Latest news with #NBAAllStar
New York Post
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Victor Wembanyama takes bizarre social media shot at Karl Malone
Victor Wembanyama doesn't seem pleased with the NBA's Karl Malone praise. The Spurs' superstar indirectly threw shade at Malone on social media after a league account wished the Hall of Famer a happy 62nd birthday Thursday. 'Join us in wishing a Happy 62nd Birthday to 14x #NBAAllStar, 2x NBA MVP, and 75th Anniversary Team member… 'The Mailman,' Karl Malone! #NBABDAY,' @NBAHistory wrote on X. Karl Malone looks on during the NBA All-Star Game as part of the 2023 NBA All-Star Weekend. NBAE via Getty Images Wembanyama seemingly weighed in by re-sharing a post from DJ J. Strand — X user @DJ_Ajaxx — who posted a video of a man saying, 'What? Oh, see that's what we not about to do. Police, lock his ass up because he need to be under the jail' in response to the league's birthday message. The post from Strand seems to refer to when Malone impregnated a 13-year-old girl when he was 20 years old and attending Louisiana Tech. For years, the former Jazz star denied his paternity status despite blood tests that confirmed 99.3 percent probability that he was the father, according to a 1998 Associated Press story. Malone eventually formed a relationship with his now-41-year-old son, Demetress Bell, who played four seasons in the NFL. Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs and Chuck's Global Stars looks on during 2025 NBA All-Star Practice & Media Availability at Oakland Arena on February 15, 2025 in Oakland, California. Getty Images It's not clear if Wembanyama's re-share meant he was wading into that conversation, however. The NBA faced backlash during the 2023 All-Star weekend in Salt Lake City — where Malone played 18 seasons, winning two MVP awards — for welcoming him as part of the festivities. At that time, Malone didn't want any part of discussing his personal history. 'I'm not discussing any of that backlash,' Malone said, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. 'I don't care. That's my life, that's my personal life, and I'll deal with that like I've had to deal with everything. 'So, whatever.'
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
"Part of me was like… just didn't want to do it" - Kobe Bryant said he considered letting Michael Jordan have his storybook ending in 2003
"Part of me was like… just didn't want to do it" - Kobe Bryant said he considered letting Michael Jordan have his storybook ending in 2003 originally appeared on Basketball Network. Many blamed the late Kobe Bryant for spoiling what could have been the perfect ending for Michael Jordan at the 2003 NBA All-Star Game. Advertisement With the score tied at 136 in overtime, Jordan hit his iconic fadeaway shot over Shawn Marion to give the East a 138-136 lead with 4.8 seconds left in the game. At that point, everybody wanted to end the game and make him the hero — and likely the All-Star Game MVP. But after Jordan hit the shot, Bryant signaled for a timeout and the West had one final play with three seconds left in the game. Kobe drew a foul from Jermaine O'Neal on a 3-point attempt and made two out of three free throws to send the game to a second overtime, during which the West pulled away and won the game. "We tried our best. We were yelling to stop the game. We was like, 'Stop the game, stop the game.' Well, rest in peace to Kobe Bryant, being Kobe Bryant, he wanted to win the game. So he gets the ball out of the timeout. He gets fouled by Jermaine O'Neal, hits both free throws, and we lose. We ended up losing the game," recalled Vince Carter. Letting Jordan win crossed Bryant's mind Bryant could have won the game without the second overtime. However, although he was an 84.3 percent free-throw shooter during the 2002-03 NBA season, he missed the second of three free-throw attempts. Advertisement Before he took his third foul shot, Jordan came over and tried to mess up his mind. "I was needling him, trying to get him to miss," the Chicago Bulls legend said. But Bryant buckled down and made the third free throw to tie the game. "Part of me felt like I had a job to do because I'm in this situation, I need to make these free throws," said Kobe after the legendary game. "But the other part of me was like…just didn't want to do it, just to be honest with you." "They should've never made the call…We've been complaining about refs all year. No, I'm just kidding," Jordan said about the final moments of overtime. "You know, the game could have ended either way. It was fun." Advertisement Related: "Find me a better all-white team" - Cedric Maxwell claims he played with the five best white basketball players Mike would've done what Kobe did too A day before the All-Star Game, Bryant told reporters that he wouldn't give Jorda a free pass because if it were the other way around, he wouldn't have taken it easy on anybody. "On his team, I'm sure the guys are going to be feeding him the ball. I'm sure Michael doesn't want us to come out and loaf around. He doesn't want handouts,'' Bryant said. "He wants us to be competitive and play just as hard against him as any other player.'' There's a reason why they Bryant the Black Mamba. He was a ruthless competitor snake who took no prisoners on the court. But deadly and heartless as he was on the court, the thought of giving his idol a fitting farewell entered his mind. Advertisement Related: Kevin Garnett left Michael Jordan off his all-time starting five: "He is the god, and we copied him and s—t, but I got Kob' at my two" This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Suns Reportedly Closing In On Bradley Beal Move
Suns Reportedly Closing In On Bradley Beal Move originally appeared on The Spun. The Phoenix Suns are reportedly closing in on a move with Bradley Beal. Earlier on Sunday, the Suns finalized a blockbuster trade with the Rockets - and five other NBA teams - involving Kevin Durant. The legendary NBA star is moving on to a new team. He took to X to react to it. Advertisement "My time in Phoenix has come to an end. All these stops along the journey have really impacted me in a positive way. Remember it's a world behind the scenes, and those who make things work in that space, work tirelessly to make our lives easier as players," he wrote. "I appreciate all the quick interactions with everybody from support staff to teammates distant cousins, it's all a family that I'm grateful to be apart of, no matter what. I truly believe this nba is a one big community. Much love to Arizona. Houston, Can't Wait!" While Durant is gone from Phoenix, it sounds like Beal could be next. Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (3) against the Sacramento Kings at Footprint Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Beal, who has two years and $110 million remaining on his contract, is reportedly on the verge of getting bought out by the Phoenix Suns. The three-time NBA All-Star guard is reportedly actively exploring the buyout market. Advertisement Gerald Bourguet first reported the news on Sunday evening. "With a Bradley Beal buyout being imminent, per a source, I'm anticipating he gives up $13.9M of his remaining $110.8M, which would then clear the way for the Suns to waive-and-stretch the resulting $96.9M over 5 years and duck both tax aprons," he reported. "If Beal gives up $13.9M, the Suns take the remaining $96.9M and spread it out over the next 5 years (so about $19.4M a year in dead money). He's free to sign with another team, and his cap hit for the Suns this year drops from $53.7M to $19.4M, which is how PHX ducks the aprons." Beal, who hasn't lived up to expectations in Phoenix, could look to land with a contender heading into the 2025-26 season, if he's bought out. Advertisement Suns Reportedly Closing In On Bradley Beal Move first appeared on The Spun on Jul 7, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
"You guys never froze me out" - Michael Jordan sent a message to Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Isiah Thomas and George Gervin about the infamous freeze-out game
"You guys never froze me out" - Michael Jordan sent a message to Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Isiah Thomas and George Gervin about the infamous freeze-out game originally appeared on Basketball Network. Many fans and analysts believe that the infamous Freeze-out game during the 1985 NBA All-Star showdown was meant to break Michael Jordan's confidence. It was a highly-anticipated moment as it marked Jordan's NBA All-Star debut. However, rather than showcasing his extraordinary talent, the Chicago Bulls star only managed to make two shots throughout the entire game. The unexpected underwhelming performance unsurprisingly sparked widespread speculation, suggesting that certain veteran players, notably Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas, had a deliberate agenda to make Jordan appear unworthy of his All-Star selection. Years later, during his epic Hall of Fame induction speech, MJ shockingly confronted the decades-old rumor. He delivered a compelling message directed at the NBA legends who were accused of freezing him out that night. "I'm going to thank a couple people that you guys probably wouldn't even think that I would thank: Isiah Thomas, Magic Johnson, George Gervin," Jordan candidly spoke. "Now they say it was a so-called freeze-out in my rookie season. I wouldn't have never guessed, but you guys gave me the motivation to say, 'You know what, evidently I haven't proved enough to these guys. I gotta prove to them that I deserve what I've gotten on this level.'" "And no matter what people may have said – if it was a rumor, I never took it as truth – but you guys never froze me out because I was just happy to be there, no matter how you look at it," he pointed out. "And from that point forward, I wanted to prove to you, Magic, Larry, George, everybody – that I deserved to be on this level just as much as everybody else. And hopefully, over the period of my career, I've done that, without a doubt – you know, even in the Detroit years, we've done that." Taking a quick trip down memory lane, there's no denying that MJ truly deserved to be an All-Star despite being a rookie. That season, Jordan never missed a game and put up MVP-like numbers, having averaged 28.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 2.4 steals per outing. That being said, the notion that the so-called Freeze-out game was rooted in jealousy grew stronger. The media quickly turned their attention to the intriguing issue. They began to quiz explanations and insights from the people who could possibly be involved. The inquiries poured in but not a single NBA legend confirmed the swirling speculations. In an interesting twist, George Andrews, the agent representing both Magic and Thomas, was asked to share his thoughts on the matter. He firmly denied it, stating that there was no way any of his superstar clients would have entertained, or even thought about coming up with such a bizarre idea. "You're telling me Larry Bird was in a conspiracy with Isiah Thomas? If Isiah said one thing, Bird would do the opposite… There's no chance you are getting Dr. J, who was the moral compass of the league back then, starting the basketball chapel, and Larry Bird ganging up on Michael Jordan," Andrews once said. "So, they say, 'Let's see what Michael can do with Gervin,' who still was pretty good," added Andrews. "Michael didn't do much, something like two for nine. But nine shots; so he wasn't frozen out. He got nine shots in an All-Star game as a rookie. Isiah had seven when he was a rookie and shot an air ball," he pointed way Jordan performed on the court following the 1985 All-Star weekend only goes to show that the Freeze-out game had little to no impact on him. Although he also did not dismiss it during his speech, MJ insisted that the infamous event didn't affect his focus and passion for the game. Rather than dwelling on the possible reasons behind the Freeze-out game, Mike moved on and remained committed to developing his skills as a player. If there was one thing he did, it was to transform the negativity of the Freeze-out game into a source of motivation. It ultimately gave him the drive to prove his critics wrong. Looking at how Jordan morphed into a dominant player, it was very evident that the Freeze-out game held little significance in his illustrious NBA career. His strong work ethic and willpower allowed him to rise above all the challenges he encountered in his journey. Apart from that, MJ's competitive spirit also solidified his legacy as one of the greatest players of all time. All told, the conscious decision to address the past in his special night highlighted Jordan's courage and resilience. The greatness he achieved and the winning mentality he displayed only suggested that the Freeze-out game didn't make any sense, if there was story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
"People have an aura, and Doc definitely is that person that has it" - Jim Jackson explains what made Julius Erving so magnetic personality
Former Dallas Mavericks guard Jim Jackson grew up in Ohio but was a Philadelphia 76ers fan because of Julius Erving. Jackson said that aside from Dr. J's high-flying style on the court, he also loved "Doc's" afro. He recalled watching the legendary forward play against rookie Magic Johnson in the 1980 NBA Finals on tape delay on TV. When the ex-Ohio State superstar made it to the NBA in 1992, he knew that it was only a matter of time before he would meet his longtime idol in one of the games. That opportunity came during Jackson's third season when he traveled to Phoenix to enjoy the festivities of the 1995 All-Star weekend. Advertisement "I met Doc at the '95 All-Star Game in Phoenix and I still have that picture," said Jackson during his recent appearance on "The Dan Patrick Show." "And that was like an 'Ohh,' you know that moment when you see Dr. J walk in the room, he was gliding in slow motion. It was like, that's Doc." Getting to know and getting close to Dr. J However, while that was their first meeting, Jackson said he didn't get to know Erving until they were both involved with the BIG3. Jim played for the Killer 3s in 2017 and later became a commentator for CBS' coverage of the league's games. Meanwhile, Doc used to coach the Tri-State team, which he led to the 2021 title and won Coach of the Year honors. Jackson also said that he got close to and bonded with Erving when they traveled to China together for the NBA China Games in 2018. Because they are both cigar lovers, the No. 4 overall pick of the 1992 NBA Draft said he would make it a point to set up a place where he and "Doc" could sit, smoke cigars, and have a conversation. Advertisement "Spending time with him is different. It's something about, people have aura, and Doc is definitely that person that has it," added Jackson. Related: "I'm going to tell him there's a place in the triangle for him" - When Kobe Bryant tried to recruit Scottie Pippen to the Lakers "Doc" had the same aura as MJ Jimmy describes coming face to face with Julius the same way Philadelphia 76ers legend Allen Iverson recorded his first-ever meeting with the GOAT, Michael Jordan. Like Jackson idolized Dr. J, "The Answer" was one of the millions who adored MJ like a god, and when he finally got to see him face to face, Iverson was mesmerized by Jordan's aura. Advertisement "Anybody that know Allen Iverson know Black Jesus was it for me. I wanted to be like Mike. I remember the first time seeing him; I couldn't believe it, man. I ain't never looked at a person in my life — and I've seen millions of celebrities — I never looked at somebody that didn't look real. Never. Like, the God damn guy was glowing or something, man," Iverson said in his interview with The Players' Tribune. Jordan and Erving are two of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball. They were both known for their acrobatic shots and high-flying dunks. Interestingly, they were the most charismatic superstars ever and the two with the most powerful auras. Related: "I never saw him get after a referee" - Sixers GM explains why Julius Erving is all about 'class'
