MIAMI — For Media Day, Jimmy Butler debuted a new style, and the NBA community was quick to notice.
The Miami Heat forward showed up for the team’s first official day of work this season with piercings in his eye, lip, and nose as well as a new hairdo and black-painted fingernails.
For Butler, who deviated from his typical appearance last year by attending Media Day with dreadlocks, it’s kind of become a pattern.
“I’m very emotional right now. This is my emo state and I like this. This is me,” Butler said. “This is how I’m feeling as of late.”
“That is not real. … That is (expletive) hilarious,” Adebayo said.
Added Heat guard Tyler Herro: “He told me this was his Halloween today.”
Still unclear: If Butler will keep the look when Miami opens practice on Tuesday. The team will hold camp at Florida Atlantic University in nearby Boca Raton.
Victor Wembanyama’s first Media Day in San Antonio was Monday, and Spurs coach Gregg Popovich says he has a simple plan to handle all the buzz that will surround the No. 1 draft pick this season.
Pop’s plan: Just roll with it.
“You all are going to do what you do. Fans are going to do what they do,” Popovich said. “But because I know the players and because he’s got such high character and he’s used to this – this isn’t the first time that he’s gotten attention – I think just handling it organically is better.”
That said, Popovich does have a specific plan when it comes to the team’s travel arrangements.
“If there are people hanging on the top of the bus, we’ve got to get them off,” Popovich said. “Short of that, we’ll be OK.”
Also, after a summer when Wembanyama’s height was oft-discussed – 7-foot-4? 7-foot-5? – the Spurs are still listing him at 7-foot-3.
Ricky Rubio remains away from the Cleveland Cavaliers as they open camp while the Spanish guard continues focusing on his mental health.
Rubio said he was stepping away from the game this summer, when he was scheduled to play for Spain in the Basketball World Cup. There is no timetable for his return.
“We remain fully supportive of Ricky and his efforts, which for now are best continued away from the team and have excused his absence from camp,” the Cavaliers said Monday in a news release. “We