nba news

Russell Westbrook Receives Immense Praise From New Teammates

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Russell Westbrook is someone who has received a lot of criticism over the past couple of years. Overall, he has regressed in terms of his ability to shoot and rack up the triple-doubles. However, there is no doubt that he can still bring a lot of energy to a team. In fact, he has showcased just that for the Los Angeles Clippers. For the last two years, the Clippers have been a team in need of a point guard. At the tradeline, that is exactly what they secured with Westbrook’s signing.

Unfortunately for Westbrook, there were a lot of doubts concerning his new partnership. Although Paul George and Kawhi Leonard were excited to have him on the team, executives were less enthused. There were all sorts of reports claiming that the front office was apprehensive about signing him. Now, however, the Clippers seem to be playing well with Russ at the helm. In fact, he has been so good that a lot of people are beginning to change their tune. As far as his teammates are concerned, they love him.

Russell Westbrook And His New Home

Russell Westbrook #0 of the LA Clippers looks on during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on March 29, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

In a piece from the LA Times, it was written that Westbrook is seen as a “a popular addition in the locker room.” Moreover, there are various players who love his leadership. One such person is Ivica Zubac, who has seen this team develop over the past few seasons. “Honestly it’s way better than I thought it would be and he’s fitting in pretty good so far,” Zubac said. “He’s a great leader also. He’s very vocal, something we needed.” This is obviously great praise, especially with a potential playoff run on the horizon. Leonard, George, and Russ could very well form a nice big three.

The Western Conference is going to be extremely difficult to get through. Teams like the Memphis Grizzlies, Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns, and even the Sacramento Kings all have a shot at making the NBA Finals. It is going to be a lot of fun, and if Russ can play at a high level, who knows what will happen to the Clippers. Give us your predictions, in the comments section down below.

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Victor Wembanyama’s Potential Has NBA Execs Willing To Tank

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Victor Wembanyama is the talk of the NBA and hasn’t even played a game. The 2023 prospect has dazzled with clips of his skills plastered all over social media. The 7’4 French superstar will be the first name called at the 2023 NBA Draft this summer. However, Wembanyama’s talents already have those within the NBA jealous of missing out on him. For one anonymous exec. tanking for Wembanyama would have been in the best interest of his team.

The only thing we know about this unnamed executive is that he works for a team in the Western Conference. When speaking on the talents of Wembanyama, the anonymous executive didn’t hold back. “Honestly, I wish we wouldn’t have won so many games this year. We’re going to all regret not tanking every game to get this dude.” The anonymous statement was reported by ESPN‘s Jonathan Givony. Just from watching Wemby’s highlights, you can see why one would feel this way.

Victor Wembanyama Continues Legend In ASVL

Victor Wembanyama’s latest addition to his sizzle reel was an insane feat of talent. Not many players can pull off a putback dunk off their own missed three. Wemby’s length isn’t a skill that can be taught. However, following your shot is, and Wemby has that down to a science. Yes, the talent I’m the ASVL may not be on par with the NBA. But it’s hard to imagine a scenario where Wembanyama doesn’t pull something like this off in his next venture.

The time is fastly approaching when we will finally witness Wemby’s NBA debut. The kid will most certainly have a target on his back from day one. The pressure on Victor may be something we haven’t seen since the debut of LeBron James. While the pressure may be large, Wembanyama seems like he is more than ready for the challenge. Do you believe that Wembanyama is the next big NBA star? Or do you believe he will be doomed from the start? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below. For more on the NBA and the latest in sports, stay right here at HNHH.

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Kendrick Perkins Reveals His Vote For MVP

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Kendrick Perkins is someone who is known on television for being extremely vocal about his opinions. Overall, that is the name of the game, especially since he is a voice on platforms like First Take. In order to keep up with Stephen A. Smith, you have to remain engaging when speaking on the latest sports topics. Although Perkins can be disagreeable at times, he is certainly fun to listen to. You never know what he might say or claim about another player. Just look at how he talked about MVP candidate Nikola Jokic.

Speaking of the MVP, the race for the award is heating up as the last week of the NBA season is upon us. Jokic could become the first three-peat winner since Larry Bird. Moreover, guys like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid are also having MVP-worthy seasons. At this point, there are a ton of different players who could win it. However, it is all going to depend on the voters. Sometimes, NBA media can be spiteful in their decisions, and it leads to a winner who may or may not actually deserve it.

Kendrick Perkins Speaks

On the latest episode of First Take, Kendrick Perkins spoke about the MVP race and who he is looking to vote for. Overall, it seems as though Perkins has narrowed his decision down to one person. Of the three we mentioned previously, Perkina would rather vote for the guy with a title under his belt. “The best player in the league, on the best team, averaging a career-high in points, third in rebounding, Giannis is getting my vote for MVP,” Perkins explained. Giannis Antetokounmpo is a great choice and it is certainly deserved. His season has been fantastic, although quiet. Sometimes, that is the perfect combination.

Kendrick Perkins’ choice is definitely a valid one. Although it remains to be seen whether or not the rest of the voters will agree with him. Let us know if you think Perkins is valid for this take, in the comments section down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news and updates from around the sports world. We will always keep you informed.

Luka Doncic Blesses Lil Pump With His Jersey: Watch

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Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks have truly been struggling as of late. Overall, the team has faltered ever since the acquisition of Kyrie Irving. Moreover, the team has fallen out of the playoff picture. Shockingly, they aren’t even in the play-in right now. This is a truly unfathomable situation, and it is clear that the Mavericks need to wake up immediately. If they don’t win out, it is very likely that they will have to forego the postseason after making it to the Western Conference Finals last year.

That said, Luka Doncic is still a premier player in the NBA. He is one of those box office players that fans want to see on a nightly basis. Consequently, there are always famous people at his games. This is something we saw over the weekend, as Lil Pump sat courtside for a match. While Lil Pump isn’t as famous as he used to be, he is most definitely a noticeable character. In fact, even Luka couldn’t help but notice him the other day.

Luka Doncic x Lil Pump

While taking to Instagram, Lil Pump showed off a bit of his most recent NBA experience. As you can see, he got to chop it up with Luka while he was still on the court. Subsequently, after the game, the two got to meet up in the hallway. That is where Luka took off his game-worn jersey and slid it over to the artist. Overall, it was a pretty wholesome moment that certainly made both men happy. Unfortunately, this Lil Pump friendship cannot mask the pain of having a season slip away out of your grasp.

For Luka Doncic, this has to be a huge wake-up call. There have been numerous discussions about his play and whether or not he can truly lead a team. Moreover, there is this sense that he always needs the ball which makes it difficult for him to mesh well with others, especially those who also need the ball a lot. Needless to say, the Mavs are a mess, and Doncic could very well ask for a trade if things don’t work out. Let us know your thoughts on the situation, in the comments down below.

Skip Bayless Insinuates That Larry Bird Called His Rivals The N-Word

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Skip Bayless has proven himself to be someone who does not shy away from controversy. Overall, he has proven to be a troll, especially when it comes to LeBron James. However, there are other times when he tries to get serious. It is these moments that can breed controversy as offering up a bad take on an important issue can make you go viral. These days, sports have gotten increasingly political, which is by no means a bad thing. Although, it means that the analysts need to come prepared when speaking on important topics.

Ultimately, this is especially true when it involves topics of race. Racial issues are very prevalent in the sports world, and we saw it this weekend. LSU took on Iowa in the women’s basketball National Championship game. This was a matchup between Caitlin Clark of Iowa and Angel Reese of LSU. Throughout the tournament, Clark was praised for her trash talk. However, Reese was demonized and called “classless” for doing the same thing. Consequently, many claimed that Clark is able to get away with her trash talk because she is white.

Skip Bayless Raises Questions

On Undisputed this morning, Skip and Shannon Sharpe discussed this matter. Overall, Bayless agreed that the criticism against Angel Reese is unjust. Moreover, Bayless spoke about Larry Bird and the way he used to talk to his rivals. Although, Bayless insinuated that Bird was out on the court using the N-word, which is certainly new information. “There were four other black guys in the 3PT contest, and he asked them face-to-face: ‘Which one of you, you-know-what’s, is going to finish 2nd?’ And he got away with it because it was 1986,” Bayless proclaimed. The use of “you-know what’s” has many people believing that Bayless is outright calling out Bird for the use of racial slurs.

After all of these years, one would have to think that Bird would have been called out for this already. However, either Bayless didn’t realize how he was coming across, or he was earnestly presenting some information that many didn’t know. Either way, yet another segment from Undisputed has gone viral online. Let us know what you think of Bayless’ remarks, in the comments down below.

Ja Rule Rips 50 Cent After Claiming To Have Lifted Timberwolves Curse

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For years now, Ja Rule and 50 Cent have found themselves engaged in a feud. Overall, this feud has certainly amused hip-hop fans. Moreover, after all this time, it still isn’t done. Whenever Fif has the chance, he makes a joke at Ja’s expense. This puts Ja Rule in a perpetual state of self-defense. In fact, after securing a brand deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, 50 Cent promised that he would lift the curse that Ja supposedly placed upon the franchise. Of course, this is a curse that was created shortly after a not-so-great performance that Ja put on during the team’s halftime show, a few years ago.

“There’s a curse on the Timberwolves because somebody made a mistake and let Ja Rule perform at the halftime show,” Fif begins. “And it was the worst shit that ever happened. Right? But what happened is he cursed the Timberwolves. So, now we’re gonna get rid of the Timberwolves curse. I’ve got a whole ritual planned to break the curse. So everybody get ready to follow it. You gonna get a chance to see what I do when the curse is broken. Timberwolves, let’s go. On three. One, two…[claps].”

Ja Rule Vs. 50 Cent

Subsequently, Ja Rule decided to respond to 50 Cent’s Instagram post. After all, this dig seemingly came out of nowhere, and the artist wanted to defend his own honor. “#RENTFREE. Only thing Curtis lifting is his skirt. 50 been on my d**k. He love my style lmao! And now the curse has been extended,” Ja Rule wrote. Perhaps Ja’s curse is working as the Timberwolves lost to a Portland Trailblazers team that is trying to tank. Additionally, the T-Wolves are in a play-in spot and could very well miss out on the playoffs. That would be the ultimate demonstration of just how deep the curse goes.

As for Ja Rule and 50 Cent, they will probably never make peace. After all, this is a feud that has gone on for 20 years. If they can’t make up after all this time, it will probably never happen. It also doesn’t help that 50 Cent is always trolling, which just adds fuel to the fire. Stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news from around the sports world.

Bradley Beal Fan Incident Gets An Update

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Bradley Beal was involved in a fan incident last week following a game. The fan seemed upset with Beal’s play, claiming Beal lost him money. With sports betting now legal in many states, fans seem to be taking it too far. The fan claimed that Beal cost him $1,300 after his performance. After being confronted by the fan, Beal allegedly knocked the hat off the said fan. However, the latest update is that this was not the first conversation between the two.

As reported by TMZ, the fan had been heckling the Washington Wizards star prior to the incident. Obviously, it is no surprise to see this update. In recent years, fans have been more vocal to players during NBA games. A fan who is comfortable enough to verbally attack a player has zero shame in what is said. Beal could face a simple battery charge. However, Beal has yet to be charged for the incident. The charge carries up to one year in jail.

Bradley Beal Facing Potential Criminal Charges

With the update on this story, it feels like Beal was baited into this situation. It is a real shame to see a story like this. The Wizards star has yet to comment on the situation publicly. Beal is having a great season for the Wizards. The 29-year-old point guard is averaging 23 points per game, However, the Wizards are sitting on the outside looking in on the playoffs. The entire story is slowly being revealed, and soon the truth will be known.

The fan went too far in his actions. However, Beal needed to show more restraint by not knocking off the hat of the fan. Yes, that is easier said than done. Emotions were high. Especially after the Wizards’ loss. But if Beal had a do-over, one would think he would’ve ignored the situation entirely. What are your thoughts on the situation? Should Bradley Beal face a battery charge? Did the fan go too far with his heckling of Beal? Sound off in the comment section below on your feelings toward the incident. To stay up to date with this story and many more sports issues, stay right here with HNHH.

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Kevin Durant Does Not Care About His Legacy

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Kevin Durant is very much someone who fights back against NBA media narratives. Overall, he doesn’t have much time for all of the talk about who is better than who. He really couldn’t care less whether or not he makes it inside of your Top 5. Additionally, if you don’t put him on your Mount Rushmore, he probably wouldn’t think twice about it. Simply put, KD plays for the love of the game. He wants to have fun while playing basketball and no one will stop him from doing that.

Recently, KD returned to the floor for the Phoenix Suns. He had been out for a few weeks with an ankle injury and wanted to show he’s still got it. Although he did struggle, there is no doubt that Suns fans were excited to see him. Alongside his return to the court was a recent report from Shams Charania of The Athletic. Within this interview, Durant spoke about all of the legacy talk that surrounds him. As you will see, Durant has some strong words about those who want to debate his many contributions to the sport.

Kevin Durant Talks Boldly

“I don’t care about legacy,” Kevin Durant said. “I truly, truly don’t care. I truly just want to go out there and produce. Be the best that I can be, go home, hang with my family. That’s it.” Some fans may hate this mentality, although, you cannot help but respect it. Some athletes are extremely wrapped up in what they need to achieve. However, these guys are all human beings with real lives away from the court. At some point, you have to seek happiness from something other than your day job.

Ironically enough, KD may very well affirm his legacy very soon. The Phoenix Suns are primed and ready for a deep playoff run, and there is this sense that they could go win it all. With Devin Booker and Chris Paul next to Kevin Durant, it is easy to see why people would think this. Let us know what you think the Suns’ chances are, in the comments down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news from around the sports world.

Matt Barnes Reveals His Interest In Running For Office

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Matt Barnes is one of the more interesting figures in the NBA world. Overall, you probably know him from his exploits as one of the grittier guys in the league. He also tried to make Kobe Bryant flinch that one time, although it didn’t work. These days, Barnes can be seen on the All The Smoke podcast where he sits alongside Stephen Jackson. Additionally, he has provided commentary for the likes of ESPN. He is someone who NBA fans like listening to, especially since he keeps things honest.

Recently, however, Matt Barnes came out and made an interesting revelation about himself. Barnes was a guest on “Miss Understood with Rachel Uchitel” where he divulged his interest in the political world. In fact, the former NBA star would very much like to run for some sort of public office. This is a goal he had set years ago, and he wants to make this happen by the age of 50. At 43 years old, he has about seven years to make this happen.

Matt Barnes Explains Future Goals

“I gave myself a goal back in my 30s that by the time I turn 50, I wanted to run for some sort of office,” Barnes said. “Whether that be mayor or governor or whatever it may be. It would be refreshing. It’s not something people expect, but I know I can make a difference. I still got seven years before that time is up.” Barnes went on to note that he is a big believer in trying to do good in the world. This is especially true when you have a platform in which people pay attention to what you say “I try to use my platform to speak up for those who don’t have a platform or don’t have a voice,” Barnes said.

It would certainly be interesting to see Barnes in this kind of position. Moreover, he would get some pretty amazing endorsements from his NBA friends. However, any sort of political campaign takes a lot of time and money. It remains to be seen if Barnes will truly want to go through with that grind. Let us know what you think of Barnes’ comments, down below.

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DeMarcus Cousins Wants To Know Why He Isn’t In The League

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Demarcus Cousins was once one of the more feared bigs in the NBA. Now, the former All-Star is on the outside looking in. Cousins hasn’t been seen since last season when he spent time with the Nuggets. Cousins did work out for the Lakers earlier this year. Unfortunately, the team went in another direction. With the season basically over, the 32-year-old vet is wondering why he isn’t on a roster. On Tuesday, Cousins admitted he doesn’t really know the answer.

Appearing on SiriusXM NBA Radio, Cousins mentioned that he “would love to get a real answer” as to why he isn’t playing. Cousins claims that he never gets an honest answer when looking into rejoining the league. The former Kentucky Wildcat does have a great argument on his side. With the Playoffs looming, many teams would be foolish not to look into adding the big man. In his career, Cousins has averaged 19 points and 10 rebounds per game. A career double-double average seems like a no-brainer for teams looking for depth.

Demarcus Cousins Wants Answers

While Cousins’ career numbers are great, injuries could be an issue. Cousins hasn’t played over 60 games in a season since 2016-17 when he appeared in 72 games. Cousins missed the entire 19-20 season with a torn ACL. As well as not playing in at least 50 games in the 20-21 and 21-22 seasons. Durability is definitely playing a role in the current process. Although, it’s hard to question the toughness and talent Demarcus Cousins possesses. A healthy Cousins would be a great asset for any team. No matter their playoff situation.

Prime Demarcus Cousins was can’t miss television in a neglected market. Many will overlook the work Cousins put in over his time in the league. The league is a better place with Cousins in the league. If we never see “Boogie” on the court again, he can rest easy knowing he had a solid career. Would you take the risk of adding Cousins to your roster? Does Cousins have a real argument? Let us know in the comment section below. For more news on Cousins and the latest sports news, follow HNHH.