All-Star streams more popular

By John KrolikFeb 16, 2010, 2:57 PM EDT

The Sports Business Journal, via an article by The Baseline’s Eric Freeman, is reporting that the ratings for this season’s All-Star Game fell off from last year. 6.9 million people watched this year’s All-Star Game, down from 7.6 million viewers in 2009. The decrease in viewers may have had something to do with the Vancouver Olympics; last time the All-Star Game went up against the Winter Olympics, it drew 7.1 million viewers.

The good news for the NBA is how many people watched the All-Star Game online. Over the course of All-Star Weekend, 13.8 million people used the on-demand video streams provided by NBA.com.That number is up 43% from last year, and 146% more people used NBA Mobile over the course of the weekend.

I used the stream that NBA.com provided during All-Star Saturday, and was absolutely stunned by the quality. The fact that it was a live event made it even more impressive. The NBA also made the choice to have the online stream show something other than just the broadcast. Online viewers only had to hear commercials, and got to see the players mulling around and talking with one another during timeouts. Online viewers also got to see Darryl Dawkins’ coat about a half an hour before it was unleashed on the general populous.

There were some occasional drawbacks. At one point during the skills competition, the camera I was using focused on Emmitt Smith’s head the entire time a player was running the course, watching his face for a reaction for at least two full minutes. After that, I switched to “Mosaic” mode, which was a little confusing but made me feel like Ozymandias.

Between the free All-Star game streams and League Pass Broadband, the NBA is clearly making an effort to change the way fans watch games. Judging by the numbers from All-Star Weekend, the plan seems to be working.

Report: Kyle Korver reaches one-year deal to join Milwaukee Bucks

Associated Press

By Kurt HelinJul 20, 2019, 12:45 PM EDT

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The Bucks can never have enough shooting around a driving Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Enter Kyle Korver. The veteran sharpshooter will be headed to Milwaukee on a one-year contract, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Free agent Kyle Korver has agreed to a one-year deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, agent Jeff Schwartz of @excelsm tells ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 20, 2019

Korver had a tough decision between Sixers and Bucks but relationship and history with Mike Budenholzer certainly played a major factor in Korver’s choice. https://t.co/94WinjWJ38

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 20, 2019

This is a quality pickup at the minimum (it is a veteran minimum contract). Korver averaged 8.6 points per game last season, taking 72 percent of his shots from beyond the arc and knocking down 39.7 percent of them. The man has gravity and pulls a defender because even at age 38 defenders cannot leave him. Shooting is a skill always in demand.

The Bucks will start Wesley Matthews at the two and have Sterling Brown behind him. They have Khris Middleton and Pat Connaughton at the three. Now they have some reliable veteran depth at those spots and a guy who can hit the big shot for them.

James Harden buys piece of MLS Houston Dynamo

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By Kurt HelinJul 20, 2019, 11:00 AM EDT

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NBA players being minority owners in a soccer team is not new, LeBron James owns a small piece of Champions’ League winner Liverpool, for example.

James Harden is keeping it closer to home — he bought a share of the Dynamo, Houston’s MLS franchise.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity to join the ownership group of the Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash and proud to be a part of a club with tremendous history and a great future,” Harden said in a statement. “Houston is my home now, and I saw this as a way to invest in my city and expand my business interests at the same time. Soccer in general, and especially MLS, have exploded in this country throughout my lifetime. I’ve been a fan of the game for several years, and I know that Houston has a massive soccer fanbase, so it was an easy decision for me when this opportunity arose.”

Great day in the H@JHarden13 joins the #ForeverOrange family🤘

— Houston Dynamo (@HoustonDynamo) July 18, 2019

Harden reportedly purchased a five percent stake in the team.

The Dynamo — a former MLS cup champion and a franchise that has consistently been strong — is primarily owned by Gabriel Brener, and it has boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya as one of its minority owners.

Harden has earned more than $141 million in NBA salary in his 10 NBA seasons and has four years left on the $228 million contract extension he signed with the team in 2017. In addition, he has a large shoe contract with Adidas and other endorsements.

Report: R.C. Buford moving on from Spurs GM role, Brian Wright taking over

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By Kurt HelinJul 20, 2019, 10:00 AM EDT

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For 15 years, through championships and an unparalleled run of playoff berths and success, R.C. Buford and Gregg Popovich seemed to work as one brain. Popovich was the coach but also team president, Buford the GM, and together they built an NBA powerhouse.

Buford is moving on from that role. Or, more precisely moving up into a new management role, and assistant GM Brian Wright is taking over as GM, reports Jabari Young of The Athletic.

After a little more than 15 years serving as GM, Buford is getting prepared to bequeath the role to assistant GM Brian Wright, league sources have confirmed to The Athletic. Wright will report directly to Buford, who will officially get a new title that some around the NBA believe will be a role helping to oversee Spurs Sports & Entertainment.

When the Spurs initially hired Wright in 2016, he stayed behind the scenes and focused mainly on scouting. But sources have informed The Athletic over the last year Wright has been more involved, even fielding calls and packages for the trade of Kawhi Leonard the previous summer.

Wright came to the Spurs from the Pistons a couple of years ago. That said, don’t expect a big change in how things are done in the Spurs front office. For one thing, Popovich is still there. Also, Wright has an excellent reputation around the league as being smart and a straight shooter. On top of all of that, Buford will remain his ultimate boss, although Buford’s role will change into one of more of a business manager for Spurs Sports & Entertainment.

Young hints there could be more changes coming. Obviously, the biggest would be when Popovich decides to step back in his dual roles as coach and president, but there could be shifts in the assistant GM ranks as well.

Just don’t expect the Spurs to stop being the Spurs.

Exclusive video preview: Dwyane Wade joins America’s Got Talent as guest judge

By Kurt HelinJul 20, 2019, 8:00 AM EDT