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Wilt Chamberlain Rookie Uniform Auctioned For Record $1.79M

June 20, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Wilt Chamberlain as a rookie was already an unstoppable force. He averaged over 37 points and 27 rebounds per game that season, making it to the Eastern Conference Finals (where his Philadelphia Warriors lost to Bill Russell’s Boston Celtics in six games). This was the 1959-1960 season, the first of many for Wilt’s storied career. His jersey during that season has just been immortalized at auction, selling for a record $1.79 million. (TMZ Sports broke the news first.)

SCP Auctions, Inc., a memorabilia store in Laguna Niguel, CA, claims the sale is a record for any vintage sports item. Chamberlain’s number 13 jersey with the patented “Phila” shorthand is an easily recognizable piece of memorabilia. The man was a walking stat sheet, averaging 30 points a game for his career and almost 23 rebounds a game. He shot well over 50 percent from the floor and rarely came out of the game, averaging almost 46 minutes. (A basketball game lasts 48 minutes.)

Wilt Chamberlain’s Legacy

(Original Caption) Boston Celtics’ Bill Russell (rear) pins Warriors’ Wilt Chamberlain’s right arm, and holds him, during a wild 4th quarter in which both sides fought. Boston won the game, 119-104, at Boston Garden, to take a 3-2 game advantage over the Warriors in the series.

A tireless rebounder and a prolific scorer, Wilt used his 7-foot-1 height to his advantage as one of the tallest centers around in the 1960s. He played an entire decade with the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors/76ers, heralding the organization through multiple locations and name changes. He spent the last five years of his career with the L.A. Lakers, playing every game save for one injury-ridden season. At the height of his powers, he averaged a whopping 50 points and 25 rebounds per game. No one in the NBA today could ever dream of coming close.

Wilt’s jersey came with the short shorts worn at nearly every home game during the ’59-’60 season. Three authenticators photo-matched the uniform to pictures of the late Wilt dominating that year, confirming its legitimacy. Wilt Chamberlain won both Rookie of the Year and MVP honors in his first NBA season, a sign of things to come. Wilt was nothing short of incredible throughout his entire life, until his death in 1999. The new owner of “The Big Dipper’s” jersey and shorts (unknown at this time) should be ecstatic to have such a priceless piece of sports history.

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Nike Air Zoom Generation “Debut” Set To Drop Soon

June 19, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Overall, the Nike Air Zoom Generation is one of the most iconic sneakers in basketball history. LeBron James changed the game, there’s no question. Back on October 29, 2003, LeBron James checked in to his first-ever NBA game. After that, he has since gone on to become the all-time leading scorer in history and a 4x NBA Champion. He has cemented his legacy and his sneakers have gained immense popularity. Nike is throwing it back to the early days with this new sneaker.

Released in 2003, this sneaker revolutionized basketball footwear with features, including Zoom Air cushioning for optimal responsiveness and a unique upper for lockdown. So, the Air Zoom Generation set the foundation for a line of LeBron sneakers that continue to dominate the market. Since then, Nike and LeBron have gone on to release over 14 iterations!

“Debut” Nike Air Zoom Generation

Released as part of the Nike LeBron signature line, this particular model holds great significance as it represents the beginning of an illustrious career for one of basketball’s greatest players. The upper of the shoe is primarily white, signifying the new enthusiasm of his first game as a professional. Also, metallic silver and red details can be seen all throughout, balancing the pure white foundation and giving the design a hint of boldness and vigor. Above all, the Nike Air Zoom Generation “Debut” features quality materials and delivers comfort and performance on the court.

More Photos

Sneaker Bar Detroit reports that Nike will release the Nike Air Zoom Generation “Debut” at some point during Summer 2023. The exact date has yet to be announced. The price of the sneaker will be $180, which is $10 less than the current pairs on Nike. In the comments section, let us know what you think about this pair. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the most recent updates and news from the sneaker community. We’ll make sure to offer you the newest products from the most notable companies.

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Lou Williams Announces Retirement After 17-Year NBA Career

June 18, 2023 by newhiphopnews

NBA veteran Lou Williams has officially announced that he is retiring from professional basketball. Williams was drafted 45th overall in 2005 out of South Gwinnett High School in Snellville, Georgia. Furthermore, Williams was one of the last high school draftees to ever join the NBA, as the league prohibited teams from picking high school players from the 2006 draft onwards. Williams spent the first 7 seasons of his career with the Sixers. While Williams was a solid contributor, he was part of a Sixers team trying to find its identity after the departure of Allen Iverson. This was highlighted by Williams leading the Sixers in scoring during the 2011-12 season, despite starting 0 games for the team.

Becoming a free agent in 2012, Williams signed with the Atlanta Hawks but would be traded to Toronto in 2014. With the Raptors, Williams blossomed yet further into being a vital supporting player, picking up his first Sixth Man of the Year Award in 2015. Finding himself a free agent once again, the guard signed a three-year deal with the Lakers. However, he was traded once more in 2017, joining the Rockets. He was then flipped to the Clippers just a few months later, where he would spend the next four years. Finally, Williams was traded back to the Hawks in 2021.

Williams Ends Iconic Career

After a 17-year NBA career, Lou Williams announces he has retired from basketball. Williams is a three-time Sixth Man of the Year award winner and the NBA’s all-time leading bench scorer.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 18, 2023

Williams announced his retirement after not playing in the 2022-23 season. He ends his career with three Sixth Man of the Year awards, just the second player after Jamal Crawford to win the award three times. Furthermore, Williams was just the second player to win the award in back-to-back years. Williams ends his career with 15,593 points, which means he leaves the NBA as the league’s all-time bench scorer.

However, Williams also left his mark on the music industry. Having recorded several singles himself, Williams featured on Meek Mill‘s Sixers hype track, “I Want It All”. Elsewhere, Drake‘s “6 Man”, from his 2015 mixtape If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late, was about Williams. Williams played for Drake’s hometown Raptors at the time. He was also coming off a minor scandal of dating two women at the same time, which Drake referenced in the song. Congratulations on a historic career Lou, we hope you enjoy retirement.

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J. Cole Shows His North Carolina Love By Buying (Part Of) The Charlotte Hornets

June 16, 2023 by newhiphopnews

J. Cole has been very loud and consistent about his love for his home state, North Carolina, and today, it was announced that he’s part of an ownership group buying its favorite NBA team. Michael Jordan, the owner of the Charlotte Hornets, has reached a deal to sell the team to a new buyer group, according to NBA.com, that includes J. Cole and fellow NC recording artist Eric Church, as well as Hornets part owner Gabe Plotkin and equity manager Rick Schnall, who was a minority owner of the Atlanta Hawks. Schnall will, of course, sell his stake in the Hawks as the deal is completed.

Now, the deal to sell the Hornets must be reviewed by the NBA’s board of governors, but they’ve yet to reject a deal to sell a team (although they’ve shot down a handful of relocation bids, as well as the notorious trade to send Chris Paul to the Lakers in 2011). Michael Jordan will stay on as a minority owner, while ownership also encompasses the NBA G League’s Greensboro Swarm and NBA 2K League’s Hornets Venom GT, and managing and operating the Spectrum Center arena.

J. Cole’s had extensive involvement with the NBA, from appearing on the cover of NBA 2K23 to convincing the Heat to sign Caleb Martin to playing in the BAL, a joint venture between the NBA and FIBA. The guy just loves hoops — and now, he has one more reason to show up at those Hornets games.

Cam’ron Shades Kim Kardashian Over Kendall Jenner NBA Boyfriends Shirt

June 13, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Cam’ron is a man with plenty of opinions – particularly about one of Kim Kardashian’s recent outfits. During a new episode of the New Yorker’s It Is What It Is podcast, the socialite came up in conversation. At the time, the host was asked to share his thoughts on her recent trolling of little sister Kendall Jenner. Earlier this month, Kim wore a shirt while filming a TikTok with her daughter, North West, that showed five of the supermodel’s former lovers on it, all of whom are known NBA players.

While some saw the moment as playful teasing between sisters, Cam’ron is not at all here for it. “I think the b**ch got a lot of f**king audacity,” his rant began. “B**ch you started off f**king Ray J,” the fashion icon then reminded Kardashian. “Why do people ignore that and now you want to taunt your sister like she got mad ni**as. She got it from you,” Killa Cam insisted, perhaps referencing the mother of four’s extensive dating history.

Cam’ron isn’t Here for Kim K Trolling Kendall Jenner

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“Your starting 5 consists of athletes and entertainers,” the rapper noted later in the show, speculating who would appear on Jenner’s shirt if the roles were reversed. “First of all, we got the head coach Ray J, then we got Reggie Bush,” Cam’ron’s list began. “Then she married that basketball player that wasn’t sh*t and found out he wasn’t sh*t and curved that ni**a,” he hilariously continued.

“Then she started messing with another athlete then she got with Kanye and had kids then got into an argument with Kanye and then rushed to go f**k Pete Davidson. Your line up is wild too you got a lot of nerve man.” Are you a fan of what Cam’ron’s done with it Is What It Is so far? Let us know in the comments, and read what Metro Boomin had to say about the show at the link below.

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Mass Shooting Leaves 10 Wounded In Denver After Nuggets’ Finals Win

June 13, 2023 by newhiphopnews

A mass shooting in Denver, Colorado has left at least 10 people wounded. It occurred in an area of the city where fans had been celebrating the Nuggets’ first NBA title win, early Tuesday morning. Police have taken a suspect into custody. He was among the 10 people wounded.

The shooting occurred around 12:30 AM, local time, roughly one mile from Ball Arena, where the Nuggets defeated the Miami Heat a few hours earlier. Three of those who were wounded are in critical condition with the rest believed to have suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

The Scene In Denver After The Nuggets’ Win

DENVER, COLORADO – JUNE 12: Denver Nuggets fans celebrate in downtown Denver after the end of Game Five of the 2023 NBA Finals at Ball Arena on June 12, 2023, in Denver, Colorado. The Nuggets went on to beat the Miami Heat 94-89 to win their first NBA Championship in franchise history. (Photo by Max Paro/Getty Images)

“As far as what led up to this altercation that resulted in the shots being fired, that’s still under investigation at this time,” police spokesperson Doug Schepman said. “It did occur in the area where we had the largest gathering of folks celebrating during the night.” Schepman added that the celebrating crowd in the area had “diminished quite a bit at that point.” The shooting occurred in an area of the city where people were likely leaving various bars and restaurants. “We had a lot of officers in that immediate area of 20th and Market when the shooting occurred, which is why the response to it was so quick,” he said.

Chief Ron Thomas provided an update on the situation in a press conference later in the day. He explained that the shooting was likely sparked by a drug deal gone wrong. Thomas added that there are two suspects and roughly 20 rounds of ammunition were fired at the scene. Further details are unavailable, but Schepman described the ongoing investigation as “expansive.” Be on the lookout for more information in the coming days.

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50 Cent Partners With Sacramento Kings To Launch Youth Sports & Mentoring League

June 13, 2023 by newhiphopnews

50 Cent has teamed up with the Sacramento Kings to launch the Kings and Queens Rise Co-Ed Youth Sports and Mentoring League with his G-Unity Foundation. The New York rapper discussed the initiative during a recent interview with The Sacramento Bee.

He shared a link to the piece on Instagram, Monday, while adding in the caption: “It’s a great program KING & Queens rise. I had fun hanging out with the kids, if we keep them active, they won’t go get in trouble.”

50 Cent With Kings Owner Vivek Ranadivé

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 30: 50 Cent sits with Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé court side before the Sacramento Kings game against the Indiana Pacers at Golden 1 Center on November 30, 2022 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

In the actual interview, 50 Cent remarked, “I think idle time is the devil’s time. Especially in inner cities where you got so many different distractions, so many different influences, positive and negative.” He added: “They get a chance to be part of that team effort. I think it teaches them lessons that are priceless in the early stages.”

It’s not the first time 50 Cent has worked with the Kings’ organization. His beverage company, Sire Spirits, is one of the team’s official partners. The interview comes as 50 Cent prepares to embark on what could be his final tour.

50 Cent Partners With The Kings

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A post shared by 50 Cent (@50cent)

50 Cent explained that his upcoming Final Lap Tour might be his last world tour during a recent post on Instagram “Because ticket sales are doing so well they’re adding new markets so the UK, North America, and possibly Australia will be in there. I gotta get to Africa, I got a lot of spots I gotta hit before I be done, because this is the Final Lap Tour. I won’t be running around like this no more,” he told his fans. He added: “I gotta do my film and television stuff and got a lot of other things going on behind the scenes that I gotta work on. So I won’t be out touring as much as I’ve been touring… I’m having fun this time because it’s set up to enjoy myself, we not feeling pressure.”

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Cam’ron Warns Ja Morant Not To Be Like Him: “You Can’t Rap!”

June 12, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Cam’ron shared a warning for Ja Morant on Instagram, Sunday night, while reflecting on his own basketball career. In doing so, the Dipset rapper shared a picture of himself on his college basketball team. He explained that his behavior got him kicked out of college, but luckily his musical talents saved him. Cam says Morant doesn’t have that same luxury.

“I was on bull shit in college,” Cam admitted in the post. “I got kicked out for pistol whipping a n***a. (Which I don’t condone) lucky I had a plan B and C. Ja don’t be me you can’t rap!!! Lol as you can see its a lil blurry but it was still the set.”

Cam’ron At The Team Roc Annual Basketball Tournament

Cam’Ron and Juelz Santana of Diplomats during Team Roc Annual Basketball Tournament 2004 at Harlem Kingdom Projects in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

Cam’ron isn’t the first rapper to speak on Ja Morant’s situation. Lil Wayne also recently made headlines for his comments on the Grizzlies’ star’s behavior. He said on the All The Smoke podcast: “He comes from a town of like 3000 people. What y’all expect? Y’all gave him $200 million. I just said a town with 3000 people. You expect him to be responsible? Nah, we’re tripping then… That’s magic.”

The NBA is expected to announce the details regarding a punishment for Morant brandishing a gun during an Instagram Live video after the NBA Finals. The Breakfast Club‘s Claudia Jordan has reported that Morant intends to argue the weapon was a toy. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver responded to that report during an interview on Dan Patrick Show on Thursday. “It’s something that I’m thinking a lot about because—again, I’m not going to get into the specifics of the investigation—but in fact if you are live-streaming something that to the world looks exactly like a gun in a frankly reckless manner, should it matter whether or not it’s a real gun?” he said. Check out Cam’ron’s recent post regarding Ja Morant here.

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Charles Barkley Grills Adam Silver About In-Season Tournament

June 5, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Charles Barkley can be a bit of an old-school guy as it pertains to the NBA. Overall, he believes that his era was the best, and there is very little you can do to change that. Although he does like some of the players that play today, he can still be a bit of a curmudgeon. Ultimately, this extends to some of the newer things that the NBA has been proposing over the years. For instance, next season, the league is going to have an in-season tournament. This is brand-new, and it will see the NBA going in a more European soccer direction.

Although this could be a whole lot of fun, some are confused as to how it will work. Charles Barkley is one of those people who isn’t so sure that this is a great idea. However, Barkley got to speak to Adam Silver about it directly last night. Essentially, Silver explained that some regular season games will count as part of the tournament. Every team is eligible, and based on the performances of each team in these tournament games, there will be seeding for the knockout stages. Subsequently, the team that wins will receive $500K per player.

Charles Barkley Is Not Convinced

.@NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on what we can expect from the new in-season tournament: pic.twitter.com/rxnxplAWtP

— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 4, 2023

Despite this explanation, Barkley was still quite skeptical about it all. “Well, ok, so, we already got the load management issue, ok?” Barkley said. “Why would I risk — if I’m one of the teams who’s trying to win the Larry O’Brien trophy — what’s in it for me to play in that tournament? We’re already having a hard time getting these guys to play.” Overall, Chuck makes a very good point. Half of the players in the league are already sitting out games for no good reason. This tournament could embolden player to not try or just sit out altogether. That said, Silver believes players will want to compete, especially with the cash prize.

Silver has brought some good ideas to the table as commissioner. For instance, the play-in tournament has proven to be a huge hit with a lot of people. Hopefully, this new tournament works and stays around for a while. Let us know what you think of this idea, in the comments section below.

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Damian Lillard Net Worth 2023: What Is The NBA Star Worth?

June 2, 2023 by newhiphopnews

In the world of professional basketball, one name commands attention: Damian Lillard. Known for his tenacity on the court and his dynamic play, Lillard has become a household name. But how does his skill translate into dollars and cents? According to Celebrity Net Worth, Damian Lillard’s net worth is an impressive $100 million in 2023.

Earnings From Basketball Career

Born in Oakland, California, Lillard found his calling on the basketball court early. After standout high school and college performances, the Portland Trail Blazers selected him as the 6th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. His meteoric rise in the NBA has seen his net worth surge in tandem.

Lillard’s on-court performance brought lucrative contracts his way. His first extension in 2015 was worth $120 million over five years. The lucrative deals didn’t stop there. In 2019, he signed a four-year extension worth nearly $200 million. The earnings from these contracts form the bedrock of Damian Lillard’s net worth.

Damian Lillard’s Off-Court Earnings

However, the story of Damian Lillard’s net worth isn’t just about his basketball career. Lillard has been shrewd about diversifying his income. He holds endorsement deals with several major companies, including Adidas. His shoe deal with the sportswear giant reportedly earns him over $10 million annually.

Moreover, Lillard has ventured into the music industry under the stage name “Dame D.O.L.L.A.,” which stands for “Different on Levels the Lord Allows.” While his music career isn’t as lucrative as his basketball career, it’s still a noteworthy component of his overall brand and adds to his net worth.

Investments & Future Prospects

damian lillard net worth — MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 13: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers celebrates a basket in the fourth quarter against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena on December 13, 2017 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)

Smart about his money, Lillard has made several investments that contribute to his net worth. Although details about these investments remain private, it’s clear that they provide him with a steady income stream. Looking forward, Damian Lillard’s net worth will likely continue to grow. As one of the NBA’s premier players, his earning potential remains high. Contract extensions and endorsement deals will keep pouring in. Lillard has secured a robust financial future with his music career and savvy investments.

Final Thoughts On Damian Lillard’s Net Worth

Damian Lillard’s journey is a testament to his skill, perseverance, and strategic financial planning. While his basketball career is his primary source of wealth, his off-court activities also contribute significantly to his net worth. As of 2023, Damian Lillard’s net worth stands at a remarkable $100 million, highlighting his success both on and off the court.

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