Category: News

When J. Cole departed from the Rwanda Patriots of the Basketball Africa League last summer, it was unknown whether or not the rapper-slash-aspiring professional athlete would give the pro leagues a second try. Cole has always expressed his love for basketball, so much so that the Detroit Pistons once told him to reach out for a tryout with the team. However, with his day-to-day responsibilities as a rapper and label owner, Cole doesn’t have the freest schedule to pursue his ball dreams — or does he? Last week, Cole signed a contract with the Scarborough Shooting Stars of the Canadian Elite Basketball League, and today, he made his debut with the team.

Cole’s time on the court with the Shooting Stars was a brief one, as he checked in for 15 game minutes. Despite this, he was able to find the bottom of the net as he scored three points during the night thanks to a three-point shot that he knocked down from the right corner. In total, he went one-for-four from the field, grabbed a rebound, and had an assist to complete his first night with the Shooting Stars. Unfortunately, the Shooting Stars were unable to get a win as they fell to the Guelph Nighthawks 89-80.

During the game, Cole received some love from Drake who shouted out the fellow rapper in an Instagram post. “It’s real @scarboroughshootingstars,” he wrote with a picture of Cole on his TV screen. “My brother just checked in.”

You can check out a video of Cole’s first points with the Shooting Stars above.

After two years away from the playoffs altogether, the Golden State Warriors are returning to the NBA Finals for the sixth time in eight years, as they remain undefeated at home this postseason after dispatching of the Dallas Mavericks in five games in the Western Conference Finals.

Game 5 saw a familiar refrain in this series, as the Warriors jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. Stephen Curry was quiet scoring, tweaking his ankle early on, but he was dishing out assists aplenty early, with Klay Thompson coming out of the gate firing from three, knocking down five triples to help Golden State establish as much as a 21-point advantage in the first half.

On the other end, Luka Doncic struggled, scoring just six points on 12 shots in the first half as the Warriors bottled him up and frustrated him with their physicality at the rim, where he wasn’t getting calls he felt he should’ve. The result was an odd half where the Mavs bench really kept things from being a disaster, while Luka and the starters never really got going.

The lone bright spot of the first half for Dallas was Spencer Dinwiddie, who had 17 points and hit buzzer beaters at the end of both the first and second quarters to keep the Mavs from getting run out of the gym.

The third quarter started with much of the same from the Warriors, as they opened up a 23-point advantage and it appeared we were headed for yet another conference finals blowout.

However, it was at that point that Doncic woke up and dragged the Mavs back into the proceedings with some incredible shot-making, cutting the deficit to 10 going into the fourth quarter.

The fourth started with much of the same from Doncic, as the Mavs hung around and made things interesting in San Francisco.

However, as has been the case all series, Dallas digging themselves an early hole meant the offense coming alive late wasn’t enough, they needed to string stops together and, like in the first three games, that proved to be something they just could not do in the fourth. The play that might paint the best picture of the series as a whole came in a 14-point game with nine minutes to play when Kevon Looney pulled down two offensive rebounds on one possession, ultimately setting up a Nemanja Bjelica three.

All series Looney and the Warriors have punished the Mavs on the offensive boards, neutralizing strong initial defense from Dallas by creating second chance opportunities, and Game 5 was no different, as Golden State cruised to a 120-110 win. Dallas simply could not match the Warriors’ consistency in this series and the result is a gentlemen’s sweep that gives Golden State nearly a week off before the Finals start on June 2.

All five Warriors reached double figures in Game 5 (plus Jordan Poole off the bench), headlined by Thompson’s 32 points. Draymond Green had 17 points and nine assists, while Andrew Wiggins continued his stellar play with 18 points and eight rebounds and Stephen Curry had 15 points and nine assists. Looney, though, was particularly sensational all series and in this game, as he had 10 points and an outrageous 18 rebounds (seven offensive), punishing Dallas’ lack of size inside constantly.

For the Mavs, it’s a reminder of the gap between them and the very best teams in terms of consistency. If their series against the Suns showed how good they can be at their best, this showed that their floor simply has to get higher if they’re to make it out of the West. Luka Doncic had 28 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, but was just 10-of-28 shooting and eventually ran out of gas. Dinwiddie was terrific with 26 points off the bench, but only Dorian Finney-Smith (13 points) and Jalen Brunson (10 points on 10 shots) reached double figures.

Their lack of size was exposed by the Warriors all series, and their inability to consistently hit threes meant their small-ball advantage offensively was negated and too often they allowed big Golden State runs that put the game too far out of reach for them to reasonably claw their way back to. There are moves to be made by Dallas this offseason, particularly in addressing their frontcourt, and ending with something of a thud might help them avoid the pitfalls last year’s surprise conference finalist, the Atlanta Hawks, ran into with running it back with a flawed roster.

The Warriors will now await either Boston or Miami, with the Celtics having their chance to punch a ticket to the Finals on Friday night at home.

Jason Bateman recently praised the working environment on Ozark (spoilers), saying that he’d “do it again in a second, because what we had just doesn’t happen often.” Netflix might take him up on that offer, because the final episodes of the dark crime series’ final season have put it head and shoulders above the competition for streaming eyeballs. Based on the Nielsen ratings in the last week of April 2022, Ozark captured 2.58 billion viewing minutes, and while it also moved up on the charts, the second-place Grace and Frankie clocked in at 701 million. That’s a huge gap that puts Ozark on a different plane of existence and could have Netflix’s mouth watering for more lakeside money laundering.

Netflix held 8 of the 10 top spots for the week, with Disney+’s Moon Knight grabbing third place with 681 million viewing minutes, and Amazon Prime Video’s Outer Range taking eighth place with 343 million.

As the final season closed out, showrunner Chris Mundy talked enthusiastically about spinoff possibilities ala Breaking Bad, saying, “It’s definitely something that people have talked about a bunch. There’s nothing definitive. We’re lucky that people seem to really like the show so there’s obviously going to be some interest there. There are still ways to stay inside the show and revisit things.”

So, a separate show where Killer Mike gives more sage advice? Excellent.

(via The Hollywood Reporter)

Olivia Rodrigo’s ups and downs with love have been on full display, especially through her music. Her breakout record “Drivers License” watches her move on from a past relationship, but not without doing one last thing that she promised him: getting her driver’s license. After the song’s release, many concluded that the record was about her previous rumored relationship with singer and actor Joshua Bassett. Rodrigo nor Bassett has ever confirmed who the song’s subject is, but it caused many to be quite interested in their respected love lives. That continues with Rodrigo at least thanks to a new photograph that was taken of her.

Following her concert in Los Angeles, which is a part of her Sour Tour, Rodrigo was spotted outside with popular TikToker Vinnie Hacker. The two had what many would deem as quite the intimate moment as they shared what appears to be more than your average platonic hug. The photographs made their rounds on social media and fans of both Rodrigo and Hacker were up in arms about the unexpected moment between the two.

“Olivia and vinnie hacker…,” one person wrote in a tweet. “He went with the one girl his crazy stans wouldnt scare away bc they love her too HE SMART.” Another added, “Olivia rodrigo and vinnie hacker might just be the plot twist of the year ngl.”

You can view more responses from fans below.

A few years ago the Braves stadium ops staff struck gold with their “Beat The Freeze” promo, in which fans are given a head start running foul pole to foul pole around the warning track before The Freeze (a high-level sprinter, donning a icy blue body suit and goggles) takes off to try and beat them to the other end of the field.

It’s a delightful promotion and produces some incredible video, particularly in those panicky moments when the fan inevitably feels The Freeze gaining on them and tries to find another gear. Unfortunately, we were reminded on Thursday of what can happen to the average human when they try to hit their top speed for an extended period of time when a fan pulled up and eventually fell to the dirt with what sure looked like a pulled hamstring (or maybe calf) as The Freeze motored on by.

At first you think maybe he just stumbled but then he comes up hopping on one leg and that’s a telltale sign of mild disaster. Hopefully this fan is able to make a speedy recovery, but you could see as he lay on the ground that he was suddenly regretting his decision to accept the offer to come run the track instead of staying in his seat. It’s going to be a tough sell tomorrow calling in on a holiday weekend and trying to explain that you can’t make it cause you pulled a hamstring at the Braves game, but he does have video evidence to back him up.

Following the mass school shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, which left 19 children and 2 teachers dead, Netflix has opted to include a content warning for US audiences on the premiere episode for Stranger Things season 4.

The warning reads, “We filmed this season of Stranger Things a year ago. But given the recent tragic shooting at a school in Texas, viewers may find the opening scene of episode 1 distressing. We are deeply saddened by this unspeakable violence, and our hearts go out to every family mourning a loved one.” Netflix has also added a note in the episode’s description that warns views about “graphic violence involving children.”

The opening scene, which was released online last week as a teaser before being pulled off the internet by Netflix, depicts the aftermath of a violent act and shows the bloody bodies of dead children. Given the timing of Stranger Things‘ premiere May 27th, it’s a wise move to give viewers a choice whether to watch, skip, or save it for later.

But they might as well have made the change earlier, as there have been 27 shootings at schools in the first 144 days of 2022. Meanwhile, it’s doubtful any gun control legislation even gets voted on any time soon.

(via Variety)

ESPN’s Mike Schmitz has steadily become one of the most well-respected draft analysts in the NBA media, and it appears that respect goes beyond fans and colleagues, as the Portland Trail Blazers want him to help run their scouting department.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski, Schmitz is finalizing a deal to become the Blazers new assistant general manager to Joe Cronin, overseeing their scouting operation domestically and overseas.

Schmitz had become the lead draft analyst at ESPN, popping up on everything from SportsCenter to college basketball game coverage, and of course the draft night show itself. Some of his best work came in the video breakdowns he would do with the prospects themselves, sitting down and going over film with prospective draftees, allowing them to break down their game — strengths and weaknesses — and talk about what they were working on.

The Blazers currently hold the No. 7 pick, but are expected to trade that for a veteran, meaning its unclear exactly what the immediate impact of Schmitz will be for this draft cycle. Still, it’s a major move for Schmitz to step into a front office and a big loss for NBA fans who had grown to appreciate his perspective and insight on the draft throughout the year.

Jon Watts made a name for himself with 2015’s Cop Car, a delightful coming-of-age story in the vein of A Perfect World where two bored boys steal a police car for a joyride. Watts continued playing in the sandbox of adolescent troubles and lost innocence with the modern Spider-Man Home trilogy, and he’s set to bring that same energy to Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. The Disney+ series will evoke 1980s Amblin as it sees a motley crew of youngsters who get lost in space during the New Republic era and have to find their way home.

At the Star Wars Celebration this week, Watts announced that Jude Law had joined the cast in a starring role (presumably not as one of the kids). Also presumably not as a talented young wizard who will grow up to teach a human Horcrux, even though he’s already proven an aptitude for it. No other details about the character, including a name, were revealed. In Cop Car, Kevin Bacon pursued the young thieves, so it would be cool if Law were playing a similar, villainous role.

This marks the 8th Star Wars series either currently available or in development. Beyond Obi-Wan Kenobi launching May 27th, The Mandalorian, and The Book of Boba Fett, we’re also getting the character-focused Andor in August this year, with Ahsoka sometime in 2023, The Acolyte, Lando, and now The Skeleton Crew to come. That means you can watch a Star Wars show every night of the week and twice on Sunday.

(via The Hollywood Reporter)

True Detective is heading in a very different direction. After exploring failing memory and destructive regret with Mahershala Ali in season 3, the production parted ways with its heavily-involved creator Nic Pizzolatto, bringing on Barry Jenkins to produce and Issa Lopez (Tigers Are Not Afraid) to write and direct. That’s noteworthy in itself because Pizzolatto was instrumental in crafting the show’s style, and because Tigers Are Not Afraid leans further into dark fantasy territory even if crime and horror are its focuses. Bringing on a filmmaker who’s also currently collaborating with Guillermo del Toro is the epitome of creepy, and it’s the kind of jolt the show needs to create new relevancy.

Now they’re doubling down because Jodie Foster will be playing one of the lead roles. You had our curiosity, True Detective, but now you have our attention. It’s a stellar choice, not just because Foster is a legend with every possible award under her belt, but because she immediately brings a thriller legacy to the screen.

HBO breaks down the series thusly: “When the long winter night falls in Ennis, Alaska, the six men that operate the Tsalal Arctic Research Station vanish without a trace. To solve the case, Detectives Liz Danvers and Evangeline Navarro will have to confront the darkness they carry in themselves, and dig into the haunted truths that lie buried under the eternal ice.”

Nice Insomnia vibes.

Foster plays Danvers, with Navarro’s casting to come. There are no other details on her character right now (beyond apparently carrying darkness inside her), but there doesn’t have to be. Because it’s Jodie Foster. This project just got even better. Also, every True Detective character has carried darkness inside them, so we could have guessed that. Now let’s see what the show does to keep us guessing.

(via Variety)

Rapper Yella Beezy has been arrested — again. This time, for not paying his bail in full following his arrest in November 2021, according to The Shade Room (via HipHopDX).

Beezy was arrested late last year following charges of an alleged sexual assault, felony sexual assault, felony abandoned endangered child, and misdemeanor unlawful carrying a weapon. He was held in Collin County jail, but later released on a $50,000 bond. He was arrested Wednesday night in relation to the sexual assault charge and is currently being held on a $1 million bond. According to records, police had a warrant out for Beezy for “bond held insufficient.” Since his November 2021 arrest, Beezy has insisted that he is innocent.

“I was arrested on false allegations,” said Beezy in a video. “I was arrested before I was even questioned and I knew about anything going on, but it’s false allegations. Anybody that know me know I’m not pressed over sex or anything of that nature. I’m not an aggressive person like, that don’t even fit me, like at all. My character, me and that same thang don’t even belong in the same sentence. It don’t even sound right coming out my mouth.”

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