NBA News August 24: Giannis’ dream, Kanter ejected from WNBA game

The present of Giannis Antetokounmpo is in Miami, but the future could bring him back to Milwaukee. The Greek star has opened the door to the possibility of finishing his career with the Bucks one day, the team with which he became an MVP and NBA champion.

Overnight, however, the spotlight was largely on Enes Kanter Freedom: the former NBA center was removed from the WNBA game between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever after a heated courtside confrontation with Natasha Cloud. Meanwhile, Draymond Green welcomed his friend Klay Thompson to Miami in his own way, with some very specific advice.

Giannis hasn’t forgotten Milwaukee: “One day, I’d like to come back”

Giannis left the Bucks during the summer to begin a new chapter with the Heat, but the bond he built over more than a decade in Milwaukee has evidently not disappeared. Speaking about his future, Antetokounmpo left the door open to returning to the Bucks one day, perhaps specifically to finish his career there.

Milwaukee will always be in my heart, and when this chapter in Miami ends – even though I don’t know when that will happen – I would definitely like to come back. Then we’ll have to see if they still want me at that point

Giannis Antetokounmpo

That does not mean anything is already in the works. Giannis chose Miami because he felt the need for a new challenge, and the Heat have built a team around him designed to compete for a championship immediately. The idea of a future return, however, shows that leaving Milwaukee did not erase his connection with the city and the franchise where the Greek star has spent virtually his entire NBA career.

Kanter removed from Sky-Fever game after confrontation with Natasha Cloud

The most talked-about scene of the night, meanwhile, unfolded in Chicago. Enes Kanter Freedom was removed from Wintrust Arena during the game between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever after a verbal confrontation with Natasha Cloud during the third quarter.

Kanter was sitting courtside and wearing a shirt that read “WOMAN. Noun. Adult human female.” After a basket, Cloud approached the area where the former NBA player was sitting, and a heated exchange between the two began.

Not everything that was said between the two is known, so it would be wrong to definitively attribute the origin of the confrontation to a specific statement. The context, however, is known: in recent weeks, Kanter has publicly taken strong positions on the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports and had also provocatively declared himself eligible for the WNBA Draft. Cloud, after the incident, met with league and team security.

The former NBA center later commented on the incident on social media, claiming that he had been removed because of his views. At the time of the incident, however, the WNBA had not provided a detailed public account of the reasons that led to his removal.

I just got kicked out of a WNBA game for standing up for WOMEN! Think about that, AMERICA!

Enes Kanter Freedom

Draymond welcomes Klay to Miami: “You’re going to need a new boat”

Klay Thompson is changing teams, but some friendships clearly do not change. After his former teammate decided to join the Miami Heat, Draymond Green immediately took to social media to poke fun at him.

The reference could only be to Thompson’s famous passion for boats. During his years with Golden State, Klay became known for getting to practices and games by boat across San Francisco Bay. Now that he is moving to Florida, Draymond believes an upgrade is in order.

South Beach Killa!! I think you’re gonna have to get a new boat to adapt to the Miami lifestyle, my brother

Draymond Green

Josh Hart and those $132 million he probably won’t get

In New York, meanwhile, talk is beginning to center on Josh Hart’s next contract. The Knicks guard has become eligible for an extension that could theoretically be worth around $132 million over four years, but expectations appear to be considerably lower.

According to the latest reports, a potential deal could instead be worth around $54-62 million over three seasons. That is a huge difference from the maximum available, but it reflects both Hart’s market value and the Knicks’ need to maintain some level of salary-cap flexibility after building an extremely expensive roster.

Hart, as is often the case, responded with humor. After seeing the potential extension numbers circulate, he publicly joked about the gap between the $132 million theoretically available and what he could actually receive.

Damn, I was hoping for the 132! Guess I’ll settle for 131!

Josh Hart

For New York, however, the issue is serious: Hart has become one of the most important players on the NBA champion Knicks in terms of identity and versatility, and finding a number that satisfies both sides would allow New York to avoid another contract issue in the years ahead.

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