標籤: bullst

Just days before the All-Star break earlier this month, Kevin Durant took aim at American-born basketball players for not attempting during the NBA All-Star Game.

“You have to ask the European and world teams if they’re going to compete,” Durant said. “If you look at Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic right now, let’s go back and see what they do in the All-Star Game. Is that competition? So, we haven’t questioned what they’re doing. But we’re going to question the old heads and the Americans.”

The comments sparked a strong conversation, which was an excuse for both American teams to beat Team World in the new All-Star Game format. Now, he’s continuing his campaign against rhetoric he considers unfair to American players and a subtext that isn’t often talked about in the ESPN report about their playing in the 2028 Olympics.

“That’s a lot of bull—with it. I can read between the lines on that. It’s a shot at black Americans. We’re controlling the game. They’re tired of us controlling the game.

He added, “’France is coming for you.’ Really? We beat up those boys.”

Durant is right, as the 2024 version of Team USA defeated the Victor Wembanyama-led French national team at the Olympics. Team USA has won a gold medal in every Summer Olympics since a shocking bronze medal in the 2004 Olympics.

Durant also said he is not ruling out playing in the LA Olympics in the summer of 2028, indicating that the media has planted a narrative that he and Steph Curry will not throw their hat in the ring.

“You guys, the media, have anticipated this,” Durant recently told ESPN. “Where did that narrative, the last dance thing, come from? I didn’t say I wasn’t playing. LeBron said he wasn’t playing. You didn’t hear that from me or Steph.”

The Los Angeles Lakers recently endured a turbulent trade deadline, during which forward Rui Hachimura was frequently mentioned in league-wide discussions. Reports from ClutchPoints and other insiders indicate that the Lakers are engaged in direct talks with the Cleveland Cavaliers regarding a potential trade for De’Andre Hunter. Hachimura was reportedly a key part in these negotiations, as his expiring contract and high-level on-court production made him a valuable asset to teams seeking wing depth.

Despite being made available in these discussions, the Lakers’ front office maintained a firm stance: they would only move the veteran if it meant significantly upgrading the roster, refusing to part with him merely for salary relief. This strategic discipline ensured that Hachimura remained in Los Angeles as a key contributor to the team’s championship aspirations.

Addressing the continued speculation surrounding the franchise, Hachimura provided a candid assessment of the situation. “With the Lakers, we get a lot of rumors,” he told ESPN. “But a lot of times, those rumors are bullshit. Now we have a time where it can be said, ‘Okay, this is our group now.’ Because we know this now. So we are ready to move forward.”

His comments reflect a sense of relief and focus within the locker room now that the deadline has passed, allowing the team to move forward with its established core.

Hachimura’s importance to the Lakers has become clear since his return from a calf injury. He has found a distinctive rhythm recently, serving as the driving force in several key wins, including a remarkable 23-point performance against the Chicago Bulls, where he shot an impressive 9-11 from the field.

This season, he has emerged as one of the league’s premier catch-and-shoot threats, averaging a 43.9% three-point shooting percentage. By retaining Hachimura, the Lakers have kept a versatile wing who not only understands the team’s system but also actively improves their spacing and offensive efficiency.

As the team turns its attention to the playoffs, Hachimura’s presence provides the stability needed to ignore distractions and achieve another championship win.