Zlatan Ibrahimovic has definitive take on Team USA’s chances at the World Cup
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has officially hopped on the U.S. Men’s National Team bandwagon at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The legendary Swedish striker was on FOX’s postgame panel Friday following Team USA’s win over Australia at Lumen Field in Seattle, Wash., to remain atop Group D. The Americans went ahead in the 11th minute courtesy of a Cameron Burgess own goal, then scored another via an Alex Freeman header on a deflected ball that hovered right in front of goal.
After the result, FOX host Rebecca Lowe asked Ibrahimovic for a succinct answer on Team USA’s chances to win it all. Ibra obliged.
Lowe: “Zlatan, I want one word from you. Can the US win this World Cup, yes or no?”
Ibrahimovic: “Yes.”
Zlatan has spoken.@Ibra_Official gives a one-word answer on whether the @USMNT can win the FIFA World Cup pic.twitter.com/FUkm6vShb7
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 19, 2026
Ibrahimovic has never been afraid to speak his mind in the past. If he legitimately thought the World Cup hosts were pretenders, he would probably have said so.
The USMNT has been in fine form to start the World Cup, with two decisive wins over Paraguay and Australia to all but secure the top spot in Group D. The Americans won on Friday despite star winger Christian Pulisic being kept off the field by a lingering calf injury.
Pulisic got kicked in the back of the leg during the first half of last week’s match against Paraguay, which prompted head coach Mauricio Pochettino to keep him out for the second half. Despite the player and coach making it seem like the early substitution was precautionary, Pulisic still sat out the game against Australia.
Ibrahimovic and thousands of other soccer fans may be starting to think that could be Team USA’s year. But the USMNT would more than likely need Pulisic healthy and producing to make the prediction come true.
Dylan Harper is making 1 notable request of the Spurs
Dylan Harper continues to get antsy in San Antonio.
The San Antonio Spurs guard Harper is expected to request a starting spot next season, Michael C. Wright of ESPN reported on Friday. Wright notes that calls from Harper’s camp for him to start are expected to grow louder heading into the 2026-27 campaign.
Harper, 20, was the Spurs’ No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. But he suddenly became a massively important player for San Antonio down the stretch of the season and their NBA Finals run, despite being a sixth man. Harper averaged 11.8 points and 3.9 assists per game during the regular season and then 14.1 points and 2.7 assists per game against tougher defenses in the playoffs, even posting multiple 20-point games in the Finals against the New York Knicks.
As it stands right now though, Harper is still stuck on the depth chart behind teammates De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle. A recent report about Fox’s status in San Antonio is also now serving as bad news for Harper’s outlook.
Just last week, we learned that Harper was frustrated throughout the season with his fairly limited role on the Spurs. Harper also especially seemed unhappy with the dynamic between himself and Fox, as illustrated by a controversial TikTok that Harper reposted earlier this month.
Of course, Harper does not have a whole lot of leverage here since he is still on his rookie contract and cannot even become a restricted free agent until 2029. But San Antonio may still have to watch out here because of the potential of having an unhappy young star on their hands in Harper.
USA player had to help cramping ref during World Cup game
Team USA players had to help out the referee late in Friday’s FIFA World Cup game against Australia.
Referee Felix Zwayer suddenly dealt with cramps during the waning moments of Friday’s game at Seattle Stadium in Seattle, Wash. In an odd sight, players had to intervene and try to help him through it and finish the game. Forward Folarin Balogun could even be seen stretching Zwayer’s leg out.
Flo Balogun helps stretch out the referee pic.twitter.com/iQLHCX2wuc
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 19, 2026
Weather conditions were warm for Friday’s game, and like the players, the referee has to run and cover a lot of ground during a match. It is fairly rare to see an official actually felled by cramps, but it is not unprecedented.
Zwayer was able to get back up and finish the game without further incident.
As for the game itself, the Americans won 2-0 against Australia to guarantee themselves a spot in the knockout round. Impressively, they did so without star player Christian Pulisic as well. They could clinch first place in the group as early as Friday depending on the result of the evening game between Turkey and Paraguay.
Report: Karl-Anthony Towns is still frustrated with the Knicks
Karl-Anthony Towns is apparently going against the conventional wisdom that winning cures all.
The New York Knicks star center Towns remains frustrated with the team despite their NBA championship victory, Vincent Goodwill of ESPN reported Friday during an appearance on “Get Up.” Goodwill notes that Towns has not gotten over the Knicks failing to sign him to a contract extension before the season and that their failure to do so has “stuck with him.”
Towns, the six-time NBA All-Star, was acquired by the Knicks from his longtime team of the Minnesota Timberwolves via a 2024 trade. This season for New York, Towns’ averages fell to a more reserved 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds per game in the regular season and 15.9 points and 10.6 rebounds per game during the playoffs.
Still, the Knicks went on to win their first NBA championship in over 50 years with Towns as their starting center. Towns even had some of the most underrated contributions to the Knicks’ title triumph.
But we had heard reports for months before that claiming that Towns was frustrated with New York in part because they dangled him in trade talks at the February deadline. Even as the Knicks closed in on winning it all, there were still rumors about Towns supposedly being unhappy.
As it stands right now, Towns will be entering his final guaranteed year under contract next season, but he also has a player option for the 2027-28 season. With Knicks owner James Dolan seemingly expressing his unwillingness to spend in order to keep the team’s core together, Towns’ future in New York definitely seems to be on some shaky ground right now, even in spite of him now having a championship ring.
Derrick White draws strong trade interest from contending team
If the Boston Celtics trade Derrick White, one Western Conference contender will be near the front of the line.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have “strong interest” in White, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic. It is not clear whether or not the Celtics will listen to offers for White, but Minnesota will have interest if they do.
White is a core part of the Celtics, but financial reasons may come into play. Boston owes him roughly $63 million over the next two seasons, and he is coming off a fairly unproductive postseason.
On the other hand, White is an All-Defense talent and an NBA champion. As recently as last offseason, Boston put an enormous price tag on him, but the guard turns 32 in July and the Celtics might need to find some additional financial wiggle room going forward with Tatum and Brown locked in long-term.
The Timberwolves seemingly had something of a leadership void last season. White, an experienced veteran, could help with that as the team tries to take the next step toward an NBA title.
Josh Giddey is being linked to 1 team in trade rumors
Josh Giddey might potentially be in line for a return to the Western Conference.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are showing trade interest in the Chicago Bulls guard Giddey, Darren Wolfson of KSTP in Minnesota reported on Friday. Wolfson also notes that Boston Celtics guard Derrick White is another player of interest to the Timberwolves this summer.
Giddey, the former No. 6 overall pick, is coming off a career year in 2025-26. He averaged 17.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game (though he was limited to just 54 games played due to an ankle injury).
Meanwhile, Giddey is also a high-value trade asset because of his age and his contract. Despite being a five-year NBA veteran, Giddey is still just 23 years old and is also signed with the Bulls through 2028-29 (making $25 million per year).
That said, Chicago appears to be tearing it down. They have traded away a number of veterans like Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic, Coby White, and Ayo Dosunmu over the course of the last year-plus, and they also hold the No. 4 overall pick in this year’s guard-rich NBA Draft.
Still, Giddey probably still matches the timeline of the Bulls under new head coach Tiago Splitter given his youth and his upside. But it is certainly worth a try for the Timberwolves, who badly need a backcourt partner alongside Anthony Edwards and were recently mentioned in connection with an even bigger name at point guard.
Wizards may be having second thoughts about the No. 1 pick
A new report suggests that the Washington Wizards may not be quite as decided on the No. 1 overall pick as the conventional wisdom has suggested.
Multiple experts privately believe there is still a real chance that the Wizards draft Darryn Peterson ahead of AJ Dybantsa first overall, according to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line. Stein added that the process has been characterized as “increased consideration” of Peterson.
1 am Marc Stein NUKE. wow pic.twitter.com/cJMdOQPgc0
— wonzo🧀 (@WonzoTV) June 19, 2026
This would come as a surprise to Dybantsa, who reportedly believes he will be the Wizards’ pick. Conventional wisdom has suggested the same thing, though the Wizards have done nothing to tip their hand either way.
Whether Peterson believes he will be the No. 1 pick or not, he certainly thinks he should be based on his workout plans. The Kansas star has questions to answer about his durability, though he is certainly talented enough to justify going No. 1.
The Wizards are believed to be choosing between Dybantsa and Peterson. Whichever one of them does not go first will be considered the likely pick at No. 2 for the Utah Jazz.
Titans star becomes the highest-paid DT in NFL history
The Tennessee Titans are resetting the market for defensive tackles.
The Titans and defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons agreed to a 3-year, $105.8 million contract extension on Friday. The deal contains $100 million in guaranteed money.
The #Titans and All-Pro Jeff Simmons agreed to a deal making him the highest paid DT in NFL history, per me & @MikeGarafolo.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 19, 2026
The 3-year, $105.8M extension with $100M guaranteed and was negotiated by Todd France and A.J. Stevens of @athletesfirst. Confirmed on IG by @toddfrance_ pic.twitter.com/WEINag9FDz
This is the second huge contract Simmons has signed in his career. When he signed that one in 2023, only Aaron Donald made more money among interior defensive linemen. This is a substantial raise on that one, and it also makes him the first defensive tackle in NFL history to earn $100 million in guaranteed money.
Simmons was drafted by the Titans in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, and he has proven to be well worth it. If anything, he has gotten even better, and he set a career high with 11 sacks for Tennessee last season.
The next step for Simmons and the Titans will be to return to contention. They made the playoffs in each of Simmons’ first three NFL seasons, but have not gotten there since 2021. That is also their most recent winning season.
Celtics interested in blockbuster 1-for-1 trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo
The Boston Celtics are interested in Giannis Antetokounmpo, but the deal they would most like to do is reportedly a longshot.
The Celtics accept that Jaylen Brown will likely be demanded by the Milwaukee Bucks in any trade involving Antetokounmpo. The Celtics would prefer to do a one-for-one trade involving Brown and Antetokounmpo, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic, but accept that the Bucks are unlikely to be interested in that.
Some rival executives believe the Bucks would consider a Brown deal with additional picks, and might even build around Brown. The Celtics forward is two years younger than Antetokounmpo and could plausibly be an MVP candidate. The Bucks are unlikely to get a better player for Antetokounmpo, though a one-for-one swap would not help them in the future.
Much has been made of Brown’s potential availability this offseason. The Celtics maintain they are not shopping him, but it seems that he might be available in the right deal, and there are even suggestions that he and the Celtics might not be on the same page anymore.
An Antetokounmpo trade is still considered likely before the NBA Draft. Another team, however, appears to be ahead of Boston in the rac.e
Kendrick Perkins has landed a new job
Kendrick Perkins is taking on a new role in addition to his ESPN duties.
Perkins is the new general manager for Jackson State’s basketball program, ESPN’s Shams Charania revealed Friday. Perkins will also serve as a connection to the school’s broadcasting and journalism program.
ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins – 14-year NBA veteran and 2008 champion – has agreed to become the men's basketball General Manager of HBCU Jackson State, as well as a connection to its broadcast and journalism program, per Perkins: "I'm thankful for this opportunity to impact… pic.twitter.com/lTHV4tSn3a
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 19, 2026
Somewhat unusually, Perkins has no previous connection to the Jackson State program. He did not play collegiately, as he entered the NBA Draft straight out of high school. He had committed to Memphis before opting to go pro.
Perkins is one of a number of current and former players that have gotten involved in college basketball advisory roles. In a certain sense, it is something of an ambassador role, as the players provide professional connections to the program and increase their visibility.
Perkins’ primary job will remain to deliver NBA hot takes on ESPN. He has become a highly visible analyst for the network, though he has at times been divisive and alienated some fans and even players with the things he says.
Joaquin Niemann penalized for throwing his club 50 yards at US Open
Joaquin Niemann provided one of the more impressive feats of the US Open on Thursday. Unfortunately, it is not something that will actually help him win.
Niemann received a two-stroke penalty on Friday for throwing his club at the US Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y. during first-round action. The Chilean lost his temper on the 15th hole, where he hit two balls out of bounds on Thursday just before play was suspended due to darkness.
When play resumed Friday, Niemann was notified that he had received a two-stroke penalty on the hole for throwing his club after his approach shot fell short of the green. While there was no video of the incident, a tournament volunteer said Niemann threw his club roughly 50 yards in anger during an outburst of frustration.
Just talked to a volunteer, Tristan Chang, who witnessed Joaquin Niemann’s club throw that cost him a two-shot penalty:
— Gabby Herzig (@GabbyHerzig) June 19, 2026
-After hitting two balls OB, Niemann tried to get free relief from fire ants (to no avail) from where his third drive ended up in the fescue
-Got visibly…
The USGA determined that Niemann’s transgression represented “serious misconduct.” Once the penalty was applied, Niemann had scored a 7-over 11 on the hole.
Niemann knows it is not fun to watch someone melt down. Unfortunately, he was the one losing his cool this time, and is essentially already out of contention as a result.
Spurs have made their decision regarding De’Aaron Fox
De’Aaron Fox apparently has nothing to worry about regarding his San Antonio Spurs future despite his rough NBA Finals.
The Spurs still view Fox as their franchise point guard, according to Michael C. Wright of ESPN. Within the organization, he is considered a “calming presence” who operated as the team’s closer for much of the season when healthy.
There is also the practical reason that Fox is not likely to go anywhere: his new $229 million contract kicks in next season, and it would be very hard for San Antonio to move it. For now, he is signed through the 2029-30 season, and will make $61.7 million in the final year of that deal.
The Spurs are willing to give Fox some grace considering he was playing hurt throughout the playoffs. That does not necessarily explain his bad decisions at the end of San Antonio’s collapse in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, but at least some of his relative lack of production during the Finals can likely be chalked up to the injury.
Fox averaged 18.6 points and 6.2 assists per game during the regular season. Those numbers fell to 15.6 points and 6.0 assists per game during the postseason.
1 notable team is still pursuing Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard still apparently has a lifeline from elsewhere in the Pacific Division.
The Golden State Warriors are still pursuing a trade for the LA Clippers star Leonard, according to a report on Thursday by Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo! Sports. O’Connor reported during his self-titled show that the Warriors’ interest in Leonard has not declined at all and that they continue to go after the former Finals MVP.
Leonard just completed his sixth career season with the Clippers. He will be entering the final year of his contract in 2026-27 (at $50.3 million), leading to questions about Leonard’s long-term future in LA.
Last season, Leonard posted his best individual season yet, averaging 27.9 points per game (a career high) to go along with 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists per contest. But he turns 35 later this year with an extensive history of injuries, which combined with the fact that he is on an expiring contract means that Leonard may be had for a reasonable price.
Meanwhile, the Warriors are desperate for another star to pair with Steph Curry (whose own contract expires in 2027 as well). With Jimmy Butler (torn ACL) already slated to miss a good chunk of next season, Golden State needs to get busy this summer in order to maximize their chances of contention in a rapidly-shrinking window.
The Warriors have also recently sniffed around LeBron James and are even reportedly ready to make a specific offer to him. But Leonard continues to lurk as a viable Plan B if Golden State really wants to go all-in on the 2026-27 NBA season.
Fans all said the same thing about Mike Trout’s latest injury
It is Groundhog Day all over again for Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels.
The Angels star outfielder Trout is once again headed to the injured list. Sam Blum of The Athletic reports that Trout suffered a hamstring injury during Wednesday’s loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks and is going on the IL as a result.
That led to everybody on social media saying (a variation of) the same thing — that it was only a matter of time before Trout got injured.
Classic Trout, you knew it was coming eventually
— Special (@Specops119) June 18, 2026
It was inevitable unfortunately. Imagine if trout didn’t have the injures man
— ArchMadness (@archmadness27) June 19, 2026
death, taxes, trout injury
— ® (@gtrob_) June 18, 2026
HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN EVERY SINGLE YEAR BRO WTFFF
— proud ranger fan (@RangerApologist) June 18, 2026
"The Injury List" is the name of Mike Trout's vacation home.
— Lastdance (@Lastdance_LL) June 18, 2026
The three-time AL MVP Trout had actually been enjoying an All-Star-caliber year thus far. Through 74 games, Trout was batting .234 with 17 home runs, 36 RBIs, seven stolen bases, and an AL-leading 54 runs scored. Most impressively, he had also played in 74 of the Angels’ first 75 games.
But Trout will be turning 35 in August and has been badly hampered by injuries in recent years. He has missed at least 32 games in each of the past five years running and has missed 80 or more games in three of those seasons.
Trout’s near-return to form had been one of the lone bright spots for the AL-worst 30-46 Angels this season. But with Trout now heading back to a very familiar place in the IL, the plunge into hell is just about complete for the Angels (especially given some of their more embarrassing moments this year).
Angel Reese mocks Caitlin Clark for flopping during their game
Angel Reese got to engage in her favorite pastime this week — messing with Caitlin Clark.
Reese and the Atlanta Dream faced off on Thursday against Clark and the Indiana Fever. In the second quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., Reese made contact with Clark, who was moving off the ball during a Fever possession.
Clark appeared to sell the contact a bit and successfully drew a foul on Reese as a result. In response, Reese openly mocked Clark on the court.
Reese began doing an exaggerated flailing gesture to express her belief that Clark was flopping. Here is the video of the incident.
Angel pic.twitter.com/jV4IrEwH7W
— Shabazz 💫 (@ShowCaseShabazz) June 19, 2026
Clark may have drawn the foul there, but it was Reese who came out on top in the end. Reese finished with a team-high 21 points and 11 rebounds as the Dream won by a 108-101 final score to improve to 10-4 on the season while dropping the Fever to a modest 9-6.
The superstar guard Clark did not have too bad of a night herself, finishing with 26 points and seven assists. But this was just the latest chapter written in the rivalry between Clark and Reese, especially after a flagrant-foul incident between the two last season.
Jazz Chisholm exits game after an unfortunate foul ball to the nuts
Jazz Chisholm unfortunately failed the cup check on Thursday night.
The New York Yankees played on Thursday against the Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium in New York, N.Y. During the fourth inning of the contest, the Yankees infielder Chisholm experienced a moment that made every male fan cringe.
Chisholm fouled off a pitch from White Sox righty Sean Burke. The foul ball hit the ground and kicked back up to catch Chisholm … right in the family jewels.
The two-time All-Star Chisholm immediately went down to a knee in pain. He remained down being attended to by trainers for several moments and ultimately had to exit the game from there (being replaced by Yankees teammate Anthony Volpe).
Here is the video of the highly unlucky moment.
Not the best place to foul a ball off pic.twitter.com/Vp0HnvJ8JV
— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) June 19, 2026
Chisholm, 28, is having a bit of a flat year, batting .229 with 10 home runs, 30 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases through 69 games. His pelvic region is probably feeling a little bit flat right now as well, especially since this is actually not the first time that Chisholm has fouled a ball into his own … well, balls over the course of the last year.
Lakers are being linked to 1 All-Star center in free agency
The Los Angeles Lakers could be going for broke as they look to fill the biggest hole on their roster.
Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren is a target for the Lakers in free agency this offseason, according to a report on Thursday by Dave McMenamin of ESPN. McMenamin notes that the Lakers have already done “due diligence” on Duren.
The 22-year-old Duren is a restricted free agent after posting a career year with the Pistons in 2025-26. Duren put up 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game and earned both an All-Star selection and an All-NBA Third Team nod.
That said, Duren tanked his market a bit with a shaky postseason performance for Detroit in which his averages fell to 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. While the Pistons still want to retain Duren (and have matching rights on any offer sheet that he signs), they reportedly may not go above a certain amount for him.
As for the Lakers, they are desperate for an impact big man to pair with franchise player Luka Doncic. In fact, Doncic recently even gave the team an ultimatum of sorts to add a top-tier center this summer.
Duren is high leaper who works great as a pick-and-roll lob threat and also has the upside to anchor a defense from down low. While that would make him an ideal pairing alongside Doncic, the Lakers might run into some trouble if one of these other can-afford teams decides to sign Duren to a max offer sheet.
Report: Nuggets could sign a very familiar player to Nikola Jokic
The Denver Nuggets are going back to the drawing board after a first round exit this year, and their first order of business could be to appease franchise center Nikola Jokic.
Denver is targeting veteran swingman Bogdan Bogdanovic as an option in free agency this summer, according to a report this week by Serbian outlet Meridian Sport. Bogdanovic currently has a $16 million team option for next season with the LA Clippers, which they are expected to decline.
The 33-year-old Bogdanovic, a former first-round pick, has been in the NBA since 2017. He is known as a stellar off-the-dribble scorer and had his best career season with the Atlanta Hawks in 2023-24, averaging 16.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game primarily as a sixth man.
Bogdanovic has been with the Clippers since 2025. But he fell out of favor with the team last season, averaging just 7.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 19.7 minutes per game. Bogdanovic was also limited to just 23 total games played due to management of a lingering hamstring issue.
Meanwhile, the Nuggets three-time MVP center Jokic is very familiar with Bogdanovic. Both players hail from Serbia and have acted as co-stars on the Serbian national team (including when Serbia won silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics and bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics).
Denver went 54-28 this past season but lost in six games during the first round to the Minnesota Timberwolves. They could be making a number of big changes this offseason, but Bogdanovic stands out as a potential buy-low reinforcement for the Nuggets who also has superb chemistry and history with Jokic.
Sauce Gardner clears up bizarre confusion about his age
A lot of people have spent Sauce Gardner’s entire career getting his age wrong.
The Indianapolis Colts cornerback is 24, but for a long time, only NFL.com listed him that way. Other sources say he was born in 2000, including ESPN, Pro Football Reference, and even Madden games.
“It’s wrong in Madden, too? That’s crazy because I never checked,” Gardner told James Boyd of The Athletic. “Because when it comes to the paperwork and everything I’ve signed, it all says ’01. So, I don’t know where or how it got messed up unless people just get it straight from Google.”
To be clear, Gardner’s NFL teams have had his age correct ever since he was drafted. Everyone else has it wrong for some reason, including Wikipedia, which may be where the inaccurate age started to circulate.
Gardner was traded from the New York Jets to the Indianapolis Colts last November. The two-time All-Pro cornerback is preparing for his first full season with the team. Some of his fans will now get to embrace the fact that he is a year younger than previously thought, too.
Luka Doncic has told Lakers to make 1 big change to roster
Luka Doncic is definitely the centerpiece of the Los Angeles Lakers, and he is making the roster demands to back that up.
Doncic has made one clear roster request of GM Rob Pelinka and coach JJ Redick. He wants a star center to complement his game, and has asked the Lakers to find one.
“Luka’s first and foremost desire is an A-list center,” a source told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
The desire is, in fact, nothing new. The Lakers have been trying to find the right fit at center for well over a year. They thought they found it in Mark Williams, but they called off a trade for him due to medical concerns. Last season, they tried to make things work with Deandre Ayton, but he proved a poor fit and faced serious questions about his effort throughout his tenure with the team.
The Lakers have a long to-do list this offseason. They want to try and keep LeBron James and Austin Reaves while pursuing roster upgrades elsewhere. Doncic has given them plenty to consider, but it is very clear what he thinks their priority should be.
While the Lakers have been linked to a few centers this offseason, they would not necessarily be characterized as “A-list.” Those are hard to find, and the team simply might not have the financial flexibility to land one.
