Report: Otis Anderson Jr. Ex-UCF Star Shot And Killed ... At 23 Years Old
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Former UCF football star Otis Anderson Jr. reportedly died on Monday night ... after he was shot during an altercation in Florida.
He was just 23 years old.
According to News4JAX, Anderson Jr. was shot during a domestic dispute that went down at around 9:30 p.m. in Jacksonville -- and he later died at a nearby hospital.
Cops said, according to News4JAX, that a woman was also shot in the altercation, but survived.
Details surrounding the incident are unclear -- but cops did say, according to News4JAX, that it appears all of the people involved were related.
Anderson Jr. -- who's not related to ex-New York Giants star Ottis Anderson -- was an outstanding football player for the Knights from 2017 to 2020.
Playing both wideout and running back, Otis piled up 2,182 rushing yards, 1,025 receiving yards and 26 total touchdowns. He did not get picked in the 2021 NFL Draft, but did sign with the Rams in the offseason.
He remained with L.A. until he was cut in September.
Rest in Heaven Otis 🙏🏾
— Jalen Ramsey (@jalenramsey) November 30, 2021 @jalenramsey
We gotta do better on this earth smh. Big prayers up 🙏🏾
Reports of his death have hit the NFL community hard, with Rams star Jalen Ramsey saying on his Twitter page Tuesday, "Rest in Heaven Otis. We gotta do better on this earth smh. Big prayers up."
Added Dallas Cowboys star rookie Micah Parsons, "S*** sad!! Sending prayers to all."
Story developing ...
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Illinois Fans Chant 'Fire Nagy' During Game ... Days After Bears Win
Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy can't catch a break ... 'cause even after winning a game on Thanksgiving Day, fans in his own backyard still want him gone.
It all went down Monday night -- Notre Dame was trailing Illinois in the second half of action when "Fire Nagy" chants broke out from the packed fans in attendance.
This has gotta be tough for Nagy, considering he just picked up a win against division-rival Detroit ... right as rumors of his impending firing were making waves.
Of course, this isn't the first time we've seen fans voice their displeasure with the Bears play-caller -- chants of "Fire Nagy" erupted as the Bears lost a last-minute thriller to the Ravens a few weeks ago.
On top of that, an Illinois high school recently apologized to Nagy after "Fire Nagy" chants were directed towards him ... as he was in attendance to watch his son's high school football game.
Below is a statement regarding the recent Cary-Grove vs. Lake Forest 6A high school football game: pic.twitter.com/cUjUfJduDk
— Cary-Grove H.S. (@CaryGroveHS) November 23, 2021 @CaryGroveHS
Nagy -- now in his fourth season as coach -- has been in the direct line of fire from fans across all sports in the state of Illinois this season ... and it's clear even coming up victorious can't make it stop.
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Lincoln Riley Red Carpet Treatment In L.A. ... After Landing USC Gig
Lincoln Riley is already a VIP in his new home -- the next USC Trojans head coach and his family hopped off a private jet and landed in L.A. on Monday ... complete with a red carpet treatment!!
The ex-Oklahoma Sooners play-caller was announced as the 30th coach in program history on Sunday ... a move that has USC fans stoked, and OU backers livid.
📍 Los Angeles@LincolnRiley #FightOn✌️ pic.twitter.com/MKxN1FmlAP
— USC Football (@USC_FB) November 29, 2021 @USC_FB
LR wasted no time making his way to Southern Cal ... boarding the PJ early Monday morning and heading to Tinseltown -- right as folks in Norman let him know exactly how they feel about his departure.
Two "TRAITOR" signs have been draped over the seed sower statue and entrance to the Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium ... which, of course, is a direct shot at the guy who led the Sooners to four Big 12 championships.
It appears Oklahoma fans are protesting the school’s move to the SEC, with multiple ‘TRAITOR’ signs on campus pic.twitter.com/xk84I1SDKg
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) November 29, 2021 @RedditCFB
Riley was 55-10 as a head coach ... winning Big 12 coach of the year in 2018 and making it to three College Football Playoffs.
Sorry for your loss, Sooner fans ... and enjoy sunny L.A., Lincoln!!
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Dick Vitale Fights Back Tears in Emotional Return ... 'I Didn't Want To Cry'
Great sight for hoops fans last night -- legendary college broadcaster Dick Vitale made his return to the broadcast booth amid an ongoing cancer battle ... and the scene was emotional.
Vitale -- who battled melanoma earlier this year -- revealed back in October that he was battling another form of the disease ... and would be required to undergo six months of chemotherapy treatment.
Dickie V announced that he would continue to call games even during his treatment for lymphoma ... saying "That's my best medicine of all," and on Tuesday, he kept true to his promise.
Vitale was on hand last night to call the highly-touted matchup between #1 Gonzaga and #2 UCLA ... and naturally, it was a special moment.
In the video, you can see an emotional Dickie V fighting back tears as he was overwhelmed with emotion ... detailing how he felt during his first college game since his most recent diagnosis.
We're so happy you're back, @DickieV ❤️
— ESPN (@espn) November 24, 2021 @espn
#VStrongBaby pic.twitter.com/oEjtAAOi3U
"It's great being here, Dave. I didn't want to cry," Vitale said. "I can't believe I'm sitting here. It's really a big thrill for me."
82-year-old Dickie V also said he never thought he'd be at courtside again following the diagnosis, but the support from ESPN, his family and the fans made his return possible.
"I want to thank all you people who sent me so many great messages. I want to thank, certainly, my family. All the fans."
Welcome back, Dickie V!!!
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Terrence Clarke Honored With Gym In Boston ... By Celtics, NBA
The Boston Celtics and the NBA continue to honor the late Terrence Clarke -- this time, with a brand new basketball gym at a community center featuring his name.
The newly renovated gym will be at the Boston Centers for Youth & Families Vine Street ... which is where Clarke grew up playing basketball.
It's an amazing tribute ... featuring the former Kentucky guard's initials and #5 jersey in a blue heart at center court and an honorary banner.
It also has a quote from Clarke on the sideline -- saying, "I want to be that guy for everyone in the city."
Boston Celtics, along with the NBA, city of Boston, and New Balance, unveil new court at Vine St. Community Center to be renamed in honor of Terrence Clarke. The full renovation of the entire gym will be revealed on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/3zPHCLcxrj
— John Karalis 🇬🇷 (@RedsArmy_John) November 19, 2021 @RedsArmy_John
There's also a Terrence Clarke memorial inside the entrance with a wall mural and a locker.
The Clarke family -- plus Celtics players, personnel, New Balance and BCYF -- will unveil the TC gym on Nov. 21.
As we previously reported, the 19-year-old baller was killed in a car crash in Los Angeles on April 22 -- just months before the 2021 NBA Draft.
Clarke -- who averaged 9.6 points, 2 assists and 2 rebounds at UK -- was projected to be drafted.
On what would’ve been his draft night, the NBA pays tribute to Kentucky's Terrence Clarke by making him an honorary draftee 🙏 pic.twitter.com/i3BOvzIlTi
— ESPN (@espn) July 30, 2021 @espn
The NBA paid tribute to Clarke by making him an honorary pick at the Barclays Center during the draft ... with commissioner Adam Silver saying, "His extraordinary talent, commitment and dedication to the game deserved to be recognized on this stage."
L.A. Clippers' Brandon Boston Jr. -- who was there when the fatal crash happened -- paid tribute to his Kentucky teammate by tatting a portrait of Clarke on his leg.
#RIP
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Penny Hardaway Devastated By Young Dolph's Murder ... 'I Just Don't Get It'
Memphis hoops coach Penny Hardaway says he's devastated by Young Dolph's murder -- explaining in an emotional video message Thursday he's hurting badly over the rapper's death.
"A guy that came from Memphis, 901 born, in the city all the time, giving back to his community," Hardaway said ... "to get murdered like that, it just doesn't sit well with me, man."
Dolph was killed inside of a local cookie shop in Memphis on Wednesday ... just minutes before he was set to give away Thanksgiving dinners in his old neighborhood.
11/17/21
Hardaway -- who was born in Memphis and has coached men's basketball at the university since 2018 -- is clearly angered by it all ... and flat-out floored this could happen in his hometown.
"We have to do better," Hardaway said. "This is a guy that was coming back to give back to his community."
"I just don't get it," he continued. "My condolences, my prayers, but we just as a people just have to do better."
No word yet on if Hardaway's program is planning to honor the slain 36-year-old at an upcoming game -- we've reached out to the school for comment, but so far, no word back yet.
Star athletes and coaches from around the sports world, meanwhile, have been in mourning since the news broke Wednesday -- with everyone from Deion Sanders to Memphis Grizzlies star Jaren Jackson Jr. sending out their thoughts and prayers.
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Mel Tucker MSU Was Always A 'Destination Job' ... Not A Stepping Stone
Sorry, LSU fans, Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker is putting the rumors about his future to rest ... saying he's fully intending to stay a Spartan moving forward.
Tucker is considered one of the hottest coaches in college football -- he's earned a 9-1 record so far in 2021, with his name popping up as a candidate to take over for huge programs.
But, the 49-year-old coach joined Warriors star Draymond Green -- a Michigan State alum -- on his new show via the Volume ... and reassured MSU fans that he's not going anywhere.
"I came here and made it clear in my initial press conference that Michigan State was a destination job and not a stepping stone," Tucker said.
Tucker -- a Cleveland native -- also said his familiarity with the Big 10 Conference landscape and the close, personal ties his wife and family have to the region played a role in wanting to continue to call East Lansing home for the foreseeable future.
He then went on to reflect on why MSU was such a special place to him ... saying "This is where I started my career here in 1997 as a graduate assistant for Nick Saban."
Of course, Mel has been the center of conversation this week ... after a report surfaced that MSU was reportedly working on a historic, 10-year, $95 million contract in an effort to keep Tucker on board.
And, while he didn't go into the contract specifics with Green ... he gave fans of the football powerhouse some peace of mind about his future job status.
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Coach K Grandson's Arrest Is 'Violation Of Our Standards' ... 'We're Handling It'
Mike Krzyzewski is clearly upset over his grandson's weekend arrest ... 'cause the Duke coach told reporters Tuesday he considers it a "violation of our standards."
The 74-year-old -- who's in his final season as the Blue Devils' head man -- spoke for the first time publicly about Michael Savarino's Sunday arrest ... and he promised he and his team will "handle that."
Unclear what any sort of punishment will be -- but it should be noted, Savarino, who's been playing for Coach K since 2019, was not spotted at Duke's game Tuesday against Gardner-Webb.
"We're already handling it," the coach said after beating Gardner-Webb, 92-52. "But, it's a violation of our standards. That's it."
As we previously reported, Savarino was arrested after cops say he showed signs of impairment during a routine traffic stop Sunday at around 1:10 a.m.
Authorities say the 20-year-old blew a .08 while in custody ... and was ultimately hit with three charges, including DWI.
His passenger, Duke star Paolo Banchero, was also hit with an aiding and abetting charge over the incident ... but unlike Savarino, Coach K allowed Banchero to start Tuesday.
The freshman forward played 26 minutes in the win, scoring 10 points.
"It's two different situations," Coach K said of why he started Banchero but sidelined Savarino. "Two entirely different situations. Headlines might make it look like it's the same -- it's not."
Krzyzewski added, "The decisions we made are in conjunction with our authorities -- our superiors. We're taking action. We took action and we will continue to take action."
Both Savarino and Banchero are due in court for hearings on the matter next month.
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Coach K Grandson Busted For DWI Star Teammate Also Cited
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3:29 PM PT -- Sounds like Banchero won't be punished over Sunday's incident -- at least not yet -- he's in the starting lineup for the Blue Devils as they take on Gardner-Webb Tuesday night.
Mike Krzyzewski's grandson -- a member of the Duke U basketball team -- was busted for DWI early Sunday morning ... along with his future NBA star teammate, Paolo Banchero, who was also cited for aiding and abetting.
TMZ Sports has confirmed that 20-year-old Michael Savarino was pulled over by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol around 1:10 AM in Orange County, NC ... after cops say he blew a stop sign.
During the traffic stop, police say Savarino -- whose mom is Coach K's oldest daughter -- showed signs of impairment ... so he was arrested.
While in custody, Savarino blew a .08 BAC, cops say.
Savarino was ultimately charged with Driving While Intoxicated and released. He also received a ticket for failing to stop at the stop sign.
Meanwhile, 19-year-old Banchero -- a projected top 5 pick in next year's NBA Draft -- was a passenger in the car.
He was cited for Aiding and Abetting DWI.
It's unclear what exactly cops allege Paolo did to aid and abet.
Coach K -- coaching his last season at Duke before retiring -- addressed the incident involving his grandson and star player.
"We are reviewing a legal matter involving two members of the men's basketball team, Any further actions as a result of this situation will ultimately be determined by the Vice President/Director of Athletics and University officials."
Both men were scheduled to play in #7 ranked Duke's game Tuesday night against Gardner-Webb at Cameron Indoor ... but their status is now unclear.
Originally Published -- 7:03 AM PT
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Seattle U's Jim Hayford Men's Basketball Coach ... Resigns After Alleged N-Word Use
Jim Hayford -- Seattle University's men's basketball coach -- has resigned from his position ... after he allegedly used the n-word on multiple occasions.
Hayford was initially placed on administrative leave last week ... after Stadium Basketball Insider Jeff Goodman reported that the coach had used the racial slur during a scrimmage.
According to the report, Hayford -- who is white -- said the n-word last Thursday after a player had used it.
Goodman reports this was not the first time Hayford had been accused of using the term around his team.
Hayford reportedly apologized to his squad over it all on Nov. 6, but according to Goodman, some players refused to accept the mea culpa, and ultimately vowed to never play for him again.
Seattle U's Athletic Director, Shaney Fink, issued a statement Thursday announcing Hayford's resignation, saying, "It is clear to me that coach Hayford is no longer able to effectively lead this team."
"The top priority within the Athletic Department is, and always will be, to support the wellbeing and success of our student athletes -- in and out of the classroom and in their chosen sport."
Fink continued, "We are committed to advancing an athletic community that is inclusively excellent. We will take additional steps to ensure any concerns within the program are addressed and that all our student athletes are seen, heard, and supported."
Hayford had been at the helm for Seattle U since 2017 ... leading the team to a 65-55 record overall.
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UT's Steve Sarkisian Praises Bo Davis' Passion After Expletive-Filled Rant
Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian is going to bat for Bo Davis after he aggressively cussed players out over a bad loss this weekend ... praising the d-line coach's passion as a positive moment.
As we previously reported, Davis was heard calling players "motherf***ers" on the team bus after losing 30-7 loss to Iowa State on Saturday ... going in on the athletes for seemingly not taking the beating seriously.
The clip has been polarizing -- some say Davis crossed a line, while others defend the coach for giving a damn deep in an underwhelming season.
Sark made his stance clear with reporters on Thursday ... defending his staffer and also criticizing the player who leaked the audio.
Texas DL coach Bo Davis with some choice words following Texas’ no-show in Ames. Refreshing to hear someone with some passion for winning other than the old “winning is hard” BS. Fire em up! #HookEm pic.twitter.com/NA24NIuDwD
— Keshav Prathivadi (@kpthefirst) November 9, 2021 @kpthefirst
"I think one thing that jumped out to me when I first saw the video was, one, you could hear the passion in Bo's voice," Sark said. "We really believe in the staff that we hired and what we came here to do."
"I think you could feel the passion and the want to get it done. I think that Bo exemplifies that."
As for the player seemingly trying to expose the coach's behavior in a negative light, Sark claims that does not reflect the entire reaction from the team.
Sark went on to say the emotional speech was a GOOD thing for the organization ... saying it's part of the culture he's trying to build in Austin.
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NIU Kicker John Richardson Goes Wild On Field ... Epic Game-Winning Kick Celebration!!!
John Richardson clearly has both the clutch gene AND the celebration gene ... 'cause after the NIU kicker booted a game-winning field goal Wednesday -- he lost his mind on the field!!
The hilarious scene all went down at the end of the Huskies' game against Ball State ... when Richardson was called upon to help NIU win with just seconds remaining in the nail-biting contest.
John Richardson hit the game-winner for NIU and had the time of his life celebrating 😆 pic.twitter.com/44kFk5O8VC
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) November 11, 2021 @ESPNCFB
The Huskies found themselves trailing the Cards, 29-27, with just 3 seconds left -- but Richardson nailed a 32-yard field goal as time expired to secure the victory.
And, the dude partied HARD to celebrate it all!!!
Richardson was so hyped by his kick, he ran to the opposing team's sideline ... forcing his teammates to run after him so they could be included in the fun.
Once Richardson regained his composure ... he ran back onto the field -- with his teammates still in pursuit of him -- and could be seen pointing to his left arm as if to say he had "ice in his veins."
Was it over the top? Probably, but John certainly earned the right to do it ... he connected on all three of his field goal attempts during the game and was successful on all of his three PATs as well.
NIU's next game is against Buffalo on Nov. 17. Here's to hoping we see more game-winning kicks and more wild celebrations.
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UT Coach Bo Davis Expletive-Laden Rant Caught On Vid ... 'You Motherf***ers'
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University of Texas defensive line coach Bo Davis unleashed a passionate and profane rant on a bus full of players after a game this past weekend ... and the whole thing was caught on video.
51-year-old Davis -- who has been a part of 3 national championship-winning programs -- was absolutely fed up after the Longhorns lost 30-7 to Iowa State on Saturday ... apparently reaming the athletes for not taking the beating seriously.
Here's the part that was posted on Twitter, although it's unclear how long the rant lasted:
Texas DL coach Bo Davis with some choice words following Texas’ no-show in Ames. Refreshing to hear someone with some passion for winning other than the old “winning is hard” BS. Fire em up! #HookEm pic.twitter.com/NA24NIuDwD
— Keshav Prathivadi (@kpthefirst) November 9, 2021 @kpthefirst
"S***'s real!" Davis says on the video. "Some of you motherf***ers need to get in the transfer portal! You wanna go? Get in the motherf***er! This s*** ain't a game to me! If you think it's a game, get the f*** off of this bus!"
There's more -- "I got my ass kicked and you motherf***ers wanna laugh?!? S***'s f***in' real! You think it's a goddamn joke?!?"
"And, some of you motherf***ers do transfer out this motherf***er because I'm tired of this s***! This s***'s goddamn real! And, we wanna laugh and joke?!? F*** that!"
The video has social media torn -- some say it's over the top and inappropriate, and others say it shows an enthusiastic coach trying to rally his team together after a bad loss.
Quandre Diggs -- who played for the Longhorns from 2011-14 -- reacted on Twitter ... saying, "whoever recorded the video of Coach Bo need to be gone plain and simple" ... but did not comment on the context of the clip.
It's no secret -- Texas has not lived up to expectations in 2021 ... sitting at 4-5. It's safe to say people are reaching their breaking point.
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UCLA Lineman Jay Toia Threatens To 'Slap A B****' On Video ... Team To Punish Player
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UCLA is vowing to take disciplinary action against Bruins defensive lineman Jay Toia ... after the 6'3", 325-pounder was captured on video threatening to slap a woman on an elevator last weekend.
The video made rounds earlier this week ... appearing to show the freshman approach an elevator on campus full of students he thought were from USC.
Toia -- donning a UCLA hoodie -- had to be held back by his friends as he goes on an expletive-filled rant threatening to hurt any USC student.
UCLA athlete Jay Toia intimidates people in an elevator, preventing them from leaving after swinging at a 20 year old young woman. Supposedly mad about USC students potentially around. #ucla #usc #UCLAFootball pic.twitter.com/YW1lDid1Ul
— pretty pretty princess world champion (@bichhomiequan) November 1, 2021 @bichhomiequan
One girl tries to clear the air, saying "we go to Santa Barbara! Nobody's a Trojan! We go to USCB!"
Toia still goes off ... yelling, "you a f***ing Trojan n****! I'll slap a b****, too! I'll slap a b****!"
Worth noting -- the 4-star recruit signed with the Trojans back in Dec. 2020 ... before transferring to UCLA this June. He was the 21st ranked defensive tackle in his class and had offers from Arizona, Cal, Michigan, Nebraska and more.
Statement from Athletic Director Martin Jarmond and Head Football Coach Chip Kelly. pic.twitter.com/Y90ZlrM2IE
— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) November 4, 2021 @UCLAFootball
UCLA's athletic director, Martin Jarmond, and football head coach, Chip Kelly, released a statement saying they saw the clip and Toia will be disciplined.
"We're aware of a recent video in which a student-athlete made disparaging remarks. This was inappropriate and not in line with our values and expectations."
"As such, we are taking disciplinary action and working with campus partners to assist with educations for the student."
Toia already lost an NIL deal with college apparel company Campus Mogul due to the video ... but has been practicing with the team all week.
He's appeared in one game this season ... earning 3 total tackles against Arizona on Oct. 19.
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Tua Tagovailoa Emotional Over Henry Ruggs Crash ... 'You'd Never Think He'd Hurt a Soul'
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Tua Tagovailoa -- who won a national championship alongside Henry Ruggs at Alabama -- choked back tears as he addressed his ex-teammate's fatal DUI arrest after practice Wednesday ... saying, "You’d never think that this guy could hurt a soul."
The Miami Dolphins quarterback appeared emotional and upset over the tragedy ... sharing his condolences to those close to the 23-year-old woman who died as a result of the crash.
"That’s tough," Tua told reporters. "My heart goes out to the families affected by what happened, the choices and decisions."
"My heart goes out to Henry, too, and his family. Obviously, it wasn't the right choice or decision he made at that time. I know he'd wish he could have it back."
He added ... "When I heard the news, that was tough for me to hear, just knowing the kind of person that Henry is ... I'm still kind of in disbelief."
Tua and Ruggs were very close in Tuscaloosa from 2017-19 and have remained tight as pros in the NFL ... and it's clear he's been hit hard by the news.
TMZ Sports broke the story -- officials say Ruggs was driving 156 miles per hour just seconds before the accident ... and had a BAC of .161.
The Las Vegas Raiders released Ruggs shortly after the crash ... and he could be facing serious time behind bars.
Tua says all his former 'Bama teammates will be supporting Ruggs through the difficult time.
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Master P Zaire Wade Can Be A Game Changer ... If He Puts In The Work
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Master P has a message for the haters who think Dwyane Wade got his son, Zaire, a spot in the G League ... telling TMZ Sports, "Life ain't fair."
As we previously reported, the former Sierra Canyon standout joined the Salt Lake City Stars earlier this month ... which just so happens to be the affiliate for the Utah Jazz, of which D-Wade is part owner.
We spoke with MP about Zaire's opportunity while at LAX this week ... and he brings the truth.
"When you look at it, it's a blessing," P said. "His dad knows the business. He played in the game."
P says Zaire is working with some top-notch trainers and busting his ass every day ... and thinks Wade can really "change the game" if he continues to put in serious effort.
MP -- who suited up for two NBA teams back in the day -- knows a thing or two about raising an athlete ... his son, Hercy, is a hoops star at an HBCU and he thinks his team can make the tournament if his son keeps it up.
"You know what, he's working hard," Master said. "He just played last night. He had a great game. They won."
"That's what life is about. Just getting better and better."
As for Wade, P also went on to rave about how bright the future is for him in the G League ... but is Zaire "finessing" the system?!? He disagrees.
"He taking advantage of an opportunity. He knows he wants to be a pro player."
"Everybody's journey is different."