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Source: Todd Korol / Getty
There doesn’t seem to be an end in sight to the “Not Like Us” wave. DeMar DeRozan has explained his cameo in the video.
As reported by Hype Beast the Sacramento Kings shooting guard recently paid a visit to Fox 40. During his conversation with Sean Cunningham he discussed joining the team after being traded from the Toronto Raptors. He made it clear that he is here to win. “I want to be one of those guys that hits the beam,” he said. “I will work my butt off more than ever to make sure the city gets what it deserves. I just want to win at the highest levels.”
While the focus of the interview was his future with the team he did speak to why he briefly appeared in the “Not Like Us” video. “Kendrick been a friend of mine, family — damn near family, for a long time, for a while. We’re from the same city, we grew up damn near in the same neighborhood,” DeRozan said. “So it’s always been there. It hasn’t always been publicized, but, you know, that’s basically family.” Even though he seemingly has a strong bond with K Dot he says Drake’s music will still airplay at the Sacramento Kings’ Golden 1 Center. “We love Drake. We love Drake. We can always play him” he said.
You can watch DeMar Derozan’s interview below.
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Source: Alfonso Cannavacciuolo / Getty
At the young age of 34-years-old, former NBA All-Star and college basketball legend Kemba Walker is calling it a pro-basketball career.
On Tuesda (June 2), the Bronx-born phenom announced that he was officially walking away from the game in a heartfelt social media post in which he thanked God, his fans and the game for changing his life. After getting drafted by the Charlotte Bobcats in 2011 with the ninth overall pick, Kemba Walker went on to have a respectable career averaging 19.3 points per game over his 12-year NBA career.
Unfortunately, injuries derailed his true potential and Kemba found himself bouncing around from team to team over the last few years of his career playing with the Boston Celtics (2019-20), the New York Knicks (2021-22) and the Dallas Mavericks (2022-2023). Sadly, all of his multi-city stints were injury ridden.
Still, the man is a legend in his own right having led his UConn basketball team to the college title in 2011 and being named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four in the process.
Not one to look on the negative side of things, Walker says though he’s done playing basketball, he’s looking forward to what the future holds for him writing, “Basketball will forever be a part of my life so this isn’t goodbye. I’m excited for what’s next.”
Good luck and Godspeed, homie!
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Ime Udoka, currently the coach for the Houston Rockets, found his name trending on X this morning (June 18) after his former team, the Boston Celtics, captured their 18th NBA championship on Monday. Because the game is the game, Ime Udoka is getting cooked on the social media network for fumbling the bag and other choice digs as expected.
The Boston Celtics put on a masterclass in basketball efficiency last night, taking out the Dallas Mavericks with ease after getting walloped last Friday on the Mavs’ home court. The team the Celtics put on the floor last night was comprised of players Udoka coached, during his years with the franchise.
As most know, Udoka was suspended by the Celtics organization for the entire 2022-23 season for engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a woman who also worked for the team. Assistant coach Joe Mazzula assumed head coaching duties, leading the team to victory in the 2024 NBA Finals with Jaylen Brown earning the Finals MVP trophy.
Udoka was a beloved coach for the Celtics and got the team to the 2022 NBA Finals, but bumped into a still feisty Golden State Warriors team despite going up 2-1 in the series. It was assumed that the Celtics would eventually reach this level again under his leadership but the controversy proved to be too meddlesome.
Further, Udoka’s relationship with actress Nia Long also suffered an end due to the issues stemming from the relationship with the Celtics employee. If there is one bright spot, Udoka, despite the stain on his name, managed to secure another head coaching gig with Houston, although the team didn’t perform up to the standards befitting of its young and talented core.
On X, formerly Twitter, fans are frying up Ime Udoka as his former team basks in glory. Check out the replies below.
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Photo: Getty
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Source: MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images / Getty / Austin Rivers
Austin Rivers is not happy with Hulu’s original series Clipped or the casting choices for the roles of members of the Los Angeles Clippers during Donald Sterling’s tenure as owner.
In a recent episode of his The Offguard Podcast, former NBA player turned ESPN NBA analyst expressed his frustration with the actors chosen to play his NBA brethren in Clipped.
The Hulu series is based on the ESPN 30 For 30 podcast, The Sterling Affairs, which focuses on the turmoil following the Clippers’ former owner being recorded by his mistress saying derogatory racial remarks.
In a clip shared on Instgram, Rivers goes ham on the actor cast to play Golden State Warriors sharpshooter Stephen Curry: “That is Stephen Santiago. That’s, like, the third baseman for the Padres. Who the hell is that guy?”
The actor who plays Blake Griffin in the series also caught a vicious stray from Rivers. “This is really bad. The guy’s hairline’s receding already, and he looks just nothing like Blake.”
P-Valley star J. Alphonse Nicholson’s portrayal of the “point god,” Chris Paul, did not win over Rivers either. “That is my local A/C man, Frederick. Who is this? Who the hell is that?”
Damn, that’s how you doing, the man who plays Lil Murda to perfection?
Austin Rivers Spares Laurence Fishburne
Sheldon Bailey, who plays DeAndre Jordan in the series, was not spared from Rivers’s ire either. “There’s no effort in this. That looks nothing like DJ.”
One person who did not catch that much flack for his performance in the show, outside of his body weight, was Laurence Fishburne. He happens to be portraying Austin Rivers’s dad, Doc Rivers, who was the Clippers head coach during the drama with Donald Sterling.
“Laurence Fishburne is a legend, and he’s a great actor,” Rivers said. “The body of my father is just a little bit different. I’m not saying he’s 100% in shape, but he’s built a little different than Laurence Fishburne. We could’ve done a little AI or something there.”
Fishburne spoke about his portrayal of Doc Rivers on a recent episode of the Dan Patrick Show revealing he had no idea who Rivers was before he got the role.
Luke James Dunks On Austin Rivers
One person who was not here for Austin Rivers’ hate was singer/actor Luke James, who had time for the former pro hooper.
“The series is great. casting is solid. u niggas should make a series. cast all the giant none acting ass niggas in it. see how it fairs out. i’m sure all these folks in agreement w/u will love it,” James wrote in the post’s comment section.
We can’t be mad at that.
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Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Dončić has a history of complaining to the refs, and apparently, Brian Windhorst has had enough.
On Wednesday (June 12), after Game 3 of the NBA Finals, the basketball journalist made an appearance on SportsCenter With Scott Van Pelt.
After he was asked to respond to Dončić fouling out with four minutes left in the fourth quarter, Windy eviscerated the Slovenian superstar for his decision to not only draw a foul in that moment, but to also complain about the call.
His rant was so epic and so out of character for the usually subdued reporter, fans decided to make a meme out of it by setting the “Meet the Grahams” and “Not Like Us” beats behind his vocals. Watch:
Here’s Windhorst’s full rant:
I thought it was perfect that Luka fell onto the ground there in an unacceptable position to put himself in with four minutes left with five fouls and then immediately looks at the bench and says, ‘You better bleeping challenge it,’ as if it’s the bench’s fault that he just made a terrible play. I’m standing here in the Mavericks’ tunnel. Over there is the Celtics’ tunnel. That’s where the winners are.
Trending on Billboard
If Luka’s ever gonna be a winner coming out of this tunnel here, he is gonna have to use what’s happened in this Finals as a learning experience. His defensive performance is unacceptable. He is a hole on the court. The Celtics are attacking him. They are ahead in this series because they have attacked him defensively; and you’ve got a situation here where Luka’s complaining about the officiating. They have begged him; they have talked with him; they have pleaded with him. He is costing his team because of how he treats the officials.
He’s a brilliant player, he does so many things well. They are here because of how he did. His performance in this game is unacceptable and the reason why the Mavericks are not gonna win. He’s got to get over this, and the fact that he came out after the game and blamed the officials showed me he’s nowhere close yet.
So maybe over the summer, somebody will get to him because nobody with the Mavericks or anybody else in his life has, and that’s where the Mavericks are at this point. They’re never gonna get to this tunnel with the trophy if he doesn’t improve those aspects of his game.
Luka — who’s only 25 years old and playing in the Finals for the first time — had 27 points, six boards and six dimes, but it wasn’t enough as his team is now starting down the barrel of a 3-0 deficit to the Boston Celtics.
No team in NBA history has yet to come back from being down three games to none in the playoffs.
Here’s a bonus fancam of Windy with 50’s “Many Men” as the soundtrack.
It’s a beautiful thing when NBA and Rap Twitter connect like this.
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Source: Walter Iooss Jr. / Getty
NBA legend Jerry West aka Mr. Clutch, has passed away. He was 86.
The Los Angeles Clippers, one of the organizations where West long was an executive, announced his passing on Wednesday morning (June 12). Famously, West was the inspiration for the NBA’s now iconic logo, which is a silhouette from the Hall of Fame guard’s playing days.
On the front office side, West was the general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers during its “Showtime” dynasty that included Magic Johnson, James Worthy and other stars. It was West who secured the draft rights for the Lakers to lock in a young high school basketball star named Kobe Bryant.
Source: Wally Skalij / Getty
Among West’s extensive on-the-court accomplishments as a pro, after starring at West Virginia University, were 12 All-NBA selections, 14 All-Star selections and a championship with the 1972 Los Angeles Lakers. A member of the NBA’s 75th anniversary team, he was a member of the 1960 US Olympic basketball team and entered the NBA Hall of Fame in 1980.
West’s passing is reverberating throughout social media, with peers, NBA pros, journalists and basketball fans saluting the legend. See some of the more poignant tributes in the gallery.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. The NBA finals are here! The seven game series began on June 6, and could conclude earlier than the scheduled date […]
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Source: Prince Williams / Getty / Cam’ron
Cam’ron had plenty to say about Anthony Edwards keeping receipts in his latest adidas commercial.
One thing Cam’ron is not here for is people calling him out. The rapper and now sports talk show host had time for the Minnesota Timberwolves phenom and iconic sportswear company.
The open wound left after the Dallas Mavericks made short work of the Timberwolves in the NBA Western Conference Finals hasn’t even healed yet, but that didn’t stop Edwards from dropping a new AD, letting his haters know he is literally keeping receipts.
In the pretty clever spot for his impressive AE 1 signature basketball shows, Edward’s friend reads comments that were printing out of a receipt machine while he continues to practice on his game.
One of those receipts showed the Dipset co-founder saying about Edwards, “To me, he’s an All-Star, but not a superstar yet.” In response, Edwards says, “f*ck buddy.”
Cam’ron’s Petty Was On Another Level
Cam’ron shared the commercial on his Instagram account with the caption, “#Fuckbuddy 😂😂🔥🔥🔥 commercial!! Thx @adidas for the love. And I had antman back this whole time but I’ll address this Monday on the show.. love the attitude tho. Only thing I would say is get a better looking lesbian to read the receipts.”
Oof, why did homie have to catch a stray like that?
Utilizing his popular sports debate show, It Is What Is, Cam’ron had free smoke for the professional hooper and adidas in the form of freestyle over Black Rob’s “Whoa” beat while rocking a Luka Doncic jersey.
“But f**k wrong with Ant-Man, gave him his props, homie got love from me, new commercial, y’all ain’t got love for me,” Killa Cam raps.
Cam’ron wasn’t done there.
He then came with his own receipts in the form of a “documentary” he is making linking adidas brand footwear with memorable sports injuries like Kevin Ware’s gruesome leg injury he sustained while hooping.
He’s so petty.
We hope cooler heads can prevail. It’s kind of lame of Killa Cam to revisit Kevin Ware’s injury in this manner.
You can see reactions to Cam’ron dissing adidas and Anthony Edwards in the gallery below.
1. Petty levels off the charts.
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Source: Nick Cammett / Getty
It’s official; the Indiana Pacers are going to Cancun. The Boston Celtics swept them in the NBA Eastern Finals.
As reported by ESPN the Celtics have proven to be the best NBA team in the Eastern Conference. On Monday, May 27 they won their fourth straight game against the Indiana Pacers. While Andrew Nembhard and his squad fought hard they couldn’t maintain their 98-90 lead with under six minutes left in the fourth quarter. Boston’s clutch defense caused the Pacers to miss several shots and turnover the ball. The Celtics outscored Indiana 15-4 to close out the series.
Jaylen Brown lead his team with 29 points, three steals, six rebounds, two assists and one block. At the end of the game he was given the Larry Bird Trophy as the Eastern Conference MVP. He made it clear the honor came to him as a surprise. “I wasn’t expecting it at all” he said. “I don’t never win sh*t.” The Marietta, Georgia native went on salute the Pacers during their celebration. “And give credit to Indiana, they played us tough. I know people think that Indiana wasn’t a good team or whatever the case may be, but I thought they were as tough as anybody we played all season. They were physical, they were fast, they put a lot of pressure on us. So shout out to them, and respect to them.”
When asked about his second trip to the NBA Finals Jayson Tatum responded “it’s special.” He added “even though we’ve been there before, most of us have, you don’t take it for granted. We were excited.” The Dallas Mavericks currently lead the Minnesota Timberwolves 3-0 in the Western Conference Finals.
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Source: MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images / Getty / Bill Walton
The sports world lost a giant on Monday with the passing of Bill Walton, a two-time NBA Champion, Basketball Hall of Famer, and all-around exceptional human being.
Through commissioner Adam Silver, the NBA announced the passing of the Emmy-winning sports broadcaster and former UCLA player on Monday.
In a statement, Silver said, “Bill Walton was truly one of a kind. Bill then translated his infectious enthusiasm and love for the game to broadcasting, where he delivered insightful and colorful commentary which entertained generations of basketball fans.”
Silver continued, “What I will remember most about him was his zest for life. He was a regular presence at league events — always upbeat, smiling ear to ear, and looking to share his wisdom and warmth. I treasured our close friendship, envied his boundless energy, and admired the time he took with every person he encountered.
“As a cherished member of the NBA family for 50 years, Bill will be deeply missed by all those who came to know and love him.”
The 71-year-old former professional hooper died from cancer on Monday in the presence of his loved ones, his family said in the statement.
Bill Walton’s Long List of Accomplishments
Walton had an exceptional career, winning two national titles with the UCLA Bruins before winning two NBA championships.
His NBA career did not last long because of nagging foot injuries, playing 468 games with the Portland Trail Blazers, LA (and formerly San Diego) Clippers, and Boston Celtics, averaging a double-double, 13.3 points and 10.5 rebounds.
Walton was the NBA’s MVP during the 1977-78 season, earning a spot on the league’s 50th and 75th anniversary teams.
Walton was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993,
He seamlessly transitioned into the broadcast booth, where the 6’11 giant became one of the most recognizable voices in sports thanks to his famous catchphrase, “Throw it down, big man.”
The American Sportscasters Association named him among the top 50 sports broadcasters in 2009.
The NBA Honors Walton on Social Media
Following the sad news, former players and friends like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, and Julius “Dr.J” Erving paid tribute to Waltton on X, formerly Twitter.
“I am sad today hearing that my comrade & one of the sports worlds most beloved champions & characters has passed. Bill Walton enjoyed life in every way. To compete against him & to work with him was a blessing in my life. Sorry for your loss Walton family. We’ll miss him too,” Erving wrote on X.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wrote on X, “Today I had to say goodbye to a great friend that I will always miss.”
Walton is survived by his wife Lori and sons Adam, Chris, Nate, and Luke, who played ten seasons in the NBA before becoming a coach in the league.
You can see more reactions to his passing in the gallery below.
1. He will be missed
2. A legend
3. The Portland Trail Blazers say goodbye to an icon
4. So long to a So-Cal hooping legend
6. Former President Barack Obama remembers Bill Walton