Rich Paul makes big admission about LeBron James and the Knicks
LeBron James’ free agency would not be much of an event had the New York Knicks not won an NBA title.
James’ longtime agent Rich Paul showed off a full whiteboard of James’ potential landing spots on the latest episode of his “Game Over” podcast, with the Knicks being one of them. Paul said, however, that if the Knicks had not won a championship, James would almost certainly be joining them.
“If the Knicks hadn’t won, there would be no board. He’d be going to the Knicks,” Paul said.
Rich Paul on LeBron James to the Knicks 😳
— Heat Central (@TheHeatCentral) July 3, 2026
“If the Knicks hadn’t won, there would be no board. He’d be going to the Knicks…. Jalen Brunson would literally have to pick up the phone and say ‘hey man, there’s no issue with me.’ They (Knicks) have checked in.”
(Via Game Over) https://t.co/iFyuJgEBt8 pic.twitter.com/hpy1PnVU1Q
Paul said the big reason that such an outcome is less likely now is not that James does not want to join a team that has already won, but simply that he and his camp were wary of disrupting what the Knicks have built already.
James and the Knicks have always been floated as a potential marriage. There were even claims that he had originally preferred the Knicks to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018, but his family objected.
Now, the Knicks appear to be on the fringes of the LeBron sweepstakes, if they are interested at all. In light of the team’s financial restrictions, that is not a huge surprise.
Padres’ Randy Vasquez hospitalized after collapsing at Dodger Stadium
San Diego Padres right-hander Randy Vasquez was hospitalized after fainting at Dodger Stadium on Thursday night following his start against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
According to Padres manager Craig Stammen, Vasquez passed out while being escorted to the X-ray room to evaluate his right ankle, which was struck by a 99 mph comebacker off the bat of Mookie Betts in the first inning.
A team trainer caught him as he lost consciousness briefly. Vasquez quickly regained consciousness and was taken to a local emergency room for precautionary tests. He was reported to be in stable condition and conscious.
“He was on his way to get an X-ray here in the stadium and fainted,” Stammen said, via MLB.com. “So we took him to the emergency room just as a precaution. He’s conscious. He’s getting all his tests done.
“So we don’t really know about his ankle yet. He’s getting all those kinds of tests. We’ll know more hopefully tonight and tomorrow.”
Vasquez remained in the game after the comebacker off his foot and pitched three innings, allowing four runs on seven hits with one walk. He was removed after 50 pitches in what became a 12-7 Padres loss. Stammen noted that the fainting could have stemmed from pain in the ankle, anxiety, or stress related to the situation.
The 27-year-old has posted a 4.71 ERA over 17 appearances, including 16 starts this season. He has struggled recently, posting an 8.37 ERA since the start of June.
The team will await further updates on both his ankle and overall condition.
Tim Hardaway Jr. won’t wear No. 10 in Miami because his father said so
Tim Hardaway Jr. is headed to Miami, the city where his father built a lasting NBA legacy, after agreeing to a one-year, $6.5 million deal with the Heat.
The veteran sharpshooter, who averaged 13.5 points and shot 40.7 percent from three-point range last season with the Denver Nuggets, adds floor spacing and experience to a revamped roster featuring stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.
However, Hardaway Jr. will not don the No. 10 jersey he has worn for much of his career as a tribute to his father. Tim Hardaway Sr., whose No. 10 was retired by the Heat in 2009, made it clear the number will remain in the rafters.
“My legacy is my legacy,” the Hall of Famer told WQAM radio in Miami. “Even though he likes to wear No. 10, that is not coming down from the rafters.”
Hardaway Sr. enjoyed a standout tenure with the Heat from 1996 to 2001, earning All-Star nods and helping elevate the franchise into a contender alongside Alonzo Mourning. He averaged 17.3 points and 7.8 assists per game in Miami and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022.
While thrilled for his son to play for his former team, the elder Hardaway emphasized the importance of preserving his own accomplishments.
“I love him. I’m happy for him. I’m living a life, you know. Again, watching him play through college and the NBA, he’d been to three places I’d never been: the Final Four, a championship, and now, he’s going to his hometown team. I never done that, and so, I’m happy that he’s doing it. But no, he can’t wear No. 10,” Hardaway Sr. added, via The Athletic.
Hardaway Jr. is expected to wear No. 11 with the Heat. The father-son duo remains one of only two NBA pairs with at least 10,000 career points and 1,000 threes each, joining Stephen and Dell Curry.
Angel Reese slams WNBA for All-Star snubs: ‘Slap in the face’
Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese voiced strong frustration on Thursday after no player from her team was selected as a starter for the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game, despite the Dream sitting at 12-8 and tied atop the Eastern Conference standings.
Reese, a two-time All-Star, particularly highlighted the contributions of veteran guards Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray.
“I expect to be disrespected,” Reese said, via The Athletic. “For those two, though, I think they work so hard, and they put a lot of work in, and the way that they’re guarded every game… The reason why we’re where we are is because of those two.
“We’re not first in the conference by just anything. For us not to have anyone was just a slap in the face.”
Starters were determined by a combination of fan (50 percent), media (25 percent) and player (25 percent) votes. Howard and Gray finished fifth and sixth among guards, while Reese placed seventh among frontcourt players.
The selected guards were Paige Bueckers, Olivia Miles, Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell, with frontcourt spots going to A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Jessica Shepard, Aliyah Boston, Gabby Williams and Natasha Howard.
Reese praised the chosen players but expressed shock given Atlanta’s strong position. She noted Howard and Gray’s elite scoring, three-point shooting, and defensive impact, with the latter two ranking among the league leaders in steals alongside teammate Jordin Canada.
Reese herself leads the WNBA in rebounds.
MLB hands down punishments after Red Sox-Nationals brawl
Major League Baseball (MLB) has issued suspensions to four players following a benches-clearing incident during Tuesday night’s game between the Boston Red Sox and Washington Nationals at Fenway Park.
The altercation erupted in the bottom of the fourth inning after Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli struck out Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras.
Cavalli directed trash talk at Contreras, including the phrase “Sit down, boy,” prompting Contreras to confront him. The situation escalated quickly, with benches emptying, pushing and shoving, and Contreras throwing his helmet toward Cavalli.
Contreras, along with Red Sox outfielder Nate Eaton and interim manager Chad Tracy, were ejected, as was Nationals pitcher Miles Mikolas. Cavalli remained in the game.
On Thursday, MLB announced the discipline: Cavalli and Contreras each received seven-game suspensions, Mikolas got five games, and Eaton was suspended for three games. All four players were also fined undisclosed amounts. The suspensions, originally set to begin Friday, are on hold as the players appeal.
Cavalli later apologized for his choice of words, acknowledging the potential for misperception. Contreras, known for his fiery temperament, has faced criticism for his role in the skirmish but cited provocation.
The Nationals won the game, 8-1.
Jaylen Brown says he has to rewire brain after 76ers trade
Jaylen Brown is adjusting to a new reality after being traded from the Boston Celtics to the Philadelphia 76ers in a blockbuster deal that sent Paul George and multiple draft picks to Boston.
In a Twitch stream following the move, the five-time All-Star discussed the mental shift required after years of viewing the 76ers as rivals.
“For the last 10 years, I’ve been programmed to hate Philadelphia. From the history of the rivalry to the playoff battles, all of the above. I’ve been programmed to be like, ‘man, (expletive) the process,’” Brown said.
“But now I have to reverse-engineer — that’s the part that’s going to take some time.”
He added that he must now reverse that mindset.
“My brain is doing a 360 right now,” Brown explained. “I gotta reverse engineer it, but I’ll be ready when the season starts.”
Brown expressed excitement about joining the 76ers and earning respect in Philadelphia through hard work, while also noting mixed emotions and a sense that the Celtics showed a lack of respect during the process. Coming off a career-best season averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists, the 29-year-old is entering the third year of his five-year, $285 million contract.
The trade reunites him with a revamped Sixers roster featuring stars like Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey as “the process” gains new momentum in Philadelphia.
Andrew McCutchen signs with a top MLB contender
Andrew McCutchen still has a chance of getting that first ring.
The veteran MLB outfielder McCutchen has signed a deal with the Atlanta Braves, per local Georgia writer Bill Shanks. McCutchen will be receiving a minor-league contract from the Braves.
McCutchen, now 39 years old, is a former NL MVP as well as a five-time MLB All-Star. He also won a Gold Glove Award in 2012 and four straight Silver Slugger Awards from 2012-15.
But McCutchen has very much looked his age in recent years. He has not hit the .260 mark for nearly a decade now despite primarily serving as a DH as he has gotten older.
This season, McCutchen made the Opening Day roster for the Texas Rangers but was a negative WAR player with a woeful .192 batting average and a laughable .537 OPS through 37 games. At that point, the Rangers decided to designate McCutchen for assignment in late May, releasing him just one day later.
Now the Braves, who have one of the best records in baseball this season at an NL East-leading 50-35, will be the latest team to take a swing on McCutchen. This comes just days after Atlanta signed another notable former All-Star slugger as well.
Rui Hachimura is being linked to 2 interesting new teams
Rui Hachimura might end up leaving for a rival team, one way or the other.
The Los Angeles Lakers veteran Hachimura is drawing interest from two new teams in free agency, longtime NBA writer Marc Stein reported on Thursday. Both the Golden State Warriors and the Minnesota Timberwolves have made pitches to Hachimura, Stein says.
At 28 years old, the 6-foot-8 Hachimura is one of the top remaining free agents still left on the board. He spent the last three-and-a-half seasons with the Lakers and is coming off a strong 2026 postseason in which he averaged 17.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game on a scalding 56.9 percent from three.
A few days ago, we learned that a couple of other interesting teams were in the mix for Hachimura. But with those teams having since spent their free-agent budgets on other players, Hachimura’s market is shifting slightly.
Minnesota is looking for more forward depth after trading away Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets and then sending out Naz Reid in their blockbuster trade for LaMelo Ball. Golden State also needs forward help with Jimmy Butler (ACL) still far away from a return and Draymond Green currently a free agent after opting out of his contract.
Hachimura is an automatic jump-shooter who can also lock down multiple positions with his staggering 7-foot-2 wingspan. He is unlikely to remain unsigned for long as the NBA offseason continues into the next several days.
Luka Doncic’s feelings about the Lakers’ offseason are revealed
Luka Doncic put the Los Angeles Lakers on the clock this offseason, and they appear to have satisfied him.
The Lakers star Doncic is “excited” about the team’s summer moves, Dan Woike of The Athletic reported on Thursday. Woike notes that Doncic kept in regular communication with the Lakers about their moves despite a significant time difference due to Doncic spending his offseason in Europe.
Most notably so far this summer, the Lakers gave a monstrous new contract to Austin Reaves to serve as Doncic’s long-term co-star. They also acquired shot-blocking seven-footer Walker Kessler and invested an additional $131 million in new signings after that.
Doncic, 27, is about to enter his second full season with the Lakers in 2026-27. The six-time NBA All-Star did recently commit to a new Lakers contract of his own but can still test free agency as soon as 2028 (making time of the essence for the team to contend).
Just last month, we learned that Doncic made one notable demand of the franchise ahead of free agency. There was even chatter about there being a threat of the Slovenian superstar potentially getting antsy with the Lakers if they failed to deliver this offseason.
That said, Doncic is apparently properly satiated by the moves of the purple and gold so far this summer as they move past the LeBron James era. Still, not everybody is pleased with what the Lakers have managed to do in free agency.
Tari Eason appears to complain about his new $81.5 million contract from Rockets
Tari Eason is delving dangerously close to Latrell Sprewell territory.
The Houston Rockets forward Eason was rewarded by the team with a lucrative new contract extension on Thursday. Eason is reportedly getting an extension for five years and $81.5 million.
But you would not know it based on the post that Eason wrote on X shortly before the news broke. “I guess bruh,” posted an apparently unhappy Eason, along with a shrugging emoji.
I guess bruh
— Tari Eason (@TAR13ASON) July 2, 2026
An $81.5 million contract, especially with the long-term security of five years, seems like more than fair value for Eason, 25. He averaged 10.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game for the Rockets last year. While Eason’s value derives primarily from his impact on the defensive end at 6-foot-8, he is also prone to some low-IQ plays and infamously had a stretch of 23 consecutive missed three-pointers during the regular season.
That said, this could also be some saltiness on Eason’s part. The former first-round pick was reportedly offered over $100 million by Houston before the 2025-26 season but apparently turned that offer down.
Still though, Eason bet on himself and ended up slightly reducing his market value with his inconsistent play (as the Rockets eventually lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Los Angeles Lakers). That is just something that Eason has to take on the chin at this point, especially given his slight reputation as a dirty player.
Mike McDaniel is making 1 notable change for Justin Herbert
Mike McDaniel is already making his presence felt for the Los Angeles Chargers.
The new Chargers offensive coordinator McDaniel has made a notable change for star quarterback Justin Herbert this offseason. McDaniel is having Herbert switch up his shotgun stance, per Kris Rhim of ESPN.
Herbert had previously been placing his right (throwing) foot forward while in the shotgun formation. However, McDaniel is now having Herbert stand in the shotgun with his left (non-throwing) foot slightly ahead instead.
McDaniel reportedly believes that the new stance will give Herbert a “millisecond competitive advantage” to execute option plays and to complete passes quickly to receivers out in space. You can read Rhim’s full report on the situation here.
The former Miami Dolphins head coach McDaniel just joined Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh’s staff this past January. He replaced former Chargers OC Greg Roman, who was fired by the team after two seasons in charge.
Meanwhile, the two-time Pro Bowler Herbert still has yet to win a playoff game in his NFL career and ranked second-worst in the league last season with 13 interceptions. Now McDaniel will be hoping that his minor tweak can help Herbert make a major improvement next season (as part of the big role that McDaniel is expected to have in L.A.).
Billy Donovan lands a new job with a top NBA team
Billy Donovan is going from the play-in tournament to the reigning Western Conference champions.
The former Chicago Bulls head coach Donovan has agreed to a deal with the San Antonio Spurs, Shams Charania of ESPN reported on Thursday. Charania adds that Donovan will be the lead assistant under Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson.
Now 61 years old, Donovan (the former Florida champion head coach) had spent the last decade-plus as an NBA head coach. He coached the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2015-20 and then coached the Chicago Bulls from 2020-26.
But Donovan stepped down as head coach of the Bulls this past April. That came after a 226-256 (.469) overall record and just one total playoff berth over six seasons in charge.
Now Donovan is set to join the Spurs, who just made it to the NBA Finals this past season before losing in five games to the New York Knicks. Donovan also has history with some prominent members of the San Antonio organization, including his familiarity with Gregg Popovich from the USA Basketball circuit.
The Spurs head coach Johnson, 39, did well to lead the team to a 62-win season and a Western Conference title but struggled down the stretch of the Finals with some very curious decisions. Now he has an immensely experienced figure in Donovan who will be serving as his new right-hand man.
Mitchell Robinson throws shade at Knicks
Mitchell Robinson was a casualty of the New York Knicks’ salary cap limitations, and he does not appear to be happy about it.
Robinson posted a farewell message to Knicks fans on Instagram on Wednesday after agreeing to sign with the Boston Celtics. Many of his former teammates popped up in the comments to wish him well. One such teammate was OG Anunoby, who posted a sad emoji in response to Robinson’s exit.
Robinson replied by making it clear that he had not wanted to leave the Knicks, and hinted at some sort of behind-the-scenes drama.
“I tried brother I didn’t want this to happen,” Robinson wrote. “Hopefully the truth comes out at some point.”
Mitchell Robinson on Instagram:
— Kris Pursiainen (@krispursiainen) July 2, 2026
“I tried brother I didn’t want this to happen hopefully the truth comes out at some point.” pic.twitter.com/O8op1vVSwv
It is unclear what sort of truth Robinson might be referring to, but the circumstances of his departure seem to be pretty clear. Owner James Dolan openly said the team would not go into the second apron to retain their free agents, which essentially confirmed that someone would have to leave. The team was able to retain Jose Alvarado and Landry Shamet for just shy of $11 million per year, and while that still leaves them with a bit of wiggle room to stay below that $222 million payroll, they had no real way of fitting Robinson in unless he took an enormous discount.
Robinson ultimately joined the Celtics for over $15 million annually, far more than the Knicks would have been able to pay him without sacrificing one or both of Alvarado and Shamet.
The Knicks and Robinson seemingly wanted to run it back. The reality of the salary cap, however, prevented them from doing that.
6-time NBA All-Star set to announce his retirement
A six-time NBA All-Star has decided to call it a career.
Kyle Lowry plans to sign a one-day contract with the Toronto Raptors to retire as a member of the team, according to Michael Grange of Sportsnet. The team has a press conference planned for next Tuesday to honor Lowry and allow him to announce his retirement.
The Raptors also expect to honor Lowry in other ways, including a jersey retirement that will take place at some point next season.
Lowry concludes a 20-year NBA career with a whole host of achievements. He was a six-time All-Star and was also an All-NBA selection in 2016. Perhaps most importantly, he won an NBA title with the Raptors in 2019. For his career, he averaged 13.8 points and 6.0 assists per game.
Lowry is most identified with the Raptors, where he spent nine NBA seasons. He also played for Memphis, Houston, Miami, and Philadelphia. He spent last season with the 76ers, where he played in just 14 games and was more of a player-coach than anything else.
While Lowry’s next move is unclear, there has been talk of a potential television career for him.
Terrion Arnold shares surprising news about his NFL future in court documents
New court documents suggest that Terrion Arnold’s NFL career might not be on hold after all.
In a new court document, Arnold’s attorney Harvey Steinberg claimed that three NFL teams had reached out to inquire about Arnold’s services after the cornerback’s release from the Detroit Lions. Steinberg further said that Arnold expects to sign with a new team within the next month.
“He is confined to his home by both court conditions and media scrutiny and anticipates that he will have employment with another NFL team within 30 days,” Steinberg wrote of Arnold, via Mark Inabinett of al.com. “Although Mr. Arnold has been released by the Detroit Lions organization, he already has been contacted by three other NFL clubs regarding his services.
The Lions released Arnold earlier this week in the wake of his arrest for armed robbery. Arnold is facing multiple felonies with the potential of life in prison if convicted. The logical expectation was that no team would risk touching Arnold while those charges are hanging over him, but perhaps that will not be the case after all.
Arnold is alleged to have planned out a robbery in an effort to recover hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of stolen goods that purportedly been stolen from an Airbnb that he was renting (full details here). He has denied the allegations and pled not guilty.
New team emerges as serious suitor for LeBron James
LeBron James’ free agent recruitment may still be more open than previously thought.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst suggested Thursday that the Philadelphia 76ers could be a serious player for James. Windhorst noted that Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey is a longtime Klutch Sports client, and that the team’s trade for Jaylen Brown may catch James’ attention and help convince him that Philadelphia could be a winning situation.
“He’s basically part of LeBron’s extended family. You would not only have Jaylen Brown as the addition, you would have Tyrese Maxey as your drawing card,” Windhorst said of Maxey. “There’s a longstanding relationship between Tyrese Maxey and LeBron because of Klutch. They recruited Tyrese Maxey out of college. They’ve been to many events together.”
The Philadelphia 76ers are expected to emerge as a strong suitor for LeBron James due to the Tyrese Maxey connection, per @WindhorstESPN
— NBA Base (@TheNBABase) July 2, 2026
Maxey, who shares the same Klutch Sports agency as LeBron, is viewed as a major recruiting tool for Philly. pic.twitter.com/6GCoUHgl9y
One roadblock for the Sixers is that they simply would not be able to offer James much money. If he is prioritizing happiness and a chance to contend, however, he could fit into the team’s payroll.
Other reports have suggested that James is likely to land with one of two teams, and that may still be the case. The door may not be completely closed on others to get involved, though, if they can present a compelling situation to the free agent superstar.
Bill Simmons claims Celtics backed out of Giannis Antetokounmpo trade
Giannis Antetokounmpo was ready to go to the Boston Celtics instead of the Miami Heat until the Celtics balked, according to Bill Simmons.
In a new episode of his podcast, Simmons claimed that Antetokounmpo was ready to go to the Celtics if the team gave him a three-year contract extension worth 35 percent of the salary cap. The Celtics were only willing to offer two years, prompting Antetokounmpo to sanction a trade to Miami instead.
“He didn’t sign off on the Miami trade for a couple of days, and they were talking about extensions with the Celtics,” Simmons said. “It came down to two years and 30 percent of the cap or three years and 35 percent, and the Celtics were pretty entrenched at two for 30. Giannis wanted the three for 35. They couldn’t agree on it, and that was when he greenlit the Miami trade.”
Wow.
— Savage (@Savageboston) July 2, 2026
Per: @BillSimmons
Giannis was about to sign off on the Celtics trade, but he wanted a 3 year extension at 35% of the cap but Boston was set on 2 years at 30%.
Brad Stevens would budge on the extension and that’s when he approved the trade to Miami.
Unreal. pic.twitter.com/yKZqqlUnnK
If true, this is just salt in the wound for Celtics fans. After failing to land Antetokounmpo, they turned around and traded Jaylen Brown to the division rival Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George in a widely-panned deal. Brown would have been the centerpiece of any Antetokounmpo trade.
It is very strange that the Celtics would aggressively pursue Antetokounmpo only to balk at one extra year on his contract. One must wonder if there are some edicts from ownership about just how much the team can spend in the years to come.
In a certain sense, this also underlines just how determined the Celtics were to trade Brown, even though they were underwhelmed by his market. Antetokounmpo was likely the best chance they had to get something for Brown that would have been perceived as reasonable value, but they may only have themselves to blame for failing to get that done.
76ers have signed a former 1st-round pick
The Philadelphia 76ers continue to load up on talent after acquiring Jaylen Brown.
The Sixers agreed to a two-year deal with free agent guard Anfernee Simons, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. Simons had other potential landing spots, but was drawn to Philadelphia by the team’s revamped roster.
Just in: Free agent guard Anfernee Simons has agreed to a two-year, $12.3 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, with a player option in second season, sources tell ESPN. Simons chose the 76ers over other suitors believing his fit is perfect with the revamped 76ers roster. pic.twitter.com/RUbhPzxxxp
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 2, 2026
The 76ers are suddenly a big free agent destination after Wednesday’s acquisition of Brown from the Boston Celtics. Simons has demonstrated the ability to be a quality secondary scorer, and he averaged 14.3 points per game for the Celtics and Chicago Bulls last year. He is also a 38.1 percent career three-point shooter.
Simons’ best statistical season came in 2023-24 with the Portland Trail Blazers, where he averaged a career-high 22.6 points per game in 46 appearances.
In addition to Brown and Simons, Philadelphia has added a solid 3-and-D piece in free agency. They suddenly look like a very real threat in the East, especially if Joel Embiid can stay healthy.
Alexander Ovechkin makes major decision about his future
Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin has decided to play at least one more NHL season.
The Capitals announced Thursday that Ovechkin is signing a new one-year contract with the team. Owner Ted Leonsis said on X that he and the organization are eager to chase another Stanley Cup with the legendary player in the fold.
Alex is back.
— Ted Leonsis (@TedLeonsis) July 2, 2026
From the day we drafted him, Ovi has played with unmatched passion, relentless drive, and an unwavering commitment to his teammates, our fans, and our city.
The greatest goal scorer in NHL history isn’t done writing his @Capitals story. Neither are we.
Let’s… pic.twitter.com/1BdPcB8WZu
Ovechkin’s return is something of a surprise, as there were major questions about whether he would play one more season. His last game was even treated as something of a farewell, but that turned out to be premature. The Capitals accidentally hinted last season that 2026-27 could be his final season, and there will certainly be questions now about whether this will serve as a retirement tour for Ovechkin.
Ovechkin, 40, remains a productive player. He played in all 82 games last season and scored 32 goals along with 32 assists.
Donovan Mitchell calls out 1 narrative about Jaylen Brown
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell thinks some people are going too far in discussing Jaylen Brown after the Boston Celtics shockingly traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Mitchell reacted to FOX Sports host Colin Cowherd, who cited a pair of sources who said Brown has a “disease” in which he views himself as “the smartest guy in every room he’s in.” The Cavaliers guard took offense to that statement and found Cowherd’s use of the word “disease” was too much.
“Critique basketball all you want… but disease is insane… we gotta stop letting people just say whatever… cmon man!” Mitchell wrote on X.
Critique basketball all you want… but disease is insane… we gotta stop letting people just say whatever… cmon man! https://t.co/kZvqMGBYib
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) July 2, 2026
Cowherd is a sports talk host, so it is his job to deliver takes like these and elicit a reaction. He has done it a lot during his career, fairly or not.
As for Cowherd’s assertion, it may be that there is a huge disparity between how Brown is viewed within the league and how he is viewed outside of it. Fans universally condemned the Celtics’ decision to trade him for Paul George, and if Brown’s attitude is a problem, it is clearly not seen as too much of one. This is, after all, a former Finals MVP who averaged 28.7 points per game last year.
Brown has tried to defend himself from some of the claims that could be regarded as unfair. His best retort, however, will be to star for the 76ers this season.
