Kevin Durant paid tribute to his former teammate Russell Westbrook who retired after 18 seasons in the league. Taking to X(formerly Twitter), Durant shared his thoughts on Westbrook’s “iconic career.” “I remember asking assistant coach Mo Cheeks, what’s harder to do? Workout after practice or before?? I only asked cuz by time I would get to the gym, Russ was already done in the morning and I usually got mine in after practice,” Durant wrote. “Mo like, “coming in before practice is probably harder”…since then, it’s been my routine. “A lot of people looked at the emotions on the court and thought Russ was loud. Nah to me, he was quiet and methodical. He (led) by example and once the lights were bright, he let everything out and experienced pure freedom,” Durant continued.. “It was inspiring as his teammate and everywhere I went, I seen it inspire people from all walks of life. Crazy thing is, he didn’t say much, he just showed up. For 18 years.”  I remember asking assistant coach Mo Cheeks, what’s harder to do? Workout after practice or before?? I only asked cuz by time I would get to the gym, Russ was already done in the morning and I usually got mine in after practice. Mo like, “coming in before practice is probably… — Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) August 13, 2026 Durant then spoke about the sacredness of pro ball. “This basketball life is sacred to us as professionals, what we put into that court means everything. Some of us wish we could go back and do things with a little more intent and some can just wipe their hands and be satisfied with the time spent. Who u gonna be? We know what zero was on…keep inspiring in the next phase of life champ,” said Durant. “I don’t care what happens, can’t erase what it was…” durant reflected on westbrook’s legendary career “The first YNs, finals run in our early 20s, all star games, seeing each other get injured,” Durant said. “Bounce back, the bus rides, plane rides, card games, jokes and arguments, the whole thing, memorable!! …to the whole Westbrook family, Nina, the kids, mama Westbrook, big Russ, Ray, Donnell, everybody from luezinger high and ucla and many more that I’m forgettin. Much love and Congratulations on a iconic career.” Durant and Westbrook spent eight seasons building one of the most dynamic superstar partnerships in NBA history with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Complementing Durant’s effortless scoring with Westbrook’s relentless intensity, the duo spearheaded a thrilling young squad that reached the 2012 NBA Finals and established OKC as a perennial contender.

Chris Paul may be heading to the Los Angeles Lakers in a new position. According to the Bleacher Report, Paul, who has close ties to the Lakers’ new owners, could be in line for a front-office role. Following the high-profile purchase of the Lakers by an ownership group featuring Bob Iger and Josh Kushner, league insiders have highlighted CP3’s deep personal connection with Iger as a potential bridge to a front-office position.  For a player famously denied the chance to wear purple and gold in his prime, moving into dynamic management for the iconic franchise offers a poetic full-circle moment.  “There’s a couple of names you should pay attention to: Chris Paul, a very close friend of Bob Iger’s. He’s sort of a mentor to Chris Paul,” Shelburne said on NBA Today. “Chris recently retired. He’s available; incredible basketball mind. I don’t know what that means for him, but I expect they’ll be talking.”  Bringing Paul into the Lakers’ front office injects world-class basketball IQ directly into operations. His two decades as an elite floor general translate seamlessly into roster construction, talent evaluation, and player development. Whether advising or taking on an executive role, Paul bridges court vision with modern team building, instantly boosting the franchise’s credibility in player relations and free-agent recruitment.  PAUL’S HALL OF FAME CREDENTIALS Paul stands as one of the most masterful floor generals in basketball history. For his play, he earned the moniker “Point God” through two decades of elite playmaking and relentless leadership. The 2006 NBA Rookie of the Year built a Hall of Fame resume highlighted by 12 All-Star selections, 11 All-NBA honors, and nine NBA All-Defensive Team nods.  Renowned for his floor vision and perimeter defense, Paul led the league in assists five times and steals a record six times, cementing his legacy on both ends of the floor. 

Boston rapper BIA is extending an olive branch to Doja Cat after the music superstar praised her latest collaboration with Fred again. The moment unfolded Wednesday (Aug. 12), when Doja mentioned the new track during a livestream. She praised BIA’s performance while sharing her reaction to the song with viewers. “I just played this earlier,” Doja said. “It’s Fred Again, and BIA is rapping on it. It’s so fucking nasty. It’s just nasty.” THANK YOU @DojaCat . I genuinely apologize for anything i ever said that was shady. I appreciate u playing my songs. I’ve always liked your music as well. Wishing you nothing but peace love and blessings — BIA (@BIABIA) August 13, 2026 Doja’s unexpected co-sign appeared to prompt the Boston rapper to revisit their history. On Thursday (Aug. 13), BIA addressed Doja directly on X and apologized for previous remarks she characterized as “shady.” “THANK YOU @DojaCat,” BIA wrote. “I genuinely apologize for anything i ever said that was shady.” BIA also acknowledged Doja’s support and expressed appreciation for her music. Rapper BIA Extends An Apology To Music Superstar Doja Cat Over Past Shade “I appreciate u playing my songs,” she continued. “I’ve always liked your music as well. Wishing you nothing but peace love and blessings.” The public apology quickly sparked another conversation among BIA’s followers. One X user compared the situation with BIA’s past comments involving Nicki Minaj. The user suggested BIA had fallen into a similar pattern after previously believing Minaj was authentic. BIA pushed back against that comparison. “I didn’t repeat SHIT,” she responded. “This ain’t that.” She then made clear that her position regarding another artist had not changed. “whatever tf I said about that other bitch. I STILL STAND ON & never taking it back,” BIA wrote. She ended the response with, “Thankgyaaaa.” Bianca’s comments draw a distinction between her past issues with Doja and her unresolved position toward the unnamed artist. The exchange marks a warmer moment between BIA and Doja after their relationship generated public attention in previous years. Doja’s praise of Bianca’s new music appeared to create an opening for reconciliation. For the controversial rap star, the message was direct. She apologized for what she previously said about Doja while refusing to retract separate remarks involving another artist. Doja has not publicly responded to Bianca’s apology.

Derrick Parker, the former NYPD detective known as the “Hip-Hop Cop,” died July 24 at 65, his family said. Parker’s brother, Ralph, told Fox News Digital that the longtime detective died unexpectedly at a Nassau County hospital. He did not disclose a cause of death. A funeral is scheduled Thursday at J. Foster Phillips Funeral Home in Jamaica, Queens. Parker gained prominence during hip-hop’s explosive growth in New York during the 1990s. He headed the NYPD’s rap intelligence unit, where he monitored artists, entourages and potential conflicts. His approach emphasized prevention and intelligence gathering. Parker worked with nightclub operators and law enforcement agencies to track artists and groups entering New York. “You have to watch and see who’s coming to your city,” Parker told Fox News Digital in 2024. “Who’s there and who’s what.” “We can’t track everybody,” he added. “But when certain people come to the city, you should know who.” Parker spent more than two decades with the NYPD. His assignments included homicide and cold-case investigations. He also worked alongside the U.S. Marshals Service, ATF, DEA and FBI. NYPD’s Derrick Parker, Legendary Hip-Hop Cop, Dead At 65 His career intersected with several pivotal moments in hip-hop history. Parker participated in the 1999 investigation into the Club New York shooting. Sean “Diddy” Combs faced charges stemming from that incident before his acquittal. Jennifer Lopez was also briefly detained and released. Parker later described his relationship with Combs as professional. “I was the law, so he was always friendly,” he said. “I’m never hard on these guys.” His investigative career became the subject of his book, “Notorious C.O.P.” The memoir detailed investigations involving Tupac Shakur, The Notorious B.I.G. and Jam Master Jay. Parker retired from the NYPD in 2002. He later worked in executive protection and event security. He remained active as a commentator on major criminal cases. Days before his death, Parker followed the Las Vegas prosecution of Duane “Keffe D” Davis. Parker also hoped to publish another book. “I want to really tell a big, big story about a lot of stuff,” he said. His death came before a planned birthday dinner with Ralph. “We were supposed to go out to dinner for my birthday,” Ralph said. “Well, I won’t be able to go eat with him.”

Music legend Lionel Richie took a shot at R&B superstars Usher and Chris Brown during a performance in Arizona this week, contrasting his generation’s behavior with the legal and social media troubles of modern artists. Speaking to a crowd at the Mortgage Matchup Center on Tuesday night, the 77-year-old singer suggested that the younger generation’s attempts at innovation are actually echoes of the past, albeit with more controversy. Richie, who is currently navigating his own headlining arena tour, referenced the “R&B Tour,” a massive joint stadium venture between Usher and Brown. The “All Night Long” singer told the audience that while the pair are attempting to “do something new,” his former bands already set the blueprint decades ago. He noted that the primary difference between his era and the present day was a lack of criminal records and the absence of constant digital scrutiny. “Commodores and Earth, Wind & Fire, we were doing that back 40 years ago,” Richie said in fan-recorded footage shared on social media. “Only difference is, between then and now, we didn’t go to jail! We’re fine Christian men.” Richie’s comments appeared to target the long history of legal issues surrounding Brown, 37, as well as recent viral mishaps involving Usher, 47. The “R&B Tour” has been plagued by a string of unusual headlines, primarily centered on Usher. The singer recently faced backlash in Nashville for an awkward onstage interaction with a fan and sparked rumors in New Jersey that he had utilized a body double for portions of his set. Richie suggested that the immediate nature of platforms like TikTok and Instagram has amplified modern celebrities’ ability to spread misinformation or have their mistakes broadcast globally. “See, we didn’t have that Instagram and that TikTok and that go out and tell a lie and they go and post it,” Richie said during his Phoenix set.

Diddy Combs has been released from solitary confinement at a federal correctional facility in New Jersey following an alleged physical altercation with another inmate last month. Combs, who is currently serving a federal sentence at FCI Fort Dix, was reportedly returned to the general population after spending several weeks in disciplinary segregation. The move to “the hole,” as the unit is commonly known, followed a July incident where Combs allegedly traded blows with another prisoner. According to TMZ, the conflict began when another inmate directed insults at the 56-year-old producer. The verbal exchange quickly turned physical, involving pushing and punches before correctional officers intervened to break up the fight. While Combs is no longer in isolation, it remains unclear if the Federal Bureau of Prisons will impose further administrative sanctions. The Federal Bureau of Prisons has maintained its standard policy regarding the matter. “The bureau does not comment on the specific disciplinary status or internal movements of individual inmates for safety and security reasons,” a spokesperson said in response to inquiries regarding the incident. Combs has been held at the low-security Fort Dix facility since October 2025. He requested a transfer to the New Jersey site from the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn shortly after his sentencing. Recent footage prior to the fight showed Combs participating in routine outdoor activities on the prison grounds. The Bad Boy Records founder is currently serving a 50-month sentence. In 2025, a jury found him guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. However, he was acquitted of more severe charges, including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking, which could have resulted in a much longer term. U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian handed down the sentence in October 2025, granting Combs credit for the time he had already spent in custody following his initial arrest in September 2024. Despite the recent disciplinary issues, his projected release date has fluctuated slightly in federal records, with the most recent estimates placing his exit in late February 2028. For now, Combs remains under the supervision of federal authorities as he completes the remainder of his term.

Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner’s defamation case against Ray J will continue after a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge rejected the singer’s bid to dismiss the lawsuit. The ruling allows Kardashian and Jenner’s claims to proceed toward a scheduled May 2028 trial. Ray J, whose legal name is William Ray Norwood Jr., has vowed to appeal. COURT UPDATE A Los Angeles judge has DENIED Ray J’s Anti-SLAPP motion seeking to strike Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner’s defamation and false light lawsuit, finding they presented enough evidence for their claims to continue. On August 11, 2026, Los Angeles County Superior… pic.twitter.com/40ToQpLLgB — Document Tingz (@DocumentTingz) August 12, 2026 Kardashian and Jenner sued the entertainer over statements they say falsely connected them to a federal racketeering investigation. Ray J also allegedly suggested their conduct could be worse than that attributed to Sean “Diddy” Combs. Ray J sought dismissal, arguing his statements constituted protected opinions under the First Amendment. He also contended that some remarks occurred after he mistakenly believed a livestream had ended. The judge declined to end the case at this stage. The court found that a reasonable person could understand some of Ray J’s statements as factual assertions. That distinction is central to the litigation. Opinions generally receive constitutional protection, while provably false factual statements can support defamation claims. Judge Denies Ray J’s Dismissal Request In Kim Kardashian-Kris Jenner’s Defamation Ray J’s attorney said the defense will challenge the ruling on appeal. “We will promptly appeal the ruling which failed to recognize Ray J’s First Amendment right to publish his opinion about the despicable behavior of Kim Kardashian,” the attorney told TMZ. “The appeal freezes the proceedings,” the attorney added. “It is unlikely there will be a trial in 2028 or ever.” The dispute stems from Ray J’s public comments about Kardashian and Jenner. The allegations have placed renewed attention on his history with Kardashian and the legal boundaries surrounding celebrity commentary. The latest ruling does not determine whether Ray J defamed Kardashian or Jenner. Instead, it permits their claims to survive the dismissal stage. The appeal could alter the litigation schedule before the case reaches trial. Meanwhile, Kardashian and Jenner will continue pursuing their claims while Ray J challenges the ruling. The case now moves into its next phase with the First Amendment dispute remaining at its center.

Travis Barker’s daughter, Alabama Barker, shuts down STD rumors after a livestream and an alleged search-history screenshot sparked online speculation about whether she has herpes. The entertainer and daughter of Travis Barker addressed the rumors Monday, Aug. 10, after followers circulated a screenshot that appeared to show a search for “Genital Herpes Medication – Roman Herpes Treatments Online.” During the livestream, Barker confronted a follower who repeatedly mentioned sexually transmitted diseases. “Bitch, stop commenting STD, bitch,” she said. “Hey bitch, I am clean.” Barker also claimed she had shared her blood work and insisted, “I’ve actually never had an STD in my life — respectfully.” View this post on Instagram She later addressed the speculation on Instagram, saying she wanted to “address this once and dead the subject.” “I do not have any STDs, and the false information being spread about my health needs to stop,” Barker wrote. She also explained the circumstances surrounding the search-history screenshot. Barker said she had typed “Roblox” into the search bar, which prompted something from Ro.co to appear. She said she had previously looked into herpes information because people were claiming her friend Nadia had the condition. Travis Barker’s Daughter Alabama Barker Addresses Herpes Rumors By Posting Clean STD Test Results On Livestream “I wanted to inform myself on what they were talking about !! not because I have anything,” she wrote. Barker added that she does not regularly use the computer and initially thought the circulating screenshot was fake. In another Instagram comment, she wrote, “You guys, this iMac has no search history. I have no idea what Roman herpes is.” She said she purchased the computer two weeks ago and had not used it until the day before. Several commenters defended Barker’s decision to research sexual health. “She is young and there is absolutely nothing wrong with educating yourself,” one user wrote. Another added, “It’s wonderful that she gets tested!” A third joked, “So now because I’m googling herpes and how the test work because of Bam, yall gon think I have it too? ” Barker has continued to deny the herpes allegations, urging followers to stop spreading what she described as false information about her health.

Rapper Rod Wave is drawing renewed attention after body-camera footage captured an April 2025 traffic stop involving the Florida artist. The 62-second video surfaced on X and has surpassed 1.5 million views. The footage shows an officer recognizing Wave during the roadside encounter. The body-camera timestamp places the stop at 1:09 a.m. April 3, 2025. The officer initially approached Wave in a casual tone. “Bro, you got your license on you, bro?” the officer asked. “Hell no,” Wave replied. Cop was super excited when he pulled over Rod Wave and immediately called the station to let them know pic.twitter.com/VyiS0IEaaK — My Mixtapez (@mymixtapez) August 10, 2026 The officer then appeared to recognize the rapper. “You know who you are? I just seen you coming,” he said. The officer instructed Wave to secure his seatbelt before returning to his patrol vehicle. He then radioed another officer identified as Brown. “Brown, I got Rod Wave pulled over, bro,” the officer said. A colleague appeared to ask whether Wave was live. The exchange reflected the officer’s apparent excitement after recognizing the rapper. The officer also discussed Wave’s driving. He said Wave “swear he tried to take off on me a little bit” and claimed he had to catch him. Despite reporting a speed of 83 mph, the officer declined to cite Wave for speeding. Instead, he issued a seatbelt citation. Rapper Rod Wave Gets Seat Belt Ticket After Going 83MPH In Bodycam Footage From April 2025 Traffic Stop “I ain’t going to give it to you for the speed we was going,” the officer said. “It was only 83, it’s not a super speed.” The officer explained the citation process and asked Wave to sign it. He also clarified that the signature was not an admission of guilt. Wave remained composed during the encounter. Near the end, he appeared relieved by the outcome. “I appreciate you stopping,” Wave said. “But … thought we was going to get into it.” “Come on, shawty. Have a good one,” the officer replied. The encounter ended without an arrest or additional charges. The footage has prompted discussion about officer discretion and celebrity recognition during traffic stops. The officer’s demeanor appeared to change after identifying Wave. The video does not establish new criminal conduct. Instead, it documents a traffic stop resolved with a seatbelt citation. Wave, whose legal name is Rodarius Marcell Green, has faced other encounters with law enforcement. His legal matters include proceedings in Georgia stemming from separate incidents. The footage offers a glimpse into an otherwise routine encounter involving a high-profile recording artist.

Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors are currently working on an extension ahead of next season. The Athletic reports that Mike Dunleavy Jr., Warriors general manager, told reporters that the two sides are negotiating. “I think there are two things I’m confident about with Steph,” Dunleavy said. “He really, really wants to win. And he wants to finish his career as a Warrior. And I don’t think that changes tomorrow, Aug. 29, the start of the season, the middle of the season, the end of next season. I think those things are gonna be consistent.” “That’s always been the message,” Dunleavy continued. “And that’s always been sort of what we’ve discussed. I think that’s tracking quite well. Obviously, he’s eligible for an extension coming up at the end of this month, and we’ll talk through all that stuff and can’t speak on it much right now, but I’m pretty confident Steph will finish his career here.” According to Dunleavy, the ball is Curry’s court. “But ultimately, it’s his call, his decision. Whether that’s allowing his contract to run out and move on… Tf he comes to me and wants to be moved, (Warriors owner) Joe (Lacob) and I will talk it through,” he said. “We wouldn’t love it, but he’s earned the right to (go) where he wants and do those things. But as far as the messaging or any idea that he would be anywhere else. That’s not a thing we’re looking at or he’s looking at.”  Last season, Curry battled health issues that limited him to just 43 regular-season games.  Despite a lingering knee injury, Curry remained elite when on the floor. He earned his  12th career All-Star selection. He also averaged 26.6 points, 4.7 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game while firing near 40% from three-point range.