Rumors

What stands out most in Gordon’s already one-of-a-kind warehouse gym home are the celebrity icons from different genres. Many are no longer with us. Gordon chose each specifically for daily motivation. A young Obama smoking marijuana. Einstein. Athletes including Serena Williams, Muhammad Ali, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Tony Hawk, Julius “Dr. J” Erving, Pele, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan and Jackie Robinson. Dancer Josephine Baker. Actor and martial arts legend Bruce Lee. Musicians Billie Holliday, Prince, Lauryn Hill, Miles Davis, Bob Marley, Jimmy Hendrix, B.B. King, Notorious B.I.G., Nipsey Hussle, Michael Jackson and Mac Miller. Olympic activists John Carlos and Tommie Smith. Comedian Richard Pryor. Actor Heath Ledger. Civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. Civil rights activist and Muslim minister Malcolm X. Filmmaker Spike Lee. Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. Antiapartheid activist Nelson Mandela. Legendary sports journalist Stuart Scott. Poet Maya Angelou. “I got everybody there from Muhammad Ali to Bruce Lee,” Aaron Gordon said. “You have greatness looking at you. You can’t be [joking around]. It makes you want to not bulls—.”

Andscape

Even before arriving at the Kobe-Gianna statue, while making the 16-mile drive from LAX to the arena that somehow takes nearly an hour in afternoon traffic, it was impossible to miss all the ways Kobe’s presence remains in the City of Angels. On the corner of Obama Boulevard and La Cienega, on the side of a 7-Eleven, there’s a mural of Bryant and the late rapper and LA native Nipsey Hussle that looks so clean you’d think it had been painted that day. According to Kobemural.com, there are 343 such pieces of art in Southern California (and 646 worldwide). The souvenir stands outside of Lakers games are still flooded with Bryant gear. It’s not hard to find a car with a ‘Kobe’ license plate cover, featuring No. 8 and No. 24. In Thursday’s game against the Celtics — a 117-96 Lakers win that surely would have made him proud — there was even a video tribute celebrating the anniversary of his 81-point game against Toronto in 2006.

New York Times

The six-time NBA All-Star, wearing a black Nipsey Hussle T-shirt and sweatpants, steps up to the 50-yard line, with Zach LaVine standing next to him. Ayo Dosunmu lines up as DeRozan's receiver and takes off down the field. DeRozan pump fakes and signals for Dosunmu to go deeper before he uncorks a perfect spiral over the head of a team staffer and right into Dosunmu's waiting hands as his intended receiver walks into the end zone. LaVine's jaw drops in disbelief. "I didn't know DeMar had an arm like that. It's not a windup, he just flicked it," LaVine says later. "It was impressive to see that, not a speed or power thing, just the fluid throw. Like, oh my god DeMar. My face said it all."

ESPN

Lamar dropped a prefight video while rocking a Nipsey Hussle shirt ... and he seemed pissed Fake Drake was trying to drag the real deal into the ring. So L.O. promised to help his friend and lay out the impersonator once and for all. Not to be outdone, Fake Drake shot a training vid of his pugilistic skills -- although he's mainly ducking punches.

TMZ.com

Philadelphia 76ers swingman Danny Green is going crazy with his ink-game this offseason as he recently paid tribute to his former teams in the Los Angeles Lakers and the Toronto Raptors. Despite being in Los Angeles for just a year, his stay there was amazing as Green and the Lakers capped off their season with a championship trophy despite all of the heartbreak 2020 offered. Green got his Los Angeles tribute tattooed first, it depicts the Larry O’Brien trophy with the Universal Studios and Lakers logo as its crown jewel. He also added some palm trees and a checkered flag, which is a tribute to LA rapper Nipsey Hussle. Steve Butcher finally put the icing on the cake when he added a Kobe Bryant and Gigi Bryant piece.

Clutch Points

LeBron James: Wit me every single day when walking my hallways. 🏁&🐍 Continues to live on! #LegendsNeverDie👑. 🖼 by the Great @lindsaydawnstudios 🙏🏾

Instagram

TJ McBride: Monte Morris on IG just posted this Nipsey Hussle quote: “Picc a team, stay loyal, build something you can stand on, then reap the reward” Take that for what you will. pic.twitter.com/9NuD7aLPqF

Twitter

We're told just like the Michael Jackson and Nipsey Hussle memorials, the streets around Staples will be closed for security and traffic control. The memorial will not be broadcast on the screens outside Staples or L.A. Live.

TMZ.com

The lyrics inked on his skin derive from the now self-written eulogy “Racks In The Middle” from Thomas’ close friend turned guardian angel. Hussle was gunned down in front of his South Central Los Angeles-based Marathon clothing store on March 31. Eric Holder, 29, is facing trial in his murder. Thomas also cherishes another Hussle-inspired tat saying “TMC,” short for “The Marathon Continues” on his right shoulder. It’s an adage that defined their friendship, the similar trajectory of their careers and their ability to find strength after immeasurable grief in both of their lives. Thomas losing his sister and Hussle losing a close childhood friend within months of each other in 2017. “That’s what it was. We had each other to lean on,” Thomas said. “We went through real-life situations that a lot of people can’t relate to.”

The Undefeated

“I can’t even explain it. To this day it don’t seem real,” Thomas said, looking at the floor. “A person that positive and that genuine to everybody, anybody, it’s like that shouldn’t happen. They always say, ‘The good die young,’ and it’s really like that.”

The Undefeated

“He sent a really long text to me just being inspiring to keep going, knowing that life is a marathon,” said Thomas. “He always been that type of friend. It’s always been real genuine love. A marathon is tough. Life is tough. That was probably the biggest thing that I would keep in my heart. Just keep running your race no matter what.”

The Undefeated

Nick DePaula: Another factor for @KyleKuzma to sign on with @PumaHoops ? Honoring Nipsey Hussle’s legacy & impact with the brand. “I wanted to go to Puma, not only for everything that I've got going on, but to do some things within this community like Nip did." — Kuz

Twitter

Following his postgame routine, DeRozan left the AT&T Center and headed to the airport to take a private flight back to Los Angeles where Thursday morning he will attend the funeral of his close friend, Ermias Asghedom, better known to most as Nipsey Hussle. The Crenshaw rapper was killed on March 31 outside of his clothing store in South Los Angeles. He was 33. Hussle’s death was both shocking and met with great sadness around the country. Fellow music artists were in disbelief, and Hussle’s death hit the sports world, too, especially the likes of Houston Rockets guard James Harden, Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook and DeRozan. All three players are from Los Angeles. All three shared a tight bond with Hussle.

The Athletic

“We were just sitting down having dinner weeks before,” DeRozan remembered. “Talking to him a couple of days before.”

The Athletic