Month: June 2024

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Sports Daypop

Jamal Murray to sign 4-year contract with Denver Nuggets worth up to $209M

3d rendering of multiple badges with the Logo of Denver Nuggets^ NBA Basketball Team

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Jamal Murray and the Denver Nuggets are expected to reach an agreement on a four-year, $209 million max contract extension. Charania stated that the negotiations will take place this offseason with Nuggets presenting the deal to Murray, with both sides expected to agree to the terms. The star guard was already under contract with the Nuggets through the 2024-25 campaign.

Murray, 27, helped lead the Nuggets to an NBA championship in the 2022-23 season, averaging 26.1 points and 7.1 assists in the playoffs. He was instrumental in Denver’s Western Conference Finals sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers, and NBA Finals series win over the Miami Heat.

This past season, Murray averaged 21.2 points and 6.5 assists while shooting a career-high 42.5% from three-point range this past regular season.

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Sports Daypop

Celtics’ Kristaps Porziņģis to miss 5-6 months after ankle surgery

Kristaps Porzingis attends God's Love We Deliver^ Golden Heart Awards at Spring Studios New York^ NY - October 16^ 2018

The Boston Celtics announced on Thursday that forward Kristaps Porziņģis, 28, underwent surgery to repair a torn retinaculum and dislocated posterior tibialis tendon. The rare ankle injury, which he suffered during the NBA Finals, is expected to keep Porziņģis out 5-6 months.

The Celtics’ statement read: “The Boston Celtics announced today that center Kristaps Porzingis underwent successful surgery to repair a torn retinaculum and dislocated posterior tibialis tendon. Porzingis is expected to return to play in 5-6 months. Further updates will be provided as necessary.”

Porziņģis suffered the injury during Game 2 against the Dallas Mavericks after a collision with Mavericks center Dereck Lively II as they were boxing out during a free throw. Afterwards, Porziņģis limped up the court after the collision and was pulled from the game early. The team described the injury, which was separate from the calf injury that kept him out of the previous two rounds of the playoffs, as “rare.” Porziņģis missed Games 3 and 4 of the Finals before he returned in a limited capacity to play in the Celtics’ Game 5 clincher at home.

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Entertainment Daypop

Charlie Hunnam to star in new Prime Video series ‘Criminal’

Charlie Hunnam at the season 6 premiere of "Sons of Anarchy" at the Dolby Theatre^ Hollywood. September 7^ 2013 Los Angeles^ CA

Actor Charlie Hunnam has signed on to star in the series adaptation of “Criminal” at Amazon Prime Video.  Variety has learned that Hunnam, 44, will play master thief Leo in the adaptation of the graphic novels by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. Hunnam joins previously announced cast members Adria Arjona, Richard Jenkins, and Kadeem Hardison in the series.

A series synopsis says that the character of Leo is “A brilliant master thief who sees all the angles, and specializes in plans with no guns and no violence. Like a chess player, Leo thinks three moves ahead. Other crooks think he’s a coward, especially compared to his father Tommy, who went to jail for murdering the most feared man in the city, Teeg Lawless.”

Hunnam is best known for starring in the popular FX outlaw biker drama “Sons of Anarchy,” where he portrayed Jackson “Jax” Teller for seven seasons. He also recently starred in the Apple series adaptation of the book “Shantaram,” and played Raymond, the right hand man to pot kingpin Mickey Pearson, in Guy Ritchie’s film “The Gentlemen.” Hunnam’s other TV credits include “Undeclared” and “Queer as Folk,” while his film credits include “Pacific Rim,” “True History of the Kelly Gang,” “Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire,” and “The Lost City of Z.”

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Entertainment Daypop

Steve Carell to star in untitled comedy series for HBO

Steve Carell at the "Beautiful Boy" Premiere at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater on October 8^ 2018 in Beverly Hills^ CA

Steve Carell will star in a new comedy series at HBO, with the network announcing in a press release that it ordered a 10-episode half-hour comedy starring and executive produced by Carell, along with Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses,

Variety has learned that the untitled, half-hour series is “set on a college campus, centering on an author’s complicated relationship with his daughter.” Lawrence said: “HBO has long been a standard bearer of quality TV. Getting to do a show there with Steve Carell is an immediate career highlight for Matt and me. Nothing can go wrong now.”

HBO & Max EVP of comedy programming Amy Gravitt said in a statement: “The combination of Steve Carell and Bill Lawrence promises to be full of great laughs, warmth, and charm. We’re thrilled to be the home for this long overdue collaboration.”  Channing Dungey, Warner Bros. Television Group chairman and CEO, said: “We’re so excited to be collaborating with the dream team of Steve Carell, Bill Lawrence, and Matt Tarses on what is sure to be a brilliant new series. Collectively, they have been at the center of some of the most iconic and successful shows in television history. With thanks to our partners at HBO, we look forward to bringing them together to deliver the next great comedy.”

The new comedy for HBO is the second television role that the 61-year-old Carell has lined up this year so far; it was also recently announced that he would star opposite Tina Fey in the upcoming Netflix comedy series “The Four Seasons.”

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Pop Daypop

Drake becomes first artist in history to hit 100 billion streams on Spotify

Drake preforms at Joe Louis Arena. Detroit^ Michigan - August 16 2016

Drake has made Spotify history by officially becoming the first artist in history to reach 100 billion streams on the platform. The Toronto rapper surpasses the numbers earned by superstar Taylor Swift, who sits at No. 2, with 84.4 billion streams.

Drizzy is currently the most streamed rapper of 2024 so far with over 8 billion stream, and has more than double the streams of the second-closest rapper, Eminem. He is also the artist with the most songs (16) over 1 billion on Spotify

Drake recently lost his top spot as the rapper with the most monthly listeners on Spotify, however, with Eminem surpassing Drake to hit a new peak of over 80 million monthly listeners for the first time in his career with his latest track, “Houdini” — joining Drake as the only two artists to ever achieve this feat.

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Pop Daypop

G-Eazy releases his new album ‘Freak Show,’ announces world tour

G-Eazy at the Space Jam: A New Legacy Premiere at the Microsoft Theater on July 12^ 2021 in Los Angeles^ CA

G-Eazy has dropped his new album, Freak Show, is his first full-length release in three years, and dropped his brand new single, “Anxiety.”  Earlier this spring, G-Eazy released his new single “Femme Fatale” featuring Coi Leray and rapper Kaliii.

Along with the new album release, G-Eazy announced he will launch the Freak Show World Tour across North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Kicking off in Berkeley, CA on October 24th, the 41-date tour will stop in major markets across North America including Los Angeles, New York City, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, and more. The tour’s international leg will begin in Europe in 2025, including stops in Germany, France, Ireland, and the UK before continuing on to dates in Australia and New Zealand. For ticket informatio , visit G-Eazy’s website.

Take a listen to G-Eazy’s new song, “Anxiety,” out now.
To stream Freak Show, head here.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

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Sports Daypop

Alex Morgan left off USWNT Olympics roster for Paris 2024

Alex Morgan lifts the trophy after winning the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Final match between The United State of America and The Netherlands at Stade de Lyon on July 7^ 2019 in Lyon^ France.

USWNT head coach Emma Hayes named her 18-player roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics on Wednesday, with veteran forward Alex Morgan notably omitted Alex Morgan from the U.S. women’s national team — marking the team’s first major tournament without Morgan since the 2008 Olympics, before she debuted for the team.

Hayes’ roster features several veterans, including goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, captain and midfielder Lindsey Horan, and Crystal Dunn — who is listed as a forward, not a defender — making their third Olympic rosters. Midfielder Catarina Macario and forward Mallory Swanson also made the USWNT’s Olympic roster, despite missing the 2023 World Cup because of major injuries.

Hayes, who assumed the USWNT coaching role last month after accepting the position in November, said in a statement: “Making an Olympic roster is a huge privilege and an honor and there is no denying that it was an extremely competitive process among the players and that there were difficult choices, especially considering how hard everyone has worked over the past 10 months.” 

Morgan’s 224 caps and 123 goals are each the most among active U.S. players and rank ninth and fifth, respectively, in history.  After news broke of her exclusion from the Olympic roster, Morgan, who turns 35 next week, said on social media: “Today, I’m disappointed about not having the opportunity to represent our country on the Olympic stage. This will always be a tournament that is close to my heart and I take immense pride any time I put on the crest. In less than a month, I look forward to supporting this team and cheering them on alongside the rest of our country. LFG”

The Americans are looking to rebound after their worst finish in a major tournament after exiting the 2023 World Cup in the round of 16.  The USWNT has not won an Olympic gold medal since the 2012 London Games; they earned the bronze medal at the Tokyo Games in 2021.

The Olympic roster for the USWNT will have two games together before departing for Paris — on July 13 against Mexico, and July 16 against Costa Rica. Their Olympic matchups begin on July 25, when the U.S. women face Zambia, followed by group matches against Germany and Australia.

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Sports Daypop

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo to sign 3-year, $166M extension

Tallinn^ Estonia - October 20 Miami Heat logotype. Vector basketball club logo. basketball.

Mimi Heat all-star center Bam Adebayo will sign a three-year contract extension with the organization, with The Athletic’s Shams Charania reporting that Adebayo’s extension is expected to be worth $166 million.

Adebayo, 26, is coming of his second consecutive All-Star campaign and the third of his career; he plans to sign the deal with with two years remaining on a five-year, $163 million contract. The deal keeps Adebayo under Heat control through the 2028-29 season, which would be his 12th in the NBA.

A seven-year veteran who’s spent his entire career in Miami, Adebayo has averaged 19.3 points, a career-high 10.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.9 blocks last season while shooting 52.8% from the floor. Adebayo was a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year and named to an All-Defensive Team for the fifth straight season, and incorporated 3-point shooting into his game for the first time while connecting on 35.7% of his 0.6 attempts per game. He’d previously never made more than three 3-pointers in a single season.

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Entertainment Daypop

Nicholas Galitzine to play He-Man in new live-action ‘Masters of the Universe’

Nicholas Galitzine attends the Amazon MGM Studios 'The Idea Of You' New York premiere at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York on April 29^ 2024

Nicholas Galitzine has been cast as He-Man in the live-action Masters movie from Mattel and Amazon MGM Studios, directed by Travis Knight. Knight will direct from a screenplay by Chris Butler, with Mattel Films’ Robbie Brenner and Escape Artists’ Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch are producing.

Masters centers on Price Adam of Eternia who, thanks to his Power Sword, turns into He-Man and is embued with superhuman strength and abilities, which he uses to defend his native planet and Castle Grayskull. Mattel’s Masters of the Universe brand was first introduced in 1982 via a line of action figures and later, in 1983, became the beloved animated series He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.

Galitzine recently starred in the Amazon MGM rom-com The Idea of You with Anne Hathaway as well as the young adult adaptation of Red, White, & Royal Blue. He was also recently featured in the Showtime series Mary & George.   

Julie Rapaport, head of film production and development at Amazon MGM Studios, said in a statement: “We’re thrilled to bring the beloved Masters of the Universe to life and couldn’t be more excited to announce the immensely talented Nicholas Galitzine as our He-Man. Joining forces with director Travis Knight, Mattel, and Escape Artists, this reintroduction of the character and his universe will be an epic film that will delight audiences from here to Eternia.”

No plot details or additional casting have been announced yet. Amazon MGM’s Masters will have its worldwide theatrical release on June 5, 2026.

Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com

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Entertainment Daypop

Will Smith to debut new song during performance at 2024 BET Awards

Will Smith at the premiere for "Emancipation" at the Regency Village Theatre.LOS ANGELES^ CA. November 30^ 2022

BET announced that Oscar-winner and four-time GRAMMY winner Will Smith will take the stage to debut a new, original song during a live performance at the 2024 BET Awards. Smith’s most recent studio album, Lost and Found, came out in 2005; he last performed live at Coachella 2024 in April when he made a surprise cameo during J Balvin’s set.

Connie Orlando, BET’s EVP of Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy, said in a press release announcing the performance: “From his start as a rapper to The Fresh Prince to being a box office king as one of the Bad Boys, Will Smith is truly a global icon, and we are honored to welcome him back to grace the BET Awards stage. We look forward to Will adding to yet another defining night for the culture that is not to be missed.” 

Taraji P. Henson will be back to host the annual awards show for the third time on Sunday, June 30 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Smith will be joining a star-studded list of live performers including Lauryn Hill, YG Marley, Ice Spice, Tyla, GloRilla, Latto, Muni Long, Sexyy Red, Shaboozey and Victoria Monét.

The show this year will pay special tribute to Usher, 45, who will receive the prestigious Lifetime Achievement BET Award.  Previous Lifetime Achievement BET Award recipients include Whitney Houston, Prince, Queen Latifah, Anita Baker, Mary J. Blige, Samuel Jackson, Lionel Richie, New Edition and Busta Rhymes.

The 2024 BET Awards will air live on BET Sunday, June 30, at 8 p.m. ET/ PT.

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