Jabari Parker supports Colin Kaepernick: ‘I got your back, homie’

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Colin Kaepernick currently has the NFL’s top-selling jersey in the wake of his decision to protest the national anthem, and one person who helped him climb to the top of the chart is Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker.

Parker shared a photo on Instagram Tuesday night that featured him wearing a Kaepernick jersey.

Never followed the wave but this one is necessary. I got your back homie @kaepernick7

A photo posted by Jabari Parker (@jabariparker) on Sep 6, 2016 at 8:47pm PDT

Parker joins a growing list of pro athletes who have come out in support of Kaepernick, though his statement wasn’t quite as loud as the one this soccer player made.

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Serge Ibaka: ‘I never asked to be traded’ from Oklahoma City

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The prevailing narrative surrounding Serge Ibaka this summer seems to be one of a disgruntled big man who was bothered by a marginalized role and wanted out of Oklahoma City, either via trade or via free agency next summer. But Ibaka insists that this wasn’t the case.

In a feature for Sports Illustrated on Tuesday, Ibaka opened up about his wild offseason and put to rest rumors that he was unhappy with the Thunder.

“I never asked to be traded, even though there was a lot of media conjecture that I was unhappy with my role,” Ibaka wrote. “I had an exit meeting with [head coach] Billy Donovan and [general manager] Sam Presti after the season, and both went well. But this is still a business, everybody has to do what’s best for them, and I let my agent deal with the business side of things.

“I just focus on basketball,” Ibaka continued. “I’m not the kind of guy who’s going to go in and ask for a trade, and I would have been happy staying with the Thunder. Playing in the NBA was my dream, and I’d be happy playing anywhere.”

Ibaka was traded to the Orlando Magic on Draft Night 2016, leading to rumors of his discontent in Oklahoma City, which were only stoked by comments made by his agent, Andy Miller.

While Ibaka may never have specifically asked for a trade, the Thunder still had to leverage against the possibility of the three-time All-Defensive First Teamer leaving for nothing in 2017, especially given the (as it turned out, justified) uncertainty at the time regarding Kevin Durant’s free agency.

The 26-year-old will now try to start anew on a Magic team where there could be a lot of competition in the frontcourt next season among him, Bismack Biyombo, Aaron Gordon, and Nikola Vucevic.

H/T NBA Reddit

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Metta World Peace: ‘I Can Still Play’

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Free agent forward Metta World Peace says he still has plenty left in his basketball tank.

MWP, 36, isn’t ready to transition into coaching just yet.

The veteran bruiser claims that, had he not been glued to the bench, he could have put up big numbers in Los Angeles last season.

Per ESPN:

Q: What are your plans for next season? Are you headed back to training camp with the Lakers? You’ve talked about a potential future in coaching. Is that on your radar?

 

MWP: “Right now, I’m life coaching a lot of people that are in the NBA. I can’t say [who]. But I coach a couple players. But it’s not a thing where I’m going to hide and be that perfect mentor. I just give them the best advice I can and live my life accordingly. I’m doing that now and one day I would love to coach. The Lakers are tattooed in my heart. They gave me a second chance when everyone was down on me, they gave me a chance to win a ring. The city of Los Angeles, they put up with me. Because in our world, the world of corporate basketball, you should act accordingly, you know? And I don’t like to act accordingly (smiles). I’m just trying to be authentic. I’m trying, as much as possible, to keep that if I coach one day.”

 

Q: Are you talking with teams right now?

 

MWP. “I’m waiting for teams. I can still play. I can play, it’s not even a question man. But, you know, sometimes you don’t get in the game, man. What are you going to do? I’m not going to be upset, I’m going to support. So if I don’t play, like this year on the Lakers I could have averaged 15 or 20 on the Lakers if I played, easily. But you know, I’ll be supportive [if I don’t play]. But the only thing that gets me frustrated with the whole basketball is people think I can’t play anymore. So as a man, I take that personally. But at the same time I’m able to still focus on making sure Julius Randle is doing his thing, and he’s focused, making sure I can give back. But when the season’s over, then I like to explain that I can play, and I can bust people’s ass. But the fans have to understand, it’s not up to me. It’s so frustrating to keep hearing it from the fans. ‘Come back to New York, come to Chicago. Why didn’t you play.’ It’s so frustrating at times.”

The post Metta World Peace: ‘I Can Still Play’ appeared first on SLAMonline.

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