Getty Images

Miami’s Bam Adebayo to go up against Kobayashi in cheeseburger-eating contest

By Kurt HelinSep 17, 2019, 7:55 AM EDT

No team around the NBA is better known for its strict training regimens more than the Miami Heat — players who head to South Florida get the best shape of their lives. Exercise and eating right are the pillars of that plan.

Something not on the Heat training table? Cheeseburgers. Especially multiple cheeseburgers. Right before training camp opens.

But Bam Adebayo is making an exception, in the name of charity.

Adebayo and other celebrities will go up against Kobayashi — one of the legends of competitive eating — in a charity event, as reported by Ira Winderman at the Sun-Sentinel.

Wednesday’s event, which begins at 11 a.m. and is being promoted by BurgerFi and Feeding South Florida, comes as part of Hunger Action Month. In addition to Adebayo and Guinness world-record holder Takeru Kobayashi, the event will feature former Miami Hurricanes great and NFL star Russell Maryland.

To make it fair, Adebayo and the other celebrities will have six cheeseburgers in front of them, Kobayashi will need to go through 18 at the same time.

My money is still on Kobayashi.

Adebayo heads into this season with a lot on his shoulders — with Hassan Whiteside gone, Adebayo becomes the starting center for the Heat. This is a team with Jimmy Butler and Goran Dragic, one expecting to surprise some teams in the East. Adebayo is going to have to step up.

And work off those burgers.

Dwyane Wade and Pat Riley dance in Aladdin-themed costumes (video)

Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images

By Dan FeldmanSep 2, 2019, 5:00 PM EDT

Nikola Vucevic donates to Magic fan’s cancer GoFundMe

Getty

By Dane DelgadoAug 30, 2019, 1:00 PM EDT

1 Comment

The NBA is one of the most accessible leagues in American sports, with players very active on social media and interactive with their fans.

Social media is also a great way to get people involved in charitable functions, including things like GoFundMe campaigns for medical expenses. One Orlando Magic fan saw those two functions of Twitter get put together this week when Magic big man Nikola Vucevic donated to a campaign close to his heart.

Phil Harlow posted a GoFundMe campaign on Twitter this week for his girlfriend’s father, who is currently dealing with cancer. The campaign was spread throughout the Orlando Magic community on Twitter, and that apparently reached Vucevic.

On Thursday, it was reported that the Magic center had donated £2,500 to the campaign.

Any of my Magic family around the world that can spare any donation to help with the treatment of my girlfriend’ father will be so greatly appreciated. We’re running out of time! He is a father to me and we don’t want to lose him! Thank you 🙏👊https://t.co/zrxwIUrC65

— Phil Harlow (@philharlowuk) August 29, 2019

@NikolaVucevic we are all stunned by your generosity. Thank you so much for your donation towards Steve’s fight against cancer. You are a special man and we appreciate your kindness. Orlando is very lucky to have you in its community 👊🙏

— Phil Harlow (@philharlowuk) August 29, 2019

This is a pretty incredible gesture by Vucevic, who is reaching out across the Atlantic to help out someone in need. Athletes have people coming at them all the time with requests, and for Vucevic to decide to contribute to someone he doesn’t have an intimate connection with is pretty incredible.

Vucevic donation is the second of this kind of thing that’s come in as many weeks. Oddly enough, last week I posted my cousin’s GoFundMe campaign for her medical expenses following a critical car accident. Former Portland Trail Blazers and current Miami Heat big man Meyers Leonard saw that campaign and decided to donate $1,000 out of his pocket.

The fact that NBA players are willing to be directly generous in this way is a testament to the closeness the league has done well to foster between the players, organizations, and fans.

Report: Stan Van Gundy to join TNT’s broadcast team

By Dane DelgadoAug 16, 2019, 10:00 AM EDT

2 Comments

People are pretty happy that TNT’s “Players Only” broadcast has been scrapped for the upcoming 2019-20 NBA season. It was a curious marketing tactic, one that employed several former players that didn’t appear to have the broadcasting chops necessary to move a national TV broadcast along.

Now TNT is heading in another direction, and that includes the recent reported hiring of ESPN’s Stan Van Gundy.

The former Miami Heat, Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons coach has been part of ESPN’s broadcast team since September of 2018. Now Van Gundy is on the move, and will presumably be a bigger part of the talent pool at TNT.

Via Andrew Marchand:

Van Gundy’s addition could have long-term implications for Turner’s top games. For its marquee event, the conference finals, Turner typically goes with a three-man booth.

In the recent past, it has been Chris Webber and Reggie Miller joining Marv Albert. It is easy to imagine that Turner may want a coach and a player combo in the future.

This is great news for folks who want more coaching-centric views in the broadcast booth. Ex-players, unfortunately, seem to skew toward the anecdotal rather than the evidential. Coaches aren’t exactly batting 1.000 as announcers, but Van Gundy should be an upgrade from Players Only.

Plus, with brother Jeff Van Gundy on the call for ESPN, now we can have dueling back-and-forth nights of Van Gundy vs. Van Gundy.

After suffering bruised knee, Kelly Olynyk reportedly withdraws from Canadian World Cup team

Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images

By Kurt HelinAug 13, 2019, 7:12 PM EDT