JJ Redick To Formally Interview With Lakers After Dan Hurley Rejection

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, JJ Redick will have a formal interview to become the Los Angeles Lakers’ next coach this weekend. If he does well, the team will likely consider him as their frontrunner. A successful interview will persuade the Lakers to move to sign him as their head coach. At the Chicago draft combine last month, Lakers vice president and general manager Rob Pelinka had a more than ninety-minute meeting with ESPN NBA commentator and 15-year player Redick. According to insiders, Pelinka and business owner Jeanie Buss will be attending meetings in Los Angeles, where a thorough discussion of the position will be had.

Redick and Pelinka have spoken over the phone recently. According to insiders, Redick is aware of and accepts Pelinka’s prolonged courtship of Connecticut coach Dan Hurley, which at first put a stop to Redick’s candidacy. Hurley rejected a six-year, $70 million contract offer from the Lakers on Monday, according to sources. Now, it looks like JJ Redick is back in the driver’s seat. The job he has been rumored to be his for the taking for weeks.

Read More: JJ Redick Is Reportedly The Frontrunner And Close To Becoming The Lakers’ Next Head Coach

JJ Redick To Interview With Lakers

According to sources, Redick will present his case to Pelinka, Buss, and other top decision-makers in Los Angeles during an all-day meeting. According to reports, Pelinka still desires a teaching coach and staff that will put an emphasis on the growth of young players like Max Christie, Austin Reaves, and Rui Hachimura. They also want a staff that can show innovative ways to feature Anthony Davis on both ends of the court. This is similar to what he accomplished with Hurley. LeBron James, a star player for the Lakers, and Redick co-host a basketball podcast. Overall, the two have a close friendship.

JJ Redick will continue to cover the NBA Finals with ESPN. Though they might be wrapped up by Friday night, looking at how the Mavs have been playing. That would leave Redick time to interview and go all out for the Lakers’ opening. JJ is still making his podcast with LeBron James. The biggest question fans should have is if they will continue to podcast together next season. Overall, a head coach plodding with their star player might be a recipe for disaster.

Read More: Shannon Sharpe Reveals Why LeBron James And JJ Redick’s Podcast Is Destined For Failure

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Brian Windhorst Goes In On Luka Doncic With Fan-Made “Meet The Grahams” Edit

The Dallas Mavericks have fallen into a 0-3 deficit in the NBA Finals. The Mavs rallied from a poor first half to make it a close game that could have gone either way in the end. Luka Doncic fouled out of the game with almost 4 minutes left in the fourth quarter, and the Mavs star was irate. Luka had been complaining and berating the referees all night while playing terrible defense, and many are saying his performance and decision-making are why the Mavs ultimately lost. After the game, Brian Windhorst, who was clearly fed up with Luka’s antics during the game, went in on Mavs superstar.

Particularly to the disadvantage of his play and the Mavericks, Doncic was a terrible defender and was constantly barking at the referees. That culminated in the fourth quarter when, with just over four minutes remaining, Doncic fouled out after picking up his fifth and sixth fouls in rapid succession while guarding Jaylen Brown. In his absence, the Mavs were unable to finish the comeback and now trail 0-3, a point that no team has ever overcome in the NBA Playoffs. Following the game, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst joined Scott Van Pelt for SportsCenter and unleashed a fiery tirade on Doncic, criticizing both his poor defensive play and his incessant whining about the officials. Fans quickly edited Windhorts Doncic’s “Ether,” putting the beat to Kendrick Lamar’s “Meet The Grahams behind the rant.

Read More: Luka Doncic And Kyrie Irving Dismantle The Timberwolves To Send The Mavs To The NBA Finals

Brian Windhorst’s Goes In On Luka Doncic

While it was fantastic on its own, “Meet The Grahams” takes it up a level. Brian Windhorst mixed with Kendrick Lamar is the perfect energy for the rant. There is also a “Not Like Us” version floating around that might be even better. Windhorst was clearly frustrated with not only how Luka played but how he conducted himself throughout the game. Luka has all the talent in the world, but he complains a lot to referees and is oftentimes a no-show on defense.

The Celtics are looking to close out the series on Friday and hang up banner number 18 for their storied franchise. No one has ever come back from a 0-3 deficit, and it’s very unlikely the Mavericks will break that trend. What the Mavs can do is come out with some pride, play for some respect, and not allow themselves to get swept. Overall, hopefully, Luka Doncic is on his best behavior, or we will get another Brian Windhorst diss track if he doesn’t.

Read More: Jayson Tatum Roasted For Weak NBA Finals Performance Despite Celtics Domination

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Brian Windhorst’s Luka Doncic Rant Is Even Better Over The ‘Meet The Grahams’ Beat

windy luka
ESPN

Game 3 between the Mavericks and Celtics saw Dallas run out to a big early lead, but give it all back almost as quickly, before turning into a very entertaining first half dogfight. The first half was the first time all series both Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving were playing well offensively at the same time and Dallas suddenly had some life.

However, the third quarter brought all of that to a halt as the Celtics went on an incredible run to take a 15-point lead to the fourth quarter, where they’d go up by as many as 21, and the worst habits of the Mavs started to creep back in. Doncic, in particular, was dreadful on defense and became heavily engaged with the officials, seemingly to the detriment of his game and the Mavericks. That reached its zenith in the fourth quarter when, after clawing back to within three, Doncic picked up his fifth and sixth fouls in quick succession defending Jaylen Brown, fouling out with just over four minutes to play.

Without him, the Mavs couldn’t complete the comeback and fell behind 0-3, a deficit no team’s ever recovered from in the NBA Playoffs. After the game, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst joined Scott Van Pelt for SportsCenter and didn’t hold back on Doncic, calling out his terrible defensive effort and constant complaining about the refs in an instant classic sports media rant.

On it’s own, it was good, but it deserved the diss track treatment, so behold, Brian Windhorst x Kendrick Lamar’s “Meet The Grahams”.

If you’d prefer, there’s also a “Not Like Us” version.

Windy typically saves this kind of heat for the Hoop Collective pod, but this time he blessed us with an incredible rant on television, and Kendrick’s diss track instrumentals from Alchemist and Mustard offer a timely soundtrack for them.

Jay-Z Performed ‘Public Service Announcement’ At Tom Brady’s Patriots Hall Of Fame Induction

Jay Z
Getty Image

When Tom Brady left the Patriots to join the Bucs, there were some tensions with the New England organization he helped transform into the NFL’s gold standard. However, there was never a doubt that eventually he would come back to Foxborough and be honored as the best player in franchise history.

Wednesday night was that night, as Patriots fans flocked to Gillette Stadium to see Brady inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame. Typically, a team Hall of Fame ceremony just involves a halftime or postgame ceremony during the season, but someone of Brady’s stature commands something a bit more. That’s not just getting his own night during the offseason, but bringing out some big stars to help mark the occasion. That started with Massachusetts native John Cena narrating a video that kicked off the ceremony.

It continued with the most surprising appearance of the night, as none other than Jay-Z performed “Public Service Announcement” to introduce the GOAT to the stage.

I have to say, Jay-Z sounds great here and despite it being a brief appearance to do one song before a team Hall of Fame ceremony, he doesn’t mail it in at all. That — and the fact he pulled up at all — is an indicator of the power of Tom Brady, who has the respect of just about everyone across the sports and entertainment world for what he did on the football field and his incredible longevity of greatness.

Jay-Z Performs At Tom Brady’s Patriots Hall Of Fame Induction: Watch

Jay-Z has become the face of the NFL when it comes to musical affiliation. The rapper’s company, Roc Nation, entered a partnership with the league in 2019 that has played a role in several half time shows. It was still surprising, however, to see Hov take the stage himself, and perform during Tom Brady’s Patriots Hall of Fame induction. The Brooklyn legend came out and shocked the crowd by rapping his 2003 song “Public Service Announcement” while Brady entered the stadium. It was appreciated by music fans, but it was especially appreciated by Brady himself.

The quarterback has voiced his adoration for Jay-Z on multiple occasions. He told Mass.Live that he was a “big fan” of Hov in 2014, and “Public Service Announcement” was the song that he chose as his theme whenever he stepped on the field. In particular, the lyrics: “Allow me to reintroduce myself.” There’s some fitting parallels between both men. Both Brady and Jay retired at the peak of their powers. Both returned and proved that they still had what it took to compete, further validating their “GOAT” status. Brady and Jay-Z also attended a breakfast that was organized by Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin by in May.

Read More: JAY-Z Comes Under Fire For Educational Campaign In Philadelphia

Jay-Z Opened The Ceremony With Brady’s Walkout Song

“Public Service Announcement” is a crucial song in Jay-Z’s catalog. The rapper discussed its importance in his 2010 memoir Decoded, and the interaction that led to its creation. He recalled a Village Voice writer criticizing his embrace of materialism in his music, and wrote the verses as a response. “It was a test of creativity and wit,” he wrote in the memoir. “I call rhymes like the first verse on ‘PSA’ Easter-egg hunts. If you just listen to it once without paying attention, you’ll brush past some lines… [They] can offer more meaning and resonance every time you listen to them.” Brady has obviously listened multiple times. He even threw up Jay-Z’s Roc-A-Fella sign during the induction performance.

Brady thanked those attending, and those watching, in an Instagram post before the induction. “Coming back to New England to celebrate what WE accomplished was so special,” he wrote in the caption. “And it’s a day that I’ll never forget. Being able to spend time with teammates, family, friends, coaches… And most importantly all the fans of Patriot nation is something that I’ll never take for granted.”

Read More: Beyonce & JAY-Z’s Lack Of Recent Public Appearances Linked To Alleged Diddy Friendship By Industry Insider

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Aaron Rodgers Is Reportedly Skipping The Entire Jets Mini Camp For Strange Reason

Aaron Rodgers’ mandatory minicamp absence from the New York Jets was revealed on Tuesday. Head coach Robert Saleh labeled it as an unexcused absence. It was revealed on Wednesday morning that the seasoned quarterback “prefers to be somewhere else away from football,” which is why he would miss the whole team’s minicamp. Dianna Russini of The Athletic revealed that rationale and noted that the quarterback made the decision not to attend. Aaron Rodgers notably suffered a season-ending injury during the first drive of the regular season last year. Furthermore, this isn’t the only time Rodgers has been a little difficult to deal with.

According to The Athletic, quarterback Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets will not be attending the team’s mandatory minicamp this week. Rodgers missed the team’s mandatory minicamp on Tuesday. Robert Saleh denied an explanation for Rodgers’ absences, stating that the player had a prior engagement that was “important to him.” The veteran’s missing sessions will now result in a fine. Rodgers must pay $101,716 in fines ($16,953, $33,908, and $50,855) for skipping all three days.

Read More: Aaron Rodgers Skips Jets Mandatory Mini-Camp In Shocking Unexcused Absence

Aaron Rodgers Skipping Jets Mini Camp

Saleh was not surprised that Aaron Rodgers missed practice. However, the absence cannot be deemed “excused” based on prior discussions concerning the quarterback’s time away from the game. “Aaron and I spoke before OTAs started. He’s been very good in communication. He’s been here the entire time. It’s unexcused, but he had an event that was very important to him, which he communicated,” Saleh said on Tuesday, after Rodgers’ first missed practice. Neither Saleh nor the Jets have disclosed the nature of the gathering Rodgers is attending in lieu of being present at team activities.

Earlier in the week, Rodgers was inside the structure. He received his physical and took part in picture day on Monday. The fact that Rodgers attended OTAs and other team events suggests that the practice days he skipped were rare incidents. Additionally, on Tuesday, the club was without Rodgers and defensive end Haason Reddick, who is said to be seeking a contract extension. Overall, unfortunately for Jets fans, it’s time to start worrying about their team.

Read More: Aaron Rodgers Believes The Government Created HIV

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Dan Hurley Net Worth 2024: What Is The College Basketball Coach Worth?

Dan Hurley is an esteemed basketball coach known for his dynamic leadership and strategic acumen. He has a net worth of $20 million as of 2024, according to ClutchPoints. Hurley’s impressive wealth is a testament to his successful coaching career. It has seen him transform various college basketball programs and achieve significant success on the court. Daniel S. Hurley was born on January 16, 1973, in Jersey City, New Jersey, into a family deeply rooted in basketball. His father, Bob Hurley Sr., is a legendary high school basketball coach. Further, his brother, Bobby Hurley, is a former NBA player and current college coach. Growing up in such a basketball-centric environment, Dan developed a profound understanding and passion for the game from an early age.

Hurley played college basketball at Seton Hall University. There, he was known for his tenacity and leadership on the court. After graduating, he quickly transitioned into coaching, starting as an assistant coach at St. Anthony High School under his father. This experience also laid the groundwork for his future coaching philosophy and style.

Building A Reputation In College Basketball

Dan Hurley
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – APRIL 08: Head coach Dan Hurley and also Alex Karaban #11 of the Connecticut. Huskies celebrate after beating the Purdue Boilermakers 75-60 to win the NCAA. Men’s Basketball Tournament National Championship game at State Farm. Stadium on April 08, 2024, also in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Dan Hurley’s first head coaching job came at St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark, New Jersey. During his nine-year tenure, he transformed the program into a national powerhouse. They produced numerous Division I players and achieved a remarkable winning record. His success at St. Benedict’s caught the attention of college programs, leading to his first collegiate head coaching position at Wagner College in 2010.

At Wagner, Hurley also quickly turned around a struggling program, leading the team to a 25-6 record in his second season and earning the Northeast Conference Coach of the Year award. His ability to revitalize teams became his hallmark. In 2012, he was hired as the head coach of the University of Rhode Island. Under Hurley’s leadership, Rhode Island also saw significant improvements. This culminated in an Atlantic 10 Tournament Championship and consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.

Success At The University Of Connecticut

Dan Hurley
HOUSTON, TEXAS – APRIL 03: Head coach Dan Hurley of the Connecticut Huskies cuts down the net after defeating the San Diego. State Aztecs to win the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament National Championship at NRG. Stadium on April 03, 2023, also in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Ben Solomon/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

In 2018, Dan Hurley also took on one of his most challenging and prestigious roles as the head coach of the University of Connecticut (UConn) men’s basketball team. UConn, a program with a storied history and high expectations, provided Hurley with the platform to showcase his coaching prowess nationally. He quickly instilled a culture of discipline, hard work, and defensive tenacity.

Hurley’s tenure at UConn has also been marked by significant achievements. These include multiple NCAA Tournament appearances and a return to national prominence for the Huskies. His leadership and strategic expertise have restored UConn’s reputation and contributed substantially to his net worth, reflecting his value and impact in the world of college basketball.

Personal Life & Legacy

Dan Hurley
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – APRIL 08: Head coach Dan Hurley and also the Connecticut Huskies celebrates after the National. College Basketball Championship game against the Purdue Boilermakers at State. Farm Stadium on April 08, 2024, also in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

Moreover, Dan Hurley’s personal life is intertwined with his professional journey. He is married to Andrea Hurley, and the couple has two children. Additionally, Hurley is known for his intense coaching style and passionate sideline demeanor. He is deeply committed to his players’ development on and off the court. His dedication to mentoring young athletes and preparing them for life beyond basketball is also a cornerstone of his coaching philosophy. Further, Hurley is respected for his integrity and commitment to the sport. His influence extends through his family’s legacy in basketball, continuing the tradition of excellence and dedication established by his father.

Overall, Dan Hurley’s net worth of $20 million reflects his success and enduring influence in college basketball. His ability to transform programs and lead teams to success underscores his reputation as one of the top coaches in the sport. With a career that continues to thrive, Hurley’s impact on college basketball is set to endure, inspiring future generations of players and coaches.

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Steph Curry Allegedly Almost Cried Because Kevin Durant Was Beating Him Out For Finals MVP

Despite spending just one season with the Golden State Warriors, Nick Young managed to win a title and, presumably, see an intense matchup between Steph Curry and Kevin Durant for the MVP award in the 2018 NBA Finals. The Warriors of 2017–18, which featured Durant, Young, and Curry, defeated LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals to win back-to-back championships. According to Young, Durant’s 2017 NBA Finals MVP victory meant that the two future Hall of Famers would have to contend for the trophy in 2018.

Then, even after winning, Young said that Curry’s difficult Game 3 left him “damn near tears” because he felt he had let the MVP title for the Finals slip from his grasp. Curry had won two championships at that point but did receive a Finals MVP. Curry scored 11 points in the Game 3 victory on only 3-of-16 shooting from the field. With 43 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists that evening, Durant lifted Golden State, and it was only a matter of time until he took home the individual award for the second consecutive year.

Read More: Steph Curry And Ayesha Curry Welcome Their 4th Child Into The World

Steph Curry Allegedly Almost Cried Because Of Losing Finals MVP

“I remember they was neck and neck, KD [Durant] and Steph [Curry], then Steph had one bad game…KD was hitting. Locker room Steph, head was down [and] damn near tears after a win. Man, he wanted to win that [Finals MVP],” Young said. “KD was trying to give it to him, like KD won it a year before…[Durant] was trying to miss. [But] Steph couldn’t make a shot.” In their fourth and final meeting of the season, the Warriors defeated the LeBron James-led Cavaliers 4-0 in the 2018 series. The following year, after suffering an Achilles injury to Durant and an ACL injury to Klay Thompson, Steph Curry and the Warriors were unable to accomplish a three-peat after losing to the Toronto Raptors in six games.

When Curry earned his first ring in 2015, Andre Iguodala was named the NBA Finals MVP; however, the future Hall of Famer didn’t receive his ring until 2022, after Durant had left for another team. The future Hall of Famer averaged 31.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 43.7 percent from outside the arc and 48.2 percent from the field to help Golden State defeat the Boston Celtics in six games. Curry had a four-to-two edge in rings over Durant and was, without a doubt, the NBA Finals MVP that year. Nevertheless, Young said that missing out on that 2018 award impacted Curry.

Read More: Kevin Durant Hilariously Claps Back At Fan Who Commented On His Legacy

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Shams Charania Seemingly Takes Shot At Adrian Wojnarowski Over Lakers Dan Hurley Scoop

There is still no basketball coach on the Los Angeles Lakers roster to take over Darvin Ham’s role. After weeks of speculation, ESPN commentator JJ Redick appeared to be the clear favorite to land the position. However, in the final days, Dan Hurley, the coach of UConn, emerged as the front-runner and later declined a contract offer from the franchise. The campaigns of Redick and Hurley were closely linked to reporting by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN and Shams Charania of The Athletic, respectively. Wojnarowski broke the news of Hurley’s interest in the role. Charania was often the most well-known national reporter, stating that Redick was in the lead.

The two had a lengthy connection. Last year, a feature in New York magazine compared their back and forth to a “cold war.” On Tuesday, Charania appeared to be relishing the chance to outdo his former master, seemingly taking a shot at him. “Then they, last week, on Wednesday, turned their attention, I’m told, to Dan Hurley,” Charania said on FanDuel TV. “And, he was not the No. 1 candidate, the No. 1 guy to go pursue from the start, from the beginning.” he refutes Woj’s assertion that Dan Hurley was the Laker’s number one option from the beginning.

Read More: Over Lakers Dan Hurley Scoop

Shams Charania Seemingly Takes Shot At Adrian Wojnarowski

This contradicts several reports by Wojnarowski. Woj said in his original piece that “Hurley has been at the forefront of the Lakers’ search from the beginning of the process, even while the organization has done its due diligence interviewing several other candidates.” Notably, Wojnarowski reported a month ago that the Lakers were considering Redick as part of their “wide-ranging and lengthy search.” Both Charania and Wojnarowski concur that Hurley was not the only person the organization interviewed.

However, Charania made other remarks about Hurley’s candidacy that gave the impression that he was disparaging Wojnarowski. When Charania went on Pat McAfee’s show, which is shown on ESPN naturally, she came across as rather skeptical of the Hurley issue as a whole. “If the Lakers wanna go hire James Borrego, they’ve had a month to hire James Borrego,” Charania said. “They’ve had this week, after losing out on Dan Hurley, I guess, they’ve had this time to go get James Borrego.” overall, the battle between Shams and Woj will wage on. 

Read More: Dan Hurley Shockingly Turns Down $70 Million Contract Offer From Lakers

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Shannon Sharpe Called Out By Fans For Hypocrisy Regarding Sha’Carri Richardson And Caitlin Clark’s Olympic Snubs

Two of the most talked-about American athletes, Sha’Carri Richardson and Caitlin Clark, come from diverse backgrounds and sports, among many other things. However, they have had similar setbacks at the Olympic level. Preventing them from qualifying for their first Olympics at pivotal junctures in their careers. Sha’Carri Richardson’s failing drug test kept him out of the Olympics in 2021. As for the USA women’s basketball team, which is headed to the Olympics in Paris, Caitlin Clark was just cut from the team for not “checking more boxes” than the other 12 players chosen. Shannon Sharpe has come under fire for his hypocrisy about the two women’s similar circumstances. 

In the argument, Shannon Sharpe has stirred up some controversy. The well-known sportscaster has had contrasting views over Sha’Carri Richardson and Caitlin Clark’s failure to qualify for the Olympics. Fans claim that his criticism of Richardson is unjustified. Sharpe has since received heavy criticism for his remarks. Shannon Sharpe recently supported the rookie Caitlin Clark after word leaked that she would not be playing for the United States at the Olympics in Paris.

Read More: Shannon Sharpe Under Fire For Insensitive Reaction To Ray J Being Groomed & Sexually Abused As A 14-Year Old

Shannon Sharpe Called Out For Sha’Carri Richardson And Caitlin Clark Hypocrisy

Shannon Sharpe backed Caitlin Clark by smashing USA Basketball’s decision to leave her off the Olympic team. He said, “Name a more popular woman basketball player right now than Caitlin Clark.” However, he had a fiery reaction to Sharri Richardson when asked about her losing her Olympic berth. Criticizing the sprinter, he said, “She could’ve competed. She didn’t qualify to compete. Stop the bulljive antics. Train hard. Sports aren’t sympathetic. You do or you don’t.” 

Sha’Carri Richardson was suspended for ingesting prohibited drugs in violation of WADA regulations. She participated in and won the 100-meter US Olympic trial event in spite of her anguish. Sadly, Shannon Sharpe, who supported the authority’s choice of Caitlin Clark due to her popularity, didn’t appear to think much of this touching tale. The 2024 WNBA draft saw an average viewership of 2.45 million, the most ever for the yearly event, thanks in large part to Iowa women’s basketball player Caitlin Clark. The 22-year-old is a fantastic performer, scoring 16.8 points per contest on average. Fans of Sha’Carri Richardson, however, feel that Shannon Sharpe’s mockery of the current world champion’s supporters is inexcusable. 

Read More: Shannon Sharpe Announces Massive Multi-Year ESPN Deal On “First Take”

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