Year: 2024

Every year, indie rock legends Yo La Tengo plays a concert on each night of Hanukkah. The residency, which was originally held at Maxwell’s (RIP) in New Jersey before moving to New York City’s Bowery Ballroom, also includes a surprise opening act.

On Sunday (night five of Hanukkah), the guest was MJ Lenderman, who released one of 2024’s best albums, Manning Fireworks. The “She’s Leaving You” singer also joined Yo La Tengo (and Sonic Youth’s Steve Shelley on drums) for a cover of Bob Dylan‘s “Something There Is About You,” a lovely deep cut from 1974’s Planet Waves.

You can watch Lenderman and Yo La Tengo cover Bob Dylan here.

Lenderman talked about his history with Dylan in an interview with Far Out magazine. “I know a good bit about him, but I honestly haven’t gotten that deep into the music,” he said. “I’ve listened to Planet Waves probably more than any other album. That CD was in the car one day, and I found out it was The Band playing with Dylan on that record.” Lenderman is particularly fond of one track from that album (Dylan’s 19th best!), in particular. “I think the melody is just so emotional,” he explained. “It always gets me.”

Although Little Simz has had a relatively quiet 2024 — at least, in comparison to the monstrous years previous — the Islington native reeled off a few high-profile collaborations in the last 12 months. In May, she joined K-pop star RM on his solo album, Right Place, Wrong Person, following up the next month with fellow Brit Sampha on his new project, LAHAI. In August, she appeared on Coldplay’s “We Pray.” And now, she closes out the year with a boastful single, “Hello, Hi,” to remind listeners she’s still making moves and foreshadow a strong 2025.

In somewhat of a departure for the genre-mixing, trend-avoidant rapper, Simz employs a mellow drill beat on “Hello, Hi,” reeling off a boastful list of achievement and acquisitions, from her undisputable rap skills, to the luxury goods they’ve helped her purchase. “SS Simz ’25, you ain’t never seen this season / Takin’ it to another level this year and I got every reason,” she vows. She also hard-launches her relationship (“Let her cook, but my man is a Michelin-star chef”), deplores the state of the rap business (“They make it to the top, then add water and dilute”), and does some high-end spending (“Yes, I am the illest, in Cartier, spendin’ my shillings / Sis said, ‘Why do you buy this stuff?,’ I just like it, innit?”). 2025 is looking like a good year.

Listen to Little Simz’s “Hello, Hi” above.

Some of the best Apple TV+ shows also happen to be the best original streaming series in existence. Yet with an endless array of options for streaming platforms, some target audience members might not have jumped aboard, and the tech giant is here to entice viewers to give their library a chance. From comedic hits like Bad Monkey and Ted Lasso to the spymaster antics of Slow Horses to dramedies like Shrinking and sci-fi selections like Severance and Silo, there’s no shortage of addictions on Apple TV+.

The catch, however, is that Apple TV+ will only be available for one weekend as a free option (available globally), but there’s no obligation to purchase anything further. A press release has designated January 3-5 as the time when any compatible device will offer Apple TV+’s entire catalogue for the taking. The only requirement, beyond a streaming-friendly device, is an Apple ID.

Compatible devices include Apple products and countless Samsung, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, LG, and Android TV models, among other options listed here. Yet if you decide to take this whirl, you’d better plan on blocking out every available hour possible for the first weekend of 2025 because oh boy, there’s a lot there. And if you want recommendations, we’ve got you covered.

Here at Uproxx, we’ll never lie to you about sneakers. We’re never going to hype up a shoe or a collaboration that we aren’t legitimately psyched over, so it’s with a heavy heart that we say 2024 was the weakest year for sneakers this decade thus far. That’s not to say there weren’t dope drops, of course, there were, but the first three years of this decade were a sort of golden age for sneakerheads. Whether you were a collector, re-seller, or just someone who loves dope design, the last three years gave us releases that we’ll surely look back on 10 years and deem “legendary.”

2024 though? It’s been rough, and while we liked a lot of the sneakers that released, maybe only a small handful will be deemed legendary. But there is a silver lining to all of this. It may not be a good year for re-sellers, but for the people who actually like to wear their shoes until the sole comes off? It’s never been easier to pick up some of the most hyped releases of the year for just a bit above — and in some lucky cases below — retail.

To help close this year in sneakers, and welcome 2025 with open arms, we’re shouting out the 20 best sneakers that dropped in 2024. The crop featured below was truly the best of the best (in a weak year). Let’s dive in.

20. Nike SB Dunk Low x Futura Laboratories

Anytime Nike teams up with the legendary New York graffiti artist Futura, we pay attention, so when this sneaker dropped back in April, we already had a feeling this would make our year-end list.

This SB Dunk, designed by Futura Laboratories, features an unbleached canvas upper with swirling psychedelic overlays, high-end embroidered details, and Futura’s signature at the heel. It leans less on Futura’s street graffiti style, and more on the sort of contemporary art Futura is currently showing in galleries.

Find the SB Dunk x Futura Laboratories at aftermarket sites like GOAT and StockX.

19. Kith x Asics GT-2160 Venom vs Spiderman

This year, to celebrate Marvel’s 85th anniversary, Kith teamed up with Marvel and Asics for five sneakers inspired by iconic Marvel characters, and our favorite of the five was easily the Venom-inspired GT-2160. Generally, cartoon-inspired sneakers just to hit, they’re more of a novelty than anything else, but the Venom vs Spiderman just looks so damn dope that we can’t deny it.

The sneaker features a mesh upper with a gradient print in blue, with some black leather Asics tiger stripes across the silhouette (the other sneaker in the pack predictably looks like Spiderman). Aside from the comic book drawing on the insoles, from afar you’d never know that this sneaker was a Marvel tie-in, and that’s what makes it such an effective design.

Find the Kith x Asics GT-2160 Venom at aftermarket sites like GOAT and StockX.

18. Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance 1000 White

We’d say New Balance owes Aimé Leon Dore a considerable debt because part of the reason the brand is so popular right now is because of a few effective collaborations, but NB went ahead and made ALD’s founder, Teddy Santis, its creative director so, consider the debt paid!

This year the brand linked up with New Balance for a new take on the 1000 silhouette. The sneaker sported a perforated leather upper, mesh underlays, and a squeaky-clean colorway that combined tones of off-white and grey.

It’s minimalistic, super fresh, and elegant.

Find the Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance 1000 White at aftermarket sites like GOAT and StockX.

17. Bad Bunny x Adidas Gazellle Indoor San Juan

The San Juan is my all-time favorite Adidas Bad Bunny collaboration. Generally, Benito’s Adidas collabs tend to go hard on the psychedelic design aspects, but the San Juan feels understated and refined. It’s classy, with a bright blue suede upper, grey and white accents, a translucent gum sole, and gold foil branding.

If this refined approach is an indication of Benito’s new aesthetic for his just-announced album, consider us all ears!

Find the Bad Bunny x Adidas Gazelle Indoor San Juan at aftermarket sites like GOAT and StockX.

16. Nike SHOX R4 Black

This year’s Nike SHOX R4 did something I never thought was possible — they made the gimmicky as f*ck SHOX design look classy. As someone who grew up in the ‘00s, I’m a bit torn on the Y2K resurgence in modern streetwear. You could make the argument that modern streetwear looks tired, borrowing a look that has been done before and died out for a reason. Yet, I think this new approach to the futuristic aesthetic of the new millennium looks better than it ever has.

Case in point, the Nike SHOX R4 Black. This sneaker features an all-black synthetic leather upper with laser perforations and those iconic compression springs that made the SHOX a love-it-or-hate-it design. 20 years ago, I thought this was the ugliest shoe ever. Now, it has fully one me over.

Find the Nike SHOX R4 Black at aftermarket sites like GOAT and StockX.

15. Nike Jumpman Jack TR Sail and Dark Mocha

With the fall of Yeezy, Travis Scott has inherited the crown of the most exciting rapper-sneaker collaborator, but something that has been missing from Travis Scott’s Nike link-ups has been the lack of originality. At the end of the day, as cool as a Travis Scott sneaker looks, most of what works about it is the fact that the rapper is making colorways of some of the best sneaker designs of all time. Making a Jordan 1 look dope isn’t an impressive feat.

So we’re happy that La Flame finally has his very own signature sneaker, with an original design in the Jumpman Jack, even if it’s not our favorite Travis Scott sneaker of the year.

Here is to the future of the Jumpman Jack!

Find the Nike Jumpman Jack TR Sail and Dark Mocha at aftermarket sites like GOAT, Flight Club and StockX.

14. Jordan 4 RM SP Nigel Sylvester Grandma’s Driveway

It’s rare that someone can f*ck with a Jordan silhouette and get away with it, and yet pro-BMX athlete Nigel Sylvester did it this year to great success! The Jordan 4 RM SP Nigel Sylvester alters the shape and construction of the AJ-4, ditching the usual upper build for a durable suede one, with a rubber caging system and a swapped heel logo that reads “Bike.”

It’s radical enough that it almost looks like an entirely different silhouette, and yet, it’s still one of our favorite Jordan 4s of the year. The sneaker is inspired by the driveway where Sylvester cut his BMX-teeth, and gets its color from his grandmother’s green fence. The sneaker feels personal, and that always makes for great design collaborations.

Find the Jordan 4 RM Sp Nigel Sylvester Grandma’s Driveway at aftermarket sites like GOAT and StockX.

13. Action Bronson x New Balance 1906R Rosewater

Action Bronson is one of New Balance’s most consistent collaborators, and this year the pair gave us the 1906R Rosewater, which is our absolute favorite Action Bronson NB to date. What we love about this sneaker is its loud and brash multi-tone colorway. It mimics Bronson’s personality and vibe, which is always something we look for in an artist-sneaker collaboration.

Our favorite detail is the translucent mesh shroud that mutes the color-rich design, which gives the bold tones a sort of pastel quality.

Find the Action Bronson x New Balance 1906R Rosewater at aftermarket sites like GOAT and StockX.

12. Travis Scott x Jordan 1 Retro Low OG Sp Medium Olive

2024 brought a lot of Travis Scott sneakers, and we struggled to include only two, so if you were a fan of the Velvet Brown and you’re wondering why it’s not on this list, just know that this pair took its spot. Easily the most hyped Travis Scott sneaker of the year, the Medium Olive features an incredibly simple design.

It takes the Jordan 1 silhouette and dresses it in black suede with white leather overlays atop an aged midsole and slaps an oversized backward Swoosh in a warm olive tone on it. There are no gimmicks (aside from the swoosh), no needless extras, just a Jordan one in a dope color combo.

Travis Scott link-ups don’t tend to be the most radical designs, but the rapper has a clear and identifiable aesthetic, and sometimes that’s all it takes.

Find the Travis Scott x Jordan 1 Retro Low OG SP Medium Olive at aftermarket sites like GOAT, Flight Club and StockX.

11. Kids Of Immigrants x Nike Air Max Sunder Sun Down

Another sneaker that snuck in towards the end of the year, this collaboration between Nike and Kids of Immigrants was part of a two-sneaker collection inspired by the hues of sunrise and sunset. Our favorite of the two was without a doubt the Sun Down.

The sneaker features a zipper-equipped textile shroud overlaid with a TPU cage and a blue-to-violet gradient that screams “the future,” by way of the 1980s. What we’re trying to say is this sneaker reminds us of Tron in the best way possible.

Find the Kids of Immigrants x Nike Air Max Sunder Sun Down at aftermarket sites like GOAT and StockX.

10. Jae Tips x Saucony Matrix “No Shoes In The House” Burgundy

The only Saucony release to make our year-end list, this collaboration between high-performance running brand Saucony and musician and designer Jae Tips outfits the usually tech-focused sneaker in some plush design details.

The sneaker features a wool upper in burgundy with beige suede overlays, a bit of mesh at the tongue, and a pastel pink midsole. It takes Saucony and makes the brand, you know, fun. For that we give all the credit to Jae Tips, who has quickly become the brand’s best outside collaborator.

Find the Jae Tips x Saucony Matrix “No Shoes In The House” at aftermarket sites like GOAT or StockX.

9. Jordan 4 Retro Military Blue

We’re aware that there are a lot of sneakerheads out there that feel like this re-release didn’t quite hit the mark, and while yes, we agree that the tones of blue and grey aren’t a perfect match for the 2012 re-release, it’s still a dope sneaker! When this colorway first dropped in 1989, as one of the silhouette’s debuts, it looked closer to this rendition than the 2012 remake, so if you’re all about authenticity, the 2024 Military Blue delivers!

The sneaker features a grey leather upper with a slight blue hue and Military Blue accents on the heel, midsole, lace cage, and behind the cage net. It’s nit as bright as the 2012 retro, but it’s a damn good-looking sneaker, that can’t be denied.

Find the Jordan 4 Retro Military Blue at aftermarket sites like GOAT and StockX.

8. Nike Kobe 6 Protro Italian Camo

2024 brought the return of the Kobe Protro and Nike and the Kobe Estate did not hold back. It felt like every month this year, we got at least two new Kobe Protros, so this list was bound to have at least one of them on it. Our pick is the Kobe 6 Protro Italian Camo.

The sneaker sports a snakeskin-inspired upper in a unique camouflage colorway with crimson red accents and a Zoom Air-equipped forefoot. It’s precise, sleek, yet threatening, a perfect mirror of Kobe’s legendary play styles. We’re confident in saying this is the coolest a Kobe sneaker has ever looked!

Find the Nike Kobe 6 Protro Italian Camo at aftermarket sites like GOAT and StockX.

7. Stash x Nike Air Max 95 Black and Harbor Blue

Dropping in the last month of the year, Nike decided to slip in one more noteworthy drop — the Nike Air Max 95 Black and Harbor Blue, a collaboration with the New York graffiti artist Stash and quite possibly one of the greatest colorways to ever grace the silhouette.

Graffiti artist team-ups are nothing new from Nike (see the Futura Laboratories Dunk), but what sets the Stash Air Max apart is just how understated it us. The sneaker doesn’t have a loud and attention-calling design that resembles a NYC wall, instead, what we have here is a harmonious mix of blue and black tones with a speckled midsole.

If it wasn’t in the name, you’d never know this was a collaboration with a graffiti artist, and that’s precisely why it’s one of the silhouette’s best-ever looks.

Find the Stash x Nike Air Max 95 Black and Harbor Blue at aftermarket sites like GOAT and StockX.

6. Jordan 3 Retro OG Black Cement

I mean do we really even need to say anything about this sneaker? It’s iconic. The Black Cement isn’t just the best Jordan 3 colorway of all time, but it’s in the top five of the best sneakers ever released. So yeah, the return of this classic design made our year-end list. We even entertained the idea of giving this sneaker the top spot, but ultimately, we decided to make room for some new blood.

Find the Jordan 3 Retro OG Black Cement at aftermarket sites like GOAT, Flight Club and StockX.

5. A Ma Maniére x Jordan 4 Retro W.Y.W.S.

This year, Atlanta-based brand (and greatest current Jordan collaborator) A Ma Maniére dropped its “While You Were Sleeping” collection, and truthfully, we considered including every sneaker drop under that banner on this list. It’s, in our opinion, the greatest Nike collaboration since Virgil Abloh’s “The Ten.”

The crowd favorite from the drop was easily the Jordan 4. The sneaker features A Ma Maniére’s typical elevated design approach, giving the sneaker a plush Fossil Stone leather upper with suede overlays, quilted lining, and the brand’s “A” logo on the left tongue tag. If you called this the best sneaker of the year, we wouldn’t argue with you — but clearly, it’s not our personal favorite. It is undeniably one of the best Jordan 4s of the whole decade so far though.

Find the A Ma Maniére x Air Jordan 4 W.Y.W.S. at aftermarket sites like GOAT and StockX.

4. Adidas AE 1 Low Nick’s Gift

The Anthony Edwards signature sneaker is probably the best design to come out of Adidas in some time, so we always knew this sneaker was going to land in our year-end lists. It was really more a question of which colorway deserved the spot, and for us its the Nick’s Gift.

Named for and inspired by Edwards’ best fried Nick Maddox, aka Slick, Nick’s Gift features a bright icy blue, mildly iridescent upper over a black base. It’s a simple two-color design that really highlights the sneaker’s futuristic details.

Find the Adidas AE 1 Low Nick’s Gift at aftermarket sites like GOAT and StockX.

3. Vomero 5 PRM Designed By Japan

The Vomero 5 Designed By Japan is easily the best the silhouette has ever looked. The design is a departure from the usual Vomero 5 build, instead of the synthetic upper and plastic details we have a full-grain leather build, suede panels, and an oversized Swoosh.

Hopefully, Nike lifts some of the ideas presented here and adopts them into the stock Vomero 5 design, because now that we’ve seen the sneaker in this form, we can’t go back.

Find the Vomero 5 PRM Designed by Japan at aftermarket sites like GOAT and StockX.

2. Joe Freshgoods x New Balance 1000 When Things Were Pure Pink Mink

Anytime beloved Chicago designer Joe Freshgoods drops a sneaker collaboration, we pay attention, especially if that collaboration is with New Balance, a brand that owes some of its current popularity to Freshgoods. The “When Things Were Pure,” collection consisted of two sneaker colorways, our favorite being the Pink Mink.

Back in April, when this sneaker first dropped, we predicted that the 1000 silhouette — which was pulled out of the New Balance vault for this release — would be the new 550 in terms of popularity, and now eight months later, we stand by that. This is currently New Balance’s dopest silhouette, and we have Freshgoods to thank for that.

This sneaker features an open mesh upper with iridescent leather overlays, embroidered details at the heel, reflective 3M foxing, and lace webbing. According to Joe Freshgoods, the sneaker is named for the early days of the ’00s, when basement parties were the “epicenter of culture” and rap books served as “our textbooks.” You can always count on Freshgoods to come to design with a dope concept in mind.

Find the Joe Freshgoods x New Balance 1000 When Things Were Pure Pink Mink at aftermarket sites like GOAT and StockX.

1. A Ma Maniére x Air Max 95 W.Y.W.S.

Here it is, our pick for the best sneaker of 2024! It’s kind of a controversial choice, or at the very least it’s not the most obvious one, but there isn’t a single sneaker that dropped in 2024 that I wanted more than this one. So I’m taking that as a sign, even though it doesn’t have the hype of something like the Black Cement.

This sneaker takes a grip of famous Nike colors, including Light and Dark Violet Ore, Burgundy Ash, Atmosphere Grey, and Gunsmoke, and uses them as a gradient across the 95’s iconic rib-influenced design. Rounding out the design are elevated details like the leather-lined collar and rounded laces, the sort of level-ups we’ve come to expect from Nike’s greatest collaborator, A Ma Maniére.

We’ve said it before and we’lll say it again: The A Ma Maniére WYWS collection is the best thing to happen to Nike since Virgil Abloh.

Find the A Ma Maniére Air Max 95 WYWS at aftermarket sites like GOAT and Flight Club.

It’s Dec. 30, 2024, which means it’s the day LeBron James turns 40. For the last, oh, 24 years or so, James has captivated sports fans, going from an up-and-coming high school star in Akron to arguably the greatest basketball player of all time, the guy who has embraced being more than an athlete. He entered the NBA with expectations of becoming the face of the league, the best player on earth, and someone whose name gets kicked around with Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, and all the other giants who have come to symbolize greatness in professional basketball.

He’s done all of that and then some. James has spent his career shifting our expectations for what greatness is in basketball, to the point that he’s a productive NBA starter as a 40 year old and absolutely no one bats an eye, because of course LeBron can do that. And to celebrate the fact that he’s turning the big 4-0, we looked back on 40 of James’ best moments, both on and off the court, from his days at SVSM to now.

2002: St. Vincent-St. Mary’s beats No. 1 Oak Hill on ESPN

For many, this was their introduction to LeBron James on a major national stage. ESPN sent Dan Shulman, Dick Vitale, Bill Walton, and Jay Bilas to broadcast the game, where James scored 31 of his team’s 65 points as his SVSM squad upset top-ranked Oak Hill in a dominant win.

2003: NBA Debut in Sacramento

Arguably the most-hyped NBA debut ever, James came out and scored 25 points and dished out nine assists to announce his arrival to the league as the Cavs visited Sacramento.

2003: Nike ad with Bernie Mac

James has been in some iconic ad campaigns over the years, particularly with Nike, but his first might’ve been his best, as Nike tapped Bernie Mac as a preacher reading from the “King James playbook” before LeBron arrived and showed off his court vision

2005: First 50-point game against Toronto

LeBron’s first career 50-point game came, somewhat fittingly, against a Raptors franchise he would go on to torment for more than a decade. James scored 56 against Toronto, a harbinger of things to come whenever he would face Canada’s team.

2006: The LeBrons

It didn’t take long for Nike to follow-up the Bernie Mac commercial with another legendary campaign, as The LeBrons debuted before the 06-07 season and featured LeBron going full-Eddie Murphy and playing a bunch of different versions of himself.

2007: LeBron scores 25 straight to beat the Pistons in Game 5

James dragged the Cavaliers to the 2007 NBA Finals, with his best performance coming in Game 5 of the ECF against the Pistons, as he scored 25 consecutive points across the fourth quarter and overtimes in what became a 2-point Cavs win in double OT — giving them a 3-2 series lead.

2007: LeBron hosts Saturday Night Live

At this point, LeBron had become not just a household name for basketball fans, but was becoming one of the most famous people in America. While we’d seen some of his personality, his first time hosting SNL in 2007 cemented his comedy chops as being legit and not just the product of Nike’s ad machine.

2008: ‘More Than A Game’/’Forever’

As someone who played high school basketball in 2008, including “Forever” on this list — the track that featured Drake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, and Eminem together — was a non-negotiable. This was one of our first glimpses into how James wanted to use basketball as a vehicle to do other things, like a documentary about his high school career. And of course, “Forever” is a great song, whether you’re talking about the original or the AI cover of LeBron that has taken over my FYP.

2009: LeBron scores 52 in the Garden

The biggest stage in basketball is Madison Square Garden, and the best players in the world have a tendency to raise their games in the Mecca. That includes James, who went for 52 points in the building as a member of the Cavs in 2009.

2009: ‘This Is SportsCenter’ Chair Commercial

There aren’t many honors bigger than getting a “This is SportsCenter” ad, and LeBron’s with Scott Van Pelt is one of the funniest. Frankly? I think SVP’s lying here.

2009: Game 2 buzzer-beater vs. the Magic

It’s worth remembering that, by this point, the lack of a clutch gene thing with LeBron was pretty set. This pushed back against that, with an iconic call from Marv Albert to boot. Unfortunately for the Cavs, they’d go on to lose this series to the Magic, 4-2.

2010: Iconic dunk pic with Dwyane Wade

One of the earliest memories of the Big 3 days in Miami was this dunk. While the highlight is a fun reminder of how devastating the Heatles could be in transition, the picture of this dunk — with James elevating and Wade sticking his arms out — might be the single most iconic picture from their run.

2012: Jumps over John Lucas for a crazy dunk

There is not much to say here other than I do not think this went especially well for John Lucas.

2012: 45-point, 15-rebound Game 6 performance against the Celtics

All things considered, this might be the greatest individual performance of LeBron’s career. After the Heat disappointed in his first season and all the questions about whether he could win a title were louder than ever, James went into TD Garden facing elimination, had a look on his face before the game that made clear he was not losing, and then spent 48 minutes bending a game in Boston against the Celtics to his will. I will never forget seeing that look on LeBron’s face and assuming he wasn’t losing that night. He did not.

2012: Game 2 duel with Kevin Durant in the NBA Finals

James needed to get by a scrappy young Thunder team with three future Hall of Fame inductees to win his first ring. He ended up doing that, thanks in large part to his Game 2 battle with Kevin Durant. Both went for 32 points in a 100-96 win for Miami in Oklahoma City, and set the stage for what will go down for one of the best individual rivalries in the sport’s history.

2013: Legendary dunk on Jason Terry

Jason Terry has many highlights in his incredible NBA career. This is not one of them. He did the ethical thing — he tried to play defense instead of planting himself on the ground and trying to draw a charge — and yet LeBron was bigger and faster and stronger and more athletic. He steamrolled Terry on an alley-oop from Norris Cole, then stood there and looked at Terry for a second. Even the crowd in Boston seemed impressed.

2013: Buzzer Beater vs. the Pacers

The 2013 Eastern Conference Finals were a war between the Heat and the Indiana Pacers, which won 49 games on the back of a tenacious defense. The team’s crown jewel was Paul George, an ascendent, two-way star who battled with James. And yet, with the game on the line in Game 1 of the series, James was able to scoot right by him for a layup as the clock hit zero.

2013: 37 points vs. the Spurs in Game 7 of the NBA Finals

Everyone remembers Ray Allen’s shot in Game 6 of this series to save the Heat. What people can forget is that Miami still needed to knock off San Antonio in Game 7, which was a pretty tall task, even if it was a home game. Things were tight throughout, with both Tim Duncan and Kawhi Leonard going for double-doubles, but it was James who got the last laugh, as he had 37 points and 12 rebounds in 45 minutes of work to secure a 95-88 win and the second ring of his career.

2014: A career-high 61 points in a mask

James suffered a broken nose a few games prior to this tilt against the Hornets. It sure seemed like it gave him superpowers, as he had it on his face as he systematically destroyed Charlotte, going for a career-best 61 points. He looked like a superhero, and he played like one, too.

2014: The Return

It’s hard to put into words just how wild it was at the time that LeBron went home. When he left the Cavs for the Heat, it seemed like he and Dan Gilbert both burned that bridge forever. And yet, in the summer of 2014, James announced in Sports Illustrated that he planned on heading back to Cleveland in free agency, and the roar of the crowd when he got announced before the game still gives me chills.

2015: The Banana Boat pic

Why, exactly, is this picture so funny? I’m not 100 percent sure, but all I know is the image of Gabrielle Union, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, and LeBron on a banana boat together has made me consistently laugh for a decade now. It’s just unfortunate that the fourth member of the Banana Boat Crew, Carmelo Anthony, couldn’t have been there.

2015: LeBron stars in “Trainwreck”

As it turns out, LeBron can be extremely funny. “Trainwreck” featured LeBron playing himself as one of Bill Hader’s closest friends, and while we’re glad he decided to focus his time and attention on basketball, he was a pleasant surprise in this, and straight up stole a few scenes with his performance.

2016: LeBron and Kyrie go for 41 each in Game 5 of the NBA Finals

The 2016 NBA Finals were flat-out cinema. The Cavs looked dead and buried after Game 4, as they faced a 3-1 series deficit against a 73-win Warriors squad. But thanks to the heroics of LeBron and Kyrie Irving in Game 5 at Oracle Arena — along with Draymond Green getting himself suspended in the waning moments of Game 4 — the Cavs picked up a crucial road win, then defended their home court in Game 6. It led to an all-time great Game 7, which leads nicely to…

2016: The Block

You can put this right up there with any of the great sports moments of this century, and any of the greatest moments in NBA history. The final few minutes of this game were an all-out rock fight, as both teams were clearly gassed by the end of things. And then, Andre Iguodala had a layup in transition. And then, he didn’t. And then, Kyrie hits a huge three, Kevin Love somehow clamps Steph Curry, LeBron ices it at the free throw, and in the words of Mike Breen, Cleveland is a city of champions once again.

2016: The ESPYs opening alongside Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, and Dwyane Wade

Four of the defining players from this era of the NBA teamed up to deliver a powerful message at the ESPY Awards after two Black men — Alton Sterling and Philando Castile — were shot and killed by police officers. While mentioning that the ESPYs would honor the recently-deceased Muhammad Ali, James called for athletes to educate themselves, use their influence to renounce violence, and use their platforms as a way to rebuild and strengthen their communities.

2017: His crazy shot against the Wizards

The John Wall-era Wizards were one of the many teams that unfortunately had to exist at the same time as LeBron at the height of his powers. This might have been the best single shot of his career, as he catches a hail mary, shoots a fadeaway while falling into Washington’s bench, and banks in a three. I vividly remember watching this game and busting out laughing.

2018: Smiling through if all! Can’t believe this is my life

Never one to shy away from commenting on politics, LeBron criticized then-president Donald Trump a few times, which sparked an infamous response from Fox News personality Laura Ingraham, where she told him, among other things, to “shut up and dribble.” James then responded with the above picture on his IG Story, which has turned into a meme.

2018: His 45-point Game 7 performance against the Pacers

I covered this game, and I will never, for as long as I live, remember the sound that Cavs fans made when he was introduced before it happened. It was the sound of an entire city putting their hopes and dreams into their fellow northeast Ohioan, and then, LeBron repaid that faith by dragging Cleveland past a scrappy Pacers team that gave them all they could handle.

2018: Ripping Toronto’s heart out again

Few things were more captivating than watching LeBron take it to the Raptors over and over again during his second Cavs tenure … well, unless you’re from the Six, then I imagine you didn’t enjoy it all that much. LeBron and the Cavs eliminated Toronto from the playoffs three years in a row, and no moment was more memorable than this game-winning buzzer-beater that seemingly everyone on earth knew was going to go in.

2018: His 51-point performance in Game 1 of the NBA Finals (and subsequent, JR Smith-induced meltdown)

You can make the case that this is as good of a game as LeBron has ever played, as he led a flawed Cavs team into the belly of the beast and nearly took down the Warriors with a thrilling, 51-point performance. Unfortunately, JR Smith lost track of time in regulation, which led to Cleveland losing and Golden State sweeping the series, with an especially upset James not liking a line of questioning after the game and storming out of his postgame press conference.

2018: The I Promise School opens

James has called this the most important thing he’s ever done, alongside marrying his wife, having three kids, and taking care of his mother. There have been plenty of other charitable efforts done around Akron via the LeBron James Family Foundation, and since 2022, it’s taught students from first to eighth grade.

2020: LeBron destroys the Nuggets in Game 5 of the WCF in the Bubble

In recent years, the Nuggets have owned LeBron and the Lakers in the playoffs. But back in 2020, LeBron had his best performance in the Bubble against Nikola Jokic and co., as he had 38 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists in a Game 5 win to secure a spot in the NBA Finals.

2020: LeBron and the Lakers return to the mountaintop

That first year of LeBron and AD together on the Lakers really was special, and while the circumstances under which they won a ring were unfortunate — it happened in Disney during the COVID-19 pandemic — the team was pretty special, and LeBron looked as good as he ever has. In a series-clinching Game 6, he went for a 28-point triple double en route to winning the NBA Finals MVP award for the fourth time.

2021: Wendell Carter’s goggles fly off and LeBron puts them on for some reason

No, seriously, why did he do this?

2022: LeBron has way too much fun with Kevin Durant during the All-Star Draft over the Nets imploding

There was some major drama in Brooklyn about how James Harden tried to force his way out of town. Unfortunately for Kevin Durant, this happened at a point when LeBron and the Inside the NBA guys could have fun at his expense, as Harden remained on the board throughout the All-Star Draft while Durant clearly got progessively more and more upset … and James laughed harder and harder throughout the whole thing.

2022: LeBron goes for 56 against the Warriors

LeBron and Steph taking the floor together is always going to be something special. Back in 2022, with Curry leading the Warriors into L.A., we got a reminder of that, as James was masterful going for 56 points and 10 rebounds in the high point for a down year in Laker Land.

2023: LeBron passes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the NBA’s all-time scoring record with Kareem in attendance

It happened in a loss, but LeBron doing this in Los Angeles while Kareem in attendance still gives me goosebumps. He got right to his spot, pulled up, and then, the game stopped to celebrate the most prolific scorer we’ve ever seen. Also: God bless Thomas Bryant.

2024: Our favorite LeBron meme after he hated a call against the Nuggets

The number of times I have dropped this image into a conversation since it happened has to be in the triple-digits. It is so damn funny.

2024: LeCaptain American leads the United States into the Paris Olympics, then gets named MVP of the men’s basketball tournament

Obviously, all the memes of James as an American flag-bearer alongside Coco Gauff were hilarious, but it was a legitimately cool moment watching him get the honor (and learning about it from Steph Curry). And then, the games started, and James was the best player for the United States in their run to a gold medal.

2024: LeBron takes the floor with Bronny for the first time

There are plenty of reasons to be ultra-cynical about Bronny joining the Lakers, but even then, that first moment where LeBron and Bronny stepped onto the floor together was something special. We’ve never seen that happen in the NBA before, and you could tell that it meant the world to both of them. Whether we get a similar moment with Bryce remains to be seen, although Bryce does seem skeptical of that.

It’s not new that towards the end of the year, Christmas songs dominate the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. They’ve never achieved total domination, though, because there’s always been at least one non-holiday song that sticks around and breaks up an all-Christmas top 10. Well, that used to be true, anyway.

On the new Hot 100 chart dated January 4, for the first time ever, every song in the top 10 is a holiday tune. That most notably includes Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” which spends an 18th week at No. 1, putting it right behind the all-time-best mark of 19 weeks held by Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus’ “Old Town Road” and Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy).” Also, since the new chart is dated in January, Carey officially has the first No. 1 song of 2025.

Elsewhere in the top 10 is Ariana Grande’s “Santa Tell Me,” at No. 5, making it Grande’s 16th top-5 hit. On the previous chart, this song and Kelly Clarkson’s “Underneath The Tree” became the two newest holiday songs to ever hit the top 10, after both peaking at No. 11 during the previous holiday season. Grande’s recording was released in 2014 while Clarkson’s came out a year before in 2013.

Holiday songs are likely to slip down/off the chart next week, though. The tracking period for this week’s chart was December 20 to 26, so the days leading up to Christmas and the holiday itself. Meanwhile, the next chart’s tracking week is from December 27 to January 2, when the holiday buzz starts to peter out. So, it’s uncertain if Carey will spend a 19th week at No. 1 this holiday season, or if she’ll have to wait to tie (and probably break) the longevity record next Christmas.

Here’s what we know about Stranger Things season 5: it’s the final season, and it’s premiering in 2025. Here’s what we don’t know: almost everything else, including the exact premiere date. But fans of the Netflix series think they figured out.

“I know when [season] 5 will release!” user “lol123456789pp” wrote on the Stranger Things subreddit. They were gifted an officially licensed 2025 calendar for Christmas and noticed that “some dates are titled with the word stranger things.” They are: May 14, July 6, October 11, and December 28.

Those seemingly arbitrary dates don’t appear to have any in-universe significance (unlike November 6, the day when Will Byers went missing, a.k.a. Stranger Things Day), so many fans are theorizing Netflix is planning a teaser for May 14, a trailer for July 6, and the season will be split into two volumes, released on October 11 and December 28. That could make sense since filming just wrapped, and there’s months of post-production work to come.

However, October 11 and December 28 are a Saturday and Sunday, respectively, and Netflix doesn’t typically release shows over the weekend. Also, as a Reddit user pointed out: “I had a Stranger Things calendar before season 3 came out and it also had ‘Stranger Things’ marked days like that scattered throughout, and unfortunately none of them meant anything.”

Maybe these dates mean something (May 14 is George Lucas’ birthday!), but more likely, they were picked at random. A stronger bet is the final episodes dropping on or around Stranger Things Day 2025, a Thursday.

Early this month, two people were charged in the October death of Liam Payne; today, three more people were reported charged, with the charge revealed as manslaughter for all five. According to Billboard, Argentina‘s National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office issued a public notice, naming CasaSur Palermo Hotel manager Gilda Martin, receptionist Esteban Grassi, and Payne’s friend Roger Nores, with hotel employee Ezequiel Pereyra and waiter Braian Paiz also charged with supplying drugs. Judge Laura Bruniard determined that there is sufficient evidence for a trial; the accused’s attorneys can appeal the decision, but the next step should their appeal fail will be a criminal trial.

Bruniard’s explanation was quoted in the court transcript, “Payne’s consciousness was altered and there was a balcony in the room. The proper thing to do was to leave him in a safe place and with company until a doctor arrived. The people responsible at the hotel that day were the manager GAM and the head of reception ERG.” Acknowledging the accidental nature of Payne’s death, he elaborated, “They were imprudent in allowing him to be taken to the room and taking him there, respectively. They created a legally disapproved risk and Payne’s death is the concretization of that risk.”

Payne died on October 16, after a fall from the hotel’s third story balcony; he was under the influence of alcohol, cocaine and prescription antidepressants at the time, according to toxicology reports. Reception placed two emergency calls, including concerns a guest’s life might be in danger. However, according to court documents, the hotel’s manager and head receptionist only ordered employees to take Payne back to his room. Payne’s friend Roger Nores is accused of neglecting his duty of care, a legal obligation to act reasonably and with prudence to avoid harming others.

Cardi B lives in Atlanta these days, but she’d prefer not to.

On X (formerly Twitter), an account that shares photos of fancy homes posted a photo of a mansion that turned out to be Cardi’s, writing, “Dream mansion.” Cardi shared the post and wrote, “My casa [heart emoji]…..I don’t want it nomore tho.” Somebody asked why and Cardi responded, “I don’t like living in Atlanta ….i actually don’t like living nowhere else but NY.”

Somebody else asked for her thoughts on Miami and Cardi replied, “After 2 weeks in Miami I be ready to go back home.”

She has deep love for NYC, as she demonstrated by speaking out when she saw the city potentially heading town a bad road. Speaking about some proposed NYC budget cuts in November 2023, Cardi said, “I’m an angry b*tch right now… I need y’all to spread this video, and if something happens to me, it’s because I’m speaking the truth. In New York, there is a $120 million budget cut that’s going to affect schools, public libraries, and the police department. And a $5 million budget cut in sanitation. B*tch, we are gonna be drowning in f*cking rats. I’m lucky. I’m blessed. I’m whatever the f*ck, but what’s going to happen to my nieces? What’s going to happen to nephews? What’s going to happen to my cousins, aunts, and my friends?”

Just ahead of the holiday, SZA told fans she planned to “add stuff” to the deluxe version of her fan-favorite album, SOS Deluxe: Lana, but unfortunately for those fans, delivery of her Christmas gift was delayed. SZA issued an update on the expected changes to the album, writing on Twitter that the new songs and mixes should be available on January 6, “when the label comes back from holiday.” She also thanked fans for their patience.

She has plenty more to thank them for, though; the deluxe version of SOS, subtitled Lana, was streamed and purchased right to the top of the Billboard 200 chart dated January 4, so she’s got the first No. 1 album of 2025. According to Billboard, even if Lana‘s 15 tracks had been released as a standalone album, it still would have gone to the top of the chart, but as it stands, this adds a whopping 11th week to SOS‘ chart-topping run, albeit for non-consecutive weeks.

Despite Lana only just arriving, SZA’s insatiable fans are already clamoring for more — namely, a full project of collaborations with former labelmate Kendrick Lamar. The ever-cheeky singer saw the requests and reposted them to her socials, suggesting that even if a full project isn’t necessarily in the works, fans might be able to expect more music from the dynamic duo.