NBA NEWS!

The Virginia native was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003

Earl Lloyd, the first black professional NBA player, passed away Thursday at the age of 86.

Known as “the Big Cat,” the 6’5″ forward made his league debut in October 1950, playing for the Washington Capitals. During his legendary career, Lloyd averaged 8.4 points during 560 regular-season NBA games.

Lloyd was also twice included in the CIAA All-America team and was three-time all-conference selection. Lloyd retired in 1960, after serving in the U.S. army, playing for the Detroit Pistons and winning the 1955 NBA championship for the Syracuse Nationals. He was also the NBA’s first black assistant coach in 1968 and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003.

Born in Alexandria, Va., Lloyd is survived by a wife and three sons

Warriors assistant coach Luke Walton already has interviewed with at least two teams, including the Knicks and Nets, according to an NBA source.

Walton had pulled himself out of consideration from the Nets, who announced the hiring of Kenny Atkinson on Sunday.

According to a source, Knicks president Phil Jackson already has spoken with Walton, though it’s unclear if it was just a phone interview. The Post reported in Saturday’s editions the Warriors would give Walton permission to talk to other teams as long as it doesn’t interfere with the playoff push.

STEPHEN Curry set an NBA record with 13 3-pointers – one game after missing all his long-range attempts for the first time in two years .
In doing so he helped the Golden State Warriors beat the winless New Orleans Pelicans 116-106 on Monday night.
Curry finished with 46 points, three days after his league-record streak of 157 games with at least one 3 was snapped when he went 0 for 10 on 3-point tries in a 117-97 road loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
This time, the two-time reigning NBA MVP shot 13 of 17 from beyond the arc in his seventh career game with double digit 3s. He went 16 for 26 overall.
When he broke the mark with 2:23 to go, Curry raised his right arm and pounded his chest.
The star guard shared the previous record of 12 with Kobe Bryant and Donyell Marshall.It was Curry’s first 40-point performance this season after he led the NBA with 13 such games last season. Fans chanted ‘M-V-P! M-V-P!’

Minnesota Timberwolves and Taj Gibson agree to a two-year, $28 million deal, league sources tell ESPN.

NYK, other teams, have contacted Justin Holiday; NYK has strong interest in bringing him back.