Reporting Articles - Page 325

LAS VEGAS – What’s the latest on Damian Lillard? That continues to be the first question everyone is asking each other at NBA Summer League. The hype surrounding first overall pick Victor Wembanyama stole the attention over the week, yet Lillard’s situation remains unresolved with no clear timetable presented. As a result, front offices around […]

David Duke Jr. is making his third consecutive appearance on the Nets Summer League squad. That is a result of Brooklyn’s decision not to extend the 6’4″ guard a qualifying offer this offseason, making him an unrestricted free agent. The move came as a surprise to Duke Jr., who emerged as one of the G […]

The Philadelphia 76ers got a win in their first Las Vegas Summer League game, defeating the New York Knicks thanks to a huge game from Jaden Springer. They carried that energy into their matchup with the Dallas Mavericks, who boasted 12th overall pick Dereck Lively II. Before tip-off in the desert, the Sixers introduced their […]

Upon signing his new contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, D’Angelo Russell reportedly became the first player under the NBA’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement to waive an implied no-trade clause. Russell, 27, who was an unrestricted free agent, officially re-signed with the Lakers on Friday. His two-year deal guarantees him $36 million, a player option […]

CAMDEN, NJ — Mo Bamba is the latest center brought in by the Philadelphia 76ers to back up Joel Embiid. The 25-year-old big man joins Paul Reed and Montrezl Harrell on the Sixers roster as they jostle for minutes off the bench. Bamba, a native of Harlem, New York, became a Sixers fan during his […]

Dennis Smith Jr. found perspective in his second-chance stint with the Charlotte Hornets in 2022-23, a season that may have resurrected his career. He’s continuing his newfound opportunity with the Brooklyn Nets after signing for the minimum. And the former lottery pick is bullish on his fit with Brooklyn’s new-look roster. “I just thought it […]

The Los Angeles Lakers have completed two of their four scheduled 2K24 NBA Summer League games — four of six if you count the pre-Las Vegas California Classic. So, with a few days before the Lakers’ next contest (vs. the Boston Celtics on Wednesday), let’s take a moment to round up the recent news, notes, […]

CAMDEN, NJ — Patrick Beverley joined the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency with the hopes of helping the team accomplish something special. The Sixers hope that his experience and skill set will benefit them as he joins his sixth NBA team. After spending last season with the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls, Beverley signed […]

It’s been five months since Ben Simmons last appeared in an NBA game. After sitting out the entire 2021-22 season, Simmons was sidelined during this year’s All-Star break and later shut down due to a nerve impingement in his surgically repaired back. Three months removed from the end of the Brooklyn Nets’ season, Simmons, who […]

The Summer League Los Angeles Lakers got three standouts performances in their 93-75 win over Brandon Miller and the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday at the Thomas & Mack Center: from 2023 first-round pick Jalen Hood-Schifino and two undrafted free agents on two-way contracts: Colin Castleton and D’Moi Hodge. For the fourth time in four Summer […]

In the main event of UFC 290, featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski successfully defended his title against interim titleholder Yair Rodriguez. The fight was highly anticipated, with many fans and analysts expecting a close and exciting matchup. However, Volkanovski proved to be too much for Rodriguez, dominating the fight from the start until the finish in […]

The New York Jets head into training camp this season with high expectations. A sexy Super Bowl pick by many experts, the Jets will try to end a 12-year playoff drought in 2023. The high hopes are spurred by the arrival of future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers, a top-five defense and young stars […]

Trayce Jackson-Davis only has so much to officially gain from Summer League action. Mike Dunleavy Jr. clarified that the former Indiana big man would be on the Golden State Warriors’ regular-season roster shortly after nabbing him with the No. 57 overall pick of the 2023 NBA Draft. Jackson-Davis then signed a four-year contract with Golden […]

The Philadelphia 76ers made their two free agency signings official by announcing the additions of Patrick Beverley and Mo Bamba. Both players were signed to one-year minimum deals and will provide depth for a Sixers team that has lost numerous free agents. Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey tweeted at each player along with […]

Nearly one hundred young golfers surrounded Stephen Curry at Firestone Country Club in his hometown of Akron, Ohio on Saturday, watching him try to re-create one of Tiger Woods’ most iconic moments on the PGA Tour. It took the Golden State Warriors superstar five attempts before finally hitting the green from 167 yards out, not […]

After leaving the Boston Celtics in free agency for a new role with the Dallas Mavericks, it was time for Grant Williams to say goodbye to Beantown. The former four-year Celtic posted a heartfelt message to his teammates and the city of Boston on Twitter Saturday night. “I’m beyond grateful to have been a part […]

At the trade deadline, the Philadelphia 76ers only made one trade, netting Jalen McDaniels and dealing Matisse Thybulle while exchanging one good second-round pick (the 34th selection in the 2023 NBA Draft) for a pair of future picks. The trade also put the Sixers below the luxury tax threshold, allowing them to dodge that tax […]

The UFC handed their UFC 290 bonuses to Dricus Du Plessis and Denise Gomes who won $50,000 bonuses for their performance of the night. Meanwhile, Brandon Moreno vs. Alexandre Pantoja also won Fight of the Night and each received a $50,000 bonus. #UFC290 Performance of the Night: Gomes, du Plessis Fight of the Night: Moreno […]

Alexander Volkanovski retained his featherweight title with a dominant performance against Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290 on July 8, 2023. The fight was one of the most highly anticipated of the night, with both fighters looking to unify for the featherweight championship. Alexander Volkanovski is the total package. Absorbs one of Yair Rodriguez's best flurries, […]

In a stunning upset, Dricus Du Plessis defeated Robert Whittaker by knockout in round two to claim his spot as the number one contender for the UFC middleweight title at UFC 290 on Saturday night. https://twitter.com/SpinninBackfist/status/1677883292711010304?s=20 Du Plessis (20-2) was the clear underdog coming into the fight, but he used his size and awkward style […]

Bo Nickal made a statement in his UFC debut, knocking out late-replacement Val Woodburn in the first round of the main card opener of UFC 290 on Saturday night. https://twitter.com/SpinninBackfist/status/1677866089336946688?s=20 The fight was originally scheduled to be a middleweight clash between Bo Nickal and Tresean Gore, but Gore was forced to withdraw from the bout […]

Robbie Lawler, one of the most beloved fighters in mixed martial arts history, retired in style with a first-round knockout victory over Niko Price at UFC 290. The win was Lawler’s first since 2017 and a fitting end to a legendary career. This marks the fourth UFC 290 knockout of the night. ROBBIE LAWLER KNOCKS […]

Denise Gomes pulled off a stunning upset victory over Yazmin Jauregui in a wild strawweight matchup at UFC 290. Gomes secured the win with a flurry of punches that sent Jauregui crashing to the canvas in the second round and is recorded as the fastest knockout in strawweight history with 20 seconds. There were two […]

Jesus Aguilar kicked off UFC 290 in style with a brutal one-punch knockout just 17 seconds into his early prelim fight against Shannon Ross. The knockout was the second-fastest in UFC flyweight history and the first of Aguilar’s career. https://twitter.com/SpinninBackfist/status/1677811727910723584?s=20 The 27-year-old Aguilar, who is a Contender Series alumni, and Ross met in the octagon […]

The Philadelphia 76ers opened up their NBA 2k24 Summer League slate of games against the New York Knicks. After a decent showing in Salt Lake City, the summer Sixers now have a championship to play for and looked to get off to a strong start. But Sixers fans are mostly preoccupied with free agency, as […]

The Golden State Warriors’ wait is over. After two-plus weeks of rumors, Dario Saric has finally signed with the Dubs. Here are three reasons why Golden State hit the jackpot by adding the Croatian star for the minimum. 3. Frontcourt floor-spacing and playmaking Draymond Green is an elite passer from all over the floor and […]

The Brooklyn Nets understood the assignment when they drafted Noah Clowney with the 21st pick  of the 2023 NBA Draft. At 18 years old, the 6-foot-1o Alabama big man is among the youngest selections in franchise history, and that inexperienced showed Friday during his Summer League debut. Clowney had just four points on 1-of-9 shooting […]

The Spygate controversy that surrounded early parts of the New England Patriots’ run to six Super Bowl titles still leaves a bitter taste in some of their biggest opponents’ mouths from that hallowed timeframe. Many former NFL players have spoken out against the Patriots over the issue, with some believing they were cheated out of […]

Jeff Teague is two full seasons removed from the NBA, ensconced as head coach at Pike High School, his alma mater in Indianapolis. Basically a whole basketball lifetime since 2017 preseason action with the Minnesota Timberwolves, though, Teague still can’t get over what Stephen Curry did to him during an exhibition game in China. Teague […]

The Golden State Warriors squandered a dominant start on Friday night, falling to the Los Angeles Lakers 103-96 at Las Vegas Summer League. Here are three in-depth reactions from the Dubs’ summer opener in Sin City. Lester Quinones, plus defender? The influence of Jordan Poole—and the Warriors’ player development staff, obviously—on Quinones’ offensive game is […]

The Brooklyn Nets are embracing a youth movement this offseason. The team parted ways with Joe Harris, Patty Mills and Seth Curry, its three oldest players, and inserted a pair of young guards with eye-popping athleticism in Dennis Smith Jr. and Lonnie Walker IV. Despite a disappointing 2021-22 campaign, Ben Simmons is part of that […]

Team USA head coach Steve Kerr said the idea to include Austin Reaves on the roster for the 2023 FIBA World Cup was “easy” after witnessing the Los Angeles Lakers wing ball out against the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Playoffs. “After watching him kick our butt for six straight games in the Western […]

In what has turned into one of the greatest spectacles the league puts on every single offseason, NBA Summer League will be returning to Las Vegas, Nevada on July 7 for their 11-day showcase. From the new rookies entering the league to former draft picks to some veterans looking to prove they still have what […]

At this point in 2023 NBA free agency as Vegas Summer League is set to begin, all the big-name free agents have already agreed to new deals. Draymond Green is back with the Golden State Warriors, Kyrie Irving is returning to the Dallas Mavericks, Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez are both running it back with […]

The Brooklyn Nets turned heads when news of their four-year, $108 million agreement with Cam Johnson broke late last week. The $27 million annual agreement was viewed as a hefty commitment to a player who has never approached an All-Star team. However, the terms of Johnson’s deal were released Thursday, and the contract looks far […]

The NBA’s moratorium period ended on Thursday, rendering free agents eligible to sign contracts. For the Los Angeles Lakers, that meant formally agreeing to terms with Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Taurean Prince, Jaxson Hayes, and Cam Reddish. (Read our Lakers free agency grades here and here). D’Angelo Russell, who reached a 2-year, $37 […]

The Philadelphia 76ers slate of Summer League continued with a matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Sixers’ final contest of their Salt Lake City exhibition games was a fascinating one. The Sixers got their record in the SLC round robin to 1-1 after defeating the Utah Jazz yesterday. The Thunder roster includes Rookie of […]

The Boston Celtics have been active this offseason, yet they still haven’t crossed the biggest item off their summer to-do list: Extending Jaylen Brown. After making an All-NBA team last season, the two-time All-Star is eligible for a huge payday. With the supermax contract in play, Brown could make up to $295 million over five […]

The Boston Celtics are stockpiling draft picks this offseason, and it’s reportedly because they have something up their sleeves. Since draft night, the C’s have nabbed seven future second-round picks (and one first-rounder) via trades in the draft and deals that shipped off Marcus Smart and Grant Williams. While some might be puzzled why a […]