Jonathan Kuminga: It was even tougher guarding Kyrie Irving than guarding Ja Morant

Kyrie Irving: Rest Peacefully 🤞🏾 Kobe Bryant Gianna Bryant John Altobelli Keri Altobelli Alyssa Altobelli Sarah Chester Payton Chester Christina Mauser Ara Zobayan -via Twitter @KyrieIrving / January 26, 2023

Anthony Puccio: “We gotta get something done, and I’m with them no matter how much it costs per se. I think we could all collectively come together and make something very doable happen.” – @Kyrie Irving on WNBA chartered flight issues pic.twitter.com/GBGpRT7M13 -via Twitter @APOOCH / January 26, 2023

Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving is seeking a contract extension, and according to his agent, talks have yet to materialize. “Around Kyrie and staying with the Nets? I have reached out to the Nets regarding this,” his agent Shetellia Irving told Bleacher Report. “We have had no significant conversations to date. The desire is to make Brooklyn home, with the right type of extension, which means the ball is in the Nets’ court to communicate now if their desire is the same.” -via Bleacher Report / January 25, 2023

So what was Ja Morant doing? Here’s what: He was “walking the dog,” the fun, obnoxious, sometimes disrespectful, and — according to analytics — game-changing play that is taking over the NBA. The art of rolling the ball up the court on an inbound has quietly been a part of the game for seven decades. Now, stars across the league, including Chris Paul, LeBron James, Marcus Smart and Nikola Jokic, are increasingly using the technique — to show up their opponents, to create viral moments and, most importantly, to win games. The league is on pace to more than double its usage of the move this year compared to the 2019-20 season. No one does it as well, or as often, as Morant; he uses the move nearly twice as much as any of his peers, about once per game. But why? Why is it becoming so common, and why is Morant so obsessed with it? This is the secret history — and the secret value — of walking the dog in the NBA. -via ESPN / January 25, 2023

Damichael Cole: Ja Morant is available to play tomorrow against the Warriors. No Steven Adams or John Konchar. Both out. -via Twitter @DamichaelC / January 24, 2023

Jason Anderson: The Memphis Grizzlies are listing Ja Morant (left ankle soreness) and Steven Adams (right knee soreness) as questionable for tonight’s game against the Sacramento Kings. -via Twitter @JandersonSacBee / January 23, 2023

Shams Charania: Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga sits down with @Stadium : “I’m really capable of doing pretty much everything on the floor, being one of those two-way players that the world hasn’t seen yet.” On frustrations and lessons as a rookie, earning Draymond Green’s respect, naysayers, more. -via Twitter @ShamsCharania / January 24, 2023

“It’s tough,” Kuminga said when I asked if he was worried about being a step behind upon his return from injury. “It happens to a lot of people where whenever they come back, they’re not on time or not on point with the team. I feel like the last two games I’ve been trying to push it and trying to be at the same level as everybody. It’s a little tougher. “I’m not going to say I’m there yet, but whatever I’m out there doing is actually helping.” -via NBC Sports / January 23, 2023

Dalton Johnson: Steve Kerr expects Jonathan Kuminga and JaMychal Green to play tonight if all goes well in warmups -via Twitter @DaltonJ_Johnson / January 20, 2023