Erik Slater Articles - Page 18

The New Orleans Saints will make significant changes this offseason after a letdown 2024 campaign. However, a new general manager is not expected to be one of them. “The early belief among league insiders is that Mickey Loomis has a good chance to remain as Saints general manager,” wrote ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. “That’s not 100%, […]

Kentucky basketball suffered its first loss of the season on Tuesday, a 70-66 upset at Clemson. Following the shocking defeat, Wildcats head coach Mark Pope gave his players a reality check about the hostile environments they’ll face the rest of this season. “Well, it’s Kentucky, you know? It’s everyone’s Super Bowl,” Pope told reporters. “So […]

The Brooklyn Nets host the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night at Barclays Center. Ben Simmons, Cam Johnson, and Dorian Finney-Smith are all questionable on the team’s injury report. Johnson and Finney-Smith are dealing with left ankle sprains, while Simmons is tending to left knee soreness. Here’s everything we know about their injuries and playing statuses […]

Several NBA teams will be vying for the opportunity to draft Rutgers star Dylan Harper next June. His father, former Chicago Bulls guard Ron Harper, hopes the Utah Jazz will not be one of them. Harper replied to a Jazz fan on X and said that “a trade would happen” if the team selected his […]

Justin Tucker’s hall-of-fame career has taken a turn for the worse with the Baltimore Ravens this season. By the numbers, the seven-time Pro-Bowler has been among the NFL’s worst kickers. After Tucker missed two field goals and an extra point during Baltimore’s Week 13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Bill Belichick offered his opinion on […]

The Chicago Bears are in the market for a head coach after firing Matt Eberflus. General manager Ryan Poles revealed to wide receiver DJ Moore what quality he’ll be looking for during the hiring process. “He just basically told me what had already got out in the media before he called me, but he was […]

The Brooklyn Nets weren’t set up for success during Monday’s 128-102 loss to the Chicago Bulls. Playing on the back end of a back-to-back while down six rotation players, including Cam Thomas, Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith and Ben Simmons, they faltered down the stretch against a Chicago squad on two days rest. Trailing by six […]

There weren’t many positives for the Brooklyn Nets during Monday’s 128-102 loss to the Chicago Bulls. However, the team’s lone bright spot in the season-worst defeat could loom large down the line. With the Nets down five rotation pieces, Dariq Whitehead saw his first extended action of 2024-25. The 2023 first-round pick scored a team-high […]

Ben Simmons’ clean bill of health to start 2024-25 took a turn for the worse on Sunday. The three-time All-Star exited the Brooklyn Nets’ 100-92 loss to the Orlando Magic due to a knee contusion and did not return. Simmons logged 11 minutes during the defeat, finishing scoreless on one shot attempt with five assists. […]

The Brooklyn Nets’ shorthanded offense was dealt another blow on Sunday. With Cam Thomas sidelined by a hamstring strain, Cam Johnson rolled his left ankle during the final minute of a 100-92 loss to the Orlando Magic. Johnson remained in the game for the following defensive possession before limping off the court. The injury comes […]

A whistle-happy officiating crew took centerstage during the Brooklyn Nets’ 100-92 loss to the Orlando Magic on Sunday at Barclays Center. The game saw 60 fouls called, over twenty higher than the league average this season (38.8). As they did during Friday’s loss to the Magic, the Nets struggled offensively with leading scorer Cam Thomas […]

The Brooklyn Nets will receive much-needed frontcourt reinforcements in the coming week. Day’Ron Sharpe is expected to return to the lineup after missing the first six weeks of the season due to a hamstring strain. “We could see him at some point this next week,” said head coach Jordi Fernandez. “Right now, he’s going through […]

Nic Claxton has not made the impact the Brooklyn Nets expected this season after signing a four-year, $97 million contract. The sixth-year center has seen an inconsistent role due to a nagging back injury. Claxton has been battling the back ailment since the summer, which he told reporters will require management throughout the season. Head […]

Dennis Schroder has been the Brooklyn Nets’ most important player during their surprise start to 2024-25. Friday’s 123-100 loss to the Orlando Magic demonstrated how removing him could set the rebuilding squad back in its expected tanking direction. Schroder missed the matchup for personal reasons, marking his second absence of the season. Without his blend […]

Jordi Fernandez has preached a “next man up” mentality during his first season as Brooklyn Nets head coach. His team took the mantra to another level during a 3-1 road trip featuring wins over the Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns. The Nets became the first team in NBA history to have a […]

The Brooklyn Nets’ frontcourt has yet to reach full strength this season. And just as the team is close to welcoming a piece back, another will be sidelined for an extended period. Day’Ron Sharpe is expected to return to the lineup within the next week, the team announced on Wednesday. The fourth-year center has been […]

The Brooklyn Nets were dealt their first major injury blow of the season on Wednesday. Cam Thomas has been diagnosed with a left hamstring strain and will be sidelined for at least three weeks. Thomas has fueled the Nets’ eighth-ranked offense during a surprise 8-10 start. The 23-year-old has averaged 24.7 points, the 16th-most in […]

The Brooklyn Nets will visit the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night at Footprint Center. Cam Johnson, Nic Claxton, and Dorian Finney-Smith were all initially listed on the injury report as questionable. Johnson and Finney-Smith are tending to ankle sprains, while Claxton is dealing with lower back soreness. Here’s everything we know about their injuries and playing statuses […]

Kevin Durant will compete against several familiar faces Wednesday when the Phoenix Suns take on the Brooklyn Nets at Footprint Center. While his Nets tenure ended sourly, the 14-time All-Star voiced strong feelings about his former team before the matchup. “I’m a Net for life. I’m always gonna say that; I always feel that. It’s gonna […]

The Brooklyn Nets will be without their leading scorer during Wednesday’s road matchup with the Phoenix Suns. Cam Thomas will miss the game due to left hamstring soreness. Thomas was pulled during the second half of Monday’s 128-120 win over the Golden State Warriors. The 23-year-old had been dealing with a lower back injury entering […]

Aaron Rodgers’ uncertain future was a hot topic during the New York Jets’ bye week. With New York losing seven of its last eight games, the Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported that owner Woody Johnson had lost confidence in the veteran signal-caller. The report added that the four-time MVP will look for a new team next […]

The Brooklyn Nets were supposed to be tanking this season. Jordi Fernandez and his players haven’t gotten the memo. After defeating the Sacramento Kings on Sunday, the Nets were double-digit underdogs against the Golden State Warriors on Monday at Chase Center. Fernandez’s squad was without Nic Claxton, Dorian Finney-Smith, Ben Simmons and Noah Clowney entering […]

Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson exited Monday’s matchup with the Golden State Warriors due to an ankle sprain. Johnson rolled the ankle while stepping on Draymond Green’s foot in the first quarter. Cam Johnson came up limping after turning his ankle on Draymond Green's foot. pic.twitter.com/YTqPGHrPgG — Erik Slater (@erikslater_) November 26, 2024 He re-entered […]

The New York Jets will be in the market for a head coach after firing Robert Saleh early this season. Former Jets head coach Eric Mangini has been floated as a potential candidate for the opening. He recently commented on the possibility of a reunion amid the team’s dysfunctional 2024 campaign. “It would make sense […]

The New York Jets are sticking with Aaron Rodgers this season. While the team has dropped seven of its last eight games after a 2-3 start, head coach Jeff Ulbrich said Monday that there have been no discussions about shutting the quarterback down. He confirmed that the veteran signal-caller will start coming out of the […]

The Brooklyn Nets will be without several rotation pieces on Monday against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center. Ben Simmons and Dorian Finney-Smith will not play in the matchup, head coach Jordi Fernandez announced after Sunday’s win over the Sacramento Kings. Simmons has yet to play in a back-to-back this season while returning from […]

The Brooklyn Nets saw something in Jordi Fernandez when they chose him to lead their rebuild. Ahead of Sunday’s matchup with the Sacramento Kings, the coach’s former mentor, Mike Brown, explained why they made a wise decision. “He’s just the right guy for the job,” Brown said. “They’re obviously thinking about a rebuild… So you […]

Cam Thomas knew his turnovers cost the Brooklyn Nets down the stretch of Friday’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. The fourth-year guard responded on Sunday with one of his best performances of the season. Thomas posted 34 points on 11-of-22 shooting with six assists and one turnover during a 108-103 win over the Sacramento Kings […]

Brooklyn Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez challenged Ben Simmons to attempt 10 shots per game at the start of this season. Through 12 appearances, the three-time All-Star has failed to reach the mark once. Simmons is attempting a career-low 4.8 shots per game, ranking dead-last among 200 NBA players averaging over 22.5 minutes per game. […]

Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton received an epidural last week for a back injury that sidelined him for three games. He returned during Friday’s 113-98 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers but admitted the injury will be “long-term” and need managing throughout the season. “Everybody always manages something, but this, I’ll probably be managing it for […]

Many assumed the Brooklyn Nets would trade Cam Johnson this summer after the team pivoted to a rebuild. A month into the 2024-25 season, the 28-year-old is off to the best start of his career with the new-look squad. With leading scorer Cam Thomas sidelined Tuesday vs. the Charlotte Hornets, Johnson scored 34 points on […]

The Brooklyn Nets are nearing full strength entering Friday’s NBA Cup matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers. Nic Claxton is on the injury report alongside Dorian Finney-Smith, with both players listed as probable. Claxton is dealing with a lower back sprain, while Finney-Smith has a left ankle sprain. Here’s everything we know about both players’ injuries […]

Myles Garrett stole the show during the Cleveland Browns’ 24-19 upset win over the Pittsburg Steelers on Thursday Night Football. The star edge rusher tallied three sacks in the first half, one of which forced a fumble, as Cleveland held Russell Wilson and the Steelers to three points through two quarters. Browns Hall of Fame […]

The Brooklyn Nets visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday for their third NBA Cup matchup. Leading scorer Cam Thomas is listed as probable on the team’s injury report. The fourth-year guard was a late scratch for the Nets’ 116-115 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday due to lower back tightness. Here’s everything we know […]

The Brooklyn Nets have much-needed frontcourt reinforcements on the way. After the team played its last three games without a center, Nic Claxton and Day’Ron Sharpe are nearing returns from injury. Claxton missed the recent stretch after receiving an epidural due to a lower back strain. However, the 25-year-old returned to practice on Thursday and […]

The Brooklyn Nets had an eye on the 2025 draft class when they traded Mikal Bridges and pivoted to a rebuild this summer. Two of the nation’s top prospects are in their backyard. Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper, the projected No. 2 and 3 players in the 2025 class, took the floor for Rutgers on […]

The Brooklyn Nets needed some late-game magic with leading scorer Cam Thomas sidelined Tuesday vs. the Charlotte Hornets. Trendon Watford delivered. The 23-year-old, playing in his second game of the season, scored on back-to-back possessions in the final minute to seal a 116-115 victory. “I had some mismatches that I noticed, and I just wanted […]

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas missed his first game of the season on Tuesday. The 23-year-old was a late scratch for his team’s 116-115 win over the Charlotte Hornets due to lower back tightness. “He was not feeling good, and we told him that we’re not going to risk anything,” said head coach Jordi Fernandez. […]

The conversation surrounding the Brooklyn Nets entering this season centered on their tanking direction. However, a trio of veterans continues to raise the team’s floor early in the 2024-25 campaign. Tuesday’s 116-115 win over the Charlotte Hornets was the latest example of why the Nets have work to do if they hope to secure a […]