Source: NBA TV / Turner Sports Beloved NBA analyst Sekou Smith has reportedly died of complications from COVID-19. He was just 48. The Turner Sports family mourns the loss of our very own, Sekou Smith. Our thoughts are with his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/97mu4bylfA — NBA TV (@NBATV) January 27, 2021 TMZ reports that Smith had been battling COVID-19. On Tuesday evening (Jan 26), NBA TV, which has employed Smith as an analyst for over a decade, confirmed his passing. “The NBA mourns the passing of Sekou Smith, a beloved member of the NBA family,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in a statement. “Sekou was one of the most affable and dedicated reporters in the NBA and terrific friend to so many across the league.” Proudly born and raised in Grand Rapids, Atlanta was his current home...
Source: Gregory Shamus / Getty For way too many people 2020 has been a wash, but Big Sean is still managing to make out quite nicely. Today (Dec. 23), the Detroit Pistons announced they have named the “Blessed” rapper their Creative Director of Innovation. As part of his duties, Sean will be providing input and direction to an assortment of Pistons initiatives like the look of their apparel and in-game experience. Just so you know that it’s real, the Detroit native’s “Don Life” logo will be emblazoned on Detroit Pistons practice jerseys. “Sean is an accomplished artist, philanthropist and entrepreneur. Having spent time with him and his family I know how deeply he cares about the city of Detroit,” said Pistons Owner Tom Gores via a press statement. “We share a common desire to use the powe...
Source: Gregory Shamus / Getty For way too many people 2020 has been a wash, but Big Sean is still managing to make out quite nicely. Today (Dec. 23), the Detroit Pistons announced they have named the “Blessed” rapper their Creative Director of Innovation. As part of his duties, Sean will be providing input and direction to an assortment of Pistons initiatives like the look of their apparel and in-game experience. Just so you know that it’s real, the Detroit native’s “Don Life” logo will be emblazoned on Detroit Pistons practice jerseys. “Sean is an accomplished artist, philanthropist and entrepreneur. Having spent time with him and his family I know how deeply he cares about the city of Detroit,” said Pistons Owner Tom Gores via a press statement. “We share a common desire to use the powe...
Source: Hennessy / Hennessy The NBA kicked off its 2020-21 season Tuesday (Dec. 22) and Hennessy is back on board as the official spirit of the league. The leading cognac maker leaned on the charismatic voice of Nasir “Nas” Jones and WNBA star Natasha Cloud to roll out its “New Lines” campaign. Nas, fresh off a Grammy nomination for his King’s Disease project with Hit-Boy, lends his distinctive voice and sincere poetics in a similar fashion to last year’s Lines campaign, remarking on the many ways to create within and outside the lines. Cloud, who won the 2019 WNBA championship as a guard with the Washington Mystics, has become known for her work off the court and has emerged as a leader on the social justice and public health fronts. Tonight’s marquee games are the Brooklyn Nets with star...
If it feels like the most-recent NBA season just ended, well, it did. The strangeness of 2020 engulfed the association, but it led to one of the more innovative ideas of the COVID-era: the bubble. (Mostly) quarantined, teams competed with nary a hitch at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando. The season ended in the fall instead of its customary June, but nevertheless, the NBA is back on Dec. 22. As usual, we enlisted our expert musician panel to preview what’s shaping up to be yet another unpredictable NBA season. Mark Lanegan Los Angeles Clippers CREDIT: Travis Keller What’s your prognosis for the season? Will they ever get over the hump?At this point, I’m slightly jaded as far as the Clips are concerned. I always go into the season optimistic and the same when they hit...
If it feels like the most-recent NBA season just ended, well, it did. The strangeness of 2020 engulfed the association, but it led to one of the more innovative ideas of the COVID-era: the bubble. (Mostly) quarantined, teams competed with nary a hitch at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando. The season ended in the fall instead of its customary June, but nevertheless, the NBA is back on Dec. 22. As usual, we enlisted our expert musician panel to preview what’s shaping up to be yet another unpredictable NBA season. Mark Lanegan Los Angeles Clippers CREDIT: Travis Keller What’s your prognosis for the season? Will they ever get over the hump?At this point, I’m slightly jaded as far as the Clips are concerned. I always go into the season optimistic and the same when they hit...
Source: Tim Warner / Getty The Houston Rockets and new head coach Stephen Silas have yet to work with the full new-look team since the trade of Russell Westbrook. With “The Brodie” now a member of the Washington Wizards and John Wall now in Texas, it’s being reported that team star James Harden still wants to be traded, allegedly. ESPN is reporting that sources are saying that Harden, 31, doesn’t seem all that impressed with sticking around despite the addition of Wall, who has been out of the game for the past two seasons. Wall, who spent his entire career with Washington until this point, seemingly looks prepared to work with his backcourt mate. “I think me and James can be a heck of a combination,” Wall said to the media throng after his squad lost to the Chicago Bulls 104-91 last night...
Source: Diamond Images / Getty Professional ball juggler, excuse us, basketball player, Tristan Thompson is now officially an American. The Jamaican-Canadian big man recently signed a deal with the Boston Celtics after spending the rest of his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers. In a tweet shared by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Western Region Twitter account, Thompson is seen wearing a mask and declaring his naturalization while raising his hand in the shadow of an American flag. “I came to the US on a student visa and have always had big dreams. I’m now truly living the American dream,” began the caption with the account adding, “Congrats on reaching your goals @RealTristan13! Best of luck with the @NBA #Celtics as a #NewUSCitizen!” Now, Thompson can sling wood...