James Harden Previews The Weeknd’s Collab With Lil Baby

NBA player James Harden recently took to social media to give fans a preview of The Weeknd’s upcoming collab with Lil Baby. He played a snippet of the song, title “False Idols,” for followers on his Instagram Story last night. Harden is a known friend of Lil Baby, who previously told TMZ that the two of them “bonded from day one.” The athlete encourage The Weeknd and Lil Baby to drop the song already, asking them “What we waiting on??????” He added to the IG Story, “Let’s gooo!!!!!!”

The Weeknd confirmed the title of his collaboration with Lil Baby earlier today on Twitter. The track is set to be part of the soundtrack for The Weeknd’s series alongside Lily-Rose Depp, The Idol. The controversial show has continued to shock viewers with each episode. It’s gotten a good deal of backlash for it’s frequent nudity, depictions of self-harm, and more. The Weeknd, however, has continued to defend the project.

Read More: The Weeknd Reveals Lil Baby Collab On “The Idol” Soundtrack

“False Idols” Will Be On The Idol Soundtrack

“We’re playing with genres with this show, we’re doing exactly what we wanted to do,” The Weeknd revealed last week. He told Variety, “none of this is a surprise. I’m excited for everyone to watch the rest of the show.” The artist continued, “It’s almost educational, that this is what comes with being incredibly famous. You’re surrounded by people who you’re not sure what their true intentions are, even if it seems like they’re good. You just never know.”

Last week, The Real Housewives of New York City‘s Bethenny Frankel came to the show’s defense on TikTok, claiming that The Weeknd’s depiction of a toxic man is accurate. “It’s totally realistic,” she explained, “so what are we doing?” Frankel continued, “There are 50 sleazy, sleazy Hollywood guys like [The Weeknd’s character] that I remember from living in LA.” She went off on haters, asking, “Has everyone lost their f***ing minds? OK, you don’t like the show, don’t watch it. Suck your thumb, get a pacifier and shut the f**k up!”

Read More: The Weeknd Keeps Responding To “The Idol” Hate On Twitter

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Doc Rivers Calls Coaching James Harden “Challenging”

Doc Rivers was fired by the Sixers after a spectacular collapse in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Game 7 loss put Rivers’ all-time Game 7 record at 6-10, the worst such record in NBA history. While many saw it as unfair and surprising to fire Rivers, many more saw it as the right decision if the Sixers ever wanted to capture that elusive NBA title.

Rivers appears to be stepping away from coaching for the time being, after going un-hired by the six teams looking for new head coaches this offseason. However, he was reportedly one of the final candidates for the vacant Suns’ job, which was eventually filled by Frank Vogel. Despite this, and perhaps because of it, Rivers is now opening up about his time in Philadelphia. In particular, he is breaking his silence on his fateful final season.

Doc Rivers Criticizes James Harden

Speaking on The Bill Simmons Podcast in his first media appearance since his firing, Rivers got honest about coaching James Harden. “It was challenging,” Rivers said on the podcast. “James was so good at playing one way, and the way I believe you have to play to win, in some ways is different because it’s a lot of giving up the ball, moving the ball and coming back to the ball. I would’ve loved to have [James] when he was younger, when that was easier for him. … I thought the first half of the year we were the best team in the game, I thought James was playing perfect basketball, he was a point guard of the team. But he was doing more playmaking and scoring. And then the second half he started scoring more, and I thought we got more stagnant at times.”

Harden averaged a double-double this season, with 21 points and a league-leading 10.7 assists per game. It was almost an exact replication of his stats from the 2021-22 season, which is not great because he only played 21 games that year and played 58 this year. His future is also in doubt, as he must decide if he wants to exercise a player option in Philly. If not, that would make Harden a free agent. He has already strongly expressed an interest to return to Houston, despite how others in the league might feel about that move. But it’s no secret that Harden isn’t getting any younger, and the sort of basketball he plays is fundamentally changing. Follow all the latest sports news here at HotNewHipHop.

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SOURCE SPORTS: James Harden Opts Out of Player Option, Wants New Four-Year Deal

SOURCE SPORTS: James Harden Tells 76ers to Build Team and Give Him "Whatever is Left" in New Contract

The Philadelphia 76ers once again came up way short in their NBA Playoffs run, leaving the franchise firing their coach and with roster concerns. One of the questions is what will happen with James Harden, especially now that he has declined his $35.6 million player option to become an unrestricted free agent.

Bleacher Report‘s Chris Haynes reveals Harden turned down the sack of millions because he wants to bring another long-term deal. Harden hopes to land a four-year contract, utilizing his season performance of 21 points, 10.7 assists, and 6.1 rebounds as leverage.

Since the middle of the season, rumors have surrounded Harden about a Houston reunion, which would pair the star guard with a cast of very young talent. Houston also holds the No. 4 pick in the upcoming NBA draft.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: James Harden Opts Out of Player Option, Wants New Four-Year Deal appeared first on The Source.

James Harden Reacts To Free Agency Rumors

James Harden is an NBA star who always seems to have attention around him. Overall, this is because he is a huge name. He used to be the best scorer in the league. Although he doesn’t possess that title anymore, he is certainly still a great playmaker. Now, however, he and the Philadelphia 76ers are out of the playoffs. Doc Rivers has since been fired, and rumors surrounding Harden are beginning to ramp up. Free agency is just a couple of months away, and a lot of people are curious about Harden’s fate.

There is this sense that Harden is going to leave Philadelphia. Overall, his partnership with Joel Embiid hasn’t gone according to plan. They have yet to make it out of the second round together. Ultimately, this is no different than when Ben Simmons and Embiid were together. For now, many believe Harden will want to play in Houston under Ime Udoka. Moreover, James Harden could teach the young stars over there a thing or two. Yesterday, it was even reported that Harden was interested in Phoenix.

Read More: James Harden Delights Twitter With Vintage Performance

James Harden Speaks

James Harden has always been aware of the various rumors that surround him. That said, it should not be a surprise that he took to Instagram yesterday with a simple yet effective message. “Experts really don’t be experts,” he said simply. Although this was not pointed at anyone in particular, it does seem like the timing would suggest it is about the reports from yesterday. Perhaps Harden is not interested in Phoenix at all. At the end of the day, that would mean another reunion with Kevin Durant. Considering their lack of postseason success together, it is hard to see the point in doing this for a third time.

It will be interesting to see how all of this shakes out in the not-so-distant future. Many are invested in free agency, and if your team has a shot at Harden, you’d want to follow that. Let us know where you think Harden should go, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news and updates from around the sports world.

Read More: James Harden Seen Arguing With Man In Vegas

James Harden Reportedly Interested In This Team

James Harden is certainly one of the biggest names in the entire NBA. Although he may not be the player he used to be, he is still an effective playmaker. Overall, he did a solid job with the Philadelphia 76ers. However, he has always struggled in the playoffs, and we saw that against the Celtics. Now, he is a free agent and most pundits out there believe he wants to leave Philadelphia. Simply put, playing for Doc Rivers is just not the move. Consequently, a lot of speculation is happening right now.

For the vast majority of the season, the consensus was that Harden would go to the Houston Rockets. Of course, he has a history with that team. Moreover, they have a young core and there would be few expectations to win. Additionally, the team now has Ime Udoka who is seen as a fantastic head coach. It is certainly an interesting place for him to go. However, now, a new team is joining the rumor mill. In fact, this is a team that will be desperate to add some depth to the roster.

Read More: James Harden Roasted Over Questionable Outfit

James Harden: The Decision

According to reporter Brian Geltzeiler, the Phoenix Suns are rumored to be on James Harden’s radar. Of course, the team has the talents of Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. Harden’s former teammate Chris Paul is in Phoenix as well, however, it has been reported that the Suns are looking to get rid of him. That said, perhaps James Harden would fit in well on the team. Meanwhile, there are also rumors that the Suns could be pursuing Kyrie Irving. Although this would end up being a mistake, most likely.

Either way, this should end up being a compelling free agency. If the Houston Rockets get the first pick and secure Victor Wembanyama, then perhaps James Harden will just go to Houston. At that point, the team will be a very attractive option. Let us know where you want to see Harden go, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for all of the latest news from the sports world. We will always keep you informed.

Read More: James Harden Looks Back On Time With The Nets

Ben Simmons Appears To Troll 76ers After Blowout Playoff Loss

Ben Simmons appeared to troll his former team, the Philadelphia 76ers, on Instagram, Sunday after their 112-88 Game 7 loss to the Boston Celtics. In a post on his Instagram Story, he shared a captionless photo of himself watching the game on TV.

Simmons played for the 76ers from 2016–2022 after the organization drafted him first overall. After several unsuccessful playoff runs, the team traded him to the Brooklyn Nets in 2022, receiving James Harden in exchange. Simmons played 42 games for the Nets this season and averaged 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.3 steals in 26.3 minutes per game. Harden scored just 9 points on 3-11 shooting in Game 7. Joel Embiid, who just won the Most Valuable Player award, only recorded 15 points on 5-18 attempts.

Read More: Ben Simmons Continues To Be A No-Show

James Harden & Joel Embiid During Their Game 7 Loss

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 14: James Harden #1 and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the Boston Celtics during the third quarter in game seven of the 2023 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals at TD Garden on May 14, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)

As for Sunday’s game, the Celtics dominated the 76ers from halftime on, outscoring them 33-10 in the third quarter. The performance was led by Jayson Tatum, who set a new NBA record for scoring the most points in a Game 7 in NBA playoff history. He finished with 51 points on 17-28 shooting from the field. He tacked on another 5 assists and 13 rebounds as well.

“It felt great,” Tatum told ESPN. “This was a back and forth series. Obviously I didn’t play well the first half of the last game and I was just happy to get an opportunity to bounce back. To come back home, game seven on Mother’s Day … I had to put on a special performance for her.”

Read More: Celtics Force Game 7 Against Sixers

Ben Simmons’ Reaction

The Celtics will now take on the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals while the Lakers will be playing the Nuggets in the West. Game 1 for the Celtics will tip off on Wednesday night. Both series are rematches of the 2020 playoffs, which were held in the NBA Bubble.

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James Harden Gives Joel Embiid A Rolex For Winning MVP

On May 2, Joel Embiid became the first Sixer since Allen Iverson in 2001 to be named NBA MVP. While many expected Denver’s Nikola Jokic to become the first back-to-back-to-back MVP since Larry Bird, Embiid pulled away in the final weeks of the season. However, Embiid’s MVP was far from unanimous. Embiid received 73 of 100 first-place votes, but two writers even voted Embiid as low as third. Jokic received 15 first-place votes while the Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo received 12.

Despite this, Embiid’s MVP has been a long time coming for many people. He finished second in voting to Jokic the past two years. While Embiid has been in the NBA for nearly a decade now, he has truly begun to come into his own in the past few seasons. In recognition of finally earning the title, he received a very special gift from one of his teammates. And Embiid’s reaction is nothing short of heart-meltingly sweet.

Harden Gives Embiid A Rolex

The Sixers posted the moment that James Harden surprised Embiid with the gift on social media. The gift in question is a rose-gold Rolex. Embiid can’t believe it as he opens the box in front of assorted media. “Oooooo, my first Rolex, ” Embiid can be heard while struggling to find his words, “I’ve never had a Rolex”. Harden then takes the watch and turns it over to reveal that “23 MVP” has been engraved on the back of the watch’s face.

After embracing Harden, Embiid then struggles to put the watch on. As he attempts to simply shove it over his fist, he asks the associated individuals, “how do you wear watches?” Finally he gives up, declaring it to be too small for his wrist. I don’t know if Rolexes have clasps but no one attempts to unclasp the watch at any point in the video. This is understandable as later in the video, Embiid reveals that this is not just his first Rolex, this is his first watch ever. Sure, the Sixers would go on to get blown out in their game later that day. But this video is just adorable. It just goes to show the level of team spirit that the Sixers embody.

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James Harden Roasted Over Questionable Outfit

James Harden had himself an incredible night on Monday. His Philadelphia 76ers were taking on the Boston Celtics in what should have been an easy Celtics win. Overall, Joel Embiid was out of the lineup, and Harden had to carry by himself. In the end, that is exactly what he did as he scored a whopping 45 points. Although Jayston Tatum had 39 points of his own, the Sixers were able to come through with the unlikely win. However, it wasn’t just Harden’s play that ultimately stole the show.

If you know anything about James Harden, it’s that he has made some very bizarre fashion choices over the years. Every time he gets dressed before a game, he thinks about how he can get fans riled up. On Monday, that was most definitely the case. Overall, his outfit was wild and he immediately went viral for it. That said, it seems like the outfit proved to be a good luck charm. We know this because he subsequently went out and had one of his best Playoff games in years.

James Harden Brings The Met Gala To Boston

In the Twitter post above, you can see how he was wearing some massive parachute pants. However, the twist here is that they were all fluffy. Almost as if he was doing some sort of Cookie Monster cosplay. Additionally, he had a unique leather jacket that also had some furry elements to it. Overall, it was one of James Harden’s wildest looks of all time. Furthermore, it elicited plenty of reactions from NBA fans online. As you can see in the tweets below, Harden was getting roasted pretty heavily.

For the most part, the biggest chirp here involved the Sixers losing this series in four games. However, that is no longer possible as Harden was able to will the team to victory in Game 1. Perhaps now, James Harden will have to up the ante if he wants to ensure a series win for his team. Let us know your thoughts on this outfit, in the comments section below.

Let The Roasting Begin

James Harden Delights Twitter With Vintage Performance

Just five years ago, James Harden was the most impressive scorer in the entire NBA. However, there have been a few narratives surrounding him. Firstly, he never performs in the playoffs. Secondly, he has struggled as a scorer now that he is getting older. Since coming to the Philadelphia 76ers, he has mostly been a facilitator for Joel Embiid. That said, he can turn on the jets when he needs to, and that is exactly what happened last night. It was good timing as the Sixers took on the Celtics in Game 1 of their second-round matchup.

Coming into the game, no one was giving the Sixers a chance. Overall, this is due to the fact that Joel Embiid was out with an injury. His status for the rest of the series is unknown, and fans are concerned about his overall health. Although, Harden managed to carry the team on his back in a 119-115 victory. It was a vintage performance for Harden, who scored 45 points. Meanwhile, Jayson Tatum of the Celtics tried to keep up, with 39 points of his own.

James Harden Was A Beast

With the Sixers’ win coming on the Celtics’ home court, many were very surprised. There was a sense that the Celtics could easily take this series in five or six games. Especially with Embiid out of the picture. Now, however, many aren’t so sure. The Celtics showed weakness in the Hawks series, Harden could expose them further over the course of seven games. Furthermore, NBA Twitter as a whole was very pleased with what they were seeing.

In the tweets down below, you can see what many had to say about Harden and his incredible performance. For the most part, many were stunned by what they saw. Moreover, there were others who were just happy to rain on the Celtics and their premature parade. While this series is far from over, the Sixers have most definitely set the tone. Let us know who you think is going to take this series, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news from around the sports world.

NBA Twitter Reacts

James Harden Seen Arguing With Man In Vegas

James Harden is having a perfectly fine NBA playoffs. Aside from an ejection in Game 3 of the Sixers’ first-round series against the Nets, he has been a solid contributor. He’s averaging 17.3 points per game on about 36 minutes a game. Additionally, he is shooting 42.4% from three. The Sixers, who swept the Nets 4-0, are off the court until they meet the Celtics on May 1. That is set to be a much-hyped rivalry series.

However, Harden is still finding ways to grab headlines. Reportedly, Harden took some time off between the sweep and practice to hit up Vegas. That’s where TMZ seemingly caught him up with not being especially chill. Despite this tantalizing lede, things might not be as dramatic as one may be hoping for.

Harden Argues With Entourage Member

According to footage obtained by TMZ, Harden was spotted by a side entrance to The Flamingo at around 1:25am Monday morning. There, passers-by saw Harden arguing with a man. Harden’s voice was described as raised and he was seen angrily gesturing at the man. He also proceeded to tap the man’s chest and smack him in the face. However, once Harden was made aware that people were watching, the pair took the argument inside. There were no further reports of a disturbance from inside the casino, suggesting that the two had resolved whatever issue they were having. The Flamingo is a popular hotspot for athletes. In 2018, an Australian soccer player died there after jumping off the roof while attempting to land in a palm tree.

Nothing appears to have come from the argument. TMZ confirmed that there was no 911 call made and that there were “no incidents involving James Harden reported to the LVMPD.” The incident was likely a minor disagreement between friends coming at the end of a night of drinking and gambling. There is nothing to suggest that the incident was anything more serious than that. However, that was perhaps the result of the witnesses present, who stopped things from escalating further. Furthermore, Harden was back in Philadelphia as playoff training resumed on Tuesday. Be sure to check back at HotNewHipHop for all the biggest NBA stories.

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