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Luka Dončić
basketball November 4, 2022
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Is Luka Dončić the best player in the NBA? Inside his journey and mindset

After scoring 33 points in a victory over the Utah Jazz (6-3), it is time people start talking about Luka Dončić as one of the best basketball players in the world.

Dončić is only the third player in NBA history to start the season with seven straight 30-point games; the 23-year-old superstar also leads the league in points per game at 36.1.

If the young guard continues on this path, it’s safe to say the Dallas Mavericks (4-3) have an incredibly bright future.  

“I always say, ‘I just wish to play in the NBA.’ This is really a dream for me, I couldn’t be happier to play basketball to be my job, and that’s it. I’m just happy to play basketball, and when we win, it’s even better,”

Dončić told reporters. 

It’s all about your mindset

Though Dončić comes off as a fun and relaxed guy, what makes him so elite is his championship mindset:

“I just know from last year, I had to start [this season] better because the way I started last year wasn’t exactly acceptable. So I tried to learn from that and just be better than last year” he later added.  

Dončić made it his mission to improve over the offseason, and his trainer, Anze Macek, said he wanted to begin working ‘immediately’ after the end of last season.  

“Shortly after the end of the season, he [Dončić] contacted me and said that he wanted to start fitness training immediately… When he went on vacation, he asked me for a work [out] plan… He is also increasingly aware of the importance of physical preparation. That’s why I believe in his progress,”

Macek told SportsKlub Slovenija.  

Life before the NBA

This championship-caliber mindset didn’t just begin for the Mavericks Guard; it is something he has carried with him since he was a young kid. Dončić became a pro basketball player at 13 years old; five years later, he would become the youngest EuroLeague MVP.  

Despite this huge accomplishment, Dončić would continue to work hard to silence doubters who felt any team that picked him was taking a ‘chance’ since he was a European player.  

How he dealt with criticism

“Dončić, at 6-foot-7, will get exposed for all the Dirk [Nowitzki Had]. Dirk’s not a great athlete. Dirk doesn’t have explosiveness. Dirk isn’t physical. Well, that’s what’s going to happen to Dončić because he doesn’t have the one thing nobody can bother or stop,” . 

Skip Bayless said on Undisputed, directly after the 2018 NBA draft. 

Well, Dončić continued to work in silence and prove critics wrong. He would earn the 2018-19 NBA rookie of the year award and average 31.0 points per game in the playoffs a season later against all-stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George and the accompanying Los Angeles Clippers.  

However, after two first-round playoff exits against the Clippers – coming into the 2021-22 season, people were questioning if Dončić had what it took to propel a team deep into the playoffs. 

Only time will tell

Dončić would answer these questions come playoff time, making it all the way to game five of the Western Conference Finals. During this 15-game playoff run, the young phenom averaged 31.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 6.4 assists while shooting 45.5% from the field.  

Whenever people have questioned Dončić’s capabilities, he has answered impressively. It will be fascinating to see what questions he will answer this year when he looks to earn his first NBA Finals appearance. 

lebron lakers
basketball October 24, 2022
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The Lakers still have not figured things out and it’s getting ugly

Currently in the hot seat are the Los Angeles Lakers and it’s not getting pretty.

As one of the most famous teams in basketball – people want to know why their beloved team is off to yet another rough start. The “Showtime Lakers” lost to the Warriors (2-1), Clippers (2-1), and now the Trail Blazers (3-0). 

What happened last night?

After losing Sunday night, it is clear the struggle for the Lakers is on the offense side of the ball. Point guard Russell Westbrook, shooting 28.9 % this season, was in charge of many miscues down the stretch. 

Late in the game, Westbrook was being guarded by Blazers center Jusuf Nurkić when he decided to go for a two-for-one opportunity with 30 seconds remaining. Westbrook missed the 16-foot jumper and gave the Blazers just enough chances to steal the win.  

How Portland got it done

“I wanted to keep Nurk [Nurkic] out there for rebounding purposes and even offensively, you know, he came up with a big layup in a big part of the game. But putting him on Russ [Russell], you know, we’re just going to play off of Russ in that moment. And if they come together, we’re just going to go over the screen and allow the offense to see what they were going to do with it,”

said Blazers Head Coach Chauncey Billups to the media after the win.  

These are not words you want to hear if you are a Lakers fan. Westbrook, who is being paid $44 million, was shut down by a center in last night’s affair. Westbrook’s shooting mishaps allow opponents to clog the paint, forcing them to take jump shots from the outside – which does not seem to be their forte.  

The Lakers’ biggest issue

Through three games, the Lakers have the second-worst 3-point shooting percentage per 100 attempts in the history of the NBA. The best shooter behind the arc is LeBron James, at 25.9%. After losing to the defending champions in game one, James went on record pointing out this obvious flaw: 

“I think we’re getting great looks, but it also could be teams giving us great looks. I mean, if we’re completely honest, we’re not a team that is constructed of great shooting. That’s just the truth of the matter. It’s not like we’re sitting here with a lot of lasers on our team,”   

James told reporters after the loss.  

Those are powerful words from the captain, who is seeking his fifth NBA championship. At 37-years-old, many believe it is safe to say LeBron’s championship aspirations can be put to rest if general manager Rob Pelinka does not make immediate changes to this roster.  

How outsiders are reacting

The Lakers’ 2027 and 2029 1st-round picks are available for trade, leaving many of the “Laker Faithful” hopeful of a package deal. A transaction including draft picks and Westbrook, who many feel is responsible for the Lakers’ struggles thus far.  

“You don’t have any shooters. That’s really what the bottom line is, and as a result of that, you are incredibly inferior. You looked at the Los Angeles Lakers last night; they looked like a team that knew they did not belong on the same court as a championship squad. They looked woeful as far as I’m concerned,”

Stephen A. Smith told the NBA Countdown show.  

NBA insider for ESPN, Adrian Wojnarowski, told the NBA Countdown show what he believes the Lakers plan to do with their team moving forward: 

“The expectation is there’ll be more sellers this year; you start to see the asking price and trades go down. It’s supply and demand. So, expect the Lakers, you know, to get to that 20-game point where teams kind of reach an inflection point about how they want to proceed and then see what might really be available to help improve this Lakers team.”

– Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN

What is next? 

After finishing the 2021-22 regular season in 11th place with a 33-49 record, Lakers fans do not want to wait any longer.

With the most finals appearances at 32, the Lakers find themselves in what seems now to be familiar territory – outside the playoff hunt.  

The Lakers will try to earn their first win Wednesday, Oct. 26, when they travel to take on former MVP Nikola Jokić and the accompanying Denver Nuggets.  

Music
Music November 18, 2021
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Our favorite NBA players are bumping this music before games

NBA players inspire us daily but what music are they listening to in order reach the highest level of focus?

Music can have an incredibly powerful effect on both our bodies and on our brains. If you need to concentrate whilst working, classical music has been known to help maintain focus.

If you are going out for a run, or any exercise that requires you to maintain a constant rhythm, finding dance music that has the right beats per minute has been proven to be incredibly effective. If you are hosting a dinner party and you want to create a chilled-out atmosphere amongst your guests, soft jazz could be the way forward.

Nerves can affect anyone before an important meeting or event, especially for those people who find these sorts of situations uncomfortable.

That is why it can be useful to get the adrenaline pumping and to go into these challenges head-on and feel energized, instead of meekly showing up. That is why fast music, such as rock, heavy metal, or rap, can be effective genres to try out in these sorts of situations.

Professional athletes aren’t immune to these sorts of nerves. In fact, some of them will have to go through this sort of process on a semi-weekly basis, as they will have numerous important fixtures to contend with each week.

That is why the locker room is off-limits to fans and the press, as it is seen as a sanctuary for the players to get into the right headspace, so they can focus on the game itself, and ignore everything else around them.

While post-game the locker room will probably have music being blared out from a loudspeaker, beforehand most players will have their own headphones in, listening to their music of choice.

Ever wondered what music it is that athletes, such as NBA players are listening to before they run out onto the court?

It is something fans and bettors will be considering when they are searching for sports betting odds on the NBA, as they want to place bets on players and teams who clearly look pumped up for the game, which will be directly influenced by the type of music they listen to pregame.

nba players music

Let’s see if we can’t uncover a little more information on this topic.

A few years ago, the NBA asked the teams who had made it to the playoffs to have some of their players share a few songs each, so fans could get a good idea of what was pumping through their headphones before these big crunch games.

A lot of the same artists cropped up, such as Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z, N.W.A and 2 Pac. Justin Timberlake and Rihanna also made frequent appearances, as did 50 Cent and Lil Wayne. Given how popular the hip hop/ rap/ r&b genres are these days, it is no surprise to see them being mentioned so often by the current top NBA players. 

That’s not to say that other genres aren’t represented at all. J.J. Redick, the former shooting guard for the Philadelphia 76ers and the Orlando Magic was more into alternative rock, stating that he listened to bands such as Alt-J, Silversun Pickups, and Imagine Dragons before each game.

Rock music was certainly a more popular genre 20 years ago, but it’s good to see that some players still use it to get them motivated for a big game.

If LeBron is listening to it, it clearly works

LeBron James has arguably been the best NBA player for the past 15 to 20 years. He has won the NBA championship 4 times, in 2012, 2013, 2016, and 2020.

Not only that, but he has also been named as the NBA MVP on 4 separate occasions, in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013. So clearly he knows what he is doing on the basketball court, as fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Miami Heat, or the LA Lakers will attest to.

Therefore, his pregame playlist, which he shared with people back in 2017, should certainly be listened to by anyone who needs to get the blood pumping before a big event.

The playlist, available on Apple Music, contains a lot of hip-hop and rap, from artists such as 2 Chainz, the Notorious B.I.G, and SZA. It is interesting to see a number of Drake songs on there too.

In fact, Drake was one of the most popular artists for a lot of the NBA players who shared their playlists, so clearly his music is just right for getting in the mood.

However, given that Drake is a huge Toronto Raptors fan, we’re not sure how happy he would be to see his songs used to inspire players who often do so well against his beloved team!

CountOnVic
10K80 March 3, 2021
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NBA Insider CountOnVic Proves There’s More to Sports Media for Women

Vic Jacobi, an NBA insider known as CountOnVic, is making quite a name for herself. In a field thought to be dominated by men, she’s proving that there is more to sports media for women looking to tap into the giant industry.

So what exactly does she do? A little bit of everything. She connects the dots, consults brands, assists in athlete relations, curates content for SLAM and Franchise magazines, the list goes on.

Her love for the game of basketball allows her to navigate the multiple moving parts of the sports and media industries and piece them together.

There’s more to sports for women in media

Making her way over a giant ocean, at 13, by way of Israel, she climbed the social media totem pole, and each step she took elevated her to a new level.

At a young age, CountOnVic recognized her value and used the knowledge she gained throughout her sports media career as her momentum. At Buscemi, our host Savannah Hart asked the NBA insider how she’s fostered the valuable relationships she has today:

“I did a lot for free. It’s a good reputation to have. But you have to learn, along the way, that you have to start asking for things,” said Vic.

“My value is my network…”

– NBA Insider Vic Jacobi, @countonvic

NBA Insider CountOnVic getting the scoop from Ben Simmons

Humility and a willingness to learn have helped her get to where she is today. Solidifying her status as a woman in the sports media industry, thus far in her career, she’s worked with numerous brands and athletes.

From exclusive drops with Footlocker to Converse and collaborations with Trae Young and Dwayne Wayde, CountOnVic’s mindset continues to break barriers within the sports industry for aspiring creatives and women in media overall.

CountOnVic sets the tone for women in sports media

Vic’s advice for women and youth looking to tap into the sports media industry:

“It’s all about the networking. In the sense, that you have to make people remember you. It’s the facetime. It’s actually talking to people. I always say shoot your shot… Just go for it. Don’t be afraid to ask. “

– Vic Jacobi. @countonvic

Run it up!

10K80 January 26, 2021
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Remembering a legend: 10 iconic photos from Kobe Bryant’s career

To the photographers able to capture photos of Kobe Bryant throughout his illustrious career over the years, thank you. It is because of you that we have iconic and powerful photos of Kobe Bryant to remember him by, both on and off the basketball court.

Much of my family derives from Philadelphia and neighboring East Coast areas. The farthest back that I can remember is the first time my feet touched the ocean at age three in Avalon, NJ.

When I sat down with my grandparents to watch the 2001 NBA Finals (76ers versus Lakers), my family swore up and down how the 6ers and A.I. would triumph.

Unbeknownst to them, there was a guy on the other side of the court with the basketball named Kobe Bean Bryant. Remembering Kobe Bryant is one of the best things we can do whenever we need motivation and clarity.

Let us now reminisce and bask in the glory of the legendary ‘Black Mamba’ through this collection of wondrous imagery.

Remembering young Kobe Bryant at the tip of his career

Kobe Bryant photographed by Jon SooHoo during a portrait session outside of The Forum in Inglewood, CA – 1997

“Green and inexperienced, dreaming about that chariot.”

Capital Steez – Dead Prez

Making the leap from high school to the league is quite the feat. Kobe welcomed the challenge in stride and set his sights on the upper echelon from day one.

Remembering Kobe Bryant means remembering him before reaching the height of his powers. The star-eyed youngster intent on being great.

Reading the paper, Kobe clearly disapproves of what he sees

Kobe Bryant photographed by Andrew D. Bernstein while reading the paper prior to playing the New Jersey Nets during the 2002 NBA Finals in Los Angeles, CA – June 01, 2002

The satirical caricature of Kobe’s domineering comrade, Shaquille O’Neal does not even measure up to his waistline. Why poke a bear? Kobe gives us his best Cam’ron impression in this flick in contemplation along the lines of, “Sure. Add fuel to this Mamba fire. My play will do the talkin.'”

Star-studded lovers Kobe and Vanessa Bryant in the early years of their relationship

Vanessa Bryant & Kobe Bryant photographed by Andrew D. Bernstein while arriving home after defeating the 76ers during Game Five of the NBA Finals in Los Angeles, CA – June 16, 2001

“Am I wrong? I want my bouquet when I can smell it”

(Legend – Benny the Butcher)

An undying passion for the game and commitment to excellence flowed through every vein of Kobe’s body. One can only imagine the amount of love and devotion Kobe showed to those with whom he surrounded himself, inside and outside of basketball.

We remember Kobe Bryant in his efforts off the court just as much as we do those on it.

A beautiful father-son duo, Kobe always respected and appreciated his pops

Kobe Bryant & his father Joseph Bryant photographed by Nathaniel S. Butler while in the locker room before a game against the 76ers in Philadelphia, PA – November 26, 1996

Kobe’s hunger transcended generations. He was one of the few athletes with the caliber to jump straight from high school to the NBA.

Some people know their calling from a young age and KBB was clearly of a different elk since conception.

Shaq and Kobe always had a contentious relationship, but there was always love there

Kobe Bryant & Shaq’s father Phillip Harrison photographed by Andrew D. Bernstein before a game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA – 2000

Kobe was a family man through and through. He yearned to discover every single detail and aspect about the game of basketball.

That crossed over to relationships as he wanted to know every single thing about those around him in order to better himself and advance relations in the utmost.

So even though Shaq and Kobe feuded, this photo of Kobe Bryant and Shaq’s dad reminds us that there was a lot of love on display still.

Before the rings, Shaq and Kobe had a lot to prove, together

Shaquille O’Neal & Kobe Bryant photographed by John W. McDonough while playing against the Houston Rockets in Inglewood, CA – May 09, 1999

The rift between Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal in their basketball endeavors was well-documented in their careers. When you get two competitive behemoths of that magnitude, it is difficult to have everything flow perfectly.

Regardless, their off-the-court disagreements never spilled over onto the court. As genuine basketball connoisseurs, that is all we can ask for.

After the first ring, this candid photo shows the pride both Kobe and Shaq felt

LOS ANGELES – JUNE 19: Shaquille O’Neal #34 and Kobe Bryant #8 of the Los Angeles Lakers pose for a photo after winning the NBA Championship on June 19, 2000 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2000 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

Clearly, the rings can do the talking. Not only that, but the sheer gaudy statistics speak volumes of these two players’ capabilities.

Call them what you want – never call them for fronts. These two men are legends.

Perhaps one of the most famous photos of his career, Kobe takes a second to take the moment in

Kobe Bryant photographed by Andrew D. Bernstein after defeating the Philadelphia 76ers in Game Five of the NBA Finals in Philadelphia, PA – June 15, 2001

Exhausted, spent, worn. Kobe poured his heart and soul into every bounce of the Spalding.

An individual to truly admire for his wondrous deeds on and off of the court, these photos of Kobe Bryant keep us inspired. Greatness personified.

The ultimate competitors: Kobe vs. A.I.

PHILADELPHIA – FEBRUARY 20: Allen Iverson #3 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Kobe Bryant #8 of the Los Angeles Lakers stand during a game played on February 20, 2000 at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1993 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

If you were there, you attended the closest thing to heaven’s entrance. Night in and night out during their careers, Kobe and A.I. spoiled us with their incredibly gifted outputs.

When Kobe fatefully passed on this day last year, A.I. was one of his many contemporaries to speak out on his love and respect for the Mamba.

“Greatness needs company, and we needed each other. Mike needed Prince like Prince needed Mike.”

Allen Iverson in The Players’ Tribune

One of the most famous photos of Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson: The two biggest Laker legends of all time

Kobe Bryant & Magic Johnson photographed by Walter Looss Jr. during a portrait session for Sports Illustrated in Los Angeles, CA – April 01, 1998

Voila, Magic! Not only did Kobe put on for the entire state of California, he commanded attention, globally.

Together with Lakers’ legends, Kobe had massive plans to continue to bolster the identity and elite functionality of the Los Angeles Lakers organization.

The magnum opus of Kobe Bryant photos: Kobe and Mike, teacher and mentor

Michael Jordan & Kobe Bryant photographed by Andrew D. Bernstein during a game at The Forum in Inglewood, CA – February 01, 1998

There is no denying the fact that to be the man you have to beat the man. With careful craft and rigorous preparation Kobe molded his game ever so closely to that of Michael Jordan.

Kobe Bryant’s basketball prowess is what got MJ’s attention. But it was his work ethic and killer mentality that truly attracted Mike to Bean. And MJ spoke reverently about Kobe at his memorial in 2020.

“Kobe was my dear friend, he was like a little brother. When Kobe died, a little piece of me died.”

Michael Jordan

Interested in more Kobe Bryant quotes? Tap in here:

Pau Gasol with the Bryants
gigi bryant October 6, 2020
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How Pau Gasol continues to be Kobe Bryant’s best friend after his death

Pau Gasol and Kobe formed a brotherhood as beautiful as they come.

Gasol spent seven seasons as a teammate of Kobe Bryant on the Los Angeles Lakers.

Those seven seasons included two championships and the growth of a brotherhood between the two that hasn’t stopped even since Kobe’s tragic death.

Looking after Kobe’s family

When Kobe passed away along with his daughter, Gigi, and seven others in a helicopter crash, he left behind his wife and three daughters. 

“Uncle” Gasol has stepped in and made sure to look after the Bryant family in what has been a difficult time for the family. Pau and Kobe frequently referred to each other as brothers even after their playing days. 

Gasol spent his 40th birthday with the Bryant family and for Gigi’s 14th birthday, he sent the family a cake. He also sent Kobe’s wife, Vanessa, a bouquet of flowers for her wedding anniversary.

Kobe made Pau the godfather of his children. Gasol has made sure to be there in any way possible for the Bryant family, who are no doubt hurting. Pau Gasol and Kobe’s brotherhood is clear, even after Kobe’s unfortunate passing.

Gasol’s wife Catherine McDonnell, recently gave birth to their first child together. With Vanessa Bryant’s blessing, they honored the Bryant family by naming her Elisabet Gianna Gasol. 

Brotherhood

In game 1 of the NBA Finals, Gasol showed up to the virtual crowd wearing a Lakers “Black Mamba” edition Kobe Bryant jersey. It was a way of paying tribute to Kobe as the “Black Mamba” edition jerseys were made to honor him this season.

The Lakers are 4-0 in the playoffs when wearing the jersey up until this point. 

There is no doubt that what Kobe and Pau were able to accomplish on the court was legendary. Their relationship with one another, however, was always deeper than basketball.

Even after Kobe’s death, we can see just how close he and Pau Gasol were and what their friendship meant to one another. 

james harden
compton June 26, 2018
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How James Harden went from Compton kid to the MVP the NBA

When the Oklahoma City Thunder drafted James Harden No. 3 overall in the 2009 NBA Draft, most scouts thought he would become a solid sixth man on an up-and-coming team.

But in the 2012 Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, Harden carried the Thunder back from a 2-0 deficit and vaulted them into the Finals where they eventually lost the to the Miami Heat.

Along with Harden, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, and Serge Ibaka, that Thunder team looked primed to make multiple Finals appearances and become one of the league’s best teams.

But, in one of the most bizarre trades in NBA history, Harden was dealt to the Houston Rockets in the following offseason.

On the Rockets, Harden was given an increased role and has become a perennial MVP candidate and now, one of the league’s highest paid players.

No longer is he just a kid from Compton with a sweet lefty jumper and a lethal Eurostep: Harden is now the owner of the richest contract in NBA history.

Last weekend, Harden signed a four-year contract extension worth $160 million, guaranteeing the former Arizona State star a whopping $228 over the next six years.

In 2015, Harden signed a 13 year, $200 million dollar sneaker deal with Adidas. Harden is cashing those damn checks. Harden has come a long way from his days at Artesia High School.

He is now a fixture in the “Calabasas Crew,” having dated Khloe Kardashian and been spotted at events with Kanye West and Justin Bieber, Harden and his signature beard have become top-tier celebrities.

Now, the pressure is on Harden to live up to his enormous contract. But the kid from Compton shouldn’t worry, all these extra M’s are just gravy at this point.

nba June 21, 2018
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How Steve Nash brought stars from the NBA and soccer together with futbol

Yesterday in the Lower Manhattan, Steve Nash hosted his 11th annual soccer Showdown filled with athletes and celebrities for a children’s charity.

The match featured T.J. McConnell from the 76er’s, D’Angelo Russell from the Brooklyn Nets, and even Joel Embiid made an appearance at the match.

These NBA stars proved on the pitch that they are more than just basketball players, they played at a competitive rate with players from some of the biggest clubs in Europe.

Steve Nash demonstrated his soccer skill set throughout the match consistently beating defenders and also controlling the midfield for his team. He even had his father, John Nash, players who used to be a professional soccer player in his prime.

Asmir Begovic the current goalkeeper for AFC Bournemouth and Giuseppe Rossi the current striker for Genoa participated in the event.

Begovic has played in some of the biggest games and for some of the biggest teams, including the 2014 World Cup Begovic and playing for Premier League powerhouse Chelsea.

Begovic played great in net, he made saves that proved he was a Premier League goalie. While Rossi put on a show for the fans with his footwork and his finishing capabilities.

However, the real stars of the match were the United States youngsters Timothy Weah of PSG and Weston Mckennie of Schalke.

These two dominated on the ball, beating defenders left and right with their skills and setting up their teammates with beautiful passes. They were a great duo for the team and gave some hope for the future of U.S. soccer.

@timothyweah #showdownny

A post shared by Ethan White (@ethanwhite) on

Steve Nash put on a great event for fans and the children who will benefit from the event.

This match demonstrated the power of soccer, bringing together people from all around NYC to watch celebrities and professionals from around the globe partake in a charity game.

2K
hoodie melo October 4, 2017
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2K finally explains how they rate players for pissed off NBA stars

Why is Kyrie Irving only a 90 overall?

Every year 2K has the responsibility of giving each NBA player a rating based on their previous season. You have players on opposite sides of the spectrum from LeBron at a deserving 97 overall to Melo’s 84 (FOH).

NBA 2K is the highest selling sports game out and for good reason. If you’re a fan of basketball you’re a fan of 2K and athletes are no different.

It’s no surprise then athletes get a little in their feelings when they discover their 2K rating. Playing ball is their livelihood, to play all year to end up a 77 overall has to hurt a little.

The way 2K decides these ratings has always been a mystery. Is it all relative? Does Westbrook’s 94 overall equal Steph Curry’s 94? How do you make sense of it all? Well thanks to a recent interview with Complex, 2K has revealed just what goes into their decision making when rating an NBA player.

Contrary to popular belief, the 2K team doesn’t hand out ratings based on their favorite team or who’s popular. Instead they use a deeply specific system that in turn balances players with accurate stats.

2K Games Producer Michael Stauffer spoke about the rating system,

“We have to balance the statistics. For example, a guy like Kyrie Irving has great lateral movement. We don’t want him to feel slow, but at the same time, we don’t want him to be overpowering on defense.”

By analyzing a player’s specific stats, 2K is able to break down their skills to a correlating number. For example, a player’s steals per game or 3 point shots made will factor into those respective attributes.

Certain attributes will even work in tangent with each other like passing accuracy and passing consistency. As the NBA increases their analysis of players, NBA 2K will be right behind them collecting that data.

Ratings don’t tell the whole story behind a player either. 2K revealed that player types also make a difference during actual gameplay.

In terms of Westbrook vs. Curry, 2K has a different approach. A playmaking (secondary) defender (primary) point guard is going to be evaluated differently than a defensive (secondary) playmaker (primary) point guard.

All this means is that 2K ratings have a lot of thought put into them. Melo’s 84 rating happened for a reason I guess. Not much anyone can really complain about anymore, but it’s still fun to argue.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BWq3Zd7B6KU/

kevin durant
10K80 June 3, 2017
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Kevin Durant is low key taking over the tech scene in Silicon Valley

When Kevin Durant shocked the sports world and left Oklahoma City for Golden State last summer, not a lot of people understood the vision.

Of course there was the obvious: “this motherf*cker’s tryna win some championships”, but there was more behind the move than just ball.

Unlike LeBron who spent four years in Miami to get his rings and turn up at LIV, which he definitely did, Durant made the conscious decision to make sure he was in position to undertake another endeavor once his playing days are over.

In his Players Tribune announcement he said this decision,

“Encourages my evolution as a man: moving out of my comfort zone to a new city and community, which offers the greatest potential for my contribution and personal growth.”

The allure of Silicon Valley and the possibilities investing his time and money into tech was something that he just couldn’t pass up so he peaced on OKC to pursue something that’s realistically bigger than basketball.

So what exactly has the 6’10” ball player-slowly-transitioning-into-businessman been cooking up since pulling up to the Bay?

Kevin Durant is already one of the most marketable pro athletes and is signed with Jay Z’s Roc Nation Sports.

Twitter

He’s also one of the most business minded NBA players.

Before even moving to Silicon Valley, KD formed a startup with his agent and partner Rich Kleiman called Durant Company.

Kevin Durant

There he has invested in companies such as Acorns.

As well as the food delivery service Postmates, where he’s an investor and spokesperson.

Reddit

He even did a special promotion where he was delivering Postmates orders himself!

He also invests in a slew of other tech related startups and app companies like Jetsmarter.

Jetsmarter

Plus so many more that we can’t even keep track at this point.

KD even appears on the Shark Tank themed show for athletes MVP.

Go90

Plus he’s an investor in the site Players Tribune where he published his decision to play for the Warriors.

The Players Tribune

But what KD is most interested in at the moment is video content and distribution.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFo5hb-2YT8

He regularly speaks at the YouTube headquarters in San Bruno, California and streams his own live vlogs.

In just one year with Golden State, he’s accomplished more off the court than he was ever able to in OKC.

The scary part is that he’s only getting started.

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