Category: Klutch Sports

LeBron James gives shoutout to Oregon’s ‘Queen’ Sabrina Ionescu

LeBron James gave a shoutout to the All-Time triple-double leader in women’s college basketball, Oregon’s Sabrina Ionescu.

Game recognizes game and when it comes to triple-doubles, LeBron James is one of the experts in basketball history. But of all of the greats, James may be the biggest basketball fan of them all. So it should be no surprise he’s taken note of another player striving for greatness in all aspects of the game.

During Sunday night’s football festivities, LeBron gave a shoutout to Oregon’s Sabrina Ionescu on another triple-double on Sunday afternoon. Ionescu added to her NCAA record, notching her 22nd career triple-double in a win at Arizona. In her postgame interview, she didn’t even believe she had enough assists and the astonishment caught the King’s eye, who gave the star guard a shoutout.

The Ducks went 1-1 over the weekend and probably will fall out of the No. 2 spot in the Women’s AP poll, but Ionescu and the Ducks will be heard from plenty more before the season ends. But even though the Ducks dropped one this week, they can always count on the support of LeBron.

[lawrence-related id=24880,14977]

How Anthony Davis can earn much more money through free agency

Davis rejected it not because he wants to leave the Lakers but because he could earn more money by signing a contract as a free agent.

This week the Lakers offered forward Anthony Davis a maximum contract extension. It would’ve locked him up for the next four years and pay him $145.6 million. His salary next year would’ve started him at $32.5 million, a 20 percent raise, then $35.1 million, $37.7 million, and $40.3 million the following three seasons. However, Davis can make much more money by rejecting the offer, which he reportedly did earlier this week.

The Lakers offered it merely as a formality and sign of respect. Davis rejected it not because he wants to leave the Lakers but because he could earn more money by signing a contract as a free agent.

[lawrence-related id=24575]

The salary cap for 2020-21 is currently projected at $116 million. This would make Davis eligible to sign a deal with the Lakers worth $203.58 million over five years. Even if Davis only signs for four years, those four years of a maximum contract would have him earn $11.6 million more than the four years of a maximum extension.

Davis can earn even more money if he signs a short-term deal this summer. Davis currently has 8 years of service, making his projected $203.58 million maximum contract for this summer worth 30 percent of the salary cap. Once he completes his 10th NBA season he is eligible to sign a five-year maximum contract worth 35 percent of the salary cap.

[lawrence-related id=24662]

According to Bill Oram, people inside the Lakers organization believe Davis is in favor of signing a two-year deal with a player option for 2022-23, also known as a “2 + 1.” He could also sign a one-year deal with a player option for 2021-22 (“1+ 1”), opt-out, then sign another “1 + 1”. Both allow him to maximize his earnings in the short-term while allowing him to re-enter free agency in 2022 once he’s eligible for the 35 percent maximum contract.

According to RealGM, the 2022-23 salary cap is currently projected at $131.25 million, though that figure is very fluid since the 2022 offseason is a while away. If that projection holds and Davis is still on the Lakers by then, he would be eligible to sign a five-year deal with the Lakers worth $266.4 million. Another team could sign him to a four-year deal worth $197.5 million.

Through two years of short term deals with the Lakers and the first two years of a 35 percent maximum contract with them, he would earn a projected $167.85 million through 2020-21 and 2023-24. That is approximately $10.6 million more Davis would earn in four years versus signing a maximum contract this summer, and he would still be owed $171 million over the following three seasons.

LeBron James played the “1 + 1” contract game with the Cavaliers during most of his second tenure with them. He did this not only to maximize his earnings but to also put pressure on the Cavaliers front office and ownership to keep a competitive roster around him. Expect fellow Klutch-mate Davis to follow in his footsteps and do the same dance with the Lakers over the next two seasons.

[lawrence-related id=24662,24722]

 

Anthony Davis leaves game vs. Knicks after hard fall on tailbone

The Los Angeles Lakers superstar big man gingerly walked off the court under his own power on Tuesday night.

The Los Angeles Lakers had been cruising for the majority of Tuesday night’s game against the New York Knicks, leading by double-digits for much of the game, but they saw one of their superstar players leave the game after a nasty fall in the process.

Los Angeles Lakers star big man Anthony Davis walked off the court gingerly on Tuesday night after taking a hard fall on his tailbone after he attempted to block a shot by Knicks forward Julius Randle. Davis was called for a foul but after landing on his tailbone was on the court for several minutes as play was stopped. He eventually walked off the court and slowly made his way to the locker room.

The Lakers entire team was gathered on the court around Davis while he was grabbing at his lower back. It’s unclear right now what the severity of the Davis injury is but we will update this story once more information becomes available.

[lawrence-related id=24604,24575]

 

Rich Paul and Klutch Sports add top prospect Chase Young to growing list of NFL clients

Ohio State defensive end Chase Young was arguably the best player in college football. Now he is the latest high-profile athlete to join the growing stable of football clients represented by Rich Paul and Klutch Sports.

Ohio State defensive end Chase Young was arguably the best player in college football. Now he is the latest high-profile athlete to join the growing list of football clients represented by Rich Paul and Klutch Sports. Young’s Ohio State teammate, Jeff Okudah, signed with Klutch over the weekend and both players are projected as first round picks.

Chase is coming off a year where he was named a unanimous All-American and won both the the Nagurski and Bednarik awards as the nation’s top defensive player. He was also a Heisman finalist and honored as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. He is expected to be the second pick of this year’s draft and has an outside chance to go as high as No. 1 overall.

Klutch announced the signing of Young on Twitter today along with the signing of several other football prospects. That list includes Virginia cornerback Bryce Hall, Wake Forest cornerback Essang Bassey, and Vanderbilt running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn.

It’s reasonable to expect that additional football signings could be announced in the coming days. But make no mistake, the signing of a player the caliber of Chase Young is a statement that Paul and Klutch have officially arrived in the NFL.

[lawrence-related id=20693]

[lawrence-related id=24454]

Klutch Sports will represent Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah in NFL Draft

Rich Paul and Klutch Sports will represent Ohio State defensive back Jeff Okudah in NFL.

Rich Paul and Klutch Sports will be representing Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah in the upcoming NFL Draft. Okudah is an All-American and the No. 5 overall player on Mel Kiper’s big board as the top cornerback prospect coming out of college. He expects to be the first NFL player that Paul and Klutch will have in professional football and should enter the league as a top pick.

The Buckeyes best defensive back emerged as one of the premiere cornerbacks in the country during the 2019 season. He earned unanimous All-American honors this past season and also made the All-Big Ten first team while becoming a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award.

Okudah wrote in the Players Tribune about his team’s season under first-year coach Ryan Day.

“There’s Coach Day, who took over for Coach Meyer and made sure we didn’t miss a beat. That was huge. Coach Day’s trust in me really allowed me to develop over this past year as a leader — and he’s also been a great leader by example himself. He has this unique personability, this ability to bring a big group together, that I’ve learned a lot from.

“It’s like, yeah, football can be a cutthroat sport. It can get rough. But at the end of the day we all have love for each other. I want to make sure I keep some of that with me from Coach Day as I move on to the next level.”

Despite the loss in the semifinal, Okudah turned in one of his best games of the season during the College Football Playoff loss to Clemson. He helped slow down the Tigers talented receivers and keep the game within striking distance for the OSU offense in the 29-23 loss. As Klutch Sports continues to enter the professional football ranks, Okudah will always be the first player who helped the agency expand outside of basketball with his marquee commitment.

[lawrence-related id=20419]

[lawrence-related id=20080]

LeBron James and Anthony Davis laugh way through birthday workout

Los Angeles Lakers stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis got some work in but also had a lot of fun for LeBron’s birthday workout.

LeBron James has a party planned for his 35th birthday, which happens to include a day off and another day before their next game on Wednesday against the Phoenix Suns. But it wouldn’t be another day for LeBron James without a workout and he got in a workout with his Lakers superstar partner Anthony Davis, who also looked to be having a party himself in the weight room for his teammates birthday. The two continued to display the chemistry that has helped make the Lakers one of the favorites for the 2020 NBA Championship on LeBron’s birthday.

James and Davis jested to each other last night after a win over Dallas and they continued to mess around even while getting their work in.

According to James’ Instagram, he brought in his birthday by hanging out with his wife and kids late into the night before getting to his workout later today. He also told reporters he’s planning on having a party and given the way the Lakers have been a close unit, it would be a surprise to see highlights from the party without Davis and other members of the Lakers squad. After two wins and still holding the best record in the West, there are plenty of reasons to enjoy a rare night off.

[lawrence-related id=24238,24223]

 

Kyle Kuzma says he told LeBron he can’t control what someone else says

Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma tried to come clean with statements made by his trainer Clint Parks about LeBron James.

In case it was unclear before, Kyle Kuzma isn’t taking sides against the family. After making that clear to LeBron James at yesterday’s practice in Los Angeles, clarifying his role in comments from his trainer Clint Parks that went viral was, not at all a reflection of how he feels about his superstar teammate, Kuzma clarified that to the media. James told reporters on Saturday morning that he did not pay attention to the statements from Kuzma’s trainer Clint Parks, but Kuzma made the effort to clear the air with both LeBron and the media that he has no issues with James.

Kuzma told the Lakers core of beat reporters on Saturday that he can’t control what Parks says and it isn’t a reflection of his feelings, according to Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times.

People also raised their eyebrows at a tweet from Kuzma that said “call a spade a spade” which he also said was not related to how LeBron played on Christmas Day.

The Lakers are in Portland to face off against the Trail Blazers on Saturday night. LeBron James is currently listed as questionable but did participate in the Lakers shootaround on Saturday morning.

[lawrence-related id=24129,24121]

Woj: Jordan Clarkson traded to Jazz for Dante Exum, picks

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Utah Jazz have acquired Klutch Sports guard Jordan Clarkson from the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Trade season is finally underway in the NBA, only a few days before Christmas and it involves a member of the Klutch Sports family.

The Utah Jazz made a move to add some scoring to their bench by trading for Cleveland’s Jordan Clarkson, who recently signed with Klutch Sports, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. In exchange for Clarkson, the Cavs got two second-round picks from the Jazz and former lottery pick Dante Exum.

Clarkson, a free-agent at the end of this season, is having one of his better years in terms of shotting efficiency. His current 53.2% effective field goal would be his best single-season mark by a wide margin. The same goes for his 58.1% true shooting percentage.

The Jazz also needed the added scoring punch since Exum just never worked out for them and veteran guard Mike Conley was struggling, even before an injury that will keep him out for a few weeks.

This latest trade between the Jazz and Cavs is the first trade since Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul were traded for each other back in July.

The Jazz are 18-11, good enough for sixth place in the Western Conference. Cleveland is 8-21.

[lawrence-related id=15545,5321]

Anthony Davis (ankle) expected to be game-time decision at Bucks

Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis is likely to be a game-time decision on Thursday night, according to TNT’s Allie LaForce.

The Los Angeles Lakers nor the Milwaukee Bucks know whether the Lakers will be without their leading scorer and leading shot blocker Anthony Davis in a showdown between two 24-4 teams later this evening.

Davis suffered a sprained ankle in Sunday’s win over the Atlanta Hawks, which caused him to miss Tuesday night’s loss to the Indiana Pacers. Davis has only missed two games this season but perhaps energy is dragging for the Lakers as they play their 12th road game in 15 attempts against the Bucks tonight. While the official update is expected soon, TNT’s Allie LaForce reported moments ago that Davis is expected to be a game-time decision for tonight’s game against the Bucks.

Moments later, Davis was spotted warming up but there has been no definitive word on his status from the Lakers yet.

Davis has been spectacular for the Lakers all season on both ends, anchoring them on defense while also helping push LeBron James to once again embrace defense.

Even without Davis, the Lakers played pretty solid defense against the Pacers but they couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn from the 3-point line. The Lakers have failed to crack 30 percent on 3-pointers in their last two games.

[lawrence-related id=23589,23528]

 

 

LeBron James hopes for ‘no more humble beginnings’ in new Nike ad

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James released a new Nike ad on Thursday night ahead of his showdown with MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Thursday night’s showdown between the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers may surpass even the Christmas Day games in terms of anticipation, so rather than wait until the holidays to release a new Nike ad featuring LeBron, the swoosh decided to drop a new one ahead of LeBron’s showdown with reigning MVP Giannis Antetokoumpo.

But of course, LeBron’s latest ad is about more than just basketball. It’s about his journey from humble beginnings in Akron, beginnings that were revisited only last weekend when James saw his son Bronny Jr. play against his alma mater St. Vincent-St. Mary’s. To close the ad, LeBron says “you know what would be really special? If there were no more humble beginnings.”

Of course, what James means by no more humble beginnings is the hope that children don’t have to be as poor and disadvantaged as he was growing up as a young child in Akron.

The 1,400 kids James references are part of the LeBron James Family Foundation’s I Promise program as well as the kids that are currently enrolled at the I Promise public school in Akron, Ohio. A study into how they performed last year showed major growth in test scores from their students.

[lawrence-related id=21182,16918]