Oct 23, 2021; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) warms up before the game against the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports
The Milwaukee Bucks have a tough first-round playoff series upcoming against the Indiana Pacers, and it sounds like it is not a guarantee that Giannis Antetokounmpo will be on the floor for any of it.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Bucks are preparing to be without Antetokounmpo for Game 1 against the Pacers, which is on Sunday in Milwaukee. The Bucks are “hopeful” that Giannis will be able to play later in the series.
Antetokounmpo has been receiving treatment for a non-contact calf injury he suffered in a game against the Boston Celtics on April 10. While the injury could have been a lot worse given how it looked, it is still a significant concern for the Bucks.
The young, high-tempo Pacers won four out of five against Milwaukee during the regular season and created some major matchup problems for Doc Rivers’ team. The Bucks needed a historic performance from Giannis in the one game they won.
The Bucks do not want to rush Antetokounmpo back, so they could base their decision partly on how the start of the series goes. If they get off to a good start against Indiana, they may be more inclined to have Giannis sit out longer.
Jun 5, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) warms up before game two of the 2022 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
There has been increasing talk in recent months that the Golden State Warriors could finally break up their championship-winning core this summer, but longtime NBA reporter Brian Windhorst does not expect that to happen.
The Warriors are traveling to Sacramento on Tuesday night for a win-or-go-home play-in tournament game against the Kings. Should Golden State lose, there is a chance the game will be the last that Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green play together.
Windhorst was asked about that possibility during ESPN’s “Get Up” Tuesday morning. He said he feels confident that the Warriors will re-sign Thompson and keep their trio together for at least another season.
“I think they like the way this team finished the season — 27-12 down the stretch, top-10 offense, top-10 defense,” Windhorst said. “They’re a quality team. … I think they bring Klay Thompson back. I think they like the way this team played at the end of the season.”
The Warriors need to reduce payroll, but Windhorst expects that to happen no matter what they do. Thompson made $43 million this season, and he is not expected to get that much from the Warriors or any other team this summer. Chris Paul also has a team option of $31 million for 2024-25 that will not be exercised.
You can hear more of Windhorst’s explanation:
The Warriors won 10 of their last 12 games to close out the season, and Thompson’s play was a big reason for that. He finished the season averaging 17.9 points per game but averaged 23.1 over Golden State’s seven games in May.
Thompson and Green are both 34 while Curry is 36. If the Warriors manage to make a respectable playoff run, that would likely go a long way toward convincing ownership that it is worth keeping the three together for at least another year. But if Thompson decides to test the free-agent waters, we know at least one Eastern Conference team might be looking to offer him a lucrative deal.
Jan 6, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) looks on during a practice session before the College Football Playoff national championship game against the Washington Huskies at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
JJ McCarthy has had more buzz surrounding him than any other player leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft, but one longtime ESPN analyst believes the hype has gotten out of control.
During Tuesday morning’s edition of “Get Up,” Booger McFarland was asked what his reaction would be if McCarthy is selected ahead of Drake Maye in the first round of the draft. McFarland said he would be “shocked” and offered a strong opinion on the former Michigan star.
“I’ll be shocked. There’s no way you can convince me that JJ McCarthy is the third-best player in this draft,” McFarland said. “I don’t think he’s the fourth-best player in this draft and we’re talking about drafting this quarterback as high as No. 4? Can we honestly say he’s the fourth-best player in this draft?
“I know quarterbacks are gonna go higher because of the supply and demand. I get all that. … But just from a pure talent traits standpoint, Drake Maye is a better quarterback than JJ McCarthy. I’ve seen him do it at a higher level at North Carolina than JJ McCarthy.”
It was not that long ago that McCarthy was viewed as a potential late-first round pick. His stock has soared over the past few months, with Michigan’s win over Washington in the national championship game giving McCarthy a huge boost in the all-important “intangibles” department. It has also helped that former Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh, who is now the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, has been over the top with his praise of McCarthy.
The biggest knock against Maye is that he did not face an elite level of competition in the ACC. While McCarthy’s stats do not jump off the page, he played in a tough Big Ten conference and made huge throws in the biggest moments. Maye is viewed as being more physically gifted, and McFarland obviously feels that makes the former UNC star worthy of the higher pick.
Caleb Williams is a lock to go No. 1 overall to the Chicago Bears. The growing sense is that the Washington Commanders will take Jayden Daniels at No. 2, which would leave the New England Patriots to choose between Maye and McCarthy. One longtime Pats reporter recently gave his prediction for which QB the team will take.
May 30, 2019; Dublin, OH, USA; Rory McIlroy looks on during the first round of the 2019 Memorial golf tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
A notable golf reporter responded Monday to the wild rumor about Rory McIlroy and LIV Golf.
City A.M., a London-focused business and financial outlet, reported on Sunday that McIlroy is close to joining LIV Golf. The report said that McIlroy is being offered $850 million and two percent equity in LIV Golf to join the PGA Tour competitor.
The report received some attention, but it wasn’t widely picked up by other outlets.
On Monday, Sky Sports reporter Jamie Weir responded to the report. He wrote on X that he was told the report is “complete nonsense.”
McIlroy was the most vocal critic of LIV Golf when the rival league was recruiting players away from the PGA Tour. He ripped LIV and the Saudi Arabians at every turn, and criticized golfers who left for the league.
However, McIlroy was hung out to dry by the PGA Tour, which agreed to a merger after being financially worn down by the rivals. McIlroy later resigned from his position on the PGA Tour’s board.
McIlroy is one of the most well-known golfers in the world. The 4-time major champion has earned over $100 million just from his golfing results, and that figure doesn’t include what he has commanded in endorsement deals.
There may be a new rivalry brewing in baseball: St. Louis Cardinals manager Oli Marmol versus Oakland A’s security guards.
An incensed Marmol ended up tugging at the collar of one security guard at Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, Calif.
The Cardinals were up 3-0 over the A’s in the top of the 7th inning. Marmol was considering challenging a call made by the second base umpire, who had ruled Cardinals DH Brendan Donovan out.
But as Marmol was getting word from a staff member on whether or not to challenge, a security guard got in his way.
Marmol grabbed the guard by the collar and confronted him for a brief moment. The quick altercation may have been enough to delay the Cardinals from challenging the play.
The security guard appeared to just be walking out onto the field, which is perhaps a part of his duties in the stadium. But Marmol got overly aggressive with the man, who seemed surprised by the sudden hostility.
Despite getting an unusual assist from a security guard, the A’s still ended up losing 3-1 to the Cardinals.
Jan 18, 2020; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr stands on the sideline during the fourth quarter against the Orlando Magic at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
The Team USA men’s basketball program has announced 11 of its 12 players for the 2024 Paris Olympics. There’s no shortage of star power among the candidates to fill the final roster spot.
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard is considered the “leading candidate” for Team USA’s final spot, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Joe Vardon.
Leonard, a 6-time All-Star and defensive stalwart, would have been an obvious choice if not for his knee issues. Leonard missed the Clippers’ final eight games of the regular season due to a lingering knee injury.
Team USA’s roster reportedly includes four NBA MVPs in LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, and Joel Embiid. All-Stars Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker, Bam Adebayo, and Jrue Holiday are also on the list after each being part of the 2020 Olympic gold medal squad.
Los Angeles Lakers big man Anthony Davis returns to the Team USA Olympic lineup after last playing for the 2012 squad. Youngsters Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Haliburton round out the first 11 players on the list.
Leonard’s Clippers teammate Paul George is also a candidate to take the Team USA spot. Paolo Banchero, Mikal Bridges, and Jalen Brunson are also reportedly “under consideration” to make the lineup.
The Americans have won the last four Olympic gold medals in men’s basketball. After failing to make the podium entirely during the 2023 FIBA World Cup, Team USA appears dead set on sending their A-squad to Paris.
Nov 21, 2018; Dallas, TX, USA; A view of the team logo on the shorts of Brooklyn Nets forward Jared Dudley (6) as he warms up before the game against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The Brooklyn Nets searched out West to find their next head coach.
The Nets are hiring top Sacramento Kings assistant Jordi Fernandez to be the team’s next head coach, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Nets reportedly met with dozens of candidates over the past few weeks in their search for interim coach Kevin Ollie’s replacement. The team had decided to part ways with its former head coach Jacque Vaughn in February.
Fernandez was said to be among three finalists for the Nets job as of last week.
From 2016 to 2022, Fernandez spent six seasons with the Denver Nuggets as an assistant coach under Michael Malone. Fernandez then left Denver to take on a more prominent role on the Sacramento Kings’ coaching staff under head coach Mike Brown.
Fernandez’s name has received a lot of head-coaching buzz over the past year.
Fernandez also serves as head coach of the Canadian men’s national team. Fernandez led Team Canada to a third-place finish at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
The Nets have had trouble maintaining stability within their coaching staff over the past couple of seasons. Fernandez becomes Brooklyn’s fourth head coach since the start of the 2022-23 campaign.
The Colorado Rockies on Monday made the surprising decision to trot out a starting pitcher as a pinch runner. The strategy did not work out.
The Rockies and Philadelphia Phillies were tied 1-1 in the top of the 9th at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pa.
After two quick outs to start the inning, Rockies catcher Elias Diaz got into scoring position with a double to left field.
Pinch running for Diaz in that spot seemed natural given the catcher’s lack of speed. But Colorado surprised some fans by opting for starter Kyle Freeland to take Diaz’s place. The Rockies had a thin bench that evening and felt that using Freeland was worth the risk.
Freeland was later able to advance to third on a wild pitch. The nerves may have gotten to Phillies reliever Jeff Hoffman, who threw another wild pitch in the dirt.
Freeland immediately took off for home. But Phillies catcher JT Realmuto recovered the ball quickly and flipped it to Hoffman in time to get Freeland out. Freeland, who made a hard slide into home plate, was injured on the play.
The game eventually went to extras. The Rockies ended up losing in the 10th inning via a walk-off single by Phillies outfielder Cristian Pache, who had entered the game in the 8th as a pinch runner.
Jan 8, 2022; Denver, Colorado, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) before the game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
One Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver has caught the attention of star quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
On Monday, the Chiefs began phase one of their offseason workouts. While the first phase is mostly done virtually, Mahomes has once again spearheaded in-person workouts with a number of the Chiefs’ pass-catchers in his home state of Texas.
Mahomes recently spoke to the media and singled out one Chiefs wideout who has left him “pleasantly surprised” thus far: Marquise “Hollywood” Brown.
Kansas City signed Brown last month to help fix what had been a subpar Chiefs wide receiver room in 2023. The man already appears to have Mahomes’ seal of approval.
Brown was second among Arizona Cardinals receivers last season in catches (101) and receiving yards (574). He also led the Cardinals with four receiving touchdowns.
Kansas City may need Brown to step up more than initially anticipated given the legal trouble last season’s top wide receiver Rashee Rice finds himself in. Rice is facing several charges for his involvement in a multi-vehicle crash.
Rice led the team in receiving touchdowns (7) and was second in receiving yards (938) last season only behind Travis Kelce. Though Rice did surprisingly participate in Monday’s virtual workouts, his future with the Chiefs remains a huge question mark.
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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins is already endearing himself to his new team.
Cousins on Monday posted on X about a funny encounter he had with a teammate in the Falcons’ cafeteria.
“Well, that certainly didn’t take long…,” wrote Cousins. “3rd week with the Falcons & a teammate says to me in the lunch line: ‘I feel like you give off serious Dad vibes, Kirk.'”
It’s hard to blame the anonymous teammate. The dad vibes have been spilling out of Cousins since he was still with the Minnesota Vikings.
The 35-year-old QB is also, in fact, an actual father to two young boys.
Some fans believed that the identity of the teammate was more than likely to be Kyle Pitts. The Falcons tight end was a big part of Cousins’ recruitment to Atlanta. Pitts is also 12 years younger than Cousins.
Cousins will truly be dad-like around most of the Falcons roster. Atlanta had one of the youngest teams in the NFL last season. They entered Week 1 with the fourth-youngest average age at 25 years and 9 months old.
Cousins has been the subject of several jokes ever since he signed with the Falcons. Those jokes don’t appear to be going away anytime soon.
