George Pickens has 6-word response to his critics
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens does not seem to be impacted too much by mounting criticism of his recent play.
Pickens spoke Wednesday after his second straight underwhelming performance, this one in a home loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The wide receiver suggested that he was being targeted by clickbait, then concluded with a very simple response.
“Everybody has a job to do. Some people’s job is to do that, tear down character, see how many clicks they can get,” Pickens said, via Jon Machota of The Athletic. “I’m just here to play football and help the team.
“It’s starting to get kinda old, honestly.”
Pickens was strongly criticized for a perceived lack of effort in the team’s Week 14 loss to the Detroit Lions. The wide receiver responded to his critics with a profane social media post that he later deleted.
The 24-year-old has had a breakout season in his first year with the Cowboys, making 81 catches for 1,212 yards and eight touchdowns. He only has eight catches for 70 yards in his last two games, both of which were Dallas losses.
Perhaps Pickens is not sweating things because Jerry Jones seems unbothered by the recent criticisms of the wide receiver. He is set to become a free agent at the end of the season, and the Cowboys still plan to keep him in the fold.
Ohio fires head coach Brian Smith for ‘serious’ misconduct
Another college football coach has been fired for conduct his university deemed unacceptable.
Ohio University announced Wednesday that head coach Brian Smith has been fired for cause. In a statement, the school said an investigation found that Smith was “engaging in serious professional misconduct and participating in activities that reflect unfavorably on the University.”
Ohio University Head Football Coach Brian Smith relieved of his duties https://t.co/ORMaEDPzxk pic.twitter.com/j3vt7Gx4eL
— Ohio Bobcats (@OhioBobcats) December 17, 2025
Smith was previously placed on administrative leave on Dec. 1. The school has not commented on the nature of the allegations that led to their decision.
In a statement to Adam Rittenberg of ESPN, Smith’s attorney, Rex Elliott, said Smith is an “ethical man” who will fight the dismissal for cause.
“We vigorously dispute Ohio University’s grounds for the termination for cause of Coach Brian Smith,” Elliott said. “He is shocked and dismayed by this turn of events, and we plan to fight this wrongful termination to protect his good name.”
Smith had just finished his first season as Ohio’s head coach. The 45-year-old had been on the staff since 2022 as the Bobcats’ pass game coordinator and offensive coordinator, and his team posted an 8-4 record this season.
Ohio is not the only Midwestern school dealing with a coach who allegedly engaged in some sort of misconduct, though the other incident certainly overshadows this one.
Eagles could try to trade star player in offseason
The Philadelphia Eagles are still hopeful of winning a second consecutive Super Bowl this year, but changes may be coming either way for 2026.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported that executives around the NFL believe the Eagles could look to trade AJ Brown during the offseason. Brown’s public comments are at best a distraction, and there is reason to believe both sides would welcome a fresh start.
Brown is still owed $50 million over the next two seasons and is still just 28. Fowler believes there would be a solid trade market for him if the Eagles did make him available, even if there are concerns about his personality.
It’s not hard to understand why Brown might be on the trade block. He has regularly voiced his frustration with the team’s offense all season. While he does not appear to be the only Eagles player with issues, he has been by far the most vocal, and was making those public comments even when the team was still consistently winning.
Brown has 64 catches for 840 yards and seven touchdowns on the season. He has consistently been a 1,000-yard receiver, especially when the Eagles had a more robust passing game than they have shown this season.
New allegations emerge against Sherrone Moore
New allegations emerged against former Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore on Wednesday.
In sworn testimony dating back to last Friday obtained by Katie Strang, Austin Meek, and Sam Jane of The Athletic, a Pittsfield Township Police Department detective alleged that Moore had a “long history of domestic violence” with the Michigan staffer he was having an affair with. The detective, Jessica Welker, said Moore admitted he and the woman “were in an intimate relationship for approximately two years” during interviews with police on the night of his arrest.
The staffer alleged that Moore called her “approximately a dozen times” and also sent text messages during the ensuing two days after she ended the relationship. She had been preparing to leave town when Moore allegedly barged into her apartment and threatened to harm himself.
Moore denied that he threatened to harm the staffer. The Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office said Moore did not face any assault charges because there “was not sufficient evidence to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, an intent to assault or batter the victim.”
Moore was fired as Michigan’s head coach last Wednesday. Based on various reports, the staffer ended the relationship on Monday and reported it to the university on Wednesday, which led to his firing. Moore then confronted her at her apartment and threatened to harm himself while forcing her to watch.
The former Michigan coach is facing three charges over the incident, including a felony home invasion charge.
Cardinals sign former World Series champion pitcher
The St. Louis Cardinals may be rebuilding, but they still have added to their pitching rotation for 2026.
The Cardinals on Wednesday signed pitcher Dustin May to a two-year deal. May is set to earn $12 million in 2026, and there is a mutual option for 2027 for $20 million. He has a $500,000 buyout, making his total guarantee $12.5 million.
May began his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers after being drafted by them in the third round in 2016. He made it up to the majors in 2019, and won World Series championships with them in 2020 and 2024. May pitched 10.2 innings for the Dodgers in the 2020 postseason, but he missed the 2024 postseason. May missed the 2024 season entirely while recovering from elbow surgery and a freak torn esophagus injury.
May has shown plenty of promise at times during his career. He went 3-1 with a 2.57 ERA in 2020 and finished fifth in Rookie of the Year voting during that shortened season. He went 4-1 with a 2.63 ERA in 2023 before suffering an elbow injury.
Last season, May pitched 132.1 total innings, which was the most of his career. He went 7-11 with a 4.96 ERA while spending time with both the Dodgers and Boston Red Sox, who had acquired him from LA in a July trade.
Big Red in Cardinal Red.
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) December 17, 2025
We have signed RHP Dustin May to a one-year contract for 2026 with a mutual option for the 2027 season. pic.twitter.com/jqKW9TXvNM
Dwight Howard thinks Knicks are making a mistake
Dwight Howard thinks the New York Knicks are making a mistake with their approach to winning the NBA Cup.
The Knicks on Tuesday beat the San Antonio Spurs 124-113 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., to win the NBA Cup. They have won six games in a row and 10 of their last 11, so they are hot. But they are not getting too excited early in the season. In fact, the Knicks do not plan to hang a banner to celebrate their NBA Cup victory. The banners they care more about are for winning the championship.
Howard, who is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, thinks the Knicks should celebrate the NBA Cup championship.
“I’m going to be second hand embarrassed if the Knicks don’t raise the NBA Cup Banner (sic) then don’t make it to the championship this year,” he wrote in a post shared to his X account on Wednesday. “Celebrate your wins while you can.”
I’m going to be second hand embarrassed if the Knicks don’t raise the NBA Cup Banner then don’t make it to the championship this year 🤷🏾♂️ Celebrate your wins while you can
— Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) December 17, 2025
This is the third year the NBA Cup has been held. The Los Angeles Lakers won the first year of it, and the Milwaukee Bucks won it last year. The Lakers were derided for celebrating so hard after winning the first NBA Cup. But Howard’s point is to just celebrate your wins when you can.
The Knicks reached the Eastern Conference finals last season before losing. They haven’t won an NBA championship since 1973.
Puka Nacua trashes fame-hungry NFL referees
Puka Nacua may not be getting some very favorable calls from officials in the near future.
Nacua appeared on a live stream for popular streamer Adin Ross that was published on Ross’ Kick page on Tuesday. During the stream, Ross and Nacua were talking about NFL officials. Nacua wasn’t exactly careful when talking about the refs.
“The refs are the worst. These guys are lawyers … they want to be on TV too. You don’t think he’s texting his friends in the group chat like, ‘Yo, you guys just saw me ‘Sunday Night Football’? That wasn’t PI, but I called it,’” Nacua said, suggesting that some NFL officials might throw flags for personal attention.
When one of the other people suggested that the officials might show more professionalism than that and not do such things, Nacua disputed it.
“These guys are normal human beings too,” Nacua said.
Here is a clip of the comments made by the Los Angeles Rams star receiver:
Rams WR Puka Nacua on NFL referees on Adin Ross’ stream:
— Nate Atkins (@NateAtkins_) December 17, 2025
“The refs are the worst. These guys are lawyers. They want to be on TV too. You don’t think he’s texting his friends in the group chat like, ‘Yo, you just saw me on Sunday Night Football. That wasn’t PI but I called it.’” pic.twitter.com/roNonieP0d
Nacua is in his third NFL season, so he has plenty of game experience. But this probably isn’t what the Rams need when they’re trying to make a Super Bowl run at 11-3 and tied for the NFC West lead. The last thing they need is any officials having a reason not to give them calls.
Nacua is having a huge season. He has 102 catches for 1,367 yards and 6 touchdowns in 13 games this season.
Mets sign another player away from the Yankees
The New York Mets’ offseason plan appears to be to raid the New York Yankees’ bullpen.
The Mets agreed to a two-year contract with reliever Luke Weaver on Wednesday. The deal is worth $22 million over two years, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
When finalized, the Weaver deal will be for 2 years and $22M with the Mets. It is pending physical https://t.co/CUPzBFelxY
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 17, 2025
Weaver spent the last two-plus seasons with the Yankees, where he was relied upon as a key arm in the back end of the bullpen. He posted a 3.22 ERA with the Yankees, and even served as the team’s closer at times.
The Mets already signed Devin Williams away from the Yankees earlier in the offseason. The team also has a third former Yankee closer in Clay Holmes, though he was converted to a starter by the team last season.
Signing Weaver is part of the Mets’ effort to replace Edwin Diaz, who spurned them to join the Los Angeles Dodgers. It is fair to question whether these moves will be enough to sufficiently do that, especially since the team’s offseason has been widely criticized up to this point.
The Mets are essentially resetting their franchise after their late-season collapse in 2025. Whether it has actually improved their roster, however, is a matter of debate.
Knicks have simple explanation for not raising an NBA Cup banner
The New York Knicks do not plan to raise a banner to commemorate their NBA Cup win, though it is not because they think the event was pointless.
The Knicks plan to celebrate the team’s NBA Cup triumph on Friday when they host the Philadelphia 76ers. However, they will not raise a banner at Madison Square Garden because the team simply has bigger ambitions, according to Ian Begley of SNY.
Instead, the Knicks prefer to remain focused on winning an NBA title.
Knicks will not raise an NBA Cup banner at Madison Square Garden, per league source. NYK doesn't want to diminish accomplishment but has bigger goals in mind, winning title in June, source said. NYK is very proud of players & staff winning NBA Cup and will celebrate…
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) December 17, 2025
The Knicks are the first NBA Cup winners to opt against celebrating the accomplishment with a banner. The Los Angeles Lakers raised one after winning the inaugural event, and the Milwaukee Bucks also hung one when they won last season.
The NBA likely will not be thrilled with the Knicks’ decision, as the league wants to legitimize the in-season cup as a significant title that teams should prioritize. On the other hand, Knicks fans are unlikely to be too disappointed, especially in light of the team’s stated reason for passing on the opportunity.
The NBA Cup win does have huge ramifications for some Knicks players. As a team accomplishment, though, they are much focused on other things.
Tyreek Hill sends message after Tua Tagovailoa’s benching
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill sent a pointed message after the team decided to bench quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for the remainder of the season.
Hill went X to post a GIF of a man throwing up a peace sign and then disappearing after news spread that Tagovailoa was being benched. Most took this as Hill signifying that he is finished with the Dolphins as a result.
— Ty Hill (@cheetah) December 17, 2025
It is theoretically possible that Hill’s sentiment is directed at Tagovailoa himself. The two did seem to have some issues at the start of the season. However, Hill has been an ardent supporter of the quarterback in the past. Plus, the wide receiver realistically would not want to be part of a rebuild with a new quarterback anyway.
Hill may not have to do anything else to get his wish, as it would make sense for the Dolphins to cut him loose once the season is over. He has not played since September due to a serious knee injury that could keep him out into 2026.
The Dolphins certainly face an uncertain future now. There is a real chance they will have to essentially rebuild the offense without Hill and Tagovailoa, who have formed the core of the offense for four seasons.
Dolphins decide on their new starting quarterback
The Miami Dolphins are making a quarterback change, and have opted to go an interesting route with their new starter.
The Dolphins are benching Tua Tagovailoa and will start rookie Quinn Ewers against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
A major move in Miami: the Dolphins are benching QB Tua Tagovailoa and turning to Quinn Ewers as their new starting QB, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 17, 2025
Ewers’ first start comes Sunday vs. the Bengals. pic.twitter.com/lzs2J1EfjP
The choice of Ewers to start is an intriguing one. The former Texas quarterback was a seventh-round pick in this year’s NFL Draft and was initially the team’s third-string quarterback. He was eventually promoted to the backup role, and even got some playing time in a blowout Week 7 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel had hinted fairly strongly that Tagovailoa would be benched after a poor showing against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday. By starting Ewers ahead of Zach Wilson, the coach is likely seeing if the seventh-round pick can flash enough potential to demonstrate that he might have an NFL future.
Tagovailoa has thrown for 2,660 yards with 20 touchdowns and a career-worst 15 interceptions this season. His long-term future with Miami is murky at best.
Ja Rule hits photographer in embarrassing tee shot moment
Ja Rule isn’t exactly livin’ it up on the golf course.
The Grammy-nominated rapper is among the celebrities at the Derek Jeter Invitational at the Royal Blue Golf Club in Nassau, Bahamas, which started on Monday.
But instead of mesmerizing people with his golf skills, he ended up inadvertently hitting someone with a tee shot.
In a video captured by Golfweek senior writer Adam Schupak on Tuesday, Ja Rule can be heard saying, “I got to ignore y’all right now. I got to put this thing up,” as he tried to set up his swing during the Celebrity Shoot Out.
Unfortunately, his shot went awry, as the ball went straight to the right side, where it appeared to have hit a person. It wasn’t clear in the video whether someone actually got harmed by Ja Rule’s wayward attempt, but it certainly was not the direction he intended the ball to go.
Ja Rule almost took me and a bunch of photographers out with his tee shot in the celebrity shootout at the Derek Jeter Invitational ⛳️ pic.twitter.com/c5ygG8Xp7v
— Adam Schupak (@AdamSchupak) December 16, 2025
“Ja Rule almost took me and a bunch of photographers out with his tee shot in the celebrity shootout at the Derek Jeter Invitational,” wrote Schupak.
Ja Rule immediately apologized for his botched tee shot, as the crowd let out a collective gasp.
Schupak later revealed that the shot “hit a photographer working for Jeter’s foundation standing just in front of me in his elbow.” The photographer also shared with Schupak that it was the first time in 40 years that he was hit while shooting golf photos.
Perhaps the only thing missing here is Ja Rule telling everyone to “put it on me.”
Josh Hart’s bizarre Jalen Brunson moment during NBA Cup celebration caught on video
Josh Hart is one of the most fearless guards in the NBA today, but he took his audacity to new heights on Tuesday night.
During the NBA Cup Trophy presentation following the New York Knicks’ 124-113 win over the San Antonio Spurs at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., Hart was caught on video seemingly sticking his thumb into the backside of teammate and Knicks star point guard Jalen Brunson.
Hart’s wild gesture immediately threw off Brunson, who quickly turned around to see who was messing with his sensitive region.
Again, there is video evidence of it, but we’ll leave it up to you to make whatever you want out of it.
Nah Josh Hart is OUT OF POCKET for this 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/JmblGQGNmC
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) December 17, 2025
It takes a strong bond between two people for this kind of action to happen in public view without it ending in someone getting punched in the face. That’s where the closeness of Hart and Brunson comes in. The two have known each other for a long time, dating back to their college days with the Villanova Wildcats.
Hart appeared to realize later that everyone saw what he did.
Damn in 4k…..😂😂😂😂
— Josh Hart (@joshhart) December 17, 2025
Hart, Brunson and the Knicks got the job done against the Spurs, thanks in large part to their balanced attack. Brunson won the NBA Cup Most Valuable Player award after scoring 25 points on 11/17 shooting from the field with 8 assists, 4 rebounds and a block in 41 minutes of action. Hart, meanwhile, contributed 11 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals in 29 minutes of floor duty for the Knicks.
New York will be back in action on Thursday for a showdown against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind.
Texas Tech junior makes Big 12 history in stunning fashion
The No. 19 Texas Tech Red Raiders are back to their winning ways after trouncing the Northern Colorado Bears on Tuesday, 101-90, at the United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas.
Junior forward LeJuan Watts led the way for the Red Raiders, putting up a performance no one had ever achieved in Big 12 basketball history.
According to ESPN Insights, Watts became just the first Big 12 player in history to score at least 35 points while connecting on 90% of his shots from the field in a game.
Northern Colorado had no answer for Watts, who went off for 36 points on a 12-for-13 shooting. His only miss in the entire game came with 1:22 remaining in the second half, when he failed to find his mark on a 26-foot attempt from behind the arc.
It was a tremendous bounce-back showing from Watts, who struggled with his shot in the previous Texas Tech game. Last Saturday, Watts scored just 8 points on 3-for-10 shooting in a Red Raiders 93-86 loss to the then-No. 17 Arkansas Razorbacks at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
Shooting 90% from the floor on such a high volume of shots is something that can’t be sustained in the long run, but Watts can go for a heat check on Saturday, when the Red Raiders take on a tough assignment in a neutral-site showdown against the No. 3 Duke Blue Devils at Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y.
So far in the 2025-26 college basketball season, Watts is putting up 14.0 points on 48.9% shooting for the 8-3 Red Raiders.
Jalen Brunson ruthlessly roasts Dirk Nowitzki with savage burn
Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki caught a wild stray on Tuesday night from his former teammate and New York Knicks star point guard Jalen Brunson following NY’s 124-113 NBA Cup Championship game win against the San Antonio Spurs at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.
While tackling the subject of a popular NBA notion about the Eastern Conference being inferior to the Western, Brunson couldn’t keep himself from taking a hilarious shot at the Basketball Hall of Famer.
“It’s tougher people give it credit for, the former Villanova Wildcats star said during the postgame show of NBA on Prime.
Brunson proceeded to bring up some memories that Nowitzki had no desire to revisit.
“I know you were in the West your entire career. You lost to an East team in the finals,” Brunson continued, as he pointed at Nowitzki.
For good measure, Brunson even poked fun at Nowitzki’s age, joking that the Mavs’ 2006 NBA Finals loss to the Miami Heat— which he was referencing—happened “40 years ago.”
Here is the video of the hilarious moment between the two former Mavs stars.
Jalen Brunson on the claim that the Eastern Conference is weak, continues to point at Dirk and says: "It's tougher people give it credit for. I know you were in the West your entire career. You lost to an east team in the finals….40 years ago"
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) December 17, 2025
On Haslem saying that every team… pic.twitter.com/wO99w0PR0R
Oof.
It was all for fun, of course. Brunson and Nowitzki laughed off the exchange along with everyone on the NBA on Prime postgame show, as well as Knicks guard Josh Hart.
Perhaps not many remember, but Brunson caught the tail end of Nowitzki’s legendary NBA career. He was a rookie with the Mavs in the 2018-19 NBA season, which was the German star’s final year in the league.
Brunson was named the 2025 NBA Cup Most Valuable Player after producing 25 points, 8 assists and 4 rebounds versus the Spurs.
Mack Hollins threw reporter off with wild bathroom analogy
There’s a reason why New England Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins is one of the most interesting individuals in the NFL.
He showed why again during an interview with Ari Alexander of 7News Boston WHDH after the Pats’ loss on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
Speaking about how the Pats will move on from the heartbreaking defeat at the hands of his former team, Hollins dropped a quote that caught Alexander by surprise.
“Once we watch the tape, analyze everything, flush it,” Hollins said. “When you go to the bathroom, you don’t look at the s–t forever. Eventually, you gotta push the handle.”
Mack Hollins with a bar so good it threw me off my game regarding “flushing it” after a loss:
— Ari Alexander (@AriA1exander) December 16, 2025
“When you go to the bathroom, you don’t look at the sh*t forever, eventually you gotta push the handle.” pic.twitter.com/adVkPzjDFR
The analogy may viscerally strike some fans, but it was on brand for the eccentric Hollins, who is in his eighth season in the NFL.
Mack, who loves walking barefoot when he’s off the field, has been around the league long enough to know that stinky losses are part of the experience in the NFL.
The Patriots appeared to be on their way to a win against Buffalo in Week 15, as they were up by 21 points in the third quarter. But the Bills simply refused to call it a day, as they turned the tables on Mack and the Patriots on their way to completing a remarkable 35-31 come-from-behind win.
Hollins, who signed a 2-year contract with the Pats in March, had 4 catches on 8 targets for 41 receiving yards in the game.
Jordan Poole takes high road after fan mentions Draymond Green incident
It has been three years since the infamous altercation between former teammates Jordan Poole and Draymond Green during the Golden State Warriors’ 2022 training camp, but the issue hasn’t completely gone away.
Fans continue to talk about it, and one even bravely brought it up with Poole, who now plays for the New Orleans Pelicans, nearby.
TikTok user adnan22216 shared a clip on Tuesday showing some of his interactions with Pelicans players following Sunday’s game between New Orleans and the Chicago Bulls at the United Center in Chicago, Ill.
In the video, the fan can be heard telling Poole, “Draymond should’ve never punched you, bro.”
@adnan22216 Clipfarming OD 💀 #nba #espn #funny #jordanpoole #pelicans @Pelicansnba @NBA ♬ original sound – adnan
It was unclear if Poole heard it, as he was busy interacting with other fans. Once Poole turned around, he gave another fan a dap, leaving the troll, who was trying to get a fist bump from the former Michigan Wolverines star, hanging. Poole later gave him what he wanted, as the Pelicans guard continued to fulfill his fan duties.
Poole was clearly in a great mood, as New Orleans pulled off a rare win that day, with the Pelicans defeating the Bulls, 114-104, for New Orleans’ fifth victory in the 2025-26 NBA season. The 26-year-old Poole came off the bench and scored 16 points on 6-for-15 shooting with 4 assists and 2 rebounds, and he’ll look to keep it going when the Pels host the Houston Rockets on Thursday at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, La.
Anthony Joshua has threatening message for Jake Paul ahead of fight
Anthony Joshua fired a warning shot toward Jake Paul days before the two face off inside a boxing ring.
Paul let the world know in March that he wanted to fight Joshua. Paul’s wish got closer to reality last month, with a bout between the two being announced for Dec.19 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Fla.
Joshua told reporters Tuesday that he has no plans of holding back against Paul, and even dropped a casual threat directed at his opponent.
“You know, I was actually looking at myself today. I’m a very respectful guy, brought up by a good family,” Joshua said.
“But if I can kill you, I will kill you. That’s just how I am. And this is just a job I do, so let’s go.”
"IF I CAN KILL YOU, I'LL KILL YOU"🗣️
— BoxingScene.com (@boxingscene) December 17, 2025
It's safe to say that Anthony Joshua is not going to hold back on Jake Paul 😳
📽️ @TheMacLife | #JakeJoshua pic.twitter.com/711BS5oN7J
Joshua, who stands at 6’6″, holds a massive height and reach advantage over the 6’1″ Paul and will likely be about 30 pounds heavier when he steps into the ring opposite the YouTuber-turned-boxer. Joshua (28-4) is also widely regarded as one of the best heavyweight fighters in the world.
While Paul has a respectable 12-1 record in his professional boxing career, some of those victories came against a 58-year-old Mike Tyson and retired 5’9″ NBA player Nate Robinson. Many have questioned the legitimacy of Paul’s fights as well, with internet sleuths often pointing out suspected chicanery during Paul’s victories.
With 36-year-old Joshua still in prime boxing form, it’s hard to imagine him taking a dive for any amount of money under the table. The reputational hit he would take from potentially losing to Paul would be a proverbial knockout blow to his credibility as a boxer.
Victor Wembanyama shared emotional news after Spurs lost NBA Cup title game
Victor Wembanyama was in tears Tuesday during his postgame press conference, but the reason went beyond the confines of the basketball court.
The San Antonio Spurs star was emotional as he addressed reporters following his team’s 124-113 loss to the New York Knicks in the NBA Cup final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. Wembanyama began to tear up midway through his press conference before sharing that he was dealing with a personal tragedy.
“Sorry, I just lost somebody today,” Wembanyama said after answering his first question in French.
“This is the best practice for important games,” Wemby said of losing the NBA Cup. “Of course, our focus is already on the playoffs, and the playoffs are going to be the biggest time of the year. So, it’s good that we got this experience today.”
Victor Wembanyama full postgame press conference before abruptly cutting it short due to personal reasons (he lost someone today) pic.twitter.com/GwH2O6dsdI
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) December 17, 2025
Wembanyama ended the press conference after answering just two questions. According to NBA reporter Tim Reynolds, Wembanyama’s grandmother died earlier in the day.
The Spurs center did not play to his usual standards in the NBA Cup title game. Wembanyama finished with 18 points, 6 rebounds, and a couple of blocks across 25 minutes. He came off the bench and had to abide by a minutes restriction in his second game back from a calf injury.
Wembanyama looked dominant in limited action in the semifinal round against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He taunted Thunder defenders and played with a swagger worthy of his skill set.
The mood was clearly different on Tuesday as he played with a heavy heart against a relentless Knicks squad that pounded the Spurs on the glass 59-42.
Knicks benchwarmers had the best reaction after team cashed in on NBA Cup prize money
New York Knicks reserves celebrated like kids on Christmas morning after the team won the 2025 NBA Cup at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.
The Knicks outlasted the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday in a 124-113 title game clash that was much closer than the final score suggests. The win earned the Knicks franchise its first piece of hardware since 1973. The victory also secured prize money for every Knicks player on the roster, which is undoubtedly what had the bench jumping for joy more than any historical significance.
As the final buzzer sounded, Karl-Anthony Towns beckoned for the bench mob to storm the court.
The New York Knicks just won their first trophy in 52 years.pic.twitter.com/qiGCtO3Ngz
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) December 17, 2025
Several Knicks players who never took the floor during the actual game cheered as if they had just witnessed the end of an NBA championship run.
THIS KNICKS CELEBRATION 🔥 https://t.co/FBAGlec7Z8 pic.twitter.com/ULSXvqZRk1
— NBA (@NBA) December 17, 2025
Knicks head coach Mike Brown and every player on the main roster each earned $530,000 in prize money from winning this year’s NBA Cup. Two-way players also got blessed with a fraction of the prize.
According to The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III, Jalen Brunson and some of the Knicks players also have an internal arrangement to share some of their newfound wealth with other staff members and employees.
For max players like Towns or Brunson, the money won’t have much impact on their net worth. But for end-of-the-bench guys like Ariel Hukporti and Mohamed Diawara, or two-way players Trey Jemison III, Tosan Evbuomwan, and Kevin McCullar Jr., that money will be life-changing.
Second-year guard Tyler Kolek gained an NBA Cup bonus worth about a fourth of his $2.2 million salary for the 2025-26 season. Kolek was the lowest-salaried player to make the biggest impact during Tuesday’s game. He finished with 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists off the bench.
When the Knicks made the NBA Cup quarterfinals last season and earned each player $50,000, Kolek bought his mom a new car. Kolek vowed to get his dad something this time around. With 10 times the budget he had last year, Papa Kolek is probably dreaming big this holiday season.
