LDN - Sports

NBA notebook: Reporter caught stealing jacket from Warriors' security

[April 24, 2018] A Bay Area TV reporter covering the Golden State Warriors was caught on camera stealing a jacket from a member of the team's security staff last week and was sent home from San Antonio, according to multiple reports Monday.

The Athletic's Steve Berman reported that Mike Shumann, a former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver who now works for KGO-TV in San Francisco, was seen on tape stealing the jacket of director of team security Ralph Walker as Shumann left the AT&T Center in San Antonio following practice late last week. Walker is also Stephen Curry's personal security guard, according to Berman.

The station reportedly sent Shumann home after the incident and on Monday released the following statement to The Athletic: "We are taking these allegations very seriously and conducting a full investigation. As a matter of policy, we do not comment about personnel matters."

According to ESPN, "several Warriors players were upset over the way the team handled the incident," noting that Shumann is white and a longtime reporter in the city, and that some players "fear he received special treatment."

--Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich will sit out a third consecutive playoff game Tuesday following the death of his wife Erin last Wednesday.

As he did in Games 3 and 4, assistant coach Ettore Messina will serve as head coach in Game 5, ESPN's Marc J. Spears reported.

The Spurs trail Golden State 3-1 in their best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series. San Antonio avoided a sweep with a 103-90 victory at home on Sunday. Game 5 will be played in Oakland, Calif., with tip scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

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--The New Orleans Pelicans have picked up coach Alvin Gentry's option for 2018-19, according to a report from ESPN.

Gentry was informed of the team's decision by general manager Dell Demps prior to the Pelicans' sweep of the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference quarterfinals, according to the report.

The Pelicans are 112-134 in three seasons under Gentry's guide. New Orleans went 48-34 this season on its way to its first playoff appearance in the 63-year-old's tenure.

--The Boston Celtics could have guard Marcus Smart available for Tuesday's Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Celtics have upgraded Smart to questionable for the pivotal contest. The 24-year-old told reporters Sunday that he would have his surgically repaired right thumb evaluated Tuesday. Smart, who was initially eyeing a return for a potential Game 7, said Sunday that playing in Game 6 is the plan. The Celtics and Bucks are tied 2-2 in the best-of-seven series.

"The surgery did its job," Smart said prior to the Celtics' 104-102 loss to the Bucks in Game 4. "Thumb is holding up well. I feel ready, I feel strong enough to get back out there. I'm just waiting on the OK."

--Field Level Media

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