Category: Worldwide

Christian Wood has a pair of distinctions in the NBA’s bout with COVID-19. The Detroit Pistons’ forward was the first player outside of Utah to have word of a positive test leak to the media, and he’s the first NBA player, as far as we all know, to completely recover from the virus that has caused the entire league to come to a halt.

As it turns out, though, news of Wood’s positive test wasn’t supposed to be made public. In a piece written by Jackie MacMullan of ESPN, Pistons coach Dwane Casey revealed that the staff was promptly made aware of HIPPA laws, which exist to protect the privacy of patients, after they learned of the diagnosis. Casey went onto say that the word of Wood’s test wasn’t supposed to be made public, and when it was, both the coach and the player were quite unhappy.

Via ESPN:

“That’s why we were so mystified when it leaked out,” Casey said of a report in The Athletic. “Christian was upset his name got out there. He didn’t release it. And the worst part was it got out before Christian even had a chance to tell his mom.

“I was very unhappy about that. I told our staff, ‘This is unprofessional. This can’t happen again.’ It was so unfair to our player.”

We’ve seen some players take a more public approach with this, as the hope has been to raise awareness of COVID-19 and how it can impact anyone. But of course that hasn’t been the case for everyone, and it is particularly unfortunate that word of Wood’s test leaked before he had gotten the chance to make his mom aware of what happened. Some teams have opted to reveal that there have been positive tests in their organizations with players announcing after that they’re dealing with the virus, and it would have been nice if that luxury was afforded to Wood, even if it is good news that he has since recovered.

It only makes sense for pop stars to befriend each other. Not just because they’re likely sharing a lot of the same fans, but because, in a lot of ways, a pop star is the only person who can understand the pressure and public scrutiny that another famous musician faces. So even though Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga haven’t been super publicly open about their friendship so far, it’s not super surprising that they’ve connected before — at least according to the birthday post that Ari made for Gaga today.

Lady Gaga, born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, turns 34 today, and Grande is one of the first of her fellow stars to commemorate the occasion with a cute selfie on Instagram:

“Happy birthday to a literal angel that has changed my life in many ways !” Grande wrote in the caption of thp ost. “I’ll tell u more about it later but … u make my heart feel so full and happy and understood @ladygaga. Wishing u all the joy in the world today and every day ! Have some pasta.”

So far, Gaga hasn’t posted much about her birthday plans, but given the current quarantine situation due to the Coronavirus pandemic, it likely includes a lot of staying indoors. As a fellow Aries with a March birthday, I want Gaga to know we’re all getting straight reschedules in the future.

One thing that has become evident in many of the places that are currently wrestling with COVID-19, both in the United States and abroad, is that hospitals alone are struggling to fight the virus. In addition to those impacted by this novel coronavirus, there are still the folks who just need to go to the hospital for other various illnesses and ailments, and the capacity to make sure everyone gets treated just isn’t there due to a flood of new patients.

As such, we’ve seen a number of temporary solutions. A pair of hospital ships have been deployed to two of the largest epicenters for the spread in the virus in the United States, Los Angeles and New York, while in the Big Apple, the monstrous Javits Center has been turned into a temporary hospital with a thousand beds. In China, meanwhile, gymnasiums were turned into isolation centers.

Elsewhere in the U.S., Michigan has been hit hard, with metrics indicating nearly 3,700 cases and 113 confirmed casualties as of this writing. In response, the Detroit Pistons have decided to lend a hand and offer up the use of one of their buildings for whatever health officials might need, according to James Edwards of The Athletic.

After a tense few days between Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer and president Donald Trump, the state’s disaster declaration was approved on Saturday. As for how the franchise will specifically help, Edwards reported that conversations are still ongoing between the Pistons and officials on how to best use the space. The team is among the handful in the NBA that has seen a player test positive for COVID-19. Forward Christian Wood caught the virus, but fortunately, he received the all clear from doctors.

With quarantines being extended all across the country, the right combination of cabin fever and an empty to-do list can produce levels of boredom never before experienced. A few weeks ago Detroit rapper Curtis Roach tried to alleviate his woes by taking to TikTok. In the video, Roach repeats the words “bored in the house” while making a beat on a table and snapping along. It became a hit, passing ten million views last week, according to a recent Instagram post from Curtis.

Now Curtis Roach has teamed up with Tyga to make his short video into a three-minute song, along with a video that highlights the boredom each artist currently experiences. Tyga shows show him killing time by repeatedly washing his hands, napping, playing with a basketball, and sitting on various couches. He also shows off a number of outfits and even some fancy footwork.

Joining Curtis in the”Bored In The House” fun, Tyga, Keke Palmer, Liza Koshy, Ondreaz Lopez, Chance the Rapper, and Charli D’Amelio, TikTok’s most-followed user, have all posted their own videos to go along with the song, but Curtis hopes one special celebrity joins in on the fun: Will Smith, someone Curtis described as “everybody’s favorite person.”

You can watch the video for “Bored In The House” above.

We live in trying times, and even the smallest of things that bring us joy as we live out our days in fear and isolation are worthy of celebrating. Thankfully, the good people behind the syndicated game show Jeopardy! know how to please a crowd by making Alex Trebek sing Lizzo songs.

The Jeopardy! writers love to make Trebek recite lyrics because, well, viewers love it. And so forcing Trebek to speak out the lyrics to Lizzo’s “Truth Hurts” is exactly the kind of thing they would make him do and get a huge reaction from online. On Thursday’s episode, Trebek gave a clue that included lines from Lizzo’s smash hit “Truth Hurts.”

What’s amazing here is that they picked the line about the Minnesota Vikings, but also the one where she sings rhythmic words that you can’t just say. Which is why Trebek sounded extremely uncomfortable in reciting it, to hilarious results.

Contestant Evan answered correctly, but not without a laugh, prompting Trebek to poke fun at himself.

“Yup,” he remarked, “and I did it exactly like she does, didn’t I?”

For everyone’s benefit, he didn’t. But that’s what makes it so enjoyable. One would love to imagine Trebek at home, perhaps listening to the song on Spotify or something, singing about bouncing back from a bad relationship with a new man on the Minnesota Vikings.

See? It really is the little things that will get you through all this.

Netflix binging is at an all-time high due to a self-imposed quarantine and recommendations of social distancing due to the spread of COVID-19 and the Coronavirus pandemic that’s currently sweeping America. One show that is quickly becoming the most-talked about, batsh*t new addition to Netflix’s offerings is Tiger King, a true crime series that apparently goes wildly off the rails.

The show centers closely around the story of Joseph Maldonado-Passage, aka aspiring country singer Joe Exotic, and the music that he performs is already getting covered by musicians who are cooped up at home and eager to engage with the cultural conversation. Yesterday, Midland managed to get their members together to cut a version of the song via quarantine, and it’s a campy tribute to the original.

Vocalist Mark Wystrach, guitarist Jess Carson, and bassist Cameron Duddy are joined by guitarist Luke Cutchen,drummer Robbie Crowell, steel guitarist Phillip Sterk, and keys player Jeff Adamcyzk each cut their parts remotely and pieced it together for their version of the song. And yes, that is a stuffed tiger occupying one of the video frames.

So far, Tiger King has been so popular that its caught the attention of Cardi B, and I wouldn’t be surprised if some of these songs begin to make their way into popular culture in an even bigger way during this quarantine. Midland just got their first — watch the cover above.

For a minute, let’s pretend I am capable of fixing the most damning flaws possessed by NBA Draft prospects. In this scenario, assuming I still yearn to write about the NBA Draft, the following piece would focus on Isaac Okoro, a top-five prospect. Instead, this is about Isaac Okoro, a 6’6 wing from Auburn University whose outside shooting indicators are so bleak that they relegate him to the fringe-lottery tier on my board.

There are a host of skills to enjoy about Okoro. I’ll dive into those later and attempt to project how they will translate to the NBA, but we must begin with the foremost concern, which permeates throughout the entirety of his offensive toolkit: his shooting. In 28 games this season, Okoro shot 29.0 percent beyond the arc and 67.2 percent from the charity stripe. He converted 69.8 percent of his dunks or shots at the rim but just 25.3 percent everywhere else, registering in the 22nd percentile on catch-and-shoot jumpers and 19th percentile on no dribble, spot-up jumpers. He’s also gun shy in nature, consistently passing up open threes and wandering into precarious positions. Combine all of that with his stiff, robotic mechanics and Okoro’s shooting projection is rather dire.

You saw these issues manifest this year on a regular basis and negatively affect Auburn’s offense. Those scenarios are only going to become more frequent at the next level when the opposition manipulates his lack of shooting gravity by playing way off of him and mucking up other actions. In two of the following clips, look at how easily his man can provide help to deter Samir Doughty’s drive. Despite getting opportunities to take open looks, Okoro turns down these shots.

Being a perimeter-sized player who cannot knock down threes at a consistent clip and also passes up countless opportunities (.284 three-point rate) makes it quite challenging to produce positive value offensively. Nonetheless, there are a few avenues for Okoro to do so, though his shooting development is the crux of all this and I am dubious he gets that to a point where it opens up the rest of his game.

As a slasher and finisher, he is among the best in the class. Only 30.7 percent of his buckets at the rim were assisted and he ranked in the 89th percentile around the basket in the half-court (64.2 percent). There is legitimate upside as a player who can create looks on his own (97th percentile in isolation, 23 possessions) and it’s powered by his blend of strength, balance, interior touch, body control, and improved ball-handling. Plus, he can score inside with either hand.

The issue then becomes figuring out how much his shooting woes will inhibit this on-ball creation. Can he still rely on his strength, balance, and touch? Can he develop a floater as a secondary weapon for when he doesn’t get all the way to the rim? After making significant strides from high school to college, will he continue to expand his ball-handling and further unlock driving lanes?

Broadly, my answer to all three questions is yes, and it’s why I remain in on him as a lottery talent. However, much of this translation to the NBA is contingent on his team. To be a consistent downhill slasher, he’ll need to play alongside floor-spacing frontcourt partners. If the paint is occupied by a rim-running center or big man, Okoro will largely be restricted to spot-up duties, a job for which he’s improperly suited. As such, that lineup construction would also negate much of his potential as a roll man — another path to offensive value, given his finishing and quick leaping ability — and chances to target mismatches on the block (78th percentile on post-ups, 25 possessions). An unimaginative coach that treats him like a classic 3-and-D wing would prime him for failure and ignore the on-ball potential he holds.

If he can provide some semblance of scoring equity, it’ll mandate entrusting him with a few on-ball reps each night to promote his playmaking, which is genuinely special for a non-primary initiator. Whirling skip passes, kick-outs to shooters, and feeding the roller in stride, Okoro is capable of operating pick-and-rolls. When he’s attacking off the catch, his talent as an impromptu creator shines through, mainly via interior reads. Considering his struggles as a shooter, he won’t be one of the most impactful passers from this draft, but he wields some of the best vision and timeliness as a distributor.

Yet it is unlikely he will shift defenses much when the ball in his hands, since he’ll fail to offer threatening scoring gravity away from the rim. That seemingly inherent flaw in his game will mute some of his passing upside, though there remains enough to maintain value.

While many of Okoro’s most ardent supporters peg him as an elite defender, I have him a tier below that. Regardless, he projects as a versatile stopper with good, not great, off-ball instincts to turn teams over at a meaningful rate. On the ball, he has light, active feet, can swiftly rotate his hips to stymie drives and applies his functional strength well, often using his powerful upper body against his assignment to deter them from reaching a desired spot on the floor.

His strength and low center of gravity enable him to comfortably function in the post as well, making him a valuable defensive asset in the playoffs as a wing who cannot be targeted by most ball-handlers or non-5s. He should most frequently be tasked with checking wings and power forward, but he can conceivably get switched onto point guards and centers in a pinch.

Off the ball, Okoro is a resourceful rim protector and interior defender. He promptly rotates to draw charges or alter shots inside, but his impact in the former role is capped due to a 6’9 wingspan and underwhelming vertical pop. That doesn’t mean it’s entirely extinguished, though, because his core strength prohibits him from being dislodged at the basket and his awareness ensures he executes most necessary team defense decisions inside.

Despite underwhelming steal and block numbers this season (1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks per 40 minutes), I saw more than enough on film that lends credence to my faith in him as a disruptor. He tags rollers as the weak-side defender in ball screens, digs down to eliminate drop-off passes to bigs on drives, and understands how to position himself away from the action, which maximizes his readiness when the time comes. His numbers don’t reflect his instincts and awareness, both of which are very good.

Okoro is not without his flaws as a defender. Often, he is undisciplined against shot fakes, dribble moves, or hesitations. When defending one pass away, he is overzealous to unnecessarily help on drives and invite open catch-and-shoot threes. He’ll grow infatuated with denying his man the ball, turning on the blinders and removing himself from important help situations. There can be a buffering period for his reaction time and instincts, leaving him late in responding to off-ball moves by his assignment — usually against cuts or dribble handoffs, both of which allow opponents to frequent the paint — or protecting the rim.

On the whole, these issues are vastly overshadowed by everything else he does. Okoro’s potential to flummox creators on the ball and prevent them from maneuvering as they wish matters. His penchant for spurring chaos off the ball while also carrying through with necessary rotations is essential. There are few players in this class with more promising defensive impact moving forward.

Okoro is the type of prospect who inspires you to dream about “what-if” scenarios. If only he could shoot, you’d be looking at a really, really high-level guy in this class. But accounting for all the available evidence, that development feels quite far off, especially in terms of emerging as a shooter who actually influences how defenses shape their decision-making process. Because of that, he won’t be deserving of significant on-ball usage. For complementary perimeter players, the shooting is vital. Other skills are welcomed and effective, but their importance is dramatically lessened.

Even without a jumper, he remains among the top-15 on my board. The self-creation, facilitating, improved ball-handling — which should continue to blossom functionally — composite defensive package, and athletic tools (strength, quick jump ability, coordination and balance) are too enticing to pass up.

America has been besieged by the novel coronavirus for under a month now, with over 100,000 cases in the U.S. alone, as of this writing. Two of the first celebrities to test positive were no less than Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson. The power couple learned of their diagnosis while in Australia, prepping for Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis biopic, which has since been put on hold. The news came on March 11, when the two self-quarantined. But now, on March 28, they revealed they’ve been able to make it back home to Los Angeles.

Of course, just because they’re back from the other side of the planet doesn’t mean they’re galivanting about outdoors. Los Angeles remains under quarantine, the streets empty except for those getting essentials or doing solitary exercising (that is, of course, if they’re obeying the rules).

“We’re home now and, like the rest of America, we carry on with sheltering in place and social distancing,” the two-time Oscar-winner wrote. “Many, many thanks to everyone in Australia who looked after us. Their care and guidance made possible our return to the USA. And many thanks to all of you who reached out with well wishes. Rita and I appreciate it.”

He ended, as he always does, with his apparent nickname: “Hanx.”

The news of their return broke Friday, at places like Entertainment Weekly, who reported that the two were photographed driving in L.A. Earlier last week Hanks gave an update following their two-week quarantine, writing, “We feel better.” They also advised anyone with symptoms to stay indoors, as they did. “Sheltering in place works like this: You don’t give it to anyone — You don’t get it from anyone. Common sense, no?”

Anyway, good for them, and hopefully the comically long flight from Oz to L.A. was a peaceful one. To the rest of you, do what Turner of Turner and Hooch says and remain indoors.

(Via EW)

While most of America is attempting to self-quarantine in the wake of the spread of COVID-19 and the Coronavirus pandemic, the entertainment that keeps us sane while indoors is arguably more important than ever. Already a beloved show, Ru Paul’s Drag Race is continuing to hold down the fort, airing new episodes of the fierce competition between queens who want to come out on top. And during the signature lip sync portion of the show in the latest episode, Ru Paul and the show’s producers slyly made another move at representation by selecting Kim Petras’ shimmering bop, “Heart To Break.”

Uproxx premiered the surreal fairy-tale video for this track when it came out back in spring of 2018, and it helped put Kim on the map as part of pop’s new elite, culminating in her debut full-length, Clarity, released last year. Kim is the youngest person to ever undergo gender reassignment surgery, and has become one of the most prominent transgender stars in the music industry. She hasn’t showed any sign of slowing down since the release of Clarity, either, immediately following it up with another mixtape in October, Turn Off The Lights, a continuation of Turn Off The Light Vol. 1.

Watch two queens battle it out to Kim’s song in Season 12, Episode 5 of Drag Race above.

The NBA’s most prominent group of friends are the Banana Boat crew, made up of LeBron James, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade, and despite the fact that he was not in the famous picture, Carmelo Anthony. Four of the best players of their era, this group includes a number of championships, All-Star appearances, and moments that have captivated basketball fans over the course of their careers.

We’ll also occasionally get stories about this friendship from members of the group, something that occurred on Friday when Anthony and Wade had a conversation with one another on Instagram. Gabrielle Union wanted Anthony to “tell the story of when we were in the Bahamas and it didn’t look like you were gonna make it,” a vague prompt that excited the pair of future Hall of Fame inductees. Basically, Anthony got a little too eager to spend as much time as he possibly could snorkeling while on vacation, and as a result, he got caught in the current.

Once James realized what was going on, Wade said he dove in “like that commercial that he had, the LeBrons,” and got Anthony out.

“I’ve seen LeBron do a lot of amazing things on the court. Off the court, when he went and saved Melo’s life…” Wade said before Anthony confirmed that James did, indeed, save his life. It is a pretty scary story, but fortunately everything ended up ok and Anthony is able to laugh about it now. And at the very least, this gives me a reason to link the old Nike commercial with the LeBrons, which is always fun.