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Here’s Kobe Bryant showing Candace Parker some post moves (VIDEO)

By Dane DelgadoSep 12, 2018, 8:00 AM EST
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Kobe Bryant’s post-career image rehabilitation tour continues. This time, it’s with WNBA star Candace Parker.

Bryant has already tried to rebrand himself as a “storyteller” which is a weird thing people my age do when they want to confuse their parents about whether or not they have a paying job. Kobe has also, shockingly, won an Oscar for producing a commercial about himself. It’s going well for Bryant, as defenders and fans continue to be selective in their memory of the last two decades.

Now Kobe is joining the ranks — along with Hakeem Olajuwon and Tracy McGrady — of former All-Time NBAers giving lessons to younger generations during the offseason.

Parker, 32, already has plenty of sway to her name but recently got a little lesson on footwork from Bryant.

Via Twitter:

That’s pretty solid work. And, hey, if Kobe doesn’t teach other players Michael Jordan’s moves, who will?

I expect we will see more videos of this ilk in the years to come.

Watch Bulls coach Jim Boylen get bowled over by Denver’s Torrey Craig

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By Dane DelgadoJan 18, 2019, 12:00 PM EST
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Chicago Bulls head coach Jim Boylen received a raise as part of the team deciding he deserved additional compensation after moving up from an assistant position.

Of course, what Boylen probably didn’t expect when he took the head job was to literally be in a more vulnerable position on the floor.

During Thursday night’s game against the Denver Nuggets, Boylen was it standing on the sidelines in front of his bench when an errant pass from Nikola Jokic sent Torrey Craig hurdling into Boylen.

Via Twitter:

Everyone appeared to be okay after the collision, but even still it feels like with the way things have gone for Boylen in Chicago, this could only happen to him.

Charles Barkley isn’t buying Kyrie Irving’s apology to LeBron James (VIDEO)

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By Dane DelgadoJan 18, 2019, 11:00 AM EST
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Kyrie Irving made headlines on Wednesday night when he won the game for the Boston Celtics against the Toronto Raptors, then proceeded to call LeBron James to apologize about how he treated the Los Angeles Lakers star when the two were on the Cleveland Cavaliers together.

To many, the move seemed like a quick maturation of Irving as well as a surprising about face by the shifty point guard. Even LeBron thought that Irving calling him was out of character, saying as much to media on Wednesday.

However, some saw Irving’s comments and actions a little bit differently. Speaking on Inside the NBA on TNT on Thursday, Charles Barkley said that he felt Irving’s conversation with LeBron was actually a swipe at his current Celtics teammates.

Via Twitter:

To be fair, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst expressed a similar sentiment to Barkley’s on “The Jump” on Thursday, and I have to side with both of them. Their explanation of Irving’s comments make more sense than some kind of overnight maturation on the part of the Celtics star.

Irving is a very good player but he’s also a transparent marketer. His flat earth comments, his commercial that became a terrible movie … it’s all about his personal brand. Part of that is shifting blame away from himself as Boston — currently fifth in the East — continues to struggle.

I don’t think Irving is magically more mature. If anything, his apology is a self-serving attempt at comparing himself to LeBron and by association, the rest of the Celtics as the flotsam that has traditionally consisted the Cavaliers roster.

That’s really not a fair view of either side, and I don’t trust much of what comes out of Irving’s comments beyond their obvious marketing value.

Russell Westbrook hanging with his son Noah before the Lakers game was extremely cute (VIDEO)

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By Dane DelgadoJan 18, 2019, 10:00 AM EST
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Russell Westbrook seems like a pretty intense guy. The Oklahoma City Thunder point guard has won an MVP not by being a pushover, but by pushing past opponents for triple doubles.

We have really rounded out Westbrook as a individual over the past couple of years, particularly after Kevin Durant decamped Oklahoma City for the Golden State Warriors. Part of that has been seeing Westbrook as a father, which we got more of on a Thursday before the Thunder took on the Los Angeles Lakers.

Before the game, Westbrook was seen on the floor hanging out with his son, Noah, and generally having a good time.

The result was, admittedly, extremely cute.

Via Twitter:

Noah Westbrook will be draft eligible in 2036. Set your calendars, I guess.

Michael Beasley tried to enter the game wearing his practice shorts (VIDEO)

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By Dane DelgadoJan 18, 2019, 8:55 AM EST
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Michael Beasley has given us several hilarious moments over his career. The Los Angeles Lakers forward is known for being a bit of a draft bust as well as an enigmatic, often goofy NBA personality.

On Thursday as the Lakers got set to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder, Beasley was unable to check into the game thanks to a wardrobe malfunction on his part. Specifically, Beasley tried to enter the game while wearing his practice shorts.

Officials told him he couldn’t enter the game and Beasley quickly ran back to the locker room to change into the correct uniform.

Via Twitter:

LeBron James can’t return back to the Lakers soon enough.