2019 NBA Free Agency: Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker – Their Top Sneaker Moments With Their, Now, Former Teams

2019 NBA Free Agency: Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker – Their Top Sneaker Moments With Their, Now, Former Teams

Featured

by | Jul 4, 2019 | Featured, NBA, Sneakers

 

         

 

Nike KD X “2017 Finals P.E.”

In what was Kevin Durant’s first season with the Golden State Warriors, he would lead them to their second championship in three years and be crowned the series’ Most Valuable Player. Durant would debut his new Nike KD X’s during the playoffs that year and lace up this blue/gold colorway during his series against the Cavaliers.

 

         

 

Nike KD X “What The” P.E.

Kevin Durant must’ve really been in a groove with his tenth signature model because he was still rocking them strong a year after debuting them in the 2017 NBA Finals. Choosing against using the 2018 NBA Finals platform to introduce his 11th shoe, KD opted to stick with wearing the X’s in a special mock-up “What The” colorway. Durant would go on to win back-to-back NBA Championships and Finals MVP’s. He would begin wearing the KD 11’s later that summer in July during a USA Team mini-camp.

 

         

 

Nike Kyrie 3 “Luck” P.E.

Although during his time with the Celtics didn’t consist of any Finals appearances or Finals MVP’s, there was no shortage of eye catching player exclusive colorways on Kyrie’s signature shoes. Kyrie tends to debut his signature models in the middle of seasons so during his first few months playing in Boston he was on the tail end of his run with his third signature installment. Irving wore these Kyrie 3’s in a November 2017 game against the Warriors. The clover pattern along with the gold upper complimented the Celtics’ jerseys rightfully so and were limited to only a select few House of Hoops locations.

 

         

 

Nike Kyrie 4 “Yellow Lobster” P.E.

Come February 2018 it was time for Kyrie Irving to face his former teammate, and now rival, Lebron James. Irving did so in style, sporting his new fourth signature shoe in a “Yellow Lobster” color scheme. This iconic colorway stems from the SB Dunk Low “Yellow Lobster” that released in 2009. Concepts released these Dunk Lows and Nike most likely chose to put this colorway on a Kyrie model due to the Concepts store being located in Boston.

 

         

 

Nike Kyrie 5 “Neon Blend” P.E.

I  don’t think anyone was pleased when they saw Kyrie wearing these Player Exclusives this past season, that reason being they were never available for the public to purchase. Of all the dozens and dozens special mock-ups made for Irving on his fifth signature shoe, this “Neon Blend” iteration was surely a hit. One positive thing about Irving now being a member of the Nets is that black and white goes with anything when it comes to sneakers.

 

         

 

Jordan XIX “Flint” OG

Kemba Walker made the move from Under Armour and joined the Jumpman in 2015. In his first media day as a member of Team Jordan he predictably rocked the Jordan 5 “Grape.” I  mean why wouldn’t you? That shoe matches the Hornets’ jerseys perfectly and that colorway is classic. Then in 2016, Kemba turned back the clock and wore something surprising for media day – the original 2004 Jordan XIX in the flint grey colorway. It’s always refreshing to see an NBA hooper wear a Jordan retro outside the realm of I-XIV.

 

     

 

Jordan X Retro “Charlotte”

With how good the Charlotte Hornets’ uniforms looked, once these Charlotte themed Jordan X retros released it was only a matter of time before Kemba was rocking them on court. Kemba is no stranger to rocking retro Air Jordans on the hardwood, as this dates back to his college days at UCONN. The Air Jordan X’s were a staple in Walker’s rotation as far as on-court kicks go during his time with the Hornets.

 

 

 

Jul 4, 2019 No Comments
Grown-ish star Halle Bailey Casted as Ariel in ‘The Little Mermaid’

Grown-ish star Halle Bailey Casted as Ariel in ‘The Little Mermaid’

Celebs

by | Jul 4, 2019 | Celebs, Featured

As the Renaissance of Disney’s classic films continues to be adapted into live-action, the cast for ‘The Little Mermaid’ was released earlier today and singer/actress Halle Bailey of R&B group Chloe x Halle has been cast as Ariel. Halle, who stars alongside older sister Chloe in the hit black-ish spinoff ‘Grown-ish’ on Freeform, joins mentor Beyoncé in the Disney live-action kingdom- set to appear in ‘The Lion King’ on July 19. She was showered with messages of congratulations on all social media platforms, however, there were some distasteful responses to Disney’s casting choice. 

Yes, the role of Ariel will be played by an African American and there is not one problem with that. How about before this casting choice is made about race, we think about how well a Grammy award-winning artist would do in a role that consists of signing. Then we can note how she can inspire so many young African American girls.

“After an extensive search, it was abundantly clear that Halle possesses that rare combination of spirit, heart, youth, innocence, and substance — plus a glorious singing voice — all intrinsic qualities necessary to play this iconic role,” said Director Rob Marshall.

One of the disturbing comments made following the announcement eluded to Disney needing casting someone with nature “red hair” but the suggestions made were actresses of a white complexion. In the past, Disney has dealt with similar comments following the casting of Zendaya as Mary Jane Watson in the ‘Spider-Man’ franchise. So it seems that casting is a problem when someone of a different race takes on a role of a character that is white in other mediums but it perfectly fine when Hollywood whitewashed historical figures that are of a darker skin complexion. 

The 19-year-old Halle will be joined by Melissa McCarthy, Jacob Tremblay and Awkwafina, who are each currently in talks for roles either on the live-action side or lending their voice to a CGI character according to The Hollywood Reporter. Production is slated to begin in early 2020, with longtime music conductor for Disney movies Alan Menken teaming up with Lin-Manuel Miranda for the music.

Jul 4, 2019 No Comments
The Pistons’ busy off-season

The Pistons’ busy off-season

Featured

by | Jul 3, 2019 | Featured, NBA

Related image

The Pistons have had a very eventful summer with the NBA draft and free agency. Starting off by the Piston’s shocking decision to trade the draft rights to Kevin Porter Jr. and drafting France’s player Sekou Doumbouya. Many believe that Sekou was actually an upgrade and a huge steal in the draft. At 6’9 229lbs his upside seems to be a player like Demarcus Cousins but with the mobility and handles of a point guard. Many Pistons fans can’t wait to see the young 18-year-old hit the NBA hardwood this summer.

Image result for derrick rose timberwolves smile

If that wasn’t enough the Pistons shocked the league for a second time by signing former MVP Derrick Rose to a 2-year $15 million contract this summer. The former league MVP finished last season averaging 18PPG 4.3APG & 2.7RPG for the Minnesota Timberwolves with a season high 50-point performance. Rose was one of eleven players to put up 50 points in a single game last season.

Image result for markieff morris thunder

The Pistons also acquired some other solid free agent pickups including Markieff Morris and Tim Frazier. Markieff Morris finished last season averaging 9.4PPG 4.6RPG & 1.4APG for the Oklahoma City Thunder and now is joining the former team of his brother Marcus Morris. He’s a high-volume shooter and adds some scoring to the Pistons already packed roster. Point guard Tim Frazier will be able to play third string behind Derrick Rose & Reggie Jackson. This will give the two veteran point guards relief if need be.

Image result for javale mcgee lakers

The Pistons are still looking for a backup center behind Andre Drummond since Thon Maker usually plays the 4. JaVale McGee has been in the organization’s consideration for the back up spot. The Former Laker center finished last season with 12PPG & 7.5RPG. He met with the Pistons last Monday, but much news hasn’t followed. Many believe that he is waiting for Kawhi’s free agency decision to plan out the best course of action for him being on a successful team going forward. So, for now we wait.

Jul 3, 2019 No Comments
AFC East Fantasy Outlook- 2019-2020

AFC East Fantasy Outlook- 2019-2020

NFL

by | Jul 3, 2019 | NFL

One of the best features of Fantasy Football is that it makes meaningless games matter. It could be a Sunday Afternoon kick off between the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets, and you sure as hell know if one of your starters is playing, you’re glued to the television. You feel a Gambler’s high as you watch your receiver (that no one outside your fantasy league could name) score a touchdown. Sundays in the Fall and Winter are something else, man.  

The point I am trying to make is that even in the AFC EAST,  a division that has been almost forgotten due to the dominance of the New England Patriots, there is a plethora of fantasy options at multiple positions. Let’s take a look at how these teams are shaping up for the 2019-2020 season.

Miami Dolphins

QB: Josh Rosen, Ryan Fitzpatrick

RB:  Kenyan Drake, Kalen Ballage

WR: Kenny Stills, Devonte Parker, Albert Wilson

TE: Mike Gesicki

D/ST: 2018-2019 Position Rank = 19

Analysis: With a new Head Coach and starting Quarterback, the Miami Dolphins find themselves in an interesting position to say the least. The Rosen experiment in Arizona was short lived, but will the California native be able to turn it around this year? On paper, their offensive weapons are pretty similar to last year, but a new Coach and QB may be exactly what they need. With Tannehill and Osweiler under center in 2018, their offense ranked 31st in yards/game, and 30th in passing yards/game. Brian Flores, the new Head Coach of the Dolphins is a defensive mind coming from the NE Patriots where he was the Linebackers Coach. He brought Chad O’Shea, the ex-WR coach of the Patriots to be his new Offensive Coordinator. With a new system in place, the Dolphins offense has nowhere to go but up. Still, Rosen has to prove he is capable of running an NFL offense. Kenyan Drake is a nice RB, but is not used to every down work, which should make way for Ballage to see the field as well. Their three top receivers are decent, but none of them have proven they are Fantasy Studs quite yet. Devonte Parker is a nice red zone target, and Stills had a respectable 6 TD grabs on only 64 targets last year. Mike Gesicki is an intriguing prospect as well. With increased volume in his second year now, look for the athletic TE to see a lot more action. Miami’s defense should improve this year as well, as Brian Flores will look to incorporate elements of the NE system. Overall, none of their players are worth a selection in the first three rounds. Around the 4-5th round, expect Drake to be taken, and Stills probably closer to round 8-10.

New York Jets

QB: Sam Darnold

RB: Le’Veon Bell, TY Montgomery

WR: Robby Anderson, Quincy Enunwa, Jamison Crowder

TE: Chris Herndon

D/ST: 2018-2019 Position Rank = 22

Analysis:  The NY Jets are another young and exciting team building for the future. Fantasy wise, they are still pretty uncertain as of now. Sam Darnold showed plenty of flashes last year that he is a competent and capable starter in this league. The Jets also made some coaching staff changes bringing in ex-Miami HC Adam Gase to run the show. Along with this, the addition of Le’Veon Bell brought even more uncertainty. There were rumblings that members of the coaching staff really did not want to pay big dollars for a running back, rather allocating their money elsewhere. But nevertheless, Bell seemed primed to see a heavy workload in both the run and passing game. I don’t expect to see the Steelers version of Bell, but he will definitely have his chances. Similar to the Dolphins, they have some good wideouts, but no one that will completely take over a game. Robby Anderson comes in as their top receiver, coming off another decent season with 50 catches and 6 TDs. If he and Darnold can create some sort of rapport, look for him to have a career year. Herndon, the Jets 4th round pick in 2018 should have an increased role in the offense as well. The Jets defense should improve as well this year. Not quite into the elite category, but the draft selections of Quinnen Williams and Jachai Polite should help them drastically on the interior. Overall, Bell is no doubt still one of the elite RBs in this league and will be selected in the first two rounds. After him, you probably won’t see until Jets player selected until Robby Anderson around the 7-9th round range. 

Buffalo Bills

QB: Josh Allen

RB: LeSean McCoy, Frank Gore, TJ Yeldon

WR: John Brown, Cole Beasley, Zay Jones

TE: Tyler Kroft

D/ST: 2018-2019 Position Rank = 7

Analysis:

There was only one bright spot about the Buffalo Bills offense in 2018, and it was their running game which they ranked 9th in the league in yards/game. The problem is that when they trailed, their passing attack was really nowhere to be found, ranking 31st in throwing yards/game. Their defense actually kept them in a lot of games, ranking 7th in the league. Their star runner, LeSean McCoy has really been slowed down by injuries, mostly credited to his age. They brought in Frank Gore, who is also aging but is known for his toughness and ability to play through anything. They signed John Brown and Cole Beasley, which should help for their intermediate and deep passing game. Josh Allen definitely has the physical tools of a great QB, but he will be tested throughout this year. Much like the two teams before the Bills on this list, there is a lot that us fans still don’t know about how their offense will shape up. None of their skill position players are worth an early round draft selection. McCoy is too injury prone and none of their WRs have proven that they can be a Fantasy star quite yet. Still, look for McCoy to be drafted in the 3rd-5th rounds, and Brown/Beasley to be taken closer to round 10. 

New England Patriots

QB: Tom Brady

RB: Sony Michel, James White, Damien Harris, Rex Burkhead

WR: Julian Edelman, N’Keal Harry, Demaryius Thomas, Phillip Dorsett

TE: Ben Watson, Austin Seferian-Jenkins

D/ST: 2018-2019 Position Rank = 6

Analysis: As Tom Brady ages, the NE Patriots seem to be instituting a more run heavy scheme on offense. This isn’t a high powered aerial attack like Kansas City, but almost the mere opposite. Long, slow, methodical drives that wear the defense down. There is a reason that the Patriots used a 4th round pick on Damien Harris with an already clustered backfield. Belicheck knows that a backfield by committee is the only way to ensure Brady’s longevity. They have four quality runners who can step up an anytime barring an injury to starters Michel or White. The Patriots also selected Arizona State wideout N’Keal Harry with their first round pick. Look for him to have an immediate impact on the offense. With Edelman eligible for a full 16 games this year, he should end with around 100 catches. With the retirement of Rob Gronkowski and departure of Dwyane Allen, the Patriots have a big hole to fill at the TE position. They signed two veterans, Ben Watson and Austin Seferian-Jenkins, but it is still a question as to how the snaps will be divided. The Patriots are known for their bend-don’t-break defense, ranking 21st in yards/game but 7th in points allowed. Their stingy red zone and goalline defense forces opponents to often settle for 3. In terms of fantasy standing, the Patriots have a few good options and a few players I would stay away from. First, Tom Brady should not be your fantasy QB. At Age 41, he was still exceptional in the playoffs, but the regular season game plan is much different. There are many better options than Brady at QB, unless you play in a 2 QB league. On the other hand, Sony Michel, Julian Edelman, and N’Keal Harry are all primed for big years. Michel should be the first of those three off fantasy boards in the 2nd-4th rounds.. Edelman will be drafted before Harry due to the definite role that Edelman has in the offensive scheme, but don’t be surprised if Harry ends the year with more TD receptions than Edelman. Both of these WRs won’t make it past round 7-8.

 

Jul 3, 2019 No Comments
What to Expect From the 2019 All-Star Festivities in Cleveland

What to Expect From the 2019 All-Star Festivities in Cleveland

Featured

by | Jul 3, 2019 | Featured

As we approach the 4th of July weekend, we also approach one of the most exciting parts of the MLB season: All-Star Week. This article will give you a summary of each event, who’s participating, and what to expect. You can tune into all of the MLB Festivities next week through ESPN.

 

This year’s All-Star week is being held in Progressive Field, Home of the Cleveland Indians. Cleveland is a very live city rich in sports culture, and their fans have showed a tremendous amount of excitement to be hosting the events. The last time Cleveland hosted the All-Star game was back in 1997, when the stadium was named Jacob’s Field. Indians legend Larry Doby threw out the first pitch of the game, and Cleveland’s own Sandy Alomar Jr. took home the MVP trophy. With other Cleveland greats in attendance and 3 Indians on the AL’s roster, you can expect a great reception from fans not just local to the area, but from all over the country as well.

 

The first major event that will take place is the Celebrity Softball Game on Sunday, July 7th. The rosters are filled with sports stars, actors, and musicians from the local area. Some great athletes who spent time playing for Cleveland sports teams you can expect to see would be Joe Thomas of the Cleveland Browns, JR Smith of the 2016 champion Cavaliers team, and UFC champion Stipe Miocic. Cleveland natives Machine Gun Kelly and Drew Carey will also lace up their cleats for this star-studded softball game as well. Some other celebrities you will see not from the Cleveland area include Actor Jamie Foxx, fashion designer Jerry Lorenzo, and musician Daddy Yankee.

 

Next on the list of activities is the much-anticipated Home Run Derby, which is going down the next night on Monday, July 8th. Cleveland first baseman Carlos Santana will be competing for his city, going up against a deep lineup of this year’s best sluggers such as Christian Yelich and Pete Alonso. A previous article by SneakerReporter also said you should look out for Pirates Josh Bell and Blue Jays Vladimir Guerrero Jr. making the list, and both of them will be participating. Two more spots in the 8-man bracket remain a mystery, but you can expect both of those spots to be filled by players with an impressive resume for the event. One thing is for certain: you can expect a great show from some of the MLB’s best sluggers Monday night.

 

Last but not least you have the All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 9th, which will not disappoint the fans in any way. This year’s lineups consist of some MLB fan favorites, as well as plenty of new names we haven’t seen on this stage before. Cleveland’s own Francisco Lindor, Carlos Santana, and Brad Hand will keep the local fans on their feet all night. 31 first-time All-Stars will take the field as well, showing some of the great, young talent professional baseball has to offer. While the AL’s starting pitcher has not yet been named, they will be facing Dodgers Ace Hyun-Jin Ryu to start out the game. There are plenty of excellent players who will take the field Tuesday night, so you can keep your eyes peeled for your favorites. SneakerReporter’s Instagram @sr_mlb will be posting the lineups for not just the All-Star game, but other events as well. After everyone enjoys the holiday weekend, they can double up on the All-Star fun right after.

Jul 3, 2019 No Comments