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👟 Julius Erving Thinks the NBA Should Not Retire Kobe's Number

👟 Julius Erving Thinks the NBA Should Not Retire Kobe's Number

Chris Lesiak
August 30, 2022

Julius Erving doesn't think the NBA should retire Kobe's number league-wide, Taurean Prince arrested on drug & weapon charges, and Zaire Williams gives back to his hometown.

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JULIUS ERVING

Julius Erving Doesn't Think the NBA Should Retire Kobe's Number League-Wide

The NBA recently retired the late Bill Russell’s number 6 across the entire NBA. No other player had ever had their number retired in league history, and it was universally acclaimed as a fitting tribute to one of the greatest basketball players and social advocates of all time.

Hall of Famer Julius Erving, who like Russell, wore number 6, recently spoke to TMZ and shared his thoughts on the situation. Dr. J thinks it’s “completely justified to retire [Russell’s] number,” but when asked if the NBA should retire Kobe’s number he said: "I don’t think he should be compared with the Russell situation." He added: "Bill was a very special individual and what he did for basketball, no one else could ever do again.”

The basketball legend didn't minimize Kobe's achievements and career but believes any posthumous honors should be decided by the Lakers. He said: "It's more of a franchise situation with the Lakers…If they wanted to do it, which I think they already have, that makes sense.”

TAUREAN PRINCE

Taurean Prince Arrested on Drug & Weapon Charges

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Taurean Prince was recently arrested in Miami for an incident that occurred three months earlier in Texas. In May, Prince was pulled over because of an expired registration when police found two handguns, a canister of marijuana, and a vape pen containing THC in the vehicle.

Arlington police say the arrest warrant took three months to put together because they were waiting on the test results on the vape pen. Speaking to People Magazine, Kent Schaffer, Prince's attorney said: "Apparently in the last week and a half they issued a warrant for his arrest because they recovered 1/100th of an ounce of THC, which is probably the smallest amount you can have."

Prince signed a two-year, $16M contract extension with the Timberwolves in June after establishing himself as a solid rotation player on a playoff team.

ZAIRE WILLIAMS

Zaire Williams Gives Back to his Hometown

Memphis Grizzlies forward Ziaire Williams recently hosted a free basketball clinic in his hometown of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This event was held in partnership between Williams, Herbalife Nutrition, and Impact Basketball, and is expected to occur annually.

Williams was born and raised in the Antelope Valley before playing his high school ball in California at schools like Notre Dame and Sierra Canyon. When speaking about why he decided to host the camp, Williams said: “I’m really just trying to give back to the kids and give them a safe place where they can just have fun and play basketball and enjoy themselves… We didn’t have this when I was a kid growing up out here, I just feel like if I have the opportunity to give back it’s honestly my duty to that.”

This camp was held at the Pioneer Event Center and featured over 200 kids, ages 6 to 18. The kids ran through dribbling and passing drills and were eventually treated to a show of sensational dunks by the hometown host.