Shweta Das

2 days ago | essentiallysports.com | Shweta Das |Rishabh Bhatnagar

“You don’t let go of Luka Doncic unless you have Kyrie Irving in your backcourt”. Thar was Stephen A. Smith, bringing the fire on First Take the morning after Kyrie Irving signed a new 3- year, $119 million extension with the Dallas Mavericks. But instead of applause, Smith found himself in the middle of a firestorm. While the ink has barely dried on Kyrie Irving’s new deal, and somehow, the biggest story is not the Mavs locking on their co-star. It is the commentary surrounding it, and Stephen A.

3 days ago | essentiallysports.com | Shweta Das |Rishabh Bhatnagar

In a league where stars drive the narratives and influence decisions, disagreements between NBA royalty do not always make just headlines. They sometimes decide the future of the game. On a recent episode of Podcast P with Paul George, the 76ers star made waves when he pushed back against an idea floated by fellow superstar LeBron James, and backed by Commissioner Adam Silver. LeBron James isn’t just any player suggesting a change. He has played more basketball than anyone in NBA history.

4 days ago | essentiallysports.com | Shweta Das |Rishabh Bhatnagar

From June 20-22, New York City’s Javits Center transformed into a sports and collectibles wonderland. And the Fanatics Fest is already valued at a jaw-dropping $31 billion. The event went bigger this year, with over 500 athletes, celebrities, artists, and influencers showing up to connect with the fans and compete in epic challenges. Draymond Green, the Warriors veteran and four-time NBA champion, was right in the thick of it. Instead of attending a Finals game, he showed up for the Fanatic Games.

6 days ago | essentiallysports.com | Shweta Das |Rishabh Bhatnagar

At Fanatics Fest in New York City, Victor Webanyama took the stage and offered fans a rare look into the NBA minds that inspire him. The 7-foot-3 San Antonio Spurs phenom, seen as a once-in-a-generation talent, named LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Nikola Jokic as the stars he turns to for guidance. “I have a list of questions for LeBron, KD… I just got off the phone with Jokic,” Wemby said, detailing how these NBA icons have taken time to mentor him, despite being his competitors.

6 days ago | essentiallysports.com | Shweta Das |Rishabh Bhatnagar

As the Indiana Pacers are one game away from being the champion, the player who has long defined the team’s identity, Myles Turner, could be on the verge of saying goodbye. For years, Turner’s name was NBA trade rumor gold. But through it all, he stayed put, often quietly, sometimes with memes, always with professionalism. “He’s the backbone,” veteran James Johnson said.