PUSH THE SOUND FORWARD WITH VALENTINO KHAN

Valentino Khan is a DJ/Producer with a lot of personality and a passion for his favorite teams - LA Dodgers and LA Lakers, where he had an epic concert celebrating their wins last year! In addition, last fall, he re-leased his EP on Diplo's label, Mad Decent. We caught up with him to find out about his passion for the industry, how he works creatively and more!

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you first fall in love with music and when did you realize that you wanted to create music?

VALENTINO KHAN: I think my earliest exposure to who and what a producer was came through listening to stuff that The Neptunes, Dr. Dre and Timbaland were making. It gave me an understanding that there was a lane for people that “make the beat.” I became fascinated with the idea of creating something that gave people a wow factor in some way.

AM: You started in the music industry as a hip hop producer and have worked with artists such as T.I., 2 Chainz and B.o.B, when did you transition into doing music for yourself?

VK: It all happened for me at the same time more or less. I discovered dance music and began taking a shot at creating my own interpretation of it around the same time I started getting placements on rap projects. The artist side has just kept growing in such a great way for me and I’m thankful I still have my hands indifferent things both as a producer and an artist.

AM: Who were your mentors or sources of inspiration when you began your journey as DJ?

VK: I was inspired by nothing and every-thing at the same time. I’ve always want-ed to be versatile and try whatever I was feeling at the moment. So I gravitated to-ward having a catalog like someone like Diplo who has been involved with so many different genres. I wanted to be able to showcase a wide spectrum of sounds that I could create.

AM: What would you say is the Valentino Khan sound?

VK: I think a lot of people associate me with a very bass driven house music sound and that’s fine. But I think people that actually have listened to my discography know I’ve done many things outside of that too. I try to not get too caught up in that and just put out dope music.

AM: When you begin working on a new song or album, what’s your process in terms of how you begin to create it?

VK: It all depends on what the first point of inspiration is. I think I’ve been doing this long enough and I’ve put myself in situations where I can jump off from a number of different points. It could be the vocals, a synth line, the drums, whatever. I think the ability to take that original component and be able to have a vision for what the rest of the track will sound like is so important.

AM: How do you go about deciding to collaborate with others and what do you look for?

VK: I think it’s gotta be organic. I just look for people that try to push the sound forward because that’s huge for me. I want to continue to make music that raises the bar and pushes the envelope for every-one. It’s so important because that’s the same energy that has inspired me to do what I do.

AM: From a creative standpoint, is there a difference between when you’re doing a remix versus collaborating with an artist on a new song?

VK: I think the biggest difference when working with an artist is the focus on building a track around their vocal to let them shine. A huge part of it is giving your beat an identity but leaving space within your track for the artist. Otherwise, it can end up sounding too convoluted. I always try to keep that in mind when I’m doing a session or producing for someone else.

AM: When did you realize that you had made it?

VK: I don’t think I’ve ever had that moment. My career seems to have the most gradual steady climb but I’m fine with that. There’s more value in longevity.

AM: How have you been spending 2020 and how have you stayed inspired?

VK: Mostly making music and cooking at home. Or learning how to be a better cook at least. I think my goal is that I want to come out of this a better artist and a better person. Hopefully, I can achieve both of those things.

AM: How have you stayed connected to your fans to continue sharing your music with them?

VK: Streaming has been a huge way that has allowed me to stay connected with fans. Most of us haven’t been doing itas often as we were back when this first started, but I think it’s been cool to provide people with a brief distraction from the craziness that has been going on in this past year. Social media as a whole really helps me connect with my fans in the most organic way.

AM: I know you’re a Laker and Dodger fan and you did sold out shows for the Lakers Championship Victory Stream as well as one for the Dodgers! How did this come about and why did you want to do it?

VK: The new normal for now has been doing drive-in shows that are socially distant. And unfortunately, we never got to have proper parades for the Lakers and Dodgers winning it all in 2020. So I thought what better way to do the closest thing to a parade in a safe environment? I did back to back shows at the NOS Center in SoCal and sold out both nights. It was great to have that theme with those shows and celebrate together. It really gave perspective as to how important live music is and I’ve tried to not take for granted that it gives people a bit of joy.

AM: You’ve been doing drive in shows which is a great way to still be on stage and to have a version of fan inclusivity as well, how has that been and do you have more planned.

VK: It’s been an awesome experience. It’s a bit trickier to organize those but it’s become the solution for now until things get back under control. I’m definitely looking forward to doing more of these whenever the opportunity arises.

AM: We look forward to seeing you at E-Zoo later this year, what is your favorite festival to play?

VK: Fingers crossed on the festivals later this year. My favorites include all the Lollapaloozas and EDC of course because it feels like the Super Bowl of all of them.

AM: When you’re about to perform, do you have a routine that gets you ready for the show and do you have things you do after the show?

VK: I just stretch because I move around a lot, that’s it. I don’t really get any pre-show jitters so things are pretty simple for me.

AM: What have you learned about yourself this year as we have all had time for self reflection?

VK: I’ve learned that I can’t take for granted that I have a unique career that provides people with fun every night. There’s very few people that can say that, so I'm blessed I’m in that position. It’s also been a gut check in many ways and I’ve learned I can be alright when touring suddenly comes to a halt.

IG @ValentinoKhan

PHOTOS COURTESY | Valentino Khan

Read the Jan Issue #62 of Athleisure Mag and see Push the Sound Forward with Valentino Khan in mag.

S2. E8. #TRIBEGOALS WITH CELEBRITY FITNESS TRAINER + LA LAKERS DIR. STRENGTH AND ENDURANCE GUNNAR PETERESON

On today's episode of #TRIBEGOALS, we chatted with one of our favorite celebrity fitness trainers Gunnar Peterson who has worked with a number of our favorite personalities from Khloe Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez and more. In addition, as the Director of Strength & Endurance for the LA Lakers, we talk with him about how he has worked with his clients and the team to keep them on their routines. He also shares advice on movements that we can do at home regardless of whether we have equipment or not. He also shares his thoughts on returning to gyms and studios as the country is in various stages of reopening. 

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

SOMETHING YOU SHOULD KNOW WITH GUNNAR PETERSON

This month, we chat with one of our favorite celebrity fitness trainers Gunnar Peterson who has worked with a number of your favorite personalities from Khloe Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez and more. In addition, as the Director of Strength & Endurance for the Lakers, we talk with him about how he has worked with his clients and the team to keep them on their routines. He also shares advice on movements that we can do at home regardless of whether we have equipment or not. He also shares his thoughts on returning to gyms and studios as the country is in various stages of reopening.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We always love being able to talk to you and being able to optimize our workouts and here in NY we have been in since March 13th. Thankfully, we got all of our equipment that we needed and we had no idea how long that we would be staying in due to COVID-19. What did you suggest to your clients in terms of equipment that they should have on hand?

GUNNAR PETERSON: I love that you guys got your equipment right away because it seems to me from what I heard, that the people that didn’t get it right out of the gate automatically had to line up and there was a delay. I have a very strange relationship with equipment – you can call it an addiction or a relationship whatever you want. That said, look whatever you have – even if you have nothing, you can still make it work. I would suggest adjustable dumbbells, a piece of cardio equipment that you enjoy, an assortment of bands, an auxiliary piece of cardio – think jump rope, a utility bench, a stability ball and that is all best case scenario. Worse case, we will get busy with water bottles, soup cans, a broom stick, a stepping stool, a couple of pieces of scrap cardboard. If you have that kind of stuff lying around it doesn’t have to be a mish mash like that, I actually thought those through it’s not grab bag you can come out of this lockdown in better shape. How’s that for a statement on standby?

AM: Love that statement. About a week before this quarantine, we had bands and a few other things, but didn’t really have dumbells, weight plates and other things like that so I was on Amazon and started amassing these items. And once we were in quarantine, you couldn’t get anything. We were pretty well stocked on our end.

GP: I heard it from people that are planners and those that get out ahead of things like this. There were other people that told me that they had nothing and that they had given everything away. Ever since they had started coming to me, they had given everything away as they didn’t need it in their house anymore because they came to me. I was like, “oh I’m sorry – like I’m supposed to be the person to blame for this.”

The household items though the water bottles and the soup cans, broom stick an ottoman – you can fill up garbage bags with laundry because they have the handles built in and scrap pieces of cardboard or a towel. You can use a scrap piece of cardboard if you’re outdoors on the lawn or turf. If not on a towel if you have a hard surface like poured concrete or hardwood floors. Any of those towels can work for leg curls, hip curls, hip bridges, ab extensions, chest flys there are so many movements you can do on the floor with that. People are like, “cardboard?” and I’m like yeah. I actually demo-d that workout online for someone out on the lawn, you put your heels on the cardboard and you do a leg curl in and put your hips up and your hamstrings and your glutes are good to go.

AM: What are 3 movements for abs, and legs, butts and arms that we should include within our routines as we’re always looking at changing it up a little bit and just optimizing that workout?

GP: For abs I would say, think bicycle crunches where you’re pulling left knee into right elbow and you’re up and semi crunched the entire time so that you’re abs which is all about time under tension the TUT Principle. The abs are engaged the whole time and you’re working that transverse rotation bringing the right elbow to left knee while extending that right leg and pulling the right leg in and extending the right leg and the left elbow to the right knee.

Also abs in extension which comes down to you being on your knees, toes in contact with the ground in sort of like a coffee table position and then extend the arms by sliding a towel out or if you’re on a piece of cardboard then you’re on cardboard. You want to extend them and working abs in extension is important and not just working them in inflection and also athletically – a lot of the strain happens when people will go into extension against resistance and they weren’t prepared for it. So you want to work on extension. You can also do that single arm right? You can fly one arm out and bring it back and the other arm up and bring it back just to create an uneven load.

The third one I would say is the hip bridge. So, using that same towel, put your forearm on it, extend your body and think about keeping a straight line between all of the h’s – head, hip, heels – straight line. Lower the hips down, draw the abs in. Your cue is when you pass center line pull your abs in and then bridge up so now you’re working frontal plane abs. So those are the movements for abs.

For legs, I would say squats and you have a number of squat movements to choose from whether it’s a basic squat, a sumo squat, a split squat, kick stands – there are a million ways to do that. But you definitely want to hit a squat and you should do that loaded because you’re working a big muscle group and it can handle an exterior load.

Then I would add clock lunges. Picture yourself standing in a center of a clock right where the hands are right where the hands meet in the middle. With your right leg step to 12 step to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 which involves a full pivot again the transverse plane. Then bring it back to 12 and then with your left leg, go to 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6 and back.

Then I would say, single leg deadlifts and if you need that, do it next to your dresser, counter or a willing family member so that you can stabilize. You want to hinge at the hip and have something in your hand, something weighted whether it’s the water bottle or a dumbbell – whatever you have and down to your hip and then come up so that you have a stretch in your hamstring. Push through your heel and your big toe as you stand up so you fire the glutes and continue through that – you’re a lot stronger. A lot of people say, “aww my back.” Don’t worry about your back. You’re going to go in that position through your life so many times, you have to strengthen it. You’re doing yourself a disservice to not strengthen it.

And for glutes, I would say a lateral lunge. A deep lunge out to the side and really getting low on that because you want to hit gluteus medius and power through back to the starting position and alternate sides.

I would say a hip bridge, you can do that single leg or double leg. So put one foot up – one foot off the ground. You’re lying on your back, create a triangle between where you’re up from the ground and where your heel is on the ground and then bridge up by driving into the heel on the floor which is a single leg version. The double leg version, obviously both of your heels are on the ground.

Then I would add something explosive and plyometric. A tuck jump and you can do those in place. The goal is not to drop down super low into a squat and jump. Think about when you see someone jumping at a volleyball net or when they’re getting a rebound from a basketball – they don’t drop their hips all the way to the floor, they literally hinge at the hips and explode upward. So think of that kind of jump.

For arms, I would say something in a curl and I would spice up the curl a little bit and do it in a split stance. I like to create the offload, I like to make the core fire even more and do whatever your scheme is half of it with your right leg bag and left leg forward and then you drop down relatively low and then switch the split and repeat the same number of the reps of the curls.

That’s 1 the 2nd one would be a close grip push up. So keeping your hands relatively narrow and more importantly than that, tuck your elbows into your sides so you can feel your ribcage slide down against your forearm on the way down. If it’s too hard to do them on the floor, instead of doing them on your knees – I’m not a huge fan of that, I would say do them off of something. Elevate the hands versus just staying on your knees. So you’re still getting that fully planked position whether you come up and do it on an ottoman or at the end of a bed or on the end of a couch depending on your fitness level right?

Back in the day, Zsa Zsa Gabor did a workout video (Editor’s Note: of course we had to check out this video which is 30 mins of Zsa Zsaisms, working out and is worth watching) and she actually had 2 body builders come out and she just leaned back and did the push up off their chest. So she was still standing at a 5° incline but you can work backwards to any level of fitness. I want to say that she was in her 70’s when she did it so kudos to her for still doing the work.

AM: That’s pretty amazing!

GP: I know, when I saw it, I thought, “you have to give her credit for that.”

The 3rd one would be a press overhead. And that’s not for your arms, biceps, triceps, but it’s for your shoulders. If you look at the side view of the arm, almost half of that is the cap of your shoulder. So overhead pressing of any kind whether you alternate, palms forward, palms in – you just want to make sure that you get the shoulders. Especially since a lot of clothing in the summer time is exposing the shoulder.

AM: I know on your Instagram, that you created quarantine courses for your family to do. How important is it for your to incorporate movement especially with children and what do you suggest to do to keep them engaged?

GP: For us, it’s a priority. It’s not for everybody but it is for us. The kids learn how to move and use their bodies, how to work through things that are difficult and I think that that’s a life metaphor and you get to spend real quality time with them and I would suggest mixing in things that you know that they like as well as things that they need. That’s the challenge of being the parent. You challenge them and then you reward them with something that is good for them. My kids love Propel, they love the electrolyte water and there are 0 grams of sugar and I know that post workout, they need the electrolytes so it’s such an easy reward and sometimes I will put it at the end so right when he comes off the course, they’re there. They can pick the flavor and you’re empowering them with that.

AM: In addition, you have been participating in a number of IG Lives doing various workouts during this time of quarantine, how important is that to you to do those things and let people across the internet to have people workout with you and also engage with you?

GP: It’s important for me because A it keeps me sharp on the selfish side. I like doing anything that I can with the fitness community and the fitness industry as a whole. If I can add to that collective, then count me in. It’s not like I am putting on the Propel fitness stuff in my backyard, but if I am giving something that can approximate that during a time when we may have to push that back in a calendar then I’m all for it – sign me up.

AM: Across the US, we have various levels of openings on city and state levels. A lot of gyms and studios are doing that as well and a lot of people are excited to go back to their favorite spaces, but there is a lot of apprehension to in terms of whether the gyms themselves are actually prepared to be opened. What are your thoughts on how we can return to them safely and what we should be looking for when we enter? Should we be bringing items with us?

GP: You said it first – safety right? Be smart and be safe. Make sure that you’re doing the right thing and if you see someone who isn’t, instead of tattling and being condescending – I would share with them what the right approach is and be open if they share with you. We can all get better together. Remember we all heard a lot of information in the last 5+ months and we all process it differently. There are a lot of beliefs, so it’s better to be open and tolerant until we have all the facts locked down. I know I said lock down, but I said that on purpose!

As far as what you bring, I am a big fan of bringing my towel and water to the gym. I bring my towel and my Propel. You might want to double up and bring gloves, I don’t know the science on that one yet, but I’m OCD enough that I’m taking my towel and Propel with me for sure. I’m not going to be needing water fountains for a little bit if I can help it.

AM: For sure! You’re the Director of Strength & Endurance Training for the Lakers, our favorite team!

GP: Ah I love that!

AM: The Lakers have been our team since the 80’s.

GP: Not a fair weather fan, I like that!

AM: With the NBA completing their season and getting closer to the Playoffs, what has this time been like for you in terms of working with the team, preparing them prior to going to the bubble in Orlando and during this season?

GP: So our Strength Staff, a guy named Chattin Hill (Lakers’ Associate Head Strength & Conditioning Coach), Ed Streit (Lakers’ Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach) and I put together a Fit Kit and we sent the Fit Kits to the players early on. I don’t think that we got the jump on as early as you did, but we were a couple of days behind. We sent those to the players and we also emailed and texted them daily individualized workouts and all that was done within days of the lockdown. We also held and this ended up being great, but there was an element of comedy to it, we held Zoom workouts a couple of times a week to maintain the interaction, to keep the camaraderie up, trash talking – that was the great job of our GM Rob Pelinka and it ended up being great. There were times when the strength staff were a little disjointed and disconnected in doing it all on Zoom, but it created a moment of levity during some of those uncertain times. I’m sure you guys went through it too! There were times when the lockdown felt super annoying and there were times when it felt super scary! Like it was legitimately, “let’s not poo poo this guys. This is real.” Then you just develop a system. I’m sure that there is a psychology there of numerous phases that we all went through and having those workouts allowed those guys to keep connected and also allowed them to keep connected to us allowed them to keep connected to us which was key.

AM: Wow! When we did our last photoshoot it was with Rachel Nichols from ESPN. It was literally the day after the NBA announced that they were postponing the season. We’re literally sitting with her coming off of ESPN, doing the shoot and we’re looking at each other saying, “is this the last time that we’re going to be doing this for awhile?”

GP: I know Rachel and I like her. She’s very smart and she’s not taking any chances. If she did that then she did the right thing and hats off to her! I’m not surprised actually that she did it the right way.

AM: She is amazing and she was an awesome cover for us in March.

Obviously, the word “typical” feels like a very strange word right now, but what is a typical day or week like for you right now in terms of all the stuff that you’re doing?

GP: The only thing typical is that everything changes every day. I make sure to get some kind of workout in for myself, call it selfish, call it self preservation. I use the down time to connect with my family as well as a lot more Face Time calls with my brother, my parents and I think that it’s probably fair to say that our house as well as my sock drawer has never been neater! I have a lot cleaned up – everything is clean!

AM: You’re always working on so many things, is there anything coming up that we should know about or that your happy to announce with everyone?

GP: Lots of irons on the fire, that’s the way that I like it. I’d rather do than talk so let’s see what actually materializes after this. I will say that I have not been idle, definitely not going to sit around and do nothing. There’s definitely good stuff coming up though – definitely! More than just Instagram obstacle courses. Although I did enjoy those I’ve gotta say!

AM: As someone who is working with your clients whether it’s in person or virtually, doing things with your family and you have all of these different projects, how are you taking time for yourself just to make sure that you have the time that you need?

GP: So, I emphasized and the things that I struggle with the most – sleep and recovery. I’ve been working on that for the past 4 years and I’ve really made that a concerted effort to bump those up. I’m far from perfect for sure but it is still a focus and I have been able to improve it. I make sure that I get my workouts in which keeps me sane and it also makes me less of a jackass around my kids and my wife so that’s a priority ha!

AM: Haha I know they appreciate that! So we love asking our changemakers who inspire so many people who are 3 people that inspire you that have gotten you to where you are now?

GP: My parents and I have to put them together. A, for no backlash and B, because it’s the right thing. My parents for just the way that they weather storms. They have been married for over 60 years and I’m sure it hasn’t been perfect, but they just finish what they start kind of thing. My brother who is a super successful business man and all around greatest most generous guy going and I’m going to keep it in the family and say my wife and kids. They really inspire. It’s those days that you get up and go, “I’m getting up today because I know my purpose.” Obviously, you know that it supports your family, but they make me better!

Years ago, I worked for Jennifer Lopez for a long time and that’s not name dropping a lot of people know that. I wrote her a note one New Year’s morning. It just hit me that I was so thankful to have had the opportunity – I was still working with her, but I wanted to acknowledge it in real time. The opportunity to work with her – my working with her made me want to do my job better because I saw how well she did her job and how hard she pushed. I wrote her a note and I just said, “I want you to know I recognize this. I was always going to push myself and I was always going to strive for greatness, but being around you for this many years and watching how you do it has just made me A, be a representation of you at the same level, but also just to hold myself accountable because I see how hard you go and the standard to which you hold yourself.”

IG @GunnarFitness

PHOTOS COURTESY | Propel

Hear Celebrity Fitness Trainer and LA Lakers' Director of Strength & Endurance Gunnar Peterson on our show, #TRIBEGOALS - which is a part of Athleisure Studio, our multi-media podcast network! Make sure to subscribe to find out when the episode drops. You can hear it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and wherever you enjoy listening to your favorite podcast.

Read the Aug Issue of Athleisure Mag #56 and see Something You Should Know with Gunnar Peterson in mag.

S2. E5. | #TRIBEGOALS WITH NBA CHAMPION, ENTREPRENEUR, PHILANTHROPIST, CANNABIS EDUCATOR & SOCIAL JUSTICE ACTIVIST MATT BARNES

On today's episode of #TRIBEGOALS, we talk with Athleisure Mag's June cover for issue #54 veteran NBA Champion Matt Barnes who played 14 seasons in the league. His ability to bring his energy and focus to the court was seen on a number of teams from the LA Lakers, Golden State Warriors and the Sacramento Kings just to name a few. His unapologetic honesty and loyalty to himself as well as who he works with shined through on the court and continues to be seen through his philanthropy, his skincare brand HUE For Every Man, the cannabis industry, as well as his focus on social justice. With the confluence of COVID-19 and the movement of #BlackLivesMatter, he continues to be at the forefront of ensuring that voices are heard and that people understand the importance of voting at the local, state and national level for changes to be made. He has lent his voice to rallies in his hometown of Sacramento for George Floyd as well as Stephon Clark. We talk about this as well as his successful podcast All the Smoke on SHOWTIME, his enterprises and the upcoming NBA season and playoffs and the importance of sports as we navigate challenging times.

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

SOUND AND STEADY WITH AL HORFORD

With the beginning of the 2019-20 NBA season starting this month, we’re all excited to see what the 82 game season holds for our favorite teams. This month’s cover story features Al Horford, a 5 time NBA All-Star, who has played 12 years in the league with 12 playoff appearances. He has had a busy few months. Hailing from Puerto Plato, Dominican Republic, during the off-season, on July 10th, Philadelphia 76ers General Manager Elton Brand (who was a former teammate of Al’s when he played at the Atlanta Hawks) announced that Al Horford signed to the team and will be wearing #42.

In sharing the news that Al was joining the team, the General Manager emphasized that “He has built his reputation around hard work and a tradition of winning, which are the same qualities that have formed the foundation of the 76ers. Al’s playmaking, elite defensive talents and veteran leadership confirm why he is a crucial addition to our roster. We have gained a championship-level teammate that will not only complement our current makeup, but will help grow our young core as we strive for the highest level of success.”

This reaction to Al comes from his years as a solid player, as he is adept at playing a number of defensive positions and will pair well alongside his teammates – Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris, in an impactful front line which will create a fierce dynamic to opposition defenses. Last season he appeared in 68 games for the Boston Celtics and started in all of them. He posted 13.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.3 blocks in 29 minutes per game. Those stats earned him being only 1 of 2 players (NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo; Milwaukee Bucks being the other) in the league to hold those averages. He also shot .535 from the field, .360 from 3-point range and has a career high of .821 from the free-throw line. His talent and focus in his 7 seasons include a field-goal percentage of .500 or better, putting him fourth in the league behind Dwight Howard (LA Lakers), Pau Gasol (Portland Trailblazers) and Lebron James (LA Lakers). Additional accolades include being chosen to the 2017-18 All-Defensive Second Team and 2010-11 All-NBA Third Team.

Looking back at his career, he has played in 786 games (782 starts) with Boston and Atlanta. His career averages are 14.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.2 blocks in 32.8 minutes per game. This veteran has had an astounding 120 career postseason games and his teams have qualified for the playoffs in each of his 12 seasons, as far back as 2007-08. He initially came to the league when he was selected by Atlanta with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. While playing collegiately for the Florida Gators, he assisted in leading the team to the school’s first 2 NCAA titles in 2006 and in 2007. After his 3rd and final season at Florida, he was selected to the All-SEC First Team, the NCAA All-Tournament Team and the Associated Press All-American Third Team.

During the announcement of an array of former and new members of the 76ers, Elton emphasized that, “defense is where we will hang our hat and should have one of the best defensive teams in the league.” To that end, he believes that, “Al Horford, is a proven leader, proven player every single year. I know what he brings to the table, not only starting with Joel and being able to push us much closer to our goal of winning the championship.”

This summer, as fans, analysts and potential teammates speculated on where Al would end up, many wondered what factored into his decision. “When I decided to opt out of Boston, it wasn’t an easy decision, but I did it and I felt that there was going to be a lot of options for me,” Al said.

“When June 30th came around, things escalated very quickly and there were multiple teams and a lot of strong interest and I had to make the best decision for me. When Elton called and spoke with my agent, he laid down his offer and I was very surprised that there was this strong interest for me to be here and it made the decision very easy. I’m just excited to be a part of this. The view of this city, of Philadelphia – gets me excited! I’m hyped and ready to go.”

The impact of Al’s relationship to Elton brought him to Philadelphia, seeing his commitment to being at the top of his game when they were both at Atlanta and emphasized the importance of the game and giving it all on and off the court at optimal performance levels. Al noted, “I’m just letting you know right now. I have a lot of respect for Elton. I got to watch him as a younger player to be on our time, to see how professional he was and how he took care of his body – I really respected him. To just see how he did it when he was with us.”

“I’ll tell you a story,” he continued. “We were getting ready to go to dinner one night with some of the guys and we were about to get into the elevator. When you get into a city, that’s what you do, you go out and have dinner. He was in the elevator going into his room and coming from the gym – sweating and he had just done an hour of cardio – he was drenched. So his commitment to wanting to win and do the right things inspired me back then. I think that he believed in me and he believes in this group and what we can do and when they came knocking and approached me, it felt right. That’s why I am excited to be here because I know that he wants what’s best for this city of Philadelphia and what we are trying to do.”

Al has been candid on his focus to win a championship. In addition to his relationship with Elton, he also looked at the talent on the 76ers. “I think that the opportunity to play for this type of organization for this city was something that I really had to consider and to look at and then you look at the potential of this team and the coach, Coach Brown leading the way and obviously Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris, and all the upside that we have and now we just finished assembling our group – every time I kept looking at the players that we were signing – I was like yeah we have Kyle O’Quinn and I saw that Josh came through and that James Ennis III re-signed, and that Raul Neto got here. We got a good group here and it got me even more excited. I felt that we were in a good place and I feel really good about our future.”

The mutual admiration and Elton’s desire to build an elite starting 5 and incorporating Al into the team’s recipe of their success speaks volumes on their mutual admiration. This team is built on the depth of talent as well as the character of those that are coming together. Elton summarized, “it was very important for me to get high character guys that know how to play the game and that can still step on the court and pay a lot of dividends and to be able to do a lot on the court and not just be locker room guys. This helps a lot especially for our young playing guys who are developing to see how they work. Al told the story of what he saw as a young player and watching me as an older player working out. It’s about paying it forward. They see how hard you work, your professionalism and playing it forward so that they can see what it takes in order for you to win. So that’s the benefit of having those adults in the room.”

He continued, “the opportunity to have Al back up Joel in the playoffs and then to have him in the 5 is a great opportunity for us. We had a huge hole and deficit last year and we look forward to having Al playing on the court. He can play the 4 he can play the 5 and we have many players that can play multiple positions.”

With the off season and pre-season games in the rearview mirror, the team and fans look emphatically forward towards the regular season. With much anticipation, and a long time rivalry, the first game of the season was against the Boston Celtics. Prior to the game, there was much speculation on how would it be for Al to go against his former teammates, as well as how the team played together now that they have officially started. The 76ers won their first game 107-93. To kick off his season with Boston, Al noted it was “very weird to me. It felt good to go out and to get a win. It’s kind of good that it’s finally over as there was a lot of emotion leading up to this. It was good that we came out and competed and we were able to get the first win.”

In addition to winning this game and being a part of this team, Al is also very adamant about his respect for this city that he now plays for. To see the fans excitement for this team and embracing him, he mused, “it felt great. The atmosphere was great tonight. He stated, “our fans were really great even before tip-off. Our fans were into it and engaged and by the time the National Anthem was over, it was a packed house. They carried us throughout the night. We had some runs there and it carried us through.”

With the kick-off of the first game, Al and the rest of the 76ers continued on to playing and gaining another win against the Detroit Pistons (117-111); winning again against the Atlanta Hawks (105-103) and their latest win against the Minnesota Timberwolves (117-95) – at the time of this issue release. The Timberwolves game was played back in Philadelphia. Post game, Al highlighted about his teammates that, “the thing that I keep seeing with our group is that any of us can go in there post, score, be aggressive go through there, be strong and that was an example of it tonight. There were times that I had to go in there or Joel, Tobias, Ben, as well as Josh. We really try to play with our size and impose our will in the paint.” When he reflects on his strengths and what he brings to the team, it echoes the foundation sentiments and import that Elton shared in the press conference about the focus of defense and the players that he assembled. “I believe that’s one of my strengths to be put in different parts to protect the people whether bigs or smalls, and not only me but Ben does that well. It’s tough to go through Joel in the paint, so it works to our advantage when we do these kinds of matchups.”

From game to game, Al continues to talk about the importance of optimizing skills to play cohesively as a team on the court and off the court. He values team trips where they come together to watch The Joker, team dinners and getting to know how to work with one another. He is also insistent on watching the game tape to see where they can tweak how they play as he believes that when you’re at home, you can mask some of your mistakes, but when you go on the road – these things can definitely affect the pace and play of the game.

With 12 years in the game, he knows that his teammates and the organization are looking to him as a sound and steady presence and he knows that he needs to “find the open spots – whether that’s slashing to the basket or spacing.” This is necessary in order to provide rim protection when Joel is in position for an aggressive play.

It is an honor to have him join us as this month’s cover story feature, we look forward to seeing a tremendous season for someone so skilled, devoted and spirited on and off the court.

PHOTOS COURTESY | Alex Subers and Philadalphia 76ers

IG @AlHorford

@Sixers

Read the Oct Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Sound and Steady with Al Horford in mag.

9LIST STORI3S | GUNNAR PETERSON

Read the Sept Issue of Athleisure Mag and see 9LIST STORI3S with Celebrity Fitness Trainer and Director of Strength and Endurance for the LA Lakers in mag.

MELLABRATION TIME WITH LEAH VAN DALE

This September, our cover is graced by Leah Van Dale who wrestles under the name Carmella as a WWE SuperStar who is also on E! Total Divas, which is back for its 9th season on Oct 1st! Our shoot took place during NYFW, which showcased SS20 collections that we can't wait to start rocking in a few months. Our shoot took place at The Mondrian Park Ave Hotel on the Mondrian Terrace as well as at their lower level lounge known as The Boogie Room.

As we showcased great transitional fall looks, we also got to know more about this athlete, whose career has included being a dancer for the New England Patriots as well as the LA Lakers as a Laker Girl and of course being a WWE SuperStar. In addition, she also launched her own wine label that embodies her mantra and how she sees the world as she continues to amass her empire.

ATHLEISURE MAG: You have had an amazing career, that has included cheerleading, dancing, modeling, wrestler and entrepreneur. When you were growing up, what was the moment that you realized that you wanted to be an entertainer?

LEAH VAN DALE: For as long as I can remember. I was dancing before I could even walk. It’s where I feel the most comfortable. I’ve always loved putting on a show!

AM: Earlier this year, our Feb cover included a few members of the Super Bowl Champions’ New England Patriots, what was your journey to becoming a cheerleader for this team for 3 seasons?

LVD: I danced my entire life. When I started college I knew I wanted to continue my passion for dancing. I found out about a try out to become a New England Patriots Cheerleader. I went to the try out and made it! The rest was really history.

AM: After 3 seasons with the New England Patriots, you became a Laker Girl for the Los Angeles Lakers for a season, what was that process like?

LVD: At the time, you could only cheer for the Patriots for three seasons. I had just graduated college in May of 2010 and I was ready for a change. I flew out to LA the day before the tryout. There were almost 700 girls there for the audition and only 6 spots open on the team. I felt so out of my element. I kept making it to the next round and after almost two months of tryouts and training I made the team! I picked up and moved to LA without knowing anyone or anything about the city, but I wouldn’t have changed a thing about it.

AM: As someone who was familiar with the WWE as your father Paul Van Dale is a mixed martial artist and worked with the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) in the 80s and 90s – when did you decide that you wanted to be in the WWE?

LVD: Honestly, I never thought I would end up in the WWE. I used to watch it when I was a kid, but it wasn’t something I aspired to do. I wanted to be a dancer. My dad would bring it up from time to time but I always shut the idea down. When I did everything I could with dance I found out about a tryout with WWE. The timing was perfect. All the stars aligned and my journey to become Women’s Champion began.

AM: Tell us about your journey for becoming a part of the WWE?

LVD: I moved to Orlando in 2013 when I was signed to WWE’s developmental brand NXT. I trained at the Performance Center for a little over two years; learned the basics in wrestling and created my Carmella character. In 2016, I was drafted to Smackdown Live and I’ve been moon walking and trashing all over TV since.

AM: Your ring name is Carmella, why did you choose that name and what is the persona of her when you're wrestling – how does this differ from you?

LVD: I wanted an Italian mob-wife character. I channeled my inner Carmella Soprano. I wore fur jackets and talked with an accent. We already had a girl on the roster billed from Boston (where I’m from) so they decided to bill me from Staten Island (which is my real life rival!! A New Englander pretending to be from New York?!?!) I did all the studying I could do to make sure I really gave off the Staten Island vibes and I pride myself on my character. She’s definitely more outspoken than Leah. But it’s essentially me with the volume turned up to 100!

AM: What is the process like when you are creating your ring persona and do you have input when it comes to the storylines that you are involved in?

LVD: I had all of the way in creating Carmella. She’s definitely evolved over the years, but I feel lucky that the first character I came up with is still what I’m doing today. Some people go years trying to create their on screen persona, so I’m very fortunate.

AM: You have had a number of amazing wins in your career at the WWE, what are 3 of your favorite storylines that you have been involved in?

LVD: I loved my story with Nikki Bella when I first debuted on Smackdown Live. It was my first feud and it was super high profile. I was so nervous to work with her, but she was incredible. She always had my back. I loved when I became Miss Money in the Bank. I made history in the first ever women’s MITB ladder match. I got to carry that contract and be so incredibly obnoxious about it. Of course my final favorite is when I cashed in on Charlotte Flair the Smackdown after Wrestlemania 34. I was an over the top champion with these ridiculous Mellabrations. It was so fun.

AM: Who do you consider as members of your squad within the WWE?

LVD: I have a good group of girls I’m close with. Bayley is one of my best friends. We got super close during our time in NXT and we’ve remained that way despite being on different brands the last few years. Natalya is my girl. We text literally every single day. She’s so funny. I love Sonya and Mandy as well. We all lived in Fort Lauderdale for the last year and they’re just super fun.

AM: As an athlete in the WWE, what does it mean to you to be in this organization as well as being apart of a number of the amazing things taking place within the women’s matches that take place there?

LVD: This is the best time to be a lady wrestler. I feel so fortunate to be a part of so many historical moments. These are the times everyone will be talking about when it comes to the Women’s Evolution.

AM: Fitness has been a key component of your career and you have even been in videos with Bob Harper, why is it so integral to you?

LVD: Fitness has been an important part of my life since I was a kid. My parents have always instilled that into my sister and me. When I’m active and eating healthy is when I feel my best. Of course we all fall off the wagon every now and then, but I always get back to it.

AM: What is a typical day like for you when you’re working out?

LVD: When I’m at home (which is RARE!) I train with my trainer or I do yoga. On the road I do empty stomach cardio in the morning, either 30 min on the stationary bike or walk on the treadmill on a high incline. Then I do some weight training. I alternate upper and lower body workouts.

AM: You were wrestling at Madison Square Garden earlier this month, what is your day like going into a day like that?

LVD: Usually it’s a workout in the morning then I just head to the arena for 2pm. Just to walk into MSG is mind blowing, nevermind knowing I get to perform there. It’s every entertainer's dream. This was my third time there. It never gets old!

AM: You’re constantly on the move, what is the average week like for you between taping shows, being in the ring and more?

LVD: It varies from week to week, but typically something like this:

Saturday fly from home to the first city, have the show, the drive to the next town. Have a show on Sunday, then drive to the next town. After our show on Monday, I drive to wherever we have our live tv show Smackdown Live that week. Of course the gym and finding healthy spots to eat inbetween all of that. When we’re filming for Total Divas, I would fly to wherever we are filming that Wednesday morning after TV. We film Wednesday-Friday then fly to the next set of shows on Saturday. When we aren’t filming, I sometimes get to go home Wednesday-Friday, in between show loops.

AM: Season 9 of E! Total Divas premiers on Oct 2nd – why do you like being a part of this show and how important is it to be involved so that we can know more about you as well as your character?

LVD: I was on the show for season 7, but I didn’t get the opportunity to really open up and show my truth. I’m excited to do that this time around.

Nothing is off-limits, which scares me a little. It’s very nerve-wracking to put your entire personal life out there for everyone to judge, but I’m ready!

AM: What can you tell us about your upcoming season?

LVD: It’s all about our sisterhood. There’s six of us: Ronda Rousey, Nattie, Sonya Deville, Trinity and Nia Jax. You’ll get to see my relationship with my boyfriend Corey Graves and of course there’s a little drama with the girls.

AM: Tell us about Capo Cagna Wine – how did this opportunity come about, how long were you in development, what is the meaning behind the name and where can people get it?

LVD: It’s been in the works for well over a year now. It’s been such a long process with a lot of ups and downs. I wanted to start a brand and have it mean something. I want everyone to feel like a Boss Bitch when they’re drinking it, which is was Capo Cagna means in Italian.

AM: Wine is a beverage that a number of people enjoy or are just learning about, we love how you position your wine regardless of the sippers’ wine background – why is that your approach?

LVD: I think it’s important to feel confident. I want whoever grabs the bottle of wine to know they deserve to feel a little boujie, but it’s not going to break the bank. It’s all about being boujie on a budget. So if you’re a wine snob, this is not the wine for you! ;)

AM: Currently, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay are available, will there be additional varietals that we should keep an eye out for?

LVD: Yes! We will have a Rosé launching for the summer of 2020.

AM: On average, how many times a year are you traveling?

LVD: 52 weeks a year. We don’t have an off season.

AM: As someone who travels quite frequently, what are 3 things that are in your carryon that make you feel like you’re at home?

LVD: I always keep one of my comfy sweaters in my backpack so I pull that out for the plane ride; my eye mask and my iPad so I can keep up on all of my favorite reality shows (Real Housewives is my guilty pleasure.)

AM: Do you have any philanthropies or charitable work that you are a part of that you can share with us?

LVD: With WWE we are always involved with so many charitable organizations. A few that I work closely with are The Boys and Girls Club, Be a Star (WWE's anti-bullying campaign) and UNICEF Kid Power.

AM: When you have downtime, what are 3 things that we could find you doing or eating when you’re taking time for yourself?

LVD: You will find me drinking wine on my couch, eating sushi or pizza and watching Netflix.

AM: In Ft. Lauderdale, where can we find you grabbing a drink/meal, working out and shopping?

LVD: When I’m home, I’m usually a homebody. But I do work with my trainer Danny Blanco at Top Notch Training. Other than that, I’m ordering Uber Eats and laying low!

AM: What are 3 brand/products that you’re loving within each of these three categories of - fitness, beauty and in style?

LVD: I’m all about skin care products. I love using rose water to spray on my face when I travel. Rosehip oil is essential. I’m always shopping on Revolve.com because they have free two day shipping, so my clothes are always there when I get home from the road.

IG @CarmellaWWE

Our cover shoot took place at The Mondrian Park Ave on the Terrace as well as the lower level lounge known as The Boogie Room which is managed by In Good Company Hospitality. We took a moment to chat with Chris Guidice, General Manager of IGC to find out about the spaces, what guests can enjoy and the hotel in general.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did The Boogie Room launch?

CHRIS GUIDICE: The Boogie Room opened a little over a year ago and recently relaunched with brand new art on the walls and throughout the space.

AM: What is the ethos of The Boogie room?

CG: The Boogie Room is a place where art, music, drinks, and culture bridge the gap between approachability and exclusivity. This edgy bar, with its combination of street art and retro furniture, is the perfect hideaway from the hustle and bustle of Park Avenue South. The dim lighting and intimate space give an air of elusiveness, while still maintaining the warm and welcoming atmosphere that is typical of all IGC Hospitality’s venues.

AM: We love that there are murals at this lower level hotspot, what’s the story behind them and how often do they change?

CG: The walls feature beautiful murals full of bright colors painted by local artists serving as an homage to ’80s and '90s NYC street art. A group of talented artists were brought together and given the direction to create a fun atmosphere that has cultural and historical relevance to this amazing city.

AM: What are 3 signature drinks that we should have the next time that we’re at The Boogie Room?

CG: The Boogie Room’s specialty cocktails are everything on our bottle menu! Of course, we have a full bar with beer, wine, and spirits, but the parade of sparklers and bottles represent the ethos of a Boogie night.

AM: What events are taking place at The Boogie Room this fall that we should mark our calendars?

CG: The Boogie Room takes on a life of its own on Friday and Saturday nights. This nightlife hotspot features some of NYC’s most sought after DJs from 11:30 pm - 2 am every weekend. Think dancing, flowing drinks and bumping music.... There’s always something going on here!

AM: We also shot at the Mondrian Terrace as well – tell us about this space and more about this vibe?

CG: Mondrian Terrace is a year round terrace offering the best of both indoor and outdoor space. We are currently in the final month of our Rosé Terrace installation, a rosé lover’s paradise, and will soon be transitioning to a Fall-themed pop up. Our outdoor terrace overlooks the corner of Park Avenue South and East 30th Street. The indoor lounge is a canvas for seasonal soirees and NoMad nights.

AM: What are 3 signature bites that we should enjoy at Mondrian Terrace?

CG: We change the menu seasonally, but three of my current favorites are burrata with fig balsamic, beef short rib sliders, and the lamb meatballs with feta cheese and pine nuts. Each dish is perfect for snacking on as you sit and take in the great vistas of downtown Manhattan. If you’re feeling generous, they’re all very easy to share

AM: What events are taking place here that we should keep an eye out for as we continue into the fall?

CG: The Rosé Terrace at Mondrian Terrace is winding down and we’ll be debuting a new Fall/Winter pop up soon, so stay tuned! Our Beverage Manager Allie Klug and Executive Chef Todd Matthews are always working on incorporating seasonal ingredients into our menus, which means lots of specials to look forward to.

AM: For the Holiday season, is there anything taking place at The Boogie Room or the Mondrian Terrace that we should swing by?

CG: We’re planning our Halloween party at Mondrian Terrace. Guests can enjoy rooftop views, Halloween Cocktails, and a live DJ. Tickets for the event will be available soon, keep an eye out here for more details.

We also host a weekly Latin Night every Sunday. Of course, for those who really like to plan ahead, we have New Year’s Eve blowouts planned for all of the venues in Mondrian Park Avenue!

AM: With 3 venues at the Mondrian Park Avenue Hotel, what was the process behind coming up with spaces and concepts? You have definitely created different vibes that would fuel guests of the hotel, those that book an event, people who staycation and those who are in the neighborhood that ware interested in swinging by.

CG: The three spaces at the Mondrian have all been designed to have their own unique feel. Cleo is a beautiful Mediterranean restaurant which has American influences in the dishes and distinctly unique décor. Mondrian Terrace offers a relaxed atmosphere and seasonal delicacies, perfect for a first date or corporate party. The Boogie Room stands in stark contrast to the posh and sleek look of the Mondrian and surrounding Park Avenue, it is perfect celebrating birthdays, or just a place to dance the night away. All three spaces are inspired by the hotel’s namesake - Dutch painter Piet Mondrian. The Boogie Room is actually named after one of his paintings titled Broadway Boogie.

AM: Tell us about In Good Company and other locations do you have that we should keep on our radar?

CG: IGC has more than a dozen amazing venues. All super unique and hospitable. We’re excited to recently welcome Woodpecker by David Burke to the portfolio, as well as our second nightclub, Jewel Thief - opening next month! Whichever IGC Hospitality venue you choose to visit, I guarantee you will find the common thread of good food, good drinks, and great people.

IG @IGCHospitality

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS

Athleisure Mag's cover story was shot by Paul Farkas, using Canon Mark IV; and selected Canon lenses: EF 50 f/1.2 L, EF 24-70 f/2.8 L II, and EF 70-200 f/2.8 L II.

IG @PVFarkas

MAKEUP CREDITS

MUAH Jessica Bonilla used a number of products and tools to create the makeup that is in this cover editorial with WWE SuperStar and E! Total Divas' Leah Van Dale/Carmella.

LOOK I

To hydrate the face, EMBRYOLlSSE Moisturizing Face Cream was used.

Base Makeup: CINEMA SECRETS Foundation 300 Series. LAURA MERCIER Translucent Loose Setting Powder was used.

Bronzer: FENTY BEAUTY BY RIHANNA in Sun Stalk'r (Caramel Cutie and Mocha Mami).

Highlight: First, TATCHA Luminous Dewy Skin Mist was sprayed to give a healthy natural glow and take away the powdery look. DOSE OF COLORS Highlight was applied on top in Mirame.

Blush: BH COSMETICS Blush Palette.

Eyes: KKW BEAUTY KKW X MARIO 10 Pan in Eyeshadow Palette in Miami and Albania.

Lips: ANASTASIA BEVERYLY HILLS Lip Palette (mixed colors for the light pink look) and mixed FENTY BEAUTY BY RIHANNA Gloss Bomb in Diamond Milk for a satin finish.

LOOK II

KISS PRODUCTS lashes in Poise and smudged a little black lipstick from the ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS Lip Palette for a more natural styled sultry eye. The lips are brighter for the sporty look with a pretty pop of peach with FENTY BEAUTY BY RIHANNA Diamond Milk over the top.

LOOK III

The lip for this look is FENTY BEAUTY BY RIHANNA Gloss Bomb in Universal for a beautiful sporty look.

LOOK IV

This look was kicked up a notch for this beautiful gold jumpsuit. We wanted a lot of color for the eyes. Jessica used MORPHE X JACLYN HILL Eyeshadow Palette in Bling Bling and the Metallic Purple Shade Gem in the crease. A light blue shade from NYX Petit Brights Pallette was used in the inner corner. For the outer corners, Jessica used colors Iri Ji (a pink shade) and Ofala (an orange shade) from the JUVIA’S PLACE Festival Palette with Odogwo (gold shade from the same palette) in the center, INGLOT COSMETICS' 77 Eyeliner and added more of FENTY BEAUTY BY RIHANNA Universal Gloss Bomb on the lips.

IG @Laniidoa_Cosmetics

HAIR CREDITS

Hairstylist Brooke Bogle used a number of products for the hairstyles in this cover editorial with WWE SuperStar and E! Total Divas' Leah Van Dale/Carmella.

LOOK I

Soft beach waves were created using a 1 inch iron. Prepped with CATWALK BY TIGI Haute Iron Spray.

Sprayed at the end as well for added shine.

LOOK II + III

Two side braids into a pony using BEDHEAD TIGI On the Rebound Curl Recall Cream for smoothness.

For added texture to the pony, fluffed and sprayed with TIGI COPYRIGHT Custom Complete Volume Finishing Spray.

LOOK IV

Funky waves with spontaneous braids with accent jewels and rings.

For texture and separation used CATWALK BY TIGI Texturizing Sea Salt Spray and re-scrunched gently. Sprayed CATWALK BY TIGI Haute Iron Spray for added shine.

IG @Brooke_Bogle

FASHION CREDITS

Athleisure Mag's Celeb Fashion Stylist, Co-Founder/Creative + Style Director Kimmie Smith focused on looks that incorporate a number of pieces that will become go-to's in your closet with the onset of warm weather.

LOOK I

PG 36 | HANRO Nala Soft Cup Bralette | MAVI Tess Super Skinny in Black Snake Jeans | MAISON DE PAPILLON Velvet Blazer | LAGOS Black Caviar Diamond Necklace + Maya Circle Statement Ring |

LOOK II

FRONT/BACK COVERS + PG 19 - 29 | UMBRO Bodysuit | LAGOS JEWELRY Black Caviar Black Ceramic Diamond Earrings + Signature Caviar Diamond Pave Crossover Ring | ATHLETIC PROPULSIONS LABS Techloom Bliss White/Black/White Sneakers |

LOOK III

PG 16, 17, 31 | ALO YOGA Crop Cropped Short Sleeve Top in Caramel + High Waist Ripped Warrior Leggings in White | PARAJUMPERS Hybrids Olivia Puffer Jacket in White | ATHLETIC PROPULSION LABS Techloom Bliss White/Black/White Sneakers | LAGOS 18K Gold Caviar 12mm Ball on a Chain Necklace |

LOOK IV

PG 32 - 35 | YANDY Ms. Metallic Jumpsuit in Gold | LAGOS 18K Caviar Gold 2mm Width with 80mm Hoop Earrings + 18K Gold Caviar 12mm Ball on a Chain Necklace |

IG @Shes.Kimmie

Read the Sept Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Mellabration Time with Leah Van Dale in mag.

WHERE WILL LEBRON JAMES PLAY IN 2018-2019?

Now that the NBA Finals are over, the NBA free agency period is here. To some, it is the most exciting part of the season. And that excitement is even more palpable now that LeBron James has the opportunity to opt out of his contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers. So where will James end up when next season tips off? And which team will give him the best chance to add to his championship count?

Los Angeles Lakers

It seems clear at this point that LeBron James will be leaving the Cavaliers. Even Cavs coach Tyronn Lue seems resigned to that fact. But are the Los Angeles Lakers the answer as to where James will end up next season? Given the team's ample resources, it is entirely possible. But there are definitely some obstacles to overcome if James is going to play for the purple and gold.

If James is going to put on the Lakers' NBA city jersey next year, the Lakers will have to assure him that they will bring in another talented player to join him. This is because the Lakers currently are full of young players but don't have a star that would bring James any closer to a title than the Cavaliers would. But with the Lakers having tons of salary cap space, they may be able to land another star like Paul George while they haul in the player who had 34 points per game in last year's NBA Finals.

Los Angeles also needs to get their Lavar Ball situation under control. Ball is convinced that LeBron is going to be a Laker, but James may not like all of the instability that Ball brings to the table. And though the Lakers faithful would sing his praises better than those responsible for the LeBron James Cisqo parody, that wouldn't mean much if the team wasn't any better than his hometown Cavaliers.

Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers are one of the best young teams in the league. They had a breakout season last year thanks to the inspired play of Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. As a result, the Sixers are at +400 odds to win the NBA Finals as of June 14, 2018 at Betway. And, one would imagine that adding LeBron James would improve those odds in a big way.

Thanks to the distribution abilities of Simmons, LeBron wouldn't have to handle the ball nearly as much as he did in Cleveland. And while Ben Simmons has recently had some relationship drama with Kendall Jenner, he keeps things completely harmonious for his teammates on the court. Imagining him passing to a cutting LeBron James is tantalizing, and watching that duo with Embiid alongside them would be amazing as well.

Of course, the Sixers' instability with their general manager position could be a concern for the moment after the Bryan Colangelo Twitter scandal. Now that he is no longer with the team, the possibility for LeBron to join up with Philly could be just what the doctor ordered to complete the process.

Source: Pixabay

Houston Rockets

LeBron James was accused of quitting on the Cavaliers during the NBA Finals when the Warriors won all four games of that series. To combat that narrative, James would be well served to join the Rockets. Teaming up with Chris Paul would make sure that he never took a play-off again. This is thanks to Paul's natural leadership ability that always makes him someone that players want on their team.

Also, the addition of James Harden to LeBron's list of teammates would be a huge bonus for James. Harden is another player who can play on the ball, and lighten James' offensive burden. That will give him more energy to be a two-way player, something he struggled with at times during the 2017-2018 season.

The only concern with joining the Rockets would be how bad a fit James is with the rest of the team's offense. Houston shoots more threes than anyone in the league, even when they are missing like they did when they missed 27 straight threes in the seventh game of the Western Conference Finals against the Warriors. But if anyone can figure out how to make it work, it is LeBron James.

ON AIR | KEEP YOUR FITNESS ROUTINE WHEN TRAVELING

There's no excuse to stop working out or to change what you do due to equipment available in hotel gyms etc. Our Style Director, Kimmie Smith shared what she brings with her in her carryon to continue working out whether she's gone overnight OR for a few days! She appeared on The Jet Set with host Nikki Noya to share finds. Check your local station to see whether it's on CW, FOX etc in your area.

ON THE SEGMENT | TRX TRX Go Suspension Training | MANDUKA Yoga Travel Mat | W8FIT Wrist Weights | DYLN Alkaline Water Bottle | TOE SOX | SKLZ Jumprope + Gliders | MIEL Sport Bra + Underwear | AIR REPAIR SKINCARE Air Repair Kit | LO ROX Foam Travel Roller | SAJE Pocket Farmacy | VERA BRADLEY Packable Cube | HERSCHEL SUPPLY Bag | KARL LAGERFELD PARIS Sneakers |

WHAT KIMMIE'S WEARING | BELOFORTE Long Sleeve Shirt | FOREVER 21 X LA LAKERS Tank | 90 DEGREE BY REFLEX Rose Gold Leggings | ADIDAS Superstar | SHE'S KIMMIE Stacked Beaded Bracelets | MISFIT Ray | OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE COSMETICS Alt Girl Lip Tar | SALLY HANSEN Wine Stick in Miracle Gel |