NBA Summer League

Britney Spears Fans Troll Victor Wembanyama During Spurs Debut

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The sports and music worlds have been caught up in a wild saga in recent days after a security guard employed by the San Antonio Spurs allegedly slapped Britney Spears. According to Spears, she had approached NBA rookie Victor Wembanyama at the ARIA Hotel in order to try and get a picture with him. However, after tapping him on the shoulder, she was reportedly backhanded across the face by Damian Smith, the Spurs’ Director of Team Security. Additionally, a witness claimed to corroborate Spears’ story but also added that she was behaving somewhat erratically. According to Brian Grajales, Spears was speaking in a British accent while approaching Wembanyama. Furthermore, she screamed “That’s America for you! Fuck you all!” after Wembanyama was ushered inside the restaurant. Despite this, police in Las Vegas declined to file any charges in the case.

However, video of the incident also makes it clear why charges were not filed in the incident. Most importantly, Smith did not directly or intentionally slap Spears as claimed. Instead, Smith appears to knock Spears’ hand away from Wembanyama’s back. As a result, either his arm or her hand makes incidental contact with her face. However, it would be dishonest to call it a “backhand”. Furthermore, Spears was not knocked to the ground as she initially claimed. Additionally, Wembanyama was not being “swarmed” by fans at the time of the incident. At the moment Spears approached, there was three or four team personnel walking beside Wembanyama. However, the video makes it clear that there was no intentional malice and that the reports that Spears had been directly “slapped” were at best, exaggerated.

Spears Fans Troll Wembanyama

The feud somewhat continued during Wembanyama Spurs debut during the NBA Summer League on July 7. Wembanyama had 9 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 blocks in a 76-68 Spurs win. The French prospect was humble in his admission that he still has a long way to go. “I think the biggest improvement I’ve got to do is being ready and being ready to react to the plays called by the point guard and staying connected,” he said. “I think there’s a lot of conditioning to do,” Wembanyama said. “Especially with our play style, we run a lot. It’s really exhausting. Even though it was 40 minutes tonight, when I subbed out, I was always tired and exhausted. So I think there’s a lot of conditioning to do,” he added.

The performance lead to some relentless trolling on social media from Spears’ fans. “Britney scoring in heels take notes victor wembanyama,” a Twitter user noted while posting a clip of Britney playing basketball on Ellen. “Retweet if you think Britney Spears could beat Victor Wembanyama in 1:1,” said another while posting pictures of Spears playing in a celebrity basketball game. “Victor Wembanyama the walking twig got smacked and his reaction’s priceless. That Britney voodoo is real,” added a third, referring to Wembanyama’s struggles against more physical players. Wembanyama will next be in action against the Blazers on July 9.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Sphere Welcomes 2023 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas

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Last night, Sphere, the monumental structure in Las Vegas, transformed its exterior, known as the Exosphere, into a giant basketball to celebrate the beginning of the 2023 NBA Summer League. The Exosphere displayed a welcome message to teams, players, and fans, marking the start of the annual event. Throughout the 11-day competition, Sphere will showcase NBA Summer League content on its exterior.

Sphere has become a global icon as the world’s largest spherical structure, standing 366 ft tall and spanning 516 ft across. Its Exosphere boasts 580,000 sq ft of fully-programmable LED lighting, making it the largest LED screen on Earth. This massive canvas presents breathtaking and dynamic imagery on an unprecedented scale.

Guy Barnett, SVP Brand Strategy and Creative Development, said: “The Exosphere is more than a screen or a billboard – it is living architecture, and unlike anything that exists anywhere in the world. Last night’s show provided a glimpse of the Exosphere’s captivating power, and the possibilities for artists, partners, and brands to create compelling and impactful stories to connect with audiences in new ways.” 

David Hopkinson, President and Chief Operating Officer of MSG Sports, who oversees global marketing and brand partnerships across Sphere Entertainment and the MSG family of companies, said: “Sphere’s Exosphere is a 360-degree canvas for brand storytelling that will be seen around the world, offering our partners an unparalleled opportunity to become part of the greatest show on Earth. There’s nothing comparable to the impact from displaying innovative brand and immersive content on the world’s largest video screen. The extraordinary experiences we can create are only limited by imagination, and we’re thrilled to finally share with the world the spectacular potential of the Exosphere.” 

Sphere is set to open on September 29 with U2:UV Achtung Baby Live, a 25-show sold-out performance. The premiere of Postcard from Earth, an original immersive production directed by Darren Aronofsky, is scheduled for October 6.

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NBA Fans React To Victor Wembanyama’s Training Video

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Victor Wembanyama is destined to be the next great NBA sensation. The San Antonio Spurs won the actual lottery when landing the French phenom. The combination of Victor’s talent and size is something no one has seen in the history of the game of basketball. Which is why everyone is anxiously waiting to see the future star in action. However, fans will not have to wait much longer to catch the number one pick in action. The Spurs plan on giving him his first taste of the NBA during the Summer League.

The NBA Summer League has been the place of many great debuts. Every star gets their first glimpse of action during the summer. Now it’s time for all eyes to be on Wembanyama as he begins his own legacy. A recent video of Victor gave fans a little taste of what they could see during his summer run. The video shows the young star going through drills at the Spurs facility. While the video was meant to be a teaser, it didn’t stop fans from making opinions already.

Read More: The 2023 NBA Draft Was Pure Chaos

NBA Awaits For Massive Debut Of Victor Wembanyama

Maybe it’s jealousy, but many fans weren’t thrilled by the action in the clip. Fans were quick to show how unimpressed they are with a player running through practice drills. While it shouldn’t come as a surprise that not a lot was shown in the clip. However, give a negative fan one inch, and they will walk 10 miles disrespecting the athlete they don’t like. Victor’s climb to the top of the game will not be an easy one. With fans already disrespecting him, he will need to do quite a bit to shut the haters down.

However, something tells me that Victor isn’t worried about the haters. The main goal for any athlete is to be as successful as they possibly can. Not many are checking social media accounts for what an average Joe has to say about their game. Unless you’re Kevin Durant. His role of dissing his haters has become a fan favorite for those who follow the star on Twitter. What do you expect from Victor Wembanyama’s debut with the Spurs? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section. For the latest news in sports, keep it right here with HNHH.

Read More: Kevin Durant Fires Back At Jason McIntyre

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Victor Wembanyama Could Debut As Early As July 7

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Now that Victor Wembanyama has officially been drafted into the NBA, the thing that everyone wants to know is when he will debut. The San Antonio Spurs took the French prospect first overall in the NBA Draft, confirming what everyone had expected every since he had officially entered his name. Wembanyama is the most anticipated prospect since LeBron. Furthermore, his unique skillset led LeBron to call him an “alien”.

Unlike other rookies, Wembanyama has multiple years of pro experience under his belt entering his NBA debut. Wembanyama debuted in the French league in 2019 and was named league MVP in 2023 during a surprise Finals run. However, 2023 also marked the draft year in which Wembanyama met the NBA’s draft eligibility, meaning he was finally able to make the jump to America.

Furthermore, fans won’t have to wait long to see potentially see Wembanyama in action. The rookie’s stateside debut could come as soon July 7. However, it all depends if the Spurs allow him to play in the NBA Summer League.

Related: 2023 NBA Draft recap

Wembanyama Could Make Summer League Debut

The NBA Summer League is a preseason tournament that allows NBA teams to test out their new rookies as well as fringe training camp players. Furthermore, it helps give younger players experience in a real-life game setting.

This year’s Summer League begins on July 7. The first day of games opens with the Grizzlies taking on the Timberwolves. Furthermore, the first day of play is headlined by a clash between the Warriors and Lakers. However, the sixth game of the day pits Charlotte against San Antonio. If the Spurs allow it, this could be Victor Wembanyama’s debut.

Wembanyama has previously expressed his intention to play in the Summer League. A workhouse player through and through, Wembanyama is never one to turn down an opportunity to play. However, expectations should be tempered – the Spurs will likely have him on a lighter workload to avoid injury. Despite this, July 7 might be the date to circle for die-hard fans.

Related: Drake follows Gradey Dick after Toronto draftee shouts out the rapper

Windhorst Picks Wembanyama Over LeBron

The hype for Wembanyama is massive and has led to a number of scalding hot takes. Brian Windhorst of ESPN went as far as to say that Wembanyama’s skill set is ahead of LeBron James at the same age.

It’s fair to say that the comparisons between Wembanyama and LeBron have been rife. As mentioned, LeBron has called Wembanyama’s unique skillset “alien” but where does he rank against the NBA legend? Wembanyama has never played in the American system of basketball, be it the NBA, G League, or another development league. While he’s been playing professionally since 2019, it’s on a much more relaxed schedule against “inferior” competition to what he will face in the NBA.

However, LeBron was just a high school player when he moved to the NBA. In the early 2000s, when teams could draft players right out of high school, it was always a risk. For every LeBron, there was a Kwame Brown. LeBron could have easily been a flop. And so could Wembanyama. However, there is every chance that Wembanyama could become the league’s next great player. The only way we will find out is by him taking the court.

Related: Brian Windhorst suggests that the Sacramento Kings could pursue Draymond Green

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