Remembering Kobe and Gianna Bryant on the 5th Anniversary of Their Deaths

Kobe and Gianna Bryant were tragically killed in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26, 2020

Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant attends the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks on December 29, 2019. Photo: 

The sports and entertainment worlds are remembering and celebrating the lives of Kobe and Gianna Bryant on the fifth anniversary of their tragic deaths.

Five years after Kobe and 13-year-old Gianna died in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26, 2020 in California, the beloved basketball star and his daughter continue to inspire fans all over the world.

Survived by his wife Vanessa and daughters Natalia, Bianka and Capri, Kobe’s contribution to basketball is immeasurable. Beyond the five NBA championships he won for the Los Angeles Lakers, the greatest athletes of all sports continue to live by his “Mamba Mentality” mindset.

Kobe’s basketball career began at Lower Merion High School. He decided to enter the NBA straight out of 12th grade and was the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft, by the Charlotte Hornets, who traded his draft rights to the Los Angeles Lakers in a prior agreement.

Jerry West and Kobe Bryant after he’s drafted to the Los Angeles Lakers. Steve Grayson/WireImage

In Los Angeles, he’d team up with center Shaquille O’Neal. While Kobe and O’Neal would certainly have success (they won four championships for the Lakers together), their relationship would soon turn into a rivalry.

At just 18 years, 2 months and 11 days old, he became the youngest person to ever play in an NBA game when he played in 1996. And by 1998, he was the youngest starter ever in an NBA All-Star Game.

An 18-time All-Star, Kobe helped lead the Lakers to five NBA titles: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2010.

Kobe Bryant.Stacy Revere/Getty

In 1999, a 21-year-old Bryant met 17-year-old Vanessa Laine. when he was a starting player on the Los Angeles Lakers — while Vanessa was a high school senior from southern California.

“It was love at first sight,” Vanessa said in a 2020 Instagram post.

“For me, it was very different to have somebody that I was so close to, because I had been so used to growing up in isolation, really,” Kobe said about the early days of their relationship in the 2015 Showtime documentary Kobe Bryant’s Muse.

The two became engaged six months later and married on April 18, 2001, in Dana Point, California.

Vanessa and Kobe Bryant at a game between the Los Angeles King and Washington Capitals on March 09, 2016.Andrew D. Bernstein/NHLI via Gett

In 2003, they welcomed their first child, daughter Natalia, followed by Gianna in 2006.

Vanessa and Kobe welcomed their third child — daughter Bianka Bella — on Dec. 5, 2016 and their youngest, Capri Kobe, was born on June 20, 2019.

“She has been our best baby,” he joked to Extra about their youngest in September 2019. “She sleeps like six hours. She’s an absolute sweetheart.”

From a young age, Gianna — who was lovingly known as Gigi — wanted to follow her dad’s footsteps into basketball. Kobe even coached his daughter’s team at his Mamba Sports Academy and supported her dreams of joining the WNBA.

“[Gianna]’s pretty fierce. She loves playing, she loves shooting,” the basketball legend told Extra in July 2017.

Vanessa Laine Bryant, former NBA player Kobe Bryant, Natalia Diamante Bryant and Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant. Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Gianna and her father continued to share a love of the game and his mini-me was quickly on her way to carving out her own path in basketball.

At the time of the fatal crash, Gianna and Kobe were traveling to a youth basketball game with parents and players from the Mamba Sports Academy girls’ team, where Gianna wore a No. 2 jersey.

In 2020, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert named Gianna — as well as her teammates Payton Chester and Alyssa Altobelli who also died in the crash — an honorary pick during the 2020 WNBA Draft.

Athletes like LeBron James, Candace Parker and Sydney Leroux have paid tribute to Gianna’s life and legacy.

Kobe and Gianna were laid to rest together on Feb. 7, 2020, at Pacific View Memorial Park and Mortuary in Corona Del Mar, California. A touching public memorial service was held on Feb. 24, 2020, at Staples Center that was attended by famous friends like Beyoncé, Michael Jordan, Christina Aguilera, Shaquille O’Neal and more.

Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant attend the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks on December 29, 2019.Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty

In the days leading up to the fifth anniversary of the accident, PEOPLE announced that Vanessa is set to publish Mamba & Mambacita Forever, a catalogue of over 100 murals and the stories that honor Kobe and Gianna’s lasting impact.

A variety of memorials went up all over the world, including candlelit vigils, sculptures and public murals, recognizing Kobe and Gianna’s contributions to the world of basketball.

Mamba & Mambacita Forever — which will be released on Aug. 19 to mark Kobe Bryant Day several days later — “brings together the images and stories” of the public art installations that honored the Byrants, per a press release shared with PEOPLE.

“Taken together, what emerges is the story of a man who became even more than he himself could have imagined, an avatar of determination, discipline and competitiveness. He was also a worldwide icon, one of the greatest athletes of our time, a man committed to his family and to fatherhood,” the release continues.

Inside Taylor Swift’s Lavish Private Jet: The Sky-High Luxury of a New Female Billionaire.

Taylor Swift’s Lavish Private Jet Lifestyle: A Glimpse Inside the New Female Billionaire’s Fleet

Taylor Swift leads a life of luxury, and her private planes are no exception. One of her remarkable aircraft, the Falcon 900, boasts a spacious and opulent cabin that can accommodate up to 12 passengers, resembling a high-end apartment in the sky.

This private jet features a fully equipped kitchen, allowing Taylor Swift and her team to savor their favorite meals while cruising through the air. It also offers one or more bathrooms with showers, ensuring comfort and refreshment during long-distance flights.

One standout feature is the inclusion of a private bedroom, a crucial amenity for Taylor Swift and other artists who frequently traverse time zones during their tours.

Taylor Swift’s private plane, a Dassault Falcon 900LX with the registration number N898TS, prominently displays the number 13 in front of the main cabin door. Despite superstitions surrounding this number, Taylor Swift considers it her lucky charm. She has various personal and career milestones linked to the number 13, from birthdays to album successes, making it a significant part of her life.

 

Equipped with Dassault’s advanced FalconEye visual assistance system, the aircraft enhances pilots’ visibility, particularly in challenging nighttime and adverse weather conditions.

While some may believe Taylor Swift’s fascination with the number 13 borders on obsession, it holds special meaning for her, and she has woven it into her life and career in various ways.

Taylor Swift’s private jet, such as this Falcon 900LX, enables her to effortlessly traverse the globe, making international tours a breeze.

Despite claims that she’s set to take 170 private jet trips in 2022, Taylor Swift’s manager disputes this figure, as she often lends her jet to others.

Previously, Taylor Swift owned a smaller Dassault Falcon 50 jet, which she sold in March 2020 for $4 million, donating all proceeds to charity.

In her illustrious career, Taylor Swift continues to make her mark both in the music industry and in philanthropy, showcasing her extraordinary success and generosity.

Kelly Clarkson Breathes New Life Into Bon Jovi’s Iconic Hit “It’s My Life”

On November 2, 2020, Kelly Clarkson took on Bon Jovi’s classic “It’s My Life” in her “Kellyoke” segment on The Kelly Clarkson Show, and the result was unforgettable. Adding her powerful high notes and a lively light show, she brought her own flair to the song. With every note, Clarkson injected so much energy and attitude.

The performance was more than just a cover—it felt like Clarkson was making the song her own. The audience couldn’t help but stand and cheer, caught up in the raw intensity and emotion she brought to every note. Even Jon Bon Jovi himself was left in awe of her electrifying rendition.

Kelly Clarkson’s powerful performance of the song impressed everyone, receiving numerous positive feedback such as “She really started feeling it in the second half! When she matches that ferocious rock energy with that power house voice it’s phenomenal” and “Omg you sang the song like a real rock star. You’re truly amazing.” Many fans are also requesting a full cover or a studio version of the song.

Jon Bon Jovi, who joined the show virtually afterward, praised Kelly for her unique take on the song, especially how she changed the key to better fit her voice. He complimented, “ “God bless you for it. But yeah, it was cool!”

Celtics’ Jaylen Brown gives injury update after scare vs. Clippers

Jaylen Brown’s injury isn’t as bad as it looked.

As Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown rolled his ankle in the second quarter, there was a momentous gasp. The life nearly was sucked out of the team. Losing one of the best players is not easy, let alone an ankle injury. However, there’s a sigh of relief for Celtics fans and his teammates.

The ankle injury isn’t as bad as it appeared, according to Jay King of The Athletic on X. He said “He rolled his ankle in the second quarter and it slowed him down.” Still, Brown continued to dominate as he has all season. He played 38 minutes in Wednesday’s win and posted 25 points, six assists, and three steals.

After Brown identified what the Celtics issue was only a few weeks ago, they’ve turned the corner. Although some of the wins haven’t been pretty, they’re still wins, nonetheless. Plus, the two-man game of Jayson Tatum and Brown continues to evolve every year they play together.

Brown’s nuclear athleticism, mixed with Tatum’s shot-making gives defenses a true test. It’s essentially a pick-your-poison scenario. As a result, it’s helped the Celtics secure their 31st win of the season.

Jaylen Brown’s injury update is a sigh of relief for Celtics

Boston hasn’t had any significant injuries to their starters this season. Even with Kristaps Porzingis dealing with lower body issues, there’s been nothing too worrisome. How Brown rolled his ankle was a bit gruesome. It looked like a sprain initially but as evidenced by the game, he played through it.

Not to mention, he played 38 minutes. Although he said he was a bit slower, his efficiency kicked in. Brown shot 8-15 from the field and made both of his threes. Also, he took advantage of the Clippers’ interior defense, and shot nine free throws, making seven of them.

There’s been a consistent progression from the shooting guard this season when it comes to scoring. For example, Brown adopted an ‘until I die’ mindset to improve his starts. After he dropped that quote, he’s been more efficient and taking better shots. He’s working on his three-pointer, along with slashing the basket.

He’s no longer settling for the mid-range or tough looks. He’s looking to get what’s easy for him, and that’s attacking the basket and taking open threes. Boston’s next game is on Thursday against the Los Angeles Lakers and is the second-part of a back-to-back series.

While Brown played 38 minutes, his workload might be reduced to minimize further injury. However, time will tell what the final status is heading into that game.

Bon Jovi And Jennifer Nettles Rock The CMA Stage With “Who Says You Can’t Go Home”

The CMA Awards have a long-standing tradition of delivering unforgettable moments, especially through their incredible collaborations. Each year, the stage becomes a meeting point for country music’s finest, blending voices and styles to create performances that stay with fans long after the final note.

The 2006 CMA Awards saw an unforgettable collaboration when Bon Jovi and Jennifer Nettles performed “Who Says You Can’t Go Home.” This powerful duet seamlessly blended rock and country, creating a unique moment that resonated with fans of both genres. Originally featured on Bon Jovi’s Have a Nice Day album, the song’s country version with Nettles added a fresh and heartfelt twist.

Her rich, soulful voice paired beautifully with Jon Bon Jovi’s iconic vocals, creating a performance that struck a chord with fans of both rock and country. The duet broke barriers, seamlessly merging the grit of rock with the emotional depth of country storytelling. Their undeniable chemistry and powerful delivery proved the timeless magic of music.

The track’s explosive success on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, where it claimed the top spot, signaled a bold new chapter for Bon Jovi. Winning a Grammy for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals, the song bridged the gap between rock and country with a fresh, fearless energy.

Their unforgettable CMA performance wasn’t just a highlight of the night—it showed that Bon Jovi’s move into country music wasn’t a side step but a bold reinvention that led to even more success blending genres.

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds make shock request after Justin Baldoni’s lawyer released bombshell video

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have made a shock legal request after Justin Baldoni’s lawyer released a bombshell video showing the pair on the Ends With Us set.

The explosive video  exclusively released by DailyMail.com, showed all three takes of a dance scene between Lively, 37, and Baldoni, 40 – revealing the pair were on apparent great terms before the actress accused him of sexual harassment.

Lively in turn hit back at the clip’s release, saying it proved that she was uncomfortable during the scene.

Now Lively and Reynolds, 49, want a judge to gag Baldoni’s attorneys – led by Bryan Freedman – and allege he has made false statements about the case.

In a new letter filed in court Tuesday, the pair asked for a protective order to be issued to stop attorneys engaging in ‘improper conduct’ citing an alleged ‘harassing and retaliatory media campaign’ against the couple, per TMZ.

They claim Freedman is ‘violating court rules that stop a lawyer from making statements to the press that are irrelevant to a case and might prejudice the jury.’

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have made a shock legal request after Justin Baldoni’s lawyer released a bombshell video showing the pair on the Ends With Us set

Lively claims the explosive video exclusively released by DailyMail.com, which shows all three takes of a dance scene between the duo, proves that she was uncomfortable during the scene; the two seen in a still from the movie

They specifically mention the release of the unedited footage.

Sources close to Baldoni told DailyMail.com they believe it’s ‘grossly unfair to impose a gag order after Justin has been defamed by the New York Times in an article that they say has cost him three jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars.

‘All Justin wants to do is release videos and text messages to prove the allegations are false.

‘It is unbelievable that Blake Lively would go on a takedown campaign against Justin and then immediately turn around and say she wants a gag order so that Justin can’t defend himself.’

This comes after Lively broke her silence on the unedited footage.

‘Justin Baldoni and his lawyer may hope that this latest stunt will get ahead of the damaging evidence against him, but the video itself is damning,’ her legal team shared in a statement with DailyMail.com.

Her team claims the video ‘shows Mr. Baldoni repeatedly leaning in toward Ms. Lively, attempting to kiss her, kissing her forehead, rubbing his face and mouth against her neck, flicking her lip with his thumb, caressing her, telling her how good she smells, and talking with her out of character.’

Now Lively and Reynolds, 49, want a judge to gag Baldoni’s attorneys – led by Bryan Freedman (pictured( – and allege he has made false statements about the case. In a new letter filed in court Tuesday, the pair asked for a protective order to be issued to stop attorneys engaging in ‘ improper conduct’

Sources close to Baldoni told DailyMail.com they believe it’s ‘ grossly unfair to impose a gag order after Justin has been defamed by the New York Times in an article that they say has cost him three jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars

This comes after Lively broke her silence on the unedited footage. ‘Justin Baldoni and his lawyer may hope that this latest stunt will get ahead of the damaging evidence against him, but the video itself is damning,’ her legal team shared in a statement with DailyMail.com; Lively seen in 2024

‘Every frame of the released footage corroborates, to the letter, what Ms. Lively described in Paragraph 48 of her Complaint.’

Lively’s lawyer also added that none of the intimacy shown in the video from the film — which Baldoni directed and starred in alongside Lively — was choreographed.

‘Every moment of this was improvised by Mr. Baldoni with no discussion or consent in advance, and no intimacy coordinator present.’

‘Mr. Baldoni was not only Ms. Lively’s co-star, but the director, the head of studio and Ms. Lively’s boss.’

Lively’s legal team claims that her ‘leaning away’ from Baldoni during the scene was not acting, and that the clips shows her ‘repeatedly asking for the characters to just talk.’

‘Any woman who has been inappropriately touched in the workplace will recognize Ms. Lively’s discomfort.’

‘They will recognize her attempts at levity to try to deflect the unwanted touching. No woman should have to take defensive measures to avoid being touched by their employer without their consent.’

Her team claims that releasing the video to the media ‘is another example of an unethical attempt to manipulate the public’ and ‘a continuation of their harassment and retaliatory campaign.’

‘We are continuing our efforts to require Mr. Baldoni and his associates to answer in court, under oath, rather than through manufactured media stunts,’ her lawyer stated.

It was one of the biggest bombshells in a lawsuit packed full of them – that Baldoni sexually harassed Lively while filming a dance scene by dragging his lips down her neck and telling her ‘it smells so good’.

In her civil rights complaint filed last month, the actress insisted nobody overheard the comment because the romantic montage was silent and the microphones were switched off.

But DailyMail.com has exclusively obtained an explosive video where Baldoni’s sound equipment was switched on, showing all three takes.

The tapes show how friendly the two stars were before it all went so wrong. They laugh and joke around – even joshing about the size of Baldoni’s nose and talk about how they spend their time with their spouses.

‘Justin Baldoni and his lawyer may hope that this latest stunt will get ahead of the damaging evidence against him, but the video itself is damning,’ her lawyer stated; Baldoni seen in 2024

‘Every moment of this was improvised by Mr. Baldoni with no discussion or consent in advance, and no intimacy coordinator present’; Lively seen in 2024

They include a complete record of the conversation in question at around the seven-minute mark that makes clear the comment about her smelling so good was in response to Lively talking about her spray tan as they film a romantic dance.

Baldoni tells Lively he’s probably getting his beard on her and she responds by saying she’s probably getting spray tan on him. Then he quips back ‘it smells good’ before both laugh and she tells him the scent actually comes from her body makeup.

And while the montage does indeed show Baldoni nuzzling Lively’s neck as part of the scene in which they play lovers, the conversation between them is all business with the pair spending most of it talking about lighting and their other halves.

The clip, which is raw footage shot while filming It Ends With Us, comes complete with audio and was passed to DailyMail.com by the actor’s production company Wayfarer and his lawyer Bryan Freedman who has previously said Baldoni has ‘nothing to hide’.

DailyMail.com’s exclusive footage is the latest revelation in a lengthy saga that began with rumors of rancor behind the scenes of It Ends With Us when it was released last August.

It then exploded into a legal fight just before Christmas when the glamorous blonde sued Baldoni for sexual harassment.

At the same time, the New York Times released a story based on Lively’s legal filing that accused him of orchestrating a negative publicity campaign against her and put the smell claim front and center.

In turn, Baldoni sued the Times for defamation and, last week, launched a $400m lawsuit against Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds that accused her of using her celebrity power to hijack his film and attempt to torpedo his career.

Lively’s legal team claims that her ‘leaning away’ from Baldoni during the scene was not acting, and that the clips shows her ‘repeatedly asking for the characters to just talk’; they are seen in 2024 on set

The new clip, which Lively had previously insisted has no audio, begins with the pair discussing the scene with the actress telling Baldoni ‘I’m off my mark’.

Ironically, at one point the pair are heard debating whether it is better to talk or kiss during the montage, with Lively arguing that chatting is ‘more romantic’ which Baldoni acquiesces to and then, when she wonders whether anyone will discover what they’re really talking about, quips ‘They’re never going to find out’.

Conversation then turns to their other halves, with Lively saying she and Reynolds talk ‘all the time’ while Baldoni says he and wife Emily stare at each other ‘for 10, literally like we’ve done it for five minutes’.

Lively then bursts into laughter as he tells her ‘I think you would find it terrifying’. When Lively continues to tell him about how she can’t stop talking to Reynolds, Baldoni compliments: ‘Oh, I think that’s cute. You guys are really cute.’

Awkwardly, she replies ‘I think it’s more than cute’ which he hastily agrees with, adding ‘I think you guys are amazing.’

Baldoni, who directed as well as acted in It Ends With Us, then says he wants them to be filmed almost kissing, at which Lively then continues to talk – insisting its more romantic to chat and not give the audience the smooch she says they want.

She continues to talk before saying ‘heads together’, prompting both to lean their foreheads against each other.

At that point, Lively begins talking about noses, telling Baldoni: ‘I feel so nosey. It’s just noses’.

Lively sued Baldoni for sexual harassment just before Christmas. At the same time, the New York Times released a story based on Lively’s legal filing that accused him of orchestrating a negative publicity campaign against her

In turn, Baldoni sued the Times for defamation and launched a $400m lawsuit against Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds; Baldoni pictured in 2023

Baldoni then tells her ‘my nose is so big’ to which she bursts into laughter, exclaiming: ‘Yes. I was hoping we could address this. Just got to shut down, gotta call an insurance month and just deal with that. Just kidding.’

The clip then continues into the second take, with Baldoni heard giving instructions to the crew and discussing the scene with Lively.

Then, just over seven minutes in, comes the critical conversation that appears to be the source of Lively’s accusation which begins when Baldoni asks ‘if I’m getting beard on you’.

She laughs and says ‘I’m probably getting spray tan on you’ to which he replies ‘it smells good’ and they both laugh.

Lively then tells him: ‘Well it’s not that, it’s my body makeup.’

As the extras erupt in cheers, Baldoni shouts ‘cut!’ and tells her they have enough for a 17-minute reel.

The final take, which focuses on their feet, includes audio of Baldoni telling Lively that ‘I’m going to let you direct this’ with the actress then insisting her heels aren’t cropped out ‘because of the sparkle’.

DailyMail.com’s explosive new clip comes less than five days since Baldoni’s lawsuit was filed and two weeks after the actress was accused of serving the actor and his team papers as they evacuated during the Los Angeles wildfires.

Baldoni accused Lively of using her celebrity power to hijack his film and attempt to torpedo his career; Lively and Reynolds seen in 2024

In Baldoni’s suit, Lively is accused of failing to read the novel on which the book is based until long after filming had begun and orchestrating a negative publicity campaign of her own with the connivance of her own publicist Leslie Sloane and the New York Times.

During one incident, according to the legal filing, Lively attempted to intimidate Baldoni by pointing to her famous husband and close friend Taylor Swift then comparing herself to Game of Thrones character Khaleesi and telling him ‘I have a lot of dragons’.

The actress and her team are also accused of doctoring text conversations between Baldoni’s publicists to make them look damning and as if they’re plotting a smear campaign against her – which led to both being subjected to social media abuse when the edited texts were published.

Baldoni’s cross-complaint also revealed that he and his family had been forced to spend the premiere of It Ends With Us sitting in a basement because Lively refused to allow him to be in the same room as her.

NBA star Russell Westbrook reveals friends and family caught up in LA wildfires in emotional statement

Russell Westbrook has sent an emotional message to his hometown of Los Angeles as wildfires continue to blaze across the city.

The 36-year-old was born in Long Beach but now lays for the Denver Nuggets, who beat the Los Angeles Clippers in Colorado on Wednesday night.

But for Westbrook, who scored 19 points in the win, his thoughts and prayers have been with his friends and family back in California who have been caught up in the devastation.

‘My family is safe, but people that I know, close friends and family have lost their homes,’ he said. ‘Being from LA, never seen anything like this before.

‘Not being able to do nothing is really difficult. It’s going to be a tough rebuild, but LA is very strong and we can stick together and make something happen.

‘The best thing I can do, obviously this is my job, but go out and try to give people joy and inspiration by going out and playing the game as hard as I can – but also making sure I find ways to help any way I can.’

Fires across LA have devastated the city – five are dead with thousands of buildings destroyed

Denver Nuggets star Russell Westbrook said his friends and family were caught up in the fires

Westbrook went to college at UCLA and has played for both LA NBA teams – spending two years with the Lakers from 2021 until 2023 and a season with the Clippers after that. He headed to Denver in 2024.

At least five people have died from the fires while over 2,000 buildings have been destroyed.

The Los Angeles Lakers NBA game against Charlotte Hornets, scheduled for Thursday night at Crypto.Com in LA, is off, 24 hours after the NHL team LA Kings postponed a game at the same venue.

It has also emerged that the Lakers coach, J.J. Redick, lost his family home in the fires.

The Los Angeles Rams are still hopeful of hosting their NFL Playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night.

But if it is deemed unsafe for the game to go ahead at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, it could be moved to Arizona.

NBA fans accuse Celtics star Jayson Tatum of staring at women during shock loss to the Raptors

NBA fans are blaming the Boston Celtics’ shock loss to the Toronto Raptors on Jayson Tatum apparently getting distracted by women in the crowd.

On Wednesday, the defending NBA Champions got a reality check when they headed north of the border to suffer a 110-97 upset in the hands of the 13th-placed team in the east.

A day after the head-scratching result, a video of Tatum seemingly gazing at a group of women in the stands frustrated the fanbase.

In the clip, Tatum sat on the bench and looked in the direction of three female fans behind the hoop. The fan next to the person holding the camera then complains about Tatum not ‘locking in’ as the game happens.

The video then cuts to another clip of the Celtics poster boy continuously glaring toward the same side of the court, ‘Bro was frozen,’ the fan wrote.

With the video gaining over 2 million views on X, fans took to the comment section with more accusations.

Don’t bring any baddies to TD Garden apparently JT is the opposite of Poole 😭 pic.twitter.com/cu9utKlsd0

— Adam☘️ (@CelticsAdam34) January 16, 2025

Fans accused Jayson Tatum of staring at women during the Celtics shock loss in Toronto

‘Like you have a whole a** ELLA MAI waiting for u at home making songs about you wtf are you doing???’ a fan commented, referring to Tatum’s girlfriend.

‘No wonder he always chokes against Miami,’ another quipped.

‘Drake might’ve found a new bestie to run 2mans with up in Toronto,’ a third chimed in.

‘Bruh .. there was something going on over there JT wasn’t actually looking looking.. he even told Hauser about it,’ an eagle-eyed fourth user speculated.

‘Playing like that in front of the baddies smh,’ a fifth pointed out.

Tatum has been dating the Grammy-winning artist Ella Mai since 2020 and shares a son with her.

While averaging 27.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 5.4 rebounds this season, Tatum played below that mean with 16 points in the loss.

Payton Pritchard came off the bench and led the Cs in scoring with 20 while Kristaps Porzingis trailed him with 18.

Nonetheless, Boston remains second in the Eastern Conference behind the Cleveland Cavaliers with a 28-12 record. They will look to return to the winning column when they face the Orlando Magic on Friday night.

Former NBA star lists gorgeous waterfront Miami Beach estate for $19.5 million

Former NBA star Hassan Whiteside has put his stunning waterfront Miami Beach estate up for sale for a whooping $19.5million.

Whiteside played for the Miami Heat from 2014-2019, with the home being built during his first full season playing under Erik Spoelstra.

The home covers 5,406 square feet, has seven bathrooms, and six bedrooms.

Whiteside owns another Miami property as well, a $1.2million luxury apartment.

His beachfront property has a floating glass and wood staircase. Another red-spiral staircase connects the floors on the outside of the home.

The master bedroom has a dressing room and a terrace with a hot tub.

Hassan Whiteside has put his stunning, huge waterfront Miami Beach estate up for sale

Whiteside played for the Miami Heat from 2014-2019, with the home being built in 2014 as well

The home covers 5,406 square feet, has seven bathrooms, six bedrooms, and two staircases

The home is listed by Dina Goldentayer with Douglas Elliman.

The kitchen has a working aquarium. That’s not the only area with live fish, as there is a koi pond outside in the garden near the front gate.

The property sits on 0.41 acres of land with a private dock and boat access to the nearby Biscayne Bay and the Intracoastal Waterway.

An amenity suite inside the home has a theater, a fitness area and a rooftop terrace.

Whiteside has not played in the NBA since 2022 with the Utah Jazz.

Whiteside also played for the Portland Trail Blazers and the Sacramento Kings.

Shameful secret that haunted Kobe Bryant till his horrific death revealed in new documentary

The rape case that almost ruined Kobe Bryant’s career is front and center in a new CNN documentary that puts the NBA great’s life under a microscope.

The film includes a newly unearthed police interview with a hotel clerk who accused the basketball legend of choking her during an alleged sexual assault.

The woman, who was 19 at the time of the alleged 2003 attack, is featured in the film Kobe: The Making Of A Legend.

Documentary: A new CNN film about Kobe Bryant’s life details a hotel clerk’s sexual assault accusation against Kobe Bryant in 2003

The woman went to the police with her claims and said in the documentary that she felt ‘scared’ as Bryant tightened his grip on her neck every time she would say ‘no’.

Bryant, who played his entire career with the Los Angeles Lakers, came forward after the claims were first made and admitted that he cheated on his wife Vanessa, but strongly denied sexually assaulting the young woman.

It allegedly took place at The Lodge & Spa At Cordillera, a hotel in Edwards, Colorado, where Bryant checked in to undergo minor surgery.

Denial: Bryant, who played with the Los Angeles Lakers throughout his career, vehemently denied the claims that he had raped her

Mark Hulbert, one of the Eagle County prosecutors who brought the case forward, said in the film that the alleged victim was a front desk employee who greeted Bryant before he pulled her aside and asked her to give him a tour.

The pair went to his room and Bryant began kissing her, which the victim was initially OK with. But when he tried to go further, he allegedly grabbed her, put his hand around her neck and sexually assaulted her.

The case was proceeding through the courts but came to a standstill and was dropped a year later after the alleged victim stated she didn’t want to cooperate.

Hearing: Bryant passes through a security checkpoint as he arrives at the Eagle County Justice Center April 28, 2004, shortly before the case was dropped

This decision was frustrating for the prosecution who said in the film that justice was not done and that Bryant ‘knows what he did’.

According to Colorado District Court Chief Judge Ingrid Bakke, the victim had been ‘beat up for so long’ that she had ‘reached her breaking point’.

Bakke joined the prosecution team on the Bryant case in 2003. She had considerable experience working on sexual assault cases.

Family man: The allegation came during the middle of his career. He had a wife, a five-month old baby daughter and he could have been jailed for at least four years if found guilty

According to Bakke, one of the ‘strongest pieces’ of evidence was that the victim told a colleague right after the incident and said she didn’t want to speak out because ‘no-one’s going to believe me’.

Despite her hesitance, the woman went to police the next day and gave a statement.

The documentary reproduces whole chunks of the interview with Eagle County Sheriff Doug Winters, who is shown asking the victim where exactly Bryant was grabbing her butt and chest.

Prosecutor: Mark Hulbert was a member of the team that brought the case to court. He said the woman had been ‘resolute’ at the start of the process but the rulings and the attacks on her character ‘wore her down’

The victim said: ‘When he took off his pants, that’s when I started to kinda back up and to try to push his hands off me and that’s when he started to choke me.

‘He wasn’t choking me enough that I couldn’t breathe, just choking me to the point I was scared.’

Detective Winters asked the woman if she said anything during the incident. She replied: ‘I was scared and I said no a few times.’

The victim confirmed that Bryant heard her because ‘every time I said no he tightened his hold around me’.

‘And then he would lean his face real close to me and ask me questions [like] “you’re not going to tell anybody, right?”‘ the woman added.

Tragic end: Bryant and his daughter Gianna were killed in a horrific helicopter crash  in 2020

When Bryant was first called by police he denied everything and said that his wife not finding out was ‘all I care about’.

But then he admitted involvement with the woman and said he did have his hand around her neck.

Bryant told police: ‘I had my right hand like this, and my other hand like that.’

When asked how hard he was holding her, Bryant said: ‘I don’t know. My hands are strong.’

In the documentary, Hulbert describes the case as strong and said the victim had ‘the details right up front’, unlike most sexual assault victims who were too traumatized to have a clear memory.

After the charges were filed, Bryant appeared at a press conference holding hands with Vanessa and saying he was ‘innocent’ but he admitted adultery and said he was ‘furious at myself’.

‘I love my wife with all my heart,’ Bryant said, turning to Vanessa and saying: ‘She’s my backbone, you’re a blessing’.

Bakke says that when she saw the press conference, her view was that Bryant was ‘so scared and I’m saying this because I have to say this’.

Admission: Bryant told police during his interview that ‘all I care about’ was his wife Vanessa not finding out about the incident

Bryant’s life in the documentary will, according to the outlet, put a light on the ‘unseen forces’ that shaped Bryant’s life until his untimely death in a helicopter crash in Los Angeles in 2020 at the age of 41.

His 13-year-old daughter Gianna died alongside him. He was survived by Vanessa, 42, and three other daughters Natalia, 22, Bianka, eight, and Capri, five.

Hulbert said the woman had been ‘resolute’ at the start of the process but the rulings and the attacks just ‘wore her down’.

Then, in September 2004, as the jury was being chosen, Hulbert got a call from the victim who said ‘I don’t want to do this anymore’.

He said: ‘She had been so beat up for so long she’d reached her breaking point and had enough.’

National hero: Bryant was awarded the Choice Male Athlete Of The Year only 14 days after he was charged

According to Hulbert, in the wake of the case being dropped, there was a ‘significant’ plummet in the number of women reporting sexual assaults in Eagle County.

The woman did sue Bryant in a civil case, and as part of the settlement he issued an apology.

Bryant said: ‘After months of reviewing discovery, listening to her attorney, and even her testimony in person, I now understand how she feels that she did not consent to this encounter.’

In the documentary Bakke dismissed the apology, saying it was ‘well crafted’.

Bakke said in the film: ‘Do I think justice prevailed? Absolutely not… he knows what he did.’