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Jimmy Butler Trade Rumors: Raptors Enter the Foray, Suns Ready to Offer First-Round Pick


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As each day passes, the reality of the Heat trading Jimmy Butler draws nearer. The latest development in the rumors surrounding Butler includes a new team surfacing into the mix. The Toronto Raptors are the most recent team to enter the fray, but not amongst the teams interested in acquiring Butler.

Doug Smith of The Toronto Star is responsible for breaking the news. Jimmy Butler doesn’t match the timeline of the Raptors but Toronto views this as an opportunity to cash in. Their interest in being a third team is to assist in facilitating a trade in exchange for assets. Smith said,

“It’s not that they want Butler: His skill set, age, $52-million (U.S.) player option for next season, and longer-term financial desires make him about ill-suited to join this roster. But general manager Bobby Webster and president Masai Ujiri are trying to be facilitators — and benefactors — in what ultimately happens with Butler, the disgruntled Heat wing who has asked for a trade.”

Toronto’s involvement would make a Butler trade to the Suns increasingly more likely. Since Phoenix is a second-apron team, they are unable to include multiple players in a trade. However, Toronto has expiring contracts such as Chris Boucher and Bruce Brown that they are looking to offload, which can entice Miami in exchange for draft capital.

Furthermore, the Suns have made it known that their determination to acquire Butler knows no bounds. They are willing to fully commit to their current core by including their highly valuable 2031 first-round pick in a deal according to reports.

The majority of the Suns’ actions to win now are driven by their owner Mat Ishbia. The billionaire is willing to do whatever it takes to turn the Suns into a championship team.

Suns need a change in their roster

The salary cap for the 2024-25 NBA season is $140.5 million. Phoenix is investing over $150 million in their big three of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. However, they are failing to reach expectations as they are currently 20-20 on the season and sitting at the 10th seed. Regardless, they remain proactive in making moves to become a better team.

This past week, the Suns finalized a trade to acquire big man Nick Richards from the Hornets in exchange for Josh Okogie and three second-round picks. This deal provides much-needed depth at the center position amidst Jusuf Nurkic’s regression.

Despite that deal, Phoenix’s top priority remains acquiring Butler. They believe adding the six-time All-Star will serve as the missing piece in their chase for NBA immortality.

The post Jimmy Butler Trade Rumors: Raptors Enter the Foray, Suns Ready to Offer First-Round Pick appeared first on The SportsRush.



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“Make Him or Break Him”: Scottie Pippen Believes Pat Riley Can Save Zion Williamson’s Career


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Zion Williamson was projected to be the next face of the league when he was drafted. Unfortunately, he has failed to meet those expectations due to constant injuries. Additionally, his lack of discipline in remaining in shape and keeping active has resulted in negative narratives surrounding him. Many believe that his tenure in the NBA will end sooner rather than later. However, Bulls legend Scottie Pippen believes Williamson’s career is saveable. He points to Pat Riley and the Miami Heat as the perfect candidates to turn his career around.

Pippen made a guest appearance on the PBD Podcast hosted by Patrick Bet-David. The two began discussing the lack of toughness in the modern NBA including Williamson. Pippen went on to reveal his disappointment in Zion’s progression but still has faith that he can live up to his potential in the right situation. He said,

“Veteran leadership around this kid may help him and to help jumpstart his career in a sense. It’s just as important for him off the court to work on himself as it is on the court. You’re either going to make him or break him, somebody like Pat Riley in the Miami Heat organization.”

If Zion continues down this path, Pippen doesn’t believe he’ll live up to his Hall-of-Fame potential. However, he does see a reality where he achieves what he’s capable of. That being with the Heat organization. Miami is notorious for not tolerating any slouching around or tartiness.

Heat president Pat Riley doesn’t show any bias towards any player. This is evident with Miami’s ongoing situation with six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler. Miami holds each player to the same standard and accountability, which Pippen thinks will serve Williamson the best. The Heat also have significantly more veterans than New Orleans to keep Zion in check, including former players such as Udonis Haslem.

Pippen is supportive of the impact Riley’s system has on young players. It pushes players to the limits and tests their love for the sport. Although the Hall-of-Fame forward never played for Riley he witnessed this through his contemporaries during Riley’s stints with the Lakers, Knicks, and Heat. Since there are doubts about Williamson’s passion, this method of training could be what is needed for him to break through.

Of course, this is all contingent on the Pelicans deciding to blow up their core and trade the two-time All-Star. As things stand, Zion Williamson’s status in New Orleans is safe but that could change quickly in the NBA.

The post “Make Him or Break Him”: Scottie Pippen Believes Pat Riley Can Save Zion Williamson’s Career appeared first on The SportsRush.



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“I Love Your Beard”: When Lewis Hamilton’s Girlfriend Praised Fernando Alonso


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Right on his entry into F1 in 2007, Lewis Hamilton was tasked with teaming up with reigning two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso. Not only did he rise to the challenge, but he also gave the Spaniard a run for his money, establishing a legendary rivalry in the process. Over the years, they have exchanged multiple jabs at one another. However, the equation was different when Hamilton’s girlfriend came into the picture.

In 2014, after his final race for Ferrari in Abu Dhabi, Alonso called for a truce and congratulated Hamilton on winning his second World title — his first with Mercedes. He went to the Silver Arrows motorhome and spoke to both Hamilton, his dad Anthony, brother Nicholas, and the newly crowned title winner’s then-girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger.

During the conversation, Scherzinger, singer for the Pussycat Dolls, took the opportunity to say, “I love your beard!” 

Alonso—who went on to rejoin McLaren the next season—replied by revealing that even his mother felt the same.

It was a rare moment of harmony between the two rivals up until then, thanks to Scherzinger. Just months later, Hamilton and Scherzinger broke up, reportedly because of the Stevenage-born driver’s busy schedule and refusal to settle down and get married.

Hamilton never really recovered from Scherzinger’s heartbreak

Scherzinger was Hamilton’s last serious and long-term relationship, at least as far as public knowledge goes. Many have speculated that the 40-year-old never fully got over the breakup.

Hamilton has admitted several times that his hectic life as an F1 driver hasn’t allowed him to get married or start a family. However, this hasn’t kept him out of the spotlight when it comes to rumors about dating A-listers.

Rihanna, Kendall Jenner, and Juliana Nalu are some of the names linked to Hamilton, who is set to drive for Ferrari this season. Another notable rumored connection is with Colombian pop sensation Shakira.

Shakira, who was previously married to former soccer star Gerard Pique, was spotted several times with Hamilton in public, sparking rumors of a romantic relationship. They were seen together on boat rides and at public dinners. However, for those who hoped to see them as a couple, the chatter quickly fizzled out, revealing that they had been close friends for quite some time.

As of January 2025, Hamilton remains a single man.

The post “I Love Your Beard”: When Lewis Hamilton’s Girlfriend Praised Fernando Alonso appeared first on The SportsRush.



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“Easier For Basketball Players to Try NFL”: LeBron James Claims Anthony Edwards and Russell Westbrook Could Have Played Football


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The age-old debate between NFL and NBA players is whether it’s easier for basketball players to play football or vice versa. Typically, NFL players choose themselves, and NBA players do the same. If anyone’s opinion holds weight in this debate, it’s Lakers superstar LeBron James. The 20-time All-Star was offered a full-ride scholarship to the prestigious football program at Ohio State University. The former high school basketball and football star sided with NBA players.

James made a guest appearance on Travis and Jason Kelce’s New Heights Podcast. The two NFL stars couldn’t resist the urge to ask LeBron for his opinion on the debate. James responded candidly,

“I want to say I think it’s easier for a basketball player to try NFL over the NFL player trying to get in the NBA. [If] an NBA guy decides to play in the NFL, yes it’s going to take a transition period. For me, it would’ve been like getting used to getting hit again. Football going to basketball, it’s such more coordination and running and jumping, consistent.”

LeBron can speak from experience, recalling his time being a two-sport athlete in high school. He stated the biggest challenge for NBA players pursuing football is the acclimation of the physicality of the sport. Once that transition period is over, the coordination from basketball will take care of the rest.

However, James didn’t just make this claim without giving a few examples of players he believes will thrive. Although there were a few he could name, there were two in particular that stood above the rest.

“Off the top of my head I would say Russell Westbrook or Anthony Edwards,” James said. “I think Russ would be an unbelievable strong safety or free safety. I think Ant Edwards could make the transition as well.”

To the surprise of the Kelce brothers, LeBron believes Westbrook would be at his best playing defense in the NFL. His reasoning is due to his outstanding versatility, which he compared to Chargers safety Derwin James. Additionally, James revealed he’s seen footage of Edwards’ in Little League and high school, which causes him to believe in his skills.

Moreover, LeBron provided an in-depth explanation why he believes a switch from the NBA to the NFL would be easier.

LeBron’s explanation why NBA to NFL switch is easier

Unlike older eras in the NBA, the league isn’t predicated on plays anymore. Many offenses are free-flowing and react to what the defense shows. That isn’t the case in football. There are multiple routes that players need to memorize ahead of the game. However, once players learn the routes, he believes the adjustment would be easy from that point.

In addition, James highlights the break in plays in the NFL compared to the NBA. Each possession in football lasts no longer than 30 seconds most of the time. In basketball, there could be stretches where both teams are competing for 5-7 minutes before a timeout is called.

The jump to either sport poses difficulties for athletes of both sports. However, LeBron made his allegiance to his NBA brethren clear while providing an unbiased explanation.

The post “Easier For Basketball Players to Try NFL”: LeBron James Claims Anthony Edwards and Russell Westbrook Could Have Played Football appeared first on The SportsRush.



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“James Vowles Has Been Absolutely Clear”: Williams Is Touted to Pull a Haas 2021 This Year


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Regulation changes are a big deal in F1, often leading to a complete reset in the teams’ technical structures. As the changes of 2026 approach, all 10 teams will face the dilemma of whether to shift their developmental focus from 2025 to the next generation of cars.

While the plans of most teams remain unknown, Williams has been reported to forgo success this season in order to make a substantial leap in 2026. What this means is that the Grove-based team could potentially decide to not work on its 2025 car at all and divert focus to the 2026 spec car.

“I think Williams is potentially the most likely to go earliest. I think James Vowles has always been absolutely clear that 2026 is what matters [and] the focus is on that. So, they’ll go as early as they can,” John Nobles of The Race said.

Vowles, who joined Williams as Team Principal in 2023, has always prioritized long-term success over short-term gains, and this presents the perfect opportunity to put his vision into practice. While it won’t guarantee success, it could pay off, and history has shown that this approach can work.

In 2021, Haas did virtually no work on its car and ended the season with zero points. However, their focus shift on the 2022 ground-effect regulations helped them make some progress, as they ended the campaign with 37 points.

However, there is also the matter of prize money. Many teams, including Williams, are cash-strapped and wouldn’t want to miss out on the additional bonuses based on their finishing positions in the standings.

Others who could join Williams

Williams may not be the only team contemplating a similar approach heading into the new campaign. Outfits who had a dismal 2024 could also choose to place all their bets on the new regulations, and this includes Sauber—who will become Audi in 2026—and Aston Martin.

For Sauber, in particular, it makes sense to sacrifice the 2025 season, focusing on gathering mileage and data. With a fresh reset under Audi set to rejuvenate the team, pushing too hard and failing wouldn’t be a wise strategy.

However, The Race’s panel believes that much will depend on the first few races of the season. If a team sees potential in their 2025 challenger, they might be tempted to delay their commitment to 2026.

Aston Martin finds itself in a similar dilemma. Adrian Newey is expected to join the Silverstone-based team soon, and with their bespoke wind tunnel nearing operational status, he is likely to focus on the 2026 car, leaving the 2025 project to continue without his direct involvement.

The post “James Vowles Has Been Absolutely Clear”: Williams Is Touted to Pull a Haas 2021 This Year appeared first on The SportsRush.



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“Got to be Real”: Lakers Legend Sides With Charles Barkley, Won’t Allow JJ Redick to Blame Media for NBA’s Poor Ratings


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One of the biggest conversations surrounding the NBA is the continuing decrease in ratings. Many people have pointed to different reasons for the development. Lakers head coach JJ Redick went on to blame the media and Charles Barkley’s NBA on TNT for their negative coverage of the sport leading to poor ratings. However, Lakers legend, Byron Scott refuses to agree. He believes there needs to be honesty regarding the current style of play and its impact on the ratings.

In a recent episode of Byron Scott’s Fast Break, the three-time champion criticized Redick for his take on the reason NBA ratings are down. Scott made it clear the media is only reporting the product that is on the court, which he considers bad. He said,

“You can’t put the blame on the media. The players play the game, the coaches coach the game. The media is going to report what they see and they’re going to get the opinion on how the game is played. So the players and the coaches that’s where you got to start with the blame. The NBA game right now is not a very attractive game to watch.”

JJ Redick made his statement in response to Barkley. The duo then had a few back and forth and the Sixers legend straight up refuted Redick’s attack on media. Barkley said:

“JJ, you better calm down because when you come for the king, you better not miss. He said something about we’re the reason people ain’t watching this crappy product we got. Us, like we’re out there jacking up 100 3s a night.”

Now Scott is siding with Barkley too and believes players and coaches should receive the blame rather than the media solely due to players and coaches having the power to control the outcome of a game. The media is only able to work with what they’re given. In his opinion, the available product isn’t comparable to what it used to be.

Analytics have had a big influence on the majority of NBA teams. Scott believes this is a big reason for the downward trend in ratings. However, there are a few things he believes can help bring forth the change the NBA is looking for.

Scott believes the NBA is too one-dimensional

It isn’t a secret that the three-point shot has taken over the way teams play. Stephen Curry and the Warriors started this revolution, which has reached new heights thanks to the defending NBA champion Celtics. Scott speaks on behalf of fans stating they don’t want to watch only three-pointers and layups in a 48-minute NBA game.

“The beauty of basketball is having five guys play the game, that’s what the game has always been about,” Scott said. “Five guys being able to all touch the ball being able to all score. That’s not what it is right now.”

Despite there being plenty of teams averaging a high number of assists, Scott believes the game isn’t as unselfish as it used to be. The assists are coming from a stagnant offense, which is void of much player movement. This is due to teams prioritizing a five-out offense, which requires five players on the perimeter.

Once the NBA reverts back to originality in terms of offense, Scott believes interest along with the ratings will bounce back.

The post “Got to be Real”: Lakers Legend Sides With Charles Barkley, Won’t Allow JJ Redick to Blame Media for NBA’s Poor Ratings appeared first on The SportsRush.



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“Anthony Edwards Hasn’t Regressed One Bit”: Draymond Green Disagrees With Charles Barkley’s Assessment of Wolves Star


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With a disappointing 20-18 record and currently 8th in the West, The Minnesota Timberwolves have been underwhelming, to say the least. People are trying to figure out why after their Western Conference Finals appearance last season. Some talking heads, including Charles Barkley, believe Anthony Edwards’ regression is the main reason for Minnesota’s downfall. However, Draymond Green doesn’t believe the two-time All-Star has fallen off at all.

Green was informed about a statement Barkley made regarding Edwards’ season, which the 34-year-old quickly brushed off as nonsense. When Baron Davis asked him if he agreed with Chuck, he responded, “I don’t think Anthony Edwards is regressing,” before going on a tangent supporting the young star.

The Warriors legend did underline that Edwards may not be playing the way everyone expected him to because of the new roster he had to adjust to in the offseason. Green emphasized that the expectations for the 23-year-old were naturally going to be sky-high after last year’s Conference Finals berth. He noted that Edwards may lack the energy and tenacity that helped him elevate Minnesota to contention status, but he hasn’t regressed skill-wise.

In fact, he claimed that Edwards has actually improved this year. “[Edwards] has gotten better actually,” Green added, highlighting the All-NBA guard’s noticeable jump in three-point efficiency. Edwards has gone from knocking down 35% of his 6.7 3PA to hitting a scorching 42% on 9.9 attempts per game.

Green added that if he were to make an argument against Edwards, it would be his lack of hunger, not his declining skills. “I would take more that approach… rather than like, ‘Anthony Edwards has regressed’ because that’s just not true,” Green continued, “[Edwards] hasn’t regressed one bit.”

The Warriors forward also believes Edwards’ performance should be the least of Minnesota’s worries, as the team created more problems than it solved last offseason.

Draymond Green highlighted why the Timberwolves are struggling

After segueing past the Edwards discussion, Green underlined how Minnesota moved on from their franchise centerpiece in Karl-Anthony Towns in exchange for Julius Randle, who operate much differently from each other. “Removing a player like KAT is a big, big deal,” Green went on, emphasizing how much time it can take for a team to adjust from a move of that magnitude.

The Timberwolves are still adjusting to life without Towns, who is producing at All-NBA levels with the New York Knicks this season. Minnesota may need to also make changes on their roster, but the team’s first priority should be freeing their star from the constant double teams thrown his way. Otherwise, the Timberwolves will continue to sputter, with even Edwards’ hero ball not enough to bail them out of defeat.

The post “Anthony Edwards Hasn’t Regressed One Bit”: Draymond Green Disagrees With Charles Barkley’s Assessment of Wolves Star appeared first on The SportsRush.



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Lewis Hamilton’s Old Video With Niki Lauda Shows How the 7-Time F1 Champ Must Have Felt With Mercedes Recently


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The struggles Lewis Hamilton faced at Mercedes in recent years were difficult for many to witness, but this wasn’t the first challenging period in his F1 career. During his time at McLaren, there were several instances where he appeared visibly disheartened due to the car’s performance not meeting expectations.

Hamilton once reflected on how he felt during this tough period when the success he sought seemed out of reach. A video of him and the late, great Niki Lauda recently made the rounds on social media, showing the two discussing the psychology of a champion driver when facing difficulties.

“When people start questioning how good you are and people say ‘oh this person must be better’. It’s frustrating that you can’t react and fix it by going faster ‘cause you don’t have the car,” the former Mercedes driver said.

This reflected how Hamilton must have been feeling during the last three seasons of his career at Brackley. Mercedes entered a slump in 2022 because of their poor understanding of the ground-effect regulations, which turned out to be a major handicap. He never got a car good enough to fight for his eighth title since.

It mentally exhausted him, and towards the end of his final season with the team (2024), he had even lost all confidence. He looked defeated and was admittedly just waiting for the season to end.

However, many paddock insiders questioned whether Hamilton had lost his edge, comparing his recent performances to his dominant years with Mercedes from 2014 to 2020. Being outperformed by his younger teammate George Russell further fueled these doubts.

Despite this, drivers like Nico Hulkenberg and Valtteri Bottas—both of whom have raced alongside Hamilton for years—voiced their support, arguing that it is too soon to count him out.

Has Hamilton still got it to win championships?

There is little doubt about Hamilton’s ability to maximize a good car’s potential to eke out a win on any given day. Even in 2024, he took the W15—which he claimed was the worst ever—to two wins, in Britain and Belgium.

Hamilton, with his first win, ended a 945-day winless streak and took his tally to 105 in Spa, further extending his haul as the most successful F1 driver of all time. Plus, his recovery drives in Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi, where he started from outside the top ten and ended up competing for the podium was proof that Hamilton’s talent did not take any hit.

However, the fact that Hamilton hasn’t competed for the championship since 2021 may have caused some rustiness in certain aspects of his craft. His struggles with qualifying pace in 2024 emerged as a notable weakness. While he will be looking to address this, it won’t be easy as he approaches 40. Nonetheless, a driver of his caliber can never be counted out

The post Lewis Hamilton’s Old Video With Niki Lauda Shows How the 7-Time F1 Champ Must Have Felt With Mercedes Recently appeared first on The SportsRush.



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Jordan James NFL Draft 2025: Probable Landing Spots for the Oregon Ducks RB


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Jordan James is only a junior, but after a 1,267-yard, 15-touchdown season as the RB1 for the Oregon Ducks, he has decided to forego his final year of eligibility and declare for the 2025 NFL Draft. James and the Ducks had their 2024 season cut short by Ohio State a few weeks ago. But that just means the running back has more time to prep for April.

At 5’10” and 205 pounds, James may be a bit slight of frame for the NFL game, but he’s got all the skills and attributes you could ask for to make up for that. He’s got excellent vision, quick-twitch burst, and he can run away from defenders when he finds daylight thanks to his 4.45 speed.

While James is a bit small, he has had no trouble churning out tough yards between the tackles. He’s known for his second and third efforts, which usually help him snare another one or two yards as he falls forward.

While James needs work on his pass protection and route-running, he’s a capable receiver out of the backfield, grabbing 26 receptions for 209 yards for the Ducks in 2024. He is currently being projected as a Day 3 pick in the 6th or 7th round. Let’s take a look at a couple of possible destinations.

3) Denver Broncos

The Broncos have had a bit of a running game problem for a while now. They have ranked in the bottom half of the league in rushing in each of the last three seasons. They drafted a bowling ball of a running back in Audric Estime last year, so perhaps they could pair him with a more shifty sort of back like James. Javonte Williams has had four years to figure it out, and he has yet to do so.

The last time the Broncos were half decent on the ground was in 2021, when Williams and Melvin Gordon both went for 900+ yards. Jordan James will need time and space to develop, so bringing him on in Denver where there’s already some depth will reduce the pressure on the 20-year-old, as he delves into Sean Payton’s complex scheme.

2) Miami Dolphins

Miami had an ugly run this season, so they will be looking to inject their offense with some new energy this offseason. De’Von Achane is locked in as the starter for the Dolphins, but Raheem Mostert will be 33 in April and seems to be on his last legs after a 278-yard disaster of a season in 2024.

Jordan James would fit into head coach Mike McDaniel’s scheme well as a player with good short-area burst but also home run potential. The Dolphins are likely to need some of that too. It seems that Tyreek Hill could be headed out the door sooner rather than later.

1) New York Giants

The Devin Singletary experiment didn’t work out great for the Giants in 2024. But they sort of made up for it by drafting Tyrone Tracy Jr., who looks like a really solid player, in the 4th round. However, they could still stand to improve, and their offense was lacking in explosiveness this season apart from Malik Nabers.

The Giants ran for just under 105 yards a game this season, which is the 10th-fewest in football. Their 4.2 yards-a-carry could be better as well. If Jordan James can refine his pass blocking, he could become the perfect change-of-pace back to pair with Tracy as both youngsters develop in Brian Daboll’s offense.

The post Jordan James NFL Draft 2025: Probable Landing Spots for the Oregon Ducks RB appeared first on The SportsRush.



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“Sh*t Was So Cringe”: Former Laker Clowns Anthony Edwards for ‘Glazing’ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander With MVP Backing


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Nikola Jokic may have won 3 of the last 4 MVP awards, but many felt that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander deserved last year’s top honor. That belief has carried into this season as well, with Anthony Edwards crowning the OKC guard after the Timberwolves were defeated by the Thunder on New Year’s Eve. However, the crew of Gil’s Arena hasn’t taken kindly to Edwards’ praise for SGA, with Nick Young calling the young guard’s words “cringe.”

When the host read out Ant-Man’s entire monologue about Shai to the rest of the crew, the panel of former pros couldn’t get their feelings out fast enough. Nick Young seemed almost disgusted by the comments and called him out for it. He and the rest of the crew seemed surprised that Edwards would go out of his way to show such respect to another star in the league, especially when he’s such a competitive player himself. Young said,

“Man nah. He is… You can’t do that much s*****g god d**n. F**k that. As an NBA player, that sh*t was so cringe.”

But the mockery didn’t stop there. Brandon Jennings, Kenyon Martin, and Rashad McCants also mocked the Olympic Gold Medalist and insinuated that he was acting more like a superfan than a competitor in the same conference as the Thunder star.

Surprisingly, Gilbert Arenas came out with some logical arguments. He pointed out that Edwards had earned the right to complement Gilgeous-Alexander because he was good enough to be asked for his opinion on other stars. Gil also reminded the crew how Edwards had praised Kevin Durant during last season’s playoffs, and nobody batted an eye.

Anthony Edwards’ praise for Kevin Durant

When the Timberwolves took a 1-0 lead over the Suns in the playoffs last season, the highlight of the first game was Edwards trash-talking Durant after hitting a tough shot over the former MVP. After the game was done, he revealed to the media that Durant was his favorite player growing up, and he couldn’t resist mouthing off to the 2x champion.

“That’s my favorite player of all time, so that was probably one of the best feelings ever in my whole life, for sure,” Edwards said.

The only difference between his comments on KD and Shai comes in the situation. He praised Durant after leading his team to a victory, and in the eyes of the Gil’s Arena crew, he was justified to do that. But in Shai’s case, the Thunder had just defeated the Wolves 113-108, and they felt the praise for an opponent was out of place from a competitor as fierce as Anthony Edwards.

The post “Sh*t Was So Cringe”: Former Laker Clowns Anthony Edwards for ‘Glazing’ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander With MVP Backing appeared first on The SportsRush.



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Lou Williams Deftly Opposes Former Bucks Guard’s Take on Jayson Tatum: He is Not Soft


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Former Bucks star Brandon Jennings went viral for his bold claims that Jayson Tatum is the softest Celtics superstar ever. The word made waves toward the five-time All-Star who mocked Jennings in his recent Instagram caption. The exchange between the two has caused discourse surrounding Tatum to arise. Former Clippers star Lou Williams comes to Tatum’s defense and adamantly rejects the idea that he is soft.

Williams made his opinion known on FanDuel TV’s Run It Back. Williams immediately broke out a smile once the discussion started. Without hesitation, he firmly stood on the belief that Jennings’ statement was false. He said,

“I’m curious to what Brandon Jennings’ criteria is for that. What makes Jayson Tatum soft? The things that he was able to do in Game 7? The way that he goes about his business in fourth quarters? If he was soft, trust me, he would get tried time and time again. You don’t see guys going out there and trying Jayson Tatum.”

Unlike Jennings, Williams views Tatum in the opposite light. Just because he didn’t win Eastern Conference and Finals MVP doesn’t mean Tatum’s soft. On numerous occasions, Tatum has shown his toughness. In the 2023 semifinals, Tatum set the record for most points in a Game 7 with 51 points to defeat the Sixers. According to Williams, a soft player doesn’t perform like that.

In addition, Williams suggests that if Tatum was soft players would try all sorts of tricks against the Celtics star. Instead, opponents hold Tatum in high regard and show him enormous respect. All signs point to Tatum not being a soft player.

Tatum has proven he’s not soft

Tatum’s Game 7 performance against the Sixers isn’t the only instance in which he has proved he isn’t soft. Arguably, his most iconic performance comes in Game 6 of the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals against the Bucks. Tatum finished with an emphatic 46 points en route to forcing a Game 7 and keeping their playoff hopes alive.

Furthermore, Tatum showcased his toughness in Boston’s title-clinching Game 5 victory over the Mavericks. Despite struggling to find his shot for the majority of the series, Tatum performed when it mattered most. He finished the game with 31 points to close out the series and capture his first NBA championship.

Although Tatum has achieved what many players haven’t, he still hasn’t earned the respect he’s due. As a result, Jennings’s words, along with others, continue to add fuel to the fire to prove the doubters wrong, which will be a scary sight once the postseason begins.

The post Lou Williams Deftly Opposes Former Bucks Guard’s Take on Jayson Tatum: He is Not Soft appeared first on The SportsRush.



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