Stephen Curry and Lebron James among the list of names that didn't deliver but got money for Cancun

In the 2023-24 NBA season, only one of the Top 15 paid players from this season made the Final Four. Rudy Gobert is the sole player from that list to continue. Of the top 15 contracts, 11 belong to players on the West conference and only four on the East (Joel Embiid, Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Jimmy Butler). Including Gobert, only Nikola Jokic played in the conference semifinals, and looking at the top 20, only Luka Doncic would join Gobert.

The list's top 15 players belong to 10 teams. Let's take a look at some reasons of why the highest-paid players, who are theoretically the best, haven't reached the conference finals.

There could be many excuses, such as injuries (Kawhi, Giannis), others not reaching the expected level (Beal, George), or not having the team to compete (LeBron, Davis). The point is that none of them reached the goal or even came close (Stephen Curry), and in a way, it doesn't reflect well on the league when your best players are in Cancun resting when the best basketball is being played. We'll see if they have a thirst for revenge because the new generation of players is already dominating the league.

As for the four remaining teams here's how they look in the list of the top paid players.

In the Eastern Conference finals are the Pacers, runner-up of the first in-season tournament, their highest-paid player is Myles Turner ranked 64th this season. Pascal Siakam (71), acquired via trade in January follows, and T.J. McConnell (154) completes the top three. This is because the Pacers are, on average, a young team, as they started the season as the eighth youngest in the league.

The're led by Tyreese Haliburton, who earns just under 6 million this year and is still on his rookie contract. Haliburton signed a 5-year, $204,450,000 contract with the Indiana Pacers, including $204,450,000 guaranteed, making him one of the top 35 highest-paid NBA players for next season.

On the other side, the top-seeded team, the Boston Celtics who have reached six of the last eight Eastern Conference finals but have no players in the top 20. Their four stars are all within the top 45, indicating a good distribution of the salary cap by General Manager Brad Stevens. New to the team this season, Kristaps Porzingis (22) and Jrue Holiday (27) are the highest paid on the team, followed by the "Jay's" Jayson Tatum (35) and Jaylen Brown (43). Brown signed the richest deal in NBA history ($303.7M) before the season started, which will take effect next season. Brown also will be the seventh highest-paid player in the 2024-25 season.

In the Western Conference, the Timberwolves have Rudy Gobert at 13, the 4-time Defensive Player of the Year, known for his defense as he averages just over 12 points per game in his illustrious career. Next is 2015 Rookie of the Year Karl-Anthony Towns (22), and veteran Mike Conley (55) complete the top 3. The team's star, Anthony Edwards, like Haliburton in Indiana, is finishing his rookie contract and will both be at place 31 next season. Anthony Edwards signed a 5-year, $204,450,000 contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves, including $204,450,000 guaranteed which will start next season.

The Dallas Mavericks have Luka Doncic at 16 and Kyrie Irving at 21, undoubtedly the best-paid and, in my opinion, the most complete offensive star pair remaining. Two veterans eager to showcase their quality and silence the haters. Tim Hardaway Jr. (79) completes the top 3 for the Texan team.

Lakers News: LeBron James Names Stanley Johnson As One Of Better Defenders He’s Faced

The Los Angeles Lakers have a pivotal offseason ahead of them as they need to find players to help them close the gap between them and the top-tier teams of the league.

Offensively, the Lakers were able to hit their stride during the 2023-24 season but their defense was middling at best. Despite a strong season from Anthony Davis, Los Angeles struggled to get stops especially in the postseason against the Denver Nuggets.

LeBron James has seen just about every defense imaginable throughout his career and has had his fair share of postseason battles with players. On the "Mind the Game" podcast with JJ Redick, James named Stanley Johnson as one of the more underrated defenders he faced during their playoff series in 2018:

"I think it was my first year back in Cleveland on a return and it was our first-round opponent, I think we played Detroit, if I'm not mistaken. I think KCP was on that team, (Andre) Drummond was on that team, a couple of other guys was on that team, obviously Moose (Greg Monroe) was on that team, I believe. I think Stan (Van Gundy) was coaching, if I'm not mistaken. I think Stan was coaching that team. But back to your question, Stanley Johnson he earned my respect in that first-round series. Stanley Johnson, he had the lateral movement, he had the physicality. You can tell the coaching staff told him 'Don't worry about the schemes.' I feel like the same thing with Dort, don't worry about the schemes yet. Everybody's switching but you. You get through every screen. If you weakside lowman, you have no responsibility, you don't pull in. You're basically playing a box-and-one. There's a lot more guys, obviously, I would give credit to defensively but that's t he one guy off the top of my head. It's not recent memory, it's 10 years ago but it's recent enough. But Stanley definitely possessed those skills in our league, for sure."

A former lottery pick, Johnson became known as a rugged defender who could guard 1-4 and held his own against James, who was still near the peak of his powers in 2018. The two later became teammates in Los Angeles and Johnson's previous experience defending James earned himself some respect from one of the greatest players of all time.

Considering Johnson has struggled to stay in the league in recent years, maybe this vote of confidence from someone like James will help land him a job this summer.

LeBron James will be beloved in Cleveland forever after he helped deliver the franchise's first championship. James was recently sitting courtside for the Cavaliers' Game 4 against the Boston Celtics and got a standing ovation from the crowd and tribute video from the organization.

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LeBron James makes drastic decision to 'walk away' from Diddy after video of assault on ex-girlfriend

LeBron James has unfollowed Sean 'Diddy' Combs on Instagram, following the surfacing of a video allegedly showing Diddy physically assaulting singer Cassie Ventura. This development adds to a series of controversies surrounding Diddy, who has been embroiled in multiple legal issues.

The unfollowing was first noted by an LA Lakers fan page, sparking a wave of reactions online. Many fans praised Klutch Sports, the agency representing LeBron, interpreting the move as a stand against Diddy's actions. Some considered it a strategic public relations decision, while others applauded LeBron for taking a moral stance.

P Diddy's daughters on vacation with LeBron James' son amid rapper probeTwitter

Whether the decision to unfollow Diddy was LeBron's personal choice or advised by Klutch Sports, it has been widely viewed as a positive move by his supporters.

"Klutch is too fast man," a fan wrote.

Another added: "That's why he's the GOAT"

The allegations against Diddy have attracted significant media attention. Cassie Ventura's initial lawsuit opened the floodgates for several others to come forward with accusations against the music mogul.

Amidst the scandal, an Instagram Live video featuring LeBron James gained traction, where he mentioned, "there's no party like a Diddy party." This has fueled further speculation about his stance on the issue.

Following that comment, boxer Ryan Garcia took to social media to ask James for an explanation.

"Yo wtf Lebron you good?" he wrote on X.

"I don't think lebron would take part in any of the atrocities that diddy was involved with.

"But we need to hear your story and have you clarify what this is???"

LeBron James UNFOLLOWS Diddy on Instagram after video of assault on ex-girlfriend Cassie surfaces - despite their children vacationing together last month

It sparked speculation as to where he stands on the scandal surrounding Diddy

The clip corroborates parts of a civil suit Cassie filed against the mogul last year

By Alex Hammer For Dailymail.Com

Published: 11:57 EDT, 19 May 2024 | Updated: 12:57 EDT, 19 May 2024

LeBron James has unfollowed Sean 'Diddy' Combs on Instagram.

The unfollowing was noted by a Lakers fanpage Saturday, and sparked a storm of speculation as to where he stands on the scandal surrounding his old friend. 

James' son, 16-year-old high school standout Bryce, was seen vacationing with Diddy's daughters just last month, as a sex trafficking probe into the mogul persists.

Launched the month before with a raid at his estates in LA and Miami, the investigation stems from accusations of sexual abuse dating back decades. 

One of the allegations involved a minor, and new footage unveiled Friday showed Combs assaulting his then-girlfriend Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura in an LA hotel in 2016. Some said it will add more urgency to the probe, which remains ongoing.

Not one for scandal, James, 39, scrubbed the 54-year-old shortly thereafter - sparking a chorus of comments as to why and what the move means.

Scroll down for video: 

Lebron James unfoll owed longtime friend Sean 'Diddy' Combs at some point Friday or Saturday

The unfollowing was noted by a Lakers fanpage Saturday, and sparked a storm of speculation as to where he stands on the sex scandal surrounding his old friend

'LeBron has UNFOLLOWED Diddy on IG,' @LakeShowYo wrote, sharing a grab of James's 'Diddy-less' list of preferred profiles as proof.

Many were quick to praise James' PR team, which has famously kept the athlete out of the less-than-favorable limelight in recent years.

That comes in contrast to several of his NBA forebears and other leagues as well, along with those who have had their names grace career-hampering headlines since - with Oklahoma City's Josh Giddy and fired forward Jontay Porter coming to mind.

As a result, several praised Klutch Sports, the agency that has represented James since 201 2 - his tenth year in the league.

'Klutch is too fast man,' wrote one user in reply, as he pegged it as a strategic public relations decision.

'LeBron is the only celebrity who has had zero scandals. He knows how to dodge any mess,' added a like-minded onlooker.

'LeUnfollow you,' another joked, as others hailed the decorated vet for taking a moral stance.

'Common Lebron W,' wrote one person under such an impression.

Added another: 'That's why he the GOAT.'

James's apparent scrubbing of the 54-year-old from his professional profile sparked a chorus of comments as to what the move means in the grand scheme. Some praised the 39-year-old's PR outfit, which has kept him out of trouble for more than a decade - unlike other athletes

Others more invested in the status of feds' probe into Combs commented on the timing of the sudden unfollow - which came just hours after CNN aired an earth-shattering glimpse of Combs assaulting his then-girlfriend in 2016. 

It shows him shirtless with a towel wrapped around his waist chasing a then 29-year-old Ventura down the hall at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City as she tries to get into an elevator, before grabbing her by the hair and slamming her to the floor. 

The All About the Benjamins artist proceeds to kick her repeatedly before dragging her back to their shared room.

He was also seen hurling a glass vase at the singer, who went on to file a civil lawsuit against Combs last year, before it was settled in a single day. 

The video is not related to the probe but is still drawing attention - and for James, was seemingly the straw th at broke the camel's back for his hesitance to distance himself from the R&B performer.

'Lebron has UNFOLLOWED Diddy on IG after 2019 surveillance leaked online,' wrote one user of the suspicious timing.  

Another added: 'Lebron James has unfollowed Sean 'Diddy Combs on Instagram, ending their longstanding friendship and party partnership.'

Meanwhile, new footage unveiled Friday showed Combs assaulting his then-girlfriend Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura in an LA hotel in 2016

Others more invested in the status of feds' probe into Combs commented on the timing of the sudden unfollow - which came just hours after CNN aired an earth-shattering glimpse of Combs assaulting his then-girlfriend in 2016.

He was also seen hurling a glass vase at the singer, who went on to file a civil lawsuit against Combs last year, before it wa s settled in a single day. The pair are pictured together in Hollywood two days after the incident

The former InterContinental hotel in Century City, Los Angeles, where Diddy allegedly attacked then 29-year-old Ventura

That so-called 'party partnership' had already come into question back in March, when an old Instagram live video of James and Combs - who have been friends since the early 2000s - resurfaced.  

It caused panic due an admission made by James about Diddy's now infamous get-togethers - 'there's no party like a Diddy party.'

Instantly fueling swirling speculation about his stance on the issue, some celebs - like accused PED cheat Ryan Garcia - chimed in. 

"Yo wtf Lebron you good?" the outspoken boxer wrote on X, as the James clan has long had homes in Miami and LA where Combs' c ompounds were located.

'I don't think [L]ebron would take part in any of the atrocities that [D]iddy was involved with,' the 25-year-old went on, a few weeks removed from his dubious victory over Devin Haney.

'But we need to hear your story and have you clarify what this is???" he went on to ask - a request that even now has gone unanswered.

But the move by James seemed to speak for itself - a month after his second born son behind NBA draft prospect Bronny, 19, appeared to not get the memo. 

The pair's so-called 'party partnership' had already come into question back in March, when an old Instagram live video of James and Combs - who have been friends since the 2000s - resurfaced. It caused panic due an admission made by James about Diddy's now infamous get-togethers

Instantly fueling swirling speculation about hi s stance on the issue, some celebs - like accused PED cheat Ryan Garcia - chimed in. e need to hear your story and have you clarify what this is???" he went on to ask - a request that even now has gone unanswered. 

Bryce, instead, was seen vacationing with Diddy's also teenage daughters Jessie and D'Lila in Turks and Caicos, dancing on a beach in the Caribbean islands as seen in a clip posted to TikTok.

In October, Bryce appeared to take one the twins to homecoming at his Sierra Canyon High School, where both of Diddy's daughter are cheerleaders.

Last month, Di ddy was seen with his twins leaving a Top Golf location in Miami hours before the rapper's alleged drug mule, 25-year-old Brendan Paul, was arrested by Miami-Dade Police and Homeland Security agents at Opa-Locka Executive Airport.    

Paul, who previously played for Syracuse's basketball team, was referred to as Diddy's 'drug mule' in a $30million lawsuit filed by Rodney 'Lil Rod' Jones, which alleged Combs coerced Jones to solicit prostitutes and pressured him to have sex with them over the course of several years.

The complaint, the fifth against Combs since November, alleged he was involved in 'acquir[ing] and distribut[ing] Combs drugs and guns'.

In the suit from Ventura filed and settled in November, his former protégé and girlfriend also alleged years of sexual abuse under the rapper's yolk, including rape.

The lawsuit also claimed he regularly forced her to have sex with male prostitutes while he filmed them - claims that echo some of the others aired by other women.

But the move by James seemed to speak for itself - a month after his second born son behind NBA draft prospect Bronny, 19, appeared to not get the memo. 

LeBron James' son Bryce (right) appeared to take one of Diddy's daughter to his homecoming last October. All are in their teens and still in highschool

James and Diddy have been friends since the early 2000s, after which they both had residences in Miami in LA

On Sunday, Combs broke his silence on the video of him beating Ventura, saying on Instagram, 'I hit rock bottom, but I make no excuses.'

Looking into the camera, he went on to add : 'So difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, sometimes you got to do that. I was f***ed up. 

'My behavior in that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video, I'm disgusted. 

'I was disgusted then when I did it, I am disgusted now. I went and I sought out professional help, I got into going to therapy, going to rehab. 

'Had to ask God for his mercy and grace. I'm so sorry. But I am committed to be a better man each and every day. I'm not asking for forgiveness, I'm truly sorry,' he concluded.

The federal investigation into the rapper, meanwhile, remains ongoing.

As for LeBron, he has yet to issue a statement on whether he stands by the rapper.

“Absolutely Not”- Bronny James Hurriedly Shoots Down Thought of Naming His Son, LeBron James III

Bronny James and LeBron James (Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images)

The rumor mills are spinning at the wildest rate ever due to the sheer presence of the 2024 NBA Draft, coupled with LeBron James' uncertain future at the Lakers. The two elements have been mixed to conjure a volatile component of uncertainty around the NBA scene which is hard to digest for many pundits and fans.

Amid all the noise, Bronny James participated in the NBA Draft combine and has since raised his stock in the books of scouts and GMs with his impressive showings. His father's name inevitably comes into any conversation he's part of and the same happened in a recently posted video. Bleacher Report asked Bronny if he would name his son LeBron James III, to which James Jr. replied, "Absolutely not" and let out a laugh.

LeBron once revealed that he regrets naming his son after him, so it was no surprise that the 19-year-old would want to break that streak. With the impending NBA Draft inching closer, the interest is solely centering around where Bronny will land and if it will be with his legendary father at the Lakers. Even if that doesn't happen, reports don't indicate any encouragement in regard to LeBron fulfilling his long-standing dream of playing with his heir.

A few months back, LeBron James discussed his imminent retirement and highlighted his short time remaining on the court. If he has to fulfill his dream of playing with his son before that, this is high time for that to happen. The Lakers are reportedly interested in bringing in Bronny to keep their star man around, but a similar thing could be on the minds of other franchises as well.

On a recent episode of "Up & Adams", Shams Charania touched on the matter and said, "It would not surprise me in the coming weeks, if a team does reach out to Rich Paul or anyone else around Bronny James or LeBron James himself, and says, 'Hey if we draft Bronny James, would you come as well LeBron?' And the answer to that is going to be no, as of right now."

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Following the playoff loss to the Nuggets, LeBron left his future with the Lakers hanging. His recent visit to Cleveland also turned a lot of heads as a possible pressure tactic applied by LBJ's entourage. The 39-year-old's presence with Rob Pelinka at the Draft combine also kept everyone on their toes and, as it stands, the chances of LeBron playing with Bronny are looking slim if someone beats the Lakers to draft the USC guard.

The future of the James family will have a clearer picture following the Draft in June and even if the father-son duo are unable to share the same dressing room, there's nothing stopping them from facing off on the court in different franchise colors.

Also Read: Bronny James Impresses at NBA Draft Combine, but Lakers Eyeing Him for No. 55 Pick Instead of No. 17

NBA Draft Combine 2024 winners and losers: Bronny James performs under pressure; Zach Edey is bigger, but slow

CHICAGO – The 2024 NBA Draft Combine is in the books from the Windy City but the breeze of change is blowing as strong as ever this predraft process with the NBA Draft lingering just over one month away. So on the heels of what was the most impactful event leading up to this year's draft, it's time to break down all the biggest winners and losers from the week that was in Chicago as we put a bow on the combine.

Let's dive in.

Winner: Hawks have big decision

Yes, it's true: the top of the 2024 NBA Draft class is not the strongest. 

In fact some in Chicago I've talked with believe this class could be the weakest in more than a decade.

But the Atlanta Hawks come away from the combine a winner nonetheless after kicking off the week with a win in the NBA Draft Lottery on Sunday. First dibs in this class isn't the slam dunk it would've been last year with Victor Wembanyama, to state the obvious, but it is still first dibs. 

History suggests some stars will come from this class. Finding the right fit and hitting could change the trajectory of the franchise. Being able to be on the clock first even in a lackluster draft is a win, especially after entering the week with just 3% odds to win the No. 1 pick.

Winner: Edey is still growing

The biggest man at the NBA Draft Combine last year showed up as the biggest man at the NBA Draft Combine again this year – and incredibly even bigger than he was last year. Unreal. Zach Edey actually measured a half-inch taller this year (7-foot-3.75) than last year, and he won some folks over in the process with some surprisingly agile drill numbers. Among the biggest personal wins for him was posting a faster lane agility time than other center prospects like Alex Sarr, Yves Missi and Donovan Clingan, all of whom are 7-footers or close to it and projected as top-20 talents.

Losers: College lottery prospects don't measure up

Not every lottery prospect from college had rough weeks – Kentucky's Reed Sheppard had a stellar week and several others simply weren't involved enough to cast judgment – but a handful in this category wound up as losers. UConn's Donovan Clingan didn't test well, UK's Rob Dillingham measured shorter (6-1) and lighter (164.2) than expected, and Cody Williams checked in at 178.4 pounds – smaller than expected for a wing pushing 6-7 and more than 10 pounds off what he was listed at while at Colorado

Winner: Edey should be in Happy Gilmore 2

Netflix announced this week that Happy Gilmore will be getting a sequel led by none other than Adam Sandler, who will be reprising his role as Happy Gilmore. Great timing, too, because … it appears we may have a frontrunner for who can play Mr. Larson: Edey.

Edey was MOVING and posted a ¾ court sprint time of 3.42 – which was fourth-worst among participants. I applaud the effort, but the Mr. Larson similarities were impossible to ignore. (And for what it's worth, he was a good sport with Peek about this afterward when he saw the internet having a field day.)

Winner: UConn guards look sharp

It's the offseason but Huskies coach Dan Hurley still cannot help his program from collecting Ws. Stephon Castle, Tristen Newton, Cam Spencer and Alex Karaban all had big weeks at the combine. Among the accomplishments were:

Karaban finishing first in the 3-point star drill, first in shooting off the dribble drill, first in side-mid-side shooting drill

Spencer finishing third in the 3-point star drill and second in shooting off the dribble drill

Newton posting a top-five number on the shuttle run and finishing tied for seventh in the 3-point star drill

Castle finishing third in the on-the-move shooting drill

Turns out the best team in college basketball last season also had the best players in college basketball. Amazing how that works.

Loser: USC had more talent than we thought

USC going 15-18 and finishing tied for seventh in the Pac-12 – seven games out of first – was pretty rough for coach Andy Enfield on its own after bringing in No. 1 recruit Isaiah Collier and bringing back Boogie Ellis and Kobe Johnson, among others. But it looks even worse after this week where we learned that Bronny might just be one of the top 60 players in this year's draft class – which would mean USC might've had two NBA Draft picks on its roster and still couldn't finish above .500. Which leads us to …

Winner: Bronny exceeded expectations

James measuring at 6-1.5 to start the week put him in a hole out of the gate but he played his way back out of it and emerged as one of the biggest winners from Chicago. His max standing vert was 40.5 inches, which was tied for sixth best, and he finished second in the 3-point star shooting drill. His first scrimmage action was mostly forgettable but he brought it on the final day with a mix of defense, passing and shooting to draw some serious interest. He's no longer a draft prospect because of his father. He is a legitimate draft prospect based on the merits of what he did on the floor this week.

Losers: College upperclassmen fail to impress

A big chunk of college upperclassmen struggled this week at the NBA Draft Combine with Nique Clifford, David Jones, Jaxson Robinson, Payton Sandfort, Trey Alexander and Reece Beekman among those who had some moments but in general did not do much to improve their stock. Sandfort struggled, which is a big problem for a shooter. Robinson looked overwhelmed by the speed of the game. Same for Jones. Even Coleman Hawkins had some record-scratches, though he bailed himself out with a big game on the final day. 

Udonis Haslem: Lakers players other than LeBron James wouldn't trust JJ Redick as head coach

The Los Angeles Lakers' search for their next head coach is underway. According to multiple reports, they're looking to examine several candidates, including JJ Redick.

Redick was one of the NBA's great 3-point shooters during his 15-year playing career. More recently, he has become a commentator for ESPN's NBA coverage, as well as LeBron James' co-host for the "Mind the Game" podcast.

Many believe Redick is a candidate for the Lakers' job only because of his relationship with James. If he were to win the job, it would likely lead to accusations that the organization is completely caving into the superstar's whims.

Former Miami Heat big man Udonis Haslem, who was teammates with James for four seasons, says the rest of the Lakers' locker room would have a cynical attitude toward Redick should he get hired.

"If it's JJ (Redick), you're going to have a cynical locker room," said Haslem. "You're gonna see guys that are gonna say, 'Is coach gonna do a podcast after the game with LeBron?' You gonna have a cynical locker room of guys that are gonna side-eye everything JJ says, 'cause they're gonna wonder, 'Is it JJ's message, or LeBron's message?'"

The Lakers must hire a head coach who not only has James' trust and respect but will also stand up to James when needed. As great a player as he is, he needs to be coached, just as Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant needed to be coached, and that means telling him what he may not want to hear but needs to hear at times.

Jayson Tatum Joins LeBron James as Only NBA Players to Lead Playoff Series in All Stats

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum joined LeBron James as the only NBA players since 1973-74 to lead a single playoff series in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.

While with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2016 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors, James led all other players with 208 points, 79 rebounds, 62 assists, 18 steals, and 16 blocks.

In Boston's recent Eastern Conference semifinals series matchup with Cleveland, Tatum led all other players with 134 points, 52 rebounds, 31 assists, eight steals, and five blocks.

Image retrieved from ESPN Reddit

However, it should be noted that Donovan Mitchell missed Games 4 and 5 due to a calf strain. If not for his injury, the five-time All-Star guard could have potentially joined James for this incredible postseason record.

In just three playoff games against the Celtics, Mitchell amassed 95 points, 19 rebounds, 16 assists, three steals, and zero blocks. Tatum still likely would have had him beat in rebounds and blocks.

Though, Mitchell's performance in this series proves that anything is possible in the NBA playoffs.

In Boston's 113-98 Game 5 victory over Cleveland on Wednesday night, Tatum posted 25 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists, and four steals in 43 minutes of action. It was his eighth double-double this postseason. He also finished 9-of-16 (56.3%) shooting from the field and drained three 3-pointers.

Tatum has played in all 104 of Boston's playoff games since entering the league, the most in the NBA in that span. This Celtics are now about to play in their sixth conference finals since 2017 as well.

"It just shows the character of the team, the organization. People might think it's a given we're supposed to be here," Tatum said. "We're all in this together. … We're doing something right.

Al Horford also made history in Game 5 on Wednesday night. Horford added 22 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, and six of Boston's 19 3-pointers. The 17-year veteran joined LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the only players 37 years or older to record a 20-point, 15-rebound, and five-assist playoff game in league history.

"We had a great opportunity at home to handle this, and I knew it was going to take a lot more than handling it normally." said Horford. "It's special. It's something that's hard to do. … This is another positive step of where we want to get to."

The Celtics will play the winner of the other semifinals matchup between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals. New York leads that series 3-2.

This will be Jaylen Brown's sixth conference finals appearance and the fifth for Tatum.

Bills turn 2024 opponents into LeBron James in hilarious social media posts

The NFL schedule release always breeds creativity in social media departments around the league.

As the schedule reveal has evolved from a date on the league's calendar into an event of significant fan and media interest, teams around the league have taken to unveiling their schedules in increasingly creative and entertaining ways. These reveals, when done well, have the potential to go viral—think back to the Los Angeles Chargers' anime-inspired unveil in 2022, or the Tennessee Titans' 2023 release in which they humorously enlisted the aid of tourists visiting the famous Broadway strip.

The Buffalo Bills generally produce amusing, if not esoteric social media content, and the team lived up to this description as it previewed its 2024 schedule Wednesday evening. The team turned its already-determined 2024 opponents into NBA superstar Lebron James in the hours leading up to the full schedule reveal.

Most of the images just feature NFL team logos Photoshopped atop the four-time NBA MVP, but there are a few creative images, such as one that features James as he's seen in the infamous Sprite Cranberry holiday commercial donning Seattle Seahawks gear.

We would also be remiss not to mention the Jacksonville Jaguars post, which equates James as he's seen in a Progressive commercial to Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

The San Francisco 49ers-centric post is quite good, as well. Who doesn't love a good yearbook photo, even if it has been altered a bit?

Fans will learn the dates and times at which Buffalo will kick off each of its 2024 matchups at 8:00 p.m. You can stay up to date with the latest information regarding the team's schedule in our tracker.

Photo: LeBron James Attends Bronny's 2nd NBA Draft Combine Scrimmage with Lakers GM

Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was in Chicago Wednesday to watch his oldest son Bronny participate in his second scrimmage at the 2024 NBA Draft Combine, Dan Woike reported for the Los Angeles Times.

James was photographed in the stands with Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka.

Bronny James was recently medically cleared for the 2024 NBA draft following his cardiac arrest and heart surgery last summer, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

He averaged 4.8 points and 2.1 assists through 25 games in his freshman season at USC.

LeBron James got to see his son set up some plays during the scrimmage:

Wednesday was Bronny James' second scrimmage of the combine after he took the court for 19 minutes on Tuesday.

James finished that first scrimmage with four points on 2-of-8 shooting while recording four rebounds, two steals and three turnovers.

Jonathan Wasserman reported for Bleacher Report that he was not an aggressive scorer, but looked "useful enough on the ball with his ability to shoot off the dribble and make good decisions as a passer."

In addition to the multiple scrimmages, James underwent measurement and athletic testing as one of 78 players invited to the combine.

James clocked in at 210.4 pounds and 6'1.50" without shoes. He measured a standing reach of 8'2.50" and a wingspan of 6'7.25".

He reached 40.5" on the vertical jump, one of the top three scores of the combine, then went 19-for-25 during the three-point star drill, per Krysten Peek of Yahoo Sports.

The Athletic's Shams Charania reported earlier this week that James is expected to stay in the 2024 NBA Draft rather than return to the NCAA, where he entered the transfer portal after his freshman season at USC.

Pelinka and the Lakers hold pick No. 55 in the second round, as well as the 17th pick in round one depending on whether the New Orleans Pelicans decide to take it or defer their claim until 2025.

Lakers Rumors: LeBron James to Factor Family, No-Trade Clause in Contract Decision

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

LeBron James is reportedly viewed as likely to remain with the Los Angeles Lakers, but there are multiple factors weighing on his next contract.

On the latest episode of Buha's Block (h/t HoopsHype.com), Jovan Buha of The Athletic said "all indications" are that James will remain in L.A.:

Buha noted that LeBron will likely either opt in for the final year of his contract in 2024-25 and sign an extension, or he will opt out and re-sign with the Lakers on a completely new deal.

Which path James takes will depend on what he values most, as Buha reported that if James wants a no-trade clause, he will opt out and then re-sign. However, if he just wants more money, he would opt in and sign an extension in August.

Appearing Monday on the Pat McAfee Show (h/t HoopsHype.com), Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium added that family will also weigh heavily on LeBron with regard to his next move:

"The other factor is, and this is something else I've heard recently, is that he knows how much people around him have sacrificed—his wife, his kids, his close friends, his loved ones. They've sacrificed a lot for him over these 21 years, could end up being up to 23 years that he plays in the league … and so pouring that back to them at some point in the next one or two years I know that's a priority as well."

At 39 years of age, James is the oldest player in the NBA, but he still isn't showing any signs of slowing down.

The legendary future Hall of Famer was named an All-Star for the 20th time in his 21st NBA season this year, and he also continued to play at an MVP-caliber level.

Leading a Lakers team that reached the playoffs, James averaged 25.7 points, 8.3 assists,7.3 rebounds, 2.1 three-pointers made and 1.3 steals. He also shot 54.0 percent from the field and a career-best 41.0 percent from beyond the arc.

Perhaps most impressively, James played in 71 regular-season games, which was his most since 2017-18 with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

James won his fourth career championship in 2020, which was his second season in L.A., and while he hasn't been back to the NBA Finals since then, the Lakers are built to win now with LeBron and Anthony Davis leading the way.

It is unclear how many more chances James will have to win a fifth career championship, but Charania reported that it is "not out of the realm of possibility" for him to play three more seasons, or even as much as four to five more seasons.

One thing that could conceivably make LeBron want to stick around longer is if the Lakers select his son, Bronny James, in the 2024 NBA draft.

Coming off a heart procedure, Bronny largely struggled during his freshman season at USC, but he decided to enter the draft anyway. Bronny can still withdraw and go back to school, but LeBron's desire to play alongside his son could potentially compel the Lakers to take him.

The Athletic's Charania, Buha and Sam Amick recently reported that the Lakers are open to helping LeBron "fulfill his dream" by being teammates with Bronny.

However, Buha later said as part of a Lakers mailbag that he expects the Lakers to be "aggressive" in trading away the No. 17 overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft for a third star to team with James and Davis.

If that happens and Bronny remains in the draft, the Lakers would either have to trade for another pick or hope Bronny falls to No. 55 overall in the second round.

Given Bronny's disappointing season at USC, it is entirely possible that he'll be available at No. 55, which would allow the Lakers to both upgrade their roster now and improve LeBron's family life.

Whatever the case, it seems like a safe bet that LeBron will be back in L.A. for the 2024-25 season, meaning the Lakers should be title contenders once again.

Bronny James: Playing with LeBron James has never been his dream

LeBron James' son Bronny has become somewhat of a polarizing figure this year, as he has made himself eligible for the upcoming NBA draft despite a disappointing freshman year of college at the University of Southern California.

He averaged just 4.8 points a game and shot a very low percentage, which has led some to feel that the hype surrounding him is merely a product of nepotism rather than his own ability. But the younger James did have a strong initial showing at the draft combine on Monday, which is certainly an encouraging sign.

The elder James has repeatedly said he would love to play alongside his son. However, some have wondered whether that feeling is mutual.

On Tuesday, the younger James was asked whether playing with his father has been a dream of his, and he said it hasn't.

The elder James, of course, can become a free agent this summer. There has been plenty of speculation that he may ask the Lakers to draft his son in order to do him a favor and entice him to stay.

According to a recent report from ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the elder James playing with his son on the same team may not be a high priority anymore.

Shams on LeBron James: Family sacrifices influencing decision on future

By HoopsHype | May 14, 2024

Without Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen, Cavaliers lose to Celtics in Game 4

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NBA fans think Reggie Miller subtly criticized LeBron James’ leadership while he praised Anthony Edwards

The Denver Nuggets' second-round series with the Minnesota Timberwolves has sparked a lot of discussion about what it means to be a good leader. Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic clearly sets the table well for the other Nuggets, and it looks like Anthony Edwards does the same for the other Timberwolves. Both men are setting a great example for their respectiv e teams.

But TNT color commentator Reggie Miller doesn't seem to think LeBron James leads well for the Los Angeles Lakers.

During the early stages of Sunday's Game 4 in Minneapolis, a conversation about Edwards recently taking accountability turned into what sure sounded like Miller taking a shot at James, especially in the wake of ex-Lakers head coach Darvin Ham's dismissal from Los Angeles.

Hmm. Who on Earth could this possibly be referring to when Miller says he's on "a lot of people's Mount Rushmore"?

Unless Miller is randomly criticizing guys like Michael Jordan or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, despite no new recent news about both, it seems pretty apparent he put James in the spotlight here. If we're being candid, and with all due respect to Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, James would really be the only active player who fits the criteria for the NBA's Mount Rushmore.

With the Lakers now officially seeking their fourth head coach in just seven seasons of the James era, it wouldn't be hard to see why. However, it's worth noting that this doesn't necessarily mean James is not taking direct accountability for the Lakers' failures — it's just stating a fact about the organization's recent lack of stability at head coach.

Reggie Miller calls out LeBron James and doesn't hold back during NBA Playoffs broadcast

Reggie Miller, former NBA star turned analyst, stirred up controversy during Sunday night's TNT broadcast of the Nuggets-Timberwolves Game 4. As the game unfolded, Miller found himself in the spotlight not for his analysis of the game but for his remarks on a postgame clip featuring Anthony Edwards.

During the first quarter of the playoff matchup, TNT aired a segment where Anthony Edwards took responsibility for the Minnesota Timberwolves' Game 3 loss. Miller commended Edwards for his mature stance, but then veered into controversial territory by taking a veiled jab at LeBron James, a titan of the NBA.

In a thinly veiled critique, Miller remarked, "There's certain players that have veteran status that are on people's Mt. Rushmore that are quick to deflect and blame," clearly alluding to LeBron James without directly mentioning his name.

The remark didn't go unnoticed by fans, who swiftly took to social media to weigh in on Miller's unexpected callout. Responses varied from support to criticism, with some applauding Miller's boldness and others labeling him as "insecure."

The timing of Miller's remark adds another layer of intrigue, given LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers' recent first-round exit at the hands of the Denver Nuggets earlier in the postseason. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves held a 2-1 lead over the Nuggets heading into the pivotal Game 4.

Miller's comment not only sparked debate among fans but also reignited discussions about accountability and leadership in the NBA, leaving viewers eagerly anticipating further developments on and off the court.

LeBron James looks toward intriguing NBA offseason after Lakers eliminated in playoffs

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Jason Kelce offers his opinion on LeBron James’ NFL fit

Oct 9, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce (62) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Could LeBron James have made a career out of playing in the NFL? It is a question that has been debated for years, and has recently come up again in sports talk circles.

ESPN's Ryan Clark waded into the debate recently by arguing that few NBA players are athletic enough to play in the NFL, and that even fewer have the sort of mentality it would take to be successful in the league. Longtime Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, however, felt differently.

Kelce believes that, given a year to adjust, James could become the most dangerous red zone threat in the game if he were to try to play pro football.

"If I was an NFL GM, and it was an option, I'd sign LeBron today and within one offseason he'd be the greatest red zone threat in the NFL," Kelce wrote.

NFL reporter James Palmer added that a number of coaches he has talked to over the years believe the same: James could be elite if he spent a year on the practice squad.

This is a moot point, as LeBron is never going to try to play in the NFL. However, he was a standout football player in high school and even attracted the attention of Urban Meyer. Had he devoted his career to it, he might have had a chance, but his NBA career has gone more than well enough.

Michael Jordan didn't hesitate when asked to pick between Kobe Bryant and LeBron James

Published 18:57 11 May 2024 GMT+1

Michael Jordan didn't hesitate when asked to pick between Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.

Jordan is widely acknowledged as the greatest NBA player of all time, having claimed six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and changed the perception of basketball globally.

However, there is much debate regarding who the second greatest NBA star in history, with the likes of Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell and Magic Johnson all being able to stake a claim.

In the more modern era, James and the late Bryant are also among those in the reckoning. And Jordan once opened up about who he considered to be the superior player.

When asked to pick between Kobe and LeBron in 2013, Jordan joked: "I mean, that's a tough one. I would say… Kevin Durant."

The Bulls icon continued: "In terms of the dominance of the game of basketball, at this stage it's LeBron. Championship-wise Kobe Bryant.

"He wants it so bad and he's willing to go to the extreme. Guarding a guy. Guarding a point guard at the age of 34, playing 38 minutes, and 40 minutes. It's ludicrous.

"I think this is what he's battling with. It is what it is. He's cursed as much as I am. If you had to pick between the two that would be a tough choice, and five [players] beat one."

Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant were close friends (Getty)

Bryant, who won five NBA titles with the Lakers, and Jordan were close friends until the former's death in a helicopter crash in January 2020.

Speaking at a memorial service for Bryant, a tearful Jordan said: "When Kobe Bryant died, a piece of me died.

"Maybe it surprised people … but we were very close friends. Everyone always wanted to talk about the comparisons between he and I. I just wanted to talk about Kobe."

Jordan added that Bryant had come to him for advice during his career.

"At first, it was an aggravation," Jordan explained. "But then it turned into a certain passion. This kid had passion like you would never know … As I got to know him, I wanted to be the best big brother that I could be."

Featured Image Credit: Getty

Topics: Michael Jordan, Lebron James, NBA, Chicago Bulls, Basketball

Video: JJ Redick Explains NBA HC Interest amid Rumors Around Lakers and LeBron James

Evan Yu/NBAE via Getty Images

Amid rumors that he's being considered by the Los Angeles Lakers for their vacant head coaching position, JJ Redick has opened up about why he is drawn to the possibility of being a coach.

On the Road Trippin' podcast (starts at :30 mark), Redick explained that all of the parts of playing basketball that he misses, including the competition and being in a locker room after winning a game on the road, are all "part of coaching."

Even before the Lakers officially fired Darvin Ham on May 3 following their first-round playoff loss to the Denver Nuggets, Redick's name popped up as a potential replacement.

ESPN's Dave McMenamin said on the May 2 episode of The Dan Patrick Show that Redick "certainly is a real candidate if they open up this coaching search."

Going through the initial list of candidates for the Lakers, more names are coming off the board to potentially strengthen Redick's chances.

Jason Kidd was one option being reportedly considered by Los Angeles before he signed a multiyear extension on Monday to remain with the Dallas Mavericks.

On FanDuel TV's Run it Back earlier this week, Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium cited Redick, Mike Budenholzer, Charles Lee, Kenny Atkinson and Tyronn Lue as candidates.

Lee was named Charlotte Hornets head coach on Thursday. Charania reported on Friday the Phoenix Suns plan to hire Budenholzer after firing Frank Vogel.

The wild card in this equation could be Lue. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported last week the Los Angeles Clippers want to work out a long-term extension to keep their coach.

Lue said "it's great to be wanted" when asked about the Lakers' job, but he wants to be with the Clippers: "Hopefully, we're able to solidify that."

There is already an established connection between Redick and LeBron James, assuming he returns to the Lakers next season. They have been co-hosting the Mind the Game podcast since March.

Based on Redick's work in the media as an NBA analyst, he certainly seems to have the mentality that would make for an easy transition to coaching.

There's a huge difference between being able to talk about the game and getting a locker room of players, some of whom played with and against Redick during his playing days, to buy into your philosophy.

Even if things don't work out for Redick to become the Lakers head coach right now, it seems like he will eventually take an HC job in the not-too-distant future.

Byron Scott Suggests LeBron James Should Be Lakers Next Head Coach

The Los Angeles Lakers have a big decision to make in terms of who will be the franchise's next head coach. With LeBron James and Anthony Davis leading the way, the team must figure out the right person to help take the franchise into championship contention.

One person who has an opinion on the more extreme side of things is former Lakers player and head coach Byron Scott. In a recent appearance on Undisputed on Fox Sports 1, Scott suggested that LeBron James himself become the Lakers next head coach:

"My recommendation [for] the next Lakers coach, and out of the eight or nine names that I've heard, his name wasn't on there, is make LeBron the coach. Make LeBron the coach… Listen, I got nothing but love and respect for LeBron, I love him, I think he's one of the greatest players that ever played this game. But it's obvious to me at least, that he's making a lot of decisions that's going on in this organization from a coaching standpoint to a player standpoint.

"So if you're going to allow him to make those decisions, alright, sit on the bench and make those decisions as well as be head coach… Some of the names I've heard, you obviously have to find someone who LeBron is comfortable with from a head coaching standpoint. The last name I heard was JJ Redick and I started laughing. Well now they got a podcast together, so y'all are comfortable, y'all are buddy buddy, so now his name is on the list? As far as I'm concerned, the only person that he's going to really trust is himself. Since you're making a lot of those decisions anyway, why not put him in that seat?"

There is no denying the fact that LeBron has a heavy influence within the Lakers and his word means a lot. James, and Davis for that matter, have to be on board with the coach and the Lakers will undoubtedly rope them in throughout the search process.

In actuality, the NBA no longer allows teams to have a player-coach in order to prevent teams from circumventing salary cap rules, so Scott's suggestion isn't possible. But the former Lakers coach would continue on, also noting that if nothing else that coach is needed as a scapegoat if things go wrong:

"You're probably right because you got to have a scapegoat in that seat as they've had in the last four years. You've got Frank Vogel, who wins a championship with them and the next year, boom, he's gone. Darvin Ham, who goes to the Western Conference Finals last year and this year, boom, he's gone. So what are you looking for? What do you need as a head coach to get this team to the next level? You have two of the best players in the NBA, even at 39 years old LeBron is one of the best players in the NBA. Anthony Davis this year played out of his mind, in my opinion. Played more games than he's played since he's been a Laker, was as healthy as can be, played great against Denver, against one of the best players if not the best player in the league in the Joker, held his own. So at the end of the day, to me I'm looking at just make LeBron the coach."

Even though Scott's suggestion isn't feasible, it simply highlights the level of control he feels LeBron has within the Lakers franchise, as he had in his previous stops in his career as well. Maybe if it was possible, James could actually thrive as a player-coach and considering his success in every other facet of basketball, he would probably make a great one.

The Lakers are currently in need of a head coach following their first-round playoff exit to the Denver Nuggets. It was a hard-fought series and even though the Lakers lost in five games, they were in every single one of them and LeBron James recently reflected on the series as a whole.

On his latest podcast episode, LeBron felt that the Lakers had many opportunities to win games but just made too many mistakes when it mattered. He would add, however, that he felt the better team won in the end.

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“Motherf***er Don’t Miss”: LeBron James Reflects on Michael Porter Jr. Mauling Lakers in Playoffs

LeBron James and Michael Porter Jr. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

The Denver Nuggets handed the Lakers an early ticket to vacation after their first-round series. After processing the loss, LeBron James finally opened up about the series that ended in 5 games. Among the heavy artillery of the Nuggets, Michael Porter Jr. stood out to LeBron and the 4-time NBA champion made himself clear how exactly he felt going against the Nuggets' 25-year-old forward.

On a recent episode of the "Mind the Game" podcast, LBJ raved about MPJ to his co-host JJ Redick. "Michael Porter Jr. is a f*cking laser. I don't know if it's just because he sees the Lakers or the gold or whatever. I feel like versus us, the motherf*cker, don't miss… He doesn't even see you," said an impressed LeBron.

"Michael Porter Jr. is a f*cking laser.I don't know if it's just because he sees the Lakers or the gold or whatever. I feel like versus us, the motherf*cker, don't miss… He doesn't even see you."

— LeBron James 😅

(via @mindthegamepod)pic.twitter.com/J3XSW3qllm

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 8, 2024

The 20-time NBA All-Star's reaction was not over the top, as Michael Porter displayed his impeccable sharpshooting ability throughout the series. MPJ averaged 22.8 points per game on 55.3% shooting from the field and 48.8% from 3-point range throughout the series against the Lakers.

LeBron tried his best to avoid back-to-back eliminations at the hands of the Nuggets with his 27.8 points per game, but the Lakers were unable to force a game 6, which still bothers him.

With his NBA career in its final stretch, it's now or never time for LeBron. Getting swept by the Nuggets was undoubtedly not his memo and LBJ dissected what went wrong for them. "We had so many opportunities, man. To lose in five, two of them being game-winners by Jamal and his greatness. We had so many opportunities," said LeBron. He further added that giving up a 20-point lead in game 2 was a massive loss for them, and they made way too many errors in some of the games, which made him "feel like sh*t."

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LeBron stated that he felt they could've nicked the tie, given how many minutes they were ahead in the series, but acknowledged the strength of the Nuggets. "The better team won, the better team won, for sure. Give credit where credit is due," said the 39-year-old, to finish his assessment of the match-up.

For LeBron, the 2024 Paris Olympics is now the primary focus, but his future with the LA franchise could potentially be the most significant talking point of the summer.

Also Read: Kendrick Perkins Calls for LeBron James to Retire, Says Continuing to Play Will Hurt His Legacy

Los Angeles Lakers next head coach odds: Budenholzer, Redick favorites

The Los Angeles Lakers need a head coach.

Although LeBron James had a stellar season and Anthony Davis played a career-high 76 games, the Lakers ended a disappointing year with a first-round exit that cost head coach Darvin Ham his job.  

There hasn't been any official news out of L.A. about interviews for the vacancy, but the rumor mill has been buzzing. 

So, who will replace the only coach to win the in-season tournament? 

Well, the sportsbooks have a favorite in mind — and he's a coach with championship experience. 

Let's take a look at the latest odds from FanDuel Sportsbook Ontario: *

Mike Budenholzer: +195 (bet $10 to win $29.50 total)J.J. Redick: +210 (bet $10 to win $31 total)Kenny Atkinson: +470 (bet $10 to win $57 total)Tyronn Lue: +500 (bet $10 to win $60 total)Terry Stotts: +750 (bet $10 to win $85 total)Becky Hammon: +800 (bet $10 to win $90 total)David Adelman: +1900 (bet $10 to win $200 total)Phil Handy: +2400 (bet $10 to win $250 total)Rajon Rondo: +3400 (bet $10 to win $350 total)

* odds as of 5/7/24

The three most experienced names being tossed around as possible candidates are Mike Budenholzer, Kenny Atkinson and Tyronn Lue. 

At +195, Budenholzer is considered the favorite and for good reason. He led the Milwaukee Bucks to the playoffs in each of his five seasons, winning the title in 2021. 

He was also the NBA Coach of the Year in 2015 and 2019. 

Atkinson (+470) is currently an assistant with the Golden State Warriors and last held a head coaching position with the Brooklyn Nets. He won a ring with the Warriors in 2022, and turned the Nets around before resigning in the Kevin Durant-Kyrie Irving era. 

Can he deal with the intensity of Showtime?

Lue (+500) currently has a job with the LA Clippers, but things can change fast in the association. Considered to be one of the best minds in the NBA, he has one year left on his deal and could be moving elsewhere if he does not agree to an extension soon. He has a strong relationship with LeBron James, having coached him to a championship in Cleveland. 

However, the most surprising name on the board is Redick, whose lack of head coaching experience is not reflected in his strong odds at +210. The former NBA player was a standout in college and a solid role player in the league for 15 seasons. 

Redick also has a podcast with James that likely fuels the speculation his first coaching gig could be with the Lakers. He has also been linked to the Charlotte Hornets.  

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Social Media Is Livid Over Racist Artwork Of LeBron James That Was Put On Display At High School Art Show

LeBron James on a cereal box. (Photo via @NFL_DovKleiman/Twitter)

Over the weekend, a junior high school art show in New Hartford featured an allegedly racist art piece featuring LeBron James.

A racist artwork on display at the district's annual student art show has several parents and community members in stitches during an art show at New Hartford Central School.

It is thought that the artwork in question was produced by a middle school student. It appears to be a parody of advertisements with a picture of NBA superstar Lebron James slamming a basketball and a fictitious cereal brand named "Monkey Premium Cereal."

"If you eat Monkey Premium cereal, you can jump high and dunk like Lebron James," the advertisement's message stated.

Awful: A student-made poster for a made-up cereal called "Monkey Premium Cereal" was displayed at the New Hartford Central School District's art show.

This is disgusting. pic.twitter.com/izfOs9OgxW

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 8, 2024

Fans took to social media livid over this situation:

How did the school district allow this?

— MikeTX (@miketx95) May 8, 2024

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2024 and people still want to be racist. Hope the people in charge get fired and the kid expelled

— Drink More Water | Get More Sleep 🐬 (@hughart_michael) May 8, 2024

That student needs to be expelled & every teacher that was involved in letting this happen needs to be immediately fired

— Pony Exce$$ (@Mmarion8) May 8, 2024

Arrest the kid. Arrest the parents. Arrest the family pets.

— BLACK ADAM SCHEFTER (@B1ackSchefter) May 8, 2024

Casual racism ⁉️

— Eli (Baseball Edition) (@TLawClears) May 8, 2024

The student and everyone involved in the school district should get life in prison. Unbelievable.

— Robert Burns (45:47) (@RBurnsUSA) May 8, 2024

For those that may not be aware, comparing African Americans to monkeys has been considered inappropriate and racist. This goes all the way back to the days of slavery.

Local radio station WIBX reached out to Superintendent Tangorr to get a statement. He revealed that the school board had already opened an investigation into the incident. On Monday, Tangorra released a statement that seemed critical of his own school district for allowing the piece to be displayed as part of the art show involving LeBron.

"The student involved has been contacted, but due to student privacy, we cannot divulge specific details regarding the student and whether or not there were disciplinary consequences in accordance with the Code of Conduct."

Tangorra added that the focus of the investigation also involved the teachers and staff who allowed the art piece to be displayed.

Also Read: VIDEO: Leaked Audio Of LeBron James Going Crazy On Lakers Head Coach Darvin Ham Surfaces On Social Media

"Administrators have also spoken with staff members responsible for the oversight of the artwork, and we are using this as a teachable moment," he said.

LeBron James (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

In 2018, basketball superstar LeBron James opened the I Promise School (IPS) in his hometown of Akron, Ohio.

During the school's inaugural year, it welcomed 240 students in the third and fourth grades. The original plan was to add students and grade levels each year so that the school would serve students in grades 1–8 by 2022.

The mission of the I Promise School, according to their website, is to help "those students who are already falling behind and in danger of falling through the cracks."

The I Promise School is considered a public school, but it still operates in partnership with the LeBron James Family Foundation. The school receives local, state, and federal funding identical to that of any other public school.

Also Read: Stephen A. Smith Drops a Clue on Why LeBron James Only Won 4 Rings Instead of 6

LeBron James' wife Savannah gets hilarious surprise prank call from unexpected guest

In a recent episode of Savannah James' podcast, 'Everybody's Crazy,' her son Bryce James pulled off a playful prank that left his mother momentarily fooled and the audience entertained. The light-hearted exchange offered a glimpse into the tight bond shared by the James family.

During a segment where callers interacted with the show, Bryce disguised his voice as "Daryl from Atlanta" and shared a humorous anecdote about gamer frustration, seeking his mother's perspective. Unbeknownst to Savannah, the caller was actually Bryce himself, who revealed his identity to her surprise and the amusement of listeners.

Savannah James gets blindsided by son Bryce's prank on her podcast

Savannah, initially unaware of the ruse, candidly discussed her household rules, including her stance on language during gaming sessions. Her authentic response resonated with the podcast's ethos of open dialogue and genuine conversation.

Bryce's prank shed light on the intensity of online gaming and hinted at his competitive nature.

As the younger brother of NBA hopeful Bronny James, 16-year-old Bryce's journey in basketball is still unfolding. With the unwavering support of his family, he navigates the expectations of being part of a basketball dynasty while carving his own path in the sport.

Bryce's playful antics on the podcast serve as a reminder that, beyond the court, the James family shares moments of laughter and camaraderie. As he continues to grow as an athlete and a young man, Bryce James is sure to leave his mark on and off the basketball court, with his family cheering him on every step of the way.

LeBron James Discloses Draymond Green’s “Biggest Asset” That Enables Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson to Take Over

LeBron James Discloses Draymond Green's "Biggest Asset" That Enables Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson to Take Over Home » NBA » LeBron James Discloses Draymond Green's "Biggest Asset" That Enables Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson to Take Over

NBA Playoffs All-First Round Teams: Anthony Edwards, Jalen Brunson, LeBron James and more make the cut

With the Cleveland Cavaliers' 106-94 victory over the Orlando Magic in Game 7 on Sunday, the first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs is officially in the books. 

While the second round has actually gotten underway with the Minnesota Timberwolves beating the Denver Nuggets in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal matchup on Saturday, let's take this short window between now and Monday night -- when we'll have two more second-round games -- to take a look back at the best performers of the playoffs so far in the form of my first, second and third All-First Round teams.

First Team

There was a moment in Game 2 of Minnesota's first-round slamming of the Phoenix Suns when I thought, for a second, we had burned Edwards' hand by trying to pass the torch too fast. My bad. Yeah, Edwards' Game 2 numbers don't look like the rest of the series -- three buckets on 12 shots for 15 points -- but he made correct play after correct play as Phoenix sent multiple defenders at him from every direction. 

The patience alone, with all the adrenaline carried over from a 33-point Game 1 in which Edwards was all but wagging his Michael Jordan tongue at his basketball idol Kevin Durant, was superstar stuff as he was busy leveraging Phoenix's defense into rotation with powerful skip passes and kick-outs to shooters. 

By the end of a four-game sweep, there was absolutely no doubt who the best player was as Edwards came out averaging 31 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals on 51/44 shooting splits with elite defense. Oh by the way, Edwards has already taken the second round by storm as well with a career playoff high 43 points in Minnesota's statement Game 1 win in Denver. 

Coming into New York's first-round series with the Sixers, Brunson, over 308 career games including the playoffs, had only attempted more than 25 shots in a single game 18 times -- which equates to less than 6% of his games. He did it in all six games against the Sixers, averaging -- averaging! -- 29 shots a game with New York facing a scoring void in the absence of Julius Randle. 

Brunson delivered in what was to this point a career-defining performance, averaging 35 points for the series and 42 over the final four games. Brunson's 47 in Game 4 stands as a Knicks playoff record. He wasn't at his most efficient, making just 30% of his 3's and 42% of his shots overall. He was 12-for-55 through the first two games. 

But he never once lifted his foot off the gas. He kept probing in his patented fits and starts, kept hunting and taking his shots, and finished with a 41-point, 12-assist, two-turnover gem in the closeout Game 6, becoming just the 10 player in history to record three straight road playoff games with at least 35 points. 

The Nuggets won their nail-bitingly close first-round series against the Lakers in the fourth quarter, where Jokic converted on 64% of his shots and led the playoffs in assists at 2.6 (per fourth quarter). 

It might've felt like Jamal Murray's series because of the two game-winners, and it's true that Jokic, even with the bonkers numbers I'm about to list, wasn't at his best consistently. But come on. The dude put up 28.2 points, 16.2 rebounds, 9.8 assists and 1.2 steals on 59% shooting, and had the wherewithal to allow Murray to take control when appropriate. 

Even in defeat, Embiid managed to turn in the best playoff performance of his career despite playing on essentially one leg with a face impacted by Bell's palsy. Embiid averaged 33 points, just under 11 rebounds and six assists, and added nine blocks and seven steals for the series. 

He was not, in my opinion, quite as great as those numbers would suggest. New York did him a favor with so many automatic double teams as I think he was getting a little clumsy and flailing with some of his one-on-on forays, which were bailed out multiple times with bogus whistles. Tyrese Maxey bailed Embiid out of a stinker Game 5 performance (19 points on 19 shots) with seven points in 20 seconds, though Embiid was terrific in that overtime and certainly came to play with 39 and 13 in the Game 6 defeat. 

Ultimately, Embiid did end up properly punishing single coverage when the Knicks tried it out as the series went on. I would've made him do that on a more consistent basis, but hey, the Knicks did what they did and won the series. Fair play. 

And in the end, the Knicks won because of the minutes Embiid didn't play. This was about as close as a series could possibly be: 650-649 in favor of the Knicks, who over six games outscored the Sixers by 47 points with Embiid on the bench. In a one-point total differential, that means the Sixers outscored the Knicks by 46 points when Embiid was on the floor. He was great. The play on Mitchell Robinson was disgustingly dirty, but he was great. And he was hurt. Let's give the guy his props. 

There are strong cases for Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving for this spot, but I'm going with Mitchell because while Irving and Doncic were able to tag team the Clippers, Mitchell did it all for the Cavs in their seven-game survival against a stout Orlando defense. My colleague Jack Maloney said it perfectly in our chat room during Game 7: Cleveland looked like an eighth-grade team with one awesome player. 

Mitchell, of course, was that awesome player, putting up 39 points in Game 7 after putting up 50, including all 18 of Cleveland's fourth quarter points, in the Game 6 loss. You put up 89 points against Jalen Suggs in the final two games of a seven-game series, you get First-Team honors.

Cleveland looked pretty close to buried on Sunday, trailing by as many as 18 in the second quarter. But it was Mitchell, who started off cold, who hit the gas to cut that lead to 10 at halftime before exploding for 16 points in the third quarter. That swung the game, and Cleveland never lost the lead again. 

Second Team

Irving averaged 26.5 points on 65% true-shooting. His 120 second half points led all players in the first round, and his 58 fourth-quarter points was second only to Tyrese Maxey. Irving has a strong first-team case, but as I said, Mitchell didn't have the luxury of a superstar co-pilot. 

It's the same reason Jayson Tatum gets left off both the first- and second-team, because Boston, though Tatum is the focal point, did it by committee. Irving and Doncic did it together. 

Doncic averaged 30-9-8 in Dallas' first-round victory, so let's not split too many hairs. But he didn't shoot well, just 40% overall and 24% from 3. He was 1-for-10 from deep in the closeout game. Again, this was a tag-team situation. Doncic and Irving combined for 338 points against the Clippers. That's the highest combined scoring total for any duo playing its first playoff series together in NBA history. It's too hard to differentiate for First-Team honors, so they both get Second Team. 

LeBron was magnificent in the Lakers' five-game loss to the Nuggets, which is a deceiving result as L.A. led for over 150 minutes of the series against Denver's 50. Give him the benefit of the round-up and James was good for 28 points, nine assists and seven rebounds per game on 57% shooting. 

L.A. simply couldn't hang on for 48 minutes against a better Denver team, but don't blame the blown leads on James, who tallied 49 fourth-quarter points over five games. Anthony Davis, meanwhile, made just five total buckets over five fourth quarters in the series. 

Davis has to do so much for L.A. to put up the fight it did against Denver. He was sensational defensively, and though his fourth-quarter scoring fell off a cliff (just five baskets over five fourth quarters), overall his performance has to net second-team recognition. The guy averaged 28 points and 16 rebounds on 63% shooting. He blocked eight shots and changed countless others. He played with one arm for much of the second half of the closeout game and still battled to contest shots and clean up the boards. It was an awesome series for Davis. 

Maxey was brilliant vs. New York, averaging 30 points and seven assists while giving us the modern Reggie Miller moment with seven points in 20 seconds to pull the Sixers out of the coffin in Game 5. Maxey had a bit of a rough Game 6, but overall he was so dynamic throughout this series as Embiid was double-teamed and had trouble finding rhythm for sometimes long stretches, and he was clutch beyond belief. Maxey's 62 fourth-quarter points led the first round, and he did it on 59% shooting while making six of his 10 3's.

Third Team

Williams was the best player in OKC's sweep of the Pelicans. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored more, but OKC's defense was stifling and Williams was right in the middle of it, making life a living hell on the Pels' shot creators. He had seven steals in four games, and he averaged 21/7/5 on 62% true-shooting.

Williams is an elite shot creator. Not a good one. An elite one. He can get to his mid-range pull-up with the ease of a healthy Kawhi Leonard. He has that kind of last-step separation, force and body control. Williams will be an All-Star before long, and we're seeing why on the biggest stage. 

It's tough relegating a guy who is the first player in history to hit two game-winning shots in the final five seconds in the same series to Third-Team honors, but who are you going to take off the second team? Don't say LeBron or Davis, because they had a lot more on their shoulders than Murray and still put up significantly better numbers. 

Murray was really good, don't get me wrong. He owned fourth quarters in addition to the game-winners, but overall he only shot 40% and 29% from 3. He had the luxury of only dominating late, while LeBron and Davis had to do it all game. 

The Wolves outscored the Suns by an average of 15 points per game when Gobert was on the floor, and even that number is contextual and doesn't do justice to his impact. He did everything Minnesota needed, finishing around the rim, drawing attention as a roller, making plays in the short roll, and defensively, forget about it. 

At one point or another, Gobert switched onto every Suns star and not only held his own, but he actually won the matchup plenty. He had Kevin Durant in jail a couple times. He was so effective in space as the Suns tried time and again to attack him when they probably should've been happy to have dragged him away from the rim and moved the ball to someone else with a driving lane. 

Don't fall for the fact that he tallied less than a block per game. If you watched this series, you know how many shots Gobert changed, and that's to say nothing of the terrific balance he struck in drop coverage, helping contain the drive while recovering back to break up or deter lobs. It was a terrific series for Gobert, who was game for every lineup -- yes, even the small ones -- that Phoenix tried to use to expose him. 

Another guy that feels like he belongs on the Second Team, Banchero averaged 27 points and shot 40% from 3 in Orlando's seven-game loss to Cleveland. He was phenomenal in the first half of Game 7, when Orlando built an 18-point lead. 

Banchero joined LeBron James as the only players age 21 or younger to score 20-plus points in the first half of a Game 7. James score 21 against Detroit in 2006 and wound up with 27. Banchero scored 24 on Sunday and wound up with 38, his third 30-point game of the series. 

In some ways this feels like over-rewarding a role player who benefitted from the opportunities created by his star teammate, much like Andre Iguodala getting Finals MVP in 2015 over Stephen Curry. But Hart was too awesome. There is no way the Knicks win a series in which they outscored the Sixers by a single point over almost 300 minutes without him. 

Hart is such an insane rebounder for his size. He grabbed at least 13 boards four times in the series and scored over 20 three times. Not one time in the regular season did Hart make four 3-pointers in a game; he did it three times vs. Philly. 

Honorable Mention