{"id":771018,"date":"2023-01-16T10:30:31","date_gmt":"2023-01-16T15:30:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/?p=771018"},"modified":"2023-01-16T10:30:34","modified_gmt":"2023-01-16T15:30:34","slug":"weekend-recap-lebron-james-makes-history-and-ja-morant-challenges-all-rim-protectors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/news\/nba\/weekend-recap-lebron-james-makes-history-and-ja-morant-challenges-all-rim-protectors\/","title":{"rendered":"Weekend Recap: LeBron James Makes History and Ja Morant Challenges All Rim-Protectors"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In case you missed it, this last weekend featured some exciting revelations from Warriors legend <a href=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/?s=Draymond+Green\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/?s=Draymond+Green\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Draymond Green<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/?s=Ja+Morant\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/?s=Ja+Morant\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ja Morant<\/a> doubling back on his relentless poster dunks, a WNBA blockbuster trade, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/?s=Nikola+Jokic\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/?s=Nikola+Jokic\" target=\"_blank\">Nikola Jokic<\/a> dominating and hitting a game-winner, and <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/?s=LeBron+James\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/?s=LeBron+James\" target=\"_blank\">LeBron James<\/a> making more history and inching closer and closer to the all-time scoring record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s what happened in the NBA and WNBA over the weekend. Let\u2019s get it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Draymond Green Gets Candid in Interview with Taylor Rooks<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Draymond Green <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TaylorRooks\/status\/1614072771331645445?s=20&amp;t=uEIOeJYWLEZqOXUPw62AOQ\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TaylorRooks\/status\/1614072771331645445?s=20&amp;t=uEIOeJYWLEZqOXUPw62AOQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">recently sat down<\/a> with Taylor Rooks of Bleacher Report. The Warriors legend dropped some revealing gems during their interview. Green admitted <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BleacherReport\/status\/1614057638714834944?s=20&amp;t=uEIOeJYWLEZqOXUPw62AOQ\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BleacherReport\/status\/1614057638714834944?s=20&amp;t=uEIOeJYWLEZqOXUPw62AOQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cthe writings on the wall\u201d<\/a> when he was asked about leaving the Warriors as a free agent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The two parties have had some incredible highs as four-time champs and a record-setting 2015-2016 regular, but the lows have been low during public spats with head coach Steve Kerr, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/?s=Kevin+Durant\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/?s=Kevin+Durant\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kevin Durant<\/a>, and a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/nba\/warriors-draymond-green-jordan-poole-altercation\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/nba\/warriors-draymond-green-jordan-poole-altercation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">controversial altercation<\/a> with teammate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/?s=Jordan+Poole\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/?s=Jordan+Poole\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jordan Poole<\/a>. When it comes to that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/nba\/draymond-green-warriors-wont-continue-to-hold-on-to-the-past\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/nba\/draymond-green-warriors-wont-continue-to-hold-on-to-the-past\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">infamous moment<\/a>, Green said <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BleacherReport\/status\/1614016203080765440?s=20&amp;t=uEIOeJYWLEZqOXUPw62AOQ\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BleacherReport\/status\/1614016203080765440?s=20&amp;t=uEIOeJYWLEZqOXUPw62AOQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">their relationship is \u201ca work in progress,\u201d<\/a> and he\u2019s willing to do the work because he was wrong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He also said they \u201cdefinitely moved forward\u201d and that he\u2019s \u201cseen improvements day by day, week by week, month by month.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">TOMORROW \ud83c\udfa5\ud83c\udfa5\ud83c\udfa5 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/avHPFxt6MV\">pic.twitter.com\/avHPFxt6MV<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TaylorRooks\/status\/1613761462098448384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 13, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ja Morant\u2019s Challenge to All Rim Protectors: \u2018Jump with Me if You Want to Go Viral\u2019 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do not get it confused; Ja Morant will never back down. The former No. 2 overall pick has posterized many a rim protector. Few, if any, were as impressive as Morant\u2019s yam on Jalen Smith. The unbelievable slam was punctuated by Memphis winning their ninth straight game after beating Indiana, 130-112, on Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Postgame, Morant admitted his thunderous dunk was his best of the difficulty. Morant felt so good about it that he challenged all rim protectors to jump with him if they wanted to go viral. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s what everybody has been waiting for. I finally made it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">jump with me if you want to go viral \ud83d\ude2e\u200d\ud83d\udca8 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/3ESSiC3A1w\">https:\/\/t.co\/3ESSiC3A1w<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Ja Morant (@JaMorant) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JaMorant\/status\/1614471648983535618?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 15, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Jonquel Jones is Headed to New York Via Blockbuster Trade<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/?s=Jonquel+Jones\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/?s=Jonquel+Jones\" target=\"_blank\">Jonquel Jones<\/a> is on the move! The 2021 MVP was a part of a three-team deal that will send her to the New York Liberty, while Rebecca Allen and Natasha Howard will be sent to the Connecticut Sun and Dallas Wings, respectively. The Wings will also receive Liberty guard <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/?s=Crystal+Dangerfield\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/?s=Crystal+Dangerfield\" target=\"_blank\">Crystal Dangerfield<\/a>, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/?s=Kayla+Thornton\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/?s=Kayla+Thornton\" target=\"_blank\">Kayla Thornton<\/a> will go to New York, and<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/?s=Ty+Harris\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/?s=Ty+Harris\" target=\"_blank\"> Ty Harris<\/a> is headed to Connecticut. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Connecticut will also receive the No. 6 overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">JONQUEL TO BROOKLYN?!<br><br>Welcome to free agency \ud83e\udd2f <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RachGall?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@RachGall<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Winsidr?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@Winsidr<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/PpZqvW1hgn\">pic.twitter.com\/PpZqvW1hgn<\/a><\/p>\u2014 WSLAM (@wslam) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/wslam\/status\/1614745584388247554?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 15, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Nikola Jokic\u2019s Game-Winner Sinks Orlando<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nikola Jokic delivered a stepback game-winner to sink the Orlando Magic 119-116. The back-to-back MVP posted 17 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists on 8-11 shooting from the field and 1-4 from beyond the arc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHe stepped back, got the space, and just shot over the top,\u201d teammate\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/?s=Aaron+Gordon\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/?s=Aaron+Gordon\" target=\"_blank\">Aaron Gordon<\/a> said <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/recap\/_\/gameId\/401468808\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/recap\/_\/gameId\/401468808\" target=\"_blank\">per ESPN<\/a>. \u201cIt was a beautiful shot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">EVERY ANGLE OF NIKOLA JOKIC&#8217;S STEPBACK GAME-WINNER \ud83c\udfac <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/007JQYDLas\">pic.twitter.com\/007JQYDLas<\/a><\/p>\u2014 NBA (@NBA) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NBA\/status\/1614837438555332608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 16, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>LeBron James Inches Closer to History After Scoring 38,000 Career Points<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The King is the second player to score 38,000 career points and is now 364 points away from breaking Hall-of-Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbarr\u2019s career scoring record. James <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NBA\/status\/1614841423597125632?s=20&amp;t=doaC-qm6ORm6DmL-RrCgQg\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NBA\/status\/1614841423597125632?s=20&amp;t=doaC-qm6ORm6DmL-RrCgQg\" target=\"_blank\">accomplished the historic feat<\/a> after knocking down a three-pointer from the top of the arc. The four-time MVP posted 35 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists in the Lakers\u2019 heartbreaking 113-112 loss to the 76ers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">LeBron tonight:<br><br>35 PTS<br>8 REB<br>10 AST<br><br>Only the second player in NBA history to score 38,000 career points \ud83d\udc51 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/W7DvUvFB7s\">pic.twitter.com\/W7DvUvFB7s<\/a><\/p>\u2014 NBA (@NBA) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NBA\/status\/1614858645468237827?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 16, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In case you missed it, this last weekend featured some exciting revelations from Warriors legend Draymond Green, Ja Morant doubling back on his relentless poster dunks, a WNBA blockbuster trade, Nikola Jokic dominating and hitting a game-winner, and LeBron James making more history and inching closer and closer to the all-time scoring record. Here\u2019s what [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":447,"featured_media":771023,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18,63826,62493,21,64136],"tags":[64890,64541,5987,14302,62091,13515,13004,12990,13352],"yst_prominent_words":[],"class_list":["post-771018","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba","category-news","category-newswire","category-wnba","category-wslam","tag-38000-career-points","tag-blockbuster-trade","tag-draymond-green","tag-game-winner","tag-ja-morant","tag-jonquel-jones","tag-lebron-james","tag-nba","tag-nikola-jokic"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/771018","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/447"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=771018"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/771018\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":771034,"href":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/771018\/revisions\/771034"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/771023"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=771018"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=771018"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=771018"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=771018"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}