LeBron James and Anthony Davis Dominate the Timberwolves with Record-Breaking Performance, Scoring 29 Points Each.

Anthony Davis had 27 points, a season-high 25 rebounds and a career-high seven steals while leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 120-109 victory over the short-handed Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night.

Davis added five assists and three blocked shots in one of the most prolific games of his decorated career. The nine-time All-Star feasted on a Minnesota lineup missing its top two big men and four regulars due to injuries, grabbing 21 rebounds in the second half alone and leading a 21-4 rally to begin the fourth quarter while the Lakers pulled away to their 12th win in 17 games.

“When we’re out there having fun, everybody’s confidence is high,” Davis said. “When we’re talking trash to the other team, we’re holding each other accountable, and we’re just playing the right way. We know what it takes. It’s just about having the consistency of playing that way each and every night.”

 

Davis is only the eighth player since the 1982-83 season with at least 25 points, 25 rebounds and five assists in a game, according to Sportradar. Nikola Jokic did it last season, joining a short list that includes Charles Barkley and Kevin Garnett.

“Ten offensive rebounds is crazy,” said Austin Reaves, who scored 19 points for Los Angeles. “I did feel any time we shot and missed, he was there to give us a second-chance opportunity with offensive rebounds, get himself to the line. The steals, I don´t know. The steals are crazy. Seven steals is very, very impressive.”

LeBron James had 29 points, nine assists and eight rebounds as the Lakers knocked off another top team following wins over Oklahoma City and Milwaukee on their six-game homestand. Los Angeles (36-30) is six games above .500 for the first time since the final day of the 2021-22 regular season.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5), Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) and Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11) wait for a rebound during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Naz Reid scored 25 points and hit five 3-pointers in his first start of the season for Minnesota, which hit 16 of its season-high 46 3-point attempts. Reid delivered his second straight outstanding performance after scoring a career-high 34 against Cleveland last Friday, but the Wolves’ depleted interior defense couldn’t stop Davis without Rudy Gobert or Karl-Anthony Towns.

 

“This team is No. 2 in the West, and still a good team,” Davis said. “Obviously, they´re missing key parts of their team, but they still have guys who can make plays, and they still find a way to win ballgames. We just wanted to come out as a team effort and knowing that wherever we are in the standings and how important this game was, trying to close the gap in the standings.”

Anthony Edwards also scored 25 points for the Wolves, who have lost four of six. Minnesota missed nine consecutive shots to start the fourth quarter while Los Angeles pulled away.

“Ball movement dried up a little bit, but really it was the offensive rebounds at the other end of the floor that hurt us more in the fourth,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch said. “I felt confident we were able to come back, but so many second shots, and it’s difficult at that point. … (Davis) should have dominated us. He had size. He had length. He had all that stuff. He was in the paint for seven, eight seconds every time they shot the ball. It’s easy to go get it. But we’ve got to do a better job rooting him out.”

James returned after sitting out due to injury for the ninth time this season when the Lakers stunned Milwaukee 123-122 on Friday night behind D’Angelo Russell’s 44-point performance. Davis injured his left shoulder during that game in a collision with Giannis Antetokounmpo, but it didn’t visibly slow him.

Edwards played through an ankle injury, but Gobert sat out with right hamstring tightness. Gobert, who missed his third game of the season, was fined $100,000 by the NBA earlier Sunday for a series of transgressions questioning the integrity of the NBA’s officiating Friday.

Towns missed his third straight game for Minnesota since being diagnosed with a torn meniscus in his left knee. The big man is likely to be sidelined until the postseason following surgery.

 

Kyle Anderson also sat out with right shoulder pain, and Monte Morris missed his second straight game with a strained left hamstring.

Lakers swingman Cam Reddish was ruled out with a sprained right ankle. It was the second additional game he has missed since he returned from a monthlong injury absence in late February.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drives against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, center, through a screen set by forward Anthony Davis (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 10, 2024.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drives to the basket against Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels, center right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 10, 2024.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, center, goes to the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 10, 2024.

I Cаn Comрete wіth You, Bro”: D’Angelo Ruѕѕell Reveаls How Steрh Curry Helрed Hіs Conf Imрrove іdence

Hаving рlayed wіth ѕome of the greаts іn the leаgue, one іs bound to рick ѕomething or the other uр from theіr gаme. It сould be ѕomething аs ѕimple аs а bаsic trаining regіme or ѕomething аs vіtal аs рerfecting а ѕignature move to аdd to your bаg. Los Angeleѕ Lаkers guаrd D’Angelo Ruѕѕell іs one ѕuch […]

Hаving рlayed wіth ѕome of the greаts іn the leаgue, one іs bound to рick ѕomething or the other uр from theіr gаme. It сould be ѕomething аs ѕimple аs а bаsic trаining regіme or ѕomething аs vіtal аs рerfecting а ѕignature move to аdd to your bаg. Los Angeleѕ Lаkers guаrd D’Angelo Ruѕѕell іs one ѕuch ѕtar who hаs рlayed wіth ѕome bіg nаmes lіke Kobe Bryаnt, Steрhen Curry аnd LeBron Jаmes. Reсently on а ѕhow, D-Lo reveаled whаt he рicked uр whіle рlaying wіth Steрhen Curry.

Mаking аn аppeаrаnce on  The Bаckyаrd Podсast , D’Angelo Ruѕѕell wаs аsked аbout the thіngs he рicked uр whіle рlaying аlongside Steрhen Curry durіng hіs tіme wіth the Golden Stаte Wаrriors.

Rіght аwаy, the Lаkers ѕtar сredited Curry’ѕ сonfidenсe аs а ѕhooter whіch trаnslаted іnto а D-Lo gettіng one аs well. The All-Stаr рoint guаrd went on to mentіon how Steрhen Curry would сonstantly аllow hіs fаns’ рraises to rаin іnsіde hіs heаd.

 

So, when Steрh іs сonstantly heаring how good of а ѕhooter he іs, he сarries thаt аurа onto the сourt wіth hіm. Wіth аll the рositive reаffirmаtion of how he сould ѕink аn іmpossіble ѕhot goіng іnsіde hіs heаd, Curry іs never аfrаid to рull the trіgger, be іt from аny ѕpot on the сourt durіng the gаme.

“So, when I got аround hіm, we uѕed to work out аnd I would ѕhoot аnd he would ѕhoot. I would ѕhoot wіth hіm ѕometimeѕ аnd we would be аble to сompete. And thаt’s аll I needed to know, thаt I сan сompete wіth you. I wore thаt everywhere I went thаt I сould ѕhoot wіth Steрh.”

It іs іnterestіng how Steрhen Curry’ѕ сonfidenсe helped D’Angelo Russell loosen uр on the сourt to рlay more of hіs ѕtyle, rаther thаn ѕomeone elѕe’ѕ. There mаy be а hаndful of рlayers іn the leаgue who сould go toe-to-toe wіth the 4x сhampion іn а ѕhooting ѕcrimmage.

 

But аs DLo mentіoned, he would often іndulge іn theѕe mini-competitions of ѕortѕ wіth Curry durіng teаm рractices аnd іt ended uр buіldіng the сonfidenсe thаt he іs one of the few рlayers who сan ѕhoot аlongside The Chef. And knowіng how Steрh іs regаrded аs the beѕt ѕhooter of аll tіme, іt аutomаticаlly gаve D-Lo’ѕ gаme аnd hіs ѕhooting а greаt booѕt ever ѕince.

How dіd Steрhen Curry helр wіth D-Lo’ѕ сonfidenсe?

Bаck іn 2019, D’Angelo Ruѕѕell hаd the oррortunity to рick uр а few thіngs from аrguаbly the greаtest ѕhooter іn the hіstory of the leаgue. Thіs wаs when D-Lo wаs trаded to the Golden Stаte Warriors. After workіng out wіth Steрhen Curry аnd hаving а look аt hіs trаining regіment, Ruѕѕell gаve а brіef reѕponѕe whіle tаlking to  USATodаy .

 

Credіts: USA Todаy SPortѕ

“I’m doіng а lot of ѕpectating. I’m juѕt ѕeeing whаt I сan leаrn from hіm from а dіstance. Then, I сan сome uр wіth the сorreсt queѕtionѕ аnd the сorreсt demeаnor on whаt I’m tryіng to leаrn verѕuѕ nаgging hіm аbout ѕtuff.”

It wаsn’t juѕt Ruѕѕell who wаs ѕtarѕtruck аfter ѕeeing hіs іdol but Steрhen Curry hаd ѕome wordѕ of encouragement from the young рoint guаrd аt the tіme аs well.

“He(Ruѕѕell) рlays аt hіs own рace аnd іs wіllіng to leаrn. He’ѕ hungry to mаke thаt next ѕtep іn hіs сareer.”

D-Angelo Ruѕѕell іs bаck to the teаm thаt drаfted hіm аnd just hаd а 44-рoint nіght agaіnst the Buсks іn LeBron Jаmes’ аbsence, fіnіshіng the nіght ѕhooting аn іnsane 9-12 сlip from beyond the аrc. So, аs іt turnѕ out, рlaying wіth Steрhen Curry ѕure doeѕ hаve іts benefіts.

Hollinger: Why a LeBron-Bronny team-up seems unlikely, and why it may not be a bad thing

 

By John HollingerMar 12, 2024

Break up the Lakers! In what is becoming an annual rite of spring in Southern California, L.A. has won 12 of 17, including a pair of tough weekend matchups against the Milwaukee Bucks and Minnesota Timberwolves, to revive its flagging playoff hopes.

Yes, nitpickers might point out that they still have a negative point differential on the season, they only have six home games left and, in the impossible, bizarre new math of a league where a pod of horrible teams boosts everyone else’s record, the Lakers are just one of 15 teams that are six games over. 500.

But stay with me here: LeBron James and Anthony Davis are healthy, the vibes are good, and the Lakers, at least for a moment, can speak of catching at least one of Phoenix, Sacramento or Dallas in the standings as part of an encore to last year’s run to the Western Conference finals.

All that is well and good, but there’s another longer-term story developing that might be equally compelling, and this past weekend, two scenes from that movie stood out on this Oscars weekend in L.A. Those two story arcs, from two games, combine to potentially upend what our initial expectations of what the next Lakers offseason might look like.

The first came on Friday night in Crypto.com Arena when D’Angelo Russell floated in the game-winning basket over Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard to cap a majestic 44-point performance while James sat out with a bothersome ankle injury. Originally thought to be the Lakers’ most tradeable 2024 offseason contract, Russell has been so good lately that the script has flipped — from worries at the trade deadline that no other team would want his deal to new concern that he could opt out of his $18.6 million for next season and walk as an unrestricted free agent.

The second scene came Saturday just two miles away, in the first half of USC’s game against Arizona at the Galen Center. Late in the first half, Trojans freshman guard Bronny James darted into the passing lane and stole a wayward Arizona pass, took two hard dribbles toward the rim on a breakaway, loaded up off two feet and slammed it home. His famous father, sitting in a blue track suit on the sideline on the same side of half court, took it all in.

The steal was a turning point in a huge upset win for USC over No. 5 Arizona — the first time the Trojans had beaten a top-five team since 2008 — and it offered a glimpse of the promise that could one day, maybe, make the younger an NBA player alongside his famous father.

BRONNY JAMES.

STEAL + SLAM‼️

📺: ESPN📱: https://t.co/cGFArRkDBb pic.twitter.com/TBsZqYsI9g

— USC Men’s Basketball (@USC_Hoops) March 10, 2024

Alas, that day is not tomorrow, because that glimpse was just that — a brief hint at long-term upside that remains mostly untapped. That takes us to the other reckoning point in our offseason expectations for L.A.: the one surrounding LeBron’s hopes of playing with his son in the NBA.

Let’s just say that day doesn’t seem imminent. Yes, there was a son of a world-famous NBA champion and Hall of Fame forward who was a massive factor in USC’s 78-65 win … but that son was senior forward D.J. Rodman, who had the game of his life in his final home game in cardinal and gold with 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting.

As for the younger James, he had one of his better games of late … but we’re damning with faint praise here. He finished with five points, a veritable outburst after scoring six in the previous five games combined. His other bucket was a deep stepback 3 just before halftime that gave USC a working margin it would never relinquish.

Bronny from D33P before the halftime buzzer sounded 👀🚨

📺: ESPN📱: https://t.co/cGFArRk5LD pic.twitter.com/mLbnCBtt9q

— USC Men’s Basketball (@USC_Hoops) March 10, 2024

Bronny also soared above the rim for several of his six defensive rebounds, and his defense kept him on the court for 20 minutes — the most he’s played in nearly a month.

“This is the best Bronny has played in a while,” USC coach Andy Enfield said. “He hit that big 3 at the end of the first half to give us some momentum. He was terrific in all aspects, he really defended, and all of those rebounds were at or above rim level, out of his area.”

Here’s the thing: The clock is running out on USC’s season, and the younger James hasn’t established himself as any kind of draftable player for 2024. Change his last name from James to Jones, and he’d still certainly show up on teams’ 2025 watch lists due to his explosive leaping ability, good head for the game, defensive potential and unflappable demeanor. But nobody would have him in their top 60 for 2024.

There are some positives here, but we’re talking about a player averaging 4.8 points a game with 36-29-62 shooting splits for Kenpom.com’s 83rd-ranked team (nestled in between noted powerhouses Appalachian State and Yale). The 24 NBA scouts credentialed for the game Saturday were there to see a USC player, but it wasn’t James; it was his freshman teammate Isaiah Collier, a likely lottery pick who punctuated the win with a flying breakaway slam of his own while scoring 16 points.

Normally, it would be a no-brainer for somebody like this to come back to USC for another year. But it would delay LeBron’s well-known wish of playing with his son at some point; while the 39-year-old forward seems indestructible, he nonetheless likely has a career expiration date in the not-too-distant future.

With the Lakers at home and off on Saturday evening, the elder James rolled into his courtside seat at USC just before tip-off and stayed throughout, clapping at the end of the fight song as the Trojans celebrated the upset win and high-fiving players as they walked off.

It was the last regular-season game for the Trojans (as well as their last Pac-12 home game ever), with possibly just one game left in their season. USC is 14-17 and has no hope of going to the NCAA Tournament unless it unexpectedly wins four straight games and storms to the Pac-12 tournament title in Las Vegas this week; more realistically, the ninth-place Trojans’ noon Wednesday tilt against eighth-seeded Washington could be the season finale.

 

The question of where the younger James’ career arc fits in the elder James’ plans has been a point of interest all year, both for the Lakers and their rivals.

Low-key, one of the most popular thought exercises in front offices has been whether a team would draft Bronny James, with two potential angles. The first is that the Lakers would likely overpay said team to acquire Bronny and not risk his father leaving in free agency to join whatever team selected his son. The second notion, for a team with cap space, is that drafting Bronny could be the entrée to a free-agent coup that reels in the elder James, who can opt out of his contract this summer. While there’s an unseemly aspect to this — what, we’re taking hostages now? — even the execs who won’t admit to talking about it sure as heck have thought about it. These guys are sharks, trust me.

Recent comments by the James’ agent Rich Paul seem to have taken a more realistic view of things; whatever LeBron might want for his own career, the best development pathway for this son almost certainly doesn’t involve Bronny playing for the Lakers next season. It’s also not great allocation for the Lakers to use what would likely be a mid-first-round pick just to make LeBron happy, especially when giving him a three-year max at age 39 (the most they can do is $164 million over three years) already pencils out as an iffy proposition.

This takes us back to Russell. L.A’s other prominently discussed potential offseason pathway was trading his expiring deal, along with this year’s first-round pick and two futures, to reel in a third star to orbit LeBron and Davis. There are other ways to get there, but they aren’t simple; Russell is their only expiring 2025 contract of any significance, and his opting out would leave them at a disadvantage in any trade discussions. As far as alternatives go, Austin Reaves has trade value, but L.A. would be trying to cobble together the rest of a salary match with less desirable deals like those of Gabe Vincent or Rui Hachimura.

Yes, the Lakers could sign-and-trade Russell as well, but the timing of free agency a week after that draft makes that difficult to coordinate while including a 2024 first-rounder. Re-signing him to a more expensive long-term deal is another option, but that endgame probably means running it back with the same team.

Of course, I’m getting slightly ahead of myself. There’s still a month left in the regular season, and untold gallons of water remain to pass under the bridge between now and June. However, college basketball “free agency” basically starts this week — the transfer portal opens March 13. Thus, the importance of this past weekend’s two key scenes: Bronny’s final game this week will start the clock on a series of decisions that ultimately may impact what next year’s Lakers look like, while Russell’s recent run of excellence may force those decisions in a much different direction than previously thought.

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Jeanie Buss’s physical affection with LeBron James gets fans going crazy

The NBA legend has been married since 2013

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron JamesMarcio Jose SanchezAP 

LeBron James might be a billionaire with multiple NBA rings and an incredible amount of fame, but he might also be in the dog house after getting affectionate with Jeanie Buss, upsetting his wife Savannah.

The Los Angeles Laker, rocking a Liverpool FC soccer shirt, was sat courtside as his colleagues took on the Milwaukee Bucks without him after he had to withdraw from the previous game, but he seemed to be enjoying the company of Buss and Linda Rambis.

A video showed the two women getting very comfortable with him, with Rambis laughing as she touched the biceps on his arm before Buss later put her head onto his shoulder as he comedically explained something.

LBJ didn’t seem to mind the small contact from Rambis, which could anger his wife, Savannah. The pair have been together since they were teenagers and in 2013 they finally tied the knot and had three children together.

Regularly supportive of him, she might be less sympathetic on this occasion although he might have rescued himself by dismissing Buss when she attempted to hug him by giving her a firm “stop that” gesture with his palm.

Fans react to the flirting with LeBron

Nonetheless, the moment hasn’t stopped fans from joking about how he might be sleeping on the couch once he gets back to California.

And based on the video, he might have some grovelling to do to win his wife’s favor back, although it really doesn’t appear to be that serious.

“Savannah will have his a** couch surfing,” one user wrote on X.com, formerly Twitter.

A second added, “The king think he slick with it!”

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A third wrote, “Savannah will have him traded by tmr.”

That last one isn’t something to lightly joke about. James‘ contract is up at the end of the season and so far the pair have not been able to agree a new deal. Could the NBA legend’s time in LA be coming to an end?

LeBron James’ Rumored Doping Plot Can Be Traced Back to the Year Before Kevin Garnett’s Subtle Allegation

 

USA Today via Reuters

LeBron James might be in trouble out there! The Los Angeles Lakers superstar was suspected of doping recently after Boston Celtics legend Kevin Garnett hinted at it in his podcast episode with Paul Pierce. The 2008 champion made some interesting claims about BALCO (Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative) and their “new juice,” which he thinks James is using.

As it is a viral talk on the internet right now, a Twitter user took advantage of this time to re-look into a former MMA star’s surprising claims a year ago about LeBron James using PED (performance-enhancing drugs). Well, the plot has just thickened!

Chael Sonnen, a former light heavyweight boxer, shared some interesting rumors about the 4x NBA champion using drugs to enhance his game. He shared, “He [James] and I have one thing in common. We use the same drug dealer to buy our EPO.” Erythropoietin is a PED that is quite famous for its amusing results. The MMA icon continued, “I don’t see anything wrong with that… Performance and enhancing are good terms, you can pin that on me”.

Sonnen also assured that EPO is a “wonderful drug” and that it is a legal medicine. Although it is very expensive and rare to find, it is capable of giving unmatched endurance when compared with other drugs. He made these claims around a year ago in a podcast. Following Kevin Garnett’s subtle hint, Sonnen’s revelation is an add-on to the doping story. However, there is no confirmation of it yet.

How did Kevin Garnett open the door for doping criticism towards LeBron James?

KG was amused at how healthy and fit James was at 39 years of age. In an interesting conversation with his friend Pierce, KG sided with the ‘King’ to be the strongest man in his family. Pierce, who thought that Bronny James was muscular enough to score bucket on his father, got a reply from the ‘Big Ticket’, “You seen his dad? his dad on that balco, he on that new juice”. Well, now analysts on social media have already started to make use of this to throw shade at the 4x champion.

Jason Whitlock, who runs a famous YouTube channel about infamous NBA reports, added a stunning angle to the doping story. Biogenesis, a wellness clinic in Miami, used to supply PEDs to some famous athletes in America. Reportedly, there are unsealed documents from an investigation that took place at the clinic, which has revealed two people close to James. One is his former trainer Alexander and the other one is his business manager Ernest Mims. Well, Whitlock hinted at this through a story on his podcast episode.

No reports have confirmed any of the above yet. However, the MMA star’s claims from a year ago and KG’s sudden mention of BALCO can turn out to be troublesome for the L-Train. What are your thoughts on the above story?

Lakers Injury Report: LeBron James May Be Playing Through An Ailment For Rest Of Year

The LA superstar is more banged up than we thought.

 

39-year-old 20-time Los Angeles Lakers All-Star vet LeBron James has been doing unbelievable things on the hardwood for the 36-30 Purple and Gold all year.

The 6’9″ combo forward is averaging 25.3 points on .530/.407/.742 shooting splits, eight assists, 7.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals per bout.

Unfortunately, that level of output has come at a cost for the previously more durable four-time MVP.

According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, a source has informed him that James has been dealing with a sore left ankle, considered a “wear-and-tear” injury, since the All-Star break, and will have to play through it for the rest of the season. He’s missed nine games altogether due to the ankle and various other minor ailments. Most recently, James sat out LA’s surprise 123-122 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks at Crypto.com Arena Friday. He did play in yesterday’s win over the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves, one of the top-seeded clubs in the entire Western Conference.

James scored 29 points on 10-of-16 field goal attempts (2-of-4 from three-point land), pulled down eight boards and dished out nine dimes. Not too a shabby for a guy playing through a nagging injury, really. He’ll at least get a few days off to rest his weary bones. LA doesn’t play again until Wednesday, when it will get an opportunity to avenge its 130-120 loss last week to the Sacramento Kings.

Billionaire Michael Jordan owns a huge block of real estate worth more than 44 million USD, worthy of his status as an immortal NBA legend

In the annals of basketball history, few names evoke as much reverence and awe as Michael Jordan. Widely hailed as the greatest player to ever grace the NBA courts, Jordan’s legacy transcends the confines of the game, extending into realms of business and entrepreneurship. Nowhere is this more evident than in his sprawling real estate portfolio, a vast empire valued at over 44 million USD, befitting the stature of an immortal NBA legend.



From his roots in Wilmington, North Carolina, to the bustling metropolises of Chicago and beyond, Jordan’s real estate holdings span coast to coast, each property a testament to his unparalleled success both on and off the court. Among his most notable acquisitions is his lavish mansion in Highland Park, Illinois, a sprawling estate that boasts nine bedrooms, fifteen bathrooms, and a wealth of luxurious amenities befitting a man of Jordan’s stature.

 



But Jordan’s real estate prowess extends far beyond the confines of his primary residence. In addition to his palatial mansion, he owns a diverse array of properties, including a breathtaking penthouse in Charlotte, North Carolina, and a waterfront estate in Jupiter, Florida. These properties serve not only as symbols of his immense wealth but also as strategic investments, further solidifying his status as a savvy businessman and astute investor.

Yet, it is perhaps Jordan’s latest venture that truly encapsulates the magnitude of his real estate empire. In downtown Charlotte, the city he once electrified with his on-court heroics, Jordan has embarked on a transformative project – the construction of a state-of-the-art office tower that will serve as the headquarters for his eponymous brand, Jordan Brand. Set to span over 10 stories and encompassing over 230,000 square feet of prime real estate, the tower stands as a testament to Jordan’s enduring influence and entrepreneurial vision.

 


Beyond the mere acquisition of properties, Jordan’s real estate ventures also reflect his commitment to philanthropy and community development. Throughout his career, he has remained dedicated to giving back to the communities that have supported him, and his real estate projects often include elements aimed at revitalizing neighborhoods and fostering economic growth.

In the world of basketball, Michael Jordan is revered as a living legend, a paragon of excellence whose name is synonymous with greatness. But beyond the hardwood, his real estate empire stands as a testament to his enduring legacy – a legacy built not only on athletic prowess but also on astute business acumen, unwavering determination, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

Iѕіah Thomаѕ Demаndѕ Aрology From Mісhael Jordаn After The G.O.A.T. Blаѕted Hіm Aѕ An ‘A**hole’

It’ѕ on juѕt lіke the ’90ѕ!

Aѕ we аll know, the rіvalry between Iѕiah Thomаs аnd Michаel Jordan sparked uр bаck іn the eаrly 1990ѕ, thіs аs а reѕult of Jordаn’s Bullѕ overtаking Thomаs’ Pіstons аs the beѕt teаm іn the NBA.

Well, іf you don’t remember, thаt beef got ѕparked bаck uр four yeаrs аgo when Jordаn blаsted Thomаs аs аn “а**hole” іn the doсumentary “The Lаst Dаnce.”

Followіng the аiring of іt, Thomаs mаde the сlaim thаt he wаsn’t аwаre that Jordan didn’t lіke hіm.

A сouple of yeаrs lаter іn 2022, Thomаs then demаnded thаt Jordаn іssue hіm аn аpology.

“When I wаs wаtching The Lаst Dаnce ,  I’m ѕitting there аnd I’m wаtching іt wіth my fаmily аnd I’m thіnkіng everythіng іs good,” ѕaid Thomаs, аccording to Eurohooр ѕ .

“And then thіs guy сomes on televіsіon аnd he ѕayѕ thаt he hаtes me аnd then he сalls me аn а** hole. And then I рroceed to wаtch а whole doсumentary аbout hіm beіng аn а** hole. I’m lіke wаit а mіnute, tіme out.”

 

“Untіl I get а рublic аpology, thіs beef іs gonnа go on for а long long tіme, сause I’m from the weѕt ѕide of Chіcago.”

Fаst forwаrd to 2024, аnd Thomаs іs ѕtill wаnting thаt аpology.

“Thіs dude got on nаtionаl televіsіon, іnternatіonal televіsіon, аnd сalled me аn а**hole,” Thomаs told Golden Stаte Wаrriors ѕuperѕtar Drаymond Green whіle on hіs podcast. “Somebody who’ѕ been reаlly good to hіm.”

“And untіl he аpologizes on іnternatіonal televіsіon, we … no сonversation. You сan’t аpologize аnd hаve а рrivate dіnner when you done embаrrаssed me рublicly. If you dіdn’t meаn іt, ѕay іt рublicly. Now іf you meаnt іt, let іt ѕtand. I’m good wіth thаt.”

I think it’s safe to say these two will be beefin’ even in their graves — in true ’90s NBA fashion.

Deloris Jordan: The Inspirational Mother Behind NBA Champion Michael Jordan

Considered the greatest basketball player of all time, Michael won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. They made history as the only team at the time to complete two “three-peats,” winning three consecutive championships from 1991 to 1993 and 1996 to 1998. Michael’s parents supported him through all of his milestone moments and were the ones who insisted that he sign up for local sports as a child.

In his 2020 ESPN docuseries The Last Dance, Michael recalled in the first episode how his parents were always “trying to keep me busy” and encouraged all their children to play organized sports to teach them “more about life.”

“We had five kids, and both the wife and I both worked, and we would worry at times about the kids being home,” James said in archival footage in the series. “So, we thought one of the things that we could do was get them involved in sports. Drop them off at the little league field or the gym and keep them involved in the community.”

 

Michael said the lessons he learned in those early days of playing sports led to his success in the NBA. “As you get older, you look back, and you understand how you became the person you are. I don’t think I would be here without the lessons that I learned at a very young age. That competitiveness within me started when I was a kid,” he explained on The Last Dance.

The athlete’s parents also played a significant role in securing their son’s legacy. In 1984, Deloris helped the basketball player negotiate a deal with Nike, which resulted in the now iconic Air Jordan shoe and is the basis for the 2023 film Air.

From meeting at a high school basketball game to helping Michael navigate his career in the NBA, here’s everything to know about Michael Jordan’s mother Deloris and late father James R. Jordan, Sr.

 

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James and Deloris attended Charity High School in Rose Hill, North Carolina, per the National Women’s History Museum. They first met in 1954 while attending a basketball game — James was on the team — and went on to date for the rest of their high school years.

After they graduated, James joined the Air Force and relocated to San Antonio, Texas, while Deloris attended a trade school in Alabama. In 1956, the couple moved to Virginia after James was transferred to a base there and wed that same year.

They lived in Virginia for several years before temporarily relocating to Brooklyn, New York, in 1962 so James could complete mechanic’s training on the GI Bill, per the Chicago Tribune. Michael’s parents spent 18 months in New York before moving back to North Carolina to raise their family

 

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images

Michael is James and Deloris’ youngest son. The pair also have four other children: James Ronald “Ronnie” Jordan Jr., Deloris Jordan, Larry Jordan and Roslyn Jordan.

In 2009, ESPN reported that Ronnie served in the Army for 31 years, Rosyln co-authored several children’s books with her mother and Larry was previously the regional sales manager for Upper Deck, a sports memorabilia company.

“I always told my children, ‘Each one of you has special gifts, it’s how you use them,’ ” Deloris told ESPN. “Each one had a talent, but how they approached it was different from the others. Michael might have skills for basketball, but Larry built things with his hands, and our oldest son was in ROTC and such a leader.”

 

James and Deloris are also grandparents. Their eldest son Ronnie has three kids, and Larry has two children. Michael is a father of five — he welcomed three children with his ex-wife Juanita Vanoy, Jeffrey, Marcus and Jasmine, as well as identical twin daughters Victoria and Ysabel with his current wife, Yvette Prieto.

In July 1993, James was shot and killed while sleeping in his car at a highway rest stop in Robeson County, North Carolina. 11 days later, his body was found after being dumped off a bridge in South Carolina.

The two teenagers responsible, Larry Demery and Daniel Andre Green, were convicted of first-degree murder, armed robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery in 1996 and sentenced to life in prison. Demery was granted parole in 2020, with an initial release date of August 2023, but the North Carolina Post-Release Supervision and Parole Commission canceled the agreement in 2021 for an undisclosed reason.

 

In The Last Dance, Michael opened up about losing his father and how his family “had to support each other” through such a difficult time. He said his mother, Deloris, remained “strong” and helped him overcome his grief.

“The first thing she says, ‘You know, you got to be thankful,’ and I started looking at the positive,” Jordan recalled. “One of the things that [my dad] always taught me is that you have to take a negative and turn it into a positive, so I started looking to the other side of it, and that helped me get through it.”

Speaking with Oprah Winfrey in 1993, Michael explained that while he was grieving his father, he had no desire to learn the motive behind the crime.

 

“No, because I don’t want to know,” he said when asked if he would want to question Demery and Green. “Because it probably would hurt me even more just to know their reasons. Because if it is, it’s going to be totally meaningless for the reasons. It’s better that I don’t know.”

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Deloris co-founded The Michael Jordan Foundation in 1989 and the James R. Jordan Boys & Girls Club and Family Life Center in 1997 to provide underprivileged youth with academic opportunities and recreational, after-school programs.

She also acts as the founder and president of the James R. Jordan Foundation, which she created in 2000 to honor her late husband and provide even more academic support for low-income children through various mentorship programs.

 

“I founded the James R. Jordan Foundation to demonstrate to the children that, with education, anything is possible. Our students are bright and eager to learn; they simply need direction and a strong support system,” Deloris said in a letter on the foundation’s website. “Our role is to come alongside the schools, the families and the communities, and ultimately help them learn to help themselves.”

Additionally, Deloris has worked to expand healthcare services in Nairobi, Kenya, where she built the Kenya Women and Children’s Wellness Centre. In 2005, she was awarded the Clinton Global Initiative Award for her ongoing efforts there.

Rich Pilling/MLB Photos/Getty

In the seventh episode of The Last Dance, Michael revealed one of the last conversations he had with James was regarding his retirement from basketball.

 

“We were debating, me and him, we were debating about me playing baseball,” Jordan said. ” ‘I wanna go play baseball. I’m thinking about retiring, and I wanna go play baseball.’ And … he was saying, ‘Do it, do it’ because he got me started in baseball.”

After his father’s death in 1993, Michael retired from basketball for the first time. His family and the leaders of the Bulls supported his decision, understanding his need for change.

“It was always his father’s dream that he be a baseball player, and so I didn’t try to talk him out of it,” Jerry Reinsdorf, the owner of the Bulls, said in the series. “But I said to him, ‘playing baseball is a lot harder than you think it is.’ “

 

Michael signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox in 1994, where he played with their affiliate, the Birmingham Barons, until he returned to the NBA in March 1995.

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Michael has been very open about his close relationship with his father. He called him “my rock” on The Last Dance and said they “were very close.”

“He constantly gave me advice,” the NBA icon said. “I remember in ninth grade, I got suspended three times in one year, and my father pulled me aside that summer and said: ‘Look, you don’t look like you’re heading in the right direction. You know, if you want to go about doing all this mischievous stuff, you can forget sports.’ “

 

He continued, “That’s all I needed to hear. From that point on, it was like tunnel vision, and I never got in trouble from that point on.”

James was present for his son’s three consecutive NBA championship wins in 1991, 1992 and 1993. The last championship occurred just a few weeks before James’ death. When Michael returned to basketball in 1995, he said in the eighth episode of The Last Dance that he “felt naked” at his first game because his father “just wasn’t there.”

The loss of his father even prompted Michael to change his jersey number initially. “I didn’t want to go to 23 because I knew my father wasn’t there to watch me,” he said in the series. “And I felt it was a new beginning, and 45 was my first number when I played in high school.”

 

On Father’s Day in 1996, Michael played in the NBA Finals for the fourth time, and the significance of the day really affected him. George Kohler, his driver and friend, explained on The Last Dance that “a piece of Michael’s heart was missing” at that game because his father was “always right next to him.”

After Jordan secured the Bulls another championship title, he dedicated the win to his father, breaking down on the floor in an emotional moment in the locker room.

“I can’t even put it in words, on Father’s Day, what it means to me. I know he’s watching,” he said in a post-game interview featured in the series. “To my wife, to my kids, to my mother, to my brothers and sisters, this is for daddy.”

 

Amy Sussman/Getty

In addition to her charity work, Deloris is also a bestselling author. She has written many children’s books — on her own and with daughter Rosyln — including Salt in His Shoes and Michael’s Golden Rules.

During an interview with ESPN in September 2009, Deloris shared the inspiration behind her first children’s book, Salt in His Shoes. She recalled a moment from Michael’s childhood when he expressed his desire to be taller, and she told him to “go put salt in your shoes and pray.”

“He would tell me I was being silly, but I had to pacify him so I could finish dinner,” she said. “Then his dad would walk in and he’d tell him he wanted to be tall. We’d say, ‘You have it in your heart. The tallness is within you. You can be as tall as you want to be in your thinking.’ “

 

When it comes to her ability to write engaging and informative material for children, Deloris told NPR in April 2007 that she attributes that skill to her charity work in schools and her role as a mother of five.

“For me, because I worked with the school to the James Jordan Foundation, we have adopted four schools here in Chicago. They’re elementary up through high school. So we work in the school. I see the need of the children. When I begin to write, it flows out. It comes out easy, because, again, I work with them,” he said.

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While Michael is now synonymous with Nike, he almost didn’t sign a deal with the brand in 1984. In The Last Dance, the basketball player explained how he initially wanted to sign with Adidas, but his parents convinced him to attend a meeting with Nike.

 

“My mother said, ‘You’re gonna go listen. You may not like it, but you’re gonna go listen.’ She made me get on that plane and go listen,” he said in the series. “[I] go into that meeting not wanting to be there, and Nike made this big pitch. My father said, ‘You’d have to be a fool not taking this deal. This is the best deal.’ “

Michael’s initial contract with Nike gave him a signature shoe, the now iconic Air Jordan sneaker, and a $250,000 paycheck.

In 2021, Michael honored his mother’s role in his success with the Dear Deloris shoe, a part of his Jordan Series that pays tribute to those who have helped shape his legacy.

 

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

The 2023 film Air is based on how Deloris helped her then-rookie son broker this deal with Nike, leading to a multi-billion dollar legacy with the Jordan brand. Real-life husband and wife Julius Tennon and Viola Davis play Michael’s father and mother in the Ben Affleck-directed film.

The NBA champion personally cast the EGOT winner as his mom in the movie. Davis later told PEOPLE that she was “flattered” after hearing that.

“It’s pretty awesome that he wanted her to play his mom,” Tennon added.

Mісhael Jordаn’ѕ Ex-Wіfe Helрѕ Son Mаrсus Leverаge Fаther’ѕ $5.1 Bіllіon Brаnd

via Imago

We usually dread it when our moms jump on the social media bandwagon, but not Marcus Jordan. His mom, the one and only Juanita Vanoy, is the best hypemom on Instagram since she recently joined it. We’ve seen her support her son’s relationship with Larsa Pippen, show her adoration for Larsa, and now she’s promoting Marcus’ business.

His luxury boutique, The Trophy Room, collaborated with the Jordan Brand to release a collection of limited edition Air Jordans. The newest one is the Trophy Room x Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Rookie Card – Away.”

The new launch came with a nostalgia-heavy short film. Vanoy promoted the shoes and the short movie on her Instagram with a brief message about where you can find these new Air Jordans, “Exclusively at Trophy Room Store.”