Author: atrang

Celtics’ Jaylen Brown reacts to Kevin Garnett’s Bill Russell shoutout at All-Star Weekend

How Jaylen Brown reacted to Kevin Garnett’s tribute to Bill Russell.

Hall of Fame forward Kevin Garnett was one of the judges for the 2025 Dunk Contest and honored the late Bill Russell, which didn’t go unnoticed by Boston Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown. Brown earned the 2024 Finals MVP trophy, which is named in honor of Russell. After the event, Jaylen acknowledged Garnett’s hoodie, which replicated Russell’s University of San Francisco jersey.

Kevin Garnett pays homage to Russell in the same city as Bill’s alma mater, which was a fitting tribute in San Francisco and added a nice touch to All-Star Saturday Night at the Chase Center. Before capturing his first and only NBA title, Garnett had a special televised conversation with Russell. Then, he helped guide the Celtics to their 17th championship in 2008.

Russell’s storied history with the Celtics will be featured in an upcoming documentary series on HBO Max, “Celtics City.” Garnett, among other former Celtics players, was interviewed in the series, which debuts on March 3.

Jaylen Brown’s approach to improving amid 2024-25 Celtics

Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown earned his fourth All-Star appearance. After he helped lead the Celtics to their first title in 16 years in 2024, Brown revealed a new mindset to improve his game throughout the 2024-25 campaign. At 28, Jaylen seeks new ways to sharpen his approach as Boston attempts to repeat as NBA champions.

Brown vows to improve his free-throw shooting percentage until he dies, per ClutchPoints’ Daniel Donabedian.

“I’m just trying to improve in all facets of my game, just all my weaknesses,” he stated. “Keep getting better and better. My playmaking, my defense. I don’t know. Maybe there are some other players who don’t really improve, but that’s not me. I’m gonna keep getting better until I die.”

Brown enters this year’s All-Star Game, averaging 22.9 points on 46.1% shooting, 6.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. He’s also shooting at a 74.6% clip from the free-throw line, which is the most efficient he’s been in two years from the charity stripe. Brown’s shot at a 70% clip or better since 2019-20. However, the lowest percentage dropped in 2023-24 (70.3%).

However, this year, Brown’s career-best 5.3 free-throw attempts per game is a career-best. The Celtics have the second-best record (39-16) in the Eastern Conference, trailing the Cleveland Cavs (44-10) by 5.5 games. The Celtics also entered the All-Star break 8-2 in their last 10, leading the third-placed New York Knicks by 2.5 games.

Jaylen Brown’s ‘left hand’ trolled by Donovan Mitchell during All-Star Game

Jaylen Brown’s missed layup resulted in him getting trolled by Donovan Mitchell.

Team Shaq came out victorious in the 2025 All-Star Game, with Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown being a part of their squad. While Brown put together a strong outing for his squad, he ended up having a major gaffe along the way that resulted in him getting trolled by Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell.

For much of his career, one of the biggest complaints fans have had about Brown’s game is his inability to use his left hand. Brown has made an effort to prove these doubters wrong, and his strides with his ability to use his non-dominant hand helped Boston win a title last year. In the final matchup of the All-Star Game, though, Brown smoked a wide-open layup with his left hand, with Mitchell quickly capitalizing on the opportunity to poke fun at one of his biggest rivals.

“No left hand! No left hand!” Mitchell exclaimed after Brown missed this wide-open left-handed layup.

 

Jaylen Brown helps lead Team Shaq to victory at the 2025 All-Star Game

Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
Brown appeared in his fourth All-Star Game this year, and he once again showcased his abilities on one of the biggest stages the league has to offer. Over the two games played in, Brown scored 12 points, grabbed two rebounds, and made six of his nine shots. While he got less minutes than some of his teammates, Brown managed to do quite well during his time on the floor.

However, he could have had another pair of points had he not missed this wide-open layup with his left hand, showing that even though he’s a perennial All-Star, there’s still work he can do when it comes to improving his game. Brown and the Celtics will look to chase down Mitchell and the Cavs in the Eastern Conference standings once they return to action for the second half of the season.

LeBron James agrees to 2-year contract extension with Lakers

LeBron James has agreed to a 2-year, $97.1 million contract extension that includes a player option for 2024-25.

LeBron James, coming off his 4th season in L.A., plans to spend at least 3 more with the Lakers.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James has agreed to a two-year, $97.1 million contract extension through the 2024-25 season with the Los Angeles Lakers, his agent announced Wednesday.

Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul said the league-maximum deal makes James the highest-paid player in NBA history. His new deal includes a player option that would keep the second-leading scorer in NBA history with the Lakers past his 40th birthday in December 2024. The Lakers officially announced the extension on Thursday.

 

 

The 37-year-old James is headed into the final year of his most recent contract with the Lakers, who signed the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player and four-time league champion in July 2018. The new deal means the 18-time All-Star will make $46.7 million this season.

Barring injury, James is likely to surpass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s career scoring king this winter. James and the Lakers also still hope to be in contention for another title if James and Anthony Davis can return at full health after an injury-plagued 2021-22 ended without a playoff appearance.

Reggie Miller joins NBA TV to comment on LeBron James’ contact extension with the Lakers.

James’ new deal syncs with Davis’ most recent contract extension with the Lakers, allowing both to leave the Lakers or to negotiate new deals in 2024. Both superstars are represented by Klutch.

James’ recommitment to the Lakers also silences persistent talk of his possible departure as a free agent or in a trade. James hasn’t appeared to be going anywhere on social media or in his public appearances, and he praised the hiring of new Lakers coach Darvin Ham.

James has missed significant portions of the season due to injury in three of his four years with the Lakers. He was largely healthy in the elongated 2019-20 season when the Lakers won the franchise’s 17th NBA title in the Florida bubble, and he has been every bit the dominant player of his prime when at full strength in the ensuing two years.

Can the Lakers make it work in 2022-23 with their same core of stars?

Although his contract status inspired plenty of offseason chatter, James seemed unlikely to relocate after spending the past four seasons of his 19-year career with the storied Lakers. His family is settled in Los Angeles, where his eldest son, Bronny, is a 17-year-old senior and college basketball prospect playing at Sierra Canyon High School in Chatsworth.

James has occasionally said he intends to play on the same team with Bronny when his son reaches the NBA. Although plenty of obstacles remain between the younger James and the NBA, he could be draft-eligible in the summer of 2024.

Michael Jordan’s former mansion is now available to rent — for $230K

The Highland Park, Ill. home features a regulation-sized basketball court, championship-level putting green, tennis court, fitness center, and gaming areas.

A gate with the number 23 controls access to the home of basketball legend Michael Jordan in 2013 in Highland Park, Ill.Scott Olson / Getty Images file

The new owner of former Chicago Bulls superstar Michael Jordan’s 37,000 square-foot Highland Park mansion is offering the property up for rent this spring, calling it “The Ultimate March Madness Retreat.”

The rental posting comes a month after John Cooper, the property’s owner said guests could “co-own” the property at $1 million per share.

The rental, listed by Carrie McCormick of @Properties, shows the nine-bedroom, 15.5 bathroom property dubbed “Champions Point” is available to rent on a short-term lease, with a month-long stay at $230,000.

“Champions Point is a sports lover’s sanctuary, featuring a regulation-sized basketball court, championship-level putting green, tennis court, fitness center, and gaming areas,” the listing said. “Designed for seamless entertainment and relaxation, the estate also boasts a circular infinity pool, state-of-the-art theatre, wine cellar, and cigar room-all curated for the ultimate elevated lifestyle experience.”

The listing also describes the 7.39 acre property as “The Ultimate March Madness Retreat,” where guests can “watch every buzzer-beater, Cinderella story, and championship moment unfold in your private sports haven.”

“Whether you’re courtside in your own regulation-sized indoor basketball arena, hosting an epic viewing party in the state-of-the-art theatre, or celebrating victories in the luxury cigar lounge and wine cellar, every moment at Champions Point is designed for those who demand excellence-on and off the court,” the listing said.

Photos of the rental listing show multiple rooms with televisions, pool tables, as well as a gym, tennis court and basketball court.

It wasn’t immediately clear what dates the listing was available for, and the leasing agent did not immediately respond to NBC Chicago’s request for comment.

The 2025 March Madness NCAA basketball tournament begins Sunday, March 16 with Selection Sunday.

The full rental listing can be viewed here.

76ers doomed to make Lonnie Walker IV realization Celtics fans failed to see

According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Philadelphia 76ers are signing Lonnie Walker IV to a two-year, $3 million contract, bringing him aboard mid-season amidst their dwindling playoff push. Walker spent the preseason and training camp with the Boston Celtics before signing overseas with Zalgiris Kaunas in the EuroLeague.

Reports swirled that the Celtics tried to trade Jaden Springer before the start of the year so they could retain Walker, but they were unwilling to sign him to their 15th roster spot (likely for financial reasons). Celtics fans were very unhappy, as they had come to like Walker and what he could bring to the table.

But those fans failed to see the potential downside to Walker, and that’s a realization Philadelphia may be doomed to learn.

Lonnie Walker IV is extremely streaky

Walker has been a solid bucket-getter throughout the course of his career. He played fairly well last season while with the Brooklyn Nets, and his three-point shooting numbers actually saw a significant improvement.

But he’s a very streaky shooter. He shot lights out for the first half of the season in Brooklyn, but in the second half, his numbers from distance fell off a cliff.

And so far this season in the EuroLeague, Walker has struggled with his efficiency. Through 19 EuroLeague games, Walker has shot just 38.7% from the field and 33.1% from behind the three-point line.

The 76ers could use an extra scorer on their roster as they continue to deal with injuries, but the streakiness of Walker is what Boston fans failed to see.

They fell in love with his ability to get buckets, but on the current Celtics roster, his style of play likely would have struggled to fit in.

Boston already has a well-established pecking order of scorers, all of whom share touches accordingly. Fitting in another guy who needs the ball in his hands to be at his best probably wasn’t going to work out well.

There’s a good chance that Walker find some success in Philadelphia as they could use some extra guys who are comfortable controlling the ball on offense, but that wouldn’t have been a great fit for the Celtics.

Now, the Sixers are doomed to come to the realization that Walker is simply a streaky scorer who can pop off for big nights from time to time. Celtics fans didn’t see that, but his entire NBA career and EuroLeague numbers show it.

“Justin Timberlake & Beyoncé: The Untold Drama, Controversies, and Behind-the-Scenes Clashes!”

When two of the biggest names in the music industry—Justin Timberlake and Beyoncé—cross paths, the result is nothing short of legendary. But beneath the glitz, Grammy wins, and chart-topping hits lies a history filled with controversy, power struggles, and behind-the-scenes tensions that many fans don’t know about. From awkward encounters to shocking revelations, let’s dive into the real story of Justin Timberlake and Beyoncé’s complicated relationship.

The ‘Single Ladies’ SNL Sketch Controversy

One of the most talked-about moments involving Justin Timberlake and Beyoncé came from a 2009 Saturday Night Live sketch, where Timberlake dressed as a backup dancer and hilariously performed alongside Beyoncé in a parody of her iconic Single Ladies video.

While fans loved the comedic take, Beyoncé reportedly wasn’t thrilled about it. In a recent interview, Timberlake admitted that she was “very hesitant” about the skit. “She was not having it at first,” he said, explaining that Beyoncé took her craft seriously and didn’t want to make a mockery of it. However, after some convincing, she finally agreed, and the sketch became one of SNL’s most memorable moments.

Justin Timberlake & Beyoncé: From Collaboration to Competition?

Although both artists have dominated the industry for decades, they have never officially collaborated on a song. Fans have long speculated that this could be due to creative differences—or something deeper.

Back in the early 2000s, Timberlake was riding high on the success of his solo career after leaving *NSYNC, while Beyoncé was transitioning from Destiny’s Child to solo superstardom. Rumors swirled that the two artists were being positioned as direct competitors in the pop and R&B world.

Even their Super Bowl performances fueled these speculations. Beyoncé’s 2013 halftime show was widely praised, with many considering it one of the greatest of all time. However, when Justin Timberlake headlined the 2018 Super Bowl halftime show, it received mixed reviews, with some critics claiming it lacked the energy and spectacle that Beyoncé had delivered years before. Fans quickly drew comparisons, and some even accused Timberlake of playing it too safe, unlike Beyoncé, who made bold political statements with her Formation performance.

Beyoncé Fans Call Out Timberlake Over Janet Jackson’s Super Bowl Scandal

Another major controversy involving Timberlake indirectly pulled Beyoncé into the conversation—his infamous 2004 Super Bowl performance with Janet Jackson, where a wardrobe malfunction led to Janet being blacklisted from the industry while Timberlake’s career continued to thrive.

For years, Beyoncé’s fans have called out Timberlake, claiming he benefited from the situation while Jackson took the fall. In contrast, Beyoncé, who has fiercely supported fellow Black female artists, has been praised for how she has uplifted women in the industry. The lack of accountability from Timberlake left a bad taste in the mouths of many, further dividing their respective fan bases.

Did Beyoncé’s Renaissance Era Overshadow Justin Timberlake’s Comeback?

In 2023, Beyoncé’s Renaissance era was in full swing, dominating the music industry with record-breaking tours and critically acclaimed albums. At the same time, Timberlake was rumored to be working on a comeback album. However, some insiders speculated that Timberlake delayed his release to avoid going head-to-head with Beyoncé, whose cultural impact had reached unprecedented levels.

The supposed hesitation only fueled the idea that Timberlake and his team saw Beyoncé as too dominant to compete against directly. This speculation gained traction when Timberlake’s former NSYNC bandmate, Lance Bass, commented in an interview that Justin was “waiting for the right time” to release new music, making fans wonder if he was strategically avoiding a showdown with Queen Bey.

Where Do They Stand Today?

Despite all the speculation and past controversies, both Timberlake and Beyoncé remain two of the most respected artists in the industry. While they have never publicly addressed any tension, fans continue to analyze every interaction and moment between them.

With Timberlake gearing up for his long-awaited solo comeback in 2024 and Beyoncé constantly pushing boundaries with her music and performances, one question remains: Will we ever see a true collaboration between them, or has the unspoken rivalry gone too far?

What Do You Think?

Do you believe there’s hidden tension between Beyoncé and Justin Timberlake? Should they finally collaborate, or is their history too complicated? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!

Jayson Tatum: The NBA’s Youngest OG Shocking the League!

Jayson Tatum is just 19 years 26 years young, soon to be 27 in March. Somehow, he ended up on “Shaq’s OG” team for the All-Star Game, an ensemble of the league’s aging icons. He and Jaylen Brown were the only players under 30 to be on the roster. The next youngest was 31-year-old Anthony Davis, who was actually replaced by 32-year-old Kyrie Irving.

Jalen Brunson, who is 28 years old, ended up playing for “Kenny’s Young Stars,” the team meant to represent the younger, up-and-coming players. So, why was Tatum labeled an “OG” despite Brunson being older than him? Well, it all comes down to the resume. Jayson Tatum has already created a legacy that not many can touch, all before even turning 27.

Brunson is an outstanding player in his own right, but he doesn’t have the prolonged excellence that JT does. In just seven years, Jayson has racked up six All-Star selections, four All-NBA selections, three of them to the First Team, an Eastern Conference Finals MVP, a championship ring, and two Olympic gold medals. He also holds the record for the most points in a Game 7, most playoff points scored before turning 27, and the 7th most career points scored before turning 27. His accomplishments up to this point would already be enough to get him into the Hall of Fame, and he hasn’t even hit his prime yet.

Being an OG isn’t just about being good at what you do, though. It’s about earning the respect and leaving an imprint on the younger generation. Despite what the mainstream sports outlets and the Twitter trolls may tell you, Jayson has done more than enough to earn the regard of his peers. You don’t have to take my word for it; just look at how the players talked about him during All-Star Weekend.

Bleacher Report asked this year’s Rising Stars about their “welcome to the league” moments. To nobody’s surprise, multiple players mentioned Big Deuce. JD Davison, who was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 2022, said that in his first year he was matched up with Jayson in a game of starters vs. bench. He took a hit to the chest from Jayson, and recalled feeling like, “Damn, man. Gotta get stronger.”

Chicago Bulls rookie, Matas Buzelis, shared a similar sentiment, though he was too embarrassed to go into detail. He jokingly said “It was tough. Let’s not talk about that.”

San Antonio Spurs rookie, Stephon Castle, had some high praise for Jayson as well. Tatum and Castle briefly matched up in the first round of the All-Star Game, where the OG’s knocked off the Rising Stars. Following the game, CelticsBlog’s Noa Dalzell caught up with Stephon and asked him about the experience of competing against JT.

Harden Sends Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown Message…

For the past few years, many in the basketball world, including Boston Celtics fans, have debated about who the next face of the NBA will be once legends like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant hang them up for good. While there are plenty of worthy names in the league today, Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden gave an answer that should please Celtics fans.

Ahead of Sunday’s All-Star Game event, the former NBA MVP named a few players he believes could be the face of the league in the near future. In doing so, he specifically named Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown as two players who could “carry this league.”

“I don’t think it’s one player,” Harden said when asked who the next face of the NBA could be. “They gotta do it as a collective unit, but obviously, you got somebody like Wemby, you got Shai, who’s probably going to be MVP, you got Anthony Edwards.”

After naming those players, Harden added, “You got a lot of guys. Obviously, [Jayson Tatum] and Jaylen Brown. There’s a lot of guys that can carry this league.”

Tatum and Brown have been teammates since 2017 and have played exceptionally well together. In their time together in Boston, they have won one championship so far and made two NBA Finals appearances. Furthermore, they have combined for 10 All-Star appearances and five All-NBA selections.

Both stars are still under 30 years old and have plenty of great basketball left to play. The sky is the limit for them, and as Harden says, they could both be the face of the NBA soon enough.

BREAKING: Jayson Tatum Sends Two-Word Message to Damian Lillard After NBA All-Star Game

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard have been at the forefront of the Eastern Conference playoff race, with both teams sitting in the top five in the standings.

Tatum and Lillard have gone head-to-head three times this season and the Celtics were able to win all three by a combined 23 points. But the tides turned on Sunday night as both stars were selected to Shaq’s OGs for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game.

Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry was named the All-Star MVP, but many fans thought Tatum deserved the award. Through two games, the former Duke star totaled 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting, four assists and five rebounds.

 

 

Shaq’s OGs forward Jayson Tatum and guard Damian Lillard

Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

Lillard, who won All-Star Game MVP last season, added nine points on 3-of-6 shooting, three rebounds and three assists. However, all of his points came in Shaq’s OGs’ first contest of the mini-tournament, a 42-35 win over Candace Parker’s Rising Stars.

On Monday, Lillard took to Instagram to make a post highlighting his experience in San Francisco. He included numerous photos of himself at the event along with a lengthy caption.

“9X ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️… @nbaallstar 2025 was great. Being back home in front of all my family and friends was special. We did some of everything and it all counted! Another one in the books… we keep moving now 🙏🏽🤞🏾👌🏾.”

Tatum took notice of Lillard’s post-All-Star game message and responded with a two-word message: “My dawg 🤞🏽.”

Tatum and the Celtics (39-16) were riding a three-game winning streak going into All-Star Weekend. They will look to make it four when they face Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday.

Lillard and the Bucks, on the other hand, have lost six of their last nine games, falling to 29-24. They will look to right the ship against James Harden and the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday as well.

Caitlin Clark receives Taylor Swift comparison from new Fever coach Stephanie White

‘She tries to live her life in an authentic way,’ Stephanie White said of Caitlin Clark

Seeing the meteoric rise of Caitlin Clark’s celebrity on and off the court has new Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White seeing only one comparison.

“She’s very much Taylor Swift 2.0,” White told The Athletic during a Q&A interview.

Clark’s fame from her days at Iowa, where she became the NCAA’s all-time leading Division I scorer for both men and women, only rose this past season after she was selected No. 1 overall by the Fever.

Clark went on to win Rookie of the Year, while also making the WNBA All-Star team. And she broke numerous rookie and league records on the way to ultimately being named TIME’s Athlete of the Year.

With heightened fame, Clark has faced criticism on and off the court, and every movement is naturally dissected by those looking on.

So, Clark’s ability to manage that rapid rise in fame while still being dedicated to her craft is the reason why White can’t help but compare her to the world’s biggest pop star.

“I think first and foremost, she does an outstanding job of managing it all,” White explained to The Athletic. “Like, she’s incredibly humble. She understands the big picture. So, she views it understanding her celebrity, No. 1. But No. 2, she’s a Midwest kid, a Midwest person, and she is who she is. She tries to live her life in an authentic way. But she’s very much Taylor Swift 2.0.”

White, who was hired in November 2024 after Christie Sides was relieved of her duties, said it’s up to her and her staff to “protect her” as that celebrity status continues to grow.

“So, I think from my perspective, and from our staff and franchise, it’s how do we help her navigate all of this? How do we help her protect her peace? Because it can be a lot. How can we be a resource for her? It’s a different level now with social media and fan engagement. We want to be a resource and help protect her.”

It feels right White compared Clark to Swift considering their connection that has already been seen in public. Clark and Swift were spotted watching a Kansas City Chiefs playoff game last month, sitting next to each other in a suite at Arrowhead Stadium.

Also, Clark was spotted at Swift’s Eras Tour on multiple stops this past year, as she is a big fan of her music.

Like Swift, Clark is certainly hoping to continue making an impact in her field by the year, and White touched on the offseason work that shows her a “stronger” point guard on her roster.

“She’s got a lot of self-awareness,” White said of Clark. “She figured out right away that ‘I need to get stronger. I can’t get knocked around as much.’ She’s done a great job of getting in the weight room and focusing on her strength, in terms of low center of gravity, time under tension, all of those things. I think the next step is efficiency. Not so many turnovers, higher field goal percentages.”

The Fever have also been proactive in getting some more talent around Clark and Aliyah Boston, most notably adding two-time WNBA champion and six-time All-Star forward DeWanna Bonner. Natasha Howard, a three-time champion and two-time All-Star, will also be on the roster for 2025.

So, expectations are naturally raised with a better starting five on the floor for Indiana. White understands that, and also knows making sure Clark can be her normal self on the floor — not worried about the outside noise and the celebrity status — will hopefully lead the Fever to their championship goals.

“From a coaching perspective, keep the main thing the main thing,” she said about Clark. “Help her protect her peace and then help her continue to grow on the basketball court. We let our players know sometimes you gotta minimize the noise around you and focus on what our job is. Our job is to put the best team and the best product on the floor that we’re capable of doing.”