Author: Jonathan Ghattas

For the Los Angeles Sparks, the WNBA 2021 Draft was a good one. From top to bottom, the Sparks’ selections were solid picks. In general, Los Angeles came away with arguably the best draft of any team in the league. Derek Fisher, the Sparks general manager and head coach, may have stolen the show when he went after and nabbed Rutgers guard Arella Guirantes with the draft’s No. 22 overall pick late in the second round. As a redshirt senior at Rutgers, Guirantes scored an average of 21.3 points a game in 19 contests for the Scarlet Knights. This after…

LOS ANGELES – A long home nine-game homestand ended in a battle as the Los Angeles Clippers (37-18) held off the lowly last place Detroit Pistons (16-38) Sunday night defeating the Motor City visitors, 131-124. In a game that was set to appear easier on paper, the Clippers struggled to fend off a hot shooting Pistons team until the very last quarter. “They got everything they wanted,” Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue said. “I thought we were slow to the ball on those 50-50 balls, but you got to give them credit. They ran some good stuff, made some tough…

LOS ANGELES – When the March 25 NBA tradeline approached, the Los Angeles Clippers found themselves in need of a true point guard due to the injury to starting point guard Patrick Beverly. While many rumors and potential trade partners swirled around the team like a breeze coming from the beach, the Clippers stood by quietly making one simple trade. A swap of proven veterans and leaders was the only deal the Clippers would make for the stretch run as the playoffs approach. The team dealt long-time fan favorite Lou Williams to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Rajon Rondo…

LOS ANGELES – There was no Lebron James muscling his way to the basket. There was no shot-blocking Anthony Davis to worry about. That made the Easter Sunday game against the Los Angeles Lakers a little bit easier for the Los Angeles Clippers. The Easter showdown between the two favorites in the Western Conference would wind up going the Los Angeles Clippers’ (33-18) way. The Clippers dominated the Lakers (31-19) from start to finish in defeating their city rivals,104-86. Never leading once in the game, the Lakers continue to struggle without James and Davis, both of whom, sat out the…

For brother and sister Amir and Nia Coffey, growing up playing basketball was a way of life. Instilled into the siblings at a very young age by their father, the love of the game pumps through their veins as if that were what kept their hearts beating. “Basketball was something that was instilled in me and my sisters from a very young age,” Los Angeles Clippers guard Amir Coffey said. “Since I can remember whether it was working out or playing basketball, my dad was always taking us to the gym up until we went out to college.” Now they…

The WNBA has revealed its new logo and slogan for the league’s 25th year anniversary which will be used for the entirety of the 2021 season. The slogan for the season, “Count It” was released alongside a brand-new logo, uniforms, and a new game ball design. The slogan will be plastered on homecourts in an effort to bring awareness to counting all the achievements accomplished throughout the league’s 25 years of existence. The new logo which includes tallies that add up to the number 25 will also be featured on the new game ball, as well as on all new…

Defeating the Philadelphia 76ers (32-14) 122-112, the Los Angeles Clippers (31-16) extended their winning streak to five games on Saturday night. With Kawhi Leonard and Marcus Morris Sr. returning to the line-up following their one-game absence, the Clippers starters provided a balanced effort across the board as they handled the Sixers who continue to play with big man Joel Embiid. After being down early in the first quarter by 10 points, the Clippers battled back with the help of their new special weapon, Terrance Mann. Coming off the bench, Mann exploded for a season-high 23 points on the night as…

Entering the game on an eight-game winning streak, the Atlanta Hawks (22-21) saw their streak put on ice following a 22-point comeback win by the Los Angeles Clippers (28-16). Down big halfway through the third quarter, the Clippers fought back Monday night to defeat the Hawks 119-110 at Staples Center in one of their biggest comeback victories of the season. With nearly six minutes left in the third quarter, head coach Tyrone Lue turned to his bench to help ignite the comeback. Lead by shooting guards Luke Kennard and Terrance Mann, the duo helped trimmed a 22-point deficit by chipping…

As employees around Staples Center begin the new normal of setting up an empty stadium before each Los Angeles Clippers game, a lone chair is always left alongside the home team’s basket prior to the start of each game for the team’s No.1 fan. Since taking over as owner of the Clippers back in 2014, Steve Ballmer has been the endless energizer bunny clapping, screaming, and pumping his fist courtside to every play his team makes. During his introductory press conference after purchasing the team, Ballmer showed Clipper Nation the fire and passion he shared for his love of basketball…

When DeShaun Watson reworked his rookie contract with the Houston Texans a year before expiring, he did it with the expectation that he would have his top receiver at his side for the years to come. Instead, during the 2020 offseason, the Texans shipped star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals for aging and declining running back David Johnson. “I definitely was hurt when we let Hop go,” Watson said. “That’s my brother. That’s my dawg.” That was the beginning of the public rift between Watson and the Texans. Right now, the relationship between Watson and Houston looks…

As the emphasis on diversity and equality for women in the workplace continues to dominate the sports world across all major professional leagues, one league stands out above the rest in providing new opportunities to these minority groups in the workplace. The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES), provides a yearly racial and gender report card for the NBA, NFL, MLB, WNBA, MLS, and college athletics showcasing how these leagues do in hiring women and minorities. In their 2020 racial and gender report card, the sports think tank praised the WNBA with high remarks as the league received…

When the Los Angeles Clippers made the decision to go after Kawhi Leonard in the 2019 offseason, several accusations were made about possible tampering with the free agent once his decision to sign with the team was announced. While claims were made that Clippers’ advisor Jerry West had made an inappropriate agreement to bring over Leonard, the NBA never found any evidence of wrongdoing. In a press conference before the 2020 season started, Leonard addressed the claims made and completely shut them down. “Not at all. That has nothing to do with me coming here, I’m from LA,” Leonard said.…

The Los Angeles Sparks have re-signed eight-time all-star Seimone Augustus, bringing back the veteran for her second season with the team and 16th overall in the league. The former number one overall draft pick in the 2006 draft by the Minnesota Lynx, Augustus has lived up to that potential and racked up a plethora of trophies throughout her magnificent career. Returning for another season with the Sparks was something that was important to Augustus, as she hopes the team can build off the success from last season in the bubble. “I’m really excited to continue my career in Los Angeles…

His statue hovers out in front of STAPLES Center like a gigantic bronze ode to greatness. Playground legends and NBA players alike have tried to simulate his game. He is a certified Hall of Famer, one of the best to pick up a basketball. “There are a lot of wonderful players that have played this game, but I don’t think there’s ever been anyone who combined this incredible play with being the kind of person he was,” former teammate and Los Angeles Lakers legend Jerry West said during Baylor’s statue unveiling ceremony at STAPLES Center in 2018. “He never changed.…