Rumors

Social media has been going crazy over the trade you made to get the draft rights to Queen while trading a first-round pick. What would you say to the critics? (The Pelicans traded their 23rd pick in the 2025 NBA draft and an unprotected 2026 first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks to acquire the 13th pick in the 2025 NBA draft, using it to select Queen.) I don’t mind the criticism. People say they don’t mind. But I really don’t mind. When you’re running a franchise, you make a determination of what you think you need to start growing your franchise. The opportunity presented itself that we could get two lottery picks, and to do that, you’re going to have to give up something. We gave up what we thought it would take to get these two lottery picks and we did. Now, I really don’t mind the criticism, the second guessing. I’ve done this long enough to understand that it just comes with the business. It’s just the sports world we live in. But we’re building a team to play it out. I believe in my guys. We’ll see how it plays out.

Andscape

LeBron James: When you talk about inspiration, there was nobody more inspiring to me than Michael Jordan. For me, I think our games would have complemented each other well. MJ was a flat-out scorer. He had a scorers mentality if I had to pick him. But I know I can't pick him because I know how social media works. You're gonna be like, "Oh, you want to play with Michael Jordan, too? You get to play with everybody else. God damn it." I didn't ask the question. I'm only answering it, guys. I didn't ask the question. But MJ was inspiration. Penny Hardaway was inspiration to me. Grant Hill was inspiration to me growing up. Like that point forward Scottie Pippen, that point forward. Guys like Penny, like Grant Hill, like Scottie, those guys kind of inspired me because I kind of wanted to be that point forward. I can see the headline already. LeBron wants to play with Michael Jordan. Like, I see it already. That's weird. Don't be weird. Don't be weird. Don't be weird. I was going to say Kobe Bryant, but I actually played with Kobe in the Olympics, so rest his soul. Great Kobe. Great Kobe.

YouTube

LeBron James: YESSIR!!! Congratulations to my brother B.Weems!! Super proud of u man 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙏🏾

Twitter

After Thompson was seen in the background of a photo Megan Thee Stallion posted on her Instagram account last week, fans began speculating that they were dating. On Saturday, Thompson shared a picture of himself with Meg on his own Instagram account, seemingly confirming their relationship. That drew quite a few responses from folks on social media, including from Durant, who hyped up Thompson in the comments. “THAT BOY,” Durant said in response to Thompson's post.

Clutch Points

When the Buss family agreed to sell a majority stake in the franchise to Mark Walter on June 18, Doncic was given a heads-up and notably posted a congratulations on social media afterward. After the publication of this article, sources said James was notified of the sale, via his representation. But he did not post any public acknowledgement.

ESPN

Another reason why the 36-year-old is generating buzz is due to his presence on social media. Durant has always been extremely active on X, formerly known as Twitter, and has been going at it with fans lately due to the GOAT debate between LeBron James and Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan. One user on X pulled a clip from Durant's guest appearance on James' podcast with Steve Nash, Mind the Game. Durant took a comedic jab at Jordan, saying, "Some people say, 'I want to go play baseball,' and then want to come back, and some want to play 22 straight."

Sports Illustrated

A social media user has been tracked down, arrested and charged over the alleged racial abuse of Adelaide 36ers NBL star Montrezl Harrell. In a first for the sport as it attempts to stamp out racism and online abuse, Code Sports can reveal a 37-year-old man, of the Victorian suburb of Huntingdale, was arrested on Wednesday, July 2.

codesports.com.au

It’s alleged the man, in November, sent a racist direct message to Harrell, who is of African-American heritage, and was identified by investigators from the Monash crime investigation unit after Basketball Australia’s integrity unit referred the matter. The man was charged with using a carriage service to menace, harass and/or offend and bailed to appear at Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on August 15.

codesports.com.au

One person who showed their excitement for the move was Wade on social media, which was no doubt a special moment for Powell, who got the chance to speak with him when in Europe for the “Sport Beach” event in Cannes, France. “Taking moves and different things from [Dwyane Wade] and implementing it into my game and talking to him and seeing how he watches my game and knows my game and is proud of me and what I’ve been able to accomplish and that he was a motivating factor in my basketball career,” Powell said. “Literally two weeks later, to be traded to the Heat, and seeing him comment under the post, and was excited about it.”

x.com

Basketball legend Klay Thompson might have a new teammate off the court. On Wednesday, the five-time NBA All-Star was spotted in the background of Megan Thee Stallion’s recent Instagram post, sending social media into a frenzy of rumor and speculation. While the post itself didn’t highlight Klay directly, fans quickly noticed him in the corner of the frame, and rumors are now swirling that the two might be dating.

Yahoo!

Jovan Buha: I think there's a new era here, the Bill Duffy era and that's Luka Doncic’s guy and that's how this situation is trending. I want to be careful with what I say about Bron’s relationship with the front office or the organization, but I don't think it's in the best place right now to be completely honest. There's been no official statement about LeBron opting in. There typically is, especially for a player of that magnitude. And then he's had his stuff on social media or whatever he's posted, and there was obviously the statement when he opted in. So I don't think things are in the best place they've ever been. I'll just say that.

YouTube

Milwaukee Bucks: “This isn’t a goodbye, it’s a see you around.” (via patconnaughton/IG)

Twitter

Kevin Love: Never thought I’d be a math problem. Welcome to the NBA.

Twitter

LeBron James: And every summer since it was built. I live here still and train every summer. Got damn yall bored man! Go get a plate of food somewhere and enjoy the 4th of July!

Twitter