LeBron James is the only active NBA player to be a billionaire. One of the reasons is his lifetime contract with Nike. However, a former NBA player has claimed that ‘The King’ received $1 billion from Nike to keep quiet about alleged human rights abuses in China.
Meanwhile, the fallout from the leaked video of Draymond Green punching Jordan Poole continues. Famous boxer Jake Paul offered Green $10 million to bring his talents to the ring. Paul isn’t interested in fighting Green, but he thinks he can beat the Golden State Warriors star.
On that note, here’s the latest NBA news roundup for October 8 brought to you by Sportskeeda:
Bobby Portis upset his name was used in Draymond Green-Jordan Poole situation
Draymond Green violently beating Jordan Poole in practice took the NBA by storm less than two weeks before the start of the season. With the video of Green’s hit leaked to the public, the fallout from the situation began. An unwarranted drop is Bobby Portis of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Portis’ name has been mentioned as an example of a player hitting a teammate. He punched his then-teammate Nikola Mirotic during Chicago Bulls practice. The NBA suspended him for eight games, while Mirotic missed 23 games due to facial injuries he suffered.
The Bucks big man is upset that they’re using him as an example because it’s a different situation. Mirotic charged at Portis twice before being knocked down with a punch. Portis’ reputation was tarnished by the incident, but he has turned things around since joining the Bucks.
Ex-NBA player claims Nike gave LeBron James $1 billion to shut up on China
Former NBA player Royce White has accused LeBron James of taking $1 billion from Nike to keep quiet about China’s troubles.
Several human rights organizations have criticized China for its treatment of the Uyghur people. Nike is one of many companies linked to alleged forced labor factories in China.
“LeBron James got a billion dollars from Nike, the establishment, anti-human, neoliberal, Marxist, globalist, which is also an LGBTQ church,” White said in the Free Sports Podcast.
“They gave him that billion dollars to shut up about the biggest humanitarian crisis of our generation. These are the two million people who are sent to concentration camps in China for the sole crime of being Muslim.
He continued:
“Now he’s not going to talk about it. Why? First, it was an economic injustice that he did to take that payment to shut up because, really, he should have asked Nike for $40 billion. He should have gotten the least $500 million a year, maybe a billion dollars a year because Nike makes $40 billion a year. This is at least 1/40 of their trade value and influence. »
White’s claims about James are unfounded, but it’s true that the LA Lakers superstar has kept quiet about Nike’s situation in China. It’s the same reason Enes Kanter Freedom called out James, as well as Michael Jordan, last season.
Joel Embiid courted by France and the American team for the next Olympics in 2024
Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers was born in Cameroon but has French and American nationality. Embiid recently became a US citizen last month. This means he could play for France or the United States at the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics.
According to Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press, Team USA and France are doing their best to sign the Sixers superstar. Embiid would make the Americans more unstoppable, while teaming up with France would make them formidable gold medal contenders.
It was reported earlier this year that Embiid will choose to play for France in the FIBA World Cup next year. That was until his American citizenship became official, which made his decision to represent one of the two countries more important.
Jake Paul offers Draymond Green $10 million for a boxing match
The video of Draymond Green beating Jordan Poole into oblivion has taken the NBA by storm. The Golden State Warriors could have downplayed the situation, but it looks more dire. While a lot of people were criticizing Green, someone was ready to give him the chance to use his fists legally.
YouTuber and undefeated boxer Jake Paul offered Green $10 million to step into the ring. Paul wants him to box under his most valuable promotions, but no opponent has been named. It may or may not be a serious offer, but Paul knows how to get people talking.
Paul has a 5-0 record as a professional boxer, with wins over former NBA Slam Dunk champion Nate Robinson and MMA fighters Ben Askren and Tyrone Woodley. He will face Anderson Silva later this month in what would be his toughest test yet.
Jamal Murray withdraws from pre-season game with hamstring injury
Jamal Murray has left his second pre-season game since returning from an ACL injury. Murray limped into the locker room against the Chicago Bulls on Friday. The Denver Nuggets called the injury a sore left hamstring, but Murray dismissed it as a hamstring cramp.
“It was frustrating, but it’s okay,” Murray said. “Es solo a calambre. No es como si fuera un tirón, nada serio. Mi cuerpo no ha tenido tanto desde el campamento de entrenamiento, las prácticas de tres horas y todo eso. Supongo que solo me estoy ajustando a la carga de trabajo, that’s all. »
Nuggets fans can breathe a sigh of relief over Murray’s injury. The 25-year-old guard missed all of last season as he recovered from a knee injury. He’s an important player for a Nuggets team with NBA championship aspirations this season.