Rumors

How do you reconcile the success you’ve had in Raleigh, and the way people feel about your tenure there, with the way you’re viewed in Portland? Having proof of concept in one place but people are still highly skeptical in the other? Tom Dundon: The world tends to want to highlight or look for problems. I don’t know if that’s more pronounced in Portland or not. Clearly, I’m doing stuff and people have that perception of me. It would be crazy if I didn’t think about what my role in it is. But it is strange to think that I was able to figure out how to build a bunch of successful businesses, employ thousands and thousands of people, and then buy a hockey team, have some success and then the going-in assumption is different than the way I see it. I have to think about why that’s happened. Maybe it’s human nature to want to focus on the wrong thing sometimes. And that’s something I can’t do anything about.

Oregonian

But it does seem like it’s more challenging. At least in Raleigh, it’s felt like maybe more of the essential people were rowing in the same direction than it feels in Portland. Tom Dundon: It seems like Portland’s more political. It’s more emotional. It’s a more emotional subject. North Carolina has a fund to bring sporting events to the state. There’s a lot of businesses moving in, they’re lowering their income tax. They’re doing a lot of things. They’re in a different place in terms of economic development. There was a different philosophy. When I first got (to Portland), it was (suggested) they need a new arena. And I looked at it and said, “Well, the only way they could do a new arena is if they raise taxes. And I don’t think they should raise taxes.” It would be counterintuitive to raise taxes in a place that, for us to be successful, we need the business climate to improve. We don’t want to be part of that problem. I think you know, but the Trail Blazers are last in sponsorship. That’s a big part of the controllable revenue for a basketball team. We’ve got to try to solve that business problem. You’ve got to have companies, companies have to thrive and want to grow, and we’ve got to help them grow by participating in our brand with these companies. If we did a new building and had to raise taxes to build it, we wouldn’t be part of that solution.

Oregonian

But hearing all that about Tom Dundon, hearing that the Carolina Hurricanes have flourished under his ownership. I would also point out that he is overseeing a huge renovation around the arena there in Raleigh where the Hurricanes play. I think that's an $800 million uh stadium and district project.

YouTube

Former NBA player and NC State standout Chucky Brown has filed a lawsuit against Saint Augustine’s University, an HBCU located in Raleigh, North Carolina, alleging breach of contract after he was terminated without full payment of his salary. Brown, who spent over a decade in the NBA and later transitioned into coaching, was hired by Saint Augustine’s in 2022 to lead the men’s basketball program under a three-year contract.

HBCU Gameday

Nate McMillan, an NBA coach and Raleigh native, has been using his platform to improve the lives of boys from single-parent households. He recently wrapped up a three-day camp at New Life Camp, a unique experience in which 75 teenage boys were given the opportunity to dream big and envision their future.

wral.com

NBA player and Raleigh native John Wall is giving a city park a new bounce this weekend. Wall, through his family foundation, will donate a new basketball court at Roberts Park Community Center featuring “resilient court surfacing” that will enable year-round play. “This is my favorite time of the year,” Wall said in a news release. “To have the opportunity to come back home and help the community that raised me is always a blessing.”

Raleigh News & Observer

In 2017, Wall began sponsoring the Holiday Invitational, a Raleigh basketball tournament featuring some of the top high school teams in the nation. The Raleigh City Council will formally accept the donation, worth about $50,000, during Tuesday’s council meeting.

Raleigh News & Observer

Neil Dalal: John Wall is opening a basketball court in his hometown of Raleigh, NC, which will be combined with his annual back-to-school giveaway next month 👏🏽 pic.twitter.com/NpcH4XQdEs

Twitter

Shams Charania: Twins Caleb and Cody Martin sitdown with @Stadium: “I tell them I’m already in Miami, but I’m in Raleigh.” On J. Cole and the white lie about location and booster status for Caleb to receive Heat opportunity, bittersweet 2019 Draft night, Hornets tenure together and split, more.

Twitter

John Wall: “Bro, how the hell can you have all that money and be depressed? You’re John Wall.” Listen, I know exactly who I am. I’m a dog. I been knocked down and got up off the canvas 100 times. From a skinny little kid growing up in Section 8 in Raleigh to the No. 1 pick — all the ups and downs and the sh*t I’ve seen? I know exactly who I am, and what I represent, and how many people need to hear this. So I’m not afraid to tell you that I've been in a place that was so dark that suicide felt like the only option.

signature.theplayerstribune.com

NBA star guard and Raleigh native John Wall is hosting a series of events this week to honor his late mother. With the Los Angeles Clippers guard in attendance, the John Wall Family Foundation hosted a back-to-school event Thursday morning at Durant Road Elementary School. The foundation will help the Durant Road Elementary students throughout the school year. On Thursday, Wall’s foundation presented a check for $11,200 to the the Salvation Army of Wake County Red Shield Club of Raleigh for summer day camp scholarships.

wralsportsfan.com

A Raleigh native and NBA player was charged Thursday with driving while impaired. Devonte’ Graham, point guard for the New Orleans Pelicans, graduated from Broughton High School in 2013. He was charged with DWI near the intersection of Peace Street and Capitol Boulevard early Thursday morning.

wral.com

NBA Champion PJ Tucker and North Carolina Central basketball coach LeVelle Moton teamed up for their twelfth annual back-to-school event in Raleigh, N.C. on Saturday. Tucker, now with the Miami Heat after winning a championship in Milwaukee, is a Raleigh native. More than 1,000 children waited in line for free school supplies at the Raleigh Boys and Girls Club. In addition to school supplies, children were afforded free haircuts and COVID vaccinations to those who were eligible. The event was back this year after missing last year because of the pandemic.

HBCU Gameday

NBA Champion and Enloe High School grad P.J. Tucker packed a bag for his weekend return to Raleigh, including at least 16 pairs of sneakers from his collection, which is rumored to be in the thousands. He planned to look his best. A hero’s welcome was set for Tucker Saturday in Raleigh’s Chavis Park, not far from the Southeast Raleigh neighborhood where he grew up and learned to play basketball. Last month, 36-year-old Tucker was part of the Milwaukee Bucks team that won an NBA championship over the Phoenix Suns.

Raleigh News & Observer