While it was an overall underwhelming performance by the franchise, James Harden, in particular, received a lot of flak from fans the Beard finished the night with just 7 points and 5 rebounds but they were overshadowed by his abysmal 2-of-8 shooting from the field When it comes to the debate of the best shooting guards of all time, many believe Harden is up there with the likes of Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant For what it’s worth, Harden is a phenomenal scorer and an elite performer in the regular season. Unfortunately, Harden has struggled in the playoffs throughout his career here’s Bryant talking about why Harden’s playing style will never lead to championship-winning basketball in 2019 “I’m not a fan of — in terms of winning championships — I don’t think that style is ever gonna win championships,” Bryant said on The Jump you have to keep your team’s head above water to win games So you have to do what you have to do to win games or you put them on the wing and you’re running screen rolls you’re always in front of the defense,” Kobe added So what happens when this situation occurs And that’s easy to defend,” explained Bryant There is no doubt that Harden’s brand of basketball has abandoned him when it matters the most there’s a reason he has lost Game 7s with four different franchises in his career But does that take away from what he has accomplished It’s a testament to how remarkable it is because people are now trying to minimize what it is that he’s doing He’s doing some phenomenal stuff,” Bryant concluded At the end of the day, Harden is on the path to go down as one of the best individual players that the league has ever seen But as far as playing winning basketball is concerned By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Update: Vanessa Bryant previewed several looks from Nike Basketball’s summer lineup of Kobe sneaker releases last month including this new Kobe 4 Protro “CHBL” pair that has just been officially unveiled by the Swoosh which is dedicated to the China High School Basketball League features a yellow color scheme that we described below A new detail revealed here is a “TOUCH THE LINE.” motto on display at the sockliner We remain without a release date for this colorway so stay tuned for more info as we expect it to release this summer via Nike SNKRS and select retailers at a price of $190 USD Vikings Entertainment Network's Tatum Everett is joined by LB Kobe King to discuss being selected by the Vikings in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft the opportunity to play in Brian Flores' defense and more — The Vikings bolstered their linebackers group with a Day 3 selection Minnesota tabbed Penn State linebacker Kobe King with the 201st overall pick just one spot before using their final selection to grab tight end Gavin Bartholomew 202nd Vikings here we come!!!!!!SKOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLL King started all 16 games for the Nittany Lions last season and totaled 46 games (27 starts) over his four seasons at Penn State He finished his college career with 200 tackles (113 solo) Vikings General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah called King a "really physical impact tackler" the organization is excited to add "Not just to our fourth down units but also potentially to be a starter one day in this league," Adofo-Mensah said "Great communicator — was able to move people around in the Penn State defense And then you talk about a great culture and a group there that's been able to win and build something special there View photos of Penn State LB Kobe King who was selected No 201 overall in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft Here are five things to know about the Vikings new linebacker: While Kobe King stayed at Penn State for his fourth and final season his twin brother Kalen left college a year early and was selected by Green Bay in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft Ironic that the brothers landed with rival teams 'We're going to see each other twice a year," Kobe King quipped Kobe King and Kalen King with their student section banner pic.twitter.com/iQItCNKOVo Some high school athletes know exactly where they want to play collegiately but that wasn't the case for the King twins After playing football and other sports together all their lives, they came close to attending separate schools for college — which their mother Felicia couldn't imagine. Max Ralph wrote for *Sports Illustrated* in 2023 that "Kalen leaned toward Michigan and liked Florida while Kobe nearly was set on Wisconsin and had wanted to visit Auburn." But former Cass Tech Head Coach Thomas Wilcher encouraged them to think about their family in making a decision; after making a second visit to Penn State It helped that Micah Parsons hosted the twins on that visit to add the "finishing touches," their father told Ralph selected by the Vikings in round six of the 2025 NFL Draft addressed the media virtually after becoming a Viking where he was a four-year letterman and two-time team captain in football he earned Division I all-region honors from the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association; the prior season he was named the 2019 Detroit Public School League Linebacker of the Year King also wrestled and played basketball at Cass Tech Fun fact: King shares an alma mater with a plethora of notable names in the arts and entertainment industry including music artists Diana Ross and Jack White and actress/comedian Lily Tomlin Watch highlights of new Vikings LB Kobe King from his time at Penn State King and his brother obviously followed the football path but both also stood out on the basketball court — and actually were named for hoopers was named after the late Kobe Bryant; while Kalen's name is a rhyming nod to fellow Detroit native and NBA great Jalen Rose Go inside the Vikings draft room as General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Head Coach Kevin O'Connell made the calls to linebacker Kobe King and tight end Gavin Bartholomew to inform them that they have been selected by the team in Round Six of the 2025 NFL Draft Penn State — sometimes called "Linebacker U" holds the record for most linebackers drafted into the NFL with 72 Minnesota accounts for four of those 72: Walker Lee Ashley (Drafted 73rd overall in 1983) Xavier 2026 linebacker Kobe Clapper made a verbal commitment Friday to play football at the University of Notre Dame Clapper, three-star player by 247 Sports, had several other scholarship offers including Boston College Clapper, a Division I first-team all-state player this past season, was the Greater Catholic League South division co-defensive player of the year in 2024 a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries this past season for the Bombers (10-4) "Kobe has played multiple positions for us; free safety rush end," Specht said during the 2024 season "He is a team-first guy willing to sacrifice personal statistics for what’s best for the team I’m not sure he cares much about personal accolades He’s a gifted athlete with a high football IQ Practices the right way and leads by example." Clapper, who is listed at 6 feet 2 and 215 pounds, is the 13th member of Notre Dame’s 2026 recruiting class, according to Eric Hansen of Inside ND Sports, which is part of the Rivals Network 14 player overall in the 2026 class by 247 Sports Clapper is a four-star player by the 247 Sports Composite Xavier plays host to Lakota West in the season opener Aug It is the fifth consecutive year the Bombers and Firebirds have played each other in the season opener The NCAA early college football signing period is scheduled for December SIGN UP: Subscribe to our high school sports newsletter South Carolina transfer commit Kobe Knox, a Tampa native, spent the first season of his career at Grand Canyon. After one year in Phoenix, he returned home for two seasons with South Florida. Now, for his senior year, he’s in Columbia playing for Lamont Paris. What does he bring to the court? His stats show how he might be utilized for the Gamecocks. His best game offensively was 21 points against Sam Houston State in the WAC Tournament. Knox used the buzz generated from his late-season performances to transfer back to South Florida. In his first season with the Bulls, Knox saw more opportunity, starting every game and averaging 26.2 MPG. However, his efficiency did see dips. After posting a 41.0 3PT% with Grand Canyon, Knox’s mark fell to 31.7% from deep as a sophomore. His free-throw percentage, 65.1% with Grand Canyon, dropped to 57.1% in his first year with South Florida. His defensive stats, which were above-average on a per-40-minute rate, fell as well. Knox’s blocks/40 minutes dropped from 1.8 to 1.0 in his first year in Tampa. His 1.3 steals/40 minutes dropped to 0.8. One category that was much improved, however, was Knox’s overall basketball discipline. After posting a 15.7% turnover rate in Phoenix, he cut that down to 9.2% as a sophomore. That was good enough for 8th in the AAC that year. His fouls/40 minutes dropped from 4.4 to 2.8. After compiling five games of four-plus fouls as a freshman, Knox only had three such games as a sophomore, despite the larger role. He didn’t foul out once. Despite the drops in offensive efficiency, Knox did put together games of high output, and his potential shone through. After putting up four games of 10-plus points against D-I competition as a freshman, Knox had 12 such games as a sophomore while playing against tougher competition. Against UTSA in a January conference matchup, Knox put up 18 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 4 blocks. That was without recording a single turnover or foul. Knox was able to secure a starting role for South Florida despite being on a very good team. The 2023-24 South Florida Bulls were the AAC regular season champions with a 25-8 overall record and a 16-2 conference record. Though they didn’t receive a bid to the NCAA tournament, South Florida did make the NIT for the first time since 2010. They lost to VCU in the second round. Tragically, head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim passed away before Knox’s second season in Tampa due to complications from a medical procedure. Following the loss of their leader, the Bulls were coached by interim head coach Ben Fletcher. Knox did improve in his second season, both offensively and defensively. Top 101Shane BeamerPuts NCAA on blast Hot3Trump By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein. Over the next half of the season, Knox shot 3.5 threes per game and 5.5 shots inside the arc per game. His eFG% fell, however, to 48.5%, and he averaged 10.4 PPG. Part of the drop had to do with an increased level of competition from out-of-conference games to AAC opponents. Defensively, in that span, he did improve. He averaged 1.3 SPG and 0.6 BPG in the past 15 games of the 2024-25 season as opposed to averages of 0.9 SPG and 0.2 BPG in the first 15. Overall, Knox did improve across the board as a junior compared to his first season with South Florida. His overall FG% went up from 41.2% to 46.3%. After a disappointing mark in 2023-24, Knox’s 3PT% improved to 33.1% as a junior. His 2PT% of 58.1% was 8th in the AAC amongst qualifying players. His offensive rating was also 8th in the AAC, ahead of players such as PJ Haggerty and Christian Coleman. Knox’s turnover rate dropped again as a junior to 6.9%. That rate was the lowest for the Bulls last season. To put that in perspective, of the 11 players on South Carolina with at least 200 minutes played, only one (Arden Conyers) had a lower turnover percentage. The Gamecocks’ turnover per game rate finished at 12.4, while Knox recorded only 1.0 turnover per game. Knox’s ball-handling ability should help South Carolina on the court next season. Knox’s free-throw percentage rose to a career-high mark of 76.7% last season. While those types of jumps don’t always end up corresponding with better perimeter shooting, the major improvement from the stripe certainly is a good indication of Knox possibly returning to his freshman-level shooting splits with Grand Canyon. Knox had a stretch of eight games in the middle of last season where he came off the bench. In what could be seen as a surprise, his efficiencies skyrocketed. In those eight games, he shot 56.7% from deep and 78.3% on twos, much higher than his total season rates. He averaged 11.9 PPG and the Bulls went 5-3 in that span. In 189 minutes throughout eight games, Knox committed just two turnovers. (They were both in a loss to UAB.) Some players simply play better when they come off the bench, and Knox very well might be one of those players. That bodes well for South Carolina, as Knox will most likely be in a key bench role given the return of Meechie Johnson. 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Hot3Trump, Saban blastedNIL order ripped On3 is a registered trademark of On3 Media The Los Angeles Clippers’ season ended in disappointment again falling to the Denver Nuggets in Game 7 of the Western Conference quarterfinals James Harden’s underwhelming 7-point performance drew sharp criticism and reignited long-standing debates about his playoff impact Kobe Bryant offered a stark take on Harden’s playing style during an interview on ESPN’s “The Jump.” At the time and why does it feel more relevant than ever Dive into PFSN's FREE NBA Mock Draft Simulator and take the place of any of the 30 GMs around the league. When the Nuggets jumped out to a 37–21 second-quarter advantage and their highest-profile offseason acquisition was nowhere to be found offensively After seeing Kawhi Leonard pour in 22 points, fans and analysts alike pointed to Harden’s 7-point outing as emblematic of his postseason struggles, where he’s shot under 30 percent in four straight Game 7s — a dubious NBA record James Harden has more Game 7s shooting below 30% FG than he does shooting above 😬 pic.twitter.com/DeFJVG9Rv5 — Real Sports (@realapp_) May 4, 2025 That performance reignited debate over roster construction and ball-dominant stars: Can a singular focus on one player’s scoring translate to playoff success Clippers coach Tyronn Lue expressed his disappointment but defended his squad: “I haven’t thought about the offseason but I’m not frustrated with the guys in the locker room.” Bryant dissected Harden’s approach with surgical precision: “With one player dominating the ball put him at the top of the key or on the wing running screen-rolls … the defense can key on that “I don’t think that style will ever win you championships” Kobe warned us, Harden’s style is built for the season. Can’t win with it in the playoffs ✌🏻 pic.twitter.com/dW9p9Qjp3R — Jacob (@Jacobtheclipper) May 4, 2025 Bryant stressed that true championship teams require movement and the ability to keep every teammate’s head “above water,” not just one star’s Championship basketball thrives on versatility. When Chris Paul joined Harden in Houston Bryant noted “more movement to the offense” promised better outcomes — but only if roles were clearly defined Harden’s fit alongside Kawhi Leonard and Paul George was supposed to mirror that dynamic; instead the predictable isolation plays made it “easy to defend.” The lack of offensive fluidity under pressure laid bare the limitations of Harden’s style Bryant’s 2019 warning now rings with uncanny accuracy: in the crucible of playoff basketball an isolation-first offense can be systematically neutralized leaving stars “no-showing” when it matters most As the Clippers lick their wounds and Harden faces scrutiny one question remains: Will teams learn from this failure or will the same mistakes replay in next season’s playoffs many developed a deep resentment towards helicopters questioning why the five-time NBA champion had ever chosen such a dangerous mode of travel It was heartbreakingly human - KB24 chose to spend more time with his family and kids Bryant on why he started traveling by private helicoptersA fiercely dedicated disciplined athlete Kobe had a strict routine and valued punctuality like so many people in Los Angeles and all around the world the two-time Finals MVP constantly battled traffic he opted for private helicopter travel - not as a luxury his goal was simply: to maximize his time with his wife and daughters During his appearance on "The Corp with A-Rod and Big Cat," Bryant shared the story of how missing a school play became a turning point It made him realize that while he was giving his all to the game he was missing irreplaceable moments at home That is when he decided to find a way to balance both worlds - training at the highest level and also spending quality time with his loved ones he chose to travel via private helicopters to save them "I was sitting in traffic and I ended up missing the school play because I was sitting in traffic and I had to figure out a way where I could still train and focus on the craft but still not compromise family time So that's when I looked into helicopters to be able to get down and back in 15 minutes," Kobe said So my routine was always the same: weights early in the morning You have road trips and times when you don't see your kids so every chance I get to see them and spend time with them But the "Black Mamba's" intention spoke volumes It wasn't about convenience or extravagance; it was about love sacrifice and trying to find harmony between greatness and fatherhood after giving two decades of his life to the NBA the tragic incident served as a painful reminder that even legends - no matter how larger-than-life - are also human beings Kobe made decisions with his best intentions sometimes those decisions do not work out the way we hope covering old-school stories and the hottest buzz from the league he worked as the Editor-in-Chief and a writer for several sports digital platforms all aimed at changing Sac State's culture for good and received a heartwarming birthday wish with an amazing throwback photo from her and Kobe Bryant’s oldest daughter Natalia RELATED: Natalia Bryant has tearjerking post for sister Gigi’s would-be 19th birthday Natalia and Vanessa at a USC women’s basketball game earlier this year. / USC Women’s Basketball/InstagramAfter honoring Gigi Bryant with what would have been her 19th birthday on May 2 where Vanessa wrote a tearjerking message for her lost daughter Natalia made sure her mom felt special for 43 with this amazing throwback photo she posted on her Instagram Stories with her as a baby in Vanessa’s arms Natalia Bryant/InstagramRELATED: Vanessa Bryant honors daughter Gigi with amazing gift to Pau Gasol, wife Catherine Vanessa was rocking that Lakers fit as well as young dad Kobe was playing back then Natalia also shared a photo of Vanessa on the aforementioned ski trip and wrote Natalia Bryant/InstagramVanessa still looks amazing now in her 40s What a sweet memory and happy birthday to Vanessa Bryant — may it be a day full of smiles surrounded by family The Bryant girls. / Vanessa Bryant/Instagram— Enjoy free dish of rich and fabulous players with The Athlete Lifestyle on SI — Chill vibes: Shedeur Sanders arrives at Browns facility in ‘Legendary’ casual fit Who dat?: Jordan Chiles unrecognizable with new hairstyle after UCLA season First-place fit: ESPN’s Molly Qerim rocks springtime NYC miniskirt fit in the city BeyHive VIP: Vanessa Bryant rocks cowboy hat with Beyoncé’s mom at concert Last hoorah: Livvy Dunne’s ‘officially retired’ dress wows on LSU’s girls night out The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER NBA fans and sneakerheads have used that time to figure out the meaning behind Jalen Brunson's latest kicks The Knicks guard always wears Kobe Bryant's retro Nike basketball shoes and has enjoyed the ultra-rare honor of three specifically designed player-exclusive colorways over the past three months Last week, Brunson debuted a never-before-seen colorway of the Nike Kobe 5 Protro when the Knicks closed out the Detroit Pistons. Yesterday, Brunson shared high-quality pictures of the kicks on Instagram A post shared by Jalen Brunson (@jalenbrunson1) Brunson simply captioned the Instagram post "Kobe 5 PE "WTR."" We now know the acronym stands for "What The Rick" and is a tribute to Brunson's father The multi-color kicks take colorways from all of the NBA team's Rick Brunson played for and turn them into one amazing design A post shared by Sneaker News (@sneakernews) Rick is now an assistant coach for the Knicks while his son continues to carve his own path in the NBA and sneaker industry Brunson is not getting a signature sneaker but there are not many higher honors than multiple player-exclusive Nike Kobe sneakers (plus billboards all over New York City) Unfortunately, the Nike Kobe 5 Protro "WTR" will not be released to the public. However, it is steadily becoming easier to buy Nike Kobe sneakers and apparel at retail price on the Nike website Stay locked into Sports Illustrated's Kicks On SI for all of your most important footwear news from the NBA and beyond Interview: The Kid Mero talks Knicks, NBA sneakers, and more. Jalen Brunson debuts Nike Kobe 4 "The Nattys" for Villanova Wildcats. Donovan Mitchell's seventh adidas sneaker drops early in Cleveland for the NBA Playoffs. Caitlin Clark wore her upcoming Nike Kobe sneakers at Indiana Fever Media Day. The game was noteworthy not just for the final score and the fact that it ended the Rockets' season but also for the performance of former top five pick Jalen Green who scored 13 points below his regular season average with just eight points The 23-year-old Green faced a backlash among NBA fans shortly after his disappointing performance "First playoff isn't an excuse."  ex-Clippers star and former Sixth Man of the Year winner Lou Williams came to Green's defense as he shared his unfiltered thoughts live on camera.  Jalen Green shots over a GSW defender at the Toyota Center in Houston on Sunday.  He was asked by Michelle Beadle on 'Run It Back' from FanDuel TV about Green's future with Ime Udoka's team "I've heard the talks about them moving him...Only way you consider moving a guy like Jalen Green is if you have a real chance at going and getting a Ja Morant or Kevin Durant or one of these guys who are obvious franchise changers," Williams said.  you go out there and you can't score the basketball Williams called for patience around the league as situations similar to Green's involving young players continue to unfold.  EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Luka Doncic has stepped up to pay the entire expected cost of restoring a vandalized mural depicting Kobe and Gigi Bryant in downtown Los Angeles The Los Angeles Lakers guard made a $5,000 donation Tuesday to cover the entire goal of a GoFundMe page created by artist Louie Palsino titled "Mambas Forever," at 14th and Main streets "It was always important to give back to the community," Doncic said after practice at the Lakers' training complex Artist Louie Palsino created a mural depicting Kobe and Gigi Bryant as a tribute after they died in a helicopter crash in January 2020. Michael Tullberg/Getty ImagesUpon learning of the donation Palsino told the Los Angeles Times that he was grateful adding that Doncic was "representing us the right way." "I'd like to say thank you to Luka and I'm proud he is a Laker now and representing Los Angeles and I know Kobe is proud," he told the Times "I'm sure this alone will have him in the hearts of everyone in Los Angeles." Bryant spent his entire 20-year career with the Lakers, winning five championships and becoming the top scorer in franchise history. After Kobe and Gigi Bryant died in a helicopter crash in January 2020, hundreds of murals and public art projects honoring them sprung up around Southern California. The Associated Press contributed to this report. For 20 years, the Los Angeles Lakers had the services of the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant the Mamba helped the Lakers win five NBA Championships However, during the twilight years of his career, Bryant shifted into a mentor role and tried to pass on his learning to the then-young core of the Purple and Gold The core featured a young Julius Randle who was drafted as the seventh overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft Over the years, Randle has grown into a solid star in the NBA He truly broke out as a star during his stint with the New York Knicks Randle has carried that form into his first season with the Minnesota Timberwolves. With the team eliminating the Lakers in the first round, Randle recently revealed where he stands on Bryant’s teachings the things that I learned from him [Kobe Bryant],” Randle told reporters He added: “It may have not made sense when I was 19 or 20 years old but now that I’m 30 it makes a lot more sense.” it isn’t just about personal growth for Randle he is now at a stage in his career where the young players on the roster look up to him as a veteran Julius Randle speaks on his appreciation of Kobe Bryant growing with age“The things that he passed down to me, the things that I learned from him. It may have not made sense when I was 19 or 20 years old but now that I’m 30 it makes a lot more sense(smiling). I used to be like… pic.twitter.com/LJzPCRkT6W Part of being a good veteran is to ensure that the next generation of basketball players learn from their mistakes Randle mentioned that he has grown as a player thanks to Bryant’s teachings he is passing them on to the next generation of hoopers “I used to be like what is this dude talking about hold on to those things and I think the true blessing is being able to pass those things on to other,” he concluded which is a great sign as the road to the 2025 NBA Finals won’t be easy for the Timberwolves Next, they will face off against Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, a team full of veterans and stars who have an abundance of playoff experience. less than a day after news broke that the artwork had been vandalized On Tuesday morning, Lakers star Luka Doncic’s foundation donated $5,000 to a fundraiser to help restore the art piece, located on a building at 14th and Main streets. “Kobe is L.A. He and Gigi mean so much to this city, to the Lakers organization and to me personally,” Doncic said Tuesday through a representative. “I’m happy to do anything to help make sure he and his daughter are honored.” Sports “Mambas Forever” is painted in purple and gold Now the mural has been vandalized with giant bubble letters outlined in black and filled in with white, similar to street tagging visible throughout the city “Unfortunately one of the first Kobe and Gigi murals has been vandalized in Downtown Los Angeles,” said the image caption. “We’re sharing to bring awareness to the community of fans here in LA, and around the world, who respect and appreciate artists and their mural tributes.” Sports Vanessa Bryant is writing a book highlighting 100-plus murals that honor her husband who died in a helicopter crash five years ago Sunday The caption directs fans to a GoFundMe account to help with restoring the mural Artist Louie “Sloe” Motions said that until the recent vandalism, the mural had been untouched since he finished it in 2020. He plans to place a protective paint coat on the mural with the proceeds from donations. “As in life, unfortunate situations will always arise and is expected but it’s all about how we rebound from those situations,” he wrote in a message to The Times. When he learned of Doncic’s gift for the mural’s restoration, Motions said he was shocked and had a message for the Lakers’ recently acquired star. Lakers Video game company 2K Games says it made a donation to help keep a Kobe and Gianna Bryant mural on the wall of Hardcore Fitness in downtown L.A “I’d like to say thank you to Luka and I’m proud he is a Laker now and representing Los Angeles and I know Kobe is proud,” Motions said “I’m sure this alone will have him in the hearts of everyone in Los Angeles Times staff writer Dan Woike contributed to this report. Joseph Serna is a deputy editor on the Fast Break team at the Los Angeles Times and helps oversee daily breaking news coverage. Nathan Solis reports on breaking news with the Fast Break team at the Los Angeles Times. California Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map as a native Manhattanite and longtime basketball fan to navigate the tension of a bicoastal romance and her family has a longstanding allegiance to the Los Angeles Lakers He’s a fixture of Madison Square Garden’s Celebrity Row; she’s been known to sit courtside at the ol’ Crypto.com Arena And Chalamet, being the famous person and documented hoops enjoyer that he is has been all over these NBA playoffs as of late the moptopped actor ventured to Detroit for Game 3 of the Knicks’ series against the Pistons digesting New York’s hard-fought win alongside fellow superfan Ben Stiller As a highly connected Knicks fan with a love of Being Outside it’s not surprising to see Timmy pop up in the Midwest to cheer on his guys the GQ office) debated: Is it acceptable to have such a big part of one’s identity tied to the Knickerbockers and then turn around and sit courtside in LA wearing a Lakers shirt Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner at the Lakers-Timberwolves game in Los Angeles on Wednesday The ensemble he wore to the Lakers’ Game 5 loss was perfectly bicoastal a pearl-festooned tweed jacket from Chanel’s womenswear line But the outfit isn’t nearly as controversial as his two-timing fandom he was almost certainly just there because he’s a big-name actor dating one of the city’s most prominent starlets not because he wanted to analyze the Lakers’ defensive rotations up close But we still had some questions about this whole ordeal mainly the morality of treating the Knicks like a wife and the Lakers as a mistress In light of Chalamet’s potential fan faux pas, GQ staff writers Matthew Roberson and Eileen Cartter—who previously debated the merits of Eric Adams’s Mets-Yankees hat—put their heads together to decipher exactly what’s going on here but in this particular case—a well-documented Knicks fan going to a basketball game in the other city where he also spends a lot of time—I think it’s fine If Timmy had gone to Denver for Game 5 of Nuggets-Clippers But a Kobe shirt at a Lakers game doesn’t tell me that he’s cheating on the Knicks; it just tells me he went to a Lakers game Something tells me he went through these exact same machinations as well maybe even debating whether to go with #8 or #24 Eileen Cartter: Even as a low-lift Knicks fan myself Timothée is very much of the Kobe generation he would probably agree that Kobe is the GOAT I’m curious about what was going through Timmy’s head when he picked out his outfit for the game Was he at all worried about what people might think if he wore something Lakers-adjacent—and if so did he choose the Kobe shirt because it’s relatively neutral Did he throw on the Timbs to assert that he does Did he opt for a T-shirt with a grayscale graphic to better compliment his black-and-white tweed Chanel jacket I feel moved by this sort of sartorial tension You want to wear something that shows you know ball and there’s no better way to do that than with a niche uniform that the team doesn’t wear anymore especially if the name on the back is more of a cult hero than a household name native New Yorker and stalwart of Madison Square Garden's Celebrity Row frequently wears the merch of his hometown team MR: I really am not a fan of these performance-style hoodies that the players wear on the bench—and it looks even weirder on Chalamet in the stands. The hood is too tight. It looks constricting, but maybe that’s the point for an A-list movie star who wants to watch noted Dune appreciator Deuce McBride unbothered I also wonder about how much peripheral vision the hood allows when deployed I guess that could add to the locked-in factor A real Knicks fan flies to Detroit to watch his team; a diehard Knicks fan throws on the distraction-free sweatshirt As for the Kobe fit…sure. Chalamet’s style is not the route I would go if I was a super rich guy, but there’s nothing wrong with this outfit. The peanut-butter Timbs are a nice homage to his home city, and the light jacket looks like a sensible choice MR: I think that probably has more to do with their head coach Timotheé Chalamet had no impact on the Lakers getting out-rebounded 54-37 no say on keeping their tallest player (Jaxson Hayes) inexplicably glued to the bench while Rudy Gobert had his best playoff game ever none of which are impacted by the guy from Call Me By Your Name being there MR: As much as it pains me to say—because I naturally reject the idea of Boston sports as an institution—I’d still probably go with the Celtics Maybe Kylie and Timmy will get flewed out to Beantown by the Wahlbergs EC: See above RE: my paygrade. But I’d love to see what Timmy and Kylie would wear to a Finals game in Boston. In my dream scenario, they’d do a full Boston homage: Kylie cosplaying as Blake Lively’s character in The Town and Timmy going full bore in costume as Lucky the Leprechaun This Is the Coolest Way to Wear Jeans in 2025 Justin Bieber’s Most Normal Outfit in Ages Is Worth Copying All Spring Inside the Fight to Save American Selvedge Denim Nike Is Dropping a GoldenEye 007-Themed Air Max 1 This Week Tuxedo vs. Suit: A 101 Guide to Men’s Formal Dress Codes Sign up for Show Notes to get news on the latest runway shows, parties, and insider events on the international fashion circuit. Evaluations of an NFL Draft will always vary in the immediate and there's also plenty of room for continued assessment as teams move into the season In reflecting back on this year's draft and players tabbed by all 32 NFL teams, ESPN's Matt Miller created a Top 100 list He noted the list doesn't only take talent into consideration ("That's why we had pre-draft prospect rankings," he said) but also looks at "scheme fit what the prospect brings on the field and whether additional assets were gained or lost in draft-day trades to acquire him." Miller included two Vikings draft selections in his list of Top 100 "picks steals and fits": first-rounder Donovan Jackson and sixth-round pick Kobe King View photos from Vikings OL Donovan Jackson's first day in Minnesota after being selected in the First Round of the 2025 NFL Draft Minnesota grabbed the only remaining interior lineman with a starting rookie grade and the ability he showed at left tackle in a pinch last season made him one of my favorite players to scout Watch highlights of new Vikings OL Donovan Jackson from his time at Ohio State a LB the Vikings were excited to snag out of Penn State King can develop under Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores in the middle of the Vikings defense It's interesting to see where other teams' picks landed on Miller's list He put seven first-round selections in the top 10 but the player topping his rankings is wide receiver Luther Burden III Burden was my top wide receiver in the class (I'm counting Travis Hunter as a two-way player) and he landed in a great situation with the Bears and new Head Coach Ben Johnson Burden's yards-after-catch ability is terrific and Johnson's scheme has been elite at creating space for wide receivers Burden likely starts as a slot receiver with DJ Moore and Rome Odunze flanking him but he thrived in that alignment at Missouri The Vikings are slated to see Burden twice during the regular season within the NFC North Miller's second-favorite pick also wasn't a first rounder but instead was Arizona's second-round selection at No Johnson was a top-10 player in this class when looking solely at film and not accounting for injuries [Cardinals Head Coach] Jonathan Gannon's system is a great fit for him Johnson has Trevon Diggs-esque ball-hawking skills and is a shutdown corner when healthy This is one of the steals of the draft as far as value as he was taken 40 spots lower than I had him ranked To see Miller's full list, click here View college action photos of every Vikings pick from the 2025 NFL Draft Trevor Sikkema of analytics site Pro Football Focus is doing some evaluating of his own Sikkema recently spotlighted his favorite draft pick of all 32 NFL teams and for Minnesota he looked at Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins The Vikings used the 139th pick to grab the defensive lineman out of Georgia I would have preferred the Vikings to trade back from No but Donovan Jackson gives them an ideal starting five He is a high-scoring athlete (weight-adjusted) who can play anywhere from 3-technique to 5-technique Watch college highlights of each member of the Minnesota Vikings 5-man 2025 NFL Draft Class: OL Donovan Jackson It's worth also noting whom Sikkema most liked from the Vikings division rivals Burden was my WR2 and 15th-ranked player in the class so to get him in the second round at pick No New Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson can get the most out of Burden after heavily emphasizing the slot receiver in his Lions passing attack Sikkema looked all the way to Round 7 and highlighted safety Dan Jackson can be a special teams eraser and fill in as a rotational safety for Detroit His PFF run-defense grade was lower in 2024 but he can make impressive tackles from depth at full speed Sikkema pointed to fourth-round selection Barryn Sorrell as the Packers best pick The Packers waited until Day 3 to address their defensive line and got two good players in Sorrell and Collin Oliver Sorrell can play anything from 4i defensive end to stand-up outside linebacker He earned 73.0-plus PFF pass-rush and run-defense grades across 651 snaps in 2024 During his time in the Purple and Gold, Randle had a superb mentor. His veteran was the iconic Kobe Bryant,  one of basketball's greatest players he has continued to show appreciation for his veterans The Timberwolves have some fantastic veterans, including Randle, Rudy Gobert They are seen as part of the leadership group because of their experience and on-court production All the veterans were once rookies who they learned from he had arguably the best player out of everyone on the Timberwolves roster with Kobe Randle has always cherished those two years playing in Los Angeles with Bryant It was a fantastic organization with an illustrious history He also had the opportunity to play with and learn from a legend like Kobe.  his rookie season got off to a tragic start when he suffered a long-term injury in his first game he had a strong support system on the Lakers Randle respected Bryant even more for helping Julius and other young players throughout his 20-season career.  "The things that he passed down to me, the things that I learned from him. It may have not made sense when I was 19 or 20 years old but now that I’m 30 it makes a lot more sense," Randle said in practice ahead of the second round "I used to be like what is this dude talking about hold on to those things and I think the true blessing is being able to pass those things on to other." Randle Is Doing His Best To Be A Leader For The TimberwolvesThe Timberwolves are an intriguing team in the 2025 Playoffs. Anthony Edwards is the clear superstar, but he has a superb supporting cast that includes Randle.  Julius is the second-best player on the team. Coach Chris Finch trusts him to make the big plays when Edwards has a bad shooting night, or he has a tremendous mismatch.  Outside the court, Randle is a commanding voice in the locker room. Most people would follow Edwards or Conley, but Randle is also a respected leader. He might have had a slow start to his stint in Minnesota, but he has bounced back tremendously. Randle is now one of the most beloved players on the team, and he is a fantastic veteran to have for the young players, akin to what Kobe did for him. By Cholo Martin Magsino covers the Minnesota Timberwolves for Athlon Sports while the second-seeded Rockets are on the wrong end of a series upset Former Philadelphia 76ers sharpshooter Lou Williams spoke on the reactions to Green’s disappointing playoff run “I’ve heard the talks about them moving him,” Williams said on FanDuel TV’s ‘Run It Back.’ “The only way you consider moving a guy like Jalen Green is if you have a real chance at going and getting a Ja Morant or a Kevin Durant One of these guys who are an obvious franchise changer "Imagine if the Lakers turned their back on Kobe when he played how he played against the Utah Jazz when he was such a young player...there's not a lot of Jalen Green's laying around."@TeamLou23 says the Rockets should NOT trade Green...unless it's for KD or Ja Morant 👀 pic.twitter.com/zaVmWSwmHN This year, Green played all 82 games for the second season in a row. He posted averages of 21 points, three assists, and five rebounds, while hitting on 42 percent of his field goals and 35 percent of his threes. When Green competed in his first playoff series, his numbers took a dip. The Rockets' standout averaged 13 points per game on just 37 percent shooting from the field and 30 percent shooting from three. The public’s initial reaction is that the Rockets should upgrade by moving on from Green immediately. Williams points to the NBA legend, Kobe Bryant, using him as an example to encourage the Rockets to remain patient. “You have a nice, young nucleus. Granted, he did struggle in these playoffs, but it was his first introduction,” Williams continued. “Imagine if the Lakers turned their backs on Kobe [Bryant] when he played how he played against the Utah Jazz when he was such a young player. You go out there, have your experiences, have your ups and downs, and you wipe yourself off and you go in the summer and make adjustments on how you can be a better basketball player.” A lot of pressure comes from being the second-overall pick. Being that Green was “the other top guy” in the draft that was heavily focused on Victor Wembanyama, the expectations for Green’s NBA run were high. He’s done well enough for himself to earn a $105 million contract, but he doesn’t have a postseason series win under his belt. In a league that’s become less patient with homegrown players, Green becomes one of the latest high-end lottery picks to potentially find himself in the trade rumor mill this offseason. It was a series that not many outside Minnesota expected to go down and prepare to contend next season through an 82-game season and beyond the Timberwolves will now take on the Golden State Warriors were taken to the brink by a young Houston Rockets team which will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come The Rockets came one game short of advancing to the second round; however they landed a top-two seed in the loaded West While Green was spectacular in the regular season which ultimately led to the team's fall in the first round Green's Game 7 performance was below par Williams said that the Rockets should not give up on Green yet He compared him to Kobe Bryant and his shortcomings in the 1997 Western Conference semifinals against the Utah Jazz where he had infamously shot four airballs in a playoff closeout game "Imagine if the Lakers turned their back on Kobe when he played how he played against the Utah Jazz when he was such a young player...there's not a lot of Jalen Green's laying around." Lou Will defends Jalen Green "Imagine if the Lakers turned their back on Kobe when he played how he played against the Utah Jazz when he was such a young player...there's not a lot of Jalen Green's laying around."(🎥 @RunItBackFDTV )pic.twitter.com/iPnFYzyYf5 Bryant was only 18 years old in 1997 and was a rookie guard Green is 22 and in his fourth season in his career The Rockets guard struggled big time in his playoff debut Green averaged 13.3 points per game in seven games and 0.6 steals while shooting 37.2 percent from the field and 29.5 percent from beyond the arc in 31.3 minutes of action His production and play took a noticeable dip in the postseason compared to his regular-season output That’s to be expected—the playoffs present a different level of intensity and pressure the belief around the league is that Green will continue to grow and elevate his game Is it fair to draw parallels to someone like Kobe Bryant He’s a special talent with the potential to be a dominant presence in the league for years to come More Lakers: Lakers' Luka Doncic Named International Face of NBA by Dwyane Wade Lakers Linked to $100 Million Blazers Star as Summer Trade Target For the latest Los Angeles Lakers news and notes, stay glued to Los Angeles Lakers On SI RICARDO SANDOVALStaff Writer It was a disappointing end to a really nice season for the young Rockets and now they head into the offseason with some questions that need answering One of those questions is about guard Jalen Green, who had a rough series against the Warriors and struggled offensively in six out of the seven games Would the Rockets use Green as part of a package to try to acquire an established superstar or instead stick with their young core who just won 52 games and experienced their very first trip to the postseason Run It Back's Lou Williams thinks the Rockets need to be patient and stick with Jalen Green the same way that the Los Angeles Lakers once stuck with a young Kobe Bryant after a disastrous playoff debut "I've heard the talks about them moving him," Williams said "The only way you consider moving a guy like Jalen Green is if you have a real chance at getting a Ja Morant or a Kevin Durant or one of these guys what are obvious franchise-changers imagine if the Lakers turned their backs on Kobe when he played how he played against the Utah Jazz when he was such a young player." Green is 23 and in his fourth season while Kobe Byrant was a 18-year old rookie when he went out and shot four airballs against the Jazz in 1997 He appeared in all 13 postseason games for the Lakers in 1998 and only scored double-figures three times The Rockets should probably exercise great caution when considering trading a talented young player like Green Even if they were to use him to make a big move Just look at the two names Williams mentioned If the Rockets traded Jalen Green for Kevin Durant it would be because they think they can win now but that was also the plan for the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns and neither of those franchises came close with Durant Ja Morant might seem like a better move long term but he's dealt with constant injuries as well as some off-court issues and has played the exact same number of regular season games in his six-year career as Green has played in just four years Morant's teams have only won one more playoff series than Green's teams have won Even the "right" move doesn't sound optimal at this point by Chris Murray Nevada basketball alum Kobe Sanders is one of 75 players invited to this year's NBA Draft Combine which will take place May 11-18 in Chicago Also invited was former Wolf Pack player Darrion Williams who most recently played at Texas Tech but also is in the transfer portal with an additional year of college eligibility remaining Sanders will be the first Wolf Pack alum since Jalen Harris in 2020 to compete at the NBA Draft Combine Harris was a second-round draft pick that season Of the previous 12 Nevada players invited to the combine Sanders spent his first four college seasons at Cal Poly before transferring to Nevada Sanders made 79.5 percent of his free throws we now have a detailed look at the new "CHBL" Nike Kobe 4 colorway this vibrant Kobe 4 Protro pays homage to the Chinese School Basketball League which serves as a hub to showcase the best young hoopers in Asia The "CHBL" Kobe 4 wears a predominantly yellow color scheme and has a gradient fade to white towards the heel of the upper. The insole also has the text "Touch the line," which appears to be a reference to the time when Kobe Bryant called out a young hooper in Shanghai in 2016 for cheating on a drill and not touching his foot on the baseline. As of now, release details for the "CHBL" Kobe 4 Protro have yet to be announced by the brand. Check back soon for official updates. Where to Buy the 'Dirty Triple White' Air Force 1 Where to Buy the 'Mambacita' Nike Kobe 9 Low EM Caitlin Clark's Nike Kobe 5 'Indiana Fever' PE to Release in June By entering your email, you agree to receive customized marketing messages from us and our advertising partners. You also acknowledge that this site is protected by reCAPTCHA, and that our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply United StatesUnited KingdomAustraliaCanadaComplex ChineseCOMPLEX participates in various affiliate marketing programs which means COMPLEX gets paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites Our editorial content is not influenced by any commissions we receive the opportunity to play in Brian Flores’ defense and more Get an inside look at Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman Donovan Jackson's first day in Minnesota after being selected by the team in the First Round of the 2025 NFL Draft Vikings Entertainment Network's Tatum Everett is joined by defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins to discuss being selected by the Vikings in the Fifth Round of the 2025 NFL Draft Former Vikings linebacker and coach Pete Bercich looks back on film of new Vikings offensive lineman from his time at Ohio State Vikings Entertainment Network's Tatum Everett is joined by tight end Gavin Bartholomew to discuss being selected by the Vikings in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft playing with wide receiver Jordan Addison in college Hear from Vikings OLB Andrew Van Ginkel after he signed a contract extension with the Vikings ahead of the 2025 season Vikings Entertainment Network's Tatum Everett is joined by Purple Insider's Matthew Coller and Star Tribune's Ben Goessling to discuss the Minnesota Vikings 2025 Draft Class Vikings players returned to the TCO Performance Center for the start of the 2025 offseason program Watch highlights of new Vikings WR Tai Felton from his time at Maryland Vikings OL Donovan Jackson sat down with Vikings Entertainment Network's Tatum Everett and discussed his first 24 hours since being selected in the First Round of the 2025 NFL Draft rookie expectations and looking forward to playing in Minnesota Watch every phone call the Minnesota Vikings made in the Thomson Reuters Vikings Draft Room to our 2025 NFL Draft draft picks Vikings Entertainment Network's Tatum Everett recaps what the Vikings and GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah did in the 2025 NFL Draft and discusses the trade for QB Sam Howell Watch highlights of new Vikings TE Gavin Bartholomew from his time at Pittsburgh Go inside the Vikings draft room as General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores made the call to defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins to inform him he was selected by the team in Round Five of the 2025 NFL Draft Watch highlights of new Vikings DL Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins from his time at Ohio State and Wide Receivers Coach Keenan McCardell made the call to wide receiver Tai Felton to inform him he was selected by the team in Round Three of the 2025 NFL Draft Vikings new WR Tai Felton speaks with Vikings Entertainment Network's Tatum Everett after being drafted by the team in Round Three of the 2025 NFL Draft Vikings safety Joshua Metellus asks fans to share their guilty pleasure song during this edition of Tell Us With Metellus from the 2025 Miller Lite Vikings Draft Party Go inside the Vikings draft room as General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Head Coach Kevin O'Connell make the call to offensive lineman Donovan Jackson to inform him he was selected by the team in Round One of the 2025 NFL Draft Paul Charchian and Pete Bercich as they react to the selection of Ohio State offensive lineman Donovan Jackson in Round one of the 2025 NFL Draft Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell talks with KFAN and Paul Allen about the team selecting First Round Draft Pick offensive lineman Donovan Jackson from Ohio State One of the murals of the late Kobe and Gigi Bryant in Downtown Los Angeles has been vandalized — and new Lakers star Luka Dončić has stepped in to help Allen Berezovsky/Getty; Michael Tullberg/Getty Says 'Overrate THAT' After Pacers Bounce Bucks.css-3hcdeq{margin:0;font-size:1.2rem;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:Proxima Nova,Proxima Nova Fallback Helvetica,Proxima Nova Fallback Arial;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;letter-spacing:0rem;line-height:1.44rem;color:var(--br--palette-foreground__tertiary-mainChannel);}Doric SamApr 30 1) 0ms;transition:background-color 150ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;transition:fill 120ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;font-size:inherit;}.css-v4v4rs{-webkit-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;user-select:none;width:1em;height:1em;display:inline-block;fill:currentColor;-webkit-flex-shrink:0;-ms-flex-negative:0;flex-shrink:0;-webkit-transition:fill 120ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;font-size:inherit;}@media (min-width:0px){.css-v4v4rs{display:block;}}@media (min-width:1100px){.css-v4v4rs{display:none;}}.css-mps3fk{-webkit-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;user-select:none;width:1em;height:1em;display:inline-block;fill:currentColor;-webkit-flex-shrink:0;-ms-flex-negative:0;flex-shrink:0;-webkit-transition:fill 120ms cubic-bezier(0.4 took to social media with a brief message that was reminiscent of the late Haliburton led the Pacers with 26 points and nine assists while adding five rebounds three steals and three blocks in Tuesday night's 119-118 overtime win He converted a go-ahead layup with 1.3 seconds remaining in overtime to give Indiana the victory after a wild sequence: finishing well ahead of Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (10.0 percent) and Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (8.9 percent) Haliburton didn't allow the results of the poll to affect his mindset as he tries to lead the Pacers through the postseason "I must be doing something right if that’s the case," Haliburton said of the poll last week, per The Athletic's James Boyd "I don’t have a big speech or comment on it All I care about is this locker room and winning games and we’re in position to go to Milwaukee and continue this series on I’m confident in my own skin and not worried what anybody thinks." This marks the second straight year that Haliburton led the Pacers past the Central Division rival Bucks in the first round of the playoffs After being swept in the Eastern Conference Finals last season Indiana will surely be motivated to have a better finish this time around Haliburton and the Pacers will try to pull off a monumental upset when they face the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals Look no further than teams across the league hosting their highly anticipated media days Despite all the major roster moves and exciting storylines from various teams during the off-season Indiana still garnered the most attention for its annual media day That is thanks to Fever guard Caitlin Clark The reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year is preparing for her sophomore campaign and it has already started on the right foot A post shared by Indiana Fever (@indianafever) In the second slide of the Fever's Instagram post fans will spot a familiar pair of sneakers that has not been released yet While every player treats media day like the first day of school showing up in a fresh uniform and clean pair of kicks The Caitlin Clark x Nike Kobe 5 Protro "Indiana Fever" colorway is expected to drop on June 1, 2025. The shoes will be released on the Nike SNKRS app for $190 in adult sizes. In the meantime, fans can shop Clark's apparel collection on the Nike website A post shared by Bleacher Report Kicks (@brkicks) fans can expect these basketball shoes to sell out quickly Shoppers who miss out on the initial drop can try their luck on trusted sneaker resale websites like eBay this is Kobe Bryant's fifth signature shoe with Nike Clark's signature line has not yet launched she gets the high honor of a Nike Kobe player-edition colorway Clark's colorway features a dark navy upper with an orange gradient design on the heels but no specific nods to Clark (her signature logo has not yet been revealed) A post shared by Indiana Fever (@indianafever) Clark debuted her Nike Kobe 5 "Indiana Fever" colorway during the WNBA Playoffs last season She wore multiple player-exclusive Nike Kobe sneakers $28 million signature sneaker deal with Nike It was the largest sponsorship contract for a women's basketball player Sneakerheads and basketball fans can expect another exciting season from Clark Follow Sports Illustrated's Kicks On SI for all your footwear news The Nike Kobe 9 Low EM "Mambacita" celebrates Gigi Bryant's birthday. Angel Reese's new Reebok collection channels feminine energy. First Look: The Nike Sabrina 3 leaks before release date. Paige Bueckers discussed her potential signature sneaker line with Nike. Cameron Brink unveil the New Balance 'Flavors' pack before the start of the WNBA season. A jersey photo-matched to seven games in Kobe Bryant's 1996-97 rookie season for the Los Angeles Lakers -- including his preseason debut on Oct 1996; and his NBA media day -- sold for $7 million at Sotheby's on Thursday The jersey last sold for $115,242 at auction in 2012 It set a new record for any Bryant sports collectible eclipsing the $5,849,700 spent on a game-worn signed jersey from the 2007-08 season in which Bryant won his lone MVP award This photo-matched jersey from Kobe Bryant's 1996-97 rookie season with the Lakers -- including his preseason debut on Oct and his NBA Media Day -- sold at auction for $7 million at Sotheby's. Sotheby's"Debut games are truly one-of-a-kind moments in an athlete's career," said Brahm Wachter "They mark the nascency of an extraordinary journey these milestones hold even more significance as they represent a singular moment in time that can never be replicated." The $7 million Bryant jersey is the fourth-most-expensive game-worn sports jersey of all time behind the $24 million Babe Ruth "called shot" jersey, Michael Jordan's $10.1 million "Last Dance" jersey and Diego Maradona's $9.3 million "Hand of God" Argentina jersey from the 1986 FIFA World Cup Bryant went 0-1 from the field with 0 points 22 seconds off the bench in his regular-season NBA debut but was an All-Star and runner-up for Sixth Man of the Year the following season Kobe Bryant wasn’t just dropping buckets — he was dropping jaws wearing the Nike Kobe 4 MLK He debuted this legendary colorway during a Lakers game on Martin Luther King Jr reminding everyone that low-tops can dominate too Bryant’s first low-cut signature shoe changed the game The MLK Kobe 4 rocks a white synthetic base reinforced with Flywire cables strong enough to support your wildest crossovers A smooth gradient Varsity Purple finish hits the toe letting everyone know you’re team royalty metallic gold accents flash across the Swoosh and collar — because why settle for regular flexing And let’s not ignore the subtle snakeskin texture around the ankle after all — and this detail hits just right without overdoing it the translucent gum sole keeps it all grounded like a true MVP If you’re feeling lucky (or just feeling rich), some sizes of the Nike Kobe 4 MLK are floating around on resell platforms like StockX Warning: your wallet may experience sudden sadness Stay up to date with all upcoming sneaker releases from our Sneaker Release Dates page. Be sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram Photos: eBay SBD provides millions of monthly visitors with sneaker updates on Jordan Sneaker Bar Detroit has quickly become one of the top sneaker sources on the web Advertise With Us || Email: info[at]sneakerbardetroit.com USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots the ball over Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) during the fourth quarter of game seven of the first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images An unexpected twist in the playoff narrative has captivated fans and challenged established expectations as a well-timed underdog victory reshapes the postseason landscape A hard-fought series came to a surprising end as a resilient team propelled by youthful ambition overcame a storied franchise The defending champions in the spotlight saw their season abruptly conclude following a staggering upset at the hands of a determined opponent While some had dismissed this clash as a foregone conclusion favoring tradition the outcome has ignited fresh debates about potential and perseverance With the defeated side now regrouping for a lengthy campaign ahead the victorious squad is poised to test further limits as they advance to an even more formidable challenge against another seasoned contender At the heart of this evolving story is a young guard whose regular-season brilliance had once promised a dominating postseason debut In a series filled with intensity and mounting pressure raising comparisons with the early struggles encountered by one of basketball’s most iconic players Positioned in his fourth professional season his brief playoff stint—featuring modest scoring averages and a decline in shooting efficiency—provides a window into the inherent challenges of transitioning from regular season to the unforgiving intensity of postseason play Experiencing a subdued performance on the biggest stage often sparks introspection and growth The trials faced in this playoff series serve as a crucible for honing skills the realities of the postseason underscored that the journey to greatness is paved with setbacks This period of adjustment is hardly unique; history records many instances where early performances under pressure later evolved into hallmarks of greatness Veteran insights remind us that every star’s journey begins with challenging beginnings A notable comparison was drawn to a legendary figure who faced severe criticism for his early playoff missteps seasoned voices highlighted that dismissing a promising talent in the wake of a difficult debut could be a grievous oversight Such cautionary tales from the past echo loudly suggesting that the current young guard’s struggles are part of an essential evolution rather than definitive shortcomings potential is nurtured through relentless practice and gradually converting vulnerabilities into strengths The belief in this emerging talent remains robust despite a challenging debut; many envision a future where his natural abilities are fully realized echoing stories of legendary careers that started on uncertain ground As his team continues to battle in a highly competitive environment there is a collective optimism that today’s setbacks will fuel tomorrow’s breakthroughs every performance under pressure is both a test and an opportunity—a narrative that promises to redefine the guard’s contribution and impact in the seasons to come A Legacy of Expectation The pressure of greatness is inherent to those destined for the Hall of Fame Future legends don’t just play the game—they become beacons of.. A Defining Moment in Basketball An era marked by dedication and unforgettable victories has reached a poignant crossroads with the departure of a coaching titan The global basketball stage is perennially evolving with talent emerging from unexpected avenues and capturing the collective imagination of fans and scouts alike An electrifying playoff clash is on the horizon as the postseason drama intensifies After enduring a punishing seven-game series the Denver Nuggets now face a weighty challenge against.. A Surge of Determination In the midst of the NFL playoffs an electrifying atmosphere pervades stadiums across the nation The intensity of the second-round matchups inspires a new.. © 2025 M Sports - Premium news & magazine M Sports Please enter your username or email address to reset your password © 2025 M Sports - Premium news & magazine M Sports. After hitting a clutch 3-pointer to secure the Knicks' series win against the Detroit Pistons, Brunson has taken to Instagram to share images of his Nike Kobe 5 PE he wore during the series the meaning behind this acronym hasn’t been revealed yet but the pair itself comes in a “What The” esque color scheme Bright orange hues envelope the midfoot panel while red hues are featured on the toebox and tongue Fused overlays on the vamp and eyelets contrast the red and orange as they are done over in blue leaning into the New York Knicks’ color scheme Kobe’s signature lands on the yellow heel counter on the lateral side of the shoe Final details include the black and white Swoosh on the midfoot Down below sits a purple and red foam midsole with a tonal black outsole Jalen Brunson’s new Nike Kobe 5 WTR PE will remain exclusive to Brunson and not see a public release. Check below for detailed images of the pair and download the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest releases and more in the sneaker and streetwear world Enjoy all the latest sneaker raffle and releases and exclusive sneaker news in the palm of your hand Jalen Brunson isn’t just torching defenders—he’s melting sneakerheads’ minds with his wild Kobe 5 WTR PE sneakers The Knicks guard continues to dominate the NBA Playoffs and the tunnel walk rocking exclusive Nike Kobe sneakers that scream “Look at me!” Brunson unveiled the Kobe 5 “WTR”—short for What The Rick—during New York’s first-round playoff series The multi-color madness isn’t random; each hue is a nod to an NBA team his dad It’s like a family photo album… but for your feet These player exclusive Kobes feature a mash-up of bold panels: red toe White laces and a classic black Swoosh bring the chaos together in perfect harmony—kind of like Brunson running the pick-and-roll With his stock soaring (currently top 5 in NBA jersey sales) fans are begging Nike to give Brunson his own signature basketball shoe The Jalen Brunson Nike Kobe 5 WTR PE isn’t just a shoe—it’s a legacy in leather A jersey that Kobe Bryant wore during his 1996-97 rookie season with the Los Angeles Lakers has sold for $7 million at an auction with Sotheby's on Thursday. The jersey was photo-matched to seven games in Bryant's rookie campaign, including in his preseason debut on Oct. 16, 1996, his regular-season debut on Nov. 3, 1996, and his NBA media day The jersey set a new record for any Bryant sports collectible which surpassed the $5,849,700 that was sent on a game-worn signed jersey from Bryant's 2007-08 MVP season This Bryant rookie jersey last sold for $115,242 at an auction back in 2012 "Debut games are truly one-of-a-kind moments in an athlete's career," Sotheby's head of modern collectibles Brahm Wachter told ESPN The $7 million price tag for the Bryant jersey is the fourth most-expensive game-worn sports jersey behind only Babe Ruth's "called shot" jersey ($24 million) Michael Jordan's "Last Dance" jersey ($10.1 million) and soccer star Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" 1986 FIFA World Cup jersey ($9.3 million) In his regular-season debut against the Minnesota Timberwolves Bryant failed to score and was 0-of-1 from the field in 6:22 of playing time Bryant ended up being an All-Star and was the runner-up for the Sixth Man of the Year Award in the following season USA; New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (l) and former NFL defensive end Justin Tuck (r) watch game five of first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs between the Detroit Pistons and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images A Startling Turn in an NFL Career A renowned linebacker’s sudden arrest has sparked a moment of reflection within the league creating ripples that extend far beyond the.. Electrifying Offseason Momentum In a season brimming with promise Cincinnati's journey toward championship contention is set alight by a series of transformative moves A Bold New Beginning In a season brimming with anticipation a new page in football history is being written as Russell Wilson embarks on a transformative journey with.. The pursuit of excellence on the gridiron is forever fraught with unexpected twists and strategic gambles as two storied franchises demonstrate in their quest to revamp their wide.. Electrifying Intersection of Sports In an unexpected blend of gridiron grit and high-octane racing a captivating moment unfolded at a renowned speedway sparking excitement among fans and players.. © 2025 M Sports - Premium news & magazine M Sports Most recently, Doncic donated $5,000 to cover the entire goal of the GoFundMe page set up by artist Louie Palsino which was created to restore the vandalized mural of Kobe and Gigi Bryant between 14th and Main Street in Los Angeles The mural was painted following Kobe and Gigi's death in a 2020 helicopter crash "It was always important to give back to the community," Doncic said on Tuesday A post shared by Kobe & Gianna Bryant Murals (@kobemural) Doncic clearly understands the impact that Bryant left both on the Lakers and the game of basketball as a whole and the new Lakers star is making sure that his memory remains through art in Los Angeles even as his focus remains on a playoff run with his new team The Lakers and Timberwolves square off in Game 5 of the West first round series on Wednesday night Luka Dončić has covered the full cost to restore a vandalized mural of Kobe and Gigi Bryant in downtown Los Angeles titled “Mambas Forever,” depicts the late Lakers legend in his iconic uniform A post shared by Kobe & Gianna Bryant Murals (@kobemural) Caitlin Clark made her highly anticipated return to the University of Iowa The Indiana Fever faced the Brazilian National Team in an exhibition game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena where she helped elevate the sport to unprecedented heights The reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year was treated like a rockstar on Iowa's campus Even better, Clark dressed like a rockstar. Before the game, Clark wore the Travis Scott x Nike Mac Attack (a sneaker collaboration between the rapper and legendary tennis player John McEnroe). The old-school tennis shoes have an average resale price of $175 on StockX fitted for the return 🤩Caitlin Clark is back in Iowa City for today's preseason game. pic.twitter.com/tBdieKU2Cq Clark pulled out her old sneakers from her time with the Hawkeyes Clark regularly wore the Nike Kobe 5 Protro in the "Bruce Lee" colorway Clark took the court in the black and gold kicks and began sinking shots from all angles The deep threat even hit a few three-pointers from the logo before the start of the exhibition game The Nike Kobe 5 Protro dropped in the "Bruce Lee" colorway in November 2020 for $180 in adult sizes. The fan-favorite and hooper-approved basketball shoes now have an average resale price of $582 on StockX Caitlin Clark warming up with some logo threes 😏 pic.twitter.com/fKNr9Zb4dt The Nike Kobe 5 Protro "Bruce Lee" is an updated version of Kobe Bryant's popular shoe from 2010 Nike has made most upgrades to Bryant's kicks as part of the "Protro" series the "Bruce Lee" colorway is a direct tribute to two Bruce Lee movies Lee's black and yellow jumpsuit from Game of Death with the red scratch marks from Enter The Dragon inspired the design The Nike Kobe line has had the most popular basketball shoes for many years and does not need much help by putting her stamp of approval on the hoop shoes absolutely moves the needle among younger fans and athletes Caitlin Clark with the long outlet to DeWanna Bonner for two 💨 pic.twitter.com/Qbbcduf0fz The sneaker community is still eagerly waiting for the launch of Clark's signature line they can expect some of her player-edition colorways to hit shelves in limited numbers later this Summer Stay locked into Sports Illustrated's Kicks On SI for all of your most important footwear news from the sports world and beyond Jalen Brunson unveiled the Nike Kobe 5 Protro "WTR" colorway. Nike launched the first commercial for A'ja Wilson's signature basketball shoe. Angel Reese debuted more player-exclusive Reebok sneakers in the WNBA preseason opener. Most “welcome to the NBA” moments are brutal But for Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry his came with a side of legendary dominance Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant made sure to remind every rookie exactly who ran the league That’s all it took to humble one of the greatest shooters the game’s ever seen Curry thought he was just checking into a game it wasn’t just any switch; it was Bryant calling for the ball With one hand in the air and the other wrapped around Curry’s knee like a vice Bryant put on a physical masterclass without saying a word “He literally grabbed my knee and wouldn’t let me get around,” Curry admitted during an interview with GQ he controlled all 175 pounds of me.” That was the moment Curry realized the NBA wasn’t just about shots and handles Bryant had been doing that to guards for over a decade That one play might’ve lasted eight seconds gasping for air and thinking one thing: I gotta bulk up That experience against Bryant was more than humbling; it was a blueprint for evolution and it’s wild to think that same skinny guard is now a four-time NBA champion and the engine behind one of the most dangerous offenses in league history and he’ll take you right back to that matchup Bryant didn’t just show Curry where the bar was with every ounce of weight he didn’t yet have But that one preseason clip that never made it to SportsCenter Download our Free Mobile App!Get a better and more comprehensive user experience Download our Free Mobile App!Get a better and more comprehensive user experience but one of the most iconic athletes the NBA has ever had transcending well beyond the game of basketball This is why it was so disheartening to see one of the many murals honoring him and his daughter Gianna Bryant who both tragically passed away in a helicopter crash in 2020 A GoFundMe was started to repair the mural and the top donor was Doncic himself my foundation gives back to organizations in the community,” Doncic said “It’s always important to give back to the community that gave me so much Luka has spoken previously about how important Kobe was to him as a basketball player and how he wished he was still here to see him join this Lakers franchise Bryant had an impact on so many athletes worldwide and Doncic was one of many who idolized him growing up These murals might not seem like a big deal but for someone as revered and beloved as Kobe and as young and innocent as Gianna For someone to disrespect that with graffiti and profanity was beyond unnecessary and it shows a lot about Luka’s character that he wanted to ensure this wrong was undone Even in the midst of an intense playoff battle Doncic saw something that needed to be fixed and took the initiative to do so This gesture does nothing to take away from Luka Doncic’s focus as the Lakers face elimination in Game 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Coming back from down 3-1 is no easy task and Doncic knows the Lakers must take things one game at a time, but he and the team are confident heading into this must-win game “Confident,” Luka responded when asked about their mood heading into Game 5 we gotta treat it like it’s Game 7 and we gotta stay together.” Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel It’s the best way to watch player interviews Get a better and more comprehensive user experience When a beloved mural honoring Kobe and Gigi Bryant in downtown Los Angeles was defaced is a fixture near 14th and Main Street and has become a powerful symbol for Lakers fans and Angelenos alike But thanks to a heartfelt gesture from Lakers superstar Luka Doncic the Kobe & Gigi mural will be restored Now, Doncic’s swift contribution ensured the process could begin immediately. His action signals more than just generosity. It highlights his deepening connection to the city and its people. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kobe & Gianna Bryant Murals (@kobemural) which depicted an emotional moment between Kobe and his daughter had become a destination and memorial site but Doncic’s act is already turning pain into restoration But thanks to an uber famous good samaritan it just might be getting restored to its former glory sooner than later countless murals have been placed all over the city in remembrance of the NBA superstar The former Dallas Mavericks player was recently traded to the Lakers in the middle of the season back in February The ordeal was huge at the time and since he’s been on the team the Slovenian basketball star has continued making headlines for his stellar skills on the court he’s become the talk of the town in a different way after it was revealed he donated $5,000 to fix the aforementioned mural on Tuesday covering the initial ask with plenty left over “It was always important to give back to the community to the Lakers organization and to me personally I’m happy to do anything to help make sure he and his daughter are honored.” This moment feels a bit full circle, especially considering the Dončić and Bryant mural that was painted a couple months back commemorating his new move to the beloved L.A After Sloe Motions found out it was Dončić who covered the expenses he thanked him in a followup post to Instagram and that prompted other fans to express their gratitude Can’t spell Luka without LA,” wrote one user “Make him a Laker 4L [for life],” said one other user