LeBron James

SOURCE SPORTS: LeBron James, Patrick Mahomes, Carmelo Anthony and More Celebrated at 2023 ESPYS

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LeBron James, Patrick Mahomes, Carmelo Anthony and More Celebrated at 2023 ESPYS

The 2023 ESPYS Presented by Capital One took place on Wednesday at The Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, honoring the most remarkable moments in sports. Lil Wayne kicked off the show with a captivating performance of “A Milli,” while H.E.R. also graced the stage. The star-studded event featured appearances by sports icons such as Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade, Mikaela Shiffrin, Patrick Mahomes, and entertainers including Tiffany Haddish and Travis Kelce.

The ESPYS recognized individuals and groups who exhibited exceptional strength and bravery in the face of adversity. The Pat Tillman Award for Service was presented to the Buffalo Bills training staff, lauding their heroic efforts to save the life of player Damar Hamlin. The Arthur Ashe Award for Courage was bestowed upon the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team for their relentless fight for equal pay. Liam Hendriks, pitcher for the Chicago White Sox, received the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance after triumphing over non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.

The V Foundation announced a new collaboration with the American Cancer Society’s Hockey Fights Cancer initiative, amplifying funding for cancer research and sharing inspiring stories within the hockey community. H.E.R. commemorated the 30th anniversary of the V Foundation and Jimmy Valvano’s legendary ESPYS speech with a soulful rendition of “The Journey.”

Jrue and Lauren Holiday were honored with The Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award for their impactful work in underserved communities. LeBron James received Best Record Breaking Performance for surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s NBA career scoring record and reassured fans that retirement was not imminent. The evening also featured a heartfelt tribute to Carmelo Anthony, presented by his former teammates and close friends, Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul.

Other notable awards included Best Comeback to NBA Champion Jamal Murray, Best Athlete in Women’s Sports to Olympic skier Mikaela Shiffrin, and Best Athlete in Men’s Sports to Super Bowl Champion Patrick Mahomes. The ESPYS concluded with the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs winning Best Team, and tight end Travis Kelce humorously defending his time at the microphone.

The ESPYS serves as a platform to raise awareness and funds for the Foundation for Cancer Research, founded by ESPN and late basketball coach Jim Valvano in 1993. ESPN and the V Foundation remain committed to supporting cancer research until victory over the disease is achieved. For more information, visit V.org.

COMPLETE LIST OF THE 2023 ESPYS WINNERS
Best Athlete, Men’s Sports: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Best Athlete, Women’s Sports: Mikaela Shiffrin, Ski
Best Breakthrough Athlete: Angel Reese, LSU Women’s Basketball
Best Record-Breaking Performance: LeBron James surpasses Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for NBA career scoring record
Best Championship Performance: Lionel Messi, Argentina – World Cup Final
Best Comeback Athlete: Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets
Best Play: Justin Jefferson with the Catch of the Century
Best Team: Kansas City Chiefs
Best College Athlete, Men’s Sports: Caleb Williams, USC Football
Best College Athlete, Women’s Sports: Caitlin Clark, Iowa Women’s Basketball
Best Athlete with a Disability: Zach Miller, Snowboarding
Best NFL Player: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Best MLB Player: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels
Best NHL Player: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
Best NBA Player: Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
Best WNBA Player: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Best Driver: Max Verstappen, F1
Best UFC Fighter: Jon Jones
Best Boxer: Claressa Shields
Best Soccer Player: Lionel Messi, Argentina/PSG
Best Golfer: Scottie Scheffler
Best Tennis Player: Novak Djokovic

SPECIAL AWARDS
Jimmy V Award for Perseverance: Liam Hendriks
Arthur Ashe Award for Courage: U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team
Pat Tillman Award for Service: Buffalo Bills Training Staff

SPORTS HUMANITARIAN AWARDS
Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award: Jrue Holiday (Milwaukee Bucks) and Lauren Holiday (retired U.S. Women’s National Team)
Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award: Jordan Adeyemi, Ashley Badis, Rishan Patel
Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year: San Antonio Spurs
Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award Honorees: Dr. Richard Lapchick 

The post SOURCE SPORTS: LeBron James, Patrick Mahomes, Carmelo Anthony and More Celebrated at 2023 ESPYS first appeared on The Source.

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LeBron James Coaches Son Bryce At Nike Peach Jam

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The Peach Jam, one of the most prestigious events on the Nike EYBL is currently in full swing. Many of the biggest players from the next three or four cycles of collegiate recruits and battling it out in South Carolina. 2023 marks the 27th edition of the Peach Jam and the third that allows scouts to attend. NBA scouts were present in North Augusta from July 3 while college scouts will begin attending on July 6.

The U16 division primarily comprises the Class of 2025. It’s a stack class, led by Cameron Boozer and Cooper Flagg. Boozer is the son of two-time NBA all-star Carlos Boozer. “You could put Cam Boozer on any college roster right now and he would be impactful,” one NBA scout told Yahoo Sports. “If he gets to 6-10 with the way he’s playing right now, he’ll be a problem in the league.” Meanwhile, Flagg is widely considered the best rim defender at the high school level, regardless of class. However, another player getting plenty of attention is Bryce James. The second son of LeBron, James is ranked #81 in his class. However, that didn’t stop him from getting plenty of looks from NBA scouts. That was followed by his dad giving his team a little coaching help.

LeBron Coaches At Peach Jam

While not present from Bryce’s first game of the tournament, LeBron rolled up to South Carolina in time for the Wednesday game between SFG and Florida Rebels. However, LeBron did a lot more than just watch from the sidelines. Multiple videos, primarily provided by Yahoo Sports‘ Krysten Peek, showed LeBron coaching players and drawing up plays on the sideline. He even had an elite assistant in two-time NBA champion Rajon Rondo.

However, the LeBron-led SFG weren’t able to land the win. They fell 72-67 to the Rebels, putting them at 1-1 with two games to play in the pool stage. The Rebels are led by the #17 prospect in the 2025 class, Jamier Jones. However, the leading scoring for the Rebels in their win over SFG was Jalen Reece, ranked at #59 in the country by Rivals. Reece had 18 points in the win. Meanwhile, Bryce James had 9 points on 4-for-11 shooting. However, there will be an opportunity for a bounce-back game for Bryce and SFG. They play the winless Mokan Elite on July 6. Furthermore, as previously mentioned, Thursday is an especially important day given that college scouts will be in attendance.

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Ticket From LeBron James Scoring Record Game Put Up For Auction

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A $92 ticket stub from the game in which LeBron James broke the NBA’s career scoring record has gone up for auction. LeBron broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s scoring record partway through a February 7, 2023 game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. At the time of writing, LeBron holds the record with 38,652 career regular-season points. The record had stood since 1989 when Abdul-Jabbar retired with 38,387 points. In the nearly 35 years since then, the only person to come close to the record before LeBron was Karl Malone. Even then, Malone, who retired in 2004, only finished with 36,928 points.

While many felt that LeBron breaking the record, given his longevity in both pure time and playing ability, was inevitable, it was still truly a historic moment. Furthermore, many figured it was only a matter of time before collectible items hit the market. Previously, Chris Ivy, the Head of Sports Auctions at Heritage Auctions, suggested that LeBron’s game-worn jersey from that night could be worth as much as $3 million if it ever came to auction. However, the ticket stub appears to be the first collectible from the night. The ticket is not the most scarce item with nearly 19,000 people officially in attendance. However, it is still expected to go for several thousand dollars.

Healthy Market Expected For LeBron Ticket

Lebron embracing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 07: LeBron James, right, hugs Kareem Abdul-Jabbar after becoming the all-time NBA scoring leader, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at 38388 points during the third quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023 in Los Angeles, CA. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

The ticket, graded at Mint 9 by PSA, is being auctioned by the aforementioned Heritage Auctions. At the time of writing, bidding for the ticket sits at $2100. Furthermore, ticketing experts at Heritage told TMZ that they believed the ticket would sell for somewhere in the region of $5000. Despite the excellent quality of the ticket, the price will be suppressed by the potential abundance of other examples of ticketing from the event. By comparison, a badge from the 1997 Masters, signed by Tiger Woods, currently sits at $9000 on Hertiage’s website.

But where does the LeBron ticket sit in comparison to other tickets? There are a few ways to look at this. Purely in terms of tickets alone, the most expensive auction was in March 2022. A ticket from the inaugural 1934 Masters, signed by 17 of the 61 participants, sold for $600,000. It is believed to be just one of two surviving tickets in circulation. A third is held by the Augusta National Golf Club. In terms of basketball tickets, Heritage sold a season ticket from Michael Jordan’s debut for $468,000 in February 2022. While the ticket collectible market is still relatively new, scarcity is the name of the game. As mentioned, there were nearly 19,000 people inside Crypto.com Arena on the night that LeBron broke the record. With that many tickets potentially in circulation, the price will never truly skyrocket unless things drastically change.

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Kendrick Perkins Crowns His MVP Of NBA Free Agency.

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Kendrick Perkins was quick to give high praise to the Los Angeles Lakers. The ESPN analyst believes the Lakers have been crushing the free agency period this summer. Perkins isn’t the only one who seems to feel that way. Lakers star LeBron James recently shared photos of all the players involved in a free-agent move on his Instagram. The franchise realized they needed more talent to compete with a team like the reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets.

On Monday, Perkins appeared on First Take to praise Lakers GM Rob Pelinka. Pelinka has taken some heat in the past for not being as aggressive in bringing in free agents. However, that doesn’t seem like it is the case anymore in Los Angeles. “[Rob Pelinka is the] MVP of the free agency… What he added to this team while being able to keep the core of this group … He won,” Perkins stated. It is hard to argue that anyone is having a better off-season than the Lakers.

Read More: LeBron James Shares Photos Of Lakers Teammates On Instagram

Kendrick Perkins Praises Rob Pelinka

Although there have been other teams find success this summer. Including the Phoenix Suns. The Suns acquired former Wizards star Bradley Beal in a blockbuster move that ultimately sent Chris Paul to Golden State. The Suns have bolstered up their roster. Making the team a massive threat to win the Western Conference. However, the Lakers and others are taking notice in making their own massive moves. The Nuggets will be tested when next season rolls around.

The Lakers desperately needed to make improvements. However, they also needed to bring back some key pieces. Bringing back Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura was vital. Perkins believes the moves from the Lakers will have the team right back in title contention next season. Do you agree with Kendrick Perkins? If not, which team has had the best free agency period? Let your opinions be known in our comment section. For the latest news in sports, keep it right here with HNHH.

Read More: LeBron James Says Rich Paul Is “H.I.M.” Amid Free Agency Successes

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LeBron James Says Rich Paul Is “H.I.M.” Amid Free Agency Successes

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The first night of NBA free agency was a good time to be signed with Rich Paul’s Klutch Sports agency. Draymond Green got $100 million and Jerami Grant got $160 million. Meanwhile, Fred VanVleet signed the biggest-ever contract for an undrafted player, getting three years and $130 million from the Houston Rockets. In just a few hours, Paul had netted three of his biggest clients a combined $390 million. Elsewhere, another Paul client, Cam Reddish, joined the Lakers on a two-year deal with an undisclosed salary.

Paul, whose agency also represents the likes of LeBron, AD, and Zach LaVine, has become of the biggest power brokers in the NBA. With so much talent under his label, Paul can cause the rise and fall of basketball empires if he so wishes. But his free agency heroics have led to a shoutout from one of his prominent clients and biggest supporters.

LeBron Shouts Out Rich Paul

A few hours into free agency, LeBron dared anyone to challenge his close friend and agent. “And y’all still wanna question is Rich Paul is the H.I.M. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. It says a lot about you if you not feeling us. I told him less is more it’s plenty of us.” Of course, Paul and LeBron are likely going to be the biggest storyline of the 2024 offseason. With LeBron on an option year, his future could very well gine on his son. Per Brian Windhorst, “LeBron is much more concerned about playing with Bronny than winning another ring.” If, as is likely, the Lakers don’t draft Bronny, Paul could be central to moving LeBron out of LA.

However, Paul didn’t engineer the biggest deals of the night. CAA Sports, the prominent legacy agency, landed the first $200 million deal of the night. Tyrese Haliburton re-signed with the Pacers for $260 million over five years. A few minutes, Tandem Sports + Entertainment announced that they had secured the first $200 million deal in Grizzlies history for their client, Desmond Bane. Despite this, Paul and Klutch Sports are absolutely leading the way in terms of cumulative success after night one. Follow all the latest sports news here at HotNewHipHop.

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Trae Young Posts Cryptic Response To LeBron James Mock Draft Reaction

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Sports media is already releasing mock drafts for the 2024 NBA Draft. The 2024 class will be an interesting one, marked by a lack of a consensus first-overall pick. However, there are a number of intriguing collegiate prospects, as well as a wealth of international stars leading the class. However, the biggest question on a lot of people’s minds is where Bronny James might land.

James will be coming off a one-and-done year at USC if he chooses to declare in 2024. Bronny is the #19 prospect in his class and that’s around where most early mock drafts have him going. SB Nation has him at #13, NBA Draft Room has him at #28. Meanwhile, most other outlets have somewhere in-between these two extremes. ESPN, which pairs their draft with actual teams, projected James going at #17 to the Hawks.

This caught the attention of LeBron James, who posted an approving reaction to the selection on Instagram. Subsequently, Trae Young, current franchise star of the Atlanta Hawks, posted a cryptic response on Twitter has the NBA rumor mill buzzing.

Related: Kenny Smith says Bronny making it to the NBA is statistically unlikely

Is Trae Young Pushing For A LeBron Trade?

In response to an NBA Central post hypothesizing a LeBron-Bronny partnership on the Hawks, Young tweeted “Talk soon” in response. This immediately set off the rumor mill that the Hawks might push for a LeBron trade. While a fairly wild reaction to a hypothetical happening nearly a year from now, it is the NBA offseason after all.

However, the consensus opinion among pundits is that LeBron will likely push for a trade next offseason to join Bronny on whatever team drafts him. It’s unlikely that the Lakers will have the chance to grab him. If they pick too high in the first round, the Pelicans will likely use their option to take the pick for themselves. However, too low a pick in the first and it’s unlikely that Bronny would still be on the board. Essentially, the Lakers would have to aim for a first-round playoff exit or low lottery finish to acquire Bronny.

It’s likely that Young is just having some fun in response to the already existing fantasizing. However, it does raise the very valid question of just what LeBron is willing to do to achieve is goal of playing alongside Bronny before he retires. LeBron has two years left on his contract with the Lakers, which has a guaranteed figure of $51.4 million for the 2024-25 season.

Related: Bronny James headed on preseason tour of Europe with USC

2024 NBA Draft Class Goes Well Beyond Bronny

So if Bronny isn’t expected to be a lottery pick, who is? At the top of most people’s lists are three names – Matas Buzelis, Ron Holland, and Zaccharie Risacher. None of them will play in college this season but have the potential to be game-changers in the NBA. Holland (#2 ESPN prospect) and Buzelis (#5 ESPN prospect) both opted to join the G League Ignite. Meanwhile, Risacher currently plays in the French pro league.

In terms of college talent, that pool will be led by USC’s Isaiah Collier (#1 ESPN prospect) and Kentucky’s D.J. Wagner (#4 ESPN prospect). Many pundits are also throwing another Kentucky commit, Justin Edwards (#3 ESPN prospect) into that high-lottery consideration as well. It will be interesting to see what USC can do with Collier and Bronny, as well as watching Kentucky’s expected bounce-back to relevance.

However, as mentioned, the cycle returns to a point where there is not a clear-cut number one. Most expect it to be Buzelis. However, a big season from Collier or a Wagner/Edwards-led National Title run from Kentucky could upset the apple cart. The answers to these questions will begin to clarify themselves over the next few months. All we can do is wait.

Related: Bronny James to wear #6 at USC

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LeBron James Reacts To ESPN’s Mock Draft For Bronny

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The question of where Bronny James will land in the 2024 NBA Draft is one that has quickly dominated basketball circles in recent days. Bronny, LeBron’s eldest son, is about to start his freshman year at USC. Many expect him to follow the one-and-done path into the NBA.

However, not everyone has been a fan. Kenny Smith pulled out statistics to argue that Bronny may never make it to the NBA. However, while Smith’s correct purely from a numbers standpoint, it’s hard to see Bronny James going completely undrafted given his last name.

For the time being, mock drafts have him hovering around the tail-end of the lottery. SB Nation has him going at #12. Meanwhile, ESPN, whose mock draft includes specific teams, had him going at #17 to the Hawks. It was this landing spot that caught the eye of LeBron himself.

Related: LeBron James makes bizarre French Montana joke on Instagram

LeBron Reacts To The Hawks Drafting Bronny

Bronny James with LeBron James during a Lakers game.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 07: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts with Bronny James after scoring to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing Abdul-Jabbar’s career total of 38,387 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Crypto.com Arena on February 07, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

LeBron shared ESPN‘s image to his Instagram story, adding the caption “Welllll ATL shawty the #JamesGang will be pulling up!” Safe to say that James wasn’t opposed to his son heading to Atlanta. The Hawks picking at #17 is based on ESPN‘s internal predictions for the draft order.

However, could that force a trade between the Hawks and Lakers? LeBron has been very clear that he would like to play with Bronny before he retires from the NBA. Furthermore, the Lakers may not have a first-round pick in 2024, as the Pelicans currently hold the option to take the Lakers 2024 or 2025 first-rounder.

LeBron currently has two years remaining on his contract. However, that does include a player option year for 2024-25. As Bronny is likely to land somewhere other than the Lakers come the draft, could we see LeBron push for an opt-in and trade deal?

Related: Bronny James to face Nikola Jokić’s former Serbian team during preseason tour

Bronny To Wear #6 At USC

In other father-son news amongst the James family, Bronny will be honoring his father at USC. On June 22, USC announced that Bronny would wear #6 while playing for the school. While Bronny has long worn the number, it has also been a tribute to his father.

LeBron most famously wore #6 during his time in Miami, forgoing the #23 he had worn during the start of his career in Cleveland. Per LeBron, the #6 has also held special meaning to him, as it links in some way to the birthdays of both Bronny and Bryce. Furthermore, LeBron wore #6 for the Lakers during the 2022-23 season.

However, if Bronny is drafted, he will have to find a new number. Perhaps the most famous player other than LeBron to wear #6 was the legendary Bill Russell. when Russell passed away in 2022, the league made the decision to issue a league-wide retirement for the number.

Related: Bronny James to make USC debut in Vegas versus Kansas State

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Los Angeles Lakers Rookie Takes Fun Shot At LeBron James

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The Los Angeles Lakers came up just short of pulling off a miracle season. The team battled injuries all season long. Including top players like LeBron James and Anthony Davis missing time. However, the team found its groove right at the start of the 2023 NBA Playoffs. The Lakers tallied two series victories before falling in the Western Conference Finals. Although the season didn’t end the way they hoped. The 2022-23 campaign wasn’t a complete failure.

Now the Lakers are in the same boat as everyone else. Every team in the league is looking for the right recipe to slow down Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets. The road to the NBA Finals started with the 2023 NBA Draft. The Lakers introduced the newest members of their squad on Monday. As for Jalen Hood-Schifino, he is already jokingly taking pokes at the bear. Hood-Schifino was only seven days old when LeBron was drafted in 2003. A fact that the media just had to bring up during Hood-Schifino’s first press conference.

Read More: The 2023 NBA Draft Was Pure Chaos

Los Angeles Lakers Ready For Another Deep Playoff Run

Hood-Schifino said he had heard that fact before. “I did see that post on ESPN. I was like ‘Dang, LeBron’s old!” Did he just call LeBron old? Yes, he did. But this time, it was all in good fun. The rookie knows how iconic James is to the league and what he brings to the franchise. We know what happens if you call James old with malice behind your words. You get eliminated from the playoffs and then ran off your own team. Maybe Dillon Brooks will think twice the next time.

It’s no secret that the sands in the hourglass are fewer and fewer for James. On Monday, fans celebrated the 20 anniversary of the 2003 NBA Draft class. A class filled with talent from top to bottom. However, James isn’t worried about age, he’s worried about chasing another ring. A fifth to add to his already massive trophy room. Question is, can James and the Lakers reach the mountaintop one more time? Let us know what you think in the comment section. For the latest news in sports, keep it right here with HNHH.

Read More: Dwyane Wade Gives NBA Draftees Some Crucial Advice

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NBA Draft 2003: Fans Look Back On Loaded Class 20 Years Later

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The 2023 NBA Draft just wrapped last week. Fans witnessed Victor Wembanyama hear his name called with the first overall pick. Wembanyama has already been advertised as the next big thing to step on the hardwood this coming season. However, many believe that this class was very top-heavy and filled with talent. But those statements have been said about many draft classes that have come before them. Although one class may stand the test of time.

Monday marks the 20th anniversary of the 2003 NBA Draft. A draft that is now remembered and revered as one of the greatest in NBA history. Of course, the number one overall pick that year was LeBron James. James has gone on to have a stellar career. At least, I think many would agree with that. Also names like Carmelo Anthony, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, and David West were also called that night. Throughout the day, fans have been reminiscing on such a stacked draft.

Read More: Quavo & Offset Honor Takeoff At BET Awards: Twitter Reacts

LeBron James Leads 2003 NBA Draft Class

Yes, this anniversary probably doesn’t sit well with Detroit Pistons fans. The franchise selected Darko Milicic with the second overall pick. Milicic’s career never panned out. Leaving fans to daydream over Anthony, Wade, and Bosh potentially playing for Detroit. However, nobody should expect every pick to turn into a Hall of Fame caliber player. But don’t tell that to a Pistons fan. The wound has to be still fresh from such a massive draft night miss.

Since 2003, many have wondered when the next superclass could make its way to the NBA. One has to wonder that if Wembanyama becomes the star he’s destined to be, could the rest of the 2023 class follow his lead? It would be poetic to see a draft class 20 years later become the next great generation of the NBA. However, someone has to take the mantle. James will enter his 20th year in the league this upcoming season. Time is ticking on the 2003 class. Who is ready to lead the next generation? For the latest news in sports, keep it locked in here at HNHH.

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Bronny James Honors LeBron With USC Jersey Choice

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Bronny James will begin his college career on November 6 against the Kansas State Wildcats. Ranked as the #19 prospect of the 2023 class, James has gotten a lot of hype thanks to his famous father, NBA legend LeBron James.

James joins a USC team that has suffered first-round March Madness losses in back-to-back years. However, the Trojans are also looking to make history this season. If they can make it back to March Madness, it will be the first time that the program has appeared in four consecutive tournaments. They hope to achieve this behind James, and the class’ #1 recruit Isaiah Collier.

The hype has been steadily building ever since James officially committed in May 2023. This has also led to accusations that USC is implementing a “Bronny Tax” on ticket prices. However, James has now made a major announcement that he plans to honor his father with his jersey number.

Related: Bronny James reps Chrome Hearts for his senior prom

Bronny James To Wear #6 At USC

Per USC’s social media, Bronny James will wear the #6 jersey this season. Six is a special number for the James family. Bronny was born October 6 while his younger brother Bryce was born in June, the sixth month of the year. These are two reasons that LeBron James adopted the number when he signed with Miami Heat in 2011. Furthermore, LeBron once again adopted the #6 jersey for his most recent season with the LA Lakers.

However, neither James nor his son (if he makes it to the NBA) will be able to wear #6 at the pro level. The jersey number was retired league-wide following the death of Bill Russell. Despite this, it’s clear that Bronny is paying homage to his father with his USC jersey choice.

While LeBron has not yet confirmed his return to the NBA next season, sources believe that it is more likely than not. If LeBron does stay with the Lakers, he will be playing just 1.5 miles from Bronny. Furthermore, LeBron has previously stated that he wants to play alongside Bronny in the NBA before he retires.

Related: Kenny Smith makes wild claim about Bronny James’ NBA chances

Bronny James Headed Abroad For Preseason Tour

Bronny James poses during the NBA playoffs
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 28: Bronny James, son of LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers, reacts after the basketball game between Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies Round 1 Game 6 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs against Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on April 28, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

However, before James takes the court in Vegas or at the Galen Center, USC are heading to Europe. The Trojans will play a series of games in Greece and Croatia this summer, taking on several professional teams.

While the full schedule is yet to be announced, the most notable team revealed so far is Mega MIS. A perennial contender in the Serbian league, Mega MIS is best known as the team where two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić got his start before being drafted into the NBA.

The Trojans will take on the Serbian outfit in a pair of games on the island of Mykonos. USC will also play in Athens, where James’ father won Olympic bronze in 2004. Beyond the preseason tour and Vegas opener, it remains to be seen what the rest of USC’s schedule has in store for Bronny in what could be his only year in the NCAA.

Related: 2023 NBA Draft recap

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