Jaden Ivey addressed claims that he has not been doing well mentally — and gave insight to his family dynamic — after the Chicago Bulls waived the former top-10 draft pick for being &#8220;detrimental&#8221; to the team over comments criticizing the NBA’s &#8220;Pride&#8221; celebrations.
&#8220;Y&#8217;all going to say I&#8217;m crazy now?” Ivey asked in a livestream on Instagram Tuesday. &#8220;He&#8217;s mentally going insane, right? But I&#8217;m not. I have peace, I have joy.&#8221;
Ivey’s comments about his biblical beliefs have been met with praise from other athletes including TreVeyon Henderson — as well as criticism, even from his family.
Since his release from the Bulls, Ivey said his wife is no longer talking to him and his family members are calling him &#8220;psycho&#8221; amid the controversy.
&#8220;These are my own family members who love me,&#8221; Ivey said during his Instagram live stream Tuesday. &#8220;My blood, those who raise me saying that I don&#8217;t know the truth … saying I&#8217;m losing my mind.&#8221;
The Purdue alum also appeared on the PinPoint podcast Tuesday night, where he defended his comments about the NBA promoting &#8220;Pride&#8221; events which Ivey called &#8220;unrighteous&#8221; saying his opinions were not &#8220;detrimental&#8221; to the team.
Ivey said that he was a good teammate and strong player and added that he believed the league&#8217;s move of waiving him was hypocritical after Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards was only fined for using a homophobic slur back in 2022.
&#8220;How is it that he said something detrimental and basically hypocritical judgment because he’s not a Christian, and he got fined. He didn’t get kicked out of the league. He didn’t get waived, right? But it’s because he’s the best player on their team, right? They need him, right? He makes them money, right?&#8221; Ivey said.
Ivey has posted numerous Instagram lives since last week when the Bulls ruled him out for the rest of the season for a knee injury.
Though he claims his mental health now is in good shape, it hasn&#8217;t always been that way. Ivey opened up about how his injuries, particularly his broken fibula last year, caused him to be suicidal, but God saved him.
&#8220;There&#8217;s been many times where God has been so merciful, bro. Like, I&#8217;ve almost committed suicide multiple times, and I&#8217;m not ashamed to say it. I&#8217;m not ashamed because God was merciful to keep me here,&#8221; Ivey said.
&#8220;I had oxy pills in my hand, and my wife was telling me, don&#8217;t do it. Don&#8217;t do this. Don&#8217;t go down this road, and God was convicting me and I didn&#8217;t know the truth. And so then, man, I didn&#8217;t do it by God&#8217;s grace. He kept me here.&#8221;
The guard — who was averaging 11.5 points per game before his release — said the Bulls dismissing him won&#8217;t stop his basketball career.
Ivey says he would answer a team&#8217;s call tomorrow in the NBA, but he would also consider playing in other leagues, too.
&#8220;As long as I&#8217;m doing the will of God, abiding in Jesus Christ, that&#8217;s what matters.&#8221;

Illustration by Daily Wire staff

The Fallout Grows More Personal For NBA Star Axed Over Christian Beliefs

Jaden Ivey

News

Sports

The Chicago Bulls released guard Jaden Ivey on Monday after Ivey posted multiple videos on social media, calling out the NBA&#8217;s celebration of LGBT &#8220;unrighteousness&#8221; and speaking about his Christian faith.
Ivey, who is averaging over eight points per game this season, was dropped by the Bulls just a month after he arrived in Chicago due to a trade with the Detroit Pistons. In one video Ivey posted on Instagram on Monday, the guard ripped the NBA for celebrating LGBT &#8220;Pride&#8221; month.
&#8220;The world can proclaim LGBTQ, right?&#8221; Ivey <a href="https://x.com/CollinRugg/status/2038738011270316391">said</a>. &#8220;They proclaim &#8216;Pride Month&#8217; in the NBA. They proclaim it. They show it to the world. They say, &#8216;Come join us for Pride Month to celebrate unrighteousness.&#8217; They proclaim it. They proclaim it on the billboards. They proclaim it on the streets. Unrighteousness.&#8221;
In another video that Ivey recorded while on an airplane, he called out NBA star Stephen Curry and questioned Curry&#8217;s Christian faith.
&#8220;He&#8217;s not even surrendered and y&#8217;all believe he&#8217;s a Christian. Y&#8217;all believe he&#8217;s a Christian because he wrote Philippians 4:13. Ya&#8217;ll think he&#8217;s a Christian, but he&#8217;s cursing just like the world. &#8230; He don&#8217;t know Jesus and I pray he comes to the truth,&#8221; Ivey said.
The Bulls announced on Monday afternoon that the team was releasing Ivey &#8220;due to conduct detrimental to the team.&#8221; Bulls head coach Billy Donovan told reporters shortly after the team&#8217;s decision that he didn&#8217;t want to get into details about Ivey&#8217;s social media posts. Donovan added that in his conversations with Ivey, the player has been focused on trying to rehab after suffering a knee injury and said the team hoped Ivey would be part of the roster for the &#8220;long term&#8221; after he was traded from Detroit.
&#8220;Organizationally, there’s certain standards I think we want to have as an organization and live up to those each and every day,&#8221; Donovan <a href="https://x.com/JaredWeissNBA/status/2038751592057294936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2038751592057294936%7Ctwgr%5Ee795ca8f1b3bb021752081dacccc890210ee6a36%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportingnews.com%2Fus%2Fnba%2Fnews%2Fwhat-happened-jaden-ivey-bulls-release%2F2bd343bb5e15d6d88ce54c84">said</a>, adding, &#8220;Everybody comes with their own personal experiences, right? But we have to all be professional, there has to be a high level of respect for one another, and we&#8217;ve got to help each other and be accountable to those standards.&#8221;
Ivey responded in another social media video after the Bulls dropped him.
&#8220;They said my conduct is detrimental to the team, right? Why didn&#8217;t they just say we don&#8217;t agree with his stance on LGBTQ? Why didn&#8217;t they say that?&#8221; Ivey <a href="https://x.com/robbystarbuck/status/2038800068837359978">asked</a>. &#8220;How is it conduct detrimental to the team? What did I do to the team? What did I do to the players? I did nothing but practice with them, play with them, pass the ball to them, [be] a good teammate to them.&#8221;
&#8220;So why is it that the NBA and the Chicago Bulls say I&#8217;m detrimental to the team? How? Because I believe in the truth? Because I know Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life?&#8221; he added.
Some Christian athletes have come out in defense of Ivey after he was released by the Bulls. Patriots star running back TreVeyon Henderson <a href="https://x.com/TreVeyonH4/status/2038786657608941846">reposted</a> a clip of Ivey&#8217;s comments about gay &#8220;Pride&#8221; alongside a Bible verse from Matthew 5:10, which states, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Henderson&#8217;s coach, Mike Vrabel, was <a href="https://x.com/LosTalksPats/status/2038994093905485826">asked</a> about the running back&#8217;s support for Ivey and told reporters that he wants players like Henderson to express what they believe, but added that he wants to &#8220;make sure that they’re educated.&#8221;
&#8220;We want to be inclusive. Everything we want to do, we want to provide an environment for people to feel comfortable, but also to share their personal beliefs. And also, we represent the team, and we represent the organization,&#8221; Vrabel added.
New York Jets cornerback Azareyeh Thomas also posted support for Ivey and his stance against LGBT &#8220;Pride&#8221; celebrations.
&#8220;The world will try to make sin look normal and righteousness look strange. Believer or not, every single person on earth will soon have an appointment before Jesus. So if living for Christ makes us look crazy or &#8216;weird,&#8217; that&#8217;s okay because it isn&#8217;t strange to Christ. When it’s all said and done, we’ll give an account to an audience of One. (Romans 14:12, 2 Cor. 5:10),&#8221; Thomas <a href="https://x.com/Azareyehthomas/status/2038740853229850794">wrote</a>. “&#8217;Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness…&#8217; Isaiah 5:20.&#8221;
Miami Dolphins long snapper Blake Ferguson also publicly <a href="https://x.com/blakeferguson48/status/2038830950403158285">backed</a> Ivey after the Bulls player was released.
Former New Orleans Saints tight end and outspoken Christian Benjamin Watson <a href="https://x.com/BenjaminSWatson/status/2038798555259818143">said</a> he expects the Bulls to clarify what exactly led to Ivey&#8217;s release.
&#8220;Conduct detrimental covers a host of actions. It’s a catch all term for everything from being late to curfew, to saying the wrong thing to the media, to fighting in the locker room. It allows clubs to discipline players without specifying certain actions. I expect the Bulls to clarify if it also includes using the term &#8216;unrighteousness.&#8217; If so that’s an even bigger problem,&#8221; Watson said.
Ivey has recently become more outspoken about his Christian faith and has even opened up about his struggles with depression this season. After Ivey was kept on the bench for an entire month despite being healthy in February, the guard told reporters that because of his faith, he &#8220;wasn&#8217;t the same player as he used to be.&#8221;
&#8220;I&#8217;m not the J.I. I used to be. The old J.I. is dead,&#8221; Ivey said. &#8220;I&#8217;m alive in Christ no matter what the basketball setting is.&#8221;
Ivey also <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7159179/2026/03/30/jaden-ivey-waived-bulls-nba-pride-month/">faced criticism</a> for some of his responses to people who commented on his Instagram videos. In one instance, a person asked the NBA player about going to confession, and Ivey replied by writing, “Catholicism is a false religion. And is not the true Doctrine of Christ. [It] does not lead to salvation in Jesus Christ.”
Another person commented on Ivey&#8217;s video and wrote, &#8220;Sending prayers. Detroit misses you.&#8221; Ivey responded to that comment, writing, &#8220;God does not hear your Prayer if you are a sinner.&#8221;

Jaden Ivey/TreVeyon Henderson/Azareyeh Thomas

NBA Team Drops Player Over Gay Pride Comments, Sparks Backlash From Christian Athletes

Bulls Drop Player After He Calls Out NBA's Gay Pride. Here's How Christian Athletes Have Responded.

Chicago

LGBT

Here are some actions you can take in the NBA and still not get waived from your team: 
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Wield a gun while drunk at a strip club</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Knock up every woman in a four-mile radius of every NBA stadium</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Get arrested for alleged felony assault after concussing and strangling your girlfriend</li>
</ul>
What is the one thing you absolutely, positively cannot do, especially during Holy Week?
Let me introduce you to NBA guard Jaden Ivey, out of Purdue, where he scored 17 points and 4.9 rebounds per game as a sophomore, then was drafted fifth overall in 2022 by the Detroit Pistons.
Ivey is a good player. He posted 16 points, five assists, and four rebounds per game in his rookie year. In his second season, he scored 16 points per game. He was up to almost 18 points per game before he was injured in his third season and was then traded to the Chicago Bulls.
And that is where the trouble began.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/bss-ep-2399-sub"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-974957" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-1024x171.webp" alt="DailyWire+" width="1024" height="171" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-1024x171.webp 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-300x50.webp 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-768x128.webp 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-1536x256.webp 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-2048x341.webp 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a>
This week, Jaden Ivey posted a video about the NBA&#8217;s Pride month. This, of course, is the month when the NBA and pretty much all NBA teams have nights dedicated to LGBTQ+-÷.
Jaden Ivey got himself in trouble because he <a href="https://x.com/esidery/status/2038675084412338572?s=20">posted a video</a> talking about the NBA&#8217;s Pride Month on Instagram. He is a newly converted, religious Christian.
<blockquote>They proclaim Pride Month and the NBA,” he stated. “They proclaim it. They show it to the world. They say, ‘Come join us for Pride, for Pride month to celebrate unrighteousness.’ They proclaim it.</blockquote>
That seems like a fairly traditional Christian belief, that you should not actually celebrate pride in what is considered a sin by the vast majority of the religious world.
The immediate response of the Chicago Bulls was to <a href="https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/2038730088238268713?s=20">can him</a>. They announced that they had waived him due to “conduct detrimental to the team.”
Apparently, it was very, very bad for the team that he put out an Instagram video proclaiming the same thing that churches all over the country say all the time.
It was suggested that Ivy seems to be spiraling. Ivy has reported depression in the past; it is unclear whether he is in the midst of some sort of mental issue or not.
But if you&#8217;re going to cite evidence of a mental issue, this is not the best evidence. For him to declare that traditional religious belief says that you shouldn&#8217;t celebrate pride in what is considered a sin is not a spiral. 
<blockquote>I know some of the things that were put out there,” Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan said. “You know, I think it&#8217;s a situation for him where, you know, it&#8217;s on his own personal Instagram. I don’t want to get into what he put out there [on Instagram], but certainly for him I hope he’s OK. I’ve had conversations with Jaden and he’s always been about rehabbing his knee and trying to get on the court and wanting to play. But I think organizationally, there’s certain standards I think we want to have as an organization and live up to those each and every day.</blockquote>
Not a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWh-2AWDpiT/">strong rebuke</a> from the coach.
Nonetheless, the Bulls let him go because, of course, you cannot say anything that violates the precept of full-scale wokeness on these sorts of issues.
Jaden Ivey then went to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DWiLRPfgs3k/">Instagram Live</a> to defend himself.
<blockquote>“They said my conduct is detrimental to the team, right?” he stated. “Why don&#8217;t they just say, we don&#8217;t agree with his stance on LGBT? Why didn&#8217;t they say that? How is it conduct detrimental to the team? What did I do to the team? What did I do to the players? I did nothing but practice with them, play with them, pass the ball to them. Good teammate to them, said ‘Good job. Good shot.’ I said these things to my teammates, was never detrimental to them. So why is it that the NBA and the Chicago Bulls say that I&#8217;m detrimental to the team? Because I believe the truth.? Because I know Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life?” </blockquote>
He has a point. The team could have just said, &#8220;We disagree with his comments. Everybody&#8217;s entitled to their opinion.&#8221;
In the UFC, this happens all the time. Dana White routinely says this about people that he disagrees with in the UFC, people who say things that are morally bad. He will say, “You&#8217;re allowed to say what you want to say. I disagree with it, but it&#8217;s not my job to police the speech of other people.”
<div id="attachment_1069855" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1069855" class="size-large wp-image-1069855" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2263760436-864x576.jpg" alt="CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - FEBRUARY 21: Jalen Duren #0 and Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons talks to former teammate Jaden Ivey #31 of the Chicago Bulls after a game at the United Center on February 21, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jayden Mack/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2263760436-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2263760436-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2263760436-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2263760436.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Jayden Mack/Getty Images</div>
But the Bulls just waived Ivey, who also criticized Steph Curry. He went off on Steph Curry because Curry is frequently brought up by critics of traditional Christianity in the league as the example of what Christianity should look like, meaning that you cite the vaguest verses from the Bible while ignoring traditional moral practice. 
Ivy <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqvAUEVGtU4">said</a>: 
<blockquote>That&#8217;s why you got Steph Curry. And he not even surrendered. And y&#8217;all believe he&#8217;s a Christian. Y&#8217;all believe he&#8217;s a Christian because he wrote Philippians 4:13. Y&#8217;all think he&#8217;s a Christian. He’s friendship with the world &#8230; He don&#8217;t know Jesus. And I pray he comes to the truth, that Him and his family will be saved in Jesus’ name, because all that stuff is not going to matter on Judgment Day, the rings he got.</blockquote>
I&#8217;m wondering precisely what Ivey said here that merits him being waived.
Let&#8217;s be real about this. If he were saying the opposite, that Pride night is the best, or came out as gay today, he&#8217;d be celebrated by the league. He&#8217;d be touted as one of the most important basketball players alive.
The NBA has a political bent, without a doubt, and are putting at risk an entire Christian audience and traditionalist audience that looks at this and says, Hold up, you get waived for saying that you don&#8217;t believe that Pride night ought to be celebrated, not because you did anything wrong, just because you said that you don&#8217;t agree with the league&#8217;s stance on these issues?
Back in January 2025, Ivey <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEsWmiduyou/">said</a>, 
<blockquote>My testimony is that, you know, when you&#8217;re away from Jesus, when you&#8217;re not close to him. And when you don’t have a relationship with him, Satan is there. He wants to just steal, kill and destroy. That&#8217;s all he comes here to do. He doesn&#8217;t want to give you peace. He wants to make your life hell. And that&#8217;s what I dealt with, you know, most of my life. When I came to know Jesus, my life, my living, I did  a whole 360. I have that peace. I have that joy that I&#8217;ve been searching for my entire life.</blockquote>
Let’s recall that the NBA had an entire controversy engulf it surrounding whether they should have a night honoring a strip club in Atlanta. And that required the NBA to actually step in after weeks of consternation about whether or not that should happen.
But apparently, the minute you sound off and say, “Hey, Pride night, it&#8217;s got some connotations that are anti-Christian,” the minute you say that, you’re gone.
That&#8217;s an insane tactic from a league that wants to maximize its fan base, not minimize it. During Holy Week for Christians, that’s an astonishing stance by the league. 
I&#8217;m hopeful that some other team will give Jaden Ivey another chance. 
Because man, the Chicago Bulls really screwed up here in a major, major way.

Chicago Bulls v Brooklyn Nets

NBA Player Released For Expressing Traditional Christianity

Basketball

Ben Shapiro

LGBTQ

Opinion

Woke Culture

The NBA took a historic step Wednesday, voting unanimously to explore expansion in Seattle and Las Vegas. After 18 years of waiting, there&#8217;s finally real hope that the SuperSonics are coming home. It&#8217;s genuinely good news for a city that desperately needs something to cheer about.
But leave it to Washington Democrats to find a way to pick the team&#8217;s pockets before it plays a single game.
Seattle has been gutted by years of soft-on-consequences governance. King County&#8217;s homelessness authority tallied a revised 16,868 homeless individuals in its most recent completed count, and the agency&#8217;s own leadership has already signaled the 2026 survey, completed just weeks ago, will push that number higher still. Open-air drug use has become a defining feature of Seattle&#8217;s public spaces, with encampments stretching across parks and neighborhood corridors that once drew shoppers and tourists. Businesses fled. Residents followed. From 2021 to 2022, Washington logged a <a href="https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_faf025f3-cf18-4cb7-aa19-907760238841.html">net migration loss</a> of nearly 19,000 people and a $1.66 billion net loss in adjusted gross income.
This is the economic wreckage that Democrat-run Olympia and Seattle City Hall built through years of consequence-free drug policies and hostility to accountability. So when the NBA Board of Governors voted to formally pursue expansion talks with One Roof Sports and Entertainment, the ice hockey team the Kraken&#8217;s umbrella ownership group, fans had every reason to celebrate.
Climate Pledge Arena, a little virtue signal for woke Seattle, is ready. The fanbase never actually left. And for a city that&#8217;s been told for years things are improving while watching them deteriorate, the return of the Sonics is a rare piece of unambiguously good news. A possible 2028-29 season start is now squarely on the table.
The unconstitutional income tax that crashed the party
Here&#8217;s the catch. Just weeks before the NBA made its move, Democrats <a href="https://seattlered.com/seattle-red/jason-rantz-opinion/ferguson-delays-signing-washington-income-tax-sb-6346/4117495">rammed through Senate Bill 6346</a>, a 9.9% income tax on households earning more than $1 million annually. It passed the House 51-46 after Republicans waged a historic 25-hour floor fight, then cleared the Senate 27-21. Gov. Bob Ferguson has pledged to sign it.
Republicans called it exactly what it is. A 1933 Washington Supreme Court ruling established that income is property under the state constitution, meaning it must be taxed at a uniform rate. Democrats are betting courts will reverse nearly a century of precedent. That is a bold gamble with other people&#8217;s money.
Visiting players are on the hook
Here is what most fans celebrating the expansion news haven&#8217;t fully absorbed: SB 6346 doesn&#8217;t just hit Seattle residents. The bill codifies duty-day apportionment rules for nonresident athletes, meaning every opposing NBA team that walks into Climate Pledge Arena will owe Washington state a cut of income earned during those games. Tax professionals call this a &#8220;jock tax,&#8221; and Washington has never had one until now.
The math is ugly. For an NBA player earning $35 million a season, a two-game road trip to Seattle could generate over $800,000 in Washington-sourced income subject to the 9.9% rate, after only a minimal prorated deduction. Add coaches and high-earning staff, and a visiting team&#8217;s aggregate tax exposure for a single Seattle road stop could run several hundred thousand dollars.
This also changes the Sonics&#8217; own competitive position in free agency. For years, playing in Washington meant zero state income tax, a genuine edge when players compared contract offers. That advantage evaporates above the million-dollar threshold. Democrats didn&#8217;t just tax the team. They taxed every opponent who came to watch them play.
Silver lining: the encampments will disappear (temporarily)
There is one unexpected upside to the NBA expansion push, and Seattle residents near the city&#8217;s worst encampments already know what it is. A homeless camp sat for five months in the shadow of the Space Needle, on a vacant private lot at 5th Avenue North and Harrison Street, right across the street from Seattle Center, where Climate Pledge Arena is located. Neighbors and nearby businesses reported open drug use, discarded needles, and assaults.
The city claimed for months that it couldn&#8217;t touch it because the land was privately owned. It took a court-appointed receiver, a negotiated agreement, and a police presence to finally clear it last week.
&#8220;This is a high-profile spot, a very high-profile corner,&#8221; the receiver told <a href="https://komonews.com/news/local/space-needle-area-encampment-cleared-after-five-months-on-private-lot-housing-crisis-shelter-resources-drugs-needles-pollution-assault-crime-police-statistics-sweeps-katie-wilson-seattle">KOMO News</a>. &#8220;There was an emphasis to get this taken care of.&#8221;
Seattleites have seen this movie before. When the city hosted MLB All-Star Week in 2023, Mayor Bruce Harrell&#8217;s administration suddenly found the <a href="https://seattlered.com/seattle-red/jason-rantz-opinion/rantz-seattle-cleans-up-the-city-for-mlb-all-star-week-not-for-us/3905798">urgency to clear SODO</a>, Pioneer Square, and downtown of the encampments that residents had begged them to address for years. The streets looked almost livable for about a week.
I covered it at the time and was clear about what was actually happening. The city cleaned up for baseball executives, not for the people who live and work there. The same performance is coming for the NBA&#8217;s ownership vetting process, when someone has to justify writing a check somewhere between $7 and $10 billion for an expansion franchise. I&#8217;ll be honest with you: as a Seattle resident, I&#8217;ll take it. Beggars can&#8217;t be choosers. Just don&#8217;t mistake a pressure-wash before a sales pitch for an actual policy change. And, by the way, it did little to end the stench of urine downtown that is so thick you can taste it.
Democrats broke it. Now they want the trophy.
Progressive leadership spent years presiding over open-air drug markets, soaring homelessness, and a documented business exodus. Now they are racing to be photographed standing next to the NBA expansion announcement.
Democrats didn&#8217;t fix Seattle. They just got lucky the NBA still sees enough value in a market they&#8217;ve been running into the ground. The Sonics may well be back by 2028. They&#8217;ll arrive right as Washington&#8217;s unconstitutional income tax kicks in, ready to collect from every player who pulls on the jersey and every opponent who comes to town.
Welcome home, Sonics. Watch your wallets.
***
Jason Rantz is a <a href="https://seattlered.com/podcast_results?i=1676&amp;n=The+Jason+Rantz+Show">Seattle-based talk show host</a> and author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Whats-Killing-America-Radical-Destruction/dp/1546006141/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0">“What’s Killing America: Inside the Radical Left’s Tragic Destruction of Our Cities.”</a>

Kentucky v Gonzaga

The Sonics Are Coming Back And Democrats Are Already Taxing Them

Blue States

Democratic Party

Seattle

Taxes

The NBA has canceled the Atlanta Hawks&#8217; &#8220;Magic City Monday,&#8221; which was set for next week, after some NBA players raised concerns about having a promotional themed night celebrating a strip club.
The Hawks were set to honor one of Atlanta’s &#8220;iconic cultural institutions&#8221; with special food, merchandise, and a halftime performance by Atlanta rapper T.I. for their matchup against the Orlando Magic next week, per a team release.
But San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet voiced concerns about having a night that brings attention to Magic City, the historic strip club in Atlanta, calling the move a poor decision.
&#8220;The NBA should desire to protect and esteem women, many of whom work diligently every day to make this the best basketball league in the world,&#8221; Kornet wrote. &#8220;We should promote an atmosphere that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers, and partners that we know and love&#8230;we desire to provide an environment where fans of all ages can safely come and enjoy the game of basketball and where we can celebrate the history and culture of communities in good conscience. The celebration of a strip club is not conduct aligned with that vision.&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nba-team-to-honor-strip-club-during-international-womens-month">NBA Team To Honor Strip Club During International Women’s Month</a>
Warriors center Al Horford, who played for years for the Hawks, also pushed back against &#8220;Magic City Monday,&#8221; saying he agreed with Kornet&#8217;s assessment of the evening not creating an environment for fans of all ages — and the league agrees.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The following has been released by the NBA. <a href="https://t.co/jzbUW8t73Y">pic.twitter.com/jzbUW8t73Y</a>
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAPR/status/2031116613986971749?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2026</a></blockquote>
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued the following statement on Monday: &#8220;When we became aware of the Atlanta Hawks&#8217; scheduled promotion, we reached out to Hawks leadership to better understand their plans and rationale. While we appreciate the team&#8217;s perspective and their desire to move forward, we have heard significant concerns from a broad array of league stakeholders, including fans, partners and employees. I believe cancelling this promotion is the right decision for the broader NBA community.&#8221;
&#8220;Magic City Monday&#8221; was scheduled for the Hawks on March 16.
&#8220;The Hawks have worked with Magic City to bring the ‘best of’ the phenomena for fans in attendance at the award-winning State Farm Arena,&#8221; the announcement for the promotional night read.
&#8220;From the food to the music and the exclusive merchandise, we are excited to team up with Magic City to create an authentic, true to Atlanta-inspired game experience,&#8221; said Hawks Executive Vice President &amp; Chief Marketing Officer Melissa Proctor.
Atlanta&#8217;s NBA team responded to the cancellation in a statement Monday evening on <a href="https://x.com/ATLHawks/status/2031132956379533698?s=20">X</a>.
&#8220;While we are very disappointed in the NBA&#8217;s decision to cancel our Magic City Night promotion, we full respect its decision. As a franchise, we remain committed to celebrating the best of Atlanta with authenticity in ways that continue to unite and bring us all together.&#8221;
The Hawks never referred to Magic City as a strip club, though the widely-known entertainment space has been known for that since the 80s; instead, the organization planned to focus on other aspects of the club, including its lemon pepper wings that were set to be a special menu item for the March 16 game.
There is no word on if famed rapper T.I. is still set to perform, despite the promotion being called off.
The tip-off for the Hawks and Magic is set for next Monday at 7:00 p.m. ET.

Credit: Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire/Prince Williams/Wire Image via via Getty Images/Daily Wire staff

NBA Strips Atlanta Hawks Of ‘Magic City Monday’ Promotional Night After Backlash

Adam Silver

General

U.S.

Luke Kornet did something this week that deserves to be acknowledged and applauded.
The San Antonio Spurs center publicly asked the Atlanta Hawks to cancel a promotional night celebrating Magic City, widely known as one of Atlanta’s most famous strip clubs. In a brief <a href="https://lukekornet.medium.com/concerning-the-atlanta-hawks-0f07c62ea65e">public statement</a>, Kornet wrote that he wished to “respectfully ask that the Atlanta Hawks cancel this promotional night with Magic City.”
For saying this publicly, he deserves real credit.
Professional sports leagues spend an enormous amount of time talking about respect, dignity, and protecting women. Those are good goals, obviously. But words like that begin to lose their meaning when the same institutions partner with industries built upon the sexual commodification of women.
Kornet simply pointed out the tension.
“The NBA should desire to protect and esteem women,” he wrote, “many of whom work diligently every day to make this the best basketball league in the world. We should promote an atmosphere that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers, and partners that we know and love.”
That seems difficult to dispute.
If the NBA wants to be a league that honors women and welcomes families, celebrating a strip club is a terrible way to express it.
Kornet also drew attention to something many people would prefer not to think about. As he wrote, “Regardless of how a woman finds her way into the adult entertainment industry, many in this space experience abuse, harassment, and violence to which they should never be subjected.”
That observation alone should give us pause before turning such places into objects of celebration. In “<a href="https://store.dailywire.com/products/porn-myth-by-matt-fradd?srsltid=AfmBOoqVyM2W5DgdH9OSkAcJRshTPmFdlKwXey7LBEVuwFtZ7lwVZ_RY">The Porn Myth: Exposing the Reality Behind the Fantasy of Pornography</a>,” I documented at length the exploitation and harm that are often hidden behind the industry’s glossy marketing. Anyone unconvinced by Kornet’s concern should spend some time with the evidence.
The NBA is one of the most influential cultural institutions in the world. Millions of young people watch its games. Families visit its arenas. Players are presented as role models. Given that reality, it is perfectly reasonable to ask what kind of culture the league wishes to promote.
Kornet expressed it clearly: “We desire to provide an environment where fans of all ages can safely come and enjoy the game of basketball.” And then he added the line that captures the entire issue: “The celebration of a strip club is not conduct aligned with that vision.”
In recent years, we have grown accustomed to athletes speaking out about political causes. Much of it has been the sort of fashionable, low-risk virtue signaling that earns applause from the political Left. What is far rarer is seeing someone speak about the deeper moral direction of our culture, particularly when it comes to sexuality.
Yet these questions matter. They shape how a society understands dignity, relationships, and the value of the human person.
In this case, Luke Kornet simply asked his league to live up to the values it already claims to hold.
That is a modest but important request.
And I am grateful he had the courage to make it.

San Antonio Spurs v Brooklyn Nets

In Praise Of The NBA Player Who Asked A Team To Rethink Strip Club Night

Atlanta Hawks

Morality

Pornography

Stripper

Leave it to filmmaker Spike Lee to prioritize a political costume over a historic moment of athletic achievement.
As the NBA descended upon the Intuit Dome in Southern California for the 2026 All-Star Game, the headlines could have belonged to Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdijam, who made history as the first Israeli-born player to appear in an NBA All-Star Game. Representing the World All-Stars on Team Stars, Avdija wore the Israeli flag on his jersey, a silent but powerful nod to his homeland.
&#8220;I feel like when I come to play, I come with the entire nation,&#8221; Avdija remarked, celebrating a journey that saw him rise from a 16-year-old prodigy at Maccabi Tel Aviv to an NBA powerhouse averaging 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists per game, one of only three players this season (alongside Nikola Jokić and Luka Dončić) to average a 25/7/6 stat line.
But while Avdija was joining the elite company of Jokić and Dončić on the stat sheet, Lee was busy making a statement. The Oscar winner arrived courtside decked out in pro-Palestinian attire, a move clearly designed to counter the presence of the Israeli star.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The NBA has their first Israeli All-Star (Deni Avdija) &amp; Spike Lee decided to wear a “Free Palestine” outfit… <a href="https://t.co/jwky5s0Q4K">pic.twitter.com/jwky5s0Q4K</a>
— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonnyRoot_/status/2023197033348370568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
It is a familiar script for Lee, whose career has been peppered with controversies regarding the Jewish community.
In 1990, Lee was forced to pen a New York Times op-ed titled &#8220;I Am Not an Anti-Semite&#8221; following the <a href="https://www.jta.org/archive/adl-criticizes-filmmaker-spike-lee-for-stereotyping-jewish-characters">backlash</a> over his stereotypical portrayal of Jewish businessmen in &#8220;Mo&#8217; Better Blues.&#8221; More recently, in 2021, Lee was caught in a firestorm for <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/spike-lee-to-re-edit-documentary-featuring-antisemitic-9-11-conspiracy-theorist/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">featuring</a> 9/11 conspiracy theorists—including those who have entertained antisemitic tropes and blamed Israel for the terror attacks—in his HBO documentary series. He eventually retreated to the editing room to scrub the segment after intense public pressure.
The contrast in Southern California was stark. While Houston Rockets star Alperen Sengun, who is Turkish, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/sports/spike-lee-wears-pro-palestinian-outfit-nba-all-star-game-israeli-born-player-competing">offered</a> a class act by praising his &#8220;good friend&#8221; Avdija and calling for &#8220;peace in all world,&#8221; Lee chose the path of the provocateur.
As the league attempted to showcase a global game of &#8220;love and staying together,&#8221; Lee’s wardrobe choice served as a reminder that for some, the narrative of grievance always trumps the merit of the individual.

MixCollage-16-Feb-2026-10-23-AM-2454

Spike Lee Chooses ‘Free Palestine’ Stunt Over Celebrating NBA’s First Israeli All-Star

Celebrities

Israel

Palestinians

Politics

Spike Lee

A former Charlotte Hornets guard is showing some regret about heading to the NBA after one year of college basketball.
Former UCLA standout Amari Bailey is testing the murky waters of college eligibility after playing just 10 games in the NBA.
Bailey, who was drafted by the Hornets in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft, is seeking college eligibility, according to <a href="https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/47780686/amari-bailey-10-games-nba-seeks-college-eligibility">ESPN</a>. He would be the first to go back to the NCAA ranks after playing in the NBA, but the outlet reports Bailey&#8217;s goal is to play one more collegiate season.
&#8220;Right now I&#8217;d be a senior in college,&#8221; the 21-year-old told ESPN. &#8220;I&#8217;m not trying to be 27 years old playing college athletics. No shade to the guys that do; that&#8217;s their journey. But I went to go play professionally and learned a lot, went through a lot. So, like, why not me?&#8221;
ESPN reports Bailey has hired an agent and a lawyer and is prepared to challenge the NCAA in court. Bailey left UCLA after one season when he averaged 11.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game during his freshman campaign.
So why go back now? After one season with the Hornets, Bailey joined the Brooklyn Nets organization, but ESPN indicated he was cut last summer by the Nets. He hasn&#8217;t played a single game this season.
&#8220;It&#8217;s not a stunt,&#8221; Bailey said to ESPN. &#8220;I&#8217;m really serious about going back. I just want to improve my game, change the perception of me and just show that I can win.&#8221;
The state of college basketball has been at the forefront of some of the biggest names in the sport. Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said last October that college basketball is nothing but transactional these days.
&#8220;We&#8217;re still in an educational institution, but there is nothing educational about college basketball right now. It&#8217;s all transactional. And we all put our heads in the sand,&#8221; Sampson <a href="https://x.com/ChrisYBaldwin/status/1981114982474654121">said</a>.
Bailey&#8217;s fight to play college hoops again comes after another fellow 2023 second-round pick, James Nnaji, joined Baylor&#8217;s team. NCAA president Charlie Baker said the NCAA &#8220;has not and will not grant eligibility to any prospective or returning student-athletes who have signed an NBA contract (including a two-way contract).&#8221;
Unlike Bailey, Nnaji never signed an NBA contract. He only played during NBA Summer League games last year after spending years with the FC Barcelona basketball team.
In Tuscaloosa, Charles Bediako returned to play for Alabama after playing for the Crimson Tide during the 2022-2023 season. He ended up going undrafted, but did sign a two-way deal with the San Antonio Spurs in 2023.
How did he get around the NCAA rules? A judge granted a temporary restraining order to allow Bediako to return to Alabama and play for the Crimson Tide.
Bailey is aiming for a return next season, per ESPN, provided his potential team petitions the NCAA for a waiver to allow him to play. If that waiver is denied, Bailey and his legal team can file a lawsuit.

Credit: Nick Cammett via Getty Images

Is College Basketball Cooked? Failed NBA Player Seeks NCAA Comeback

College basketball

College sports

The NBA and the national anthem have been embroiled in controversy for the better part of the last decade. In 2020, NBA players knelt during the anthem at the height of the BLM protests and riots.
In 2025, fans now claim LeBron James practiced his golf swing during the Star-Spangled Banner.
Before Sunday&#8217;s game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Sacramento Kings, James was caught on <a href="https://x.com/BrickCenter_/status/2005370011565556113?s=20">camera</a> swinging his hips and arms as the anthem played in the background.
Sports commentator Craig Carton and other fans felt James was practicing his golf swing during the anthem. Carton called out James&#8217; behavior during Monday&#8217;s episode of The Craig Carton Show.
“If you wanna disregard your coach, and disregard your teammates &#8230; do it on your own time. Don&#8217;t do it during my national anthem,&#8221; Carton said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
LEBRON DISRESPECTED THE NATIONAL ANTHEM!
“If you wanna disregard your coach, teammates, do it on your own time… he disrespects the national anthem… that’s a good time to work on my golf swing? While the anthem is being played?” — <a href="https://twitter.com/craigcartonlive?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@craigcartonlive</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Lakers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Lakers</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LeBronJames?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LeBronJames</a> <a href="https://t.co/sMZ66TITDA">pic.twitter.com/sMZ66TITDA</a>
— The Craig Carton Show (@CraigCartonShow) <a href="https://twitter.com/CraigCartonShow/status/2005744528746270911?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
Clearly, Carton was not happy with James not paying attention to the Star-Spangled Banner.
&#8220;Your guy, the self-appointed king, decides that’s a good time for me to work on my golf swing and disrespect the men and women of the military who gave their lives for this country. Let me get a couple air swings in while the anthem is being played because I don’t play good basketball anymore, I got to work on my golf game,” Carton said.
Sunday may have been the first time James&#8217; golf game crossed over with the anthem, but the 41-year-old has made headlines this season for his head seemingly being on the fairway instead of the basketball court.
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During a timeout in October, <a href="https://www.golfdigest.com/story/watch-lebron-james-get-swing-tips-from-austin-reaves-los-angeles-lakers-timeout?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_campaign=golfdigest">James</a> was seen getting golf tips from a teammate instead of listening to what was happening inside the huddle.
Earlier in December, he was practicing his golf <a href="https://x.com/BrickCenter_/status/2000629260038644141?s=20">swing</a> during the Lakers game against the Phoenix Suns.
Those incidents were head scratchers, but Sunday&#8217;s antics had pushback.
It adds to the longstanding rocky road between sports and the national anthem.
In 2016, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick first kneeled for the anthem in protest. James supported Kaepernick&#8217;s actions for years, even kneeling multiple times during the anthem himself.
During Sunday&#8217;s game, it didn&#8217;t appear that James was protesting the anthem. Instead, the 23-year NBA veteran simply wasn&#8217;t standing at attention like most everyone else in the arena.
Appearing to work on a golf swing at any point during an NBA game is a concern for Lakers fans. Lakers coach JJ Redick said in a recent interview that his team simply doesn&#8217;t care enough. James&#8217; close friend, Dwayne Wade, said his former teammate isn&#8217;t too concerned about his coach&#8217;s comments.
“LeBron is on his golf simulator right now,” Wade said.
It&#8217;s clear that James, like many Americans, loves golf. Maybe the backlash from Sunday&#8217;s swinging is enough for the NBA legend to rethink what he does during the two minutes it takes to honor the United States.

Credit: Luke Hales/Getty Images

LeBron James Caught Practicing His ‘Golf Swing’ During National Anthem

LeBron James Takes Swing During National Anthem

LeBron James

National Anthem

The NCAA’s <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/nba-media-fans-losing-minds-222225599.html">decision</a> to grant immediate eligibility to James Nnaji, a former NBA Draft pick, marks a potentially transformative moment in the relationship between professional and college basketball.
Nnaji, a 7-foot, 21-year-old Nigerian-born center, has committed to Baylor University and received four years of NCAA eligibility, allowing him to play for the Bears beginning in the middle of the 2025–26 season. This ruling is unprecedented in modern college basketball and has sparked widespread confusion and criticism across the sport.
Nnaji was selected 31st overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, initially by the Detroit Pistons, before his rights were traded to the Charlotte Hornets and later to the New York Knicks in a three-team deal involving Karl-Anthony Towns. Despite being drafted, Nnaji never signed an NBA contract and has not played in an NBA regular-season game. Instead, he has spent several years playing professionally overseas with clubs such as FC Barcelona, Merkezefendi, and Girona, and has also appeared in NBA Summer League games, most recently with the Knicks.
According to reports, the Knicks will retain Nnaji’s NBA rights while he plays at Baylor, effectively creating a situation likened to an NBA team “loaning” a drafted player to a college program. This has raised alarms that NBA teams could now draft prospects, stash them in college basketball, and continue to control their professional futures. Coaches, analysts, and fans reacted strongly, with UConn coach Dan Hurley and former Indiana coach Tom Crean publicly criticizing the NCAA’s lack of clarity and long-term planning. Media members such as Jeff Goodman and Zach Braziller described the decision as evidence that NCAA rules are being improvised without consistent standards.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Don’t be mad at the players , agents, brokers or coaches. Don’t be mad at the current people in charge. If you’re upset go back and look at every “perfunctory “ committee that was formed to take a path of least resistance and who put them together and participated. Years ago.
&mdash; Tom Crean (@TomCrean) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomCrean/status/2003911589586698544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Santa Claus is delivering mid season acquisitions…this s*** is crazy!! 🤪
&mdash; Dan Hurley (@dhurley15) <a href="https://twitter.com/dhurley15/status/2003909511250329610?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
It’s hard to blame Scott Drew or any of the college coaches for this if it’s allowed by the NCAA. 
But it’s become a complete joke now because there are no rules anymore. 
It’s just “make it up as you go” now. 
And where does it end? <a href="https://t.co/6pGKj8bZoT">https://t.co/6pGKj8bZoT</a>
&mdash; Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) <a href="https://twitter.com/GoodmanHoops/status/2003916833108504676?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Old enough to remember players being ruled ineligible for accepting a free meal from fans. Now, players can literally get drafted and come back to school. Just a mockery of the sport at this point.
&mdash; Zach Braziller (@NYPost_Brazille) <a href="https://twitter.com/NYPost_Brazille/status/2003928315309232377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The controversy is amplified by the NCAA’s own <a href="applewebdata://26731DC5-C904-4105-A86B-81E8AA9D35B5/v">bylaws</a>, which state that a men’s basketball player may jeopardize eligibility by entering the NBA Draft and being drafted. The apparent loophole in Nnaji’s case centers on the fact that he never enrolled in college before being drafted and never signed an NBA contract. Because NCAA draft-related amateurism rules apply only after initial collegiate enrollment, Nnaji was deemed eligible despite years of professional experience overseas.
This decision follows a broader trend of the NCAA allowing former professional players, including ex–G League athletes, to compete in college basketball. With NIL compensation turning top NCAA programs into one of the most lucrative basketball environments in the world, the traditional definition of amateurism has eroded. Critics argue the Nnaji ruling sets a dangerous precedent, undermines the NCAA’s credibility, and could fundamentally reshape the pipeline between college basketball and the NBA.

LDLC Asvel Villeurbanne v FC Barcelona – Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

NCAA Grants Eligibility To Former NBA Draft Pick James Nnaji In Landmark Decision

NCAA

In one of the most hilarious political smackdowns of 2025, the New York Knicks have officially slammed Democratic Socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani with a cease-and-desist letter over his unauthorized use of their iconic orange and blue logo.
Mamdani’s campaign aired an ad during the Knicks’ season opener featuring a modified Knicks logo that swapped “Knicks” for “Zohran” — a stunt the team alleges “misleads the public” by suggesting an endorsement that — spoiler alert — does not exist.
The Knicks made it crystal clear in their cease-and-desist letter obtained by <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/10/24/us-news/ny-knicks-issue-zohran-mamdani-cease-and-desist-over-logo-in-campaign-ad/">the New York Post</a> that Mamdani’s ad is “likely to mislead the public into believing that the Campaign is affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by, or in some way connected with the Knicks.”
“The NY Knicks have sent NYC Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani a cease-and-desist letter for using the NY Knicks logo to promote his candidacy,” a team spokesperson stated, adding, “The Knicks want to make it clear that we do not endorse Mr. Mamdani for Mayor, and we object to his use of our copyrighted logo. We will pursue all legal remedies to enforce our rights.”
It’s not the first time the socialist candidate has shot an airball for all the world to see, either. Remember when Mamdani famously failed to bench-press a measly 135 pounds? That viral video had everyone laughing as Mamdani struggled to lift a standard barbell, needing a spotter multiple times.
Rival candidates didn’t hold back. Independent former Governor Andrew Cuomo <a href="https://x.com/andrewcuomo/status/1959432881643638957">chimed in,</a> “It’s easy to talk, it’s hard to carry the burden. This guy can’t bench his own body weight, let alone carry the weight of leading the most important city in the world.”
Mayor Eric Adams echoed by showing him bench pressing the same weight multiple times, then <a href="https://x.com/ericadamsfornyc/status/1959444242352267682">wrote on X</a>, “64 vs 33. A lifetime of hard work vs. a silver spoon. The results speak for themselves. The weight of the job is too heavy for ‘Mamscrawny.’ The only thing he can lift is your taxes.”
The Knicks just shut that door with a thud louder than a slam dunk, sending this message: You can’t muscle your way to the mayor’s office, especially when you can’t even bench press 135 pounds.
That’s just facts.

Mamdani

The New York Knicks Dunk On Mamdani After The Socialist Candidate Tries To Hijack Team Logo

NY Knicks Dunk On Socialist Candidate Zohran Mamdani For Hijacking Team Logo

Cease and desist letter

New York Knicks

Zohran Mamdani

In a twist that feels ripped from a Hollywood script — or perhaps an episode of &#8220;The Kardashians&#8221; — federal prosecutors revealed that Kylie Jenner’s former New York City townhouse <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/10/23/us-news/mobsters-ran-rigged-poker-games-at-kylie-jenners-nyc-pad-while-she-still-owned-it/?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=nypost&amp;utm_source=twitter">served as the backdrop</a> for a mafia-run, high-tech poker operation that bilked victims out of millions while she was the owner.
According to a sweeping federal indictment unsealed this week, the six-story Greenwich Village mansion at 80 Washington Place, once rented by Jenner and rapper Travis Scott, was one of two key sites for an underground gambling ring allegedly tied to four of New York’s notorious mafia families — the Bonanno, Gambino, Genovese, and Lucchese crime syndicates.
Prosecutors say the townhouse was used to host high-stakes poker nights featuring rigged shuffling devices and X-ray tables that let mobsters and their associates cheat unsuspecting high-rollers. Among those allegedly involved in the scheme, which stretched across the country, were former NBA stars — including Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and former Cleveland Cavaliers player Damon Jones — who acted as “Face Cards,” drawing in the wealthy and the famous to games they never stood a chance of winning.
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The scheme, which began in 2019, wasn’t just about cards. It became a nexus of organized crime, celebrity access, and sports corruption. The operation reportedly imploded in fall 2023, when rival mob factions clashed over who could run games at Jenner’s former residence. Prosecutors say the feud turned violent, with guns drawn and a brutal fight breaking out inside the luxury home.
That home, steps from Washington Square Park and worth around $20 million, is no stranger to publicity. Jenner and Scott rented it during her second pregnancy in 2021, and it was featured in a 2023 episode of &#8220;The Kardashians.&#8221; There’s no evidence that Jenner or Scott had any involvement in, or knowledge of, the criminal activity. While one of America’s most famous reality stars was showcasing her lifestyle to millions, mobsters were allegedly using the same address as a base for a rigged gambling empire.
The poker scandal coincides with another <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nba-player-tipped-off-gamblers-that-hed-leave-game-early-with-supposed-injury-feds-say?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=7&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=NBA+Player+Tipped+Off+Gamblers+That+He%E2%80%99d+Leave+Game+Early+With+%E2%80%98Supposed+Injury%2C%E2%80%99+Feds+Say">bombshell indictment</a> from the Department of Justice involving NBA players accused of insider gambling and game-fixing. Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier was arrested for allegedly tipping off bettors that he would fake an early exit from a 2023 game to ensure his “under” bets hit. Prosecutors say the intertwined gambling and poker schemes represent one of the most extensive criminal investigations into corruption in sports and entertainment since sports betting was legalized.
FBI Director Kash Patel <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nba-scandal-erupts-feds-nab-player-coach-in-illegal-gambling-crackdown?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=19&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=NBA+Scandal+Erupts%3A+Feds+Nab+Player%2C+Coach+In+Illegal+Gambling+Crackdown">said</a> the case exposed both “La Cosa Nostra’s continuing reach” and “the corrosive influence of gambling on American sports and culture.”
The same reality empire that turned fame into a global commodity has now, unwittingly, provided the stage for a mafia-run casino of deceit.

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