Nba

ESPN is reporting that the NBA playoffs are back for China ’s TV viewers after a long banishment over controvesial political statements by an executive. The ESPN story by Mark Fainaru-Wada and Steve Fainaru said the return is not being trumpeted by the league, which declined to directly address the return. Instead, it gave a spokeman’s statement extolling the NBA’s right to “inspire and connect people everywhere.’ The story noted the NBA owners collectively have more than $10 billion in asset exposure to China, as well as doing $5 billion of NBA business in the country. That presumably includes broadcast and intenet rights, as well as merchandising and sponsorships. Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey angerred the Chinese government by tweeting “First for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong” during the uprising in that city. ESPN estimates that tweet cost the league hundreds of millions of dollars. It also gave the league a black eye when it hesitated to … [Read more...] about NBA Quietly Returns To China’s State-Run TV For Playoffs, First Games Since Oct. 2019

TMZ.com UPDATE 12:26 PM PT -- Rajon Rondo is fiercely denying the allegations -- and his attorney claims the surveillance video will back the NBA star. UPDATE "The case is meritless," Rondo's attorney Mark D. Baute tells TMZ Sports. UPDATE "I have seen the videotape. Mr. Rondo was polite throughout the encounter, the claimant was not wearing a mask and was unstable and rude. We look forward to defending the case and winning." NBA star Rajon Rondo is being sued by a woman who claims she was cussed out and beat up by Rondo and his girlfriend in a heated parking lot dispute -- and the accuser says she has video of the entire incident. TMZ Sports has obtained the lawsuit filed by Toktam Jorshari , who claims she lives in the same L.A. apartment building as Rondo's girlfriend. In her suit, Jorshari claims on July 28, 2020 ... Rondo parked his $300,000 Rolls Royce SUV in a handicapped parking space at the complex, despite the fact the car … [Read more...] about NBA’s Rajon Rondo Sued, Denies Shoving Woman In Parking Lot Dispute

TMZ.com NBA commissioner Adam Silver is assisting the WNBA in its efforts to get Brittney Griner home -- revealing on Tuesday he's working with the White House and even hostage negotiators to get her out of custody in Russia. Silver said before the NBA Draft Lottery in Chicago that he's "working side-by-side" with WNBA commish Cathy Engelbert , who's made bringing Griner back to the U.S. a top priority. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver weighs in on the league’s role in ensuring Brittney Griner's safe return to the United States. pic.twitter.com/QsOCb4fgEs — Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) May 18, 2022 @malika_andrews "The league -- and by that, both the WNBA and its brother league, the NBA -- we have a huge responsibility to Brittney Griner as one of our players," Silver said. "Cathy Engelbert, the commissioner of the WNBA, is on this issue every single day. I'm working side-by-side with her." Silver says both leagues have gone above and … [Read more...] about Adam Silver Says NBA Working W/ Hostage Negotiators To Bring Brittney Griner Home

Ex-NBA star Glen "Big Baby" Davis just went full YOLO during his morning swim ... ditching his bathing suit and showing off his entire ass. Excuse us as we wash our eyes with holy water. The former hooper posted the video to Instagram on Wednesday ... where he recorded himself swimming in a pool. But, the only issue is -- the big fella was buck nekkid and gave no warning to anyone watching the vid ... aside from a clever caption. "Morning swim be the best," a nude Davis said. "Have a cheeky day." As Davis makes his first move to begin swimming, his ass comes completely out of the water ... revealing his decision to go au naturel for his workout. Getty The video was interesting, to say the least ... a swimmer might criticize his technique -- that is, if THAT'S what they're somehow able to focus on. Baby -- a 9-year NBA veteran -- was known for having a youthful personality and being a solid role player for the Celtics ... making 2 NBA … [Read more...] about Ex-NBA Star Glen ‘Big Baby’ Davis Shows Off Ass In Naked Swim, ‘Have A Cheeky Day’

TMZSports.com Dominique Wilkins -- one of the greatest high flyers in NBA history -- says he knows how to fix the (broken) slam dunk contest, telling TMZ Sports superstars must participate ... just like he and Michael Jordan did back in the day. We spoke with the Hall of Famer -- a 2x Slam Dunk champ known for his prowess as a dunker -- about why the dunk contest has fallen out of favor with NBA fans, and how he would fix it. "Until you get star athletes, your best players who are athletic to get in the dunk contest," Wilkins said, continuing ... "It takes a lot away from it. You don't have that same pop -- that same energy." 'Nique then lamented about the old days ... when bonafide superstars, legends, entered the contest each and every year. "When we did the dunk contest Michael [Jordan] myself, Dr. J , Larry Nance , you talking Spud [ Webb ] ... they wanted to know who the best was." Of course, Dominique was part of the greatest and most … [Read more...] about Dominique Wilkins Says He Knows How To Fix The NBA’s Slam Dunk Contest

Former NBA player Javaris Crittenton pled guilty to manslaughter in the 2011 shooting death of a 22-year-old mother of 4 ... and was sentenced to 23 years in prison. As we previously reported, Crittenton -- a 1st round pick in the 2007 NBA Draft -- was initially charged with murder for killing Julian Jones in a drive-by shooting in Atlanta. But Crittenton struck a deal with prosecutors in which he agreed to plead guilty to the lesser voluntary manslaughter with a weapon charge and aggravated assault with a firearm. In exchange, prosecutors dropped the murder charge and Crittenton got 23 years in the clink. During the hearing, Javaris apologized for the killing -- started to cry -- and said it was all a terrible mistake. In the past, officials said they believed Javaris was out for retaliation against a rival gang member on the day of the shooting ... but ended up shooting Jones instead, who had just put her kids to bed. … [Read more...] about NBA’s Javaris Crittenton — Guilty In Shooting Death … 23 Years In Prison

Former NBA star Javaris Crittenton was arrested outside Atlanta this morning -- after he allegedly shattered the speed limit in his black Porsche ... then refused to cooperate with police. Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, Javaris was pulled over for going over 60 in a 45 -- and when the cop wrote up the ticket ... Javaris refused to sign it, something you have to do to acknowledge receipt of the citation. As a result, we're told the officer asked Javaris to step out of the vehicle -- and Javaris refused again. We're told words were exchanged -- and after the officer reasoned with Javaris, the former NBA player agreed to step out of the car ... at which point he was placed under arrest for speeding and obstruction of an officer. He was subsequently transported to Clayton County jail, where he is currently being processed. Oh yeah, in case you forgot -- Javaris is also facing a MURDER TRIAL after he was charged with gunning down a 22-year-old Atlanta woman last … [Read more...] about Former NBA Star Javaris Crittenton — Arrested for Speeding

Getty 2x Lakers champ Slava Medvedenko -- Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal 's former teammate in Los Angeles -- is doing everything in his power to protect his home country of Ukraine against Russian forces ... including picking up an AK-47. Medvedenko, who spent 7 seasons in the NBA and won two championships ('01,'02) with Mamba in L.A., grew up in Ukraine and took up arms to help defend his country. The 43-year-old has been involved in the war almost since the first day Vladimir Putin ordered his military to invade the sovereign country ... sparking one of the most violent conflicts in recent history. Getty Slava provided The Athletic with a very detailed account of what life is like for him as he protects the tallest building in Kyiv -- the neighborhood he lives in with his wife and kids. The former power forward, who had no military experience prior to joining the war, told the outlet things are typically quiet during … [Read more...] about Slava Medvedenko, 2x NBA Champ, Fighting Russian Troops In Ukraine w/ AK-47

IMAGN Late NBA player Lorenzen Wright 's ex-wife Sherra Wright , who pled guilty in 2019 to facilitating the murder of her hooper husband ... was denied parole in a hearing, and must remain behind bars. The Tennessee Board of Parole unanimously voted to deny Sherra's request for release ... less than 5 years into her 30-year prison sentence. In 2019, Sherra admitted to orchestrating the heinous killing of her husband, a 12-year NBA vet. Prosecutors say Wright hired someone ( Billy Ray Turner ) to help her with the crime, before luring Lorenzen to a desolate field, under the guise they were meeting someone for money. IMAGN But, it was all a lie ... and Lorenzen was shot, and left to die, all alone. Ultimately, Sherra plead guilty to facilitation of murder and facilitation to commit attempted 1st-degree murder. In exchange for the plea, she received a three-decade-long sentence. Getty As for Sherra's case to … [Read more...] about Slain NBA’er Lorenzen Wright’s Ex-Wife Denied Parole, Must Continue 30-Yr. Sentence

Milwaukee had a night of major violence on Friday, with shootings leaving three dead and 24 wounded Two of the incidents took place near Fiserv Forum, where the Milwaukee Bucks hosted the Boston Celtics in an NBA playoff game. Reports indicate 17 people were wounded during a shootout after the game in Milwaukee’s Water Street Bar District, a few blocks east of the arena. Police said 10 arrests resulted in nine guns confiscated. All of the victims in the area are expected to survive. That incident was preceded by another in the area in which three people were shot while the game was in progress at the Fiserve Forum . “Everybody started running,” witness Brittany Bergstrom told Fox 6 . “There was a stampede, people running over the shrubs, hats, shoes on the ground, drinks spilled everywhere.” This just happened near Fiserv Forum. @WISN12News is working to find out what happened. pic.twitter.com/K1EhJH3arF — Patrick Paolantonio (@ppaolantonio) May 14, 2022 … [Read more...] about Shootings Near Milwaukee Bucks Playoff Game Are Part Of Gunplay That Left 3 Dead, 24 Wounded