Jaylen Brown will not be an NBA All-Star for the second season in a row. officially missed out on his second straight All-Star nod Monday when NBA commissioner Adam Silver selected Cleveland Cavaliers big man Jarrett Allen as the injury replacement for Philadelphia 76ers star James Harden, who is sidelined with a sore hamstring.
Brown is averaging 23.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game this season for a streaking Celtics team that is currently 6th in the competitive Eastern Conference. After the Celtics lost to the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night, Brown talked about his latest All-STAR snub.
Jaylen Brown on his All-Star snub: “I’m not losing no sleep. I think my ability on both sides of the ball speaks for itself” pic.twitter.com/nJ4K3Gy7x7
“I’m not really disappointed. Like I said before, I’m not losing sleep,” Brown told reporters, as seen in the video above. “I think that my ability on both sides of the ball speaks for itself. I’m not going to knock any of those other guys. Congratulations to them. But, I think it’s situational, to be honest. I think maybe some other things go into it that maybe we don’t know about right now.
Afterwards, Brown took to social media and posted an image of Kanye West holding a notepad saying how much he should have been an All-Star.
Don C., a Chicago native, has been named as Creative Strategy and Design Advisor by the Chicago Bulls.
Don C. will work with the team on a variety of projects and initiatives, including immersive experiences, fan engagement, digital content, retail products, youth programming, and community outreach, in his new job, which is a first for the Bulls organization.
“Don is a true leader in the creative industry, a native Chicagoan who operates at the intersection of sports, culture and innovation,” said Susan Goodenow, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Communications. “His unique skillset, interests and creativity have established him as a culture setter across the worlds of fashion, sports, and music. The Bulls have been very intentional about building relationships across the Chicago creative community, and through our work with Don we will look to take these efforts to the next level. We look forward to partnering with Don to create deeper relationships with our fan base in new and previously unimagined ways.”
Don, like many other Chicagoans, has a lifelong connection to the Bulls, attending games at the Chicago Stadium on “$2 Tuesdays” with his father. His initial passion leads to an avenue of connecting with fans across the globe.
“There are few things I have loved as long as I have loved the Bulls. It’s a dream come true to be able to combine my passion as a fan and my passion as a creative to help this legendary franchise to tap into the culture around the game,” said Don C. “Our goal will be to deepen connections with fans and make an impact in their lives. This isn’t just about designing merch, but combining bigger things like music, lifestyle and fashion to represent the Bulls as both an NBA team and a global brand. I can’t wait to work with their talented team of people.”
NBA commissioner Adam Silver is speaking ahead of the NBA All-Star weekend. During an appearance on ESPN‘s Get Up, Silver spoke toward the vaccine mandate in NYC and how it keeps certain players like Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving off the court.
“This law in New York, the oddity of it to me is that it only applies to home players,” Silver said. “I think if ultimately that rule is about protecting people who are in the arena, it just doesn’t quite make sense to me that an away player who is unvaccinated can play in Barclays but the home player can’t. To me that’s a reason they should take a look at that ordinance.”
Silver would also reveal the NBA at one point the league considered a vaccine mandate among players.
“So while, again, my personal view is people should get vaccinated and boosted, I can imagine a scenario where Brooklyn, as part of New York City, with a new mayor now who wasn’t in place, Eric Adams, when that original ordinance was put into place, I could see him deciding to change along the way and say it’s no longer necessary to have a mandatory vaccination requirement, as I said, particularly one that only affects home players,” Silver said.
DJ Khaled is set to take over NBA All-Star Saturday night. Taking the stage in Cleveland’s Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, Khaled is set to bring a group of his friends with him for the performance.
Today, the NBA announced his friends, revealing Khaled’s set will feature Lil Wayne, Gunna, Migos, Ludacris, Lil Baby, and Mary J. Blige.
The performance will occur just before the AT&T Slam Dunk contest.
The NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team will be honored during a special halftime ceremony during the 71st NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, February 20 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. Usher, Spike Lee, Tiffany Haddish, and Anthony Anderson, all of whom are part-owners of the Cleveland Cavaliers, will serve as narrators, taking fans on a journey through the league’s first 75 years, recognizing the players who have shone the brightest and highlighting the themes that have served as the NBA’s cornerstones since its inception: competition, culture, and inclusion.
Earth, Wind & Fire, winners of nine GRAMMY Awards, will perform their hit “Shining Star” as the halftime show’s climax. The NBA 75th Anniversary squad will be in attendance for the diamond anniversary ceremony, which will include members from nearly every decade of the league’s existence. The game will be broadcast live in 215 nations and territories on TNT at 8 p.m. ET.
Machine Gun Kelly, a Billboard Award-winning artist from Cleveland, and famous producer and award-winning DJ D-Nice will present the 2022 NBA All-Stars before to tip-off. Macy Gray, a four-time GRAMMY Award winner from Ohio, will perform the American national song, while Ryland James, a Toronto native and two-time Juno Award nominee and platinum-selling musician, will perform the Canadian national anthem.
DJ Khaled will be joined by a star-studded lineup of friends, including nine-time GRAMMY Award winner and two-time Academy Award winner Mary J. Blige, three-time GRAMMY Award winner Ludacris, five-time GRAMMY Award-winner Lil Wayne, Gunna, Migos, and Lil Baby, to headline an unforgettable performance before the AT&T Slam Dunk during State Farm® All-Star Saturday Night, airing at 8 p.m. ET
McDonald’s and 23XI Racing are kicking off the season with a new gear line of racing merch that fans will be rushing to get their hands on just in time for the first race. The co-branded, limited-edition racewear collection will go on sale on the 23XI Shop sponsored by Fanatics on February 18th.
McDonald’s and 23XI merge streetwear and racing for their first-ever gear collection, which includes a special bomber jacket, limited edition t-shirts, basketball shorts, and tearaway snap-up pants for fans to mix and match and show off their style. The 23XI Speed Institute, 23XI Racing’s educational and professional development program focused on DEI activities in the motorsports sector, will benefit from all earnings.
“For years, racing culture has had a presence in streetwear culture. Growing up, I remember how cool it was to rock a racing jacket with all the different patches and designs, so I was more than happy to model this collection,” said 23XI driver Bubba Wallace. “My favorite piece is the bomber jacket—I love how authentic it looks and it has a unique McDonald’s feature that I know fry enthusiasts, like me, will be particularly excited about.”
“We’re thrilled to bring our sports fans a streetwear collection they will want to wear and show off,” said Elizabeth Campbell, Senior Director of Cultural Engagement, McDonald’s USA. “Through our partnership with Bubba Wallace and 23XI, we’ve set out to broaden the racing fan-base and change the culture of what is typically seen in the racing world. This collection is one way we’re connecting to our fans, and we can’t wait to see their excitement when the merch drops this Friday.”
T-shirts will cost $29.99 and come in sizes ranging from small to 3XL. Jackets, pants, hats, and hoodies in sizes small through 2XL will be available, with pricing starting at $29.99. Slides will be available in sizes ranging from small to XL for $29.99.
This announcement follows on the heels of McDonald’s announcing an expansion of their collaboration with 23XI Racing this season, including Bubba Wallace’s participation in more races and the addition of Kurt Busch.
Gatorade, the world’s leading sports beverage, has launched Fuel Tomorrow, a multi-year program aimed at ensuring that everyone has an equitable opportunity to participate in sports and reach their full potential.
Playing sports can help an athlete thrive in school, go to college, and bring additional long-term benefits such as reduced depression, increased self-esteem, and increased work productivity. Many children, particularly girls, those from low-income families, and Black, Brown, and LGBTQ+ youth are unable to participate in sports due to major barriers.
“At Gatorade, we understand the power sport has to change lives, and while we have a long-standing history of serving athlete communities, our ambition is to do more to create positive change,” said Brett O’Brien, Gatorade senior vice president and general manager. “The inequities preventing kids from playing sports need to be addressed, and as the leader in sports fuel, it’s our responsibility to invest our voice and resources in ways that will create lasting impact.”
Fuel tomorrow is set to provide community programs that help kids play in a safe welcoming environment. The platform will also provide access to sports facilities, equipment and transportation, while also training coaches on how to be champions of equity and inclusion.
Collaborations with major social-impact groups will bring the project to life, and it will be integrated throughout long-standing brand activities. Gatorade is partnering with national groups such as Athlete Ally, Good Sports, Honest Game Foundation, Laureus USA, and the Women’s Sports Foundation to develop metrics and activities that promote equity in sports by using their grassroots networks and expertise. The multi-year effort comprises a $10 million initial investment in these groups, as well as additional funding to help them advance their missions. The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation, Walmart, and other prominent retailers will form community ties with the brand. Finally, starting this year, Gatorade will use athletic trainers, coaches, and registered dietitians to integrate diversity, equality, and inclusion training and educational tools across its programming.
Gatorade will launch a Fuel Tomorrow creative campaign to help build momentum for the effort. The campaign is a representation of the brand’s goal for a world where everyone can participate in sports. A hero film and integrated marketing activities across TV, digital, and social platforms will be part of the campaign. The film will premiere during NBA All-Star Weekend 2022, with on-the-ground initiatives to promote the local Cleveland community, and will star basketball superstars Candace Parker and Damian Lillard with youthful phenom Izzy Escribano.
“As a female athlete, I’ve faced many barriers over the years both on and off the court, which is why I love working with brands who are driving positive change for the next generation,” said Candace Parker, 2x WNBA Champion, 3x WNBA MVP and Gatorade athlete. “While we’ve come a long way, there’s more work to be done and, as a mom, I’m looking forward to working together with Gatorade to build a better future for all athletes.”
James Harden admitted on Tuesday that when he was essentially forcing his way out of Houston at the start of last season, his first choice was to be traded to the Philadelphia 76ers to join up with Joel Embiid and his former general manager with Daryl Morey. All of this might have been something Kevin Durant might have assumed all along.
According to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, Durant had grown frustrated with Harden this season over his conditioning and an apparent lack of commitment to the Brooklyn Nets.
One source told Fischer that Durant and Harden had a “cold war” this season that made everyone “miserable.”
Durant reportedly held out hope that Harden would become re-engaged. However, according to Fischer, after reports grew louder that Harden wanted a trade to the Philadelphia 76ers, Harden reportedly eventually told the Nets he wanted out, and Durant gave the green light to pull the trade.
Fischer quoted a source saying: “Kevin’s the one that pulled the trigger with this. Kevin’s the one that said, ‘Do this deal.’”
It was an unfortunate end of what could have been. Durant, Harden, and Kyrie Irving only played a grand total of 16 games together.
During the 2018 NBA Finals, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers were going against a juggernaut of the Golden State Warriors headlined by Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry.
Massive underdogs in the series, James and the Cavs, who had JR Smith on the team, had the Warriors on the ropes in Game 1. Then one of the most significant accidents in NBA history occurred; JR believed the Cavs had a 1-point lead and began t0 dribble out the clock instead of working for the last shot. The game would go to overtime, and the Cavs would lose that game and every other one in the series. JR Smith became a meme.
During his appearance on I Am Athlete, JR Smith spoke about the moment, saying it haunted him.
“I’ve been asked this question in certain situations but I’ve never felt as comfortable as I do in this element to say what I really wanted to say,” Smith says. “I ain’t gonna lie bro, I used to dream about that. I was in a depressed, depressed state because I really thought, ‘This is why I’m not in the league.’”
Smith would get another shot in the league, winning with James, Anthony Davis, and the Lakers in the NBA Bubble. Despite that, Smith believes the negative press of the moment impacted him not being in the league now.
“I know I’m still better than a lot of people who are still playing,” Smith said. “If I ever get to the point where I’m sick of the game, cool [I’ll retire]. But I’m not at that point. I’ve got a whole lot left in the tank.”
The entire episode is available here where Smith talks about life in the bubble, how George Karl ruined the Denver Nuggets, and more.
During the 2018 NBA Finals, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers were going against a juggernaut of the Golden State Warriors headlined by Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry.
Massive underdogs in the series, James and the Cavs, who had JR Smith on the team, had the Warriors on the ropes in Game 1. Then one of the most significant accidents in NBA history occurred; JR believed the Cavs had a 1-point lead and began t0 dribble out the clock instead of working for the last shot. The game would go to overtime, and the Cavs would lose that game and every other one in the series. JR Smith became a meme.
During his appearance on I Am Athlete, JR Smith spoke about the moment, saying it haunted him.
“I’ve been asked this question in certain situations but I’ve never felt as comfortable as I do in this element to say what I really wanted to say,” Smith says. “I ain’t gonna lie bro, I used to dream about that. I was in a depressed, depressed state because I really thought, ‘This is why I’m not in the league.’”
Smith would get another shot in the league, winning with James, Anthony Davis, and the Lakers in the NBA Bubble. Despite that, Smith believes the negative press of the moment impacted him not being in the league now.
“I know I’m still better than a lot of people who are still playing,” Smith said. “If I ever get to the point where I’m sick of the game, cool [I’ll retire]. But I’m not at that point. I’ve got a whole lot left in the tank.”
The entire episode is available here where Smith talks about life in the bubble, how George Karl ruined the Denver Nuggets, and more.
