Golden State Warriors guard Moses Moody's mother, Rona Moody, took to Twitter to express her appreciation for a fan spotted during their game against the Sacramento Kings. The tweet shows a photo of a random Warriors fan sporting Moody's No. 4 jersey at the Chase Center during the Warriors' Game 3 win over the Kings. The caption read, "I've worn my son's jersey every single game for two seasons straight to make sure that there was at least one in the arena every game. Planning to continue until I start to see others wearing it..... well I guess it's happening." Moody had a great game, scoring 13 points and three rebounds in his first game back from an illness.
Though a small event, the tweet has gone viral on social media platforms, spreading awareness of Rona Moody's dedication to her son and the recognition of a true fan. As for Moody, the young guard is playing in his second year in the league after being drafted 14th overall by the Warriors out of Arkansas in 2021. Moody's influence is growing on and off the court, making him an up-and-coming player to watch.
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was in attendance at the Golden State Warriors vs Sacramento Kings playoff game, and his reaction to Harrison Barnes' near buzzer-beater costing Sacramento a Game 4 win suggests his allegiance lies with the Warriors. Although Shanahan was seen sitting beside Warriors owner Joe Lacob, he was also given a notable ovation by the crowd at Chase Center. Earlier, the 49ers' Twitter account had remained neutral, sending good luck wishes to both Golden State and Sacramento. Ahead of the Game 4, Shanahan chose not to wear the yellow shirt provided to fans, which suggests that he understands the potential for divided loyalties when a shared fan base is split between two teams. The prospect of a game 7 between the two Northern Californian teams will only heighten the tension felt by 49ers fans. So, is 49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan rooting for the Warriors or the Kings in the NBA playoffs? His reaction to the tense Game 4 finale hints that his support lies with Golden State.
The Golden State Warriors took a gamble in their first-round series against the Sacramento Kings by bringing Draymond Green off the bench. In Game 5, that gamble paid off, as Green had one of his best playoff games since the 2016 NBA Finals, scoring 21 points and dishing out seven assists. This move allowed Jordan Poole, who may be inconsistent with his shooting, but provides spacing and finishing ability, to start, opening the court for the rest of the team. Kevon Looney also proved to be a crucial player, pulling down 22 rebounds and becoming the only player in playoff history to record 50+ rebounds, 20+ assists, and 5 (or fewer) turnovers in a three-game span. This new lineup has been exposing Domantas Sabonis's lack of rim protection, and the Kings have struggled to find an answer to defend the Warriors' new lineup. The Warriors may have struggled with spacing earlier this season when Looney and Green were on the floor, but in the past three games of this series, the Warriors are showing their strength in spacing, reminiscent of their strength during their four NBA titles. Will this move to bring Green off the bench be a permanent shift for the Warriors?
Steph Curry made NBA playoff history during Game 7 between the Golden State Warriors and the Sacramento Kings. Curry's 21-point performance in the game elevated him to 13th place on the all-time playoff scoring list, ahead of Hall of Famer John Havlicek. He now has 3,777 playoff points and is set to surpass Larry Bird's 3,897 points next. The Warriors faced a possible elimination, but Curry's performance helped lead them to a win, advancing them to the second round of playoffs. The team will now face LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. Curry's excellent season continues, with superb performances so far in the playoffs, averaging 31.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists. Curry, a two-time MVP and nine-time All-Star, has been with the Warriors for 14 seasons and led them to the NBA championship four times in the previous eight seasons. The win marked an important milestone for Curry as he continues to elevate his legacy as one of basketball’s all-time greats.
With the Warriors' season on the line, head coach Steve Kerr is turning back to his trusty starting five from last year's championship run. Draymond Green will take the place of Jordan Poole as a starter in Sunday's Game 7 against the Sacramento Kings. After coming off the bench for the past three games, Green's return to the starting lineup could help shift the momentum in Golden State's favor. While Poole's struggles in the playoffs have been evident, Green's presence on the defensive end of the court could prove crucial in slowing down the Kings' dynamic playmakers. In Game 6, Poole only scored seven points on 2-of-11 shooting and had trouble holding onto the ball. Meanwhile, Green's unselfish act of suggesting that Kerr bring him off the bench in Game 4 allowed for the Warriors' spacing to thrive. With Golden State's season on the line, all eyes will be on whether Green's return to the starting lineup will save their season, and their dynasty.
Draymond Green, a four-time All-Star and 2017 DPOY, has been an integral part of the Golden State Warriors team. He is one of the team's leaders and is known for his defensive skills. Recently, former Super Bowl winner Keyshawn Johnson discussed the team's chances of winning a championship with Green on the court. In response, Johnson called Green a "defensive liability." He further added that Green is the heart and soul of the team, which is important to have on the floor at times but becomes a little bizarre due to his off-court antics.
This is not the first time Green has been criticized for his behavior on and off the court. However, basketball analysts like Dan Patrick have argued that Green is a "necessary evil" that the team needs to win a championship. He bemoaned that Green is not getting the help he needs in controlling his temperament from the team's core. Green is a repeat offender of altercations, and he recently received a one-game suspension. Despite his off-court issues, Green continues to be an essential part of the Warriors' on-court production.
Despite a recent finger injury, De'Aaron Fox, the Kings' star point guard, has announced that he will play in the upcoming Game 5 against the Golden State Warriors. Fox suffered an avulsion fracture to the tip of his left index finger, which is his shooting hand during the last game. There's precedent for players succeeding despite this injury: for example, Kobe Bryant played the whole 2010 playoffs with an avulsion fracture to his finger, which he treated with a splint and later a tape job. Fox was seen practicing his shooting technique on Tuesday with a splint on the finger. However, it is unclear whether Fox's shooting and ballhandling would be affected. Despite these uncertainties, the Kings are likely to prefer an injured Fox to their other options, and the Warriors would probably prefer facing an injured, rather than fully-fit Fox. Fox's ability to play through the pain will be key –-- given he has not shown any hesitation to take physical contact, we'll see how he reacts to unexpected contact. Fox's playing in Game 5 could be a game-changer or a factor worth watching.
Golden State Warriors' general manager, Bob Myers, has stated that managing player minutes in the playoffs is more aggressive than in the regular season. This comes as reports suggest that head coach Steve Kerr and the Warriors medical team are closely monitoring the usage of Steph Curry, who has been averaging 39.5 minutes per game during the first round playoff series against the Sacramento Kings. In Game 4, Curry played for 42:42 minutes. Kerr is proposing to keep Curry's minutes at 38 minutes per game with five minutes rest each half. As head coach, Kerr acknowledges that he would alter plans according to playoff gameplay, with each game being different. Curry's 158 minutes in the series' first four games was the highest total on the team, with Klay Thompson (148) second and Andrew Wiggins (139) third. With the series tied at two games apiece, the Warriors will play their fifth game against the Kings, broadcast on ESPN and NBCSBA on Friday at 5 pm.
Former Golden State Warriors forward Juan Toscano-Anderson certainly thinks so, noting that Looney has been a crucial part of the team's success over the years. Looney's contributions were on full display in Game 5 against the Sacramento Kings, where he outrebounded Sacramento's Domantas Sabonis to the tune of 22 rebounds, seven assists, and four points.
Looney has now recorded multiple 20-rebound games in the same playoff series, joining the ranks of Warriors greats Wilt Chamberlain and Nate Thurmond. Despite being undersized and lacking athleticism, Looney uses his impeccable nose for the ball to make himself indispensable. His value to the Warriors both on and off the court has not gone unnoticed, with former teammates and coaches singing his praises.
While it remains to be seen whether Looney's number will join the seven already retired by the Warriors, his teammates are glad to see him recognized for his hard work and selflessness. For now, Looney's focus is on helping the Warriors continue their playoff success and possibly securing his team a championship ring.
Former Golden State Warrior, Harrison Barnes, missed out on a golden opportunity to take the Sacramento Kings ahead by two games in their playoff series against the Warriors on Sunday. Barnes, who left Golden State in 2016 after a poor Finals performance, was gifted a wide-open 3-pointer that would have led to a game-winning basket. Barnes, however, missed the shot, as the Kings lost 126-125. Despite the miss, Barnes remained composed, explaining that he learned how to deal with failure in 2016 when the Warriors blew a 3-1 series lead against the Cleveland Cavaliers: "After you learn to put yourself together after 2016, I think one shot is not going to necessarily faze you," Barnes said.
Kings coach Mike Brown has called Barnes irreplaceable, praising his performance and attitude so far in the playoffs. However, with Barnes' contract expiring at the end of the season, his future with the Kings remains uncertain. While Barnes maintains his focus on the playoffs, it remains to be seen whether his past with Golden State will affect his game in the later stages of the series.
During the second quarter of a must-win Game 6 for the Sacramento Kings against the Golden State Warriors, Domantas Sabonis was elbowed in the face by Kevon Looney. Despite the injury, the referees did not call a foul on the play, leaving fans outraged. Slow-motion replays clearly show Looney's elbow connecting with Sabonis' face during a jump ball. Sabonis stayed in the game but registered only 7 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 turnovers. Sabonis was already playing with five fouls in the fourth quarter and was visibly frustrated, begging the referees to "let him play". Despite the injury, the Kings were firing on all cylinders, with De'Aaron Fox and Malik Monk combining for over 50 points, and the Kings shooting 40% from beyond the arc. Sacramento ultimately won the game, priming themselves to force a Game 7 against the Warriors. This begs the question: did the referees miss a crucial foul during the game that could have hurt the chances of the Kings? Fans seem to think so, with social media lighting up with calls for more thorough refereeing in future games.
Traditional banks have received criticism for their role in funding the fossil fuel sector, with a report revealing that global banks paid $5.5tn into the industry over the past seven years. However, digital banks such as Kroo are taking proactive measures towards sustainability, calling on incumbent banks to do more to tackle the climate crisis. Many consumers are showing preference for sustainable practices when choosing banks or financial institutions, with 67% of consumers saying they want their bank to prioritise sustainability. The rise of ethical consumerism and regulatory changes, such as the International Financial Reporting Standards' Sustainability Disclosure Standards, are exerting pressure on banks to play a vital part in fighting global warming. While it will take time for banks to transition to sustainable technologies, sustainable practices need to become fundamentally important and measurable to assess impact and drive change. The financial industry holds the key to driving meaningful change, with control over who receives funding and supporting services, making it essential for the industry to get serious about sustainability.
Royal KPN NV, the Dutch telecommunications company, has reported an increase in net income and revenue for the first quarter of 2023. The company’s Q1 net profit was €196m, which exceeds the €165m company-compiled consensus and also exceeds last year’s Q1 net income of €179m. Meanwhile, KPN's adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), after leases, stood at €584m, compared to €593m the year before. The adjusted revenue for the quarter was €1.33bn, compared to €1.31bn a year earlier, driven by growth in the business and consumer divisions. The company’s guidance for the year remains, with an expected adjusted EBITDA after leases for 2023 of around €2.41bn and a capital expenditure of €1.2bn. The expected free cash flow is around €870m. KPN's results have been welcomed, given economic uncertainties in the industry, such as concerns over the rising cost of living, inflation, and high interest rates.
First Republic Bank's stock price saw a significant increase of 12% on Wednesday after a big peer in its sector posted some impressive quarterly results. Western Alliance Bancorporation's first-quarter numbers highlighted the concern many investors have with deposit bases at regional banks. Western Alliance's deposit base has risen by 6% since the end of March, a shift from what many had feared would happen due to the bank's high exposure to the tech industry. As one of the banks in a similar position, First Republic Bank experienced a boost in its share price after the news broke. Financial experts say it doesn't appear the banking industry is facing a significant crisis right now, thus reports of increased deposit bases are more helpful to investors. Although First Republic's one-day surge is notable, it is worth noting that earlier this week, Republic First Bancorp's (FRBK) shares closed at $1.22 and are down -$0.04 during pre-market trading.
