Believe it or not, there WAS a time when “James Harden with beard” was “James Harden without beard.”

One look at James Harden without beard reveals why he grew the beard.

What in the world did we ever do prior to the existence of GIFs? Harden’s beard looks so life-like, you’d swear it was a living entity.

Check out this James Harden Beard GIF that details the growth of the most famous facial hair in the NBA and potentially in the world of sports.

And yes, I’m including former Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Brian Wilson in that statement, even though you probably forgot about him.

Actually the weirdest beard in all of sports probably belongs to Ohio State football coach Ryan Day. It looks like a glued a muskrat to his chin and dyed it in motor oil.

Harden’s beard has gotten progressively weirder, (detailed nicely by Yahoo here) to the point where it is now, akin to an overgrown jungle canopy.

RELATED – How Much Does Russell Westbrook Make – Per Game, Per Season, Per Minute?

Meanwhile, Harden’s beard is 100% natural a devoid of beard PED’s, something his MLB counterparts would have a hard time claiming.

At the same time his beard has taken shape, Harden’s faux-hawk has also progressed nicely, giving him a head shape that most of us would be proud to call our own.

There is a “Samson” joke in here somewhere, because the longer Harden has grown the beard, the more success he has enjoyed in his NBA career.

EXCEPT, in the playoffs when James Harden annually converts to his alter ego, James Soften:

Harden set a new standard of style with his beard. And he’s followed that up in ensuing years with fashion-forward/weird clothes and outfits that only Cam Newton can really appreciate.

What’s interesting though is the domain of the beard really belongs to Harden. Name another NBA player with a well-known beard? Or even facial hair.

Probably have to lump the Lakers’ Anthony Davis into this mix and his unibrow that he literally trademarked.

The Birdman Chris Anderson had a beard for a while. As did Dirk Nowitzki. But that’s really it.

But do you know what ISN’T over? James Harden’s career.

Since he forced his way out of Philadelphia via a trade to the Clippers, the former little brother of NBA basketball teams, the Clippers are currently a game out of the #1 seed in the Western Conference.

Harden discussed his fit with the Clippers back in November, which was a hot-button topic following the trade, infamously stating, “I’m not a system player, I am a system.”

Harden is playing 34 mpg which is the lowest since his OKC Thunder days.

But, he is contributing across the board with 17/8/5/1 and shooting a career-high 40% from three.

And most importantly, and surprisingly, teaming up (rather than ‘teeming’) with Russell Westbrook has exceeded anyone’s expectations other than their own.

Related NBA Content:

• Best Tall Freak: Manute Bol vs. Shawn Bradley vs. Gheorge Muresan vs. Rik Smits
• DRAM On LeBron James Sprite Cranberry Commercial, NBA2K, Legend Of “BubbaChuck” Allen Iverson
• Muggsy Bogues Height: Would He Be “Overlooked” In Today’s NBA?
• Best NBA Players Ever: Michael Jordan #1, Who Is #2?

The post James Harden Without Beard (GIF) appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.

To find the dirtiest NBA team and players we looked at personal foul data for the last 5 seasons. And it turns out the Detroit Pistons are the most foul/dirty team in the NBA.  #BadBoys

The average NBA player commits a foul every 13 minutes and five seconds, which means 11 fouls are committed each game.

We analyzed NBA teams’ performance over the past five years to identify who committed the most personal fouls, and divided this against playing time to reveal the dirtiest of the dirty.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. The Detroit Pistons committed the most violations, with a foul recorded once every 11 minutes and 19 seconds.

This is significantly higher than the league average offense frequency (one every 12 minutes) and is a far more disruptive performance when compared to the Pistons’ rivals the Chicago Bulls, who committed a foul once every 12 minutes and 17 seconds.

A personal foul is caused when a player makes illegal contact with another player on the court to block their movement, such as charging and blocking.

According to the NBA, infractions of the rules are taken very seriously and can lead to a loss of ball possession or free throws. If a player accumulates six personal fouls in a game, he will be disqualified from the game.

It’s also interesting to see which team is likely to be most affected by the NBA’s recent attempts to cut down on ‘flopping’, which sees players try to draw a charging violation on an opposing team. Those suspected of flopping will be penalized and fined up to $2,000.

The Phoenix Suns come in as the second most badly-behaved team with a personal foul every 11 minutes 24 seconds. The team have never won a championship, but with the removal of Deandre Ayton, who commits a foul on average every 10 minutes, they may have a shot.

Fans of the Minnesota Timberwolves will be disappointed to learn that after averaging a personal foul every 11 minutes 25 seconds they’re the third most disruptive team.

Interestingly, the Golden State Warriors – who won the 2022-23 NBA title- are in the top five teams for the unruliest players, reporting an offense every 11 minutes and 27 seconds.

The Top Ten Dirtiest Teams in the NBA

On the other end of the scale, the NBA’s best-behaved team is the Milwaukee Bucks, with a personal foul committed once every 12 minutes 59 seconds.

Following closely behind the Bucks is Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs as the second and third most not dirty teams, with a foul committed once every 12 minutes 58 seconds and every 12 minutes 57 seconds.

Who is the Dirtiest Player in The NBA?

We used the same methodology as we did for the dirtiest NBA team; the total personal fouls committed by each player divided by their playing time.

The worst-behaved NBA player is Dewayne Dedmon causing the most disruption over the last five seasons.

The former Philadelphia 76ers center committed a foul every 6 minutes and 27 seconds – compared to the NBA average of every 13 minutes

This is significantly higher than the average offense frequency committed across the NBA (once every 13 minutes and 5 seconds) and is more disruptive than the 76ers’ average offense rate of once every 11 minutes and 49 seconds.

The second most badly-behaved player is JaVale McGee who plays for the Sacramento Kings with a foul once every six minutes and 55 seconds.

The third-worst came out as Minnesota Timberwolves’ Naz Reid, with a foul every 7 minutes and 3 seconds.

Surprisingly, notorious bad boy Dillion Brooks only ranked as the 20th dirtiest player in the NBA.

The Top Ten Dirtiest Players in the NBA

Who Is The “Nicest” NBA Player?

The NBA’s best-behaved player is Tyus Jones, who plays for the Washington Wizards who reports 81% fewer personal fouls than NBA bad boy Dewayne Dedmon.

Following closely is Harrison Barnes who plays for the Sacramento Kings, while the third-least troublesome player is Derrick Rose of the Memphis Grizzlies.

Top 10 Cleanest NBA Players

The post The Dirtiest NBA Team And Player appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.

Here’s how dominant Michael Jordan was in every playoff series he was in and one statistical grouping why he is the GOAT:

– 45.2 PPG | 1988 R1 (W 3-0)
– 45.0 PPG | 1992 R1 (W 3-0)
– 43.7 PPG | 1986 R1 (L 0-3)
– 43.0 PPG | 1990 SF (W 4-1)
– 41.0 PPG | 1993 Finals (W 4-2)
– 39.8 PPG | 1989 R1 (W 3-2)
– 37.3 PPG | 1997 R1 (W 3-0)
– 36.8 PPG | 1990 R1 (W 3-0)
– 36.3 PPG | 1998 R1 (W 3-0)
– 36.0 PPG | 1996 SF (W 4-1)
– 35.8 PPG | 1992 Finals (4-2)
– 35.7 PPG | 1987 R1 (L 0-3)
– 35.7 PPG | 1989 SF (W 4-2)
– 34.3 PPG | 1993 R1 (W 3-0)
– 33.5 PPG | 1998 Finals (W 4-2)
– 33.4 PPG | 1991 SF (W 4-1)
– 32.3 PPG | 1995 R1 (W 3-1)
– 32.3 PPG | 1997 Finals (W 4-2)
– 32.2 PPG | 1993 CF (W 4-2)
– 32.1 PPG | 1990 CF (L 3-4)
– 31.7 PPG | 1992 CF (W 4-2)
– 31.7 PPG | 1998 CF (W 4-3)
– 31.3 PPG | 1992 SF (W 4-3)
– 31.2 PPG | 1991 Finals (W 4-1)
– 31.0 PPG | 1993 SF (W 4-0)
– 30.2 PPG | 1995 SF (L 2-4)
– 30.0 PPG | 1997 CF (W 4-1)
– 29.8 PPG | 1996 R1 (W 3-0)
– 29.8 PPG | 1991 CF (W 4-0)
– 29.7 PPG | 1989 CF (L 2-4)
– 29.6 PPG | 1998 SF (W 4-1)
– 29.5 PPG | 1996 CF (W 4-0)
– 29.3 PPG | 1985 R1 (L 1-3)
– 29.0 PPG | 1991 R1 (W 3-0)
– 27.4 PPG | 1988 SF (L 1-4)
– 27.3 PPG | 1996 Finals (W 4-2)
– 26.6 PPG | 1997 SF (W 4-1)

• Playoff series record: 30-7
• Finals record: 6-0
• Career average: 33.4 PPG

Michael Jordan is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time for several reasons.

He was an incredibly skilled and talented athlete who possessed a rare combination of speed, agility, strength, and precision. He had an unmatched ability to score, defend, rebound, and pass, and he played the game with a fierce competitive spirit and an unwavering drive to win.

Jordan’s career statistics are impressive, to say the least. He won six NBA championships, five MVP awards, ten scoring titles, and was a fourteen-time NBA All-Star. He holds the record for the highest career scoring average in NBA history, with an average of 30.1 points per game, and he was a ten-time NBA scoring champion.

Jordan’s impact on the game of basketball goes far beyond his individual statistics, however. He revolutionized the sport with his style of play, which combined athleticism, skill, and showmanship in a way that had never been seen before. He brought a level of excitement and energy to the game that helped to make basketball one of the most popular sports in the world.

Finally, Jordan’s success on the court was matched by his off-court accomplishments, as he became one of the most recognizable and influential athletes of all time. He used his fame and fortune to support a variety of charitable causes, and his personal brand remains one of the most powerful in the world of sports and beyond.

All of these factors contribute to Michael Jordan’s status as the GOAT or greatest of all time in the world of basketball. While there may be other players who have put up impressive statistics or accomplished great things on the court, Jordan’s combination of skill, style, success, and influence make him a truly iconic figure in the history of sports.

LeBron Vs. Jordan

Michael Jordan had an outstanding career in the NBA playoffs and NBA finals. Here are his career records in each:

NBA Playoffs:

Total games played: 179
Total points scored: 5,987
Career scoring average: 33.4 points per game
Total rebounds: 1,152
Total assists: 1,022
Total steals: 376
Total blocks: 158

NBA Finals:

Total games played: 35
Wins: 24
Losses: 11
Total points scored: 1,176
Career scoring average: 33.6 points per game
Total rebounds: 382
Total assists: 197
Total steals: 62
Total blocks: 42

Michael Jordan won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls, never lost, and was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player in all six of those championship series.

LeBron James’ career record in the NBA playoffs and NBA Finals are as follows:

NBA Playoffs:

Total Playoff Appearances: 16
Total Playoff Games Played: 266
Total Playoff Wins: 174
Total Playoff Losses: 92
Playoff Winning Percentage: 65.4%
Total Points Scored: 7,491
Total Rebounds: 2,337
Total Assists: 1,934
Total Steals: 445
Total Blocks: 246

NBA Finals:

Total Finals Appearances: 10
Total Finals Games Played: 51
Total Finals Wins: 28
Total Finals Losses: 23
Finals Winning Percentage: 54.9%
Total Points Scored: 1,717
Total Rebounds: 510
Total Assists: 523
Total Steals: 123
Total Blocks: 49
Total Finals Wins: 4
Total Finals Losses: 6

In closing. Michael Jordan = GOAT

The post LeBron vs Jordan = Who’s The GOAT? MJ and Here’s Why appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.

Being the cheapest NBA franchise to attend a game can be good for a few reasons. First, it can increase attendance at games as more people will be able to afford to attend. This can lead to a more lively and exciting atmosphere at the games, which can be beneficial for both the players and the fans.

Additionally, being the cheapest can also attract more casual fans who may not have been able to afford to attend games in the past.

However, there are also downsides to being the cheapest NBA franchise to attend a game. Firstly, it can be seen as a sign that the team is not performing well or is not as popular as other teams.

This can lead to a lack of excitement and enthusiasm among fans, which can be detrimental to the team. Additionally, being the cheapest can also lead to a lack of revenue for the team, which can be used to improve the team and make it more competitive.

The study by sports media company OhBets analyzed data from every NBA team, including the average cost of resale tickets, cost per oz of beer, the price of food, and the cost of parking per game.

The Indiana Pacers are the cheapest NBA team to follow this season, with a single game costing $165.17 in total at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Tickets cost $138 on average on resale, combined with $5.50 for a hot dog, $14.47 for parking, and $7.20 for 16 ounces of beer, making the Pacers the least expensive to follow this season.

The Oklahoma City Thunder come in a close second place on the list, with an average cost of $169.58 per game. Splitting this cost down means average resale tickets cost around $148, $6.08 for 16 ounces of beer, $5.50 for a hot dog, and $10 on average for parking at the Paycom Center. The team also has the cheapest beer in the top ten at $0.38 per ounce.

Coming in third place is the Detroit Pistons, with a total average cost of $173.62 per game at the Little Caesars Arena. Resale tickets cost, on average, $153, followed by $6.72 for a beer, $5.00 for a hot dog, and $8.90 on average for parking. According to the findings, the stadium has the joint cheapest parking on the list.

The San Antonio Spurs come in fourth place on the list, with a game at the AT&T Center costing $182.75 on average. This is broken down into $157 on average for a resale ticket, $8 for a beer, $2.75 for a hot dog, and $15.90 for parking at the stadium.

Rounding out the top five is the Houston Rockets. On average, it costs roughly $185.21 to watch the team play at the Toyota Center. This is due to resale tickets costing $159 on average, 16-ounce beers costing $10.56, hot dogs costing $6.75 on average, and parking priced at an average of $8.90.

• The Golden State Warriors are the most expensive NBA team to follow, with costs potentially adding up to $681.92 a game
• The Lakers and the Knicks take second and third, respectively

On the other hand, being the most expensive NBA franchise to attend a game can be seen as a sign of prestige and success. It can be viewed as a status symbol for fans to be able to afford to attend games, and it can also lead to higher revenues for the team.

Additionally, it can also lead to a more exclusive and upscale atmosphere at games, which can be appealing to certain fans.

However, being the most expensive NBA franchise to attend a game also has its downsides. First, it can make it difficult for some fans to afford to attend games, which can lead to a lack of attendance and a less lively atmosphere at games.

It can also lead to a perception that the team is only interested in making money and not in providing a good experience for fans. This can be detrimental to the team’s reputation and can lead to a lack of support from fans.

The study found that the Golden State Warriors were the most expensive team to follow, with a single game for the team costing around $681.92 in total at the Chase Center.

$611 is the average cost of a ticket for the team on resale, and this, combined with an $8.50 cost for hotdogs, $45.14 average on parking, and roughly $17.28 for 16 oz of beer, makes Golden State the most expensive team to follow this season. The team also had the most expensive cost per ounce of beer at $1.08.

The LA Lakers come in second place on the list, with an average cost of $551.89 per game at the Crypto.com Arena. This is split down into an average resale ticket cost of $518, $11.04 for a 16 oz beer, $6.75 for a hot dog, and $16.10 on average for parking per game for the California-based team.

Coming in third place is the New York Knicks, with a total average of $407.06 per game at Madison Square Garden. Resale tickets cost, on average, $346, followed by $13.76 for a beer at $0.86 an ounce, $9.00 for a hot dog, and $38.30 on average for parking.

The Boston Celtics come in fourth place on the list, with a game at the TD Garden Arena costing an average total of $351.76. This is made up of an average resale ticket cost of $303, $17.28 for a beer at $1.08 an ounce, $6.75 for a hot dog, and $24.73 for parking on average.

Rounding out the top five is the Brooklyn Nets, with an average total per game of $337.61 at the Barclays Center. Tickets on resale cost, on average, $283, followed by $12.96 for a 16 oz beer at $0.81 an ounce, $7.25 for a hot dog, and $34.40 for parking.

Commenting on the findings, a spokesperson from OhBets said: “With the price of resale tickets increasing year on year, and some costs doubling each season for certain teams, the NBA could become a very expensive league to follow. Without a season ticket, fans could have to miss out on big games in person, and staying home might become the first option for superfans of the sport.”

In conclusion, being the cheapest or most expensive NBA franchise to attend a game each has its pros and cons.

While being the cheapest can increase attendance and make it more accessible for fans, it can also lead to a lack of revenue and a perception that the team is not doing well.

On the other hand, being the most expensive can lead to higher revenues and a more exclusive atmosphere, but it can also make it difficult for some fans to afford to attend games and can lead to a perception that the team is only interested in making money.

That decision is made by the executives that make up the brands of each team – what do we value and what are we about? Whether you are the cheapest or most expensive NBA team, as long as what you are offering is in line with your brand promise, either way can work.

The post The Cheapest & Most Expensive NBA Teams to Watch in 2022-23 appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.

When I found out that the 4th ranked Purdue basketball team was headed just down the street from me to face the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Lincoln, my first thought was “I’ve got to go and check out that big dude.”

My second thought was, “Man I wish Gene Keady was still the coach so I could see him BLOW HIS STACK!”

My third thought was, “His last name is pronounced the way people always pronounce mine – we must be related!”

That “big dude” has a name and it is Zach Edey.

How tall is Zach Edey? Edey is listed as 7-4 and 290 lbs. He wears a size 20 shoe.

He isn’t just extremely tall, but he is legit BIG. Thick. You can’t push him around. No bean pole Shawn Bradley type.

I’ve always been enamored with the tallest basketball players in NBA history, as you can read here.

So was Zach Edey a Chuck Nevitt type? A large, space eating big man that alters shots, and occasionally blocks some, but doesn’t contribute offensively.

Was he a Manute Bol who exhibited the aforementioned defensive abilities and led the NBA in blocked shots multiple times, while sprinkling in some occasional offensive ability from behind the arc (before big guys EVER did that)?

A Gheorghe Mursean-esque big, that accumulates stats just by being literally head and shoulders above opposing defenders and offensive players?

Or was he a Rik Smits type of 7-4 big man that had robust offensive skills? A factor on both ends of the floor.

Seeing him in person made me realize he has elements of all the aforementioned players.

And is at an advanced stage of basketball IQ at this point in his development.

Because this generation of basketball is more wide open, run and gun, with a greater emphasis on getting into transition faster, his athleticism “dwarfs” the previously mentioned bigs.

Zach Edey was born on May 14th, 2002. If he would’ve been born in 20 years earlier, a player of his height and size would have been castigated every time he drifted outside the free throw line, or anywhere near it, on offense or defense.

At seven feet, 4 inches (and still growing) he is the tallest basketball player in Big Ten history.

The “biggest” thing I noticed about him was his impact on defense.

On the defensive side of the floor, his presence alone alters shots and offensive gameplans.

Every time a Nebraska player dribbled inside the three-point line, you could see them consciously think about where they were on the floor in relation to Zach Edey.

Not only is he long, but he is also extremely agile and athletic. That combined with his 7-foot-7 wingspan, he can cover a lot of ground quickly.

In the game I witnessed first-hand versus Nebraska, he had 7 blocked shots, a season high. And it wasn’t because he was trying to block everything. He really did a great job of playing within himself.

While I was watching, I kept thinking about about how even though he is an absolute beast on defense, you have to attack him like he’s 6-10.

Because if you don’t, it makes every other defender immediately better. It forces opposing teams to settle for three-point shots and shots from long range that they really don’t want and aren’t used to taking.

It took Nebraska’s offense most of the first half to decide to consciously attack him near the rim.

The first person that did was 6-9 inch center Derrick Walker.

One on one about 7 feet from the basket, Walker attempted a quick flip of a hook shot that was promptly swatted and led to a transition basket for Purdue.

Edey’s presence makes their team defense better by at least 40%. The only way you can see Purdue losing is by him getting in foul trouble.

Based on watching him in this game, he doesn’t get sucked into trying to “swat” shots. Or over commit on head fakes.

He literally doesn’t even have to jump to block shots. And if he isn’t leaving his feet, he isn’t going to accumulate stupid fouls.

Offensively, I was impressed by his ability to let the game come to him.

Facing constant double and triple teams, his vision and passing in the half court set created endless open shot opportunities for teammates. As soon as he received a pass, he was quick to send a skip pass and force the compromised defense to rotate.

His interior passing to other bigs on his team was also adept. Purdue runs everything on offense through him and you can see why.

I didn’t realize it at the time, but Edey’s 11 points versus Nebraska was a season low and the first time in 8 games he hadn’t scored 20+.

Big men also are traditionally not great free throw shooters. Now in his junior season, Edey is shooting 74% from the charity stripe.

His average for his career is 68% so you can’t employ the “Hack A Shaq” method that NBA teams used versus a physically dominant Shaquille O’Neal to neutralize him.

In 30 minutes per game, Edey is averaging 23 points per game, 13 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks.

So, how did Zach Edey get so tall? How tall are his parents?

Zach Edey’s mom, Julia, is 6 feet tall and was 5-9 by the time she hit ninth grade. Zach Edey’s dad, is listed at 6 feet 2 inches.

By comparison, Gheorge Muresan, the tallest player in NBA history, his dad is 5’9,” and his mom is 5’7″. Chuck Nevitt’s dad was 6-7 and his mom was a 6-footer.

Manute Bol’s mom was 6-10 and his dad was 6-8.

Rik Smits son is a 7-footer. Muresan’s son is a 7-footer.

So there is no rhyme or reason to how a person’s height is dictated by their parents. But it certainly doesn’t hurt to have tall ones.

But the unique thing about Edey is not just his height, but his diverse skillset. He impacts games on both ends of the floor.

Seeing him play in person, it is easy to see why you are watching a future #1 pick in the NBA Draft.

The post How Big Is Zach Edey? BIG AF! But Also “Highly” Skilled appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.

A Trae Young jersey has many variations. One of the reasons his net worth is so high. Not only is he a great player, but fans love him.

As evidenced by his ranking on the 2022 Top Selling NBA jerseys. A Trae Young Jersey is the 8th most popular jersey sold out of all NBA players.

The Trae Young jersey has even outsold players like Klay Thompson, Devin Booker, Anthony Davis, Joel Embiid, and Lamelo Ball.

The only 6 players that have sold more jerseys than Trae Young are LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, Luka Doncic, and Jayson Tatum.

Possessing limitless range, there isn’t a shot Trae Young can’t hit on or off the floor. His ascension since blossoming into a star in college at Oklahoma has only continued in the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks.

Young burst onto the scene at Norman North High School. He averaged 42.6 points per game as a senior and led the team to the state title game. He later signed with Oklahoma and led the NCAA in scoring and assists during his freshman season.

Young returned home to Oklahoma for his jersey retirement at Norman North High School.

Young celebrated the moment in style. He was joined by former teammates as his No. 11 jersey was officially raised to the rafters. The Hawks superstar told local reporters that he always dreamed of the special moment.

“It’s crazy as I was here not too long ago,” Young told reporters, via KFOR 4 sports anchor Dylan Buckingham. “I’m still playing and still in my career obviously. … For me to do this early is unbelievable, but I know I got a long way to go, and I am going to keep going.”

“I was working for this moment, but I never believed that it would come true like it is now,” Young said. “It came so quick, and I want to keep going and keep working.”

Whether you want some threads of his from college or a Trae Young NBA jersey, you can’t go wrong representing Ice Trae.

Trae Young’s rank as the 8th most popular, highest selling jersey, is the highest of his career.

Young is averaging 27.9 points, 9.5 assists, and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 45.6 from the floor and 37.2 percent from beyond the arc this season.

The assists and efficiency are career-highs along with his 90.7 percent mark at the free-throw line and 52.3 percent effective field goal percentage.

Much has been made of Young’s defense in his career and still as the team has struggled on this end this season. But his impact on offense is undeniable.

Trae Young Jersey sales have spiked this year.

The Hawks told Atlanta Business Chronicle that rookie-year Trae Young (who ranked No. 36 in jersey sales overall) helped lift the team’s total retail sales by 26% from 2018 to 2019, with the jersey sales bump “driving significant growth.” Jersey sales accounted for 19% of the teams total sales in 2020, compared to 10% in 2019, the Hawks said.

Trae Young Jersey Number is #11

How did Young get the number eleven? From an interview with NBA.com:

“My freshman year in high school I was #3 all the way up until then. I started getting my first offers from colleges. That next Summer I changed my number to 11 on my AAU team. And it just felt like everything was going great since I put on that number 11. And it has been going great ever since.”

These are my personal favorite Trae Young Jerseys:

Trae Young Peachtree Jersey/Peachtree Trae Young Jersey:

Trae Young MLK Jersey:

White Trae Young Jersey:

Trae Young Black Jersey:

Trae Young’s Net Worth 2022

In 2018, Trae Young signed a 4 year / $26,527,711 contract with the Atlanta Hawks, including $26,527,711 guaranteed, and an annual average salary of $6,631,928.

For the 2021-22 NBA season, Young will earn a base salary of $8,326,471, while carrying a cap hit of $8,326,471 and a dead cap value of $8,326,471.

At the conclusion of the 2022 season, Young’s net worth from his playing career will be $26,135,649. He will be a restricted free agent. That will be the end of his Entry Level/Rookie contract.

On 8/3/21, Young signed a contract extension for 5-years and $207 million dollars, the rookie maximum extension. Technically the base contract level is $172 million, but it includes a 30% escalator clause that boosts the value to $207 million if Trae makes one of the three All-NBA teams.

Just before being drafted in the NBA, Trae landed a brand deal with Adidas. The multi-year deal reportedly earns him a massive $1.8 million annually.

Young also signed endorsement deals with Old Spice, Bodyarmor, Tissot, Chipotle, eBay, Fortnite, and NBA2K. With all of his endorsements combined, Trae earns over $2 million annually.

Trae Young has a house in his home state of Oklahoma. Trae Young’s house is worth $1.5 million and features a living space of 8100 square feet.

Trae Young Knicks – Trae As The Ultimate VILLIAN

Trae Young has averaged 27.9 points, 9.2 assists and 3.4 rebounds in 14 games against the Knicks in his career. But those numbers do not reflect the agony he has inflicted on the souls of both Knicks players and fans. 

The hate goes back to the first round of the 2021 Eastern Conference Playoffs. Thanks to Ice Trae having a ridiculously good and hot-shooting series, the Hawks eliminated the Knicks after a brusining and hotly-contested five-game series.

Trae Young joined Michael Jordan as the only visiting players with 3 straight 30-point games at Madison Square Garden in the playoffs. Young averaged 29 points and almost 10 assists in the series vs the Knickerbockers.

In the elimination game, Young had 18 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter and ended what had been the Knicks’ best season in several years. 

In December of 2022, Adidas gifted Trae with some special edition shoes to really piss off Ne Yorkers. 

Young wore the adidas Trae Young 2 in a blue and orange colorway. The cherry on top was the slogan “King of Broadway,” printed on the heel of the shoe. As luck would have it, New York destroyed Atlanta, and Young did not play well.

But rest assured, Trae will be back in New York soon, splashing threes from just a step over midcourt.

The post Trae Young Jersey and Net Worth appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.

You don’t go to an NBA game to save money. But, what’s it gonna cost me to see a game and catch a buzz?

Looking at that data below, two things determine average ticket resale price – recent success and strength of brand.

For example, the Warriors are in full-fledged super team in dynasty mode. Which is why their tickets are the most expensive. And actually more than twice as expensive as the 4th place Boston Celtics.

The Lakers have sucked since their bubble championship. But, they are the Lakers, one of the most valuable sports franchises in the world. Which is why they are the second most expensive ticket to get. That plus seeing LeBron James in person, the best player in the world right now.

Another factor is population density of a specific NBA city. The smaller markets are cheaper.

The Indiana Pacers offer the cheapest priced tickets in the entire league at $138. The Oklahoma City Thunder are just above them at $148.

But what about beer prices? What team has the most expensive beers and what team has the cheapest?

The Warriors capitalize on having the most-expensive tickets by also charging the most for a beer – $17.28 for a 16 oz. That’s literally more than one dollar an ounce.

Cleveland is always thought of as a working-class city and their beer prices reflect this. At just $5.28 per 16 ounces, the Cavs have the cheapest beer in the NBA. Here’s to you, Cleveland.

Everyone looks better with a hot dog in their mouth.

Which team has the cheapest, and which team most expensive hot dog?

The San Antonio Spurs are the cheapest, charging a reasonable $2.75. The New York Knicks charge $9.00 for a hot dog. How is the sausage made, Mr. Dolan? Actually I would not be surprised to learn that James Dolan uses the profits from hot dog sales to fund his band, JD & The Straight Shot.

I need a parking spot and don’t want to get robbed. What’s it gonna cost me?

The Warriors have the most expensive parking rate, clocking in at just over $45. The Detroit Pistons and Houston Rockets are the cheapest in the NBA for parking, charging just $8.90.

So, what are the most expensive and cheapest cities to see an NBA game when you factor in the price of tickets, beer, a hot dog, and parking?

The Warriors are far and away the most expensive. You can plan on spending almost $700 to see a game and parking/imbibe on beer and hot dogs.

The Indiana Pacers are the cheapest. Checking in at “just” $138 dollars for the full experience.

Just like with having a kid, you don’t have a kid/ go to an NBA game to save money.

Check out the data below and have fun at the game!

The post Beer, Hot Dog, and Ticket Prices For Every NBA Team appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.

New research shows that some of the most famous NBA stars could be earning big from their social media posts. 

The study, conducted by odds comparison experts Sidelines.io, analyzed the Instagram follower counts and engagement rates of the biggest NBA stars to see who could be earning the most per sponsored post. The engagement rate refers to the percentage of a person’s followers that actively interact with their social media posts.  

Lebron James was the biggest earner on the list due to his huge 117 million followers on Instagram, which, combined with his 1.4% engagement rate, means that he could be earning around $310,673 for every sponsored post on the platform.

Lebron’s follower count is more than double anyone else on the list, highlighting his global influence, as well as each one of his posts on the platform averaging more than two million likes. 

Next on the list is Steph Curry, with 41,214,879 followers and an engagement rate of 1.42%, meaning he could earn around $109,212 per sponsored Instagram post.

Curry’s brand partnership page with Under Armour has also seen some influence on the social media platform, with the Curry Brand page amassing more than 318,000 followers since its introduction in late 2020. 

Russell Westbrook comes in third place on the list, with a follower count of 19,340,800 and an engagement rate of 0.93%, meaning he could receive around $51,251 for every sponsored Instagram post. His page also amasses an average of 180,000 likes per post. 

Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant also makes the top ten, placing in sixth. His 12,536,481 followers and 5.04% engagement rate mean he could be earning around $33,967 for every sponsored Instagram post. KD also has the highest engagement rate on the list with 5.04% and is known for his frequent social media use among other NBA stars. 

Sitting just behind in seventh place is Giannis Antetokounmpo, with 11,147,494 followers and a 3.01% engagement rate meaning the Greek star could see earnings of around $32,807 for every sponsored Instagram post. 

Chris Paul makes the top ten, coming in tenth place. With a follower count of 10,776,325 and despite having the lowest engagement rate in the top ten with 0.32%, he could still be earning around $29,432 for every sponsored post on his Instagram. 

In the top ten, the Lakers have two entries with Westbrook and Lebron, the Golden State Warriors have two with Klay Thompson and Steph Curry and the Nets have Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. 

Commenting on the findings, a spokesperson from Sidelines.io said: “It’s fascinating to see the appeal and influence of some of the league’s top players, and the fact they could be making big bucks off the court as well as on it.

With Lebron becoming the first NBA player to reach 100 million followers late last year, it highlights the potential for further global outreach of the NBA with many of his followers being across the globe.” 

The post What NBA Player Makes The Most On Instagram? appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.

The most popular NBA team in every European country

• The Golden State Warriors are the most popular NBA team in 12 countries in Europe, according to Google searches
• The Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls take second and third, respectively

New research has revealed the most popular NBA team in every European country.

The study by sports media company OhBets analyzed Google searches of all NBA teams in every European country to see which team was every country’s favorite.

It found that the Golden State Warriors are the most popular team across Europe, being the most searched in 12 countries. Notable countries where they are the most popular include Italy, where the team receives more than 77,000 searches; France, where they get 68,000 monthly searches; and Portugal, where they get more than 9,700 monthly searches. By comparison, Golden State are also the most searched team in the US, averaging around 3.4 million searches every month.

Following closely behind is the Milwaukee Bucks, being the most searched team in 11 countries. These countries include Germany, with roughly 42,000 monthly searches; Greece, with 21,000 monthly searches; and the Netherlands, where the team gets 17,000 monthly searches.

Coming in third place is the Chicago Bulls, who ranked as the most popular NBA team in eight countries. These include Poland, where the team gets more than 22,000 searches a month; Romania, where they get more than 4,400; and Hungary, where they get more than 4,100 searches monthly.

The Dallas Mavericks take fourth place on the list, being the most searched team in seven European countries. Most notable is Spain, where the team receives 52,000 searches a month, and Slovenia, where they receive roughly 47,000 searches a month.

The Denver Nuggets were the most searched team in 3 countries, giving them the fifth-place position. These countries were Serbia, where the team receives more than 25,000 searches a month, followed by Bosnia and Herzegovina, with 2,400 searches a month, and then Montenegro, where there are 1,100 searches a month.

The Boston Celtics were the most popular team in Ireland, with 15,000 searches a month, and Turkey, with more than 39,000 searches a month. The Cleveland Cavaliers were the most popular team in Finland, with more than 5,000 searches a month, and the 76ers were the most popular team in San Marino.

Commenting on the findings, a spokesperson from OhBets said: “The NBA has never been more popular globally, and it’s interesting to see the contrasting interest in different teams in Europe, as well as the fact that there isn’t one team dominating the entire continent based on popularity. We can also see that superstar European players are affecting their teams’ popularity in certain nations; for example, the Bucks being led by ‘The Greek Freak’ Giannis, and the Nuggets having Serbia’s Nikola Jokić, while Luka Doncic makes his Mavericks the most popular team in his native Slovenia, as well as in Spain, where he played for Real Madrid from the age of 13.”

The study was conducted by OHBets, which provides Ohio sports betting news, information, and exclusive promo codes for the state’s new, legal sports betting industry.

Methodology: We collected the average Google searches for each team for every month of the past year.

The post The Most Popular NBA Teams In Europe appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.

Which brings me to Twitter, the ultimate cesspool. Limitless burner accounts aimed at your head, saying whatever they want, but would never say in RL to your face.

The ultimate expression of the Shadow, perhaps in human history ever even beyond the Greater Twitter, is NBA Twitter. NBA Twitter is not a place you bring kids or people you love.

If NBA Twitter was a place it would be akin to Dave Chappelle’s skit, If The Internet Were A Real Place. It’s gross and nothing is what it appears. No one knows who you are so the Shadow can run amok, unchecked.

At any time you want, you can read the @ mentions of any account on Twitter. Take some time and read some NBA player’s @ mentioned and It is a great way to spend a Friday night.

Action Network scraped and analyzed more than 8.5 million tweets and conducted sentiment analysis using machine learning tools to determine the sentiment in a given tweet with a player mentioned.

Tweets sent were analyzed from first tip of the 2021-22 season, up until September 23 2022 – an entire season and most of the preseason.

• Marcus Smart received the highest share of negative Tweets. 41.03% of all Tweets directed towards him were deemed negative.
• LeBron James was Tweeted at the most. He had more than 704k Tweets mentioning him, with the highest number of negative messages (115,764).
• LeBron was also the target of most positive Tweets. He earned 249,086 positive Tweets throughout this time frame.
• Donovan Mitchell is the ‘least’ abused player in the top 50 in terms of the share of negative Tweets directed at him. He ‘only’ had a 24.32% negative sentiment rate.
• LeBron James, Ja Morant and Ben Simmons received a combined 326,160 negative Tweets. 21% of all negative Tweets reviewed were directed at these three players.

Players With the Highest Percentage of Negative Tweets:

Marcus Smart – 41.03%
Draymond Green – 38.27%
Bam Adebayo – 37.33%
Trae Young – 37.24%
Jimmy Butler – 36.7%
Ben Simmons – 36.63%
Chris Paul – 36.46%
Jaylen Brown – 35.35%
Rudy Gobert – 34.66%
Jayson Tatum – 34.63%

Players With the Highest Total Number of Negative Tweets:

LeBron James – 116,764
Ja Morant – 107,056
Ben Simmons – 102,340
Trae Young – 83,717
Kevin Durant – 80,545
Kyrie Irving – 72,710
James Harden – 72,290
Stephen Curry – 57,025
Chris Paul – 55,634
Jimmy Butler – 55,165

Players With the Lowest Negative Sentiment/Most Loved:

Donovan Mitchell – 24.32%
CJ McCollum – 26.27%
Giannis Antetokounmpo – 26.65%
Kawhi Leonard – 26.77%
Nikola Jokic – 27.19%
Darius Garland – 27.41%
Stephen Curry – 27.45%
Domantis Sabonis – 28.03%
Zion Williamson – 28.30%
Bradley Beal – 28.33%

Is it a shock to see “LeGM” atop this list? Not at all. The guy says anything he can to get attention. Speaking of attention seeking babies, I am shocked not to see Russell Westbrook on this list.

Particularly after this week, where he set the Lakers ALL-TIME franchise record for worst shooting percentage across two games at 14%.

Maybe he doesn’t have Twitter. IDK I can’t imagine his content other than his weird alien-looking face/body in weird suit-jackets with shorts trend I remember him rocking.

8.5 million tweets don’t lie. Neither does the ball – queue Rasheed Wallace.

The post Which Player Does NBA Twitter Hate The Most? (Hint: LeBron) appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.

The 2013 NBA draft is easily the worst NBA draft in history.

Just listen to these first 10 picks in order:

• Picked number one Anthony Bennett selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers
• picked number to Victor Oladipo by the Orlando Magic
• picked number three Otto Porter by the Washington wizards
• pick a number for Cody Zeller by the Charlotte hornets
• picked number five Alex Len by the Phoenix Suns
• pick six Nerlens Noel by the New Orleans Hornets
• picked number seven Ben McLemore by Sacramento Kings
• pick eight Kentavious Caldwell-Pope by the Detroit Pistons
• pick number nine reigning collegiate player of the year Trey Burke by the Minnesota Timberwolves
• pick 10 CJ McCollum by the Portland trail blazers.

Of those first 10 picks CJ McCollum of the Trailblazers is the only impact player.

Things get a little better when you get in to pics 11 to 20 but not much – Again, this is the WORST NBA Draft in history.

• Pick number 11 Michael Carter-Williams by the Philadelphia 76ers the one time NBA rookie of the year.
• Picked 12 is Steven Adams from OKC possibly the best player in this draft.
• Pick 13 Kelly Olynyk by the Dallas Mavericks still in the league is a valuable role player a seven footer that can really do at all.
• Pick 14 Shabazz Muhammad by the Utah Jazz.
• Pick 15 from the Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo. Yes I know the NBA loves him as he won the MVP award and the defensive player of the year award in 2020 but I still think he’s overrated.
• Pick 16 some guy name Lucas Noguera by the Celtics.
• Pick 17 Dennis Schroder drafted by Atlanta still an impact player in the league.
• Pick 18 undersized guard Shane Larkin as Atlanta takes back to back pics and point guards.
• Pick 19 from the Cleveland Cavs Sergey Karasev.
• And pick 20 Tony Snell from the Chicago Bulls.

The remaining 10 picks in the worst NBA draft ever in 2013 consist of a few players you’ve heard of, several you’ll have to Google.

• At pick 21 Gorjui Dieng for the Utah jazz defensive specialist
• 22 Mason Plumlee for the Brooklyn Nets paid
• 23 Solomon Hill for the Indianapolis Pacers
• pick 24 Tim Hardaway Junior goes to the Knicks
• Pick 25 Reggie Bullock goes to the clippers.
• Pick 26 defensive specialist Andre Roberson that’s what they say when a guy can’t shoot, goes to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
• 27 maybe the best player in the 2013 NBA draft the stifle tower Rudy Gobert taken by the Nuggets – do you remember that.
• Pick 28 never played in the league a typical Sacramento Kings pack Livio Jean-Charles. Never heard of them.
• 29 OKC takes Archie Goodwin.
• And the final pic of the first round in the worst NBA draft ever picked 30 goes to the Phoenix Suns Nemanja Nedović, plays a total of 142 NBA minutes.

Let’s go back to the number one overall pick. Typically any NBA draft is remembered by the number one pick. In this draft Anthony Bennett a Canadian player who went to the university Nevada Las Vegas was selected number one overall.

During his career he played just over 1900 minutes in the league, in 151 games just over 10 minutes a game and I’m not a big math guy. In terms of minutes played in this draft i think that’s a good way to assess how bad a draft is. The runaway leader by 1500 minutes is Giannis, followed by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope followed by CJ McCollum.

Of those top three Kala pub in McComb were selected in the top 10. Again using the first pic as a gauge Anthony Bennett played in 151 games, while some guy name Ray McCallum who was selected as a 36 overall pick play three more games than Anthony Bennett. Some guy named Joffrey Lauvergne picked #55 played 208 games. Even Mike Muscala picked #44 played 354 games.

Of the 60 picks in the first two rounds of the 2013 NBA draft, 16 players played one year or less in the NBA that’s almost 1/ third of the picks.

Another four players played a total of two years including Glen Rice Junior son of the original glen rice. So literally 20 of the 60 players taken played two seasons of NBA basketball or less.

Of the 60 players taken in the 2013 NBA draft only 10 players average double digit points throughout their career and Steven Adams is not one of them sadly.

Of all 60 players taking the 2013 NBA draft only one player averages double digit rebounds for his career and that’s the stifle tower rudy Gobert.

Sure the draft was just over seven seasons ago as I’m writing this in 2020 a couple days before the 2020 NBA draft. And while it may be premature to talk Hall of Fame who is going to be remembered from this draft and even have a prayer to be considered for the Hall of Fame?

For context, look at some of the great NBA drafts in history: 1984 NBA Draft, the 1985 NBA Draft, the 1996 NBA Draft. There will be no comparison to those drafts in this draft other than to talk about the extreme range of talent available from year to year in the NBA draft.

The only potential Hall of Fame player in this class is Giannis Antetokounmpo. My apologies to CJ McCollum and Rudy Gobert and Victor Oladipo.

Basically in the 2013 NBA draft if, it is those four players and then everybody else, the other 56 guys.

The only other thing about the 2013 NBA draft that is semi-interesting to me is that there are two former 90s NBA studs kids in this draft with Tim Hardaway Junior and Glen Rice. Somehow Tim Hardaway Junior is carved out a career in the league probably because he is about 8 inches taller than his dad.

So each year when the NBA draft looms on the horizon there’s questions about what is the best NBA draft in history and with so many great NBA draft of the past it’s hard to pick one.

But when the subject of the worst NBA draft in history comes up there’s literally only one that can be considered and that is this draft the 2013 NBA draft is the worst NBA draft in history.

The post The Worst NBA Draft In History appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.

Wiggins dunk on Luka was so ridiculous they called an offensive foul lol! Steve Kerr wisely challenged and the call was overturned.

Check it out:

Luka Doncic on Andrew Wiggins’ Q4 dunk over him: “That was impressive. I’m not going to lie. I saw the video again, and I was like, ‘Ooof.’ I wish I had those bunnies.”

He’s an idiot. He whines more than a 10-year NBA veteran. After every single possession he turns and looks at the ref, even more than LeBron James.

Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins on his poster dunk over Mavericks’ Luka Doncic: “They tried to take it away!”

Check out these before and after images of Wiggins dunk on Luka:

When asked for his immediate thoughts on throwing down a dunk like that, Wiggins replied:

“I was just feeling the energy. That was the main thing. When I seen the rim, that’s all I saw. They tried to take it away from me but Steve challenged it.”

What if Steve Kerr hadn’t challenged it?

“Nothing. I feel like that dunk would still be alive. I was surprised when I saw offensive foul called. I was like, “what the…” They tried to take it away but maybe they didn’t see it full through. That’s what the challenge is for.”

“Just staying locked in, staying aggressive. With every game, every series there is a different challenge. A different opponent. A different team. Not taking nothing for granted. Even how we are up now. The closeout games are the hardest. They aren’t going to go down without a fight.”

“Playoffs are different than regular season. Its way more detailed , more physicality. I love it, I feel like it brings out the most in everyone.”

Where do you rank that dunk on your Nasty List?

“I feel like I’ve got a lot of nice posters. I’ll let you guys decide, I don’t even know.”

Should they allow offensive charges on nasty dunks?

“Nahh! Unless it’s like blatantly obvious. Mine was a little tic-tac; it was nothing.”

The post Andrew Wiggins DUNKS On Luka Doncic appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.