Clippers New Arena Vandalized By Teenagers

Police are searching for suspects after videos of teenagers vandalizing the unfinished Intuit Dome in LA were posted to TikTok. The perpetrators climbed on scaffolding and discharged fire extinguishers in the collection of clips posted online. After gaining entry via a construction ladder, the teens took a few shots on the unfinished court. The Intuit Dome is due to open in time for the next NBA season and will give the Clippers a new permanent home to go along with their recent branding redesign.

Per Inglewood Mayor James Butts Jr, the perpetrators have already been identified. “It will be very clear to these young men — and to people who are TikTok followers — that you have a moment of TikTok greatness followed by a little bit of misery. And so we don’t play around with these things,” Butts warned.

Read More: Is Bronny James Declaring For The NBA Draft? Rich Paul Gives Update On USC Freshman’s Thinking

Kawhi Leonard Signs Huge Extension With LA Clippers

Meanwhile, Kawhi Leonard recently signed a three-year contract extension with the Los Angeles Clippers reportedly worth $157M. The terms were not disclosed by the Clippers but later reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. The deal does not contain a player option. Furthermore, the team is reportedly working on an extension for Paul George, Leonard’s All-Star tandem partner. Both players were eligible for a maximum extension of four years and $223M. The Clippers move into the Intuit Dome, next season. It’s clear they want their cornerstones with them to begin that new era.

The Clippers are 38-20 on the season. However, they have hit a rough patch and have lost three of their last five. With Leonard and George both healthy and productive, the team has blossomed into a true contender. Both players are averaging over 23 points a game. Meanwhile, the early-season trade for James Harden gave the team a proven ball distributor. With their big three finally assembled, the Clippers currently hold the 4th seed in the Western Conference.

Read More: Is Angel Reese Declaring For The WNBA Draft? Fans Eye Senior Day For Potential Announcement

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Russell Westbrook Net Worth 2024: What Is The NBA Star Worth?

Russell Westbrook, the dynamic NBA point guard known for his explosive playing style and relentless drive, has not only made his mark on the basketball court but also in the world of business. As of 2024, Forbes estimates Westbrook’s net worth to be around a staggering $375 million. Let’s delve into the journey of this basketball icon, from his early career to his ventures off the court, to understand how he amassed such wealth.

Read More: What Happened To Russell Westbrook?

Early Career & NBA Draft

russell westbrook
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – APRIL 21: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder dribbles down the court during a game against the Portland Trail Blazers during Round One Game Three of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on April 21, 2019 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

Westbrook’s journey to NBA superstardom began during his collegiate years at UCLA, where his exceptional athleticism and skills caught the attention of scouts and fans alike. In 2008, he declared for the NBA Draft after two impressive seasons with the Bruins. Selected fourth overall by the Seattle SuperSonics (later relocated and renamed as the Oklahoma City Thunder), Westbrook quickly showcased his potential as a force to be reckoned with on the court.

Accolades & On-Court Success

russell westbrook
EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 26: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers during Los Angeles Lakers media day at UCLA Health Training Center on September 26, 2022 in El Segundo, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Throughout his NBA career, Westbrook has racked up an impressive array of accolades and achievements. He is a nine-time NBA All-Star, a two-time scoring champion, and the only player in league history to average a triple-double for three consecutive seasons. Westbrook’s relentless energy and competitive spirit have earned him numerous All-NBA Team selections and the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in 2017. His electrifying performances and highlight-reel plays have solidified his status as one of the most exciting players to watch in the NBA.

Off the court, Westbrook has leveraged his fame and influence to pursue various business ventures, further bolstering his net worth. He has collaborated with major brands such as Nike, Jordan Brand, and Mountain Dew, securing lucrative endorsement deals that have added to his financial portfolio.

Read More: Russell Westbrook Picks Nipsey Hussle As The GOAT Over JAY-Z, Eminem, & More

Diverse Ventures & Entrepreneurial Spirit

Beyond his endorsements, Westbrook has demonstrated his entrepreneurial acumen through investments in real estate, media, and fashion. He launched his own clothing line, Honor the Gift, in 2018, offering a range of apparel inspired by his personal style and experiences. Additionally, Westbrook has ventured into the realm of media production, partnering with platforms like YouTube and producing content that showcases his interests beyond basketball.

In recent years, Westbrook has expanded his off-court endeavors to include philanthropy, using his platform to advocate for social justice causes and support underserved communities. Through his Why Not? Foundation, he has funded initiatives aimed at empowering youth through education, mentorship, and sports programs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Russell Westbrook’s journey from a standout college player to an NBA superstar and successful entrepreneur exemplifies the power of talent, determination, and strategic vision. With a net worth estimated at $375 million, Westbrook continues to leave an indelible mark on the worlds of sports, business, and philanthropy. As he continues to pursue excellence both on and off the court, it’s clear that the sky’s the limit for this basketball icon.

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Ty Lue Fined $35K For Accusing Refs Of Cheating

Ty Lue has been fined $35K for accusing the refs of “cheating” during the Clippers’ tense game against Golden State earlier this week. “Where James at? The referee. I want to kick him in the mouth,” Lue was heard yelling in reference to referee James Williams. Lue was ejected after earning a pair of technical fouls during the fourth quarter and following a brief scuffle between the two teams. After the Lue was explicitly heard accusing the refs of cheating.

Down big, the Clippers mounted a late-game comeback in the fourth quarter to eventually beat Golden State by five. James Harden and Paul George combined for 50 points as the team notched its 36th win of the season. Furthermore, the Clippers have won three out of the four games played against the Warriors this season. The Clippers, third in the West, are next in action against the Thunder following the All-Star Break.

Read More: Anthony Edwards Gets Huge Fine For Ref Comments

Did Draymond Green Flex His Rings Or Threaten A Shanking Versus The Clippers?

However, Lue’s comments were not the only story to come out of the Wednesday night matchup. Fans are debating how to interpret a clip of Draymond Green from the game. A very intense Green was seen showing four things toward an unknown party before making a sharp, staccato motion. Several fans have argued that this was Green threatening to shank someone. However, others have countered by arguing that Green was merely flexing his four championship rings.

Draymond had nine points, 10 rebounds, and four assists in the five-point loss to LA. In three games against the Clippers this season, Green is averaging 14.3/8/4.3. The blowout loss dropped the Warriors back to .500 at 26-26. The team currently holds 10th in the West, courtesy of Utah being 0-3 in their three more games played than the Warriors. Up next for Golden State are the Jazz. That is followed by a three-game homestand against the Lakers, Hornets, and Nuggets.

Read More: Angel Reese’s Pep Talk For Hailey Van Lith Draws Draymond Green & Kevin Durant Comparisons

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Did Draymond Green Flex His Rings Or Threaten A Shanking?

Fans are debating how to interpret a clip of Draymond Green from a recent game against the Clippers. A very intense Green was seen showing four things toward an unknown party before making a sharp, staccato motion. Several fans have argued that this was Green threatening to shank someone. However, others have countered by arguing that Green was merely flexing his four championship rings.

Draymond had nine points, 10 rebounds, and four assists in the 15-point loss to LA. In three games against the Clippers this season, Green is averaging 14.3/8/4.3. The blowout loss dropped the Warriors back to .500 at 26-26. The team currently holds 10th in the West, courtesy of Utah being 0-3 in their three more games played than the Warriors. Up next for Golden State are the aforementioned Jazz. That is followed by a three-game homestand against the Lakers, Hornets, and Nuggets.

Read More: Angel Reese’s Pep Talk For Hailey Van Lith Draws Draymond Green & Kevin Durant Comparisons

Draymond Green Continues To Go After Jusuf Nurkic

Meanwhile, Green has continued to take shots at Suns center Jusuf Nurkic. During a segment on The Draymond Green Show, the veteran Warrior went after comments that Nurkic made during their tense first meeting since Green’s suspension last week. Green dismissed Nurkic’s comments about his volatility by suggesting that the center was just mad that Green had cooked him all game. Green consistently brought up how poorly Nurkic had performed in the matchup. However, fans were quick to point out that the stat line that Green was roasting was a “typical Draymond night”.

Following their meeting last week, in which Green and Nurkic traded words and taunts, Nurkic made a heated prediction about the rest of Green’s season. “It’s sad. He didn’t learn anything. Just a matter of time. He’s going to hit somebody else again. Take back everything I said. He don’t deserve a chance,” Nurkic said. At the time, Green took the high road, speaking on his own gameplay. However, it’s clear that Green is eager to feud with the Suns big man.

Read More: Draymond Green Missing From Initial Team USA Olympic Pool, Execs Explain Why

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Heat Fan Ejected After Calling Russell Westbrook “Boy”

A Miami Heat fan was ejected from the team’s recent game against the Clippers after appearing to call Russell Westbrook “boy”. While footage of the full interaction has not appeared online, a clip film immediately before the fan was asked to leave has. It shows the man shouting “I paid for these seats, boy” at Westbrook. However, due to the abridged nature of the publicly posted clips, it is currently unclear what started the argument between the fan and Westbrook.

“Boy”, especially when used by a white individual towards a Black man, is considered to be a racial slur. It harkens back to the days of the Jim Crow South and is considered both demeaningly and highly offensive. The NBA, Heat, and Clippers are all yet to address the incident publicly. This is a developing story and we’ll have any updates as and when they emerge.

Read More: Shaq Narrates Tribute To Kobe Ahead Of Lakers Statue Unveiling

How Is Russell Westbrook Playing This Season?

Westbrook has appeared in 50 games this season, but has started just 10 of them. Despite this, he is averaging 22.8 minutes a game along with a 11.3/5.5/4.7 stat line. This is Westbrook’s first full season with the Clippers. He joined them in a deadline trade last year which moved him across LA from the Lakers. The Clippers are currently fourth in the West with a 34-16 record.

However, their current success is a major turnaround from the team that started 3-7 and was 10-10 after 20 games. At one point early in the season, Westbrook asked the Clippers coaching staff to transition him to a bench role amid the team’s six-game losing streak. According to sources who spoke with Bleacher Report, Westbrook requested the move in an attempt to allow the first team unit to develop more cohesion. It allowed Terance Mann to play a more impactful cleanup role alongside James Harden, Paul George, and Kawhi Leonard. As a result, Westbrook brought a bigger veteran leadership role to the second unit. This helped open the floor up more while Harden and Leonard weren’t there.

Read More: Bronny James Hits Three In Front Of Booing Crowd, But Fans Still Call Cap On His Skill

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SOURCE SPORTS: Paul George Hits Game-Winner to Lift Clips Over Warriors

Paul George Hits Game-Winner to Lift Clips Over Warriors

The Los Angeles Clippers have struggled a bit since the arrival of James Harden. But Paul George’s game winner at the end of Saturday’s matchup against the Golden State Warriors could be the push they need.

Paul George hit a step-back 3 with 8.9 seconds left to life the Clippers and cap off a 22-point combeack win. PG13 finished the game with 25 points, six rebounds, six assists, and four threes. Harden added 21 points and Kawhi 20.

You can see the moment below.

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Gregg Popovich Defends Kawhi Leonard As Spurs Fans Boo Clippers Star

Gregg Popovich actively defended his former star Kawhi Leonard when Spurs fans booed the Clipper during a free throw attempt. Popovich addressed the crowd via a microphone on the scorer’s table towards the end of the second quarter. “Excuse me for a second. Can we stop all the booing and let these guys play? Have a little class. That’s not who we are. Knock off the booing,” the veteran coach said to the crowd. After the game, Popovich explained his actions as not wanting to “poke the bear”. “I think anybody that knows anything about sports — you don’t poke the bear,” Popovich said.

However, the boos only increased after Popovich’s address. Despite this, Leonard put up a game-high 26 points, 18 of which came after Popovich’s comments. Leonard has long been booed due to his less-than-amicable exit from San Antonio in 2018. “If I don’t have a Spurs jersey on, they’re probably going to boo me the rest of my career. But I mean it is what it is. Like I said, they’re one of the best fans in the league and they’re very competitive. Once I step out on this basketball court out here, they show that they’re going for the other side. When I’m on the streets or going into restaurants, they show love. So it is what it is,” Leonard said after the game.

Read More: Josh Giddey Accused Of Having Sexual Relationship With A Minor

Clippers Finally Find Their Footing

The 109-102 result over the Spurs, in which Victor Wembanyama put up a 22-point double-double, was the Clippers’ third consecutive win. That streak snapped a dismal 0-6 run that began James Harden’s tenure in LA. Granted, all three wins have come against lottery teams in the Rockets and Spurs. However, it’s a much-needed bounce-back that has the Clippers one game under .500 and two games back in their division.

Despite this, the real test looms for the Clippers. They end November with games against New Orleans, Dallas, Denver, Sacramento, and Golden State. That’s a mix of strong playoff contenders and seasoned rosters. As mentioned, it will be the first major test of whether the Clippers’ new-look roster has finally found its footing. Things do look promising. Despite his “I am a system” comments, Harden has settled into a facilitator role similar to the one he held in Philly. He currently leads the Clippers in assists, while Paul George and Leonard remain the primary scoring options.

Read More: LeBron James Speechless After Learning He’s Older Than Utah Jazz Head Coach

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Russell Westbrook Benches Himself As Clippers Keep Losing

Russell Westbrook has asked the Clippers coaching staff to transition him to a bench role amid the team’s current losing streak. The Clippers have lost their last six games, including James Harden’s first five with the team. Despite LA being Harden’s only acceptable trade destination, the team has struggled to integrate him effectively. While Harden is an elite scoring and passing threat, he does not surpass the 1-2 tandem of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. Furthermore, Harden’s stagnant off-ball play as become all the more obvious since joining the Clips.

According to sources who spoke with Bleacher Report, Westbrook requested the move in an attempt to allow the first team unit to develop more cohesion. It will allow the recently recovered Terance Mann to play a more impactful cleanup role alongside Harden, George, and Leonard. As a result, Westbrook can bring a bigger veteran leadership role to the second unit and help open the floor up more while Harden and Leonard aren’t there.

Read More: Draymond Green Suspension Supported By Steve Kerr

Paul George Gets $35K Fine

However, problems continue to compound for the Clippers. Paul George was recently handed a $35,000 fine for criticizing the officiating team after a recent loss to the Nuggets. “I thought we played great. It’s tough, the adversity of playing against the extra three. I thought they were awful but, the defending champs, we’ve got to play better. So many times I got hit on layups, 3-pointers. It was constant. Jump shots, getting hit, smacked on the forearm. It was a poor job,” George said after the loss.

Furthermore, the league noted that the size of Paul’s fine was due to his history of publicly criticizing the league’s officials. Meanwhile, the 3-7 Clippers have a tough slate to end the month. Their remaining November games include the in-form Rockets as well as the Pelicans, Mavs, Nuggets, and Kings. Furthermore, they will also have to face the Spurs and Warriors. The Clippers’ last win was a 118-102 victory against the Orlando Magic on Halloween. They were 3-1 at that time.

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Joel Embiid Claps Back After James Harden Claims Sixers “Kept Him On A Leash”

Joel Embiid disagrees with James Harden’s claim that the Sixers kept the veteran “on a leash”. “I don’t think so. I think he did a lot of great things for us. But in my opinion, we gave him the ball every single possession, because he’s really good. He’s an amazing player. Obviously, being that great of a passer, I think we gave him the ball … we’d give him the ball every single possession to just go out and, you know, do his thing. And from there he had to make decisions as far as getting guys open or looking out for himself. But I thought he did a pretty good job of getting us into an offense and just passing the ball, getting guys open. That’s the reason why he won the assist title last year,” Embiid said after the Sixers’ win against the Raptors.

Furthermore, Embiid’s comments come as a result of Harden’s fiery introductory press conference with the Clippers. Harden said the Sixers kept him “on a leash” and didn’t respect his knowledge of the game. “I think the game and I’m a creator on the court. So if I got a voice to where I can, ‘Hey, Coach, I see this. What you think about this?’ Somebody that trusts me, that believes in me, that understands me. I’m not a system player. I am a system. You know what I mean?” Harden told reporters.

Read More: Joel Embiid Fined $35K For “Obscene” Celebration

Clippers Express Faith In Harden

Meanwhile, the Clippers have expressed full confidence in Harden being their missing piece. “James Harden should have been an All-Star last year. But he’s a 10-time All-Star. He has an elite skill set, and all he cares about is one thing. He wants to win a championship for the LA Clippers. And he wants to be part of something bigger than himself. He’s had all the individual awards. He’s about doing something really special,” said the team’s President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank.

The Clippers gave up a lot to acquire Harden, sending a monster package of depth players and first-round picks to the Sixers. If he can learn the system in time, Harden is expected to debut for the team in a game against the Knicks at MSG this weekend. The Clippers are coming off an overtime loss to the Lakers. Harden was present on the bench but did not suit up. However, head coach Ty Lue did state after the game that he would have liked to have been able to use Harden. The Clippers continue to struggle with early-season injuries, hampering their now-depleted depth.

Read More: Chris Broussard Uses Ableist Slur While Discussing James Harden Trade

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SOURCE SPORTS: LeBron Leads Lakers Past Clippers in Overtime

LeBron Leads Lakers Past Clippers in Overtime

LeBron James showed that he is still LeBron James in a 120-115 overtime Los Angeles Lakers win over the Los Angeles Clippers. James had 35 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in 42 minutes.

The thrilling game included an overhead alley-oop from Austin Reaves to James, thrilling the Lakers faithful. Reaves finished with 15 points, seven assists and seven rebounds. Anthony Davis also added a double-double of 27 points and ten rebounds. He also threw in four blocks.

On the other end of the ball, the Clipper’s dynamic duo of Kawhi Leonard and Paul Geroge added 38 points and 35 points, respectively. Russell Westbrook dropped 24 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists.

The victory for the Lakers was the first in the last twelve matchups.

You can see highlights from the game below.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: LeBron Leads Lakers Past Clippers in Overtime first appeared on The Source.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: LeBron Leads Lakers Past Clippers in Overtime appeared first on The Source.