Michael Scotto

Victor Wembanyama: “Winning the Larry O'Brien is a childhood dream and having a real shot at it, having a chance, a tangible chance at winning it, realizing a dream, it's a lifetime chance. You never know what's going to happen again… It's almost like the meaning of my life.”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on whether he’ll give his input on offseason decisions for the Thunder, including team options on Lu Dort and Isaiah Hartenstein: “I will give zero input. I will let Sam Presti, the greatest GM ever, do his job.”

Kenny Atkinson will return as Cleveland Cavaliers head coach. Donovan Mitchell strongly endorsed Atkinson when asked about him. “I love Kenny. We love Kenny. We ride with Kenny. Ultimately, that’s all that matters. I know for a fact he’s from Long Island. He don’t give a damn.”

Donovan Mitchell on potentially signing an extension with the Cavaliers: “I love it here. I don’t know how else to say it. I’ve said it before I signed the other extension. I love it here. I have no doubt this group can get there. We have unfinished business.”

James Harden on if he wants to remain with the Cavs and if he expects to stay: “Yes, 100 percent. Definitely to both. I think we found something. It’s tough not ending how we wanted to, but I think we found something.”

Kenny Atkinson on the Cavs: “We took a step. This is kind of how this works. You have to keep climbing. We are going, obviously, in a positive direction. Fell short. There’s no bigger motivator to get to the next level.”

Jared McCain on Daryl Morey trading him: “It’s never to prove anybody wrong. I try to keep a positive outlook. I like proving my support system right. Daryl’s still the guy that drafted me, so I’ll always have love for him for that. He believed in me enough to take me at No. 16.”

Donovan Mitchell on his message after the Game 1 loss to the Knicks: “I said it in the locker room. We lost. We f****** blew it. Alright. Respond for Game 2. Simple as that.”

Knicks coach Mike Brown on Jalen Brunson being guarded by James Harden: “It’s no secret we were attacking (James) Harden.”

Kenny Atkinson was asked if he thought of benching James Harden on defensive possessions at the end of Game 1. He replied, “No. He’s been one of our best defenders in these playoffs. I trust him. Smart. Great hands. Didn’t think about that.”

Trajan Langdon on Tobias Harris: “His approach and professionalism has been huge in terms of us establishing the environment we have in the past two years… They call him Unc for a reason… We hope that we can bring him back. He’s somebody we want to keep in a Pistons uniform.”

Detroit Pistons President Trajan Langdon on Jalen Duren: “JD had a fantastic season. All-Star. One of the biggest contributors to us being a No. 1 seed… We look forward to coming together with his representation, getting a deal done, and for him continuing to be a Piston.”

Kenny Atkinson on Donovan Mitchell: “He kept this thing together this year when things weren’t going great. He was the beacon, the light. His leadership. He carried us on the court. When things weren’t going great, he was the person everyone looked to. We could’ve splintered.”

Detroit Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff: “I don’t think we fell short of anything. These guys have improved massively and done a great job. Anything other than positivity towards this group is unacceptable… There’s nothing disappointing about this group and the outcome of this.”

Austin Reaves on LeBron James: “My rookie year, I had no idea what the heck was going on. He took me under his wing and has given me every opportunity that I could ever ask for. He trusted me. We’ve built a real friendship… He’s taught me a lot. I owe him a lot for my career.”

Lakers guard Austin Reaves on free agency: “I don’t think about much. I take life day by day. I’m blessed to have an opportunity to play for this organization. I play a kid’s game. I make good money.”

Anthony Edwards on Mike Conley: “Mike Conley was an All-Star in the NBA. I think people forget about that. Once upon a time, he was one of the best point guards in the league. I always tell him that you used to be one of my favorite players. When I played 2K, I played with you.”

Anthony Edwards on Jaden McDaniels: “He’s my favorite player in the NBA. What he does for us on a nightly basis is incredible. I love to watch him play. His maturity has grown so much over the last year and a half.” “I love Jaden McDaniels.”

Paolo Banchero: “Losing in the first round is not acceptable. That should be the attitude. It shouldn’t be comfortable in the building. It should be everybody on their Ps and Qs feeling pressure to be great. I think that’s the mindset that needs to be there from top to bottom.”

Detroit Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff on Tobias Harris: “Nobody can say shit to me about Tobias Harris. He is dependable, reliable, prepared for the moment. He’s a leader. He’s a great teammate. He’s a great human being. He’s a high-level competitor.”

Joel Embiid on limping and his health: “I feel great. I feel amazing. I was faking it.”

Jaylen Brown on Joel Embiid: “Embiid put a lot of pressure on us. We didn’t really have an answer for him. We tried a bunch of different things. He’s a big body. He also was flopping around. He got some extra calls and they rewarded him for that, but that’s the league we’re in.”

Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason on free agency: “It’s tough to say I didn’t think about it. You definitely think about it. I was drafted here. I’ve grown up here. My family is here. I love Houston. As far as everything else, God knows.”

Lakers coach JJ Redick on LeBron James: “Literally every single guy was going bahhh, bahhh (goat noises). It speaks to his greatness. To me, he’s had the greatest career of any NBA player. He’s one of, if not the greatest of all time.”

Toronto Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic on RJ Barrett: “Huge moment. Call me crazy. Call me psychic. I saw this one coming tonight. I was talking to assistant coaches before the game and I was planning ATO plays to get RJ in those situations. It’s surreal that he made that shot.”

Nikola Jokic on Denver Nuggets coach David Adelman: “It’s not his fault that we could not rebound. It’s not his fault we could not catch the ball very well. There is nothing to blame for David Adelman. It was all us.”

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch: “Our guys took it personal. Denver had the chance to pick who they wanted to play coming down the stretch and they chose us. We used that as motivation. They didn't have to choose us. They chose us. Our guys were up for the challenge of that.”

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch on Jaden McDaniels: “He talked all series and he backed it up all series. That’s called legitimate tough. He not only led us tonight scoring wise, but Jamal Murray was 4-for-17. I don’t think he scored on Jaden the whole game. That’s what you want.”

Suns owner Mat Ishbia: “I’ll ride into a fire with Devin Booker, and I’ll do it proudly… Devin Booker is not getting traded. Devin Booker is our franchise player. We’re going to win a championship here with Devin Booker. I’m excited to do it and be next to him when we do that.”

Victor Wembanyama on the Spurs not trading for a star and keeping their young core together: “I wasn’t speculating about anything or getting any player. I know Brian (Wright) knows who we are and trusts the process. He should get Executive of the Year also for not making a move.”

Devin Booker on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: “He’s the MVP of the league, and he’s playing the best basketball in the league for the past two years.”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Dillon Brooks: “He’s a great competitor and a great guy no matter what people say about him. He’s a really good guy when you get to know him. All that villain stuff doesn’t faze me. I know who Dillon is. He had a heck of a series. Keep getting better. I’m proud of him.”

Mark Daigneault: “I saw Mike Muscala on the court and it reminded me that he was such a huge part of our build early on. There are more than a few people that were a huge part of that that weren’t here for the last couple of years to see the fruits of that labor, but he’s certainly one of them.”

Pat Riley on possibly trading Bam Adebayo: “I want to build this around Bam. I think Micky (Arison) wants the same thing, and Nick (Arison), Andy (Elisburg), and all of us, so I’m going to give you a flat out no, unless somebody gave me eight picks and (Victor) Wembanyama.” 😂

Pat Riley: “I'm not going to retire. I'm not going to resign. I'm not going to step aside. When I came here almost 31 years ago, I have the same attitude as I had in that press conference, period. I want another parade down Biscayne Boulevard. It may come. It may not.”

Toronto Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic on Scottie Barnes: “I expect more from Scottie. The way he's playing, he's at 60% of a player that he's gonna be in 2-3 years. Scottie's gonna be one of the best players in the league, and he's already one of the best players in the league.”

David Adelman on Aaron Gordon: “There was no minutes restriction, but I think everybody saw Aaron was laboring. He gave us what he could give us. I thought it was unfair for me to keep him out there, to be honest. We’re going to have to decide what we’re going to do for Game 5.”

Julius Randle on Ayo Dosunmu: “I didn't know he was that damn good. I ain't gonna lie to you. When I was in the East and he was in Chicago, that were those DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine teams, so I don’t know if the opportunity was there as much, but damn, I'm glad we got him.”

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch on losing Donte DiVincenzo: “Completely devastating for Donte. He’s had such a great season. He’s the heart and soul of so many things that we do. You could see the look in his eye when it happened and you knew. We’ll love him and be there for him.”

Anthony Edwards has been ruled out for the rest of Game 4 with a left knee injury, Timberwolves say. Another tough blow for Minnesota after losing Donte DiVincenzo to a right lower leg injury earlier in the game. DiVincenzo left the arena in a wheelchair.

Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka on his message after losing Game 3: “Grow up, and you’re not that young anymore. You’ve been to the playoffs once, and we watched every situation just now.”

Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka on losing Game 3 to the Los Angeles Lakers: “Horrendous mistakes. I don’t know if you want to say youth or scared of the moment or whatever the case.”

CJ McCollum on Jonathan Kuminga: “He has championship DNA coming from the Warriors. The athleticism is off the charts. He’s got a mid-range. He knows how to post up, screen, and defensively, he can guard 1-5. He was in a not so great situation and now he's found a happy home.”

CJ McCollum: “I am no villain. I'm a nice guy with two kids and a wife. I think it's admiration. Great passionate fans in a really hostile environment. It’s fun. It’s basketball. It’s the playoffs. If anything, I think it's a sign of respect.”

Washington Wizards general manager Will Dawkins was asked if coach Brian Keefe will return next season. Dawkins replied, “Yeah, I anticipate Brian Keefe to be here.”

Hawks center Jock Landale (high right ankle sprain) will miss at least two weeks against the Knicks in the playoffs. Landale was injured by Magic center Goga Bitadze on April 1. He averaged 10.6 points on 52% from the field and 38% from 3-point range with 5.7 rebounds this season.

Kawhi Leonard on the NBA’s Aspiration investigation: “I think that we're going to be in the clear, like I’ve told you before, so I'm not stressing it.”

Steve Kerr on Draymond Green: “He’s the best defender I’ve ever seen in my life. It’s just insane what he does out there.” Steve Kerr: “For one night, we're us. We're champions again. I know that that may sound crazy to everybody out there. It’s a Play-In game. I don't care.”

Steve Kerr on Stephen Curry: “This is why Steph came back. Everybody out there who thought Steph should’ve taken the rest of the year off (bangs table). This is what he does. This is who he is. If he can compete, he’s going to compete, and it was just incredible to watch.”

Erik Spoelstra on LaMelo Ball injuring Bam Adebayo: “I don't think it's cute. I don't think it's funny. I think it's a stupid play. It's a dangerous play… He should be penalized for that. I don't think that belongs in the game, tripping guys… He should have been thrown out of the game for that.“

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo suffered a lower back injury and is out for the rest of tonight’s Play-In Tournament game against the Charlotte Hornets.

Doc Rivers: “I have grandkids that I want to see. I’ll let you figure it out from there. I have 7 grandkids now and they’re all 8 and under. It kills me every time I miss grandparents day with each one of them in school. It’s probably time to go see them more, so I’ll let you figure out the rest.”

Reporting on Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine, who sources say is expected to exercise his $49 million player option for the 2026-27 season, along with potential offseason trade candidates Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan, and Malik Monk with host Chris Shearn on YES Network.

Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson is having a breakout season and will be one of the top restricted free agents this summer. After rebuffing trade interest, the Nuggets want to re-sign him this summer. Why Cam Johnson could become a trade candidate as a result on YES Network.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is expected to exercise his $21.6 million player option for the 2026-27 season, league sources say. It’s the last year of a 3-year, $66 million deal negotiated by Rich Paul of Klutch Sports. More on KCP and Ja Morant on YES Network.

Previewing an active offseason ahead for the Milwaukee Bucks, including what’s next for Giannis Antetokounmpo and why teams like the Heat, Warriors, Knicks, Cavaliers, and others will circle the wagon again on trading for the Greek Freak with host Chris Shearn on YES Network.