Draymond Green on Kawhi Leonard’s latest hidden sponsorship deal with Daktronics: “If the punishments aren’t steep, everybody should do it. If it’s just gonna be a slap on the wrist, then everybody should do it and every player should be trying to do it.” Via @DraymondShow

Theo Pinson says it’s hard not to say Russell Westbrook is not top 5 point guard of all-time: “If we really thinking about it, if we really put those numbers and what the production he’s done at his best the only reason you won’t say he’s top three because of the championship.” via @ToTheBaha, h/t @NBA__Courtside

Cade Cunningham on the report of him recruiting players to Detroit this offseason: “I don’t know where that report came from. I never told anybody that I talked to XYZ. I wouldn’t say that report was all the way true either. I don’t get into all the tinkering. I just kind of let our staff do their job.” via @USATODAY

Russell Westbrook’s career resume: ⭐️ 9x All-Star ⭐️ 9x All-NBA ⭐️ 1x MVP ⭐️ 3x Assist Champion ⭐️ 2x Scoring Champion ⭐️ 27,176 PTS (16th All-Time) ⭐️ 9025 REB ⭐️ 10,351 AST (5th All-Time) ⭐️ 2038 STL (15th All-Time) ⭐️ 209 Triple-Doubles (1st All-Time) Enjoy retirement Brodie 🙏

Russell Westbrook appears to be announcing his retirement after 18 NBA seasons. “Sometimes you don’t even know when you’ve already watched the end. You had to be there. And now it’s over.” One of the most electric players the game has ever seen. 🥲

Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy says the organization would listen if Stephen Curry ever personally requested a trade: “If Steph comes to me and wants to be moved, Joe and I will talk it through… Steph has earned the right to do what he wants.”

The Lakers being sold for over $12 billion is insane. Mark Walter bought controlling interest last year at around a $10 billion valuation. Now Josh Kushner and Bob Iger are reportedly buying the team for a record-breaking price. That’s a $2B+ valuation jump in about a year. (via ESPN)

If the Kawhi Leonard trade goes through, the Raptors could view Scottie Barnes as the “ideal 2nd option” for a Championship run, per @JeremyBrener "Trading for Kawhi suggests that the Raptors could view Barnes as the ideal 2nd option for a champion. For years, many of the Raptors' top squads had Lowry as their best player. It wasn't until the team traded for Kawhi from the Spurs when the team found the success it was looking for”

Christmas Day sports slate is crazy this year: 12:00 PM: Spurs at Knicks 🏀 1:00 PM: Packers at Bears 🏈 2:30 PM: Heat at Celtics 🏀 4:30 PM: Bills at Broncos 🏈 5:00 PM: 76ers at Lakers 🏀 8:00 PM: Thunder at Timberwolves 🏀 8:15 PM: Rams at Seahawks 🏈 10:30 PM: Nuggets at Warriors 🏀 Good luck leaving the couch 😭

Carter Bryant on his relationship with Gregg Popovich: “Coach Pop crazy. I love it because he’s a maniac… I would sit there with Coach Pop for like an hour and a half after practice and we would just talk about the most random things. Like I remember there was like a stretch where I think I missed 12 dunks in a row. I couldn’t get anything to go down. Like he was just telling me stories about stuff with Kawhi or when he was coaching Bruce Bowen or he’s coaching certain guys that ended up being hell of players and he’s like, “Yo it’s going to take time like just stay ready, like you’re going to be a good player.” And when you hear somebody like that telling you you’re going to be a great player and you’re going to play in this league for a long time. You’re like oh okay like just relax a little bit.” via @RoadTrippinShow

Jalen Duren and the Pistons continue to discuss contract negotiations and have yet to reach a deal both parties agree to. Detroit is NOT looking to entertain sign-and-trade offers for Duren, however there are reportedly “a number of teams” interested in the All-Star big, if the Pistons change their mind 👀 per @WindhorstESPN