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1 week ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Pritish Ganguly |Shreya Singh
Here’s something no one saw coming—Michael Jordan teaming up with NBC. The announcement alone had people talking, but it was Charles Barkley’s reaction that truly echoed the surprise across the sports world. “I have no idea what Michael is going to do,” Barkley admitted on Barstool Sports’ Spittin’ Chiclets podcast. “I don’t think he’s going to do a lot, I know he’s not going to do a lot, I was 100 percent shocked, but I don’t think he’s going to do a lot.
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1 week ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Pritish Ganguly |Shreya Singh
Back in December, social media lit up with smiles and sparkles when Dwight Howard and rapper Amy Luciani dropped a surprise engagement bombshell on Instagram. The 39-year-old NBA vet and the reality star shared a cozy carousel of loved-up pics—complete with a square-cut diamond that practically screamed, “forever-ever.” Naturally, fans zoomed in and celebrated. But then there was the other side, keen on poking Amy about the rumors around Howard.
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1 week ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Rohan Bhaunt |Shreya Singh
Last night, the Thunder had a golden opportunity to go up 3-0 in the West Finals, and push the Wolves into a hole no team in NBA history has ever come out of. But Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Co. seemingly took their eyes off the prize. Instead of beating the Wolves, they got blown out by a whopping 42 points, OKC’s biggest loss in these playoffs. And SGA knew exactly where they went wrong. “We just didn’t bring it from energy and focus standpoint.
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1 week ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Rohan Bhaunt |Shreya Singh
The Knicks are witnessing their championship dream slip away right before their eyes. On Wednesday, the East Finals opener was theirs for the taking. All they had to do was hold on to their 17-point fourth quarter lead. But, as Tyrese Haliburton made clear with his end-of-regulation choke sign, Jalen Brunson and Co. crumbled under pressure and lost in overtime. Looks like the brutal loss did a number on the New York team’s psyche for the entire series. Last night was no different.
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2 weeks ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Khelendra Yadav |Shreya Singh
Ever wondered how much an NBA athlete, who had a successful career both on and off the court, can end up making by the time he’s 60? Well, Kenny Smith’s 2 NBA championships and a decade-long career speak volumes about the kind of impact he had on the game. And that sure did earn him a significant portion of his wealth. But let’s not forget that another major chunk of his wealth came from his broadcasting career, which is going quite strong as of now.
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2 weeks ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Pritish Ganguly |Shreya Singh
So back in 2008, the entire city of Chicago was buzzing—not just because the Bulls had landed the No. 1 draft pick, but because that pick was a hometown kid from Englewood: Derrick Rose. The hype was real, and Rose delivered. Just three years into the league, he made history as the youngest MVP ever in 2011. But right when he was at the top, things took a turn. A brutal ACL tear in 2012 kept him sidelined for an entire season. Still, Rose didn’t just disappear. Instead, he kept showing up.
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2 weeks ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Ashmit Kumar |Shreya Singh
Stephen Curry is not alone in his family with the basketball mindset, but he is also not the only one who holds an entrepreneurial spirit. “So, so, so difficult. It’s hard to balance the two, so I’m well aware of how blessed and lucky I am to be able to work from home. I’m so happy I’ve found my niche,” said Ayesha Curry, when discussing what it is like to balance her career and family at the same time.
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3 weeks ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Pritish Ganguly |Shreya Singh
Mother’s Day rolled around, and as always, people went all out to show love for the women who shaped their world. And yep, even basketball royalty wasn’t left out. Last year, it was Rakeem Christmas—the son of Jasmine Jordan and grandson of Michael Jordan—stealing hearts with his adorable handmade card. But this time, the spotlight was all on Jasmine herself. And let’s just say, she had a lot of love to share.
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3 weeks ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Pritish Ganguly |Shreya Singh
To say fans were stunned by the George Pickens trade would be an understatement. Just days after the draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers decided to part ways with one of the most electrifying young wideouts in the league. But not everyone’s lighting a candle over it. As USA TODAY’s Mike Freeman put it, “[George] Pickens is a world-class talent. Pickens is a world-class headache.” That quote alone tells you everything you need to know about the split vibes around the receiver.
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1 month ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Pritish Ganguly |Shreya Singh
When we talk about athletes who turned their post-retirement game into something even bigger, Magic Johnson’s name automatically comes up. Back in 1991, he walked away from the NBA with a $40 million net worth. Fast forward to now, and he’s cruising in billionaire territory. But what’s really fascinating is how he made it happen. Take last year, for example—Magic shared a snap on Instagram that got a lot of attention.
