Kemba reaches point milestone
Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker became the first player in team history to reach 10,000 points. It happened Saturday night against the Miami Heat. Walker continued his hot shooting start this season. He was cool on South Beach, finishing with 39 points, including the game-winning free throw.
Walker now holds the NBA record for most 3-point field goals made through the first three games in a season (19). He currently leads the league in points scored and points per game this season.
Spit-gate
The NBA handed down suspensions following the on-court brawl during Saturday’s Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets game. For their roles in the fight, the league announced suspensions without pay for Lakers forward — and Kinston, N.C. native — Brandon Ingram (four games), Lakers guard Rajon Rondo (three games) and Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul (two games) — a Winston-Salem native.
Basketball fans tuned in late Saturday night to “witness” the home game debut of LeBron James as a member of the Lakers. In the 3rd quarter, Ingram shoved Rockets guard James Harden, leading to a fist-fight between Paul and Rondo. Paul claims the conflict escalated when Rondo allegedly spit in his face. Houston spoiled the Lakers’ home opener with a 124-115 victory.
Panthers safety calls Eagles safety a sellout and neo-colonialist
Panthers safety Eric Reid was once again a topic of conversation before and after a game. This time it’s for more than kneeling during the national anthem. On Sunday, the Panthers traveled to Philadelphia to take on the defending Super Bowl champs. Before the coin flip, Reid came onto the field and needed to be restrained by teammates as he went after Eagles safety Michael Jenkins.
#Eagles Malcolm Jenkins and #Panthers Eric Reid had confrontation after the coin toss before the game started.
Reid had major concerns with Malcolm Jenkins’ Players Coalition that raised nearly $100 million to causes considered important to African-American communities. pic.twitter.com/qBsfDr4yLi
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 21, 2018
Both players were part of the NFL Players Coalition, a group of players who spoke out for social justice. Reid left the group after it partnered with the NFL to dedicate nearly $100 million for efforts and programs combating social inequality. The Panthers scored 21 unanswered to defeat the Eagles 21-17.
After the game, Reid said, “We believe a lot of players should have stepped up for Colin (Kaepernick). I believe Malcolm capitalized on the situation. He co-opted the movement that was started by Colin to get his organization funded. Its cowardly. He sold us out.” Reid also called Jenkins a “neo-colonialist” and quoted James Baldwin. Reid continued to kneel during the national anthem.
