Spurs GM clears air on De’Aaron Fox’s place on the team
The San Antonio Spurs do not sound ready to move on from De’Aaron Fox anytime soon.
The big question surrounding the Spurs heading into the offseason was what the team planned to do with Fox. Given Fox’s disastrous NBA Finals performance and Dylan Harper’s postseason leap, many assumed the former All-Star would be on the trading block.
Reports emerged last week that San Antonio was remaining committed to Fox despite his playoff shortcomings. Spurs GM Brian Wright confirmed this as he spoke to reporters after the first round of the 2026 NBA draft.
According to the San Antonio Express-News’ Tom Osborn, Wright stated that the team has “ultimate faith in De’Aaron and who he is as a player, what he’s been for us, and what he means to this team, and there’s no wavering in that at all.”
Even more questions arise should Fox remain on the Spurs’ roster come the start of next season. Would Fox remain the starter over Harper despite getting outplayed by the 20-year-old on the NBA’s biggest stage? Would Harper be okay with such a scenario when he had already been frustrated by his role last season?
Wright’s comments could be seen as calculated, as the Spurs potentially hope to build back some of Fox’s value before putting him on the trading block. With Fox’s 4-year, $219 million contract kicking in next season, benching him may tank his value completely.
But with San Antonio’s backcourt of the future already in place in Harper and Stephon Castle, what the Spurs do with Fox this season is worth keeping an eye on.
Yaxel Lendeborg had great reaction to Dusty May passing on him for his Michigan teammate
Yaxel Lendeborg may not be returning any of Dusty May’s calls anytime soon.
The NBA and college basketball worlds collided on Monday when news broke that the Dallas Mavericks were hiring May to be the team’s next head coach. The news prompted Lendeborg, who came into Tuesday’s NBA draft as a projected lottery pick, to joke that May needed to draft him with the Mavericks’ No. 9 pick.
“I’m very happy for him,” Lendeborg said. “I’d be way happier for him if he suddenly takes me at 9. He needs to draft me. Draft me, please.”
Yaxel wants the Mavericks to draft him at No. 9 to play for Dusty May, his coach at Michigan 😂
— ESPN (@espn) June 23, 2026
"Draft me, please." 😭 pic.twitter.com/8bSo4MBnlH
The former Michigan coach did end up drafting one of his Wolverines’ stars from the national title team — but it wasn’t Lendeborg. Instead, May green-lit the Mavericks taking Morez Johnson Jr.
Lendeborg, who went to the Golden State Warriors two picks later, wasn’t happy about May passing on him in favor of Johnson.
“I’m definitely mad at Dusty because we know who his favorite is now,” Lendeborg joked to reporters.
“But I’m happy it was Morez. If it was anybody other than a Michigan guy, I might’ve blocked Coach, for real. I’m super happy for Morez. He definitely deserves it. He’s going to be a great pro.”
Lendeborg was the best player on the May-coached Michigan team that cut up the nets during the most recent NCAA Tournament. He led the team in scoring with averages of 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists. But Johnson and 7’3″ center Aday Mara were arguably just as integral to the Wolverines’ championship run.
The huge knock on Lendeborg is that he’ll turn 24 before the start of next season. May might have felt that drafting a 20-year-old Johnson makes more sense when the Mavericks’ best player doesn’t turn 20 until December.
It’s not even clear if the Warriors themselves unanimously wanted Lendeborg. Golden State team owner Joe Lacob and GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. appeared to be arguing just before the Warriors selected Lendeborg.
Juan Soto leaves game with concerning injury
New York Mets star Juan Soto left Tuesday’s contest early due to injury.
Soto was removed from left field to start the 5th inning of the Mets’ night game against the Chicago Cubs at Citi Field in Queens, N.Y. Reports emerged indicating that Soto was dealing with a back injury, which was later confirmed by the team.
The Dominican slugger was seen wincing during his two at-bats against the Cubs. The pain he was feeling was written on his face as he put the ball in play during both of his plate appearances.
Juan Soto appeared to wince after swings in both of his at-bats tonight https://t.co/3RsRiFJEBV pic.twitter.com/WD3OhDOz4t
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) June 24, 2026
Soto was also seen wearing a heating pad on his back while standing in the dugout during the 2nd inning.
Juan Soto was pulled from the game to start the fifth
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 24, 2026
He was seen with a heating pad earlier in the game pic.twitter.com/WR2ojydNtR
After the game, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza called Soto’s injury a “back lock-up” and described him as “day-to-day.” New York decided to pull Soto after noticing him struggling to make routine throws and making faces at the plate.
The day-to-day tag is definitely good news for Mets fans. But a back injury for a premier hitter like Soto is nothing to trifle with. New York is already playing without star shortstop Francisco Lindor due to a strained left calf. Soto himself also missed some time recovering from a calf strain earlier this season.
Losing Soto for any extended period of time would turn an already gloomy season even more dour.
Rafael Devers goes on furious rant after his pinch runner fiasco
Rafael Devers did not hide his dislike for the media on Tuesday amid his latest controversy on the basepaths.
The San Francisco Giants first baseman sparked controversy on Sunday when he refused to let himself get replaced by a pinch runner in the 9th inning of a 2-1 game against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park in Miami, Fla. He eventually yielded to Giants manager Tony Vitello’s wishes, but Devers looked frustrated as he walked back to the dugout.
The moment reverberated on social media and painted Devers as a malcontent causing trouble within the Giants’ clubhouse. Days later, Devers blamed the media for “blowing everything out of proportion.”
“I think what it is, the media in general, you guys just blow everything out of proportion,” Devers said, via the New York Post’s Evan Webeck.
“I think it’s a reflection that I really don’t talk to you guys. I really don’t talk to the media. So because I don’t talk to the media, things like this happen. So you guys gotta write everything and try to blow everything out of proportion.”
The 3-time All-Star explained further on Tuesday, claiming it was a complete misunderstanding. Devers clarified that he had waved off Vitello because he thought the Giants skipper was taking him out due to concerns about his hamstring.
Devers had an opportunity to speak about the incident following the Giants’ 2-1 loss Sunday, but did not make himself available to the media after the game.
Warriors owner, GM appeared to have disagreement on live feed during NBA draft
The camera may have caught the Golden State Warriors’ brain trust at a bad time during Tuesday’s NBA draft.
The Warriors were on the clock for the No. 11 pick in the 2026 NBA draft held at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. As is customary on such a broadcast, ESPN flashed to Golden State’s war room just as the team was about to send in its pick.
The live feed showed Warriors owner Joe Lacob in an animated discussion with general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. while standing inside the team’s draft headquarters at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif.
While the feed didn’t have any audio, the hand gestures seemed to show the two in disagreement right before Dunleavy called in the Warriors’ pick.
Warriors owner Joe Lacob and GM Mike Dunleavy appear to disagree on what to do with the pick 😅 pic.twitter.com/LGKd0hvQav
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 24, 2026
Lacob and Dunleavy could have potentially just been very passionate about making the pick, which turned out to be Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg. But the mood in the Warriors’ draft HQ stood in stark contrast to that of some other teams, which looked much more celebratory than argumentative.
Given the Warriors’ win-now approach with Steph Curry still on the team, Lendeborg was hardly a surprising selection. Standing at 6’9″ and weighing 241 pounds, the 23-year-old Lendeborg already has the physical profile to compete in the NBA on Day 1.
Based on the seemingly testy exchange between Lacob and Dunleavy, perhaps the pick wasn’t as much of a no-brainer as most would have expected.
Notable update emerges on Anthony Edwards amid rumored unhappiness in Minnesota
The Ant Man will not be looking for a new colony any time soon.
Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards is not actually unhappy with the team, Chris Hine of the Minnesota Star Tribune reported on Tuesday. Hine notes that Edwards and his camp love Minnesota and that they still view the Timberwolves as the “ideal” situation for him.
Edwards, 24, was the Timberwolves’ No. 1 overall pick in 2020. He has since developed into a four-time All-Star and perennial MVP candidate, also leading Minnesota to back-to-back Western Conference Finals berths in 2024 and 2025.
But the Timberwolves lost in the second round this year to the San Antonio Spurs, sparking questions about the long-term viability of their roster. Minnesota still lacks a quality starting point guard, they traded away star Julius Randle earlier this week in a salary dump, and they also just lost popular lead assistant coach Micah Nori (who agreed to a very unusual deal to become the new head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers).
We learned earlier this month that Edwards now has questions about what the Timberwolves’ future will look like. It also probably does not help that Minnesota traded away Karl-Anthony Towns (who shares a close bond with Edwards) and had to watch this season as Towns won an NBA championship with the New York Knicks.
The Timberwolves have reportedly even been having some fears about Edwards potentially requesting a trade. But at least for now, it sounds like Edwards (who is signed in Minnesota through 2029) is entirely there to stay.
Everybody asked the same question about Shams Charania during the NBA Draft
Fans got a little bit less of Shams Charania during this year’s NBA Draft.
The ESPN reporter Charania kept a relatively low profile during Tuesday’s Day 1 of the draft at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Instead of spoiling picks before they were announced like he had in years past, Charania noticeably kept quiet as the first several picks of the draft were announced on the live television broadcast.
That led to everyone on social media asking the same thing. They were all wondering where Charania was and why he was not spoiling picks.
Shams not spoiling the picks? Am I dreaming?
—(@khlgrs) June 24, 2026
Shams not spoiling ?
— sill (@sillpilled) June 24, 2026
Shams really isn’t spoiling picks?
— Ethan (@SoftlyAugust) June 24, 2026
Shams not ruining the draft by announcing each pick before hand? Wow
— Lowry University (@LowryUniversity) June 24, 2026
Charania was notorious for spoiling picks on his X account several minutes before they were announced by NBA commissioner Adam Silver, especially when he used to work for Yahoo! Sports and The Athletic. But ever since joining ESPN in late 2024, Charania has played it much cooler during NBA Draft day.
Last year, fans were already surprised last year by how quiet Charania was during the 2025 NBA Draft. That certainly makes sense too given that Charania’s employer ESPN is the one that airs the draft in the first place.
But Charania recently sparked backlash by going back to his spoiling ways in prematurely announcing the winner of the 2025-26 NBA MVP Award last month. Many viewers were worried that Charania would go back to doing the same during this year’s NBA Draft, but he fortunately decided to keep a much lower profile this time around.
Adam Silver fooled fans so badly while announcing the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft
Adam Silver hit the people with the pump fake during the NBA Draft.
The NBA held Day 1 of the 2026 Draft on Tuesday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. But from the very start of the event, the NBA commissioner Silver was out there keeping viewers on their toes.
The Washington Wizards selected former BYU star AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall pick. It was largely the expected outcome all along (as even Dybantsa had already been talking for weeks as if he would be a member of the Wizards).
But when Silver announced the pick, he did something very unexpected. He called Dybantsa by his full name of “Anicet Dybantsa Junior.”
Yer a Wizard, AJ
— ESPN (@espn) June 24, 2026
AJ Dybantsa is heading to the District at No. 1 pic.twitter.com/42atCNr441
Many fans commented online about how Silver had gotten them with the announcement. Take a look at some of the funniest reactions.
When Adam Silver started to say AJ’s full name pic.twitter.com/8WAuEZ0RcN
— NYKTerry (@NykTerry) June 24, 2026
How Adam Silver felt pump faking us with “Anicet” pic.twitter.com/9t10DniUaU
— RunUp (@RunUpNYK) June 24, 2026
“The Wizards elect Anicet…”
— Offside (@joinoffside) June 24, 2026
…Dybansta” pic.twitter.com/pKagvDppyL
Me, when Adam Silver said, Anicet. Ha.#NBAdraft pic.twitter.com/XkLo8VFgKR
— Nick (@TheN1ckM) June 24, 2026
Dybantsa, 19, is of Congolese and Jamaican descent. He paid tribute to his family roots with his recently-released logo for Nike and did so again on Tuesday night as he entered the NBA with his full and complete name being called out by Commissioner Silver.
2 frontrunners have emerged to trade for Trey Murphy III
Trey Murphy III has a wide range of outcomes heading into the summer.
The LA Clippers and the Brooklyn Nets have been mentioned as the two frontrunners to trade for the New Orleans Pelicans forward Murphy, Sam Amick of The Athletic reported Tuesday on KNBR 680. Amick did also note though that Murphy is expected to have a “very long” list of suitors other than those two teams.
Murphy, 26, is one of the hottest trade candidates in the entire league this offseason. He is a 6-foot-8 combo forward who averaged 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game last season for the Pelicans.
A former first-round pick in 2021 (No. 17 overall), Murphy has a perfect skillset for the modern NBA. He is a 38.2 percent career three-point shooter and can also be very disruptive on the defensive end with his 7-foot wingspan.
As for the Pelicans, they just completed another disappointing season by going 26-56 and missing the playoffs for a second straight year. Murphy is easily the most valuable asset left on their roster as New Orleans looks to possibly start anew under newly-hired head coach Jamahl Mosley.
Meanwhile, the Clippers are exploring contingencies right now in the midst of an uncertain future regarding Kawhi Leonard (which could lead to them making a notable move). The Nets are also looking to overhaul their team and just made a blockbuster trade earlier this week for a multi-time All-Star.
Kendrick Perkins had a bold claim on Darryn Peterson’s NBA potential
Former NBA big man Kendrick Perkins has seen his fair share of talent, and now he is predicting big things for Kansas Jayhawks star Darryn Peterson.
Just an hour before the 2026 NBA Draft, Perkins had a bold claim for Peterson regarding his floor and his ceiling.
“He is one of the most talented players offensively that we’ve seen in the last 10 years,” Perkins said. His floor is Bradley Beal. His ceiling is Kobe Bryant.”
“If he reaches his greatness and his potential, this man is going to be special,” Perkins added.
“His floor is Bradley Beal. His ceiling is Kobe Bryant."@KendrickPerkins on Darryn Peterson's potential in the NBA 👀 pic.twitter.com/mdteopW8i9
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 23, 2026
Peterson averaged 20.2 points in 24 games in his lone season at Kansas. However, the highly-touted freshman dealt with injuries, cramping and other factors that raised some concerns during the season and during the pre-draft process.
Those issues at Kansas have led some GMs to express concerns about taking Peterson first overall, especially with BYU star AJ Dybantsa projected as the favorite.
Peterson also only visited the Washington Wizards, who have the first pick, and no other team.
However, Peterson acknowledged that he was “not dodging any team” and said it was just a decision he made.
If Perkins is right about Peterson’s floor or ceiling, it should be a stellar NBA career for the Kansas star.
ESPN insider in ‘advanced talks’ to take front office job with Hawks
Tim Bontemps has been one of ESPN’s top NBA insiders since he joined the company in 2018.
However, Bontemps could be leaving the company for a job with the Atlanta Hawks, according to Ryan Glasspiegel and Alex Schiffer of Front Office Sports.
“ESPN NBA reporter Tim Bontemps is in advanced talks to join the Atlanta Hawks’ front office, sources told Front Office Sports. A deal has not been finalized, one source said,” Front Office Sports reported.
Bontemps potentially leaving ESPN would be a big blow, and his expertise could be a smart move for Atlanta.
Before coming to ESPN, Bontemps was a well-known reporter for the Washington Post and New York Post.
Media members leaving for jobs with professional sports teams has become more popular lately. Former ESPN reporter Kevin Pelton left for a role with the Connecticut Sun, who will become the Houston Comets after the new owner paid $300 million for the franchise.
Ben Pickman, who wrote for The Athletic, left to take a role with the Portland Fire in another notable move.
Most notable was ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, who stunningly announced his retirement in 2024 as he became the GM of the men’s basketball team at his alma mater, St. Bonaventure.
This could be a big move for the Hawks, who are now led by Onsi Saleh. He was promoted from GM to president of basketball operations in May.
Cameron Boozer sends strong message on not being in No. 1 pick discussion
The 2026 NBA Draft is on Tuesday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., and the discussion is all about who will be selected first overall.
Since the NBA Draft lottery, it has been between Kansas star Darryn Peterson and BYU standout AJ Dybantsa, with the latter as the favorite. Duke freshman Cameron Boozer is widely expected to go third overall, although the son of ex-NBA star Carlos Boozer had a message about him not being in the top pick conversation.
“For me, not being in that conversation, I don’t really understand it,” Boozer said when asked the question by Kendrick Perkins. “Many years down the line, people are gonna look back and say I should’ve been.”
"Many years down the line, people are gonna look back and say I should’ve been.”
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 23, 2026
Cameron Boozer on not being in the discussion for the No. 1 pick with AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/YSO0xT9VMO
Boozer averaged 22.5 points per game with 10.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists as a centerpiece for the Duke Blue Devils.
However, Boozer has not been involved in the top pick discussion, and most mock drafts have him landing with the Memphis Grizzlies with the third overall selection.
It might be more motivation for Cameron Boozer to begin his NBA career.
Kyle Pitts makes tight end history with new contract
The Atlanta Falcons just continue to open up the checkbooks this offseason, and now tight end Kyle Pitts is the latest beneficiary.
The Falcons and Pitts agreed to a three-year contract extension worth $54 million, with $36 million fully guaranteed. In the process, this deal becomes the largest three-year contract ever for a tight end in the history of the league.
ESPN sources: TE Kyle Pitts and the Atlanta Falcons reached agreement today on a three-year, $54 million contract that includes $36 million fully guaranteed. It is the largest three-year contract for a tight end in NFL history. David Mulugheta of Athletes First and Andre Odom… pic.twitter.com/PYEEMRs8xa
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 23, 2026
The Falcons decided to use the franchise tag on Pitts earlier in the offseason, but the hope was always to sign him to a long-term deal.
Pitts was selected at No. 4 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft after starring for the Florida Gators. He had 1,026 yards as a rookie and then failed to reach 900 yards or more again until 2025.
Last season, Pitts had career-highs in receptions (88) and touchdowns (5) while he finished with 928 yards.
Still, he is a big part of the offense, and the new Atlanta regime wasted no time locking him up long-term.
The Falcons also gave wide receiver Drake London a new contract, signing him to a massive five-year, $141 million deal.
Insider suggests Dusty May might’ve been in line for top NBA job
The Dallas Mavericks hired Michigan Wolverines head coach Dusty May to replace Jason Kidd.
May’s decision to go to the Mavericks was a stunning turn of events, and it comes just a couple of months after winning an NCAA Tournament title.
However, ESPN insider Brian Windhorst said May could’ve been a top choice for another NBA opening that never became available.
“I think had Steve Kerr not resigned in Golden State, I think Dusty May would have been on the Warriors’ short list,” Windhorst said on an episode of his “The Hoop Collective” podcast.
After the season came to an end, questions swirled as Kerr’s future with the Golden State Warriors was up in the air. However, the two sides agreed to a new two-year deal to keep him in Northern California for a little bit longer.
Kerr even admitted that the Play-In win over the Los Angeles Clippers helped change his mind on returning to Golden State.
As for May, his decision to leave Michigan for the NBA hinged on two key factors: Mavs star Cooper Flagg and the uncertainty surrounding college sports.
Still, in another world, Kerr leaves Golden State and May takes over as the Warriors’ head coach in a scene that would’ve flipped the NBA world upside down even more.
Instead, Kerr stays put, and May will now head to Dallas.
Aaron Boone blasted Jazz Chisholm for an unprofessional move
New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm will be hearing about something he did Monday from his manager.
Aaron Boone said Tuesday that spoke with Chisholm for taking the field while sucking on a lollipop during Monday’s game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park in Detroit, Mich. Boone said he did not find out about it until after the game, but he was quick to nip it in the bud once he did.
“Oh yeah, that pisses me off,” Boone said. “I didn’t know about it until after the game. He and I talked about that. That won’t be going on.”
Aaron Boone was pissed off that Jazz Chisholm Jr. played with a lollipop in his mouth
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) June 23, 2026
Boone didn't realize it was the second time this season that Jazz did it pic.twitter.com/FagULjORxF
This was the second time this season Chisholm did something like this. Boone was unaware of the first instance as well.
Chisholm took the field with his lollipop in the fifth inning of Monday’s game, with the Yankees trailing 4-1. The Yankees tried to make a late comeback, but fell short as they lost 5-3.
This is not the first example of questionable behavior Chisholm has demonstrated with the Yankees. The team would probably be bothered by it a lot less if he was hitting higher than .226 on the season.
Report addresses Jaylen Brown’s Celtics future after failed trade
The future of Jaylen Brown is no clearer now than it was before the team tried and failed to involve him in a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported Tuesday that NBA teams plan to test the Boston Celtics’ resolve by making trade offers for Brown. Windhorst added that the Celtics could still trade Brown if the offer is good enough.
“Boston is in a situation where they have put Jaylen Brown out there for the whole world,” Windhorst said. “They knew it was possible they were going to lose to Miami. Now what I expect to happen is a bidding war for Jaylen Brown among other teams in the league. In the most recent days, teams have been preparing for this eventuality. I think it’ll take some time to play out, but if there is a draft pick involved, it could happen today. I don’t think that’s likely, but it could happen today.”
Teams are now preparing to send offers for Jaylen Brown after Celtics strikes out on Giannis,
— Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) June 23, 2026
Per @WindhorstESPN
“What I expect to happen, is a bidding war for Jaylen Brown. In the most recent days, teams have been preparing for this eventuality… I think it’ll take time to… pic.twitter.com/hPJtE7bi14
In other words, it sounds likely that Brown will still be traded, even if it was not for Antetokounmpo. It was abundantly clear that the Celtics were willing to insert him in a trade with Milwaukee, and there was a risk it would irrevocably burn some bridges with the former NBA Finals MVP.
Not much has been revealed about Brown’s possible market, since all the focus was on whether he would wind up with the Bucks or not. One team has been named as a possibility, but if there is actually a bidding war, this could take a while to resolve.
Heat likely to lose 1 player after trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo
The Miami Heat landed Giannis Antetokounmpo in a blockbuster trade early Tuesday, but the consequences of that deal are likely to lead to a key player departing.
Multiple reports Tuesday indicated that the Heat are highly unlikely to be able to keep Norman Powell after acquiring Antetokounmpo. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Heat accept that it will be “very difficult” for the Heat to keep Powell financially, and that the team expects him to be involved in a sign-and-trade.
The Detroit Pistons are expected to be one of the teams interested in Powell, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.
The Pistons have interest in Norman Powell (per @JakeLFischer ) and have the cap space to bid more than what Miami can (if Wiggins stays) because the Heat has a $209 M hard cap. But there are plenty of other SG options, including Coby White, Simons, Grimes, Hardaway Jr., Duncan…
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) June 23, 2026
Powell is an unrestricted free agent and could reasonably command a salary worth upwards of $20 million per year. The Heat are already approaching luxury tax territory without him on the books, making it highly unlikely that they can afford to keep Powell while giving themselves any wiggle room to add other players.
Powell, 33, was a first-time All-Star for the Heat last season. He averaged 21.7 points per game and shot 38 percent from three while appearing in 58 games.
Cristiano Ronaldo had a 2-word message for his critics
After several days of criticism, Cristiano Ronaldo got the last laugh by scoring twice in Tuesday’s FIFA World Cup match, and he made sure everyone knew it, too.
Ronaldo had two goals in Portugal’s 5-0 win over Uzbekistan in Houston on Tuesday. They were his first two goals of the World Cup, and came after several days of questions about whether he should even be starting for the team. He undoubtedly heard that talk, because as he was leaving the field after the game, he had a two-word message for the camera.
“I’m back,” Ronaldo said twice.
Cristiano Ronaldo makes it known.
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 23, 2026
HE'S BACK 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/5nLsp32IUU
Ronaldo was criticized for his performance in Portugal’s 1-1 draw with DR Congo that opened the tournament. There was a perception in some circles that he was too focused on scoring himself instead of ensuring that the team would be successful, and he was under a lot of scrutiny for this match. He promptly scored twice in the first half, served as a decoy on a third goal, and came close to a hat trick on multiple occasions in the second half.
The World Cup is one of the few trophies that Ronaldo has not yet won during his glittering career, much to his frustration. Portugal has a real chance this year, but he will need to be at his best for that to happen.
Becky Hammon addresses her much-criticized Jalen Brunson take
Becky Hammon addressed her much-criticized take about Jalen Brunson after the New York Knicks guard defied her expectations and led the team to an NBA title.
In 2023, Hammon infamously went on ESPN and said the Knicks lacked a “1A” player, and dismissed Brunson as a potential fit for that role due to his lack of size. That obviously aged poorly, as Brunson was the key figure behind the Knicks’ title in 2026.
On Tuesday, Hammon, now the coach of the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces, finally confronted that opinion and the sharp criticism it has received since the Knicks’ win.
Hammon admitted that Brunson had “prove(d) history wrong,” and that he clearly showed he is an “outlier” in the same mold as Steph Curry. She was dismissive of those who felt she should apologize, however.
“I mean, he was that 1A dude, but like, apologize? I’m never gonna apologize for having an opinion. That’s what ESPN pays me for,” Hammon said.
Hammon con’t: “I mean, he was that 1A dude, but like, apologize, I'm never gonna apologize for having an opinion, that's what ESPN pays me for.”
— Madeline Kenney (@madkenney) June 23, 2026
Hammon was not the only one who questioned whether Brunson could be the guy on a championship team, but her saying so has received outsized attention recently. Brunson himself has alluded to those who doubted him, but he said he did not have to say anything to them and could just let his accomplishments do the talking.
Hammon obviously believed what she said. She was wrong, and has admitted as much. That should be more than enough for everyone, even if she does not go as far as one fellow critic did when it comes to offering apologies.
Micah Nori’s contract with Blazers has a very strange detail
The Portland Trail Blazers have hired Micah Nori as their new head coach, but they did not exactly make a strong commitment to him.
Details of Nori’s contract were reported after his hiring Tuesday, and they contained one bizarre detail. Nori is only getting one guaranteed year on his deal, with team options for each of the two seasons after that.
BREAKING: Micah Nori has agreed to become the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, sources tell @TheAthletic. Nori was lead assistant of the Minnesota Timberwolves for the past five years. Nori, 52, signed a one-year deal with team options for each of the next two seasons.
— Jason Quick (@jwquick) June 23, 2026
A professional coach being given a one-year contract has very little precedent. The Los Angeles Angels gave manager Kurt Suzuki a one-year deal at the start of the season, which also garnered attention for how unusual it was.
The deal comes under the new ownership of Tom Dundon, who has drawn criticism for making cost-cutting moves that some have derided as outright cheap. One has to wonder if Dundon’s budget has something to do with the unusual contract structure, especially since the outgoing Blazers coach was pretty cryptic about why he chose to depart.
Nori is a top assistant who has been linked to other head coaching jobs in each of the last two offseasons. One would have assumed he would be able to get more job security out of his deal, but that is clearly not the case.
