Ben Golliver
@BenGolliver
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@WashingtonPost National NBA Writer | “Bubbleball” Author | @goatnbapod Co-Host | ben.golliver on IG
Joined February 2009
RELEASE DAY: My first book "Bubbleball: Inside The NBA's Fight To Save A Season" is officially in stores now. Thanks to @washingtonpost @EditorStoltz @ABRAMSbooks Tim Wojcik @LGRLiterary
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Lakers’ LeBron James calls his mother to celebrate fourth title
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Magic’s Aaron Gordon after controversial Slam Dunk Contest loss to Heat’s Derrick Jones Jr.: “We’re here to do four dunks. It should be the best out of four dunks. I did four straight 50s — five straight 50s. It’s over. It’s a wrap. Let’s go home.”
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Toronto gives an extended standing ovation to 44th US President Barack Obama
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Blazers' CJ McCollum: "We got swept last year. It was on TV every day. They talked about me getting traded, how we can't win together. I was able to fly to Europe to see my brother play because the season ended so early. I told him this year, I ain't going to be able to make it."
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Lakers' LeBron James is the first NBA player to score 40,000 points. James scored his first 10,000 points in the exact same number of games as it took him to go from 30,000 to 40,000.- 10K in 368 games.- 10K to 20K in 358 games.- 20K to 30K in 381 games.- 30K to 40K in 368 games
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USA's Steve Kerr at the end of his press conference: "Devin Booker is an incredible basketball player. Nobody asked about him. He was our unsung MVP. I just wanted to say that.".
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Chet Holmgren to Luka Doncic: “I’ll see you out there next year.”
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Victor Wembanyama meets Lakers’ LeBron James and Anthony Davis
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Victor Wembanyama looks irked as Alperen Sengun gives up an uncontested game-winning dunk to Jayson Tatum
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LeBron James, Stephen Curry & Giannis Antetokounmpo cracking up back stage during NBA All-Star Game introductions
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Lakers’ LeBron James skies to deflect a pass to Suns’ Kevin Durant
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Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard goes full monotone to describe blow-by-blow his poster dunk on Daniel Theis and game-sealing block: “What do you want me to say? Patrick threw me the ball, I took two dribbles into the paint and tried to jump high and dunk the basketball.”
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Kawhi Leonard on Clippers losing Paul George: “I don’t feel like it’s going to be harder for me personally. For anybody I’m on the court with, I don’t look at him to be my savior.”
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Lakers’ LeBron James on Breonna Taylor: “We want the cops arrested.”
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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said Giannis Antetokounmpo’s game makes him feel he was “overcoached” as a child. “You get the rebound, you better not try to take it down to the other end of the court as a frontline player. That was gospel when I played. Giannis has blown through all that.”
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Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards on Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic’s Game 5: “I just laugh. That’s all I can do. I can’t be mad. … He’s the MVP. He’s the best player in the NBA. He showed it the last three games. … He was special tonight. I have to give him his flowers. He was that guy.”
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Mavericks’ Luka Doncic on meeting w/ Lakers legend Kobe Bryant: “He was talking Slovenian. He was talking my language. I was really surprised.”
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Kings asked about Russell Westbrook joining Clippers.De’Aaron Fox: “I don’t give a f—- who’s over there.”.Malik Monk: “We ain’t worried about them. … We here.”
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A Target Center fan was waving a handkerchief at Luka Doncic early in the first quarter, apparently in reference to him crying for fouls. Doncic saw him and smiled, and now he keeps looking to the fan's side of court during this early 20-point flurry.
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Blazers' Enes Kanter after advancing to second round: "First, I would definitely like to thank the Knicks for waiving me."
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Grizzlies dance crew singing “Whoop that trick!” in Stephen Curry’s face during Game 5 timeout
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Lakers’ LeBron James to Rockets’ Robert Covington: “Y’all grabbing the whole f—-ing game. As soon as someone touches you, y’all got something to say. Y’all grabbing the whole game. Play ball.”.
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Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard in a hoodie that said “Clip gang or don’t bang” on the front with a picture of Paul George and Marcus Morris flexing after Leonard’s playoff dunk on Mavericks’ Maxi Kleber on the back
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This is what it looks like to be sprayed with champagne by Lakers’ LeBron James after he wins a title
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Nike founder Phil Knight congratulates Lakers’ LeBron James. LeBron James: “I’m so happy you were here.”.Phil Knight: “I wouldn’t have missed it.”
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Lakers’ LeBron James on what he missed most during quarantine: “My mother. It’s the first time in my life that I went that long without seeing my mom.”
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Lakers’ Anthony Davis peaks in on LeBron James’s press conference
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Ja Morant: “I love negative energy, it motivates me. My dad was my first hater.”
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Reporter: "What happened early in the fourth quarter?".LeBron James: (Initiates photographic memory)
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Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards on how he fits in with USA Basketball Olympic team: “I’m still the number one option. Y’all might look at it differently. … They’ve got to fit in around me. That’s how I feel.”
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Lakers’ LeBron James on rookie Dalton Knecht: “Dalton, besides Bronny, was my favorite player in college basketball. … I did not think he would fall to 17 at all. … I’m glad he did.”
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Warriors’ Klay Thompson: “The ocean has healing properties… You just feel closer to God… I’m an Aquarius.”.
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Gregg Popovich on USA's sacrifices at Tokyo Olympics: "Khris Middleton’s wife gave birth & he came the next day, after the Finals. Those were pretty big sacrifices. More for his wife than for him, now that I think about it. Take the credit away from him & give it to his wife.".
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LeBron James on hand as Lakers hold introductory press conference for Bronny James
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Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo on learning about race in America as a rookie: “Over here is different. You’ve got to be careful. Caron Butler told me when you walk down the street, take off your hoodie. I was like, ‘Why?’I didn’t understand it then. I understand it now.”
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Lakers’ LeBron James on Thunder GM Sam Presti: “The MVP over there is Sam Presti… I don’t understand this guy’s eye for talent. He drafted KD, Russ, Jeff Green, Serge Ibaka, Reggie Jackson, Josh Giddey. … This guy is pretty damn good.”
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USA Basketball’s Grant Hill on Jaylen Brown’s posts apparently suggesting Nike was behind his Olympic snub: “For a good portion of my career, I wore Fila. That was supposed to be a joke. We’re proud of our partners, obviously. … This is about putting together a team.”
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Lakers’ LeBron James celebrates fourth title with a cigar & FaceTime
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Lakers’ LeBron James after loss to Grizzlies (via @SpectrumSN): “If you’re still allowing distractions to affect the way you play, this is the wrong franchise to be a part of and you should just come in and be like, ‘Listen, I can’t do this.’”
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The NBA's investigation into Jontay Porter revealed:.- He bet at least 13 times on NBA games through a friend's account .- He bet $54,094 on NBA games & won $21,965.- He didn't bet on games he played.- He bet on the Raptors to lose.
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Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards on his exchange with Suns’ Kevin Durant in blowout Game 1 win: “I think everybody here knows that’s my favorite player of all time. That was probably one of the best feelings ever in my whole life, for sure.”.
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La Clippers owner Steve Ballmer fired up about one of the Intuit Dome’s signature features: “Toilets! 1,160 toilets and urinals! Three times the NBA average! … We do not want people waiting around. We want them back to their d—- seats.”
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Duke commit Cooper Flagg has taken over USA Basketball scrimmage: hits a three and then finishes a tough putback
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Duke commit Cooper Flagg on what USA Basketball will bring to Paris Olympics: “They can be any team they want to be. They have no weaknesses, no holes. They can play any type of way and dominate. It’s going to be a dominant team that assets their will on everybody they see.”
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“Fire Nico” signs while Lakers’ Luka Doncic is at the free throw line in Dallas return
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Celtics' Isaiah Thomas on his 53 points: "Today is my sister's birthday. She would have been 23 today. The least I could do is play for her"
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Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving with an amazing tribute to LeBron James
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LeBron James enters w/ Lakers shorts to a standing ovation from Lakers fans at Las Vegas Summer League
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Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards: “I had Jamal in handcuffs.”
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Lakers’ LeBron James locks up Jeff Van Gundy during USA Basketball practice
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Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo: “How much does it cost if I say something, a comment about the refs? Is it $20,000? It’s a lot of money. So, I should not do it. I’ll save my money. I’ve got to pay for diapers.”
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USA Basketball's Steve Kerr said Stephen Curry requested during a timeout to run the pick-and-roll with LeBron James that set up one of his dagger threes to beat France: "I said, okay, let’s do that.”.
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Thunder's Kevin Durant responds to Mavericks owner Mark Cuban saying Russell Westbrook isn't a "superstar"
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Words are exchanged between USC and Mississippi State during handshake line following USC’s win which saw JuJu Watkins injured
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Suns’ Kevin Durant on Duke’s Cooper Flagg at USA Basketball camp: “He looks like a hell of a player. … He’s 17 years old coming in here playing like a vet almost. No emotion. Just going out there and doing his job. That’s a good sign.”
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LeBron James on Lakers’ poor shooting in loss to Warriors: “We’re getting great looks, but it could also be teams giving us great looks. To be completely honest, we’re not a team constructed of great shooting… It’s not like we’re sitting here with a lot of lasers on our team.”
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Warriors' Stephen Curry is the NBA's all-time leader in games with. 5+ threes: 185.6+ threes: 106.7+ threes: 61 .8+ threes: 38 .9+ threes: 17 .10+ threes: 10 .11+ threes: 6 .12+ threes: 2 .13+ threes: 1.
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Michael Malone: "The national narrative [after Game 1] was that the Lakers were fine. No one talked about Nikola having a historic performance. The narrative wasn’t about the Nuggets. The narrative wasn’t about Nikola. … You put that in your pipe and smoke it. You go up 2-0.".
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Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert on TNT’s Charles Barkley suggesting he should be benched in Game 7 win over Nuggets: “I don’t watch these guys. … I’m glad coach didn’t listen to his advice.”
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LeBron James: "Let's not let someone uninviting you from their house take away from their championship. Winning a championship is way bigger than getting invited to the White House, especially with him in it.".
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Celtics' Jayson Tatum on loss to Warriors: "Tonight was more meaningful to you [media] guys than it was to us. It was one game . It's not going to dictate our season.".
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Heat’s Erik Spoelstra on rookie Tyler Herro (37 points in ECF Game 4 win over Celtics): “Everybody overestimates what you can do in a day and they underestimate what you can do in months of work, sweat and grind when nobody is watching.”
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Was there any thought that tonight was your last game with the Lakers?. LeBron James: “I’m not going to answer that.”
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Grizzlies’ Ja Morant stays late to sign every autograph after the final Las Vegas Summer League game of the night
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Draymond Green w/ a thoughtful tribute to Gregg Popovich: "When somebody passes away, we tend to think we're there for one or two days and then we float away and think their problem goes away. That problem don't leave for him. Much love, Pop. I send my prayers & best wishes."
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Lakers’ LeBron James ejected for this blow to face of Pistons’ Isaiah Stewart
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Mavericks’ Luka Doncic greets Lakers legend Kobe Bryant & his daughter Gigi
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Lakers’ LeBron James scores on Celtics’ Payton Pritchard during USA Basketball training camp scrimmage
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Lakers’ Luka Doncic joins his new teammates on the bench before tip vs. Clippers
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The French paper @lequipe gave an aerial view of Guerschon Yabusele’s dunk over LeBron James the centerfold treatment on Sunday
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Suns' Jusuf Nurkic on Warriors' Draymond Green after ejection: "What's going on with him? I don't know. Personally, I feel like that brother needs help. I'm glad he didn't try to choke me. At the same time, it ain't nothing to do with basketball.".
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Wearing a “Spiritual Gangster” t-shirt, Warriors coach Steve Kerr quips at Anthony Davis’s expense: “I was going to wear my ‘That’s all, folks,’ shirt. I don’t pick out any of my own clothes.”
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Kobe Bryant fans as far as the eye can see outside Staples Center three hours before Lakers tip off
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Lakers’ JaVale McGee answering questions in full custom-made Grinch costume
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USA Basketball coach Steve Kerr with USA Vice President Kamala Harris
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Riding Zion Williamson excitement, Las Vegas Summer League has sold out 17,500 seats for Friday's Pelicans vs. Knicks. - General admission day passes are being scalped for $80. - Lower bowl tickets re-selling for $400+. - 1,000 media credentials have been issued, a new record.
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France's Evan Fournier after beating USA Basketball in Tokyo Olympic opener: "They are better individually but they can be beaten as a team.".
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Lakers’ LeBron James to Warriors’ Stephen Curry for three during USA Basketball scrimmage
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The San Antonio Spurs won the NBA Draft lottery and the right to select Victor Wembanyama with the ping pong ball combo 14, 5, 8, 2. The Portland Trail Blazers held the combination 14, 5, 8, 3. They missed by just one number on the final ball.
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Blazers' Damian Lillard on trash talk w/ Thunder & waving after winner: "I was just waving goodbye to them. Dennis Schroder was out there pointing at his wrist. After one win, that's what they wanted to do. When we win four games, there's not going to be anything to talk about."
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PEAK BOOGIE: DeMarcus Cousins scores 54th point, spits mouthguard, gets ejected, sprints to locker room, gets un-ejected! (full sequence)
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Sixers' Jimmy Butler immediately exits podium after Joel Embiid cracks joke about series lead over Nets: "It feels great to be up 3-1. We don't want to be in the situation like the Warriors two years ago. I was kidding, man."
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As Lakers close in on 17th championship in franchise history, Los Angeles landmarks lit up purple & gold (via @discoverla)
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Giannis Antetokounmpo crashes Kevin Durant’s press conference 🤣
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Mavericks GM Nico Harrison watches Lakers’ Luka Doncic warm up in Los Angeles
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Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama on joining Michael Jordan w/ back-to-back 5-steal, 5-block games: “I wonder if he did it in wins, not losses. To me, it’s secondary. Hopefully… we can look back & think this is a good performance. As of today, I can’t be satisfied with a loss.”
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Nets’ James Harden trolls Lakers’ Dwight Howard into a technical foul during a review of a Howard flagrant foul.
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Lakers' LeBron James on Jazz as last two all-star picks: "There’s no slander to the Utah Jazz. You’ve got to understand, just like in video games growing up, we never played with Utah. As great as Karl Malone and John Stockton was, we would never pick those guys in video games.".
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