nba draft

Dallas Mavericks Rookies On Playing With Luka Doncic

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The Dallas Mavericks had a frustrating end to the 2022-23 season. A team that was filled with great talent failed to reach the postseason. Not just great talent, but two of the greatest offensive weapons in the game today. It felt like Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving could never cook up the perfect recipe in late-game situations. The season was a failure, and now the future of Irving in Dallas seems to be unknown. However, now is the time to look ahead to a better future.

The Mavericks made two selections in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft. With those selections, the team chose Duke’s Dereck Lively and Marquette’s Olivier-Maxence Prosper. The franchise is excited to bring in more young talent. But the hope is to surround them with veteran leadership like Irving and Doncic. On Monday, the Mavericks introduced their rookies to the local media. Both young men are excited about the opportunity. However, they’re also excited about one new teammate in particular.

Read More: Kyrie Irving Bidding War Reportedly Non-Existent

Dallas Mavericks Young Stars Ready For The Challenge

When asked about the opportunity to play alongside Luka, Prosper had this to say, “Luka’s one of the best players in the world. Just playing with a guy like that, it’s just amazing. You can learn so much from a guy like that. He’s an unselfish player. He’s a player that loves to pass — loves to create. I’m just excited to be able to play with a guy like that, learn from him, and just compliment him.” Both rookies seemed thrilled to be paired with such a high-caliber player like Doncic.

The offensive side of the ball was not an issue last season for the Mavericks. The team showcased their offensive weapons on a nightly basis. However, stopping the other team from scoring was the main concern. Now Lively and Prosper will need to bring a strong defensive game to the table to make a quick impact. Does the future look bright in Dallas? Let us know what you think about the Mavericks draft picks in our comment section. For the latest news in sports, keep it right here with HNHH.

Read More: Kyrie Irving Reportedly Trying To Recruit LeBron James To Dallas

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Gilbert Arenas Opens Up On Victor Wembanyama’s Strength

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Gilbert Arenas was one of the more prominent names in the NBA during his career. The former Washington Wizards star made a name for himself as a bucket-getter. However, the height of his career was shortened due to injury. Leaving many to wonder what could have been if the Washington guard stayed healthy. Now, Arenas has rapidly grown into a star among the NBA media. With his show ‘Gil’s Arena‘ the former superstar breaks down today’s game from the perspective of someone who has played at the highest level.

The talking point for most in the NBA media landscape currently is phenom Victor Wembanyama. Wembanyama was recently selected first overall in the 2023 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs. The French star has dazzled fans with highlights that no other player could accomplish. The mixture of his supernatural height and his athletic ability had scouts drooling over the opportunity to select him. However, if Webanyama had a negative on his record, it would be his muscle mass. But Arenas doesn’t see that as an issue.

Read More: Damian Lillard Reveals Future Plans With Portland Trail Blazers

Gilbert Arenas Calls Out NBA Big Men

During an interview on the ‘TMZ Sports Show‘ Arenas opened up on the opinion that Wembanyama has to get stronger. “If you can get buckets, you can get buckets. It doesn’t matter how strong you are,” stated Arenas. Arenas even went further to say that most of the big men in the NBA are trash. “He only has two people in the position that he’s going to be guarding, you got [Joel Embiid] and [Nikola Jokic]. That’s six games a year. That’s gonna be real tough for you. Other than that there’s no one in your position. Everyone sucks. Everyone’s trash.”

Certainly, Wembanyama will look to put on some size. However, players like Arenas believe that if he can score, it won’t be a rush to add the extra weight. The Oklahoma City Thunder welcomed Chet Holmgren to their franchise last season. Holmgren has a similar build to Wembanyama. However, Holmgren was sidelined with an injury that cost him the entire season. Do you believe putting on muscle is a priority for Wembanyama? Let us know in the comment section. For the latest news in sports, keep it right here with HNHH.

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

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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.

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

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SOURCE SPORTS: 2023 NBA Draft Was Most-Watched Ever

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2023 NBA Draft Was Most-Watched Ever

The 2023 NBA Draft Presented By State Farm made history as the most-watched NBA Draft ever on any network, as reported by Nielsen. The first round, simulcast on ESPN and ABC, captured an average of 4,928,000 viewers, a significant 24 percent increase compared to last year’s numbers. The draft peaked during the 8 p.m. ET quarter hour, attracting an impressive 6,085,000 viewers.

In total, the NBA Draft garnered an average audience of 3,743,000 viewers across ESPN (both rounds) and ABC (first round-only), marking a substantial 23 percent rise from the previous year. Since its debut on ESPN and ABC in 2021, the NBA Draft has continued to gain momentum.

Notably, the NBA Draft on ESPN and ABC claimed the top spot as the most-watched program of the day across all television networks, appealing to all key demographics. The overwhelming viewership showcases the enduring popularity and widespread interest in the NBA and its aspiring stars.

The 2023 NBA Draft saw world basketball phenomenon Victor Wembanyama picked No. 1 overall for the San Antonio Spurs. Wembanyama made it to San Antonio on Saturday, greeted by “Wem-V-P” chants from adoring fans. You can see it below.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: 2023 NBA Draft Was Most-Watched Ever appeared first on The Source.

Drake Embraces Dick’s Pics By Following The New Toronto Raptors Rookie On Instagram

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Getty Image

It’s a busy and exciting time in the NBA right now. Over the past few days, there were major trades involving Marcus Smart, Kristaps Porziņģis, Bradley Beal, and Chris Paul. All that was leading up to yesterday’s NBA Draft, the headline of which was the unsurprising decision by the San Antonio Spurs to draft Victor Wembanyama with the No. 1 pick.

Gradey Dick also made headlines for his dazzling red outfit before getting selected at No. 13 by the Toronto Raptors (a pretty good pick, in our opinion). After donning his Raptors hat and shaking Adam Silver’s hand, Dick’s mind was on Drake.

In a post-draft press conference, Dick was asked about Drake and he said, “Gotta get out there, see Drake. I haven’t seen him a bunch, but I’m looking forward to that. [Becoming boys with Drake], that’s the goal. I need him to wear my jersey. That’s how I know [I’ve made it]. That’s my priority.”

Now, it appears their friendship is off to a good start: a video shared by the Raptors shows an excited Dick smiling shortly after getting followed on Instagram by Drake.

Drake will surely be happy to see Dick suit up for Toronto: Per our draft analysis, “This is a good value and a good fit. Dick is one of the best shooters in the class with good size for a wing and the ability to move off the ball and shoot on the move. Defensively, he probably won’t be a big plus, but Dick improved as the season went along, and Toronto’s roster could use the infusion of floor spacing.”

Drake Follows Toronto Raptors Rookie On Instagram After Shout Out At NBA Draft

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It was a big night for Gradey Dick. The combo forward/guard out of Kansas, who is considered one of the best shooters in the class, was picked 13th overall by the Raptors during the 2023 NBA Draft.

Furthermore, Dick was one of the biggest personalities at the draft. He rocked up to New York in a dazzling red suit inspired by Wizard of Oz. Meanwhile, his eccentric and hilarious TikTok account was going viral through the draft proceedings.

However, all Dick wanted after being drafted was to get a follow on Instagram from Drake. Additionally, Dick said his eventual goal was to become besties with the Toronto rapper. Well, it appears that Dick got at least one of those wishes on draft night.

Related: 2023 NBA Draft recap

Drake Follows Gradey Dick On Instagram

Soon after making his bold statements to the media, Dick found that his wish had been answered. In Instagram videos reshared by TMZ, Dick showed off his new Instagram follow – @champagnepapi, aka Drake.

“Come on! Champagne Papiii!” Dick was heard yelling excitedly backstage after discovering that Drizzy had given him that all-important follow. The next step is to get a Gradey Dick jersey into the rapper’s hands. “I need him to wear my jersey. That’s my priority,” Dick had said at his press conference.

Obviously, Drake is one of the most prominent Raptors fans around. However, he has often been blamed for the team’s failures, with many people dubbing the Raptors’ recent lack of success the Drake Curse. However, with new coach Darko Rajaković at the helm, maybe the Drake Curse can become a Drake Blessing.

Related: Jack Harlow becomes the latest “cursed” celebrity sports fan

Unreleased Drake Song Heard In Houston Nightclub

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Our Generation Music (@ourgenerationmusic)

However, Instagram follows are not the only reason people are talking about Toronto’s foremost rapper. One of Drake’s unreleased songs somehow made its way into the hands of a DJ at a nightclub in Houston.

Area 29, located in Westwood in southwest Houston, treated fans to a reportedly unreleased track from Drizzy earlier this week. Footage from inside the club was shared by Our Generation Music on Instagram. However, fans in the comments were not blown away by the song. Furthermore, others felt that Drake came off as “sassy.”

In other news surrounding Drake releases, the rapper appeared to confirm that he would be featuring on Business Is Business, the upcoming album from Young Thug. In fact, Drake appears twice on the album, featuring on “Parade On Cleveland” and “Oh U Went”.

Related: Young Thug assures Drake he will be paid for Business Is Business features

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The 2023 NBA Draft Was Pure Chaos

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June 22 marked the 2023 NBA Draft, with 58 of the best college players in the nation chosen by the league’s 30 teams. For the first few picks, everything seemed to be going normally. Victor Wembanyama went first overall as expected, with Twitter getting really thirsty for his pro baller sister, Eve.

The Hornets choose Brandon Miller at two, contrary to Shams Charania’s “sources”, setting up the Blazers to grab Scoot Henderson at three. After that, the Thompson twins went four and five, becoming the first brothers to be drafted in the top five since the ABA/NBA merger.

However, the tail end of the lottery picks is where things began to get weird. Leave it to the Wizards, who dealt Bradley Beal, Kristaps Porziņģis, and Chris Paul before the draft began, to continue having the weirdest offseason in the NBA.

Related: Brian Windhorst gives wild take about LeBron and Victor Wembanyama

Wizards Trigger Draft Weirdness

With the seventh overall pick, the Pacers took Wembanyama’s Mets 92 teammate Bilal Coulilbaly. One pick later, the Wizards took Houston’s Jarace Walker and immediately traded him to the Pacers for Coulilbaly. Two picks later, the Mavericks drafted Kentucky’s Carson Wallace and immediately traded him to the Thunder for the 12th overall pick, Duke’s Dereck Lively II.

Meanwhile, it was a longer wait than expected for Villanova’s Cam Whitmore. Expected to go in the top 10, Whitmore fell to the Rockets at #20. Reportedly, teams were scared off by some worrying medical reports about Whitmore. However, beyond that, the draft proceeded as most pundits expected.

Elsewhere, fans were having a lot of fun with Gradey Dick, drafted by the Raptors at #13. Turns out that Dick is something of a TikTok connoisseur and a number of his videos went viral during the draft. When asked about them, Dick said he would be making some Tiktoks with new teammate Scottie Barnes very soon.

@gradeydick

Love u boys! 🪂🤪 #fypシ #xybca @Kev

♬ original sound – GD

Related: Dwyane Wade tells NBA rookies to get a financial manager

More Offseason Chaos To Come?

However, just because the trade is over doesn’t mean the offseason is. We can likely expect a few more blockbuster moves in the coming weeks. For example, teams are reportedly lining up with bids for Damian Lillard after the Blazers opted to draft Scoot Henderson. Lillard has been very vocal about not wanting to be part of a “youth movement” in Portland.

Elsewhere, the Atlanta Hawks are reportedly in hot pursuit of the Raptors’ Pascal Siakam. However, it is believed that talks have stalled as of late due to Toronto’s high demands for the fan-favorite player. The Hawks have had “several creative trade packages” rejected according to recent reports.

Furthermore, Cleveland has been fielding some offers for all-star big man Jarrett Allen. Despite this, a move might be unlikely now that the draft has passed. Cleveland held just one pick in the draft, taking Eastern Michigan’s Emoni Bates with the 49th pick. However, it’s still early days in the NBA offseason and anything could happen.

Related: Paul George take appears unlikely

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Charlotte Hornets Eyeing Scoot Henderson With Second Overall Pick

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With the NBA Draft just hours away, the question remains as to what will happen with the second-overall pick. Currently held by the Charlotte Hornets, the team has been linked with a number of trades to acquire talent. However, it has become more and more evident that the Hornets are moving towards selecting a player with the pick.

That in itself raises another question – who? Beyond presumptive first-overall pick Victor Wembanyama, there is a less definitive second-best prospect in the draft. However, experts rank Alabama’s Brandon Miller and the G League’s Scoot Henderson as the best prospects after Wembanyana.

For most of the pre-draft process, it is believed that the Hornets valued Miller over Henderson. This was largely over beliefs that Henderson would challenge LaMelo Ball’s position in the starting lineup, while Miller could fill a bigger need for the team. However, the most recent reports suggest that Charlotte’s opinions are changing.

Related: Boston Celtics get Kristaps Porziņģis and first-round picks in three-team trade with Wizards, Grizzlies

Henderson’s Draft Stock Rises For The Hornets

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, it has become a much tougher decision for the Hornets. Per Charania, the decision will be made in the draft. Furthermore, the Hornets will not be informing either player that they will be the selection before they submit the pick to the league office. Per Hornets GM Mitch Kupchak, outgoing owner Michael Jordan will have the final say on the pick.

This, as noted by Yahoo Sports‘ Jake Fischer, is the long-time MO of Kupchak. Back in 2015, Kupchak was GM of the Warriors, who also held the #2 pick. Narrowing down the choice to D’Angelo Russell and Jahlil Okafor, Kupchak kept the choice under wraps until it was sent to the league office.

Henderson’s entrance into the NBA has been highly anticipated for many years. He forwent the NCAA to play in the G League, one of many in this draft class. Listed at 6″3 and 185lbs, he is the best point guard of the draft class. However, both he or Miller could change the fortunes of the Hornets’ ailing franchise.

Related: Michael Jordan sells Hornets to an ownership group including J. Cole

Draft Night Drama After Hornets Pick?

With the Hornets seemingly locking in on using the second-overall pick, we will see a dramatic draft night trade? The decision that the Portland Trail Blazers make at #3 could affect the organization for years to come. They could trade whoever the Hornets don’t pick one pick earlier. However, that could drive Damian Lillard out of Portland.

Alternatively, they could finally swing a trade to bring an elite teammate for a win-now run with Dame. However, this could be a move that dooms the franchise if they fall short of the ring. Furthermore, they have lost some of the leverage they once had, as teams who want to trade up for Henderson will now look to speak with Charlotte and not the Blazers.

In terms of rumored movement, Portland reportedly had a trade for Paul George rejected by the Clippers. Meanwhile, Brian Windhorst is reporting that despite the Blazers shutting down trade talk for Lillard, a number of teams are still preparing offers. This comes as the Blazers saying that they intend to use their pick tonight. However, that cannot be confirmed until Adam Silver stands at that podium in New York.

Related: Washington Wizards trade Chris Paul to the Golden State Warriors

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SOURCE SPORTS: Victor Wembanyama Reveals to ‘GMA’ Host Robin Roberts if He Didn’t Play Basketball He Would Find a Career in Art

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Victor Wembanyama Reveals to 'GMA' Host Robin Roberts if He Didn't Play Basketball He Would Find a Career in Art

In a revealing Good Morning America interview, Victor Wembanyama, the highly anticipated NBA Draft prospect, opened up about his life beyond the basketball court.

Speaking with GMA co-anchor Robin Roberts, Wembanyama disclosed his second passion: drawing. The young basketball sensation expressed his love for art and revealed that if he hadn’t pursued a career in basketball, he would have dedicated his time to honing his artistic skills. This revelation offers a glimpse into the multi-dimensional talents and interests of the potential top overall NBA Draft pick.

“When I’ve got nothing to do, the first thing my mind is going to think about is grab a pencil and a sheet of paper and draw something,” Wembanyama said.

Entering the draft, it is all but declared that Wembanyama will join the San Antonio Spurs as the No. 1 overall pick. You can see the full interview below.

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Dwyane Wade Gives NBA Draftees Some Crucial Advice

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Dwayne Wade is one of the greatest players to ever set foot on an NBA court. After a standout career at Marquette, including a Final Four run in 2003, Wade was drafted fifth overall by the Heat. That’s where he spent most of his career, winning three NBA titles. His jersey was retired following his 2019 retirement and he will absolutely be a first-ballot Hall of Famer when eligible.

Wade made nearly $200 million from his NBA contracts alone, including $2.6 million in his rookie year. As players get better and better, and the NBA gets more and more lucrative, young players are having million of dollars thrust upon them. This can be overwhelming and lead to regrettable choices. However, Wade was on had in a recent interview to provide some advice about how rookies should handle their money.

Dwyane Wade Gives Financial Advice To NBA Rookies

Approached by TMZ ahead of the draft, Wade dished out his top advice for anyone hoping to get drafted. “Take in the moment, it goes fast. You only get one draft,” Wade began. When the TMZ interviewer asked what financial advice he had, Wade merely replied that he wasn’t a financial advisor. However, he did also provide a little more advice when pressed. “Try to get you somebody in your life that really knows finances,” Wade said. “Somebody who, hopefully, you can build a relationship with. Hopefully, you can build a trust with eventually.”

The 2023 NBA Draft begins at 8pm ET on June 22. The San Antonio Spurs are expected to take generational talent Victor Wembanyama first overall. Despite rumors that they might trade back, at the time of writing, it seems as if the Hornets and Blazers will also take places at the two and three spots. Some draft picks have traded hands in recent days, however. The Boston Celtics will pick at #25 after acquiring the pick from Memphis. Meanwhile, the Nuggets traded back into the first round in a deal with the Pacers. Follow all the latest NBA news here at HotNewHipHop.

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