NBA allows 2 star players to be eligible for awards
At least two NBA stars will successfully circumvent the league’s 65-game awards rule this season after the NBA and NBPA ruled in their favor on a challenge Thursday.
Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic and Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham will both be eligible for end-of-season awards, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. Under the 65-game rule, neither made the cut due to late-season injuries.
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Anthony Edwards also sought an exemption, but his was denied.
The @NBA and @TheNBPA issue a joint statement saying Luka Dončić and Cade Cunningham have successfully challenged the league’s 65-game rule …. but say Anthony Edwards’ challenge was denied: pic.twitter.com/8hXkIzIh2m
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) April 16, 2026
Cunningham and Doncic were both touted as MVP candidates at various points during the season. It is unlikely that either of them will win the award even after becoming eligible, but this will allow them to feature on All-NBA teams. That might matter in future contract negotiations, as inclusion on such teams can make players eligible for supermax deals.
The big tiebreaker here is that both Doncic and Cunningham had circumstances beyond their control keep them from the 65-game mark, and both definitely would have made it if not for them. Doncic played in 64 eligible games, while Cunningham played in 63. Edwards only played in 60 and did not receive the benefit of the doubt.
The awards eligibility rule has drawn criticism this season because of what it did to players like Cunningham. Adam Silver has made it clear that the rule is not changing, though there is apparently room for limited exceptions.
Mike Trout did something no one had seen in nearly 13 years at Yankee Stadium
Mike Trout can’t stop flexing his power in the Bronx.
The Los Angeles Angels superstar outfielder hit one out of the park again on Wednesday against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, N.Y. It was his third game in a row with a home run and fourth overall, so far in the ongoing series against the Yankees.
With one out and a man on base, Trout sent a four-seamer 383 feet into the air for a two-run home run that put the Halos in front, 4-3.
With that blast, the 34-year-old Trout became just the first visiting player since Miguel Cabrera in 2013 to homer in three consecutive days at Yankee Stadium, according to Sarah Langs of MLB.com.
Here’s a look at Trout’s sixth home run in the 2026 MLB season.
<p><blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>MIKE TROUT IS UNBELIEVABLE!<br><br>The <a href=”https://twitter.com/Angels?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@Angels</a> lead! <a href=”https://t.co/ewpHMfbiDP”>pic.twitter.com/ewpHMfbiDP</a></p>— MLB (@MLB) <a href=”https://twitter.com/MLB/status/2044571864144527630?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>April 16, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script></p>
Cabrera homered in each of the Detroit Tigers’ games in an August trip to the Bronx in August of 2013.
Trout, on the other hand, had two home runs in the opener of the Yankees series on Monday and had another on Tuesday.
Unfortunately, Trout’s home run on Wednesday ultimately went for naught, as Los Angeles lost to the Yankees, 5-4.
The three-time American League Most Valuable Player Trout has a chance to make it four straight games with a home run on Thursday, as the Angels and the Yankees play the finale of their series.
Video: Padres fans nearly come to blows amid giveaway chaos
The San Diego Padres are the hottest team in the big leagues right now, having won seven straight games.
But they apparently are not as hot as the puffer vest giveaways that fans lined up for before San Diego’s game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday at Petco Park in San Diego, Calif.
So in-demand the free vests were that at least one fight nearly broke out amid the sea of people trying to score a Padres-themed sleeveless jacket.
Chase Izidoro of KUSI News shared a video showing how chaotic the situation was, including an elderly fan getting into a heated argument with another person that turned slightly physical.
When the elderly man turned around, he got into another verbal altercation with an angry fan, while a woman tried to separate them.
Fights breaking out at Petco Park after lines wrapping around the block over the puffer vest giveaway #Padres pic.twitter.com/SeK9lfHbxn
— Chase Izidoro (@chaseizi) April 16, 2026
A logistical issue caused the massive buildup of people outside Petco Park, as the Padres ran out of sizes.
“The cause for the long lines appears to be the fact that the Padres ran out of sizes. People refused to leave the gate until they got their puffer vest, which created the log jam around the entire ballpark,” Izidoro reported.
Obviously, not everyone got a puffer vest, but the Padres still sent all of them happy after San Diego completed a thrilling come-from-behind win over the Mariners.
The Padres overcame a four-run deficit in the ninth inning to come away with a 7-6 victory and keep their winning streak alive.
Fans drag Amazon Prime over an AI-generated video during an NBA game
Just when the dust was beginning to settle following Amazon Prime Video’s snafu during Tuesday’s NBA play-in game between the Miami Heat and the Charlotte Hornets, the streaming service drew the ire of fans again during another play-in contest on Wednesday.
During a timeout in the second half of the game featuring the Orlando Magic and the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pa., Prime Video showed an AI-generated video to sum up the Magic’s 2025-26 campaign. It featured Orlando head coach Jamahl Mosley as a magician welcoming Desmond Bane and sawing Franz Wagner in half.
You can watch the clip here.
Amazon Shows an AI-Generated Graphic Detailing the Orlando Magic's Season that Includes Jamahl Mosley Sawing Franz Wagner in Half
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) April 16, 2026
Via: https://t.co/mpsZxLZ3eG pic.twitter.com/JXNVU6fQJj
The video did its job, but fans clearly are not happy with Prime Video resorting to AI use to produce it.
AI segments on Amazon prime? Get outta my face
— OKC (@victor_okc) April 16, 2026
Amazon prime using AI… PLEASE SEND IN THE FLOOD
— 𝕙𝕠𝕠𝕕𝕘𝕖𝕟𝕚𝕦𝕤² 🥷🏿 (@nothoodg3nius) April 16, 2026
why is the nba on amazon prime using AI generated graphics on my screen
— Austttttin (@Austtttttttttin) April 16, 2026
Amazon prime using ai to show stats of the magic coach is disgusting
— Brock “Air-Raid” Towles (@brocktowles) April 16, 2026
WHY IS AI ON MY NBA BROADCAST AMAZON PRIME
— Pacers Playoffs🏆 (@PlayoffsPacers) April 16, 2026
Use of AI is a polarizing subject that will continue to be debated on, as it becomes more ubiquitous, including in sports broadcasting.
It’s also interesting to hear what Mosley, Wagner and Bane think of their representation in the video, though now is not exactly the perfect time to bother them with such a non-basketball question, considering they lost to Philadelphia, 109-97, and will prepare for a win-or-go-home matchup for the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference against the Hornets on Friday at Kia Center in Orlando, Fla.
Jimmy Butler takes an unexpected shot at Warriors player after play-in win
A Golden State Warriors player caught a hilarious stray from Jimmy Butler following the Dubs’ incredible 126-121 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif.
As Butler was making his way to the Warriors’ locker room, he gave a shoutout to the players, who stepped up and delivered for the team against the Clippers, but also couldn’t keep himself from taking a harmless shot at reserve Will Richard.
“Dre, Steph, Gui, Big Al, wow. Will Richard didn’t do anything, but he was over there with me, cheering his heart out. Wow,” Butler said.
Jimmy Butler after the Warriors win:
— aly ✶ (@jinthirty) April 16, 2026
“Between Dray, Steph, Gui, Big Al, wow. Will Richard didn’t do anything but he was over there with me cheering his heart out. Wow. Go Dubs!” 😂 pic.twitter.com/m5RVJv9XWa
Richard was one of four active Warriors players who did not see action in the game. The others were Charles Bassey, Seth Curry, and Pat Spencer, who all cheered from the bench along with Butler, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in January.
Richard was not expected to see ample minutes in such a crucial game, even if head coach Steve Kerr called on him to play. Still, he gets some points for being a supportive teammate, as the Warriors mustered enough strength in the final quarter to overcome a big deficit and steal a win on the road to keep their playoff hopes alive.
The Warriors need just one more win to qualify for the playoffs. They will face the Phoenix Suns on Friday at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz., for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference and the right to face reigning NBA champions Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.
Steve Kerr had a great quote after defeating the Clippers
The Golden State Warriors still have a very long way to go if they are to win the NBA championship, but on Wednesday, Steve Kerr felt as though he was going home with the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
The Warriors defeated the Los Angeles Clippers, 126-121, in a play-in game at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., to stay alive in their hunt for the Western Conference’s No. 8 seed in the NBA Playoffs.
Speaking to reporters in the postgame press conference, Kerr got candid about how he really felt after his team pulled off the remarkable win on the road.
“For one night, we’re us. We’re champions again. I know that may sound crazy to everybody out there. It’s a Play-In game. I don’t care,” Kerr said, via Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
Golden State’s takedown of the Clippers wouldn’t have been possible without the collective effort of multiple individuals.
Stephen Curry, who had just recently returned from a long absence due to an injury, powered the Warriors with a game-high 35 points on 12/23 shooting. Veteran big man Al Horford came out of nowhere and scored 14 points, while making big bucket from behind the arc in the fourth period.
Draymond Green only had 7 points, but without his lockdown defense on Kawhi Leonard in the fourth quarter, the Warriors probably wouldn’t have completed their comeback win.
Kerr has one more day to relish his team’s success in Inglewood before getting back to work on Friday, when they lock horns with the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz., for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Kawhi Leonard had an emotional response when asked about his future
Kawhi Leonard is not moving on just yet from the heartbreaking loss to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday.
The seven-time All-Star Leonard has an interesting summer ahead, as he’s eligible to sign a two-year extension with the Los Angeles Clippers after the NBA Finals, but he’s not even thinking about it.
“Let me cry about this loss a little bit more,” Leonard responded when asked about his future with LA during the postgame press conference following the Clippers’ season-ending 126-121 loss to the Warriors at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., via Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.
“We’ll have our discussions when that time comes,” added Leonard, who struggled to deliver for the Clippers when they needed him the most against the Warriors. Leonard finished the game with 21 points on 8/17 shooting, but he had a nightmarish fourth quarter, in which he went scoreless until the final 16 seconds.
Warriors forward Draymond Green put up a defensive masterclass to take Leonard out of the equation of the Clippers’ offense in the last period, as Stephen Curry and Al Horford led Golden State’s comeback bid.
The two-time Defensive Player of the Year winner still has a year left on his current contract with the Clippers, who can offer Leonard a maximum of $126.1 million through two seasons via extension.
The Clippers will still have to decide as well whether they want to commit such a hefty contract to an aging and injury-prone superstar.
Either way, Leonard and the Clippers are off to an early vacation after failing to qualify for the NBA Playoffs for the first time since 2022.
Chris Paul had the pettiest social media post after Clippers got eliminated
It is safe to say that the bridge between Chris Paul and the LA Clippers has been burnt to a crisp.
The Clippers’ season came to an end on Wednesday night with a 126-121 loss to the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference’s 9/10 play-in tournament game. Despite leading for much of the night and holding a 13-point advantage at one point, the Clippers collapsed late in the fourth quarter at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif. and were eliminated from playoff contention as a result.
Just minutes after the Clippers got eliminated, the retired former Clippers star Paul had the pettiest post to social media. Paul took to his Instagram Story to post the popular meme image known as “RIP Bozo” (used to celebrate the downfall of someone else).
Chris Paul on Instagram after the Clippers lose to Golden State pic.twitter.com/EpMgljlQrt
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) April 16, 2026
The original caption of that meme image read, “I stopped by one of my biggest haters funeral today. Just to make sure that n—a was dead #RIPBozo #DieHatersDie.” Clearly, Paul was very happy to see the Clippers’ season end.
Paul starred for the Clippers from 2011-17 and then returned for a second stint with the franchise in 2025. But the reunion quickly went bad after Paul clashed with multiple Clippers coaches before finally being sent home by the team in the middle of a horrific 6-21 start to the season.
Eventually, the Clippers would sell off Paul at the trade deadline, and Paul never played in another NBA game before formally announcing his retirement in February. Paul would later accuse Clippers executive Lawrence Frank of being two-faced with him, and Paul’s wife Jada even went on to take a public shot at the Clippers of her own.
Interestingly enough, the Clippers righted the ship soon after sending Paul home and finished out the year at a very respectable 42-40 for their 15th consecutive winning season. But Paul is getting the last laugh on the Clippers now that their 2025-26 campaign has still come to an early end (though one can debate the merits of this kind of petty behavior by Paul at almost 41 years old).
Candace Parker kept botching Warriors player’s name during play-in game
Candace Parker gave more fodder for Amazon Prime viewers to complain about during Wednesday’s play-in game.
The retired former WNBA Star Parker was doing color commentary for Amazon alongside Kevin Harlan for Wednesday’s Western Conference 9/10 play-in game between the LA Clippers and the Golden State Warriors. But Parker drew backlash for continuing to make one error during the action at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif.
While referring to Warriors forward Gui Santos, Parker kept mispronouncing Santos’ first name as “Guy.” It is actually pronounced as “Ghee,” leading to heavy criticism for Parker over social media.
Did Candace Parker just say GUY Santos????
— (@30Betterrrrr) April 16, 2026
Get her out my ear man
Candace Parker calling an NBA playoff game and cannot pronounce Gui Santos name…
— Ynosports (@ynosports) April 16, 2026
I’m not taking Candace Parker seriously. Guy Santos?!
— Casey Lima (@CaseInPoint24) April 16, 2026
candace parker aka female reggie miller… "guy santos"
— CÆ (@Caezypooh) April 16, 2026
Santos, 23, is not quite a household name. But he developed into an important player for the Warriors this season, drawing 30 starts over the course of the year and also getting the start against the Clippers during Wednesday’s play-in game.
As for Parker, 39, she has been calling NBA games for a variety of networks since 2018. But with Amazon Prime already having some prominent whiffs during their coverage of this year’s NBA play-in tournament, Parker did not do the network any favors either with her continued mispronunciations on Wednesday.
NBA announces LaMelo Ball’s punishment for dirty play on Bam Adebayo
LaMelo Ball is not quite getting off scot-free after his takedown of Bam Adebayo on Tuesday night.
The NBA announced on Wednesday that they are fining the Charlotte Hornets star Ball a sum of $35,000 for his dirty trip of the Miami Heat counterpart Adebayo during Tuesday’s 9/10 Eastern Conference play-in tournament game. Additionally, Ball is retroactively being given a flagrant 2 foul for the incident.
On top of that, the NBA is also fining Ball a separate sum of $25,000. In their release, the league stated that Ball used profane language during a live television interview after the game.
The former All-Star Ball grabbed at Adebayo’s ankle during a sequence in the second quarter of Tuesday’s game at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. (see the video here). Adebayo landed hard on his tailbone as a result and ended up missing the remainder of the game as the Hornets squeaked out a narrow 127-126 win over the Heat in overtime.
No whistle was blown at the time however, and the officials later stated the imminent change of possession on the play meant that the sequence was not reviewable in real time for a possible flagrant. But after a postgame review, Ball is now being punished by the NBA with a fine and an upgrade to a flagrant 2 for the takedown of Adebayo.
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said after the game that Ball should have been ejected for the “stupid” play. While the retroactive punishment comes as too little, too late for Miami now that their season is over, it could still matter for Ball and the Hornets if they make a playoff run this season due to the accrual of flagrant foul points.
VJ Edgecombe taunts Jalen Suggs during play-in game
VJ Edgecombe was not looking the part of a rookie during Wednesday’s play-in game.
Edgecombe and the Philadelphia 76ers battled Jalen Suggs and the Orlando Magic as part of the Eastern Conference’s 7/8 play-in game on Wednesday. In the third quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pa., the 76ers guard Edgecombe got an opportunity in transition off a steal by teammate Paul George.
Edgecombe drove all the way to the basket and scored the layup over the contest by the Magic guard Suggs. After making the shot, Edgecombe got up into Suggs’ face to taunt him, knocking Suggs off-balance in the process. That then caused the two teams to exchange some hostilities heading into an Orlando timeout.
VJ Edgecombe gets the steal and goes right at Suggs after the transition bucket, causing a bit of ruckus amongst the two teams pic.twitter.com/4ZwdxWnOwY
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) April 16, 2026
Take a look at another angle of Edgecombe taunting Suggs.
Tony Brothers reaction to VJ Edgecombe getting on Jalen Suggs face pic.twitter.com/ZiEfCQXG9Q
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) April 16, 2026
Edgecombe would ultimately receive a technical foul for the taunt of Suggs. That led to one free throw being awarded to the Magic, which Suggs then made.
The 20-year-old Edgecombe enjoyed a standout rookie campaign for the 45-37 Sixers, averaging 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. He proved to be fearless from the very start of his NBA career and continued to show out during Wednesday’s play-in game as well.
Kawhi Leonard is being linked to 1 notable new team
Kawhi Leonard might be going from one beachfront state to another.
The Miami Heat could potentially pursue the LA Clippers star Leonard this offseason, Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reported on Wednesday. Siegel notes that the Heat are expected to turn their attention to Leonard if they are unsuccessful in trading for long-rumored target Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Leonard, 34, enjoyed a banner regular season with the Clippers. He averaged a career-high 27.9 points to go along with 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals per game en route to earning his sixth career NBA All-Star selection. Leonard also appeared in exactly 65 games for the Clippers, making him eligible for this year’s NBA awards.
As it currently stands, Leonard is under contract for just one more season at $50.3 million. However, there is the possibility that Leonard’s contract with the Clippers gets voided pursuant to the Aspiration scandal, which would immediately make him available to sign with any NBA team.
The Heat went 43-39 this season but just suffered a disappointing loss in this year’s NBA play-in tournament, eliminating them from playoff contention. Now it appears that they may be going star-hunting this summer.
Leonard has been linked to Miami in the past, and the Heat also have his former Clippers and Toronto Raptors teammate Norman Powell on the roster. Though age will be a primary concern for Leonard as he turns 35 in June, he may be the Plan B that Miami has in mind if they cannot land Antetokounmpo in a trade this offseason.
Dodgers pull an unusual move with Shohei Ohtani for his start
Shohei Ohtani will only be a one-way player for Wednesday’s game.
The Los Angeles Dodgers revealed hours before their matchup with the New York Mets on Wednesday that Ohtani would be their starting pitcher that night … but nothing more. Ohtani will not be serving as the designated hitter for the game at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif.
Instead, Dodgers teammate Dalton Rushing will step in as the team’s DH on Wednesday. Here is the team’s full lineup card for the game.
The Dodgers are using Shohei Ohtani strictly as the starting pitcher tonight and not as the DH pic.twitter.com/O8fwRtu8oo
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) April 15, 2026
Ohtani, 31, has long made a name for himself as a premier player with both the ball and the bat. This also marks the first time in Ohtani’s Dodgers career that he has opened a season completely healthy as a pitcher.
Through his first two starts on the mound this season, the four-time MVP Ohtani has gone 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA, a 0.75 WHIP, and eight strikeouts through 12 total innings pitched. At the plate meanwhile, Ohtani is batting .254 with five home runs and 10 RBIs through 17 games.
Alden Gonzalez of ESPN reports that the decision by the Dodgers was influenced by the fact that Ohtani took a 94-mph pitch to his upper back (near his right shoulder) during Monday’s game against the Mets. Now Ohtani is slated to pitch in a game but not also hit for the first time in five years.
On top of that, the Dodgers have an off day on Thursday before facing the Colorado Rockies on the road on Friday to begin a four-game set. Thus (at least for Wednesday’s contest), Ohtani won’t have to worry about making the same funny mistake he had during a previous start on the mound.
Skip Bayless makes a very controversial claim about Joel Embiid
Skip Bayless is sparking controversy this week with his assertion about Joel Embiid.
The Philadelphia 76ers star center Embiid was inactive for Wednesday’s Eastern Conference 7/8 play-in game against the Orlando Magic. Embiid had a recent bout with appendicitis that continues to keep him sidelined.
Earlier in the day Wednesday though, Bayless made a bombshell claim about Embiid. Appearing on Gilbert Arenas’ “Gil’s Arena” show, Bayless said that Embiid was actually cleared to play in Wednesday’s game but chose not to.
“Embiid is actually cleared to play but chose not to play,” said Bayless. “[I was told] that it’s appendicitis but it’s fine and went well. These days they can just go in quickly and pretty simply. And he could play if he chose to. So, now that’s like turmoil, locker room kind of turmoil [in Philadelphia].”
Skip Bayless says he has a source in Philadelphia that said Joel Embiid is cleared to play, but chosen not to:
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) April 15, 2026
“That’s what I was told. That it’s appendicitis but it’s fine and went well these days they can just go quickly and pretty simply. And he could play if he chose to. So,… pic.twitter.com/tG9wWlJ8g8
Bayless’ claim is extremely far-fetched given the medical realities of appendicitis. Embiid underwent an emergency appendectomy less than a week ago and is thus still well within the general 1-to-3-week recovery timetable for such a procedure (especially when it comes to returning to high-level basketball).
On top of that, Embiid’s trainer Drew Hanlen proceeded to rip Bayless over the “100% false” claim about Embiid.
“To set the record straight, this is 100% false,” Hanlen posted on X. “Nothing worse than when media members make up s–t for clicks & views then hide behind unnamed ‘sources’” (profanity edited by LBS).
Embiid obviously does not have the best reputation when it comes to health and even had his former head coach recently drop a brutal comment about Embiid’s continued unavailability. But for Bayless to claim that Embiid was somehow cleared for full-speed game action just six days after an emergency appendectomy is dubious at best.
Mel Kiper Jr. doubles down on his Shedeur Sanders stance
ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. is still riding with Shedeur Sanders.
Dan Orlovsky, another ESPN analyst, has established himself as a firm believer in Alabama’s Ty Simpson during the pre-draft process, and it has drawn comparisons to Kiper’s adamant belief in Sanders last year. Kiper weighed in on that Wednesday by saying Orlovsky is entitled to his opinion and should stick to it, even if the majority of the NFL disagrees.
“You don’t need to get backed up by somebody in the league that maybe agrees, or anybody in the media, or anybody that’s an analyst, because Dan Orlovsky had that opinion,” Kiper said. “I had that same feeling about Shedeur Sanders last year. I still believe strongly in Shedeur and what he can do in Cleveland.”
"I had the same feeling about Shedeur Sanders last year. I still believe strongly in Shedeur and what he can do in Cleveland. So hold to it. Don't let anybody talk you out of it" – Mel Kiper Jr. on Dan Orlovsky's affinity for Ty Simpson pic.twitter.com/RQhWp9zTFU
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 15, 2026
Kiper’s belief in Sanders became the stuff of legend last year. When the quarterback dropped to the fifth round of the draft, Kiper had an on-air meltdown. It was later suggested that Kiper probably should have done more homework to back up his belief, but he still has not moved off it.
Sanders has not exactly validated Kiper’s belief, though he hasn’t made the analyst look terrible, either. He threw for seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions, though he did make the Pro Bowl. On the other hand, it does sound like he will have to re-earn his starting job.
Former Alabama player allegedly wore wigs to impersonate NFL players in fraud case
A former Alabama Crimson Tide player allegedly dressed up in wigs and wore makeup to impersonate multiple NFL players as part of a scheme to obtain fraudulent loans.
Luther Davis, who played for Alabama from 2007-2010, is expected to plead guilty in a $20 million fraud case, via Daniel Kaplan of The Guardian. Davis and an accomplice allegedly opened bank accounts linked to fake companies purportedly established by the NFL player they were impersonating. Davis then obtained fake IDs, financial statements, and other personal documents in the names of the players. Davis then appeared on virtual loan closings in disguise, often wearing wigs to impersonate the player.
While Davis obtained 13 loans, only three victims were identified. He allegedly obtained a $4.025 million loan in the name of Browns tight end David Njoku, a $4.35 million loan in the name of Packers defensive back Xavier McKinney, and a $3.3 million loan in the name of Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. None of the players are connected to the scheme and simply had their identities stolen.
Davis has been charged with aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The wire fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Davis was part of Nick Saban’s first Alabama recruiting class and played in all 14 games of the team’s 2009 championship season. After his college career ended, he was accused of providing money and benefits to college football players on behalf of agents, a violation of NCAA rules.
A’ja Wilson signs largest contract in WNBA history
A’Ja Wilson has officially reset the market in the WNBA.
The four-time MVP signed a new three-year contract to return to the Las Vegas Aces, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. The supermax deal is worth $5 million, and is fully guaranteed.
By comparison, Wilson made $200,000 in 2025.
A'ja Wilson, the WNBA's first ever four-time MVP, is signing a three-year, $5 million supermax contract to return to the Las Vegas Aces, sources tell me and @Andraya_Carter. The deal, which is the largest in WNBA history to date and fully guaranteed, was negotiated by Jade-Li… pic.twitter.com/xSJhkHOvId
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 15, 2026
An average salary of roughly $1.6 million may not seem like much in the grand schemes of athlete salaries, but it is a huge step forward for WNBA players. It was only a few days ago that the Aces also handed out the first million-dollar contract in league history. The increase in salaries is thanks to the league’s new CBA, which significantly boosts player earnings.
Wilson has certainly earned it. The 29-year-old has won MVP honors in back-to-back seasons and was named Defensive Player of the Year in three of the last four years. She averaged 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game last season en route to her third WNBA title of her career.
Brian Kelly strongly defends his LSU tenure
Brian Kelly does not think he did a poor job at LSU despite his firing last season.
Kelly defended his tenure in a new interview with John Brice of USA Today. While he conceded he “didn’t win enough games,” he questioned whether that was a fair criticism.
“I guess you do have to start with what is winning enough games?” Kelly said. “We were 34-14, 22-3 at home when I was fired. We had two 10-win seasons, won an SEC (West Division) championship, had the No. 1 offense in college football, a Heisman Trophy winner. When you look at what is winning and what keeps you employed, other people make those decisions. But it starts with what is defined as winning, and unfortunately it wasn’t defined as enough winning leading into being fired.”
Kelly added that he does hope to coach again and still spends a few hours a day watching film in his home office.
While the numbers Kelly cites are correct, they are also a bit cherrypicked. The Tigers were only 19-10 in SEC play under Kelly and were off to a 2-3 start in 2025 prior to his firing. LSU never lost fewer than three games under Kelly and never even made the College Football Playoff, which had to be the minimum expectation.
Kelly’s exit from LSU was far from amicable, and he essentially accused the school of sabotaging him after his firing. It sounds like expectations for him, at least in his mind, were simply too high.
Troy Aikman has bizarre NFL Draft involvement with Dolphins
Troy Aikman will apparently be at least somewhat involved in the Miami Dolphins’ NFL Draft process.
Aikman has been advising the Dolphins on football matters since the end of the season, raising questions about his potential involvement in the team’s NFL Draft process. On Wednesday, GM Jon-Eric Sullivan suggested Aikman will not be involved — sort of.
“He will not be consulted for picks. He may be in the draft room,” Sullivan said.
Will Troy Aikman have a role in the Dolphins draft?
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) April 15, 2026
GM Jon-Eric Sullivan:
"He will not be consulted for picks. He may be in the draft room. I can't say enough good things about Troy."
If Aikman will not be consulted on picks, why bother having him in the draft room? Perhaps the Dolphins would want his thoughts on potential trades, but the process is a little bit confusing.
Aikman has been open about his work with Miami despite his main role as an ESPN analyst. He has said the Dolphins likely did want to take advantage of his many connections around the league, but that he does not see his role as a conflict of interest.
Aikman had a hand in the hiring of both Sullivan and new head coach Jeff Hafley.
Astros pitcher blames ‘American lifestyle’ for his arm injury
Houston Astros pitcher Tatsuya Imai is on the injured list after just three starts, and the Japanese right-hander thinks moving to America has something to do with it.
Imai recorded just one out in his last start on Friday and was placed on the injured list with right arm fatigue. Through his interpreter, Shio Enomoto, Imai blamed trouble acclimating to his new lifestyle as a key reason for the injury.
“He’s not able to adjust to the American lifestyle,” Enomoto said, via Chandler Rome of The Athletic. “Baseball and outside of baseball. That’s probably the reason (for his arm fatigue).
“For example, the travel is different from Japan. The timing when the players eat. In Japan, when they get back to the hotel, they eat their dinner. Here, the players eat at the stadium. He thought it would be the same as in Japan, for example, eating dinner at the hotel. He thinks, even though he’s on the IL right now, he thinks it’s a positive thing to try and adjust and try to become better.”
Any pitcher moving to Major League Baseball from Japan has to deal with an adjustment process, but Imai’s appears rockier than most. He had not pitched all that great even before his arm trouble popped up, posting a 7.27 ERA over his first three starts.
The Astros signed Imai to a $54 million deal in the offseason, but there were apparently some doubts around the league about whether he would thrive at the MLB level. Those who weren’t sure about him are probably feeling quite vindicated now.
