Oklahoma’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ‘Balls So Hard’ With The Biggest Deal In NBA History
The Oklahoma City Thunder player signed a record contract extension when he inked a 4-year, $285 million deal
After a spectacular year in which he won an NBA Championship, the regular-season and NBA Finals MVP Awards, and the scoring title, Oklahoma City Thunder player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has signed a record contract extension when he inked a 4-year, $285 million deal.
According to NBA.com, Gilgeous-Alexander will make the most money any basketball player has ever made after signing for the largest single-season average salary in NBA history.
BREAKING: NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has agreed to a four-year, $285 million super maximum contract extension with the championship Oklahoma City Thunder through 2030-31, sources tell ESPN. This is now the richest annual salary for a player in league history. pic.twitter.com/eptbVjUo6j
Leading the Thunder to its first NBA Championship, the team rewarded the 26-year-old immediately after the team beat the Indiana Pacers in the 2025 NBA Finals.
The numbers won’t be finalized until June 2027, but based on the NBA’s most recent salary cap projections, he will make approximately $63 million in the first year of the new deal and then almost $79 million during the 2030-31 season. It’s anticipated that he will average nearly a $1 million per regular-season game. The league currently plays 82 games during the regular season.
Thunder General Manager Sam Presti commented after the news of the signing went public.
“He’s gotten better every single year,” Presti said. “His mindset has allowed him to take these steps, and also not — I don’t feel like his progress is, like, volatile. I don’t know if that makes sense, but I don’t feel like it’s built on things that can’t be repeated and built up again.”
ESPN reported that the Thunder player joined great company with his performance this past season.
Gilgeous-Alexander averaged a league-leading 32.7 points during the regular season and 30.3 in the NBA Finals. By winning the MVP title for the regular season and the NBA Finals, he joins 10 NBA Hall of Famers. That list includes Michael Jordan, who achieved the feat a record four times, LeBron James, and Larry Bird, who accomplished it twice. The other players who achieved the same thing were Tim Duncan, Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, Magic Johnson, Moses Malone, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Willis Reed.
Judge Dismisses Jay-Z’s Extortion Lawsuit Against Attorney Tony Buzbee
The Brooklyn rapper filed a suit accusing the lawyer of extortion, defamation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
A Los Angeles judge has dismissed Jay-Z’s extortion lawsuit against Texas attorney Tony Buzbee.
According to The New York Times, Jay-Z filed legal paperwork in November against Buzbee, accusing the lawyer of extortion, defamation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress after a client of Buzbee said the rapper and Diddy sexually assaulted her when she was underage in New York City in 2000.
The lawsuit was eventually withdrawn by Buzbee after discrepancies in the woman’s recollection of the alleged incident. Jay-Z and Diddy had both vehemently denied the accusation.
The extortion lawsuit was initially filed under a John Doe alias shortly before the accusation against the rapper was revealed. Buzbee took to social media to gloat about the dismissal of what he labeled a “completely meritless” lawsuit.
Yet another huge win!! John Doe’s case against me and The Buzbee Law Firm alleging extortion and defamation was thrown out by the court. As I said when it was filed, the case was completely meritless. We will now seek attorneys’ fees against John Doe for bringing the legally…
In his ruling, Judge Mark H. Epstein of the Superior Court in Los Angeles wrote that he had “come out on the side of dismissing the action, although the court is not wholly satisfied that this is the outcome that best serves the legislative and constitutional doctrines.”
“This court is only the first stop,” he added. “It will be for the Court of Appeal to determine whether the court got it right or wrong, and whether the suit ought to go forward or ought to end. Stay tuned.”
Jay-Z’s attorney, Alex Spiro, said he will appeal the decision.
“What does it say about our justice system if someone can knowingly bring about completely false claims of the most heinous nature imaginable against an innocent individual and get away with it on a technicality?” Spiro said in a written statement.
Buzbee said he is looking to be reimbursed for attorney’s fees.
Killer Mike Announces Temporary Shut Down Of Bankhead Seafood To ‘Reset’
The restaurant is a local Atlanta staple whose famous guests range from Mayor Andre Dickens to Bernice King.
Fans of Bankhead Seafood will have to wait a bit before ordering up, with one of its partners, Killer Mike, confirming the news of its temporary closure.
The “Run The Jewels” rapper confirmed the rumors surrounding its closure to make way for upgrades to the Westside eatery. They plan to make a few changes to the flagship location, with an anticipated reopening date set for July 14.
That date, however, remains tentative. The restaurant’s manager, Waleed Shamsid-Deen, also confirmed that changes were underway when the news first broke, as reported by Canopy Atlanta.
According to the outlet, employees at Bankhead Seafood received a letter about their suspended employment and the restaurant “temporarily closing to reset operations.” They did not receive a timeline for its reopening, but Shamsid-Deen and the partners remain optimistic about its swift return.
Michael “Killer Mike” Render, alongside other Atlanta celebrities and entrepreneurs like Clifford “T.I.” Harris, revived the restaurant last November after it had been closed since 2017. Originally founded by Helen Harden, the late restaurateur and chef worked with the partners to help maintain her original recipes. The restaurant was a long-time Atlanta staple, known for its fried fish platters and hushpuppies.
The closure sparked an outcry across the Atlanta community. Killer Mike offered more clarity on the situation. The rapper is currently touring with Wu-Tang Clan as part of his long-time hip-hop duo. Despite this, he released a statement to their “beloved” community on the update.
“To Our Beloved West Side Community,“ wrote the statement, obtained byUATL. ”Thank you for the continued love and support as we’ve worked to bring back Ms. Helen Harden’s dream through the revival of Bankhead Seafood. From high school reunions to after-work mixers and post-church brunches, it’s been a joy to grow and celebrate with you.
Mike then shared how the “short break” will allow the restaurant to revamp its operations, including new menu items.
“As we head into the summer, we’ll be taking a short break to refresh and enhance your dining experience,” wrote the rapper. “During this time, we’ll be updating our menu and improving our operations to better serve you.”
Over the next few weeks, the restaurant will undergo a series of building upgrades. They will also conduct new employee training to help customers as they return to dining at Bankhead Seafood.
“We’re incredibly grateful to our hardworking team of cooks, servers, bartenders, and food prep staff—and most importantly, to YOU, our loyal customers. We can’t wait to welcome you back soon, better than ever.”
Black Voters Face Uncertainty After Supreme Court Orders More Arguments In Louisiana Gerrymander Case
The case would have determined whether one of the state’s two majority-Black congressional districts was a racial gerrymander.
The U.S. Supreme Court has ordered further argument in what is considered a high-stakes redistricting case in Louisiana. The court delayed its decision in Louisiana v. Callais, a case that would have determined whether one of the state’s two majority-Black congressional districts was a racial gerrymander.
The punt on the case has created uncertainty in the battle for the House. As Politicoexplains, one Democratic-held House seat is in limbo as Republicans look to defend their thin majority in the next election.
Racial Gerrymander: What Led To This?
The legal battle began with Robinson v. Landry (originally Robinson v. Ardoin). The NAACP Louisiana State Conference, along with the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice and nine Black voters, successfully challenged the state’s 2022 congressional map.
According to the Vanguard News Group, the map drawn by the state legislature following the 2020 Census Bureau was found to violate Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. This was after the state’s governing body drew a congressional map that packed Black voters into one majority-Black district out of six total districts statewide. One district for Black voters meant their voting power would be diluted elsewhere in the state. The Fifth Circuit Court agreed. The state legislature passed SB8 in 2024 with two majority-Black districts.
However, SB8 came under fire in a separate lawsuit, Callais v. Landry. A group of self-identified “non-African American” voters sued the state for what they alleged to be unconstitutional racial gerrymandering. The group argues that since race was the predominant factor in drawing the new district lines, the state violated the constitutional rights of non-Black voters by drawing up districts based on race.
What Happens With The Supreme Court Now?
The future of Black political representation in the state is at the mercy of the Supreme Court. The highest court said the case will be reargued, likely in the fall after the court’s summer recess.
A decision is unlikely to come in 2026, which could cause confusion ahead of the midterms. Louisiana’s primaries are scheduled for April.
Justice Clarence Thomas issued a sharply worded dissent and accused the Court of “punting without explanation.” He warned that delays deepen confusion over the balance between the Voting Rights Act and the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause.
Universal Music Group Launches The Berry Gordy Music Industry Scholarship
Universal Music Group launches a new music scholarship in Berry Gordy's honor.
Motown pioneer Berry Gordy is receiving huge honors from Universal Music Group with the establishment of the Berry Gordy Music Industry Scholarship at The Herb Alpert School of Music.
Announced on June 30 in partnership with The UCLA Foundation, UMG has established a new scholarship to support high-achieving students in the university’s Music Industry Program, Music Week reports. The scholarship is named in honor of the legendary record producer, songwriter, and entrepreneur who founded Motown Records, the most successful Black-owned business in 1960s America.
Expanding on the 2024 launch of The UCLA Berry Gordy Music Industry Center, which serves as a research and education hub for career development in the global music business, the newly announced annual scholarship will support a student showing outstanding promise and financial need. Recipients will be named Berry Gordy Scholars and receive funding toward tuition, housing, and other educational costs.
“I am thrilled that my friend Sir Lucian Grainge and Universal Music Group have committed to support this programme with their endowment that will help open doors for many more students and continue to pave the way for music to be a force for good and change,” Gordy said in a statement.
“The center provides vital opportunities for students at UCLA to help prepare for careers in the music industry, so that future generations of young talent will continue to innovate, inspire, and bring together culture and communities through the power of music.”
The Berry Gordy Music Industry Scholarship aligns with UMG’s Sounds of the Future campaign, which supports Black creativity and equity in the music industry. Now in its third year, the initiative has expanded to include programs like Roots of Music in New Orleans and Girls Make Beats in Los Angeles.
The director of the Gordy Center will select scholarship recipients who may be eligible to continue receiving the scholarship in subsequent years, based on financial need and academic performance.
“For more than 65 years, Berry Gordy’s name has been synonymous with artistry and the transformative power of music,” Sir Lucian Grainge, Universal Music Group Chairman & CEO, said. “Through this scholarship, UMG is honoring his enduring legacy by investing in a new generation of young people who will help carry that spirit forward.”
The verdicts of the trial, which has lasted for two months, were not revealed. The judge instructed the jury to try again on July 2.
Judge Arun Subramanian was notified there were jurors “with unpersuadable opinions on both sides” on the racketeering count. Unanimous decisions on the charges of two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution were reached.
According to the Times, to convict Combs on the racketeering charge, jurors must find that he knowingly joined an unlawful conspiracy, and that Combs agreed that he or a co-conspirator would commit at least two criminal acts to further the enterprise.”
Prosecutors believe that the hip-hop impresario and an inner circle of employees carried out various crimes over more than a decade, “including drug distribution, kidnapping, arson, bribery, sex trafficking, interstate transportation for prostitution and forced labor,” the paper reported.
Once the judge counsel were informed of the deadlock, the government’s lead prosecutor, Maurene Comey, requested that the judge employ an “Allen charge,” which would instruct the jurors to come to a verdict. However, Combs attorney Marc Agnifilo objected, saying after less than two days of deliberation that “they’re they’re moving along fine.”
Before dismissing the jury for the evening, Subramanian urged the jurors to continue deliberations and warned that “no juror should surrender his or her conscientious beliefs for the purpose of returning a unanimous verdict.”
Combs, 55, was arrested and charged in September and has pleaded not guilty. He is looking at possibly facing life in jail if convicted on the charges.
Elevating Your Excellence: Fawn Weaver’s Entrepreneurial Vision Forges A Legacy Beyond Whiskey
The lady boss’s career is a compelling narrative of entrepreneurial brilliance interwoven with a deep-seated commitment to historical acknowledgment and community upliftment.
Fawn Weaver, a name now synonymous with groundbreaking enterprise and profound historical tribute, presides over Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey. This venture has burgeoned into the fastest-growing whiskey brand in American history.
Her Tennessee-based company stands as a living testament to Nearest Green, the formerly enslaved master distiller whose unparalleled expertise laid the very foundation for Jack Daniel’s whiskey. Weaver’s narrative, chronicled in her book Love & Whiskey: The Remarkable True Story of Jack Daniel, His Master Distiller Nearest Green, and the Improbable Rise of Uncle Nearest (2024), intertwines personal passion with a mission of historical rectification.
Since 2017, Weaver, alongside her husband, Keith, has become one of Tennessee’s most substantial Black landowners, commanding a vast expanse exceeding 800 acres [Source: Company Information, Uncle Nearest Official Site]. Her strategic financial philosophy deliberately eschews large-scale venture capital and private equity infusions, favoring instead a mosaic of smaller investments. This calculated approach ensures her unwavering control over the burgeoning enterprise, a distinct anomaly in the spirits industry, which colossal conglomerates often dominate.
“The only ‘big guy’ behind this brand is my 6’4” husband, Keith,” Weaver frequently quips, underscoring the brand’s independent spirit.
Before her monumental foray into whiskey, Weaver cultivated a formidable reputation as a shrewd real estate investor and achieved widespread acclaim as a USA Today and New York Times bestselling author. Her literary contributions include Happy Wives Club: One Woman’s Worldwide Search for the Secrets of a Great Marriage (2014) and The Argument-Free Marriage: 28 Days to Creating the Marriage You’ve Always Wanted with the Spouse You Already Have (2015). Her multifaceted entrepreneurial journey spans over a quarter-century, commencing with the founding of a public relations and special events firm in 1996.
Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey’s ascent has been meteoric, expanding from a single state to all 50 states and 12 countries within its initial two years. It stands as the most awarded American whiskey of 2019, 2020, and 2021, earning “World’s Best” by Whisky Magazine for two consecutive years and the coveted Double Gold by San Francisco World Spirits Competition, culminating in Wine Enthusiast’s Spirit Brand of the Year for 2020. This unparalleled success has positioned Uncle Nearest as the best-selling African American-founded spirit brand of all time. Beyond commercial triumph, Weaver’s vision extends to profound philanthropic endeavors.
She established the Nearest Green Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing full scholarships to every descendant of Nearest Green. During the tumultuous period of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Foundation’s “Operation Brother’s Keeper” initiative supplied over 300,000 N95 and cloth masks to frontline workers and disadvantaged communities. In a significant stride for racial equity within the industry, the Foundation forged an alliance with Jack Daniel’s Distillery in 2020 to create the Nearest and Jack Advancement Initiative, a concerted effort to elevate people of color within the American whiskey industry and foster greater diversity across the entire spirits sector.
Weaver’s influence also extends to corporate governance, as evidenced by her appointment in March 2021 to the Endeavor Group Holdings board of directors, alongside figures such as Elon Musk, where she serves on its audit committee. She is also a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO), a global consortium of leading young CEOs.
Weaver’s professional trajectory includes a six-year hiatus from entrepreneurial pursuits, during which she immersed herself in various roles within the hospitality sector, serving as head of special events and catering for Viceroy Hotels and as a General Manager for Dimension Development Co., overseeing numerous Marriott and Hilton brand hotels. This period reshaped her investment and management philosophy, instilling a “team-first” organizational ethos where she often prioritizes her role as Chief Encouragement Officer.
The self-proclaimed “People’s CEO” announced June 30 on Instagram that she launched Nightcap With Fawn.
“Y’all found this page before I even announced it! 🤯 I love the energy building around @nightcapwithfawn— y’all are amazing. 🫶🏽 Episode 6 drops tomorrow night, and I’m making a bold claim: This Nightcap is the breakdown so many of you need to unlock happiness this year — no matter the chaos — and stay locked in on the success that’s still yours to claim. So many are already giving up on 2025. You won’t be one of them.”
Born in Pasadena, California, Weaver left home at the age of 15 and dropped out of high school at 16. However, her commitment to education led her to return and complete her degree 25 years after her initial pursuit, earning a summa cum laude bachelor’s degree through UA Online’s New College LifeTrack program, partly influenced by the University of Alabama’s football team’s success. Her journey exemplifies a relentless dedication to completing endeavors once commenced.
The lady boss’s career is a compelling narrative of entrepreneurial brilliance interwoven with a deep-seated commitment to historical acknowledgment and community upliftment. Weaver’s work with Uncle Nearest is not merely about crafting exceptional whiskey; it is about rectifying historical oversights, building generational wealth, and inspiring a new paradigm of leadership in both commerce and social justice.
These 15 States And Cities Can Expect Minimum Wage Increases
Hundreds of thousands of U.S. workers are set to see pay increases starting July 1.
On July 1, 15 states and cities nationwide were expected to implement minimum wage increases.
More than 800,000 workers in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington, D.C. are set to receive higher wages, along with employees in 10 cities and counties across California, Newsweek reports. Taking inflation into account, the upcoming wage increases could boost annual earnings by as much as $925 in some areas.
“These minimum wage increases will put more money in workers’ pockets, helping many of them and their families make ends meet,” Economic Policy Institute state economic analyst Sebastian Martinez Hickey said.
“The average increase in annual wages for a full-time, year-round worker resulting from these minimum wage hikes ranges from $420 in Oregon to $925 in Alaska.”
In the minimum pay wage is set to increase by $1.09 to $13.00 an hour, affecting an estimated 19,400 workers, roughly 6.3% of the state’s workforce, and adding an average of $925 to their annual income, according to EPI.
In Washington, D.C., the minimum wage will increase by 45 cents to $17.95 an hour, driven by an automatic inflation adjustment. The change is expected to impact around 62,200 workers and add $727 to their annual earnings.
In Oregon, approximately 801,700 workers, 9.4% of the state’s workforce, will see their minimum pay rise by 35 cents to $15.05 an hour, thanks to an inflation-based adjustment. On average, each worker will earn an additional $420 per year.
Cities and counties across California are implementing minimum wage increases ranging from 45 to 59 cents per hour. New hourly rates will span from approximately $17.46 in Alameda to nearly $20 in Emeryville, one of the highest in the nation. In Berkeley and San Francisco, wages will rise to $19.18 an hour, while workers in Los Angeles and nearby areas will earn just under $18.
Elsewhere, Chicago will raise its minimum wage by 40 cents to $16.60 an hour, while Montgomery County in Maryland will see a 50-cent increase, bringing the rate to $17.65 an hour.
These changes come amid ongoing calls to raise the federal minimum pay. Recently, Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri and Democratic Senator Peter Welch of Vermont introduced a bipartisan bill to increase the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, more than double the current rate. Meanwhile, employers in the 15 states implementing wage hikes must review the varying city-specific minimum rates and adjust employee pay accordingly.
“When you’re trying to get a salary bump, you shouldn’t feel entitled to it,” Paul told CNBC. “Look around and really be honest about how replaceable or irreplaceable you may be, and that has to come through the lens of doing great work [and] consistently raising that level of work ethic or [impact].”
Just because you do the job you were hired to do, or have been with a company for a certain amount of time, doesn’t qualify you for a raise, Paul says. Instead, the self-made sports mogul emphasizes the importance of being a self-starter with a willingness to learn and going above and beyond.
“The getting in early, leaving late, the not complaining, not being asked to do something, the proactive thinking” is what’ll add some digits to that paycheck, Paul said.
The head of sports at United Talent Agency says being a self-starter is what helped him launch Klutch Sports, the agency now representing stars like LeBron James and Odell Beckham Jr. After a chance meeting with James at an airport when he was 21, Paul threw himself into learning the ins and outs of the NBA.
He later joined Creative Artists Agency, working under James’s then-agent Leon Rose. By 2012, Paul had launched Klutch Sports, with James as his very first client.
“The only thing Rich received from me is an opportunity,” James wrote in the foreword of Paul’s book, “Lucky Me: A Memoir of Changing the Odds.”
Now overseeing an entire company payroll, Paul urges those seeking a raise to focus on learning and expanding their “range within the workplace.” He emphasizes that promotions aren’t usually handed out; most people have to earn them by proving their value.
“Oftentimes, we look for what was given to us in kindergarten. You know, you do well and you have a piece of candy or a gold star on your paper,” he said. “It doesn’t work like that in the real world.”
Golf Club’s First Black Woman President Is A Descendant Of An Underground Railroad Conductor
Detroit Golf Club’s first Black woman president comes from a powerful lineage of trailblazing leaders.
Meet Michele Samuels, the first Black woman to be named “Madame President” of the prestigious Detroit Golf Club.
Carrying the legacy of an escaped slave who helped lead the 1851 Christiana Riot and served as a conductor on the Underground Railroad, Samuels feels “humbled” by the impact her trailblazing role has on the golf club and the overall community.
“I sat in a session the other day that Rocket put on about the history of Black golf in Detroit, and that really gave me a strong perspective about where Black people in Detroit were kind of denied access to membership in clubs,” Samuels told the Detroit Free Press at DGC’s 2025 Rocket Classic.
Her historical title at the coveted golf club follows her retirement in January as senior VP, general auditor, and compliance officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, where she worked for 35 years. Samuels credits much of her professional success to the leadership and determination she believes she inherited from her great-great-grandfather, William Parker, an escaped enslaved person and key figure in the Christiana Riot of Sept. 11, 1851.
Parker and his wife, Eliza, were known for sheltering escaped enslaved people and played a key role in resisting slave catchers during the Christiana Riot, which led to the death of a slave owner. Parker later chronicled the experience in an 1866 essay for The Atlantic titled “The Freedman’s Story.”
After fleeing to Canada via New York, he settled with his family in Buxton, Ontario, just 50 miles east of Detroit, where he served as a conductor and station master on the Underground Railroad. It’s a deep and rich history that his great-great-granddaughter has used in her climb up the corporate ladder.
“When I learned about it, I did draw a lot of inspiration from it,” she said. “It explained a lot about my who I am, and why I’m always fighting for something and leading.”
Now, more than a decade after joining the Detroit Golf Club in 2012, Samuels has made history as the club’s first Black woman president since its founding in 1899. A passionate golfer and motorcycle enthusiast, she considers it a deep honor to lead in a space her ancestors once had to fight to even enter.
“Love the environment, love the diversity of the club,” she said. “It’s very unique. I’ve always been a supporter of Detroit, and to be able to part of a golf club that’s centered in the city of Detroit is just an honor.”
