Paul George calls out top NBA Draft prospect
Philadelphia 76ers star Paul George had some sharp words for a top NBA Draft prospect who could still become his teammate.
George was critical of former Rutgers standout Ace Bailey, who has been using a controversial pre-draft strategy. Despite being seen as a potential top-five pick, Bailey has been canceling numerous workouts with teams, including one with the 76ers.
George suggested that Bailey is not in any position to be taking that sort of stance before he is even drafted.
“If I’m Ace Bailey, I can’t get mad if my stock drops,” George said on his “Podcast P” podcast. “He’s canceled all workouts. He hasn’t worked out for any team. I think they made a big deal because (the Sixers) were scheduled to work him out and he canceled the day of, but he hasn’t worked out for any team.
“You’re not in a position to be making those demands. Make it to the league first. I don’t know who’s representing him, but I don’t think they’re going about it the right way.”
It is still possible that the 76ers select Bailey at No. 3 overall, which could make things awkward for George after these comments. However, he is almost certainly not alone in thinking Bailey is being a bit too arrogant without even being drafted yet.
As a freshman at Rutgers, Bailey averaged 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game last season. Reports have indicated that he wants to be a first option wherever he is drafted, but that might not be up to him.
Celtics trade Kristaps Porzingis in 3-team deal
The Boston Celtics continue to unload salary, this time by moving key reserve forward Kristaps Porzingis.
The Celtics agreed to trade Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday as part of a three-team trade. The Celtics will receive Georges Niang and a second-round pick, while the Nets take on Terance Mann and Atlanta’s No. 22 overall pick as part of the deal.
BREAKING: Boston, Atlanta and Brooklyn are finalizing a three-team trade that sends Kristaps Porzingis and a second-round pick to the Hawks, Terance Mann and Atlanta's No. 22 pick to the Nets, and Georges Niang and a second-rounder to the Celtics. pic.twitter.com/1fcbIslyVF
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 24, 2025
This is the second big move in as many days for the Celtics, who are trimming salary due to an inflated luxury tax bill. Jrue Holiday was shipped to Portland last night for similar reasons.
Porzingis is set to make roughly $30 million next season before becoming an unrestricted free agent. They get back Niang, who carries a cap hit of $8.2 million, knocking over $20 million off the Celtics’ payroll. The Hawks hope he will take some pressure off Trae Young and help entrench the team as more of a threat in the Eastern Conference next season.
The Celtics’ decision to trade Porzingis is not a big surprise. His name has been coming up in trade rumors since the team was eliminated from the playoffs, though there are some who believe that letting him go will prove to be a mistake.
Porzingis was a vital part of the Celtics’ 2024 championship. However, a virus derailed his 2024-25 season, and he averaged 19.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game in 42 appearances.
NBA teams have interest in a Jaylen Brown trade
The Boston Celtics are looking to trim their payroll, and that has apparently led to serious trade inquiries from other teams about players like Jaylen Brown.
Shams Charania was a guest on “The Stephen A. Smith Show” and talked about the Celtics. The conversation came in the context of Boston trading Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night. Charania suggested that opposing teams are being aggressive in trying to pry Brown away from Boston.
“The Celtics prefer not to trade Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. But, listen, the offers they’re getting right now — the conversations are going to be had. Does it reach the value? And that’s the question. So you’re looking at a lot of potential movement around the Celtics, and last night was just the start of that,” Charania said, referencing the Holiday trade that happened the night before.
“There are multiple teams that have significant interest in Jaylen Brown. The contract is steep — I understand it. There are teams — especially in today’s NBA — it’s an arms’ race.”
Brown just finished the first year of a 5-year, $285 million deal, so he has a ton of years and money left on his contract. If Boston wanted to completely cut their payroll, that would be a way to do it. As it stands, they’ve already shed plenty of money thanks to the Holiday deal, which saved them $46 million. Their next move may be to trade Kristaps Porzingis, and/or Payton Pritchard.
Charania previously said it would take an “insurmountable package” to get the Celtics to trade Brown.
Former Phillies player had perfect message for fans in his retirement note
A former Philadelphia Phillies infielder had a great message for the team’s fans Tuesday as he officially announced his retirement.
Whit Merrifield said in a statement Tuesday that he has officially retired from Major League Baseball. The three-time All-Star is best remembered for his time with the Kansas City Royals and Toronto Blue Jays, but spent part of the back end of his career with the Phillies.
In a message to fans, Merrifield acknowledged all of the teams he played for, even the Phillies. That portion, however, was easily the most memorable.
“Philly, I liked you way more than you liked me. Sorry I stunk for you,” Merrifield wrote.
Congratulations on an amazing run @WhitMerrifield. We’re beyond grateful to have been a part of the journey every step of the way.#TeamWSM pic.twitter.com/MW6zgsxnXJ
— Warner Sports Management (@WSM_Baseball) June 24, 2025
Merrifield signed a one-year, $8 million contract with Philadelphia prior to the 2024 season. He wound up playing 53 games with the team, where he hit .199 with three home runs. The Phillies ultimately released him in July, and he was largely remembered as a pricey bust in Philadelphia.
At least Merrifield has a sense of humor about his unsuccessful stint in Philadelphia and does not hold his unpopularity against the fans. Some others have not been quite as charitable with them.
New Timberwolves owner Marc Lore makes guarantee to fans
The Minnesota Timberwolves’ sale to a group led by Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez was officially confirmed by the NBA’s Board of Governors on Tuesday, and they were quick to reassure fans about one significant thing.
In an interview with Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, Lore was adamant that he and Rodriguez have no plans to relocate the Timberwolves from Minnesota. Rumors that the team could eventually be moved have never completely gone away, in part because of uncertainty regarding the future of Target Center.
“In the start-up world, I’ve always been driven by the mission, not the money,” Lore said. “And mercenaries are driven by money. And I think anybody who would even contemplate moving the team is clearly a mercenary. The only reason would be for money, right? And that’s just not us.
“We love the idea of Minnesota history and playing a part in that history. To move it and start over would be devastating to not only the community and the fans, but us as well. It’s not consistent with our value system.”
Lore and Rodriguez purchased the team from former owner Glen Taylor, though there was some legal wrangling over the sale after Taylor tried to back out.
One of Taylor’s concerns was whether the new owners would spend enough to keep the team competitive. That concern may still linger, but it certainly does sound like they plan to remain in Minnesota for years to come.
Former All-Star pitcher launches MLB comeback attempt
A former MLB All-Star is launching a comeback attempt despite not pitching since 2023.
Former New York Mets star Noah Syndergaard has signed with the Chicago White Sox, the team confirmed Tuesday. Syndergaard has reported to the team’s spring training complex in Glendale, Az. to get himself into pitching shape.
White Sox have agreed to terms on a minor league contract with RHP Noah Syndergaard. He has reported to the complex in Glendale. He last pitched in the majors with the Dodgers and Guardians in 2023.
— Chuck Garfien (@ChuckGarfien) June 24, 2025
Syndergaard’s last MLB pitching appearance came in 2023, when he split time between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cleveland Guardians. He posted a 6.50 ERA in 18 starts, and despite his best efforts, looked to be a shell of his former self since he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2020.
The 32-year-old saw his best seasons with the Mets, topped by a 2016 campaign that saw him post a 2.60 ERA and finish eighth in NL Cy Young voting.
The White Sox are one of the worst teams in the league and are not going to contend this season. This appears to be an effort on Syndergaard’s part to see if he can get back to the MLB level and contribute. If he can, it could lead to a decent free agent market this offseason.
Nuggets owner raises possibility of trading Nikola Jokic
Denver Nuggets owner Josh Kroenke on Tuesday raised the possibility that the team might have to trade Nikola Jokic in a bad scenario.
Kroenke was speaking with the media and answering various questions. One thing he said was that the Nuggets, which are projected to have $220 million in salary cap allocations, are leery about going into the second tax apron. Kroenke said that such levels of spending could put them into a bad place that could lead to conversations of trading Jokic.
“For us, as an organization, going into that second apron is not necessarily something that we’re scared of. I think there are rules around it that we need to be very careful of with our injury history. The wrong person gets injured, and very quickly you’re into a scenario that I never want to have to contemplate — and that’s trading [Nikola Jokic],” Kroenke said.
“We’re very conscious of that pushing forward and providing the resources that we can when the moment arrives. But that second apron — is it a hard cap? I’m not 100 percent sure, but it’s something that teams are obviously very aware of going forward.”
The second apron is projected to be at $207.8 million for next season. Teams that spend beyond that amount become limited in their roster flexibility. There are multiple restrictions placed on teams’ ability to make trades, such as salary matching limits. They can’t use the full midlevel exception to sign players, and there are significant luxury tax penalties, where the amount a player signs for can cost the team much more in penalties.
The Nuggets faced the challenges of the second apron when they were trying to replace Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who signed with Orlando last year. Denver has some players like Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. who have injury histories that likely raised these concerns for Kroenke.
Jokic is signed for two more seasons and has a $62.8 million player option for the 2027-2028 season. He can consider signing an extension with the Nuggets this offseason or next. Jokic made clear last month he feels like the Nuggets need to improve.
Nuggets owner Josh Kroenke believes there’s a nightmare scenario where the wrong player gets injured, and the second apron could force them to consider the possibility of trading Nikola Jokić
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 24, 2025
(h/t @jokicgoatic15 )
pic.twitter.com/xDXysOtiEm
Browns WR has surprising prediction about team’s QB competition
The Cleveland Browns are holding what could be the most open quarterback competition the NFL has ever seen, and veteran wide receiver Diontae Johnson recently had a surprising prediction for which player might earn the starting job.
Johnson, who signed a veteran minimum contract with the Browns last month, shared some of his thoughts on his team’s quarterback situation during a recent appearance on the “Sport and Suits” podcast. When asked for his opinion on which QB appears to be atop the depth chart, Johnson pointed to Kenny Pickett.
“I think they are going to roll with Kenny (Pickett) for right now,” Johnson said, via Nick Shook of NFL.com. “I’ve been seeing Kenny going like right now with the ones. Then Joe (Flacco) will come in. I think they are probably going to roll with (Pickett) just to see like he’s coming off a season with Philly and having a Super Bowl. So, I think they are going to stick with him through the preseason. Then you know they can live with Joe and what he brings to the table.”
Johnson made the comments earlier this month, so it is possible things have changed since then. One recent report suggested that Joe Flacco looks like the favorite to win the competition.
A lot can happen during training camp and the preseason. Pickett and Flacco have an obvious experience advantage over rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. It is highly unlikely that Kevin Stefanski will want a rookie under center in Week 1.
Flacco is probably the safest choice, even if he is 40 and by far the oldest of the bunch. He went 4-1 as a starter for the Browns in 2023 and knows Stefanski’s offense.
It is rare for a team to carry four quarterbacks, but there has been talk that the Browns could do just that. That would probably be more likely to happen if Pickett won the job, as they will likely want Flacco to remain in the mix and may be hesitant to cut either their third- or fifth-round draft pick.
Steve Spurrier suggests he is not buying the Arch Manning hype
Arch Manning is widely viewed as a future No. 1 overall pick despite having shown very little at the collegiate level, and one legendary coach does not seem to be buying the hype.
Former Florida and South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier shared some of his thoughts on Manning during an appearance on the latest episode of the “Another Dooley Noted” podcast, which was released on Monday. The 80-year-old questioned why Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian would play Quinn Ewers over Manning for two years if Arch is such a generational talent.
“Most people are picking Texas to win the SEC in football,” Spurrier said, as transcribed by Joe Cook of On3. “They’ve got Arch Manning already winning the Heisman, too. My question is, if he was this good how come they let Quinn Ewers play all the time last year? He was a seventh-round pick?”
Ewers was a Heisman Trophy candidate who led the Longhorns to the College Football Playoff semifinal each of the last two seasons. Sarkisian obviously felt that Ewers’ experience and previous success made him a better option for Texas, and it is hard to argue with the results.
“You only have to ask Coach Sark how come you played that one instead of this one,” Spurrier added. “Hopefully he’ll say, ‘Because we thought he was better than that one.’ Isn’t that why you play one guy and not the other? Unless it was discipline, and there was no discipline or anything.”
Manning played sparingly enough as a freshman two years ago to maintain redshirt eligibility. He then got some playing time last season when Ewers was injured. Manning completed 67.8% of his passes for 939 yards, 9 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. He also rushed for 108 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Manning gave a great reason for why he stuck with Texas when he could have easily signed a huge NIL deal to transfer to a new school.
Spurrier, who won a national championship at Florida in 1996, is known for saying things that others probably would not. If Manning is as good as many expect him to be this season, Spurrier is right that some will question whether Arch should have played sooner.
Wizards pull off move to open up significant salary cap space
The Washington Wizards made a major trade Tuesday that could pay dividends for them next year.
The Wizards are trading guard Jordan Poole, forward Saddiq Bey, and the No. 40 overall pick in the NBA Draft to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for guard CJ McCollum, forward Kelly Olynyk, and a future second-round pick.
The New Orleans Pelicans are trading CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk and a future second-round pick to the Washington Wizards for Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey and the No. 40 pick, sources tell ESPN.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 24, 2025
McCollum has one year remaining on his contract, while Poole has two years left on the four-year, $128 million deal he originally signed with the Golden State Warriors. His trade value improved after he averaged 20.5 points per game last season, which allowed the Wizards to turn him into cap space.
Because of the trade, the Wizards will go into next offseason with roughly $100 million in salary cap space. It is unclear who they might seek to use that space on. Kevin Durant would hypothetically be a free agent, but the Houston Rockets will presumably try to re-sign him, and he has not shown much interest in playing in his hometown in the past.
The Wizards went just 18-64 last season and hold the No. 6 pick in the NBA Draft. They appear to finally be commencing on a major rebuild, and next summer will be a key point in determining whether that rebuild is on track.
Karmelo Anthony indicted on first-degree murder charge
Karmelo Anthony has been indicted on a charge of first-degree murder.
Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis announced on Tuesday that a Collin County grand jury indicted Anthony on first-degree murder charges for the murder of Austin Metcalf. Anthony allegedly stabbed Metcalf in the chest during a dispute at a high school track meet in Frisco, Texas, on April 2. Metcalf died due to the stabbing. A police report said that Anthony had admitted to stabbing Metcalf.
“Earlier this spring, our community was shaken by what happened at a school track meet in Frisco — the violent loss of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf. For weeks, my team has been presenting evidence to the grand jury. Today, I summarized that evidence, and I asked the grand jury to return a first degree murder indictment against Karmelo Anthony, which they did. With that indictment, the case now moves formally into the court system.
“From this point forward, we’ll continue doing our job fully and fairly to pursue justice under the law. As for the scheduling of the trial, that will be up to the court. But when the time comes, we will be ready.
We know this case has struck a deep nerve — here in Collin County and beyond, and that’s understandable. When something like this happens at a school event, it shakes people to the core. Let’s remember that the justice system works best when it moves with steadiness and principle. That’s what we’re committed to, and that’s exactly what this case deserves.
“We’re also mindful of Austin’s family, and everyone who loved him. Please keep them in your thoughts and, if you’re willing, in your prayers as well. Finally, let’s remember that a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.”
BREAKING: Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis announced today that a Collin County Grand Jury has indicted Karmelo Anthony for First-Degree M*rder in the Frisco Track Meet sta*bbing of Austin Metcalf. pic.twitter.com/ykdxBzdVfV
— Sarah Fields (@SarahisCensored) June 24, 2025
Murder is a first-degree felony offense in Texas. If convicted, Anthony would be facing a punishment of 5-99 years in a Texas prison. In the Texas criminal justice system, 17-year-olds are considered adults.
Alex Caruso wore the perfect T-shirt to Thunder championship parade
Alex Caruso wore the perfect T-shirt during the Oklahoma City Thunder’s championship parade on Tuesday.
Caruso arrived at the parade wearing a shirt depicting Mount Rushmore, except with Caruso’s face on all four heads. The shirt very quickly went viral on social media.
Alex Caruso is wearing a Mount Rushmore shirt with his face on every head 😭 pic.twitter.com/iXLUnORZsm
— Thunder Film Room (@ThunderFilmRoom) June 24, 2025
A video shared by the NBA’s social media accounts offered a better view. In addition to the shirt, Caruso wore the ring he won with the Los Angeles Lakers on a chain around his neck.
Alex Caruso is finally getting his championship parade and made sure his #Lakers ring was along for the ride. 😮💨🫡
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) June 24, 2025
(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/jw071GgcGF
Caruso won that title in the bubble in 2020, so he never actually got to celebrate it with a parade. He is making up for lost time on Tuesday with the Thunder, so his decision to include his ring from Los Angeles is likely not a coincidence, although he might not think too highly of it.
The veteran guard has become a hugely popular part of Oklahoma City’s championship team. He was an integral part of their elite defensive play, and even became something of a team leader in all respects. He is undoubtedly a fan favorite and is fully embracing it.
Pascal Siakam had rough quote about his time with Raptors
Pascal Siakam offered some brutally honest thoughts about his time with the Toronto Raptors after he came up just short of winning his second NBA title on Sunday night.
Siakam had 16 points and 4 rebounds in the Indiana Pacers’ 103-91 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. The result was disappointing, but Siakam suggested it beats playing in Toronto.
Following the loss, Siakam said he was in a “dark” place with his career before the Raptors traded him to Indiana midway through the 2023-24 season.
“Couple years ago, I think basketball was just, kind of dark for me. It was not fun at all,” Siakam said, via Sportsnet. “And I got traded here and these guys, they just gave me a boost — starting with (Tyrese Haliburton) obviously — just playing with these guys has been so incredible. Just finding my joy for the game.”
Siakam spent the first seven-plus years of his career with the Raptors. He enjoyed success in Toronto and helped the team win a championship in 2019. The Raptors landed three first-round picks when they traded him to the Pacers.
Toronto decided to build around Scottie Barnes, which may have left Siakam feeling like the team did not appreciate him enough. Raptors president Masai Ujiri eventually expressed regret over the way the situation was handled.
Siakam averaged 20.2 points and 6.9 rebounds per game in his first full season with the Pacers. He signed a 4-year, $189.5 million contract with the team a year ago.
Luka Doncic is completely changing his offseason fitness routine
Luka Doncic appears to have gotten the message about the importance of his fitness routine.
Doncic has fully dedicated himself to maintaining proper shape during the offseason, according to Dan Woike of The Athletic. Doncic has been “incredibly committed” to his fitness and has already dropped significant weight since the start of the offseason.
In addition, Doncic has spent a month away from on-court work to focus instead on his fitness and his body. That is a change from how the star has handled previous offseasons.
Doncic has already drawn attention this offseason for looking notably slimmer in photos. Apparently that is not a mirage.
Doncic’s fitness has been a long-standing issue and was part of the reason the Dallas Mavericks traded him. Perhaps that lit a fire under him, or perhaps it was the fact that his own coach seemed to lay down a challenge for him at the start of the offseason.
After being traded to the Lakers last season, Doncic played in 28 games and averaged 28.2 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. If he is seriously committed to his conditioning, it will go a long way in proving the Lakers right in making that trade.
5-star QB Ryder Lyons makes his college decision
One of the best quarterbacks in the 2026 recruiting class has made his college decision.
Ryder Lyons announced on Tuesday that he has committed to BYU. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound prospect from Folsom High School in Folsom, Calif., chose the Cougars over Oregon. Lyons told Steve Wiltfong of On3 that he also considered USC, Ohio State, Michigan and Ole Miss.
Lyons is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and has several family members who attended BYU.
“Very familiar, my family went there, my sisters went there, obviously a big part of my faith,” Lyons said. “Coach (Aaron) Roderick, coach (Kalani) Sitake, amazing people to talk to, great relationships with them. Great coaches, BYU had a huge year, 11 wins. A very good success rate with quarterbacks.”
Lyons is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 4 quarterback and No. 13 overall prospect in the Class of 2026. He is coming off an outstanding junior season at Folsom in which he threw for 3,011 yards, 46 touchdown passes and just 6 interceptions. Lyons also rushed for 585 yards and 14 scores.
Lyons spoke more about his decision during a Tuesday appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
Ryder Lyons, the No. 5 ranked QB in the Class of 2026, has committed to BYU, he announced on the @PatMcAfeeShow 🌟 @SCNext pic.twitter.com/vWCDsDcZdg
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) June 24, 2025
Lyons is the highest-rated commitment BYU has received in the modern recruiting era. He reserves the right to change his mind with months to go until National Signing Day in February, but he seems all-in on the Cougars.
Aaron Rodgers shares reason he only signed 1-year deal with Steelers
The contract that Aaron Rodgers signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier this month only runs through the 2025 season, and the star quarterback says there is a simple reason for that.
Rodgers revealed during a Tuesday appearance on “The Pat McAfee” show that he is only planning to play one more season. He said that is why he signed a one-year deal with the Steelers.
“I’m pretty sure this is it. That’s why he just did a one-year deal,” Rodgers said. “The Steelers didn’t need to put any extra years on that or anything. This was really about finishing with a lot of love and fun and peace for the career that I’ve had. I’ve played 20 frickin’ years. It’s been a long run and I’ve enjoyed it. What better place to finish than in one of the cornerstone franchises of the NFL with Mike Tomlin and a great group of leadership and great guys in a city that expects you to win.”
“I’m pretty sure this is my last season and that’s why we did the one year deal..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 24, 2025
I’ve played twenty years and I’ve enjoyed it..
There’s no better way to finish it than with Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers” @AaronRodgers12 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/hWN5veErEH
Rodgers’ contract with the Steelers carries a base value of just under $14 million with incentives that could bring it up to $20 million. There was a report earlier in the offseason that Rodgers wanted to play two more seasons, but that is not his plan at the moment.
Rodgers will turn 42 before the end of the 2025 season. He also recently got married to a mystery woman and said before signing with Pittsburgh that he had some issues in his personal life. It makes sense for him to chase one more championship before calling it a career, though he could change his mind down the road.
The Steelers still have Mason Rudolph on their roster and drafted Will Howard in the sixth round. They knew Rodgers was never going to be a long-term solution, but they believe they will have more success with him under center than they did with Russell Wilson.
Pittsburgh went 10-7 and made the playoffs last season. They lost to the Baltimore Ravens in the opening round. Rodgers led the New York Jets to a 5-12 record and finished with 3,897 yards, 28 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions.
Fans noted one difference in way Thunder celebrated championship
The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night, and some fans were surprised by the lack of enthusiasm that was shown after the final buzzer sounded.
The Thunder beat the Pacers 103-91 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., to win the NBA title. Mark Daigneault’s team was a heavy favorite at the start of the series, but Indiana gave them all they could handle.
A video that was viewed millions of times on social media compared the way the Thunder celebrated their championship-clinching win and how the Florida Panthers acted after they beat the Edmonton Oilers in the NHL Final.
One of the champions looked far more excited than the other.
The NBA in general confuses me.
— Jake Malasek (@jakemalasek) June 23, 2025
Both close out games were pretty big blowouts.
The Panthers acted like this was the first time they’ve won a hockey game in their lives. The Thunder make it seem like they have 4 more games to play.
Just a fascinating difference. pic.twitter.com/YxG44n6ZkV
There are a couple of reasons the Thunder may have been a bit more muted with their celebration than the Panthers. For one, Oklahoma City was an overwhelming favorite at the start of the NBA Finals. The Pacers defied the odds by even forcing a Game 7, so perhaps the Thunder had more of a “taking care of business” mentality about their title.
Also, Indiana lost its best player early in the Game 7 when Tyrese Haliburton went down with a devastating injury. That may have put a bit of a damper on the night for both teams.
You can also make the argument that winning a championship in the NHL is more difficult than the NBA. Typically, the team with the best players wins in the NBA. That is not always the case in the NHL, as evidenced by Connor McDavid being on the losing side.
It is probably safe to assume the Thunder were just as excited as the Panthers, even if they had different ways of showing it.
Video appears to show Jon Jones threatening police officer
Jon Jones appeared to threaten a police officer during a February incident that led to the UFC legend being criminally charged.
Jones announced on Saturday that he has retired from MMA. Shortly after, the Albuquerque Journal reported that the 37-year-old has been called to appear in Metropolitan Court in Albuquerque, N.M., on July 24 due to a misdemeanor crime he is accused of committing in February. Jones is accused of leaving the scene of a car crash near San Mateo and Lomas.
On Monday, the Albuquerque Journal released body camera footage from a police officer who responded to the scene of the Feb. 21 crash after Jones allegedly fled. The video shows an unidentified female in the passenger seat of a car that had crashed. The woman told police that Jones had been driving the vehicle.
At one point during the stop, the woman was allegedly speaking with Jones on the phone. She handed the phone over to the officer and told him that it was Jones on the other line.
The person on the phone, who was supposedly Jones, could be heard telling the police officer that his brothers “kill people for way less.” When backup arrived, the officer told other officers that he had been “threatened over the phone.”
The Albuquerque Journal managed to get hold of body cam footage of Jon Jones' recent misdemeanor.
— MMA On Point (@OnPointMMA) June 24, 2025
Jones, over the phone, seems to have threatened the police officer who attended to the incident.pic.twitter.com/pu2byuImMC
Jones’ attorney, Christopher Dodd, says the Albuquerque Police Department is “targeting” the former UFC champion.
“I have never seen a case as strange and unwarranted as this one,” Dodd said. “Jon was not driving that night; he wasn’t in the car. It appears that an intoxicated woman used a false allegation against Jon to avoid being arrested for DWI, and the police fell for it.”
Shortly after news of the charges against him surfaced, Jones addressed the situation with a brief social media post.
Jones is no stranger to legal drama outside of the UFC octagon. In 2021, Jones was arrested over a domestic violence charge. Last year, a woman working with UFC’s anti-doping program filed a police report against Jones during a random specimen sample collection.
Jones was also involved in a 2015 hit-and-run incident in Albuquerque for which he pleaded guilty.
Ronald Acuña Jr.’s brother gets demoted
The New York Mets gave Luisangel Acuña a chance to prove himself in the majors this season, but he is now headed back to the minors.
Acuna, the younger brother of Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr., was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Monday.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said the team felt they were not able to get Acuña enough playing time to justify keeping him on the MLB roster.
“He had a good April, he was getting consistent time and helped us win a lot of games,” Mendoza told reporters on Monday, via SNY’s John Flanigan. “Then it was a combination of other guys producing and he became that role guy that helped us win a lot of games with his versatility, his base-running — he was still impacting games.
“But it got to a point now where it’s getting difficult to find him playing time, and for his development and where we’re at in the regular season, what we want to see is for him to get regular at-bats and play everyday because it’s hard for us to judge him right now.”
Acuña hit .308 in the month of April, but things went downhill for him quickly after that. He was batting .241 with 23 runs scored and 11 stolen bases before being demoted. The 23-year-old had only gotten 18 plate appearances in the month of June.
Acuña was initially signed by the Texas Rangers. They traded him to the Mets in 2023 for Max Scherzer.
In 2024, Acuña played in 14 games for the Mets and went 12/39 (.308) with two doubles, a triple and three home runs.
Fans are thrilled about unexpected host of the ESPYs
ESPN announced on Tuesday that they have chosen an unexpected host for the 2025 ESPYs, and the response from fans was overwhelmingly positive.
Comedian and actor Shane Gillis will host the 2025 ESPYs, which will be aired live on Wednesday, July 16.
Shane Gillis is your 2025 ESPYS Host ‼️
— ESPN (@espn) June 24, 2025
Watch the ESPYS on July 16th LIVE on ABC | ESPN+ 🍿 pic.twitter.com/ZOcPzJ6hKF
A number of star athletes and celebrities have hosted the ESPYs over the years. Serena Williams was the host last year, and some other recent hosts include Stephen Curry, Anthony Mackie and Tracy Morgan.
Gillis was not the name fans expected to see, but most of them are extremely excited.
Best decision they could've ever made.
— The RE-Think Tank (@re_think_tank) June 24, 2025
— Pick6 (@Pick6) June 24, 2025
Wow best choice possible. I will be watching
— Kevin Cosio (@Cosio_Kevin10) June 24, 2025
This is going to be the best one yet
— Rome (@RomeJayX) June 24, 2025
Very rare W by ESPN
— Blames (@blames_) June 24, 2025
Good. Maybe itll be funny for once.
— Kuai Liang (@LonelyDrink) June 24, 2025
Gillis does not fit the mold of someone who would usually be given a platform by ESPN, though choosing him as a host continues a recent pattern for the network. Gillis was also a guest on ESPN’s “College GameDay” last season and proved that he is unafraid to make anyone a punchline when he took a shot at Nick Saban.
With Gillis known for dark humor and pushing the envelope, a lot of athletes and celebrities will probably be on edge during the ESPYs. He could potentially write some jokes that make things that past hosts have said look extremely tame.
