Paul Pierce, KG Named Among The Best Sports TV Personalities
For six seasons, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce were dynamic teammates on the court with the Boston Celtics. Now they are sharing recognition off the court as well. Complex recently named their 25 Most Entertaining Sports Media Personalities, and both Garnett and Pierce made the list.
With the wide range of media options in the current sports landscape, there are now a number of platforms for personalities to chime in on sports. While the old school approach of reporting onsite or via a major network are still in place, streaming services also have created access to deliver show-types.
Nonetheless, Complex‘s criteria in compiling this list did not focus on solely on the individual’s sports credibility. “We used the subjective yardstick of entertainment value: Who consistently captures the most audience? Whose opinions provoke the most reaction? Who has the most topical range and connects with the widest audience?” they explained.
As a result, what you see here is an extensive list of various media deliveries. For example, Kenny Beecham kicked the list off at number 25. Beecham is a NBA commentator with a podcast and popular YouTube show. All the way at number 1 is ESPN’s Shannon Sharpe. Stephan A. Smith is right behind him at number 2, as they team up on First Take.
Paul Pierce is #16 and Kevin Garnett is #17
Again, standing side-by-side, Pierce and Garnett ranked right next to each other, this time as personalities. Moreover, they were recognized as show-mates. Both are on Ticket and the Truth and Showtime’s KG Certified “Bringing Paul Pierce along for the ride on KG Certified has also helped elevate the platform as well, as the former teammates exhibit a natural chemistry but differing personalities,” Complex explains. The show is also available via streaming and frequently on their official YouTube channel.
There is also an honorable mention worth noting here. A teammate of Pierce and Garnett’s (and fellow NBA champion) Kendrick Perkins also made the Complex list. The former center, was #20 for his regular appearances on ESPN’s NBA Countdown and NBA Today.
3 Potential NFL Draft Destinations For UNC's Drake Maye
On Wednesday, December 27, North Carolina will play their last game of the season in Charlotte (Duke’s Mayo Bowl vs. West Virginia). With Drake Maye being one of the top prospects in the 2024 NFL draft, it’s time to take a look at three potential landing destinations for the star quarterback.
UNC is coming off a 8-4 record this season. Although his statistics were not as high as last year, Maye still had an incredible year, throwing for 3,608 yards and 24 touchdowns. At just 21 years old, Maye is the ideal size for a NFL quarterback, standing 6 foot 4.
2024 Draft Class
Many of the top players have still to officially declare for the draft. Yet, the expectation is that all the names we are seeing atop the mock draft boards will be moving up to the next level. There have been eyes on this year’s class for a few years now. That’s largely due to the generational quarterback pool.
USC’s Caleb Williams is a safe assumption to be the first overall pick. That’s where things can get tricky. The Carolina Panthers currently have the worst record at 1-11. However, due to last year’s trade, the Chicago Bears own their pick. Do the Bears need or want a QB? They just drafted Justin Fields. Of course, we still have the NFL combine, player pro days, and team meetings ahead of us. Much can change in that time. Still, I believe Maye will be the next quarterback taken after Williams.
To further emphasize how deep (and potentially special) this class is, three of the four Heisman Trophy finalists this season are quarterbacks. None of them are named Caleb Williams or Drake Maye (Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix, Michael Penix Jr.)
Come April, we can see as many as 10 NFL teams in need of a new quarterback. Here are three NFL teams that have a good probability of selecting in the top five picks of the NFL draft, where Drake Maye will likely be taken.
Jeff Gorra is a Boston-based writer who has been with Beasley Media Group since the beginning of 2023. He writes about restaurants and food, as well as sports and rock music. His experience also includes show hosting and in-depth creative writing in rock and reggae dub music. Jeff’s an avid surfer, New York Giants, and Pearl Jam fan, however, if you make unforgettable pizza, he is sure to find you.