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Kyrie Irving Pays Homage To His Late Mother With Special New Shoes

May 8, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Kyrie Irving has been balling out in the NBA playoffs. The Dallas Mavericks’ star point guard helped secure his team’s advance to the second round by soundly defeating the Los Angeles Clippers. Now Irving and his partner in Crime, Luka Doncic, are facing the no. 1-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite the intensity of the playoffs, Kyrie still had time to make a very nice gesture to his late mother. This Mother’s Day, Kyrie Irving is commemorating his late mother, Elizabeth, with a pair of limited-edition ANTA sneakers that represent her “wisdom and protective spirit.”

The Chinese clothing company signed Irving to a shoe deal in July 2023. They revealed on Tuesday that the new Kyrie shoes will be released this weekend. The special sneakers have a lot of references and are a homage to Irving’s mother. The shoe features her name written on the outsole in addition to the phrase “Mother” stitched on the heel pull and strap. The colors and pattern, according to ANTA, also honor the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, of which Kyrie’s grandmother was a member.

Kyrie’s New Mother’s Day Shoes Show Love To His Mom

ANTA said in a statement, “The new release honors Elizabeth Irving, Kyrie’s mother, whose influence and legacy are woven into the very fabric of this special edition.” Kyrie Irving’s mother died of an illness when he was 4 years old. Throughout his career, Kyrie has talked about the loss several times, expressing how it has affected him not being able to accomplish many career and life firsts with her. The special basketball shoes will be available in men’s sizes 8-to-13 and will be sold exclusively at Sneaker Room in New Jersey. The shoes will go for $125.

Kyrie has had a massive playoff so far. The Dallas Mavericks are down 1-0 to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The series looks like it will be a long and hard-fought matchup. The Mavericks’ Luka Doncic has yet to really hit his stride in the playoffs, as he has struggled to replicate his regular-season form. The one-two punch of Kyrie and Luka means that the Mavericks have a chance to beat any team in the world.

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Jamal Murray Hit With Huge Fine After Throwing Heating Pad At Ref

May 8, 2024 by newhiphopnews

The Denver Nuggets were embarrassed by the Minnesota Timberwolves on their home court on Monday night. The Nuggets were frustrated early with the Wolves’ physicality and felt that they were not getting foul calls. Denver coach Mike Malone ran onto the court and confronted referee Mark Davis but ultimately did not receive a technical foul or ejection. Later in the first half, Jamal Murray, who was super frustrated by the relentless defense, threw a heating pad at Davis while he was on the bench. Now, the league has handed down its punishment on Murray.

Despite the hefty price tag of $100,000, Jamal Murray will still be able to contribute to the Denver Nuggets in Game 3 of their Western Conference Semifinal series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The NBA announced on Tuesday night that Murray’s behavior during Game 2 warranted a significant fine but no suspension. The league’s leniency is a stark reminder of the potential harm that could have been caused if someone had slipped on the heating pad and gotten hurt. Murray and the Nuggets dodged a bullet, and the player was fortunate enough to escape with just a financial penalty.

Jamal Murray Won’t Be Suspended For Heating Pad Incident

The following was released by the NBA: pic.twitter.com/MlbHrJ3qtQ

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 7, 2024

Murray was displeased with the refereeing for most of the first half as the Wolves outscored Denver in their home arena. He reached his breaking point when Karl-Anthony Towns was not called for a travel at one point in the second quartet. He headed to the bench and proceeded to hurl a towel onto the ground. Then, he picked up a heat pack and hurled it towards the official. It landed on the court and was kicked away before anyone could accidentally get caught up and slip on it. Murray wwasn’teven called for anything during the game because no one really saw it. Only the viewers watching on TV caught the action.

With a 106-80 victory, the Wolves took a 2-0 lead in the series. Murray finished with 13 rebounds, two assists, two steals, a block, and eight points on 3-for-18 shooting. The defending champs are officially in trouble as the series heads to Minnessotta. Anthony Edwards is on a tear, and the Wolves look like they were built specifically to beat Denver. Denver needs MVP Nikola Jokic and his partner in crime, Jamal Murray, to step it up seriously.

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Antonio Brown Sends Heartfelt Message To Caitlin Clark To Squash Beef

May 8, 2024 by newhiphopnews

After multiple social media attacks on Catilin Clark, Antonio Brown is waving the white flag. The one-sided beef between Brown and Clark is apparently over, as Brown has sent out a heartfelt message and apology to the women’s basketball star. The former NFL star has a habit of going after people on social media. Furthermore, he continues to disparage NFL great and current sports personality Shannon Sharpe on Twitter. Brown is known now primarily for his antics that cause controversy and discourse online. He set his eyes on Caitlin Clark a few weeks ago and continued to say inappropriate things to no response except getting blacked. Now, he has issued an apology.

Antonio Brown issued a heartfelt apology to Caitlin Clark on a new diecast appearance. The former wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the hooper started a dispute last month after the former made offensive remarks on Twitter, prompting the Indiana Fever point guard to block him from the platform. However, AB made an attempt to reach out to her on Tuesday during an appearance on “Fearless with Jason Whitlock” by claiming he was only kidding around.

Antonio Brown Apologizes To Caitlin Clark

“We love you. There’s no drama here,” Antonio Brown said to Caitlin Clark on the show. He then praised the no.1 pick in the WNBA draft, saying, “I’m excited about what you’re going to do for women’s basketball. You’re an amazing player. I love to watch your game, it brings a lot of excitement and energy.” At one point, Brown expressed his desire to have a conversation with her and maybe conduct an interview, saying he believed it would help the 22-year-old gain more visibility. It’s a nice gesture, but Clark probably doesn’t need any platform provided by Brown. Brown also affirmed that his daughter holds her in high regard.

Caitlin Clark has yet to respond, and she will likely not. It is in no one’s interest but Antonio Brown to pay him any mind. Clark is in the midst of preparing for her debut WNBA season. She showed that her game is ready for the next level after she dismantled the Dallas Wings in her first pre-season game. The WNBA regular season begins on May 14th. Overall, Antonio Brown’s apologizing is a good thing. Caitlin Clark is already a star and probably won’t respond to the former NFL star.

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Shannon Sharpe Says Victor Wembanyama Will Be NBA MVP In 3-Years

May 7, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Victor Wembanyama has been named the unanimous rookie of the year and received his much-deserved award. The French big man more than lived up to the enormous expectations that he had. Wembanyama finished the season averaging 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks per game. He was a force on both ends, and the future looks exceptionally bright for Wemby and the San Antonio Spurs. Active players and folks covering the league are all in on Wemnby’s talent. This morning on First Take, Shannon Sharpe declared that the league would essentially belong to him in just a couple of years.

During a segment, Sharpe and his partner in crime, Stephen A. Smith, discussed Victor unanimously winning the Rookie of the Year award. Both pundits said it was a no-brainer and had glowing praise for how good he was in his rookie season. Shannon Sharpe then declared that Wemby would easily be an MVP of the league in the next few years. To Shannon Sharpe, it’s a foregone conclusion that Victor will be the best player in the league pretty soon.

Shannon Sharpe Claims Victor Wembanyama Will Be MVP By Age 23

Shannon Sharpe has seen enough from the talented rookie to declare he will most definitely be an MVP sooner rather than later. How soon? Sharpe says in three to four years, Wemby will be league MVP. Sharpe says Wemby will easily average over 25 points points per game with at least 12 boards and will average 3 to 4 blocks per game. He does it on both ends and will be such a force that Shannon believes it’s a no-brainer that he will be an MV soon. Stephen A. Smith did not necessarily disagree with Unc but had some doubts. He didn’t doubt what Wemby would produce but what players the San Antonio Spurs will be able to put around him. The only thing holding him back in Stephen A.’s mind is if Sana Antonio can bring in better players.

Even though the Spurs added Wemby, they finished the season with just as bad a record, which earned them the number one pick to draft the Frenchmen. The only thing holding Wemby back from dominating the league is the team around him. If San Antonio can add some solid pieces and another All-Star quality player around Wemby, then the skies are the limit. All in all, Wembanyama will almost certainly be an MVP one day, and it might be sooner than you think.

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Jamal Murray Throws Heat Pack At Ref During Blowout Loss To The Timberwolves

May 7, 2024 by newhiphopnews

The Minnesota Timberwolves put a beating on the Denver Nuggets last night. The Wolves, led by Anthony Edwards, completely outplayed the defending champions. They were everywhere. Their physical play and relentless defense made the Nuggets seem pedestrian in comparison. Anthony Edwards and Karl Anthony-Towns combined for 54 points to make the series 2-0 Wolves. The OWlves were without their anchor on defense, Rudy Gobert, who missed the game for the birth of his first child, but it didn’t matter. The Nuggets were irate throughout the game, and it felt like the referees were against them. Jamal Murray got so heated at a call that he threw a heating pack at a ref while he was seated on the bench.

In the first half of Game 2, Jamal Murray and the Denver Nuggets did not have the best of time. Denver got blasted by the No. 1 defense and couldn’t react, so Jamal Murray and some other Denver players started taking it out on the officials. During the second quarter, as tempers continued to flare, the cameras caught Jamal Murray tossing something at the ref from the bench area. Jamal Murray, upset with a no-call on Karl Anthony Towns, chucked a heating pad at one of the officials.

Jamal Murray Went After The Refs

In the second quarter, cameras caught Murray, who appeared to have thrown a heating pad at official Mark Davis. Jamal Murray is an emotional player in a good way most of the time, but it seems like his emotions get the better of him. A generous reading of the situation is that the pad slipped out of his hand, which is entirely possible. However, with his behavior and the rest of the Nugget’s behaviors towards the refs last night, it would make sense that it was on purpose. Murray was also seen giving a gesture to the refs that they were cheating later in the game. All in all, it’s a bad look for Jamal.

Murray’s coach, Mike Malone, was surprisingly not given a technical foul for running on the court and getting in Mark Davis’ face, cruising the official out. Davis showed immense restraint at that moment and allowed Malone to go back to his bench unscathed, which was when he could have easily tossed him out of the game in the first quarter. It is not going to get easier for the Nuggets. They have to find a way to get Nikola Jokic going and learn how to cope with the Wolves’ defense. Overall, the defending champs are in serious trouble.

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Paul George Rejects Contract Offers From Clippers

May 6, 2024 by newhiphopnews

The Los Angeles Clippers were eliminated from the first round of the NBA playoffs by the Dallas Mavericks. The Clippers and the Mavs seemingly go up against each other in the playoffs every season. The Clippers were without Kawhi Leonard and were thoroughly outplayed by the Mavericks in the final two games. Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic both put on clinics and led the team over the Clippers. The Clippers have a roster of aging stars. They want to keep James Harden, Paul George, and Kawhi Leonard together, but that’s going to mean someone taking a pay cut. Reportedly, Paul George isn’t going to be the guy who rejected the Clippers’ initial contract offers.

This offseason, the Los Angeles Clippers hope to keep both Paul George and James Harden, but they have thus far attempted to do it at a reduced cost. Kawhi Leonard has already inked a three-year, $152.4 million discounted deal with the Clippers. Their ballooned salary is getting out of hand. If Pual Goegre and James Harden both take less than they command in the market, the Clips might be competitive next season. The keyword is “might.” Paul George doesn’t want anything less than the max.

Paul George Will Become Free Agent For Max Deal

The Clippers have made multiple contract offers to Paul George below the max, which he will not accept, per @ShamsCharania on @RunItBackFDTV.

Los Angeles wants to keep George, but he appears heading towards unrestricted free agency this summer. pic.twitter.com/jVNqaPBxkI

— Evan Sidery (@esidery) May 6, 2024

Lawrence Frank, president of basketball operations for the Clippers, commented on the Clippers star’s future. He said Monday, “We’d like to be able to bring back and retain Paul and James.” He continued, “We’re hopeful we can, but also understand and respect the fact that they’re free agents. Paul has a decision with his option. James will be an unrestricted free agent, so our intent is to bring him back, but also realize that they’re elite players and they’ll have choices.” George has made it known that he wants his contract extended. If the Clippers had offered him a max deal, he probably would have signed it by now. It appears that they haven’t so far. It’s a strange move for an organization with not a lot of leverage.

Retaining Paul George is the most important objective for the Clippers. With Paul George, they have one of the best wings in the league. Without him, they go from being an old but competitive team to an old team that’s not competing. It’s vital they stay competitive also because their new arena is opening up in LA soon. Overall, the situation in LA is up in the air, and The Clippers have a lot to take care of this offseason.

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Pat Riley Tells Jimmy Butler To “Keep His Mouth Shut” Over Celtics Comments

May 6, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Jimmy Butler missed the Miami Heat’s first-round playoff matchup with the Boston Celtics after suffering an injury in the Play-in against the Sixers. The Miami Heat went on to get eliminated by the Celtics 4 games to 1 as they struggled to generate any offense. The Heat were the 8-seed once again. Last Year, they were the 8-seed and went all the way to the NBA finals, ultimately losing to the Denver Nuggets. Jimmy Butler has recently made some comments about the playoff field, saying if he was healthy, it would be a different story. Miami Heat boss Pat Riley thinks Butler shouldn’t be talking.

Butler made some comments over the weekend about the Boston Celtics. Butler said of the number 1-seed in the east, “If I was playing, Boston would be at home.” He continued calling out the New York Knicks, saying, “New York damn sure would be (expletive) at home.” It’s tough talk from Butler, whose MCL injury sidelined him in the playoffs. Pat Riley, not one for nonsense or woulda-coulda-shoulda talk, did not like the comments at all.

Pat Riley Says Jimmy Butler Should Be Quiet

Asked about Butler’s remarks on Monday, Riley made it clear he did not think the comments were funny at all. “For him to say that, I thought, ‘Is that Jimmy trolling, or is that Jimmy serious?’” Riley said during his end-of-season press conference. “If you’re not on the court playing against Boston or on the court playing against the New York Knicks, you should keep your mouth shut.” It’s unnecessary comments that only serve as fuel for the other teams. Pat Knows that the important talking goes on on the court, and Jimmy Butler isnt playing, so he should be quiet.

The Jimmy Butler era in Miami might be over. There is speculation that his time is up in Miami, and with teams looking for an all-star wing, he is wanted elsewhere. Butler could reunite with Joel Embiid in Philadelphia. All in all, Miami doesn’t do funny business. Pat Riely doesn’t allow players to become distractions. No one is bigger than the organization, and this is a firm reminder of that.

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Anthony Edwards Wants The Michael Jordan Comparisons To Stop

May 6, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Anthony Edwards, a rising star in the NBA, has made a significant impact. After leading his team to a sweep against his favorite player, Kevin Durant, and the Phoenix Suns, the young 2-guard now faces the defending champs. Edwards and the Timberwolves made a bold statement by winning game 1 against Nikola Jokic. Edwards’ 43 points in the win marked a significant milestone, making him the second 22-year-old to score back-to-back 40-point games since Kobe Bryant. Such rare achievements are why Edwards is receiving high praise.

Anthony Edwards has been drawing comparisons to arguably the greatest layer of all time, Michael Jordan. It’s easy to see why. Edwards is a ridiculous athlete. He is relentless on the court with an unmatched drive to win. He has all the same moves Jordan has. Additionally, he

looks like MJ, which many fans have pointed out. Edwards sets the court ablaze with his play and is compared to the greatest ever to do it. Ant is saving, and everyone should pump the brakes on the MJ comparisons.

Anthony Edwards On The Micheal Jordan Comparisons

Anthony Edwards wants everyone to stop the MJ comps

“I want it to stop. He’s the greatest of all time. I can’t be compared to him.”

(Via https://t.co/gRv6sEz6Rn) pic.twitter.com/6tVlEOSr7h

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 6, 2024

Anthony Edwards wants the Michael Jordan comparisons to stop. He said, “I want it to stop. He’s the greatest of all time. I can’t be compared to him.” It’s a humble answer from a player whose game is far from humble. Ant is right, in a sense. People can get carried away with comparisons, and then when players don’t meet their expectations, they turn on them. So, if Edwards comes up short, fans can say, “he is not MJ!” when they are the ones who make that comparison to him.

It is not just fans and reporters who compare Edwards to MJ; players are, too. Patrick Beverley said it two years ago. If Edwards beats the Nuggets and somehow wills his team to a chip this year, then those comparisons might be too conservative. Overall, Edwards is a young, exciting player, and the Wolves Nuggets series is going to be incredible.

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Kendrick Perkins Says He Wishes LeBron James Would Retire

May 6, 2024 by newhiphopnews

The Los Angeles Lakers, led by LeBron James, were eliminated from the playoffs by the Denver Nuggets. Following their playoff exit, the Lakers fired head coach Darvin Ham after two seasons with the team. During First Take, the firing of Ham and LeBron’s part in it became the subject. The argument was that LeBron doesn’t take responsibility after losses, and the coach usually has to take the fall. LeBron has had 9 coaches in the NBA and will be receiving his 10th head coach in his two decades in the league. LeBron is one great player who hasn’t had a long tenure with a great coach, as Stephen A. Smith, Kendrick Perkins, and Shannon Sharpe discussed.

Former NBA player and ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins has made the audacious and divisive suggestion that LeBron James, who is considered to be among the game’s best players of all time, should retire in order to preserve his legacy. The statement has given fans mixed feelings for both his co-hosts and fans. Big Perk thinks all the drama and blame game after failed seasons are hurting how we ultimately view LeBron James and his GOAT status. It’s an interesting take and one that only Perkins could cook up.

Kendrick Perkins Says LeBron Should Retire To Protect His Legacy

Kendrick Perkins is at his breaking point with LeBron. Perk says the coaching careful around LeBron is, in fact, hurting his case for being the greatest of all time. He said he is now questioning his position of LeBron Being the greatest over Jordan. Perkins says LeBron has never taken accountability for falling short. He then says Darvin Ham’s firing makes him look bad. Big Perk goes on to conclude his take, saying, “I wish LeBron James would retire… The more LeBron James continues to play the game of basketball, the more it’s going to hurt his legacy and the more it’s going to continue to hurt his GOAT argument.”

LeBron is a lightning rod for discourse because he is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, to do it. The Laker’s future is up in the air, and so is Lebron’s. LeBron has a $50 million dollar player option next season. The 39-year-old star’s basketball life is about to end. Maybe Perk is right, and LeBron should retire to preserve his status as one of the two greatest players ever. Overall, the balls are in Lebron’s court.

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Draymond Green Criticizes Patrick Beverley’s Antics

May 3, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Last night, the Milwaukee Bucks were defeated 120-98 by the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers sent the Bucks packing, and Patrick Beverley went out in embarrassing fashion. During the Pacers’ victory against the Bucks last night, Patrick Beverley got into a fight with a spectator. Following the loss, Patrick Beverley attempted to throw a reporter out of the locker room for not subscribing to his podcast. Beverley has been getting deservedly picked apart all day. Draymond Green, no stranger to on-court antics, has weighed in on Pat Bev’s disastrous playoff exit.

Beverley has a history of bad behavior after losses in the playoffs. He has an infamous moment where he pushed Chris Paul in the back while he had his back turned a couple of years ago. All in all, he has a reputation as a sore loser and generally crosses the line. Beverley talked a lot of trash during the series against the Pacers, both on the court and off. The Pacers fans were happy to see the Bucks go, and Beverley being so vocal was a big reason for that. Draymond commented on Pat Bev’s meltdown on his podcast and found it hilarious and concerning.

Draymond Green Responds To Patrick Beverley’s Disastrous Exit

“Pat keeps having these instances after they lose in these playoff games — that one might’ve been crazier than the [Chris Paul] push,” Green said. “Because it opens up an entirely different can of worms. Adam’s gonna have a problem on his hands with this one, because it’s about as close as you can get to going in the stands. That is forbidden for us.” Involving fans is a big no-no in the league. Green also commented on Bev’s interaction with the reporter after the game, saying he himself takes a different approach and appreciates how the NBA promotes players’ podcasts.

Draymond concluded by saying, “Pat, you can’t keep having these moments, man, at the end of these losses,” Green said. “You’re starting to look like the kid that’s gonna grab the ball and say, ‘I’m going home, I can’t play, we’re outta here, we’re leaving the park, it’s my ball.’ Come on, Pat.” Draymond is entirely correct on this one. Sure, Draymond is notorious for his own antics on the court, but his points still stand. Nevertheless, it’s a bad look for Patrick Beverley.

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