Raiders trade for Bills All-Pro who was about to be released
The Las Vegas Raiders are hoping to turn one team’s garbage into on-field gold.
The Raiders have reportedly acquired cornerback Taron Johnson from the Buffalo Bills, who were planning to release him before Las Vegas approached them with a deal. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Raiders are swapping one of their sixth-round picks for a Bills seventh-round pick to get the deal done.
Trade: The #Raiders are trading for #Bills veteran CB Taron Johnson, sources say. It's a 6/7 pick swap.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 9, 2026
Johnson was announced as a release, but not officially on the wire yet. Las Vegas pounces. pic.twitter.com/B0oY28Uebp
The Bills picked Johnson in the fourth round of the 2018 draft and groomed him into the team’s starting nickel cornerback. But with the team shifting to a new defense next season under defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, Johnson became expendable. The team had been
Johnson was one of Buffalo’s most productive tacklers, averaging 89.5 tackles each season from 2020 to 2023. The Weber State alum earned a 2nd-team All-Pro nod in 2023. He spent less time on the field over the last two seasons due to injuries and a diminished role.
The Raiders’ trade for Johnson comes days after the Bills had already announced plans to release the 29-year-old defensive back. He was among four players Buffalo was expected to cut for cap-saving purposes.
Chargers sign Pro Bowler who played for Mike McDaniel
The Los Angeles Chargers are reuniting new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel with one of his former players.
The Chargers are reportedly signing fullback Alec Ingold to a 2-year contract worth $7.5 million. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Ingold’s $3.75 million annual salary ties him for the highest-paid fullback in the NFL alongside San Francisco 49ers veteran Kyle Juszczyk.
The Miami Dolphins had just released Ingold on Friday.
Veteran fullback Alec Ingold is signing a two-year, $7.5 million deal with the Chargers, sources tell The Insiders.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 9, 2026
Ingold gets $3.9M in Year 1 and his $3.75M APY puts him in a tie as the NFL’s highest-paid fullback on a deal negotiated by @KyleStrongin of @RangeSportsRMP. pic.twitter.com/so7vz3Ggoi
Ingold entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2019, signing with the then-Oakland Raiders. The Wisconsin product spent three seasons with the team — a stint that ended when he suffered a torn ACL to cut short his 2021 campaign.
Ingold spent the last four seasons playing for the Dolphins under Mike McDaniel. The 29-year-old tallied 406 total yards and 3 touchdowns, earning his first Pro Bowl nod in 2023.
The Chargers have kept busy over the past week. The team signed center Tyler Biadasz to a $30 million deal on Friday, then later re-signed their 9-time Pro Bowler who some thought would retire.
Jazz Chisholm gets the memes after Great Britain’s World Baseball Classic stinker
Jazz Chisholm failed to back up his talk during this year’s World Baseball Classic.
Great Britain was officially eliminated from WBC contention on Sunday with a 7-4 loss to Italy at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas. The defeat dropped them to 0-3 in World Baseball Classic play, slamming the door shut on the top-two finish in Pool B that Great Britain would have needed in order to advance to the knockout round.
The New York Yankees infielder Chisholm, who had served as the captain for Great Britain, received the brunt of the memes in the wake of his team’s early exit. Before the WBC began, Chisholm had stated in an interview that Great Britain was coming to “shock the world.”
"We're coming to shock the world. That's our expectation."
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) March 6, 2026
– Jazz Chisholm Jr. on Team Great Britain@jonmorosi | @WBCBaseball pic.twitter.com/hlVTMvqya5
In the end though, Great Britain finished the tournament winless and got outscored by a total margin of 24-7 across their three games of pool play. As a result, Chisholm got roasted into the next universe over social media.
— VMM – Premium. (@viniciomotam) March 8, 2026
Jazz was right, I’m shocked they were 1st eliminated
— MLBcasual (@MLBcasual) March 8, 2026
All that trash talk and for what??? pic.twitter.com/bW6HARFyWA
— Ci.tyD (@CityOfDingers) March 8, 2026
https://t.co/0Drwh4LEWi pic.twitter.com/gwEP2sCxba
— Tyler Leighton (@SoxSigns) March 8, 2026
It also did not help that the two-time All-Star Chisholm had an absolutely abysmal individual showing as well. He finished the 2026 World Baseball Classic for Great Britain having gone 2/13 (.154) with six strikeouts and just one RBI in an especially rough performance for the captain of the team.
The 28-year-old Chisholm, who posted a 30-30 campaign for the Yankees in 2025, is entering the final year of his contract this season at $10.2 million. Chisholm will have an enormous ask as a free agent next winter, but his baseball year in 2026 really could not have gotten off to a worse start with that World Baseball Classic dud.
Luka Doncic appears to make the money sign at referee after no-call
Luka Doncic is living very dangerously right now.
The Los Angeles Lakers star Doncic had a curious moment during Sunday’s game against the New York Knicks. In the third quarter at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Calif., Doncic lost his dribble and turned the ball over.
That ignited a 3-on-1 fast break by the Knicks with Doncic serving as the only Lakers player defending the basket. He attempted to step in and take a charge on New York forward Mohamed Diawara, but the referees did not blow a whistle, resulting in a dump-off pass by Diawara to Knicks teammate Josh Hart for the easy layup.
In response, Doncic, who had hit the deck following the contact from Diawara, looked at the nearest referee and appeared to make the money sign at him (effectively alleging that the ref had been paid off). Here is the video.
LUKA DID THE MONEY GESTURE TO THE REFS pic.twitter.com/VPvOFLIBPe
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) March 8, 2026
The six-time All-Star Doncic has drawn plenty of ire this season for his incessant complaining to the referees. He is now sitting at 15 technical fouls on the year (one away from an automatic one-game suspension) and even made Lakers head coach JJ Redick look bad with his latest T from a few days ago.
In the end, the Lakers wound up defeating the Knicks by a comfortable 110-97 final score. But Doncic will likely be facing a sizable fine from the NBA over the apparent money gesture, possibly even akin to the one that Rudy Gobert once got for making the same sign during a game.
Dillon Brooks takes a shot at the Timberwolves
Dillon Brooks wants the Ant-Man.
The Phoenix Suns swingman Brooks appeared this week in a “Million Dollaz Worth of Game” video feature. During the feature, Brooks made some shady comments about the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“[The Timberwolves] run into us [during the playoffs], it’s gonna be problems,” said Brooks. “We got their number this year.”
Brooks is right that the Suns have beaten the Timberwolves during both head-to-head matchups so far this year. The two teams also have their final meeting of the regular season on March 17 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn.
With the Timberwolves sitting at No. 4 in the West this season and the Suns at No. 7, it is entirely possible that the two sides could face each other in the first round as part of a 3-6 or a 4-5 matchup. The prior history is there too as Minnesota and Phoenix faced each other in the first round of the 2024 playoffs (with the former winning in a four-game sweep). The first-year Suns player Brooks also himself played Minnesota in a 2022 first-round playoff matchup as a member of the Memphis Grizzlies (with the Grizzlies winning that series in six games).
Of course, the former All-Defensive selection Brooks has some bigger things to worry about right now besides the Timberwolves. He is currently recovering from a broken hand which is expected to sideline him through late March to early April, and he was also just arrested for DUI in Arizona a few days ago (though Brooks was released without any immediate charges).
Marcus Smart has a collision with Bill Maher during Lakers-Knicks game
Bill Maher got an up-close taste of the action during Sunday’s game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks.
The comedian and political commentator Maher was sitting courtside as the Lakers faced the Knicks at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Calif. on Sunday. In the second quarter, Lakers guard Marcus Smart deflected a pass during a Knicks possession and went flying out of bounds to try to save the loose ball.
Smart ultimately failed to keep the ball in play … but did succeed in causing some chaos on the sideline. He took out a few of the monitors of the ESPN television broadcasters and also ran into Maher and some other fans who were sitting in the first row in the process.
Here is the video.
Marcus Smart took out Bill Maher pic.twitter.com/ODam0krrIN
— Lakers Lead (@LakersLead) March 8, 2026
Maher, 70, is a New York City native who was presumably cheering on the Knicks on Sunday. But his HBO show “Real Time with Bill Maher” films in Los Angeles, giving Maher the perfect opportunity to catch a game.
Meanwhile, the former NBA Defensive Player of the Year Smart is known for his hustle, which sometimes includes all-out efforts for loose balls. Maher learned that the hard way on Sunday, but he at least fared better than this other courtside fan who was once steamrolled by a current Lakers player.
Jeremy Fears accused of another dirty play against Michigan
Michigan State guard Jeremy Fears was accused of another dirty play against the Michigan Wolverines on Sunday.
Fears seemingly lifted his foot to kick Michigan’s Elliot Cadeau in the groin during the first half of Sunday’s game at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Mich. Fears was losing control of the ball, but needlessly brought his left foot up as he tried to recover it and was whistled for a foul.
Jeremy Fears just did it again… pic.twitter.com/2u52vnnPB1
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) March 8, 2026
Fears has been accused of dirty play on multiple occasions this season. Most prominently, he tripped Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg during the teams’ first meeting of the season, a move that Wolverines coach Dusty May called out as “dangerous.”
Officials agreed that Fears had at least some intent behind the contact during Sunday’s game, as he was called for a flagrant foul after further review.
Fears is Michigan State’s most important player and entered play Sunday averaging 15.3 points and 9.1 assists per game on the season. Despite his excellent play, he has gained a reputation as a dirty player, and his move on Sunday will do him no favors in that regard.
Conor McGregor reacts to being left out of UFC’s White House event
Despite his lobbying efforts, Conor McGregor was left off the card for the UFC’s scheduled event at the White House in June. His response to that snub was somewhat surprising.
UFC CEO Dana White revealed Saturday that McGregor will not take part in UFC Freedom Fights 250, even though McGregor had sought to fight Michael Chandler at the event. Chandler is on the card, but will instead face Mauricio Ruffy.
Oddly, McGregor did not seem too bothered by his omission. On X, he reposted the lineup and praised it as a “great card.”
A great card! #CantWait 🏦 https://t.co/qdR8J5DYtz
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) March 8, 2026
Perhaps McGregor always knew he was a longshot to make the event. While White has stated an openness to bring him back to the sport, McGregor has not fought in over five years.
McGregor has teased a return to the Octagon several times in the past few years, but none of them have worked out. He was slated to face Chandler at UFC 303 at one point, and also teased a boxing match against Logan Paul that never came to fruition, which McGregor blamed on a lack of interest from UFC.
Notable update emerges on Travis Kelce’s playing future
Travis Kelce is flirting with retirement for a second consecutive offseason. Much like last offseason, however, it appears increasingly likely that he will play at least one more year.
Kelce has had conversations with multiple NFL teams leading them to believe he is “motivated” to play a 14th season, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic. No final decision has been made yet, however.
Based on conversations with several teams, TE Travis Kelce appears motivated to return to play a 14th season. The Chiefs remain very much in the mix to re-sign the three-time Super Bowl champion and four-time All-Pro. pic.twitter.com/ybzjPfcvYb
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) March 8, 2026
The door does appear to be open to Kelce playing for someone other than the Chiefs, though Kansas City remains “very much in the mix.” Other teams have at least reached out to him to gauge his interest in playing elsewhere, and it does not sound as if they have received a firm no.
Kelce was very much treated like a player bidding farewell at the end of the season. Since then, however, momentum has seemingly built toward a return. He could have a very lucrative future in the media, but that would still be available to him next year if he wants to continue playing.
Kelce, 36, saw his role reduced last season for the Chiefs, though he still found the end zone five times. His 76 catches were his lowest total since 2015, which was his third NFL season.
Deandre Ayton looked so lazy during Lakers’ fastbreak
Deandre Ayton is not exactly doing anything to mitigate the complaints about his effort or fitness.
Ayton was back in the lineup for the Lakers on Sunday against the New York Knicks after missing a game due to left knee soreness. Less than four minutes into the first quarter, however, he was barely even jogging up the floor on a Laker fastbreak trailing far behind the rest of the play.
Broadcaster Doris Burke even commented that Ayton looked “winded” on the play, even though the game had just started.
Dorris Burke thought this moment with Ayton was interesting.
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) March 8, 2026
He was slowly coming up the floor, looks like he’s just gassed. https://t.co/Ek7iKOdle9 pic.twitter.com/C5EV8V78l2
Ayton’s lack of effort has been a source of controversy lately, and even some of his teammates seem to have drawn attention to it. If he has conditioning issues, that changes things, but is still highly concerning to see that early in a game at a fairly late stage of the season.
For Ayton’s part, he seems displeased with what the Lakers have asked him to do. The partnership does not seem to be working well for anybody.
Joe Flacco may have a preferred landing spot in free agency
Joe Flacco just turned 41 in January, but he appears to have every intention of playing at least one more NFL season.
Flacco intends to enter free agency in search of a starting job, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. If he does not find that opportunity, however, the quarterback would be interested in returning to Cincinnati as Joe Burrow’s backup with the Bengals.
Veteran QB Joe Flacco, who will be a free agent Monday, wants an opportunity to at least compete for a starting job. But if he’s a backup, sources say, Flacco would strongly consider a return to Cincinnati, where he filled in for Joe Burrow last fall and made his first Pro Bowl. pic.twitter.com/SktpE1Eajl
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 8, 2026
Flacco proved a good fit in Cincinnati last year after the Cleveland Browns traded him there in October. Though the team only went 1-5 in his starts, he threw for 13 touchdowns and four interceptions and stabilized the team’s quarterback situation after Burrow’s long-term injury.
It is unclear where Flacco might land a starting job, but the Atlanta Falcons or Arizona Cardinals could theoretically take a look at him. The Las Vegas Raiders could also use him as a bridge quarterback if they do not want likely No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza starting immediately.
On the other hand, Flacco might actually get another chance to start in Cincinnati in light of how punishing the AFC North will wind up being for quarterbacks.
Tarik Skubal is pushing Tigers to let him start another WBC game
Tarik Skubal made what was supposed to be his one and only start for Team USA during the World Baseball Classic on Saturday night, but he is not ready to leave just yet.
Skubal admitted he does not want to leave Team USA, even though he is not slated to start again during the tournament. After the 9-1 American win over Great Britain on Saturday, he admitted he wants to make another start, and will try to make it happen.
Tarik Skubal is leaving the door open to pitching again for Team USA at the WBC. He said pitching tonight made him want to make another start. He'll decide soon.
— David Adler (@_dadler) March 8, 2026
"This is gonna be one of the tougher decisions I've made in my career so far," he said.
Skubal did talk to Tigers manager AJ Hinch, who said the two sides would wait to make a decision.
Hinch talked to Skubal last night and they agreed to talk again after the emotions subside. "I don't know how it will all end. I saw the interview, I saw the emotion and I know the human. Everything matters to him and he's in a tough spot to accomplish everything." https://t.co/uokKoD8901
— Chris McCosky (@cmccosky) March 8, 2026
Skubal could theoretically start a hypothetical championship game for Team USA. However, that would put his Opening Day start for the Tigers in jeopardy. In a broader sense, there is also the ever-present risk of injury for Skubal in a contract year in what is in many ways a preseason tournament, albeit a meaningful one.
One can empathize with Skubal, who is a competitor and wants to pitch for his country. The Tigers are also the ones paying him and they want him healthy and ready to go. The two sides will try to find a solution that works for everyone involved, but that may be a significant challenge.
Tom Brady refused to trade Maxx Crosby to 1 team
The Las Vegas Raiders fielded no shortage of interest in Maxx Crosby before trading him to the Baltimore Ravens. One contending team, however, never had much of a shot at him.
Even if the New England Patriots had pursued Crosby, they were unlikely to get him. A source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN that Tom Brady would never sanction a Crosby trade with the New England Patriots and head coach Mike Vrabel.
“No way Tom was sending Maxx to Vrabel,” the source said.
Brady and Vrabel are not enemies by any stretch, but Brady is not in the business of making life easier for his former team. He wasn’t even willing to go all-out in cheering for the Patriots in the Super Bowl this year, and Vrabel having more success than him probably already bugs him on a competitive level.
Raiders GM John Spytek is Brady’s hand-picked choice, and Brady presumably has final say over every big move the Raiders make. As long as that remains the case, the Patriots are unlikely to get much help from the Raiders anytime soon, especially since Brady probably hated having to deal a talented player like Crosby in the first place.
Former NBA standout fired as Georgia Tech head coach
Former NBA standout Damon Stoudamire is out as head coach at Georgia Tech after three seasons.
Stoudamire is out at Georgia Tech after an 11-20 season. The Yellow Jackets lost their last 12 games in a row, which sealed the coach’s fate.
Sources: Georgia Tech is dismissing coach Damon Stoudamire, who went 42-55 in three seasons, per me and @jeffborzello. Tech (11-20, 2-16) ended on a 12-game losing streak. Tech officials are steadfast they remain committed to resourcing the program at a competitive level. pic.twitter.com/zwhH9Rjd4h
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) March 8, 2026
Stoudamire is still best remembered for his 13-year NBA career, primarily with the Portland Trail Blazers. His coaching career has been largely unsuccessful, and he was unable to re-establish the Yellow Jackets as a basketball program with national viability. He went 42-55 in three seasons and made the NIT once, losing in the first round.
This was Stoudamire’s second college head coaching job, and it was no more successful than the first. He went 71-77 in five seasons as head coach at Pacific from 2016 to 2021.
Prior to joining Georgia Tech, Stoudamire was an assistant with the Boston Celtics under Joe Mazzulla. Perhaps he will return to an NBA bench going forward after another unsuccessful college stop.
Eagles could consider trading star defender
The Philadelphia Eagles could consider trading one of their star defenders depending on how his contract situation plays out.
The Eagles are being forced to decide on the future of Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jalen Carter, who is eligible for a new deal. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Sunday that the Eagles are weighing whether to extend Carter after reaching a long-term extension with Jordan Davis.
The Eagles have fielded trade calls about Carter, though it is not clear how serious they are about actually trading him.
Carter has made two Pro Bowls and a been named a second-team All-Pro just three years into his NFL career. The Eagles undoubtedly would like to keep him, but he will be expensive, and it may be tough for them to pay both him and Davis what they are worth.
In his three NFL seasons, Carter has 13.5 sacks. He did spark some questions about his maturity last season, but there is also no question that he is one of the most talented young defensive linemen in the NFL who would be coveted by many teams.
Mike Evans has been linked to 4 teams
Wide receiver Mike Evans might seriously leave the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with four teams in the mix for his services.
The Washington Commanders, Los Angeles Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, and New York Giants have all expressed interest in Evans, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. The Buccaneers also still have interest in bringing him back, but might find that financially challenging depending on Evans’ demands.
Evans is set to test unrestricted free agency for the first time in his career, having re-upped with Tampa Bay before hitting the open market in the past. The 32-year-old was limited to eight games last season by a serious hamstring injury, and only caught 30 passes for 368 yards and three touchdowns. It was the first season in his entire career he did not reach the 1,000-yard plateau.
Evans is said to be looking for four big things on his next team. Money is not one of them, although it will undoubtedly be a factor.
Up until now, Evans has spent his entire 12-year career with the Bucs. It would be very odd to see him in a different uniform, but that outcome appears to be a realistic possibility.
George Russell wins F1 opener in Australia
George Russell and Kimi Antonelli claimed a 1-2 finish in the opening race of the F1 season at the Australia Grand Prix on Sunday. The win validates the pundits who had been predicting that Mercedes would be the team to beat under the 2026 regulations, where power is split 50-50 between the engine and batteries units.
Despite overtaking both Mercedes drivers to begin the race, Ferrari exercised poor race strategy by failing to pit either Charles Leclerc or Lewis Hamilton on one of several early virtual safety cars. This resulted in both drivers having to pit later in the race, and them finishing 3rd and 4th, respectively.
Behind the Ferraris were defending champion Lando Norris in 5th, and Max Verstappen, who battled all the way from P19 to 6th.
In what could be considered a big disappointment for Aston Martin, Lance Stroll finished 17th and Fernando Alonso was forced to retire early.
With the elimination of DRS being replaced by overtake mode and active aero, teams are still trying to optimize race strategy. While Mercedes’ straight-line speed was clearly an advantage in Australia where a lack of braking zones negated the battery harvesting need for overtake mode, a different track may yield other competitive advantage for other teams.
Joe Rogan calls out ‘casuals’ for booing during UFC 326 main event
Joe Rogan was not happy with the fans in attendance Saturday during the main event of UFC 326.
Rogan was on the call for the UFC lightweight championship bout between champion Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nev. Oliveira (37-11-0) thoroughly dominated Holloway (27-9-0) to take the title in a wire-to-wire victory by unanimous decision.
Oliveira repeatedly took down Holloway and outclassed him while on the mat. While the showcase impressed the judges enough to score an uncontested win, the fans weren’t as pleased.
Many of them were heard booing throughout the ground-focused match, prompting Rogan to call them out during one instance in the fourth round.
“Listen to these casuals booing,” Rogan said. “How do you not appreciate this complete domination by a master?”
“Listen to these casuals booing”
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) March 8, 2026
Joe Rogan is pissed at the crowd @SpinninBackfist https://t.co/L12aj3uTXp
Rogan, a longtime mixed martial arts commentator, knows and appreciates a sterling technical performance in the octagon when he sees one. But most fans paying good money to watch a UFC fight during their visit to Las Vegas are there to see bloody knockouts more than constant grappling on the ground.
All three judges scored the match 50-45 in favor of Oliveira, who took Holloway down five times during the five-round fight.
Desmond Bane tried to start beef again in bizarre moment with Rudy Gobert
Desmond Bane seems to always let his intrusive thoughts win.
The standout shooting guard has been quite the on-court troublemaker in his first season with the Orlando Magic. That didn’t change Saturday in his team’s interconference clash against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn.
Bane was defending the paint as Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards shoveled a pass toward Rudy Gobert in what should have led to an uncontested dunk. Instead, Gobert bobbled the ball out of bounds, prompting Bane to mock the 7’1″ Frenchman right to his face.
“Oh my god! Oh my god!” Bane said repeatedly as he shoved Gobert along the baseline.
Desmond Bane had words for Rudy Gobert after he dropped a pass out of bounds 👀
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) March 8, 2026
(h/t @CharlieWaltonMN)pic.twitter.com/oG696FpO1S
Gobert looked like he wanted to confront Bane before realizing it wasn’t worth the trouble. Bane, who stands nearly a foot shorter than Gobert, kept taunting Gobert like an annoying little brother. One can only imagine if Bane had done the same thing to a more hot-headed big man like Draymond Green or Isaiah Stewart.
It’s been a recurring theme for the Magic guard this season as Bane has had multiple on-court crash-outs since moving to Orlando. Bane even recently drew the ire of Gobert’s countryman in Victor Wembanyama.
Bane may have been feeling himself that evening as he went toe-to-toe with Edwards in a 119-92 Magic win. Bane led Orlando with 30 points on 10/17 shooting, while Edwards finished with 34 points in a losing effort.
Gobert’s untimely bobble of Edwards’ pass came just days after he jokingly threw shade at his Timberwolves teammates for not sharing the ball enough.
Jaylen Brown has great quote on Jayson Tatum’s return from injury
Jaylen Brown was more than happy to see his Boston Celtics co-star play again for the first time in nearly 10 months.
Jayson Tatum was in the starting lineup next to Brown in the Celtics’ home game on Friday against the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden in Boston, Mass. The dynamic tandem picked up their first win together since last May, when the Celtics were dueling with the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
During a live stream shortly after the game, Brown spoke candidly about the experience of watching Tatum slowly look more and more like his old self as each minute passed in Boston’s 120-100 victory over Dallas.
“It’s good to see, not only my brother back out there, but more importantly, besides basketball, the mental aspect, for those who’ve had injuries, it definitely has an effect on your mental health,” Brown shared to his Twitch viewers.
“So to see my boy smiling and seeing him out there having fun, doing what he loves to do, I got to see up close and personal when he went down with his injury, watching that and seeing that look in his eyes of uncertainty, for him to be out there smiling, that was a victory in itself.”
Brown made a superstar leap in his first 55 games without Tatum in the lineup. He averaged 28.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in what many considered to be a dark horse MVP campaign as the Celtics’ unquestioned No. 1 option. Brown once again led Boston with 24 points in Friday’s game.
Some fans and media members have wondered how Tatum’s return would affect Brown in a season wherein the latter has clearly taken hold of the team. Brown himself sounded like he was just happy to play with his friend and longtime running mate again.
