Author: ngocanh

An emotional Giannis Antetokounmpo was seen crying tears of joy after helping to lead his nation to the Olympic Games on Sunday.

The Milwaukee Bucks star and former NBA Most Valuable Player took a moment to himself on the bench and let his emotions overwhelm him after Greece knocked off Croatia 80-69 in one of the four men’s basketball qualifying tournament finals.

As a result, Antetokounmpo is bound for the Olympics for the first time, after he dropped 23 points in the game that helped determine the final spots in the 12-team field for the Paris Games.

Greece will now be in Group A in the Summer Olympics – facing Australia, Canada, and either Spain or The Bahamas.

Georgios Papagiannis scored 19 for Greece, which got 14 from Nick Calathes and earned an Olympic berth for the first time since 2008.

An emotional Giannis Antetokounmpo let out tears of joy after qualifying for the Olympics

Antetokounmpo dropped 23 points in a win over Croatia to qualify for the games in Paris

Giannis in tears after sending his country to the Olympics 🥹

(via @FIBA)

pic.twitter.com/2XredJUtqw

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) July 7, 2024

Ivica Zubac had 19 points and 13 rebounds for Croatia, which got 15 points apiece from Mateo Dreznjak and Mario Hezonja and 14 from Dario Saric.

Already having qualified for the Paris field: the four-time defending gold medalist U.S., France, Germany, Japan, Serbia, South Sudan, Canada and Australia. France qualified as the host nation; the other seven teams on that list qualified based on their finishes at the World Cup last summer.

Following the World Cup, 24 teams were left to compete for the final four slots. They were decided in these winner-take-all qualifiers that started last week. Brazil grabbed the first of those spots Sunday, then Greece followed.

The last two spots in the 12-team Olympic field will be decided later Sunday: Bahamas visits Spain and Lithuania visits Puerto Rico, with the winners of those contests headed to Paris as well.

Joining Greece in the Olympics in Brazil – which used a 19-0 run over the final 3:21 of the first quarter to set the tone in what became a surprisingly easy 94-69 victory over Latvia.

Bruno Caboclo led Brazil with 21 points and Leo Meindl added 20. Caboclo made a 65-foot 3-pointer to end the first quarter – one in which Brazil was 8 for 8 from beyond the arc to take a 34-11 lead and stun the home crowd.

Rihards Lomazs scored 15 for Latvia, which got 14 apiece from Rolands Smits and Arturs Zagars.

Brazil will be placed in Group B for the Olympics, with games against France (July 27), Germany (July 30) and Japan (Aug. 2) in the opening stage.

Stephen Curry and Joel Embiid (Image Source: USA Basketball)
After the end of the 2023–24 NBA season and the highly anticipated NBA Draft, basketball fans turned their attention to the star-studded roster of Team USA. Stephen Curry and Joel Embiid are among the latest additions to the formidable lineup. As the USA men’s basketball team convened for their training camp, Curry and Embiid shared a moment of catching up.

During their interaction, Curry playfully christened the Philadelphia 76ers star with a new nickname, ‘Process’. This nickname pays homage to the Philadelphia 76ers’ enduring slogan, “Trust the process.”

Joel Embiid and Steph Curry catch up as the USA men’s basketball team arrive for training camp 🤝

(Via @usabasketball)
pic.twitter.com/FLATT3OY76

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 5, 2024

Team USA, with these star players, is poised to pursue the gold medal fervently this summer. Alongside Curry and Embiid, the roster boasts an impressive lineup of basketball luminaries committed to representing their country.

The team includes LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, and Tyrese Haliburton, among others.

Stephen Curry is Ready to Make an Olympic Splash

Stephen Curry was the first player to arrive at the Team USA training camp in Las Vegas. The Golden State Warriors‘ sharpshooter expressed his unwavering commitment to achieving success for his country during an interview at the camp.

“Let’s get it! [I’m excited about] everything man. We got 39 days or so to get locked in and get this gold medal. Twelve amazing, talented guys ready to come together for one goal,” Curry said.

Curry’s last appearance for Team USA dates back to the 2014 FIBA World Cup, where he played an immense role in securing the gold medal for his team. With that triumph etched in his memory, he returns to international competition with a renewed eagerness to replicate that level of success.

“So I’m hyped for the gold. It’s been 10 years since I was on Team USA back in 2014. So I’m hyped to be back,” he added.

Bryce and LeBron James (Image Source: X/Ballislife)
LeBron James and his family have been frequently in the news these days. Both the Lakers star and his eldest son, Bronny’s activities are closely monitored by the fans and news outlets. However, this time, it was the 4-time champion’s youngest son, Bryce James, who caught the attention of the NBA community with his social media post.

Recently, Junior James shared a picture on his Instagram story that created a lot of buzz. In the snap, he was standing in the swimming pool with a wide smile and one hand on his forehead. “Smiling through it all! Can’t believe this is my life,” Bryce’s caption read. The eagle-eyed fans were quick to notice that it was the recreation of a 2018 pose posted by LeBron, which turned into a meme.

The post soon went viral on X (FKA Twitter), with pages creating collages featuring the new post alongside LeBron’s. Fans gathered from every corner to leave amusing comments.

“Bro love trolling pops”, wrote a fan.

Bro love trolling pops

— Webb (@Webb_Bk) July 5, 2024

Another fan jokingly added, “Yeah . He grounded”, when LeBron sees it.

Yeah . He grounded 🤣🤣🤣🤣

— Joshua Andrew Smith (@jasmithactor) July 5, 2024

 “LeBron biggest trolls are his wife n kids”, commented another user as the James family often shares hilarious posts on the internet.

LeBron biggest trolls are his wife n kids

— jack veneno (@king_cad5) July 5, 2024

One fan commented, “Nailed it”.

Nailed it 😂

— Matt of Hoopsology (@thetrainerstake) July 5, 2024

While another added, “Both are cute asf”.

https://twitter.com/investor_dfw/status/1809350774683570541?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1809350774683570541%7Ctwgr%5E76d6c0cff3de806fe041fb869190d4b18a8da280%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.totalprosports.com%2Fnba%2Fthe-internet-is-going-wild-as-bryce-james-recreated-his-dads-popular-meme-posted-it-on-his-instagram-story%2F

LeBron has a strong bond with his sons, who have got his basketball DNA. His firstborn, Bronny, will soon be spotted in the NBA wearing the same jersey as his father. This was a dream of the 20-time All-Star.

Since he decided to continue his journey with the Lakers, there were speculations that Bryce might join him, too, but the latter discarded the idea.

Bryce Doubts Whether He’ll Play With LeBron James in NBA

Recently, during one of his Instagram lives, while Bryce was interacting with his followers, someone asked him whether LeBron would wait to play with him before he retires. Dismissing the idea, the 17-year-old replied, “he’s gonna be 42, bro.”

I asked Bryce James if he thinks LeBron would wait for him to get drafted before retiring. His response:

“That’s OD… he’s gonna be 42 bro.”

😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/wRVfqqlXQO

— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) June 29, 2024

Bryce has shown signs of talent like his brother and could opt for the same path. Although LeBron doesn’t have much time left on the hardwood, there remains a possibility that the two would share the same stage at one point despite his age.

Brandon Ingram (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
In recent weeks, New Orleans Pelicans All-Star Brandon Ingram has emerged as one of the biggest names in recent NBA trade rumors.

The 26-year-old Brandon Ingram is entering the final season of a five-year contract extension worth $158 million that he signed in 2020. But it appears only to be a matter of time until he’s traded by the Pelicans.

According to Sam Amico of Hoops Wire, the Charlotte Hornets, Atlanta Hawks and Victor Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs “have emerged as potential suitors” to trade for the veteran All-Star.

The former Duke star was traded to the Pelicans in the 2019 summer blockbuster trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers. The No. 2 pick of 2016 has averaged 23.1 points per game over his five seasons with the Pelicans.

The Spurs are in the midst of a rebuild, and it’s obvious that Wembanyama could use some support. With Brandon Ingram in his prime, it’s no wonder that the Spurs are reportedly eyeing him as a potential sidekick to Wembanyama.

Brandon Ingram in his first playoff appearance:

— 27.0 PPG
— 6.2 RPG
— 6.0 APG
— 58.4 TS%

Took the stacked Phoenix Suns to 6 games without Zion. Now people call him a choker because of one injured series….
pic.twitter.com/hb80K8UQXJ

— 𝙖𝙠𝙤𝙙𝙪⚜️ (@akoduzs) July 2, 2024

 

The Pelicans finished 49-33 last season and qualified for the playoffs, but they were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the opening round. Though Ingram, CJ McCollum and Zion Williamson have formed an explosive scoring trio, one can argue that the Pelicans are overdue for a bit of a core shakeup after falling well short of their ultimate goal yet again.

Brandon Ingram Would Be The Ideal Pickup For Spurs

The rebuilding Spurs aren’t going to give away a king’s ransom for a veteran superstar to help Wembanyama now. But with Ingram entering his contract year, the 2020 All-Star shouldn’t cost all that much compared to other big-named players in trade talks.

Ingram would form a dynamic scoring tandem with Victor Wembanyama, giving Gregg Popovich and company a promising duo to build around for years to come. If the price is right, the Spurs should definitely try to make the trade.

Dallas Mavericks (Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images)
Despite Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving’s outstanding performances, the Dallas Mavericks failed to win the championship this year and lost the NBA Finals series against the Boston Celtics. Since then, the team has been focused on upgrading the roster with new talented players.

According to recent reports from NBA Insider Michael Scotto for HoopsHype, the Mavericks are looking to make a trade proposal with the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets to bring two amazing players to the team. Specifically, the Mavericks are interested in acquiring Dennis Smith Jr. and Spencer Dinwiddie.

The Dallas Mavericks are showing interest in Dennis Smith Jr. and Spencer Dinwiddie, per @MikeAScotto

“The Dallas Mavericks have considered bringing one of two former guards back to the team, Spencer Dinwiddie and Dennis Smith Jr, league sources told HoopsHype…Should Dinwiddie… pic.twitter.com/h5s2esclKB

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 6, 2024

“The Dallas Mavericks have considered bringing one of two former guards back to the team, Spencer Dinwiddie and Dennis Smith Jr, league sources told HoopsHype…Should Dinwiddie and Smith Jr. land elsewhere, Malachi Flynn is also on Dallas’ radar, HoopsHype has learned. Flynn scored a career-high 50 points last season with Detroit.” Scotto wrote in his latest reports.

Smith Jr. signed a contract with the Nets on July 8, 2023. The 26-year-old point guard did not make a significant impact on the team’s success. According to ESPN, he averaged 6.6 points, 3.6 assists, and 2.9 rebounds in 56 games in the 2023-24 season. Meanwhile, Dinwiddie signed with the Los Angeles Lakers on a one-year deal worth the league minimum in February 2024. According to ESPN, the 31-year-old point guard averaged 6.8 points, 2.4 assists, and 0.5 rebounds in 28 games this season.

NBA Insider spills details on Dallas Mavericks’ deal with Klay Thompson

The Mavericks have made a great move by adding Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson to the team, despite his dad’s disapproval of the contract. By adding Smith Jr. and Dinwiddie to the roster, they can significantly impact the team’s performance. However, before agreeing to the Mavericks’ contract, Thompson issued a last request to star player Stephen Curry about the team.

Even though the deal has not been completed yet, many NBA analysts are speculating about the contract. Recently, NBA Insider Chris Haynes reported that “Golden State is receiving two second-round picks to complete the Klay Thompson sign-and-trade: Dallas’ 2031 pick and the least favorable of the Denver/Philadelphia picks in 2025.”

LeBron James (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers made headlines by selecting Dalton Knecht as the 17th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. This move is being hailed as a major steal, considering Knecht’s impressive college performance. Even before the draft, Lakers star LeBron James recognized Knecht’s exceptional athleticism after watching his games at Tennessee.

LeBron recently opened up, claiming the former Tennessee star is his favorite college basketball player apart from his son, Bronny James.

“Dalton, besides Bronny, was my favorite player in college basketball. I did not think he would fall to 17 at all. I’m glad he did,” LeBron said.

Lakers’ LeBron James on rookie Dalton Knecht: “Dalton, besides Bronny, was my favorite player in college basketball. … I did not think he would fall to 17 at all. … I’m glad he did.” pic.twitter.com/TGe9OUoGtX

— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) July 6, 2024

After Knecht’s stunning last college season, in which he earned SEC Player of the Year and consensus first-team All-American honors, he was expected to be a top-10 pick.

LeBron even claimed he watched the Purdue vs. Tennessee game due to their rookie player.

“He’s a great player. We watched that Purdue, Tennessee, game because of Zach Edey and Knecht. Players, depending on who they are, will drive attention,” James said.

Nevertheless, Knecht had to wait until the Los Angeles Lakers made their decision. Now, with the Lakers, Knecht is anticipated to contribute to areas beyond scoring and outside shooting. His role will likely involve complementing the talents of LeBron James and Anthony Davis on both ends of the court.

Dalton Knecht and Bronny James Begin Lakers Journey in the Summer League Showdown

Dalton Knecht and Bronny James made their summer league debuts on Saturday against the Sacramento Kings. The Lakers’ No. 17 pick, Knecht, scored 12 points despite shooting 3-for-12 from the field in his first game.

Like his draft experience, Bronny James’ debut for the Lakers drew some criticism. He finished his first game with 4 points on 2-for-9 shooting, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal in 22 minutes.

Bronny James (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Bronny James’ move to the LA Lakers has been heavily criticized by the NBA community. He was tagged with narratives of nepotism and scrutinized for his previous performances at USC. However, when the young guard set foot on the hardwood, fans started showing their support, which also surprised Bronny.

The young rookie appeared in the Purple and Gold jersey no. 9 for the first time to face the Sacramento Kings in the Summer League. What the 19-year-old didn’t see coming was the huge fan base cheering for him.

Talking about the enthusiastic crowd at the Chase Center, Bronny said, “Maybe the atmosphere. It was more than I expected. I mean, it’s a big game for me, but I didn’t know if people from Golden State would come and rep for me.” He concluded by saying, “So that was pretty nice to see.”

Bronny James on the biggest surprise in his summer league debut: "Maybe the atmosphere. It was more than I expected. I mean, it's a big game for me, but I didn't know if people from Golden State would come and rep for me. So that was pretty nice to see."

— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) July 6, 2024

The youngster has made a separate fan base, who were drawn towards his match, even before he could show his moves in the NBA. However, Bronny failed to impress them with his performance in the game.

Bronny James Performance in Summer League

Most basketball lovers eagerly looked forward to the day Bronny James would make his debut. That was either out of love for the former USC guard or to further criticize him, and Bronny couldn’t make the most of it.

Amid the high expectations, Bronny attempted 9 shots from the floor, raising hopes for his fans who were there to witness his first game with the Lakers. But the fans were left disappointed when only 2 of those shots reached the target. He also hit three shots from downtown but couldn’t convert them into buckets. Bronny finished with four points in the 94-108 game that ended in favor of the Kings.

Bronny James first basket as a member of the Lakers in Summer League 🔥https://t.co/lhdBxlvtm9

— Backcourt Alerts (@BackcourtAlerts) July 6, 2024

Nevertheless, his superstar father, LeBron, was thrilled to see his firstborn perform in the franchise’s colors. Bronny still has ample opportunities to showcase his abilities when the regular season begins.

LeBron James and Bronny James (Image Source: Getty Images)

LeBron James’ son Bronny made his debut in his shining new Purple and Gold jersey, and the father couldn’t be more proud. However, the Lakers star has clarified his expectations from his son and it appears like LeBron has adjusted his standards.

Bronny and the Lakers faced off Sacramento Kings in the California Classic Summer League. The game ended in a disappointing 94-108 loss for Lakers, with the 19-year-old securing just four points in his debut game. When the microphones turned towards his father, LeBron, he simply stated that he just wants to see his son grow.

“I just hope for him to get his feet wet in the NBA, the pace of the game, the speed of the game, the physicality of the game,” LeBron told the media about Bronny. Then he further added, “But what he does in the California Classic and Summer League, it doesn’t matter if he plays well and it doesn’t matter if he doesn’t play well. I just want him to continue to grow.”

https://twitter.com/MarkG_Medina/status/1809697232977031408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1809697232977031408%7Ctwgr%5E79fa4bcfdb3dece1f4f76b3c6001437c796272c4%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.totalprosports.com%2Fnba%2Fdoesnt-matter-if-he-doesnt-play-well-lebron-james-has-lowered-down-his-expectations-from-bronny-james-ahead-of-nba-summer-league%2F

Being in the league for years, LeBron knows that a player cannot be judged by his performance in the Summer League. However, considering the hype around Bronny, there were certain expectations from the fans that the young guard failed to meet in his first game.

Bronny James Addresses Pressure From Critics

There has been a common narrative surrounding Bronny James that he was drafted by the Lakers because of LeBron. Therefore, a lot of pressure falls on the point guard’s shoulders.

Talking about the immense pressure of being LeBron’s son, Bronny said, “I’ve already seen it on social media and the internet, talk about how I might not deserve an opportunity.” Bronnyalso seems to have cracked the way to deal with it. “But I’ve been dealing with stuff like this my whole life so it’s nothing different. It’s more amplified for sure, but I’ll get through it,” stated Junior James.

Bronny James on the pressure of playing with LeBron:

"I've already seen it [in the] media and [on the] internet talking about how I might not deserve an opportunity but I've been dealing with stuff like this my whole life" pic.twitter.com/14h2WbBswE

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) July 2, 2024

Bronny couldn’t show his true potential in the 21 minutes against the Kings. However, he will get another chance against the Warriors, where, as usual, all eyes will be on him.

Bronny James (Image Source: X/SM Highlights)
Bronny James made his Summer league debut on Saturday night against the Kings. The expectations were high to see James Jr. but things didn’t go according to plan for the Lakers’ new recruit.

During the first quarter, with 6:38 remaining on the clock, the Kings charged into the Lakers area. Bronny James on guard duty became the unfortunate recipient of ridicule as he seemingly had an ankle-breaker moment. The 19-year-old almost lost balance to find himself in no man’s land only to see the opponent score.

https://twitter.com/SMHighlights2/status/1809689295289999442?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1809689295289999442%7Ctwgr%5E71ef9702a15746b40aa3d275b036973dbd32cf06%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.totalprosports.com%2Fnba%2Fthe-entire-internet-had-something-to-say-about-bronny-james-embarrassing-moment-on-defense-during-his-nba-summer-league-debut%2F

Bronny ended the game with only 4 points and scored 2 out of 9 attempts from the field in the 22 minutes of participation. But his embarrassing moment soon went viral and the naysayers were ready to strike.

Social Media Reacts to Bronny James’ Embarrassing Moment

If his awful shooting and underwhelming outing weren’t enough, the aforementioned moment hogged the spotlight. Netizens flocked to social media to swarm the guard and left their unforgiving comments on X (formerly known as Twitter)

“THAT DEFENSE WAS TOUGH…. TO WATCH”, commented a user after witnessing the moment.

THAT DEFENSE WAS TOUGH…. TO WATCH😭😭🙏🏽🙏🏽💀💀🗣️🗣️🔊🔊🔥🔥

— RolyAgueros 🐝#HIVESZN🐝 x- (13-5)🚀 (@AguerosRolando) July 6, 2024

“Gah damn”, commented another.

https://twitter.com/KxngKwame/status/1809738942398226447?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1809738942398226447%7Ctwgr%5E71ef9702a15746b40aa3d275b036973dbd32cf06%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.totalprosports.com%2Fnba%2Fthe-entire-internet-had-something-to-say-about-bronny-james-embarrassing-moment-on-defense-during-his-nba-summer-league-debut%2F

Another user wrote, “Three years guaranteed, folks. Three years guaranteed,” taking a dig at Bronny’s Lakers contract.

Three years guaranteed, folks

Three years guaranteed

— JaguarGator9 (@JaguarGator9NFL) July 6, 2024

“Bron watching his son skate first game”, highlighted a fourth.

https://twitter.com/amariwontmiss/status/1809703388898291840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1809703388898291840%7Ctwgr%5E71ef9702a15746b40aa3d275b036973dbd32cf06%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.totalprosports.com%2Fnba%2Fthe-entire-internet-had-something-to-say-about-bronny-james-embarrassing-moment-on-defense-during-his-nba-summer-league-debut%2F

“No way bro almost got his ankles broken in the first quarter,” a fan wrote.

No way bro almost got his ankles broken in the first quarter 😂

— Formala 1 (@Formula_012) July 6, 2024

“Lmao it is just summer league”, wrote one giving the ominous warning before Bronny heads to the NBA.

Lmao it is just summer league

— Dreamweaver (@DreamweaverOnX) July 6, 2024

Despite the poor outing for Bronny, there is still time as the Summer League is for development and improvement. And no improvement comes overnight. For Bronny though, he and the Lakers can only hope that this was the first and the last of such performances.

Michael Jordan’s wife, Yvette Prietto (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images for MJCI)
Michael Jordan’s wife, Yvette Prietto, was turning heads in her attractive green outfit after stepping off the former NBA superstar’s mega-yacht in Barcelona, Spain.

Jordan and Prieto are enjoying a holiday in said European country while they try to win the Euros, having set up a date with France scheduled for this Tuesday.

The pair, who celebrated their 11th anniversary in April, were pictured holding hands as they stepped off the vessel, branded “M’BRACE,’ which is worth a reported $115 million.

MJ wore a light green shirt and black pants with a presumably expensive timepiece, while his wife donned a green and purple outfit over a white crop top.

You can see photos of them right below:

Michael Jordan holds hands with wife Yvette Prieto after departing his $115 million yacht in Barcelona pic.twitter.com/qlWurdHToJ

— World Latin Honey (@WorldLatinHoney) July 6, 2024

 

They also took a photo with Jordan’s mom, Deloris, brothers, James Jr and Larry, and his sister, Roslyn, while aboard the yacht.

Michael Jordan & Yvette Prieto Are Going On 12 Years

Michael Jordan and Yvette Prieto got married in April 2013 in Florida and have 10-year-old twin daughters, Victoria and Ysabel.  The former Chicago Bulls high-flyer had proposed two years earlier. It’s said he had her sign a stiff prenuptial agreement given the way his first marriage ended.

They enjoyed a vacation in Europe around the same time last year, heading to Italy with their twins.

Meanwhile, Jordan has taken his foot off the gas with the Charlotte Hornets, having sold his majority ownership stake in the team last year. So he should have way more time for such getaways with his wife and kids going forward.