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NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar spoke to graduating students at Harvard University on May 28, telling the new graduates to "take a stand,: Abdul-Jabbar's speech came as Harvard continues to battle President Donald Trump's administration's efforts to revoke international student enrollment at the school. "During the many records I set and a whole lot of championship rings, my achievements as a basketball player were unrelated to my main goal: To be as successful as I could as a member of the Black community, as an American, and as a human being," Abdul-Jabbar said.
"When a tyrannical administration tried to bully and threaten Harvard to give up their academic freedom and destroy free speech, Dr. Alan Garber rejected the illegal and immoral pressures the way Rosa Parks defied the entire weight of systemic racism in 1955," Abdul-Jabbar said to the applause of the Harvard crowd.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr’s choice to wear a Harvard basketball T-shirt to the postgame press conference after Golden State’s 121-116 play-in victory over Memphis was followed by a statement in support of the university currently under pressure by the Trump administration. Harvard has challenged the administration over its demand to limit activism on campus. The Associated Press reported that the government is freezing $2.2 billion in grants and an additional $60 million in contracts in response.
“Felt like a great day (to wear it). I believe in academic freedom,” Kerr said. “I think it’s crucial for all our institutions to be able to handle their own business the way they want to, and they should not be shaken down and told what to teach, what to say, by our government.” The coach continued, saying, “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard, but it’s kind of par for the course right now. So yes, this is me supporting Harvard. Way to go, way to stand up to the bully.”
Silver, then in his early 30s, was in Sin City at the time coaching one of the premier squads for Pump-N-Run, the elite grassroots hoops program run by the basketball influence-peddling brothers, David and Dana Pump. Freedman’s son, Spencer, was among the hundreds of young players Silver had coached, and would eventually go on to play at Harvard. Along the way, the elder Freedman struck up a friendship with the much younger coach. “There’s no one I know who’s a better connector of people,” said the litigator, who was particularly taken by Silver’s unflagging compassion for his players and their families, despite how difficult they could sometimes be. “He just goes out of his way to treat people well and to help people.”
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During a recent interview with NBC Sports Boston, Cousy said he’d like to be there, but only on one condition. “It’s something I would love to participate in, but I would have one condition,” Cousy said. “That I share it with my dear friend and the only remaining player left from the 50s and 60s, Satch Sanders, who doesn’t get enough attention. I would love to have him by my side.” “And the other friend I would ask to join me is Governor Maura Healey who has become a good friend, and of course who has a basketball background. She was captain at Harvard years ago. She always references the Celtics and how they’re doing, so we’d talk ball and then solve the problems with the state.”
Jimmy Butler's agent: 'He’s never going anywhere'
Bernie Lee (Ben Simmons' agent): So my week started with squashing OJ wanting to fight someone I worked with and continues with this sh*t? This isn’t why I didn’t go to Harvard. Put simply he’s never going anywhere.. EVER. He’s going to win a championship in Miami.
"It's time for the Miami Heat and Jimmy Butler to go their separate ways."
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) January 30, 2024
Do you agree with @kendrickperkins? 🧐 pic.twitter.com/m1mDl0PPjr
If anything, as Flynn’s struggles mounted, his playing time increased. “I told Malachi, 'you’re in the rotation,'” Rajakovic told me as the Raptors were wrapping up practice on campus at Harvard in preparation for their game Saturday against the Boston Celtics, an early-season powerhouse in the Eastern Conference. “Don’t be afraid. Give me this: a baseline of your defence and effort and playing the right way, and you’ll be on the court.”
Williams revealed that Yale was his second option, not Harvard, but his decision to attend Tennessee raised concerns within his family, given the academic opportunities he was passing up. He acknowledged that as a young black male in society, opting for a non-Ivy League school wasn’t the conventional choice for academic pursuits. “My mom wasn’t necessarily happy with that, being that I’m a black male in society and I had a chance to go to an Ivy League. It doesn’t necessarily sit well when you say you’re going to Tennessee for academics, but also to play sports,” Williams explained during a conversation with Emily Austin on The Hoop Chat.
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Gordon’s brother and former NBA player Drew and sister and former Harvard University basketball star Elise noticed a difference in focus from their brother last offseason. Drew Gordon said his brother worked out with people that had a “different work ethic.” One NBA source said Aaron Gordon worked out in Denver with Murray, teammate Michael Porter, Jr., and even Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard last summer. Elise Gordon credited her younger brother’s focus on wanting to reach his dreams for himself, his family and the Nuggets and said he was a gym rat last offseason.
Cline-Thomas, a 44-year-old native of Washington, DC, and son of immigrants from Sierra Leone, began his career working at a DC-area sports agency. He later built a reputation as an adviser to NBA players such as Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala, helping them gain access to venture investments in Silicon Valley. More recently, he led a group of 15 people, including NBA and NFL players, who funded the development of a science research campus for Harvard University that includes offices, retail and housing in addition to labs. In 2021 he co-founded Mastry, which has bought stakes in companies including youth sports insurance startup Players Health and an electronic document exchange service called Crstl.
The decision, which was made in early November, could pave the way for foreign governments and large U.S. university endowments, such as Harvard’s $42 billion war chest, to buy small, passive stakes in NBA franchises. The league would still approve new investors on a case-by-case basis, the people said, including more stringent due diligence for state-owned firms.
Alex Schiffer: The Brooklyn Nets have signed Noah Kirkwood, team says. He went to Harvard and played in summer league. Good kid. Likely headed to LI.
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