Tag: Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan releases statement on passing of Jerry West

Here is the statement that Michael Jordan released on the passing of Los Angeles Lakers legend Jerry West.

The basketball world lost a legend on Wednesday as former player and basketball executive Jerry West passed away at the age of 86.

When news broke that West had passed, the basketball world poured in tributes to the former West Virginia and Los Angeles Lakers standout who had a major impact on the game. West is the logo of the NBA and certainly left a big impact on basketball over the years.

Among the tributes that came in were from former UNC, Chicago Bulls, and Washington Wizards star Michael Jordan. He released this statement on the passing of West:

“I am so deeply saddened at the news of Jerry’s passing. He was truly a friend and mentor—like an older brother to me,” Jordan’s statement said. “I valued his friendship and knowledge. I always wished I could have played against him as a competitor, but the more I came to know him, I wish I had been his teammate.

“I admired his basketball insights and he and I shared many similarities to how we approached the game. He will be forever missed! My condolences to his wife, Karen, and his sons. RIP, Logo.”

That’s one great player respecting another icon of the game.  West had an impact not only on fans but other players as several players have spoken out on him including LeBron James, Shaq, and Kobe Bryant.

West is already a two-time Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member and will be posthumously enshrined for the third time this Fall as an executive and contributor.

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Michael Jordan opens up on the passing of peer, mentor Jerry West

“I always wished I could’ve played against him as a competitor, but the more I came to know him, I wish I had been his teammate,” said MJ.

Los Angeles Lakers Hall of Fame wing and executive Jerry West has passed away. In response, Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan voiced his thoughts about the passing of his peer and mentor in a statement shared on social media by Jump Foundation senior vice president Estee Portnoy.

“I am so deeply saddened at the news of Jerry’s passing,” said Jordan of a man who shares a truly iconic level of recognition in the sport of basketball as the face of the sport. “He was truly a friend and a mentor. Like an older brother to me. I valued his friendship and knowledge.”

“I always wished I could’ve played against him as a competitor, but the more I came to know him, I wish I had been his teammate,” he added.

“I admired his basketball insights, and he and I shared many similarities to how we approached the game,” wrote Jordan.

“He will be forever missed. My condolences to his wife Karen and his sons. Rest in peace, Logo.”

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Xander Schauffele reminds us all to never talk smack to Michael Jordan on the golf course (or anywhere else)

Reminder: NEVER TALK SMACK TO MICHAEL JORDAN EVER.

I don’t know how many times we need to tell you this, but here you go: Never. Ever. Talk smack to Michael Jordan.

Ever.

We’ve seen it cost players on the court in the NBA, and when it comes to professional golfers, the same thing has happened. Just ask Brooks Koepka, and now you can hear it from PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele.

While hitting on the range before the 2024 U.S. Open, Colt Knost asked Schauffele if he’d played with Jordan and remarked how it’s “really hard to [expletive] talk him.”

Schauffele revealed that Jordan beat him in the final holes of their round after Xander talked at the legend. And maybe he’s glad that he didn’t do that at the beginning of the round.

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Watch: Seahawks rookie AJ Barner picks between NBA all-time greats

We’re convinced that nobody who picks LeBron in these scenarios actually got to see Jordan play in his prime.

The NBA Finals are in full swing, with the Boston Celtics taking a 2-0 lead over Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks last night. Naturally, a lot of NFL players are closely following the Finals and are fans of the game themselves. We can apparently count Seahawks rookie tight end AJ Barner among them. After OTAs practice last week Barner was asked to pick between a series of all-time greats from the NBA.

Barner inexplicably picked Allen Iverson over both Magic Johnson and Kevin Garnett and gave a very unfortunate wrong answer at the end, but otherwise he got most of them right. Observe.

We’re convinced that nobody who picks LeBron in these scenarios actually got to see Jordan play in his prime. James’ longevity is undeniably impressive and he’s a strong No. 2 all time, but Michael simply accomplished a whole lot more in fewer years while competing in a far more physical and slower-paced era.

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Nikola Jovic Q&A: ‘From a young age, I always want to be the best no matter what’

Serbian big man Nikola Jovic sat down with HoopsHype to discuss how he’s developed, what it’s like playing with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, what’s his natural position, and more.

Serbian big man Nikola Jovic became a pivotal part of the Heat’s rotation in his second NBA season shooting almost 40 percent from deep and starting 38 games.

Jovic sat down with HoopsHype, on behalf of adidas Eurocamp, to discuss how he’s developed, what it’s like playing with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, what’s his natural position, and more.

The players who made the biggest scoring leaps in the NBA Finals

HoopsHype takes a look at the NBA players who made the biggest scoring jumps from the regular season to the NBA Finals.

For NBA players, there’s stepping up in the playoffs, an impressive enough feat, and then there’s stepping up in the NBA Finals, a whole different level of greatness.

Throughout NBA history, there have been various examples of players who made huge scoring leaps in the NBA Finals, from Jerry West in 1969 to LeBron James in 2015 and Kevin Durant in 2017, and much more.

Today, we’ll highlight the NBA stars who elevated their scoring the most from their regular-season averages to the Finals stage, a list featuring some of the biggest names in the history of the sport as well as a few surprises.

Check out the list we put together below.

Los Angeles Lakers legend Michael Cooper and Boston Celtics alum Dee Brown share Larry Bird stories

Cooper and company got into some Larry Legend hijinks, and also touched on some Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Isaiah Thomas.

Los Angeles Lakers legend Michael Cooper had a heck of a career battling Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics for titles in the 1980s, so he has saved up a bevvy of stories to share from those halcyon days. And Coop recently shared a bunch of them on a recent episode of his CLNS Media “Showtime with Michael Cooper” podcast.

Cooper and company got into some Larry Legend hijinks, and also touched on some Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Isaiah Thomas dirt for good measure.  To top it off, the guest for the episode is none other than former Bird teammate and slam dunk specialist Dee Brown, who had some nuggets of his own to share in the show.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear what they had to say about the Hick From French Lick and their peers from that era.

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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LaMelo Ball buys Cam Newton’s Charlotte condo, rides go-kart on roof

When you buy Cam Newton’s condo for $2.47 million, you better be able to take a go-kart to the roof.

Big ballers do big baller things, and LaMelo Ball is a big baller.

The Charlotte Hornets star just closed in on a pretty high-profile piece of property, purchasing a 3,300-square-foot condo in Uptown’s exclusive Trust building for $2.47 million. But it’s not only the space, the apartment and the price that makes this an interesting purchase—it’s also the previous owner.

Mecklenburg County property records show that Ball’s MB1 Enterprise completed the transaction with Agape Property Management Group LLC, headed by Cecil Newton. And yes, that’s the very Cecil Newton you probably think it is.

Ball’s new(ish) digs were previously inhabited by Carolina Panthers great Cam Newton. Newton purchased the property for $2.1 million back in 2015, the same year he signed a five-year, $103.8 million extension and dabbed his way to a near-unanimous Most Valuable Player award.

According to the Charlotte Business Journal, Ball began leasing the apartment in 2020 with a “handshake agreement” that he’d eventually buy it. Well, he did, and it seems like he’s getting his money’s worth already . . .

Oh, and that’s not the last fun tidbit about the property—as some guy named Michael Jordan also lived in that same building.

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The most expensive Michael Jordan NBA trading card sales ever

The 1986 Upper Deck signed Fleer #57 Rookie card is the ultimate choice for investors keen on Michael Jordan cards. However, the most lucrative sale stems from the 2003 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Michael Jordan Signed Logoman card. We looked at …

The 1986 Upper Deck signed Fleer #57 Rookie card is the ultimate choice for investors keen on Michael Jordan cards. However, the most lucrative sale stems from the 2003 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Michael Jordan Signed Logoman card.

We looked at different websites like Goldin Auctions, Heritage Auctions, and PWCC Marketplace, and here are the highest-ranking sales of Air Jordan cards:

Seahawks tight end Noah Fant comments on Caitlin Clark cheap shots

Seahawks tight end Noah Fant wants to see those teammates step up and adopt an eye for an eye mentality to protect Clark.

The NFL may be king of the sports world, but right now the biggest story is Caitlin Clark and the rough treatment she’s been getting as a rookie in the WNBA. Picked No. 1 overall out of Iowa, Clark has brought unprecedented attention to the league and women’s basketball in general.

Not everyone is on the Caitlin Clark hype train, though – especially her competitors around the league. This cheap shot from Chennedy Jackson that’s gone viral is an example of what she’s been dealing with.

If you were to hit a quarterback like that after the whistle, you can bet a couple of offensive linemen will be in your face pushing back in a matter of seconds. So far none of Clark’s teammates have retaliated against players who have gone out of their way to body her, though.

Seahawks tight end Noah Fant wants to see those teammates step up and adopt an eye for an eye mentality to protect Clark.

Fant has the right idea. Until the Indiana Fever collectively send a message that cheap shots against Clark will be responded to in kind, this is likely to continue.

The treatment of Clark brings to mind how the NBA reacted to Michael Jordan and his arrival on the scene in 1984. For his first few years in the league the Pistons, Celtics and other eastern conference rivals made a habit of beating the hell out of him every time he drove to the basket – and the league’s stars froze him out socially at the All-Star game, as well. Jordan eventually earned their respect the only way you can – by beating them. While her teammates should protect her no matter what, eventually Clark will have to do the same.

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