For reasons unknown, the way this site is set up when you hover over the tabs above, you'll only see the subpages. It's not readily obvious that you have to double click on the "I Love" page itself to go to the home page of that particular subject. You should visit that page before reading these sub stories

NBA News

This was a part of every single HoopLA episode to keep everyone abreast of what's going on in the association. These don't always require extensive commentary on my end, if I say anything at all. But there's always a lot going on in the league aside from just regular basketball games. I kinda miss this shit. I had a knack for finding stories for my podcasts that may not have been the biggest stories, so everyone following hoops may not have heard about them. Like a story one time about a hotel in OKC that many players were convinced was genuinely haunted. Or a story of a player's ankles being debrided, which created all sorts of ongoing hilarity. It was fun and always entertaining. These (might not) be to that extent, but the NBA is always fucking entertaining if you pay attention

Get Well Soon Pop

Pop has missed most of the season, and is said to have suffered a stroke on 11/2/2024. Damn. But around mid-December he did release a statement that shows that Pop is still Pop, and that's always a good thing:

"This has certainly been an unexpected six weeks for my family and me. As we work together on my recovery, I want to take a moment to share that the outpouring of support we've received during this time has been truly overwhelming in the best possible way. While I wish I could get back to each one of you, for now, let me say that my family and I are forever grateful. We're thankful for our wonderful community, the entire Spurs organization, and our family and friends.

No one is more excited to see me return to the bench than the talented individuals who have been leading my rehabilitation process. They've quickly learned that I'm less than coachable."

Lol wishing you the speediest of recoveries sir

Dude, what's up with Jimmy?

I mean, yeah, I got league pass so I've been watching Heat games, and I knew he was sick. Well, let me rephrase. They claaaaaaimed Jimmy was sick

Then there was Jimmy's controversial postgame conference, which I did not see. So it really caught me the fuck outta the blue when, on 1/3/2025, I got a bleacher report notification that the Heat have suspended Jimmy for seven games and are looking to trade him. So as my journalistic ways developed from years of doing an NBA podcast compelled me to do, I read up on the whole story

That was where I found out about the postgame conference, and that the organization was only responding to his loud request in said postgame conference to be traded. Following the Heat's loss to Indiana on 1/2/2025, when asked what he wants to see happen:

"What do I want to see happen? I want to see me get my joy back from playing basketball and wherever that may be, we'll find out pretty soon. I want to get my joy back. I'm happy here off the court, but I want to be back to somewhat dominant, I want to hoop and I want to help this team win. Right now, I'm not doing that."

You may be thinking what I was thinking when I read that. That doesn't sound like he explicitly wants out of Miami. I think the reporters thought the same thing, because the follow up question was did he believe he could get that joy back in Miami:

"Probably not"

Oh shit, well I guess Jimmy wants out of Miami. The article continues to enlighten us:

It has apparently been a similar story behind the scenes, as ESPN reported Butler has indeed indicated to the Heat he wants a trade. He reportedly did not provide a list of preferred destinations and is open to playing anywhere. There are no plans for a holdout, however.

Ok, so the headline is making much more sense now. The Heat's statement:

"We have suspended Jimmy Butler for seven games for multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team over the course of the season and particularly the last several weeks"

Oh shit, OVER THE SEASON?! AND particularly the "last several weeks". So this has to be more than just the postgame conference. It seems like that was more the straw that broke the Riley's back. Yeah Jimmy was sick my ass. Turns out he was sick alright.....sick of being in Miami!!!! And y'all know Riley don't play this kinda shit

But here's my question. Why does this always seem to happen exactly like this at the end of his time with every single team JB's ever been on? Like, at what point do you take note that you're the common denominator here, and start to think 'maybe I'M the problem'?

Update: 1/26/2025

Uh oh. Jimmy might need an intervention. Four days ago, the Heat announced another suspension for Jimmy. This time two games for missing the team flight

It didn't dawn on me until I saw the headline for this particular article, that I don't think I've ever heard of any professional player missing their team flight. This may happen more than I remember. Or it may happen more than we're told. In either case, this is a pretty rare feat in the NBA. So Jimmy appears to REALLY be fuckin up. The Heat's statement on this suspension:

"We have suspended Jimmy Butler for two games for continued patter of disregard of team rules, insubordinate conduct and conduct detrimental to the team, including missing today's team flight to Milwaukee"

Once again, all of this screams out missing the flight wasn't an isolated incident. It sounds like he's doing the same shit he was said to be doing at Minnesota practices when he wanted to be traded. And insubordination has to mean he's been verbally challenging Spoelstra's game plan and instruction, also just as he started doing in Minnesota

Their statement listed several things and then added "INCLUDING missing today's team flight to Milwaukee". It's again the straw that broke the Riley's back. And if Jimmy isn't careful, they'll ship his ass out to somewhere like Washington or Utah for like $39 and a Snuggie, just to get rid of him and all his pralems

Come get y'all play cousin

Oh Shit! NBA News: Bradley Beal, Nurkić Reportedly Will Be Removed from Suns' Starting Lineup

'scuse me while I grab my popcorn. Good. Anything to avoid Durant having any success. As a Thunder fan, I've moved on from KD's running to the enemy back in 2016, but I certainly haven't forgotten!! He's still a biatch and when he sees this he will UNDOUBTEDLY respond! And you see he has had zero success since leaving the Warriors. But anyway. This ain't about KD. These two former Suns starters were replaced by a rookie and a veteran. From this Bleacher Report article:

Haynes added that there's "tension" in the Suns locker room, with players who are "unsure of their roles and frustrated with how they're being used" and a coaching staff that is "still figuring things out."

This part interested me not for the reason you may think. Well, not entirely for the reason you may think. I do like the drama, I won't lie. But it got me for another reason

Those of us who follow the league know how it goes. Whenever a team is underachieving, the blame game rules always dictate that the coach is the first to go. Those of us who follow the league know this, so I'm quite sure coaches know this too. More specifically, Phoenix coach Mike Budenholzer knows this very well, after getting the axe in Milwaukee for this very reason, after leading the Bucks to a title just two seasons prior

So follow my logic on this. Coach Bud has to be thinking, "ok, I'll be the first one to get canned by management and it could legit be any day now. Let me get ahead of this thing and show them I'm making drastic changes in hopes that it will extend my time to "figure things out"."

In a sense, he's saying (in a way) that Nurkic and Beal are the reasons the team is underachieving. Of course no player wants to hear that and will be pissed off in doing so. But that's kinda his point. No matter who he picked to put it off on, they'd be pissed. But coach can't put it on himself because he's already the scapegoat, and as such, he's got 2 3/4 strikes as the easiest target on the team. Coaches rarely make drastic changes like this aside from the playoffs, so I can't be convinced that his Milwaukee exit doesn't play at least a part in the decisions he makes in Phoenix. He has to know he's alienating two of his stars with this move, so it'll be interesting to see how everyone involved, including the new replacement starters, will respond

Gonna definitely start watching a lot more Suns games now. Shit, that means I gotta watch KD again. He's lucky my journalistic integrity outweighs my, uh, distastes for him. Speaking of KD

Kevin Durant vs Kendrick Perkins; Approx Round 12

Ok so this one is actually funny to me more than anything. I like Perkins and his hard-hitting analysis on ESPN's NBA Today. I don't always agree with him, but who the fuck ever agrees with everything anyone else says? Especially in sports. I don't have to agree with you to respect you and your POV. Perkins also played for the Thunder at one point in his career after I became a fan of them. In our earlier episodes of HoopLA, Kendrick was dubbed the most superfluous starter in the NBA

It should be well known at this point I DO NOT like KD. He's a decent player but I think he's way too emotional, and he too often allows petty things to really affect his game. After all these years of being rich and famous, he still hasn't figured out that he really doesn't have to respond to every single statement made about him

In this case though, KD wasn't responding to something said about him as much as he was responding to the something that was just said. It all started earlier this month, February 2025, when Perkins claimed:

Kendrick Perkins says he was the real leader of the Thunder

"It doesn't mean your best player is your leader. When I was on the Thunder, it wasn't KD, it wasn't Russ (Westbrook), it wasn't James (Harden), I was the one leading."

Do I agree with Perk? Fuck if I know, I'm only a fan of the team. I wasn't actually there. I do agree that your best player isn't always necessarily your leader. But I have zero idea of what happened in the locker room at that time. And I honestly don't care. None of these niggas won SHIT in OKC, so I don't know what they call themselves bragging about being the leader of that team anyway

My interest in this is due to their previous back and forth. So after Perkins made those claims, KD took to X (formerly known as Twitter, that for some reason every journalist feels they have to write it like that) to express his thoughts after replying to the NBA Central post stating Perk's quotes:

"I know this may be a reach, but this comment is by far the craziest shit I've seen this week"

I have no choice but to admit that I actually lol'd at that

Durant and Perk were teammates from the 2010-11 season through the middle of the 2014-15 season in OKC, and if you follow the sport, you know they've had several disagreements since then. One of their most famous back and forth arguments was in 2020 on X (formerly known as, shut up!):

Perk: KD lost in the second round without Russ when I was there. So what that mean?

KD: Yea and our starting center @KendrickPerkins averaged a whopping 2 and 3 during that series. U played hard tho champ lol (point KD)

Perk: Boy stop you did the weakest move in NBA History!!! Up on a team 3-1 in the western conference finals and then go join them the following season?! Heart of Champion right there (point Perk)

KD: Weak is starting at center, playing real minutes with no production. Should've worked on your skills as much as I did (booooo, no point for KD)

Perk: That's fine!!! You worked that hard and still had to go join a 73-9 team. Truth be told you don't even feel like a real Champ, you have hard time sleeping at night huh knowing that you took the coward way out!!

Game. Set. Match. Perkins

Regarding this last statement of KD's, well Perk hasn't responded. And he may not because, unlike KD, he's learned he doesn't have to respond to every single statement made about him

Jimmy Butler Traded to Golden State

After suspending Jimmy two mo 'gins after the part written above, Miami was ready to deal him for some Applebee's gift cards and a six-hour rental of a bouncy house. Fortunately for them, they found a suitor. Here's the specifics (and it's a lot):

Miami gets: Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson and a 2025 protected first round draft pick from GS, and Davion Mitchell from Toronto

GSW gets: Jimmy Butler (signed two-year, $111 million extension)

Detroit gets: Dennis Schroder, Lindy Waters II, Milwaukee's 2027 second-round pick (via Philadelphia), Dallas' 2031 (smh) second-round pick (via Philadelphia)

Philadelphia gets: $8 million traded player exception (so they didn't really get shit, aight then)

Toronto gets: PJ Tucker, 2026 second-round pick (from the Lakers, via Miami; for the love of fuck. There's an entire like couple of aspects of the NBA I don't get at all, and I don't even try at this point)

Utah gets: KJ Martin, Josh Richardson, 2028 second-round pick (what do they just throw a dart on a board and whatever year they land on that's the pick they request? smh), 2031 second-round pick

Good for Miami for ridding themselves of someone who had become a pain in the ass. I really don't think JB is going to do much in GSW, and it's only a matter of time before we wants out of San Fran too. And Steve Kerr struggled with a drunk ass Draymond at the parade after they won their first ring, what's Kerr going to do when JB starts acting out?

Other Notable Trades Before the 2025 Trade Deadline

Brandon Ingram to Toronto

Pelicans Get: Bruce Brown Jr, Kelly Olynyk, Indiana's 2026 first-round pick (top-four protection through 2027), 2031 second-round pick

Raptors Get: Brandon Ingram

De'Andre Hunter to the Cavs

Hawks Get: Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, 2026 first-round swap (least favorable from Cleveland, Utah and Washington), 2028 first-round swap (least favorable of Cleveland and Utah), 2027 second-round pick, 2029 second-round pick, 2031 second-round pick

Cavs Get: De'Andre Hunter

I think Cleveland REALLY wanted Hunter

Mark Williams to the Lakers, but the Trade was Cancelled

The deal specifics don't matter because Mark Williams failed his physical, so the deal was cancelled, returning all players involved to their original team

Bogdan Bogdanovic to the Clippers

Hawks Get: Bones Hyland, Terance Mann (ATL is quietly stacking pieces)

Clippers Get: Bogdanovic, Minnesota's 2025 second-round pick, Memphis' 2026 second-round pick (protected Nos 43 to 60), 2027 second-round pick (their own)

Cody Martin to the Suns

Hornets Get: Jusuf Nurkic (well that didn't long), 2026 first-round pick (least favorable from Memphis, Orlando, Phoenix, and Washington)

Suns Get: Cody Martin, Vasilije Micic, 2026 second-round pick (less favorable from Denver and Golden State)

De'Aaron Fox Traded to Spurs

Spurs Get: De'Aaron Fox, Jordan McLaughlin

Kings Get: Zach LaVine, Sidy Cissoko, 2025 Chi first-round pick, 2027 SAS unprotected first-round pick, 2031 MIN unprotected first-round pick (what's with all the 2031 picks?), Three second-round picks (2025 Chi, 2028 Den, 2028 own)

Bulls Get: Zach Collins, Tre Jones, Kevin Huerter, own 2025 first-round pick back from Spurs

Marcus Smart to Washington

Grizzlies Get: Marvin Bagley III, Johnny Davis, two second-round picks

Kings Get: Jake LaRavia

Wizards Get: Colby Jones, Alex Len, Marcus Smart, Memphis' 2025 first-round pick, Sacramento's 2028 second-round pick

Jonas Valanciunas Traded to Kings

Kings Get: Jonas Valanciunas

Wizards Get: Sidy Cissoko (waived), Denvers 2028 second-round pick (top-34 protection), Sacramento's 2029 second-round pick

There were also several other trades that no one really gave a shit about, but you can find them if you're interested here

Ben Simmons Signs with the Clippers After Nets Buyout

Back when I was podcasting, my sister dubbed the Clippers, "The NBA Graveyard: Where careers go to die"

And if you know anything about Ben Simmons, you have to admit it's pretty fitting here. Simmons, the 2016 number one overall draft pick, really hasn't done shit since entering the league. He left Philly, the team that drafted him, after not being able to handle being talked about when he doesn't deliver. The man has been in Brooklyn for several years, and you can count on one hand how many games he's played

The Clippers will no doubt be his final team, ultimately making my sister's words from years ago still relevant today

The WNBA's Fight for Better Pay

I touched on it somewhere on this site where I talked about their inexpensive WNBA League Pass, but I don't think I knew the severity of how lopsided it is. I didn't know it was a situation of even the biggest names in the WNBA need to play oversees in the off season to make ends meet

Early November 2024, I came across this article after one of my favorite players in the league, Jonquel Jones (pictured above), made an appearance on The Pivot Podcast and shed some light on her reasons for taking up international contracts. She noted that the WNBA, despite its progress, still has room for improvement

"Financially, it's good, but it could be better", Jones stated, addressing her $208,075 annual contract with the Liberty. She explained that even with her WNBA salary and sponsorships combined, her income abroad outpaces what she earns in the U.S., driving her to continue signing with teams in South Korea, Russia, and Turkey

Damn. I did not know that. And I've seen Jonquel on a buncha "like a good neighbor, State Farm is there" commercials. And don't forget this woman is now a WNBA champion. You're telling me that COMBINED her WNBA salary and endorsements in America don't bring in as much money as playing in South Korea, Russia and Turkey? Whaaaat the fuck is that about? I'm sorry, but those countries are almost considered 3rd World Countries compared to the US (I said, ALMOST; unclinch your ass cheeks). There is no way in hell our American female hoops players should have to go ANYWHERE else to earn a better living. Do better 'Merica!

The article continues to enlighten me:

Many WNBA players, like Jones, take on international contracts due to the financial rewards that simply aren’t available within the league. How the fuck are those financial rewards not available for these women in the wealthiest country in the world? Jones shared that even though she’d prefer to remain in the U.S. with her family as she should be able to do, the income disparity makes overseas play a necessary choice. Other players, such as Brionna Jones, have echoed these sentiments, pointing out that a single month’s pay abroad can surpass an entire WNBA season’s salary Wait, what? Are you fucking kidding me? There is no excuse for this! The guys don't ever have to worry about this. Not only is there a lucrative NBA league, but there's also the bridge G-League to make it to the NBA. The main women's hoops league in itself doesn't pay the bills, and they don't even have a development league. This is absolute bullshit!

I told y'all on the WNBA page that the ladies could face a lockout due to the CBA expiring. The WNBPA announced plans to renegotiate the CBA. Here's a tiny bit more info on that:

The WNBA Players Association (WNBPA) is making moves to address this issue, with president Nneka Ogwumike recently announcing plans to renegotiate the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). This decision reflects the players’ demand for a model that compensates them fairly in line with the league’s growth, which has seen a 170% increase in viewership on ESPN. The union is calling for comprehensive changes, including better pay, retirement benefits, and family support options.

I feel like such an out of touch asshole for just assuming the ladies already had all of this. I knew it wasn't as much as the guys get, but I thought they had all the basics already in place

Breanna Stewart, another Liberty star, remains optimistic about the future, expressing her hope for a more equitable CBA that could bring salaries to a level competitive enough to keep players in the U.S. Jones, too, envisions a day when players can stay stateside without sacrificing financial stability, allowing them to thrive both on and off the court. With growing support, WNBA players are determined to create a future where they no longer need to seek opportunities abroad, and the league’s next steps in the CBA negotiations will be crucial in making this vision a reality

Wow, fight on ladies. I'll definitely do all I can. They have also started this three-on-three league called Unrivaled, with a lot of players from the WNBA comprising the rosters, that you guys should really be checking out. Just yesterday, 2/15/25 right before the NBA All-Star Saturday night festivities, they had the semi-final and finals of a 1 vs 1 tournament I didn't even know about. The games were to 11 with a you make it you take it rule (simply meaning if you score, you get to keep the ball). There was also one grown ass dude on either sideline that was the "clear" person once they got a rebound. They would pass it to the outlet person to clear the ball, and that person would pass it back to them and they would start their offensive move. It was cool. Later last night I got a BR notification about the winner of the apparent 2 vs 2 tournament the same league had. I didn't know about it or I would have watched. I think it's some very cool things they're offering to get us to watch more ladies hoops, and I am all the way fucking here for it

Let's support em y'all

Grizzlies Fire Head Coach Taylor Jenkins

March 29, 2025

Ok, first off let me say if I was owner of the Grizzlies, I would have fired this dude after this picture was taken (who knows, maybe they did). You would never see Mark Daign--

Anyway, it wasn't just him apparently. His assistants Noah LaRoche and Patrick St Andrews were also let go, which is a bit unusual. And it was with only nine games left in the season. And it's not like the Grizz were underachieving. They currently sit at #5 in the once again challenging west with a solid 44-29 record, they've locked in a playoff spot, and at the time of this writing at least, they've even managed to avoid the play-in tournament (after missing the playoffs altogether last season). I swear I really don't understand these moves sometimes

Assistant Coach Tuomas Lisalo will take the lead. Never heard of him? Me neither. But in reviewing his shorthand resume I think I see what the owner was looking to go with. I don't know what nationality the Memphis Grizzlies owner is, but I'm betting they're not American

We'll see what happens in Memphis come playoff time

KD Gets Hurt Against Houston

March 31, 2025

I was actually watching this game live last night when this happened. Earlier in the game, Houston's "Villain" Brooks struck again. This dude is an absolute prick, who specializes in getting under people's skin. This particular action got him tossed from the game though

There was a full moon or some shit yesterday in the NBA. Dillon's little outburst came after the big fight in the game I happened to be watching earlier, between Detroit and Minnesota. That fight saw several players ejected as well as a couple of coaches. Bickerstaff, coach of the Pistons, gets on my last muthafucking nerve!!! He's in Doc Rivers territory to me, where he is ALWAYS whining to the fucking refs about everything. But at least Doc has won a ring. JB ain't won shit. He was one of the coaches ejected too smh

But anyway, back to the Houston/Phoenix game. KD rolled his ankle and is set to have an MRI today to determine the severity, and the length of time he'll miss depends on that severity. Phoenix fans are already preparing for KD to have played his last game in a Suns jersey