Stephen A Smith referenced Ice Cube’s iconic diss track, “No Vaseline,” to respond to Kevin Durant calling him a “clown” in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday night. “As the great @icecube said in ‘No Vaseline, @KDTrey5 …’Damn I’m glad y’all went and set it off.’ See y’all tomorrow,” Smith wrote. Durant had discussed the ESPN pundit during an interview with The Athletic, earlier in the day.
Fans had mixed responses to Smith standing up for himself in the replies. “He’s right though you always talking from outside the window never played pro ball but always got something to say,” one user wrote. Another joked: “Go on Stephen! Shout em down and tell them how you were 2nd team all league in high school.”
As for Durant’s comments, he voiced his frustration with Smith and other commentators criticizing his leadership skills. “Yeah, Stephen A., I don’t understand how people even listen to Stephen A.,” he told the outlet. “I’ve been in the league for 18 years, I’ve never seen Stephen A. at a practice, or a film session, or a shoot-around. I’ve never seen him anywhere but on TV talking s— about players. … He’s a clown to me. He’s always been a clown. You can write that, too.”
Stephen A Smith Responds To Kevin Durant
Check out Smith’s full response to Durant on X below. It comes as the Suns improved to 5-1 with a win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night. Their next game will be against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night. Be on the lookout for further updates on Stephen A Smith and Kevin Durant on HotNewHipHop.
Joel Embiid allegedly got into a physical altercation with Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Marcus Hayes after the Philadelphia 76ers’ loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Embiid became upset with Hayes and an argument ensued which eventually turned physical. The NBA is reportedly investigating the incident.
Hayes published a column for the Inquirer, criticizing Embiid for his work ethic while referencing his son and late brother. “Joel Embiid consistently points to the birth of his son, Arthur, as the major inflection point in his basketball career. He often says that he wants to be great to leave a legacy for the boy named after his little brother, who tragically died in an automobile accident when Embiid was in his first year as a 76er. Well, in order to be great at your job, you first have to show up for work. Embiid has been great at just the opposite,” Hayes wrote in the controversial piece.
Prior to the incident, Embiid fired back at his critics bringing up his work ethic and targeted Hayes specifically. “When I see people say ‘he does not wanna play,’ I’ve done way too much for this city, putting myself at risk for people to be saying that,” Embiid said on Friday. “I do think this is bulls***. Like that dude, he’s not here, Marcus, I’ve done way too much for this f***ing city to be treated like this. Done way too f***ing much. I wish I was as lucky as the other ones, but that does not mean I’m not doing whatever it takes to be out there, which I’m gonna be.”
Joel Embiid Goes After Columnist
Footage of the incident has yet to surfaced but check out Charania’s report below. With the loss, the 76ers fell to 1-4 on the season. Be on the lookout for further updates on Joel Embiid on HotNewHipHop.
The NBA has officially premiered The HEIST II, which is now available across all NBA social and digital platforms. The film celebrates the upcoming 2024 Emirates NBA Cup, which kicks off on Tuesday, Nov. 12, with a thrilling doubleheader. The action begins with the New York Knicks facing the Philadelphia 76ers at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed by the Golden State Warriors taking on the Dallas Mavericks at 10 p.m. ET on TNT.
The HEIST II, set again in Las Vegas, picks up where last season’s campaign left off. It opens with reigning NBA Cup Champion Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers, who is seen guarding the coveted NBA Cup trophy in his penthouse suite. Unbeknownst to Davis, five NBA All-Stars—Stephen Curry, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Tyrese Haliburton, Jrue Holiday, and Jamal Murray—are plotting to steal the trophy.
The film features Emmy Award-winning actor Michael Imperioli reprising his role as the heist’s mastermind, joined this time by award-winning actress Rosario Dawson. As the All-Stars employ elaborate decoys and disguises and even swim through the Bellagio Fountain, Dawson and Imperioli stay two steps ahead, swiping the trophy and leaving the players with no choice but to compete for it once again.
The HEIST II sets the stage for what promises to be an exciting NBA Cup season.
With the Boston Celtics raising banner 18 in the TD Garden on Tuesday night as they host the Knicks, the 82-game marathon that is the NBA regular season will officially get underway. That means a return to the floor from the best men’s basketball players on earth, and their presence on the hardwood always brings out stars from the world of entertainment, music, and other sports to watch them do what they do best. There are some teams like the Lakers and Knicks that have dozens of celebrities seated courtside on most game nights, while smaller markets tend to have fewer stars with their feet on the floor, but there’s a star out there that represents for each of the 30 teams in the league.
Here we wanted to take a look at the biggest celebrity fan of every team, with a few ground rules in place. For one, we tried our best not to include a celebrity that’s part of the current ownership group. We also aren’t including former players as celebrities — for instance, Shaq does not count — and aren’t going with active athletes who have just adopted a team in the city they currently play for. Finally, for the teams with a lot of celebrity fans, we lean on the frequency you see them at games and how long they’ve been a regular at the arena break ties.
Atlanta Hawks: 2 Chainz
There are a ton hip-hop artists that you could argue in this spot, but the tiebreaker in this space goes to the celebrity you will most often see courtside repping their team. In Atlanta, that means Mr. Tity Two Necklace, who has been a staple courtside with his kids at State Farm Arena for years. He is involved as an owner with the G League affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks, but not with the big club, so he earns this spot.
Boston Celtics: Ben Affleck
Take your pick of Affleck, Matt Damon, or Mark Wahlberg. The tiebreaker here is tough because none of them are in Boston at games all that often, but Affleck is almost always courtside for a Lakers-Celtics game in L.A. so we’ll give him the nod here. Also his deep affection for Kendrick Perkins is something that only a true, diehard Celtics fan could have.
Brooklyn Nets: Jay-Z
Jay-Z is no longer the owner of the Nets so he qualifies here, and while he’s not a nightly presence at Barclays Center, he still pops up and is, without question, the most famous person associated with the franchise. I will say, the funniest answer I found in my research was that if you do a Getty Images search for “celebrities attend Brooklyn Nets” you will get pictures of Ben Simmons seated on the Nets bench in street clothes listed as a celebrity.
Charlotte Hornets: J Cole
I don’t think there’s any real competition here, but the North Carolina native proudly reps his Hornets. The best part of being a Hornets fan is not the joy they give you on the basketball court, but the joy wearing a retro Hornets Starter jacket provides and J Cole takes advantage of that.
Chicago Bulls: Barack Obama
The more common courtside fan is, well, Common, but he just cannot touch the level of fame of the former President of the United States. Obama loves his hoops and specifically his Bulls, and I’d love to get his honest thoughts on Jerry Reinsdorf one day.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Drew Carey
With respect to Machine Gun Kelly, it’s gotta be Drew Carey. I don’t think any famous person has ever ridden harder for the city of Cleveland than Drew, and the Price is Right host loves him some Cavs basketball.
Dallas Mavericks: Patrick Mahomes
It helps him that Kansas City doesn’t have an NBA team so he can stay true to his Mavs roots, but Mahomes is one of a few active athletes who has stayed a true diehard of a team from outside the city he plays in and regularly pops up at games. He’s a pretty frequent courtside patron of Mavs games, taking advantage of the fact that the NFL season ends right when the NBA’s stretch run gets going. He’s not the first quarterback to be a regular presence at Mavs games. Remember when Tony Romo suited up for the Mavs one time and got a full intro with the team and everything? That was wild, and now that Mark Cuban’s not running the show, I doubt Mahomes will ever get that kind of opportunity.
Denver Nuggets: Peyton Manning
Denver doesn’t have a ton of celebs, but the former Broncos QB has adopted Denver as his home and pops up courtside to watch Nikola Jokic and company fairly regularly.
Detroit Pistons: Eminem
Like Atlanta, there are a handful of Detroit artists that you’ll find at Pistons games, but while Eminem isn’t a frequent patron of Little Caesars Arena, he is by far the most famous of the celebs that support the Pistons.
Golden State Warriors: Guy Fieri and E-40
I’m making it a tie between Guy and 40 because this feels like a #TwoAmericas situation. At this point I think on the whole Fieri is more famous, but E-40 is an absolute legend and a constant presence at Warriors games so we’ll pick them both.
Houston Rockets: Travis Scott
Travis Scott rides with his hometown team and has been a regular at the Toyota Center even through some lean post-James Harden years. That’s not always the case with celebrity fans, but Cactus Jack is not a fair weather supporter.
Indiana Pacers: David Letterman
It’s either Letterman or Jesse Eisenberg in this spot, and I feel like the former Late Night host is more popular and loves to represent for Indianapolis. Also, he also once asked Kevin Durant why people call him KD in a press conference while he was on the Nets, which has little to do with the Pacers but I would feel remiss if I didn’t mention it here.
Los Angeles Clippers: Billy Crystal
Billy Crystal is in the Basketball Hall of Fame now for his Clippers fandom, which makes it pretty easy to choose him for this spot, but honestly that is an honor that should be bestowed upon anyone that had Clippers season tickets in the 90s and early 2000s.
Los Angeles Lakers: Jack Nicholson
There are few places on earth where you can find more famous people in one room than at a Lakers game on any given night. And yet, out of all of celebrities you’ll find courtside at a Lakers game, the only answer here is Jack, who also joined Crystal and Spike Lee going into the Hall of Fame this year as superfans.
Memphis Grizzlies: GloRilla
Justin Timberlake isn’t eligible given he’s part of the ownership group, and there are a lot of Memphis artists that could stake claim to this spot. For this season, we’ll go with the biggest rising star from the Memphis rap scene, GloRilla, provided her allegiance hasn’t flipped to Damian Lillard’s Bucks.
Miami Heat: DJ Khaled
The Heat have a number of famous folks roll through their games, but no one is a more regular fixture courtside at the Kaseya Center than DJ Khaled (and sometimes his shoe pillow).
Milwaukee Bucks: Sheryl Crow
There are not a lot of options for Milwaukee — which, hey, if you’re a celebrity looking to become the most famous fan of a team, that’s a pretty good bandwagon to jump on — but we’ll go with Sheryl Crow who was a regular during the Bucks title run in 2021. Gucci Mane was also on the bandwagon for the Bucks then, which was perhaps just something he did to spite Drake.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Jimmy Jam
The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer might not be a household name to a younger generation, but the legendary songwriter and former collaborator with Prince and Morris Day has been a regular at Bucks game since the franchise arrived in Minneapolis.
New Orleans Pelicans: Anthony Mackie
There are some New Orleans artists like Juvenile and Curren$y that certainly could stake a claim here, but Anthony Mackie has a bit of a broader audience by way of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The New Orleans native has been riding with the Pelicans for years, and the new lead of the Captain America franchise rocks very heavy with New Orleans sports.
New York Knicks: Spike Lee
Spike is the best known celebrity fan in the NBA, period, and there is no other answer in New York. Even with some other very famous diehards (shouts to Ben Stiller, who only tweets about charity work, his movies, and the Knicks), it’s Spike by a mile. No one else becomes a central figure, for better or worse, more often than Spike when courtside.
Orlando Magic: Tiger Woods
Tiger doesn’t frequent the Kia Center much anymore, but he used to be a staple at Orlando games and he is, without question, the most famous person to ever regularly support the Magic. Maybe with their resurgence behind Paolo Banchero, the Big Cat will return courtside more often.
Philadelphia 76ers: Kevin Hart
The Sixers are sneakily a really tough choice. We go with Hart because no one is more vocal (shocker) about their Sixers fandom than the comedian, but he’s got stiff competition from Meek Mill and M. Night Shyamalan, the latter of whom goes to more Sixers games than just about anyone. Also, because he is a minority owner of the team (and also rarely at games), Will Smith is not eligible here.
Phoenix Suns: Alice Cooper
We’ll give Cooper the nod over Phil Mickelson and David Spade here. He doesn’t go to games quite as much anymore, but the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer is a long-time Suns fan and has performed at some Suns games in the past.
Portland Trail Blazers: Ty Burrell
The options here are Ty Burrell (most famously Phil from Modern Family), Danger Ehren from Jackass, or comedian Ian Karmel. I think Modern Family has the largest reach, so we’ll go with Burrell, but shouts to Danger Ehren, who was putting up Wilt numbers in Jackass Forever.
The Spurs still get use out of a GIF from years ago of Selena Gomez proudly showing off her Spurs jersey courtside, so even though she hasn’t been to a game in awhile (that there’s photos of on Getty, at least), she still is the biggest celebrity to rep the Spurs.
Toronto Raptors: Drake
There’s not really any competition in Toronto, where it’s very clearly Drake. He is constantly seated courtside, hops on the broadcast just to chop it up with the announce team sometimes, serves as a team ambassador, and pretty regularly collaborates with the Raptors for merch with his OVO line.
Utah Jazz: Gabrielle Union?
I gotta be honest, it’s very hard to find a celebrity Jazz fan that is not part of the ownership group in some way, so I’m going to finally cheat here and say Gabrielle Union-Wade who was at Jazz Summer League games (!) with her husband, Dwyane Wade who has a minority stake in the team.
Washington Wizards: Wolf Blitzer
Wale also has a claim here, but Wolf Blitzer is always at Wizards games and for some reason it makes me very happy that Wolf is just a diehard Wizards fan.
Sunday’s Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony was a heartfelt affair, filled with laughter, tears, stories, and poetry from the 13 remarkable inductees who graced the stage in Springfield, Massachusetts—the birthplace of the game.
Vince Carter, who closed out the ceremony, delivered a powerful reminder to his fellow inductees: “From now on, they don’t just say your first and last name without saying… ‘Hall of Famer.’” His words encapsulated the significance of the moment, solidifying their legacy within the sport.
Chauncey Billups expressed his gratitude to the city that embraced him and earned him the nickname “Mr. Big Shot.” In a nod to Detroit, he said, “The NBA franchise that loves me like family finally found me… Detroit.” Pausing to put on shades, he added, “What up doe … If you know, you know,” referencing the camaraderie he shared with fellow inductee Ben Wallace, who was seated on stage.
Michael Cooper received enthusiastic support from Lisa Leslie, Magic Johnson, and Pat Riley, who chanted “COOOP!” as he took the stage. He paid tribute to his mentor, Jerry West, stating, “I owe him more than he can ever understand. I miss him more than I can ever express.”
Doug Collins, still involved in coaching, shared his philosophy on failure and success. “In my life, if you look at my career, I’ve never been afraid to fail,” he remarked, emphasizing the importance of growth through adversity.
Seimone Augustus left a lasting impression with a heartfelt poem that showcased her smooth style on the court. “Home is where the heart is, and where the heart is, it grows,” she began. “I want to tell you a story about a girl from the Bayou, who cooked up a good pot of gumbo. Sprinkle in a little Pistol Pete, Dr. J, Teresa Edwards, Allen Iverson, and many more; they all helped me develop the game that you all adored.” Her eloquence resonated with legends like T-Mac and Dr. J.
Jonnie West, son of the late Jerry West, spoke poignantly about his father’s historic third induction into the Hall of Fame. “Contributor to the game of basketball. That is you in every single sense, and that will live on forever,” he said, honoring the legacy of a man who has significantly impacted the sport.
The ceremony was a celebration of the past, present, and future of basketball, highlighting the journeys of these remarkable individuals who have shaped the game and inspired generations to come.
LeBron James and his son, Bronny James, made NBA history on Sunday night by taking the court at the same time in the Los Angeles Lakers’ preseason game against the Phoenix Suns. During the second quarter of the matchup, Bronny checked into the game to join his father on the court. The day coincided with the celebration of his 20th birthday.
“It’s surreal,” Lakers Head Coach JJ Redick said before the game, as caught by ESPN. “It’ll be fun when they’re on the court together. I’m excited about it. I’m very honored that I get to be part of history.” He also promised that the moment would occur “in the flow of the game” and wouldn’t be “gimmicky.” The Lakers ended up dropping the game 118-114, as LeBron contributed 19 points, 4 assists, and 5 rebounds. Bronny chimed in with just 2 rebounds in his 13 minutes of action.
When the NBA shared the moment on social media, fans had mixed responses. Many celebrated the wholesome situation, such as one user on X (formerly Twitter) who wrote: “That’s a historic moment for both LeBron and Bronny! Seeing them share the court is a dream come true for many basketball fans. It’s not often you get to witness a father-son duo at such a high level of competition.” Others joked about Bronny being a nepotism hire for the Lakers. One annoyed fan wrote: “Wow so amazing this guy forced his team to waste a draft pick and a spot on their bench for his own kids who isn’t remotely a NBA caliber player just so he could add that little bit to his resume.”
Check out the moment that Bronny joined LeBron on the court below. Be on the lookout for further updates on LeBron and Bronny James as well as the Los Angeles Lakers on HotNewHipHop.
The NBA has debuted its new 2024-25 season tip-off campaign, “The Tip-Off,” now streaming across all @NBA social platforms and on the NBA App. The campaign features a star-studded lineup, including two-time NBA champion Kawhi Leonard, two-time All-Star Anthony Edwards, three-time All-Star Bam Adebayo, five-time All-Star Luka Dončić, reigning NBA champion Jayson Tatum, and 2023-24 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama.
Set to Van Halen’s iconic hit “Jump,” the spot shows players, celebrities, and fans racing to claim the game ball at midcourt, symbolizing the start of a new season. GRAMMY® Award-winning artist Kelly Rowland, creator Drew Afualo, and streamer Kai Cenat make appearances, along with Denver Nuggets mascot Rocky, who soars above the crowd to deliver the ball for the opening tip.
“The Tip-Off” captures the excitement and anticipation as all 30 teams begin their journey with a clean slate, chasing the ultimate prize—the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
According to ESPN and multiple reports, NBA center and shot blocking extraordinaire Dikembe Mutombo has passed away at the age of 58. The 2015 Hall of Fame inductee played his collegiate ball at Georgetown before getting drafted 1991 by the Denver Nuggets. After playing for 18 years between them, the Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, and the Houston Rockets, he racked up quite a lot of accomplishments. Mutombo’s ability to alter shots led him to become a four-time Defensive Player of the Year. He was also selected to six All-Defensive teams, received three All-NBA selections, and was an eight-time All Star.
After retiring following the 2008-2009 season, he would still be heavily involved with the league. He became an ambassador, as well as playing an integral role in developing the Basketball Africa League. But besides just helping the NBA reach more and more people across the globe he was an incredible person and humanitarian. In 1997, Mutombo started his own foundation named after himself to aid his homeland, the Democratic Republic of Congo, in numerous ways. One of the most substantial efforts includes a 170-bed hospital in Kinshasa that’s taking care of people regardless of their financial situation.
Overall, Mutombo was and still is one of the most beloved figures in the sport. His contagious spirit and willingness to help others will never be forgotten. It was reported two years ago that he was being treated for a brain tumor in Atlanta. Sadly, it got worse as he passed away Monday from brain cancer. The NBA says his family was around him during his final moments. Comissioner of the league, Adam Silver, expressed his love and adoration for Mutombo, praising him for his efforts to spreading the impact of the NBA around the world. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends during this time.
What are your thoughts on Dikembe Mutombo passing away? Are you shocked about the news? What is your favorite moment in his legendary career? We would like to hear what you have to say, so leave your thoughts in the comments. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding the NBA. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the sports world.
The full 2024-25 NBA regular season schedule was unveiled Thursday, providing fans with a comprehensive look at all the key matchups, from the opening night on Oct. 22 to NBA on Christmas Day and the regular season finale on April 13.
The season tips off with a marquee doubleheader, featuring the reigning champion Celtics receiving some new bling in Boston before two superstars go head-to-head out West. Opening night, dubbed Kia NBA Tip-Off 2024, begins with the Knicks at the Celtics (7:30 ET, TNT). It will be ring night for the reigning champs, as the Celtics raise banner No. 18 at TD Garden before tipping off the season against Jalen Brunson and the Knicks. In the nightcap, Anthony Edwards and the Wolves visit LeBron James and the Lakers at Crypto.com Arena (10 ET, TNT), with the King set to begin his 22nd NBA season, tying Vince Carter for the most all-time.
On Christmas Day, 64 days after the opening tip, hoop fans will have plenty to unbox with a loaded slate of games. The festivities begin with Victor Wembanyama making his Christmas Day debut against the Knicks at the World’s Most Famous Arena. Following this, a Western Conference Finals rematch takes place between Ant and the Wolves against Luka Doncic and the Mavs. Up next, Paul George, Joel Embiid, and the revamped Sixers are set to take on Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and the defending champs in Beantown. In primetime, LeBron and the Lakers face off against Steph Curry and the Warriors. To conclude NBA Christmas, Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets will face Kevin Durant and the Suns in the Valley.
The 2024-25 schedule features a slew of must-see games from October through April, including events like NBA Rivals Week, MLK Day, NBA Global Games, and more – including the previously announced Emirates NBA Cup. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan. 20), matchups include the Mavericks at the Hornets (12 ET, NBA TV), Timberwolves at the Grizzlies (2:30 ET, TNT), and Celtics at the Warriors (5 ET, TNT). The NBA Global Games feature the NBA Mexico City Game 2024 with the Heat vs. Wizards on Nov. 2 and the NBA Paris Games 2025 with the Spurs vs. Pacers on Jan. 23 & 25. The 74th NBA All-Star Game will be hosted in San Francisco from Feb. 14-16. The regular season will conclude on April 13 with all 30 teams in action to finalize postseason matchups.
For more details, check out the full schedule on the NBA’s official website and stay tuned for upcoming announcements.
Charles Barkley is pulling back the curtain on his return to TNT Sports. Barkley intended to retire after the company lost NBA rights. Instead, he is staying so staff members can retain employment.
But it’s even more significant for Barkley. He says he left over $100 million on the table.
“The number one thing for me is my people at Turner get to keep their jobs at least for another year, and that’s all I was concerned with,” said Barkley.
He then gave a reveal of the money he was walking away from. You can hear it all below.
Earlier this month, TNT Sports announced that Barkley has agreed to a new contract extending his tenure with the network beyond the NBA’s likely departure. “I love my TNT Sports family,” the 61-year-old basketball legend said. “My #1 priority has been and always will be our people and keeping everyone together for as long as possible.”
Before that, Barkley told The Athletic that he would consider staying with TNT only if it renewed his 10-year, $210 million contract. The network has agreed to his terms and plans to expand his role beyond NBA coverage. This includes March Madness coverage and potentially incorporating Barkley into NHL programming.
Barkley’s continued presence on TNT Sports is a significant win for the network, which values his charismatic personality and insightful commentary. Fans can look forward to seeing more of Barkley across different sports, further solidifying his status as a beloved figure in sports broadcasting.
Charles Barkley on his decision to not retire and stay at TNT.
“The reason I’m staying at TNT is so that people can keep their jobs. That does not mean I’m going to stay there forever, I can promise you that… I’m just happy a lot of people at Turner will keep their jobs.” pic.twitter.com/96P3px3qvh