Category: News

The NBA’s All-Rookie squads were announced on Wednesday night with little in the way of surprises. The three finalists for Rookie of the Year — Scottie Barnes, Evan Mobley, and Cade Cunningham — were all unanimous selections to the first team, with Rockets guard Jalen Green and Magic forward Franz Wagner joining them. The only two other players to receiver first team votes were Herbert Jones and Josh Giddey, who headlined those who earned second team honors.

This year’s awards race across the NBA was as heated as its been in some time, as fans, pundits, and even players argued over who should earn postseason hardware. While the MVP race was the most contentious, there were some very strong feelings about this year’s rookie class as well, both in the ROY race and All-Rookie voting.

Rather famously, while stumping for Herbert Jones to make the first team, Bill Simmons said this about Jalen Green on a podcast:

“I put [New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones] first-team All-Rookie,” Simmons said, per SI. “I put him over Jalen Green. F*ck Jalen Green. I don’t care you’re scoring 40 points and your team’s 19–60. Congratulations. I’m sorry, I like winning players.”

After All-Rookie squads were announced, Green decided to poke fun at the controversy those comments stirred up by shouting out Simmons, calling him “my dawg.”

Simmons, naturally, issued a response of his own insisting he likes Green as a player and that he was taken out of context when his “joke,” in his words, became fodder for Rockets fans and led to Joel Embiid pointing to that as an example of the problems with media voting on awards.

Green’s comments seem to be in good fun and I’m sure he has a standing invite to join Simmons, Russillo, and, like Malcolm Gladwell or something, on a future podcast episode if he’d like to talk it all out.

Migos have blessed rap fans with memorable tracks and highlight moments since they earned their mainstream breakout with 2013’s “Versace.” From then to now, Migos has graced the world with hits like “Bad And Boujee,” which became their first No. 1 song, “Motorsport,” “Stir Fry,” “Walk It Like I Talk It,” “T-Shirt,” and more. They also have a discography filled with fan favorites like “Fight Night,” “Handsome And Wealthy,” “Hannah Montana,” and more. Nearly a year removed from their most recent album Culture III, it seems like Migos’ end could be near as many fans noticed Offset seemingly made a surprise move on Instagram.

It appears that Offset unfollowed Quavo and Takeoff on Instagram which shocked many as the move generally signals that a breakup has occurred. To make matters worse for Migos supporters, it was also revealed that Cardi B also unfollowed Quavo and Takeoff on Instagram which adds fuel to the breakup rumors.

The rumored rift in the Migos camp comes after Quavo and Takeoff announced that they are dropping a new single as a duo called Unc And Phew, which references their familial connection. According to XXL, the upcoming track is called “Hotel Lobby” and it remains to be seen if the record plays a role in Migos’ possible split.

You can view reactions from fans on Twitter in the posts below.

Cardi B is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

A recent (and fairly insensitive) sketch from “Saturday Night Live” said it best regarding the widespread fixation many have on the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard trial:

“It’s not the most pertinent story of the moment, but with all the problems in the world, isn’t it nice to have a news story we can all collectively watch and say ‘glad it ain’t me?’”

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard Trial Cold Open – SNL

www.youtube.com

Schadenfreude, celebrity fascination and previously inaccessible information now being at our fingertips is a potent combination in this trial, making amateur lawyers and psychologists of all who feel compelled to unleash their hot takes. And though the right to converse and speculate exists, is it always in our best interests to do so? Especially when it means potentially spreading misinformation, or at the cost of empathy and compassion?

For example: Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a complex and very rare disorder; less than 2% of adults in the U.S. have it, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. And yet, since Dr. Shannon Curry’s testimony, where she diagnosed Heard with it, I have seen BPD used a number of times to angrily describe someone whose behavior was less-than ideal … usually a co-worker or a former romantic partner. Dr. Curry is a trained and experienced professional in the mental health field and she made her assessment through proven methods that she has studied and practiced throughout her career. The same can’t necessarily be said of the person making an impulsive judgment online.

Just because a person is displaying similar behavior patterns such as fear of abandonment and intense mood swings, it doesn’t mean that they have BPD. Just like someone who is often immature and self-centered isn’t necessarily dealing with narcissistic personality disorder (another rare and serious disorder thrown around somewhat carelessly).

When we oversimplify these nuanced psychological terms—especially when we use them as petty insults—it can help to further stigmas and ignorance surrounding mental illness. In some cases, it might even prevent people from seeking help. It’s wonderful that we can more openly talk about things like “trauma” and “PTSD” now that social media has made this terminology more common. But this trial reveals that perhaps most of us still really have no idea what the words we’re using mean. And we use them harshly.

I get that it can be healing to put a word to your suffering and the cruelties elicited by another. A very good friend of mine only recently discovered that her now ex-fiance was diagnosed with BPD. Though a painful truth to consume, ultimately it erased so much confusion she had about their relationship and helped her stop blaming herself for things not working out. It also helped her move on.

The traction that BPD has gotten through the Depp and Heard trial has certainly cultivated more mainstream awareness of the disorder, which might help others find similar solace. That is a great thing. It’s only when we overuse specific terms to generalize actions we find “bad” that it becomes problematic.

I have a feeling anyone who’s been called “the crazy ex” would agree.

Bottom line: The words we use matter. Overuse depletes real meaning. Misuse creates misunderstanding. In a time when it’s so easy to use default labels to criticize someone’s worst attributes, perhaps discretion is the best discipline.

Remember George W. Bush? Before there was You Know Who, the son of the 41st American president was progressives’ Enemy Number One. He oversaw an unjustified war bolstered by bogus intel. He trampled civil liberties. He let a major city get nearly destroyed by weather. He spoke bad. But nowadays, after four years of the guy who would almost certainly sell out his own kids to save his hide, he seems more like Mr. Rogers. He’ll even troll Trump — albeit on the anniversary of the tragic event that he once exploited for power. In fact, that pretty much sums 43 up, though he’s still not even in the same universe as 45.

Bush II’s contradictory nature was on fine display during a speech he delivered in Dallas on Wednesday. At an event looking at the state of democracy and the future of elections in a (possibly) post-Trump America, the former president strongly condemned Russia and its bloody but flailing invasion of Ukraine. But then he made a Freudian slip for the ages.

Bush was discussing how Vladimir Putin stifles dissent and imprisons dissenters. “The result is an absence of checks and balances in Russia, and the decision of one man to launch a wholly unjustified and brutal invasion of Iraq,” Bush said. Yes, he said Iraq. But he quickly caught the faux pas, telling the crowd, “I mean, of Ukraine.”

Almost 20 years ago, in the wake of the September 11 attacks, Bush and his administration claimed that Iraq was harboring weapons of mass destruction. They weren’t. But Bush claimed they were, and used the nation’s anger and trauma over the biggest terrorist attack in the nation’s history to justify a long and costly war, which led to somewhere between 150,000 and over a million violent deaths. He later became a painter.

Still, the George W. Bush story may be the most extreme example of “hey, it could be worse.”

(Via Dallas Morning News)

Drake is quite the basketball fan, which he’s made clear on several occasions. He’s been the global ambassador for the Toronto Raptors since 2013 and he can be found courtside at the NBA team’s home games. It was just a few weeks ago that Joel Embiid trash-talked Drake after the former’s Philadelphia 76ers beat the Raptors in a playoff game. He’s also placed bets in favor of the Golden State Warriors and Duke’s men’s basketball team. Drake’s love for basketball seems to be rubbing off on his son Adonis who was seen shooting some baskets at his dad’s basketball gym which is located in his Toronto mansion.

What many may not have expected through the video is how Adonis is already catching on to the mannerisms of a certain active NBA great. After shooting a basket in a video that Drake shared on Instagram, Adonis can be seen tapping his chest a couple of times just like LeBron James has done in moments throughout his career. “Where is he getting the mannerisms from @kingjames (laughing emoji),” Drake captioned the video. LeBron reposted the video on his story and wrote, “My nephew really love the game!!”

While Adonis missed his first shot attempt, he absolutely sunk the second one for a total field goal percentage of 50% which should get him into the NBA Hall Of Fame if he keeps it up.

You can watch the adorable video of Adonis and see LeBron’s response above.

Way, way back in February, Warner Bros. announced it was set to film a Wonder Twins movie this summer, but now that CEO David Zaslav is looking for ways to cut costs following the studio’s merger with Discovery, Zan and Jayna are getting the boot. Form of: budget cuts. Apparently $75 million was too high a price tag for a movie about aliens who transform into different types of water and animals by slamming their rings together.

KJ Apa of Riverdale and Isabel May of 1883 were set to star as the twins with no word on who was playing their alien monkey, Gleek (Andy Serkis, though, right?). Black Adam screenwriter Adam Sztykiel had written the script and was set to direct before the project got the axe. Even as these third-tier heroes are shown the door, DC has Black Adam and Batgirl coming out in 2022, an Aquaman sequel and Flash standalone coming in 2023, and Blue Beetle filming now.

The cancellation is the saddest news for a Wonder Twins movie since the poster for a Kutcher/Kunis version turned out to be a hoax. We’re sorry if this crushes some deep childhood nostalgia yearning you may have been feeling for this porject, even though its demise is no fault of our own. We feel your pain.

(Via The Hashtag Show)

The TNT crew is on the road in San Francisco for the Western Conference Finals and it appears adding a live crowd only encourages them to get spicy with each other on air.

While discussing the Eastern Conference Finals and Jimmy Butler’s sensational Game 1 performance, with Dwyane Wade joining the crew, Charles Barkley made the rather tepid take that it’ll be harder to score like that when Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart is back in the lineup for Boston. That, for some reason, infuriated Shaq who insisted Jimmy Butler has crested into a different stratosphere of superstardom in which he can score on anyone whenever he wants, to the dismay of Chuck (and Kenny), as the two screamed at each other for two minutes (again).

The best part is Shaq yelling for someone to “call Dikembe Mutombo” and ask about the time Shaq dominated him in the 2001 NBA Finals, which is honestly a pretty good argument from him. The problem, as Chuck tries to note but can’t ever really get out because Shaq is extremely mad about all of this, is that Butler isn’t Shaq and that’s not an apples to apples comparison. As Kenny notes, Jimmy can go out and get 28 a night no matter the defenders, but to suggest he can get 40 whenever he wants is probably a bit too far. Still, it’s highly entertaining and Dwyane was enjoying the entire thing sipping out of his cup and just watching the drama unfold.

The movie that doesn’t sound real keeps getting even more out-there. It seemed odd when it was announced Greta Gerwig would follow up Little Women with a Barbie film, to be co-written with her partner Noah Baumbach, no less. Then they cast Margot Robbie. Then Ryan Gosling as Ken. Then Michael Cera and Issa Rae. Then Simu Liu. Then the first look looked pretty great. Now what already sounded like the most ambitious movie ever made about a line of sexist dolls is getting even more mad.

The New York Times’ Kyle Buchanan took to Twitter with some rumors about what exactly this increasingly swelling ensemble of all-stars will be doing. What he’s been hearing is Robbie and Gosling are not the film’s only Barbies and Kens. Instead, there will be multiple iterations of each one, of multiple ethnicities. As per Buchanan, Liu and Ncuti Gatwa, the Sex Education break-out recently cast to be the next lead on Doctor Who, will play other Kens. Meanwhile, Rae Hari Nef, seen on And Just Like That… and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, will hold down the fort as other Barbies.

Details about the plot are being kept secret, but this news opens up even more questions. Questions like, what’s gong on here? And does this mean about other cast members, like Kate McKinnon, Will Ferrell, and Rhea Perlman? Will the entire cast be made of alternate versions of Barbie and Ken? Will this be a multiverse deal, only more Everything Everywhere All at Once and less Doctor Strange 2?

Whatever happens, Greta Gerwig’s Barbie will be another eclectic movie adapted from unusual source material, joining such august company as Tim Burton’s Mars Attacks! (trading cards), The LEGO Movie (plastic bricks), The Angry Birds Movie (app), The Emoji Movie (emojis), and The Garbage Pail Kids Movie (stickers).

In the meantime, Barbie is scheduled to hit theaters on July 21 of next year.

(Via Kyle Buchanan’s Twitter)

The 2021 NBA Draft class was not the most hyped group beyond top prospect Cade Cunningham, but this season saw a number of first-year players play well and make important contributions to their teams.

Raptors rookie Scottie Barnes took home Rookie of the Year honors for his work as a two-way presence in Toronto, edging out Evan Mobley and Cunningham’s production in Cleveland and Detroit respectively. Elsewhere, Herbert Jones became one of the league’s best wing defenders in New Orleans, and plenty of others showed their skills making this year’s All-Rookie team races quite interesting considering the quality production from debutants across the league.

On Wednesday night, the 10 players to earn All-Rookie honors were announced on TNT, with the three finalists for Rookie of the Year headlining the first team, joined by Houston’s Jalen Green and Orlando’s Franz Wagner.

First team: Scottie Barnes, Evan Mobley, Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green, Franz Wagner
Second team: Ayo Dosunmu, Chris Duarte, Josh Giddey, Bones Hyland, Herbert Jones

The second team features three players who emerged as important rotation pieces for playoff teams in Dosunmu (Chicago), Hyland (Denver), and Jones (New Orleans), with Duarte having a terrific shooting year in Indiana and Giddey emerging as a bright spot in OKC. Jones and Giddey were the two from the second team to also receive first team votes, while the three ROY finalists were all unanimous selections.

DMV rapper IDK earned himself a big moment at the end of 2019 with the release of his major-label debut album Is He Real? The project, unfortunately, came at the wrong time in the world as the coronavirus pandemic arrived just three months later. With that, tours and live concerts alike were paused, which stopped artists from capitalizing on their work with performances in front of their fans. Despite the inconvenience, IDK kept pushing full-stream ahead as he released three more projects in that time period: IDK & Friends 2, USee4Yourself, and the recently-released Simple with Kaytranada. Now that the time is right, IDK is ready to bring impressive discography on a worldwide tour.

Starting this summer, IDK will hit the road for the Simple World Tour. A flyer for the tour reveals that IDK plans to perform IWasVeryBad, Is He Real?, USee4Yourself, and Simple while he’s on the road. The string of shows begins at the end of June with a performance in Switzerland followed by two festival sets in Netherlands and Germany. IDK will then return to the states to continue the tour alongside Charlotte rapper Mavi. After concluding the North American section of his tour at the end of August with a show in Boston, IDK will bring things back to Europe at the end of October for a collection of shows that goes through November.

You can view the full list of dates for the Simple World Tour above.

IDK is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.