nba basketball

Lamar Odom Considering Coaching At His Alma Matter

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Lamar Odom is potentially about to become the head coach for his former New York High School, according to a TMZ source. He has been in talks with Redemption Christian Academy, located in Troy, NY. The former L.A. Laker power forward is seriously considering the position after he reportedly reached out to the school back in June acquiring about the current head coach. School faculty asked if he would be willing to take up the position, in which he would start in August and coach for four months during winter basketball season.

Redemption Christian Academy is where Lamar Odom played for his senior high school year. Parade Magazine named him the National Player of the Year for that season, where he put up a gaudy average stat line of 25 points, 17 rebounds, 12 assists, and five blocks. He also went to the McDonald’s All-American game that year and was invited to the 1997 Magic Johnson Roundball Classic. He then was drafted by the L.A. Clippers with the fourth overall pick in 1999.

Read more: Khloe Kardashian Reveals How She Still Feels Bad For Tristan Thompson & Lamar Odom

Lamar Odom & His Potential Coaching Prowess

Odom’s NBA career took a lot of twists and turns, both on and off the court. He played for four teams and with the Clippers twice to begin and end his time in the National Basketball Association. In the middle, he played the majority of his career in Los Angeles but as a Laker. In the purple-and-gold, Lamar Odom won two NBA Championships in 2009 and 2010, as well as a Sixth Man of the Year award in 2011. He was the first Laker to ever win that bench honor.

Lamar played in Europe and Dubai to end his professional basketball days. He played one game in the original Big3 season but was deactivated by the league after an abysmal performance. Despite the fizzling out at the end, Odom was a solid role player for over a decade in the NBA. Sources from TMZ say the school has given Lamar only a few weeks to decide whether he wants to coach at his alma matter. If he opts in, he’ll move to New York for the season. He’s also looking to continue with his business degree, which would help with his Odom Recovery Group.

Read more: Lamar Odom Acquires Rehab Center

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Ben Simmons Not Rushing His Return, According To Nets GM

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Summertime is when NBA players are looking to get their bodies completely right for the start of the season in October. However, for Ben Simmons, it’s been multiple years of mental and physical health problems, which makes every injury update pivotal. The most recent news is “Simmons isn’t yet playing 5-on-5, not going to rush his return,” according to Stefan Bondy on Twitter. Adding onto this report, Brooklyn Nets GM Sean Marks let Bondy and New York Post reporter Brian Lewis that”He’s not doing 3-on-3 or 5-on-5 yet. I was down there two weeks ago [with] him [and] training staff and saw the progress.”

Back in early June, Ben Simmons announced he was back on the court, working on individual drills. However, the progress is slow as he returns from a nerve impingement in his lower back. Of course, there are also the mental health issues surrounding the pressure he’d felt back when he was with the Philadelphia 76ers. Some reporters and pundits have questioned his commitment to basketball, but Sean Marks has a note on that as well: “Happy to report he’s in great physical shape [and] also mentally. He’s rearing and champing at the bit to get out there.”

Read more: Ben Simmons Could Reportedly Be Part Of Damian Lillard Trade

Ben Simmons Is Reportedly A Trade Chip

Sean Marks could be blowing smoke into the air with this Ben Simmons non-update. While Simmons isn’t playing with any true competition, it’s important for the Nets to continue to showcase him as a valuable asset with plenty of potential. As HotNewHipHop reported last week, he could be available for trade as part of a package to land Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard. Even though he has not played since February 15th, his hefty contract and youth could be exactly what Portland is looking for in return for their franchise superstar, along with a ton of draft picks.

In the meantime, Ben Simmons will continue his snail-pace rehab. Back impingements are serious pain issues that can only be remedied with rest and other gentle treatments like applying heat to the area. Hopefully, he can get back to competitive gameplay for the start of the NBA season. He was acquired by the Nets two seasons ago, in early 2022, in exchange for James Harden to go to the 76ers. Brooklyn also received Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, and two future unprotected first-round picks. (The 76ers also got Paul Millsap in the trade.)

Read more: Draymond Green Reveals What Is Holding Back Ben Simmons

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Ice Cube Calls Out NBA For Lack Of Big3 Coverage

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Ice Cube has been trying to make his Big3 Basketball League mainstream for a few years now. However, he has this feeling that the entire basketball world is against him. Case in point: The rapper-turned-actor-turned-league-founder ripped on the NBA regarding their lackadaisical coverage of the 3-on-3 league. He says that he’s now “part of the club” and that his league is pissing the “gatekeepers” off.

“Mainstream media, they ain’t f*cking with us,” Ice Cube says in the four-minute video he posted on Twitter. “And that’s cool, we can do it ourselves, you know what I’m saying?” He digs deep into how while the NBA isn’t necessarily working with them, and he doesn’t want them to, he wants the NBA to stop working against the Big3. “We still on the rise without these motherf*ckers,” he claims. “If we don’t need ’em, you don’t need ’em.”

Read more: Ice Cube Calls Out “Gatekeepers” Blocking His Big3 League

Ice Cube Heated Over NBA Working Against Big3

Ice Cube asks himself what he’s going to do to deal with the gatekeepers and the NBA allegedly trying to keep the Big3 League quiet. He says he will go on a “F*ck The Gatekeepers” podcast tour. Ice wants to get his message out, letting people know straight from the source what he’s seeing on the backend of the basketball business. “Some people may get pissed off because I’m going to talk to everybody,” he says at the end of the video. “I’m not playing.”

The goal of the Big3, according to Ice Cube, is to give the fans something during the doldrums of summer sports. The only major offering is baseball, with Wimbledon and a few golf tournaments sprinkled in. With the Big3, fans get a fun, competitive basketball product with familiar names. While Ice is working to silence the critics and push through the gatekeepers, there is plenty of support. Rapper 50 Cent is on record praising the Big3. He congratulated the former NWA rapper for “creating a path” for more sports leagues to crop up in what’s mostly a monopolized industry.

Read more: Ice Cube Claims The Music And Prison Industries Work Together

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Ja Morant Responds To Isaiah Thomas’ Next Year Comments

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Isaiah Thomas offered his two cents on the Ja Morant situation, with the young NBA star dealing with flashing guns on his Instagram Live multiple times. Thomas threw this out on his Twitter: “Watch what type of season Ja has next year with D Rose connected to his hip all year long.” He’s referring to Derrick Rose, a veteran NBA player who was the youngest season MVP winner of all time back in 2011. “Once he gets off suspension, he will have his best season yet,” Thomas continues.

Ja Morant is serving a 25-game suspension, handed down by Adam Silver, for violation of the league’s policy around guns and gun violence. He plays for the NBA franchise Memphis Grizzlies, which suspended Ja for a few games last year for his first incident. He allegedly went to therapy during that suspension and claimed to be feeling better. However, a second Instagram Live in which he flashed a piece made people not so sure. (He has since proved that the second incident was a fake gun.)

Read more: Ja Morant Lawsuit Depositions Reveal New Details About Gun Incident, 2022 Fight

Ja Morant’s Recent Gun Issues

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Isaiah Thomas finishes his Ja comments with, “That D rose presence going to have him on some MVP sh*t… Watch!” To which Ja Morant replied: “[You] too loud, OG. [They] gon feel me fasho.” He seems to agree with Isaiah that he is putting the off-the-court issues behind him and getting focused on basketball. The Memphis Grizzles signed Derrick Rose, announcing the signing on July 3rd. Deal terms were not disclosed to the public, per team policy. Ideally, Rose will help guide the young guard through a more successful era of his career.

Ja Morant is one of the most talented players in today’s NBA. Drafted number two overall in 2019, the point guard was the Rookie of the Year in 2020. That year’s rookie class might go down as one of the most talented in quite some time. Zion Williamson went number one overall, but injuries have derailed his career so far. Other than that, RJ Barrett, De’Andre Hunter, and Darius Garland round out the top five. They all play pivotal roles on playoff-caliber teams.

Read more: Ja Morant Allegedly Feels Like The NBA Is “Out To Get Him”

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Damian Lillard Reportedly Being Recruited By Jayson Tatum

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Damian Lillard is easily one of the best point guards in the entire NBA. Unfortunately, there are some haters out there who feel as though he hasn’t won enough. Overall, his time with the Portland Trail Blazers has been frustrating. The team has never surrounded him with the talent necessary to win. However, he has now requested a trade from the team, which means he may finally get an opportunity to win. Lots of teams want him, and it is going to be very fun to watch.

For now, it seems clear that Damian Lillard wants to go to the Miami Heat. Although, the Trail Blazers have stated that they will do what is best for the franchise. With the Heat offering up a substandard trade, Lillard could be forced elsewhere. One team that has been theorized is the Boston Celtics. Jaylen Brown might not re-sign with the team and they are in need of a point guard. As Marc J Spears reports, Tatum is currently recruiting the point guard to his team.

Read More: Damian Lillard’s List Of Potential Trade Destinations Grows

Damian Lillard To The Celtics?

Jayson Tatum and Damian Lillard on the same team would prove to be incredibly effective and dangerous. However, it is still unknown whether or not it is going to happen. Sure, the Celtics have a lot of assets, but they may not be willing to part ways with them. The Blazers are going to want a lot for their franchise cornerstone, and this entire process is going to be fascinating to watch. Not to mention, it seems clear that Dame has no say in where he gets to go right now.

This is going to be a story that we will be tracking for the next few days and weeks. It remains to be seen how much time it will take for the trade to finally materialize. No matter what, it is going to be a blockbuster. Let us know where you want to see Dame, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news from the sports world.

Read More: Damian Lillard Stands Strong On Preferred Trade Destination

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Juelz Santana Says He’s Not A Fan Of Kobe Bryant

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Juelz Santana is a rapper with almost three decades of experience under his belt. That means he’s seen a lot of NBA basketball go down over the years. Entire generations of basketball greats, with front-row seats to some of the hottest names in the sport. And through all of that, Juelz has one thing to say: He wasn’t a fan of Kobe Bryant. As shocking as that claim might be, it makes way more sense when Juelz Santana provides context to the statement.

Despite the lack of love coming from Juelz, he says that the LA Laker legend “demanded my respect.” “You couldn’t hate on him. No matter what,” Juelz said in a brief conversation with sportswriter Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson. The NBA Insider at Bally Sports Network also relayed that Juelz was a big Michael Jordan fan back when he was dominating the league. Santana further explains that people treated MJ like how he treated Kobe. They were both guys people didn’t like, but those people couldn’t say anything bad about them due to their greatness.

Read more: Young Thug, Juelz Santana, French Montana, And Other Rappers Referenced In YNW Melly Murder Trial

Why Juelz Santana Didn’t Like Kobe Bryant

Juelz Santana was not a huge Kobe Bryant fan because everybody at the time was claiming that Kobe was better than MJ. Being the big supporter of Jordan that he was, this common belief did not sit well. “[Everybody] always said he was better than Jordan,” said Santana, via Robinson, “so that was my whole dilemma with not being a Kobe fan.” Again, he did not knock the sheer impressiveness of the Black Mamba in his heyday. He doesn’t have a bad thing to say about Kobe, he just has to defend his day one guy, the guy who Kobe looked up to all his life.

Other than the miscellaneous pop culture drama, Juelz Santana is currently working on his latest album, We In Motion. The album reportedly has numerous collaborations, and he teased the tracklist a few months ago. However, he’s been teasing this album for about half a year, with delays crushing the excitement. His interview with Scoop B might help raise the buzz once more, especially with hot takes like not being a Kobe fan.

Read more: Juelz Santana Denies Cheating On Kimbella, Admits To Infidelity In The Past

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Jordyn Woods And Karl-Anthony Towns Go Luxury Shopping In Paris

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Amid dozens of celebrities’ flocking to Paris to celebrate Paris Fashion Week, Jordyn Woods and Karl-Anthony Towns joined in. The pair went on quite the extravagant shopping spree at Hermes and pictures of their haul made it to social media. The reality star and NBA player have likely had many suck shopping sprees since they started dating in 2020. This time many fans were drawn in by the contrast between their fancy shopping and KAT’s very plain fit.

Every time Jordyn Woods posts to social media it tends to go viral. Most recently, pictures from the couple’s vacation to Dubai made the rounds. They got attention not just for Woods’ stunning looks, but also Towns being the perfect Instagram boyfriend. In a recent stunning photo, he could be found in the comments hyping up his own picture taking abilities. Woods’ comment sections have also been subject to plenty of hate recently. Many people are claiming she’s using various tactics to slim down for summer. But many more are even louder praising her various looks.

Jordyn Woods and KAT Shopping Spree

Jordyn Woods and Karl-Anthony Towns recently celebrated their third anniversary as a couple. Both had heartfelt Instagram posts ready to drop for each other to celebrate the occasion. Karl-Anthony Towns’ team, the Minnesota Timberwolves, fell to the eventual champion Denver Nuggets. The team lost 4-1 despite strong individual efforts from Town, Anthony Edwards, and D’Angelo Russell.

Karl-Anthony Towns caught some heart earlier this year for a comment about his unique NBA profile. He claimed that when he retires he wants people to say he “changed the game.” That phraseology is often reserved for the best of the best players and many felt KAT didn’t quality. One of those who protested was Golden State Warriors’ star Draymond Green. He made a statement on Twitter checking KAT’s claim and calling out Patrick Beverly for hosting him on his podcast. What do you think of Jordyn Woods and Karl-Anthony Towns recent shopping spree? Let us know in the comment section below.

Read More: Jordyn Woods Wore The Same Dress As Kylie Jenner On Recent Date With Karl-Anthony Towns

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Wilt Chamberlain Rookie Uniform Auctioned For Record $1.79M

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Wilt Chamberlain as a rookie was already an unstoppable force. He averaged over 37 points and 27 rebounds per game that season, making it to the Eastern Conference Finals (where his Philadelphia Warriors lost to Bill Russell’s Boston Celtics in six games). This was the 1959-1960 season, the first of many for Wilt’s storied career. His jersey during that season has just been immortalized at auction, selling for a record $1.79 million. (TMZ Sports broke the news first.)

SCP Auctions, Inc., a memorabilia store in Laguna Niguel, CA, claims the sale is a record for any vintage sports item. Chamberlain’s number 13 jersey with the patented “Phila” shorthand is an easily recognizable piece of memorabilia. The man was a walking stat sheet, averaging 30 points a game for his career and almost 23 rebounds a game. He shot well over 50 percent from the floor and rarely came out of the game, averaging almost 46 minutes. (A basketball game lasts 48 minutes.)

Read more: Mychal Thompson Calls Out Stephen A. Smith For Controversial Wilt Chamberlain Take

Wilt Chamberlain’s Legacy

(Original Caption) Boston Celtics’ Bill Russell (rear) pins Warriors’ Wilt Chamberlain’s right arm, and holds him, during a wild 4th quarter in which both sides fought. Boston won the game, 119-104, at Boston Garden, to take a 3-2 game advantage over the Warriors in the series.

A tireless rebounder and a prolific scorer, Wilt used his 7-foot-1 height to his advantage as one of the tallest centers around in the 1960s. He played an entire decade with the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors/76ers, heralding the organization through multiple locations and name changes. He spent the last five years of his career with the L.A. Lakers, playing every game save for one injury-ridden season. At the height of his powers, he averaged a whopping 50 points and 25 rebounds per game. No one in the NBA today could ever dream of coming close.

Wilt’s jersey came with the short shorts worn at nearly every home game during the ’59-’60 season. Three authenticators photo-matched the uniform to pictures of the late Wilt dominating that year, confirming its legitimacy. Wilt Chamberlain won both Rookie of the Year and MVP honors in his first NBA season, a sign of things to come. Wilt was nothing short of incredible throughout his entire life, until his death in 1999. The new owner of “The Big Dipper’s” jersey and shorts (unknown at this time) should be ecstatic to have such a priceless piece of sports history.

Read more: This Wilt Chamberlain Highlight Reel Has NBA Fans In Awe

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Jimmy Butler Delivers Message To Heat Teammates From The Beach

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Jimmy Butler is easily one of the best players in the league when it comes time for the postseason. Although he hasn’t been able to win an NBA title, there is no doubt that he wills his teams to victory. Overall, the Miami Heat had no business being in the NBA Finals this season. That said, they were still able to make it all the way. It was a truly incredible run that showcased how important it is to have a well-rounded team. While the Finals were a wash, they at least put up a good fight.

Subsequently, the Denver Nuggets are currently being seen as contenders and even favorites for next year. However, very few people are giving the Heat a chance in 2023-24. Mostly, this is due to the fact that they were an eighth seed this past season. Typically, runs like this one take a bit of luck and are hard to replicate. That said, Butler is still very happy with his team’s efforts. He explained as such in a recent Instagram video, where he congratulated his teammates on an amazing season.

Read More: Stephen A. Smith Doubts Jimmy Butler’s Star Power

Jimmy Butler Speaks

He noted that an NBA season is an incredibly difficult thing to get through. Moreover, he revealed that there aren’t any teammates in the world that he would rather go through the journey with. While losing in the NBA Finals surely stung a bit, the path to those Finals was something to behold. Furthermore, it is something that he is going to remember for the rest of his life. It’s a great message that fans can surely be proud of.

Soon, the NBA offseason will begin and teams will be able to make changes to their rosters. The Heat is a team that is being hit with numerous rumors. For instance, some believe they will be going after Damian Lillard. Only time will tell whether or not that is the case. Let us know what you think of this, in the comments section below.

Read More: Jimmy Butler Moons Bam Adebayo During Press Conference

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Drake Wins Big After The Nuggets Take Down The Heat

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Drake is someone who loves to engage in some sports wagers every now and then. Overall, this love of gambling has led him to a partnership with Stake. The crypto gambling platform has afforded him the ability to make bets on a whim. Recently, he bet a total of $1.25 million on the Denver Nuggets to win the NBA title. Although, this money was split into two separate bets. Firstly, he bet $1 million on the Nuggets to win outright. This would pay him $1.23 million. However, his biggest bet was for the Nuggets to win in five games. This $250K bet would net him $850K.

Well, in case you missed it, the Denver Nuggets won the NBA Championship last night in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Simply put, Drake made good on his exceptional bet. Now, the rapper is a whole $830K richer following his two wins. Overall, this is a huge haul, and it is all thanks to the heroics of none other than Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic. Although the Finals weren’t the best series ever, Drake is still going to take this massive win.

Read More: Lil Durk Clarifies Kevin Gates Comparison On Drake’s “Search & Rescue” Leak

The Nuggets Make Drake Wealthier

Drake has a questionable wager history. While he has certainly won quite a few bets, he has also lost a lot of them as well. Either way. this win will certainly have recouped a lot of his money. That said, it could be a while before Drizzy gets to place another wager. That is because the NFL is done, the NBA is done, and tonight, the NHL has the potential to be finished as well. However, there could be some good UFC events in the future that will be worth a look-see.

As for the Nuggets, this was their first-ever NBA title. The team had never even made it to the NBA Finals before, which just goes to show how amazing this win is. They are the first first-time champions since the Toronto Raptors, who accomplished that feat back in 2019. Let us know what you thought of the NBA Finals, in the comments section down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news from the music world.

Read More: Drake Pens Farewell Message To Toronto Before Tour

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