Owls

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Team USA Stars stormed to victory in the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, showcasing a new generation&rsquo;s ascendancy over seasoned veterans and global icons alike.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The young USA squad &ndash; led by Anthony Edwards, who was named All-Star Game MVP &ndash; captured the championship in the league&rsquo;s innovative three-team round-robin format at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. Edwards&rsquo; all-around brilliance anchored the Stars through three competitive mini-games, marking a defining moment for a rising star in the league&rsquo;s next era.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Team USA Stars arrived in Los Angeles with momentum but faced stiff competition from the star-studded Team World, which entered the weekend as early favorites thanks to a roster of international superstars. However, World struggled to find consistency in the new format and failed to win a single mini-game &ndash; a surprising outcome given the talent on their roster.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Stars opened the round-robin slate with a win over Team World, racing out to an early lead before weathering a late surge to secure the victory. Edwards led the way with scoring and playmaking, setting the tone for what would become an MVP-caliber performance across the weekend.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the second matchup, Team USA Stripes composed of the older USA stars stole one against Team USA Stars. De&rsquo;Aaron Fox made the game winner in yet another thrilling finish in these all-star festivities.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the final round-robin matchup, Kawhi Leonard delivered a vintage scoring showcase for Team USA Stripes, erupting for 31 points in a tightly contested 12-minute mini-game, ending with a game-winning triple that electrified the crowd and tightened the overall competition and they ended up defeating Team World to advance to an all-USA championship.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the championship game, Team USA stars ran out the gym their older counterparts in Team USA Stripes, erecting a 20-point lead at some point to end up with the victory.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rising global icon Victor Wembanyama also put forth a strong showing for Team World, flashing the versatile skill set and defensive potential that has made him one of the league&rsquo;s most exciting young stars.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Even in defeat, Wembanyama earned the respect of his opponents, including Edwards, who publicly praised Wemby&rsquo;s effort and competitive fire after the game, noting his &ldquo;relentless energy and high-level play&rdquo; as a highlight of the weekend.</span></p>

Team USA Stars stormed to victory in the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, showcasing a new generation’s ascendancy in the basketball world.

Team USA Stars rule 2026 NBA All-Star Game; Anthony Edwards named MVP

<div>Every February, LeBron James has been wondering why he didn't participate in the Slam Dunk Contest for more than two decades, one of the NBA's great what-ifs. Fans have debated the topic in barbershops, on sports radio, and across social media.</div>
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<div>Brandon 'Scoop B' Robinson's recent interview with former <a href="https://bookmaker-ratings.ru/tip/sport-types/tip-nba-tips/">NBA </a>forward and 1992 dunk champion Cedric Ceballos has given new life to the conversation, even though some parts of the past need to be addressed.</div>
<div>Ceballos didn't just suggest that LeBron skipped the contest because he wasn't interested.</div>
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<div>He defined it as something deeper: the preservation of the brand.</div>
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<div>&ldquo;He had a chance his rookie year and he didn&rsquo;t,&rdquo; <a href="https://scoopb.com/2026/02/cedric-ceballos-talks-vince-carters-springs-anthony-edwards-rise-and-why-lebron-james-skipped-the-dunk-contest/">Ceballos told Robinson</a>. &ldquo;After that rookie year, anything after that would damage his credibility and his career. It&rsquo;s not really if he wins it &mdash; because he&rsquo;s supposed to win it &mdash; it&rsquo;s that if he loses it.&rdquo;</div>
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<div>According to Ceballos, the risk outweighed the reward. LeBron had already become too big, too famous, and too accustomed to dominating. Winning would be the standard operating procedure.</div>
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<div>Losing would be a headline that would follow him forever.</div>
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<div>To reinforce his point, Ceballos referenced LeBron's high school years.</div>
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<p data-start="1229" data-end="1478">&ldquo;He lost in the McDonald&rsquo;s All-American Game,&rdquo; Ceballos said, claiming that a then lesser-known Shannon Brown outshined LeBron in the dunk contest. &ldquo;Shannon Brown beat him, but he was a little bit not as famous as LeBron and they gave it to LeBron.&rdquo;</p>
<p data-start="1480" data-end="1599">The story fits neatly into Ceballos&rsquo; narrative: LeBron experiencing early proof that even one loss could dent his aura.</p>
<p data-start="1601" data-end="1646">The problem? It didn&rsquo;t quite happen that way.</p>
<p data-start="1601" data-end="1646">&nbsp;</p>
<h2 data-start="1601" data-end="1646">What Ceballos Was Really Arguing</h2>
<p data-start="1480" data-end="1599">Ceballos' fundamental basketball critique was evident, even though his memory was spotty. According to him, LeBron is a powerful power dunker - one of the best in live action - but not a specialist in dunk contests.</p>
<p data-start="1480" data-end="1599">&ldquo;LeBron dunks on a lot of people,&rdquo; Ceballos implied, &ldquo;but trickery, suaveness &mdash; no.&rdquo;</p>
<div>LeBron's remarkable abilities are attributed to his speed, strength, timing, and rim violence, not to his choreographed creativity. In the past, the Dunk Contest has awarded both flair and force equally.</div>
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<div>The basketball argument is fair. Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Vince Carter, and Zach LaVine were legends of the contest, blending athleticism and innovation.</div>
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<div>Windmills, free-throw line glides, props, timing, and theatrical moments all play significant roles.LeBron's game has always been about efficiency and dominance, not pre-planned artistry.</div>
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<h2>The McDonald&rsquo;s Contest Reality</h2>
<p data-start="2532" data-end="2682">Officially, LeBron James won the 2003 McDonald&rsquo;s All-American Slam Dunk Contest in Cleveland. The other finalists were Shannon Brown and J.R. Giddens.</p>
<p data-start="2684" data-end="2712">However, the nuance matters.</p>
<p data-start="2714" data-end="2997">Many recaps from that night noted that LeBron&rsquo;s dunks were solid but relatively basic &mdash; powerful, clean, but not jaw-dropping. Brown, on the other hand, pulled off one of the most impressive single dunks of the event but missed multiple attempts afterward, hurting his overall score.</p>
<p data-start="2999" data-end="3072">LeBron benefitted from consistency, hometown energy, and others&rsquo; miscues.</p>
<p data-start="3074" data-end="3211">So while Ceballos is wrong that LeBron &ldquo;lost,&rdquo; he&rsquo;s not wrong that the perception afterward was more complicated than a dominant victory.</p>
<p data-start="3213" data-end="3356">Even as a teenager, LeBron was learning something crucial: when you&rsquo;re the most famous player in the building, expectations distort everything.</p>
<h2 data-start="3213" data-end="3356">The Real Risk for Superstars</h2>
<p data-start="3392" data-end="3462">This is where Ceballos&rsquo; brand argument actually lines up with reality.</p>
<p data-start="3464" data-end="3560">For a player like LeBron James, the Dunk Contest was always a high-risk, low-reward proposition.</p>
<p data-start="3562" data-end="3617">If he won? Fans would shrug and say he was supposed to.</p>
<p data-start="3619" data-end="3810">If he lost &mdash; especially to a smaller, less famous, more creative dunker like Nate Robinson, Gerald Green, or Zach LaVine &mdash; it would instantly become a meme, a punchline, a permanent footnote.</p>
<p data-start="3812" data-end="4018">History backs this up. Dwight Howard&rsquo;s loss to Nate Robinson still gets referenced. Aaron Gordon losing twice despite incredible dunks became a running joke about being &ldquo;robbed.&rdquo; The contest doesn&rsquo;t forget.</p>
<p data-start="4020" data-end="4096">And LeBron has essentially acknowledged this dynamic himself over the years.</p>
<p data-start="4098" data-end="4298">He&rsquo;s said repeatedly that if he ever did the Dunk Contest, he&rsquo;d &ldquo;have to win&rdquo; &mdash; otherwise it wouldn&rsquo;t be worth it. That mindset alone shows how much pressure and perception factored into the decision.</p>
<h2 data-start="4098" data-end="4298">LeBron&rsquo;s Own Explanation</h2>
<p data-start="4330" data-end="4423">Publicly, LeBron has always framed his absence in basketball terms rather than branding ones.</p>
<p data-start="4425" data-end="4538">He&rsquo;s emphasized that his goals <a href="https://x.com/ScoopB/status/1668247108309118977">were championships</a>, MVPs, Defensive Player of the Year awards &mdash; not dunk trophies.</p>
<p data-start="4540" data-end="4786">He&rsquo;s also consistently called himself an &ldquo;in-game dunker,&rdquo; explaining that he doesn&rsquo;t enjoy planning or practicing set-piece dunks. For him, dunking is about reacting in real time, attacking defenders, and finishing with force &mdash; not choreography.</p>
<p data-start="4788" data-end="4851">That explanation fits his personality and play style perfectly.</p>
<p data-start="4853" data-end="4901">But it doesn&rsquo;t exclude the brand reality either.</p>
<p data-start="4853" data-end="4901"><video controls="controls" width="300" height="150">
<source src="https://x.com/ScoopB/status/1668247108309118977?s=20" /></video></p>
<h2 data-start="5066" data-end="5370">So Was Ceballos Right?</h2>
<p data-start="4931" data-end="5008">Factually, no &mdash; LeBron didn&rsquo;t lose that high-school contest to Shannon Brown.</p>
<p data-start="5010" data-end="5064">Conceptually? He was tapping into something very real.</p>
<p data-start="5066" data-end="5370">From the moment LeBron entered the league as &ldquo;<a href="https://rg.org/news/basketball/phil-handy-jordan-kobe-lebron-goat-debate">The Chosen One</a>,&rdquo; every appearance became a referendum on greatness. The Dunk Contest, meant to be fun and experimental, would&rsquo;ve placed him in a situation where creativity mattered more than dominance &mdash; and where a single off night could live forever online.</p>
<p data-start="5372" data-end="5479">For a generational superstar with nothing to gain and everything to lose, skipping it made strategic sense.</p>
<p data-start="5481" data-end="5659">In that light, LeBron&rsquo;s absence doesn&rsquo;t look like fear or lack of interest alone. It looks like a calculated understanding of modern sports culture, expectations, and reputation.</p>
<h2 data-start="5481" data-end="5659">The Middle Ground</h2>
<div>LeBron James' Dunk Contest absence was not only framed as a branding decision by Cedric Ceballos, but also by an associate of James' <a href="https://landonbuford-com-488060.hostingersite.com/lakers-lebron-james-associate-reveals-real-reason-he-skipped-dunk-contest/">Rob MC in the Walklikeus room</a> a few years back.</div>
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<div>They said it did not fit LeBron's image at the time and pointed out that the contest was less exciting after the best players stopped participating in the early 2000s.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>He answered those who questioned LeBron's drive by citing his famous 3-1 Finals comeback, and also reminded everyone that many great players skipped the contest.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>LeBron stayed out of the Dunk Contest, not because he was scared, but because he thought it could hurt his reputation more than it could help, choosing his long-term legacy over a show, according to their comments.</div>
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Cedric Ceballos explains how branding, risk, and legacy factored into LeBron James's decision not to enter the NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

Ex-Laker Cedric Ceballos Weighs-In on Why LeBron Skipped the Dunk Contest

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Chicago Bulls officially etched Derrick Rose&rsquo;s legacy into franchise history, raising his No. 1 jersey into the rafters in an emotional ceremony on Saturday, January 24. For a city that lives and breathes basketball, it was a long-overdue tribute to a player who carried Chicago&rsquo;s hopes in the post-Michael Jordan era.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A true hometown hero, Rose was born and raised in Chicago before becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. From the moment he arrived, he represented more than just a new face of the franchise &ndash; he symbolized belief. With his explosive athleticism, fearless rim attacks, and quiet confidence, Rose quickly became the centerpiece of a Bulls revival and a beacon of hope for a proud basketball city searching for its next star.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That belief reached its peak in 2011, when Rose delivered one of the most memorable individual seasons in NBA history. He became the youngest MVP the league has ever seen, leading the Bulls to a league-best record and an Eastern Conference Finals appearance as the No. 1 seed in the East. During his time in Chicago, Rose led the Bulls to the playoffs every season he was healthy, firmly reestablishing the franchise as an Eastern Conference power.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But Rose&rsquo;s story is inseparable from the adversity that followed. His devastating ACL injury during the 2012 playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers marked a turning point &ndash; not just for his career, but for an entire era of Bulls basketball. Despite relentless rehab and multiple comeback attempts, Rose was never quite the same physically. Still, his resilience, humility, and perseverance earned him admiration across the league.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Today, Rose remains one of the most beloved figures in Chicago sports history. His journey &ndash; from MVP to comeback trailblazer &ndash; inspired fans, teammates, and a generation of players who saw his perseverance as proof that greatness isn&rsquo;t only defined by longevity or statistics. With his jersey now hanging in the United Center rafters, Derrick Rose&rsquo;s impact on Chicago basketball is officially immortalized, right where it belongs.</span></p>

The Bulls retire Derrick Rose’s No. 1 jersey, honoring the youngest MVP in NBA history and a hometown hero for Bulls basketball.

Bulls retire Derrick Rose’s no.1 jersey

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For a franchise that spent the past year recalibrating its identity, the Portland Trail Blazers are no longer asking what they might become. They are showing it, night after night, in the Western Conference standings, on the court, and within the locker room.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Portland is above .500 again, and they are firmly in the thick of the playoff race in the West, in a conference that offers no grace period. And most importantly, they are doing it with a roster that blends urgency with youth &ndash; a mix that is intentional in the construction rather than accidental. This isn&rsquo;t a rebuild stalling into mediocrity. It&rsquo;s a team taking a leap, one that looks impressive and with progress.</span></p>
<h3><strong>A gamble rooted in belief</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It started with a bold, emotional decision that set the tone for everything that followed.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When the Trail Blazers signed franchise icon Damian Lillard after he was waived by the Milwaukee Bucks, Portland wasn&rsquo;t interested in nostalgia for nostalgia&rsquo;s sake. They wanted culture, accountability, and a statement. Someone who could remind a young roster what standards look like when winning matters.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Then came the win-now move that truly clarified direction: trading Anfernee Simons for Jrue Holiday. It was a risk, no doubt. Simons represented youth, upside and scoring punch for their core. But Holiday represented something Portland had been missing &ndash; a champion, a defensive tone-setter, and a voice that commands respect without raising it.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Together, Lillard and Holiday have given the Blazers something invaluable: their credibility and winning mindset, not just externally, but also internally. Team practices matter more, close games feel different, and mistakes become lessons instead of habits.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Holiday, in particular, has been vital: organizing the floor, calming possessions late, and serving as a constant presence in the locker room. For a young team learning how to win, that influence cannot be overstated.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Deni Avdija&rsquo;s arrival as a star</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Yet as important as the veterans have been, this season belongs to Deni Avdija.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Avdija hasn&rsquo;t just improved, he has transformed and blossomed into a full-blown star. Avidja has made the leap, and it&rsquo;s reshaped everything about Portland&rsquo;s ceiling. He has been the Blazers&rsquo; best player this season, and it has been clearly the case.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A jumbo playmaking forward with relentless downhill pressure, Avdija attacks the rim with purpose. He currently leads the league in free throw attempts, a reflection of both his aggression and his physicality. He&rsquo;s constantly seeking contact, forcing defenses to react, bend, and eventually break.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Avdija can create his own shot and he scores at all three levels. He handles, passes, defends multiple positions, and dictates tempo for the team. Whether initiating offense or finishing possessions, he plays with a confidence that suggests this isn&rsquo;t a fluke &mdash; it&rsquo;s a new baseline for his play today moving forward.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With the league&rsquo;s new All-Star format pitting USA vs. World, Avdija&rsquo;s emergence couldn&rsquo;t be more timely. An All-Star berth feels not only possible, but deserved. Avdija should be named to Team World and he has built a compelling case.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">More than numbers, he has become Portland&rsquo;s engine &ndash; the player teammates feed off, the one who sets the tone when games tighten.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Sharpe&rsquo;s next step, Camara&rsquo;s havoc, Clingan&rsquo;s anchor</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While Avdija has led the charge, he hasn&rsquo;t done it alone.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Shaedon Sharpe is beginning to find consistency, slowly stepping into the responsibility of being a No. 1 option. His talent has never been in question ever since from the start. The explosiveness, shot-making, and athletic ceiling are undeniable. What Sharpe is learning now is assertiveness &ndash; understanding when to take over, when to impose his will.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If he puts it all together, Sharpe remains the player most capable of becoming Portland&rsquo;s best long-term star. This season has been about learning how to be that guy, not just flashing it.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Toumani Camara continues to be exactly what Portland needs on the wing: disruptive, versatile, and fearless defensively. He routinely takes on the opponent&rsquo;s best perimeter scorer and holds his ground in switches against bigger players. His defensive havoc allows the Blazers to be aggressive without losing structure.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Inside, Donovan Clingan has emerged as the defensive anchor. He inhales rebounds, sets punishing screens, and finishes efficiently around the rim with soft touch on lobs. His occasional willingness to stretch the floor hints at future growth, but even now, his impact is clear &ndash; he alters shots, blocks attempts, and stabilizes the paint.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Unexpected contributors, steady veterans</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Every good season has its subplots, and for Portland, Caleb Love has become one of the best. As an undrafted rookie, Love has provided scoring punch off the bench, knocking down threes, creating offense for others, and putting pressure on the rim. He plays without fear &ndash; a trait that fits perfectly with this team&rsquo;s evolving identity.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sidy Cissoko has also had his moments, injecting energy whenever he checks in, whether starting or coming off the bench. His activity level changes games in small but meaningful ways.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And when the moment calls for experience, Portland still has it. Jerami Grant, Robert Williams III, and Matisse Thybulle remain reliable options &ndash; veterans who understand playoff-level basketball and can be deployed when stability is needed.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But perhaps the most striking part of Portland&rsquo;s rise is who hasn&rsquo;t been on the floor.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Scoot Henderson, the franchise&rsquo;s prized young guard, has yet to play this season due to a lingering hamstring injury. He was supposed to be central to this transition &ndash; a symbol of the future.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Instead, Portland has surged without him.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That&rsquo;s not an indictment of Scoot. If anything, it underscores how far ahead of schedule the Blazers might be. Avdija&rsquo;s leap, the veterans&rsquo; influence, and the collective buy-in have accelerated the timeline. When Scoot does return, he won&rsquo;t be asked to save a franchise &ndash; he&rsquo;ll be joining one that already believes in itself.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ndash; &ndash; &ndash;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For the first time since the prime years of Damian Lillard, this version of the Blazers feels different because the urgency is real. The talent is emerging, the leadership is present, and the results are starting to match the vision.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Portland is playing better basketball and they are unraveling their identity &ndash; a team that competes and believes in themselves.</span></p>

The Blazers are playing .500 basketball this season, fueled by Deni Avdija’s All-Star leap and a young core learning how to win.

From reset to resurgence: The Portland Trail Blazers are putting it together

<p>Kobe Bryant built a career that turned routine nights into events. The lasting takeaway for some opponents and teammates is not a move or a moment. It is a warning about time.</p>
<p>Jason Terry says Bryant pushed him to treat life with the same intensity he treated preparation. Terry shared a lesson he says Bryant repeated as a reminder that the clock is not negotiable.</p>
<p>&ldquo;The most important thing I learned from Kobe is this: He once said that, as humans, we always think we have more time &mdash; that there will be a next play, another game, another day, or another opportunity to tell your daughters or your family members that you love them,&rdquo; <a href="https://r.org/2026/01/20/six-years-later-kobe-bryants-legacy-still-comes-back-to-time/">Terry shared with Ratings</a>.</p>
<p>&ldquo;But nothing is guaranteed. That&rsquo;s probably the biggest life lesson: live every moment to the fullest and strive to be the best.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Bryant&rsquo;s own words cut even tighter: &ldquo;The biggest mistake we make in life is thinking we have time.&rdquo;</p>
<h2><strong>A Day That Hit Close</strong></h2>
<p>For Terry, the message is tied to a memory that still feels too close to real time. <a href="https://www.kold.com/2021/01/27/kobe-bryant-was-supposed-take-jason-terry-again/">KOLD News 13 reported</a> Terry and Bryant were scheduled to coach against each other on Jan. 26, 2020, as their daughters played in a youth event.</p>
<p>Terry told the station he had seen Bryant and watched Gianna play in the days before the crash. The matchup never happened.</p>
<p>A plan on the calendar is not a guarantee.</p>
<h2><strong>A Rookie Who Stayed Late</strong></h2>
<p>Derek Harper remembers Bryant earlier, back when the story was still being written. Harper was with the Lakers during Bryant&rsquo;s rookie season in 1996, and he says the clearest sign of what was coming had nothing to do with a game.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Fun times, to be quite frank with you. The thing that stands out the most to me about Kobe Bryant is that, you know, you always, as players, get your ankles taped to go to work,&rdquo; <a href="https://r.org/2026/01/20/six-years-later-kobe-bryants-legacy-still-comes-back-to-time/">Harper said to Ratings</a>.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Well, Kobe was one of those guys. This is how I knew he would be great. He&rsquo;s one of those guys who, once everybody left after practice, yeah, he would re-tape his ankles to work on his individual game. And if someone is that dedicated to anything that they do, they&rsquo;re going to find success. And clearly, he goes down as one of the all-time greats.&rdquo;</p>
<p>That is not a highlight reel story. It is a habit story.</p>
<p>The gym was empty. He stayed anyway.</p>
<h2><strong>Confidence Without Needing Permission</strong></h2>
<p>Harper said Bryant did not need a veteran&rsquo;s approval to carry himself like a pro.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Is there anything that you know that you were able to teach him during that process? No, Kobe didn&rsquo;t need my teaching. I was open and willing to, but he just breathed confidence as a player, and not that he wouldn&rsquo;t have listened,&rdquo; Harper said. &ldquo;Kobe had his own demeanor. He had his own game, and he&rsquo;s one of the top 75 players in the history of the NBA.&rdquo;</p>
<p>The reputation for relentless work was not a late-career invention. Teammates saw it in the smallest routines.</p>
<h2><strong>How People Still Remember</strong></h2>
<p><a href="https://people.com/remembering-kobe-and-gianna-bryant-on-the-5th-anniversary-of-their-deaths-8779979">People noted that</a>, five years after the crash, memorials and tributes continued worldwide and Vanessa Bryant announced plans to publish &ldquo;Mamba &amp; Mambacita Forever,&rdquo; a catalogue of murals honoring Kobe and Gianna.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.si.com/onsi/athlete-lifestyle/news/russell-wilson-s-touching-kobe-bryant-gigi-tribute-on-five-year-death-anniversary">Sports Illustrated&rsquo;s Athlete Lifestyle highlighted</a> a tribute from Russell Wilson and Ciara, friends of the Bryant family, on that same anniversary.</p>
<h2><strong>What Stays With Players</strong></h2>
<p>Terry&rsquo;s lesson and Harper&rsquo;s memory come from different eras, but they point in the same direction. Time is shorter than you think. Work is louder than talk.</p>
<p>For players, that is the bridge between life and basketball. You prepare because the moment is coming, and you love people because you do not control how long you get.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Kobe&rsquo;s legacy will always include championships and points.</p>
<p>But it also lives in the quiet hours after practice.</p>

Kobe Bryant’s lessons still travel the world, inspiring athletes and fans with relentless work ethic, resilience, and a fearless pursuit of greatness.

Kobe Bryant’s Lessons Still Travel Worldwide

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Former NBA guard Jeff Teague believes the Denver Nuggets remain the team to beat in the Western Conference &ndash; and he didn&rsquo;t hesitate to put a prediction on it.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;I&rsquo;m going to be honest, if Jokic and them are fully healthy, they are going to 4-2 OKC,&rdquo; Teague said in a recent podcast. &ldquo;They already took them to seven games last year and they were not healthy with some injuries here and there. I really like this Denver team this year.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Teague&rsquo;s confidence isn&rsquo;t coming out of nowhere. There&rsquo;s real substance behind his take, especially considering how Denver has looked this season and how much continuity remains from its championship core.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nikola Jokic is once again playing at an MVP level, averaging a near triple-double while putting up historically efficient numbers. His command of the offense continues to be the foundation of everything Denver does, and when he&rsquo;s healthy, the Nuggets&rsquo; ceiling rises to championship level.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jamal Murray, meanwhile, may finally earn his long-awaited All-Star selection. He&rsquo;s averaging career highs across the board and remains the ideal No. 2 option next to Jokic, perfectly complementing Denver&rsquo;s read-and-react style with his shot-making and playmaking.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Around them, Denver&rsquo;s supporting cast has quietly taken meaningful steps forward. Aaron Gordon has improved as a three-point shooter while continuing to provide physicality, toughness, and elite off-ball movement. Christian Braun, fresh off a contract extension, has developed strong chemistry with Jokic. Cam Johnson, brought in to replace Michael Porter Jr., has seamlessly filled his role as a spacer and cutter, maximizing his impact without disrupting the offense.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Off the bench, free-agent additions Tim Hardaway Jr., Bruce Brown, and Jonas Valanciunas have given Denver reliable depth, shoring up areas that were tested during last year&rsquo;s postseason run.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Perhaps the biggest revelation this season has been Peyton Watson. His growth on both ends of the floor has been noticeable, and with Jokic missing time, Watson has stepped up offensively, giving Denver another viable option and further stabilizing the rotation.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When you combine roster depth, continuity, and elite chemistry, it&rsquo;s easy to see why Teague views the Nuggets as Oklahoma City&rsquo;s biggest obstacle. If Denver stays healthy, they may very well be the Thunder&rsquo;s toughest challenge in the race to return to the Western Conference Finals &ndash; and possibly punch another ticket to the NBA Finals.</span></p>

Jeff Teague believes the Denver Nuggets are the best team in the West.

Jeff Teague thinks the Nuggets are the best in the West: “They going to 4-2 OKC”

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After the Oklahoma City Thunder finally beat the San Antonio Spurs for the first time this season, reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander offered a candid take on the victory, emphasizing that it&rsquo;s just one game in a long season.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points, grabbed five rebounds, dished five assists and blocked four shots to lead OKC&rsquo;s 119-98 win, snapping a three-game skid against the Spurs and handing San Antonio its first loss to Oklahoma City this year.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite the significance of breaking through against a team that had dominated them, SGA was quick to temper the moment. In a postgame interview, he said simply:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;Tonight wasn&rsquo;t our Super Bowl. It wasn&rsquo;t anything else but another game in an 82-game season.&rdquo; He added that while the team felt good about the win and the way they competed, they still need to keep improving and stay focused on the bigger goals ahead.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Gilgeous-Alexander also highlighted how improved defense and growth from past matchups helped the Thunder finally get the upper hand. He noted that previous losses showed areas the team needed to work on &ndash; and that beating the Spurs wasn&rsquo;t treated as an endpoint but a step forward in a long campaign. </span></p>

Reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander offered a candid take on the victory, emphasizing that it’s just one game in a long season.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander downplays big win over Spurs: “Tonight wasn’t our super bowl”

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle has won his 1000th NBA game, officially joining an elite company with some of the best coaches in league history, as the Pacers beat the Hornets 114-112.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Carlisle is only the 11th coach ever in NBA history to breach 1000 wins, cementing his milestone as one of the most accomplished tacticians in the NBA.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He joins an exclusive club of legendary head coaches including Gregg Popovich, Don Nelson, Phil Jackson, Lenny Wilkens, and Pat Riley who have made their mark in coaching in the NBA.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Carlisle, who led the Dallas Mavericks to a title in 2011, joined Doc Rivers who achieved the feat in 2021 as the only active head coaches with 1000 wins or more.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The milestone spans 23 seasons across three franchises, and Carlisle&rsquo;s longevity and adaptability through multiple eras of the NBA have defined his legacy.</span></p>

Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle has won his 1000th NBA game.

Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle nets 1000th career coaching win

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 2025 NBA Christmas Day delivered high-level hoops and dramatic finishes across a full slate of five games, with several teams making the holiday spotlight on the national stage.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Knicks rally to edge Cavaliers in MSG thriller</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The day&rsquo;s action kicked off at Madison Square Garden, where the New York Knicks completed a stunning comeback to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 126-124. Trailing by 17 in the fourth quarter, New York rallied behind Jalen Brunson&rsquo;s 34 points and timely contributions from Tyler Kolek and Jordan Clarkson &ndash; turning a huge deficit into a late lead and Christmas Day victory.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Spurs dominate Thunder again, go up 3-0 in season series</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In yet another heated Western Conference rivalry, the San Antonio Spurs took down the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder 117-102 in a rematch from just two days ago. De&rsquo;Aaron Fox led San Antonio with 29 points, while Victor Wembanyama added a strong all-around showing off the bench. The win marked another impressive Christmas Day performance for the Spurs and another blemish on the Thunder&rsquo;s otherwise elite season, as they have completely outclassed the defending champs. The Spurs have now won all three games against the Thunder this season, with one more play date to happen in January.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Warriors outlast Mavericks in Cooper Flagg&rsquo;s Christmas debut</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Golden State Warriors continued their holiday bliss with a 126-116 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Stephen Curry led the way with 23 points, including a clutch fourth-quarter three that helped separate the Warriors from Dallas. Jimmy Butler added 14 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists for the Dubs, who are now on their first three-game win streak this season. Rookie Cooper Flagg starred for the Mavs with 27 points, but Golden State&rsquo;s depth ultimately made the difference. Nevertheless, Flagg showed out in his first-ever Christmas Day game and should be a fixture in the NBA&rsquo;s annual event for years to come if he keeps up his play.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Rockets roll past Lakers behind Amen, KD</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Over in LA, the Houston Rockets pulled off a dominant 119-96 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Amen Thompson (26 points) and Kevin Durant (25 points) spearheaded Houston&rsquo;s balanced attack as the Rockets raced out to a big lead and never looked back. The defeat marked another frustrating Christmas Day outing for the Lakers despite Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and LeBron James playing in the starting lineup.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Nuggets top Timberwolves in overtime shootout</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the nightcap, the Denver Nuggets survived a wild overtime battle against the Minnesota Timberwolves, winning 142-138. Nikola Jokić was sensational, recording a historic triple-double with 56 points, 16 rebounds and 15 assists &ndash; one of the greatest individual performances in Christmas Day history. Minnesota&rsquo;s Anthony Edwards dropped 44 points to pace his team in the defeat, after hitting a wild left fading corner triple to tie the game and force overtime.</span></p>
<h3><strong>THE HIGHLIGHTS:</strong></h3>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">New York&rsquo;s comeback over Cleveland was one of the biggest fourth-quarter rallies of the season.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Spurs continued their strong trend vs. the Thunder with another decisive win, seemingly being their kryptonite. The Thunder are 26-2 against the entire league, but are 0-3 against the Spurs.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Curry and the Warriors remained a tough holiday matchup, a team that&rsquo;s a fixture in the NBA&rsquo;s annual premier play date.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Houston&rsquo;s balanced scoring showcased the Rockets&rsquo; roster depth, while it showed the Lakers&rsquo; flaws as a team.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jokic&rsquo;s historic triple-double capped off a memorable Christmas slate with one of the best games of the season thus far, including one of the best for Jokic&rsquo;s entire career. It spoiled an otherwise great game for Anthony Edwards, who scored 40 points after his interview with ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania where he said he will be scoring 40 points in Christmas &ndash; and he did.</span></li>
</ul>

The 2025 NBA Christmas Day delivered high-level hoops and dramatic finishes across a full slate of five games.

2025 NBA Christmas Day: Knicks, Spurs, Warriors, Rockets, Nuggets all take wins

<div>It's rare for young NBA stars to develop without labels. The comparison of every skill, hesitation move, or late-game possession to someone who came before is inevitable.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Cade Cunningham, who is the foundation of the Detroit Pistons' franchise, keeps hearing about Brandon Roy. The comparison is not based on hype or nostalgia. The outcome depends on how Cunningham plays the game.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<h2>Why Brandon Roy&rsquo;s Name Resonates</h2>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Brandon Roy&rsquo;s NBA career was short, but he left a mark that sticks around. When he was on, Roy could do it all&mdash;he&rsquo;d score with ease, attack from either side, and close out games without losing his cool. He didn&rsquo;t need to outrun everybody; he just controlled the tempo and figured out how to get past defenders with smart moves. Cunningham watches Roy, sees what made him special, and wants to play the same way. You can see it in how he approaches the game.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&ldquo;I mean, Brandon Roy, he was a legend in my eyes,&rdquo; <a href="https://r.org/2025/12/19/cade-cunningham-honored-to-hear-brandon-roy-comparisons/">Cunningham said</a>. &ldquo;He was special &mdash; did it all. Both hands, inside, outside game. So to even be compared, I feel honored. I think it&rsquo;s a cool comparison. I&rsquo;ve definitely tried to implement things from his game into mine.&rdquo;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Appreciation is not based on imitation. The objective is to comprehend the principles that made Roy effective and apply them to a contemporary game.</div>
<h2>A Style Built on Feel, Not Flash</h2>
<p>Comparisons can either slow a player down or light a fire under them. Cade Cunningham? He&rsquo;s all about that second one. He studies Roy&rsquo;s moves&mdash;the way he uses his feet, how he waits for the right moment, how he glides into open space. Then Cade takes what he sees and makes it his own.</p>
<p>Someday, people won&rsquo;t bother stacking him up against Brandon Roy. Not because they&rsquo;ve forgotten Roy, but because Cade&rsquo;s carved out his own place, he becomes the measuring stick. For now, being compared to Roy isn&rsquo;t a weight on his shoulders. It&rsquo;s just a nod, and Cade&rsquo;s running with it.</p>
<p>&ldquo;There are similarities,&rdquo;<a href="https://landonbuford.com/brandon-roy-cade-cunningham/"> Roy said</a>, pointing to Cunningham&rsquo;s ability to read defenders and operate in tight spaces.</p>
<h2>Respect From Players Who&rsquo;ve Been There</h2>
<p data-start="2129" data-end="2279">The comparison isn&rsquo;t limited to former players on television panels. Current teammates and respected voices around the league echo the same sentiment.</p>
<p data-start="2281" data-end="2319">Vince Carter sees long-term greatness.</p>
<p data-start="2281" data-end="2319">&ldquo;I like Cade,&rdquo; Carter said. &ldquo;I think he has a chance to be very good, and he&rsquo;s gonna be a perennial All-Star, in my opinion.&rdquo;</p>
<p data-start="2448" data-end="2551">Isaiah Stewart, who sees Cunningham daily, emphasized the balance between similarity and individuality.</p>
<p data-start="2553" data-end="2703">&ldquo;Cade&rsquo;s game is Cade&rsquo;s game,&rdquo; Stewart said. &ldquo;Smooth operator. You can find some similarities, obviously &mdash; B Roy is B Roy &mdash; but Cade has his own game.&rdquo;</p>
<p data-start="2705" data-end="2901">That distinction matters. Roy was often a scorer first. Cunningham leans more naturally into playmaking, comfortable initiating offense and making reads that don&rsquo;t always result in personal stats.</p>
<h2 data-start="2705" data-end="2901">Different Eras, Shared Toughness</h2>
<p data-start="2940" data-end="3041">Ryan Hollins offered one of the most layered perspectives, acknowledging both overlap and separation.</p>
<p data-start="3043" data-end="3198">&ldquo;They&rsquo;re different players,&rdquo; Hollins said. &ldquo;Brandon Roy was a playmaker who could score. Cade is a natural point guard. But both are uniquely unstoppable.&rdquo;</p>
<p data-start="3200" data-end="3370">Hollins also underscored something fans sometimes forget: how dominant Roy truly was before injuries intervened. Being mentioned in the same breath is not casual praise.</p>
<h2 data-start="3200" data-end="3370">Carrying the Comparison Forward</h2>
<p>Cunningham doesn&rsquo;t see the comparison as a burden. He takes it in, sees what he can learn. He watches Roy&rsquo;s footwork, notices his patience, and pays attention to how he moves through space. Then he takes those lessons and makes them his own, folding them into his own style.</p>
<p>Someday, people won&rsquo;t line up Cunningham next to Brandon Roy anymore. Not because they&rsquo;re suddenly so different, but because Cunningham&rsquo;s own track record will be loud enough that nobody needs to make the comparison. Right now, though, the comparison isn&rsquo;t holding him back. It&rsquo;s a nod of respect&mdash;and a reminder that being smart, tough, and in control never really goes out of fashion.</p>
<p data-start="3200" data-end="3370">&nbsp;</p>
<div>&nbsp;</div>

Cade Cunningham reacts to comparisons with Brandon Roy as NBA veterans praise his poise, control, and evolving impact with the Detroit Pistons.

Cade Cunningham and the Brandon Roy Comparison: Respect Earned, Identity Preserved

<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">After becoming a champion in Denver, Michael Porter Jr. moves on to Brooklyn for career growth &ndash; and the Nets are letting him become who he was projected to be coming out of high school: a full-fledged star in the NBA</span></em></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Michael Porter Jr. has never lacked talent. That was never the question &ndash; not in high school, not in college, not at the NBA level. The questions, instead, hovered around everything else: the injuries, the fit, the role, the contract, the playstyle, and the frustrating nights where the ball barely moved. Fair or not, the narrative around Porter Jr. has followed him for years.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But in Brooklyn, something is changing.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Porter Jr. has erupted for three straight 30-point games, playing perhaps his best basketball over the past three games and becoming the first player in Nets franchise history to record 30+ points, 5+ rebounds and 5+ threes in three consecutive outings. In a season that has felt like another learning experience and a transitioning year for the franchise, he has emerged as one of the bright spots in a tough season record-wise: a reminder of the player many once believed he would become.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It&rsquo;s easy to forget now, but before back surgeries derailed his trajectory, Porter Jr. was the top prospect in the 2018 class &ndash; ranked above Deandre Ayton, Marvin Bagley III, and even Luka Doncic on several boards. He was the long, fluid, three-level scorer every team coveted. He was billed as a franchise centerpiece, not a complementary piece.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That version of MPJ rarely had space to breathe in Denver. Playing alongside Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon meant living as a third or fourth option, functioning more as a floor spacer than a fully realized scorer. His job was to hit shots, run the floor, defend, rebound &ndash; not to dominate possessions or shape the offense.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Nuggets needed role players around Jokic. And true enough,</span><strong> </strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">Denver traded Porter Jr. to Brooklyn this offseason in exchange for Cam Johnson. The move was framed more as a financial relief and role concerns. Porter Jr.'s contract was massive, and his perceived fit issues &ndash; amplified by statements around the league and online about him being &ldquo;Michael </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">never swinging the rock</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Porter Jr.&rdquo; &ndash; made it somewhat with sense and drawn from something.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This was a change of scenery for Porter Jr., and a chance to show that he is skillful enough to be a first option in this league. The Nets saw something different in him: a big wing scorer just entering his prime age years, fully capable of putting pressure on defenses in ways few players his size can.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Now that they&rsquo;ve given him the keys, Porter Jr. is showing why it was worth the bet.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">His scoring bursts aren&rsquo;t coming from chaotic, ball-stopping sequences. Instead, they&rsquo;re flowing inside a structure tailored to his strengths &ndash; quick-hitting pindowns, ghost screens, high flares, and mid-post touches where his high release point becomes unguardable. He looks confident. He looks free. He looks like someone playing without the weight of expectation for the first time in years.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A major piece of this resurgence is Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez, whose steady grip within the organization amid all the losing has turned into one of Brooklyn&rsquo;s most important stories.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Porter Jr. called Fernandez a &ldquo;genius,&rdquo; indicating the head coach for putting him in a position to succeed as a scorer, and not just a catch and shooter. The tape supports it: Fernandez has built an offensive ecosystem that bends toward Porter Jr.&rsquo;s natural tendencies instead of demanding he mold himself into something else.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Brooklyn is putting him in spots Denver seldom did: early-clock actions where he gets a head start, mismatches in the mid-post, and movement threes that let him catch without thinking. For the first time in a long time, Porter Jr. isn&rsquo;t being told to adapt &ndash; and he has Fernandez to thank for that.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Perhaps there is a deeper significance to all of this. Porter Jr. has spent years hearing the critiques: doesn&rsquo;t pass enough, doesn&rsquo;t defend consistently enough, benefits too much from Jokić&rsquo;s brilliance, can&rsquo;t lead a team in scoring, can&rsquo;t justify the huge contract given to him.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This current stretch won&rsquo;t silence every doubter &ndash; and it shouldn&rsquo;t be expected to. But it does something just as important: it proves that when the opportunity is there, he can be a first option. He can generate efficient offense, and he can carry the load. He&rsquo;s no longer just the guy who fits around stars. He&rsquo;s capable of being the star.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And with Brooklyn in search of identity, direction, and hope, Porter Jr. has unexpectedly become a key asset for the franchise &ndash; a player proving he can be the version of himself the basketball world once saw early in his career.</span></p>

The Nets are letting Michael Porter Jr. become who he was projected to be coming out of high school: a full-fledged star in the NBA.

Michael Porter Jr. discovers star path with Nets in a career resurgence

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At a time when teams continue to stack star power on their rosters, the Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat are reminding the league that cohesion, continuity and belief can be just as powerful as raw superstar talent. A month into the season, Toronto and Miami sit second and third in the Eastern Conference standings &ndash; one riding a nine-game winning streak, the other stringing together six straight of its own. Few saw it coming, and that&rsquo;s what makes these early season runs so compelling and interesting.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On paper, neither team features a consensus top-15 player in the league. Neither projects as a typical juggernaut in a conference dominated by headliners like Jayson Tatum, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Joel Embiid, and star-studded teams like the Knicks. Yet night after night, the Raptors and Heat are outplaying teams built around bigger names and heavier expectations. What they lack in marquee shine, they make up for in depth, grit and a brand of basketball that feels increasingly rare in a star-driven era.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And as their streaks stretch longer and their records grow stronger, the question shifts from how they&rsquo;re doing it to why it works &ndash; and what it says about the modern NBA.</span></p>
<h2><strong>Toronto&rsquo;s rise: A team built on trust, depth, and a new identity</strong></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Toronto&rsquo;s transformation didn&rsquo;t happen overnight, but it finally feels like they are taking a step in the right direction. A few years removed from rebuilding their roster and recalibrating their direction, the Raptors have found their identity &ndash; a team that scores by committee, defends with intent and plays like a group that genuinely trusts each other.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What once felt like a roster in transition has become a roster in sync, led by head coach Darko Rajakovic.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Six Raptors currently average double-digit scoring, but none dominate the box score on a nightly basis. Instead, Toronto thrives through balance. Brandon Ingram, acquired last season in what initially felt like a mid-focused get, has evolved into their stabilizer and clutch-time go-to scorer. His shot creation gives Toronto an anchor; his poise gives them belief. When the game slows, the ball finds Ingram, and the Raptors find comfort.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Alongside him, Scottie Barnes continues blossoming into the do-it-all franchise forward many projected he could become. His blend of size, playmaking and defensive versatility elevates Toronto&rsquo;s ceiling and gives them a nightly mismatch. When Barnes is at his best, the Raptors feel like they can beat anyone.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But the brilliance of Toronto&rsquo;s start goes beyond their leading duo. Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett, both essential pieces of a trade from the Knicks, have fully embraced their roles as the third and fourth scoring options. Quickley&rsquo;s pace and fearlessness provide an off-the-dribble spark, while Barrett&rsquo;s strength-based downhill game gives Toronto a reliable secondary scorer.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Around them is a roster filled with players who understand exactly what&rsquo;s being asked of them. Jakob Poeltl continues to be a stabilizing interior presence; Sandro Mamukelashvili adds shooting and creativity off the bench for the frontcourt; Gradey Dick&rsquo;s shooting gravity opens the floor; Jamal Shead&rsquo;s maturity as a backup point guard stands out; and Ja&rsquo;Kobe Walter brings energy and modern-wing tools.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Together, they have formed a machine early in the season &ndash; one humming louder with each passing game. The Raptors are top-10 in both offensive and defensive net rating, a mark reserved for true contenders, though it remains to be seen if they can keep it up for the rest of the season. They defend collectively, leveraging chemistry and communication more than sheer athleticism. They score through movement and trust, not isolation and hierarchy.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The result: one of the longest winning streaks in franchise history and a team that looks nothing like the rebuilding group many projected them to be. Instead, the Raptors have forged themselves into one of the East&rsquo;s best stories &ndash; a team proving that when everyone buys in, the whole can be greater than the sum of its parts.</span></p>
<h2><strong>Miami&rsquo;s counterpunch: Spoelstra, grit and a rediscovered offensive identity</strong></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If Toronto is surprising because they&rsquo;ve reinvented themselves, Miami is surprising because they never really changed &ndash; except a few tweaks on their offense.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is what the Heat do &ndash; they defy expectations, outperform projections and find ways to win with rosters that rarely look intimidating on paper. But this start feels different. It feels deeper, and it feels like the Heat have unlocked something new.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Eight Miami players are averaging double-digit scoring, among the widest scoring distribution in the league. Erik Spoelstra has once again reinvented his offense, this time leaning into a concept that has caught attention across the basketball landscape &ndash; including a detailed breakdown by Thinking Basketball: a no-screen, gap-attacking system tailored perfectly to this roster&rsquo;s strengths.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Instead of running their offense through sets or pre-determined actions, Spo has given his players the freedom to play read-and-react basketball. They attack one-on-one, collapse defenses, move without the ball and create a constant chain of advantages. The result is a fluid, spaced-out attack that produces open threes, cuts and layups. It&rsquo;s simple by design &ndash; deadly in execution.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And they&rsquo;re doing all this while boasting the second-best defense in the NBA.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The main guy now after Jimmy Butler&rsquo;s trade last season, is Bam Adebayo. Once again, he is playing at an All-Defensive level, anchoring Miami&rsquo;s interior and orchestrating their schemes with his elite mobility and anticipation. He covers for mistakes, erases drives, switches everything and remains arguably the most versatile defender in basketball today. Bam sets the tone, and the rest follow.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Around him, Miami has found balance in players who complement each other perfectly. Norman Powell, in a contract year, has rediscovered his scoring punch, giving the Heat a needed perimeter bucket-getter. Young big man Kel&rsquo;el Ware is emerging as a franchise cornerstone &ndash; an athletic, skilled center who fits seamlessly next to Bam. Tyler Herro&rsquo;s return from injury gives Miami another dynamic scoring threat after his All-Star breakout last season.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Defensively, Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell provide the grit Miami teams are known for. Jaime Jaquez Jr. adds savvy scoring and toughness. Simone Fontecchio, Nikola Jovic and Pelle Larsson stretch the floor and supply high-IQ connecting play.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nothing Miami does feels forced. Every player knows their job. Every player contributes something essential. Every possession feels intentional &ndash; this is Heat basketball at its finest.</span></p>
<h2><strong>Two Teams, One Message: Star Power Isn&rsquo;t the Only Path to Winning</strong></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Raptors and Heat are not perfect, nor are they guaranteed to maintain this pace all season. There will be lulls, adjustments and challenges. But right now &ndash; today &ndash; they stand as two of the most compelling early-season stories, and for reasons that go deeper than the standings.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">They&rsquo;re winning through trust, effort, and continuity. Through the belief that identity and cohesion matter just as much as superstar gravity.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In an NBA landscape obsessed with top-rated players and roster-building shortcuts by acquiring more and more talent, Toronto and Miami are a counterpoint &ndash; a reminder that stability, development and collective responsibility are still viable pathways to contention.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Their success is a good thing for the NBA because it resonates &ndash; it feels earned, not handed.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As long as the Raptors keep playing with balance and unity, and as long as the Heat keep leaning on their culture and Spoelstra&rsquo;s brilliance, these streaks can be used as foundations to keep improving over the course of the season and avoid some early-season flukes.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Two underdogs, two contenders &ndash; two teams proving that the soul of basketball still belongs to those who play together.</span></p>

The Raptors and Heat are shocking the East with balance, depth, and elite team play. No superstars, no problem.

Raptors, Heat surging: Two unlikely contenders rise to the top of the East

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<div>Angel Reese: I post pictures of myself in a bathing suit but, multiple times people have made AI pictures of me naked. My family members are sending it to me, uncles are like, &lsquo;Are you naked on Instagram ? It sucks to see that and it&rsquo;s really hard that I have to go through that</div>
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<div>Interviewer: So when you were talking about being sexualized, a lot of people we like, &lsquo;Well, she asked for it.&nbsp;</div>
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<div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQHRqOnDVui/?igsh=ZHUzNHA1NzFxM3Mz">Angel Reese: I don&rsquo;t get what that means. I&rsquo;m a beautiful woman. I&rsquo;ve been posting pictures in my bikini. I have a wonderful body and I work hard for it. And if I want to post a picture in my bikini I should be able to without being sexualized.&nbsp;</a></div>
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<div>I reposted this video clip along with commentary from Adrian Ewing and was surprised to see some of the comments in my comment section&nbsp;</div>
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<div>Seeing grown men justify why Angel Reese somehow deserves to be sexualized is depressing to see. But it wasn&rsquo;t just these cats in my comment section, people in the media like Jason Whitlock (who never misses an opportunity to bash Black People for his MAGA audience) and David Portnoy, founder of barstool, doubled down on his hatred for Angel Reese.&nbsp;</div>
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<div>I showed these my daughters volleyball carpool and this is what they had to say,&nbsp;</div>
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<div>Imani&nbsp;</div>
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<div>&ldquo;Who said anything about Onlyfans ? Why would he jump to that ? She just did something that no other athlete has done before. Why do they care so much about her ? Why does it matter so much to them ? She is just living her life. So they don&rsquo;t want her (or any other WNBA player) so they chastise them for their Pay Us What You Owe us stance, but then they don&rsquo;t want them to earn money through any marketing opportunities or any other way either ? She comes out with her own shoes they mad. She breaks record on the court they mad. She says she doesn&rsquo;t want to talk to the media they mad. She criticizes her organization they mad. Why don&rsquo;t they both mind their business and let her live her life&rdquo;&nbsp;</div>
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<div>Baby Sierra&nbsp;</div>
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<div>So where are all the men standing up for her ? I saw Shaq said something one time awhile ago but that&rsquo;s it ? Just you and Shaq ? Nobody else says anything ? Well I&rsquo;m glad you said something. Thank you for standing up for us&nbsp;</div>
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<div>Addy</div>
<div>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s really weird that they are so focused on her. &nbsp;Don&rsquo;t they have any other topics to talk about ? Why are they so fixated and infatuated with her ? Do they focus this much on any other WNBA player not named Caitlin Clark ? It&rsquo;s just weird how much they are locked in on Angel Reese&nbsp;</div>
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<div>All valid points made by the Carpool&nbsp;</div>
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<div>To David Portnoy I ask:&nbsp;</div>
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<div>What could this 23 year old young woman possibly have done to make you this upset with her ? So much so that you say you &ldquo;hate&rdquo; her ? You can&rsquo;t be still bent out of shape because she beat yall great white hope Caitlin Clark back in college so what is it ? Is it just a natural jealous and hatred of Black Women not needing your approval or consent to live their lives ? Or the fact that she has brilliantly taken the Caitlin Clark Mob&rsquo;s hatred toward her and transformed it into 7 figure earnings for herself and her brand ?&nbsp;</div>
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<div>Angel Reese just made history as the first professional athlete ever to walk at the Victoria Secret&rsquo;s Fashion Show. That means no other athlete in the history of athletes has ever done this before and as Rep Jasmine Crockett said,&nbsp;</div>
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<div>&ldquo;The only people that are crying are the mediocre white boys that have been beaten out by people that historically have had to work so much harder,&rdquo;</div>
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<div>Unfortunately, it&rsquo;s not just mediocre white boys who are doing the bashing. Almost all of the comments I showed earlier from my Instagram comments section were by Black Men. Not just people like Jason Whitlock whose schtick is bashing the Black Community so he can continue to get pats on the top of his head from a MAGA audience that can then point to him and say,&nbsp;</div>
<div>&ldquo;See I&rsquo;m not racist, here&rsquo;s a Black Man saying this&rdquo; But regular everyday Black Men who actually justified Angel another Black Woman being sexualized.&nbsp;</div>
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<div dir="ltr">A few days ago, Angel Reese responded to a viral post that put her side-by-side with Sid. She called the comparison rude and completely out of line.&nbsp;</div>
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<div dir="ltr">People keep asking me why I post about Angel Reese so much ? Well, I&rsquo;ll tell you why. Ever since she beat Caitlin Clark in college, there has been an onslaught of criticism hurled her way. She became the villain. Public enemy number one (to a certain specific demographic) And as a Black Man, whenever I see what sometimes seems like the entire basketball world bashing a young Black Woman, I&rsquo;m suppose to come to her defense.&nbsp;</div>
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<div dir="ltr">People don&rsquo;t understand that young Black Girls see the criticism that Angel Reese receives and understand how it is a microcosm of life. This is how they are treated in their schools and how they will be treated as they grow up in this society. They will be judged more heavily, and criticized more heavily, and a higher expectation and standard will be placed on them than their white counterparts&nbsp;ie Stephen A. Smith ridiculing Rep Jasmine Crockett but having no issues with Trump&rsquo;s presentation.&nbsp;</div>
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<div dir="ltr">So when my daughters and her teammate in our carpool tell me, &ldquo;Thank you for standing up for us&rdquo; I know, I&rsquo;m doing what I&rsquo;m supposed to be doing.&nbsp;</div>
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<div>&ldquo;The most disrespected person in America is the Black Woman. The most unprotected person in America is the Black woman. The most neglected person in America is the Black woman."</div>
<div><span style="color: #020518; font-family: Google Sans, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;~Malcolm X</span></div>
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Angel Reese Doesn’t “Deserve” To Be Sexualized. No Woman Does.

Angel Reese Doesn’t “Deserve” To Be Sexualized. No Woman Does

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 2025 WNBA Finals is set: the Phoenix Mercury and Las Vegas Aces will battle in a best-of-seven championship, after Phoenix edged the top-seeded Lynx 3-1 and Las Vegas survived the Fever in an unforgettable Game 5 overtime duel.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It marks a new Finals matchup and caps two dramatically different semifinal runs, along with the league&rsquo;s first-ever best-of-seven title series.</span></p>
<p><strong>Phoenix rallies past top-seeded Minnesota, take series 3-1</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Mercury entered the postseason as underdogs and proved doubters wrong by dispatching Minnesota Lynx, the No. 1 seed, in four games to reach the Finals. After falling in Game 1, Phoenix won three straight &ndash; including a gritty Game 4 where they erased a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to close it out 86-81.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Alyssa Thomas, Satou Sabally, and Kahleah Copper all played key roles in the comeback, while the Lynx &ndash; dealing with injuries to star Napheesa Collier and a suspension to head coach Cheryl Reeve &ndash; were unable to answer down the stretch. In Game 4, the Mercury&rsquo;s fourth-quarter surge was decisive and forced Minnesota into vulnerable holes.</span></p>
<p><strong>Las Vegas outlast Indiana in Game 5 overtime showdown</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Las Vegas&rsquo; path was every bit as dramatic. In the deciding Game 5, the Aces beat the Fever 107-98 in OT to clinch their Finals berth. A&rsquo;ja Wilson dropped 35 points, Jackie Young scored 32, and Chelsea Gray delivered clutch contributions en route to the win.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Fever, already battered by injuries (notably missing Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham as well as dealing with the loss of Kelsey Mitchell mid-game), pushed Vegas hard. Indiana rallied late in regulation to tie it, but Las Vegas took control early in overtime and held on.</span></p>
<p><strong>What&rsquo;s Next: Mercury-Aces Finals preview</strong></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">See you Friday.<br /><br />WNBA Finals | <a href="https://twitter.com/YouTubeTV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YouTubeTV</a> <a href="https://t.co/BMWkd9TbuB">pic.twitter.com/BMWkd9TbuB</a></p>
&mdash; WNBA (@WNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WNBA/status/1973281041323626588?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 2025 Finals will be played as a best-of-seven series, marking the first time in WNBA history the championship round is extended to seven games.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What happened was a contrast of journeys, as Phoenix&rsquo;s path was more controlled and decisive, while Las Vegas had to fight through adversity and depth.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">ANALYSIS: The series will likely spotlight battles between A&rsquo;ja Wilson/Jackie Young and Phoenix&rsquo;s core of Thomas, Sabally, and Copper &ndash; two high-stakes groups fighting for the ultimate prize in the WNBA.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Mercury will have a noticeable amount of rest, as the Aces pushed through a grueling Game 5 in OT, while Phoenix had a slightly easier close in their semifinal. Which team handles fatigue better could be a factor.</span></p>

The 2025 WNBA Finals is set: the Phoenix Mercury and Las Vegas Aces will battle in a best-of-seven championship.

WNBA: Mercury, Aces set up 2025 Finals after dispatching Lynx, Fever

The Chicago Sky don’t deserve Angel Reese. Read more why:

The Chicago Sky as an organization do not deserve Angel Reese

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The field for the 2025 WNBA Playoffs is officially locked, with eight teams ready to compete for the championship under an updated postseason format.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The opening round tips off Sunday, September 14, and for the first time, the finals will expand to a best-of-seven series. Teams are seeded strictly by overall record, with no conference separation, and the first round will now follow a 1-1-1 format.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This year&rsquo;s postseason includes a mix of proven contenders and fresh faces &mdash; headlined by the expansion Golden State Valkyries, who capped their inaugural season with a historic playoff berth. The stage is set for an unpredictable run to the WNBA title.</span></p>
<p><strong>The Matchups</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">(1) Minnesota Lynx vs (8) Golden State Valkyries</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Lynx finished with the league&rsquo;s best record at 34-10, dominating the regular season with balance on both ends. They&rsquo;ll face the expansion Valkyries, who clinched the final playoff spot at 23-21 and became the first new franchise in league history to reach the postseason in year one. Minnesota will be heavy favorites, but Golden State has already exceeded expectations and enters with nothing to lose.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">(2) Las Vegas Aces vs (7) Seattle Storm</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The defending champion Aces surged late in the season, winning consistently behind A&rsquo;ja Wilson&rsquo;s MVP-level play. Seattle, led by Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneka Ogwumike, will try to slow down Las Vegas&rsquo; rhythm and pull off the upset. The Aces are seeking another title, while the Storm are looking to play spoiler as a lower seed.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">(3) Atlanta Dream vs (6) Indiana Fever</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Atlanta and Indiana square off in a matchup of two resurgent franchises. The Dream finished 30-14, leaning on Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray. The Fever, powered by Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston, will try to upend the dream even without star guard Caitlin Clark.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">(4) Phoenix Mercury vs (5) New York Liberty</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">On paper, this is the tightest series of the opening round. Both Phoenix and New York finished 27-17, with the Mercury edging the Liberty for home-court advantage. Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally anchor a Phoenix squad with playoff pedigree, while Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu lead New York&rsquo;s hopes of going back-to-back. This battle of heavyweights may come down to depth and execution in late-game situations, and this could be one of the most entertaining series of the first round.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ndash; &ndash; &ndash;</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The first round will be a best-of-three series with a 1-1-1 format, meaning higher seeds host Game 1 and, if necessary, Game 3. The semifinals will expand to best-of-five, while the finals move to best-of-seven for the first time in league history.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With parity at the top and plenty of star power spread across the bracket, the 2025 postseason promises to be one of the most competitive in recent memory.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Will the top-seeded Lynx validate their dominance? Can the Aces work its way back to the top? Or will a newcomer like Golden State shock the league?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The answers begin Sunday when the chase for the WNBA championship tips off.</span></p>

The field for the 2025 WNBA Playoffs is officially locked, with eight teams ready to compete for the championship.

2025 WNBA Playoffs bracket ready to go as eight teams begin title chase

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Final Four of EuroBasket 2025 is now set after Germany and Finland dispatched their respective opponents in the final two matchups of the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 in Riga.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After an intense quarterfinal round, four teams have risen above everyone else &ndash; some expected, others making history. Germany solidified its status as one of Europe&rsquo;s elite, while Finland made a breakthrough by reaching the semis for the first time; while Greece and Turkey each leaned on star power and veteran leadership to return to the last four.</span></p>
<p><strong>🇫🇮 Finland makes history</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Finland&rsquo;s 93-79 win over Georgia not only secured a semifinal berth but also marked the first time the Finnish men&rsquo;s national team has made it this far in EuroBasket history.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lauri Markkanen, who has been steadily building toward this moment, contributed 17 points and 6 rebounds along with 4 blocks, providing both offense and rim protection.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Meanwhile Mikael Jantunen led the scoring with 19 points including several crucial three-pointers that helped them pull away, especially early. Bench contributions were huge: Finland outscored Georgia&rsquo;s bench by a wide margin. Though Georgia made a push in the third quarter, Finland&rsquo;s ability to hit big shots and maintain composure down the stretch sealed their milestone.</span></p>
<p><strong>🇩🇪 Germany survive Doncic masterclass</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Germany, the defending FIBA World Cup champion, edged past Slovenia 99-91 in a thriller, in spite of a monumental 39-point performance from Luka Doncic.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Franz Wagner poured in 23 points, and Dennis Schr&ouml;der added a timely 7 assists and leadership down the stretch, helping Germany respond when the momentum could have swung Slovenia&rsquo;s way.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A dramatic half-court buzzer-beater by Tristan da Silva just before the end of the third quarter cut into Slovenia&rsquo;s lead and galvanized the German side. From there, Germany tightened defensively and controlled the pace in the fourth. With this win, Germany advances to face the underdog Finland, a matchup that promises contrast: experience vs. hunger.</span></p>

The Final Four of EuroBasket 2025 is now set after Germany and Finland dispatched their respective opponents.

Finland, Germany complete EuroBasket 2025 Final Four cast

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Round of 16 at EuroBasket 2025 delivered high drama, as Finland upset Serbia, and Georgia stunned France, delivering two of the biggest shocks in recent tournament history.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a seismic win, Finland eliminated tournament favorite Serbia &ndash; led by three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić &ndash; with a dazzling 92-86 victory. Lauri Markkanen spearheaded the charge, delivering 29 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 assists, while Elias Valtonen iced the game with a dagger three in the closing minutes.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Serbia, despite Jokić&rsquo;s dominant 33-point performance, faltered when it mattered most as Finland seized control in the third quarter and never looked back. The result sent shockwaves through the European basketball world and advanced Finland to a high-stakes quarterfinal showdown.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Georgia followed with its own statement win, controlling nearly the entire game to beat France 80-70. Tornike Shengelia and Kamar Baldwin both poured in 24 points, capitalizing on France&rsquo;s cold shooting and absence of key stars (Victor Wembanyama and Alex Sarr).&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">France struggled to connect from deep (making just 6 of 36 three-pointers) and ultimately couldn't recover to bow out of the competition. Now, this marks Georgia&rsquo;s first-ever appearance in the EuroBasket quarterfinals.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Other notable round of 16 results include Slovenia&rsquo;s Luka Doncic posting 42 points to beat Italy (84&ndash;77), Greece advancing behind Giannis Antetokounmpo&rsquo;s 37 points (84&ndash;79 over Israel), and Poland&rsquo;s impressive run continuing after topping Bosnia (80&ndash;72). Traditional powers Germany, Turkey, and Lithuania also moved on, beating Portugal, Sweden, and Latvia respectively.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The path ahead is wide open &ndash; Finland now meets Georgia in what promises to be a showdown of tourney Cinderella stories, while traditional contenders prepare to set the stage for the final four.</span></p>

The Round of 16 at EuroBasket 2025 delivered high drama, as Finland upset Serbia, and Georgia stunned France, delivering two of the biggest shocks in recent tournament history.

EuroBasket 2025 Round of 16: Finland topples Serbia, Georgia upsets France

<p>Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2025 WNBA season. She has spent the majority of the season injured and going through a tumultuous rehab process coupled with failed attempts to return. She hasn't played since July 15 .&nbsp;</p>
<p>Clark, the 2024 No. 1 pick, had been limited to 13 games this season when she suffered a right groin injury in the final minute of the Fever's win over the Connecticut Sun.</p>
<p>Caitlin Clark announced on social media&nbsp;Thursday night&hellip;</p>
<p>"I had hoped to share a better update, but I will not be returning to play this season," Clark posted. "I spent hours in the gym every day with the singular goal of getting back out there, disappointed isn't a big enough word to describe how I am feeling."</p>
<p>&ldquo;This has been incredibly frustrating, but even in the bad, there is good. The way the fans continued to show up for me, and for the Fever, brought me so much joy and important perspective. I am so proud of how this team has only gotten stronger through adversity this year. Now it&rsquo;s time to close out the season and claim our spot in the playoffs.&rdquo;</p>
<p>This brought a swift reaction from many of the Caitlin Clark mob.</p>
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<p>Here are the facts that not surprisingly, only actual WNBA fans will acknowledge, it would&rsquo;ve been very foolish for Caitlin Clark to risk further injury. In fact, if the Indiana Fever elected to treat Caitlin Clark with the same level of medical malpractice that the Indiana Pacers did with Tyrese Haliburton, and she came back and played and injured herself worst like Tyrese Haliburton did, and would have to miss the entire season next year like Tyrese Haliburton will, that would&rsquo;ve been even more of a catastrophe&hellip;&hellip;as it is for Tyrese Haliburton.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Of course CC wants to play, just as Tyrese Haliburton wanted to play in the NBA finals but it&rsquo;s not up to them. Any player is going to want to play that&rsquo;s the way Athletes are wired no matter what age or level. If you ask a middle school basketball player if they wanted to try a play in a big game even though they&rsquo;re injured nine times out of 10 they&rsquo;re going to say yes. It&rsquo;s ingrained in athletes to throw caution to the side, and sacrifice your body and health for the good of the team.&nbsp;</p>
<p>On the walls of many high school weight rooms, coaches love to put quotes like,</p>
<p>&nbsp;&ldquo;Pain Is Weakness Leaving Your Body&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Or&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Pain You Feel Today Will Be The Strength You Feel Tomorrow&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Or&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;You Either Quit Or You Keep Going. They Both Hurt&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Or&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;That which does not kill us will only make us stronger&rdquo;</p>
<p>(Attributed to 2Pac or Nietzche whichever will drive home the gladiator, ignore your body and sacrifice for the team message)&nbsp;</p>
<p>That&rsquo;s why it&rsquo;s such a ridiculous argument that people make when they say Tyrese Haliburton said he wanted to play or RG III said he wanted to play or Jayson Tatum or Kevin Durant said he wanted to play. Of course they are going to want to play. That&rsquo;s what athletes have been programmed to do.&nbsp;</p>
<p>But in every case, the medical team should have never cleared any of them to play. They are the doctors, the trainers, the medical professionals and they didn&rsquo;t do their job and they should all be held accountable just as when any profession doesn&rsquo;t do their job and catastrophe happens because of their negligence.</p>
<p>If someone goes to a doctor, and tells the doctor that they don&rsquo;t like taking medicine, and the doctor signs off on them not taking the medicine, and the person dies as a result of it, would it be ok because the patient said they didn&rsquo;t like taking medicine ? No. It&rsquo;s the doctor&rsquo;s job to give their medical, professional, diagnosis and recommendation, what they went to years of medical school and are being paid to do. Only in sports do people say, &ldquo;The athlete wanted to play&rdquo; &nbsp;It&rsquo;s your job to say, &ldquo;It doesn&rsquo;t matter what you want, you are not cleared to play&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>When Caitlin Clark came back in July and played in that game against the Connitcuit Sun, and re injured herself, it appeared as though they were trying to get her back for the big game against the NY Liberty, and you had all star wknd coming up, and they had the TV ratings to be concerned about. But she didn&rsquo;t look right even before she re injured herself.&nbsp;</p>
<p>But real Caitlin Clark fans should be relieved that the Fever &nbsp;aren&rsquo;t risking her long term health for a short sighted goal of the current playoff position. Especially when even if they did somehow squeak into the playoffs would be facing one of the best if not the best teams in the WNBA, the Minnesota Lynx and, let&rsquo;s be honest&hellip;&hellip;their chances of making it past them are slim to none. Maybe even less than that&nbsp;</p>
<p>Caitlin Clark fans should breathe a sigh of relief that the Indiana Fever aren&rsquo;t electing to treat their franchise player as dispensable. We have seen that script before with RG3 and it ruined his entire career.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>However, the Caitlin Clark mob doesn&rsquo;t care about her actual health or about her as a person. If they did they would&rsquo;ve listened to her multiple pleas with them to not use her to promote racism, hate, or bigotry. But just like her health, her opinion doesn&rsquo;t matter to them. Their only concern and desire is to be able to weaponize her as the symbol of white grievance, white supremacy, the great white hope, as the white damsel in distress who needs protection from all of the Black WNBA players who want to harm her because they hate her so much and are jealous of her. Now, they can&rsquo;t run with any of those narratives anymore. At least not until next season.&nbsp;</p>
<div>And for media people like Dick Vitale, Christine Brennan, Frank Isola, and Jason Whitlock, there&nbsp;will be no fouls to inflate into morality plays or on-court moments to twist into evidence of persecution, so they will have to find new narratives to promote&hellip;..</div>
<div>Or they will completely ignore a sure to be exciting WNBA playoffs with multitudes of ultra talented players altogether. Pay close attention to which one they choose.</div>

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2025 WNBA season.

The Caitlin Clark mob is upset they can no longer weaponize her this season

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The knockout round drama begins in FIBA play as the 2025 EuroBasket round of 16 bracket is officially locked in after 8 days of group phase competition across 4 cities. Now, the action shifts to the 16 national teams that qualified and they will hit the court in single-elimination action, with the winners edging closer to continental glory.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">All the matches of Round of 16 onwards to the quarterfinals, semifinals, 3rd place game, and Final will be in Riga, Latvia.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">NBA superstars Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Luka Doncic have all led their teams to the next round, as Serbia, Greece, and Slovenia enter the next phase as teams to look out for.</span></p>
<p><strong>The 2025 EuroBasket Round of 16 matchups are as follows:</strong></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Turkey vs Sweden</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> &mdash; Group A&rsquo;s top team faces a fourth-seed survivor vs Sweden</span></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Germany vs Portugal</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> &mdash; A dominant German team seeks to continue its flawless run against Portugal</span></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lithuania vs Latvia</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> &mdash; A classic Baltic derby loaded with history and passion</span></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Serbia vs Finland</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> &mdash; Lauri Markkanen and the Scandinavian upstarts meet perennial powerhouse Serbia with the best player in the world, Nikola Jokic</span></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Poland vs Bosnia &amp; Herzegovina</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> &mdash; A grudge match with playoff stakes</span></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">France vs Georgia</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> &mdash; Can France flex its group dominance against the gritty Georgians?</span></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Italy vs Slovenia</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> &mdash; Luka-led Slovenia meets a confident, balanced Italian squad in one of the weekend&rsquo;s marquee seesaws</span></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Greece vs Israel</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> &mdash; Giannis&rsquo; Greece must quiet Deni Avdija&rsquo;s scoring burst in what could be a classic narrative showdown</span></p>
<p><strong>Among the key storylines of the tournament thus far, include:</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">-Turkey topped Group A (after beating Serbia) with a perfect 5&ndash;0 record; Germany did the same in Group B.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">-Greece led Group C followed by Italy, Bosnia &amp; Herzegovina, and Georgia &ndash; with Spain, the defending champion, shocking many by missing the cut.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">-Group D survivors include France, Poland, Slovenia, and Israel.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">-Rivalries renewed: The Baltic battle of Lithuania vs Latvia sets the tone for regional pride &ndash; always a high-stakes matchup.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">-Blockbuster clash: Italy vs Slovenia stands out &ndash; not just for the presence of Luka Doncic, but for the contrasting styles of play for both teams.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">-Star spotlight: Greek dominance led by Giannis Antetokounmpo faces a disrupted but resilient Israel, fresh off a gritty loss against Luka and Slovenia despite a 34-point outing from Deni Avdija.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">-Trending teams: Finland, led by Lauri Markkanen&rsquo;s MVP-caliber play, enters as a serious threat and a potential dark horse in Serbia vs Finland, while Alperen Sengun of Turkey continues to amaze by leading his team to an undefeated run so far in the tournament.</span></p>
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The knockout round drama begins in FIBA play as the 2025 EuroBasket round of 16 bracket is officially locked in.