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Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Naz Reid Inks Huge $125 Million Contract With Timberwolves
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid signed a five-year, $125 million deal with the team, staying in Minnesota for the foreseeable future. Reid will earn $25 million per season during the deal, though his contract does come as a surprise. The Timberwolves were facing payroll issues since Reid and Julius Randle were set to be free agents. The team faced difficulties committing long-term money to both, though Reid is now secured heading into the season. More NBA news: Austin Reaves Reportedly Reaches Decision on Lakers Contract Extension Reid had a $15 million player option left on his deal that could have made him a free agent in 2026, when teams will have significantly more cap space. Naz Reid #11 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles the ball against Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter in Game Four of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at... Naz Reid #11 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles the ball against Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter in Game Four of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Chase Center on May 12, 2025 in San Francisco, California. More Photo byThe center could have netted more money if he had accepted his player option and had another season of high-level production, though there was a risk that his value would be negatively impacted. Instead, he chose to stay with the team that drafted him and secure his long-term financial future. More NBA news: Mavericks Fans Erupt in 'Fire Nico Harrison' Chant After Cooper Flagg Pick The former LSU product won the 2023-2024 Sixth Man of the Year. Reid had a career year during last season, averaging 14.2 points per game and six rebounds in 27.5 minutes. Reid is still only 25 years old, leaving the Wolves with the early half of the center's prime. He is an ultra-valuable floor-spacing center who can rebound at a high level and make room for Anthony Edwards to operate in the paint. Reid provides a good change of pace over Gobert, who is a non-shooter that defends well, but operates in the paint on offense. On the other hand, Reid's defense is at replacement level, able to hold his own, although still limited when guarding out on the perimeter and with rim protection. He shot 37.9 percent from the 3-point line on 5.8 attempts per game over the last season, cementing himself as a top shooting big man. Julius Randle's future remains uncertain since he hasn't yet decided on his player option. Since the Timberwolves fell short of the NBA Finals, the team might shake up its roster and move on from Randle. Regardless of what happens with Randle, Reid's future in Minnesota is set. More NBA news: NBA Insider Provides Massive Update on Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Rumors Warriors Pull Off Massive NBA Draft Trade With Suns For more on the Minnesota Timberwolves and general NBA news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Brian Windhorst Drops Eye-Opening Take on Anthony Edwards and Timberwolves' Future
Brian Windhorst Drops Eye-Opening Take on Anthony Edwards and Timberwolves' Future originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Minnesota Timberwolves enter the offseason fresh off back-to-back losses in the Western Conference Finals. Due to their repeated lack of success in reaching the NBA Finals, some fans and analysts believed they needed a major roster overhaul, such as trading for Kevin Durant. Advertisement However, KD didn't have an interest in playing for Minnesota, and instead got traded from the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets. Meanwhile, the only trades the Timberwolves made involved their second-round picks in the NBA Draft. And with that recent draft, they picked up several international centers that will take time to develop in Joan Beringer and Rocco Zikarsky. Those aren't earth-shattering picks that will shake up the league or immediately boost Minnesota, although there's always the potential that they become noticeably good later in their careers. Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5)© Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images A positive for the Timberwolves is that they have yet to lose any key players from a talented roster still on the cusp of competing for the NBA Championship. As of this writing, Julius Randle, Naz Reid, and Nikeil Alexander-Walker are all on the team, despite being mentioned in various trade speculation or free agency rumors. Advertisement There's also NBA All-Star Anthony Edwards, who is among the league's best players. According to ESPN analyst Brian Windhorst, Ant-Man is expected to continue improving. During First Take, Windhorst shared his thoughts on the Timberwolves' chances of reaching the NBA Finals with Edwards as their star player. He indicated Minnesota is "set up to continue to be very competitive." "I still believe Ant is getting better. I think his game and his leadership is getting better," he said. Windhorst also speculated that Randle would opt in to remain with the Wolves instead of testing free agency and that the team would "prioritize" re-signing Reid. However, he didn't feel as confident that Alexander-Walker would be playing for Minnesota next season. Advertisement "While I look at the Thunder and say that's gonna be a very difficult team to overcome, I have seen Ant repeatedly be able to be a leader in postseason settings," he said on First Take. Along with that, Windhorst said the Timberwolves are "built out as a team and have an elite executive that is leading them." He said that he still believes they have a challenging task ahead to get through the Western Conference, but they are capable of reaching the NBA Finals behind Edwards. Other conference contenders have potentially improved during this offseason, including the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks. While Houston added superstar KD to their talented roster, the Mavs drafted Duke's Cooper Flagg. The No. 1 pick is expected to make an instant impact alongside All-Star players Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis. Advertisement However, not all moves work out for a roster, and even if they do, they don't always translate to immediate success for a team until everything is clicking. For the Timberwolves, it seems they have everything in place to reach the next level behind Edwards. However, the addition of a star point guard should probably be a significant consideration with Mike Conley nearing the end of his career. Related: Timberwolves Fans React to Joan Beringer as No. 17 Pick in NBA Draft Related: Timberwolves Facing Backlash After NBA Draft This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Post
3 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Post
The rare opportunity Cooper Flagg has that makes him feel ‘blessed'
Cooper Flagg is in a rare, but fortunate situation. Most first overall draft picks are tasked with instantly becoming the No. 1 option of a team coming off all-time-low types of seasons – but Flagg won't necessarily have that burden as he joins a Dallas Mavericks team alongside likely future Hall of Famers Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving. 'A lot of people in this position or this situation aren't granted this opportunity, so I just feel really blessed and grateful for the situation I've been given,' Flagg said Friday during his Mavericks introductory press conference. 'I'm just looking forward to being a sponge. Just getting down here, I'm excited to just learn, soak it all in and learn from the guys that are older and have been through it all before.' 3 Cooper Flagg at his introductory press conference alongside Mavericks GM Nico Harrison (left) and head coach Jason Kidd (right). NBAE via Getty Images Dallas is fresh off a 2024 NBA Finals appearance led by now-Laker Luka Doncic, but the Mavericks found themselves in the draft lottery following season-derailing injuries to Davis and Irving following the blockbuster Doncic trade. With just a 1.8 percent chance at landing the No. 1 pick in the draft, the unthinkable became reality as the Mavericks captured Flagg. 3 Kyrie Irving is recovering from a torn ACL but will likely be in the mix for the Mavericks at the end of next season. AP Despite missing the playoffs, the foundation remains for the team to be contenders with a roster that, aside from Doncic, remained mostly intact after the 2024 finals run. While Irving likely won't return from his ACL injury until the back half of the season, Davis and another future Hall of Famer, Klay Thompson, who was added last offseason, should provide plenty of stability for Flagg to find his NBA footing while not needing to instantly take on a colossal workload. 'Those guys have so much knowledge,' Flagg said of his new veteran teammates. 'They've been through so much, and they have so much experience that it's just going to be an incredible opportunity for me to learn and grow under them.' 3 Anthony Davis was acquired by the Mavericks in the Luka Doncic trade but dealt with injuries upon his arrival. Getty Images While he may not be the No. 1 option right away, Flagg will seemingly take the torch of the franchise that was passed first from Dirk Nowitzki to Doncic. 'I'm coming in just trying to learn and trying to get better every single day,' Flagg said. 'If I can do that to the best of my ability, I think expectations and pressures that other people will put on me and our team, that will kind of work itself out. 'So I'm just trying to come in and be the best that I can be and just win at the highest level.'
Fox Sports
4 hours ago
- Business
- Fox Sports
2025 NBA Offseason Buzz: Suns, Booker working toward contract extension
For 28 NBA teams, the offseason has begun, and with that comes drama and buzz about the futures of the best free-agents and potential trade targets. We've got you covered tracking all the rumors from in and around the league: June 27 Suns, Booker "active in working out" record extension The Phoenix Suns remain steadfast in building around guard Devin Booker. The 10-year veteran is coming off a 2024-25 season in which he averaged 25.6 points per game, his lowest mark since 2018, to go with a career-high 7.1 assists per game. Booker has three years remaining on a four-year, $220 million contract he signed prior to last season, but is eligible, and reportedly working toward signing a record extension, which would tack on an additional two years at $150 million ($75 million AAV) and keep him under contract in Phoenix through the 2031 season. 76ers pick up Andre Drummond's team option The Philadelphia 76ers retained backup center Andre Drummond by picking up his player option on Friday. Instead of heading into the free-agent market, Drummond will make $5 million on the final year of a two-year contract he signed prior to the 2024-25 season with the 76ers. The two-time All-Star averaged 7.3 points and 7.8 rebounds during his 13th NBA season last year. Raptors, president Masai Ujiri part ways The Raptors are moving on from Ujiri, according to ESPN. Ujiri became Toronto's executive vice president and general manager in 2013 and was the architect of the team's 2019 NBA Finals triumph, the team's lone championship. The Raptors are coming off a 30-52 season and haven't won a playoff series since the 2019-20 NBA season. June 26 Austin Reaves rejects extension offer Reaves turned down a four-year, $89.2 million extension offer from the Los Angeles Lakers, according to The Athletic. This was the maximum offer that the Lakers could make to Reaves, who signed a four-year, $53.8 million contract with the Lakers in 2023; Reaves is entering the third season of that deal, which includes a $14.9 million player option for the 2026-27 NBA season. Last season, Reaves averaged a career-high 20.2 points, 5.8 assists and 1.1 steals per game, while shooting 46.0/37.7/87.7. The Lakers went 50-32 and claimed the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference before losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games in the first round of the playoffs. June 25 Knicks interviewing James Borrego New York is interviewing Borrego, the former head coach of the Charlotte Hornets and a current assistant coach for the New Orleans Pelicans, for its head-coaching vacancy, according to ESPN. Across Borrego's four seasons as its head coach (2018-19 season to 2021-22 season), Charlotte went a combined 148-183. He has been part of head coach Willie Green's coaching staff in New Orleans the past two seasons. Borrego is the fourth person who has interviewed with the Knicks, former Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown, former Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins and Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori being the other three. John Collins opts into player option with Jazz John Collins has opted into his player option for the 2025-26 season instead of testing free agency. The veteran forward averaged 19 points per game and 8.2 rebounds throughout his eighth NBA season. He could have commanded a line of suitors on the open market, but it's possible no team would have offered him more than the $26.58 million he's set to make by remaining with the Utah Jazz. Fred VanVleet, Rockets agree to new deal Houston is signing VanVleet to a two-year, $50 million deal, according to ESPN. VanVleet had a $44.9 million team option in the final year of his three-year, $128.5 million deal for next season, which Houston was set to decline. The 31-year-old VanVleet averaged 14.1 points, 5.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game, while shooting 37.8/34.5/81.0 last season. The Rockets recently acquired 11-time All-NBA honoree Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns. June 24 Pelicans, Wizards make four-player trade New Orleans is trading CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk and a future second-round pick to Washington for Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey and the No. 40 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, according to ESPN. McCollum is entering the final season of a two-year, $64 million deal, while Poole is entering the third season of a four-year, $128 million deal. The Wizards and Pelicans each missed the playoffs last season, with Washington selecting sixth and New Orleans selecting seventh in the 2025 draft. Knicks interviewing Micah Nori for coaching vacancy New York is interviewing Nori, an assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves, for its head-coaching vacancy, according to ESPN. The 51-year-old Nori has been an assistant in Minnesota for the past four seasons, preceded by assistant coaching stints with the Detroit Pistons, Denver Nuggets, Sacramento Kings and Toronto Raptors. Nori served as Minnesota's de facto head coach during the 2023-24 NBA postseason when head coach Chris Finch suffered a knee injury. Nori is the third known candidate to interview with the Knicks, former Kings head coach Mike Brown and former Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins being the other two. June 23 Gafford intends to sign extension with Mavericks Daniel Gafford reportedly intends to sign a contract extension with the Dallas Mavericks. The center, who is set to enter his seventh NBA season, has one year remaining on a three-year, $40.1 million deal that he signed in 2023. His next deal is expected to be another three-year extension, worth $60 million, that would run through the 2028-29 season. It would be a boost in pay for Gafford after a career-best season in which he averaged 12.3 points per game and 6.8 rebounds. Middleton stays with Wizards Khris Middleton has picked up his $33.3 million player option with the Washington Wizards for the 2025-26 season, according to ESPN. The three-time NBA All-Star was traded to D.C. ahead of the NBA trade deadline by the MIlwaukee Bucks. The 33-year-old wing has been dealing with ankle injuries and only made 37 appearances last season for both teams. Middleton helped the Bucks win the 2019 NBA Finals. June 22 Durant to Rockets in megatrade Kevin Durant will join the Houston Rockets in a blockbuster trade that will see him leave the Phoenix Suns, ESPN reported Sunday . In return, the Suns will reportedly receive veteran guards Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks. They'll also receive six draft picks, including the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The other five picks are second-round selections. Durant, who will be 37 at the start of next season, is entering the final season of a four-year, $194.2 million deal. June 19 Rockets extend head coach Ime Udoka Houston signed Udoka to a "long-term" extension that makes him one of the highest-paid head coaches in the NBA, according to ESPN. Earlier this month, the Rockets denied the New York Knicks permission to speak with Udoka about their head-coaching vacancy after they fired Tom Thibodeau. In Udoka's second season as head coach, the Rockets went 52-30, claiming the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference before losing to the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs. Houston is a combined 93-71 under Udoka, who was previously the head coach of the Boston Celtics in the 2021-22 NBA season, with Boston reaching the NBA Finals. June 17 Suns asking for the second pick, Stephon Castle Kevin Durant has, reportedly, made it clear that the San Antonio Spurs are his priority destination. But, he may not get his way because the Phoenix Suns' asking price of the Spurs is steep. The Suns, reportedly, want the "second pick (in the 2025 NBA Draft) and/or Stephon Castle." The Spurs would prefer to retain both those assets in any trade for Durant. June 16 Knicks not interested in acquiring Kevin Durant The Kevin Durant destination rumors have been running rampant and the New York Knicks have remained a mainstay in that conversation. They have the assets to acquire the two-time NBA Champion, and he's expressed an interest in landing there. However, the Knicks, reportedly, don't share that desire: "KD wanted the New York Knicks. He wanted to go there. The Knicks have no interest in bringing him in." June 15 Magic land G Desmond Bane from Grizzlies The first major trade of the NBA offseason has been agreed to. The Magic have acquired Bane from the Grizzlies for guards Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cole Anthony, along with four unprotected first-round picks and a first-round pick swap, ESPN reported. The picks Memphis is receiving are the No. 16 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Phoenix Suns' 2026 first-round pick in 2026, Orlando's 2028 unprotected first-round pick and Orlando's 2030 first-round pick. The pick swap is a lightly protected first-round pick in 2029, according to ESPN. Bane, who'll turn 27 later in June, has been a big reason why the Grizzlies have made the playoffs in three of the last four seasons. The 2020 first-round pick has averaged 20.2 points per game in that stretch, including 19.2 points per game this past season. He's also been among the game's top 3-point shooters over that time, making 40.7% of his attempts from deep since the start of the 2021-22 season. The Magic will hope that Bane will provide the necessary scoring and shooting the team needs alongside emerging star wings Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. While both players averaged over 24 points per game in 2024-25, they both shot 32% or lower from 3-point range, which is considered well below average. Orlando's offense wasn't great as a result, ranking 27th in offensive rating (108.9) en route to a 41-41 regular season. The Magic got the No. 7 seed in the East through the play-in tournament, but lost to the Boston Celtics in five games in the first round. As for the Grizzlies, the trade marks the first big shake-up to their core in recent years. Memphis earned the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. However, it never made it past the second round of the playoffs in either season. It missed the playoffs in 2023-24 as Ja Morant missed most of the year due to injuries and a suspension. It got the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference this past season, getting swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs. The Grizzlies fired head coach Taylor Jenkins just weeks before the start of the playoffs. June 14 Kevin Durant's preferred destinations revealed The disgruntled Suns star prefers to be traded to the Houston Rockets or the San Antonio Spurs, according to a report from The Athletic. The Spurs and Houston Rockets have previously been linked to Durant, in addition to the Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks. The 11-time All-NBA honoree, who will be 37 at the start of the 2025-26 NBA season, is entering the final season of a four-year, $194.2 million deal. Last season, Durant averaged 26.6 points per game, while shooting 52.7/43.0/83.9. He was limited to 62 games due to calf and ankle injuries. It became clear toward the end of the 2025 NBA regular season that Kevin Durant's time in Phoenix would come to an end with the close of the regular season. The Suns have reportedly placed a loose deadline on when they will move Durant. The Suns are aiming to trade Durant before the NBA Draft on June 25. Rockets extend Steven Adams Houston signed Adams to a three-year, $39 million extension, ESPN reported. Adams, who will be 32 at the start of next season, averaged 3.9 points and 5.6 rebounds per game this year in his first healthy season with the Rockets. June 13 Knicks set to interview coaching candidates New York will interview Taylor Jenkins and Mike Brown for its head-coaching vacancy next week, per The Athletic. Both coaches were fired by their respective teams during the regular season; Jenkins was fired by the Grizzlies, and Brown was fired by the Sacramento Kings. Across Jenkins' six seasons as the Grizzlies' head coach, the team went a combined 250-214, making the playoffs four times, counting this season. Should he be hired by New York, it would be Jenkins' second NBA head-coaching stint. Across Brown's three seasons as the Kings' head coach, the team went a combined 107-88, winning 46-plus games in each of the first two seasons, with the franchise making the playoffs for the first time in 17 years in Brown's first season on the job (2022-23 season). Should he be hired by New York, it'd be Brown's fifth NBA head-coaching stint. New York's request to interview Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd about its vacant head-coaching position was rejected, ESPN reported on June 11. The Knicks also were denied permission to speak with Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch and Rockets head coach Ime Udoka, SNY reported. New York fired Tom Thibodeau after losing to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Russell Westbrook to decline option, become free agent Westbrook will decline his $3.4 million player option with the Denver Nuggets for the 2025-2026 season, per ESPN. Westbrook is recovering from hand surgery to repair multiple fractures sustained during the season, but in the past those types of injuries have cost him 14 and 12 games in a season, respectively, so the expectation is that he'd be ready to go well before training camp in the fall. The veteran guard averaged 13.3 points and 6.1 assists while shooting nearly 52% on 2-point attempts in 75 games for the Nuggets. June 12 Spurs, 76ers discussing first-round pick swap Per multiple reports, Philadelphia has discussed moving up in the draft from No. 3 to No. 2 with San Antonio. The Spurs already have a full backcourt — which is where the presumed second-overall selection, Rutgers' Dylan Harper, would end up — while the Sixers are looking to add to their own backcourt that already includes Tyrese Maxey. Whether the Spurs would actually look for a deal that would net them some additional draft assets to make up for the gap between the second and third picks is unknown, but the two teams have at least discussed the swap. June 11 Heat and Tyler Herro working toward extension The Heat and Herro seem to be on the same page as the two sides work toward an extension. Herro is entering the penultimate year of his prior deal, in which he's set to be paid $31 million in 2025-26 and $33 million in 2026-27. The extension he and the Heat are eyeing is reportedly a three-year deal, worth $149.7 million ($49.9 million AAV). The potential raise is warranted for Herro, who's coming off a 2024-25 season in which he posted career-bests in points (23.9 per game) and assists (5.5) and earned his first All-Star nod. June 2 Raptors eyeing offseason shake-up — is Giannis Antetokounmpo on the table? After three consecutive playoff-less seasons, Toronto is looking to make changes. On Sunday, ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported on "The Hoop Collective" that the Raptors will try to acquire a "big fish" this offseason. There are a few big fish that could be available — Durant, who's expressed a desire to leave Phoenix — comes to mind. The Raptors, though, could also try to lure Antetokounmpo, which would be like reeling in a great white shark. Toronto has accumulated players with the salaries needed to build a package for a move like this — trading for and extending Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley. Realistically, if Antetokounmpo is on the table, nobody should be off limits for Toronto, including young star Scottie Barnes. It would make sense for Antetokounmpo, too, because, while he hasn't formally asked to be traded away from Milwaukee, he's expressed a desire to stay in a much weaker Eastern Conference. According to an ESPN report from May, the two-time MVP said he's "open-minded about exploring whether his best long-term fit is remaining in Milwaukee or playing elsewhere." Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience National Basketball Association recommended Get more from National Basketball Association Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Refinery29
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Refinery29
Why Love Island USA Watch Parties Feel Like A '90s Throwback
An audience of 130 people cheered infectiously at the big screen as they enjoyed cocktails, bar food and conversation with strangers at 275Park in Brooklyn, a venue typically used as a comedy club. This may sound like the scene from fans watching the NBA Finals, but instead, the crowd was locked in for a Love Island USA watch party thrown by Peak and Pace on Monday night as the highly anticipated Casa Amor episodes began. 'It's usually just me screaming at the TV, but doing it with other people just made it,' said Morenda Jebo, 31, who has been watching Love Island for the past three years. 'I'm not the only one who feels this way.' Since Season 7 premiered in early June, Love Island USA has become appointment TV, racking up more than 1 billion minutes viewed. According to Deadline, about 39% of viewers are new to the franchise. Night after night, conversations flood timelines, FYPs, and group chats with real-time reactions and recaps of the drama that ensued in Fiji, where the show is filmed. On social media alone, the show has generated 54 million interactions across Instagram, Facebook, X and YouTube. As a result, Love Island watch parties have been in high demand and are popping up in cities across the country. 'It's basically watching sports, but for reality TV,' attendee David Gilstrap said, an attendee who'd never seen the show before last Friday when his homegirls convinced him to start watching all of the reality show drama. He enjoyed it so much that he ended up binging the latest season over the weekend and pulled up to the party alone, ready to watch, holler at the screen with strangers and make new friends. That's music to Peak and Pacer founder Owen Akhibi Herrera's ears. Herrera started Peak and Pace as a run/walk club to bring people together in a healthy way after his first year moving to New York. Over time, it evolved into a community dedicated to trying new things together, including skiing, hiking, and, now, watching Love Island USA together. ' The parties are a great example of how pop culture moments still drive real-world connection. ' 'It's a cultural moment, and it gave us an opportunity to bring our community together in a fun and unexpected way,' the founder said in a Zoom interview. '[The show] sparked so many different conversations online, and we saw the opportunity to take that digital energy into a real-life thing.' Peak and Pace announced the watch party just 24 hours before the event and packed the venue to a max capacity of 130. Herrera said they will host watch parties at 275Park every Monday for the rest of the season. Meanwhile, on Friday evening, Tyra McAdam also hosted a Love Island USA watch party at RumBar, a Black woman-owned bar in Brooklyn, where she works. Tired of watching the show on her phone behind the bar, she surveyed her TikTok followers to see if they'd be interested in joining a watch party. After receiving more than 26,000 views, 2,700 likes and hundreds of eager comments, that was enough for her boss to sign off on approval for McAdam to start creating Love Island -inspired cocktails for the event. ' Love Island is just the catalyst, but what they're really after is that authentic connection that only happens when you're actually in the same room, fully present with each other. ' 'The girls were like, 'I want it to be where the boys are watching sports games watching Love Island,'' she said. 'It's such a community, and it's such a girly thing. It's so feminine.' She credits the show's real-time reactions and the audience's ability to vote and influence what happens in the villa, making it perfect to watch in a sports bar setting. 'I like that it comes on every day, and we all have to watch it at the same time,' McAdam said. 'It's not like on Netflix, and you watch something before someone else. It's almost like back in the days in the '90s, we all had to watch the show at the same time.' On Eventbrite, hundreds of Love Island watch parties have been listed. Roseli Ilano, the platform's head of community and trends, said in a statement the parties are a great example of how pop culture moments still drive real-world connection. "Young people are craving shared experiences where they can have those immediate reactions together—the gasps, the debates, the collective investment in something happening right now,' Ilano said. 'Love Island is just the catalyst, but what they're really after is that authentic connection that only happens when you're actually in the same room, fully present with each other." A common thread between Herrera and McAdam's parties: They're building welcoming, inclusive and intentional spaces that prioritize joy and connection for Black audiences who can come out and have a great time near their own neighborhoods. Though Gilstrap admits the show stresses him out and the cast makes awful decisions, he's having more fun watching Love Island USA than he did watching the NBA Finals. He's already considering attending another watch party before the season ends. 'The fact that you get to hang out with your friends and then talk about it, that's what makes it fun,' he said. 'That's what keeps me watching every night. It's purely not like the content of the show. It's because I get to hang [out] with my friends and kiki with my homies. That's what keeps me coming every single time.'
