Author: Michelle Hernandez

A player arriving in a new city with genuine promise and genuine questions has a subtle allure. That description almost perfectly describes 21-year-old Cody Williams, who was recently traded from the Utah Jazz to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Williams was chosen by Utah with the tenth overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. He left Colorado with long limbs, athletic tools, and the kind of unrealized potential that scouts are drawn to. Even if the gifts were real, the projection was always a little risky. After two seasons, the Jazz sent him and John Konchar to Minnesota in return for Josh…

A 6-foot-8 former NBA player wearing a long blonde wig enters Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, sits courtside, and declares himself “Queen Roysha.” It sounds almost theatrical. It would be simple to dismiss the entire situation as a performance, a clout grab disguised as gender politics. However, something worthwhile is lost in that framing. There was Royce White. He was photographed by admirers. Caitlin Clark scored 34 points and dished out 12 assists as Indiana defeated Connecticut 111-91. Furthermore, the WNBA has yet to make a formal public decision regarding his draft eligibility. White never participated in a regular-season game for…

The NBA internet creates a rumor every few years that is so loud that it momentarily seems true. Steph Curry joined the Los Angeles Lakers this summer. Posts go viral quickly. A blockbuster trade had been agreed upon, according to accounts with official-looking graphics. There were rumors that Curry was going to the Lakers in return for Collin Sexton. It is urgent, precise, and dramatic, much like a real scoop. It’s not real. A trade has not been verified by any reliable reporter. Joe Lacob, owner of the Warriors, referred to the rumors as “clickbait.” On several occasions, general manager…

There was no tearful farewell speech or press conference at Staples Center. On June 30, LeBron James told the Los Angeles Lakers via his agent, Rich Paul, that he was done. It was a straightforward, uncomplicated, and drama-free statement. That pretty much sums up the state of affairs between LeBron and the team. There are eight seasons. Just one title. And an exit that seemed to have been building for longer than anyone in the Lakers organization would have liked to acknowledge in retrospect. In its most basic form, the story is as follows: LeBron felt uneasy being the third…

Josh Kushner seems to be surrounded by a certain silence, which is odd because the deal he recently closed is anything but quiet. The Los Angeles Lakers were reportedly being sold to Kushner and former Disney CEO Bob Iger for a record $12.5 billion on August 12. It’s the kind of number that puts an end to dinner party discussions. However, Kushner hardly touched on it in his own response, which he posted to X that same day. He was more thrilled about raising an additional $2 billion for his AI holding company. You can learn something about the man…

The State House is approximately one mile away from Columbia, South Carolina’s Colonial Life Arena. The building can accommodate about 18,000 people and generates a lot of noise on a typical Saturday in November. This Thanksgiving weekend, it will host a first for women’s college basketball: the PowHER Player Classic, a tournament centered around HBCU programs, a live NIL marketplace, and a community service component. The event’s name speaks volumes about its goals. On August 27, South Carolina women’s basketball announced the first tournament, confirming that the Gamecocks will be joined in Columbia by North Carolina Central, Alabama A&M, and…

The way the Air Jordan 41 arrived was almost purposefully silent. No vintage hues. No callbacks to the past. There’s no need to rely on forty years of ancestry to carry out the heavy lifting. It didn’t need to be stated aloud when Jordan Brand unveiled the shoe in Shanghai on August 28: this is a different kind of Air Jordan release. It’s important to pay attention to that. The line has been trading nostalgia for a long time and has made huge profits. nniversary colorways, retro releases, and callbacks to Concord, Chicago, and Bred. It’s all profitable and understandable.…

There is always a time during the NBA offseason when rumors get a little out of control, and this week the Los Angeles Lakers provided one. The focus quickly shifted to who Los Angeles might target next after losing out on Jonathan Kuminga, who opted for Minnesota’s $13 million deal over a much larger Lakers offer. Ben Simmons was the name that became popular almost right away. All-Star three times. previously the top overall pick. a player who hasn’t made a significant appearance in an NBA game in a long time. Social media was acting as though it was a…

The offer came from the Lakers. They made the larger offer. They pledged to start alongside Austin Reaves and Luka Dončić in one of the most prominent professional basketball markets. Jonathan Kuminga continued to refuse. It’s worth pausing for a moment to consider that. After reportedly declining a three-year offer from Los Angeles that would have paid him significantly more each season, Kuminga signed a two-year, $13 million contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves, which included a player option on the second year. The Lakers’ offer was valued at $20 million over two years in some reports and $12 million a…

In the midst of all the ownership rumors, roster changes, and offseason hype surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers, there is a detail that probably says more than anything else at the moment. This summer, Luka Dončić took all of his new teammates to Slovenia by plane. He settled the bill on his own. A six-figure bill, apparently. When a player is silently searching for the exit, he doesn’t act like that. The question of whether the 2026–27 season might be Dončić’s final in purple and gold was addressed this week by ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, who covers the Lakers as closely…