallied seven rebounds, three assists, four steals, and one block. 14 of Bridges' 23 points came in the second half as the Knicks managed to pull themselves out of an 11-point deficit. Bridges' defense has made a big impact in the series, as he has snagged multiple steals in all four games, and the 28-year-old has also done well in other areas, averaging 14.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.3 assists.

Jalen Brunson Tue May 13 7:00am

New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson scored a team-high 39 points on 14-for-25 shooting in Monday's 121-113 victory against the Boston Celtics. With Brunson leading the way, the Knicks staged another second-half comeback and are now only one win away from the Conference Finals. On Monday night, Brunson also celebrated his second double-double of the postseason, dishing out 12 assists. He grabbed five rebounds and had only one turnover in 40 minutes on the floor, hitting 4-for-8 from downtown and 7-for-9 at the free-throw line. It has been a great series for Brunson, who has shot 41.2 percent against the Celtics from three-point range, while averaging 28.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 7.8 assists.

Jayson Tatum Tue May 13 6:50am

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Tuesday after suffering an apparent lower leg injury in Monday's Game 4 against the New York Knicks. Tatum dominated the game, scoring 42 points, but he was forced to exit the contest with 2:58 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Celtics superstar suffered a non-contact injury to his right leg and was seen in a wheelchair on his way to the locker room. Unfortunately, it seems that Tatum may face an extended absence. This would give Jaylen Brown the keys to the offense, while the rest of the group would also need to step up.

Jayson Tatum Tue May 13 1:00am

Boston Celtics' F Jayson Tatum scored 42 points on 16-of-28 shooting in a 113-121 loss to New York on Monday, May. 12.

Sam Hauser Mon May 12 5:50pm

Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser (ankle) is not ready to rejoin the action against the New York Knicks on Monday. There was hope that he could make it back on the court when Boston listed him as questionable on the initial injury report, but he has officially been downgraded to out. This marks the third consecutive absence for the three-point specialist. Hauser's next chance to return will be on Wednesday in Game 5 of the series. With Hauser unavailable, Payton Pritchard is poised for another busy night off the Boston bench.

Donovan Mitchell Mon May 12 5:20pm

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (ankle) has been listed as questionable for Tuesday's Game 5 against the Indiana Pacers. He is expected to be a game-time decision after an MRI showed that Mitchell aggravated a previous left ankle injury, per ESPN's Shams Charania. The Cavaliers have had terrible luck with injuries this postseason, and losing Mitchell for Tuesday's elimination game would be the biggest blow of them all. Before settling for 12 points in limited minutes against Indiana on Sunday, Mitchell had averaged 41.3 points per game in the series. If Mitchell can't play through his ankle injury on Tuesday, we will see much more of Ty Jerome, while the entire team must collectively compensate for his absence on the offensive end.


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