Paolo Mariano Articles - Page 50

Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James have had a cushy relationship in recent years. After their acrimonious battles in the NBA Finals, where things got pretty heated in several instances between the two superstars, they have grown fond of each other. Still, Curry couldn’t help but laugh after […]

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant and Atlanta Hawks leader Trae Young are two of the most electrifying young stars in the NBA today. But aside from that, they have another thing in common: They were both not included on the final roster of Team USA for the Tokyo Olympics. While Young was named to the […]

Giannis Antetokounmpo went all The Incredible Hulk in the dying moments of Game 4 on Wednesday, helping the Milwaukee Bucks escaped a close one against the Phoenix Suns. But while The Incredible Hulk is cool, a more appropriate comparison for Giannis might be LeBron James, especially after he made a crucial block against Deandre Ayton […]

The NBA Finals hasn’t been in lacking in stellar individual performances. In Game 4 on Wednesday, Khris Middleton and Devin Booker both showed up to the match with one thing in mind: Get buckets. Middleton and Booker had a memorable scoring duel as the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns battled back and forth, with the […]

If there’s one guy who’s probably going to have a hard time sleeping tonight, it’s Chris Paul. The Phoenix Suns blew a nine-point lead in the fourth quarter, allowing the Milwaukee Bucks to steal Game 4 on Wednesday, 109-103. To do away with hyperbole, Paul was bad. The veteran floor general only finished with 1o […]

Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker continues to book himself—lame pun intended—into the NBA annals. After struggling mightily in their Game 3 loss against the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Finals, Booker woke up on Wednesday with vengeance in his mind. He exploded for 42 points in Game 4 on 17-of-28 shooting from the field. Because […]

Only three things are certain in life: Death, taxes, and NBA players getting linked to the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency. With the free agency frenzy fast approaching, more names are being thrown around as possible acquisitions of the Lakers to provide more help (haters trigger!) for LeBron James. Some are quite bogus, some […]

Jake Paul boldly proclaimed who Conor McGregor badly needs: Jake Paul. After McGregor suffered an unfortunate ankle injury against Dustin Poirier in UFC 264, Paul put The Notorious on blast, spewing NSFW remarks. Cover your ears, kids (via MMA Junkie). “I think the funny thing about this journey is I’ve predicted everything that’s happened thus […]

It has been a whirlwind week for LeBron James ahead of the much-anticipated world premiere of Space Jam: A New Legacy. Now that it’s over, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar can finally step back, breathe, and reflect on his latest accomplishment. Only a handful of athletes can claim that they starred in a blockbuster movie, […]

It’s pretty safe to assume that Dallas Cowboys star quarterback Dak Prescott is raring to get back on the field. He saw his last campaign cut short by a serious ankle injury, which needed two surgeries. Various reports have indicated that Prescott, who signed a huge contract extension last March, has been doing better than […]

Much has been said about the offseason plans of the Golden State Warriors. So, we’ll say more. It became apparent this season that the Warriors need extra scoring. While Stephen Curry showed his MVP form with otherworldly bucket-getting binges, the team still couldn’t get far. This offseason, finding more firepower might be one of the […]

Remember when many got worried for Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo after suffering a knee injury against the Atlanta Hawks? Yeah, that sounds funny now. Except if you’re a fan of the Phoenix Suns. Giannis has been having a historic run in his first NBA Finals stint, finishing with at least 40 points and 10 […]

Team USA bounced back in convincing fashion after blowing out Argentina, 108-80 in their exhibition match on Tuesday, avoiding what could’ve been an embarrassing 0-3 hole. After back-to-back losses to Nigeria and Australia, Team USA was eager to silence the critics, and Gregg Popovich and his wards did it right from the onset. They erected […]

It’s widely known that Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo have developed a close relationship. They’re the BFFs on the Miami Heat. They’ve found kindred spirits in each other with their same competitiveness, edge, and tough background growing up. Even in the offseason, they do things together. And of course, nothing says South Beach than a […]

Magic Johnson will forever be one of the greatest players in NBA history. His place in league lore will always be celebrated and respected. The same, however, couldn’t be said when it comes to Magic’s social media presence. Case in point: His recent Twitter post showing him hanging out with Brooklyn Nets star James Harden […]

Another exhibition game, another shocking loss for Team USA. For the second straight time, Kevin Durant and company dropped a tuneup contest, losing to Australia, 91-83 on Monday. While it wasn’t as surprising compared to the defeat to Nigeria last Saturday, it still doesn’t bode well for Team USA to struggle against lower-ranked teams heading […]

After a stirring run to the NBA Finals last season, the Miami Heat were sent crashing back to South Beach in this year’s NBA Playoffs. They got swept by the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round and are now left looking for answers in the offseason. The Heat are expected to make major moves to […]

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is sure making the most out of his extended rest. Quite rightfully so. After back-to-back grueling seasons, The King is welcoming the time off, arguably his longest one since his rookie year. LeBron is enjoying his relaxation time in Puerto Rico, hanging out with local rapper Bad Bunny, as […]

It wasn’t the brightest of days for the Phoenix Suns on Sunday as they dropped Game 3 against the Milwaukee Bucks. With star guard Devin Booker struggling to hit his shots, the Suns absorbed a 120-100 blowout defeat to Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks. While the loss was painful, Suns coach Monty Williams could find […]

Team USA forward Jayson Tatum could be replaying in his head the images of their shocking defeat to Nigeria in their exhibition game last Saturday. It’s only Team USA’s third defeat since 1992 so it was a huge reality check for coach Gregg Popovich and his boys ahead of their stint in the Tokyo Olympics. […]

The rumor mill keeps on grinding for the Golden State Warriors. Most recently, it was Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love who got linked to joining Stephen Curry and the Warriors. Now, another veteran All-Star has been thrown into the mix of possible offseason acquisitions. The Warriors, who have missed the NBA Playoffs for back-to-back seasons, […]

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo gave up an extended offseason rest to join Team USA for the Tokyo Olympics. Since the Heat’s exhausting NBA Finals run last season, Adebayo has hardly had time to rest. But playing for the flag for the first time was too big of an opportunity to pass up. He’s also […]

Cleveland Browns star Odell Beckham Jr. is one of the more outspoken guys in the NFL today. He’s never been shy in expressing his thoughts, from the mundane to the profound. Beckham, however, also has a penchant for making people decipher the inner workings of his brain. On Wednesday, he posted another cryptic message on […]

Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal is clearly one of the most coveted guys this offseason. The rumors of him going elsewhere have been swirling throughout the season. Curiously, the team of his childhood friend Jayson Tatum is also looking to make changes after a string of disappointing exits. The Boston Celtics have already traded guard […]

It’s James Harden’s world and we’re all just living in it. The Brooklyn Nets star continues to live his best life by attending the annual Paris Fashion Week along with rapper Lil Baby. But while it’s the designers and models who usually get the spotlight in the event, Harden and Lil Baby suddenly found themselves […]

LeBron James has always championed his fellow athletes. He’s been at the forefront of individual empowerment in sports and he’s done it in a variety of ways. On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Lakers main man celebrated tennis superstar Naomi Osaka after the trailer for her new documentary series on Netflix was released. LeBron called the […]

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker is one of the most stylish guys in the NBA. He usually arrives in games wearing the latest drips. But in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday, Booker upped the ante a bit more. He rolled up to the Phoenix Suns Arena in a new black car, flexing […]

In an unexpected twist, pun intended, of events, Giannis Antetokounmpo suited up for the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday. Many observers thought Giannis would sit out the first few games against the Phoenix Suns after hyperextending his knee in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Atlanta Hawks. But lo […]

Chris Paul and the Phoenix Suns took care of business in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks, 118-105. Paul didn’t disappoint in his first game in the Last Dance, putting up a game-high 32 points on a marvelous 12-of-19 shooting from the field. He also added four rebounds and nine assists […]

Los Angeles Lakers big man Andre Drummond, like millions of people, are tuned in to the NBA Finals between the Phoenix Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks. And just like everyone, Drummond also gave his bold prediction for the outcome of the best-of-seven series. Because it wouldn’t be fun without making fearless forecasts, right? While Chris […]

Deandre Ayton continues to grow up right before our eyes. In his first stint in the NBA Playoffs, Ayton has done a marvelous job for the Phoenix Suns, showing the grit of a seasoned veteran. In Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday, Ayton showed why young punks like him […]

Hobbled by an injury or completely healthy, Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo will look to continue his dominance of the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Finals. In their two meetings during the regular season, Giannis averaged exactly 40.0 points against the Suns. With this, he joined Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Shaquille O’Neal […]

ESPN reporter Rachel Nichols on Monday broke her silence on the entire fiasco involving her and colleague Maria Taylor. In an episode of The Jump, a somber-looking Nichols apologized for her seemingly racist comments on Taylor. She also expressed her gratitude to ESPN for the opportunities given to her. While several NBA players sided with […]

The fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree. Or in this case, far from the basketball rim. Former NBA player Melvin Booker, the father of Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker, showed he still has the moves. In a short clip posted by The Undefeated’s Marc J. Spears on Twitter, the older Booker was playing in […]

Metta World Peace will be forever remembered as a guy who helped the Los Angeles Lakers win the NBA title in 2010. He will also be forever remembered for his role in the unfortunate Malice at the Palace in 2004. Not many, however, will remember World Peace as one of the up-and-coming stars of the […]

LeBron James is making the most out of the offseason after the Los Angeles Lakers’ exhausting two-year run. He hardly had time to fully recover after they won the NBA title last year and it surely showed this season. Perhaps for the first time in his durable career, LeBron showed signs of slowing down. But […]

OK, it’s not an actual club, but an elite one nevertheless. After his memorable run in his first NBA Playoffs, Atlanta Hawks star guard Trae Young joined Los Angeles Lakers main man LeBron James as the only players to achieve a very specific feat. Young averaged 28.8 points and 9.5 assists in 16 postseason games, […]

Former UFC star John Dodson and his family survived a near-fatal car accident last Friday. They were on their way to Texas for a vacation when the incident occurred. Fortunately, they were all safe. But because of the accident, Dodson was forced to withdraw from his XMMA fight against Cody Gibson on July 30. This […]

The Kemba Walker Experiment didn’t exactly work for the Boston Celtics. Now, the team has a gaping void at the point guard with the exit of Walker. Many names have been floated around to replace Walker, including top-tier guys Damian Lillard and Ben Simmons. But according to an observer, the Celtics, with new coach Ime […]