2019-20 NBA news and notes

[InThe313]

Alright, ladies and gentlemen, the NBA preseason opens tonight in Houston, so this will be your one-stop shop for all things in the Association.

[InThe313]

Suffice to say, this preseason has been a nightmare for the NBA, especially as far as its relationship with China has gone.  There has been a tense meeting with commissioner Adam Silver and the players.  One Lakers player lost a $1 million endorsement.  The players watched the banners being torn down.  Nets point guard Kyrie Irving questioned whether to play.

[InThe313]

There goes the top pick.  Pelicans rookie small forward Zion Williamson is expected to miss 6-8 weeks after he had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.

[InThe313]

Welcome to perhaps the most anticipated season in NBA history.  Your Opening Day schedule is as follows.

New Orleans Pelicans at Toronto Raptors tonight at 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Lakers at Los Angeles Clippers tonight at 10:30 p.m.

[InThe313]

Last year's Finals will continue to hurt the Dubs.  Warriors head coach Steve Kerr told NBC Sports Bay Area that shooting guard Klay Thompson is unlikely to play this season as he recovers from a torn ACL.

[InThe313]

Bad blood is spilling over.  The Timberwolves' Karl-Anthony Towns and the 76ers' Joel Embiid got into a brawl that ended with the 76ers' Ben Simmons putting Towns in a headlock.  Updates to come.

The 76ers beat the Timberwolves, 117-95.

[InThe313]

Justice came swiftly but not quite fairly, in my opinion.  The NBA suspended 76ers center Joel Embiid and Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns two games each for Wednesday's scuffle.  There was no fine or suspension for 76ers point guard Ben Simmons.

[InThe313]

So the potential top prospect has a lot of free time on his hands.  The attorney for Memphis Tigers center James Wiseman, a possible No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, said that Wiseman has been ruled ineligible by the NCAA.

UPDATE:  This has been a story that's been moving at a quick pace.  Memphis said in a statement that Wiseman will play tonight against the UIC Flames after an emergency temporary restraining ordered was granted.

[InThe313]

Oh, great, the tank wars are going to intensify.  Potential No. 1 pick and center James Wiseman is leaving the Memphis Tigers and will begin preparing for the 2020 NBA Draft.

[InThe313]

Sad news to report.  Former NBA commissioner David Stern died at the age of 77.  He had hospitalized since Dec. 17, 2019, after suffering a brain hemorrhage.

[InThe313]

The top draft pick is on his way.  The Pelicans' Zion Williamson is expected to make his NBA regular-season debut on Jan. 22 in New Orleans against the Spurs.  Updates to come.

The Spurs lost to the Heat, 106-100.

[InThe313]

Look who's moving up the board.  The Lakers' LeBron James passed Kobe Bryant for third on the NBA's all-time scoring list with a layup in the third quarter against the 76ers.  Updates to come.

The Lakers lost to the 76ers, 108-91.

[InThe313]

I can't believe the words I'm typing.  According to TMZ, NBA legend Kobe Bryant was among five people killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, Calif.

UPDATE:  No, just no.  According to Adrian Wojnarowski, Kobe Bryant was on his way to a travel basketball game with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna Bryant when their helicopter crashed.

UPDATE 2:  This reaction is the one that dug the most to me.  A tearful Dwyane Wade was overcome with emotion discussing the death of Kobe Bryant, calling it "a bad dream you just want to wake up from."

UPDATE 3:  We're learning more about this tragedy.  A source told ESPN that the helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant and eight other passengers was in a climb before a rapid dive.

[Cadeauxxx]

RIP to a legend, this one stings. Just out of the blue, never seen it coming.

[InThe313]

The King is as much in mourning as the rest of us.  Lakers small forward reacted to the deaths of Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant, saying he’s “devastated and heartbroken” in an Instagram post.