Joshua Valdez Articles - Page 5

Washington Wizards Owner Ted Leonsis was overjoyed when he got a new basketball for Christmas as a kid. Now, the Monumental Sports and Entertainment CEO will pay it forward by giving one to every elementary public school student in Washington, D.C., via Monumental Sports. “Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE) Founder & CEO Ted Leonsis today announced […]

The Washington Wizards (15-51) are no longer the worst team in the NBA, as they’re one game ahead of the Utah Jazz (15-53) heading into Tuesday night. While there’s still a long way to go, it’s a significant accomplishment considering that the Wizards started 6-41, and is a promising sign for their rebuild. However, general […]

The Washington Wizards have multiple snipers on their hands. Not only did rookie Kyshawn George sink a corner three to take a 123-121 lead over the Denver Nuggets with 10 seconds left on Saturday, but Jordan Poole hit a game-winner from the logo with 1.8 ticks to go. JORDAN POOLE BURIES IT FROM DEEP FOR […]

The Washington Wizards are winning so much that it could foil one of this season’s main missions: securing the NBA’s worst record to ensure a top-five lottery pick this summer. They’re 6-4 in their last 10 games and 9-11 in their last 20, a stunning turnaround for a team that started 6-41. The Wizards were […]

The injury bug has bitten Washington Wizards wing Bilal Coulibaly for the second straight year. The 20-year-old strained his right hamstring in the first quarter of Monday’s 119-104 loss to the Toronto Raptors and will be out for four to six weeks, likely ending his season. Coulibaly took a step forward in his second campaign, […]

In a Washington Wizards season defined by player development amid adversity, Jordan Poole has had a different experience from his Golden State Warriors days. The Michigan alum was a backup on a squad with future Hall of Famers Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green before getting traded to the rebuilding Wizards in July 2023, […]

The Washington Wizards looked like one of the worst teams ever after two 16-game losing streaks, including a winless November. However, the new-look Wizards (13-51) are 3-3 in March and 4-4 with Khris Middleton and Marcus Smart in the lineup. That’s why Washington raised two spots to No. 28 in Monday’s NBA power rankings before […]

While Duke basketball is the nation’s top-ranked team and has the sport’s best player in Cooper Flagg, it likely won’t get the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. However, it could happen if the Blue Devils (28-3, 19-1 ACC) roll through the ACC Tournament and get outside help. Although Auburn has lost two […]

John Calipari probably wanted a smoother ride in his first season with Arkansas basketball, but what matters is making the NCAA Tournament. That’s what the Razorbacks (19-12, 8-10 SEC) are poised to do after escaping with a 93-92 win over Mississippi State on Saturday. Now the key is to not lose to South Carolina in […]

The Washington Wizards’ rookies were largely written off after an uneven Summer League campaign headlined by Alex Sarr’s 9-of-47 shooting clip. Now, the Wiz Kids are proving that the future is bright in the District. Bleacher Report, for example, gave Washington’s class an A- grade on Saturday despite giving it a D- after Summer League, […]

The New York Jets are at a crossroads. While they’re armed with eight picks in the upcoming NFL draft, the big question is if they’ll take a quarterback in the first round after moving on from Aaron Rodgers. The picture will be more clear soon, as teams can start negotiating with free agents on Monday […]

The Washington Wizards’ youth movement has never been more fun than it is right now. Kyshawn George, Alex Sarr, and Bub Carrington combined for 56 points, 17 rebounds, 15 assists, five steals, and five blocks in their 125-122 victory over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night, signaling a bright future in the District. George, who […]

The business of professional sports can be brutal sometimes, and that was apparent when the Washington Mystics shipped Ariel Atkins to the Chicago Sky on Feb. 23. The two-time All-Star was asked on Tuesday if the Mystics’ new brass spoke to her about the trade beforehand, via The Washington Post’s Kareem Copeland. “Not necessarily,” she […]

The 2025 NBA trade deadline was unlike any other, including for the Washington Wizards. The team overhauled its roster within two days, acquiring new veterans and a bevy of long-term assets in exchange for other veterans and second-round picks. One of the veterans the Wizards gave up was Jonas Valanciunas, who they acquired in a […]

The Washington Wizards are 11-49, but team owner Ted Leonsis won’t let hard times break his spirit. The Monumental Sports and Entertainment boss, who also owns the Washington Capitals and Washington Mystics, has faith that the Wizards can reach the mountaintop, via The Kevin Sheehan Show. “I am very, very excited, because I participated actively […]

The Washington Wizards’ 2024-25 mission is coming to fruition. They’re sitting at the bottom of the NBA standings and are in a prime position to land a top-five lottery pick this summer, which increases their chances of finally getting a star. The Wizards are 11-49 ahead of their home date with the Utah Jazz on […]

In an era when schools constantly switch conferences, Clemson and Florida State are breaking the mold. Both universities will likely stay in the ACC after settling four lawsuits, via ESPN’s Andrea Adelson, David Hale, and Pete Thamel. “According to sources, the settlement includes two key objectives: establishing a new revenue-distribution model based on viewership and a […]

Washington Wizards guard Jordan Poole went viral for claiming he’s All-Star-caliber on Jan. 24, as fans couldn’t believe a player on the league’s worst team said that. Of course, the former NBA champion wasn’t selected, which he clarified on Friday that he has no issue with, via Locked On Wizards’ Brandon Scott. “Naw, I wouldn’t […]

Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey have lived up to the preseason hype, and will likely get picked second and third after Cooper Flagg in the 2025 NBA Draft. However, the star freshmen haven’t been enough to save the Scarlet Knights (14-15, 7-11 Big Ten) from misery. The kids would say that Rutgers head coach Steve […]

Washington Wizards rookie Kyshawn George’s growth exemplifies why this has been a successful season for the organization despite its 10-48 record. The Miami alum’s improvement is directly tied to Jordan Poole’s guidance, which has been a revelation for the team. George revealed a recent reminder that the former NBA champion gave him. Kyshawn George shares […]

There’s no love like a mother has for her son, and it showed on Sonya Curry’s face when her son Stephen Curry tossed her his jersey after his 56-point game for the Golden State Warriors on Thursday. The latter Curry is used to red-hot shooting nights, but watching them probably never gets old for his […]

Kevin Durant has never been interested in playing for the Washington Wizards, his hometown team. However, Carmelo Anthony thinks it’s a good idea. The New York Knicks legend explained why on his “7PM In Brooklyn” podcast, presented by Wave Sports and Entertainment. Melo wants KD to return home to end his career with the Wizards […]

It’s one thing to talk about developing young players, but seeing the work come to fruition gives the Washington Wizards hope. Second-year guard Bilal Coulibaly has been inconsistent offensively this season, but he added another quality outing to his resume with 16 points (7-9 FG, 0-2 3 PT) and three assists across 35 minutes in […]

Sad news stories are common, but NBACentel getting banned on X, formerly “Twitter,” is next-level. That’s what happened on Wednesday, and the hoops community is in shambles. “They finally got Centel,” @NBAMemes said. “A tragic day in NBA Twitter history.” “Today we lost a generational talent,” said O’Shea Jackson Jr., son of legendary rapper Ice […]

The Washington Mystics’ new regime is starting with a war chest of draft capital after pulling a heist on the Chicago Sky Sunday night. They dealt two-time All-Star Ariel Atkins for the No. 3 overall pick in 2025, as well as a first-round pick swap in ’27 and a second-round swap in ’27. Offloading a […]

The Washington Wizards snapped a six-game losing streak on Monday night, and the best part is that one of their young building blocks was a main catalyst. Bilal Coulibaly had one of his better performances of the season in Washington’s (10-47) 107-99 win over the Brooklyn Nets, scoring 20 points (7-14 FG, 3-4 3 PT) […]

The NBA seems to be listening to the long-standing criticisms of referees being too harsh with foul calls. There was a time when they would call techs for seemingly nothing, but the league office admitted wrongdoing with Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson’s recent incidents. It rescinded the technical foul called on Durant with 1:25 left […]

Rebuilding requires bravery, and the Washington Mystics’ new front office showed that by trading two-time All-Star Ariel Atkins to the Chicago Sky on Sunday night. The club legend was a centerpiece of Washington’s 2019 championship team, but moving on makes sense. The Sky sent the Mystics the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA […]

The Washington Mystics will be just fine if their players take their current momentum into the regular season. Aaliyah Edwards, Jade Melbourne, and others have all represented the franchise well the past few weeks. Edwards made it all the way to the final round in the inaugural Unrivaled 1-on-1 Tournament as an eighth seed. The […]

The Washington Wizards are still adjusting after swapping Kyle Kuzma for Khris Middleton in a trade with the Milwaukee Bucks on Feb. 5. Middleton has only played one game with the Wizards (9-46) so far, but he’s already made an impression in the locker room. Bilal Coulibaly said that the former NBA champion “is great” […]

The new-look Washington Wizards learned plenty about both their veterans and youngsters in their 104-101 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night. Khris Middleton was a centerpiece of those revelations in his first game with his new team. The 33-year-old scored 12 points (4-10 FG, 1-4 3 PT) with five rebounds, two assists, and […]

The New York Yankees made one of the biggest changes in franchise history on Friday by nixing their no-beard rule, right after Clay Holmes left to their cross-town rival in free agency. The New York Mets hurler didn’t expect the Bronx Bombers to announce the change at this time, via Newsday’s Tim Healey. “There’s always […]

Free agent quarterback Jameis Winston might be the funniest athlete alive. The 2015 No. 1 overall pick told a story about the transition from him to Tom Brady as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ signal-caller in 2020, via Barstool Sports’ Will Compton. Hilarious story about @Jaboowins thinking that a TB12 facility was randomly getting built in […]

The Washington Wizards (9-45) have relied on accomplished veterans to lead their young core since last season, and Khris Middleton is one of the newest examples of that. However, the former NBA champion won’t limit himself to the mentorship role. Middleton opened up about his intentions with the Wizards after Wednesday night’s practice, via Bowie […]

The Philadelphia Phillies have one of the most recognizable rosters in baseball, loaded with big names like Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Trea Turner. However, the players on the margins sometimes make the difference come October, as unexpected contributors can take the team over the hump. They will now be even more important given Philadelphia’s […]

The Washington Wizards have one of the deepest G League teams in the league, and that’s why they continue to shuffle the bottom of their NBA roster. Only nine days after signing Jaylen Nowell to a 10-day contract, they released him and signed fellow Capital City Go-Go star Erik Stevenson to a 10-day on Monday, […]

San Diego Padres star Manny Machado has had almost as many injuries as on-field accomplishments, but he’s finally turned a corner. For now, at least. Machado joked about the last time he felt completely healthy, via The Sporting Tribune’s Marty Caswell. Manny Machado on what it means to be full healthy and addition of Nick […]

Although the Washington Wizards didn’t have any All-Stars this season, their three Rising Stars displayed the organization’s progress on the national stage. Sophomore guard Bilal Coulibaly, No. 2 overall pick Alex Sarr, and No. 14 overall pick Bub Carrington each had their moments in the Castrol’s Rising Stars game on Friday, and Sarr also shined […]

The New York Jets are officially going in a new direction at quarterback, as they announced on Thursday that they won’t bring back Aaron Rodgers. Now, the organization finds itself in a familiar position of trying to figure out who it’ll acquire at the game’s most important position. Other than Rodgers, the Jets’ only quarterback […]