GoneTrending

The NBA Draft Combine is a far lesser spectacle to the NFL’s version, if for no other reason than there is no 40-yard dash, which tends to produce the most eye-popping visuals of athleticism, and the best prospects often choose to do nothing more than get measured and meet with teams — whereas, most NFL prospects will run and jump even if they pass on the on-field drill portion.

Still, the Draft Combine is an important opportunity for those who aren’t those very top prospects to show their skills and athleticism in front of a captive audience of the top decision-makers for most every team around the league. Some players can improve their draft stock by showing out in on-court drills and scrimmages, while others will put up eye-popping numbers in the athletic testing. Our first great example of the latter happening came on Wednesday, when Tennessee’s Keon Johnson broke the Draft Combine’s max vert record with an outrageous 48-inch leap.

That is the definition of bunnies, and while Johnson’s athleticism wasn’t a secret, this is not just confirmation of what he can do as an athlete, but an eye-popping figure that turned a lot of heads in the Draft community. Johnson was already a fringe lottery prospect, and certainly didn’t hurt his chances of going in the lotto with this leap. There’s obviously plenty for teams to consider beyond those hops, but as we’ve seen many times, it’s not hard for teams to fall in love with the intrigue of a hyper-athletic player and Johnson certainly put that on full display.

After taking a couple of years longer than expected to release his 2020 debut album, ADHD, Joyner Lucas kept his foot on the gas and closed out the year with another project, Evolution. The Massachusetts native dropped the 12-track effort with features from The Game, Ashanti, Rick Ross, Elijah James, and more. Now, nearly a year after it was released, Lucas reappears with a video for “Legend” with Rick Ross. The new visual captures Lucas’ growth from a young man with hopes of thriving in music to an adult living out his dreams as a prospering rapper. Ross joins him later on in the video as they both enjoy the fruits of their labors.

The new visual, which also boasts cameos from T.I. and his son Domani, comes after was joined by fellow Massachusetts native Mark Wahlberg in the video for “Zim Zimma.” In that effort, which also featured appearances from Diddy and George Lopez, Walhberg crashed the rapper’s car during a high-speed cruise. Prior to that, Lucas connected with Lil Baby to celebrate their rise to fame in the video for “Ramen & OJ.”

As for Rick Ross, the Maybach Music head honcho has been teasing a joint project with Drake for some time now. During an interview with Complex, he gave somewhat of an update on the potential effort. “He’s wrapping up his project and I’m in the same space. So the timing and everything is aligning,” he said. “It’s something that we really want to give to the streets, on some real sh*t.”

You can watch the video for “Legend” above.

On Wednesday, Britney Spears appeared at a court hearing on the subject of her conservatorship, which is now in its 13th year. The singer asked a judge to terminate it, deeming it “abusive” as well as restrictive on her desired lifestyle. “I’ve been in denial,” she admitted. “I’ve been in shock. I am traumatized. I just want my life back.” A number of stars from the music world stepped forward to show their support — including her ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake.

“After what we saw today, we should all be supporting Britney at this time,” he wrote on Twitter. “Regardless of our past, good and bad, and no matter how long ago it was… what’s happening to her is just not right. No woman should ever be restricted from making decisions about her own body.” He added, “No one should EVER be held against their will… or ever have to ask permission to access everything they’ve worked so hard for.”

To conclude, Timberlake added that his wife, Jessica Biel, is also in support of the singer’s freedom from the conservatorship. “Jess and I send our love, and our absolute support to Britney during this time,” he wrote. “We hope the courts, and her family make this right and let her live however she wants to live.”

The Bucks and Hawks met in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday night and produced a thriller. For all of the hand-wringing about whether the four markets in the conference finals were what the NBA would want, the basketball through three games (including the first two Suns-Clippers games) have been spectacular.

Early on, the Bucks took the advantage thanks to great early ball movement and stellar play from Jrue Holiday and Giannis Antetokounmpo, as they were able to go up by as many as nine in the first half and held a five-point advantage at the break.

Trae Young held the Hawks in it with 25 points in the first half as he was able to get to his spots early and often, shaking off a rough Game 7 shooting night with a tremendous effort in Game 1.

The third quarter was more of the Trae Young show, but most importantly he started getting everyone else involved and the Hawks offense began to hum, outscoring Milwaukee 34-26 to take a three-point lead to the fourth. The highlights of the game came from that third quarter explosion, as Young hit John Collins on a wild off-the-backboard lob and then shook Holiday to get wide open for a three, drilling it after a shimmy before the shot to the delight of everyone, including LeBron James.

The Bucks would have an answer though in a big run in the fourth quarter to retake the lead and suddenly it seemed like they might take control of the game as Giannis woke up and they were able to get him consistent looks at the rim.

Young didn’t score much to open the fourth quarter, but got to 40 points with this and-1 bucket to close the gap back down to one possession, and set up a thrilling finish.

The two teams would trade buckets for much of the rest of the way, with the Bucks never able to get separation but the Hawks struggling to close the gap completely. That was until there were 30 seconds to play and, after a rare stop, Atlanta got a massive putback bucket from Clint Capela off a Young miss that gave Atlanta the lead again at 112-111.

The Bucks then got the ball with a chance to take the lead and Khris Middleton, who had been dreadful all night offensively, was able to get baseline and draw the help, kicking it out to Pat Connaughton who fired up an airball that then got tipped around and eventually into the hands of Young.

Trae would hit both of his free throws and then, for some reason, the Bucks with under 10 seconds to play threw the ball inside to Giannis who got fouled without being able to get the ball up for a possible and-1. Antetokounmpo managed to hit both of his free throws in a bit of a surprise to cut the lead back down to one with 5.3 seconds to go. Young then got the ball and was fouled with 4.6 seconds on the clock, hitting both to get himself to 48 points and 11 assists on the night and, once again, set up a scenario for the Bucks to need a three to tie the game.

That was a challenge the Bucks were not up to, as Middleton launched a three that went begging to finish his night with 15 points on 6-of-23 shooting.

That meant the Hawks picked up yet another road win in these playoffs, as they have been sensational away from Atlanta so far this postseason, to steal homecourt advantage. Young’s performance made NBA history, becoming the first player with a 48/11 stat line as he continues to be an absolutely dominant force for the Hawks, carving up the Milwaukee defense as he has with every defense thus far.

As for support for Young, John Collins continues to be spectacular for Atlanta, scoring 23 points and piling up 15 rebounds on 11-of-16 shooting. Game 7 hero Kevin Huerter had 13 points and Clint Capela had 12, but it was the Young and Collins show that drove the Hawks to this big win.

For Milwaukee, they got everything they could’ve asked for from Antetokounmpo and Holiday, who combined for 67 points (with both going 14-of-25 from the field), but Middleton’s disastrous shooting night, coupled with their role players likewise being ice cold from three (8-for-36 from deep as a team) was just too much for them to overcome on a night where Young had it all working. They’ll have plenty to go over in the film room with regards to their coverage on Young, but that’s a code no one has cracked all postseason.

Trae Young had his worst shooting performance of the postseason in Game 7 of the conference semifinals against the Sixers, but it didn’t matter as the Hawks still pulled out a victory to reach the Eastern Conference Finals against the Bucks. In Game 1 in Milwaukee, Young shook off that Game 7 shooting night to light up the Bucks, scoring 37 points in the first three quarters of the game, absolutely taking over in the third to lead the Hawks from a five-point deficit at the half to a three-point lead going to the fourth.

Not only was Young scoring — something he did in the first half as well with 25 points — but he was starting to get his teammates involved and that is a combination that makes the Hawks nearly unstoppable. The Bucks seemed content to let Young shoot early in the game, but he also started to break down their defense and get everyone else involved in the third, which led to a 34-point explosion for Atlanta.

It was a quarter that will live on the Young highlight reel for a long time, as he broke out two plays you’d expect to see more on the And-1 Mixtape Tour than the Eastern Conference Finals. First, he tossed an off-the-backboard lob in a halfcourt set to John Collins that was absolutely ludicrous.

Former Hawk Kent Bazemore offered some insight that he’d seen them do that in practice but had told them it’d never work in a game.

After that, Young shook free of Jrue Holiday on a screen and found himself uncovered at the three-point line and couldn’t help but offer a full shimmy before lining up the shot and knocking it down.

That’s a move that requires supreme confidence and the knowledge that missing it there will get you on Shaqtin A Fool and lit up by the opposing crowd, but he drilled it and it became a second incredible highlight in as many minutes. After those two plays from Young, LeBron James was beside himself on Twitter.

It was truly an exceptional sequence from Young and one that shows why he has become one of the game’s great players (and heels).

Time was the GOP would sing the praises of the U.S. military — or at least use them as a cudgel with which to beat Democrats. Those days, apparently, are over. Donald Trump made anyone fair game, and his minions have no trouble throwing soldiers — who the former president reportedly once called “losers and suckers” — under the bus. So when Matt Gaetz dared attack a decorated general, people weren’t having it.

Earlier Wednesday, Gaetz made waves when he got owned by General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, after claiming teaching Critical Race Theory — or the idea that the nation has deeply racist roots, which is undeniable — is somehow making soldiers “woke.” Milley responded that teaching it is a good thing, and that he found Gaetz’s accusation “personally offensive.” The congressman’s petulant response quickly became a social media meme, and rightly so.

Gaetz didn’t raise his voice to the general. But later, in safety on Twitter, he blasted Milley, writing, “With Generals like this it’s no wonder we’ve fought considerably more wars than we’ve won.”

A guy who’s never served who has mounting legal debt and ties to a sex trafficking ring talking down to a respected military leader? It didn’t go over so well. There were many parts of Gaetz’s personal life to dredge up, and some went for his DUIs.

Others chose his more recent legal woes.

Or his lack of military service.

Or his lack of military service and his more recent legal woes.

Some intimated that he might be a coward.

Others saw him as emblematic of the new GOP.

Anyway, next time Republicans try to hector Democrats for insufficient patriotism, show them Matt Gaetz’s tweet. Perhaps by then he’ll already be in jail.

On Wednesday, the music world turned their attention to the latest hearing in Britney Spears’ conservatorship trial, where the pop sensation pled for her freedom, asking a judge to terminate the court-ordered arrangement. “I am traumatized. I’m not happy, I can’t sleep. I’m so angry I’m insane,” she told Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny. “It’s my wish and my dream for this to end.” Britney also detailed how restrictive the conservatorship has become on her life.

“All I want is to own my money … and for this to end … and for my boyfriend to be able to fucking drive me in his car,” she added. “And honestly … I want to be able to sue my family … I have an IUD in my body right now that won’t let me have a baby and my conservators won’t let me go to the doctor to take it out. I wanna be able to get married and have a baby.”

After hearing the singer speak, a number of acts from the music world hopped on Twitter to express their support for Britney. In a pair of tweets, Halsey wrote, “I admire her courage speaking up for herself today.” Mariah Carey chimed in with her own words of encouragement, writing, “We love you Britney!!! Stay strong [heart emojis].”

You can read more tweets in support of Britney from the music world below.

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

In the last few months, a new side of Brian Williams has emerged — still calm and collected and professional, but also clearly angrier, awfully close to Done With It. The MSNBC anchor is no longer mincing words when it comes to the Trumpists who remain in power, from zinging Ron Johnson to christening Ted Cruz “Kremlin Cruz.” On Tuesday night, he came for Greg Abbott, and for good reason: The Texas Governor had just vetoed a bill meant to protect dogs.

Williams ended the night’s episode of The 11th Hour by slamming all those, like Abbott, who aspire to Trump status. “You can gaslight with the best of them, you can lie with impunity,” Williams said. “Generally the rule is: Say or do the most shocking thing imaginable, and that’s how you stay on brand.”

He then zeroed in on Abbott, who on Friday nixed a bipartisan bill known as The Safe Outdoor Dogs Act, which would have made it illegal to chain up dogs without leaving them without drinkable water, adequate shade or shelter. Abbott’s reasoning? He said that “Texas is no place for this kind of micro-managing and over-criminalization.”

The move led to a hashtag “AbbottHatesDogs.”

Williams theorized why: He was kissing up to noted dog-hater Donald J. Trump, whom he clearly idolizes. And he had a hilariously crude-yet-articulate way of taking him to the woodshed.

“His state doesn’t have a dependable power grid, and yet he’s going to build his own wall on the border. And he’s being richly rewarded by a visit from his guy, Trump, next week,” Williams told his audience. “If Abbott wants to, say, run for President, he must be more further ensconced in a particular area of Trump’s anatomy than even Ron DeSantis of Florida. And that won’t be easy.”

Williams wasn’t done. He claimed the “pretend outrage over Critical Race Theory helps Abbott.” Ditto the “voter suppression bill he’s working hard to enact.” Ditto the “constitutional carry” bill, or as Williams witheringly dubbed it, the “guns-for-everyone legislation.”

“Remember the rules: When you’re trying to appeal to that Trump base, nothing can be shocking or outrageous enough,” Williams concluded. “Because Abbott figures apparently dogs can’t vote. And really, what have dogs ever done for us?”

Of course, dog lovers vote, too, as well as people who just don’t like animals suffering.

You can watch the segment in the video above.

Ahead of the Olympics, USA Basketball will group some of the league’s best young players together on the Select team to workout and scrimmage against the Team USA roster that will go to Tokyo (that was finalized on Wednesday). While Gregg Popovich is at the helm of the main roster, the Select squad will be coached up by Heat coach Erik Spoelstra in his first role with USA Basketball.

“I really just want to be a part of the program,” Spoelstra told the Associated Press. “I’m always pushing myself to get better in the offseasons; I go visit people and all that stuff. This is going to be a basketball immersion. I mean, the dinners, the team meetings … for where I am right now in my career, I think this is the perfect thing for a summer of development.”

The Select roster has yet to be fully determined. So far, the only two players confirmed are Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards and Cavs guard Darius Garland. For them, it’s a win to get to work with a coach as good as Spoelstra for a stretch while getting to play five-on-five against some of the best players in the world. In 2019, the roster included players like Suns forward Mikal Bridges, Hawks forward John Collins, Hawks guard Trae Young and Kings guard De’Aron Fox.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr, Villanova head coach Jay Wright and former Hawks head coach Lloyd Pierce are the three assistants going with USA head coach Gregg Popovich to Tokyo, while Spoelstra will not. But it’s notable for longterm USA Basketball planning that Spoelstra, one of the country’s best basketball minds, is joining the program for the first time. Maybe Kerr or Wright will succeed Popovich for the next Olympic cycle, but perhaps Spoelstra is now on the path to one day get the job.

Blink-182 fans were hit with sad news Wednesday: Vocalist and bassist Mark Hoppus revealed he has cancer in a post to his Instagram Story. “For the past three months I’ve been undergoing chemotherapy for cancer,” he wrote. “It sucks and I’m scared, and at the same time I’m blessed with incredible doctors and family and friends to get me through this.”

He added, “I still have months of treatment ahead of me but I’m trying to remain hopeful and positive.” In a second photo he shared, Hoppus could be seen sitting at the doctor’s office with what appears to be an IV in his left arm, a PlayStation 5 controller near his left hand. He captioned the photo, “Yes hello. One cancer treatment, please.” Hoppus, who is only 49 years old, has yet to reveal what kind of cancer he has and what stage it’s in.

The news comes months after Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker confirmed the band would release an album at some point in 2021. He teased features from Lil Uzi Vert, Grimes, and Pharrell on the new project, which would be their first full-length release since 2019’s Nails. Get well, Mark.

You can view screenshots of Hoppus’ Instagram posts above.