Category: D4

A pivotal contest in the 2023 Stanley Cup Final features the Vegas Golden Knights traveling to take on the Florida Panthers on Saturday night. The Golden Knights have a chance to secure a commanding 3-1 series lead before heading back to Vegas. The Panthers notched a clutch 3-2 win over the Knights in overtime in Game 3. Florida has won seven overtime games during the 2023 NHL playoffs.

Opening faceoff at FLA Live Arena is set for 8 p.m. ET. Vegas is the -120 favorite (risk $120 to win $100) in the latest Golden Knights vs. Panthers odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total goals scored is 5.5. Before making any Panthers vs. Golden Knights picks, be sure to check out the NHL predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.

This model simulates every NHL game 10,000 times, taking into account factors like current form, individual matchups, injuries and short- and long-term trends when making NHL picks. The model seeks the best values on the money line, puck line and total.

Now, the model has its sights on Golden Knights vs. Panthers and just locked in its picks and Stanley Cup Final predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are the NHL odds from Caesars Sportsbook and trends for Panthers vs. Golden Knights:

Golden Knights vs. Panthers money line: Florida +100, Vegas -120
Golden Knights vs. Panthers over/under: 5.5 goals
Golden Knights vs. Panthers puck line: Vegas +1.5 (-285)
FLA: The Panthers are 8-1 in their last nine games playing on one days rest
VGK: The Golden Knights are 6-1 in their last seven vs. Eastern Conference
Golden Knights vs. Panthers picks: See picks at SportsLine
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Why the Golden Knights can cover
Right-wing Mark Stone is a smooth two-way attacking force for Vegas. Stone excels at creating takeaways due to his quick hands and active stick. The 31-year-old is third on the team in total points (19) with eight goals and 11 assists in the playoffs. He’s scored a goal in two of his last three games, including in his last outing when he finished with one goal and one assist.

Center Chandler Stephenson impacts the game the most as a facilitator. Stephenson has great speed and quickness to create space for his teammates. The 29-year-old can also finish plays around the goal and is tied for fourth on the squad in points (17) this postseason with eight goals and nine assists. In Game 3, Stephenson recorded two assists. See which team to pick here.

Why the Panthers can cover
Center Sam Bennett can line up at multiple spots on the ice due to his versatility. Bennett plays with high energy on both offense and defense as the 26-year-old can create offense for himself while owning good vision. Bennett has recorded 13 total points along with four goals and nine assists in the postseason. In Game 3, he posted two hits, an assist, and three shots on goal.

Center Aleksander Barkov is the complete package for the Panthers. Barkov has great size (6-foot-3, 215 pounds) and moves well on the ice. The 27-year-old generates plenty of velocity with his shots on goal and has amassed 14 total points with four goals and 10 assists during the postseason. On May 24 against the Carolina Hurricanes, Barkov finished with two assists. See which team to pick here.

How to make Golden Knights vs. Panthers picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning Over on the goal total, as the simulations have the teams combining for 6.5 goals. It also says one side of the money line has all the value. You can only get the model’s Game 4 picks at SportsLine.

Since the 2008 NBA Draft blue-blood programs (Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Indiana, North Carolina, UCLA and UConn) have produced some of the best professional talent. Kansas produced the 2023 NBA MVP (Joel Embiid) and UCLA can claim Russell Westbrook, who won the most prestigious individual award in the NBA following the 2016-17 season.

The player who headlines the list of best NBA players from blue blood programs is Kentucky’s Anthony Davis. During his peak, he helped lead the Los Angeles Lakers to the NBA title in 2020 and could be argued to be the best player in the association at the peak of his NBA career that’s been headlined by injuries the last few seasons.

Rounding out the top-five players on this list is a pair of Duke stars from last decade: Kyrie Irving and Jayson Tatum. Irving’s Duke career was short-lived. He only appeared in nine college games, but his NBA career has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. As for Tatum, it appears he hasn’t reached his full potential and should be considered an MVP candidate for years to come.

CBS Sports recently ranked the NBA peaks from Kentucky players under John Calipari, Kansas players under Bill Self and Duke players under Mike Krzyzewski. Here are the 25 best NBA peaks from players who came from the programs mentioned.

1. Anthony Davis (Kentucky, 2012)
   Davis in recent years has struggled with injuries. He played in only 56 games last season and 40 games the season before but when he’s healthy, he is one of the best players in the world. In his 11-year NBA career, Davis has averaged 24 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.3 blocks. Davis in his lone season at Kentucky compiled one of the best defensive seasons in NCAA history, and those traits directly carried over to the NBA. After starting his career with the Pelicans, Davis was traded to the Lakers and created a championship-caliber 1-2 punch with LeBron James. He is an eight-time NBA All-Star, made the All-NBA First Team four times and appeared on the All-Defensive Team four times.
2. Joel Embiid (Kansas, 2014)
   There is no debate that Embiid is the best player Self has produced during his time at Kansas. You can even debate that Embiid is the best player on this list. Only he and Westbrook have won the MVP award during their respective career. It seems like yesterday that injuries looked like they would derail his NBA career before it even got started. He missed two full seasons before playing an NBA game. Now he’s considered one of the best players in the world and a dominant force inside for the Philadelphia 76ers. Embiid has been in contention for MVP the past few seasons but he finally broke through and won the award. The next step for Embiid is helping the 76ers get over the hump and make a deep playoff run.
3. Russell Westbrook (UCLA, 2008)
   When Kevin Durant departed Oklahoma City for Golden State during the 2016 NBA offseason, Westbrook became the No. 1 option. In his first season without KD, Westbrook averaged a triple-double (31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists). Westbrook earned MVP honors that season and to this day is one of the best individual seasons in NBA history. Westbrook recently re-signed with the Los Angeles Clippers this offseason and will look to help them make a title push.
4. Jayson Tatum (Duke, 2017)
   Tatum had the best season of his career this past season. The former Duke standout averaged 30.1 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists for the Celtics. Tatum also racked up All-NBA First Team honors and finished fourth in NBA MVP voting behind Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokić and Giannis Antetokounmpo. As a rookie, Tatum helped Boston reach the Eastern Conference Finals. The four-time NBA All-Star earned NBA Eastern Conference Finals MVP in 2022 before the Celtics lost in the NBA Finals to the Golden State Warriors. The best years of his career are ahead of him and the Celtics dynamic duo of Tatum and Jaylen Brown are locked up for years to come.
5. Kyrie Irving (Duke, 2011)
   From the moment Irving stepped on campus in Durham, his basketball career has been a rollercoaster. The former No. 1 overall pick only appeared in nine games before the Cleveland Cavaliers drafted him in 2011 with the No. 1 overall pick. During the first postseason of his career during the 2015 NBA Finals, Irving fractured his left kneecap in Game 1 of the series, which forced him to miss the remainder of the series. Irving hit one of the most iconic shots in NBA history one year later — a stepback 3-pointer with the game tied at 89 in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals to put the Cavs ahead of the 73-9 Warriors for good. Not only did the Cavs beat arguably the greatest team of all time, but completed the first 3-1 comeback in NBA Finals history. Since then, Irving has been on three teams (Celtics, Nets and Mavericks) and he just signed a three-year deal this offseason to stay in Dallas.
6. Kevin Love (UCLA, 2008)
   Love’s NBA career can be remembered for two things: his dominance with the Timberwolves and the part he played on the Cavs 2016 championship team. Before Love was traded to Cleveland during the 2014 offseason, he was one of the best big men in the NBA. His best individual season came during the 2013-14 season when he averaged 26.1 points, 12.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists. When he joined the Cavs, he took a backseat to Irving and James but was still the third-best player during his tenure in Cleveland.
7. Devin Booker (Kentucky, 2015)
   Booker flew under the radar during his time at Kentucky and came off the bench during his lone season in Lexington. The Phoenix Suns selected him with the No. 13 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft and his career has been on a steady climb since. He scored 70 points in a game at just 20 years old and is now considered one of the best shooting guards in the game. The addition of Chris Paul helped jolt the Suns from a lottery team to champions of the Western Conference in 2021. Booker is a three-time All-Star and appeared on the All-NBA First Team in 2022. He hasn’t hit his peak just yet but is coming off a season in which he averaged 27.8 points and 5.5 assists.
8. Zion Willamson (Duke, 2019)
   Willamson is one of the trickiest players to rank on any list and is one of the greatest mysteries in the NBA. When he’s healthy, he looks like an MVP candidate. Before Victor Wembanyama came along, Williamson was considered arguably the most hyped-up NBA prospect behind LeBron James. During his four-year NBA career, he’s only appeared in 114 total games. He missed the entire 2021-22 NBA season and only played in 29 games last year. The averages he put up in those 29 games: 26.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists. Willamson averaged 27.0 points and 7.2 rebounds during the 2020-21 season and made the NBA All-Star team. Pure talent will never be a concern for Williamson because when healthy he’s one of the best players in the league. The biggest question mark going forward for his career is how healthy can/will he be for the rest of his career.
9. John Wall (Kentucky, 2010)
   Wall’s prime in the NBA was simply electric. He was an explosive and flashy guard and one of the best two-way players in the league. Wall was the first selection from the Calipari era at Kentucky and became a five-time NBA All-Star. He was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2015, and despite the Wizards never making it past the second round of the playoffs during his time with the team, his college and NBA legacy will forever be remembered despite the final years of his professional career which included him holding out a full season with the Rockets and then being traded back to Houston after spending just over half a season with the Los Angeles Clippers.

DeMarcus Cousins and John Wall gave Kentucky two top-five picks in the 2010 NBA Draft. Getty Images

10. DeMarcus Cousins (Kentucky, 2010)
    During his peak in the NBA, Cousins was arguably the best center in the association. During his later years with the Sacramento Kings, he started to develop a shot from distance, which tremendously expanded his game. Cousins made the NBA All-Star Game four times and was famously traded to the Pelicans after the 2016 NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans. Cousins suffered a handful of devastating injuries during the peak of his NBA career, which is headlined by a ruptured left Achilles tendon. That injury knocked out Cousins for almost an entire calendar year. Cousins is currently playing in Puerto Rico, and it appears his NBA career is over. Having more team success during his time in Sacramento would’ve gone a long way in boosting his personal accolades.
11. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Kentucky, 2018)
    The best days of Gilgeous-Alexander’s career are ahead of him. The Thunder are loaded with young players and draft assets and have the potential to be a real player in the west for seasons to come. This past season was certainly the best of his career. He ranked fourth in scoring, made First Team All-NBA and received some MVP consideration. It was clear when the Thunder traded away Paul George to the Clippers in a deal that included SGA that he would be the centerpiece behind one of the most fascinating rebuilds in NBA history. The Thunder weren’t expected to do much this season as a rebuilding team but made it all the way to the play-in game. SGA’s ceiling is still sky-high, and he has the chance to be an MVP candidate for seasons to come.
12. De’Aaron Fox (Kentucky 2017)
    Fox deserves bonus points for helping snap one of the largest playoff droughts in North American sports this past season. Fox was the head of the snake for the Sacramento Kings who made the NBA playoffs for the first time in 16 seasons. Not only did Fox help the Kings qualify for the postseason, but Sacramento also earned the No. 3 seed in the west and won the Pacific Division. Fox elevated his game from star to superstar with his performances in the playoffs, which included a 38-point outburst in his first-ever NBA postseason action. Fox shined at Kentucky during the 2017 NCAA Tournament and raised his game even more during the NBA playoffs. A knock on Fox’s game is his team couldn’t win during his first five seasons, but he put those doubts aside this past season. Fox hasn’t hit his peak yet, but the 2022-23 season was by far the most successful season of his career.
13. Jamal Murray (Kentucky, 2016)
    One thing that Murray has that most players on this list don’t have is a ring. Murray was a true second option for Nikola Jokić during the 2023 playoffs and provided the 1-2 punch the Denver Nuggets needed to win the title. Injuries are something that Murray struggled with in his career. He tore his ACL in 2021 and missed significant time because of it. He hasn’t been named to any NBA All-Star or All-NBA teams, but he’s proved to be one of the best point guards in the game during his peak.
14. Kemba Walker (UConn, 2011)
    Walker is currently out of the NBA and recently signed a deal with AS Monaco of the French LNB Pro A league this off-season. Walker’s best days of his career came as a member of the Hornets, where he became a four-time NBA All-Star and one of the best true point guards during his era. Walker had an electric career with the Huskies in college and followed it up with an NBA career to remember.
15. Karl Anthony-Towns (Kentucky, 2015)
    It wasn’t long ago that KAT was considered one of the few players you would want to build your team around. The Minnesota Timberwolves acquiring Rudy Gobert made KAT change his game completely. While Anthony-Towns and Gobert shared the floor together, KAT played more on the perimeter as a stretch-four and less inside as he did at the start of his career. KAT is one of the best shooters at his position but the addition of Gobert hurt his game more than it helped it. He has regressed ever so slightly from his 2019-2020 season when he averaged 26.5 points, 10.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists. He missed time this past season because of injury, and this season will be a big indicator if he can get back to that level of play. The season that was cut short because of COVID-19 remains the best of his career.
16. Bam Adebayo (Kentucky, 2017)
    The debate between KAT and Adebayo right now certainly is a spicy one. Adebayo has been the second option on two separate Heat teams that reached the NBA Finals and lost. He is a two-time NBA All-Star but has made NBA All-Defensive Second Team four seasons in a row. He is one of the best rim protectors in the league and a true threat to win Defensive Player of the Year every season. He’s still yet to reach his peak and hasn’t put up a statical season like KAT did at the position, but he’s still one of the best big men in the NBA.
17. Brandon Ingram (Duke, 2016)
    Ingram is coming off the best season of his NBA career and the long-term health of Willamson will determine if he will be the No. 1 option going forward for the Pelicans. After starting his career with the Lakers, Ingram was traded to New Orleans in the Anthony Davis deal. Ingram averaged 24.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and a career-high 5.8 assists this past season but the Pelicans lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the No. 9 vs. No. 10 play-in game. Being the No. 1 option in New Orleans is a true possibility if Williamson can’t get healthy.
18. Andrew Wiggins (Kansas, 2014)
    Getting traded to the Golden State Warriors was the best thing that could’ve happened to Wiggins and his career. Once considered a “bust” Wiggins proved his ability to be an elite two-way player during Golden State’s playoff run in 2022. He is a major reason why the Dubs were able to beat the Celtics in six games after falling behind 2-1 in the series. Wiggins is part of one of the most notable NBA trades to happen this century. The Cavs traded away Wiggins in exchange for Timberwolves star big man Kevin Love to pair with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, which paid off big time for Cleveland. Wiggins missed a big chunk of last season due to personal issues but his impact in the playoffs was felt immediately when he returned.
19. Jrue Holiday (UCLA, 2009)
    The Bucks went all-in during the 2020 offseason and traded for Holiday after he spent seven seasons with the Pelicans. The gamble paid off big time and Holiday joined a “Big 3” in Milwaukee with Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton that won the NBA title in 2021. Holiday is one of the best two-way players in the league and is considered one of the best on-ball defenders at the guard position.
20. Julius Randle (Kentucky, 2014)
    Randle’s NBA career has had its peaks and valleys. He broke his right tibia in his first NBA game and missed his full rookie season with the Lakers, spent one season with the New Orleans Pelicans and became an NBA All-Star with the New York Knicks. Randle isn’t the most notable player to come out of Kentucky during the last decade, but he’s still had a very respectable NBA career.
21. Victor Oladipo (Indiana, 2013)
    Oladipo suffered a devastating knee injury during the 2023 NBA playoffs. He tore his patellar tendon in the opening round of the playoffs, which forced him to miss the rest of the postseason. Injuries have been an unfortunate theme for the two-time NBA All-Star. When he was healthy and at his peak with the Indiana Pacers, he was one of the most exciting players in the league. Now he faces another uphill battle to get back on the court.
22. Eric Gordon (Indiana, 2008)
    Gordon will play for his fourth NBA team this fall after splitting time with the Clippers and Houston Rockets during the 2022-23 season. Gordon has played in over 800 games during his career and his best individual season came during the 2010-11 season when he averaged 22.3 points and 4.4 assists. Gordon will look to help the Suns get over the hump this season.
23. Paolo Banchero (Duke, 2022)
    After only one season in the league, Banchero is already climbing up the leaderboards for the best NBA players to come out of Duke. Banchero averaged 20 points and nearly seven rebounds in his first season, en route to winning NBA Rookie of the Year. Banchero’s bruising style of play makes him one of the most versatile young players in the league. The Magic appear to be close to getting out of a long rebuild and Banchero will certainly be the centerpiece of the organization for years to come if he keeps developing his game.
24. Harrison Barnes (North Carolina, 2011)
    The player that’s had the best NBA career from North Carolina the last decade-plus is Barnes. After starting his career with the Warriors and winning a championship with the organization in 2015, he signed with the Mavs the following offseason and then was traded to the Kings in 2019. Barnes has been a reliable veteran presence for a young Kings team and signed a three-year contract extension to stay with the organization. He was one of only a handful of players who played all 82 NBA regular season games during the 2022-23 season.
25. Marcus Morris (Kansas, 2010)
    During Morris’ NBA career, he has played for six different NBA teams and almost added to that list when he was nearly dealt to the Washington Wizards in a three-team deal before it fell apart just 24 hours after it was reportedly accepted earlier in the offseason. The best statistical season of his career came during the 2019-20 season with the New York Knicks where he averaged 19.6 points and 5.4 rebounds. He’s played in almost 800 NBA games during his career and is a respected veteran in the NBA. Morris was never considered a star and hasn’t won any major NBA awards, but his longevity has to be admired. He is one of the best players Self has produced during his time with the Jayhawks.

Although the card has taken some hits in recent weeks due to injury cancellations, the buzz entering Saturday’s UFC 292 pay-per-view card at TD Garden in Boston remains hot and heavy.

Rising star “Suga” Sean O’Malley gets his first shot at UFC gold when he challenges bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling in the main event while Chinese sensation Zhang Weili begins her second reign as women’s strawweight champion in a title defense against Amanda Lemos in the co-feature.

Even though fight fans won’t get to see originally advertised names like Henry Cejudo, Rob Font, Song Yadong and Cody Garbrandt this weekend in Beantown, there remains no shortage of big storylines to look out for.

1. Aljamain Sterling is quietly on the verge of bantamweight history
   From a disqualification victory to originally capture the belt in 2021 to a one-sided title defense against a one-armed TJ Dillashaw in which he never received credit, Sterling’s reign as 135-pound king has been much maligned. History, however, will likely be much kinder to exactly what Sterling is in the midst of trying to accomplish. Should Sterling defeat O’Malley on Saturday, he would pass two-time champion Dominick Cruz for the most title defenses (4) in UFC bantamweight history. He would also extend his winning streak to 10 fights dating back to a 2017 knockout loss to Marlon Moraes. And as Sterling enters what he has said will “99 percent” his final bout at the weight class, which should clear the way for rising teammate Merab Dvalishvilli to fight for the title, it might be time to take stock as to exactly what he has accomplished along the way. With 135-pound wins over former champions Renan Barao, Petr Yan (twice), Dillashaw and Cejudo, along with an 88-second submission of top contender Cory Sandhagen, Sterling has built a resume that is stronger than he ever gets credit for. Adding O’Malley to it should be the final straw in the “Funk Master” finally getting his flowers.
2. Sean O’Malley looks to punch his ticket to crossover stardom
   Already one of the most unique personalities in UFC history, the 28-year-old O’Malley enters his shot at full critical respect to match the massive commercial acclaim he has been steadily building ever since his bold debut on the “Dana White Contender Series” in 2017. O’Malley, who has never shied away from the respect he holds for Conor McGregor as a breakthrough star, enters his first title shot in a similar position the Irish superstar was when he shockingly finished featherweight king Jose Aldo in their 2015 title bout. Even though O’Malley has recorded respectable wins on the come up and is fresh off a split-decision victory over a former champion in Yan, there remains no shortage of critics questioning just how good the dynamic striker truly is. Beating Sterling, whose biggest strength on the ground remains O’Malley’s biggest weakness, would likely change that conversation in a dramatic way. With his multi-colored hair, flashy tattoos and deep connection with the younger fanbase UFC covets in further developing, O’Malley appears ready to take his “Suga Show” to the global stage.
3. It’s about time the women’s strawweight division got back to business
   For a division so historically deep with title-ready talent since its creation in 2014, the UFC’s 115-pound division has been strangely quiet at the elite level ever since Zhang regained her title by submitting Carla Esparza nine months ago. Yes, recent big wins from Tatiana Suarez and Yan Xianon (both over former champion Jessica Andrade) have prevented the overall conversation from growing stale. But quiet exits from former two-time champions like Rose Namajunas (who moved up to 125 pounds) and Esparza (who is expecting her first child in September) have reset the order atop the rankings. Zhang welcomes the 36-year-old Lemos on Saturday, a curious title challenger only in that she was finished by Andrade just last year. But to Lemos’ credit, the Brazilian quickly bounced back with two straight stoppage wins over Michelle Waterson and Marina Rodriguez. Lemos is the decided underdog against the 3-1 favorite Zhang in a fight that has lacked buzz of any kind. Yet still, it’s nice just to see the title back up at stake as Zhang, 34, looks to continue her resurgence following a pair of title defeats to Namajunas in 2021.
4. Will Irish eyes be smiling on red-hot welterweight Ian Garry?
   It’s no coincidence that O’Malley, with his Irish surname, is featured on Saturday’s card in the same city that McGregor once electrified the Boston crowd with a star-making knockout of Dennis Siver (before hurdling the Octagon and verbally accosting Aldo in the crowd). But another Irish fighter on the rise appears to have been strategically placed onto UFC 292 in hopes he can have his own breakthrough moment. Enter the 25-year-old Garry, who is not only 5-0 since making his UFC debut in 2021, the 12-0 striker has also sampled some of McGregor’s famous celebratory moves after recent big wins. Garry looks for his third straight finish in 2023 alone when he welcomes Neil Magny, a late replacement for the injured Geoff Neal. But fresh off a viral head kick of Daniel Rodriguez in May on ABC, Garry looks for his biggest win to date. He’s as brash as he is precise in his striking and a win over the always stingy Magny would be a validating moment in his meteoric rise.
5. Chris Weidman’s courage knows no limits
   It has been two years and four months since Weidman’s right fibula and tibia devastatingly snapped in a 17-second loss to Uriah Hall. It’s the same exact injuries Anderson Silva gruesomely suffered on his left leg in his 2013 middleweight title rematch with Weidman. Most fighters would’ve called it a career after the injury, especially since Weidman, now 39, was already in the midst of his own career twilight after having lost six of his previous eight fights since 2015. Most fighters, however, don’t have the same resolve that has kept Weidman rehabbing and training to be able to go out on his own terms like this with a surgically repaired leg. The durable and sturdy Brad Tavares stands in his way as most fans will likely be watching with equal concern and admiration for the respected former champion as Weidman aims to prove to himself that he can still do this.

The Orlando Magic are loaded with young guards and are adding another to the mix. Mac McClung has agreed to a partially guaranteed deal with the team, according to a report from The Athletic’s Shams Charania. The former Georgetown and Texas Tech standout is looking to stick with a team after logging just four NBA appearances through his first two pro seasons.

McClung only played one game for the Philadelphia 76ers last season but had plenty of success with the Delaware Blue Coats. The 2023 slam dunk champ notched 18.9 points, 5.3 assists, and 3.4 rebounds over 31 games for the 76ers’ G League affiliate. He shot 54.8 percent from the field and 47.4 percent from deep. It could be difficult for him to steal minutes from the lanky, athletic ballhandlers Orlando already has, though.

Markelle Fultz is fresh off a strong season in which he posted career highs in points (13.9) and assists (5.7) per game. Then there are Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs, who provided scoring support and much-needed defensive intensity off the bench last season. Anthony Black, the sixth overall pick from the 2023 NBA Draft, will join that trio of guards in 2023.

McClung has his work cut out for him if he wants to break into the rotation despite his success in the G League. He’s averaged 21.8 points per contest through 55 games split between the Windy City Bulls, South Bay Lakers, and Blue Coats.

LeBron James has walked out of the Crypto.com Arena tunnel many times, but on Monday the NBA star did so with his eldest son, Bronny James, as they escorted Drake to the stage at the beginning of a concert. This was one of Bronny’s first public appearances since the incoming USC freshman suffered cardiac arrest last month.

On Saturday, Bronny also joined his dad and younger brother, Bryce James, at the LeBron James bobblehead night at Dodger Stadium.

Drake has been getting support from the entire James squad as Bryce was at a concert with his friends earlier this month in Inglewood. During Monday’s concert, the crowd cheered while Drake talked about “the gentleman that walked me to the stage.”

🦉The Boy and The King 👑
Drake walks out with LeBron and Bronny at #cryptocomarena pic.twitter.com/DpswFla2tZ

— Crypto.com Arena (@cryptocomarena) August 22, 2023
The rapper called the Los Angeles Lakers forward his “brother” and explained that LeBron has been supporting his music from the beginning.

“In 2009, when nobody believed in anything I had going on, that same guy showed up to a release party for a mixtape that was called ‘So Far Gone’… He came all the way to Toronto to support me when I was trying to figure out how to live my dreams,” Drake told the crowd. “Tonight, however many years later, it’s an honor to be inside his building.”

“In 2009, when nobody believed in anything I had going on, that same guy showed up to a release party… He came all the way to Toronto to support me… Tonight… it’s an honor to be inside his building.”

Drake on LeBron’s early support in his careerpic.twitter.com/QFoteR5Z2c

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 22, 2023
Bronny collapsed on the court during a practice with USC on July 24 and was taken to the Cedars-Sinai Hospital intensive care unit. He was stabilized and discharged days later, but the family has not given many updates since then.

On July 27, LeBron thanked everyone who sent love and prayers to his family, saying they will share more when they are ready. The proud father also shared a video of Bronny showing off his musical talent by playing piano for his family.