The Heat got O’Neal on a discount. They gave up Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Brian Grant, and a future first-round pick to land the veteran center. The Lakers were insistent on Odom, who played a critical role in helping the Lakers win back-to-back NBA titles in 2009 and 2010. However, his arrival in Miami was due to an agent’s mistake.

 

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In 2003, Heat point guard Anthony Carter was entering the final year of his deal with the franchise and had a $4.1 million player option. He had averaged only 4.1 points, 4.1 assists, and 2.5 rebounds the previous year and wasn’t going to receive any substantial offers. The NBA has a June 30 deadline for players who want to opt-in to the final year of their contracts. However, Carter’s agent missed the deadline, and his client became a free agent.

The gaffe gave the Heat breathing room on their cap space and they offered a six-year, $65 million deal to Odom, who was a restricted free agent. The Heats then traded Odom to the Lakers for Shaquille O’Neal, who helped Miami win their first championship.

Shaq reminds others of how Heat was able to make a move for him pic.twitter.com/BzlCQwfQgQ

— What are NBA Celebs Upto? (@NBACelebsUpdate) February 21, 2024

After Anthony Carter lost out on a massive payday due to an unforgivable error from his agent, he was forced to sign a $750,000 deal with the San Antonio Spurs. He played for eight more years in the NBA after his exit from the Heat and earned only $7.2 million. The agent whose error led to Carter losing out on $3.35 million in 2004 paid out the amount to the former Heat player in 18 installments from 2003 to 2020.

Carter’s agent forgetting to call the Heat and informing them that their player wanted to opt into the final year of his deal altered the course of NBA history. O’Neal shared the video of the timeline of these events on his Instagram page to remind his followers how a minute error proceeded to help add another title to his resume.

Anthony Carter and Lamar Odom’s career paths after the 2003 mishap

Carter retired from the NBA in 2012 and took up coaching. He was on the Sacramento Kings’ coaching staff during the 2015-16 season before returning to the Heat in 2018 in a player development role. He spent five years with the franchise before joining the Memphis Grizzlies as an assistant coach.

Lamar Odom spent one year with the Heat before being shipped off to LA as the main asset in the O’Neal trade. The big man spent seven seasons as a Lakers and became a fan favourite. He helped the franchise win two NBA titles and is remembered fondly by the team’s fans. In the end, Carter’s agent’s mistake worked out well for Odom and O’Neal, while he lost $3.35 million and presumably some potential clients.

The post Shaquille O’Neal Recalls How a $3.35 Million ‘Mistake’ Helped Him Win 4th Championship With Dwyane Wade appeared first on The SportsRush.

Kobe Bryant was known for his competitiveness. Even in the All-Star Game, with not much to win, Bryant would put in all his efforts and make sure that the spectators had a great time. Apart from being excellent on the offense, the Los Angeles Lakers legend was one of the very few superstars who actually played defense. His total of 38 steals (highest on the list) across 18 All-Star Games is proof for the same.

Kobe performed at the highest level, even when others considered it to be a break from the regular season. On numerous occasions across his career, the 6ft 6” shooting guard urged his fellow All-Stars to fulfil their responsibility to their fans and compete. Bryant reiterated himself during the 2009, 2011, and 2016 All-Star Games.

2009: “I think that’s what the fans really want to see. Want to see us get after it a little bit.”

2011: “I feel like we all have a sense of responsibility and we’re voted in for what we do during the season. Which is play hard.”

2016: “I want them to come out and compete. You wanna do something for me? Let’s go out there and compete and have a good competitive game. And then let’s win the game.”

 

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After witnessing an underwhelming performance in the 2024 All-Star Game, Shaq reshared this clip on his Instagram Stories. By doing so, O’Neal can only hope that the players can make the exhibition game much more competitive and entertaining from the next time onwards.

Shaq uses Kobe’s words to remind players of their responsibility as All-Stars pic.twitter.com/jhsJsc0Gp4

— What are NBA Celebs Upto? (@NBACelebsUpdate) February 21, 2024

Unlike Bryant, as seen in the clips above, the players didn’t even break a sweat this year. Apart from uncontested three-point shots, players even took unnecessary full-court heaves. Clearly, ticket prices of the contest being so high was not justified and no spectator got their money’s worth.

Joining Shaquille O’Neal are numerous livid fans

Shaquille O’Neal wasn’t the only personality from the basketball world to be gutted by the All-Star Game. Stephen A. Smith also expressed his concerns regarding the All-Star Weekend, calling the highly-anticipated event a “travesty”.

The ESPN analyst was so frustrated at the production that he urged Commissioner Adam Silver to eliminate the Skills Challenge, Slam Dunk Competition, and the All-Star Game going forward.

“What transpired last night was an absolute travesty. Nearly 400 points on defence, no effort whatsoever,” Smith said.

.@stephenasmith thinks the NBA should get rid of the Skills Competition, Slam Dunk Competition and the All-Star Game:

“What transpired last night was an absolute travesty.” pic.twitter.com/TXLUB8RvPm

— First Take (@FirstTake) February 19, 2024

JJ Redick also took to his podcast and revealed his disappointment in the event. After lauding Kevin Durant for his efforts, Redick called out all participants for their performance.

“This is not playing defence! This was 23 guys, I’d say 23 and a half guys just not trying. And we have seen it year after year after year. At no point, did anyone outside of Kevin Durant try on defense,” Redick said.

While all analysts and enthusiasts have been urging the league to make the All-Star Game much more entertaining, Anthony Edwards just explained why the contest could never be fixed. Edwards, who previously stated that he would only shoot from his left hand, expressed his honest opinions about the exhibition game. According to the Minnesota Timberwolves guard, the All-Star Game was merely for fun and he wouldn’t ever try being competitive.

 

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Unless the players don’t take the first step and try making the contest more fun, there isn’t a lot that Adam Silver can do. All that the fans can do is hope that the league comes up with an idea to make the weekend more fun by bringing in some modifications.

The post “Go Out There and Compete”: Shaquille O’Neal Echoes Kobe Bryant’s Words While Reminding All-Stars Their ‘Responsibility’ Towards Fans appeared first on The SportsRush.

 

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Shaq shared some personal experiences, admitting to making mistakes in the past that led to him losing his family. He stressed on the importance of cherishing loved ones, urging Kelce to prioritize his beautiful wife and kids if he chooses to retire. The former Los Angeles Lakers player stated,

“I made a lot of dumb mistakes to where I lost my family, and I didn’t have anybody. That’s not the case for you. So enjoy your beautiful wife. Enjoy your beautiful kids, and never dwell on what we had. What we had is what we got. You got the ring. People know who you are. Enjoy. Because again, I was an idiot and I’ve talked about it a long time. I lost my whole family. I’m in a 100,000 square foot house by myself.”

Shaquille O’Neal advised him not to dwell on the past instead focus on his present joys and accomplishments, like Kelce’s Super Bowl ring and his respected reputation in the NFL community. Drawing from his own personal regrets, he wanted Kelce to understand the value of family and happiness beyond football achievements.

After playing 13 seasons in the NFL, all with the Philadelphia Eagles, Jason Kelce has definitely proven himself as one of the league’s top centers and probably a future Hall of Famer. With seven Pro Bowl appearances and six selections to the All-Pro First Team under his belt, his legacy on the field speaks volumes. However, despite his remarkable career achievements, Kelce finds himself in a dilemma regarding his future.

Jordan Mailata Sparks Speculation on Jason Kelce’s Retirement

Despite not making an official announcement, rumors about his potential retirement have been circulating. Jason’s teammate and close friend, Jordan Mailata, expressed his belief that Kelce might be hanging up his cleats based on his recent behavior. The Eagles tackle stated,

“There’s no shot. You’re telling me he’s going shirts off in the games, gambling in the casinos, he’s coming back? No way. He’s having too much fun. He’s out there living his life. And I’m going to miss him for sure, man.”

He mentioned Kelce’s relaxed attitude, such as going shirtless during games, supporting Kansas City Chiefs, and enjoying himself in casinos, as signs that Kelce is having too much fun to consider coming back to the field. Additionally, Mailata expressed his admiration for Kelce and how much he will miss him if he does retire.

Jason Kelce, while playing the sport with all his heart, has also been an entertainer for the NFL fans. If he decides to retire, there are various opportunities awaiting him beyond the football field. Already, reports suggest that Kelce has been looking into roles in NFL broadcasting, meeting with big networks like ESPN, Fox, and Amazon. It will be interesting to see what Jason finally decides to do.

The post What Did Shaquille O’Neal Say to Jason Kelce About Family, Retirement & Happiness? appeared first on The SportsRush.

Shaq’s free-throw shooting started becoming a liability to the Lakers, as O’Neal even shot under 50% one year. Phil Jackson, the then Head Coach of The Los Angeles Lakers had to come up with a plan, as teams kept sending O’Neal to the free-throw line late in games.

In the book “ The Three Ring Circus‘, author Jeff Pearlman, beautifully illustrated the predicament that Jackson and the Lakers were in. Talking about it, Pearlman said,

“There was a growing concern that, toward the ends of tight games, opposing coaches would foul O’Neal and place him at the free throw line. Jackson always felt the threat lingering, as did Bryant.”

What surprised Kobe and Jackson the most, was the fact that Shaq couldn’t hit free-throws. O’Neal was an All-Time great, but couldn’t make six of his ten free throws. A regular on a high school team could pull off the simple assignment, but free-throws always perplexed the Big Fella.

With Shaq’s free-throw shooting not getting any better, Jackson came up with a strange strategy. The strategy to keep teams from ‘hacking Shaq’, was to simply blow the team out of the water. Yes, the Lakers would attempt to defeat teams by large enough margins, such that any late-minute antics wouldn’t take place.

Over the next 19-game stretch, the Lakers would pummel its opponents, as they beat teams with an average point difference of 14.1 points. Even if games got close, it was due to the regular being rested, as O’Neal was kept out of games during the last minutes. Coach Jackson needed O’Neal for the playoffs, and he wasn’t going to sit by and watch teams beat the pulp out of his center.

Shaq’s problem with free throws

Shaquille O’Neal might be one of the worst free-throw shooters of all time. Like Wilt Chamberlain, Shaq had an uncanny problem with shooting from the line. Even though the Diesel won 4 of his 6 NBA finals appearances, he shot well under 50% from the line in most of them.

In fact, the only time Shaq ever shot over 60% from the line, would be during the 2001 NBA Finals. Unsurprisingly, many years later, Shaq does regret not working hard on his free throws. During a 2022 interview with Graham Bensinger, O’Neal would reveal his three regrets from his playing days, and unsurprisingly ‘free throws’ featured in the list. Talking about it further, Shaq said,

“There’s two regrets, actually three….Missing 5,000 free throws, not passing WIlt Chamberlain in points and not being higher on the scoring list. Those are my only three regrets.” 

Even though Shaq never got into the groove while shooting his free throws, he still remained dominant. In fact, Shaq is considered as one of the greatest center’s the game has ever seen. To many, ‘The Diesel’, is the most dominant to have ever played the sport, and they wouldn’t be wrong to say so. Shaq has his jersey retired by over three different teams, a testament to his dominance during his playing days.

The post “Felt the Threat Lingering”: When Lakers Countered Shaquille O’Neal’s Poor Free Throw Shooting with a Curious Game Winning Strategy appeared first on The SportsRush.

While the photoshoot for both teams was taking place, Jordan began his banter. His first victim was none other than Alonzo Mourning. Talking to the Heat legend, Jordan said,

“Number 45. Man, that’s a very bad lucky number. “

 

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For many who might not know, Jordan played in the league wearing the number ’45’. He wore it back in High School and debuted it during his 1994-1995 season. The season would be a resounding failure for the Bulls, as Shaq and the Magic would eliminate the Bulls in the playoffs.

Talking about Shaq, the 7’1 center was also a starter on the East during the 1996 All-Star game. To many people’s surprise, O’Neal and MJ would play a small game of 1v1, with Shaq coming out on top. During his entire exchange with Shaq, Jordan decided to address the Big Fella as “Shaq Daddy”.

But calling O’Neal “Shaq Daddy“, wouldn’t be the end of Jordan’s antics. While walking through the stadium with the Eastern Conference team, Jordan jokingly told Glen Rice,

“I bet you, you’re going to shoot the first air ball.”

Now, unknown to many, Rice was set to defend his 3-point contest title that very evening. Unfortunately, things unraveled exactly like Jordan predicted it would, as Tim Legler of the Washington Wizards would beat out Glen Rice, taking home the trophy that year.

Even though ‘Rice’ couldn’t secure the win in the shooting contest, the All-Star game saw a different outcome. The East stayed in control throughout the contest, as Jordan and O’Neal proved too much for the West. The final score sat at 129-118, and Jordan was named MVP of the All-Star game.

Michael Jordan and Chris Paul changed the All-Star Game

The 2024 All-Star game saw a return to the previous format of, the West taking on the East. The last six editions of the tournament saw, mostly Stephen Curry, LeBron James, or Giannis Antetokounmpo, drafting their respect squads, as a captain system was introduced.

But unknown to many, MJ had a role to play in this monumental change to the All-Star Game format. Back in 2018, Jordan was still the majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets, while also being chairman of the league’s labor relations committee. Alongside the then Players Union President Chris Paul, Jordan would appeal for the change in the All-Star Game format.

Both Paul and Jordan were deeply invested in changing the format, as the All-Star game had become a joke, with teams scoring up to 180/190 points on one another. Playing defense was completely thrown out of the game, as the All-Star game started resembling a ‘lazy pick-up game’.

With the introduction of the ‘Captain System’, both Paul and Jordan believed that things would become more competitive between players. Concerns surrounding, ‘tampering’ and ‘voting’ did arise, but the league moved forward with the change, as the All-Star game needed to be revitalized urgently. Fast forward a few years, and the All-Star game continues to be more or less the same. Though things did get more exciting with the new format, the play on the court remained mostly the same, with defense still being non-existent during the whole four quarters.

The post “Come Here Shaq Daddy!”: Michael Jordan Mic’d Up at the 1996 All Star Game Led to a Slew of Iconic Soundbites appeared first on The SportsRush.

Hollywood actor Michael Rapaport noticed the phenomenon and lashed out at NBA stars for not participating in the All-Star contest in recent times. On his Instagram page, Rapaport mentioned the likes of Dominique Wilkins, Julius ‘Dr. J’ Irving, Vince Carter, and others, who unequivocally took part in the competition, treating it like a prestigious contest as part of the All-Star festivities. A slam dunk title was considered a worthy piece of achievement for many players, a sensibility that has been missing from the players in the modern era of the NBA.

Rapaport believes that if the NBA players show such reluctance, the league should rather allow the best dunkers on YouTube, streetball players, and college players take part in the contest instead of NBA stars.

Expressing his frustration in a video clip uploaded on his profile, Rapaport said, “This is the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. You gotta have active NBA players who are on NBA rosters…I know you all [active NBA players] need rest. Dominique didn’t need rest, Dr. J didn’t need rest, Vince Carter didn’t need rest…Rest up, and let YouTube guys, let streetball players get into it, let college players get into it. You sit there and ice your knees and don’t participate. This sh*t isn’t bouncing.” 

 

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Rapaport is concerned that the All-Star Dunk Contest has nothing worthwhile to look forward to, with mostly G-League players trying to make a name for themselves. In a rage of fit, the actor suggested NBA stars to take a backseat and watch college athletes, streetballers, and G-League players take part in the Dunk Contest instead of them.

Shaquille O’Neal seems to agree with Michael Rapaport’s statement as he shared the actor’s clip on his Instagram story.

Shaquille O’Neal also thinks NBA stars need to show up for the Dunk contest pic.twitter.com/MERMaQSn9M

— What are NBA Celebs Upto? (@NBACelebsUpdate) February 18, 2024

Shaq has been dissatisfied with the Dunk Contest for quite some time and has visibly expressed his discontentment with the competition in 2022. In fact, many people have even dubbed the 2022 iteration of the contest as perhaps the ‘worst’ slam dunk contest in the history of the league.

Paul Pierce used a strange analogy to show his disapproval of the Slam Dunk contest

Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce also believes the Slam Dunk contest has lost its charm over the years. However, to voice his concern, Pierce used a strange analogy to bring his point to the fans. He compared the competition to an ex-girlfriend, to whom one keeps going back to regain the spark. However, over time, the person has to realize to let go and move on to something else. Through his analogy, Pierce tried highlighting how there has been a steady decline in the competition over the past few years.

The Dunk contest is like that Xgirl friend u keep going back to , thinking u can regain that spark u once had , at some point u just gotta let her go move on to something else ‍

— Paul Pierce (@paulpierce34) February 18, 2024

Another player who has openly called out the league regarding the current state of the Dunk Contest is the Warriors star Draymond Green. In an episode of his podcast, Green questioned the authenticity of the competition in today’s era, comparing the contest nowadays with those from the time of Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins.

Green asked the league to devise a creative alternative or add some new ingenuity to the competition that would help the contest regain its old charm and excitement. Instead of bringing in the G-League players, the Warriors star requested the league to increase the prize money of the contest that could generate more enthusiasm and interest among active NBA players.

The post “Vince Carter Didn’t Need Rest”: Shaquille O’Neal Agrees with Hollywood Actor Lashing Out at NBA Stars for Chickening Out of the Dunk Contest appeared first on The SportsRush.

Back in 2011, Shaquille O’Neal’s ‘Shaq Uncut: My Story’ revealed how one of Superman’s former teammates, Derek Harper had pinned the blame for his poor free-throw shooting on his lack of effort, “The only diagnosis—the correct diagnosis—belonged to Derek Harper, the veteran guard who had played with the Lakers in 1998–99. ‘He didn’t work at it hard enough,’ Harper said. That’s the simple truth.”

A 16-year veteran in the league, Derek Harper stated that one could become a decent free-throw shooter by putting in the work. And given the talent that Shaq possessed, he could’ve easily developed his free-throw shooting.

“Anyone who works on free throw shooting can become at least a decent free throw shooter. Shaq was one of the best players to ever step on a court.”

Harper did credit Shaquille O’Neal for the things he did to perfection but that may have been a back-handed compliment of sorts. The 6’4 point guard pointed out how Shaq was all power and brute force, something he already excelled at. It was his free-throw shooting that he could’ve worked on later in his career. 

“But he didn’t devote himself to something he needed to devote himself to. He was all about power and force. Not free throws,” stated the biography.

Shaquille O’Neal finished his career with 23.7 PPG, 10.9 RPG, and 2.3 BPG on 58.6% true shooting percentage. While his career averages may not show the entire picture, Shaq was putting up big numbers in the scoring column on a nightly basis. 

However, the four-time NBA champion’s highest free-throw percentage throughout his career was just 62.2% during the 2002-03 NBA season with the Los Angeles Lakers.

If only O’Neal had devoted himself a little to improving his free-throw shooting, he could’ve had a much more illustrious career and probably would’ve won more awards (missed out on two back-to-back MVPs) and maybe even another championship as well.

What was Shaquille O’Neal’s kryptonite?

Shaquille O’Neal finished his career cracking the top 10 in the All-Time scoring list with a total of 28,596 points. However, during his 19-year-long NBA career, the three-time Finals MVP went on to miss a total of 5,317 free throws during the regular season. 

Back in 2022, O’Neal revealed how missing so many free throws ended up being one of the regrets he had when it came to his time in the league. Another thing that still bothered him was not being able to surpass Wilt Chamberlain on the All-Time Scoring list while also ranking higher than he currently is.

“There’s two regrets, actually three. Missing 5,000 free throws, not passing WIlt Chamberlain in points, and not being higher on the scoring list. Those are my only three regrets,” Shaq revealed.

Shaq being a decent free-throw shooter during his tenure in the NBA could’ve opened up so many aspects for the big man and his teammates. He would’ve inevitably scored more points, the league would never have invented the ‘Hack-A-Shaq’ rule and maybe he could’ve had that fifth ring that separates him from the likes of Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan.

The post “He Didn’t Devote Himself”: Shaquille O’Neal’s Teammate Once Blamed His Lack of Effort for Abysmal Free-Throw Shooting appeared first on The SportsRush.

Talking about the incident, Shaq said,

“I saw it at this little old used car lot one day when I was driving by. The guy wanted ten grand for it. I walked out of there having paid $3,800. Even then I was a good businessman.”

But this wouldn’t be the end of Shaq’s adventures, as the Big Fella would proceed to drop $60,000 on the same car. He wanted to modify the car to meet his specifications, and the bill was definitely ‘hefty’. Shaq installed speakers in every panel, raised the suspension, and redid the interiors, while also completely redoing the rims.

The ride was modified in a way that it was completely able to “jump up and down and even shake side to side”. O’Neal’s manager Dennis Tracey, would categorize the insane motor vehicle as “Shaq’s first Hoop-D” due to its insane modifications and ability to ‘dance’. The car surely did qualify to be a hoop-D, as the body of the car was old, but the rims and the interior were all redone, giving it a “Hoop-D” vibe.

Shaquille O’Neal even modified his plane

Shaquille O’Neal grew up poor, often not even having enough to make ends meet. His step-father Phillip Harrison, might not have made a lot of money, but surely taught Shaq how to spend his money judiciously. The Big Aristotle can spend his money on more than just jewelry, clothes, and cars.

Just like most multimillionaires, O’Neal has chosen to up his game, choosing to buy himself a private jet. Last year, Shaq was seen visiting a hanger, when a Bombardier Challenger 650 sporting his ‘Dunkman’ logo showed up in the video.

 

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The plane sported three junkman logos, one on its tail, and one on each of its wings. To many, the plane looked eerily similar to Jordan’s $61,000,000 private jet, which also sports a Jumpman logo across its body and on its tail. There is hardly any doubt about the kind of wealth the Lakers legend posseses and it seems completely normal for him to splurge it on such possessions.

The post Having Once Bought a 10 Grand Worth Car for $3800, Shaquille O’Neal Splurged $60,000 to Turn it Into a Hoop-D appeared first on The SportsRush.

After the All-Star festivities were in the rearview mirror, Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal gave Lillard a reality check about the Bucks’ season during the post-game show on TNT. He said,

“You and Giannis, you’re being too nice. When it’s all said and done and [if] it don’t work out, three people are gonna get blamed: Doc, you and Giannis. So you and Giannis gotta make sure the troops get it done. There’s no reason with Doc being there that you should be 3-7.”

Shaq’s advice to Dame: “You and Giannis, you’re being too nice… You’re gonna have to grab some people by the necks and say, ‘Hey, this is what I need you to do.'” pic.twitter.com/F00Bj0ID6z

— Oh no he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) February 19, 2024

The Bucks fired head coach Adrian Griffin despite a 30-13 start to the season, citing his lack of connection with the roster as the reason. They hired former Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers to steady the ship, but they’ve gotten worse since he took over. They are 3-7 in ten games under his tutelage and have slipped well behind the Boston Celtics in the race for the top spot in the Eastern Conference standings. Lillard’s form has declined sharply in Rivers’ regime. He’s averaging 21.1 points, 6.4 assists, and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 42.1% from the field and 31.7% from beyond the arc.

O’Neal is spot on. Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo are responsible for carrying the Bucks’ championship aspirations. The duo needs to lead by example and demand more from their teammates to ensure they get out of their recent slump in form and play up to their potential. If the Bucks fail to make a deep run in the playoffs, Lillard and Antetokounmpo will bear the brunt of the criticism for Milwaukee’s failure.

Giannis Antetokounmpo admits to being drained as Bucks struggle

The All-Star weekend provided a much-needed break away from the chaos in Milwaukee for Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo. The two-time MVP did not shy away from admitting that the Bucks’ volatility over the last six months has been taxing.

The Bucks fired head coach Mike Budenholzer after an embarrassing first-round series loss to the Miami Heat in the 2023 playoffs. They replaced him with rookie head coach Adrian Griffin, who lasted only 43 games and handed the reigns to interim head coach Joe Prunty for three games before Rivers took over.

Antetokounmpo voiced his frustration about the Bucks’ chaotic coaching situation during his media availability on Saturday. He said,

“It’s hard. [Doc Rivers] is my fourth coach in the span of six months… Different philosophy, different gameplan. It’s hard. It’s draining.”

The Bucks’ last outing before the All-Star was an embarrassing loss to an injury-riddled Memphis Grizzlies team.

After the game, Rivers called out Bucks players for their lack of commitment and claimed some were already looking forward to the week-long break. He said,

“We had some guys here, we had some guys in Cabo.”

The Bucks have four days to recuperate before their season resumes on Friday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Rivers, Lillard, and Antetokounmpo have until then to forge a plan for the rest of the season. If they fail to come up with something good, Shaquille O’Neal’s premonition will come true.

The post “3 People Gonna Get Blamed: Doc, You And Giannis”: Damian Lillard Receives A Stern Warning From Shaquille O’Neal Amidst The Bucks’ Struggles appeared first on The SportsRush.

Before the NBA All-Star game, James sat down with Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Shaquille O’Neal, and Charles Barkley on TNT’s Tip-Off and came bearing gifts. He brought a bag full of The Shop grooming products, a business venture owned by the Lakers superstar and his agent, Maverick Carter. He gifted it to Smith after Barkley trolled him for having bald patches in his beard. James said,

“So I heard yesterday Charles was getting on you Kenny about when your beard gonna connect. So I’m making sure we gonna expedite this process. So we got The Shop beard cream for you. We gonna get that going. We got some shaving cream. We got some face wash.”

The crew and James then went through a montage of O’Neal and Smith sporting hilarious wigs and laughed at Shaq’s failed attempt at proving that he did not dye his beard.

“So I heard yesterday Charles was getting on you Kenny about when your beard gonna connect.” @KingJames gifts The Fellas with his new @TheShopUN beard products! pic.twitter.com/gIqqJ8Sv2b

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 19, 2024

James promoting his new men’s grooming brand on the Tip-Off show with every NBA fan watching was another example of his stellar business acumen. He even promoted some of the products by name on purpose to ensure viewers learned more about the brand. The Lakers superstar’s seven-product grooming line couldn’t have asked for a better platform than the Tip-Off show.

James’ The Shop Men’s Grooming Line will be available at Walmart from April 1st. All seven products cost less than $10, making them affordable personal care solutions for grooming needs.

History of LeBron James’ The Shop

LeBron James and Maverick Carter launched The Shop on HBO in 2017. The show’s unique barbershop setting and candid nature made it an instant hit. Explaining how he conceptualized the idea, the Lakers superstar explained in a Hollywood Reporter interview,

“When I was a kid, being in barbershops meant listening to adults talk about sports, clothing, politics, music, everything happened in the shop. It was so real and so candid, no one had a sense of, well I can’t be myself here. That’s how The Shop became an idea.”

The Shop debuted on HBO in 2018 and was exclusively available on the network until 2021. The show moved to YouTube in 2022 and has since been its home. The Shop has had guests from all walks of life. A multitude of world-famous movie stars, politicians, sports icons, and rap artists have appeared on the show to have a candid conversation and get a haircut.

The Shop won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Edited Sports Series in 2021, making it a critical and commercial hit. James and Maverick’s brainchild has already yielded a hit talk show, and they are expanding its impact with a grooming line, showcasing that their grind never halts.

The post LeBron James The Shop Beard Cream: Lakers Star Helps Kenny Smith Combat Charles Barkley’s Roasts With His Men’s Grooming Line Products appeared first on The SportsRush.