This year’s voting style for the All-star League Fits was unique by mirroring the NBA’s voting process, with the ballot being split up by conference *and* frontcourt/backcourt. In the East, layering has been a critical style choice for stars like the Jays and Tyrese Haliburton while wearing many hats: beanies, fitted’s, and cowboy hats. Meanwhile, in the West, stars like SGA and Jordan Clarkson have been showing out in the tunnel, as they always do, with their effortlessly cool style, bold accessories, and choice of shades.

Here’s this year’s LeagueFits All-Stars:

That’s back-to-back starting selections on the LeagueFits All-Star teams for Jaylen Brown.

Is there anyone in the League whose outfits are more talked about more than Tyrese Haliburton’s? He’s in a class of his own right now.

Who said there’s no waves in Philadelphia? The first-ever LeagueFits MVP snags a starting spot on this year’s starting 5.

Sometimes less is (a lot) more. Jordan Poole led the entire Eastern conference in votes this season.

Jayson Tatum led the Eastern frontcourt in voting (and by a lot, too).

Save any and all other nicknames, after back-to-back style All-Star selections, he’s officially Thanasfits Antetokounmpo.

Aesthetic this, aesthetic that, nobody’s aesthetic is as defined and consistent as Bruce Brown’s. (Who says cowboys can’t come from Massachusetts?)

Nic Claxton’s consistently been NYC’s best-dressed player despite being nearly 7-feet tall. Well deserving of his first LeagueFits All-Star selection.

Buddy Hield’s been consistently throwing fits for a few seasons. Excited to see it continue in Philly.

Once upon a time, Kyle Kuzma was the first-ever LeagueFits Rookie of the Year. He clearly hasn’t slown down at all since then.

Y’all know scary Terry was the first box checked on my ballot.

A guy who dresses how he’s feeling, there’s few guys in the league with the same variety and range as Myles Turner.

It’s been a season of straight heaters since Bol Bol arrived in the desert. (Oh, and he’s been putting in work on the court since the turn of the new year, too).

The Alexander’s are officially the LeagueFits royal family. Nickel Alexander-Walker joins Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as a western conference starter, beating out an absolutely stacked ballot feat. Two former LeagueFits MVP’s. 

 Yeah, nobody had more votes than this guy. It’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s world and we’re all living on it.

It’s not easy to get dressed night in and night out when you’re a 7-footer with the largest sneaker size in the association, but Karl Anthony Towns has managed to do it. Shout out to the on and off-court All-Star.

Jalen Williams is the THIRD member of the Oklahoma City Thunder to be voted a LeagueFits All-Star, and the second to be voted onto the starting lineup. S/O dub.

You’ll be hard-pressed to find someone as consistently dressed as Devin Booker.

The host of last year’s on-court All-Stars is back. No LeagueFits discussion is complete without Jordan Clarkson in the conversation.

The first (of many) LeagueFits accolades for Lu Dort. One of the best-dressed players on the league’s coolest team.

The only thing better than winning your first ring is being voted as a LeagueFits All-Star for the first time.

LeBron’s in the GOAT conversation. He’s a business mogul. He’s a husband and father. He’s maybe the busiest basketball player ever, and he’s still found time to craft the best slate of pregame style we’ve ever seen from him in his career.

Jarred Vanderbilt made our All-LeagueFits first team last spring, it’s not a surprise that Los Angeles’ best-dressed added another style All-Star to his resume.

Russell Westbrook’s wardrobe is gonna be carved into the NBA style Mt. Rushmore when he retires. In the meantime, tho, he has more fits to get off (and create).

The post The 2024 LeagueFits All-Stars: Full List appeared first on SLAM.

BRANDSEEN HAT worn by CHRIS PAUL

HONOR THE GIFT QUARTER-ZIP worn by RUSSELL WESTBROOK

MONFRÈRE JEANS worn by JAREN JACKSON JR.

ESSENTIALS HOODIE, PANTS + UGG SHOES worn by DEMAR DEROZAN

RICK OWENS SHORTS worn by DARIUS BAZLEY

DICKIES SET worn by JAVALE MCGEE

RICK OWENS PANTS worn by JERAMI GRANT

DIOR SHIRT worn by LEBRON JAMES

The post WHERE DO I COP? This Week’s Top NBA Fits from LeagueFits appeared first on SLAM.

“I think I’m a bit of a chameleon,” says Grant. “I don’t have a uniform yet; I feel I’m all over the place with whatever I like, whatever kind of fits me. To describe my fashion style, I think it’s definitely fashion forward and more of a Japanese style, especially right now. If I like it, I’m going to put it on.”

The Portland Trail Blazer, who was just named a LeagueFits All-Star starter, recently joined the LeagueFits ‘Survival of the Fitted’ podcast to talk more about his fashion inspiration, from anime to Fashion Week. He also revealed that he gifts his teammates designer, how the Trail Blazers are improving their sense of style and so much more.

Check it out below.

The post Jerami Grant Talks Fashion Inspiration and Gifting his Portland Teammates with Designer appeared first on SLAM.

The 2019 LF HOF Class featured legends including Michael Jordan, Allen Iverson, Walt Frazier, Cappie Pondexter and Nick Young, while the 2020 LF HOF Class has the only currently active player in Russell Westbrook, plus two heavy hitters in Dennis Rodman and Magic Johnson.

This year, four new members were added to the LF Hall of Fame—and to say they just showed out in the tunnel would be an understatement. From visionaries to the most stylish of champions, here’s the official LeagueFits Hall of Fame.

LEAGUEFITS HOF CLASS OF 2019

Nick Young might not have been the first basketball player to ever dress up, but he was the first to make “swaggy” his moniker. Young was by far the best-dressed player on the superteam Warriors, a pioneer as an athlete-turned-designer and has remained a stalwart voice in the sports style community since retiring from the NBA.

MORE ON SWAGGY’S UNIQUE STYLE

Allen Iverson is the most important player in the LeagueFits Hall of Fame. His style choices sparked harsh reactions from those who couldn’t understand and even evoked a League-wide rule change. Iverson normalized self-expression for hoopers across the globe, paving the path for the viral looks we see in the tunnels on a daily basis today. 

MORE ON AI’s ICONIC MOMENTS

 As the WNBA’s first style star, Cappie Pondexter was a shoe-in for the first-ever LeagueFits Hall of Fame Class. She paved the way for today’s athletes in what’s arguably become the most stylish sports league on the planet. 

MORE ON CAPPIE’s INFLUENCE

Walt Frazier was the first basketball player to take style seriously, and he did so while being a superstar player in the Mecca. 

MORE ON CLYDE’s TIMELESS DRIP

LEAGUEFITS HOF CLASS OF 2020

Sneaker culture is nearly synonymous with basketball and its style scene. It’s only right that Michael Jordan was a first ballot LeagueFits Hall of Famer (don’t worry, dude could put an outfit together, too).

MORE ON MJ’s GREATEST FITS

Magic Johnson’s game off the court was just as the flashy one he brought to it as the leader of the Showtime Lakers.

MORE ON MAGIC’s STYLE EVOLUTION

You have to be an icon to be inducted into the LeagueFits Hall of Fame while still actively playing. Russell Westbrook created the modern, online, style era not just for basketball, but for sports period. He’s an icon.

MORE ON RUSS’ IMPACT

When it comes to self-expression, nobody has ever been on Rodman’s level and nobody ever will. Between the hair, outfits and attitude, he was uniquely and unapologetically him at all times.

MORE ON RODMAN’s AUTHENTIC STYLE

LEAGUEFITS HOF CLASS OF 2023

You had to know Dwyane Wade’s induction was coming. Wade helped break a barrier as one of the first athletes to attend fashion week and was the subject of two of the League’s first-ever viral style moments.

MORE ON D-WADE’s FLASHY STYLE

Always smooth, always efficient. Sue Bird’s wardrobe had a tendency to mirror her GOAT-level on-court game.

MORE ON SUE’s GOAT FITS

When it comes to courtside looks, nobody in NBA history has ever done it as well as Rat Riley (or even come close, honestly). Making a career in Los Angeles, New York and Miami—winning 5 championships in the process—taught Riley how to dress like a superstar, too. 

MORE ON RILEY’S COURTSIDE LOOKS

The visionaries behind LeagueFits, Ian and Joe, discuss the LF HOF Class of 2023 and their favorite fits from all of them on ‘Survival of the Fitted.’ Check it out below.

Shop our LeagueFits apparel, from Hoodies and Shorts to an exclusive collab with Famous Nobodys and MORE.

The post LeagueFits Hall of Fame: The Most Influential, Best-Dressed Basketball Players of All-Time appeared first on SLAM.

Also, if you’re not in the LeagueFits Discord yet, you gotta tap in. It’s been too much fun seeing everyone’s fit pics and latest cops.

The post WHERE DO I COP? The 11 Best Pieces Featured on LeagueFits This Week (12/2) appeared first on SLAM.

As you probably guessed, this week’s newsletter is pretty W-heavy. The diversity in dressing across the League is so vast, you’ll find looks for every vibe on the spectrum. The copycat trends we see in the NBA and in general fashion aren’t present here. I hope y’all enjoy and find something sick for yourself or someone you know. 

Subscribe to the LeagueFits newsletter, WHERE DO I COP? here.

The 11 Best Pieces Featured on LeagueFits This Week

PRETTY LITTLE THING TRENCH COAT worn by DIDI RICHARDS

CLAREV SWEATER, DOUBLE RAINBOUU PANTS worn by SUE BIRD

HERON PRESON DUFFLE BAG, 1017 ALYX 9SM NECKLACE worn by DIAMOND DESHIELDS

FOR THOSE WHO SIN “WASTED LIFE TEE” worn by SHEY PEDDY

FIFTY2HUNDRED SHORTS, MAYFAIR TEE worn by ROYCE O’NEAL

NIKE DUNK “BRAZIL” worn by HAMI DIALLO

NIKE DUNK “PANDA” worn by SABRINA IONESCU

NIKE DUNK “OFF-WHITE” worn by DIAMOND DESHIELDS

 You can get this exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletter, WHERE DO I COP?.

Diamond DeShields photo via the Phoenix Mercury, Hami Diallo photo via @finesseframess, all others via NBAE/Getty Images.

The post WHERE DO I COP? The 11 Best Pieces Featured on LeagueFits This Week (8/5) appeared first on SLAM.

Every Friday, I’ll shoot over my 11 favorite pieces (as the gospel says: we don’t cop clothes, we cop pieces) that I loved on LeagueFits from the previous week. Who wore ’em, what the brand is and, of course, a button to cop. You can get this exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletter, WHERE DO I COP?

As y’all probably saw, something major happened in the LeagueFits world this week: We got Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade as featured guests on our Survival of the Fitted podcast (check it out here). If you listen every week, welcome back. If you’ve never listened or watched before, I hope you tap in and enjoy your first one. Listening back was just as fun as the live recording. 

Also a major shout out to intern turned co-host turned certified icon Joe Williams. Dwyane Wade liked his FTP pants, so I gave him a little feature in this week’s Top 11. 

The 11 Best Pieces Featured on LeagueFits This Week

LOSO NYC FITTED (made-to-order) worn by SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER

AIME LEON DORE “KNIT POLO CARDIGAN” worn by CARMELO ANTHONY

LOUIS VUITTON “TRAINER” worn by SCOTTIE BARNES

LOUIS VUITTON “INTARSIA SWEATER” worn by BEN SIMMONS

NIKE SB DUNK worn by CARMELO ANTHONY

DIOR “B23 SNEAKER” worn by LEXIE BROWN

BIRKENSTOCK “BOSTON SUPER GRIP” worn by DWYANE WADE

FUCK THE POPULATION “HEAVEN OR HELL PANTS” worn by JOE WILLIAMS

PRADA “MESH KNIT TOP” worn by DWYANE WADE

FROM A PENNY “LONG LIVE CAP” worn by DIJONAI CARRINGTON

NIKE AIR PRESTO “HELLO KITTY” worn by LIZ CAMBAGE

The post WHERE DO I COP? The 11 Best Pieces Featured on LeagueFits This Week (7/22) appeared first on SLAM.

For so many professional athletes, everything is calculated. They’re building a brand, and there’s a team of public relations professionals, agents, and more scheduling their interviews, picking their outfits, and deciding just about everything else off the court. 

That wasn’t the case for Dennis Rodman. 

“Do you want to come play for the Bulls?” 

“I don’t care. Whatever. What’s up?” 

Everything Dennis Rodman did, Dennis Rodman called the shots for. 

Who he played for. What he wore. Who he dated. Where he went. Playing on the heights of two dynasties—the late 80’s Detroit Pistons and the 90’s Chicago Bulls—he had a platform. Everything about Dennis was unique. 

On the court, he was a superstar who rarely hit double digits in the scoring column. 

Off the court, he was rainbow-haired, piercing-covered, dress-wearing free spirit that took what the universe presented to him at any moment (even if it was a televised wrestling match during the NBA Finals).

Some called him crazy. Some called him cool. In reality, he was riding a blurry line that sat in the middle. 

While Dennis had to wear a team-issued jersey when he took the court, and he made up for that by dressing HOWEVER he wanted when he was off of it. Team flights, in the tunnel, talk show appearances, post-title visits to The White House, it didn’t matter. 

He was pushing stylist boundaries long before the likes of Russell Westbrook and Nick Young became stars on LeagueFits and GQ for doing the same. If Jordan created sneaker culture, or at least shot it into the highest echelon, in basketball, then Rodman did the same for style. 

It went beyond copping unreleased designer gear, that’s following trends—he created them. 

He wore a wedding dress to a marriage ceremony—to himself. He wore long, unbuttoned shirts and bedazzled tank tops to a nationally broadcast interview—because he could. He wore gallon-sized cowboy hats to games in metropolitan Chicago—I mean, why not? 

Fashion wasn’t a man’s world yet, but you couldn’t say Dennis Rodman wasn’t manly. Yeah, he might’ve worn lipstick and the occasional dress, but he was also a 6-7, 210-pound maniac that’d outhustle any soul that’s ever played the sport of basketball … and he dated Cindy Crawford. 

“I’ll be the judge of my own manliness,” Dennis once said. 

And that’s the point. Long before Harry Styles rocked a dress on the cover of Vogue or Jordan Clarkson normalized wearing a kilt in the tunnel before games, Dennis Rodman normalized being yourself. Even if it’s weird, even if it’s different, it’s you. And, for better or for worse, “you” is pretty damn cool. 

—

Rodman: For Better or Worse—A 30 for 30 film and part of The Undefeated on ESPN+

Dennis Rodman reveals his darkest memories and brightest moments, in a study of the perils of fame and how complicated identity can be. Stream now on ESPN+

The post Beautifully Complicated: Stream Dennis Rodman’s Documentary on ESPN+ appeared first on SLAM.

For Luke Tadashi, the pages of SLAM are where his love for basketball grew beyond just the sport itself.

“[SLAM] was the first place where I connected the dots between basketball having a greater impact beyond just being a sport, but affecting culture and touching people’s lives,” he says. “Design, fashion, music. All of these different aspects of culture being weaved together but through the lens of basketball.”

When Tadashi’s college basketball career at Kenyon College (OH) came to an end, he needed a way to stay connected to the game he loved. He moved back to his hometown of L.A. and started Bristol Studio, a high-end clothing brand that’s artistically influenced by Tadashi’s basketball fandom in the late ’90s and early ’00s.

To celebrate SLAM’s 25th anniversary, the two brands collaborated on a limited drop featuring a t-shirt, denim jacket and basketball shorts.

The t-shirt and shorts were inspired by the color palette from Allen Iversons’s famous “Soul on Ice” cover and feature SLAM 25th anniversary branding. The basketball shorts specifically were a point of emphasis for Tadashi in the collaboration.

“The cornerstone of the sport and of the culture is the basketball short,” he says. “We put a really heavy 2-by-1 waistband on it which is my homage to the older basketball shorts of the past.”

The denim jacket is unique because of its throwback fit and details. It features patches with various phrases from old SLAM covers and has a baggy fit and contrast stitching, traditional with the way denim was worn in the era Tadashi grew up watching basketball.

“Denim was worn in such a way, it was like these guys’ body armor or something. It was like a bullet-proof vest. It was so big and enclosed them. I remember flipping through the pages as a kid and seeing that and being like, ‘If you wear that, you can take on anything. You’re ready to conquer the world in that.’

“It’s supposed to fit you baggy and oversized. At the same time, it’s done in really high-end Japanese denim,” Tadashi continues. “We have Swiss-made Riri zippers, which are like the Rolls Royce of zippers. You have this juxtaposition of high-end materials with this baggier cut that you wouldn’t associate with that fabrication.”

The pieces will be available at shop.slamonline.com and bristol-studio.com in January, retailing from $65-$195.

Since Day One

London Perrantes, the winningest player in university of Virginia men’s basketball history, returned to his roots to help SLAM & Bristol studio with their new collab.

London Perrantes’ game has a different kind of flavor.

There’s grit—the kind he gained from playing up with the “big kids” at the Santa Monica Boys & Girls Club. There’s an element of smoothness mixed in, an attribute he developed playing under the Southern California sunshine and palm trees at the asphalt courts at Venice Beach.

Basketball has taken Perrantes, who most recently played for the Portland Trail Blazers, from the courts of Santa Monica to venues across the globe. No matter the location or the stakes, though, Perrantes always brings his game and an intense, fiery desire to win.

The flow of his game and the attitude he brings to the court made Perrantes the winningest player in University of Virginia men’s basketball history.

When Perrantes received a call from Luke Tadashi to come back to California to shoot the upcoming SLAM x Bristol Studio collab, it was a “full-circle moment.”

When Tadashi said he wanted to shoot at the same court where they initially met, Perrantes was instantly in.

“I grew up four blocks away from the Santa Monica Boys & Girls Club,” Perrantes says. “For me, going back to that area brings back memories of when I started to really love basketball.”

Bristol Studio, specifically its collaboration with SLAM, represents Perrantes’ “true colors”—a mix of old-school attitude mixed with the glam of Los Angeles.

“[Players are] showing their true colors outside of the basketball court, because on a basketball court you gotta wear a uniform,” Perrantes says. “Having that freedom outside of the court is huge.”

—

Ian Pierno is the Drip Director on SLAM. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram

Photos by Cameron Look

The post Bristol Studios x SLAM Collection is LIVE❗ appeared first on SLAM.

The 33-year-old comedian dresses fairly modestly, wearing mostly monochromatic pieces in his outfits. He admits that he styles everything he wears with a kicks-first mindset. It shows. 

Minhaj’s sneaker rotation on Patriot Act has been elite, featuring the “Union Los Angeles” Air Jordan Is, the Nike Air Fear of God Is and his current favorite, the sacai x Nike LDVs.

“It’s like a little wink,” he says. “We’re going to do this 25-minute deep dive on student loan debt and it’s this super nerdy comedy book report, but I’m also wearing some ‘Union Los Angeles’ Air Jordan Is.”

His passion for sneakers started long before he found fame. On his 10th birthday, Minhaj’s mother gave him a decision to make: pick new sneakers or a new video game console.

“I’m a September baby, so when school starts, it was like a thing: ‘Alright, what’s your shoe gonna be?’” Minhaj says. 

He flexed on his elementary school in the Nike Air Penny Is, and the tradition continued each year. 

“A lot of kids at my school were either wearing Stan Smiths or Vans, and to me, I was always a basketball shoe guy,” he says. “It was my thing. It was my way of standing out.”

His birthday coinciding with the start of school wasn’t the only factor that contributed to Minhaj picking shoes every year. Come each September, he says he was still riding the high of the previous NBA playoffs.

When Minhaj ponders basketball’s most iconic moments, he recalls the sneakers that were gracing the court with just as much enthusiasm. 

The first sneaker he remembers seeing on-court was the “Concord” Air Jordan XIs.  

“I remember seeing them in Eastbay and then seeing them in the ’95 playoffs when Nick Anderson played MJ and being like, ‘What ARE those?’” he says. “They were just so iconic.”

Soon, his yearly birthday kicks weren’t cutting it. Minhaj snagged a job at a grocery store and started saving up so he could add to his collection. His first purchase was the “Pure Money” Air Jordan IVs. 

That same joy Minhaj felt as a kid when he saw Michael Jordan lace up his “Concord” XIs or dropped his own cash on the “Pure Money” IVs is still present today. 

FOLLOW SLAM KICKS ON INSTAGRAM

“The Nike Air Yeezy 2 ‘Red October’ is that one shoe where I remember when it came out I was like, ‘Woah, those are crazy,’” he says. 

The flashy shoe has a resale listing as high as $10,000 on Flight Club, so Minhaj has yet to try it on. 

“I’m at that age now, man, I’m 33, I don’t know if I can pull off every shoe,” Minhaj laughs. “There’s some stuff where it’s like, I’ll let Justin Bieber wear that.” 

It doesn’t take much to convince him that he can rock any pair of shoes, regardless of his age. If anyone has the spotlight to show their personality through sneakers, after all, it’s Minhaj. 

“We shoot the show where I’m standing, I’m not behind a desk,” he says. “You see the shoe in a light—I work the stage, I’m on top of the LEDs. It’s just a cool moment. It’s my way to pay homage to my childhood and have fun.

“The news can be scary and terrifying and divisive but I want to have fun, that’s the whole point of comedy. I try and show my personality through my shoes.”

—

GRAB YOUR COPY OF KICKS 22

Ian Pierno is an Associate Social Media Editor at SLAM. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter.

Photos via Getty.

The post For the ‘Heads: Hasan Minhaj Flexes a Fire Collection of Kicks on ‘Patriot Act’ appeared first on SLAM.

It’s a proverb that rings its truth every day in the NBA.

Players around the League stepped up their game in the tunnel this season, so we added on a third team. It’s important to recognize progress, too, so we also mixed in a most-improved award to show love to the hooper who stepped up his tunnel walk the most in 2018-2019.

Anyways, we can skip to what you’re here for: This year’s LeagueFits All-Drip Teams and Awards.

THIRD TEAM: Dwayne Bacon, Ben Simmons, Dennis Schroder, Jordan Clarkson, Serge Ibaka

Three players made their All-Drip debuts in Dwayne Bacon, Ben Simmons and Dennis Schroder.

SECOND TEAM: Terry Rozier, Tobias Harris, Kevin Love, Kyle Kuzma, Mike Scott

Kyle Kuzma built upon his Rookie of the Year award from a year ago by making the jump to the Second Team. Tobias Harris and Mike Scott also made their All-Drip debuts.

FIRST TEAM: Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Kelly Oubre, PJ Tucker, Shai GIlgeous-Alexander

No surprises here. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander became the first rookie in LeaugeFits history to make an All-Drip Team.

MOST-IMPROVED: Dennis Schroder

One time for the #EuroDrip icon.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

No one rook should have all this power.

MVP: Kelly Oubre

Waves never die.

—

Ian Pierno is an Associate Social Media Editor and Drip Director at SLAM. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter.

Pat Bonoan is a Graphic Designer at SLAM. Follow him on Instagram.

Photos via Getty Images.

The post The 2019 LeagueFits All-Drip Teams are STACKED appeared first on SLAM.

A year ago, Williams was just another SoCal hooper on the rise. 

Things changed when he joined the North Coast Blue Chips and played alongside Bronny James. Cameras flooded the baseline for his first game at the Charlotte Convention Center in North Carolina; seconds into warm-ups, Williams threw down an East Bay dunk. 

“Who’s this kid?” was the unanimous response from the sold-out crowd. 

Cell phones came out and Google searches began. 

It took less than a day for Mikey Williams, who was three weeks removed from his 14th birthday, to become a household name. He received life and basketball advice from LeBron James and had Quavo pull up to sit courtside at one of his games the following week.  

As the buckets poured in, so did Williams’ following—he currently has 750,000 followers on Instagram and more YouTube searches than several of the top seniors in the country.

For a 14-year-old who has spent most of his life homeschooled, the blast to prominence was relatively uncharted territory. 

“I don’t even go to the mall no more,” he says, noting that picture requests are often overwhelming. “Sometimes I just want to chill.”

When he is out, though, he never turns down fans who ask for a photo opportunity—it was a vow he made two summers ago after seeing an eventual NBA lottery pick turn away fans at EYBL Peach Jam. 

A mixture of nature and nurture pushed Williams to the point he’s at today. 

The competitive, dawg-like demeanor he carries on the court is one his mother, Charisse, and life-long coach, Terry Tucker, have seen in him since the beginning. 

“Mikey’s competitive. He doesn’t like to lose,” Tucker says. “He was like that as a baby. If he didn’t have the ball, he’d go get it.” 

FOLLOW SLAM HS ON INSTAGRAM

As Williams grew into his elementary years, it was clear he had a fearless fire. 

“He was getting into fights almost every single day,” Charisse says. “Usually, though, it was against the bigger, older kids—he’d stick up for the kids getting bullied.” 

Mikey confirms this. 

“When I was in first grade, I was beating up fourth graders,” he adds with a wide grin. 

When he was pulled out of school, his parents, both athletes themselves—Charisse won a California Interscholastic Federation softball championship and his father, Mahlon, was a hometown hero while hooping at Sweetwater High School—pushed him to basketball to channel that energy.

Williams’ introduction to hoops was an outdoor court at the apartment complex he grew up in. There, it was a necessity to keep your head on a swivel: a “Beware of Rattlesnakes” sign sits behind one of the backboards and Williams said he’s seen bobcats from the court, too. 

“I don’t know if playing outside made me a better player,” he says, “but it definitely made me a tougher one.” 

Over time, the raw athleticism and grit he developed playing outside evolved. Nowadays, the gym at San Ysidro High School—the school he’ll make his debut for in June during the new NCAA live period—is where he’s seen his game move to an elite level.

Despite recovering from a minor knee injury, Williams has been working out three times per day.

“Some people think the gym is punishment,” he says. “Being in the gym is the best thing ever— it’s my version of having fun.

“This beautiful place is my home,” he adds while gesturing to the banners hanging on the wall. “My house is my second home.”

His work on the hardwood is serious business—his intensity level is always on full tilt. 

“I don’t go to ‘just get some shots up,’” he says. “That’s what separates me.”

Williams doesn’t go to the gym because there’s nothing else to do—his Instagram direct message inbox is never empty, and there’s plenty of invites to go out with followers who want a slice of the clout that comes with being associated with a high-level hooper. 

Williams’ priorities are just different.

—

GRAB YOUR COPY OF SLAM 222

Ian Pierno is an Associate Social Media Editor at SLAM. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter.

Portraits by Ryan Young

The post ALL 👀 ON ME: Mikey Williams Is Coming for the League appeared first on SLAM.

Ep. 3 feat. the final four contestants — Terry Rozier, Ben Simmons, PJ Tucker and Russell Westbrook — competing for the NBA’s drip crown judged upon by Nick Young, Jordan Clarkson and Allen Onyia.

Swaggy and JC weren’t contestants in the bracket, but we slid in a quick mystery round so we could see ’em go head-to-head.

Watch the final episode above and scroll down for refreshers on episodes one and two.

The post Ep. 3 of the LEAGUEFITS PLAYOFFS Powered by 1800 Tequila appeared first on SLAM.

COP THE LAMELO COVER TEE

It’s not hard to find the Ball Family Estate in Chino Hills.

Forget checking for address numbers—the first thing you’ll see is the giant Big Baller Brand logo fixated above the towering front doors. 

If you somehow miss that, no worries, the castle’s king wastes no time welcoming his guests. There’s no need to ring the doorbell—LaVar Ball struts onto the driveway with his arms stretched wide, voice booming throughout the luscious green hills. 

He knows how to host. 

“This is the purest water in the world!” LaVar says, as he pulls out a Lithuanian-imported Big Baller Brand water bottle. “It’ll make your chest bigger. Don’t believe me?”

Minutes later, the youngest heir to the Ball Family throne emerges. There’s no powerful introduction from LaMelo, just a subtle “What’s good?” and a handshake. 

It’d be hard to guess that this is the 17-year-old who’s become the most-watched prep athlete of all time. 

He has a 92-point game. He has his own signature shoe. He played pro basketball overseas at age 16. He scored nearly 40 per game as the headliner in his own league. He’s sold out dozens of arenas on two different continents. 

All of these are firsts for a high school-aged hooper. 

“C’mon, dawg,” LaVar says. “I’m not surprised by what’s going on. This shit is supposed to go on.” 

The original plan was to follow in the steps of Lonzo, his oldest brother, who graduated from Chino Hills, played a year at UCLA and was drafted No. 2 overall by the Lakers. 

With LaMelo, though, LaVar decided it was time for the family to take control and start calling its own shots. It’s a different path than what was originally envisioned, but it’s a path with the same end goal. 

Since leaving Chino Hills before his junior season, LaMelo has played for BC Vytautas in Lithuania, the Los Angeles Ballers (in the JBA), the JBA All-Star Team that toured Europe and most recently for SPIRE Institute, a prep school in small-town Ohio. 

He’s excelled at each stop. 

“Melo does good anywhere,” LaVar says. “Why? Yours truly is here. Me and Melo could go to the moon together, man. Melo knows I got him.”

LaMelo is a trailblazer, but he’s not completely aware of his impact. Despite being under the public spotlight since the moment he played his first game for Chino Hills, LaMelo lives in his own bubble of sorts. 

He’s been to more countries in a year than most will visit in a lifetime, but to him, each stop is just a basketball court. 

“I’m not like a sightseer,” LaMelo says. “I don’t like no airplanes. I wish you could just teleport.”

When the call came with a contract offer from BC Vytautas, LaMelo had no idea just how much it’d shake up the basketball world. 

“I was young, I wasn’t really thinking nothing of it,” he says. “I was just hooping, that’s all I was worried about—like I said, I was just clueless.”

Moving back to high school a year later? Essentially the same response. 

“My dad called me to the hotel room and said, ‘You want to go back to high school?’” he says. “I said, ‘Yeah.’ I had no clue [that was an option]. I was with the JBA overseas and I was just hooping.”

Part of the reason he moved back to the United States to play high school ball was so recruiting sites would start placing him back on their rankings. When asked to name the top-ranked players in his high school graduating class, though, he can’t. 

LaMelo is just worried about doing LaMelo. 

He begins loading up his Mercedes Benz G-Class SUV with basketballs for his morning workout. His arms harmlessly bounce at his sides; his posture is loose and relaxed. 

If there’s any pressure that comes with being an international basketball phenom while just a teenager, he doesn’t show it. 

LaVar says the fact that the brothers don’t have to fill the shoes of an NBA superstar father eases the pressure they face. They can just focus on being themselves. 

“What pressure is there on a kid who can play basketball, come home and not worry about, ‘Where’s your next food gonna come from?’” Lavar asks. “People think this is hard for him, but he loves this.”

LaMelo is the opposite of uptight—he’s not afraid to make fun of himself to get a conversation going. 

“Y’all wanna see the video of me getting dunked on?” he laughs as he pulls up Instagram between bites of Wingstop.

LaVar is adamant that he has never pushed LaMelo to take his game to the next level. 

“I don’t push them, I lead. If I lead you somewhere and you don’t feel like following, go the other way,” he says. “If I got to motivate Melo, this ain’t for him. And that’s OK.” 

LaMelo’s mother, Tina, is the most low-profile member of the family, but her support and love for the family passion has played a crucial role in LaMelo’s growth. 

“My mom, we’ll be in the gym for 10 hours and she’ll be there,” LaMelo says. “I think that’s what really got it. Everyone has fun when we play basketball—watching us play is pretty much a date for her.”

With his high school diploma already in hand, the next step for LaMelo’s path to the League will be playing professionally overseas (again). China and Australia were the family’s main options at press time. 

LaMelo admits he wonders what life would be like had he stayed at Chino Hills, but he wouldn’t change it: “The path I took allowed me to go to SPIRE and meet people; that changed my life.” 

Playing college ball isn’t an option due to sales of the Melo Ball 1—his signature shoe—and LaMelo’s contract in Lithuania, but LaVar is confident that playing overseas will prepare his youngest son for the NBA in a way college or prep ball never could. 

“When you got a dude playing for their paycheck, their livelihood and their families, you don’t got anyone playing harder than that,” LaVar says. “There’s a difference when you’re playing against grown guys.”

LaMelo doesn’t really care where he signs, he just wants to play somewhere that’ll fit his style of play: “Fast-paced.”

Wherever LaMelo goes, he’ll be without the regular supervision of LaVar for the first time in his life. Instead, he’ll be accompanied by Jermaine Jackson, his coach at SPIRE who recently moved to Chino Hills to stay with the family and work as LaMelo’s trainer and manager. Despite the age gap—Jackson is 42—the two are practically inseparable. 

Jackson has coached plenty of star players throughout the years, but none quite compare to the sensation that is LaMelo Ball. When 1,500 people were turned away from a sold out practice scrimmage at 9 a.m., it hit Jackson that this star was different. 

Strip away the Southern California mansion, the luxury cars and the reality show cameras, though, and Jackson says there’s nothing that separates LaMelo from any other high school senior. 

“He’s just a kid,” Jackson says. “He smiles, he’s energetic, he wants to have fun. He’s a normal 17-year-old kid. You don’t know what he has unless you come and see it.”

If their journey overseas is anything like their current living situation, there’s a solid chance nights of interrupted sleep will be the norm for Jackson, a six-year pro in the NBA. Most of their conversations center around what life is like in the League, a point of borderline obsession for LaMelo. 

“We talk about that shit at 4, 5 o’clock in the morning almost every other day,” says Jackson. “He’s always picking my brain: What is this? What is that? Who did this? How many plays did you run?

“You got a lot of 17-year-old kids that don’t do that. [He has a] very high IQ. You tell him things one time.”

There’s a reason LaMelo has developed an obsession with getting to the League: it’s his chance to finally reunite on the court with his brothers, something he hasn’t done since going 35-0 as a 5-10 freshman floor general at Chino Hills. (Oldest bro Lonzo runs PG for the Lakers, and his middle brother LiAngelo will be looking for a shot at the NBA Summer League over the coming months.)

The numbers when the trio is united speak for themselves, but it’s the intangible fluidity and chemistry between the brothers that LaMelo craves having again. 

“We’ve been playing our whole life together,” he says. “It’s all clicked. For instance, Zo can get a rebound and throw it backward and just know Gelo is down there. It’s different.”

He’s OK with NBA front offices knowing his top priority: “I like L.A., the Clippers and the Lakers, but definitely playing with my brothers.” 

LaVar says any team that acquires all three Ball brothers—at this point, LaVar doesn’t care if it’s the Lakers or not—would have three players that would never clash or ego-trip over one another’s success. 

“My boys will go 15, 20 years without breaking up. You don’t get that anymore,” he says. “They’re not playing for the bag. It’s not, If you don’t give me $50 million, I’m gone.”

Chasing that gargantuan max contract isn’t a goal for LaMelo, but that’s not to say achieving unprecedented wealth for an NBA player isn’t. 

“My boys are gonna be the first ones to be billionaires playing on the court. I got other stuff in line to get that,” LaVar says. “Whatever my boys are playing for on the court, that’ll be chump change. You don’t have guys doing that. One guy gets a championship and next thing you know he wants his own team, bigger contracts.”

LaMelo admits that he hates playing against Lonzo and LiAngelo; however, LaVar thinks it’s what made his youngest son the most fearless Ball brother. 

“‘I got Gelo and Zo in front of me. I’m not scared of none of you weak suckers,’” LaVar says, imitating Melo’s mindset. “‘I played against two of the coldest dudes every day.’”

What’s in it for a team considering LaMelo in the 2020 NBA Draft, especially one stuck in the lottery? 

A player with a killer instinct on both ends of the floor. 

“If a guy gets in his face and the score may be tied, the next thing you know we’re up 22. He’ll barely be sweating,” Jackson says. “When he gets to the point that he’s pissed off, that’s 55, 60 points at a high percentage.” 

It’s true. In LaMelo’s record-breaking 92-point outing at Chino Hills, 41 of those points came in the fourth quarter—in high school, that’s only an 8-minute period. 

“If I was to score 0 points, I can promise you nobody is scoring on me, though,” LaMelo adds. 

LaMelo’s track record proves that it doesn’t matter what country he spends next season in. It doesn’t matter what language the fans or opponents are speaking or the size of the arena he’s playing in—when the game tips off, the outside noise and hype fades away. LaMelo is just there to hoop. 

You can hate on the kid who took the path less traveled. You can call his dreams unrealistic and his father delusional. 

Just remember, soon he’ll be suiting up to play against your favorite team.

“My son has had an ‘X’ on his back since he was a baby,” LaVar says with an intense gaze. “See if you can beat him.”

—

GRAB YOUR COPY OF SLAM 222 FEATURING LAMELO

Ian Pierno is an Associate Social Media Editor at SLAM. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter.

Portraits by Atiba Jefferson.

The post BRAND NEW WAVE: LaMelo Ball Is Doing It His Way 🌊 appeared first on SLAM.

Hit the video above to watch Swaggy P, Jordan Clarkson and Allen Onyia set the stage for the inaugural LeagueFits Finals that’ll debut in Ep. 3.

If you missed Ep. 1 or need a refresher, you can check that out below.

The post Ep. 2 of the LEAGUEFITS PLAYOFFS Powered by 1800 Tequila appeared first on SLAM.

The ball exchanges hands and you twirl the joystick to get in position to block the shot. You mash the ‘Y’ button, but your virtual player gets bodied into oblivion anyways. It sucks.

It doesn’t suck as much when put into perspective, though: the first victim of that poster was a REAL PERSON at the NBA 2K Motion Capture Studio in Petaluma, CA.

At a first glance, the studio is just a grey court with hoopers wearing tight suits running around on it. Take a step back, though, and you see there are cameras everywhere (even the ceiling).

All together, NBA 2K utilizes 140 motion-capture cameras (MoCap, for short) that use infrared light to interact with the 60 markers attached to each hooper’s suit. Each camera takes pictures at a stunning rate of 120 frames per second.

“The dunks were definitely the best part,” says Kwintin Williams, one of the players flown in to suit up and have their dunks registered for the game. “Being a little kid growing up playing that game, it’s so cool to get some input.”

The MoCap technology is used for more than just recording jumpers and dunks, though, it’s also used to get realistic movement for fun off-court actions like dancing.

Dan Rue was brought in to help add more realistic, modern moves to the game.

“They made the game to where it’s not just a basketball game, you can create your own player and your own dance moves and be an expression of yourself,” says Rue, who’s played NBA 2K since the 2010 edition of the game. “It makes the game more exciting, it puts it on a different level.”

The purpose of adding as many personalized movements — basketball-related and not — is extremely important to the minds behind the game.

“It’s what I love the most about making this game,” says Alexandra Cristiani, 2K’s MoCap Associate Stage Manager. “We have kids and adults of all ages and identifications that can move and look the way they choose.

“Evolving the game every year and adding more elements makes it bigger for every type of person.”

So, when your MyPlayer hits the whoah in NBA 2K20, just know that someone wearing a MoCap suit hit it for science first.

—

Ian Pierno is an Associate Social Media Editor at SLAM. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter.

Photo courtesy of Kareem Gedra. Follow him on Instagram.

The post DUNKED ON FOR SCIENCE: How NBA 2K Keeps the Game Realistic appeared first on SLAM.

We took the 2019 NBA Playoffs bracket, but instead of breaking things down with X’s and O’s, we brought in NBA’s styles greatest minds to break down the League’s waviest players. Nick Young aka Swaggy P rocked out with Jordan Clarkson, a member of last year’s LeagueFits All-Drip Team, and professional style coach Allen Onyia, to judge the NBA’s best-dressed hoopers in the playoffs.

Check out Ep. 1 above for the first round and stay tuned for Ep. 2 and 3 in the upcoming weeks. In addition to matching up players in the NBA Playoffs, we’ll also feature surprise match-ups involving Nick Young and Jordan Clarkson.

—

Ian Pierno is an Associate Social Media Editor and Drip Director at SLAM. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter.

Follow LeagueFits on Instagram and Twitter for more on the NBA’s Survival of the Fitted.  

The post Ep. 1 of the LEAGUEFITS PLAYOFFS Powered by 1800 Tequila appeared first on SLAM.

The records Abdul-Jabbar has set—in addition to the 19 NBA All-Star appearances, six championships and six MVP awards—are certainly important to him, but the main reason they are important doesn’t connect directly to basketball. In an essay written for The Guardian last summer, he noted a Muhammad Ali quote that has always stuck with him:

“When you saw me in the boxing ring fighting, it wasn’t just so I could beat my opponent. My fighting had a purpose. I had to be successful in order to get people to listen to the things I had to say.”

For Abdul-Jabbar, another motivation to become an all-time great on the hardwood was to build a platform for himself off of it. Most of his records will eventually be broken, and he’s OK with that.

“All sports records will inevitably be broken, but the day after they are, the world won’t have changed,” he wrote. “But every day you speak up about injustice, the next day the world may be just a little better for someone.”

Witnessing the Harlem race riots as a child, Abdul-Jabbar was exposed firsthand to the prevalence of police brutality and racial inequality in the United States and became determined to do something about it.

Just as athletes like Ali, Jim Brown and Bill Russell inspired him to take a stand, so did the likes of non-athletes like Malcolm X.

Abdul-Jabbar protested inequality when he boycotted the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City—he didn’t want to win a gold medal abroad only to be refused service at a restaurant in his hometown.

“Somewhere each of us has got to take a stand against this kind of thing,” he stated. “This is how I make my stand—using what I have. And I take my stand here.”

He held firm in his decision not to play, also citing the fact that he would have to miss class as rationale.

“I was torn because I knew that joining the team would signal that I supported the way people of color were being treated in America—which I didn’t,” Abdul-Jabbar said. “But not joining the team could look like I didn’t love America—which I did.”

A college student and dominant star on the UCLA basketball team at the time, Abdul-Jabbar received backlash in the form of hate mail and vicious threats.

Through the years, the NBA veteran has remained heavily focused on outreach. Knowing the path to professional sports is slim, he’s encouraged young African-Americans to also pursue more conventional, education-based passions.

In 2012, he published a children’s book highlighting African-American greats that made names for themselves off the hardwood called, What Color Is My World?: The Lost History of African-American Inventors. It became a New York Times best-seller.

A large pillar he’s had to topple has been dispelling deep-rooted stereotypes that he believes have led many African-Americans to feel more obligated to seek out the playing field than the classroom.

“The whole idea Europeans had that Africans could not give anything worthwhile to the scientific disciplines got a foothold in people’s imaginations,” he said, in a discussion hosted by Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation. “It’s applied to every generation of young black Americans, and we have to change that.

“When they get heroes more like George Washington Carver and Thomas Edison, we have achieved ultimate success.”

Abdul-Jabbar has been writing books since the 1980s, but his efforts haven’t been limited to that. He’s spoken at panels and run events with the goal of helping children discover passions in STEM-related areas: science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The Skyhook Foundation, named after Adbul-Jabbar’s signature basketball move, holds a free, week-long camp each year for fourth and fifth graders. Students from Los Angeles-area public schools go to the Clear Creek Outdoor Education Center in Angeles National Forest. While there, the curriculum allows inner-city kids to experience the outdoors in ways they’ve never been able to before.

“All the good jobs in the 21st century are going to be centered around science, technology, engineering and math. There’s no way around it,” Abdul-Jabbar told NPR. “If we can give kids an idea of where the jobs are and what they have to do to get those jobs, they can adjust right now.”

It’s important to Abdul-Jabbar that the camp also serves as a way to show kids that they don’t have to become entertainment icons to contribute to the world.

“So many of these kids, they want to be LeBron James or Beyonce or Denzel Washington,” he said. “They think that unless they’re a star, they don’t have anything to offer. That’s not true.”

The classroom was always an area of emphasis for Abdul-Jabbar; despite being one of the most heralded high school recruits of all time, he spent three years at UCLA and graduated with a degree in history before making his move to professional basketball.

A statue of Abdul-Jabbar was put up outside the iconic STAPLES Center in Los Angeles not too long ago, recognizing his accomplishments as an NBA legend. But to Abdul-Jabbar, what those accomplishments have enabled him to do beyond the court is the most important thing.

—

Ian Pierno is an Associate Social Media Editor at SLAM. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter.

Photos via Getty.

The post BHM 2019: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Has Used His Platform to Speak Up appeared first on SLAM.

The Cavaliers rode a 66-point first half performance to deliver the Knicks a franchise-worst 17th straight loss.

Kadeem Allen scored a career-high 25 points on 10-for-16 shooting for New York. Collin Sexton led the Cavs with 20 points and Kevin Love put up 14 points and nine boards in just 16 minutes of work.

DeAndre Jordan’s reaction to Mario’s poster tho (via @BleacherReport) pic.twitter.com/70TsCXa3L5

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 12, 2019

Trail Blazers 111 (33-23), Thunder 120 (37-29)

Russell Westbrook (21 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists) and Paul George (47 points, 12 rebounds 10 assists) became the 10th pair of teammates to ever record triple-doubles as OKC cruised to the W.

With 68 combined points, the duo surpassed Vince Carter/Jason Kidd and Michael Jordan/Scottie Pippen for the highest scoring output between two teammates with triple-doubles — the previous record was 56. They were also the first duo to both score at least 20 points.

Westbrook’s 10th consecutive triple-double moved him past Wilt Chamberlain for the League record.

BIG PG ENERGY (via @nba) pic.twitter.com/KudXM4AlnY

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 12, 2019

Heat 87 (25-30), Nuggets 103 (38-18)

Nikola Jokic had 23 points and 12 rebounds and Malik Beasley added 20 as the Nuggets scored 35 first quarter points and never looked back.

Nets 125 (29-29), Raptors 127 (42-16)

Kawhi Leonard (30 points) knocked down the go-ahead shot with four seconds to go as the Raptors won their fifth game in a row. Marc Gasol had 16 points and six boards in 22 minutes in his first home game in Toronto.

Joe Harris and Allen Crabbe combined for 46 points and 13-for-18 shooting from deep.

who forgot to teach Marc Gasol the pregame intro routine? (via @TSN_Sports) pic.twitter.com/tc43wezOg9

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 12, 2019

30 PTS | Game-Winner#KawhiLeonard improves the @Raptors to 42-16 on the season! #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/fHbvjTKmsE

— NBA (@NBA) February 12, 2019

Bucks 112 (42-14), Bulls 99 (13-44)

Giannis Antetokounmpo stuffed the stat sheet with 29 points, 17 rebounds, eight dimes and three blocks as the Bucks held onto first place in the Eastern Conference. His plus-minus of plus-21 in 35 minutes was a team-best

Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen combined for 47 points, nearly half of Chicago’s points.

Mavericks 104 (26-30), Rockets (33-23)

James Harden knocked down a 30-foot 3 with 52 seconds to go to extend his 30-point streak to 30 games as he finished the night with 31 points, eight rebounds, seven dimes and five steals.

Luka Doncic led the Mavs with 21 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.

YO WHAT?!

LUKA’S HANDLE PACKAGE IS INSANE. (via @nbatv) pic.twitter.com/B4zjTEg9PT

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 12, 2019

“DON’T REACH YOUNGBLOOD.”

PJ Tucker just made Luka #TouchEarth. pic.twitter.com/0JTdiQCfaH

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 12, 2019

BANG.

James Harden nails the 30-footer to hit 31 and keep the streak alive. (via @nbatv) pic.twitter.com/W8pLBZtast

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 12, 2019

Clippers 120 (31-27), Timberwolves 130 (26-30)

The two sides were knotted up 53-53 late in the second quarter, but a 34-11 run by Minnesota put the game out of reach for Los Angeles, who were only able to cut the deficit back down to four in the final period.

Bench stars came up big for both sides as Derrick Rose scored 22 in 25 minutes for the Timberwolves and Lou Williams had 45 points on 13-for-25 shooting for the Clippers. Williams’ 45 was the most points by a bench player since JR Smith in 2009.

4.4 seconds.

Derrick Rose can, and will, always beat the clock. pic.twitter.com/7ZjvAVjeFc

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 12, 2019

Wizards 112 (24-33), Pistons 121 (26-29)

Blake Griffin (31 points, nine rebounds, nine assists) and Andre Drummond (32 points, 17 rebounds, four steals) took over as the Pistons raced out to a quick lead and held on the rest of the way.

Bradley Beal scored 32 for the Wizards.

Hornets 90 (27-29), Pacers 99 (38-19)

Kemba Walker scored 34 points, but the Hornets were only able to shoot 32.2 percent from the field and 17.5 percent from behind the arc as seven Pacers chipped in at least eight points. Myles Turner led Indiana with 18 points, three steals and three blocks.

The post Post Up: Russell Westbrook and Paul George Record Historic Triple-Doubles appeared first on SLAM.

Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet combined for 63 points to carry the load while Kawhi Leonard had the night off.

The Hawks led by eight at halftime, but they were only able to muster up 33 points in the second half as Toronto cruised to the W.

oh that boy Trae Young got DIMES (via @nba) pic.twitter.com/ONaQDQjbfr

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 8, 2019

Lakers 129 (28-27), Celtics 128 (35-20)

Kyrie Irving got to the rack with 11.5 seconds to go for a go-ahead bucket and it looked like it was the nail in the coffin after Brandon Ingram was blocked with three seconds to go; however, the ball somehow bounced its way to Rajon Rondo, who got a shot off from the elbow with just 0.2 seconds to go.

LeBron James had a triple-double with 28 points, 12 rebounds, 12 dimes and three steals. Kyrie Irving had a team-high 24 points, eight assists and two steals for the Celtics.

Los Angeles shot a paltry 7-for-18 from the free throw line, but they hit a franchise-record 22 shots from behind the arc on 53.7 percent shooting to make up for it. Kuzma and James each hit five shots from deep.

The Lakers trailed by as many as 18 points in the second quarter before dropping 42 points in the third quarter to spark the comeback.

https://twitter.com/SLAMonline/status/1093694446380638208

RAJON RONDO HAD TO SHOW OUT IN BOSTON. THAT’S GAME. (via @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/IGdKw2WKzU

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 8, 2019

“Home.”

This game meant even more for Rajon. (via @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/NjiLglGaHK

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 8, 2019

Grizzlies 95 (22-34), Thunder 117 (35-19)

Russell Westbrook stuffed the stat sheet with 15 points, 13 rebounds, 15 assists and four steals and Paul George knocked down six 3’s en route to 27 points as the Thunder overcame a halftime deficit to blow out the Grizzlies.

Spurs 118 (32-25), Trail Blazers (33-21) 

The Spurs made up a 21-point deficit when DeMar DeRozan made a jumper with two minutes to go in the third quarter to tie things up, but the Trail Blazers got back on track and made the next bucket and led the rest of the way.

DeRozan scored a game-high 35, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Portland’s trio of CJ McCollum (30 points), Damian Lillard (24) and Jusuf Nurkic (22) taking care of business on the offensive end.

Rudy Gay heats up for 16 3rd quarter PTS in Portland! #GoSpursGo

Watch the 4th on @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/LQ3bMLI1s8

— NBA (@NBA) February 8, 2019

"Coming in hot & high!" #RipCity pic.twitter.com/0zLWGvtoca

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 8, 2019

Clippers 92 (30-26), Pacers 116 (36-19) 

The Pacers scored 71 first half points as the Clippers struggled to score in their first game since moving Tobias Harris.

Bojan Bogdanovic scored a game-high 29 for Indiana on 12-for-19 shooting. Myles Turner was the Pacers’ defensive anchor with four steals and six blocks to go along with his 17 points.

Timberwolves 112 (25-29), Magic 122 (23-32)

Terrence Ross turned in his third 25-point outing in the Magic’s last four contests as he dropped 32 points off the bench to lead all scorers.

An offensive outburst in the game’s first three quarters — Orlando had 102 points entering the fourth — put the game to bed.

Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins combined for 50 points.

The post Post Up: Rajon Rondo Hits Game-Winner in Boston, Terrence Ross Stay Hot appeared first on SLAM.

“All players know you have a 15-second walk in front of a camera every game,” Mike Conley says. “Guys are constantly trying to come up with something that’ll catch the eyes of people.”

There’s a process that goes into the construction of every game’s outfit, and it all starts with the stylists grinding behind the scenes. And all the stylists we spoke with agree: the monthly in-person meeting with their client is where the magic happens.

“We talk about last month, what kind of coverage we’ve gotten, what kind of narrative is out there,” says Brandon Williams, who styles guys like Conley, Rudy Gay and Jeff Green. “We go through a fitting where I bring new pieces and I put it together with a whole, complete look. They get a whole look book for the month, every game, until I’m back again.”

The decision-making process is generally collaborative—it’s not dropping off garment bags and dipping out. Vick Michel knows the importance of two-way communication as the stylist for Draymond Green, Denzel Valentine, Domantas Sabonis and Jahlil Okafor.

“I’ll bring eight, 10, 12 boxes. It’s not just ‘Make sure you wear this shirt and these pants…it’s gonna go and you’re gonna like it…’” he says. “They’re very blunt. They’ll tell me, Yo, Vick, This ain’t me. Alright cool, right back to the drawing board. I want them to feel comfortable, because if they don’t feel comfortable when they’re out, they won’t feel secure.”

Courtney Mays, who works with Chris Paul, Kevin Love and DeAndre Jordan, says being a stylist has given her intimate, personal moments that she’ll always remember.

“I cherish the moments that aren’t fashion-related,” she says. “The other day, we were in Houston playing Uno for three hours. It’s those moments, like when we’re rapping songs in the car on the way to events.”

In a sense, those non-work moments are contributing to work. All stylists say that cultivating an authentic relationship with their clients is a crucial part of their job.

“They’re all like my little brothers,” Mays says. “We’re in such intimate spaces with these guys. We’re with their families and children or significant others. It’s such a great opportunity to learn what they do like.

“I’m not interested in being a personal shopper and finding exclusive kicks that just came out. I want to build a relationship and build an image.”

“Chris Paul and Kevin Love both have really different styles,” Mays adds. “I know what they love, whether it’s the music they listen to or the interior design in their homes—colors, fabrics that they gravitate toward. I use that to create looks and build an image.”

For many players, discovering fashion has given them a new way to express their creativity off the court.

“A guy like DeAndre is recognized by Esquire because he has an interesting look that brings him other types of opportunities off the court that can bring him more revenue and exposure,” Mays says.

Draymond Green is known as one of the League’s most outspoken players on the court, and the clothing he wears on his way there is often equally loud.

“It says everything about you,” Green says. “It shows confidence, it shows taste, it shows the way you want to be viewed without saying a single word.”

Conley, who recently started the #ConleysCloset series on Instagram with Williams, notes that he’s known to be a more reserved, quiet personality, but is using his style as a way to connect with his fans.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq3fFjSlAM5/

“Mike wasn’t really recognized off the court,” Williams says. “Style has really put a set of headlights on who he is off the court as well. I think most guys really want to grow as men and fashion is a way for them to identify who they are.”

For Paul, his rise to becoming president of the National Basketball Players Association has required him to evolve his image through the years.

“A lot of his job off the court is more business-related,” Mays says. “He has to look that part.”

Fashion is more than just an outlet for self-expression and image management for Paul, though—it has also been a chance to send messages with intention. In October, Paul wore a shirt by Pyer Moss that read “STOP CALLING 911 ON THE CULTURE” that quickly made waves on social media.

“We’re trying to be more intentional about the statements that we’re making when it comes to fashion,” Mays says. “Fashion is great because you can use it to express so many ideas.”

The growth players like Conley, Paul and Jordan have experienced isn’t often immediate, but it’s all a part of the process.

“You have guys who say I don’t like floral, but then I bring a floral jacket and they’re like, Oh, this is dope! What can I wear this with?” Michel says. “You turn a negative into a positive. You gotta push limits the way they push your limits.”

Stylists visualize the execution of the outfits that fans see on game days and at other events, but they also serve as educators so players can take care of themselves when the time comes.

“Some guys don’t know their jeans size. Like, you’re a grown man and don’t know your jeans size?” Michel laughs. “But things run different. A 34 in Amiri might run differently than a 34 in Dolce.”

“[Michel] has helped out a lot, a lot with my style, with how to use my money when buying clothes and everything,” Valentine says. “He’s been a big staple in where I get my fashion sense from. One of the things, too, it’s not the brand—it’s how you put it together. Gucci down, head-to-toe, Louis down, head-to-toe, is not necessarily swag. It’s how you put things together.”

For many hoopers, that growth stylistically is one they pursue just as they pursue on-court basketball growth. Oftentimes, that means pushing the boundaries—especially following the days of school-supplied sweatsuits in college.

Some are more willing from the get-go.

“You gotta think about it: Draymond don’t care on the court. He’s here to win,” Michel says. “It’s the same with his fashion. He doesn’t care—if he feels comfortable, let’s go. I knew right away he was gonna be a player where you can use him as a can-vas where you display his personality.”

Green notably started the suit shorts wave in 2017 that has inspired the likes of LeBron James and Jordan Clarkson.

“I was all for [the shorts],” Green says. “When I went to the NBA Awards the year before it was burning up hot. The shorts made perfect sense to me and I knew it would be different.”

Finding the right speed to grow is different for every player-stylist duo.

“If I didn’t have [Williams’] support and guidance, I’d still be wearing hoodies and jeans like when I was a rookie,” Conley says. “He’s done a great job of feeling out my personality and staying in my zone of comfort while pushing me to new lengths to try things out.”

And stylists take deserved pride in see-ing the results of pushing athletes out of their comfort zones.

“When you see a guy—who I hate to stereotype, but usually aren’t as expressive—walk in front of the mirror like, Wow, I look good, without any words being exchanged, it’s a moment of pride for me,” Mays says.

“When they open it up and are like, Oh, fuck, this shit is so cold. How’d you get this idea? That’s the reaction that I work for. A grown man getting excited over some garments of clothing,” Michel says. “It’s a dope feeling to know people appreciate what you do for them and what we do for one another.

“The end goal for me is for them to feel confident from the second they step out the car to down the tunnel,” Michel adds. “Look good, play great. After all, the tunnel is the new runway.”

—

Ian Pierno is an Associate Social Media Editor and Drip Director at SLAM. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter.

Follow LeagueFits on Instagram and Twitter for more on the NBA’s Survival of the Fitted.  

The post ‘Tunnels are the New Runway’: Inside the Lives of NBA Stylists 👔 appeared first on SLAM.

The Wizards came from behind to down the Knicks in London, England as Thomas Bryant scored with two seconds to go due to a goaltending call on Alonzo Trier.

Bryant finished the day with 26 points and nine boards while Emmanuel Mudiay scored 25 on 11-for-18 shooting from the field for New York.

Crazy finish. The Wizards just beat the Knicks on a goaltend. (via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/tuJoKvzDnD

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) January 17, 2019

Suns 109 (11-35), Raptors 111 (34-13)

Pascal Siakam (10 points, 12 rebounds, five assists) finished at the buzzer to lead the Raptors past the Suns. Eight Phoenix players scored at least nine points as Kawhi Leonard had the night off.

Devin Booker scored a game-high 30 points for Phoenix.

GAME WINNER

VOTE PASCAL https://t.co/SqKKSjdIqy pic.twitter.com/kM8yNjyEpc

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) January 18, 2019

Bulls 105 (10-35), Nuggets 135 (30-14)

Lauri Markkanen scored a game-high 27 (15 of which came in the first quarter), but it wasn’t enough to overcome an electric shooting night for Denver (52.1 percent from the field, 50% from 3). Nikola Jokic had 18 points, eight boards and 11 dimes and Jamal Murray scored a team-high 25 for Denver.

Lakers 138 (25-21), Thunder 128 (26-18)

Kyle Kuzma knocked down seven 3’s en route to a 32-point outing and Lonzo Ball took over as a floor general to lead the Lakers past the Thunder in overtime. Russell Westbrook had 26 points, nine boards and 13 assists in addition to knocking down three free throws at the end of regulation to send the game to the extra period.

Ivica Zubac was the Lakers’ third standout in the absence of LeBron James, scoring 26 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in 28 minutes of action on 12-for-14 shooting. His plus-minus of plus-35 was a game-high.

STEVEN ADAMS GOT THAT JELLY RIGHT (via @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/WKnIjN68cQ

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) January 18, 2019

oh hell yeah that’s some Chino Hills range (via @nbaontnt) pic.twitter.com/tQdBO6sILu

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) January 18, 2019

it happens (via @shaqtin) pic.twitter.com/4f1bn377Jb

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) January 18, 2019

Russell Westbrook and his son warming up together is the cutest thing you’ll see today. (via @OKCThunder) pic.twitter.com/aEsiMyQcdP

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) January 18, 2019

Kings 95 (23-22), Hornets 114 (21-23)

A 43-point second quarter was the difference as the Hornets won at home, largely in part due to four bench players (Miles Bridges, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Willy Hernangomez and Tony Parker) scoring double-digit points. Kemba Walker scored a team-high 23.

BRIDGES BOUNCY (via @nbatv) pic.twitter.com/Xeke1eujrh

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) January 18, 2019

lmaooo Harry Giles isn’t old enough to accept the brewski (via @SacramentoKings) https://t.co/MAg0DV0xgh

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) January 18, 2019

“WATCH THIS, YOUNGBLOODS.”

Tony Parker just split De’Aaron Fox and Marvin Bagley with a NASTY spin. (via @BleacherReport) pic.twitter.com/RBg889GMDL

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) January 18, 2019

Sixers 120 (30-16), Pacers 96 (29-15)

Joel Embiid flirted with a triple-double (22 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists, three blocks) as Philadelphia took care of business in enemy territory. Jimmy Butler scored a team-high 27 and JJ Redick scored 20 while shooting 6-for-9 from behind the arc. Thad Young scored 27 for Indiana.

The post Post Up: Ivica Zubac’s Career-Night Leads Lakers Past Thunder in OT, Pascal Siakam Nets Winner appeared first on SLAM.

That was one to remember.

LaMarcus Aldridge dropped a career-high 56 and Russell Westbrook had 24 points, 24 dimes and 10 boards as the Spurs pulled away in the final minute of the second overtime to down the Thunder.

The Spurs made their first 14 3’s to open the night en route to a 16-for-19 shooting performance from the arc as a unit — Marco Belinelli, Dave Bertans and Bryn Forbes combined to go 12-for-12 from deep.

5⃣6⃣ points and a double OT win.

LaMarcus Aldridge was CLUTCH. (via @nba) pic.twitter.com/vGFXrHxb1p

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) January 11, 2019

24 points and 24 dimes for the Brodie.

He’s the first to do that since Magic Johnson over 29 years ago. pic.twitter.com/PTh79buOOC

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) January 11, 2019

Celtics 99 (25-16), Heat 115 (20-20)

Dwyane Wade came up clutch down the stretch as he led the Heat with 19 points on 8-for-12 shooting to get Miami back to .500. Kyrie Irving led all players with 22.

Never stop hooping, Dwyane (via @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/ur9847NNhb

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) January 11, 2019

Clippers 100 (24-17), Nuggets 121 (28-12)

Nikola Jokic recorded his second triple-double in as many games as he led the Nuggets to a win that was never close. Jamal Murray’s 23 points led all players as Denver scored 37 in the first quarter and never looked back.

Ayooooo Jokic got a CANNON (via @nbatv) pic.twitter.com/HZO7JBTDQt

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) January 11, 2019

Pistons 102 (17-23), Kings 112 (21-21)

Seven different Kings scored double-digit points — Willie Cauley-Stein, Iman Shumpert, Buddy Hield, De’Aaron Fox, Marving Bagley III, Harry Giles and Yogi Ferrell — as Sacramento held on after a 65-point first half.

Stanley Johnson had 16 for the Pistons.

The post Post Up: LaMarcus Aldridge Drops 5️⃣6️⃣, Russell Westbrook Dishes 2️⃣4️⃣ Dimes in 2OT appeared first on SLAM.

The Pacers nearly gave up a 26-point lead, but Thad Young’s efficient 26-point outing kept the Cavaliers at bay. Jordan Clarkson scored a team-high 26 for Cleveland.

Wizards 115 (16-25), 76ers 132 (27-14)

Bradley Beal dropped 28 for Washington, but it wasn’t enough to overcome three 76ers (Joel Embiid, Jimmy Butler, Landry Shamet) scoring at least 20 points.

Landry Shamet’s eight made 3’s tied Allen Iverson’s rookie record for treys made by a Philadelphia rookie.

Nuggets 103 (27-12), Heat 99 (19-20)

Nikola Jokic racked up a triple-double with 29 points, 11 boards and 10 assists, but his two most important points came on his game-winning bucket with two seconds to go in regulation. Jamal Murray, who scored 18, assisted the bucket.

Cold-blooded Jokic (via @nba) pic.twitter.com/SMxsTD3KHq

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) January 9, 2019

Hawks 101 (12-28), Raptors 104 (31-12)

Kawhi Leonard’s hot streak continued as he recorded 31 points, four boards, six dimes, six steals and a game-securing block.

Second-year big man John Collins shined for Atlanta, scoring 21 points on 8-for-11 shooting (3-for-3 from behind the arc) and grabbing 14 boards.

Vince Carter received a standing ovation in his return to the Six.

Standing ovation in the 6⃣.

Vince Carter may have just checked in for his final game in Toronto. (via @DefPenHoops) pic.twitter.com/7wBWKQzt64

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) January 9, 2019

Timberwolves 119 (20-21), Thunder 117 (25-15)

Ryan Saunders, the son of the late Flip Saunders, received a warm welcome in the Timberwolves after his first-ever win as an NBA head coach.

Andrew Wiggins scored 40 points and grabbed 10 boards to lead Minnesota.

Thunder big man Nerlens Noel was stretchered off the floor after taking an elbow to the head from Wiggins. The situation led to altercation between Dennis Schroder and Jeff Teague — reportedly having to do with Minnesota players laughing after the injury — that resulted in Teague being ejected.

Did it for Flip.

Ryan Saunders just won his first game as an NBA head coach. (via @Timberwolves) pic.twitter.com/qFOZv8wEwd

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) January 9, 2019

Kings 111 (20-21), Suns 115 (10-32)

Kelly Oubre made a big impression on his new home, scoring a team-high 26 points and throwing down a putback dunk with 11 seconds to go that secured the Suns’ 21-point comeback win.

De’Aaron Fox led the Kings with 24 points.

Knicks 95 (10-31), Warriors 122 (27-14)

The Knicks hung around until the fourth quarter when these two sides met at the Garden a few weeks ago, but a 13-0 run from the Warriors to end the first half gave Golden State a double-digit lead New York threaten the rest of the way.

Klay Thompson led all players with an electric 43 points on 18-for-29 shooting while Steph Curry notched 14 points, 14 dimes and six boards.

We sleep on Steph’s dimes tho (via @nba) pic.twitter.com/1kKyt8kkq7

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) January 9, 2019

Hornets 109 (19-20), Clippers 128 (23-16)

The Clippers took a two-point lead just under nine minutes into the first quarter and never looked back as Lou Williams had 27 points and 10 dimes in just 25 minutes of playing time off the bench. His plus-minus of plus-30 led all players.

The post Post Up: Nikola Jokic Hits Game-Winner after Triple-Double, Klay Thompson Goes Off for 43 🔥 appeared first on SLAM.

Jim Boylen, who recently replaced Fred Hoiberg as Chicago’s head coach, had only positive words to describe the one-on-one meeting he had with Parker upon his hiring.

“Jabari has been great,” Boylen said. “He understands. Jabari wants to make it about helping the team win. And that’s what I’ve asked him to do.”

Parker had started in 17 of his 28 games this season. If he remains out of the rotation, it’s likely that Bulls will look to find a new home for Parker via trade or buyout — Parker signed a 2-year, $40 million deal last summer, but the second year of that contract is a team option.

Before going to the bench, Parker was averaging 15.8 points, 7.1 boards and 2.3 dimes per contest.

RELATED: Jabari Parker says ‘They Don’t Pay Players to Play Defense’

The post Report: Jabari Parker Being Dropped from Bulls’ Rotation appeared first on SLAM.

The post TEAMMATES TURNED RIVALS: Scottie Lewis & Bryan Antoine Play HEATED 1v1 | SLAM King of the Court appeared first on SLAM.

The post Kyree Walker SNAPS After Epic 1-on-1: “RONDO YOU DON’T WANT THESE HANDS” 👊🏽 appeared first on SLAM.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqQAimEFmRz/

Russell Westbrook made the Top 5 for the third consecutive week, coming in at second place with a cozy Honor the Gift (his own brand) fit and Jordan Concord XI kicks.

Jimmy Butler made a solid first impression in his first game in Philadelphia as he sported Kenzo and and a Saint Laurent jacket, landing himself on the Top 5 rankings for the second consecutive week. Kelly Oubre (No. 3) and Patty Mills (No. 5) joined Paul as players to make their Top 5 debuts.

Hamidou Diallo was the only rookie featured this week, joining Mo Bamba, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Allonzo Trier and Luka Doncic as first-year players to be featured through the first month of the season.

John Wall, Dennis Schroder, Mike Conley, Kelly Oubre, Russell Westbrook, LeBron James and Kyle Kuzma each earned multiple mentions.

Last week ran from Nov. 9 until Nov. 17.

—

To keep up with the NBA’s Survival of the Fitted, follow @LeagueFits on Instagram and Twitter 

Ian Pierno is a Social Editor for SLAM. Follow him on Twitter at @IanPierno

Photos via Getty Images

The post Fits of the Week: Jimmy Butler Stunts in Philly Debut, CP3 Brings the #CamoDrip 💧 appeared first on SLAM.

The post RJ Hampton Makes Defender TOUCH EARTH!!! 🌎 | SLAM Highlights appeared first on SLAM.

Check out the full game recap above and more Brewster Academy content below.

The post The Brewster Boys get TESTED at Home! Full Recap against Lee Academy appeared first on SLAM.

THREAD ALERT

Russell Westbrook has rocked a lot of looks through the years. In honor of his 30th birthday, let’s go through all the waves. pic.twitter.com/6IZP11eYtl

— LeagueFits (@leaguefits) November 12, 2018

Jordan Clarkson followed up as a close second as brought the #CozyBoyz look to a whole other level.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexandeer achieved the highest ranking of any rookie this season (Mo Bamba was No. 5 in week one). Jimmy Butler wrapped up his tenure in Minnesota with an Alexander Wang hoodie and shorts set in the Timberwolves’ trip to Los Angeles. Dennis Schroder’s Supreme, Louis Vuitton and Nike look came in fifth as he became the first player to ever be featured three times in one week.

Rookies Luka Doncic and Allonzo Trier made their Fits of the Week debuts.

—

To keep up with the NBA’s Survival of the Fitted, follow @LeagueFits on Instagram and Twitter 

Ian Pierno is a Social Editor for SLAM. Follow him on Twitter at @IanPierno

Photos via Getty Images

The post Fits of the Week: Dennis Schroder and Russell Westbrook Shine appeared first on SLAM.

Check out the vid with LaVine above and our previous “Bag Talk” episode with Jayson Tatum below.

The post Zach LaVine Eats Candy DURING NBA GAMES?!? 🍫 | SLAM Bag Talk appeared first on SLAM.

Phoenix led 32-13 in arguably its best quarter of the season and held onto that lead for the most of the night, but a Kyrie Irving-led comeback that erased a 16-point deficit with 5:31 to go in regulation spoiled the Suns’ big night.

Marcus Morris hit a 3-pointer with 0.3 to go in the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime, and the Celtics took care of business from there on as they scored 16 points in the 5-minute extra period.

Irving, who was the only Boston starter to score in the first half, finished the night with 39 points, seven rebounds, six dimes and three steals. Devin Booker matched his production for the Suns, racking up 38 points, nine assists and three steals.

AND OOOOOOOONE

Devin Booker is really unguardable. (via @nba) pic.twitter.com/CbwnQYYjh5

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 9, 2018

39 points, 7 boards, 6 dimes and a 22-point comeback win.

Uncle Drew put the team on his back. (via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/iqyFYPS783

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 9, 2018

The Celtics trailed by 16 with just 5:30 to go in the fourth…

…then Kyrie happened. pic.twitter.com/oS1yjqsZQ1

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 9, 2018

Rockets 80 (4-6), Thunder 98 (7-4)

The Thunder took a lead early on and never looked back as all five of its starters scored double-digit points while Russell Westbrook sat out due to injury. Paul George stuffed the stat sheet with 20 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and six steals. His plus-minus of plus-35 in 35 minutes led all players.

Carmelo Anthony struggled in his return to Oklahoma City, shooting just 1-for-11 from the field in a two-point outing.

if you don’t look like this don’t call yourself a hoop head pic.twitter.com/rauKjX8p08

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 9, 2018

Clippers 105 (6-5), Trail Blazers 116 (9-3)

The Trail Blazers continued to roll on all cylinders as their backcourt duo of CJ McCollum and Dame Lillard combined for 48 points en route to an 11-point win. Portland started strong, scoring 37 first quarter points, and ended on a similarly positive note by dropping 32 in the fourth after being outscored by the Clippers in the second and third periods.

Danilo Gallinari and Lou Williams both scored 20 points for Los Angeles.

CHILL, ROOK.

Shai’s making it look waaaaay too easy out there (via @nba) pic.twitter.com/TCSHj2ptrD

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 9, 2018

Bucks 134 (9-2), Warriors 111 (10-2)

It’s official: The Bucks are the real deal. Giannis Antetokounmpo only needed 26 minutes to stuff the stat sheet with 24 points, nine rebounds, four dimes, two steals and two blocks. Antetokounmpo’s showed up, too: Khris Middleton (17 points), Eric Bledsoe (26), Malcolm Brogdon (20) and Pat Connaughton  (15) scored in double digits.

Klay Thompson scored a team-high 24 points for the Warriors.

Steph Curry left the game after 26 minutes due to a left adductor strain. Draymond Green did not play.

Giannis’ dunk has Draymond in awe (via @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/9sySObaXGy

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 9, 2018

The post Post Up: Kyrie Irving and Devin Booker Combine for 7️⃣7️⃣ in Epic Overtime Duel appeared first on SLAM.

It’s a small sample size, but if the Kings’ last five games are any indication of what’s to come, a new era may be underway in Sacramento. The Kings have won every game since a 1-3 start to the year and sit at fourth in the League in points per game after dropping 146 in Atlanta.

20-year-old De’Aaron Fox became the youngest player in NBA history to record at least 30 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds in a game as he led Sacramento to a blowout win that included a 46-point third quarter. Fox only needed 34 minutes and 13 field goal attempts to fill out his stat line.

Buddy Hield scored 27 and Marvin Bagley III added 18 points off the pine to assist in the blowout victory.

Trae Young racked up 14 points and 10 dimes while Jeremy Lin scored a team-high 23 points for the Hawks in the losing effort.

3⃣1⃣ points
1⃣5⃣ assists
1⃣0⃣ rebounds
(and counting)

De’Aaron Fox is a star in the making, don’t get it twisted. (via @SacramentoKings) https://t.co/r43U5Cc7Js

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 2, 2018

Trae Young was born the year Vince Carter was drafted and now they’re connecting for buckets. 2018 is wild. (via @ATLHawks) pic.twitter.com/o5e0iwusiG

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 1, 2018

This year is different.

The Kings just dropped 146 as they won their fifth straight to improve to 6-3. pic.twitter.com/UytWD8aFyB

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 2, 2018

Clippers 113 (4-4), 76ers 122 (5-4)

The 76ers came out rolling on all cylinders as they scored 72 first half points and rain out to a 13-point lead at the intermission. Joel Embiid’s 24 first half points led the charge, but just 18 third quarter points as a team allowed the Clippers to stay in the game as the lead shrunk to just four entering the fourth quarter.

Philadelphia gained its mojo back in the fourth quarter as it bounced back from a rough loss to Toronto to get back in the win column.

Embiid finished the night with 41 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks and Markelle Fultz posted a team-best plus-minus of +16 as he racked up 12 points, nine rebounds and five assists in 21 minutes as a starter.

Boban Marjanovic had 15 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks in 23 minutes off the bench for Los Angeles.

SLOW FEET DON’T EAT.

Shai’s first step is FAST. (via @nba) pic.twitter.com/kigZu032Bo

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 1, 2018

Thunder 111 (3-4), Hornets 107 (4-5)

Great players show up when it matters most, and Russell Westbrook didn’t shy away from the moment as he led the Thunder to a 19-point comeback win in Buzz City.

Westbrook finished up 29 points, eight rebounds, 10 assists  and three steals after dropping a crucial dime to Dennis Schroder and scoring twice in the final 1:12 of regulation.

Alex Abrines’ 25 points and 5-for-10 3-point shooting off the the bench were both career bests marks and came at a crucial time — the rest of the Thunder combined to shoot just 3-for-27 from behind the arc.

Kemba Walker scored 10 unanswered points in the third quarter to help build up the Hornets’ 19-point lead and clocked out with 21. Malik Monk added another 21 points in 23 minutes off the bench.

You can’t give Russ an INCH to take off from (via @nba) pic.twitter.com/nMSFEkyAS3

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 1, 2018

Kyrie’s really putting on a handles clinic during a live NBA game. (via @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/A2xmLVoWoj

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 2, 2018

SHAMGOD + DAGGER

Fourth quarter Russ wasn’t playin’ with y’all tonight. (via @nba) pic.twitter.com/L3E3opyr8O

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 2, 2018

Nuggets 110 (7-1), Cavaliers 91 (1-7)

The Nuggets found themselves in a 12-point hole after sputtering to just 15 points in the opening period, but responded with 68 points in the middle two quarters put the game out of reach for the dysfunctional Cavaliers.

Juan Hernangomez had a game-high 23 points off the the bench for Denver. Paul Millsap, Jamal Murray, Gary Harris, Trey Lyrles and Mason Plumlee also hit double-digit scoring.

Bucks 113 (7-1), Celtics 117 (6-2)

Kyrie Irving had a sluggish start to the season from a scoring perspective, but his second-straight stellar game had TD Garden chanting “MVP!” in the final minute of play as his 28 points and seven dimes brought an end to the Bucks’ undefeated start to the season.

All five of the Celtics starters — Semi Ojeleye (10 points), Gordon Hayward (18), Jayson Tatum (12) and Al Horford (18) — scored in double-digits as Boston made a franchise-record 24 shots from behind the arc.

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a game-high 33 points and grabbed 11 boards, but poor late-game management cost Milwaukee from having a shot to tie the game late in the fourth quarter.

Kyrie’s really putting on a handles clinic during a live NBA game. (via @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/A2xmLVoWoj

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 2, 2018

The kid from Greece is FILTHY. (via @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/XCaqZytrOp

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 2, 2018

SHEESH. Kyrie will finish anything you toss his way inside. (via @celtics) https://t.co/7eVW17qd0o

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 2, 2018

Pelicans 119 (4-4), Trail Blazers 132 (6-2)

Portland’s campaign ended earlier than anticipated a season ago after falling victim to a New Orleans’ sweep in the playoffs, but the Trail Blazers got this year’s run off on the right foot by getting revenge behind a 26-point outing by Damian Lillard. The contest was tight throughout the entire night, but the Trail Blazers brought the clamps in the final period as they held the Pelicans to just 20 points.

Anthony Davis was held out of the Pelicans’ starting lineup due to injury, but newly-signed forward Julius Randle had no issues putting the team on his back as he stuffed the stat sheet with 29 points, six rebounds, three assists and a steal.

Dame’s out here making 35 footers look casual. (via @nba) pic.twitter.com/XOBbThsmlw

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 2, 2018

Jrue gotta handle like THAT (via @nba) pic.twitter.com/4lOONt7MvC

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 2, 2018

The post Post Up: De’Aaron Fox’s Historic Triple-Double Leads Kings to Fifth Straight Win 🦊 appeared first on SLAM.

Shooters shoot, right? Klay Thompson entered Monday night with just five 3-pointers made through the first seven games of the season, but he wasn’t afraid to unload the clip early and often in Chicago as he sank six in the first quarter. Thompson’s 10 3’s in the first half tied an NBA record for 3’s as he led the Warriors to a franchise-high 92 points in one half. It didn’t take long in the second half for Thompson to eclipse teammate Steph Curry’s single-game shooting record as he hit his 14th 3 with 4:53 to go in the third quarter. He checked out less than a minute later with 52 points in 27 minutes.

“COUNT IT UP, COUNT IT.”

Here’s all 1⃣4⃣ of Klay’s record-breaking 3-pointers. (via @SportsCenter) https://t.co/MRYb0F6Il4

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 30, 2018

Trail Blazers 103 (4-2), Pacers 93 (4-3)

No Blazer scored more than 17 points as a collective scoring effort in the second half led Portland to a comeback win over Indiana. CJ McCollum and Zach Collins each scored 17 while Victor Oladipo scored a game-high 21 for the Pacers.

Nuggets 116 (5-1), Pelicans 111 (4-2)

Nikola Jokic didn’t score a lot, but he didn’t need to in order to lead Denver to the W as the big man racked up 10 assists, nine rebounds and two blocks to go with his 12 points. Jamal Murray and Gary Harris took care of the scoring bulk as the backcourt mates each scored 23 and led Denver’s 64-point second half outing.

Anthony Davis didn’t play as Julius Randle scored a team-high 24 points off the bench.

Knicks 115 (2-5), Nets 96 (2-5)

Knicks coach David Fizdale undoubtedly raised a few eyebrows when he elected to move Enes Kanter and Trey Burke to the bench for the second-consecutive game, but their replacements shined as Frank Ntilikina had 16 points, five rebounds and four dimes and Mitchell Robinson had 11 points on 5-for-5 shooting. Tim Hardaway Jr. scored a game-high 25 points as the Knicks re-claimed the crown as New York’s best team.

Shabazz Napier had 12 points and was the only Net with a positive plus-minus as he turned in 19 minutes off the pine.

Hawks 92 (2-4), 76ers 113 (4-3)

The Sixers’ young core shined as Ben Simmons stuffed the box score with 21 points, 12 rebounds and nine dimes and Markelle Fultz scored a season-high 16 points and dropped seven dimes.

Y’all thought Markelle was finished?

Lol. (via @sixers) https://t.co/vA9uFyAjJD

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 30, 2018

https://twitter.com/SLAMonline/status/1057083879151034370

Raptors 109 (6-1), Bucks 124 (7-0)

Giannis Antetoknounmpo had to sit out due to the NBA’s concussion protocol, but his squad was still able to leave the night undefeated as eight players scored at least eight points on the night. Ersan Illyasova had a team-best 19 points and 11 boards.

Toronto was without its star player, Kawhi Leonard, too, as it suffered its first long of the season despite 30 points and nine rebounds from Serge Ibaka.

Lakers 120 (2-5), Timberwolves 124 (3-4)

The Lakers received a boost as Brandon Ingram scored 24 points in 9-for-18 shooting in his return from suspension, but a lack of consistent defense cost Los Angeles another win as Jimmy Butler sank a dagger 3-pointer with 18 seconds to go to cap off a 32-point night. Karl-Anthony Towns added 25 points and 16 points for the Timberwolves.

LeBron  James continued to shine in purple and gold, racking up 29 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, two steals and two blocks.

LeBron throwing lobs to JaVale on the reg—2018 is wild. (via @nba) pic.twitter.com/jQfBkedYcp

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 30, 2018

“YOU CAN’T WIN WITHOUT ME.”

Jimmy Butler is COLD-BLOODED. (via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/n3eK8BhUZT

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 30, 2018

Kings 123 (4-3), Heat 113 (3-3)

There were plenty of buckets to go around for the fellas in purple as Willie Cauley-Stein (26 points), De’Aaron Fox (20) and Buddy Hield (23) each clocked out with at least 20 points apiece as the Kings shot 46.2 percent from behind the arc.

Josh Richardson continued to shine for Miami as he scored a game-high 31 points, but his supporting cast wasn’t able to keep up with Sacramento’s sharp night on offense. Hassan Whiteside racked up 16 points and 24 rebounds in 29 minutes.

Spurs 113 (4-2), Mavericks 108 (2-5)

Luka Doncic dropped a career-high 31 points, but three straight overtime buckets from DeMar DeRozan (34 points, nine assists, six rebounds, three steals) spoiled the rising star’s night.

Rudy Gay stuffed the stat sheet with 15 points, 11 rebounds and six steals to help seal the victory for San Antonio.

Dennis Smith Jr. had 22 points and DeAndre Jordan racked up 18 rebounds and eight points in the loss.

The post Post Up: Klay Thompson Hits NBA-Record 14 3’s in 52-Point Outing 🔥 appeared first on SLAM.

Kyle Kuzma, last year’s All-Drip Rookie of the Year, made an appearance in the “Best of the Rest” with All-Drip Second Team member and #DadDrip king LeBron James.

The Washington Wizards (John Wall, Kelly Oubre Jr., Green) and the Los Angeles Lakers (James, Kuzma, Michael Beasley) had the most players on this week’s Fits of the Week, with each squad having three representatives.

—

To keep up with the NBA’s Survival of the Fitted, follow @LeagueFits on Instagram 

The post Fits of the Week: Russell Westbrook is Making Overalls Cool Again 🌊 appeared first on SLAM.

This year’s young Knicks squad continued its trend of fighting late into the fourth quarter, but a 14-3 run by the Bucks to close out regulation put the game to bed.

Milwaukee’s duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton combined for 61 points and Eric Bledsoe added 16 points and 13 dimes.

Trey Burke continued his hot play as the starting point guard, dropping 19 points and five dimes in 22 minutes for New York.

Wizards (1-2), Trail Blazers (2-1)

The Wizards delivered the Trail Blazers their first loss of the season as they picked up their first W off a game-winning shot in overtime by John Wall.

The game nearly didn’t go to overtime after Nik Stauskas nailed a 3 for Portland with 13 seconds to go, but Bradley Beal responded with a clutch shot of his own to send the game to an extra period.

Damian Lillard led all players with 29 points.

John Wall called game and pulled out the MJ shrug. Legendary. (via @WashWizards) https://t.co/GI5veKSUiO

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 23, 2018

Suns 103 (1-2), Warriors 123 (3-1)

The Warriors got to work early with 70 first half points and never looked back as Steph Curry lit up the highlight reel en route to 29 points in 30 minutes.

Devin Booker (28 points), DeAndre Ayton (20) and T.J. Warren (27) shined on the offensive end of the floor for the Suns.

Deadass, how do you stop Steph? (via @nba) pic.twitter.com/LRixBqvEB7

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 23, 2018

Nahhhhh it’s not fair when Steph gets to cookin’ like that (via @nba) pic.twitter.com/MNSMon219x

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 23, 2018

Spurs 143 (2-1), Lakers 142 (0-3)

Los Angeles made up an 8-point deficit with less than a minute to go after LeBron James knocked down a pull-up 3 in transition with 2.4 seconds to go; however, a pair of missed free throws late in overtime set up Patty Mills for the eventual game-winner.

Kyle Kuzma shined in the starting lineup, scoring 37 points on 15-for-25 shooting. LaMarcus Aldridge matched that scoring effort on the other end for San Antonio on a 13-for-22 shooting night.

A COLD-BLOODED KING (via @nbatv) pic.twitter.com/Cif6Pj1Ofs

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 23, 2018

Patty Mills nails the dagger.

What. A. Game. (via @nbatv) pic.twitter.com/GCsvHEF5RE

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 23, 2018

Magic 93 (2-2), Celtics 90 (2-2)

Boston coach Brad Stevens said his team had its best offensive night of the season, but it wasn’t enough to avoid an upset to Orlando.

All five of the Magic’s starters scored in double-digits as Nikola Vucevic led the way with 24 points and 12 boards. Kyrie Irving scored 22 for the Celtics.

Hornets 106 (2-2), Raptors 127 (4-0)

Kemba Walker’s scoring tear continued as he dropped 26 points on 11-for-22 shooting, but it wasn’t enough to the collective effort of eight Raptors scoring at least eight points. Kawhi Leonard scored a team-high 22 points.

Pacers 91 (2-2), Timberwolves 101 (2-2)

There were no boos for Jimmy Butler this time around in Minneapolis as he scored a team-high 20 points on 6-for-12 shooting. Karl-Anthony Towns had 17 points and 15 rebounds in his 250th career game.

Bulls 109 (0-3), Mavericks 115 (2-1)

Zach LaVine continued to show he has the makings of a superstar as he clocked out with 34 points on just 15 field goal attempts, but six Mavericks scoring at least 12 points was too much for his Chicago squad to overcome.

Wes Matthews, Luka Doncic and DeAndre Jordan combined for 57 points.

Zach LaVine’s hang time is outta hand tbh. (via @chicagobulls) pic.twitter.com/SkIZR13pY3

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 23, 2018

Grizzlies 92 (2-1), Jazz 84 (1-2)

In a year that’s seeing early season scoring records shattered, the Grizzlies proved that the grit ‘n’ grind style they’re known for hasn’t faded away quite yet as they held the Jazz to just 84 points and 35.4 percent shooting from the field.

Mike Conley scored 23 points and dropped seven dimes while Marc Gasol had 18 points and 13 boards.

The post Post Up: John Wall Delivers Game-Winner in Portland appeared first on SLAM.

LeBron James didn’t take long to leave a strong first impression on Lakers fans, immediately throwing down back-to-back dunks to open the night in Portland; however, strong shooting nights from Damian Lillard (28 points), CJ McCollum (21) and Nik Stauskas (24) proved to be too much for Los Angeles to overcome as it missed its first 15 3’s en route to 7-for-30 performance for the night. Zach Collins stifled the Lakers’ offense at the rim, too, recording a career-high six blocks.

A Lonzo Ball 3-pointer with 8:07 to go in the fourth quarter cut the deficit to one, but that was as close as the Lakers would get for the rest of the night as the Trail Blazers stretched their lead to as high as 13 points in the final period.

James was strong in his debut, racking up 26 points, 12 rebounds and six assists. Rajon Rondo added 13 points and 11 dimes while Josh Hart had 20 points on 8-for-12 shooting to go with three steals off the pine.

Still can’t believe we witnessed this sequence like that. HYFR hoops are back. (via @DefPenHoops) pic.twitter.com/LOVwmKXvt9

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 19, 2018

SAUCE CASTILLO HAS 16

Where were you the night Nik Stauskas became the hottest shooter in the world? (via @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/B0XQFBioEG

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 19, 2018

Rajon Rondo’s behind the back ball-fake is an all-time signature move, frfr. (via @nba) pic.twitter.com/UcU9QHeIHy

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 19, 2018

Dame is a cold-blooded killa in crunch time. Big respect. (via @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/SBMhKBBplA

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 19, 2018

76ers 127 (1-1), Bulls 108 (0-1)

After a rocky start against Boston on opening night, Philadelphia got back on track in front of its home crowd as Ben Simmons stuffed the stat sheet with 13 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists. Joel Embiid led all scorers with 30 points and added 12 rebounds.

Markelle Fultz earned the start at point guard again, and although he shot only 5-for-15 from the field, he showed off his range and newfound shooting confidence in a pull-up 3 made over Zach LaVine — the first 3 of his NBA career — much to the delight of the home fans.

LaVine led the Bulls with 30 points on 11-for-19 shooting from the field. Jabari Parker added 15 points off the pine in his first game playing for his hometown squad.

PULL UP THEN MARKELLE.

League is gonna be in a lot of trouble soon. (via @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/FsxxOP40PD

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 19, 2018

Heat 113 (1-0), Wizards 112 (0-1)

John Wall clocked out with a phenomenal all-around performance after amassing 26 points, nine rebounds, a steals and three blocks, but Kelly Olynyk‘s putback with 0.2 seconds to go spoiled the Wiz Kids’ home opener.

Dwyane Wade had nine points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals off the bench in what’ll be the final season opener of his career. Josh Richardson scored a game-high 28 for the Heat.

The Heat caught the last-second W and Dwyane Wade IMMEDIATELY got to talking that shit.

Legend. (via @nbaayy) pic.twitter.com/8zhjLRogUe

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 19, 2018

Father Prime is still dropping dimes and making dudes fall.

Dwyane Wade is 36 years old and as crafty as ever. It’s gotta be the vino. (via @MiamiHEAT( https://t.co/37WHslTi4X

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 19, 2018

The post Post Up: Nik Stauskas, Dame Lillard Spoil LeBron James’ Lakers Debut appeared first on SLAM.

The 2018 Teammate of the Year winner brings veteran leadership to a team featuring young stars like Devin Booker, DeAndre Ayton, Josh Jackson and Mikal Bridges. Crawford hasn’t lost his scoring touch either, the 38-year-old scored 17.9 points per 36 minutes with the Minnesota Timberwolves a year ago.

2️⃣ generations. 1️⃣ mentality.

The Phoenix Suns have a backcourt dedicated to buckets. pic.twitter.com/BfkkmQ5k3U

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 15, 2018

RELATED: Jamal Crawford Talks About the Origin of His Legendary Shake-And-Bake Move

The post Report: Jamal Crawford Joining the Phoenix Suns on a 1-Year Deal ☀️ appeared first on SLAM.

RELATED: UCLA-Bound Shareef O’Neal Is Ready to Live up to His Family Name

The post Shareef O’Neal was CHOSEN by the Hype, and He’s Got All Day ⏰ | SLAM Profiles appeared first on SLAM.

Butler reportedly directed sharp comments to coach Tom Thibodeau, general manager Scott Layden and teammates Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. At one point, he screamed “You (bleeping) need me. You can’t win without me” to Layden.

The beef with Towns was present on the court, too, per Yahoo Sports.

At one point, Butler found himself guarding Towns in the post and when the big man received the entry pass, Butler yelled, “He can’t do [expletive] against me!” and Towns ended up kicking the ball out, league sources said.

All-Star Jimmy Butler participated in Minnesota's practice, a session that included him verbally challenging teammates, coaches and front office, league sources told ESPN. Butler was vociferous and emotional at times, targeting Thibodeau/Layden/Towns/Wiggins. Story soon on ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 10, 2018

At one point in a scrimmage, sources said, Butler turned to GM Scott Layden and screamed, "You (bleeping) need me. You can't win without me." Butler left teammates and coaches largely speechless. He dominated the gym in every way. Jimmy's back.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 10, 2018

Butler’s game was as strong as his talk, too. He reportedly teamed up with the end of the Timberwolves’ bench and defeated the starts in a scrimmage.

"I heard that he took the third stringers and beat the starters" – @DarthAmin

#NBATwitter #TheJump https://t.co/oVdWEkI2q5

— 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧' 𝐍𝐁𝐀 (@_Talkin_NBA) October 10, 2018

This practice was Butler’s first contact with his teammates since requesting a trade three weeks ago, a request that shocked many of his teammates. There’s been conflict over how to move Butler, with owner Glen Taylor reportedly wanting him moved as quick as possible; however, the front office has remained firm on its asking price.

RELATED: Jimmy Butler Prefers to Be Traded to the Miami Heat

The post Report: Jimmy Butler Screamed ‘You Can’t Win Without Me’ at Timberwolves’ Practice 😳 appeared first on SLAM.

RELATED: 14-Year-Old Emoni Bates is 6-7 And Has Bounce Like None Other

The post SHIFTY 14-Year-Old Dior Johnson has 10+ (!!!) D1 Offers 👀 | SLAM Profiles appeared first on SLAM.

The videos didn’t just spark his love for basketball, though. The larger-than-life personalities, street swag and hip-hop influence is where Mahinmi discovered his sense of individuality. Years later, those grainy videos continued to serve as inspiration as Mahinmi became a creative partner for the French Deal clothing brand.

“I was addicted to watching AND1 mixtapes. It had the best songs, the best rap, throughout the whole thing,” the Wizards big man tells SLAM. “To me, this was the starting point. You get on the court and because you’ve seen how a guy in an AND1 Mixtape was rocking a headband a certain way or a wrist band a certain way, and you want to do the same thing. That’s how fashion starts, and that’s how it started for me. Hip-hop and rap music and R&B, it’s the foundation of French Deal.”

The French Deal, which Mahinmi has been working on for eight years with stylist Steeven Kodjia and former soccer star Ousmane Dabo, was a calculated risk — Mahinmi described it as “taking a leap and hoping something is going to catch you.”

In a competitive industry, Mahinmi, Kodjia and Dabo decided making that leap was still worthwhile. Combining authentic stories, a belief in organic growth and dedication to quality and self-expression, the French Deal has not only kept its head above water, but grown since its creation. Everything the trio creates is well thought-out with clear intentions.

“Everything you do, [all the] clothes, every volume, it’s for a reason, it’s to tell that story,” Mahinmi says. “Honestly, it’s very organic. To be successful, everything has to be organic. It’s not like one day you woke up and felt like you wanted to do clothes. It’s bigger than that. It’s a part of your story.

“For people to make clothes in general, you make clothes for a reason. You make clothes for your environment. You make clothes because you were inspired by something around you,” he adds. “When we make a shirt that has African roots, it’s for a reason. It’s because at some point, we wanted to tell the world about this particular African technique.”

A love for hip-hop was the common ground that led to the launch of the brand and has been the catalyst for creative continuity since.

“I’m from a very poor neighborhood, all my partners are, but what we always had was music,” Mahinmi explains. “We have the same background and it makes everything so much easier, it’s flowing. So when we talk clothes, we talk the same language.”

The background goes deeper than just music, however; all three founders have West African roots, grew up in France and spent time out west in the United States.

“We’re so close to our countries and backgrounds and we don’t want to let that go,” Mahinmi says. “Once you come to French Deal, we feel like we can educate you, too.”

When the trio decided to start the brand, they contemplated doing something low-cost, but ultimately decided to go the upscale streetwear route because it’d mean more opportunities to cultivate meaningful, face-to-face relationships with customers. The French Deal is based in Paris, but it’s home base isn’t a store, it’s a home and a showroom.

“If you come to our showroom, you come to my house, you come to my apartment,” Mahinmi says. “I’m gonna receive you. You’re coming in, it’s big so we have offices, clothes, we have a kitchen and I can fix you up something to eat, something to drink. It’s that feeling. It’s a showroom because it’s home.”

The personal relationships between brand and consumer mean that any piece from a French Deal volume — its alternative to the traditional FW and SS line model — can be fully customized. Those wanting to feel like one-of-a-kind can have what they wear reflect that. Mahinmi points out that if there’s a leather jacket displayed in black and a customer wants it in red, it’ll get done. If a customer wants a pair of pants cut high water, baggy, or any other way, it’s done.

Mahinmi has taken it upon himself to expand his role and knowledge by learning the entire process of what goes into making each piece. Now, he feels a connection to everything the French Deal produces.

“Every single piece we have has a story,” he says. “Some stuff, the fabrics were made in Africa. We assemble everything in France. It’s a whole story, the whole storyline is fantastic.

“The relationship you have with fashion should be really personal. You can easily find me in the summer in the market looking for fabrics. I’m very much interested in the process, too. It’s more than just being interested in fashion, I’m interested in the clothes. I love the ideas, the brainstorming. I love the process — I almost love the process as much as the finished product.”

Mahinmi takes such an interest in learning about fashion because it’s a way that he was able to learn about himself, and he knows it’s the same for countless others.

“Being able to express yourself is a huge step in getting to know yourself,” he says. “So many people would rather do what everyone else does than pay attention. Once you can dress yourself not caring about how people will judge you outside, that’s when you really know yourself. when you can walk outside your house feeling great about what you wear because you like it.”

Just like fashion has allowed Mahinmi to learn more about himself, so has his entrepreneurial journey.

“The industry is hard. Fashion, especially upscale stuff, you have to be solid. You have to be strong,” he describes. “There’s definitely rough times. There was times I was like I don’t know if it’s worth doing this anymore. We never gave up, though. We stayed the course, took some losses and kept on growing organically. The journey has been a lot of ups and downs … it’s hard, but it gives you a new respect.

“I’ve seen a whole other side of business I was never exposed to with basketball. That line has helped me grow so much as a businessman, entrepreneur, and human being.”

And today, at 31 years old, he’s a better man for it. He feels, and looks, his best. It’s a feeling he wants everyone to have.

—

Ian Pierno is an Assistant Editor at SLAM. Follow him on Twitter at @ianpierno.

Follow @LeagueFits to keep up with the NBA’s survival of the fitted. 

The post Ian Mahinmi Uses ‘French Deal’ Brand to Connect His Roots, Hip-Hop and Style 👔 appeared first on SLAM.

Check out the video above for his full summer mix!

The post John Wall TURNED IT UP at Summer Runs 🚨 | SLAM Highlights appeared first on SLAM.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BoQ13j3FedY/?hl=en&taken-by=shareefoneal

Recently I found out I had a serious heart issue … I am very blessed to be here living today, one of those moments on the court could’ve been my last breathe .. I will not be able to participate in sports this year but I will be back in no time … I want to thank god for looking out for me , I want to thank UCLA , my teammates and most importantly my family … this is just a small bump on the road and I gotta push through it .. I am very down about not being able to do sport I love .. I really wanted this year I felt like I was at my best but this is just a minor setback.. my health is most important over everything .. like I said .. I WILL BE BACK.. thank you

Sending major blessings to ‘Reef and the O’Neal family. The comeback is about to be crazy.

RELATED: UCLA-Bound Shareef O’Neal Is Ready to Live up to His Family Name

The post Shareef O’Neal to Undergo Heart Surgery, Sit Out Freshman Year at UCLA ♥️ appeared first on SLAM.

Watch the full day in the life video above!

The post Julian Newman’s GOT THEM HANDS?!? 🥊 | SLAM Day in the Life appeared first on SLAM.

“Once I do something and I like it, I’m not going to change … I watched Home Alone 1 last night, it was pretty good y’all. I watch the same four, five movies all the time before I go to sleep. It’s like Home Alone, Home Alone 2, Shrek, Mulan and I might throw in something different on the fifth one, but those four are my main right before I go to sleep. When I’m at home, I eat Noodles & Company before every game, and I get the same exact thing every game. Every single game, before a game. It’s weird stuff like that I do, I guess you can call it a pregame ritual or routine.”

https://twitter.com/World_Wide_Wob/status/1044248260825821184

Going to need to see Oladipo tell teams “Get out of my swamp!” after victories in Indianapolis this year.

RELATED: Victor Oladipo Writes Heartfelt Letter To 10-Year-Old Fan Battling Leukemia

The post Victor Oladipo’s Pregame Rituals Include Noodles & Company and Shrek appeared first on SLAM.

A Space Jam sequel starring James looks like it’s in the works after SpringHill Entertainment — a company founded by James and business partner Maverick Carter — teased a poster on its social channels.

Per Hollywood Reporter, the “R. Coogler” listed as producer is Ryan Coogler, who recently directed Black Panther and Creed. Terence Nance is listed as director.

“The Space Jam collaboration is so much more than just me and the Looney Tunes getting together and doing this movie,” James told Hollywood Reporter, “It’s so much bigger. I’d just love for kids to understand how empowered they can feel and how empowered they can be if they don’t just give up on their dreams. And I think Ryan [Coogler] did that for a lot of people.”

pic.twitter.com/Ay6wRaB915

— SpringHill (@makespringhill) September 19, 2018

Filming is expected to begin during the 2019 NBA offseason.

The first Space Jam movie starring Michael Jordan made its debut in 1996.

RELATED: LeBron James Producing NBC Comedy Series Based on Ben Simmons

The post Poster Released for Space Jam Sequel Featuring LeBron James 🍿 appeared first on SLAM.

The agreement between Cuban and the NBA came in lieu of a fine — the League’s maximum fine is $2.5 million, the figure that former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling paid.

After the initial allegations regarding the Mavericks’ toxic work environment came to light last March, Cuban initially refuted the report, saying ““I am deeply disappointed that anonymous sources have made such outright false and inflammatory accusations against me” in a statement. This resulted in former employee Melissa Weishaupt shedding her anonymity and calling out Cuban directly:

I’m using my name because I’m still not sure the Mavericks get it. Since the story broke, owner Mark Cuban has repeatedly claimed he oversaw only the basketball side of that franchise, not the business side.

Sorry. It doesn’t work that way. You own 100% of the team, Mark. The buck stops with you. When I worked on the Mavs’ business side, all marketing, promotional and broadcasting decisions went through you. Nothing was decided without your approval.

RELATED: Ex-Mavs Employee Goes On-Record About ‘Hostile Workplace Culture’

The post Report: Mark Cuban to Donate $10 Million Following Investigation into Mavs’ Workplace appeared first on SLAM.

Check out the video above for the full highlights!

RELATED: Mikey Williams and Elijah Fisher Fight for #1 Ranking at MSHTV Camp !

The post Kyree Walker and Terrence Clarke Lit UP the MSHTV Alumni Game‼️ appeared first on SLAM.

RELATED: Bronny James’ 8th Grade AAU Mixtape is LIT

The post Mikey Williams and Elijah Fisher Fight for #1 Ranking at MSHTV Camp 🔥 appeared first on SLAM.

The post Bronny James took OVER Summer AAU! 👑 | SLAM Official Mixtape appeared first on SLAM.

https://soundcloud.com/frankywahoo1400/labron-kd-it-aint-easy-produced-by-franky-wahoo-stewbillionaire#t=0:44

The post Kevin Durant and LeBron James’ FULL Rap Track from 2011 Released 🎵 appeared first on SLAM.

“The NBA and its players have long been significant drivers of global culture.  Basketball, music, and style speak as one voice: Julius Erving became a style icon, Allen Iverson cemented hip hop’s place on and off the court and LeBron James is breaking new music every day…the list goes on and on,” said Luke Wood, President of Beats.  “This partnership with the NBA is the perfect alignment for Beats. It feels like coming home.”

Beats already has a footprint in the NBA with its roster of sponsored athletes featuring LeBron James, Draymond Green, James Harden, Ben Simmons, Jayson Tatum and Karl-Anthony Towns.

“Beats revolutionized the music industry and has become one of the most innovative and culturally-influential brands in the world,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.  “Through our partnership, we have an exciting opportunity to merge sports, pop culture and technology to deliver unparalleled experiences and premium products to our fans.”

Beats has plans to produce NBA-branded headphones that will be available for fans to purchase.

The post Beats by Dr. Dre Announces Partnership with the NBA, WNBA and USA Basketball 🎧 appeared first on SLAM.

The post Josh Christopher HILARIOUS Mic’d Up at the Instagram HQ | SLAM Day in the Life appeared first on SLAM.

The decision to leave Boston created a rift between Allen and his former teammates, many of whom don’t speak to Allen to this day. Former Celtics coach Doc Rivers told The Athletic’s Jay King he wished there was more he could do to mend the relationship:

Doc Rivers said he “hates” seeing the fracturing of the 2008 Celtics championship team. “If I had one wish, I wish I could do a better job of getting that team back together.”

— Jay King (@ByJayKing) September 4, 2018

Allen, the current all-time leader in 3-pointers made, told The Athletic’s Shams Charania that he doesn’t expect to receive any congratulatory messages from his former Celtics teammates when he’s inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday.

RELATED: Ray Allen Disappointed That Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce Still Won’t Talk to Him

The post Doc Rivers: I Wish I Could Repair Relationships Between Ray Allen, Former Celtics 🍀 appeared first on SLAM.

“You’re such a bald piece of shit. It honestly looks like we both got fucked over by the Clippers.” 

Ross took things to the next level, referencing Griffin’s former relationship with Kendall Jenner, who has been rumored to been dating Ben Simmons this summer.

“And, just like the Clippers, Kendall eventually traded you for another basketball player. The season hasn’t even started yet, and your ex is already leading you in rebounds.”

Ross took the Roast Battle dub, but Griffin had plenty of zingers to serve. Check out the video above to watch the full roast sesh!

RELATED: Blake Griffin says Pistons’ Ceiling ‘Very, Very High’ Next Season

The post Blake Griffin Jabs the Clippers in ‘Roast Battle’ on Comedy Central 🤣 appeared first on SLAM.

Check out all the highlights in the video above!

The post Chris Paul and Grayson Allen Hoop with TOP High School and College Players! 👀🔥 appeared first on SLAM.

Check out the dunk contest that earned Stanley captain honors in the video below.

The post FULL GAME BROADCAST: SLAM Summer Classic Vol. 1 🗽 appeared first on SLAM.

The post James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Paul George TEAM UP at UCLA Run ☀️ appeared first on SLAM.

The younger two brothers of the Ball family, LaMelo and LiAngelo, stole the show. LiAngelo led all scorers with 58 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists on 24-for-53 shooting while LaMelo added 34 points, 15 rebounds and 9 assists while shooting 10-for-23 from the field. Keshaun Mack’s 14 points off the pine aided the victory.

LaMelo finished the season averaging 40.6 points, 13.7 rebounds and 11.2 assists per contest. LiAngelo, who joined the JBA midway through the campaign, averaged 48.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 4.8 dimes per game.

More than just the trophy was at stake: Every player and coach for Los Angeles left the night with a brand new 2018 Cadillac ATS Sedan.

https://twitter.com/bbbjbaleague/status/1029379107166056451

The League’s top 10 players will compete overseas on a Big Baller Brand-sponsored European tour this fall. One of the League’s star players from the inaugural season, Kezo Brown, has already signed a pro contract in Europe after using the JBA as a launching pad.

RELATED: Michael Beasley Says ‘I Don’t Understand’ the Lonzo Ball Criticism

The post LaMelo and LiAngelo Ball Combine for 92, Win First-Ever JBA Championship 🏆 appeared first on SLAM.

Green’s connection to his new squad run deep: he was born in the DMV and played college ball for Georgetown.

RELATED: Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and OKC Closed Workouts with Rico Hines!

The post John Wall and New Teammate Jeff Green PRIVATE WORKOUT in Miami 🏖 appeared first on SLAM.

“He is without question one of the best players in the league and the best player in the East. I mean, it’s going to be so thrilling to be on the court with him [and not going up against him]. The most amazing thing about Giannis is, as great of a player he is, he’s an even better teammate. You see him out there with the guys and you look at the kind of leader he’s grown into, it’s really a special thing. It’s unique.”

Antetokounmpo led the Bucks in points, rebounds, blocks and was second in steals and assists last season as he earned his second All-Star Game appearance.

Lopez, who spent last year with the Los Angeles Lakers, adds an interesting wrinkle to Milwaukee’s offense. The seven-footer shot 3-for-31 from behind the arc during his first eight years in the League, but upped that number to 246-for-712, good for 34.6 percent, during his past two seasons.

RELATED: Brook Lopez Says the Milwaukee Bucks Can Reach NBA Finals

The post Brook Lopez: Giannis Antetokounmpo is the Best Player in the East appeared first on SLAM.

In addition to having the world’s top-ranked team, Novi Sad Serbia, participate, the North America and Asia top squads (All America and Sina China) are joining the 10-team competitor field, too.

“We are elated to have such a strong international field in our first event, with some of the most exciting and talented 3×3 players on the planet coming to the Bay Area,” said 3BALL USA founder and CEO Michael Wranovics, per the press release. “Many of the players we’ll see in this tournament are likely to be on the world stage when 3×3 makes its Olympic debut in 2020, and having them together to compete on the same court is a strong testament to what we’re creating with 3BALL.”

The tournament will abide by the same rules that will be used when 3×3 basketball makes its Olympics debut in Tokyo.

The entire event will be streamed live on Twitch and local fans can purchase tickets at www.3ballusa.com.

RELATED: 3BALL USA to Launch First Post-Collegiate 3×3 Basketball Tournament

The post World’s BEST 3×3 Hoops Squad To Compete in U.S. for First Time 🏆 appeared first on SLAM.

Breaking: Ex-Louisville commit Brian Bowen has signed a contract with the Sydney Kings, making him the first player signed to the NBL "Next Stars" initiative. The NBL is intent on creating an alternative pathway for pursuing one and done caliber prospects: https://t.co/1BWgZAXunP

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) August 7, 2018

Bowen’s NBL debut will be the first time he’s played organized basketball since the Jordan Brand Classic in April 2017. Bowen led all players in a group that included eight future NBA Draft lottery picks with 26 points in that game.

Bowen, the No. 13 recruit in the class of 2017, was held out of play at Louisville after the FBI’s investigation into college basketball linked Bowen’s father to a $100,000 payment from adidas. Bowen transferred to South Carolina, where he practiced but didn’t play in any games. The NCAA ruled Bowen ineligible to suit up for the Gamecocks in 2018, which led to the decision to explore professional options overseas.

Bowen won’t be the first player to attempt making the jump from Australian ball to the NBA — the Oklahoma City Thunder selected former 5-star recruit Terrance Ferguson with the 21st pick in 2017 — however, he will be the first player to sign as a part of the NBL’s “Next Stars” program. In an attempt to lure more top prospects not enamored with the idea of college ball, the program will allow eligible players to not count against teams’ cap against more than three foreign players. The NBL will also play the salaries of Next Stars players instead of teams.

NBA veteran Andrew Bogut will play with Bowen for the Kings.

RELATED: Louisville Officially Fires Rick Pitino ‘For Just Cause’

The post Former 5⭐️ Recruit Brian Bowen Signs with Sydney Kings 🇦🇺 appeared first on SLAM.

James wouldn’t be the first high-profile hooper to attend Crossroads: Shareef O’Neal won a CIF Division II championship as a Roadrunner last season and Baron Davis is also an alumnus.

https://twitter.com/SSJreef/status/1026388496062111744

Welcome to Xrds Bronny!!! You will kill it. Happy to see this. Thanks @KingJames

— Baron Davis (@BaronDavis) August 6, 2018

Previous rumors had linked Bronny to Sierra Canyon, where he would’ve been eligible to play varsity ball as an eighth grader with Scotty Pippen Jr., Kenyon Martin Jr. and Cassius Stanley. James is expected to play a year of middle school ball at Crossroads before moving up to the varsity team.

Crossroads has produced other notable alumni that made names for themselves off the hardwood, including Evan Spiegel, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Hudson, Jack Black, Maya Rudolph and Jonah Hill.

Bronny ended his summer by leading his North Coast Blue Chips squad to back-to-back championships at USBA Nationals and the Las Vegas Classic. Check out his squad’s highlights below!

The post Report: Bronny James to Attend Crossroads in Santa Monica 📚 appeared first on SLAM.

“Kevin Durant is just a really nice guy trying to be a bad guy,” Barkley said. “You can’t do that. It doesn’t work. He spends all his time trying to prove to people how tough and bad he is. He’s so worried about what other people say. Kevin Durant is a great player and a great kid. I was one of those guys who criticized him for going to Golden State, but he doesn’t have to respond every time someone says something about it.”

Barkley went on to compare Durant to his own co-worker at TNT, Shaquille O’Neal.

The post Charles Barkley: ‘Kevin Durant is Just a Really Nice Guy Trying to be a Bad Guy’ 😬 appeared first on SLAM.

“10%? Yeah, OK!”

The message didn’t make sense to Cunningham at first, but Robinson made sure to remind him of its meaning. At a pregame shootaround during Robinson’s freshman season at BC, the young guard asked Cunningham what he thought the odds were he’d make it to the NBA.

The response? 10 percent.

“I remembered that,” Robinson says.

Two years later, as a junior, Robinson ranked second in the ACC in scoring with 20.7 points per contest and was a First Team All-ACC selection. He made a name for himself on the college scene as one of the country’s most electrifying scorers, dropping a staggering 46 points at Notre Dame in early February.

The journey to becoming a nationally-recognized bucket getter and an NBA lottery pick was a whirlwind.

Robinson grew up a multi-sport athlete, playing basketball and baseball, but the lure of hoops culture made him decide to zero in on basketball after his sophomore year of high school.

“I knew that feeling I got after our state championship game, having fans, the crowd behind you like that, I never really got during baseball,” Robinson explains. “During that time period, North Carolina basketball culture was crazy hype. Crazy.”

Robinson joined the AAU scene late when he switched from summer baseball to the Raleigh-based Garner Road program. Top-ranked prospects like Brandon Ingram, Theo Pinson, Dennis Smith Jr., Harry Giles, Kwe Parker and Bam Adebayo were already running the Carolina hoops scene, and Robinson flew under the radar.

The numbers weren’t jaw dropping — his career-best scoring output at Broughton High was 27 points — but there was something that separated Robinson from others to the coaching staff at Boston College. It wasn’t a measurable statistic, it was what Cunningham called the “It Factor.”

“When you see pro guys play, there’s a certain pace to how they play, a certain savvy that they play with that comes with years of playing. You either have that and everything you do looks easy or you don’t,” Cunningham says. “Jerome had that from day one. His movements looked like a professional basketball player.”

Robinson entered college as the 306th-ranked player in the nation, but the narrative around his impressive potential evolved quickly. The Eagles flopped to an 0-18 record in ACC play during his freshman year, but Robinson showed flashes of brilliance, scoring 11.7 points per game. Despite the shadow cast by the team’s struggles, it was clear that Robinson had a chance to be the leader of their resurgence.

“I’d say that during his freshman year at BC, he had this way about him,” says Broughton coach Jeff Ferrell. “He didn’t go into college trying to be the man, but he was willing to help change the culture at BC, not in a cocky way, but as a piece of the puzzle. Turns out, his piece was the biggest.”

In an age where players at every level routinely jump ship to greener pastures, no one would’ve batted an eye at Robinson taking his talents to a contender. But rather than take the easy path, Robinson took it upon himself to help revamp the program’s culture.

“It was something I wanted to stick through and fight through because it’s easy to clear off stuff like, I could go join Kentucky or something. I could’ve left after my freshman year,” Robinson describes. “I went about it by leading by example. That’s big for me and who I am. I lead by example.”

The mental toughness to keep fighting is engrained in the Robinson family. His parents, Jerome and Amy, were both athletes.

“My parents are huge for me,” Robinson says. “Talking with them and always thinking about the things we talk about is where that mentality stems from.”

Yet Robinson, then 19 years old, made the decision all on his own to stay in Chestnut Hill.

“You never had to re-recruit him to come back to BC. These days, everybody transfers. We sucked. Most guys would head for the hills,” Cunningham says. “We never once had to fly down to North Carolina to convince his people — call his workout guy, call his AAU guy, call his pastor, all that. He was committed from day one and saw the vision.”

Taking the more difficult path paid off. Robinson played a rigorous ACC schedule against a plethora of future pros and in the summer after his sophomore year, decided to dial it up and jostle with the world’s best. He flew out to California and spent eight weeks training with NBA players like Emmanuel Mudiay, Bismack Biyombo, Georges Niang and Spencer Dinwiddie.

After running with those guys, Robinson knew he was destined to make it to the next level.

“I’m so grateful for going through that whole experience,” he says. “I thought leaving there that I was going to be a professional 12 months later. I knew I’d become a much better player, a much smarter player and there was going to be nobody I was going to face in-conference or out-of-conference that was as good a player as the guys I was playing against for eight weeks.”

Fast forward 12 months, and Robinson was right where he envisioned: Brooklyn, New York for the 2018 NBA Draft. He had a profusion of buckets, a victory over top-ranked Duke and the Eagles’ first winning season since 2011 on his resume.

Despite the accolades, very few mocks had Robinson being taken in the lottery. Getting slept on was nothing new for him, though, and he ended up landing with the Clippers as the 13th pick.

“I’ve always had a chip on my shoulder. I wasn’t recruited high. I’ve just always been an under-the-radar guy,” he says. “I just keep playing my game and let my game speak for itself.”

To become the most versatile player he can be, Robinson has spent the summer studying several NBA stars. He’s not limiting himself to any one archetype.

“For me, this is where I think my IQ takes over when I’m modeling my game. I don’t really pick one person,” he explains. “I think of it as an old person’s wisdom: they’ve already been through it and they know how to handle it, but you have to find ways that it’ll better you in your situation.”

Asked to rattle off a list of the players he observes, Robinson was ready.

“Kyrie Irving and John Wall. I watch Klay Thompson and JJ Redick’s footwork on screens. I watch guards like Steph Curry and Damian Lillard and how they separate, step back and create space. How guys like CP3 are a maestro on ball screens. It’s taking what they do great, watching those things and figuring out how I can add to my game.”

Robinson made the highlight reels in college because of his explosive scoring, but he’s prepared to show the League he can do much more than that. His playmaking ability is something he believes has gone overlooked.

There’s a reason Robinson skyrocketed up draft boards, despite the fact that his final college season ended earlier than most (he was one of just four first round picks out of college to not appear in the NCAA Tournament). Once teams started bringing him in for interviews, it became clear there was something more than just his jumper that’d carry him to NBA success.

“In adverse times, I know not to fold, I know things will get better and I know how to work through those things,” Robinson stresses. “That’s one of my strengths. In the NBA, everything’s not going to be all easy, you’re going to have your ups and downs and I’m a guy who’s been through a lot of ups and downs my whole life. I think that’s something that helped me during my time at BC and will going forward.

“For me, it’s always onto the next one. Once I let a shot go, I can’t get it back. Obviously, if I miss it, I think about adjustments, but I don’t ever let it phase me. I keep my confidence up.”

Robinson’s former coaches are adamant that mental toughness and other off-the-court traits played a crucial role in his draft position.

“Jerome is an A-plus, unbelievably good kid,” Cunningham says. “He’s never been caught up in any nonsense … NBA teams admire that about him, that he didn’t run from where he was at.”

“I was a bit surprised by the lotto pick,” Ferrell admits, “not because I didn’t think he was good enough … My impressions of the NBA is that they want big names and glitz. It’s refreshing to see an NBA team choose a person of integrity and character but also someone who can play. As a player, Jerome always plays with a positive attitude and like it may be the last time he ever gets to step on the court. As a person, he is so sincere and affectionate. He loves people, has charisma and is fun to be around.”

He may be an unranked recruit from Raleigh, North Carolina, but Jerome Robinson is ready to rise up under the beaming Hollywood lights. If you want to let him slide under the radar, he’s OK with that, too—his game will do the talking.

—

Ian Pierno is an Assistant Editor at SLAM. Follow him on Twitter at @ianpierno.

Photos via Getty.

The post On The Rise: Rookie Jerome Robinson Is Built for This 💪 appeared first on SLAM.

Bronny, Mikey Williams and Rayvon Griffith balled out as their squad concluded group play 3-0.

Check out the full game highlights in the video above!

The post LeBron James & Royal Family Showed Out in Queen City for Bronny 👑 appeared first on SLAM.

The post Collin Sexton: Choppin’ It Up with the Young Bull 🗣 appeared first on SLAM.

Free agent forward Jabari Parker has agreed to a two-year, $40M deal with the Chicago Bulls, league sources tell ESPN. Milwaukee rescinded Parker's qualifying offer moments ago, making him unrestricted.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 14, 2018

Parker entered July as a restricted free agent; however, the Milwaukee Bucks rescinded his qualifying offer, clearing the path for him to become an unrestricted free agent.

Parker, the No. 2 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, scored 12.6 points per game in 31 contests last season after returning from an ACL tear. The 2013 SLAM All-American is widely considered the be the most illustrious player in Chicago high school basketball history.

RELATED: 2018 NBA Free Agency Tracker

The post Report: Jabari Parker Returning Home on $40M Deal with the Chicago Bulls appeared first on SLAM.

Check out Robinson’s full game highlights in the video above!

RELATED: Jimmy Butler Turns Down Four-Year, $110M Extension Offer From Wolves

The post 5-5 Junior Robinson Drops Team-High 20 Points in Las Vegas 🔥 appeared first on SLAM.

Check out the former SLAM All-American’s game highlights in the video above.

The post Wendell Carter Turns in Uber-Efficient Double-Double Outing in Vegas appeared first on SLAM.

Check out Young’s full highlights from the game in the video above!

COMEBACK KING

23 points and a huge comeback dub from Trae Young. The kid’s got it pic.twitter.com/zul1mkKyLl

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) July 12, 2018

RELATED: Trae Young is the Most Exciting Show in College Basketball

The post Trae Young’s 23 Points Lead Hawks to 27-Point Comeback Win 🔥 appeared first on SLAM.

The sharpshooter impressed during his time overseas with his previous team, Vytautas Prienu, scoring 12.6 points per game on 41.5 percent shooting from behind the arc in league play, per Real GM. Despite the solid showing, Ball went undrafted during the 2018 NBA Draft and wasn’t signed as an undrafted free agent.

Ball tips off against the Philadelphia Ballers on July 12 at 7:30 p.m.

The post LiAngelo Ball Joining the JBA’s Los Angeles Ballers 🏀 appeared first on SLAM.

In a Q&A with The Undefeated’s Marc Spears, Fizdale said he wants to see Porzingis contending for MVP and Defensive Player of the Year.

“Excitement. He likes exactly what I’m talking about from the standpoint of style of play. The fact that I won’t lock him into any position, that I’ll always try to put him in a position of success, that I’m going to challenge him to be an MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. I think he really likes the idea of the way I operate, how I’m going to hold guys accountable to a strict level. He likes the sound of that.”

The last Knick to win the MVP award was Willis Reed in 1970. Tyson Chandler won the Defensive Player of the Year Award in New York in 2012.

RELATED: David Fizdale Expects Knicks to Make ‘Big Moves’ Next Summer

The post David Fizdale Challenging Kristaps Porzingis to Win MVP and DPOTY 🏆 appeared first on SLAM.

RFA Zach LaVine has agreed to a four-year, $80M offer sheet with the Sacramento Kings, league sources tell Yahoo. The Chicago Bulls have 48 hours to match.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 6, 2018

The Bulls have decided to match Sacramento's $78M offer sheet to Zach LaVine, league sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 7, 2018

The $78 million deal is the richest non-max contract deal signed so far in free agency.

LaVine played 24 games last season after coming back from an ACL injury he suffered while with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2017. The athletic guard had little issues getting back up to game speed with his new squad in Chicago, averaging 16.7 points per contest over that span.

RELATED: Zach LaVine Says ‘I’m Not Going To Stop’ Until I’m ‘An Elite Player’

The post Report: Bulls Match Kings’ $78 Million Offer Sheet to Zach LaVine 💰 appeared first on SLAM.

Tony Parker has agreed to sign with Charlotte, league sources tell Yahoo.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 6, 2018

The four-time NBA Finals champion averaged 7.7 points and 3.5 assists per contest last season.

Parker isn’t the first member of the Spurs organization to head to Queen City this offseason, he’ll be joining first-year Hornets head coach James Borrego. Borrego was an assistant in San Antonio in 2003-2010 and 2015-2018.

RELATED: 2018 NBA Free Agency Tracker

The post Report: Tony Parker Signs Two-Year Deal with the Charlotte Hornets 🐝 appeared first on SLAM.

Should the Thunder find a trade partner, it’s likely the team that receives Anthony could receive assets in return for absorbing his salary and waiving him, thus allowing Anthony to enter free agency.

Anthony is due $27.9 million this upcoming season from the 5-year, $124 million deal he signed with the New York Knicks in 2013.

Anthony struggled in his only season with the Thunde, notching career-low marks in points (16.2) and minutes (32.1) per game while shooting just 40.4 percent from the field.

RELATED: Carmelo Anthony On If He’d Come Off The Bench: ‘That’s Out Of The Question’

The post Report: Thunder and Carmelo Anthony Plan to Part Ways appeared first on SLAM.

Fizdale hinted at experimenting new ways to utilize Porzingis, including giving the 7-3 big man runs at small forward:

“At the same time I might do that, I might play him at what you call a small forward and go him, Luke (Kornet) and Mitch (Robinson) and put a whole bunch of wingspan with Kevin (Knox) at 2 and see how teams deal with that at the rim and with our length. I can’t lock him into nothing. I see a lot of places I can use him to be dynamic for us.”  (via Mike Vorkunov)

As a big, Fizdale noted the similarities he sees between Porzingis and MVP candidate Anthony Davis:

“As a center, it’s just Anthony Davis, you name him, he’s that. It’s dynamic guy who he can outrun everybody but you can’t put a small on him. You put somebody too big on him, he can pull him away from the rim. Defensively, he can guard everybody. It’s a luxury for me to have a guy that I can move around at different positions.” (via Mike Vorkunov)

Porzingis, who tore his ACL in February, isn’t projected to be available to play in 2018.

RELATED: Kristaps Porzingis ‘Excited’ to Play for David Fizdale

The post David Fizdale Wants to Experiment New Lineups with Kristaps Porzingis appeared first on SLAM.

Free agent Kyle O'Quinn has agreed to a one-year, $4.5M deal with the Indiana Pacers, league sources tell Yahoo.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 6, 2018

O’Quinn opted out of the fourth year of his contract with the New York Knicks that would’ve paid him $4 million. The Swiss Army Knife big man shined off the bench for New York last season, averaging 14.3 points, 12.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.5 blocks per 36 minutes. His offensive rating of 118 was the second-highest on the Knicks and his 105 defensive rating was a team-best, per Basketball Reference.

The post Report: Kyle O’Quinn Signs One-Year Deal with the Pacers appeared first on SLAM.

Free agent Derrick Favors has agreed to a two-year, $36M-plus deal with the Utah Jazz, agent Wallace Prather tells Yahoo.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 2, 2018

Favors, who joined the Jazz as a rookie during the trade that moved Deron Williams to New Jersey in 2010, has been a cornerstone of Utah’s on-court success. The 26-year-old averaged 12.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per contest last season as the Jazz advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals.

RELATED: 2018 Free Agency Tracker

The post Report: Derrick Favors Returns to Jazz on 2-Year, $36 Million Deal appeared first on SLAM.

Sources: Nerlens Noel will sign a two-year deal with Oklahoma City, including a player option in Year 2. https://t.co/b4UQeBEDUU

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 2, 2018

Noel started 133 of 142 games during his first two years in the League in Philadelphia but has had troubles staying on the court since, appearing in just 81 games over the past two seasons in Philadelphia and Dallas. Noel, a lottery pick in 2013, has shown potential as a disruptive defender, averaging 2.2 steals and 2.0 blocks per 36 minutes over his career.

RELATED: 2018 NBA Free Agency Tracker

The post Report: Nerlens Noel Agrees to 2-Year Deal with Thunder ⚡️ appeared first on SLAM.

Whaaaaaaaat

— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) July 2, 2018

Welcome to the family @KingJames #lakers4life #striveforgreatness @JeanieBuss @MagicJohnson and RP well done!!!

— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) July 2, 2018

The perfect setup……see the entire master plan….:.that boy smart

— Mario Chalmers (@mchalmers15) July 2, 2018

Bron gonna be a free agent just in time to play with his son . That’s a bar

— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) July 2, 2018

Whoaaaa….Lebron gone?!? Out the East too lol

— Jeremy Lin (@JLin7) July 2, 2018

It’s about to be a all out war in the east this year.

— Terrence Ross (@TerrenceRoss) July 2, 2018

2k all time Lakers team is officially non useable!

— IV (@The_Fourth_Wade) July 2, 2018

Omg.. pic.twitter.com/O63FiVOPUs

— 13am Adebayo (@Bam1of1) July 2, 2018

The Lakers are now worth 200 billion dollars

— Trevor Booker (@35_Fitz) July 2, 2018

We heard that shit before https://t.co/J8sVLCEk2H

— Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) July 2, 2018

I guess everybody can sign now….. since LBJ committed to the Lakers…Crazy how 1 man hold up Free Agency…

— DeMarre Carroll (@DeMarreCarroll1) July 2, 2018

Wake up from a nap to see y’all going crazy. Bout time lol

— Spencer Dinwiddie (@SDinwiddie_25) July 2, 2018

Oh man Staples center is bouta be on fire

— Josuélito (@J_Rich1) July 2, 2018

Gotta love the West

— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) July 2, 2018

The players currently on the Los Angeles Lakers’ roster were hype for their incoming teammate.

Y’all really thought he was gonna pass up the greatest city in the world… #TheKingIsHere

— Lonzo Ball (@ZO2_) July 2, 2018

pic.twitter.com/feiLrFQcZW

— kuz (@kylekuzma) July 2, 2018

LAKESHOWWWW. @KingJames let’s go my brotha let’s rock

— kuz (@kylekuzma) July 2, 2018

— Ivica Zubac (@ivicazubac) July 2, 2018

The SHOW is back

— Josh Hart (@joshhart) July 2, 2018

RELATED: 2018 NBA Free Agency Tracker

The post NBA Players React to LeBron James Signing with the Lakers 📱 appeared first on SLAM.

“Kyrie wanted his Low to have everything his signature game shoes have had, but retooled with an all-day play component,” Ben Nethongkome, lead designer of the Kyrie 4, says via Nike.

The Nike Kyrie Low features a midfoot strap that stretches across the whole sneaker. Its traction pattern is inspired by the Kobe 10 and its curved outsole is a continuation of the structure that started with the Kyrie 2.

The Nike Zoom Air unit in the Low is bottom-loaded, providing more cushioning on each step. There’s also Zoom Air in the heel and forefoot.

The Nike Kyrie Low drops tomorrow, June 29, for $115.

Photos by Joseph Sherman

The post First-Ever Nike Kyrie Low Dropping June 29 👟 appeared first on SLAM.

The post Zion Williamson is a High School Legend: The Official Mixtape 🎥 appeared first on SLAM.

Meet the first-ever SLAM @LeagueFits All-Drip Teams and Rookie of the Year, a group of 11 players that were built for the Survival of the Fitted.

All-Drip First Team

Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

The Brodie made a career for himself with his fearless attitude on the court, and his attitude in fashion isn’t much different. The League’s most versatile dresser, Russ isn’t afraid to make jaws drop on any given night.

Nick Young, Golden State Warriors 

Swaggy P became Swaggy Champ as he won his first-ever NBA Finals with Golden State, but he kept it straight Hollywood with the fits. In addition to wearing top-shelf names like Saint Laurent, Supreme and Rhude Designs, Swaggy gets bonus points for dropping a new collection of jawnz on his own line, Most Hated Los Angeles.

PJ Tucker, Houston Rockets

PJ Tucker’s career made stops in Israel, Greece, Italy, Puerto Rico, Canada and Germany before he became a Houston Rocket. With an international influence playing a role in his drip, the NBA’s undisputed sneaker king joined the upper echelon of all-time fit icons, too.

Jimmy Butler, Minnesota Timberwolves

Jimmy loves his patterns, and it shows. Never afraid to be bold, Butler was one of the League’s most coordinated dressers during his first year in Minnesota.

LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

LeBron is way cooler than your dad. Year 15 was a legendary one for the King off the court just as much as it was on the hardwood. James mixed things up, rocking streetwear brands like Billionaire Boys Club, top-flight designed suits from Thom Browne (shouts out to the suit shorts) and up-and-coming Scholastics. Dad Drip at its finest.

All-Drip Second Team

James Harden, Houston Rockets

Stella McCartney, Balenciaga, Maison Valentino, Y-3, Raf Simons, Versace, Vetements, etc. The Beard rocked the League’s deepest designer wardrobe as he led the Rockets to a franchise-best 65 wins.

Jordan Clarkson, Los Angeles Lakers/Cleveland Cavaliers

JC made the jump from Los Angeles to Cleveland at the trade deadline, but the youngin’ brought the West Coast streetwear style with him to the midwest. Already one of the League’s Supreme kings, Clarkson mixed things up with Off-White, Rhude Designs and Gucci.

Serge Ibaka, Toronto Raptors 

Simple and steezy, Serge Ibaka made Dad Drip cool again in Toronto. Touted by Kyle Lowry as “The Most Stylish Man in the NBA,” Ibaka capped off a career fit year with the Raptors by heading East to stunt out at Paris Fashion Week (just peep the ‘gram).

Terry Rozier, Boston Celtics

The game doesn’t end when the final horn blows for Scary Terry. Rozier had Twitter popping when he wore a Drew Bledsoe jersey after knocking Eric Bledsoe’s Bucks out of the postseason, but the Pats threads weren’t the only notable fit from Rozier, who brought out some of the League’s tuffest Off-White combinations.

Chris Paul, Houston Rockets

Deion Sanders once said that “You look good, you feel good. You feel good, you play good,” and it was the motto CP3 rode all the way to his first-ever Conference Finals. The Point Gawd mixed innovation and bold patterns with old-school staples (shouts out to making the dad cap cool again) in the winningest season of his career.

All-Drip Rookie of the Year

Kyle Kuzma, Los Angeles Lakers

You would’ve thought Kuz had been Hollywood his whole life. Brining serious game and a booming personality to the Lakers, Kuzma has the wardrobe to match his path to stardom.

—

To keep up with the NBA’s Survival of the Fitted, follow @LeagueFits on Instagram 

The post Introducing the First-Ever LeagueFits All-Drip Teams 💧 appeared first on SLAM.

Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic will have his team option declined for next season to become RFA, and sides plan to reach agreement on a five-year, $146.5M maximum contract, league sources told Yahoo.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 25, 2018

The Nuggets will decline Jokic’s team option worth $1.6 million in 2018-19 in order to give him the long-term deal.

Jokic set career-high marks in points (18.5), rebounds (10.7), assists (6.1) and steals (1.2) per game last year.

The post Report: Nikola Jokic to Sign $146.5 Million Deal to Stay in Denver ⛰ appeared first on SLAM.

Check out the James Gang’s full mix from the weekend in the video above!

The post Bronny and Bryce James Put on a SHOW for Pops in South Beach 🏖 appeared first on SLAM.

The Hartford Courant listed several of the allegations:

• Ollie shot baskets with a potential recruit while the unnamed recruit was on an official visit. A portion of that shootaround was videotaped by the player’s aunt, which was then published by The Courant, which is how Benedict learned of the incident. Ollie didn’t deny that he participated in the shootaround but claimed it was limited in scope. The university self-reported the incident to the NCAA. In September, guard James Akinjo from California was on an official visit, and he and Ollie stopped to shoot baskets together in the Werth Family Center. Akinjo’s guardian took video of it and posted it on Twitter, which The Courant noted in a story after Akinjo committed to UConn. The video was taken down from Twitter.

• Ollie facilitated a call between a potential recruit and former UConn All-America Ray Allen, who is now considered a booster by the NCAA. When confronted with the call, Benedict alleged that Ollie denied the call was prearranged. In addition the call was not made on Ollie’s phone but on the cellphone of his executive assistant from Ollie’s house. Benedict said using another employee’s phone “further suggests that the call deliberately occurred in a covert manner.”

• Ollie got a close personal friend named Derrek Hamilton to train some of the players off campus in 2015-16. Several players participated in after-hours, on-campus workouts with Hamilton as well as off-campus workouts. Three players traveled to Atlanta to train with Hamilton and the players were fed, transported and housed for free — all considered NCAA violations. The letter said one of the parents of a player who went to Atlanta even called Ollie to ask if the trip was permissible. Hamilton, reached by The Courant Wednesday, said, “I have nothing to say about that. I have not talked to the NCAA and I don’t really know what’s going on.”

• The letter then indicates that Ollie downplayed Hamilton’s role with the program and told investigators that no players trained with Hamilton and that Hamilton spent little time on campus. But UConn has hotel records showing Hamilton’s presence on campus as well as that Ollie gave him complimentary tickets to three games.

• Benedict also said that Ollie failed to report any possible NCAA violations as was his responsibility. “Every violation I am raising was discovered from sources other than you or your staff,” Benedict wrote, adding that in one instance Benedict found out about the impermissible tryout through the media.

• Benedict also questioned the role of Danny Griffin, a friend of Ollie’s who was brought in as a noncoaching staff member by Ollie. The investigation showed that Griffin had impermissible phone contact with at least two recruits.

Ollie, who’s been on the Huskies’ staff since 2010 and became the head coach in 2012, won NCAA National Championships in 2011 and 2014.

Ollie has hired a lawyer as he seeks to earn the $10 million he’s still owed under his contract, per the AP. Previous UConn coaches like Jim Calhoun were not fired for NCAA violations; however, Ollie’s Huskies have gone just 30-35 over the past two years, creating a motivating factor for the school to want to fire him with cause.

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“I ‘aint playing games with ‘em, visionary flow. I’m tryna be a billionaire by 23, LeBron James.”

Check out the video above to listen to Bagley’s music debut.

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Listen to Drummond’s verse in the video above and craft your own opinion. Drummond’s verse begins at the 1:40 mark.

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Source: Trae Young conducted a secret workout with the Cavs on Saturday. If Michael Porter is gone, it seems to be a toss-up at the moment between Young and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for Cleveland at #8. We've given Shai the nod in our latest mock today: https://t.co/hpiDE2e70Y

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 19, 2018

Young led the NCAA in points (27.4) and assists (8.7) during his lone season at Oklahoma.

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“Several sources, ranging from NBA executive to agents to scouts, told cleveland.com that the Cavs would most likely draft Porter if they could. The team, naturally, will not comment on its draft strategy … There is no consensus outside the organization as to whom they would take [if Porter is unavailable].”

Porter, the top-ranked high school player in the class of 2017, played just three games during his college career at Mizzou due to a lower back injury that required surgery. Porter’s recent injury history has made projecting his landing spot difficult, as he’s been linked to the Sacramento Kings at No. 2, but has also been projected to potentially fall into the late lottery.

RELATED: Teams Gauging Knicks’ Interest in Trading up to Draft Michael Porter Jr

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As Jeremy alludes to, the Sixers are indeed continuing calls about moving into the Top 5. They have offered packages of picks, but have thus far rebuked including oft-mentioned Robert Covington and Dario Saric, per sources. https://t.co/o2KkUNLhZg

— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) June 19, 2018

No team has more selections in the draft than the Sixers, who hold picks 10, 26, 38, 39, 56 and 60. With 11 players already under contract for 2018-19, it’s extremely unlikely Philadelphia decides to keep all of those selections.

If the 76ers can trade into the top-5, it’ll be the fifth straight year they hold a top-5 pick. Their selections over the past four years include Markelle Fultz, Ben Simmons, Jahlil Okafor and Joel Embiid. Any trade that’s done will have to be signed off on by coach Brett Brown, who’s filling in for former general manager Bryan Colangelo.

RELATED: Brett Brown says Sixers Need a ‘High-Level’ Free Agent

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Per Stein, Kentucky’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is Toronto’s main target and nobody on the roster is untouchable in trade talks. The 19-year-old averaged 14.1 points, 5.1 assists and 4.1 boards per game for the Wildcats last season. Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t unfamiliar with Toronto — it’s the city he was born and raised in before playing his final two years of high school ball in Tennessee.

Draft scuttle: Hearing Toronto is exploring all of its trade options in hopes of assembling a deal to acquire a draft pick high enough to select Kentucky's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 18, 2018

According to one league source, no one on Toronto's roster is off limits as the Raptors pursue a top-10 pick https://t.co/AZzCv8fPXD

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 18, 2018

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The Lancestagram has been full of drip since the season ended, so it’s only fitting this was the track he hopped on.

Check out the Brooklyn-natives’ new track on Spotify and Apple Music.

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“Anything could happen. People don’t look at everything. (LeBron James’) son just committed to Sierra Canyon which is in the valley of LA. That’s where his son is going to go to school [with] Scottie Pippen’s son and Kenyon Martin’s son. So, that’s a move that they’re going to make … if everybody looks at it with a son at that age, you don’t want to be away from him during that period of time. During the time that we’re having, basketball is school time. I think that (Bronny) needs a father during that time and that’s it. I don’t think LeBron is that type of parent, I think he wants to be around his son a lot and see his son play a lot.”

Spectrum SportsNet’s Chris Palmer tweeted that he called Sierra Canyon and a school official refuted Payton’s statement.

Just talked to a Sierra Canyon official on the rumor that Bronny James has committed: "That's news to us. He hasn't."

— Chris Palmer (@ChrisPalmerNBA) June 11, 2018

LeBron told media after the NBA Finals that his family will play a large role in where he decides to play next year. His best friend, Dwyane Wade, reiterated that by saying he believes LeBron will prioritize his family and lifestyle when making a decision.

Bronny wouldn’t be the first notable name to attend Sierra Canyon — Marvin Bagley, Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Willow Smith and Corinne Fox are just a handful of the school’s notable alumni. The basketball team features 5-star guard Cassius Stanley in addition to Scottie Pippen Jr. and Kenyon Martin Jr.

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“This game, your craft, you have to continue studying it,” said Durant. “No matter how much you enjoy it, nobody wants to be in school that long. I know I don’t. At some point, you have to be ready to graduate. Thirty-five, that’s just a number in my mind.”

Durant turns 30 years old September. Assuming he signs a maximum five-year extension with Golden State this summer — he’s already said he plans to re-sign — it’d be his last contract in the League after a 16-year playing career. If he were to play beyond five years, it’s likely he could compete for the all-time scoring title, but Durant said that’s not a priority to him.

“It’s not about [the record],” Durant said Friday. “I can leave the game knowing I did everything I wanted to do, my way, on my terms. That’s how I want to leave the game. And if I happen to have all these accolades and these accomplishments, then that’s cool. If not, I’m still cool.”

Rich Kleiman, Durant’s business partner, said he’s heard him talk about walking away at 35, but told ESPN that “I’ll believe it when it happens.”

Durant has won back-to-back NBA Finals MVP awards since joining the Golden State Warriors two seasons ago.

RELATED: Kevin Durant Says He Didn’t Ruin the NBA

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The deadline for prospects to remove their names from the early-entrant list is June 11 at 5 p.m. EST.

Doncic, a projected top-5 pick in this year’s draft class, is finishing out his contract with Real Madrid in Spain. Doncic recently won the Euroleague MVP award after leading Real Madrid to a championship and is looking to add a Liga ACB championship to his list of European accolades. The best-of-5 series against Baskonia could end as late as June 22.

The NBA Draft is June 21 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

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