Author: ngocanh

Karl Malone and Demetress Bell (Photos via Getty Images)
NBA legend Karl Malone has again come under fire for his scandalous past following an online rumor claiming he has finally made peace with his son.

It’s been widely known that the former Utah Jazz star had a son with a 13-year-old while he was a fully grown adult, though he never dealt with any consequences.

Malone, now 60, had a son conceived with a 13-year-old Gloria Bell when he was 20. He refused to acknowledge or support him, only meeting him once before they agreed to work on their relationship in 2014.

The son, Demetress Bell, went by the name Demetrius until finding out it was actually spelled “Demetress” in 2012. He was also a basketball player and went to play for Northwestern State College on a scholarship but opted to focus on football, leading to a five-year career in the NFL.

Karl Malone Reportedly Announces Major Step In Relationship With His Son

According to a social media claim from Facebook user Vance Michael Collins, Malone recently revealed having made peace with Bell.

“NBA great Karl Malone states he has finally made peace with the son he conceived at age 22 with a 13 year old girl, Gloria Bell!!!” the post reads.

“Malone initially denied paternity fearing imprisonment and REFUSED to pay $125 a week in child support despite earning a total $101,723,378 throughout his NBA career! He eventually settled with the family out of court and a DNA test did in fact reveal Malone to be the father of Buffalo Bills player, Demetrius Bell. Malone now publicly acknowledges Bell as his son.”

Although Malone’s statement has yet to be confirmed, it has led to plenty of online criticism for The Mailman.

“I didn’t handle it right; I was wrong,” he said of his relationships with his children in 2018, having also denied fathering twins who were determined to be his. “Father Time is the biggest thief that’s out there, and you can’t get that back.”

Kendrick Perkins and LeBron James (Image Source: Getty Images)
LeBron James will return for his 22nd season in the league. After agreeing to a 2-year, $104 million contract, the 39-year-old will create history alongside his son, Bronny James, next season. But does that have anything to do with the Lakers winning a championship? Kendrick Perkins has his doubts.

During a recent episode of “First Take” on ESPN, Perkins discussed the re-signing of LeBron James. Despite his publicized rift with the Lakers forward, Perks did not hesitate to name LeBron the GOAT before highlighting how his and Rob Pelinka’s vision don’t intertwine. “Most importantly..he actually took the max dollars when he gave Rob Pelinka more than enough time to do something. He said he was gonna take a pay cut for Rob Pelinka to go out there and search the market,” the former Celtics‘ player said before mentioning the Lakers’ failure to rope in Klay Thompson.

.@KendrickPerkins believes the Lakers and LeBron are on "two different pages."

"Every time he steps on the floor, LeBron James is thinking about championships. Rob Pelinka is thinking about the future." pic.twitter.com/GdRnZaA6tx

— First Take (@FirstTake) July 3, 2024

“To me, this seems like they’re on two different pages,” Perkins continued. “Every single time he steps on the floor, LeBron James is thinking about championships. Rob Pelinka is thinking about the future.”

LeBron James wanted 3 players to join the Lakers, but none of them were roped in by the franchise. Despite LeBron’s desire to take a pay cut, the Lakers failed to pursue a target to improve the existing squad. But now with the improved deal, LeBron is getting called out over it.

LeBron James Called Out Over New Contract

Skip Bayless clarified his feelings on social media after the news of LeBron James’ new contract. According to the Fox analyst, taking a pay cut was never an option for LeBron. Known for his passionate hate for LBJ, Bayless didn’t pass the opportunity to comment on the situation.

“LeBron, naturally, took the max from the Lakers he can make for his age next season – about $52 million. Yet Rich Paul hilariously said LeBron might take $1 mil less so the Lakers can avoid the 2nd apron. That would be the least LeBron could do. But watch, he won’t,” Bayless posted on X (formerly known as Twitter).

LeBron, naturally, took the max from the Lakers he can make for his age next season – about $52 million. Yet Rich Paul hilariously said LeBron might take $1 mil less so the Lakers can avoid the 2nd apron. That would be the least LeBron could do. But watch, he won't.

— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) July 3, 2024

Now with his future tied for at least the 2024/25 season, LeBron’s immediate focus shifts to the upcoming Olympics. And there can be no better way to start the new season with a gold medal around his neck.

Emmanuel Acho and LeBron James (Photos via FS1 & Getty Images)

Every eye was stuck on LeBron James this offseason, eagerly waiting to see what decision he takes regarding his future. As many had predicted, the 39-year-old ultimately stayed back with the Lakers but that proved to be costly for the franchise. Following the decision, many raised questions regarding LeBron’s intentions, one of which came from ex-NFL player Emmanuel Acho.

On FS1’s “Speak,” the former linebacker claimed, “LeBron’s “primary objective” is no longer winning championships.” Justifying his statement, Acho said, “If LeBron’s primary objective was to win championships I don’t think he would be on the Lakers.”

.@EmmanuelAcho: LeBron's "primary objective" is no longer winning championships. pic.twitter.com/rTokFl5TyY

— Speak (@SpeakOnFS1) July 4, 2024

LeBron James has expressed his desire to bag one more championship title before his days on the hardwood are over. To fulfill the dream, the 20-time All-Star pushed his limits and performed outstandingly last season alongside teammate Anthony Davis. However, because of the team’s lackluster contribution, they couldn’t stand a chance against the Nuggets in the playoffs.

Both the Lakers and LeBron figured out that the only way to success was to rebuild the squad. But the franchise didn’t have enough cap space to afford the big names that LeBron wanted on the roster. So, the 4-time champion proposed to take a pay cut in his salary which could help bringing in elite players.

When the organization failed to follow the plan, LeBron signed a $104 million contract for two years with the Lakers. This made Acho believe that the superstar might not be having the championship win in mind. While others suggest that LBJ is thinking about a different strategy.

LeBron James Reportedly Eyeing Expansion Team

During his final years in the league, LeBron James is ticking the boxes on his desire list. Of the remaining dreams, Brian Windhorst disclosed that his next move could be to own the Las Vegas expansion team.

On “First Take” the ESPN Insider stated, “He wants to be the owner of the coming expansion team in Las Vegas.” Windhorst continued to add, “He wants to join up with partners to become the face of the franchise in Las Vegas.”

.@WindhorstESPN thinks LeBron, if healthy, will play at least two more seasons before eyeing NBA ownership 👀

"He wants to join up with partners to become the face of the franchise in Las Vegas." pic.twitter.com/5blPNGG7cq

— First Take (@FirstTake) July 4, 2024

Windhorst also believes that LeBron will be focused on fulfilling his mission in the following two years. However, right now, his only determination is towards the national team which is preparing to get the gold medal in the Paris Olympics.

Team USA basketball jersey (Image Source: X/@barstoolsports)
Soon, the Team USA committee will reveal the official starting lineup and overall game plan for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics. Rumors have been swirling that one of their most experienced players, LeBron James, might not participate in the Olympics this time. However, due to the Lakers’ star’s extensive experience and valuable presence on the team, there might be a change of plans.

Last week, coach Steve Kerr hinted that a solid starting five could be assembled even without the superstar from the Los Angeles Lakers. However, it looks like Team USA can’t resist his experience because making a quality Olympic roster without the 39-year-old seems challenging.

Recently a reputed source claimed, “James coming off the bench, probably won’t happen. I spoke with two USA Basketball sources and both cast serious doubt on the idea…James, the sources said, will likely play point forward for the Americans as a starter, moving Curry off the ball.”

Team USA is unlikely to bring LeBron James off the bench during the Olympics, per @joevardon

James is expected to start, play point forward, and have Steph Curry play off the ball.

“James coming off the bench, probably won’t happen. I spoke with two USA Basketball sources and… pic.twitter.com/m9WMcHXrOc

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 5, 2024

Vardon’s report stirred online confusion as many fans never expected the four-time NBA Champion to come off the bench. Some people may have thought LeBron’s time was up, but his inclusion is great news for fans. As they look forward to another Olympic gold medal, fans are ecstatic to have him leading Team USA.

Who Made Team USA Basketball Paris Olympic Men’s Roster?

As Squad USA prepares for the Paris Olympics with a dream squad lineup, they have unveiled the 2024 Summer Olympics basketball jerseys. This squad is full of NBA greats, including LeBron James in a special defensive role, and they’ll be up against some formidable opponents. There were some questions about whether the 39-year-old legend would play, but the good news is he’s officially on board.

The U.S. roster first revealed in April is still the same. The 12 players are Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker, Bam Adebayo, Anthony Davis, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Tyrese Haliburton, Joel Embiid, Kevin Durant, and Anthony Edwards.

ESPN Sources: USA Basketball is finalizing its 2024 Paris Olympics roster with Steph Curry, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid, Devin Booker, Tyrese Haliburton, Anthony Edwards, Jrue Holiday, Bam Adebayo and Anthony Davis. Team may initially keep one open spot. pic.twitter.com/kO7TREBVDK

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 15, 2024

Seven members of this squad have won gold medals in the Olympics before. Thus, the head coach assembled the greatest squad possible for the Olympics. Although there’s still a chance the roster could change, it seems unlikely with just weeks until the Opening Ceremony.

Travis Scott, Lil Baby, James Harden & Meek MIll (Image Source: IG/@michaelrubin)
It is time to forget the red carpet. The Hamptons saw a white-out this Fourth of July weekend. Millionaire entrepreneur Michael Rubin sure knows how to throw a party, and this weekend, his annual White Party became the hottest ticket in town. A-list stars like Kyle Kuzma, Klay Thompson, and NFL icon Tom Brady were among the well-known figures seen coming in their best white attire.

The most famous Hollywood A-listers usually attend Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin’s annual Fourth of July party in the Hamptons. In terms of celebrity power, this year’s invitation list was almost as impressive as that of the Met Gala. Notable NBA players such as Kevin Durant, James Harden, Klay Thompson, and Kyle Kuzma were also present at the event.

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Instagram photos of the event, including Brady, Gronkowski, Stroud, and OBJ in white with Rubin, went viral soon. All the impressions of that evening quickly spread over social media, including the fancy white decor, a fun atmosphere, and famous faces mingling beneath the summer sky.

Which Celebrities Shone Bright at Michael Rubin’s Star-Studded Party? 

Many believe that Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin’s All-White 4th of July party is all about Hollywood superstars, but that’s not entirely true. A-listers from various platforms gathered for this special event, making it an early highlight of their summer.

His Hamptons mansion became an annual event on July 4, and guests, including Kim Kardashian, Megan Fox, and Machine Gun Kelly, were seen arriving like a previous tradition. However, among all of them, NFL great Tom Brady shined a lot.

To celebrate the Fourth of July, Tom Brady returned to the field for a beach football game in the Hamptons. The epic game was a prelude to Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin’s spectacular white-themed celebration. Since it fell on the same day as Brady’s mother’s birthday, the importance of the day was magnified for him.

In addition to Tom Brady, other NFL stars, such as Micah Parsons from the Cowboys, Damar Hamlin from the Bills, and Odell Beckham Jr. from the Dolphins, also made a notable impression at the star-studded event. The highly anticipated Bridgehampton meeting also included additional A-listers, such as Jake Paul and Don Lemon, who arrived at the evening.

Caitlin Clark and Michael Jordan (Photos via Getty Images)
Indiana Fever star rookie Caitlin Clark has secured a deal that puts her in league with Michael Jordan.

The former Iowa Hawkeyes point guard has partnered with basketball manufacturer Wilson to release the signature “Caitlin Clark Limitless Series” of balls, marking the first collection resulting from the deal.

Clark signed a multi-year contract with Wilson in May, joining MJ as the only signature athlete to ever sign a deal with the company.

“Made for Defying Limits,” Wilson announced via Instagram on Friday. “The first collection from Caitlin Clark and Wilson Basketball arrives 7/9.”

Check it out below:

“changed the wnba forever,” a user wrote.

“Can’t wait for this one!!!!” said another.

“I have an excited girl! This will be just in time to get for her birthday,” a third disclosed.

Caitlin Clark Is Having An Impressive Rookie Season On a personal Front

Clark is leading all WNBA rookies in points and assists this season, averaging 16.0 points and 7.1 assists. She was selected as an All-Star this week, joining Angel Reese as the only other first-year player to make the roster.

Clark, who entered the league as the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer after four seasons with Iowa, has attracted millions of eyes to WNBA basketball and is being paid very well for it, though not through her deal with the Fever.

The 22-year-old landed the most lucrative deal ever signed by a female basketball player before the start of the season, with Nike handing her a $28 million contract.

She’s likely to garner several more endorsements throughout the early stages of her career in the pros.

The Caitlin Clark-themed Wilson basketball will launch on July 9.

Anthony Davis and LeBron James (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers have been linked to a blockbuster trade for one of the league’s top big men in a move that would significantly bolster their 2025 NBA championship hopes.

Few teams have been busier this offseason than the Los Angeles Lakers. They hired J.J. Redick as their new head coach, used the No. 55 pick on LeBron James’ son, Bronny James, and extended the elder James on a two-year deal worth $104 million.

But it’s obvious that the Lakers need a third scorer to complement the 39-year-old James and fellow superstar Anthony Davis. Look no further than the Boston Celtics, who cruised to an NBA Championship after landing Kristaps Porzingis last offseason in a move to support the Jayson Tatum-Jaylen Brown duo.

BetArizona.com has listed the betting odds for Lauri Markkanen’s next team. The Utah Jazz All-Star big man is widely expected to be dealt this summer, and he’s been tied aplenty to the Lakers in trade rumors.

The Los Angeles Lakers have the fifth-best odds of landing Markkanen at +2000, behind the Golden State Warriors (+900), San Antonio Spurs (+1250), Houston Rockets (+1500) and Oklahoma City Thunder (+1500).

I still think the best possible trade for Lakers if possible would be Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton and Walker Kessler. That is $39,360,464 money coming to LA. Send out DLo, Gabe and Rui and $46,692,307 and take protections off 2027 Round 1 owed to Utah. Send 2029 and 2031.

— Otis Kirk (@OtisKirk23) July 4, 2024

Markkanen earned his first All-Star selection in 2023 and took home Most Improved Player honors. The 27-year-old has averaged over 20 points per game in each of the last two seasons (25.6 PPG in 2022-23 and 23.2 this past year).

Lauri Markkanen Is The Perfect Target For Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers rode the James-Davis super duo to an NBA championship in the Orlando Bubble four years ago. But the supporting cast has weakened, and the Western Conference has become significantly more difficult.

Markkanen has put up excellent numbers on a rebuilding Utah team, bus his presence alongside James and Davis could take this offense to another level. A James-Davis-Markkanen trio would be arguably the best “big three” in the West, and it would greatly enhance their chances of winning another title before James retires.

Los Angeles Lakers (Image source Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers have faced multiple rejections in their attempts to add essential players to their roster. They recently tried to acquire Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson, but he rejected their offer. Thompson later agreed to an offer from the Dallas Mavericks, despite his father’s disapproval, as his father had wanted him to join the Lakers. Similarly, UConn Huskies head coach Dan Hurley rejected an offer from the Lakers to become their next head coach and chose to stay with UConn.

However, the Lakers had some success at the NBA Draft 2024, as they picked LeBron James’ son, Bronny James, as the 55th pick in the second round. Recently, the Lakers surprised everyone with some new young talent additions to the roster. The Lakers announced they have signed Blake Hinson and Armel Traore to two-way contracts.

The Lakers announce they have signed Blake Hinson and Armel Traore to two-way contracts. pic.twitter.com/Ff4c7sEsjq

— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) July 5, 2024

“The Los Angeles Lakers have signed forwards Blake Hinson and Armel Traore to two-way contracts, it was announced today by Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Rob Pelinka. Hinson will wear jersey No. 36 for the Purple and Gold, while Traore will wear No. 37. Both will suit up for the Lakers’ 2024 summer league team.” According to a recent post by NBA Insider Jovan Buha on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Lakers Fans Buzzing Over Hinson’s Game-Changing Deal

After the official press release of the Lakers’ deal, NBA fans became excited and praised the agreement on social media. Most of the fans were talking about Hinson, and they believe that Hinson’s addition will give the team a great boost, helping them clinch the championship in the next season.

Hinson started all 33 games for the University of Pittsburgh in the previous season, averaging 18.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 33.6 minutes per game. He also had an impressive three-point shooting percentage of 42.1%, which was the best in the ACC. His performance earned him a spot on the All-ACC First Team, as he finished third in points per game and second in 3-point field goals made among the league players. On the other hand, Traore played in 33 games for ADA Blois in the LNB Élite in France, where he averaged 10.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game in 25.5 minutes.

On a recent episode of “Get Up” on ESPN, NBA Insider Zach Lowe made some shocking comments about the Lakers. Lowe talked about the gap between a good team and a great team, offering hints about the Lakers. He also shared his opinion about the Lakers’ trade proposals.

LeBron James (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The latest reports from NBA Insider for ESPN Adrian Wojnarowski suggest that the Los Angeles Lakers are working on a strategy to free up some extra money to add essential players during free agency. The Lakers are looking to reduce LeBron James’s max contract to create more cap space. According to Wojnarowski, agent Rich Paul and the franchise are in ongoing conversations about making modifications to James’s contract.

https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1808483960168616410?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1808483960168616410%7Ctwgr%5Eaffd7d11a3dbc42a22b6745684799df98a495e10%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.totalprosports.com%2Fnba%2Freport-los-angeles-lakers-are-working-to-reduce-lebron-james-max-contract-to-create-a-cap-space-for-free-agency%2F

“There’s still a conversation with agent Rich Paul and Lakers on James taking $1 million or so below max to keep team below second-apron and able to keep a little more roster-building flexibility, source tells ESPN,” Wojnarowski wrote in his latest post on X (formerly known as Twitter).

On Wednesday, it was reported that James and the Lakers reached a two-year, $104 million maximum contract agreement. The contract grants James a no-trade clause and a player option for the 2025-2026 season. If James were to sign the entire maximum contract for over $50 million, the Lakers would slightly exceed the $188.9 million second apron. Once the Lakers have used up their whole salary, they cannot take out more funds. However, according to recent reports by ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, King James is prepared to take a pay cut to add some essential players to the roster in order to play better in the next season.

Kendrick Perkins Made Some Bold Statement About Lebron James

Meanwhile, the Lakers have failed to add former Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson to the roster, as Klay agreed to a three-year, $50 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks. However, a former NBA player didn’t hold back on the situation and gave his opinion on the matter. During a recent episode of the show “First Take,” the host Kendrick Perkins, who recently had a social media fight with James, mentioned that he believes the Lakers and LeBron are on “two different pages.”

“Every time he steps on the floor, LeBron James is thinking about championships. Rob Pelinka is thinking about the future.” Perkins said during the latest episode of First Take.

Dalton Knecht (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers stirred up the media by drafting Dalton Knecht as the No. 17 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. The rookie is now set to play with one of the most storied NBA teams, the legendary LeBron James-Bronny James father-son duo. Before his NBA start, Knetcht recently opened up, sharing who he idolizes as the greatest NBA player ever.

During a brief Q&A session with SLAM Online, Knecht was asked, “Best NBA player of all time?” 

The rookie, without hesitation, mentioned “Kevin Durant.”

https://twitter.com/TheDunkCentral/status/1808669658813198799?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1808669658813198799%7Ctwgr%5E0eefe7221e615108e1732bbee21569888cc5d0ba%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.totalprosports.com%2Fnba%2Flakers-rookie-dalton-knecht-reveals-his-take-on-the-greatest-nba-player-of-all-time-and-it-is-not-what-anyone-expected%2F

In the same video, Knecht shared his predictions for the upcoming NBA and WNBA seasons. He confidently stated that the Lakers would be the 2025 NBA champions and predicted that the Las Vegas Aces would take the 2024 WNBA Championship.

LeBron James’ College Prediction of Dalton Knecht Leaves Rookie Stunned

Dalton Knecht was expected to be a top-10 pick or at least a lottery selection. However, before Bronny James’ controversial draft pick, the Lakers stole the spotlight by selecting Knecht.

Interestingly, the Los Angeles Lakers legend LeBron James had predicted Knecht’s potential while still in college. Yet Knecht initially thought the video of James’ praise was a prank.

“I woke up and thought it was fake at first. I thought there was no way he said that,” he mentioned during his introductory press conference.

https://twitter.com/swishcultures_/status/1806346547543605271?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1806346547543605271%7Ctwgr%5E0eefe7221e615108e1732bbee21569888cc5d0ba%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.totalprosports.com%2Fnba%2Flakers-rookie-dalton-knecht-reveals-his-take-on-the-greatest-nba-player-of-all-time-and-it-is-not-what-anyone-expected%2F

Despite not having a pre-draft workout with the Lakers, Knecht has always been confident in his abilities.

“I feel like I’ve always had that. Ever since I touched a basketball, I knew that I could do it; it was just a matter of how. My journey is not like everybody else’s, but that’s OK; everybody has a journey of their own. So just creating my path is something special, and a lot of kids will look up to it. So that’s really cool to wrap my head around,” Knecht said.

Now, Knecht is prepared to bring the same work ethic to the Lakers that he has demonstrated throughout his basketball career.