Larry Brown Sports

Brown Bag it, Baby

Blog

Victor Wembanyama took apparent shot at Thunder after NBA Cup win

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

Victor Wembanyama seemingly took a shot at the Oklahoma City Thunder after the San Antonio Spurs’ dramatic NBA Cup win on Saturday.

The Spurs pulled out a 111-109 victory at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., handing the Thunder just their second defeat of the season. After the game, Wembanyama made a pointed comment about winning ethically, which many interpreted as a shot at his opposition.

“I’m just glad to be part of something that’s growing to be so beautiful — pure and ethical basketball,” Wembanyama said.

Wembanyama has certainly embraced the Spurs’ growing rivalry with the Thunder. Saturday’s game was a physical one, and the Spurs center could be seen taunting Thunder players at times. Oklahoma City star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has also been criticized for his penchant of drawing fouls, which goes to Wembanyama’s comment about ethics.

On the other hand, Wembanyama’s comments have led to him being accused of being too dismissive of the Thunder. That definitely was not the case on Saturday, as he finished the game with 22 points and nine rebounds in 21 minutes of action.

Knicks fans all said the same thing after New York advanced to NBA Cup Finals

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

The tortured New York Knicks fan base knows the importance of celebrating small victories.

The Knicks outlasted the Orlando Magic on Saturday to advance to the NBA Cup Finals in a 132-120 contest at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., that was far more competitive than the final score suggests.

The Knicks were led by Jalen Brunson, who went off for 40 points on 16/27 shooting to go along with 4 rebounds and 8 assists. Karl-Anthony Towns served as the team’s secondary scorer with 29 points, while OG Anunoby added 24 more from the small forward spot.

It was an all-around team performance for New York — one that several fans felt was worthy of recognition. Despite some dismissing the NBA Cup’s overall relevance, many Knicks fans called it a major accomplishment to make the tournament’s championship game.

It’s hard to knock Knicks fans for celebrating the team’s NBA Cup success. New York spent decades as an Eastern Conference afterthought before the team finally became a legitimate NBA Finals contender (sorry, Carmelo Anthony) in the Brunson era.

The Knicks have not made the Finals since 1999, when Brunson was just three years old. While making the NBA Cup Finals doesn’t carry the same magnitude as playing for the Larry O’Brien Trophy in June, Knicks fans have every right to celebrate the success all the same.

Thunder burned by questionable call in the closing seconds of NBA Cup semis

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

The San Antonio Spurs benefited from a controversial call during their NBA Cup semifinal matchup Saturday against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Spurs led the Thunder 109-108 with 3.7 seconds left in the elimination game at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. Victor Wembanyama inbounded to a streaking Devin Vassell as the latter was trying to outrun Thunder guard Alex Caruso.

Vassell lost the ball out of bounds along the sideline, but not before Caruso was called for a personal foul. With the Thunder out of timeouts, the defending champions were unable to challenge the ruling.

The Thunder could have gotten the ball back with a chance to win the game at the buzzer. Instead, Vassell sank two free throws as the Spurs won 111-109 to advance to the NBA Cup Finals. The result also ended the Thunder’s 16-game winning streak.

Wembanyama returned from a 12-game absence to finish with 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks across 21 minutes of action. Wemby certainly backed up his talk after making some pointed comments directed at Chet Holmgren.

Victor Wembanyama taunts Alex Caruso during epic NBA Cup game

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

The San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder produced an early game-of-the-year contender on Saturday.

San Antonio knocked Oklahoma City out of NBA Cup contention on Saturday with a 111-109 victory during their semifinal matchup. It marked just the second loss of the season for the now 24-2 Thunder and snapped a franchise-record 16-game winning streak.

In the fourth quarter at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., Wembanyama got Thunder guard Alex Caruso one-on-one in the high post area with the Spurs trailing 101-100. Despite Caruso getting extremely physical with him and even knocking the ball away at one point, Wembanyama recovered and hit an impossible 14-foot fadeaway as the shot clock was winding down.

As they were running back up the floor afterwards, Wembanyama taunted Caruso by pointing and staring at him. Here is the video.

Wembanyama, who was making his first game appearance since mid-November due to a calf strain, finished the game with 22 points and nine rebounds in 21 minutes of action. That helped the Spurs advance to Tuesday’s NBA Cup final against the New York Knicks, who won their own semifinal game on Saturday against the Orlando Magic by a final score of 132-120.

Saturday’s victory over the Thunder had to be especially sweet for Wembanyama too. He clearly takes the matchup personally and has also gotten into it in the past with rival big man Chet Holmgren of Oklahoma City.

Joe Burrow reportedly cut off his own cast after toe surgery

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

The legend of Joe Burrow as a football sicko continues to grow.

The Cincinnati Bengals quarterback missed a good chunk of the 2025 season after suffering a toe injury early in the campaign. Burrow underwent surgery in September and had a recovery period that was supposed to keep him out for virtually the entire season. But Burrow reportedly refused to let the normal medical timeline limit him.

According to a report from The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, Burrow was supposed to “spend most of this season stuck in a cast.” The Bengals’ team doctors advised him to keep the cast on until they deemed it ready to be taken off. Instead, Burrow “cut it off himself” shortly after his surgery and “got to work rehabbing” with a Thanksgiving return in mind.

Burrow ultimately succeeded. What was supposed to be a four-month recovery period got cut in half, just like his cast. The two-time Pro Bowler came back to lead the Bengals to a resounding Thanksgiving win over the Baltimore Ravens. But with Cincinnati’s Week 14 loss to the Buffalo Bills, the team’s playoff aspirations are all but dead.

In the same report, Russini detailed Burrow’s frustrations with the Bengals organization. Burrow’s recent comments have even had Bengals fans worried about another Andrew Luck situation with their star QB.

Burrow may not be headed for a surprise retirement or trade request at the moment. But major changes may need to happen in Cincinnati to keep the team’s superstar QB happy.

Notable update emerges on ex-NFL WR Nate Burleson’s broadcasting future

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

Nate Burleson may losing one of his most prominent gigs.

The former NFL wide receiver Burleson could be getting dropped by “CBS Mornings,” Alexandra Steigrad of the New York Post reported this week. Steigrad notes that Burleson’s “CBS Mornings” co-host Tony Dokoupil has been tabbed by the network as the new host of “CBS Evening News” (a gig that Dokoupil will begin in the new year).

As a result of the Dokoupil news, “CBS Mornings” will now “likely” be overhauled at some point in the future, which could mean that both Burleson and his co-host Gayle King will no longer be on the show. You can read Steigrad’s full report on the situation here.

Burleson, now 44 years old, played in the NFL from 2003-13 as both a receiver and a return specialist. He played for the Minnesota Vikings, the Seattle Seahawks, and the Detroit Lions, logging 5,630 receiving yards and 40 total touchdowns over the course of his career.

After retiring from the league, Burleson soon went into broadcasting. He first began as an analyst for NFL Network in 2015 and then joined CBS as a studio analyst for “The NFL Today” in 2017, having since won two Sports Emmy Awards for Outstanding Studio Analyst.

In addition to becoming the co-host of “CBS Mornings” in 2021, Burleson has done work for CBS’ sister properties such as Paramount+ and Nickelodeon too. Burleson recently made the headlines over a hot take about Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, and he could be having an even greater focus on the NFL if he does end up getting dropped by “CBS Mornings.”

Dirk Nowitzki called Victor Wembanyama out over his comments on Chet Holmgren

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

Victor Wembanyama’s latest comments on Chet Holmgren are not sitting well with Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki.

The San Antonio Spurs star recently sat down with Prime Video’s Taylor Rooks ahead of his return to the court for Saturday’s NBA Cup semifinals game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Rooks asked Wembanyama about the latter’s ongoing rivalry with Holmgren, who has been clashing with Wembanyama even before the two became NBA stars.

Rather than give his rival any props, Wemby dismissed Chet for playing alongside the reigning MVP in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

“Ultimately, on the court, the reigning MVP is on that court, so he’s our main focus,” Wembanyama said. “Anybody is hard to guard when you have to help on the MVP.”

Nowitzki did not hide his annoyance with Wembanyama’s comments while speaking as a panelist Saturday on the Spurs-Thunder pregame show.

“I do want to say, I didn’t love his answer about Chet,” Nowitzki admitted. “I wish he would’ve given him a little bit of credit. You can say, ‘Hey, they have the MVP. Shai’s incredible, but Chet’s gotten better every year. He’s a champ. I want to play hard against them.’

“I didn’t love that answer. To me, it’s too swaggy, too dismissive of Chet.”

Wembanyama and Holmgren have been feuding for years, with the two unafraid to throw barbs at one another. The Spurs star reportedly felt extra motivated to succeed after Holmgren won a championship before he did.

While Dirk didn’t like the shade Wemby threw toward Chet, it certainly makes for good television. The rivalry between the two slender superstars will be a staple in the NBA for a decade to come.

2 frontrunners have emerged for a Brendan Donovan trade

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

Half of Major League Baseball appears to be interested in trading for Brendan Donovan, but two teams are apparently separating themselves from the pack.

The Seattle Mariners and the San Francisco Giants have emerged as the two frontrunners to trade for the St. Louis Cardinals All-Star utilityman Brendan Donovan, Katie Woo of The Athletic reported on Saturday. Woo adds that the Cardinals, who are in the midst of a rebuild, would like to land multiple top prospects in exchange for Donovan.

Donovan, a 28-year-old lefty hitter, was an All-Star for the Cardinals in 2025, batting .287 with 10 home runs and 50 RBIs through 118 games. Also a Gold Glove winner in 2022, Donovan is under club control through 2027.

The Mariners, who have the third-best farm system in MLB according to ESPN’s latest rankings, are coming off a 90-win season and a division title capped by a narrow loss to the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALCS. They also just lost infielder Jorge Polanco in free agency to the New York Mets.

Meanwhile, the Giants, who have just the 24th-ranked farm system according to ESPN, went 81-81 in 2025 and missed the playoffs. They could certainly stand to upgrade their middle infield alongside $182 million man Willy Adames at shortstop.

The Cardinals have been shopping Donovan, who primarily operates at second base and left field, for much of the offseason. Donovan is unlikely to be the only star player whom St. Louis, under their new president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom, looks to trade this winter as well.

Everyone said the same thing about Fernando Mendoza’s Heisman speech

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

Fans could not help but imagine an alternative career path for Fernando Mendoza as he gave his Heisman Trophy acceptance speech on Saturday night.

The Indiana quarterback became the first Hoosier in history to win the Heisman Trophy, and the 78th player in college football history. Some fans felt the speech he gave deserved its own award, with Mendoza sounding articulate as he stood atop the podium at Lincoln Center in Manhattan, N.Y.

You can watch Mendoza’s full speech below:

Mendoza delivered his speech as if he were a veteran public speaker, doing so while maintaining a winning smile. Many felt like Mendoza could have a future in politics once he leaves his football career behind.

Mendoza, who is of Cuban descent, even appealed to the Latino community when he spoke to his grandparents in perfect Spanish midway through his speech. That’s sure to increase his broad appeal

The 22-year-old ended his speech with a powerful message to the kids watching from home.

Mendoza had an outstanding 2025 campaign in his first season at Indiana. He threw for 2,980 yards with 33 touchdowns and 6 interceptions, leading the Hoosiers to a 13-0 record and a Big Ten Championship.

With Mendoza likely headed for the NFL at season’s end, Jameis Winston may finally have a worthy adversary in the

You can cross one coach off Michigan’s list

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

It looks like we can cross one coach off of Michigan’s list as a replacement for Sherrone Moore.

Moore was fired as the Wolverines’ head football coach on Wednesday for cause due to his relationship with a staff member. There have been questions about whom Michigan will target for their vacancy. Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer was at the top of the list. Tied for sixth on the list at 9/1 odds was current Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham.

Dillingham confirmed Saturday that Arizona State has sent him a contract extension offer that would raise his base pay. The two sides are reportedly close on reaching a deal. Dillingham also said that the Michigan job would be a “great opportunity for somebody” other than him.

The Sun Devils went 8-4 this season under Dillingham, a year after going 11-3. Dillingham is from Phoenix, went to Arizona State for college, and coached and played at Chaparral High School in Scottsdale. He has a lot of personal ties to Arizona State that are meaningful to him, and he’s not about to leave it all behind for Michigan.

Fernando Mendoza had powerful closing message after winning Heisman Trophy

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza had some impactful parting words as he stood up on the podium to receive his Heisman Trophy.

Mendoza on Saturday etched his name in college football history by becoming the 78th Heisman Trophy winner and the first one to come out of the Indiana program. The eloquent Cuban-American QB capped off his acceptance speech with a message to the young kids watching the ceremony from home.

“I want every kid out there who feels overlooked, underestimated to know— I was you,” Mendoza said.

“I was that kid, too. I was in your shoes. The truth is, you don’t need the most stars, hype, or rankings. You just need discipline, heart, and people who believe in you. I hope this moment shows you chasing your dreams are worth it, no matter how big or impossible they seem.”

Nobody outside of the Mendoza family could have possibly predicted that Fernando would one day be up on stage to receive the 2025 Heisman Trophy. Per 247 Sports, Mendoza was the 134th-ranked QB prospect in the 2022 recruiting class. He was a humble three-star recruit when he joined Cal, and looked the part in his first two years with the Golden Bears.

Mendoza turned into a different beast after transferring to Indiana. He had more touchdowns in his lone year with the Hoosiers (33) than he did in his two seasons at Cal combined (30). He was the heart and soul of the team that swept through the regular season and beat Ohio State for the Big Ten Championship.

Mendoza, who could very well be the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, may have a future as a motivational speaker once he hangs up his cleats. The Hoosiers star similarly went viral last week for his incredible postgame quote after beating the Buckeyes.

Joe Burrow frustrated with Bengals organization

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

Joe Burrow sparked speculation with comments he made earlier in the week, but concerns about him potentially leaving the Cincinnati Bengals appear to be overblown. He does, however, have some behind-the-scenes frustrations with the organization.

Burrow has previously voiced frustration with the Bengals’ modest operation, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic. The organization is known for maintaining one of the smallest coaching and scouting staffs in the league, and the quarterback would like to see those numbers expanded.

Despite the complaint, Burrow has no issues with the Bengals overall. He has not even hinted at asking for a trade, and is mostly just frustrated with another losing season in Cincinnati.

Burrow’s comments about frustrations and a need to have fun were interpreted by some as a hint that he might look to move elsewhere. Some even interpreted it as a hint that he might walk away in his prime. Neither of those things appear likely to happen.

The Bengals are 4-9 on the season, though they are 3-1 in the four games Burrow has started. If he can stay healthy in 2026, there is no reason the team cannot contend again quite quickly.

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s trade preferences have been revealed

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

Giannis Antetokounmpo still has not officially pushed for a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks, but he does have an idea in mind of what kind of city he would like to play in.

Antetokounmpo is prioritizing a chance to play for a contender, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes. However, he would also like to play in a bigger, warmer market.

“Preferably, I think he would like to have some sun. He’d like to be, probably, in a big market,” Haynes said. “Outside of that, he just wants to be on a team where he can contend for a championship. He’s been very adamant about that being a main priority.”

Reports suggest that Antetokounmpo only really had interest in the New York Knicks last offseason. They would not exactly fulfill the warm and sunny aspect of his wish, but it is certainly a big market and a championship contender.

Another team Antetokounmpo has recently been linked to might be able to tick all the boxes for him.

For the moment, Antetokounmpo remains shelved with a calf injury. Without him, the Bucks are 11-15, and he will certainly be paying attention to their record as long as he remains sidelined.

Cowboys’ relationship with former All-Pro may be ‘severed’

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

The Dallas Cowboys may have alienated one of their star players to the point of no return.

The Cowboys announced Saturday that cornerback Trevon Diggs will not be activated for Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings. The move was made despite the fact that Diggs had a full week of practice and says he is healthy enough to play.

NFL reporter Jordan Schultz reported that the relationship between Diggs and the Cowboys has “soured” and may even be “severed.”

Diggs has been on injured reserve since mid-October due to a concussion he suffered at home. The Cowboys have activated his 21-day practice window, but must fully activate him next week or leave him on injured reserve for the remainder of the season.

Diggs is best remembered for his 2021 season when he intercepted 11 passes and was named first-team All-Pro. He has only played in 19 games over the last three seasons, largely due to knee injuries. He has 18 tackles in six games for the Cowboys this year.

The Cowboys signed Diggs to a five-year, $97 million contract extension in 2023. The team could save as much as $15.5 million by releasing him this offseason, an outcome which is starting to feel increasingly possible.

Dave Roberts played big role in UCLA’s head coach search

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

The UCLA Bruins got a somewhat surprising assist in their search for a new head coach from Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.

Roberts was an active part of UCLA’s coaching search and even spoke with several of the candidates, according to Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times. Roberts even took part in Zoom calls while the Dodgers’ playoff run was still ongoing.

Roberts, a UCLA alumnus, said he spoke with eventual hire Bob Chesney three times while the Bruins courted the coach, and they texted even more often than that.

“I just see him as a guy that failure’s not an option,” Roberts said. “He’s gonna win. I think I have a pretty good gut and read on people and I couldn’t have more conviction in coach Chesney.”

It is not terribly unusual for a school to lean on its alumni when making hires like this one. Roberts’ role seems to have been even bigger than that, and he basically did everything except join the search committee.

If the Bruins want to replicate a winner, they could do a lot worse than following Roberts’ lead. He has won three titles with the Dodgers, including two in a row in 2024 and 2025. He certainly has his critics, but the results ultimately speak for themselves.

Donald Trump had the most awkward coin toss at Army-Navy game

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

President Donald Trump was in attendance for Saturday’s annual Army-Navy game, but he did not exactly nail the coin toss.

Trump took part in the coin toss prior to Saturday’s game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md. and was given the honor of actually tossing the coin. His form, however, left something to be desired. Instead of flipping the coin, the president more or less tossed it in the air underhand, sending it flying toward the Army captains.

It was not even clear that the coin actually flipped, much to the amusement of many viewers.

Trump is known to be a sports fan. He attended an NFL game earlier this season, and has offered some feedback on the league’s new kickoff rule. This is his third time attending the Army-Navy game in his role as commander-in-chief dating back to 2016.

Army wound up winning the toss and chose to defer to the second half. Navy promptly scored a touchdown on the first drive of the game.

49ers make decision on Brandon Aiyuk’s future

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

Brandon Aiyuk has likely played his final game as a member of the San Francisco 49ers.

The 49ers placed Aiyuk on the reserve/left squad list on Saturday, according to multiple reports. That makes the wide receiver ineligible to return this season.

Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area added that the move likely ensures that the two sides will head their separate ways this offseason.

Aiyuk’s likely departure ends a rather bizarre tenure with the team. He appeared to be developing into a star, but a protracted contract negotiation led to bad feelings between the two sides. Though they eventually got a deal done worth $120 million, the 49ers came to regret it, especially after he suffered a serious knee injury in 2024.

Aiyuk has not played this season, and the 49ers were disappointed enough with his rehab work that they voided some of his guaranteed money. A split was seen as likely even before Saturday, with the wide receiver set to give away a lot of money just to leave San Francisco.

In his last fully healthy season of 2023, Aiyuk caught 75 passes for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns.

Arkansas and Texas Tech players get in handshake line scuffle

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

Arkansas and Texas Tech players got involved in a scuffle during the handshake line after Saturday’s game.

The Razorbacks beat the Red Raiders 93-86 on Saturday at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Tex., in a rematch of last season’s Sweet 16 game. The two teams got into a bit of a postgame scuffle during the handshake line, as recorded by Cory Whitman of The Daily Toreador.

Things did not escalate too much, though Arkansas star Trevon Brazile can be seen flipping off someone from the Texas Tech side. Coaches were able to step in and separate the two teams.

There was definitely a bit of added emotion in this game, as Texas Tech staged a late comeback against the Razorbacks in the Sweet 16 to win 85-83 in overtime. This time, it was Arkansas that made a comeback, as they trailed by as much as 10 in the first half.

With Saturday’s win, Arkansas is now 8-2 on the season. They are playing like the best team in the SEC at the moment.

Video shows Anthony Edwards having an exchange with a Warriors fan

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

Anthony Edwards was not even playing on Friday night, but he still managed to get heckled.

The Minnesota Timberwolves star Edwards did not suit up on Friday against the Golden State Warriors due to right foot soreness. However, Minnesota (led by 27 points from Julius Randle, 24 from Rudy Gobert, and 21 from Donte DiVincenzo) still managed to get the 127-120 win over the Warriors at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif.

On Saturday, video went viral from the game of an exchange between Edwards and a Warriors fan. As the video began, the male fan appeared to be getting escorted out by security just behind the Minnesota bench.

The fan yelled at Edwards, saying, “You have zero! Zero, Ant Man!” In response, an amused Edwards then yelled back, saying, “What you mad at me for? What you mad at me for, playa?”

You can see the video at the link here.

It is unclear if the fan was referring to Edwards’ point total on Friday (which was obviously zero) or Edwards’ career ring total (which is also zero). But with Minnesota getting the victory on Friday even despite Edwards’ absence to improve to 16-9 on the season, the fan might have just been coping there.

While the three-time All-Star Edwards is already known as one of the game’s great trash-talkers at 24 years old, he usually deals with opposing fans very well. Earlier this season, Edwards went viral over an incredibly classy gesture for a rival fan during another game.

Jon Gruden’s chances of landing the Michigan job have been revealed

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

Whether Jon Gruden wants the Michigan job or not, he does not appear to be in line for it.

Gruden is not likely to be considered for the job, according to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports. It is unclear if Gruden will coach at any level until his ongoing litigation against the NFL is concluded.

Gruden is linked to virtually every major coaching job that opens up. He has suggested in the past he would be interested in a college vacancy if one came his way, and he grew up in northwest Ohio, suggesting he has at least some familiarity with the region.

Realistically, Gruden might also prefer an NFL job, though it is not clear if one of those will come his way either.

The Wolverines will be hiring a new head coach after firing Sherrone Moore on Wednesday. The headlines about Moore that have since emerged have caused a lot of embarrassment for the university, and the program has dealt with a number of scandals dating back to Jim Harbaugh’s tenure as head coach. The school might prefer to target someone without a history of controversy, and the reasons for Gruden’s dismissal from the Las Vegas Raiders may negatively impact him here more than they would in relation to other jobs.

Instead of Gruden, Michigan has been consistently linked with some other top college coaches.

  • Read more stories

Football

College Football

Basketball

Baseball

Media

Headlines

  • i want more great stories!

Sign up today for free and get the best sports content sent to your inbox.

You can unsubscribe anytime. For more details, review our Privacy Policy.

.
LBS iPhone App
Get the App

Get instantly notified of the most viral news stories via Google!