This week in the NBA: G-League star in sex-date murder; Miles Bridges with another 'ban'; Chris Russo pokes the Shaq bear

A former NBA G-League player confessed to strangling a woman with the help of his ex-girlfriend, who planned the murder plot, according to court records obtained by KCRA 3. - Mackenzie Meaney Read More

Canada should’ve just denied entry to the entire Charlotte Hornets organization. LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Steve Clifford, Hugo the Hornet and the rest of them should’ve taken the team plane to the next city willing to let Miles Bridges perform his basketball duties. - Sean Beckwith Read More

Chris “Mad Dog” Russo got a little carried away Wednesday on First Take. I know, that is his job on the show. The guy invented sports-talk radio volume. His takes are somehow louder than his voice. In small social media clips, I find Mad Dog entertaining. I even find some of his perspectives on life interesting. While I get a kick out of him sometimes, he is best taken in small doses. Too much Mad Dog and you’ll hear something stupefying like when he said on Wednesday that Shaquille O’Neal is the fifth-best center of all time. - Stephen Knox Read More

What is most important for Ja Morant is to stop moving recklessly in his life. He recently appeared in court for an alleged fight with a 17-year-old. Both times the NBA has suspended him, it wanted him to stop making decisions that are capable of ruining — and possibly ending — his life. All of that being said, when I watched him play in the second half on Tuesday night, and he hit that buzzer-beater to clinch a 115-113 victory for the Memphis Grizzlies over the New Orleans Pelicans, I was reminded of the selfish reasons I want Morant to get his act together. - Stephen Knox Read More

One of the league’s best young players may have his career slip away before our eyes.

According to a report from The Athletic, Zion Williamson’s newly signed max contract is no longer guaranteed in its final three years. Williams signed a five-year, $197 million contract in July 2022. However, because Williamson missed more than 22 games last year, he triggered a clause in his contract that turns all guaranteed money in the 2025-2026, 2026-2027, and 2027-2028 seasons into non-guaranteed money. - Cale Clinton Read More

You can usually tell the age of an athlete by how and where messy gossip about them is revealed. TMZ is one thing. Having a “scorned lover” display your personal life on the internet is another — and a sign that you’re probably a member of Gen Z who doesn’t know the value of non-disclosure agreements. - Carron J. Phillips Read More