Sauce Gardner clears up bizarre confusion about his age
A lot of people have spent Sauce Gardner’s entire career getting his age wrong.
The Indianapolis Colts cornerback is 24, but for a long time, only NFL.com listed him that way. Other sources say he was born in 2000, including ESPN, Pro Football Reference, and even Madden games.
“It’s wrong in Madden, too? That’s crazy because I never checked,” Gardner told James Boyd of The Athletic. “Because when it comes to the paperwork and everything I’ve signed, it all says ’01. So, I don’t know where or how it got messed up unless people just get it straight from Google.”
To be clear, Gardner’s NFL teams have had his age correct ever since he was drafted. Everyone else has it wrong for some reason, including Wikipedia, which may be where the inaccurate age started to circulate.
Gardner was traded from the New York Jets to the Indianapolis Colts last November. The two-time All-Pro cornerback is preparing for his first full season with the team. Some of his fans will now get to embrace the fact that he is a year younger than previously thought, too.
Luka Doncic has told Lakers to make 1 big change to roster
Luka Doncic is definitely the centerpiece of the Los Angeles Lakers, and he is making the roster demands to back that up.
Doncic has made one clear roster request of GM Rob Pelinka and coach JJ Redick. He wants a star center to complement his game, and has asked the Lakers to find one.
“Luka’s first and foremost desire is an A-list center,” a source told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
The desire is, in fact, nothing new. The Lakers have been trying to find the right fit at center for well over a year. They thought they found it in Mark Williams, but they called off a trade for him due to medical concerns. Last season, they tried to make things work with Deandre Ayton, but he proved a poor fit and faced serious questions about his effort throughout his tenure with the team.
The Lakers have a long to-do list this offseason. They want to try and keep LeBron James and Austin Reaves while pursuing roster upgrades elsewhere. Doncic has given them plenty to consider, but it is very clear what he thinks their priority should be.
While the Lakers have been linked to a few centers this offseason, they would not necessarily be characterized as “A-list.” Those are hard to find, and the team simply might not have the financial flexibility to land one.
Lane Kiffin makes big guarantee about his LSU tenure
LSU head coach Lane Kiffin is not shying away from high expectations when it comes to his new role.
Kiffin appeared on the “In The Bayou With Tyrann Mathieu” podcast this week, and essentially promised that the Tigers will win at least one national title during his tenure. He did somewhat cautiously add that it might not necessarily happen right away, though.
“I don’t know how fast it’s going to happen, but we’re going to win a national championship,” Kiffin said. “We’re going to have the teams and the rosters back to the way they were playing when they were great. I don’t know how fast. It might not be today. But it’s going to happen, and I feel it in recruiting, too.”
Lane Kiffin makes a National Championship promise for LSU 👀🏆
— In The Bayou With Tyrann Mathieu (@InTheBayouPod) June 17, 2026
“I don’t know how fast it’s going to happen, but we’re going to win a national championship. We’re going to have the teams and the rosters back to the way they were playing when they were great.” pic.twitter.com/z1zlZj0j55
It may not be phrased as boldly as it could have been, but Kiffin is essentially promising a title here. The confidence was telling, as it sounds like there is no doubt in his mind that this will come to pass.
That said, Kiffin is just recognizing the reality of what will be expected of him. Brian Kelly went 34-14 for LSU, but was fired because the team never got particularly close to contending for a title. Plus, good results should be the expectation in light of the financial resources being poured into the program.
LSU won its last national title under Ed Orgeron in 2019. They have not even been back to the College Football Playoff since then.
James Dolan confirms news that will worry Knicks fans
New York Knicks fans should enjoy their NBA title victory while it lasts, because it sounds like things will be a bit different for the organization next season.
In an appearance on WFAN Thursday, Knicks owner James Dolan confirmed he would not enter the so-called second apron to keep the team together this offseason. That essentially means the team’s payroll will be capped at $222 million.
“We’re willing to stretch, but there’s certain things in the NBA that you’d have to be suicidal to do, and we’re not going to do those. One of them is the second apron. Cannot go into the second apron,” Dolan said. “I’ll write as big of a check as possible, but I can’t write a check that goes into the second apron.”
"There's certain things in the NBA that you'd have to be suicidal to do. One of them is the second apron. Cannot go into the second apron. I'll write as big of a check as possible, but I can't write a check that goes into the second apron."
— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) June 17, 2026
– James Dolan on @CartonShowWFAN pic.twitter.com/KJFIccCnMf
The Knicks only have eight players under contract for next season if Jose Alvarado opts out of his $4.5 million player option. That would leave the team roughly $17 million under the second apron, with the likes of Mitchell Robinson and Landry Shamet set for agency. The team might lose one or both of those players as a result of those financial restrictions.
The desire to avoid the second apron is likely less about the money itself and more about the consequences that come with it. Any team that crosses that threshold would no longer be allowed to send cash in a trade, use the $6.1 million tax midlevel exception on a free agent, or pair multiple salaries together in a trade. That would significantly hinder the Knicks’ roster flexibility.
The Knicks do return most of their core next season. However, financial realities might mean that one of their star players will have to be sacrificed in the name of long-term flexibility.
Former 2nd-round pick is attempting an NFL comeback
A former second-round NFL Draft pick is trying to make a comeback despite not having played in the league since 2022.
Denzel Mims, the New York Jets’ second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, has signed with the Dallas Cowboys. He spent last season playing for the Dallas Renegades in the UFL.
Former Jets second-round pick Denzel Mims lands in Dallas. https://t.co/4LExp7gN94
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 18, 2026
At one point, Mims was seen as a high-ceiling prospect by the Jets, and he posted 357 receiving yards as a rookie in 2020. However, the team was essentially over him by that offseason, and he did not get many opportunities over the next two seasons. They ultimately released him in 2023, and he never caught on elsewhere.
Mims was a standout player at Baylor, where he had 1,020 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior. The Texas native will hope that his return home gives him an opportunity to make an NFL roster again.
The Cowboys have no shortage of wide receivers. CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens figure to get most of the targets, so Mims is just hoping he can latch on.
Tyler Kolek almost got tackled by police during Knicks parade
New York Knicks reserve Tyler Kolek had an awkward moment during the team’s championship parade on Thursday when police mistook him for a fan.
Kolek was celebrating by running down the barrier and high-fiving Knicks fans who had assembled for Thursday’s parade. He was not recognizable to at least a couple of police working security, however, who rushed in to stop him and looked ready to take him down. A team employee quickly stepped in to assure the cops that Kolek was, in fact, a member of the squad.
Cops mistook Tyler Kolek for a fan 😩 #alwaysknicks pic.twitter.com/7LxI29zahb
— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) June 18, 2026
Kolek made light of the situation on X, jokingly posting “I swear I’m on the team bro!”
I swear I’m on the team bro 😂😂😂 https://t.co/7AJyNXAIfz
— Tyler Kolek (@tyler_kolek) June 18, 2026
Kolek was the Knicks’ second-round pick in 2024, and he did not exactly warm the end of the bench, either. He played in 62 games during the regular season and appeared in eight playoff games as well, though he averaged only 6.6 minutes per game in those postseason appearances. He does have some skills, though.
These sorts of embarrassing things do happen from time to time. However, one would not have expected this to happen in the middle of a championship parade, even if the player involved is a depth piece.
Jalen Brunson sends a message to his critics
A lot of bad Jalen Brunson takes have been unearthed since the New York Knicks guard won Finals MVP, but he is taking the high road — sort of.
Brunson acknowledged some of those old criticisms on Thursday, when he spoke at the Knicks’ championship parade in New York, N.Y. The guard did not address them directly, but the message was loud and clear: he took note.
“There’s a lot of people that have a lot of negative stuff to say. There’s a lot of people who have a lot of opinions,” Brunson said. “But when you prove them wrong, you don’t have to say s–t to them. They don’t deserve it.”
"There's a lot of people that have a lot of opinions. But when you prove them wrong, you don't have to say s— to them."
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 18, 2026
Jalen Brunson with a message 😤 pic.twitter.com/bBOiVtRnpE
It’s not hard to figure out who Brunson might be alluding to. Becky Hammon, in particular, has taken a lot of heat for something she said about the guard years ago.
Few will be doubting Brunson going forward after he won Finals MVP to top off the Knicks’ championship run. He averaged 28.4 points per game during the postseason, including 45 points in the Finals-clinching victory in San Antonio.
While Brunson is mostly brushing off the critics, his sister was not quite in as forgiving a mood. The guard doesn’t really have to respond in a meaningful way since he clearly has people willing to do that for him.
Eagles are reluctant to pay 1 star player
The Philadelphia Eagles have some concerns about handing a new contract to one of their star players.
The Eagles have yet to commit to defensive tackle Jalen Carter in the form of a new contract despite having two years left on his rookie deal. That is not an accident, according to Albert Breer of The MMQB. Breer wrote Thursday that the Eagles are “hesitant” to pay Carter, and that the team wants to see a bit more from him “from a character perspective.”
“If Carter won’t give them that flexibility now, maybe he’ll just wait another year. Which would make this a little like the George Pickens situation in Dallas — where a team might want to see a little more from a player, just from a character perspective, before committing long term,” Breer wrote.
One can understand why the Eagles want to see a bit more growth from Carter. He was involved in a high-profile incident last season when he got ejected six seconds into the season opener for spitting at Dak Prescott. He was also involved in at least one other questionable on-field incident, too.
On the other hand, Carter is already a second-team All-Pro and one of the best young defensive linemen in the game. He could certainly justify seeking a deal that makes him among the highest-paid at his position. The Eagles, however, are not willing to go there yet.
Corentin Moutet refuses to dial back profanities during outrageous interview
Corentin Moutet is definitely not the type who’ll ask to pardon his French.
Following the French tennis player’s 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) win over compatriot Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round of the HSBC Championships at the Queen’s Club in London on Monday, Moutet obliged for an interview with BBC interviewer Jenny Drummond, who asked him about a 142 mph serve from Perricard.
It all started well during the interview, with Moutet providing a detailed response before accidentally dropping a profanity.
Drummond then said, “No f-bombs please,” but that was the complete opposite of what Moutet did next.
The world No. 36 responded with three more f-bombs, as the crowd cheered and laughed in the background.
Drummond asked Moutet one more time to “please keep it clean,” but once again received the same response, forcing the interview to be cut short, as Drummond apologized for how the conversation went.
Here is a video of the now viral interview.
Moutet’s interview in London was interrupted after he embarrassingly dropping SEVEN F-bombs following his first round win at the Queen’s Club.
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) June 16, 2026
The interviewer apologized to viewers/crowds several times during the exchange. pic.twitter.com/LFxy0GoQPn
That was not the first time Moutet turned heads with his behavior. During the 2022 U.S. Open, he took some jabs at an umpire following a first-round victory over Stan Wawrinka. In another instance, Moutet got into it with Alexander Bublik during a quarterfinal match at the Arizona Tennis Classic.
In any case, Moutet has advanced to the second round of the HSBC Championships, where he will meet Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Sophie Cunningham tried her best to prevent a live TV disaster
Thankfully for Sophie Cunningham, her side quest went generally smoothly.
With the Indiana Fever idle on Wednesday, Cunningham made her debut for USA Network’s WNBA coverage as a guest.
Before going on air, the Fever sent out a message via social media to remind their followers of the Indiana star guard’s TV gig.
“Sophie Cunningham is making her WNBA on @usasports broadcast debut tonight,” Indiana’s post read.
The former Missouri Tigers star saw the post and left a hilarious comment, reminding herself not to swear during the broadcast.
“Please don’t cuss please don’t cuss please don’t cuss,” the 29-year-old Cunningham wrote.
We cut the mic a few times… 😅 pic.twitter.com/947lZP0rlb
— USA Sports (@usasports) June 18, 2026
Cunningham seems to be laying the groundwork for a different career once her playing days are over. Many former pro athletes have found success in broadcast media, a path she could take down the road.
Cunningham is not the first Fever player to dabble with the mic this year, with Caitlin Clark making her broadcasting debut in February to help NBC cover a marquee matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks.
But it’s back to business as usual for Cunningham on Thursday, with the Fever hosting Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
So far in the 2026 WNBA season, Cunningham is averaging 10.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.
A’ja Wilson posts a historically absurd stat line
A’ja Wilson is truly the gift that keeps on giving for the Las Vegas Aces.
Wilson was more than instrumental in the reigning WNBA champions Aces’ 86-76 win over the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz., as she put up an incredible stat line.
The four-time WNBA Most Valuable Player lit up the Mercury for 33 points on 11/20 shooting from the field and 11/13 from the free-throw line. She added 10 rebounds, 5 steals, 3 assists and 2 blocks in 37 minutes.
In doing so, Wilson accomplished a feat no other player has achieved in league history.
A'ja Wilson vs Phoenix:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) June 18, 2026
33 PTS
11 REB
5 STL
2 BLK
Joins A'ja Wilson as the only players in WNBA history with those numbers in a single game. pic.twitter.com/j7jImXGVik
The 29-year-old Wilson has been a walking nightmare for Aces opponents in the 2026 WNBA season. So far in the campaign, she is averaging 26.1 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.2 blocks, while knocking down 52.6% of her attempts from the field.
Those numbers are also translating into wins for Las Vegas, which clinched a spot in the Commissioner’s Cup championship after defeating the Mercury.
Wilson and the Aces, winners in seven of their last eight games, will carry an 11-4 record to their next game, which is against the Golden State Valkyries on Sunday at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.
Baseball manager had an all-time crashout after his ejection
An independent professional baseball club manager had a major crashout during a game on Tuesday, and it was all caught on video.
James Frisbie, who is in his first season back as manager of the Lincoln Saltdogs, completely lost it while arguing a call during a game against the visiting Winnipeg Goldeyes at Haymarket Park in Lincoln, Neb.
Frisbie left the dugout to confront an umpire and contest a call at first base, where a Saltdogs player was ruled out. After some words with the umpire, he was ejected from the game, but his histrionics did not end there.
He tossed his helmet to the ground hard with both hands and continued to shout at the umpire before charging at a second umpire.
Frisbie viciously kicked the ground multiple times. His eruption reached its peak when he pulled out the first base and threw it away. Just when it looked like he had calmed down as he walked to the dugout, Frisbie turned around and unloaded again on the umpires.
Here is the video showing Frisbie’s eye-popping outburst.
Lincoln Saltdogs manager James Frisbie tossed first base after getting ejected in one of the best manager freakouts you've probably seen in a while. pic.twitter.com/vgLQd9lawp
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) June 18, 2026
The good news for Frisbie is that his explosion seemed to have given his team a shot in the arm, as the Saltdogs came away with a 7–5 victory.
Frisbie returned to manage the Saltdogs after leaving the club in 2021 to join the Detroit Tigers. After two seasons with the Tigers, he spent three seasons with the Washington Nationals.
Dan Hurley reveals dream White House game opponent for UConn
Dan Hurley has a tasty hoops idea for the White House.
After attending the historic UFC Freedom 250 on Sunday, the UConn Huskies head coach was asked by Charlie Cotton of TMZ DC for his thoughts on a potential college basketball game at the White House.
“That would be good, man,” Hurley said. “I think UConn should definitely be in it. Maybe UConn [vs.] Duke.”
UConn Basketball Coach @dhurley15 wants his team to play Duke at the White House pic.twitter.com/CrZLsZozf0
— CHARLIE COTTON (@hicharliecotton) June 17, 2026
The UFC event over the weekend may have set a precedent for more sporting events at the official presidential residence.
College basketball games have been played at unusual venues in the past, such as on an aircraft carrier and in a Major League Baseball stadium. However, there has never been one played at the White House.
For now, such an idea remains nothing more than a hardwood fantasy.
In any case, a game between UConn and Duke would always attract a ton of attention, regardless of the venue, especially with how things unfolded the last time the two storied basketball programs shared a court.
During the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, Hurley’s Huskies sent Duke crashing out of the Big Dance in dramatic fashion, completing an improbable 73–72 comeback win on Braylon Mullins’ game-winning 3-pointer.
Report: Major development on Trae Young’s future with the Wizards emerges
Trae Young’s time with the Washington Wizards could end up being just a short one.
According to Marc J. Spears of Andscape, Young is expected to turn down his massive player option for the 2026-27 season with the Wizards, opening a path for him to become a free agent as soon as Monday.
Young’s option next season is worth $48.97 million, but he can still re-sign with the Wizards, who remain the favorites to retain the former Oklahoma Sooners star point guard. However, becoming a free agent presents a bigger challenge for Washington to keep him.
The 27-year-old Young used to be the face of the Atlanta Hawks, who parted ways with him in January, trading the four-time NBA All-Star to the Wizards for Corey Kispert and CJ McCollum.
He appeared in only five games for the Wizards last season, averaging 15.2 points, 6.2 assists and 3.0 rebounds, while shooting 59.5% from the floor.
Washington’s stance on Young’s future may also be influenced by the direction the Wizards take with their No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Many believe the Wizards will use that pick to select Kansas Jayhawks star Darryn Peterson, a talented guard with huge upside, but he would find himself in a crowded backcourt in Washington if the team ends up keeping Young.
Kyrie Irving accused of ghosting the Cavaliers’ championship team reunion
Kyrie Irving apparently could not be bothered to link up with his former Cleveland Cavaliers teammates.
Earlier this week, veteran NBA big man Kevin Love posted an awesome photo of a golf-course reunion that he had with several of his old teammates on the 2016 champion Cavaliers. Love posed with LeBron James, J.R. Smith, Channing Frye, and Tristan Thompson in an apparent celebration of the 10-year anniversary of that NBA title win (with Richard Jefferson also present in some other group shots).
That said, many fans were wondering where the Dallas Mavericks star Irving was. Irving was an integral part of that team as well and formed a famous Big Three together with James and Love.
In an Instagram comment on Wednesday, the retired ex-Cavaliers guard Smith responded to a fan who suggested that Irving was not invited to the reunion. Smith said that Irving was very much invited … but completely ghosted his former teammates.
“Missing none,” said Smith. “[Kyrie] was invited and ghosted us all. So stop with that bs.”
“Why do you hate Kyrie bro” pic.twitter.com/jCzmBGVWg9
— Wizely (@Wizelycook) June 17, 2026
Irving played for the Cavaliers from the start of his NBA career in 2011 until 2017, making four All-Star teams and one All-NBA team while in Cleveland. He also memorably hit the championship-clinching three-pointer in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors.
But Irving eventually grew frustrated with his role on the Cavaliers and asked out in 2017 in the hopes of finding his own team (ultimately getting traded to the Boston Celtics). Irving is known as an extremely unpredictable personality, and the claim that he ghosted his former teammates is not all that surprising (particularly since Irving did not even receive a tribute video after his departure from Cleveland).
Fans are thrilled about MLB’s big change to the Home Run Derby
The Home Run Derby is finally getting out of its own way.
Major League Baseball is implementing a big-time change to the Home Run Derby beginning with this year’s competition at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pa. They are formally ditching the clock that had become a staple of every HR Derby since 2015, according to a report on Wednesday by Evan Drellich of The Athletic.
Drellich adds that MLB will now be using a “swings” system in which each hitter gets 20 swings in the first round and 15 swings in each of the second and third rounds. Additionally, the Home Run Derby will reportedly allow for players to keep on swinging during the last pitch of every round until they do not homer.
Fans universally agreed that the decision by MLB was a major positive. Many took to social media to express their glowing approval.
That’s a W the clock to me was always unnecessary
— (@proclubmember) June 18, 2026
THE REAL HR DERBY IS BACK LFG!!! pic.twitter.com/XNBTLp2mT3
—2025 WORLD SERIES CHAMPS (@jgutierrez55) June 18, 2026
— Moving Unit (@MovingUnit_) June 18, 2026
this is the way it should be
— Mets2026 (@Mets2026) June 18, 2026
Major League Baseball first implemented the clock-based system for the Home Run Derby during commissioner Rob Manfred’s first year in charge in an apparent attempt to speed the pace of the competition and prevent players from taking too many pitches. But the pendulum eventually swung too far in the other direction with players now rushing to beat the clock, thus resulting in heavier fatigue and a vastly inferior viewing product for fans (with the broadcast often having to cut away from home runs before they even landed).
MLB might still be modernizing the Home Run Derby in some other regards. But it looks like the decision to finally return the competition to its roots in a sense is a major win for baseball fans.
Shohei Ohtani’s blistered hand looked nasty during his season-worst start
Shohei Ohtani was seeing red during Wednesday’s start … literally.
The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Ohtani took the mound on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays. But Ohtani definitely had to overcome some adversity during the game at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif.
Ohtani ended up giving up a season-worst four earned runs on seven hits and one walk. He also managed a modest five strikeouts but was particularly bad in the fourth inning.
The back-to-back reigning NL MVP Ohtani allowed all four of his earned runs in that fourth inning. After he finally retired the side, the issue for Ohtani became apparent.
Television cameras showed Ohtani walking back to the dugout with a bloody middle finger from a nasty blister on his pitching hand. The blood had even dripped onto Ohtani’s uniform at one point.
Looks as though Shohei Ohtani was dealing with the blister on his middle finger in that 4-run inning https://t.co/jVoOO3EA7U
— Adrian Medina (@AdrianMedina_16) June 17, 2026
Blood splatter from Shohei Ohtani’s blister is apparent on the pantleg. https://t.co/zXH3LZCfuV
— Adrian Medina (@AdrianMedina_16) June 17, 2026
Ohtani exited as a pitcher after six innings and 91 pitches thrown. But he was buoyed by enough run support and ended up earning the victory as the Dodgers defeated the Rays by a final score of 5-4.
The 31-year-old Ohtani has notably struggled with blisters while pitching in the past, even dating back to the early part of his tenure with the Los Angeles Angels. Wednesday’s blister did not derail him too badly though, and Ohtani now holds an impressive season-long record of 7-2 with a 1.47 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP through 12 starts.
NBA champion Knicks make a decision on visiting the White House
The New York Knicks are ready to for their close-up with President Donald J. Trump.
The newly-minted NBA champion Knicks plan to visit President Trump at the White House, owner James Dolan revealed Wednesday during an appearance on WFAN in New York. Dolan said that the team had already received the invitation to visit, which they accepted.
“We just did receive an invitation from the White House, which we accepted,” said Dolan, per Lorenzo Reyes of USA Today. “We still have to figure out the details, et cetera, but yes, of course.
“He is a friend,” Dolan said of President Trump. “I’ve known him for 30 years and I’m very proud to bring the team to the White House.”
Trump notably has yet to host a single defending NBA champion team during either of his two terms in office. The Golden State Warriors (2017 and 2018) and the Toronto Raptors (2019) both decided not to visit, and the Los Angeles Lakers (2020) were unable to at the time due to COVID-19 protocols. Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder (2025) also skipped out on a White House visit earlier this year due to a notable reason.
But Trump is indeed close friends with Dolan, and even attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y. as Dolan’s guest. Though Trump was booed heavily by the MSG crowd as the Knicks went on to lose to the San Antonio Spurs that game for the only time in the Finals, he will now finally be getting his visit from a defending NBA champion, courtesy of his friend and fellow New Yorker Dolan.
Warriors’ expected free agent contract offer for LeBron James is revealed
The grass might not necessarily be greener for LeBron James if he ends up leaving the Los Angeles Lakers this summer.
The Golden State Warriors would be ready to offer James the full non-taxpayer midlevel exception of $15.1 million for next season, Anthony Slater of ESPN reported Wednesday. Slater notes that the Warriors could also theoretically tack on a second-season player option as part of the deal.
However, Golden State has reportedly received intel that suggests James will simply be returning to the Lakers instead, and thus they are plotting out their offseason under that premise. You can read Slater’s full report on the situation here.
James, now 41 years old, is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. He made $52.6 million last year and does not appear to be willing to take that drastic of a paycut, especially after averaging a 21-6-7 line for the Lakers last season.
Meanwhile, the Warriors are the outside team that have mentioned in closest connection to James if the four-time NBA MVP decides to leave Los Angeles this season. There was even a report last week claiming that James was intrigued by the possibility of teaming up with Steph Curry in Golden State.
But the Warriors, who are already just $26 million under the second apron of the luxury tax with all of their pre-existing contract commitments for next season, are limited financially in how they can entice James. As such, the most plausible outcome is still James simply deciding to run it back for one more year with the Lakers (especially given the major step that he took to that effect in recent days).
Tyrese Haliburton’s fiancée Jade Jones speaks on death of friend at her bachelorette party
Jade Jones is breaking her silence this week on the tragic death of her close friend Makenzi Kern.
In a post to Instagram on Wednesday, Jones, the fiancée of Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, issued a lengthy tribute to her late friend Kern. Jones said that Kern “was truly a light in this world” and “a once-in-a-lifetime kind of friend.”
Additionally, Jones shared a number of her photos together with Kern over the years and said that Kern had been “there for all of our moments since the day I met Tyrese.” Take a look at Jones’ full tribute post.
Kern, 26, died in St. Barth’s on June 8 while attending Jones’ bachelorette party on the island. According to a report, Kern’s family does not believe that foul play, drugs, or alcohol played a role in her death (read the full details here).
Jones and Kern were both cheerleaders at Iowa State University. Meanwhile, Haliburton also played his college ball at Iowa State from 2018-20.
The two-time NBA All-Star Haliburton has been in a relationship with Jones since 2019, and the couple announced their engagement last year in a viral post. Haliburton and Jones had scheduled their wedding for Aug. 1 of this year, but it remains unclear if they will proceed with that date in the wake of Kern’s tragic passing.
