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Two-time Knicks All-Star Julius Randle says he’s not worried about fans voting him in this year — even though he is playing at an All-Star level and has an incentive tied to his contract if he gets the nod. Randle was left off of the first fan returns for the 2024 NBA All-Star Game. “The fans who do vote for me, I appreciate it,” Randle said after morning shootaround at Temple University’s McGonigle Center before Friday’s game against the 76ers. “At the end of the day, I play to win games, win basketball games. My job is to win as many games as possible, try to win the championship. I’ve always said the personal accolades, they come with all of that. That’s really not my focus.”
Temple University interested in hiring Sam Cassell as head coach
Michael Scotto: 76ers assistant coach Sam Cassell has drawn interest from Temple University for its head coaching job, @hoopshype has learned. At this time, however, Cassell is focused on helping the Sixers compete for a championship. Cassell has interviewed for NBA head coaching jobs in the past and is in his 14th season as an assistant coach. He also works closely with Tyrese Maxey in Philadelphia.
Jeff Goodman: Temple has parted ways with Aaron McKie, source told @Stadium. One name certain to be on list is Colgate’s Matt Langel.
But the salary numbers did not quite match up, so the Lakers had to get creative. Enter Aaron McKie, who was out of the league and volunteering as a coach with his alma mater, Temple University, after playing 24 games combined the previous two seasons. "We were short a small number, but there was no way to make it work," Kupchak said. "We just didn't have any more players to put in." So he called up McKie's agent with a proposition. "I said, 'Listen, the league will allow us to sign Aaron to a rest for the season contract, and we will put him in the trade and he'd have to report in Memphis. ... Would he do it?' And I forget how much money it was, I don't know, $600,000, $800,000 for three or four months, right?"
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Nikola Jokic was as excited about his fifth consecutive All-Star bid as most people are about going to the grocery store. “I was (at) the racetrack, so I didn’t even pay attention, to be honest,” Jokic said following practice Friday. Amid Denver’s three-game road trip, the Nuggets had a rare off-day where they practiced in a remote gym at Temple University. “It was good,” he said. “It was nice.”
Even though he was but a high schooler, Bryant spent plenty of time running pickup inside Temple University’s Pearson Hall gymnasium. These weren’t run-of-the-mill battles against Joe Frat Boy. No, his opponents included many of the Owls stars, including future NBA players Rick Brunson, Aaron McKie and Eddie Jones. “God, he was so polished for a high school kid,” recalled Jones. “Flat-out talented. Most impressive, he wasn’t scared. We were All-Americans, big names in college basketball. And Kobe just brought it right at us. You knew this kid was NBA-bound. There was zero question.”
This year, Temple’s Klein College of Media and Communication will honor Charles Barkley with the annual Lew Klein Excellence in the Media Award. The Emmy-winning broadcaster and former Philadelphia 76er is the 18th recipient of the award and joins the ranks of previous awardees including Tina Fey, Robin Roberts, New York Times Executive Editor Dean Baquet, Anderson Cooper, Whoopi Goldberg and Wolf Blitzer.
As the 76ers prepare for two exhibition games against the Dallas Mavericks in China, they will announce on Monday a partnership with Temple University. Both the Sixers and Temple are looking to expand their footprint there. According to the Sixers, more than 700 million viewers watched the NBA on television in China last season. Meanwhile, Temple says that about 40 percent of its international students are from the country. Temple is leveraging this partnership with the 76ers for a special pregame reception in Shanghai, designed to develop and strengthen its relationships in China.
The Philadelphia 76ers and the Wilt Chamberlain Memorial Fund joined Reach Higher’s 5th Annual College Signing Day with Former First Lady Michelle Obama at Temple University’s Liacouras Center today. The event, which was attended by more than 7,000 high school students in Philadelphia, was a day-long celebration for the tremendous accomplishments the students achieved in pursuing secondary education.
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That now has coach Erik Spoelstra weighing how much to change as opposed to staying to what has gotten his team to this point. "The playoffs require being who you are. You better have habits," Spoelstra said after Monday's shootaround at Temple University, in advance of Monday's Game 2 against the 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. "But they also require doing things better, doing things to counteract whatever you're facing. That's not exclusive to our series or us or Philly. Everybody has to do that. That's this time of the year."
The Warriors are bracing for facing additional challenges stemmed from the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers and Calgary Flames playing on ice 6 1/2 hours before the both the Warriors and Sixers then step on a converted court. “It’s going to be cold as hell in there,” Warriors forward Draymond Green said after morning shootaround at Temple University. “It’s cold in the arenas that got the ice underneath it, anyway, let alone the day of. It’s tough.”
Temple has a player option for the final year of his contract. He can either opt in at another $8 million dollars or test the free agent market, potentially leaving Sacramento. “I can see myself finishing my career here, I can definitely see that,” Temple told NBC Sports California during The Kings Insider Podcast. “I have a great relationship with the front office. I have a great relationship with the coaching staff, the fans as well.”
"I think it's definitely going to be a moment for life to come back here after being traded," Noel told reporters following Thursday's Mavs practice at Temple. "The love I've constantly received through the ups and downs (in Philadelphia) has been unforgettable." Noel, who bought cheese steaks in South Philadelphia on Thursday evening for an hour to thank Sixers fans, said being in a playoff race is "different." Dallas (29-38) went into Thursday three games from the final Western Conference postseason berth.
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